Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash. But $70 BILLION could have been so much more at a market premium for the company offered not even a year ago. Did the $2T gorilla in the room "help" make such a deal possible in public (and other) statements, and where does CEO Bobby Kotick's ego fit in? It's always Bobby, Bobby, Bobby...in Virtual Legality. #Activision #Microsoft #BobbyKotick *** WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STREAMLABS - https://streamlabs.com/richardhoeg STORE - https://teespring.com/stores/hoeg-law-store *** CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Whither Bobby Kotick 04:19 A Questionable Timeline (Wall Street Journal) 12:08 Discounting Big Bets 17:12 Deny, Deny, Deny 18:38 Phil Spencer Talks Activision 22:23 Microsoft's Own Shareholder Revolt 26:39 Buying the Press 28:35 Conclusion *** Discussed in this episode: Hoeg Law Videos BUYING LOW | A Legal Look at Microsoft's Stunning Activision Acquisition (VL607)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzPuhjCZK7I ACTIVISION BOMBSHELL | WSJ - "Bobby Kotick Knew" (VL575) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVS5d1ziQck "Navigating" Activision Blizzard | From PlayStation Stings to Game Awards Things (VL588) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv1tlRYkVS0 Will Xbox or PlayStation Actually ACT Against Activision Blizzard? (VL578) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSYpmT2hyCA Xbox News Releases https://news.microsoft.com/2022/01/18/microsoft-to-acquire-activision-blizzard-to-bring-the-joy-and-community-of-gaming-to-everyone-across-every-device/ https://news.microsoft.com/2021/11/30/microsoft-holds-annual-shareholders-meeting-5/ "Activision Blizzard’s Workplace Problems Spurred $75 Billion Microsoft Deal" Wall Street Journal - January 18, 2022 https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-blizzard-microsoft-deal-11642557922 "Xbox Boss Not Interested In 'Virtue Shaming' Activision" Kotaku - January 10, 2022 https://kotaku.com/xbox-boss-not-interested-in-virtue-shaming-activision-1848334067 *** "Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law). CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:    • Virtual Legality   DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL. *** Twitter: @hoeglaw Web: hoeglaw.com *** DESIGN WORK Joe Ellis (Logo Design) Chris Leroux (Motion Graphics) For more information: contact Chris at @Chrisleroux on Twitter. PODCAST VERSIONS ALSO AVAILABLE