Activision: The Deal is Done – Now What?

gamesreviews.com:

Since the Activision merger was announced in January last year, it’s been all we’ve talked about. No gaming news has quite lived up to this giant behemoth, edging ever more closely to the finish line. And it probably never will again.

But it is indeed now done. What impact is it going to have on the industry? Will Microsoft keep buying? And where does this leave PlayStation?

Suffice it to say this deal is going to feel like a lot of nothing… until it doesn’t.

I’m not exaggerating. We know that’s how it will be, because that’s exactly how it was with Bethesda. There will be a burst of excitement when a catalogue of older games hit Game Pass, and again when the first Activision games hit Game Pass day one. Double points if that game is called Call of Duty.

But actually, the next couple of years are going to feel like nothing at all has changed. Marketing for the next Call of Duty game will probably have a green splash screen rather than a blue one. Maybe, although unlikely, there will be an exclusive game in the next 12 months. How about that Spyro 4 that’s been teased throughout the year?

But chances are, unless Activision has something immediately up their sleeve, the biggest difference will be that Activision revenue now sits comfortably alongside Xbox revenue. In the short-term that potentially means more money for Game Pass. But outside of Game Pass, you’re unlikely to see much difference.

Yes.

Oh, you want more?

Everybody involved in Xbox has said they will continue to buy following the closure of the Activision merger. It’s now a matter of time and scope.

For instance, we know both Paradox and SEGA have been high on their lists. Both have a great relationship with Xbox, with their games coming regularly to Game