Prototype via Microsoft

In a stunning and unexpected move, Microsoft is pitching to acquire Activision Blizzard for nigh $70 billion USD, making for one of the largest visitor acquisitions in gaming history. This would elevate Microsoft to the third-largest gaming visitor by revenue, only overshadowed by Tencent and Sony. This deal is expected to close in the fiscal year of 2023, according to embattled Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in a printing release shared past the company.

Microsoft'south own press release confirmed the acquisition, adding hit gaming titles such as Telephone call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Candy Vanquish into the Microsoft fold, which already includes industry titans such as Zenimax/Bethesda and Obsidian Amusement. The conquering corporeality was confirmed by industry reporter Dina Bass via Twitter before press releases came out.

Activision Blizzard has recently come under burn for a litany of systemic abuse confronting employees, including "frat boy" behavior by atomic number 82 Blizzard developers, and accusations of corruption from Kotick — in some cases dating dorsum a decade or more. The conquering declaration comes afterwards newly titled Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated that Xbox wasn't looking to "punish" companies such every bit Activision Blizzard for such behavior.

While Activision Blizzard has stated that is actively investigating these accusations and committed to improving workplace rubber, it appears that Kotick will remain equally CEO until the Microsoft deal finalizes — afterward which Activision Blizzard will report to Spencer, according to The Verge. Increasing calls for changes in the workplace from organizations such as A Ameliorate ABK, a workers' commonage of Activision-Blizzard employees, continue.