Activision Blizzard stock jumps 36% on Microsoft takeover news

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Activision Blizzard (ATVI) shares jumped successful pre-market aft Microsoft (MSFT) announced it volition get the video crippled steadfast for $95 per share. The deal, valued astatine $68.7 cardinal is Microsoft's largest takeover ever. ATVI shares changeable up 36% successful pre-market. 

When the transaction closes, Microsoft volition go the world's third-largest gaming institution by revenue, down Tencent (TCEHY) and Sony (SONY), according to the tech giant. The woody illustrates different consolidation determination wrong the gaming manufacture — and monolithic stake connected the aboriginal of the metaverse. 

The bundle tech elephantine volition beryllium acquiring iconic franchises similar "Warcraft," "Diablo," "Overwatch," "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush." 

UKRAINE - 2021/09/20: In this photograph  illustration, Activision Blizzard, Inc. logo seen displayed connected  a smartphone and successful  the background. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

UKRAINE - 2021/09/20: In this photograph illustration, Activision Blizzard, Inc. logo seen displayed connected a smartphone and successful the background. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

"Gaming is the astir dynamic and breathtaking class successful amusement crossed each platforms contiguous and volition play a cardinal relation successful the improvement of metaverse platforms," Microsoft president and CEO Satya Nadella said successful a institution statement. 

"We're investing profoundly successful world-class content, assemblage and the unreality to usher successful a caller epoch of gaming that puts players and creators archetypal and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all," helium added.

The acquisition comes amid caller intersexual harassment allegations wrong Activision Blizzard. Last year, longtime CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly was considering stepping down if the harassment and maltreatment allegations wrong the civilization of the institution were not rapidly fixed, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Kotick volition proceed to service arsenic CEO of Activision Blizzard, according to details regarding the acquisition provided by Microsoft connected Tuesday. 

Once the woody closes, the Activision Blizzard concern volition study to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming.

Microsoft shares slid much than 1% pursuing the announcement. 

Ines is simply a markets newsman covering stocks from the level of the New York Stock Exchange. Follow her connected Twitter astatine @ines_ferre

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