Take-Two CEO thinks Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision will be good for the industry
In a new interview, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive says he believes Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision would be good for the gaming industry.
Strauss Zelnick, chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive, says in a lengthy interview published online that he believes Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard would be a good thing for the gaming industry as a whole. Zelnick’s statement of support for Microsoft follows news in early 2022 that Take-Two Interactive has acquired Zynga, the mobile game developer behind mobile mega-hits like Farmville and words with friends.
Microsoft’s potential acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been a source of speculation and frustration for gamers and gaming executives alike since Microsoft announced its intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard World of Warcraft and call of Duty Developers in early 2022. The proposed acquisition has come under scrutiny from international regulators and concerns from gamers who fear their favorite franchises will become Xbox exclusives. Fears that PlayStation could lose access to Activision titles grew to the point where a report claims PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has visited EU regulators to voice his opposition to the takeover.
In an interview posted on YouTube by entertainment and media company site The Wrap, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, shared his belief that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard would be a positive outcome for the industry, with more gamers entering the overall market would be drawn. Contrary to the views of some industry insiders such as PlayStation’s Jim Ryan, Zelnick stated that he did not see Microsoft’s games as direct competitors as they would not offer players the same franchises and experiences as Take-Two. With hype surrounding Take Two developer Rockstar’s next title at an all-time high after the grand theft auto 6 Leaks is clear that Zelnick believes demand for Take-Two’s titles will not be impacted by Microsoft’s acquisition plans.
At one point in the video, the interviewer dismisses the idea that the Microsoft deal could help Take-Two, prompting Zelnick to issue a response that provides insight into why he thinks Take-Two benefits from a larger Microsoft presence in the industry could benefit . Zelnick notes that Microsoft wants to listen to what its players want, and that many of those players have made it clear that they want to play Take-Two’s releases, meaning it’s probably in Microsoft’s best interest to keep Take’s titles -Two to apply. Whether that promotion takes the form of highlighting Take Two titles on the Xbox Store or letting players play the latest titles GTA Playing on the rumored Xbox streaming console, Zelnick believes more players overall just mean more potential Take Two customers.
Whether or not Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is ultimately approved, it’s clear that consolidation in the gaming industry is becoming the norm. From Sony acquiring a larger stake in From Software to Meta acquiring VR developers, mergers in the gaming space are becoming a common occurrence. While these mergers are profitable for the companies involved, it can be a long time before it can be determined whether these deals will also work for everyday gamers.
https://gamerant.com/take-two-ceo-microsoft-buying-activision-good/ Take-Two CEO thinks Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision will be good for the industry
