Microsoft is set on its quest to become one of the world’s biggest gaming superpowers, and a large step towards that goal will be the purchase of Activision Blizzard. It announced its plans to swallow up the largest game company in America and Europe in January 2022, and analysts expect that the deal will go through for $68.7 billion.
Gamers are now worried about what this means for many of Activision Blizzard’s best loved franchises. There’s a chance that they could become Xbox exclusives, meaning that anyone without a Microsoft device will be unable to access them. Another scenario could see Xbox users get the games included in their subscriptions, with PlayStation players still having to pay full whack for the titles.
Activision Blizzard Owns Some of the World’s Biggest Franchises
There’s no doubt that this would be an enormous move for Microsoft that would send ripples through the whole of the gaming industry. Activision Blizzard is responsible for some of the most popular games in the world, with Call of Duty being its main franchise.
The first-person shooter game series has shipped more than 400 million copies and is officially the most successful franchise created in the USA. In addition to being a much-loved console title, it has also had a huge impact on the eSports industry. The titles have been used in competitive gaming since 2006, and there are now various big-money leagues and competitions surrounding it.
Activision Blizzard also made Overwatch, another massive eSport title. The game was created in 2016 without eSports in mind, but it quickly became one of the most important titles in the competitive gaming scene. Along with lucrative competitions such as the Overwatch League, it has also attracted the attention of industries outside of gaming. The first title was a giant in this regard, and there are high expectations for the sequel as well.
For example, the Overwatch League has been sponsored by international corporations like Intel, Toyota, and Spotify. It is also one of the most staked-on eSports titles in the betting industry. Indeed, betting apps in markets where there is a large volume of sports betting activity, like Australia — have branched out into eSports to attract a wider demographic. For example, bet365 has started to offer several eSports markets on top of traditional sports like football and horse racing. Overwatch is one of the biggest pulls for the brand.
Many Titles Now Coming to Game Pass
A lot could change for these much-loved titles if they do become Xbox exclusives. In a recent report, it was confirmed by Xbox boss Phil Spencer that Overwatch and Diablo would be coming to Game Pass soon. That means that anyone with a subscription will be able to download the titles without any additional fees. The games will still be coming to PlayStation, but Sony users will have to pay for them.
Experts are now speculating over what this could mean for the future of Activision Blizzard’s treasured titles. The next Call of Duty game will be coming to PlayStation, but if Microsoft’s acquisition goes through, the landscape could be vastly different for CoD titles over the next few years. If these games all become exclusives that only Xbox users can play, it could have an effect on the standing of Activision Blizzard’s games within the eSports industry. Indeed, it may even push them down the rankings and end up being a bad move for the company.
PlayStation users are rightly concerned about these recent developments, as they don’t want to have to switch consoles to be able to play their favourite games. This news also hints at a more divided future, in which players will have to choose which device to buy based on the games it has the rights to offer. For now, Activision Blizzard’s games will be available to everyone, but it may not be the case in five years’ time.
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