Gaming: Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7bn (€60.1bn)

Microsoft, an American computer company, is to acquire the video game publisher Activision Blizzard (a company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange) on 18/01/2022. The acquisition is valued at $68.7bn (€60.1bn) according to Microsoft. This will be the largest amount ever paid for the acquisition of a publisher in the video game industry.

"When the transaction closes (in 2023), Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent (CHN) and Sony Interactive Entertainment (USA/JPN). 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," said the IT giant, which had already acquired ZeniMax Media, parent company of US studio Bethesda (USA) for $8.1bn (€9.5bn) on 21/09/2020.

The creators of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Candy Crush, Overwatch and many others will join team Xbox, Microsoft's video game console company. The buyout also includes the acquisition of Activion Blizzard's esports circuit, Major League Gaming.

The company founded by Bill Gates…