Microsoft’s Activision plan shows gaming will be at heart of metaverse

Activision Blizzard deal would help Xbox compete against PlayStation – but will regulators play along?

If the metaverse is an immersive world, then gaming – as exemplified by titles such as Roblox and (Microsoft-owned) Minecraft – already offers that experience to its participants.

Microsoft’s planned takeover of Activision Blizzard puts the tech company at the centre of two big issues facing the sector: the metaverse and Washington’s determination to rein in big tech.

The metaverse is where the physical and digital worlds come together, although it is very much at the concept stage.