Xbox CEO Phil Spencer wants to revitalize past Activision games
Spencer also talks about the challenges of Activision-Blizzard’s legal issues.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Microsoft is acquiring Activision Blizzard, a gaming publisher known for franchises like Call of Duty, Candy Crush and World of Warcraft. In an interview with theWashington Post, CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer talked about how he wants Xbox to revive older games, with Activision having a long library of IP that haven’t been used as the company pivotedevery internal studio to work on Call of Duty.
“We’re hoping that we’ll be able to work with them when the deal closes to make sure we have resources to work on franchises that I love from my childhood and that the teams really want to get,” Spencer said. “I’m looking forward to these conversations. I really think it’s about adding resources and increasing capability. Some of the franchises that have been set aside in favor of Call of Duty includeActivision IP like Spyroand more.”
Spencer also touched on the consequence of tech giants entering the gaming industry, noting that he trusts both Sony and Nintendo to not damage the industry, but sees a difference with companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon. Microsoft sees the acquisition of Activision Blizzard as an opportunity to expand the gaming metaverse, something Spencer thinks shouldn’t be workplace-only, referencing how he had a meeting with The Elder Scrolls Online developers within the game.
Activision Blizzard still faces a lawsuit, with legal issues stemming from alleged systemic sexist workplace practices and abusive behavior. Spencer explained that Microsoft talked with Activision Blizzard to ensure there was a plan in place.
“We had to look at that forward plan and ensure we had a kind of confidence in that,” he explained.
Microsoft agreed toacquire Activision Blizzard for Xboxin a deal worth almost $70 billion. The deal is currently expected to close at some point by June 2023. When the deal closes, Activision Blizzard will join Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks as the third publisher in the Xbox first-party group, which will consist of well over 30 game development studios.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
