Microsoft's Layout in the Gaming Industry and Metaverse: Starting from Blizzard
Yangming Cao · Advances in Economics Management and Political Sciences · 2023
Microsoft became the third-largest gaming company in the world after acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69.7 billion in January 2022, after Sony and Tencent. This article aims to explore the strategic objectives and significance of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and identify its impact on the internet industry. The research finds that Microsoft's primary goal for acquiring Activision Blizzard is to lay a solid foundation for future development in the metaverse and aid in its digital transformation. This acquisition fully demonstrates that the metaverse is the main direction for the future development of the internet industry, and gaming is one of its primary gateways. The article argues that investors and companies should invest more in developing new platforms to aid in the development of the metaverse. Governments should also strengthen their regulatory and risk-prevention efforts in the gaming industry, while consumers should learn more about the protection of their privacy and security in the metaverse.