It’s Official, Microsoft Has Finally Acquired Activision Blizzard – Bobby Kotick Might Quit CEO Position in January 2024

What a long, strange trip it’s been. Our first report about the acquisition is nearly 2 years old. Back then, most of us were sure it would close by the end of 2022, but it just wasn’t meant to be. If you weren’t following the whole Microsoft-Activision saga, let’s just say that they had more than a few hurdles to jump through. Multiple government agencies around the world (like FTC in the US or CMA in the UK) had some issues with the deal, mostly worrying about creating a monopoly. Sony also tried to fight the deal so that Call of Duty (one of the best-selling game series in the world) wouldn’t become Xbox exclusive. Because of all of that, tons of previously confidential information was published – some on purpose, others leaked by mistake. However after multiple concessions and agreements were made, every major regulatory body approved it.

As previously agreed, Bobby Kotick will stay as the company’s CEO for now, but – according to Jason Schreier – the current intent is for him to quit the position on January 1, 2024. And I know that I should probably stay objective when reporting this, but honestly? Good riddance. I wish it happened much sooner. Let’s just say that Bobby’s poor image among the players was well warranted.

While I’m not a big fan of those acquisitions happening all over the entertainment industry (we really don’t want only a couple of companies to dominate the entire space), I think that in the long term, it might be a good thing for Activision Blizzard. The company’s reputation was severely damaged in the last few years (mostly justifiably), and Microsoft can lead the change. It will be a slow process, but if everything goes right, gamers might start trusting Activision Blizzard once again.

You can read the official statement and see the “Activision Blizzard King Joins Xbox” trailer below.

It’s a big day for us at Activision Blizzard. For more than four decades, our players have inspired us to push the boundaries of imagination with iconic universes including Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft.

Today we begin a new chapter as we officially become a part of the Microsoft family, uniting with the amazing Xbox team and co-creating the future of gaming together.

In our earliest days we were a modest collective of designers who raided rivers, commanded choppers, and avoided pitfalls. Now as part of Xbox, we will continue our mission to deliver the world’s most epic interactive entertainment experiences to more people, more platforms, and across more worlds than ever before.

All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you, our incredible gaming community.

To the reapers, fighters, rogues, and airstrikers,
The sharpshooters, revivers, healers, and bubble bursters,
Sorcerers, shamans, slayers, and survivors,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for playing with us. We do everything we do for you, and we can’t wait to embark on our next adventure together.

–The team at Activision Blizzard

(Source)