Microsoft's pursuit of expansion in the gaming sector remains robust, even after its substantial investment of $69 billion for Activision Blizzard last year. The company shows no signs of halting its acquisition strategy. In a recent discussion, the head of Microsoft Gaming expressed interest in acquiring additional companies, though he emphasized that no significant deals are on the horizon at this moment.
He indicated that the company is open to further investment, especially in sectors that provide geographic diversity, particularly in Asian markets. Currently, Microsoft is reportedly exploring the possibility of adding another mobile gaming entity to its portfolio, following its previous acquisition of King, the developer behind Candy Crush, as part of the Activision deal. Microsoft is keen to invest in teams, technologies, and capabilities that align with its gaming ambitions, as stated by the gaming executive.
However, there remains a focus on integrating the newly acquired Activision Blizzard workforce, which may temporarily slow down larger acquisition plans. Nonetheless, this doesn't close the door to significant future investments. With potential political shifts, there may be more opportunities for acquisitions to materialize once the next presidential term begins.
Microsoft previously navigated a challenging regulatory environment with the Federal Trade Commission concerning the Activision Blizzard agreement, a situation that it managed to overcome. Currently, the company's attention is also on enhancing its mobile gaming platform in anticipation of launching its own app store. However, progress has been hampered by several delays as teams work on an effective strategy to ensure the store's functionality on mobile devices. Despite the recent decision to streamline its workforce by letting go of 2,550 employees, particularly within Xbox’s mobile game development, Microsoft’s aspiration for growth in the gaming sector continues undeterred.