News business Xbox: the takeover of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft supported by a strong ally
Published on 02/07/2022 at 12:39
While negotiations for the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft are still underway, the giant has just found significant support which might largely work in its favor.
Validation difficult to obtain
The world of video games truly trembled at the start of the year when Microsoft announced the takeover of Activision-Blizzard for the crazy sum of 68 billion dollars. If the announcement was made quickly, the takeover is not effective. For good reason, the transaction is subject to multiple observations from the major commercial commissions.
The file is still being examined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as well as its European counterparts, which is why the operation is taking so long to complete. Despite a validation that is slow to arrive, this takeover remains on the right track while Microsoft is supported today by a strong ally: the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the main media union in the United States, has just sent a letter to the FTC in order to support the giant’s case, as reported The Hollywood Reporter.
Above all, better working conditions
This news follows the agreement between Microsoft and the union as well as Activision Blizzard’s recognition of the Game Workers Alliance earlier this month. Through this agreement, the giant undertakes to offer its employees the best possible working conditions and guarantees them the right to join a union. These are new perspectives that are now available to employees of Activision Blizzard, the management of the studio challenging so far their freedom to unionize.
This agreement offers Activision Blizzard employees the opportunity to assert their democratic rights to organize and collectively bargain following the closing of the studio’s acquisition by Microsoft and establishes a high-quality path forward for employers. of the video game industry. Microsoft is committed to giving a voice to their future employees and ensures that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will benefit the company’s workers and the video game labor market more broadly. The agreement removes the CWA’s previous concerns regarding this acquisition, and therefore we support its approval and look forward to working with Microsoft once the transaction closes.
It is certain that the support of the CWA plays greatly in favor of Microsoft, still subject to the examination of the FTC. For its part, the giant will have to ensure that the best working conditions are offered to its new employees. Either way, the buyout can’t move forward until the commission gives the go-ahead. The main concerned also expect a pronounced formalization for the month of June 2023. So be patient, before seeing the studio’s games land in the Game Pass.
