Activision Blizzard was one of the largest video game publishers in the world, formed from the 2008 merger of Activision and Vivendi Games (parent of Blizzard Entertainment). The company owned marquee franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and Candy Crush (via subsidiary King). Under CEO 📝Bobby Kotick, who led the company from 1991 to 2023, Activision Blizzard grew into a dominant force in both PC/console and mobile gaming.
Microsoft Acquisition
Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7B in October 2023 — the largest gaming acquisition in history. The deal survived an extended FTC antitrust challenge and EU regulatory review before closing. Key executives including Kotick and Vice Chairman 📝Humam Sakhnini departed shortly after. Sakhnini went on to become CEO of 📝Discord.
Workplace Culture Crisis
In July 2021, the California DFEH filed a 📝sexual harassment lawsuit alleging systemic gender discrimination, unequal pay, and a "frat bro" culture — primarily at Blizzard Entertainment. The scandal led to mass employee walkouts, executive departures, and an $18M EEOC settlement. It remains one of the most significant workplace culture reckonings in the tech/gaming industry.
Key Subsidiaries
- Blizzard Entertainment — World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, StarCraft, Hearthstone
- Activision Publishing — Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, Crash Bandicoot
- King — Candy Crush Saga, mobile-first studio built on microtransactions and advertising