Microsoft to purchase Activision Blizzard

[Dark Drakan]

In a bombshell announcement to the industry that had not leaked before it was revealed, Microsoft are set to acquire Activision Blizzard for around $70bn. The deal is set to be completed by June 2023 and could see CEO Bobby Kotick part ways with the company.

There will be a lot of cleaning up to do with the studio after the acquisition but hopefully for the workforce things will start to change for the better.

Along with the merge Microsoft will now own the rights to the following franchises:

Blur
Caesar
Call of Duty
Candy Crush
Crash Bandicoot
Diablo
DJ Hero
Empire Earth
Gabriel Knight
Geometry Wars
Guitar Hero
Gun
Hearthstone
Heroes of the Storm
Hexen
Interstate ’76
King’s Quest
Laura Bow Mysteries
The Lost Vikings
Overwatch
Phantasmagoria
Pitfall
Police Quest
Prototype
Quest for Glory
Singularity
Skylanders
Solider of Fortune
Space Quest
Spyro the Dragon
StarCraft
Tenchu (legacy games)
TimeShift
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
True Crime
World of Warcraft
Zork

Microsoft have already announced plans to put most titles on their Game Pass service which has just recently passed 25 million subscribers.​

 

[Zarkes]

Their subscription model is looking strong. Play anywhere and cross play and they'll rake in the cash

 

[Dark Drakan]

Their subscription model is looking strong. Play anywhere and cross play and they'll rake in the cash

The infrastructure for Game Pass and console and PC crossplay is really strong. Now if they could get the Xbox App working well it would be an amazing service overall.

 

[Fable II Xbox 360]

So now Blizzard Games will require a subscription to play multiplayer (mp) even though you purchase the game itself with single player (sp) and mp at the ready? Has the days of gaming when mp was the same price as sp based on the copy of the game purchased, but the only difference is 'you' as the customer payed for the internet..now subscription on top of that? Can the purchased copy game owners nowadays host their own servers instead of using Microsoft's in order to not have people you invite, play in your hosted game? I've done the two consoles tethered together or a couple pc's using a modem/switch with each having a single copy per system for gaming. If this is the future of gaming to include micro-transactions, then it will be a sad day for future gaming? The hardest part is that gamers coming in, buy into this establishment of gaming practices that take away your freedom of playing for free with people around the world. I also forgot to mention the part about...if this is true...cancelling your subscription means you forfeit all the games you've purchased? Almost makes video games like casino's nowadays!

 

[Dark Drakan]

So now Blizzard Games will require a subscription to play multiplayer (mp) even though you purchase the game itself with single player (sp) and mp at the ready? Has the days of gaming when mp was the same price as sp based on the copy of the game purchased, but the only difference is 'you' as the customer payed for the internet..now subscription on top of that? Can the purchased copy game owners nowadays host their own servers instead of using Microsoft's in order to not have people you invite, play in your hosted game? I've done the two consoles tethered together or a couple pc's using a modem/switch with each having a single copy per system for gaming. If this is the future of gaming to include micro-transactions, then it will be a sad day for future gaming? The hardest part is that gamers coming in, buy into this establishment of gaming practices that take away your freedom of playing for free with people around the world. I also forgot to mention the part about...if this is true...cancelling your subscription means you forfeit all the games you've purchased? Almost makes video games like casino's nowadays!

The games on Game Pass can also be purchased outright and you still have the choice to buy the games if you want, that choice isnt taken away. Just those that subscribe to game pass will get the games included in their subscription. Sounds like in the future games like WoW could actually have their separate subscription payment stopped and the price could be included in Game Pass price so you wouldn't pay any extra on top of the Game Pass subscription.

Any online games on console (Xbox and Playstation) require an additional subscription to play online anyway and have done for years. If you don't want to pay extra to play online on top of your internet payment you need to buy a PC as consoles have required it for the vast majority of their library for a long time.

