Analysis-Microsoft faces challenge cleaning up Activision Blizzard’s culture

FILE PHOTO: The Activision booth is shown at the E3 2017 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 13, 2017. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo

(Reuters) - The success of Microsoft’s biggest deal ever rides on rehabilitating Activision Blizzard’s culture, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella declared after announcing the $69 billion transaction.

Accomplishing that will require Microsoft to deviate from its usual hands-off approach on acquisitions to tackle what amounts to a “clean up” job of fixing the famed maker of the “Call of Duty” games franchise, which faces multiple accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct, analysts and management experts say.