Microsoft just bought itself into one of the biggest franchises in the space. World of Warcraft, despite recent wobbles, is a brand with an enormous legacy. It can even be argued, it's the biggest fantasy franchise ever in games. The second closest would be Elder Scrolls… which Microsoft also owns.
Full Answer
What are the biggest franchises to be acquired by Microsoft?
Just one year later, the first StarCraft was published. The real-time strategy game is surely one of the biggest franchises to be acquired by Microsoft, since it counts not only an extensive player base, but a much larger audience with its competitive esports system.
What will be the first games published by Microsoft after acquisition?
Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo and Overwatch franchises, both due for new releases in 2023, could be the first games published by Microsoft once the deal closes. That’s to say nothing of King, the mobile game maker behind massively popular franchises such as Candy Crush.
Is Halo still Microsoft’s most essential franchise?
Despite Bungie’s recent disassociation with the franchise, Halo remains exclusive to Microsoft, and there’s no doubt that it’s still their most essential franchise. Even without Bungie at the helm, we can’t wait to see what’s next for the series.
Who bought bizarre creations?
When did Microsoft buy Killer Instinct?
When did the party game come out?
Is Lost Odyssey a franchise?
Who is the head of Xbox?
Is Forza Motorsport coming to Xbox series X?
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About this website
What franchise did Microsoft buy?
The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like “Warcraft,” “Diablo,” “Overwatch,” “Call of Duty” and “Candy Crush,” in addition to global eSports activities through Major League Gaming. The company has studios around the world with nearly 10,000 employees.
Does Xbox own Microsoft?
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the name of Xbox Game Studios.
What franchises are owned by Activision?
Among major intellectual properties produced by Activision Blizzard are Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk's, Spyro, Skylanders, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, and Candy Crush Saga.
How many gaming franchises does Microsoft own?
Microsoft became owners of the two franchises which defined the Xbox 360 and PS3 console generations: Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, as well as iconic shooters like DOOM, Wolfenstein, and Quake. Since the move, the company delivered on its promise and put tons of Bethesda titles onto Xbox Game Pass.
What is Microsoft owned by?
Redmond, Washington, U.S. Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Windows.
Is Google belong to Microsoft?
Google is an American Multinational tech-based company that basically focuses on Internet-based products and services. Microsoft is an American Multinational tech-based company that basically focuses on developing and selling PCs, computer-based products, software, and services. Sergey Brin and Larry Page found Google.
Does Microsoft own blizzard?
Under the terms of the agreement, which would be expected to close by mid-2023 pending regulatory and shareholder approval, Microsoft would own Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and King under the Xbox Game Studios brand.
Why did Activision sell to Microsoft?
Activision Blizzard has been embroiled in a sexism and workplace discrimination crisis for the past six months, the effects of which directly led to the announcement on Tuesday that Microsoft plans to buy the publisher for a record-breaking $68.7 billion, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Does Xbox own all of Call of Duty?
Call of Duty remains on PlayStation after Xbox buyout Xbox's Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has confirmed several times that Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation following the acquisition.
Is Disney trying to buy Microsoft?
On September 1, Microsoft and Disney confirmed a $300 billion deal to merge the two companies, pending approval from the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division.
Are Microsoft buying Ubisoft?
However, there's no suggestion that Microsoft, Sony, or any other company directly involved in video games is currently interested, and instead the buyer is likely to be a private equity firm – which at least means there won't be any concerns about game exclusivity.
Does Microsoft own call of duty now?
In January 2022, Microsoft confirmed a $70 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard along with its major cash-cow, Call of Duty. The Microsoft Activision buyout has big implications for the gaming industry, and Playstation owner Sony has some major concerns – including about Xbox Game Pass, too.
Who is the owner of Microsoft in 2022?
Thompson in 2021 as chairman. Before becoming CEO, he was the executive vice president of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise group, responsible for building and running the company's computing platforms....Satya NadellaAwardsPadma Bhushan (2022)WebsiteMicrosoft profileSignature8 more rows
What does Xbox own now?
We're responsible for developing and publishing some of the biggest franchises in history: Age of Empires, Forza, Gears of War, Halo, Minecraft, Fallout, Microsoft Solitaire, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOOM, The Elder Scrolls, and many more.
