Because gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry, it stands to reason that the most costly video game acquisitions continue to outperform one another. Mergers and acquisitions are important ways for corporations and studios to expand not only their profit margins but also their player reach. More players imply more money, which raises the worth of a company when it is sold to another.

List of 10 Most Expensive Video Game Acquisitions in the World?

1. Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard – $68.7 billion

Here it is: the acquisition that sparked outrage on the internet, drew the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, and resulted in months of squabbling between Xbox and PlayStation executives. Microsoft revealed its desire to acquire Activision Blizzard King for $68.7 billion in January 2022, a historic merger that would bring the Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Diablo, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft trademarks (among many others) into the Xbox ecosystem. The transaction is expected to close by June 2023, but its completion is questionable.

2. Take Two Interactive buys Zynga – $12.7 billion

Take-Two Interactive enjoys an enviable position in the video game business, thanks to its ownership of 2K Games and Rockstar Games. However, the business aspired to strengthen its position in the ever-expanding mobile games sector, which it accomplished in 2022 with the acquisition of Zynga.

The transaction was valued $12.7 billion, thanks in large part to Farmville’s continuous success and brand recognition, as well as games like Zynga Poker, CSR Racing, Words with Friends 2, and a slew of others. These titles may not be as obvious as GTA 6 or BioShock, but the Zynga portfolio is arguably just as vital (if not more crucial) to Take-Two’s continuous success.

3. Tencent buys Supercell (majority shareholder) – $8.6billion

Tencent is now one of the three largest gaming businesses in terms of revenue, and its success can be ascribed in part to industry-wide strategic investments. Tencent paid $8.6 billion for more than 81.4% of Supercell’s shares in a similar deal in 2016.

Due to the continuous popularity of Clash of Clans and its multiple spin-off titles – some of the largest games in the mobile gaming sector – such a hefty price was required to finalize the transaction. Tencent has remained Supercell’s biggest stakeholder to this day.

4. Microsoft buys ZeniMax Media – $8.1 billion

Microsoft pulled ZeniMax Media into the Xbox Game Studios fold in 2021, making it one of the most significant purchases in the video game sector in quite some time. Xbox acquired ZeniMax and its massive catalog of IP for $8.1 billion, including franchises such as Doom, Dishonoured, Fallout, Prey, Quake, The Elder Scrolls, and Wolfenstein.

With studios such as Arkane, Bethesda, and MachineGames now solely making games for the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft’s reputation among core players is rapidly growing, as is the strength of the Game Pass library.

5. Activision Blizzard buys King – $5.9 billion

Candy Crush Saga became a global craze when King published it in 2012, and it is now regarded as one of the most financially successful games of all time. So it wasn’t surprising when one of the industry’s titans, Activision, made a record $5.9 billion buyout bid for the company. The completion of this transaction increased Activision’s footprint in the mobile gaming market, which would eventually (a decade later) become a crucial reason in Microsoft’s choice to pursue the publisher.

6. ByteDance buys Moonton – $4 billion

ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, purchased games studio Moonton in order to develop and diversify its business. This put the company in direct competition with Tencent, the Chinese corporation that also owns Riot Games.

Although Moonton may not necessarily create some of the biggest names in mobile gaming, it does extend ByteDance’s influence into the industry and will provide prospects for growth as the firm grows. TikTok: Is It a Game? It may arrive sooner than you anticipate.

7. Sony buys Bungie – $3.6 billion

When Sony acquired Destiny 2 creator Bungie, they got a lot more than just a few games. Sony Productions, the corporation’s cinematic department, is already generating games-related films and TV shows, suggesting that the company has wider intentions for the massive online multiplayer game.

The Last Of Us, a show based on the post-apocalyptic survival horror game series that has transported the experience from consoles to international streaming sites, has been the most productive in recent months. Sony’s acquisition of Bungie could bode well for the future of not only its games but also for the future of games in general.

8. Microsoft buys Mojang – $2.5 billion

Microsoft purchased Minecraft developer Mojang Studios in 2014, making it one of the company’s largest purchases at the time. Minecraft has remained a top-selling game since Microsoft acquired the studio, with over 140 million active players in 2021 alone.

Minecraft is able to do so since it is still available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and Switch, as well as the Microsoft-owned Xbox One and Xbox Series X. Mojang continues to expand the franchise, collaborating with outside teams on upcoming Xbox Series X games such as Minecraft Legends.

9. Electronic Arts buys Glu Mobile – $2.4 billion

Electronic Arts, the publisher of The Sims 4, acquired Glu Mobile, bringing with it MLB Tap Sports Baseball. Mobile gaming is one of the major industries, with China, India, and the United States having the most gamers worldwide. EA’s Mobile division has been thriving since acquiring Glu, with over 69 million goals scored on EA Sports FIFA alone last year and a planned Lord of the Rings RPG presently in production for smartphone gamers.