Drake Star Report
The top ten gaming industry deals of 2022
We break down the biggest acquisitions of 2022, as reported by Drake Star
Company Profile
Activision Blizzard
Website
www.activisionblizzard.com
About
Activision Blizzard, formerly Activision, is the American holding company for Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. The company is majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi, and was created through the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games (formerly Vivendi Universal Games), announced on December 2nd, 2007.
Related People
Daniel Alegre
COO & President
Clement Xue
Head of Activison Blizzard Media
Carin Huurnink
senior animator
Bobby Kotick
CEO
Ken Wee
Chief strategy officer
+2 more
Accolades
Articles featuring Activision Blizzard
Job News
Activision Blizzard veteran Eric Wood appointed as Senior Vice President of Publishing at Scopely
Wood brings over 20 years of experience to the role
Activision Blizzard Financials
Activision Blizzard’s mobile revenue increased 14 percent year-on-year in 2022
The company’s fourth quarter financials confirms that their mobile gaming wing continues to outperform other platforms
Activision Blizzard Fine
Activision Blizzard fined $35 million by US Securities and Exchange Commission
The fine follows an investigation into how the gaming giant handled workplace misconduct
Aquiblizz
UK Competitions & Markets Authority rumoured to block Activision Blizzard acquisition
According to sources, Microsoft are actively anticipating a possible block on the Activision-Blizzard acquisition by the UK CMA
Acquivision Blizzard
EU issues Microsoft with antitrust warning
The commission is the latest to take formal steps against the tech giant’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Trends 2023
Mobile Games Industry Trends 2023: Revenue models
MobileGroove's Peggy Anne Salz looks at the hottest new ways to monetise games, from subscription models to independent game stores
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team on big buy outs, fallouts and even bigger apologies
Declining A Deal
Apology not accepted. NetEase refuses to take Activision Blizzard back
The refusal of a new, extended deal means that games licences in China for World of Warcraft and more could expire soon
2023 Predictions
Drake Star releases its predictions for 2023 in gaming
Look ahead to a year of consolidation and diversification
Acquivision Blizzard
Google and Nvidia chime in on Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
The companies have expressed their concerns in the deal
Acquivision Blizzard
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard predicted to miss contractual merger deadline
The FTC hearing for the case is scheduled for after the deal is due to close
Raising The Stakes
Saudi Arabia’s PIF increases its stake in Nintendo to 6%
The country is aiming to become the hub of the global games industry
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team look forward to the year ahead and ponder player-friendly monetisation
Acquivision Blizzard
CMA extends the deadline for Microsoft / Activision-Blizzard investigation
The group requires more time to decide if the UK should approve the deal
Aiming For Acquisition Approval
The list of nations approving Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition grows
Among the approving nations are Brazil, Serbia and Chile
Ftc Vs Microsoft
Are the FTC and Microsoft talks at a standstill?
The FTC have sued to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, but no “substantive” settlement talks are underway
Company Culture
Blizzard’s end of year roundup pledges greater culture change
Mike Ybarra’s end of year roundup pledged more culture change from Blizzard and a ‘player first’ approach
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – December’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Time for December
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – August’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. This time, it’s August
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – July's Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. It's time for July
2022 Highlights
BIG Stories of 2022 - How the massive Microsoft/Activision-Blizzard gaming acquisition came under fire
The acquisition may have been largely due to Activision Blizzard’s mobile offerings, but one franchise in particular prompted Sony to intervene
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – June’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Here's June
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – May’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. And now… May
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – March’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Time for some March action
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – January’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Starting with… January
Acquivision Blizzard
Microsoft hits back at FTC's Activision-Blizzard block
Microsoft has called the lawsuit filed by the FTC attempting to block their Activision-Blizzard takeover 'unconstitutional'
Lawsuits
This time it's personal: 10 gamers launch a lawsuit to block Activision-Blizzard deal
As if it couldn't get any worse. Now Activision-Blizzard is facing another lawsuit, this time from a small group of gamers
Diversity In Gaming
An estimated 2.3 million online teenage gamers have been exposed to white supremacist ideology
A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League found a sharp rise in online harassment
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of Apple bashing and award giving
Awards
2022 Pocket Gamer Awards finish the year in style. And the award goes to…
Last night, our sister site PocketGamer.com held their annual awards. Read on to find out more about the night and those mobile winners
Acquisitions
EU Commission argues against FTC lawsuit to halt Activision-Blizzard deal
The EU commission has released a statement criticising the FTC’s decision, which may open up the path in Europe at least for the acquisition
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of big business and back-slapping
Acquivision Blizzard
FTC vote to sue to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
The Acquisition has faced criticism for its possible effect on competitor PlayStation
Representation
King leads the pack in Activision-Blizzard's 2022 representation report
Activision-Blizzard’s latest effort to be more transparent reveals information about their representation and diversity in the workplace, with mobile arm King coming out on top
Mobile Moves
PlayStation Mobile team continues hiring spree
Veterans of Kabam, Apple, Meta and Niantic are among the team members fleshing out PlayStation's ever-expanding mobile department
Aquivision Blizzard
FTC rift signals fresh hope for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard in America
The board is expected to make its recommendations regarding the deal by mid-December
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of hot new games, success stories and legal worries…
Feature
What does it mean for Activision-Blizzard and Take-Two to be mobile first?
The two titans of console and PC gaming have seen their revenue share take a massive turn, becoming mobile first. So, what does this mean for them and for the industry?
Soft-launches
Call of Duty Warzone Mobile soft launches in Australia
The announcement of the soft launch came late yesterday and sees the hotly anticipated Warzone Mobile first arriving in Australia
Rumour
FTC rumoured to block Activision-Blizzard acquisition deal
The hotly anticipated acquisition of Activision-Blizzard may face another hurdle as outlet Politico reports on rumours the FTC may see to block the deal
Pre-registrations
Call of Duty Warzone mobile surpasses 25m pre-registrations
Warzone Mobile was also the fastest Activision-Blizzard and King mobile game to surpass 15m pre-registrations
Feature
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team give their take on toxicity, acquisitions and the four day work week
Analysis
Satya Nadella hints at more cross-platform investment so users can 'play everywhere'
CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella commented on their intention to push for cross-platform play and argued in favour of the deal
Streaming Singularity
Netflix, Apple, Microsoft and now Samsung are all backing streaming, the inevitable future of gaming
As multi-use mediums such as TVs and mobile phones include more subscription services, what does this mean for consoles?
The Chinese Market
NetEase and Blizzard are suspending game services in China
The two companies were unable to reach a deal that satisfied Blizzard
Views Week
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team reflect on a week of staggering statistics and feisty financials
Acquivision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick on the future of the Microsoft Acquisition
“Being a part of Microsoft will help us better realise our ambitions”
Activision Blizzard Financials
Activision Blizzard reveals its third quarter financials, with mobile now accounting for 52% of the gaming giant's net revenue
Candy Crush Saga is the top grossing game on US App Stores for the 21st quarter running
A Call Of Duty To Competitors?
Is Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in trouble?
The biggest deal in gaming history has faced steep criticism from regulators and competitors