"Microsoft is nearing a deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the video game maker behind the “Call of Duty” franchise, in what would be the U.S. technology giant’s largest-ever takeover..." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ion-deal-for-video-game-maker-activision-atvi
"Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard in all-cash deal valued at $68.7 billion to mark its biggest-ever deal Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday it has reached an agreement to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at $68.7 billion that will be the biggest ever by the software giant. Microsoft will pay $95 per Activision share to create the world's third-biggest gaming company measured by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The deal includes franchises "Warcraft," "Diablo," "Overwatch," "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush," in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal is expected to close in fiscal 2023. Activision will continue to be led by CEO Bobby Kotick and his management team, who have come under criticism for their handling of misconduct by some of the company's employees..." https://www.marketwatch.com/story/m...alued-at-687-billion-2022-01-18?mod=home-page
Who in their wildest imaginations would have thought that something as mundane as a gadget GAME maker could provide/produce so much plain CASH for anything on this order.
This is indeed a crazy deal, $70 billion is a lot of cash. And it's also a bummer, I would rather have seen them buying Zoom Video since I have a loss of $5000 dollar on the stock market on Zoom.
"U.K. blocks Microsoft’s $75 billion Activision Blizzard deal The United Kingdom’s competition regulator blocked Microsoft’s $75 billion merger with the games company Activision Blizzard, tripping up the U.S. tech giant’s gaming industry ambitions. In a statement Wednesday, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority expressed concern that the deal would give Microsoft too much power in the fast-growing market for cloud-based video games, which can be accessed anywhere without the need for pricey consoles and disc drives. Microsoft already has between 60 and 70 percent of the global cloud gaming market, along with other advantages from its ownership of Xbox, the regulator said..." https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/04/26/microsoft-activision-uk-block/
"Microsoft-Activision Blizzard £55bn merger approved by EU - despite UK rejection.. The $68.7bn (£55bn) mega merger between Microsoft and game developer Activison Blizzard has been approved by the European Union, just weeks after it was blocked by the UK. European regulators said they accept commitments made by Microsoft that its offer to take over the developer behind Call Of Duty, would not lessen competition... Microsoft president Brad Smith said: 'The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services. This will apply globally and will empower millions of consumers worldwide to play these games on any device they choose.'..." https://news.sky.com/story/microsof...-approved-by-eu-despite-uk-rejection-12881607
Microsoft finally owns Candy Crush as it closes $69B Activision Blizzard deal https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023...sh-as-it-closes-69b-activision-blizzard-deal/
