Not content with purchasing Mojang (Minecraft) back in 2014 and Bethesda (Doom/Quake/Elder Scrolls/Fallout) Microsoft appears hell-bent on dominating the gaming industry. Microsoft’s latest acquisition, Activision Blizzard, home to the Call of Duty franchise, Candy Crush, Starcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and a host of classic (originally) PlayStation properties such as Tony Hawks and Crash Bandicoot is a massive coup for their streaming ‘Gamepass’ platform.
Since purchasing Bethesda which has already meant the development of certain titles such as future Elder Scrolls are to become Microsoft Xbox exclusive, it’s certainly sent a shiver down other platforms potential reach.
Call of Duty to be an Xbox Exclusive?
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Will we now see the likes of Call of Duty as Xbox only?
The logical answer says no, at least not initially, the franchise sells millions of copies worldwide on Sony PlayStation and it seems remiss to shut down that avenue of revenue.
However never say never, and we are sure to see certain Xbox only exclusives for the series for now.
In Microsoft’s own press release, the purchase will place Microsoft in third place in revenue for a gaming company behind Tencent and interestingly Sony.
Activision comes with a huge amount of bad press and lawsuits for sexual harassment came to light last year with a number of senior members in the firing line.
The deal is still subject to approval in 2023, and you have to expect some queries over anti-trust and monopolization will come into factor with such a sale.
Microsoft purchases Activision Blizzard
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How Sony will respond is anyone’s guess, Sony has a history of developing in house and working with independent studios on titles before bringing them into the brand.
However, Microsoft, have a different tactic over the years in acquiring well known prestigious studios into their video game family, but perhaps this may be a step too far.
Will they continue to support Nintendo and the Switch which has a catalogue of Activision games on the platform from Diablo to Doom?
This also isn’t the only takeover happening right now, as Take-Two, owners of 2k and Rockstar Games (if you didn’t know already creators of GTA) are about to buy mobile games giant Zynga for $12.8bn.
All eyes will be on the Japanese company to just how, if at all, the giant will respond to Microsoft pretty much resetting the gaming landscape overnight and if it changes any plans.
With Sony looking to push further into the VR market with a new headset releasing for the PS5, a potential 3D scanner for the device is also in the works…
Along with a rival to ‘Gamepass’ rumoured to be on the way to replace the rather weak PS Plus it will certainly be interesting.
With revenues of £18 billion ($25b) from their gaming arm, as opposed to the combined £14.billion ($19.7b) from Microsoft & Activision, I think PlayStation, will be just fine.
But questions remain whether this is a good thing for the industry as a whole and whether the US government, will allow it to happen.
What do you make of the news?
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
We’d love to hear your take in the comments below.
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