As Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard edges closer to its long overdue completion, discussions about whether a deal of this scale and nature is ultimately going to benefit the industry or just Microsoft itself continue to rage on, but it seems another major player in the industry is, at the very least, all for it.
Speaking during a recent investor briefing (via GameSpot), when asked about Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed his enthusiasm at the deal nearing his completion. As per Guillemot, the acquisition “shows the value” that gaming properties have across all platforms, including mobile, while he says Microsoft’s particular focus on expanding in the mobile gaming space through the deal also aligns with what Ubisoft itself is trying to do.
“I think it’s good news that the transaction can go through because it really shows the power of IPs, and where the industry is going,” Guillemot said. “So there will be lots of opportunities in the future for all the companies. It also shows the value of IPs that can be on console and PC, but also mobile and become more worldwide brands. That’s a fantastic opportunity. Microsoft is saying that the mobile part of the Activision deal is important. So all the investment we are making to be stronger on mobile is also in line with that.”
Ubisoft has a number of major titles currently in development for mobile devices, including the likes of Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade, Rainbow Six Mobile, The Division Resurgence, and more.
As for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the companies recently announced that they had extended the deadline for their acquisition agreement until October 18. Microsoft is currently also in the process of negotiating terms regarding the deal with the UK’s CMA, with the deadline for the final decision having recently been moved to August 29.