Xbox's Historic Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Now Complete

Xbox has successfully concluded its landmark acquisition of Activision Blizzard, heralding a new era in video games. This deal bestows upon Xbox control of some of the most iconic franchises in gaming history.

At the heart of the acquisition lies the crown jewel, Call of Duty, an annual best-seller. During the protracted negotiation process, Call of Duty was a focal point of debate, as Xbox made Herculean efforts to secure the transaction.

In stark contrast to Bethesda's games, such as Starfield, which were made exclusive to Xbox upon acquisition, Call of Duty will remain accessible across various platforms. To facilitate this, Microsoft committed to 10-year agreements with PlayStation, Nintendo, and several streaming services.

The Activision Blizzard portfolio extends far beyond Call of Duty, encompassing renowned titles like Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush Saga, Diablo, Hearthstone, Guitar Hero, Spyro, and more, all of which now come under Xbox's stewardship.

The roster of major Activision Blizzard games that now fall under Xbox includes:

Activision:

• Call of Duty

• Crash Bandicoot

• Guitar Hero

• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

• Prototype

• Blur

• Spyro

Blizzard:

• Diablo

• Warcraft

• Overwatch

• StarCraft

• Lost Vikings

King:

• Candy Crush Saga

• Rebel Riders

• Diamond Diaries Saga

• Bubble Witch 3 Saga

While there are some smaller titles not included in this list, the mentioned games represent the primary assets acquired in this momentous deal.

The acquisition, valued at an astounding $68.7 billion, was officially concluded on October 13, 2023. Microsoft commemorated this historic milestone with an emotionally charged trailer showcasing all the acquired franchises, reflecting the jubilation that followed a prolonged, intricate, and demanding process.

The online community was ablaze with reactions to the acquisition, with fans, developers, and industry analysts sharing their perspectives on this monumental moment in gaming history. The Communications Workers of America union also voiced their satisfaction with the deal's completion.

However, numerous questions linger regarding the future of Game Pass, Xbox console sales, the future of the controversial Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, and more. As the dust settles on this monumental acquisition, the gaming world eagerly anticipates further developments in this new era of Xbox gaming.