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Microsoft's $8.5 billion Skype acquisition in 2011 was its largest purchase at the time.
The price, 32 times Skype's operating profits, positioned Microsoft to compete in video calling markets against tech rivals.
Under CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft integrated Skype's communication tools across Xbox, Outlook, and Office products.
Microsoft bought Nokia's phone division in 2013 for $7.2 billion.
Like Apple's iPhone model, Microsoft wanted to control both hardware and software.
Despite Nokia's global reach in phone production and sales, Windows Phone continued losing ground to Apple iOS and Android. Microsoft abandoned the strategy in 2016, selling Nokia's basic phone business and ending its adventure in mobile hardware.
Microsoft bought Minecraft creator Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014.
Minecraft's devoted young players fit Microsoft's strategy: the game drove Xbox sales and brought children into Microsoft's digital world.
Minecraft has kept its top spot in gaming, leading streaming charts ever since.
Microsoft bought LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016.
It gave Microsoft access to LinkedIn's 400 million users and professional data.
LinkedIn kept its distinct identity but integrated with Microsoft 365 and other tools.
Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub in 2018 marked a strategic shift in developer relations.
The purchase price reflected GitHub's central role in software development and Microsoft's determination to engage with developer communities.
Despite initial concerns from developers wary of Microsoft's past antagonism toward open source, GitHub has maintained its independence.
Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media, owner of Bethesda, for $8.1 billion in 2020.
This purchase brought major franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Doom under Microsoft's control.
The acquisition, second only to Microsoft's LinkedIn purchase, strengthened Xbox's game lineup and Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service.
Microsoft acquired Nuance Communications for $19.7 billion in 2021.
Nuance's core product transcribes doctor-patient conversations into medical records.
The acquisition connects Microsoft's cloud infrastructure with Nuance's specialized healthcare software.
Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2024.
The purchase brought major gaming franchises—Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch—under Microsoft's control, strengthening its position in subscription-based gaming through Xbox Game Pass.
Regulators scrutinized the deal's impact on gaming competition but ultimately approved it.
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