Microsoft announced Tuesday a landmark $69 billion deal to purchase US gaming giant Activision Blizzard, grabbing the s*x harassment scandal-hit firm as the tech colossus seeks to boost its power in video games, IgbereTV reports.
Merging with troubled Activision will make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony, it said, a major shift in the booming world of games.
âThis acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoftâs gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse,â Microsoft said in a statement.
Activision, the California-based maker of âCandy Crushâ has been hit by employee protests, departures, and a state lawsuit alleging it enabled toxic workplace conditions and sexual harassment against women.
Over the past seven months the company has received about 700 reports of employee concerns over sexual assault or harassment or other misconduct, in some cases separate reports about the same incident, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
Nearly 20 percent of Activision Blizzardâs 9,500 employees have signed a petition calling for CEO Bobby Kotick to resign
