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Oct.26,2023
On October 13th, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that it has approved Microsoft's revised acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but this approval does not include the rights to cloud gaming. Following this announcement, Microsoft officially announced the joining of Activision Blizzard, celebrating the moment with a cool montage video. Microsoft's President, Brad Smith, also expressed his gratitude for CMA's thorough review and decision, stating, "We have crossed the final hurdle, and we believe that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will benefit gamers and the gaming industry worldwide." This battle between Microsoft and various regulatory agencies finally came to an end after nearly two years, although the outcome of losing control over cloud gaming is not perfect for Microsoft, they have at least acquired a host of Activision Blizzard's intellectual properties. This major acquisition was not as simple as imagined, and the aftershocks of the "earthquake" continue to impact the gaming industry and a large number of gamers. So, what changes can we expect after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and what can we, as players, look forward to? First and foremost, Microsoft's first-party lineup has significantly expanded. Notable Blizzard IPs such as "Diablo," "World of Warcraft," and "Overwatch," as well as Activision's revenue driver, "Call of Duty," are now under Microsoft's umbrella. The addition of these IPs not only enriches the gaming experience for players but also fosters a more harmonious community environment. Furthermore, Microsoft can incorporate Activision Blizzard's IPs into the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service, which will likely result in a surge in XGP subscription numbers. Microsoft had previously stated that the subscription numbers for XGP had not met the company's expectations, so quickly integrating Activision Blizzard's IPs into XGP is now a top priority for Microsoft. Moreover, backed by Microsoft's financial support, many classic and older IPs can finally get sequels or remakes. For instance, on the Blizzard side, "StarCraft 3" and "Warcraft 4" are highly anticipated projects. Regarding Activision, there are even more IPs that can be revived, including "Guitar Hero," "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater," and "Return to Castle Wolfenstein." It's even possible for titles like "Prototype 3" to see the light of day. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, mentioned in a recent official blog show that they would fully support Activision Blizzard in remaking their older IPs and assured that these projects wouldn't be driven solely by economic interests, hinting at a commitment to quality. Finally, there's the current CEO of Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, whom many fans hope will step down. Bobby Kotick has confirmed in an internal email to company employees that he will stay in his position until the end of 2023. If Microsoft can indeed "oust" him, this would be considered by all Blizzard fans as "the greatest thing Microsoft has ever done"! Of course, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard will not only improve the existing gaming environment but also address a series of internal issues within the company. As far back as 2021, Blizzard faced thousands of employee reports and accusations of workplace bullying and discrimination against women, among other unethical behaviors. At that time, Blizzard's senior management refused to acknowledge these behaviors, so employees had to form a union to fight against the already corrupt company. However, the acquisition by Microsoft later overshadowed this event. Now that Microsoft has finally successfully acquired Activision Blizzard, the company's corrupt internal practices will inevitably face a major cleanup. This will allow employees to focus more on the operation of various game projects. It's worth mentioning that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) still opposes this deal. A spokesperson for the FTC stated that they plan to sue Microsoft again in local courts on December 6 and will also "evaluate" the agreement the company reached with Ubisoft. The FTC has been trying to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, just as the CMA did. However, the latter was persuaded by the argument that Activision Blizzard's cloud gaming rights would be ceded to Ubisoft. What concessions Microsoft must make to gain FTC's favor remains a significant challenge. However, in the grand scheme of things, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is essentially a done deal, and the FTC alone is unlikely to make much of a splash. It's mainly a question of how much benefit Microsoft will gain. As for the "resurrection" of older IPs, it's best not to get your hopes up too high. After all, more than half of what comes out of Phil Spencer's mouth is usually false. If Microsoft can put Blizzard, which is currently in a state of disarray, back on track, that would be a significant achievement. Certainly, the removal of Bobby Kotick from the company is already a done deal, and Blizzard may truly see a new dawn in the future. In the meantime, let's hold on to a small glimmer of hope.
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