The Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger is closer than ever to fruition. Earlier this week, the US Supreme Court has denied, in the person of Justice Elena Kagan, the request filed by a group of gamers for an emergency injunction to block the deal. Not that such a request was reasonably likely to be granted, especially after the Federal Trade Commission was turned down.
While Microsoft is still working towards the restructured deal proposal to submit to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CEO Sarah Cardell said yesterday the regulator is still waiting for that), the $68.7 billion merger will likely complete in the next few weeks, following the extension agreement signed by Activision Blizzard.
It’s interesting, then, to hear what a rival publisher thinks of the news. Answering a question on the topic during yesterday’s Q1 2023-24 investors call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said it’s good news, mainly because it aligns with the growing importance of owning prized IPs and expanding them on mobile, just like Ubisoft is doing.
I think it’s good news that the transaction can go through because it’s really showing the power of IPs and where the industry is going, so there will be lots of opportunities in the future for companies. It’s also showing the value of IPs that can now be on PC, console, but also mobile and become worldwide brands. And when we say worldwide, it’s really everywhere in the world. That’s a really fantastic opportunity. Microsoft is saying that the mobile part of the Activision Blizzard deal is important, so all the investments we are making to be stronger in mobile are in line with that. All those elements will help to grow the value of the company.
Guillemot isn’t the first CEO of a big third-party publisher to comment positively on the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger. Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick previously did the same shortly after the deal was unveiled in early 2022.
For the record, Ubisoft is working on Rainbow Six Mobile, Tom Clancy’s The Division Resurgence, and Assassin’s Creed Jade. The first two recently held beta tests, while Jade (which will be published by Tencent’s label Level Infinite) is set to hold a closed beta between August 3rd and August 11th.
In other Ubisoft news, the executives promised development on Skull and Bones was ‘boding well’ ahead of the upcoming beta due to start on August 25th. The game still doesn’t have a final release date.
