Tuesday’s all-cash deal will turn Microsoft, maker of the Xbox gaming system, into one of the world’s largest video game companies.
Microsoft has bought the gaming company, Activision Blizzard, for $68.7 billion, gaining access to blockbuster games like “Call of Duty” and ”Candy Crush.”
Over the past seven months, Activision has received about 700 reports of employee concerns over sexual assault or harassment or other misconduct, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a discussion call with investors “the culture of our organization is my number one priority.”
“It’s critical for Activision Blizzard to drive forward on its commitments to improve its workplace culture,” Nadella added.
Nearly 20 percent of Activision Blizzard’s 9,500 employees have signed a petition calling for CEO Bobby Kotick to resign.
However, Kotick will retain his role, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth.
“This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console, and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse,” Microsoft said in a statement.
The merge will also help the company contend with tech competitors such as Meta, formerly Facebook, in creating immersive virtual worlds for both work and play.
Activision has been hit by employee protests, departures, and a state lawsuit alleging it enabled toxic workplace conditions and sexual harassment against women.