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Microsoft Will Purchase Activision Blizzard For $70bn

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Gaming and tech giant Microsoft is set to purchase Activision Blizzard, a deal that will cost $68.7bn.

In a bid to control even more of the gaming monopoly, Microsoft has secured a deal with Activision Blizzard. The deal, which is expected to be approved in 2023, will mean the former will onboard the likes of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and several other critically acclaimed IPs.

As well as claiming the mother ship, Microsoft will also take over all subsidiary studios. These include Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Major League Gaming, Radical Entertainment, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch, all of which currently report to Activision Blizzard.

“Until this transaction closes, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft Gaming will continue to operate independently,” Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer wrote. “Once the deal is complete, the Activision Blizzard business will report to me as CEO, Microsoft Gaming.”

What franchises will Microsoft own?

On top of the obvious best-sellers, Microsoft will also take on the likes of Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and StarCraft. All of these being triple-A brands, it kind of explains the hefty $70bn takeover.

“Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company's culture and accelerate business growth,” a statement read. “Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming.”

What does this mean for Game Pass subscribers? Well, you can expect big things, that's for sure.

What does this mean for Game Pass?

Of course, this does mean Game Pass subscribers will be getting even more content for their libraries once the deal has been set in stone. And with EA Play already coursing more users to its platform, it seems the streaming platform could very well be the future of the brand. The question is: which games will Microsoft onload to the catalog?

“Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard's incredible catalogue. We also announced today that Game Pass now has more than 25 million subscribers. As always, we look forward to continuing to add more value and more great games to Game Pass.”

What about Cloud Gaming?

“The fantastic franchises across Activision Blizzard will also accelerate our plans for Cloud Gaming, allowing more people in more places around the world to participate in the Xbox community using phones, tablets, laptops and other devices you already own. Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and we plan to continue to support those communities moving forward.”

You can follow the story over on Microsoft's official social handle here. You can also check in with Activision Blizzard here. We'll be sure to let you know of any updates that slide our way. Be sure to check back real soon for any potential updates.

So, what's your take? Are you excited to see Microsoft close the deal? What games would you want on Game Pass for 2023? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.