Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard

That was before gamepass though. Apparently, we're going to have to wait until next summer to see.

Phil just had enough of Jimbo's exclusive cod weapon skins and said **** it

They are still independent… The deal isn’t done… They can’t fire someone they don’t have control over. MS already sent a release stating that once the deal is done, Activision will report directly to Phil Spencer. Thats PR and legal speak for Bobby being gone next June.

Defending? Stating the obviousness is defending? This news really have you in stupid mode. I will wait until you return to "normal".

I doubt he'll stay for long after the deal is done in June 2023. Doesn't seem like a guy who likes taking orders.

I really hope MS doesn't just put everything on COD while the other IPs die of death. It'll be a really bad bet.

This is silly. How is this kind of movement good for gaming?

I just learned of this. I hope that's what happens.

Why? They will push the diehards to their platform. That equals more money. COD is still the best selling franchise every year. Now all those consumers need to join the Xbox ecosystem to play their game. This is the shift Xbox and Game Pass needed.

I hate this. I don't buy Activision games, kinda sucks if I have to end up blacklisting MS too.

It's not.

To people complaining that Bobby is still there:

They HAVE to say that he's staying in place and he will until the purchase goes through. Acquisitions and mergers 101. If they say that he's fired when the deal closes then the stock drops (which it would, despite our hate for him) then the stockholders revolt and the deal falls through. They could even be sued.

To ensure a smooth acquisition and to please antitrust board members, you want as little controversy as possible. That means hands off and don't speak about your intentions.

I don't think Phil will fire Bobby, I think he will step down. Bobby likes to be in charge and he wouldn't be anymore. There's likely an agreement with him to remain during the transition. It's how these things work

Poo cows...

lol :P

Let's see if next COD ends up on PS4/PS5 anyways.

they will hold him under their thumb for sure. Theres no more screwing around for kotick, hes on a tight leash.

They can't 'fire' him because the deal isn't closed yet and legally they can't even demand any changes or comment on that as that would be considered 'influencing' the business before the deal.

The problem is not whether they will fire Bobby or won't. He would still have made bank via bonus for closing the deal for the shareholders.

Just think of all the million who buy a PS5 for CoD. Now PS5 is hard to find, and it has no CoD. Xbox just gained millions of subscribers. Well played Microsoft.

Sounds like Microsoft is about to exit the game industry /s

This is actually bad for the industry, but is the nature of things. Market caps have become inflated so companies have money to spend on appreciating assets.

If this is the only way to get Bobby fired from the office then I support MS buying Activision cause that man has got to go!

Uh, they've been working with Sony just as much, if not more, especially since PS4. PS4 sold way more copies of CoD than Xbox One did.

I don't see how you're possibly trying to compare Sony working with small to medium sized developers like MM on Littlebigplanet, Sucker Punch on Infamous, Housemarque on Returnal etc. then purchasing those devs after their game did well for Playstation with Microsoft outright buying giant corporations and their existing library of multiplatform titles but go on.

I agree, but I don't think that would happen. It would be silly to pay 50B and not maximize the value of IPs that have room to grow.

In this instance I doubt they remove franchises like COD from any other platform unless the caveat to Sony is to allow GamePass on PlayStation.

This was in Phil's blog today

Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and we plan to continue to support those communities moving forward.

Yup I just learned about the deal being final next year.

@regnaston: Sony can add Cloud gaming. Lol. Sony has no games now 😊

Hey now, does this put MS back in charge of Bungie since Act. is the pub. of Destiny and D2? lol :P

Lol.

Far as I'm concerned Actiblizz games don't exist.

I'd love to see MS completely gut the company. I don't care if I have nostalgic memories of the Blizzard of my childhood. The walking corpse that is modern Blizz is morally bankrupt and should be destroyed and salvaged for parts.

They won't remove existing instalments from other platforms, but just like Bethesda, all future ActiBlizz games are definitely going exclusive.

The one to watch is Overwatch 2, whether they'll release before or after that June 2023 deadline. Could be a 50/50 thing.

@SecretPolice: O man, what if they make new Halo like Destiny 🙃

@mysticaldonut: Sony purchases studios one at a time, MS purchases in bulk. You are trying to make one more virtuous than the other when it isn't.

How are you unable to comprehend the difference between PUBLISHER vs DEVELOPER. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

@mesome713:

Lol either way it's gonna make for some good SW material.

Well, if you're not part of the bovine brigade that is. lol :P

@zmanbarzel: Wow. I am not sure I like this, I like competition.

Call of Duty sucks so who cares? let me know when they buy something good.

apparently kotick has a $300million golden parachute if he gets fired. Better to keep him for now then fire his ass when contract renewal comes up.

these crooked bastards always have backup plans

Bungie could just say no. They left MS and Activision. I doubt they'd wanna worki with their fusion.

@SecretPolice: Bungie left Activision last year I thought.

@mysticaldonut: I know the difference. I am simply explaining to you in the simplest terms and you still don't get it. It doesn't matter how the studios are acquired, the fact is that both companies have been purchasing studios. You falsely believe one is more virtuous than the other when it is not. The end results are the same, they acquire studios.

The people thinking that Bobby will somehow suffer from this must be insane. The guy is the CEO, he'll get a % of the deal's value, this move will make him more money than working at Activision for a decade.

@vfighter:

Well to be fair I was just being a bit facetious because Bungie remains independent but to my knowledge Activision remains the publisher of both Destiny's, Bungie's only active IP. :P

All be doing here is hurting yourself.

Besides, if it's for some moral reason, got bad news, all of these companies are evil.

@SecretPolice: I don't know all the details, but Destiny 2 was supposed to end it's run with Activision after a certain time period. Bungie is still the owners of the IP unless something drastically changed.

Damn ... this was unexpected. I want to be positive and i hope this goes well for Blizzard's employees and franchises. As for Sony, i don't think they are in full panic mode but is going to hurt in the long run.

@rmpumper: Sadly you are correct. He either stays as CEO and makes UNGODLY amounts of money, or he leaves and get a severance package that would make Bill Gates blush, either way he wins.

This is ridiculous. Sony has to do something. Not good for the industry.

@vfighter:

Perhaps they got wind of this deal go down and said no way will we be in bed with MS again. lol :P

Why the concern over Bobby Kotick?

the bad guys are always winning in our world sad to say. Its always been like that. Reminds me of charlie sheen #winning

this whole thing reminds me of MS trying to buy out nintendo way back in the day. Looks like MS really are that crazy.

@blaznwiipspman1 said:

the bad guys are always winning in our world sad to say. Its always been like that. Reminds me of charlie sheen #winning

If only the free peoples of middle earth banded together and held placards saying "you're bad".