It seems Microsoft’s latest takeovers in the video game industry have galvanized a member of the US Senate. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Zenimax Media (Bethesda) with the help of billions of dollars, can indeed impress, even in the highest circles. Microsoft has apparently found a powerful ally in the person of Charles E. Schumer, Senate Majority Leader. The Times Union site tells us that the latter met with the president of Microsoft, Brad Smith. During this interview, there was talk of pushing the Redmond firm to invest in New York State.
A haven for the video game industry
New York State is already home to 23 video game studios with nearly 600 employees. Activision Blizzard subsidiary Vicarious Visions, now known as Blizzard Albany, is of great value to the local economy. It alone employs 200 people around Albany, which is the state capital. This makes it the biggest game developer in the region.
Schumer reflected on his exchange with the president of Microsoft in these terms:
“The video game industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue, and its growth shows no signs of slowing down. Some of the most cutting-edge games are being developed in the New York State region.[…] I made it clear to Microsoft that if they want to grow their gaming business, the Albany area has all the ingredients to become the next gaming capital of the world..”
As a reminder, Vicarious Visions was founded by the Bala brothers in Colonie, on the outskirts of Albany in 1991. The company was acquired by Activision in 2005. It is now one of the leading studios with games such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Guitar Hero
A considerable financial windfall
With this acquisition, Microsoft will become the third largest video game company by annual revenue. The aftermath of COVID 19, despite delays and console restocking hassles, has been quite positive and has allowed the medium to thrive. By 2024, this industry is expected to generate $218.7 billion, up from $178.73 billion in 2021.
It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will respond to the senator’s call. However, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is still being validated, it seems premature to talk about future growth projects. But we can notice that the last two important acquisitions of Microsoft in the video game are American. Both Activision and Blizzard are California based, and Bethesda was founded in Maryland. We can therefore understand Schumer’s attraction to the company that invests in employment on American soil, as the midterm elections loom at the end of 2022.
Article written by Tibulle.
The post Microsoft Encouraged to Invest in New York State appeared first on Gamingsym.