Tuesday, January 18th 2022
Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard to Bring the Joy and Community of Gaming to Everyone, Across Every Device
With three billion people actively playing games today, and fueled by a new generation steeped in the joys of interactive entertainment, gaming is now the largest and fastest-growing form of entertainment. Today, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc., a leader in game development and interactive entertainment content publisher. This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft's gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse.
Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of Activision Blizzard's net cash. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like "Warcraft," "Diablo," "Overwatch," "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush," in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming. The company has studios around the word with nearly 10,000 employees.
Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company's culture and accelerate business growth. Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming.
"Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. "We're investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all."
"Players everywhere love Activision Blizzard games, and we believe the creative teams have their best work in front of them," said Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming. "Together we will build a future where people can play the games they want, virtually anywhere they want."
"For more than 30 years our incredibly talented teams have created some of the most successful games," said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard. "The combination of Activision Blizzard's world-class talent and extraordinary franchises with Microsoft's technology, distribution, access to talent, ambitious vision and shared commitment to gaming and inclusion will help ensure our continued success in an increasingly competitive industry."
Mobile is the largest segment in gaming, with nearly 95% of all players globally enjoying games on mobile. Through great teams and great technology, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will empower players to enjoy the most-immersive franchises, like "Halo" and "Warcraft," virtually anywhere they want. And with games like "Candy Crush," Activision Blizzard's mobile business represents a significant presence and opportunity for Microsoft in this fast-growing segment.
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.
Source:
Activision Blizzard
Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of Activision Blizzard's net cash. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like "Warcraft," "Diablo," "Overwatch," "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush," in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming. The company has studios around the word with nearly 10,000 employees.
"Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. "We're investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all."
"Players everywhere love Activision Blizzard games, and we believe the creative teams have their best work in front of them," said Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming. "Together we will build a future where people can play the games they want, virtually anywhere they want."
"For more than 30 years our incredibly talented teams have created some of the most successful games," said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard. "The combination of Activision Blizzard's world-class talent and extraordinary franchises with Microsoft's technology, distribution, access to talent, ambitious vision and shared commitment to gaming and inclusion will help ensure our continued success in an increasingly competitive industry."
Mobile is the largest segment in gaming, with nearly 95% of all players globally enjoying games on mobile. Through great teams and great technology, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will empower players to enjoy the most-immersive franchises, like "Halo" and "Warcraft," virtually anywhere they want. And with games like "Candy Crush," Activision Blizzard's mobile business represents a significant presence and opportunity for Microsoft in this fast-growing segment.
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.
215 Comments on Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard to Bring the Joy and Community of Gaming to Everyone, Across Every Device
Nintendo Snes classic is also another poor example to the point I don't quite understand. It was a limited run and They produced it in extremely limited quantities, riding the hype of the prior classics scalper's made a point to snatch them all up, clearly not nostalgia.
Madden is dead, it's really just being propped up the NFL, look at the sales numbers they get smaller and smaller every year, that holds true for the other franchises they're dying slowly and have to resort to copying better performing IPs to draw in consumers.
The entire movie's problems could have been prevented with about 30 seconds of dialogue: "Could you write down who you want to forget about your identity? Cool, thanks, I'll go downstairs to cast the spell now, no takebacks".Nah, its only more proof that Hollywood can't make new movies or properties that stand on their own.
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How about you do the opposite, and instead point out a truly unique movie, or video game, you've enjoyed recently? I've got a few, Factorio for example. Downfall (though WW2 based, its a story that hasn't been told before), etc. etc. But those aren't recent. I think Knives Out was pretty good, but these kinds of unique movies aren't really the blockbusters these days.
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Top 10 movies by box office, 2021:
1. Spiderman
2. Shang Chi (continuing the Marvel hype train)
3. Venom (sequel)
4. Black Widow (more Marvel)
5. F9 (I can't believe this series got 9 movies + spinoffs)
6. Eternals (more Marvel)
7. No Time to Die (James Bond is old IP yet again)
8. A Quiet Place Part II (Sequel movie)
9. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (nostalgia yet again)
10. Free Guy (Hey look, a new property for once).
If "Ryan Reynolds acts like Ryan Reynolds in the Isekai/Trapped in a Video Game" archetype story counts as new and innovative for 2021.... good grief. But yeah, that's probably the most unique / inspired film out of all the others, despite being 100% derivative of current trends.
Dune gets #13. Disney's Jungle Cruise at #11 is actually new, so I'll give them that (based off of a ride, but its otherwise new to film).
In today's environment, old IP is everything. Its the easiest way to get a top-10 grossing movie. Its the easiest way to get a top-10 video game as well.
2020's Best-Selling Games (US)
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
Madden NFL 21
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
The Last of Us: Part II
Ghost of Tsushima
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe*
Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Marvel's Avengers
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
NBA 2K21*
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
FIFA 21
Mortal Kombat 11
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
MLB The Show 20
Cyberpunk 2077*
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
2021 Top 20 Games
1 Call of Duty: Vanguard Activision Blizzard (Corp)
2 Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War Activision Blizzard (Corp)
3 Madden NFL 22 Electronic Arts
4 Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl* Nintendo
5 Battlefield 2042 Electronic Arts
6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sony (Corp)
7 Mario Kart 8* Nintendo
8 Resident Evil: Village Capcom USA
9 MLB: The Show 21^ Sony (Corp)
10 Super Mario 3D World* Nintendo
11 Far Cry 6 Ubisoft
12 FIFA 22 Electronic Arts
13 Minecraft Multiple Video Game Manufacturers
14 Animal Crossing: New Horizons* Nintendo
15 NBA 2K22* Take-Two Interactive
16 Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla Ubisoft
17 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* Nintendo
18 Back 4 Blood Warner Bros. Interactive
19 Mortal Kombat 11 Warner Bros. Interactive
20 Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft (Corp)
Like Endwalker for example, blew me the **** away. best game ever made. M$ isn't willing to take risks like that though for a western market.
There's a reason why Luke Skywalker is seen by the fans of Star Wars the way that he is. He came from nothing, we watched him stumble, we watched him fall, hell... we watched him literally lose his hand. But through it all, he persevered and became the Jedi that we all know (and love). That right there is something called character development. Rey had none of that; she from zero to hero in nothing flat. You felt nothing for Rey but while you watched Luke stumble, you felt for him because in a way, he was Us.
And then we'll be talking the actual transition.
Rogue One was fine, and every bit as "woke" if you will. The sequel stories just sucked, partially because they changed directors more often than underwear.
The company has been overall dropping the ball (they were able to continue to hemorage players during the pandemic ) and with all the sexual harrasment lawsuits they're in for a very rough ride. They still have a lot of money and recurring income so they're unlikely to die any time soon, but it still begs the question of what will come of the company if the acquisition fails?
and if in USA, use Gamefly. Gamefly is amazing.
source: reddit
This graph is just brands, not revenue or other meaningful metric of size, but it still shows how consolidated the industry already is. I don't see Microsoft buying Activision as positive, but I can't see it as a complete negative either.