Operating segments and geographic region (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 162	$ 55	$ 1,304	$ 865
Net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales	105	(97)	943	539
Stock-based compensation expense	(18)	(34)	(61)	(94)
Restructuring	(3)	0	(24)	(3)
Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments	(7)	(18)	(22)	(47)
Operating segments total
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	85	204	468	470
Activision
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(36)	(43)	42	(88)
Blizzard
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	120	246	425	559
Distribution
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ (1)

Represents the amount of expense recognized during the period arising from share-based compensation arrangements to reconcile total income (loss) from operations from reportable segments, to the entity's consolidated operating income (loss).

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Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments.

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- Definition

Impact of the net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales in reconciling total segment net revenues to consolidated net revenues.

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- Definition

The amount of restructuring charges during the period to reconcile total income (loss) from operations from reportable segments, to the entity's consolidated operating income (loss).

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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