Will Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard lead to antitrust scrutiny?

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could result in the company facing antitrust scrutiny from regulators. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is expected to leave the company after completion of the merger. Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service could become an important part of its revenue mix after the acquisition.

How much money will Kotick make after Activision acquisition?

Kotick owns 4 million shares, or 0.53% of the company, and Bloomberg estimates that he should earn a windfall of $375.3 million after the acquisition is complete. Activision's shares jumped by almost 38% upon news of the deal, but Microsoft investors remained relatively unexcited about it.

Will Activision's acquisition help democratize gaming?

The Activision acquisition could further boost its importance to the company's future. Microsoft says that the acquisition will help it "democratize" gaming by providing access to best-selling titles, which are otherwise expensive, through a cloud-based monthly subscription service called Game Pass.

Is Activision Blizzard extending its culture of proactive inclusion?

“We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.” The agreement is pending regulatory review and Activision Blizzard shareholder approval, with the deal set to close in 2023.