Why did Activision sell to Microsoft?
Activision Blizzard has been embroiled in a sexism and workplace discrimination crisis for the past six months, the effects of which directly led to the announcement on Tuesday that Microsoft plans to buy the publisher for a record-breaking $68.7 billion, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Is Activision owned by Microsoft?
Under the terms of the agreement, which would be expected to close by mid-2023 pending regulatory and shareholder approval, Microsoft would own Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and King under the Xbox Game Studios brand.
The Top 10 Microsoft Franchises | GameZone
8. Forza Motorsport – Turn 10. Gran Turismo may be the original gangsta of racing simulators, but Forza Motorsport’s latest entry (Forza Motorsport 3) certainly bridged the gap between the two ...
Here's A Look At All The New Game Franchises That Xbox Now Own
It’s absolutely no secret that with today’s announcement of Xbox acquiring Activision-Blizzard, that Xbox’s juggernaut of studios and franchises has gone to a new level in terms of trying to keep track of the studios and franchise that they own, so we thought we’d take a quick look at not only what was added today, but then also their overall slate of studios that they now have control of.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty remains one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world. (Image credit: Activision)
Overwatch
While it has been in uncertain waters over the last few years, Overwatch still retains an enormous player base. It's no secret that Overwatch 2 has had a troubled production, the game announced previously at BlizzCon 2019.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone remains ever-popular and is the unassuming giant of the Blizzard portfolio. The card game remains healthy and is producing content. Microsoft has itself a great and potentially lucrative live service to add to the books.
Diablo
Diablo 4 could be a one of the first Microsoft published Blizzard games. (Image credit: Blizzard)
Guitar Hero
could there be a return for the dormant franchise? (Image credit: Activision)
StarCraft
StarCraft is the major Blizzard franchises that is currently the most in the background with no upcoming release or active development reported. However, its legacy is undeniable, and it remains a titan in the RTS space. Microsoft having access to the universe opens up a lot of fascinating opportunities.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
The king of the skateboard game has had a somewhat shaky record in recent years, but that did look to turn around with the excellent Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 from 2020. It would be fascinating to see Microsoft forge ahead and use that momentum to return the game to its former throne.
Halo
The sci-fi shooter series has always been a Microsoft-owned, Xbox-exclusive franchise. But if only for posterity’s sake, it’s worth pointing out the company owns and controls this blockbuster intellectual property, just as strong and relevant with the launch of Halo Infinite as it was when Halo: Combat Evolved debuted 20 years ago.
Gears of War
Likewise an Xbox/Windows PC exclusive, Cliff Bleszinski’s Gears of War franchise was owned by Epic Games until Microsoft bought the property in early 2014.
Minecraft
Xbox’s first big acquisition of a games franchise that was not exclusive to its platforms was for Minecraft and its maker, Sweden-based Mojang, seven months after the Gears of War deal went through.
Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom
Wolfenstein’s B.J. Blazkowicz joins Master Chief and Pitfall Harry as hall-of-fame video game heroes with, now, the same corporate overlord.
And now: Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, Warcraft, plus much more
Tracer, the face of Blizzard Entertainment’s newest franchise, will return for Overwatch 2.
Call of Duty
The Call of Duty franchise has been one of the most successful in the industry. The first game was published in 2003, and it originally focused on games set in World War II. Over time, however, the Call of Duty series has seen games set in various environments such as the Cold War, futuristic worlds, and even in outer space.
Candy Crush
Candy Crush Saga and Candy Crush Soda Saga are two of the biggest names in the mobile gaming industry and are developed and published by King, which is owned by Activision Blizzard. Available in both iOS and Android app stores, the games have captured mobile gamers of all ages.
World of Warcraft
Probably the most renowned game from Blizzard, World of Warcraft was released in 2004 and even after years have passed, it is still one of the most popular multiplayer games in the industry. The player base and acquisition of new players has not grown much, and the in-game population has decreased significantly since January 2021.
Overwatch
Another one of Activision Blizzard’s major franchises is Overwatch. The game sold well after its first release in 2016 and created a large and strong community around its competitive tournaments.
