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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Mark Sweney

Microsoft takeover of Call of Duty maker wipes $20bn off Sony shares

A screenshot from Call of Duty: WWII. Analysts doubt Sony has the finances for an acquisition the size of the $70bn Activision Blizzard deal.
A screenshot from Call of Duty: WWII. Analysts doubt Sony has the finances for an acquisition the size of the $70bn Activision Blizzard deal. Photograph: Rich Stanton/Call of Duty

$20bn (£14.7bn) has been wiped off the value of Sony after its rival Microsoft announced a record-breaking deal to buy the Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard and take the console wars into the metaverse.

Shares in the Japanese conglomerate closed down 13% on Wednesday, their biggest fall since the global financial crisis in 2008, as investors reacted to the possibility that the $70bn bid for Activision Blizzard could result in hit games being pulled from the Sony PlayStation console and subscription service and offered exclusively on the rival Microsoft Xbox.

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