The cumulative amount authorized as of the balance sheet date by the entity's Board of Directors, for a stock repurchase program under which the entity may repurchase its common stock.

Name:	atvi_ShareRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedValueCumulative
Namespace Prefix:	atvi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	atvi_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	atvi
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of shares that are agreed to be repurchased during the period but are not yet settled as of the end of the period.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_Treasurystocksharesacquirednotyetsettled
Namespace Prefix:	atvi
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the cost of common and preferred stock that were agreed to be repurchased during the period but are not yet settled as of the end of the period. They were recorded using the cost method.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_Treasurystockvalueacquiredcostmethodnotyetsettled
Namespace Prefix:	atvi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Chapter 1

-Section B

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Capital transactions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Capital transactions (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011 Share Repurchase Program	Dec. 31, 2010 Share Repurchase Program	Sep. 30, 2011 New Share Repurchase Program	Feb. 03, 2011 New Share Repurchase Program
Share Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Share repurchase, cumulative amount authorized			$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000
Shares of common stock agreed to repurchase	524,000,000	22,000,000		502,000,000
Shares of common stock agreed to repurchase (in shares)		1.8		45
Shares of common stock agreed to be repurchase but not yet settled as of the end of the period (in shares)				0.5
Shares of common stock agreed to be repurchase but not yet settled as of the end of the period				$ 6,000,000