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More details: Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard

Shortly after two o’clock in the afternoon, she circled the world surprising and shocking news for many, which also reached servers that do not normally inform the video game world. Microsoft has announced plans to buy video giant Activision Blizzard for a record $ 68.7 billion (approximately CZK 1.5 trillion). At the same time, the transfer of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda to the Xbox for $ 7.5 billion was completed last year.

The acquisition of Zynga from Take-Two (parent company of Rockstar Games) did not last long. $ 12.7 billion is a messenger today.

Gradually, other important information becomes available on the Internet. A record deal should be completed in fiscal year 2023. In the case of Microsoft, this means the period from July this year to June next year. Phil Spencer, head of the gaming division at Microsoft, is already planning how The Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscription catalog will be expanded with well-known games from Activision Blizzard. Call of Duty Vanguard, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Diablo 2 Resurrected or Overwatch can appear in it.

Even after such a large acquisition, Microsoft intends to deliver on its promises, which means that all future first-party titles from Xbox Game Studios, which also includes Bethesda Studios and will include Activision Blizzard teams, will available on the Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on the day of release.

Currently, trade can be thwarted by one thing. That’s it US Antimonopoly Office. He will decide the fate approximately 10,000 peoplewho work in studios like Blizzard Entertainment, Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Major League Gaming, Radical Entertainment, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob or Treyarch.

To this fact points out also journalist Jason Schreier of Bloomberg. The question is whether the merger of these giants will not violate antitrust laws. When all goes well, brands like Call of Duty, Warcraft, Candy Crush, Tony Hawk, Diablo, Overwatch, Spyro, Hearthstone, Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot or StarCraft will move under Xbox Game Studios. In my opinion, however, Microsoft found out everything with lawyers in advance, otherwise it would not have reported this bomb.

The post of CEO of Activision Blizzard also remains an issue. The company continues to run controversially Bobby Kotick. But everyone expects that as soon as Microsoft takes over the American giant, Koticka will recall and start addressing the work environment, sexual harassment and other issues that trouble Activision Blizzard.

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EXCLUSIVITY FOR XBOX AND PC CONSOLES?

Microsoft is pushing for the game that players should enjoy it regardless of platform. That’s why the company launched Xbox Cloud Gaming. Despite this, the American company does not intend to release games where there is no Xbox Game Pass, ie on PlayStation consoles a Nintendo Switch.

Following the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Microsoft and Bethesda have long avoided the issue of exclusivity for future games. But in the end, it happened when a space adventure was announced Starfieldwhich is 11/11/2022 to visit the Xbox Series X / S and PC. In our opinion, the same fate awaits future games from Activision Blizzard. Microsoft is committed to supporting existing titles on all platforms, but has not declared that other parts of well-known brands will be available on other consoles.

Critics of these restrictions claim that Microsoft would be deprived of sales money if, for example, the new Call of Duty did not come out on PlayStation 5, where the last episode, subtitled Vanguard, sold well. But the leadership probably doesn’t mind when Starfield heads the same way, and it’s waiting Redfall from the creators of Dishonored.

But in the end, it might be something in between, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft will only want some titles from Activision Blizzard as an exclusivity for the Xbox (and PC). We wrote more here.


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