Welcoming the Incredible Teams and Legendary Franchises of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft Gaming

Call of Duty, Warcraft and Candy Crush creators join Team Xbox

We are a group of gamers who have a common goal: to spread the joy and fellowship that gaming brings to all people on this planet. We all know that gaming is the most vibrant and dynamic form of entertainment worldwide and we’ve experienced the power of social connection and friendship that gaming makes possible.

We are pursuing that mission and it’s exciting to announce the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.

Activision Blizzard has been around for decades and the teams and studios that comprise it have enjoyed immense joy and respect from millions of people across the globe. Our team is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work alongside the incredible, talented, and dedicated employees of Activision Publishing.

Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming and other businesses will remain independent until this transaction closes. The Activision Blizzard company will be reported to me, as the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, once the transaction is closed.

Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog. Today, we also revealed that Game Pass has now reached more than 25,000,000 subscribers. Game Pass continues to offer great value, and we are looking forward to adding even more games.

Cloud Gaming plans will benefit from the fantastic franchises in Activision Blizzard. Cloud Gaming allows more people, in more locations, to take part in the Xbox community via their smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Activision Blizzard is enjoyed across a range of platforms, and we intend to continue supporting those communities.

Microsoft, as a company is dedicated to inclusion within all aspects of gaming. This includes players and employees. We deeply value individual studio cultures. Creative success and autonomy are linked to treating everyone with respect and dignity. This commitment is shared by all team members and leaders. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.

Video games are the best way to have fun and connect with others around the globe. It’s the best time of year to be a gamer. We look forward to welcoming our Activision Blizzard friends to Microsoft Gaming as we share the joy of gaming with everyone.