Microsoft on Activision Blizzard Deal: It's Just „the End of the Beginning”
Proceeding at a good pace - that's how Microsoft's executive vice president described the progress of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. „We're nearing the end of the beginning and entering the beginning of the middle phase”.
Announced in January this year Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard seems to be going according to plan. At least that's what the executive vice president of the latter, Brad Smith, said in an interview with Belgian business newspaper L'Echo (via VGC).
"The process is moving quickly, at least for an acquisition of this size. We have received requests for information about it from Brussels, but also from London and Washington. We are answering questions and providing the requested information.
One of our lawyers summed it up nicely by saying that: "We are nearing the end of the beginning and entering the beginning of the middle phase. It's a long process [...]. Obviously the sooner it is over, the better for us, but we will respect the procedure."
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft in a nutshell
- The process is expected to be finalized in fiscal year 2023, that is - in the United States - in the period from July 2022 to June 2023.
- Microsoft has twice tried to take over Activision Blizzard. Apparently, the third time's the charm - if the $ 68.7 billion deal comes to fruition, it will be the largest operation of its kind in the history of the video games industry.
- Almost all shareholders of the holding company have agreed the Redmond giant's proposal in a general vote - but there was one who was against it.
- In part, this may be dictated by the fact that Microsoft has promised to improve working conditions at Activision Blizzard, which, as we know - were far from ideal.
- Nevertheless, such a large acquisition raises strong emotions - concerns about appear, among others, among U.S. senators. That is why Microsoft must first answer a number of questions, including from the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission.
- According to the sources of popular industry journalist Jason Schreier, with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, the current CEO of the holding company, Bobby Kotick, will be saying goodbye to his CEO seat.
- Assuming that the deal goes through, Microsoft will take over video game brands such as Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft or Crash Bandicoot (full list can be found here). Microsoft, however, assured that will not stop releasing further installments of these series on PlayStation consoles. There are also plans to port more games to Switch.
