This deal if sealed, would bring together Microsoft (which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios) and Activision, owner of the Warcraft, Tony Hawk franchises, and among others our very own Call of Duty.
With a large amount of people like us actively playing games today, gaming is now the largest and fastest-growing form of entertainment. Today on January 18, 2022, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, the leader in game development and interactive entertainment content publisher. This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse.
Tech giant Microsoft will buy the video game publisher Activision Blizzard in a $68.7 billion deal that would reshape the gaming landscape.
Mobile is the largest segment in gaming since people like us sweat on it like we have no tomorrow. The tech giant said that mobile gaming is a significant part of the deal, although Microsoft not a particularly competitive player in the space, in contrast to Activision, which owns games like Call of Duty: Mobile (and Candy Crush). Microsoft also says that if the deal closes, Activision’s games would be incorporated into its Game Pass subscription service, giving it a significant boost from Activision’s franchises.
What would it mean for the future of Call of Duty: Mobile?
Nothing. According to Microsoft, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will continue to serve at his position after the deal closes, adding that “he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth.” However, Kotick and the Activision team will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. So I personally don’t expect our gaming experience to be any different. You’re still going to complain about the meta every season, trust me.
With Microsoft’s big bucks and Activision team’s efforts at trying to make the game most enjoyable, it may be possible to finally introduce cross-platform gaming experience to the game, which even today seems very difficult. Although we do have console gaming possible, users who play on PC with the help of third party emulators get constantly banned everyday since the developers do not support it. With this deal, it may be possible for the developers to work on supporting emulator gamers!
That being said. The future will always be as uncertain as it always is. We can always look forward for great things in the future. The combination of Activision Blizzard’s world-class talent and extraordinary franchises with Microsoft’s technology, distribution, access to talent, ambitious vision and shared commitment to gaming and inclusion is surely some commitment assured to us.
Sources
Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard in $68.7B Video Game Mega-Deal
Welcoming the Incredible Teams and Legendary Franchises of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft Gaming