, Meta, and Microsoft. Apple alone has as much as $200 billion in cash and near-cash equivalents, said Foy. And most of the big tech firms have relatively little debt, which means their carrying capacity for acquisitions is even larger.
Microsoft has been trying for more than a year to secure regulator approvals for a $69 billion purchase of publisher Activision-Blizzard. Though most regulators around the globe so far have signed off on the deal,Microsoft said it would appeal. There likely also will be pressure on Hollywood studios to drive growth with gaming investments or even acquisitions. Their streaming subscription services are struggling to break even, losing $10 billion collectively last year .