Well, 2022 is certainly starting with some bombshell news. Microsoft has announced plans to buy Activision Blizzard for a whopping $69 billion. The deal will come into effect in the 2023 fiscal year.
Activision Blizzard has been mired in controversy these past few months regarding gender discrimination and harassment. The announcement of the deal alludes to these issues, with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stating that, upon closure of the deal, all studios will report to him. Here’s the full quote:
As a company, Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players. We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.
The news also means that huge IP like Crash Bandicoot, Overwatch, Spyro, Call of Duty, Warcraft, Candy Crush, and many, many more will potentially become exclusive to Microsoft’s platforms, though it’s worth noting a fair few Microsoft games have headed to Switch in recent years, like Ori, Diablo 3, and the upcoming Nintendo 64 version of Banjo Kazooie.
The deal is sure to shake up the industry in the coming years and we’ll be sure to bring you all the latest as it comes in.
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Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
