Call of Duty is fully owned by Microsoft, which completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 — one of the largest gaming acquisitions in history. Bobby Kotick, Activision’s longtime CEO, stepped down once the deal closed, and control shifted directly into Microsoft’s gaming leadership structure.
Day-to-day development still happens at the studios that have long built the franchise — Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games — but strategic direction now flows through Microsoft. The ownership structure works in layers: Microsoft’s corporate leadership sets long-term strategy and global positioning, Microsoft Gaming handles platform integration and subscription strategy (including Xbox Game Pass), and Activision itself manages franchise execution and live-service operations on the ground. Microsoft itself has no controlling individual shareholder — see the full Microsoft ownership breakdown for details on its board and largest institutional holders.
Quick Facts
| Franchise | Call of Duty |
|---|---|
| Owner | Microsoft Corporation (via Activision Blizzard) |
| Acquisition Value | $68.7 billion |
| Deal Completed | 2023 |
| Core Studios | Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games |
| Former Activision CEO | Bobby Kotick (stepped down post-acquisition) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 2003 | The first Call of Duty game is released, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision |
| 2008 | Activision merges with Blizzard Entertainment to form Activision Blizzard |
| 2022 | Microsoft announces its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion |
| 2023 | The acquisition closes after clearing global regulatory review; Bobby Kotick departs; Call of Duty becomes fully Microsoft-owned |
| 2026 | Call of Duty continues under Microsoft’s ownership structure, integrated into Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft’s broader gaming ecosystem strategy |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard deal remains one of the largest acquisitions in tech and gaming history, reshaping the console and subscription gaming landscape.
- The layered ownership structure — corporate strategy at Microsoft, platform integration at Microsoft Gaming, execution at Activision — lets the core development studios keep working largely as before while strategic decisions now originate from Microsoft.
- Call of Duty’s integration into Xbox Game Pass has been one of the most closely watched effects of the acquisition, changing how the franchise reaches players compared to its traditional standalone retail model.
FAQ
Who owns Call of Duty?
Microsoft owns Call of Duty in full, following its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, completed in 2023.
Does Bobby Kotick still run Activision?
No. Kotick stepped down once Microsoft’s acquisition closed in 2023, and leadership shifted into Microsoft’s gaming structure.