Microsoft has successfully completed the acquisition process of holding company Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, despite opposition from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The California court ruled in favor of Microsoft, allowing the transaction to proceed. This means that Xbox will now have control over popular franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, among others.
During the court proceedings, several pieces of information regarding the Xbox vs. FTC dispute were revealed, including an internal chat from May 2022. In this log, Microsoft’s management discussed their plans for the next Xbox console. Although the log mentioned plans for a release in 2028, it is important to note that these plans may have changed since then. Official statements from Microsoft will provide more information about the release date of the next Xbox gaming hardware.
Traditionally, Xbox and PlayStation release their new consoles around the same time, which promotes healthy competition in the gaming market. Therefore, it is likely that PlayStation will also release a new console around the same timeframe as Xbox. Gaming consoles typically have a lifespan of five to seven years, and considering that both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 were released in 2020, they will have approximately seven to eight years until 2028.
With this acquisition, Xbox aims to expand its game library and strengthen its position in the gaming market. The agreement allows Microsoft to bring popular Activision Blizzard titles under its own brand, creating new opportunities for both companies.
