Activision
CompanyUnited States
Documents about Activision
Is 2024 the Year Microsoft Finally Makes Its Move in Mobile?
The mobile gaming industry stands at a potential turning point in 2024, with significant speculation surrounding Microsoft’s strategic entry into the mobile market.
- Microsoft is positioned to challenge the Apple and Google mobile app store duopoly in 2024, bolstered by its acquisition of Activision, Blizzard, and King.
- While Microsoft has publicly expressed intent to launch its own mobile game store, internal concerns persist regarding the difficulty of breaking the current market dominance of Apple and Google.
- Legislative and judicial shifts, such as the EU's Digital Markets Act and Epic Games' legal victory against Google, are expected to facilitate the entry of alternative app stores and payment methods.
Xbox Has Considered Bringing Sea of Thieves to PlayStation
Microsoft has explored the possibility of porting its marquee multiplayer title, Sea of Thieves, to the PlayStation platform.
- Microsoft has explored bringing its first-party multiplayer title Sea of Thieves to PlayStation, marking a potential shift in strategy for its marquee Xbox and PC games.
- The global video game industry experienced approximately 10,500 job losses in 2023, following an estimated 8,500 job cuts in 2022.
- Netflix is shifting its strategy away from interactive shows like 'Bandersnatch' to focus on interactive narrative games, such as those based on 'Money Heist' and 'Love is Blind'.
Insomniac Breach: The Economics of Hacking the Games Business
The Insomniac Games data breach, orchestrated by the Rhysida ransomware group, highlights a significant disconnect between the technical capabilities of hackers and their understanding of the video game industry’s economic fundamentals.
- The Rhysida ransomware group failed to secure a $2 million ransom from Sony after stealing 1.7 terabytes of confidential Insomniac Games data, confirming that hackers often struggle to monetize stolen gaming assets.
- Major data breaches, including those at Rockstar Games and Capcom, have failed to negatively impact long-term commercial success, as evidenced by record-breaking engagement for Grand Theft Auto VI despite its prior leak.
- Google’s $700 million antitrust settlement regarding the Play Store represents only 0.3% of its annual revenue, though it mandates significant changes to payment ecosystem structures.
Bobby Kotick to Leave Activision Blizzard on Dec. 29
Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, the company is undergoing a significant leadership transition.
- Bobby Kotick will step down as CEO of Activision Blizzard on December 29, 2023, following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of the company.
- Activision Blizzard's leadership team, including the heads of Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, and King, will now report directly to Matt Booty, the President of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft.
- The CEO role at Activision Blizzard will not be filled; instead, the company is being integrated into the broader Microsoft Gaming organizational structure.
Call of Duty League Broadcasts Exclusive to YouTube for 2023-2024 Season
The Call of Duty League (CDL) has transitioned to an exclusive broadcast partnership with YouTube for the 2023-2024 season, marking a departure from the multi-platform approach utilized during the previous year.
- The Call of Duty League (CDL) has designated YouTube as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 2023-2024 season, ending the multi-platform distribution model used during the 2022-2023 season.
- All 2023-2024 CDL matches will be broadcast in 4K resolution exclusively on the official YouTube Gaming channel.
- Financial terms of the new media rights agreement between Activision Blizzard and YouTube were not disclosed.
Tundra Esports CEO Carleton Curtis to Step Down
Carleton Curtis is set to depart from his leadership positions at Tundra Esports and its parent company, Sandstorm Media Group, effective at the end of 2023.
- Carleton Curtis will step down as CEO of Tundra Esports and executive chairman of its parent company, Sandstorm Media Group, at the end of 2023.
- Tundra Esports co-founder Maxim Demin will assume the leadership role following Curtis' departure.
- Curtis joined Tundra Esports as interim CEO and executive board member in February 2023, having previously served as a non-executive board member for Sandstorm Media Group since December 2021.
G2 Esports in the Final Stages of Completing Version1 Acquisition
Berlin-based G2 Esports is in the final stages of acquiring Minnesota-based organization Version1, a move that includes the transfer of the Call of Duty League franchise, Minnesota RØKKR.
- G2 Esports is in the final stages of acquiring Version1, a deal that includes the transfer of the Call of Duty League franchise Minnesota RØKKR.
- Version1 has informed its remaining staff of approximately four to five employees that they may be subject to layoffs as early as December 2, 2023.
- The acquisition follows months of extended negotiations between G2 Esports and Version1 management regarding a merger.
Top 10 Game Publishers: 2023 Global Market Revenue Analysis
The global games market is projected to reach $184 billion in 2023, representing a 0.6% year-over-year increase as the industry stabilizes following pandemic-related volatility.
- The global games market is projected to reach $184 billion in 2023, a 0.6% increase, with long-term forecasts estimating $205.7 billion by 2026.
- The top 10 game publishers generated $54.4 billion in the first half of 2023, capturing nearly 30% of the total projected annual revenue.
- Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which saw a 35.5% year-over-year revenue increase, creates a new industry powerhouse that ranks as the second-largest publisher by revenue.
Teams Vote to Exit Overwatch League
The Overwatch League has reached a critical turning point as a majority of its franchise teams have voted to exit the league. This decision marks the formal conclusion of the league’s existing franchised structure.
- A majority of Overwatch League (OWL) franchisees have voted to exit the league, effectively ending the current franchised model.
- The dissolution of the league required a two-thirds majority vote from franchisees, who are eligible for a $6 million USD exit payout per team.
- OverActive Media confirmed that the Team Participation Agreements (TPAs) for the league have been officially terminated.
OverActive Media First Organization to Announce Exit From Franchised Overwatch League
OverActive Media has become the first organization to formally exit the franchised Overwatch League, signaling a significant shift in the professional esports landscape.
- OverActive Media has become the first organization to officially exit the franchised Overwatch League after reaching a final termination agreement with Activision Blizzard.
- The agreement grants OverActive Media a total termination payment of $8.26M CAD ($6M USD) from Activision Blizzard.
- The payout includes approximately $916K CAD ($666K USD) for payments previously advanced by the league to the Toronto Defiant.
Microsoft Q1 FY24 Financial Results: Gaming Business Update
Microsoft’s financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 demonstrate a period of record-breaking performance for its gaming division, characterized by strong software engagement despite a decline in hardware sales.
- Microsoft Gaming revenue reached $3.919 billion in Q1 FY24, a 9% year-over-year increase driven by a 13% rise in content and services revenue.
- The integration of Activision Blizzard and the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III are projected to drive Q2 FY24 revenue growth between 45% and 49%.
- Console hardware sales declined by 7% year-over-year, contrasting with the strong performance in software and service engagement.
How Are New F2P Games Doing on Steam in 2023?
This analysis examines the performance of new free-to-play (F2P) titles on Steam throughout 2023, seeking to establish benchmarks for a sector often considered a data "black hole" compared to mobile gaming.
- Top-performing new free-to-play titles on Steam in 2023 achieved a median player count of approximately 763,000, with total library additions often doubling that figure.
- The market is dominated by cross-platform titles, as nearly all top-grossing free-to-play games on Steam maintain active mobile versions to drive retention and engagement.
- Monetization varies widely across the sector, with a median lifetime revenue per player of $2.02, ranging from $1.35 for titles like Trackmania to $17.00 for Magic The Gathering: Arena.
Its games in the library
Halo: Combat EvolvedBungie · 200112
Call of DutyInfinity Ward · 2003558
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Sledgehammer Games · 20117
Halo 3Bungie · 20074- Call of Duty: Black Ops 625
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 714
- Halo: Campaign Evolved3
Grand Theft Auto VIRockstar North · 2026171
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity Ward · 20099