Xbox Now Owns Call of Duty! Activision Bought by Microsoft

pczone.co.uk:

Where were you when Microsoft bought Activision?? Such a phrase could well be uttered for years to come as gamers come to terms with what could be a seismic event in the games industry.

The publisher behind Diablo, Crash Bandicoot, Starcraft, World of Warcraft and yes, Call of Duty, is now owned by team green, and gamers are freaking out about it.

If you’re an Xbox guy, you’re probably licking your lips at the prospect of never having to pay for CoD again – as it’ll inevitably appear on Game Pass. If you’re a Sony fanboy you may be trashing your Mum’s basement in a fit of nerd rage right now, as many of your favourite games franchises may no longer be coming to PlayStation. More on that shortly.

In case you haven’t heard, Activision Blizzard has been embroiled in open warfare with many of its staff for months now, as countless allegations of sexual harassment and staff misconduct have forced management into sacking dozens of employees.

Embattled boss Bobby Kotick, who is accused of covering up the worst abuses, is still in charge but is thought to be one of the first casualties of the Microsoft acquisition. A smart move for Phil Spencer as he’ll want to start the relationship on a positive note with the wider gaming community.

With no sign of staff unrest resolving itself anytime soon, a change in management at the top is probably the best thing that could happen to the publisher right now.

And given how many massive games the publisher is responsible for there’s no doubt that despite the trouble Activision Blizzard is in, it’s a worthwhile investment for Microsoft.

This is the question gamers are furiously debating online, as no announcements have yet been made.

Phil Spencer has been quoted on the matter, but his answer could