Crash Bandicoot
The Crash Bandicoot franchise started back 1996, and has been a fan-favorite since. The genetically enhanced bandicoot stole many hearts in the years of his shenanigans across various platforms. The franchise consists predominantly of platform games, but it includes several spin-offs in the racing and family party genres.
Other franchises
First published in 1997, the Diablo franchise counts two published sequels and one in development. The action RPG developed by Blizzard is one of the most famous of its genre and is now set to be handed over to Microsoft and Xbox.
Why was the sequel to Mechassault put on hold?
MechAssault was put on hold after the 2004 sequel didn't sell well enough, according to producer Mitch Gitelman.
How long is Crackdown 3?
Crackdown – 1 year, 6 months. Microsoft released Crackdown 3 in early 2019 after years of troubled development. The future of the cult-favorite franchise is likely in jeopardy after the series’ latest was released to little fanfare and poor critical reception (it holds a 60 on Metacritic; our review scored it a 5).
When will Battletoads be released?
Latest: Battletoads (August 2020) This month’s Battletoads is the first released by Microsoft since it obtained the IP in its 2002 acquisition of Rare. Before this month, the franchise had lain dormant for over 25 years, with the previous release, Battletoads Arcade (aka Super Battletoads), coming in 1994.
When did Microsoft buy Killer Instinct?
Microsoft acquired the classic fighting franchise with its purchase of Rare in 2002. It’d release its first (and so far only) Killer Instinct as an Xbox One launch game in 2013. Additional fighters would be added for years after, culminating in 2016’s Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition.
When will Gears 5 be released?
Latest: Gears 5 (September 2019) *Since the release of Gears 5, Microsoft has released the excellent strategy spinoff Gears Tactics. Considering its importance to the Xbox portfolio — Gears is likely Microsoft’s most recognizable franchise next to Halo, and the company bought the IP outright in 2014 — future entries are a given.
Is Fable Legends on Xbox One?
One of Microsoft’s most beloved franchises throughout the Xbox 360 generation, Fable went (almost) entirely ignored during the Xbox One’s lifecycle. (The multiplayer-only Fable Legends made it to closed beta before being cancelled in 2016 .)
When was Phantom Dust released?
Phantom Dust was originally released as a Japan exclusive in 2004, before it was brought stateside by Majesco six months later. Microsoft had big plans for a reboot early in the Xbox One generation, but those plans were ultimately scrapped in favor of a visually upgraded re-release of the original.
Who bought bizarre creations?
PGR developer Bizarre Creations was purchased by Activision shortly before the release of PGR 4 in late 2007. The studio would go on to create a spiritual successor, Blur, in 2010, before shuttering shortly after its release.
When did Microsoft buy Killer Instinct?
Microsoft acquired the classic fighting franchise with its purchase of Rare in 2002. It’d release its first (and so far only) Killer Instinct as an Xbox One launch game in 2013. Additional fighters would be added for years after, culminating in 2016’s Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition.
When did the party game come out?
The beloved party game came to the original Xbox as a launch title in 2001 and was among the first games from that generation to be made backwards compatible on Xbox One. A less memorable sequel was released for Xbox 360 in 2007, and the franchise has been inactive since.
Is Lost Odyssey a franchise?
While not exactly a franchise — only the one entry was released in 2008 — Lost Odyssey remains part of the conversation surrounding the Xbox portfolio, especially in regard to its lack of Japanese games. The cult classic JRPG is considered one of the genre’s best on Xbox 360, but outside of a trademark renewal in 2018, there’s been no word on a potential return to the franchise.
Who is the head of Xbox?
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer acknowledged as much in 2017, shortly before the company began announcing a series of major studio acquisitions, bringing the likes of Obsidian, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory, among others, under its Xbox Game Studios umbrella. The company recently showed off a selection of fruits from this labor during its Xbox Series X ...
Is Forza Motorsport coming to Xbox series X?
A rebooted Forza Motorsport is in development for Xbox Series X. An in-engine trailer was shown at Microsoft’s July showcase, though the racer is still in “early development” at Turn 10 Studios with no release window in place. The status of Playground’s Forza Horizon series, which has been gaining sales and critical acclaim with each new entry, is unknown, but it seems highly likely to continue.
