Why Microsoft Should (& Shouldn't) Have Bought Activision Blizzard
Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.
In a move that seemingly no one expected today, Microsoft has just acquired Activision Blizzard for an alleged $70 billion; a bold move considering that the lawsuits against and investigations of Activision Blizzard are still ongoing. While the acquisition puts Microsoft in a tricky place since it now owns a huge chunk of the industry, it will also put the industry giant under the direction of Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, which could possibly result in a quality-of-life improvement for some developers.
In July 2021, The state of California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for its environment of harassment and discrimination against women. This was immediately met with near universal backlash which led to the exit of a number of high-profile figures from the company. The allegations are harrowing, and subsequent reporting around topics such as Activision Blizzard pressuring employees not to unionize haven't done the company any favors.
Related: Who Blizzard's New Co-Leaders Are
This surprise announcement with Microsoft's buyout conjures up some mixed feelings to say the least — but this may ultimately be a good thing. When the buyout is complete, Activision Blizzard will be reporting to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. Spencer has a
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