Microsoft wants to take over the large video game provider Activision Blizzard in a deal worth almost 70 billion dollars.
The software giant behind the Xbox gaming console is thus securing popular games and e-sports disciplines such as “Call of Duty”, “Overwatch” and “Starcraft 2”.
Microsoft is offering $95 a share of Activision Blizzard — a hefty premium to Friday’s closing price of $65.39 in the previous US trading day. The game company is thus valued at a total of 68.7 billion dollars (60.4 billion euros), as Microsoft announced on Tuesday.
The previous head of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, should remain at the top of the game company, it said. Kotick had come under criticism in recent months following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination against company managers.
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