As the new season for video game production rolls in, many gamers around the world lie in wait for the top-of-the-line games that will be flooding the shelves. However, the traditional world of gaming may be coming to an end. As of January 18, 2022, video-game titan Microsoft made the risky decision to buy video-game producers Activision and Blizzard Entertainment for a whopping 68.7 billion dollars.

Along with the purchase of Activision and Blizzard, comes the acquisition of titles such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Overwatch. 

Whilst many in the gaming community are happy about Activision’s change in management, a silent majority are fearful of the repercussions that Microsoft’s rapid growth will have on the industry. 

In the wake of Microsoft’s big splash, rival of the gaming market Sony felt the ripples of the purchase. Over the last month alone, Sony has seen a 17.21 percent decrease in share prices. Thus, causing their rate to drop to 105.57 dollars per share compared to Microsoft’s $303.59. This huge contrast has left the gaming industry wondering if Sony can keep up. 

There are a limited number of Playstation Five consoles available on the market due to supply chain issues and supply scalping, which is the practice of purchasing tech and then selling it for often twice the original price. Sony seemed to be dead in the water while Microsoft rowed away on the lifeboat, leaving many to debate: Will the coming year spell the end of the console wars? 

Microsoft’s purchase breaking the news led many to believe that the end was near for Sony; however, it would seem that it was just the beginning. On January 31, 2022, it was announced that Sony would be purchasing critically acclaimed game producer Bungie for 3.67 billion dollars. Could Sony’s multi-billion dollar gambit save them from the gluttonous beast Microsoft or will Microsoft get its claws on even more companies?