In a shocking revelation,Microsoftrecently announced that it will be acquiring Activision Blizzard, one of the biggest gaming companies. The acquisition is valued at $70 billion and, should it be finalized, will make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world, sitting behind Sony and Tencent. Economists have been speculating over whether the acquisition may catalyze the creation of gaming monopolies. However, for gamers, the focus has been on the future of the manyfranchises under Activision Blizzard’s umbrella.
One gaming sector that may be severely affected byMicrosoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is esports. BothOverwatchandCall of Dutyare Activision Blizzard games that feature prominently in the esports scene. While the money injection from Microsoft may serve the franchises well, some gamers are concerned that exclusivity could prevent some gamers from participating.
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The Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League
Activision Blizzard supports plenty of esports by hosting professional gaming leagues. This includes Hearthstone Grandmasters and the World of Warcraft Arena World Championship. The two leagues that always manage to draw eyesare the Overwatch Leagueand the Call of Duty League.
The Overwatch League, also known as OWL, puts millions up for grabs for the best players. Teams around the world compete, and there are plans to expand the tournament with teams from more global regions.The Call of Duty League was formedafter the Overwatch League, and it follows a similar model. Matches in the USA receive the most attention, although the Call of Duty League is also active in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. The tournament has been highly successful, with the 2021 event bringing in 1.3 million viewers.
Microsoft Can Bring the Money
The acquisition could be a blessing for Activision Blizzard’s esports leagues, which have faced troubled times since the global COVID-19 pandemic which has made it difficult to host live events. Consequently, in 2020 and 2021, theCall of Duty League canceledall live events and hosted matches online, and the same was done for the Overwatch League. Unfortunately, this is not the only obstacle these leagues have had to face.
In recent years, it has been uncovered that a fratboy culture existsin Activision Blizzard’s workplacewhich facilitates sexual misconduct and demeans women. A lawsuit has come out of the scandal, as well as the resignations and removals of several senior members of the company. The situation has tarnished the reputation of Activision Blizzard and has sparked calls for the resignation of Activision Blizzard’s CEO Bobby Kotick.
Could Esports Games Become Exclusives?
Although there are a few positives to consider, the acquisition does have some gamers fearful that games that are prominent in the esports scene will become exclusives, limiting the number of games that can participate. There is evidence that this could be the future to expect. When Microsoft acquired Bethesda, games by the studio becamePC and Xbox exclusives. Consequently, multi-platform titles, such asHellblade, have sequels that will not release on PlayStation and Nintendo. Hence, with the merger, it could be possible that players will be limited to Xbox and PC if they want to playCall of DutyandOverwatch.
Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s gaming CEO, addressed “players out there who are playing Activision Blizzard games on Sony’s platform” and stated that there is no intention to pull communities away from that platform. However, with no promise that franchises likeCall of DutyandOverwatchwill not become exclusives, it is still in the realm of possibility that they may face thesame fate asHellblade 2.
Esports is a fledgling gaming sector that still needs all the support it can get. Although sports games are consistently the bestselling games of the year, they have struggled to gain mainstream acceptance and attention. With the acquisition,Microsoft’s deep pockets could go a long way topromoting and legitimizing esports. However, there may be some downsides too in the form of restrictive exclusivity.
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