Gamescom, Activision Blizzard, and Microsoft's Acquisition History | This Week in Business

This Week in Business is a weekly recap column that presents a collection of statistics and quotes from recent stories, along with expert opinion and analysis. The goal is to shed light on various industry trends and provide insights into the latest developments. The past week has been significant for the gaming industry, with Gamescom, the latest twist in the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard acquisition story, and new hardware announcements from Sony and Atari making headlines. Let's start with Gamescom, which saw the unveiling of several new games, including Little Nightmares 3, Killing Floor 3, and Thank Goodness You're Here. However, the overall number of new game announcements was relatively low, with only three new titles showcased during the event. This raises questions about the current state of the gaming industry and the factors contributing to the shortage of new game reveals. Several overlapping reasons may be responsible, including the proximity of Summer Game Fest and Gamescom, which may have led some developers to prioritize the former over the latter. Additionally, the increasing production values of AAA games and the trend of publishers and platform holders saving their biggest reveals for solo events may have also played a role. The recent layoffs and belt-tightening in the industry may have also impacted the number of games available for reveal. Despite the relatively low number of new game announcements, Gamescom did feature some notable titles, including Starfield, Mortal Kombat 1, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The latter, in particular, generated significant interest due to its single-player campaign mode and the fact that it is the first Modern Warfare game not developed by Infinity Ward. The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard acquisition has also been making headlines, with the UK CMA being the last remaining hurdle to the deal's completion. The regulator had previously cited concerns around cloud gaming as a reason to block the deal, but Microsoft's recent concession to sell cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft may have alleviated these concerns. Microsoft's track record in game acquisitions is mixed, with some successes, such as the acquisition of Mojang, and some failures, such as the acquisition of FASA Interactive and Digital Anvil. However, the company's approach to acquisitions has evolved over time, and it is likely that the Activision Blizzard deal will be handled differently. The acquisition is expected to have a significant impact on the gaming industry, particularly in terms of Microsoft's position in the console market. While the deal is not expected to significantly alter Microsoft's role in the PC ecosystem, it may provide a boost to the company's PC game publishing business. Ultimately, the success of the acquisition will depend on Microsoft's ability to integrate Activision Blizzard into its operations and leverage the company's assets to drive growth. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this deal plays out and what impact it will have on the market. Other notable news from the past week includes the announcement of new hardware from Sony and Atari, as well as updates on the latest game sales and revenue figures. The industry is constantly changing, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for gaming.