Microsoft unveils $68.7 billion Activision purchase as approach to the Metaverse - Metaverse

Microsoft, the software giant, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Activision Blizzard, one of the largest game developers and publishers in the gaming world. The deal, which includes an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, will give Microsoft ownership of major franchises such as “Call of Duty,” “Candy Crush,” “World of Warcraft” and “Diablo.” The company also mentioned that this acquisition would provide building blocks for the metaverse.

Microsoft acquires Activision to build its Metaverse

Microsoft, one of the leading software companies in the world, announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a game development company with more than 10,000 employees around the world. According to a released press release, the deal will involve a $68.7 billion transaction, the largest such acquisition the company has made. Commenting on the purchase, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said:

We're investing heavily in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and developers first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible for all.

The purchase will allow Microsoft to take control of major franchises such as “Call of Duty,” “Candy Crush,” “World of Warcraft” and “Diablo,” which together have more than 400 million monthly active players.

Gaming as a central part of the metaverse

For Nadella, the Activision acquisition will accelerate the growth of Microsoft and its gaming environment and provide the building blocks for Microsoft's takeover of the metaverse. Nadella said:

Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment today across all platforms and will play a key role in the development of Metaverse platforms.

While the company hasn't announced any Metaverse-related moves regarding its gaming division or the Xbox environment, Nadella hinted at further developments in this regard. However, the company is working on its own version of its metaverse for the office in the form of Mesh fabric. Mesh will allow Microsoft Teams users to hold meetings and chat with online avatars, replacing video conferencing with a more immersive and participatory experience.

Many blockchain gaming companies have presented their take on the metaverse with various results. The Sandbox, a Metaverse game that includes user-created NFTs, has attracted the attention of various companies, including PWC in Hong Kong invested in parcels of virtual land in the platform. The company behind the game, Animoca Brands, recently raised $358 million to bolster its Web3 projects and create its Metaverse version.

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Sergio Goschenko

Sergio is a cryptocurrency journalist based in Venezuela. He describes himself as late to the game, entering the cryptosphere when the price surge occurred in December 2017. He has a background as a computer engineer, lives in Venezuela and is affected by the cryptocurrency boom on a social level. He offers a different perspective on crypto success and how it helps the unbanked and underserved.

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