Microsoft has finally bought Activision Blizzard

After much legal wranglings, Microsoft’s $68.7bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard is done.

It is the biggest company buyout in video games industry history and has taken two years to complete.

“As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people,” said Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

“We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone.

“We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox, from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.”

This is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Microsoft, following its purchase of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax for $8.1bn back in 2020 and prior to that the acquisition of Ninja Theory, Undead labs, Compulsion Games, Playground Games, InXile Entertainment, Obsidian and Double Fine.