As is already known, the first month of 2022 brought the biggest shock to the gaming industry. It was announced that Xbox’s Microsoft would soon acquire Activision Blizzard.
The deal, worth $68.7 billion, is expected to begin a new journey not just for Activision, but also for Xbox Game Studios, under the guidance of Phil Spencer. However, in a recent report, it was revealed that Microsoft was not the only firm Activision CEO Bobby Kotick was interested in making a deal with.
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How Xbox and Microsoft almost lost Call of Duty!
The media outlet, Verge, recently reported that Activision, in its SEC, mentioned many key details about the deal with Microsoft.
In the document, it’s also written that it was actually Xbox boss Phil Spencer who, at one point, wanted to buy the company immediately. The first conversation happened between Kotick and Spencer where Spencer expressed a willingness to buy Activision.
Moreover, going by The Verge’s report, citing Activision’s document, it’s revealed that Activision was in touch with other companies as well. In fact, apart from Xbox’s Microsoft, Bobby Kotick was interacting with four other firms, along with an individual.
Unfortunately, there’s no information available on what these four companies were and who this one individual was. They are only mentioned as A, C, D, and E, while the individual is termed as “Individual B.”
Simply put, Xbox and Microsoft could have missed the chance to keep Call of Duty from under their roof, had Activision gone with other buyers. However, it seems like none of those interactions went through, and eventually, Phil Spencer and his team managed to announce a massive acquisition.
Interestingly, there is another detail in the SEC document. The terms of agreement state that Microsoft may end up being in a tight spot if, in case, the government regulators block this merger of Xbox and Activision’s properties.
Moreover, in the case of witnessing no acquisition at all, if it happens, Microsoft will pay Activision between $2 billion or $3 billion; it will be the termination fee. It may happen due to some antitrust laws.
Also, if Activision’s shareholders don’t approve this deal, it will pay Microsoft a termination fee of $2.27 billion.
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