activision blizzard inc’s bookings beat expectations after launching the latest title in its blockbuster “call of duty” videogame series ahead of the holidays but a forecast delivered monday could disappoint as the videogame publisher awaits word on its acquisition by microsoft corp activision atvi reported profit of 403 million or 52 cents a share on revenue of 233 billion up from 216 billion a year ago with bookings which include some deferred revenue of 357 billion up from 249 billion a year ago after adjusting for stockbased compensation and other effects the videogame publisher reported earnings of 78 cents a share down from 125 a share in the 2021 holiday period the company also reported 109 a share in deferred revenue and related costs analysts on average were expecting adjusted earnings of 151 a share on revenue of 261 billion and bookings of 319 billion according to factset shares dipped slightly in afterhours trading immediately following the release of the results but the stock has not moved much in the past year as investors await activision’s acquisition by microsoft msft activision executives said “call of duty modern warfare ii” “delivered the highest openingquarter sellthrough in franchise history” activision had already declared that the newest title from the franchise had its best debut ever with 800 million in sellthrough in just its first three days the popularity of “call of duty” is one of the sticking points in microsoft’s attempted purchase of activision with regulators concerned that microsoft would try to make future versions of the game exclusive to xbox executives have attempted to fight those concerns offering to return call of duty to nintendo co ltd 7974 consoles for the first time in a decade as well as concessions on continuing to sell the game for sony group corp’s sony playstation the federal trade commission has formally sought to block the merger in the us and the uk’s competition and markets authority has also been studying the proposed deal the new york times reported over the weekend that microsoft expected the results of the uk’s inquiry this week and did not expect them to be beneficial to the deal’s closure in monday’s release executives said “the two parties are continuing to engage with regulators reviewing the transaction and are working toward closing it in microsoft’s fiscal year ending june 30 2023 subject to obtaining required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions” executives guided for “at least highteens yearoveryear growth for gaap revenue and at least highsingle digit yearoveryear growth in net bookings and total segment operating income” for the new fiscal year and “at least highteens yearoveryear growth for gaap revenue at least midteens yearoveryear growth for net bookings and at least highsingle digit yearoveryear growth for total segment operating income” in the first quarter that may disappoint wall street as analysts on average were projecting net bookings growth of roughly 177 in 2023 and 286 in the first quarter according to factset activision executives will not hold a conference call to discuss the earnings report due to the expected acquisition microsoft agree to pay 95 a share to acquire the videogame publisher and shares ended monday selling for 7158 a share