Activision Blizzard Acquired By Xbox: What This Means For Console Exclusives

gamepur.com:

Xbox has officially closed the deal that welcomes Activision Blizzard into the Microsoft family, and the gaming market might not ever be the same. This is an industry-shaking deal that we won’t know the full effects of for years to come. Some of gaming’s most iconic titles – World of Warcraft, Diablo, Call of Duty – are in Xbox’s hands now.

In an age where console exclusivity had almost fully been abandoned, this change could be one that drastically tilts things back to the other side. We’ve already seen it happen with Starfield thanks to Xbox’s ownership of ZeniMax Media. This won’t spell doom for every new Activision Blizzard release, but it’s hard to imagine any company reportedly spending $68.7 Billion and not making a few changes.

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Xbox’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Explained

So, what does this deal mean? All of your favorite Activision Blizzard games and franchises are now a part of Xbox. These publishers would previously negotiate deals that allowed fans to access their games via the iconic console, but now they’re just as integral to the company as the controller that comes standard with each box.

The sale was initiated on January 18, 2022, and sent shockwaves through the gaming world. Xbox had already made an aggressive play with the purchase of ZeniMax, and another juggernaut addition to the green-and-white brand immediately raised concerns over a potential monopolization of the gaming industry.

Xbox was already home to games such as Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and Fable (though these titles are also available on PC), so adding ABK’s star-studded