Microsoft has finally acquired the Call of Duty publisher for $68.7 billion nearly two years after the deal’s announcement.
Microsoft has officially welcomed Activision Blizzard to Xbox following the Competition and Markets Authority’s approval of the acquisition in the UK. The deadline was originally for October 18th and is for $68.7 billion. With its completion, studios like Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Blizzard Entertainment, King and many more are now part of Xbox.
In an Xbox Wire post, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said, “As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome and is centered on our ongoing commitment to Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.
“Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play including mobile, cloud streaming and more.”
Though announced early last year, the acquisition required approval from various authorities worldwide, including the US Federal Trade Commission (which is still pursuing an in-house trial against it). The CMA originally blocked the deal until changes were made, including Microsoft granting the rights for cloud streaming Activision Blizzard’s titles to Ubisoft.
The acquisition is the latest of many by the Xbox manufacturer. After acquiring studios like Obsidian Entertainment, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and more, it would snap up ZeniMax and Bethesda Softworks before acquiring Activision Blizzard. Big-name games like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 won’t debut on Game Pass immediately, other titles from the publisher may arrive soon.
