Microsoft completes $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Following 20 months of duking it out with regulators, Microsoft has now officially acquired Activision Blizzard for a record-breaking $68.7 billion.

Sean Carey

Published 13 Oct 2023

It's over! Following approval from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Microsoft has now completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard — the biggest video game acquisition of all time.

Teams from Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Major League Gaming, Radical Entertainment, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch are all now a part of the Xbox family.

In a statement posted on Xbox Wire, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said, "We love gaming. We play games, create games, and know first-hand how much gaming means to all of us as individuals and collectively, as a community. And today, we officially welcome Activision Blizzard and their teams to Xbox. They are the publishers of some of the most played and most beloved franchises in gaming history across console, PC and mobile. From Pitfall to Call of Duty, World of Warcraft to Overwatch, Candy Crush Saga to Farm Heroes Super Saga, their studios have pushed the boundaries of gaming for players around the world.

"I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture. Whether it was late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign with friends from start to finish, gathering the entire family in the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero night, or going on an epic streak in Candy Crush, some of my most memorable gaming moments came from experiences their studios have created. It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox.

As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.

Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play including mobile, cloud streaming and more."

Microsoft completes $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Spencer also noted that Microsoft "will also continue to make more games available in more places – and that begins now by enabling cloud streaming providers and players to stream Activision Blizzard games in the European Economic Area, a commitment made to the European Commission."

As for Xbox Game Pass, Spencer said that Microsoft has started work today to bring "beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms" and will share more on what you can expect to play "in the coming months."

Microsoft first announced its intent to purchase Activision Blizzard back in January last year, and ever since, Microsoft has been battling with competition regulators across the world to get the deal over the line. After public spats with Sony, going back and forth with the EU Commission, a high-profile court case against the US Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft accidentally leaking its future Xbox plans, and the UK's CMA blocking and subsequent clearing of the deal, it's all finally over.

Industry News

Written by Sean Carey

Avid Xbox and achievement fan, Sean has committed to playing the best RPGs, racing games, and first-person shooters Xbox Game Pass and his precious free time will allow. Prior to joining TrueAchievements, Sean gained a degree in journalism from Solent University.