In May, Microsoft's deal to acquire gaming giant Activision Blizzard was approved by European regulators. With the deal now in its final stages, fans have been asking what the acquisition will mean for some of their favorite franchises.
See also: Microsoft: Activision Blizzard acquisition will be approved on May 15
Although the $69 billion deal was rumored to be finalized this week, it appears the two parties were discussing extending the contract just to iron out the last remaining issues, according to a Reuters report. Either way, the deal has essentially been finalized, meaning longtime fans of Activision and Blizzard franchises should see their favorite titles under new ownership.
But what titles is Microsoft actually acquiring in this huge deal?
Overwatch
Microsoft will acquire the Overwatch franchise, including the current active client first-person shooter, Overwatch 2, and the licensing of other products, such as the companion Overwatch League. Overwatch 2 has had mixed reception due to changes to its monetization model. With the Overwatch League's declining viewership, the future of the franchise is uncertain.
Call of Duty
The Call of Duty series is a huge asset for Microsoft, with its recent release, Modern Warfare II, being a huge hit. CoD has its own franchise and is available on almost every major console. Microsoft may face challenges with this diversity of consoles, although many CoD players already use Windows.
World of Warcraft
Blizzard's World of Warcraft franchise has become one of the most prolific MMOs of all time, with spinoff games like Hearthstone and references in Overwatch 2. While it may not be the first choice for younger players, WoW has a dedicated audience and a solid player base that regularly receives new content.
Devil
Diablo is a dungeon-crawler that has captivated fans since the original game was released in 1997. The latest installment, Diablo 4, has been well-received and continues to be one of Blizzard's top titles. The franchise, like WoW, is a classic, so players are hoping it will live on through Microsoft's acquisition.
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StarCraft
StarCraft is not only a major franchise for Activision-Blizzard and now Microsoft, but also for gaming and esports as a whole. The original, released in 1998, became especially popular in South Korea, where it spawned a whole generation of esports fans. The latest installment in the StarCraft series is StarCraft: Remastered, released in 2017. Despite its waning popularity in the West, StarCraft is still going strong in parts of Asia.
The Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot games
These four franchises are all quirky and fun games that come across a variety of consoles. While some titles are fan favorites, they don't have as many regular players as Overwatch, WoW, CoD, or Diablo. From a skateboarding adventure to a cartoon-style purple dragon, there's plenty of casual fun to be had in all four series.
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga is one of the games owned by King and part of Microsoft's massive deal. The game has been a classic mobile entertainment game since 2012 and pioneered the free-to-play and easy-to-access model.
Other franchises
The last franchises to be owned by Microsoft are lesser-known franchises that either haven't received an updated title in a long time or have lost their relevance. Nevertheless, Microsoft will still own the rights to them.
The latest franchises are Cabela's, Empire Earth, Gabriel Knight, Geometry Wards, Heavy Gear, Heretic and Hexen games, King's Quest, Pitfall, Police Quest, Quest for Glory, Skylanders, Space Quest, Tenchu, World Series of Poker and Zork.
In total, this makes 24 franchises that will be owned by Microsoft once the deal is finally completed.
Read also: Activision Blizzard shareholders accept acquisition by Microsoft
information source: dotesports.com
