Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.
Microsoft is going all out in its endeavor to become the definitive gaming company, having spent billions of dollars on console development, Xbox exclusive titles, and more pressingly, the acquisition of video game companies.
Having already purchased Bethesda, the creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, Microsoft made its intentions very clear going forward: it meant business. It seemed unlikely that Microsoft could top its acquisition of Bethesda. Still, somehow, it did, by acquiring Activision Blizzard and by extension, some of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.
Diablo
Diablo is one of the many long-running video game franchises developed by Blizzard, with the first iteration of the series having been released all the way back in 1997.
Diablo was one of the first action role-playing dungeon crawler video games ever made, and the series is still going strong in of the fan base, -ship, and the potential for new content. Microsoft may consider continuing the production of Diablo games in the future, especially given the positive reception for Diablo II: Resurrected, which was released just last year.
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is undoubtedly one of the most iconic game franchises of all time, with a unique and fun gaming experience at the center of its appeal. Guitar Hero has become a staple video game in households and arcades alike, which is thanks to Activision’s effort to maintain the franchise’s high standards for over 15 years.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard means that it will now own Guitar Hero, so a new Xbox version of the game may be on the horizon. With the Xbox Series X fully up and running, fans of Guitar Hero will be hoping for a next-generation iteration of the legendary franchise.
Hearthstone
Although Warcraft franchise, Hearthstone has become a bonafide success in its own right.
Microsoft will certainly do well to continue Hearthstone’s prosperity via regular updates and investment, given the game’s large player base. Microsoft may even consider releasing a console version of the game, adding to the long list of Xbox exclusives that are becoming ever more important to the battle for console supremacy.
StarCraft
The acquisition of StarCraft was undoubtedly a factor in Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard, given the franchise’s legendary reputation and fiercely loyal fan base. StarCraft is one of the most played video game series of all time and has taken on a life beyond the screen through various novelizations and spin-offs.
While it has been a few years since the last StarCraft title was released, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard may prompt the development of more StarCraft content in the future.
Skylanders
The Skylanders franchise is famed for combining physical toys with a virtual gaming experience to create a truly unique video game. The franchise hit the ground running with Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, which became a global hit. The debut title’s success prompted several subsequent Skylanders iterations, each building upon the success of its predecessor.
Skylanders is one of the best toys-to-life games still playable, and the franchise has yet to become tired. Given the profitability of Skylanders, Microsoft will almost certainly wish to persist with the franchise through the release of new games, characters, and merchandise.
Crash Bandicoot / Spyro
Crash Bandicoot and Spyro are two of the most iconic video characters of all time, evidenced by the way in which they have stood the test of time and are still appearing in video games to this day.
Interestingly, PlayStation exclusives over the years. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard could turn the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro franchises on their heads, potentially making them Xbox exclusives as opposed to PlayStation exclusives.
Overwatch
Overwatch took the world by storm shortly after its 2016 release, rapidly becoming one of the most popular first-person shooters on the planet. Overwatch’s Esports scene has witnessed a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years due to its high skill ceiling, refined mechanics, and focus on tactical gameplay.
With the release of Overwatch 2 just around the corner, it would seem that Microsoft has acquired the franchise at the perfect time, with the Overwatch sequel promising to emulate the success of the original.
Candy Crush Saga
Alongside the meteoric rise of social media came the rapid rise of social media games, with Candy Crush Saga in particular capitalizing on the boom. As it stands, Candy Crush Saga has established itself as one of the most played games of all time in of individual numbers, and one of the first games to make successful use of the ‘freemium’ video game model.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Candy Crush Saga, spawning countless spin-offs throughout the years and still going strong to this day. Microsoft will undoubtedly benefit from having Candy Crush Saga in its portfolio, and it will be interesting to see where the franchise goes from here.
World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft revolutionized the gaming world when it was released in 2005, setting the standard for all MMOs going forward. The game established Blizzard as one of the best game developers around, laying the foundations for a plethora of highly-successful subsequent projects.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard means that they now own World of Warcraft, which could prove to be a positive for the millions of s that play the game, given the potential for extra investment in the franchise.
Call Of Duty
The Call of Duty franchise requires no introduction, it is one of the biggest and most profitable entertainment franchises of all time. The long-running FPS series is still played by millions, which, given its yearly release model, is very impressive.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard was undoubtedly fueled by the potential to own colossal franchises such as Call of Duty, and the shooter will almost certainly bear fruit for many years to come. While the franchise is too big to turn into an Xbox exclusive, there will certainly be Xbox-exclusive Call of Duty promotions such as early access in the future.
