Activision
CompanyUnited States
Documents about Activision
Ubisoft's Subscription Play: A Data Collaboration with Antenna on the State of Gaming Services
Ubisoft’s strategic pivot toward subscription-based revenue models reflects a broader industry effort to establish steady, recurring income streams and mitigate the financial risks associated with hit-driven blockbuster cycles.
- Ubisoft+ struggles with long-term retention, experiencing a net loss in subscribers over an eighteen-month period despite aggressive promotional campaigns.
- Promotional tactics, such as one-dollar sign-ups and free access to major franchises like Assassin’s Creed, drive significant initial user spikes but result in high churn rates once the offers expire.
- Platform holders like Sony hold a massive competitive advantage, averaging 48 times more monthly sign-ups than Ubisoft+ due to their broader ecosystem reach.
Revise and Resubmit: Microsoft's Restructured Proposal to Buy Activision Blizzard
Microsoft’s restructured proposal to acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion aims to resolve antitrust concerns raised by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
- Microsoft has restructured its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by divesting cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft to satisfy UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) antitrust concerns.
- Ubisoft will hold exclusive worldwide cloud gaming rights for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles for a 15-year period, excluding the European Economic Area.
- The deal requires Ubisoft to pay Microsoft a one-off fee and ongoing usage-based wholesale pricing, with initial investment estimates for Ubisoft pegged at approximately $100 million.
UK Competition Regulators to Re-examine Microsoft/Activision Blizzard Deal
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated a new Phase 1 investigation into a restructured proposal for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a new Phase 1 investigation into a restructured Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard, with a final decision deadline set for October 18.
- The revised proposal grants Ubisoft the rights to manage cloud gaming access for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles for a 15-year period, excluding the European Economic Area.
- Microsoft’s divestment of cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft is designed to address the CMA’s specific concerns regarding long-term market competition and regulatory oversight.
CMA Considers New Proposal From Microsoft to Finalize Activision Blizzard Acquisition
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a phase one investigation into a revised proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set an October 18, 2023, deadline to rule on a new proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- To address previous regulatory concerns regarding cloud gaming, Microsoft has proposed divesting the cloud streaming rights for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles to Ubisoft for a 15-year period.
- Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick stated that the divestiture proposal does not alter the core merger agreement, closing deadline, or the cash consideration to be paid per share.
InvestGame Games Industry Report: H1 2023
The global gaming industry experienced a significant contraction in deal activity during the first half of 2023, characterized by a sharp decline in both the volume and total value of transactions.
- The global gaming industry saw a sharp contraction in H1 2023, with 324 closed deals totaling $4.1 billion, an 89.6% decrease in total value compared to $39.7 billion in H1 2022.
- Mergers and acquisitions experienced the most severe downturn, recording a 31-fold decrease in total deal value compared to the previous year.
- Private investment value dropped fivefold year-over-year, as venture capital investors shifted focus from new ventures to bridge or follow-on rounds for existing studios.
America First Legal Files Complaint Against Activision Blizzard With EEOC
The conservative watchdog group America First Legal (AFL) has filed a formal civil rights complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Activision Blizzard.
- The conservative watchdog group America First Legal (AFL) has filed a formal civil rights complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Activision Blizzard.
- AFL issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Activision Blizzard discontinue the use of gender and racial preferences in its hiring and internship programs.
- The complaint alleges that Activision Blizzard’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies discriminate against white, Asian, and Jewish male applicants by utilizing 'diverse slates' in recruitment.
Amazon Games Hires Industry Vet Wei Yue to Lead Competition and Esports Efforts
Amazon Games has appointed industry veteran Wei Yue as its new director of competition and esports.
- Amazon Games has hired industry veteran Wei Yue as its new director of competition and esports.
- Yue previously spent over four years at Ubisoft Montreal, where he served as esports director and product director of esports for Rainbow Six Siege.
- Prior to his time at Ubisoft, Yue worked at Activision Blizzard for nearly nine years, holding various esports-related roles including associate manager of esports for the EMEA region.
Layoffs for What: Letting Go of Talent to Improve Share Price Performance Works, Most of the Time
This analysis explores the correlation between workforce reductions and shareholder value within the video game industry during a period of post-pandemic market cooling.
- Public game publishers are increasingly using layoffs as a primary mechanism to signal operational efficiency and boost short-term share price performance.
- Electronic Arts saw its stock rise by 2.3% following a 200-person layoff in February 2023, followed by a 7.5% increase after a 6% workforce reduction the following month.
- CD Projekt Red experienced a 4.1% increase in its share price immediately following the announcement of staff reductions in May 2023.
Blizzard's Billion Dollar Quarter: Industry Essential Facts
The gaming industry experienced a period of significant financial contrast during the mid-2023 earnings season.
- Activision Blizzard reported $2.5 billion in quarterly revenue, driven by a 160% year-over-year growth for the Blizzard segment and 10 million players for Diablo 4 in June 2023.
- King Digital, Activision’s mobile division, saw a 10% year-over-year revenue increase for its Candy Crush franchise.
- Ubisoft reported $298 million in quarterly revenue, which represented a decline from the previous year but still exceeded the company's internal guidance despite an 8% drop in digital sales.
Our Industry News (17/07/23 - 23/07/23)
The publication serves as a weekly industry briefing, summarizing key developments in the gaming sector for the week of 17–23 July 2023.
- Microsoft has secured a 10-year agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The UK Competition and Markets Authority has initiated a six-week review of Microsoft’s revised cloud gaming proposal.
- Xbox Live Gold will be rebranded as Game Pass Core on 14 September, with pricing set at £10 monthly or £60 annually.
#218: Get the Papers
This industry update provides a comprehensive overview of major developments in the gaming sector as of July 2023.
- Microsoft and Activision have extended their merger deadline to October 18, 2023, following the FTC's decision to drop its administrative challenge to the deal.
- Activision Blizzard reported a 34% revenue increase for the first half of 2023, driven by the success of Diablo IV, which helped Blizzard achieve its first billion-dollar quarter.
- Sony has signed a ten-year binding agreement to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation platforms.
Activision Blizzard Q2 2023 Financial Results
Activision Blizzard’s financial results for the second quarter of 2023 demonstrate significant growth across all primary metrics, largely propelled by the successful launch of Diablo IV.
- Activision Blizzard reported $2.2 billion in Q2 2023 net revenue, a 34% year-over-year increase, driven by a 50% rise in net bookings to $2.46 billion.
- The Blizzard segment achieved its first $1 billion quarterly revenue milestone, marking a 168% year-over-year increase fueled by the launch of Diablo IV, which reached over 10 million players in June.
- Operating income grew by 72.4% to $583 million, with digital sales accounting for 91% of total revenue.
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