By: Akio Mananes

PHOTO: The Middle Market

Microsoft sets to expand its tech dominance as it plans to buy Call of Duty, World of WarCraft and Overwatch publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. on the largest all-cash acquisition on paper in the gaming industry, Tuesday, January 18.

     In its biggest purchase, Microsoft puts Activision at $95 per share upon the franchise’s Friday closure. This puts the global tech giant with the likes of Walt Disney Co.’s $71.3 billion purchase to 20th Century Fox last 2020 and with telecommunication company AT&T’s $85 billion negotiations with Time Warner in 2016 as the bulkiest entertainment industry bids in history.

     Microsoft plans to plug in as many Activision games to their Xbox Game pass, which has 25 million subscribers as it stands, once the deal reached an agreement. This allows their members to browse and install a wide scope of games in their library with a monthly fee for all users.

     “Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within the Xbox Game pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog,” Microsoft’s CEO of gaming Phil Spencer stated.

     Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, backed up that they are investing deeply in world-class content to introduce a new era of gaming where it makes gaming safe, inclusive, and accessible to all gamers and creators.