Xbox CEO Phil Spencer on Activision Blizzard Takeover: ‘It’s Been a Learning Experience for Me’
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has admitted that Microsoft’s $67.8 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been a learning experience, but he’s confident it will work.
In an interview with IGN, Spencer said he “didn’t know anything” when this kind of acquisition was announced in January 2022, but going through the process and talking to key players made it more likely than last year. is also confident.
“The fact that we have more insight and knowledge of what it means to work with various regulatory committees is simply based on the information I have and the discussions we have had. , I have more confidence than I had a year ago,” Spencer said.
“When we announced it a year ago, we talked about an 18-month period.
But several government agencies, including the US Federal Trade Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, have moved in the past few months to challenge the deal, so Spencer has good reason to be a little upset. The European Union is also reportedly preparing a statement to the contrary.
The deal, which would see Xbox own several prolific game franchises, including Call of Duty and Overwatch, has also been criticized by various US Senators, New York City, and the US Department of Justice. Despite this, Spencer said “confidence is still high.”
He continued: A conversation where we can talk about our industry, the work we do, and why we do it.
“The fact that more regulators are being informed about what gaming is, how the business operates, who the players are, and what our aspirations are as Team Xbox is I think it’s good for the industry itself.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and UK news editor. He talks about witchers all day long.
