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Microsoft Merger Officially Closed - Bobby Kotick to Stay on Throughout 2023
Blizzard
Publié
13/10/2023 à 09:25
par
Archimtiros
As of around 9am Eastern time, the $68.7 billion sale of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft has officially closed, marking the end of a
21-month struggle with regulators
and the largest tech acquisition in history!
Alongside this news, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick released a message to employees, celebrating their hard work and the growth of the company he helmed for more than thirty years. Noting successes with the development and publication of iconic games like Pitfall, MechWarrior, Warcraft, StarCraft, Call of Duty, Candy Crush, and more, Kotick shared his commitment to remain with his company as CEO during a transition period through the end of 2023.
While the wording suggests he will then depart the company for good, the future is left somewhat uncertain. For the time being, he will report to the head of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer, although Kotick had previously stated
his desire to remain working with Microsoft
in whatever capacity they would have him. In separate interviews with Gamesbeat and New York Times, the business giant said "Post close I will be available as needed," and that "reporting to Phil is an easy thing to do."
Bobby Kotick
Team,
Today marks a milestone in our company’s celebrated history.
Combining with Microsoft will bring new resources and new opportunities to our extraordinary teams worldwide. It will also enable us to deliver more fun, more joy, and more connection to more players than ever before.
This moment is possible because of your efforts over four decades to innovate, inspire, and achieve.
When Brian Kelly and I began this journey in 1991, we intended to build a company that would have great impact and lasting value. Your tireless work and unwavering commitment to excellence enabled us to do just that. In the 1980s, we pioneered independent, third-party game development with
Pitfall, River Raid,
and
Kaboom
. In the 1990s, we united the world with online multiplayer games like
MechWarrior, Warcraft,
and
StarCraft
. In the 2000s, we introduced
Call of Duty,
which became one of the most successful entertainment franchises in history. We also introduced
Guitar Hero
and
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,
which entered popular culture in ways few videogames ever have. In the 2010s, we debuted
Candy Crush Saga,
which to date has been downloaded more than five billion times and contributed to our total worldwide players being fifty percent female.
Your dedication is what makes it possible for us to continually push envelopes, break records, and delight players. Amid the uncertainty of the last 21 months, you’ve remained focused, as always, on serving our players and supporting each other.
I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition. Phil has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.
Brian and I couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter for ABK. We now join one of the most successful global companies, poised for unprecedented opportunities to connect the world through our games.
As a part of Microsoft, we will be even better, together.
Bobby
Head of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer echoed this in
his own message to Microsoft employees
, celebrating the close of the record breaking sale. Additionally, Activision Blizzard corporate news released a separate message to fans and employees, looking forward to their next adventure as an official part of the Microsoft family.
Our Next Adventure
It’s a big day for us at Activision Blizzard. For more than four decades, our players have inspired us to push the boundaries of imagination with iconic universes including
Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch,
and
Warcraft
.
Today we begin a new chapter as we officially become a part of the Microsoft family, uniting with the amazing Xbox team and co-creating the future of gaming together.
In our earliest days we were a modest collective of designers who raided rivers, commanded choppers, and avoided pitfalls. Now as part of Xbox, we will continue our mission to deliver the world’s most epic interactive entertainment experiences to more people, more platforms, and across more worlds than ever before.
All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you, our incredible gaming community.
To the reapers, fighters, rogues, and airstrikers,
The sharpshooters, revivers, healers, and bubble bursters,
Sorcerers, shamans, slayers, and survivors,
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for playing with us. We do everything we do for you, and we can't wait to embark on our next adventure together.
–The team at Activision Blizzard
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