The $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a significant participant in the video game business, by Microsoft has been completed successfully. The biggest consumer technology transaction since AOL acquired Time Warner, this agreement was complicated by regulatory issues in both the US and the UK. Large digital businesses are under scrutiny from governments throughout the world, but this purchase shows that industry titans may still use money to penetrate new markets.
The closing of this deal shows that the power and expansion of large digital companies have not yet been slowed down by political scrutiny. Microsoft’s ability to overcome opposition establishes a standard for other businesses that must deal with regulatory interference. Even though Microsoft has received clearances from several nations, the FTC is still pursuing a lawsuit against the merger, which might result in a drawn-out judicial procedure.
The agreement may improve Microsoft’s position and change the video game business, especially in the mobile gaming space. In this regard, Activision’s King division—best known for Candy Crush—offers a significant advantage. It is anticipated that games like Call of Duty, which bring in over $30 billion annually, will be available on Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service. It is believed that Activision’s merger with Microsoft would result in additional resources and possibilities for both shareholders and employees, notwithstanding previous cultural issues at the company.
