Activision Blizzard is a leading American video game publishing company. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the company was formed in 2008 after a merger between video game publishers Activision and Vivendi Games. Activision was founded in 1979 and is known for producing popular titles such as Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Vivendi Games was a division of the multinational media conglomerate Vivendi SA and was responsible for creating well-known games such as World of Warcraft and Diablo.
Over the years, Activision Blizzard has grown into one of the most successful and recognizable video game companies in the world. The company is home to several well-known development studios, including Blizzard Entertainment, who are responsible for creating some of the most popular games in the industry.
Activision Blizzard has published many of the best-selling video games of all time. The Call of Duty franchise is among the most successful video game franchises in history, with over 300 million copies sold. The company’s other popular franchises include Diablo, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Candy Crush.
The company employs over 9,000 people worldwide, with most of its operations based in the United States. Activision Blizzard is also a publicly traded company, with shares listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbols ATVI.
History
Activision was founded in October 1979 by four former Atari employees: David Crane, Larry Kaplan, Alan Miller, and Bob Whitehead. The company first found success with the release of games such as Pitfall! and River Raid for the Atari 2600.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Activision created many successful games for home consoles, including the Atari 2600, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The company’s franchises during this period included Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro.
Vivendi Games was formed in 2000 after the French media conglomerate Vivendi acquired game companies such as Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, and Universal Interactive. Blizzard Entertainment, which was founded in 1991, was one of the most successful video game developers in the world and was known for games such as Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo.
In 2008, Activision and Vivendi Games merged to form Activision Blizzard. The merger created one of the largest video game publishers in the world, with a portfolio of some of the most successful franchises in gaming history.
Operations
Activision Blizzard has several development studios under its umbrella, including Blizzard Entertainment, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and King. The company also has several publishing subsidiaries, such as Activision, Raven Software, and Beenox.
Blizzard Entertainment is perhaps the most well-known of these studios, with a track record for creating some of the most popular games in the industry. Blizzard is responsible for franchises such as World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, as well as classic games such as Starcraft and Warcraft.
Activision Blizzard’s publishing subsidiaries are responsible for marketing and distributing the company’s games. Activision is known for publishing the Call of Duty franchise and other popular games such as Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. Raven Software has worked on titles such as Singularity and the Call of Duty series, while Beenox is known for producing games for the Spider-Man franchise.
Activision Blizzard also owns King, a mobile game developer known for popular puzzle games such as Candy Crush and Bubble Witch Saga.
Financial Performance
Activision Blizzard is a publicly traded company, with shares listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The company’s stock price has grown consistently over the years, reflecting the success of its franchises and its growing global footprint in the video game industry.
In 2020, Activision Blizzard reported net revenue of $8.086 billion, a 25% increase from the previous year. The company’s net income for the year was $2.201 billion, an increase of 66% from the previous year.
The success of popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Candy Crush has contributed significantly to Activision Blizzard’s financial performance. The company’s operating income from its Blizzard segment, which includes franchises such as World of Warcraft and Diablo, was $1.915 billion in 2020, a 56% increase from the previous year.
Social and Community Responsibility
Activision Blizzard has made several contributions to charitable and social causes over the years. The company has a community outreach program called “Activision Blizzard Volunteerism Always Pays” (ABVAP), which encourages employees to participate in charitable events and donate to various causes.
In 2020, Activision Blizzard donated over $2 million to support various COVID-19 relief efforts, including the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the Call of Duty Endowment’s COVID-19 Job Placement Fund.
The company has also made efforts to address concerns around diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry. In 2019, Activision Blizzard established the “ABK Women’s Network,” a group of employees dedicated to advocating for gender equality and supporting women in the company.
Controversies
Like many large video game companies, Activision Blizzard has faced its fair share of controversies over the years. In 2019, the company faced a backlash from fans and employees over its handling of the suspension of a professional Hearthstone player who had expressed support for the Hong Kong protests.
More recently, in July 2021, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, alleging discrimination and harassment against female employees. The lawsuit alleges that the company has a “frat boy culture” and that female employees are subjected to harassment and lower pay than their male peers. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations and has promised to address the issues raised in the lawsuit.
Conclusion
Activision Blizzard is one of the most successful and recognizable video game companies in the world. Its portfolio of popular franchises and talented development studios has helped the company grow into a global leader in the industry. However, the company has also faced its share of controversies and has been criticized for its handling of social and workplace issues. As the video game industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Activision Blizzard responds to these challenges and continues to grow as a company.
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