PC players can simply pay for PC Game Pass and then play online anyway without any extra Xbox Live cost on top of the subscription, they can also cross play with players who play on Xbox too. Along with all streaming Media (Netflix/Amazon/Disney) and gaming (Xbox Live/PSN) you lose access to the games if you unsubscribe as you haven't purchased the games you have simply paid to access a service to play them. If you no longer pay that service then you no longer have access. Any you have purchased outright you would keep and you do get a discount on them for subscribing too.

Lots of co-op games no longer need 2 copies to play online and the most popular ones have free friend passes and sharing ability (It Takes Two for example). I remember having to buy multiple of loads of games in the past to play LAN and System Link as well as multiple TV's. You can family share on subscription services and not require paying for additional copies of the games too.

I have been gaming for 30 years and I pay FAR less for games now than I have in the past, I get to play hundreds of games for the price of a yearly subscription (£95). You can get it for even cheaper than that too, but if I was to try and buy this same amount of games outright it would cost many thousands. So for the price of 2 games I can get access to hundreds, so its a no brainer for me personally to subscribe.

Now microtransactions are another topic entirely and using them in full priced AAA games is a predatory move and should not exist. Games that are charging £50 and upwards for their games should not need to include Micro Transactions to fund them.

 

[Fable II Xbox 360]

"...the price could be included in Game Pass price so you wouldn't pay any extra on top of the Game Pass subscription." Would this same price apply to DLs for the game?

"...you need to buy a PC as consoles have required it for the vast majority of their library for a long time." I still don't understand why people buy consoles when you can get a PC that is upgradable and even better than any console built? A PC can also multifunction a lot more than any console. I'd like to see someone complete a term paper on a console.

"PC players can simply pay for PC Game Pass and then play online..." When I purchase a PC game nowadays, it will not come with free online access? I always have purchased used games since multiplayer purchasing came about.

"Along with all streaming Media..." I like my collection of movies with no commercials. I always preferred the hardcopy to anything over having to pay for something over and over.

"You can family share on subscription services..." You know as well as I know that 'family' is loosely termed to work buddies, school mates, and everything outside of what really consists of family. Don't most gaming companies also restrict how many family members or devices can be on one account like those net streaming media companies?

"...but if I was to try and buy this same amount of games outright it would cost many thousands." This is why I don't buy the latest and greatest, but rather by used or wait until the game becomes unpopular. The 'double edged sword' is however not many people will still play that game anymore. Another reason why I single vs. multi play.

"Now microtransactions are another topic entirely and using them in full priced AAA games is a predatory move and should not exist." This is by far the worst crime in the gaming world! It's like paying taxes on a home you've already paid taxes for when intially purchasing it and then having to pay more or equal to taxes due to increased realestate prices...highway robbery! This is also how these conglomerates steal modders that normally make their mods for free. Give a modder 'cha-ching' and they now become proprietary infringement drones. I guess that Capitalism unchecked I suppose? Add these crazy microtransactions and you kill the game for the 'have nots' I've never seen these microtransactions become free as the game becomes unpopular though?

 

[Dark Drakan]

"...the price could be included in Game Pass price so you wouldn't pay any extra on top of the Game Pass subscription." Would this same price apply to DLs for the game?

A lot of the time the DLC is included in Game Pass price, sometimes if its a big expansion DLC then they are charged separately but beats having to pay outright for the game AND the DLC. There isnt a set rule and its down to each individual developer how they want to monetise their DLC's but many include them in Game Pass.

"...you need to buy a PC as consoles have required it for the vast majority of their library for a long time." I still don't understand why people buy consoles when you can get a PC that is upgradable and even better than any console built? A PC can also multifunction a lot more than any console. I'd like to see someone complete a term paper on a console.

Some people simply cant afford a prebuilt gaming PC to play the latest games or dont have the time or knowledge to learn how to build one. Casual gamers, those who ONLY play latest CoD, Fifa and Assassins Creed etc on a yearly cycle wont be interested in PC aspect of gaming and just want a console to play a small selection of titles without any messing around.

"PC players can simply pay for PC Game Pass and then play online..." When I purchase a PC game nowadays, it will not come with free online access? I always have purchased used games since multiplayer purchasing came about.

