Activision Blizzard
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| Activision Blizzard | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Activision Blizzard |
| Type | Public |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: ATVI |
| Industry | Video game industry |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Bobby Kotick, Brian Kelly (businessman) |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California |
| Key people | Bobby Kotick, Daniel Alegre |
Activision Blizzard is a leading American video game developer and publisher, formed by the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games in 2008, with the support of Bobby Kotick, Brian Kelly (businessman), and Vivendi. The company has become a major player in the video game industry, competing with other industry giants such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Tencent Holdings. With a diverse portfolio of popular games, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft, Activision Blizzard has established itself as a dominant force in the global gaming market, with partnerships with Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Nintendo. The company's success has been recognized by Forbes, Fortune (magazine), and Bloomberg Businessweek.
● History
The history of Activision Blizzard dates back to the founding of Activision in 1979 by David Crane (programmer), Alan Miller (programmer), Bob Whitehead, and Larry Kaplan (programmer), who were all former Atari employees. In the 1980s, Activision released several successful games, including Pitfall! and River Raid, which were developed by David Crane (programmer) and Carol Shaw. Meanwhile, Vivendi Games was formed in 1996 as a subsidiary of the French conglomerate Vivendi, with the acquisition of Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. In 2008, Activision merged with Vivendi Games to form Activision Blizzard, with Bobby Kotick as its CEO, and the support of Vivendi, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. The merger brought together popular game franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft, which were developed by Infinity Ward, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bungie. The company has since expanded its portfolio through acquisitions, including the purchase of King Digital Entertainment in 2016, with the support of Citi, J.P. Morgan & Co., and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
● Products and Services
Activision Blizzard offers a wide range of products and services, including video games, esports platforms, and gaming communities. The company's popular game franchises include Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, which are developed by Infinity Ward, Blizzard Entertainment, and Treyarch. Activision Blizzard also operates several esports leagues, including the Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League, with partnerships with ESPN, Twitch (service), and YouTube. The company's gaming communities, such as Battle.net and CallofDuty.com, provide players with online platforms to connect, compete, and share content, with support from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Activision Blizzard has also expanded into the mobile gaming market, with the release of games such as Candy Crush Saga and Geometry Dash, which were developed by King Digital Entertainment and RobTop Games.
● Corporate Affairs
Activision Blizzard is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and is led by CEO Bobby Kotick and President Daniel Alegre. The company has a global presence, with offices in Europe, Asia, and North America, and partnerships with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Activision Blizzard is a member of the Entertainment Software Association and the International Game Developers Association, and has supported several charitable initiatives, including the Call of Duty Endowment and the World of Warcraft Charity Pet Program, with the support of American Red Cross, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Make-A-Wish Foundation. The company has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, with awards from Fortune (magazine), Forbes, and Human Rights Campaign.
● Financial Performance
Activision Blizzard has consistently reported strong financial performance, with revenue exceeding $7 billion in 2020, and a market capitalization of over $60 billion, according to Bloomberg, Reuters, and Yahoo! Finance. The company's revenue is driven by the success of its game franchises, as well as its esports and gaming communities platforms, with support from Visa (company), Mastercard, and PayPal. Activision Blizzard has also generated significant revenue from in-game purchases and subscriptions, with partnerships with Apple Inc., Google, and Amazon (company). The company's financial performance has been recognized by Forbes, Fortune (magazine), and Bloomberg Businessweek, and has been supported by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan & Co..
● Controversies
Activision Blizzard has faced several controversies in recent years, including criticism over its handling of toxicity and harassment in its gaming communities, with support from Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union, and Human Rights Watch. The company has also faced backlash over its decision to ban a Hearthstone player for expressing support for the Hong Kong protests, with criticism from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders. Additionally, Activision Blizzard has faced criticism over its labor practices, including the use of crunch time and contract workers, with support from International Game Developers Association, Game Developers Conference, and IGDA Foundation. The company has also faced controversy over its mergers and acquisitions, including the purchase of King Digital Entertainment, with criticism from European Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and United States Department of Justice.
● Subsidiaries
Activision Blizzard has several subsidiaries, including Blizzard Entertainment, Infinity Ward, and Treyarch, which are responsible for developing some of the company's most popular game franchises, including World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and StarCraft. The company also owns King Digital Entertainment, which is a leading developer of mobile games, including Candy Crush Saga and Farm Heroes Saga. Other subsidiaries include Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, and High Moon Studios, which have developed games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Transformers: War for Cybertron, with support from Hasbro, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation. Activision Blizzard's subsidiaries have received numerous awards and recognition, including Game of the Year awards from The Game Awards, Spike Video Game Awards, and DICE Awards. Category:Video game companies