Does Blizzard Own Call of Duty? Unraveling the Gaming Giant’s Complex History

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The short answer is no, Blizzard Entertainment does not own Call of Duty. Call of Duty is owned and published by Activision. However, the relationship between these two behemoths of the gaming industry is much more nuanced, involving mergers, acquisitions, and ultimately, a massive acquisition by Microsoft. Let’s delve into the intricate history and current ownership structure to fully understand the connection.

The Activision Blizzard Story: A Merger of Titans

To understand who owns what, we need to rewind to 2008. Before this year, Activision and Blizzard Entertainment were separate entities, both significant players in the gaming world. Activision was known for titles like Call of Duty and various other action-oriented games. Blizzard, on the other hand, had cemented its reputation with iconic franchises such as Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.

In 2008, Activision merged with Blizzard Entertainment, creating a new holding company named Activision Blizzard. This wasn’t a buyout in the traditional sense; it was a merger aimed at leveraging the strengths of both companies under one umbrella. At the time, the rationale behind the merger was to unlock the potential of Blizzard’s intellectual property by separating it from a larger conglomerate, Vivendi.

Following the merger, both Activision and Blizzard maintained distinct corporate identities and independent development and publishing streams. This meant that while they were part of the same parent company, Activision continued to oversee the Call of Duty franchise, while Blizzard remained in charge of its own iconic games.

The Microsoft Acquisition: A New Era for Gaming

Fast forward to January 2022, and the gaming world was rocked by the announcement that Microsoft intended to acquire Activision Blizzard for a staggering $68.7 billion. This deal sent shockwaves through the industry, as it would bring some of the most popular and profitable gaming franchises under the Microsoft umbrella.

After navigating regulatory hurdles and addressing concerns from various competition watchdogs around the globe, the acquisition was finally completed in October 2023. As a result, Microsoft now owns Activision Blizzard, and by extension, all of its subsidiaries and intellectual property, including both Call of Duty and Blizzard’s franchises. However, as with the original Activision Blizzard merger, Microsoft has suggested that both Activision and Blizzard will maintain a significant degree of autonomy in their development and publishing operations.

This means that while Microsoft is the ultimate owner, Activision remains the publisher of the Call of Duty series. Sledgehammer Games is one of the main developers for Call of Duty, which is published by Activision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To further clarify the complex relationship between Activision, Blizzard, and Call of Duty, here are 15 frequently asked questions:

1. Is Call of Duty part of Blizzard Entertainment?

   No. Call of Duty has always been a franchise published by Activision, even after the merger that created Activision Blizzard. Blizzard Entertainment focuses on franchises like Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.

2. Did Activision own Blizzard before the Microsoft acquisition?

   Yes. Activision and Blizzard Entertainment merged in 2008 to form Activision Blizzard, with Activision owning Blizzard as a subsidiary.

3. Which company owns Call of Duty now?

   As of October 2023, Call of Duty is owned by Microsoft, following their acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

4. Is Blizzard still a part of Activision?

   Blizzard is still part of Activision Blizzard, which is now a subsidiary of Microsoft. They maintain their separate identity and continue to develop their own games, though under the overarching ownership of Microsoft.

5. When did Activision buy out Blizzard?

   It wasn’t a buyout, but rather a merger. The merger between Activision and Blizzard Entertainment was finalized on July 9, 2008.

6. Are Activision and Blizzard the same company?

   While they operate under the same parent company (now Microsoft), Activision and Blizzard maintain distinct corporate identities, development teams, and publishing streams. They are not the same company in terms of day-to-day operations and creative direction.

7. Who owns Call of Duty 2023?

   Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) is owned by Microsoft, developed by Sledgehammer Games, and published by Activision.

8. Why did Activision merge with Blizzard?

   The merger was aimed at leveraging the strengths of both companies, allowing Blizzard to escape the control of a larger conglomerate like Vivendi and unlock the potential of its intellectual property.

9. Who owns Activision today?

   Activision is owned by Microsoft, following the completion of the acquisition in October 2023.

10. What game does Blizzard own?

    Blizzard Entertainment owns several successful franchises, including Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch.

11. Is Xbox buying Activision?

    The acquisition is complete. Microsoft, the parent company of Xbox, has already acquired Activision Blizzard.

12. What is Blizzard’s most profitable game?

    While revenue figures fluctuate, Blizzard’s most profitable franchises include Warcraft (including World of Warcraft), Diablo, and Overwatch.

13. Did Microsoft buy Activision or just Blizzard?

    Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, which includes both Activision and Blizzard Entertainment, as well as other subsidiaries like King (the maker of Candy Crush).

14. Is Blizzard owned by Xbox?

    While not directly “owned” by Xbox, Blizzard is part of Activision Blizzard, which is now owned by Microsoft, the parent company of Xbox. This means Blizzard’s games will likely have a closer relationship with the Xbox ecosystem moving forward.

15. What happens now that Xbox owns Activision Blizzard?

    Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is expected to bring significant changes to the gaming landscape. It provides Microsoft with access to a vast library of popular franchises, strengthens the Xbox Game Pass service, and gives Microsoft a stronger foothold in the mobile gaming market through King. Additionally, it is anticipated that Microsoft will maintain the separate identities of the three companies but work to maximize efficiency and synergies across the organization.

The Future of Gaming: Microsoft’s Vision

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft marks a significant shift in the gaming industry. With access to iconic franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, Microsoft is poised to become an even more dominant player in the market. The impact on game development, distribution, and the overall gaming experience remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the future of gaming is being shaped by these massive acquisitions. The combination of Activision Blizzard with Microsoft is projected to influence many areas of the gaming market. It will influence video game IP, and could also change game-based learning in the future. To find out more about this topic, visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website.