Inside Track

Microsoft Completes Activision Purchase

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(Arsenii Palivoda/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

On October 13, Microsoft completed its acquisition of popular video game maker Activision Blizzard, known for hits such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, and Candy Crush Saga. The $69 billion deal is going down in history as one of the most expensive tech purchases ever, and is making waves throughout the video game industry.

The acquisition took almost 22 months, as multiple governmental regulatory bodies feared Microsoft’s cornering of one of the biggest video game producers would allow it to suffocate the competition. However, Microsoft defended itself by saying its aim is to simply make Activision games available on more platforms, not take games away from rival producers.

The deal’s completion came after the U.K.’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority, walked back its earlier decision to block the consolidation of the two companies. 

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