Updated: November 28, 2023 (January 31, 2022)

Activision Blizzard to Be Acquired

Jim leads the Directions on Microsoft editorial team and has been writing about technology since the early 1990s. Most recently... more

Game publisher Activision Blizzard is expected to be acquired by Microsoft in a deal valued at US$68.7 billion.
The successful acquisition will make Microsoft the world’s third largest gaming company by revenue.
A newly formed Microsoft Gaming division will be led by Phil Spencer, formerly vice president of gaming, as CEO.

Activision Blizzard, a developer and publisher of games for PC, macOS, gaming consoles, and mobile devices, has agreed to be acquired by Microsoft for US$68.7 billion. Upon completion, the acquisition, Microsoft’s largest after the acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016 for US$26.2 billion, will make the company the world’s third-largest games company by revenue behind Sony and Tencent.

The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2023, after which Activision Blizzard will become part of a newly formed Microsoft Gaming division and report to Phil Spencer, who has been named CEO of Microsoft Gaming after serving as vice president of gaming for the company. Current Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is expected to remain in his position at least through the successful completion of the acquisition.

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