Capital Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Capital Transactions
Capital Transactions	19. Capital transactions Repurchase Program On February 2, 2012, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (“the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we may repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock, on terms and conditions to be determined by the Company, during the period between April 1, 2012 and the earlier of March 31, 2013 and a determination by the Board of Directors to discontinue the repurchase program. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we repurchased 4 million shares of our common stock for $54 million pursuant to the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we repurchased in total 26 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $315 million pursuant to stock repurchase plans authorized in 2011 and 2012. On February 3, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2011 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased 59 million shares of our common stock for $670 million pursuant to the 2011 Stock Repurchase Program. Additionally, in January 2012, we settled the purchase of 1 million shares of our common stock that we had committed to repurchase in December 2011 pursuant to this program for $12 million. The 2011 Stock Repurchase Program expired on March 31, 2012. On February 10, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2010 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we repurchased 84 million shares of our common stock for $944 million pursuant to the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program. In January 2011, we settled a $22 million purchase of 1.8 million shares of our common stock that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2010 pursuant to the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program. The 2010 Stock Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2010. On October 30, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock. On July 31, 2009, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of $250 million to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program bringing the total authorization to $1.25 billion. During 2009, we repurchased 101 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,109 million pursuant to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program. In January 2010, we settled a $15 million purchase of 1.3 million shares of our common stock that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2009 pursuant to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program, completing that program. Dividend On February 7, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.19 per common share payable on May 15, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2013. On February 9, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per common share payable on May 16, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2012. On May 16, 2012, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $201 million to such shareholders. On June 1, 2012, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $3 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units. On February 9, 2011, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.165 per common share payable on May 11, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2011. On May 11, 2011, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $192 million to such shareholders. On August 12, 2011, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $2 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units. On February 10, 2010, Activision Blizzard's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2010. On April 2, 2010, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $187 million to such shareholders. On October 22, 2010, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $2 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units.

Capital Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

19. Capital transactions

Repurchase Program

On February 2, 2012, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (“the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we may repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock, on terms and conditions to be determined by the Company, during the period between April 1, 2012 and the earlier of March 31, 2013 and a determination by the Board of Directors to discontinue the repurchase program. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we repurchased 4 million shares of our common stock for $54 million pursuant to the 2012 Stock Repurchase Program. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we repurchased in total 26 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $315 million pursuant to stock repurchase plans authorized in 2011 and 2012.

On February 3, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2011 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased 59 million shares of our common stock for $670 million pursuant to the 2011 Stock Repurchase Program. Additionally, in January 2012, we settled the purchase of 1 million shares of our common stock that we had committed to repurchase in December 2011 pursuant to this program for $12 million. The 2011 Stock Repurchase Program expired on March 31, 2012.

On February 10, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2010 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we repurchased 84 million shares of our common stock for $944 million pursuant to the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program. In January 2011, we settled a $22 million purchase of 1.8 million shares of our common stock that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2010 pursuant to the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program. The 2010 Stock Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2010.

On October 30, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the “2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program”) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $1 billion of our common stock. On July 31, 2009, our Board of Directors authorized an increase of $250 million to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program bringing the total authorization to $1.25 billion. During 2009, we repurchased 101 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,109 million pursuant to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program. In January 2010, we settled a $15 million purchase of 1.3 million shares of our common stock that we had agreed to repurchase in December 2009 pursuant to the 2008-2009 Stock Repurchase Program, completing that program.

Dividend

On February 7, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.19 per common share payable on May 15, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2013.

On February 9, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per common share payable on May 16, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2012. On May 16, 2012, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $201 million to such shareholders. On June 1, 2012, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $3 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units.

On February 9, 2011, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.165 per common share payable on May 11, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2011. On May 11, 2011, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $192 million to such shareholders. On August 12, 2011, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $2 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units.

On February 10, 2010, Activision Blizzard's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on April 2, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2010. On April 2, 2010, we made an aggregate cash dividend payment of $187 million to such shareholders. On October 22, 2010, the Company made dividend equivalent payments of $2 million related to that cash dividend to the holders of restricted stock units.