In regards to playing Xbox games on PC and online its one price, pay for PC Game pass and you get the game minus the extra console Xbox Live cost.

"Along with all streaming Media..." I like my collection of movies with no commercials. I always preferred the hardcopy to anything over having to pay for something over and over.

I was the same but last hard copy of anything I purchased was StarCraft II, everything else is via PC launchers or on Game Pass. I sold my PS4 and Xbox One in the middle of last year to concentrate on PC gaming instead.

"You can family share on subscription services..." You know as well as I know that 'family' is loosely termed to work buddies, school mates, and everything outside of what really consists of family. Don't most gaming companies also restrict how many family members or devices can be on one account like those net streaming media companies?

There are loop holes in most sharing options but can share Game Pass between 2 accounts that im aware of (never used family share myself).

"...but if I was to try and buy this same amount of games outright it would cost many thousands." This is why I don't buy the latest and greatest, but rather by used or wait until the game becomes unpopular. The 'double edged sword' is however not many people will still play that game anymore. Another reason why I single vs. multi play.

Digital has sales far faster than physical games on most storefronts, only exceptions would be on console. Console digital game prices are far too high but PC game prices for digital are much cheaper and some games dont even have physical releases on PC anymore. Also cant often buy used games on PC either these days. I mainly play single player too but waiting for a long time for a price drop can sometimes cause the game to be spoiled before you manage to play it. Its a time and money thing for me and I have a huge backlog and simply dont get around to finishing some games before articles are all over social media and Youtube videos spoiling things.

"Now microtransactions are another topic entirely and using them in full priced AAA games is a predatory move and should not exist." This is by far the worst crime in the gaming world! It's like paying taxes on a home you've already paid taxes for when intially purchasing it and then having to pay more or equal to taxes due to increased realestate prices...highway robbery! This is also how these conglomerates steal modders that normally make their mods for free. Give a modder 'cha-ching' and they now become proprietary infringement drones. I guess that Capitalism unchecked I suppose? Add these crazy microtransactions and you kill the game for the 'have nots' I've never seen these microtransactions become free as the game becomes unpopular though?

Most microtransactions are in free to play games as a method of funding but some big AAA companies have opted for them in storefronts of their games as additional revenue. GTA Online for example made an absolute fortune for Rockstar with their 'Shark Cards' ($700 million a year) as well as Fifa Ultimate Team for EA ($1.62 Billion in fiscal year 2021). So as more companies make these huge sums of money more and more will want in on the action.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Im very late posting this news (blame the real world) but a little over 2 weeks ago Activision Blizzard's shareholders had overwhelmingly approved Microsoft's offer to buy the company for $95 a share. Its still not a done deal yet and there are a few obstacles in the way, as can be expected with a deal this big and which effects so many companies.

If it makes it past the FTC, the approximate $70 billion deal will become Microsoft's largest acquisition ever.

"Subject to customary closing conditions and the completion of regulatory review, the proposed transaction is expected to close in Microsoft's fiscal year ending June 30, 2023,"

 

[Dark Drakan]

Microsoft wins crucial FTC case on Activision Blizzard acquisition​

Yesterday Microsoft won its court case against the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which will help clear their path towards acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7bn.

Although in the UK the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) still stand in the way Microsoft hopes to close the deal with its 18th July deadline fast approaching.

Microsoft president Brad Smith had the following to say regarding the CMA's concerns:
​

After today's court decision in the US, our focus now turns back to the UK. While we ultimately disagree with the CMA's concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified in order to address those concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA.

In order to prioritise work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect.​

This statement was followed by Xbox boss Phil Spencer issuing the following statement.

We're grateful to the court for swiftly deciding in our favor, The evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry and the FTC's claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don't reflect the realities of the gaming market.

Since we first announced this deal, our commitment to bringing more games to more people on more devices has only grown. We've signed multiple agreements to make Activision Blizzard's games, Xbox first-party games and Game Pass all available to more players than they are today.

We know that players around the world have been watching this case closely and I'm proud of our efforts to expand player access and choice throughout this journey.