What happens to Activision’s cash on hand if the deal closes? I’m just assuming they must have some.
Goes to the MS wallet. The purchase price/value of ABK includes the cash.
I wonder what is MS motivation do keep selling consoles today. Are they doing to not let Sony dominate the living room just like in 2001 when they released the first Xbox?
Are they looking for maximum profits?
There are many motivations
1- Xbox is one of the brands with the most value and worldwide recognition of MS. Almost a symbol for MS. Its maintenance cost is negligible within the general MS business. There is no urgent financial need for MS to decide to end a symbolic product and brand.
2- The appreciation of the console business among the leaders of XBoX and also Nadella who continue to see potential.
3- Xbox console is still the main revenue generator in software, microtransactions and subscriptions (also future xcloud). It is an environment that is the main channel for new users to the ecosystem. In the current situation, for MS to dispense with the console business is little less than idiocy.
3- Today MS is in an excellent position as a first party (if ABK is produced, incontestably) to be able to supply its own console like never before. Closing the console business now would not make sense. Not to mention that it has PC (and PS and Switch/Nin many times) as an equally priority platform to compensate and amortize first party developments.
I think that reality tends to be mixed with desires. It is true that surely P. Spencer would like another situation in terms of XSeries sales, but I have no doubt that he assumes that his forecasts in terms of first releases have not been as desired and he will be waiting for the fruits of the huge number of first Studios that has accumulated can be reflected in an improvement in the sales of XSeries this generation and the potential of the next generation of consoles.