Microsoft's purchase of Activision is still making waves. Everyone wants to know what this means for the games industry going forward, and Xbox head Phil Spencer is all too happy to give us his insights.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Spencer discussed the immediate effects of what Microsoft buying Activision would mean, and that's gaining access to a lot of abandoned IPs.

Related: Activision Games Will Be Soon Be Exclusive And You Need To Get Over It

"I was looking at the IP list, I mean, let’s go!” Spencer told the publication. "‘King’s Quest,’ ‘Guitar Hero.’ ... I should know this but I think they got ‘HeXen.’"

via Microsoft News
https://news.microsoft.com/2018/06/10/microsoft-doubles-its-game-development-studios-and-showcases-more-than-50-games-on-e3-stage-including-18-console-launch-exclusives-and-15-world-premieres/

Hexen too, but also Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk, and Spyro will soon fall under Microsoft's growing umbrella--provided the acquisition meets regulatory approval, which isn't entirely a sure thing.

Purchasing Activision also grants Microsoft a bulwark against other tech giants encroaching in the gaming space. As the largest acquisition in gaming history by far, it declares Microsoft as a gaming company, now and forever. And it also takes a history publisher away from those tech giants who might not be as charitable as Microsoft.

“Nintendo’s not going to do anything that damages gaming in the long run because that’s the business they’re in. Sony is the same and I trust them," said Spencer. "Valve’s the same way." But Google, Amazon, and Meta (parent company of Facebook) have a mixed history with gaming. Amazon has canceled several games and even New World seems to be struggling after its initial success. Meta wants to fill the metaverse with ads, while Google doesn't seem to know what it wants out of gaming.

Microsoft could indeed be a pioneer for the coming metaverse, as Spencer revealed how his management team is already using virtual spaces for more than just games. "I had a meeting today with the ‘Elder Scrolls Online’ team and we did our leadership team [meeting] in-game," Spencer revealed. "That’s as much of a Zoom call as anything else!”

Still, Microsoft will definitely have its work cut out for itself after it takes the reins of Activision. The company has suffered greatly over the past few years, with entire teams leaving thanks to its toxic work culture. Reforming Activision Blizzard will take "significant work," according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, but Microsoft has been quite successful with its purchases over the past few years.

Next: PlayStation's Game Pass Rival Could Change Everything