For nearly two years, Microsoft's unprecedented $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard stayed in the news, mostly due to the Windows and Xbox company's battle with certain regulators (chiefly the US FTC and the UK CMA). That came to an end, even though the FTC is still trying to unmake the deal, on October 13, when Microsoft announced the closure of the acquisition.
Over six months have passed. How has it been from Blizzard's end? Speaking to VideoGamesChronicle, Blizzard's Holly Longdale (Vice President and Executive Producer of World of Warcraft) reckons it's been business as usual, with Microsoft choosing not to interfere with the daily operations.
If anything, it’s just been helpful. We got time with Helen Chang from Mojang, and we were sharing information, so it’s almost as if we have access to what worked for them. We got to speak to the Elder Scrolls Online team and share what we’re up to and what’s been working, it’s almost like we get a benefit.
There’s no one asking us to do anything. World of Warcraft is doing very well and they’re very proud of what it’s been able to accomplish, so it’s almost like just let it be, and let it keep being awesome. They’ve been tremendously supportive and it’s like ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard’.”
This is not surprising, as that's been Microsoft's modus operandi for essentially all of the studios it has acquired thus far since 2018. However, it didn't always work out so well, as evidenced by what happened at Arkane Austin with Redfall. Also, while World of Warcraft is a good place right now (you can read a lot more about that and the upcoming expansion in our freshly published interview), some would say Blizzard could use some changes and improvements.
Microsoft did affect Blizzard (and Activision) in a major way as part of its 8% reduction in the workforce announced in January. The new survival game Odyssey was also canceled following the layoffs. On the upside, Microsoft and Blizzard have recently signed a new partnership deal with NetEase.
