2022-01-18T14: 26: 37.742Z
Bobby Kotick Statement
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick shared the following employees via email:
Team,
Today is an incredibly exciting day. As we continue our journey to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment, we will eventually do so as part of Microsoft. I'm confident that our incredible talent and outstanding gameplay combined with our shared commitment to the best place to work will allow us to grow into an increasingly competitive leadership race as gaming evolves in the metaverse.
How we got here and where we are going
When you think about what we've built together, we have a lot to be proud of. Over the past 31 years, we have continually shaped the game through our commitment to bringing joy, fun, and the thrill of achievement.
We've turned gaming into social experiences, empowering gamers to find purpose and meaning through the most engaging form of entertainment: our games. In doing so, we have created and entertained communities of hundreds of millions of players.
Connecting these communities together is the next step. Facebook, Google, Tencent, NetEase, Amazon, Apple, Sony, Disney, and many more have ambitions for their own metaverse and gaming initiatives. Established and emerging competitors see an opportunity for virtual worlds filled with professionally produced content, user-generated content, and rich social connections.
Our talent and games are important parts of building a rich metaverse. We have always attracted the best game creators and created the best games, seizing opportunities with passion, inspiration, focus and determination.
An alliance to define the future
As investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, and user interface and experience capabilities become more competitive, we believe this partnership will realize our ambitions.
When considering potential partners, all roads ultimately lead to Microsoft. Like us, they have been making games for a long time. Microsoft has already delivered games to hundreds of millions of computers and computing devices around the world and has technologies and innovations that will support the next generation of games.
Microsoft will also support our journey to further strengthen our culture. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been a strong advocate of benevolence as a leadership motto. Inspiring people with empathy is a powerful motivator, one we embrace as we renew our resolve, and in the work we do now, to set a new standard for a welcoming and inclusive work culture.
Above all, Microsoft wants you: your talent, your creativity, and your dedication to each other. Activision Blizzard's success over the years can be directly attributed to each of you. Microsoft recognizes the commitment to excellence and creative independence that sets us apart, and we anticipate minimal changes to our workforce after the transaction closes. Microsoft's various operations will give us access to valuable expertise, technology and tools and provide even more opportunities for learning and development.
No organization's culture, including ours, needs to improve, and thanks to your input, we're making progress in improving ours. My commitment is to continue to evolve our culture so that Microsoft ultimately has an exemplary workplace.
And then
Transactions like these can take a long time. Until we receive all necessary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, which we expect to be in Microsoft's fiscal 2023 year ending June 30, 2023, we will continue to operate fully autonomously. I will continue as CEO with the same passion and enthusiasm that I had when I started this incredible adventure in 1991.
Of course, this announcement will raise many questions. We will host many forums and events to make sure your concerns are addressed.
I am incredibly proud of this company, of you, and of the work we have done together. Now let's move on to our next chapter and the endless possibilities this transaction represents for us. I couldn't be more grateful for your effort, focus, and dedication to connecting the world through joy and fun.
With gratitude,
Police officer
2022-01-18T14: 22: 23.811ZXbox boss Phil Spencer is, unsurprisingly, excited about the announcement.
As we spread the joy and community of gaming to everyone, we're incredibly excited to welcome the fantastic teams and iconic franchises at Activision Blizzard to Team Xbox https://t.co/DVrgYS8ssB January 18, 2022
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2022-01-18T14: 21: 53.610ZWhat does this mean for the PS5?
Our lead game writer, Adam Vjestica says;
One thing is for sure, even in these early stages of the deal: Xbox Game Pass will soon welcome more Activision Blizzard games in the future, many of which will likely launch directly on the subscription service.
This means that the next Call of Duty could potentially be free for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, while PS5 owners will have to shell out €70/€70. It could also jeopardize future exclusivity deals Sony has made in terms of content, as has been the case with Call of Duty since the launch of the PlayStation 4 in 2013.
2022-01-18T14: 09: 14.293ZMicrosoft confirmed that it had agreed to acquire Activision Blizzard for €68,7 billion on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET.
That's great news, not just because of the amount Microsoft is paying, but also because of the big-name titles it's acquiring.
BREAKING: The WSJ is reporting that Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard, the struggling publisher behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, which has faced a slump for the past year following widespread reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination. A Seismic Gambling DealJanuary 18, 2022
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