Which video-game publisher did Microsoft acquire in 2023 for about $69 billion?

Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in 2023 for approximately $69 billion, commonly reported as $68.7 billion.

Activision Blizzard published major game franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Candy Crush. Microsoft announced the agreement in January 2022, describing it as a major expansion of its Xbox and gaming business.

The transaction faced intense regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States. Microsoft completed the acquisition on October 13, 2023, after making commitments involving cloud-game streaming rights and overcoming the UK regulator’s concerns.

The company acquired was Activision Blizzard, not Electronic Arts or Take-Two Interactive. Activision and Blizzard had themselves combined in 2008, while King, the maker of Candy Crush, was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016.