Activision Blizzard
A globally recognized video game publisher whose portfolio includes intellectual properties such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The company was acquired by Microsoft in 2023 for approximately 69 billion USD.
Core Facts
Timeline (last 90 days)
In recent years, the FTC has tightened its scrutiny of tech and platform-economy mergers, and has sued to block deals such as Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Amazon's acquisition of iRobot.
Since 2023, the wave of layoffs in the gaming industry has continued to spread; in 2024 alone, the number of publicly disclosed layoffs in the global gaming industry exceeded 10,000, involving Microsoft-owned Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, as well as major companies such as Unity and Embracer.
Through its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft gained IPs including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush, as well as thousands of employees.
Microsoft's target of 3,200 layoffs in this round was announced approximately half a year after the Activision Blizzard acquisition was completed.
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is the largest merger and acquisition in gaming history.
After acquiring Activision Blizzard, Xbox once held more than 30 game studios, covering IPs such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.
The large-scale layoffs have been interpreted by some analysts as a necessary cost for Microsoft to absorb the integration expenses of the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Microsoft announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2022.
All Facts (9)
Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 for $68.7 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the technology industry.
80%UnverifiedIn recent years, the FTC has tightened its scrutiny of tech and platform-economy mergers, and has sued to block deals such as Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Amazon's acquisition of iRobot.
50%UnverifiedSince 2023, the wave of layoffs in the gaming industry has continued to spread; in 2024 alone, the number of publicly disclosed layoffs in the global gaming industry exceeded 10,000, involving Microsoft-owned Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, as well as major companies such as Unity and Embracer.
50%UnverifiedThrough its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft gained IPs including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush, as well as thousands of employees.
50%UnverifiedMicrosoft's target of 3,200 layoffs in this round was announced approximately half a year after the Activision Blizzard acquisition was completed.
50%UnverifiedMicrosoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is the largest merger and acquisition in gaming history.
50%UnverifiedAfter acquiring Activision Blizzard, Xbox once held more than 30 game studios, covering IPs such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.
50%UnverifiedThe large-scale layoffs have been interpreted by some analysts as a necessary cost for Microsoft to absorb the integration expenses of the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
50%UnverifiedMicrosoft announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2022.
50%