Microsoft to acquite Activision Blizzard

[Xplorer]

Does anyone have a spare $68.7 Billion in their back pocket?


Microsoft has announced plans to acquire game developer and interactive content publisher Activision Blizzard (AB). The move will see Microsoft take ownership of iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios including Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush, as well as global eSports activities through Major League Gaming.

AB will be acquired for $95 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of the company's net cash. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. AB has studios around the world and employs nearly 10,000 staff.

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The acquisition also bolsters Microsoft’s Game Pass portfolio with plans to launch Activision Blizzard games into Game Pass, which has reached a new milestone of over 25 million subscribers. With Activision Blizzard’s nearly 400 million monthly active players in 190 countries and three billion-dollar franchises, this acquisition will make Game Pass one of the most compelling and diverse lineups of gaming content in the industry. Upon close, Microsoft will have 30 internal game development studios, along with additional publishing and esports production capabilities.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and completion of regulatory review and Activision Blizzard’s shareholder approval. The deal is expected to close in fiscal year 2023 and will be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share upon close. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.


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Microsoft News:

[Xplorer]

I know that World of Warcraft in its hey-day, was the biggest thing in gaming history, that had 100's millions of subscribers paying $15-20 per monthly subscription.
Now that is some serious money.

But, do you think now that Activision Blizzard, is really worth in excess of $68.7 Billion (probably US dollars, so nearing on $AU100 Billion)?

[wotnot]

so.. no more activision releases for playstation anymore i suppose? =)

[lsemmens]

You'd think that there would be some (gone blank) form of "anti monopoly" law that would prevent mickey soft from buying out the competition like that. Not that it bothers me for now as I now only use M$ product to talk to my bit of fruit.

[Uncle Fester]

Here is a large list of what they are invested in:


This latest acquisition does indeed stand out.

Market cap is 2.225 Trillion! Plenty to go around.


Just saw that M$ owns Github, dang!

[Xplorer]

Here is a large list of what they are invested in:


This latest acquisition does indeed stand out.

Market cap is 2.225 Trillion! Plenty to go around.


Just saw that M$ owns Github, dang!

Wow. That is some portfolio.

Interesting at citation 323, that M$ also have a stake in Apple.
I guess it's a case of keeping their enemies very close.

[shred]

Interesting at citation 323, that M$ also have a stake in Apple.
I guess it's a case of keeping their enemies very close.

Way back in 1996, just before Steve Jobs returned to Apple, Apple were going downhill fast under clueless management. The marketing people had been in charge for too long…

Apple had a long running court case against Microsoft for stealing the “look and feel” of the Mac GUI. Things like pull down menus did not come from the Xerox GUI, but were 100% invented by Apple. As part of the punishment for stealing Apple’s user interface, Microsoft were compelled to buy US$150 million of non-voting shares in Apple and to continue to develop a Mac version of Microsoft Office for the next five years. (There was a lot more to it, but I’m trying not get off topic too much).

Those shares would have been a …very… good investment, so it wasn’t much of a punishment.