Activision
CompanyUnited States
Documents about Activision
Confirmed: Chinese Overwatch League Team Chengdu Hunters Disbands
The Chengdu Hunters, a professional Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, have officially disbanded.
- The Chengdu Hunters, an Overwatch League (OWL) franchise operated by the Chinese streaming platform Huya, has officially disbanded.
- The dissolution follows the January 2023 collapse of the distribution partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard, which rendered games like Overwatch 2 legally unavailable in mainland China.
- Core players from the organization have either transitioned to the Hangzhou Spark or have become free agents.
Poison Pill: CMA Ruling Includes 10-Year Prohibition on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Takeover
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally blocked Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing significant concerns regarding the impact on the domestic game streaming market.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns over the impact on the game streaming market.
- The CMA’s final report includes a 10-year prohibition preventing Microsoft from attempting to merge with Activision Blizzard, barring a significant change in circumstances.
- Both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have publicly announced their intention to appeal the CMA's decision.
Activision Blizzard, Blocked
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked Microsoft’s proposed $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April 2023, citing significant concerns regarding the future of the cloud gaming market.
- In April 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked Microsoft’s proposed $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The CMA cited concerns that the merger would stifle competition in the cloud gaming market by allowing Microsoft to restrict access to major titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.
- Regulators rejected Microsoft’s proposed ten-year licensing agreements with Nintendo and Steam, deeming the concessions insufficient to prevent market dominance.
UK Competition and Markets Authority Prevents Microsoft’s Proposed Purchase of Activision Blizzard
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April 2023, citing significant concerns regarding the preservation of competition and innovation within the cloud gaming sector.
- In April 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard to prevent a monopoly in the cloud gaming sector.
- The CMA identified that Microsoft already holds a dominant 60% to 70% share of the global cloud gaming market, supported by its Azure and Windows infrastructure.
- Regulators concluded that acquiring major franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft would give Microsoft a commercial incentive to restrict these titles to its own cloud platforms.
UK’s Competition and Markets Authority Blocks Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally blocked Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April 2023.
- The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially blocked Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The regulatory rejection is primarily driven by concerns regarding the impact on the cloud gaming market, rather than potential exclusivity of the Call of Duty franchise.
- The CMA concluded that Microsoft’s proposed remedies for the cloud gaming sector were insufficient, citing a failure to support diverse business models and non-Windows PC operating systems.
OverActive Media Reports $27.1M Net Loss for 2022
OverActive Media reported a net loss of $27.1 million for the 2022 fiscal year, a significant increase from the $14.23 million loss recorded in 2021.
- OverActive Media reported a $27.1 million net loss for 2022, largely driven by $25.11 million in impairment charges related to its Overwatch League and Call of Duty League assets.
- The company reduced the book value of its Overwatch League assets to $4.44 million and its Call of Duty League assets to $1.8 million, citing macroeconomic conditions and Activision Blizzard’s failure to generate sufficient league revenue.
- Total revenue remained stagnant at $10.42 million in 2022 compared to $10.39 million in 2021, despite a 23% year-over-year revenue increase in the business operations segment to $5.98 million.
Industry Veteran Sam Braithwaite Joins ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has appointed industry veteran Sam Braithwaite as its new vice president of game ecosystems for mobile.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has appointed industry veteran Sam Braithwaite as the new vice president of game ecosystems for mobile.
- Braithwaite will lead the strategic direction of the Snapdragon Pro Series, a mobile esports circuit operated in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung.
- Prior to joining EFG, Braithwaite served as the global director of esports at Activision Blizzard for nearly four years, managing titles including Hearthstone and World of Warcraft.
Update: NetEase and Activision Blizzard Legal Status
The reported legal conflict between NetEase and Activision Blizzard regarding a $43.4 million USD debt has been clarified as a case of mistaken identity.
- Initial reports that NetEase filed a $43.4 million lawsuit against Activision Blizzard were incorrect, as the legal action was actually initiated by an individual gamer named Yang Jun.
- The confusion stemmed from multiple court filings, with the litigation involving a dispute over a World of Warcraft account rather than a corporate claim from NetEase.
- Activision Blizzard confirmed it has not received an indictment regarding the alleged $43.4 million debt and maintains that it has not violated any license agreements.
UK’s Competition and Markets Authority Changes Preliminary Findings on Microsoft – Activision Blizzard Deal
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) shifted its stance on Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in April 2023, narrowing its scope of concerns regarding the deal.
- The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its preliminary findings to conclude that Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in the UK console gaming market.
- The CMA’s revised position is based on new evidence suggesting that the cost to Microsoft of withholding the 'Call of Duty' franchise from PlayStation would outweigh any potential financial gains from such a strategy.
- The CMA is scheduled to issue its final, binding ruling on the acquisition on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Call of Duty: Mobile Joins the Snapdragon Pro Series
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered into a two-year partnership with Activision Blizzard to integrate Call of Duty: Mobile into the Snapdragon Pro Series, a multi-title mobile esports league powered by Samsung Galaxy.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Activision Blizzard have signed a two-year partnership to include Call of Duty: Mobile in the Snapdragon Pro Series.
- The 2023 iteration of the Snapdragon Pro Series featuring Call of Duty: Mobile offers a total prize pool of $1.5 million USD.
- In-game qualifiers for the new title are scheduled to begin on April 27, 2023, across all supported regions.
Cloud Gaming: Why It Shouldn't Be Considered a Distinct Market
The primary objective of this analysis is to challenge the classification of cloud gaming as a distinct, standalone market within the context of antitrust investigations, specifically regarding the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger.
- Cloud gaming should be classified as a distribution method rather than a standalone market, undermining the basis for antitrust interventions in the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger.
- The 2023 CMA investigation into the Microsoft-Activision merger relied on a flawed theory of harm that fails to account for the complexity and fluidity of the video game industry.
- Cloud gaming services are fragmented into four distinct, non-overlapping models: integrated bundles, platform-specific purchases, library complements, and B2B input services.
Arknights Developer HyperGryph Sponsors China’s Only StarCraft II Tournament World Team League
Shanghai-based game developer HyperGryph, creator of the mobile title Arknights, has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the World Team League (WTL), China’s only remaining StarCraft II tournament.
- HyperGryph, the developer of Arknights, has become the chief sponsor of the World Team League (WTL), China’s only StarCraft II tournament.
- HyperGryph is contributing ￥46,6K ($68K USD) specifically toward the tournament's prize money.
- The total prize pool for the WTL this year is confirmed to exceed ￥2M ($291K USD).
Its games in the library
Halo: Combat EvolvedBungie · 200117
Call of DutyInfinity Ward · 2003566- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 412
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Sledgehammer Games · 20117- Overwatch159
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity Ward · 20099
Halo 3Bungie · 20074- Call of Duty: Black Ops 625
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 716
- Halo: Campaign Evolved4
Grand Theft Auto VIRockstar North · 2026207