In a bet on the Metaverse, Microsoft buys scandal-plagued Activision.

Microsoft Corp. decided to purchase Activision Blizzard Inc. for a whopping sum of $68.7 billion, obtaining a classic game publisher known for franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, but lately gripped by sexual misconduct and discrimination allegations.

Microsoft would then pay $95 per share in cash to incorporate Activision’s stable of famous games to its Xbox, aiding the software maker to broaden its selections and force into the rapidly growing marketplaces of mobile gaming along with the metaverse.

So, what would the deal cost Microsoft?

The deal that would cause Microsoft to be the world’s third-largest gaming company is also in line with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s material, organization, and cloud software approach.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will remain in his position until the transaction is completed. Following the completion of the transaction, the Activision Blizzard business will be submitted to Phil Spencer, who was promoted to CEO of Microsoft Gaming as part of the contract.

Activision, which has a longstanding experience with Microsoft’s Xbox, would also assist Microsoft in staying ahead of the competition against Sony Corp.’s PlayStation. Call of Duty, the publisher’s most popular franchise, has grown in popularity thanks to Microsoft’s internet-based Xbox Live, letting players communicate for multiplayer matchmaking.

Does possession of Activision bring any trouble for Microsoft?

Possession of Activision brings with it a slew of legal aspects for Microsoft. Since last July, when a California government department lodged a sexual bias legal battle against the California-based company, explaining its “frat-boy culture” in excruciating detail and criticizing the leadership for neglecting to take steps to stop it. Activision has now been engulfed in scandal. The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States started its inquiry into the company’s handling of the allegations of wrongdoing. The deal will almost certainly face stringent regulatory examination in the United States, where regulators look into big tech companies’ reach and power.

After an intense article in the Wall Street Journal last fall that linked Kotick particularly to findings of abuse of women and mentioned that he was conscious of inappropriate conduct, which included rape, at the company in the past but didn’t disclose it to the board, Kotick, who has led Activision for 30 years, was under pressure to step down. He has expressed regret and promised to make changes.

What does Kotick have to say about the charges?

According to Kotick, the deal has little to do with the Activision scandal or calls for him to resign and that Spencer approached him last year. Microsoft looked at Activision’s situation, provided all the bad publicity and stress on Kotick, and started to wonder if the dispirited CEO would be inclined to do a deal, according to a source familiar with the talks who was not authorized to discuss. Kotick previously refused to sell and put the word out to see if another firm would outcompete Microsoft. But, given the ongoing public criticism of his company, Kotick had little power and influence with his board at the time.