Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, announced January 18, 2022, is one of the largest deals in entertainment and has immediate implications for major franchises, platform holders and subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
Activision Blizzard, the developer and publisher behind Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Candy Crush maker King and other high-profile IP, will join Microsoft Gaming once the transaction closes.
Deal details and official statements
Microsoft confirmed the agreed purchase price of $68.7 billion and said the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft Gaming leadership after the transaction closes.
In its announcement, Microsoft said it plans to add "as many Activision Blizzard games as we can" to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, and noted that Game Pass already had more than 25 million subscribers at the time of the announcement.
The Wall Street Journal reported on January 18, 2022 that Microsoft was nearing the acquisition and later cited sources saying Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was expected to leave the company after the deal closed.
Microsoft’s public release reiterated support for the many studios and teams within Activision Blizzard and emphasized a commitment to inclusion and studio autonomy.
Context: platform history and precedents
Microsoft’s previous acquisition of Mojang in 2014 for approximately $2.5 billion provides an instructive precedent: Minecraft remained available across consoles, PC and mobile after it joined Microsoft.
Microsoft’s announcement explicitly acknowledged that Activision Blizzard titles are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and said the company plans to continue supporting those communities.
Relevance to Nintendo Switch and cross-platform availability
Nintendo Switch players will watch how Microsoft follows that precedent.
Historically, Microsoft and Nintendo have cooperated on bringing select Xbox-originated or third-party titles to Switch—examples include Cuphead and the Ori games, which have been released on Nintendo Switch, and the inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie as a downloadable fighter in Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate.
Microsoft’s statement stressed continued platform support for Activision Blizzard’s franchises, but did not list platform-by-platform commitments beyond Game Pass plans for Xbox and PC.
Verified takeaways
- Announcement date: January 18, 2022. - Deal value: $68.7 billion. - Microsoft stated intent to integrate Activision Blizzard into Microsoft Gaming and to offer many titles on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. - Game Pass subscriber count cited by Microsoft at announcement: more than 25 million. - The Wall Street Journal reported that CEO Bobby Kotick was expected to depart after the close.
As regulators and stakeholders review the transaction, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will continue to operate independently until the deal closes.
We will monitor official filings and company statements for confirmed, platform-specific commitments affecting Nintendo Switch, the eShop, and other ecosystems.
Activision Blizzard, the developer and publisher behind Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Candy Crush maker King and other high-profile IP, will join Microsoft Gaming once the transaction closes.
Deal details and official statements
Microsoft confirmed the agreed purchase price of $68.7 billion and said the Activision Blizzard business will report to Microsoft Gaming leadership after the transaction closes.
In its announcement, Microsoft said it plans to add "as many Activision Blizzard games as we can" to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, and noted that Game Pass already had more than 25 million subscribers at the time of the announcement.
The Wall Street Journal reported on January 18, 2022 that Microsoft was nearing the acquisition and later cited sources saying Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was expected to leave the company after the deal closed.
Microsoft’s public release reiterated support for the many studios and teams within Activision Blizzard and emphasized a commitment to inclusion and studio autonomy.
Context: platform history and precedents
Microsoft’s previous acquisition of Mojang in 2014 for approximately $2.5 billion provides an instructive precedent: Minecraft remained available across consoles, PC and mobile after it joined Microsoft.
Microsoft’s announcement explicitly acknowledged that Activision Blizzard titles are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and said the company plans to continue supporting those communities.
Relevance to Nintendo Switch and cross-platform availability
Nintendo Switch players will watch how Microsoft follows that precedent.
Historically, Microsoft and Nintendo have cooperated on bringing select Xbox-originated or third-party titles to Switch—examples include Cuphead and the Ori games, which have been released on Nintendo Switch, and the inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie as a downloadable fighter in Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate.
Microsoft’s statement stressed continued platform support for Activision Blizzard’s franchises, but did not list platform-by-platform commitments beyond Game Pass plans for Xbox and PC.
Verified takeaways
- Announcement date: January 18, 2022. - Deal value: $68.7 billion. - Microsoft stated intent to integrate Activision Blizzard into Microsoft Gaming and to offer many titles on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. - Game Pass subscriber count cited by Microsoft at announcement: more than 25 million. - The Wall Street Journal reported that CEO Bobby Kotick was expected to depart after the close.
As regulators and stakeholders review the transaction, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will continue to operate independently until the deal closes.
We will monitor official filings and company statements for confirmed, platform-specific commitments affecting Nintendo Switch, the eShop, and other ecosystems.