This element represents the period one interval for setting of the short-term interest rate on auction rate securities.

No definition available.

Name:	atvi_AuctionRateSecuritiesSeriesRateSettingIntervalPeriodOne
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the period three interval for setting of the short-term interest rate on auction rate securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_AuctionRateSecuritiesSeriesRateSettingIntervalPeriodThree
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the period two interval for setting of the short-term interest rate on auction rate securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_AuctionRateSecuritiesSeriesRateSettingIntervalPeriodTwo
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the number of major customers that account for 10 percent or more of entity's revenues individually.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ConcentrationRiskNumberOfMajorCustomers
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of a prior period adjustment to previously issued financial statements, including an adjustment that is a correction of an error. At a minimum, the description may include the nature and reasons for the adjustment and the periods affected by the adjustment, as well as (1) the effect of the correction on each financial statement line item and any per-share amounts affected for each prior period presented (2) the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or other appropriate components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position, as of the beginning of the earliest period presented, and (3) the effect of the prior period adjustment (both gross and net of applicable income tax) on the net income of each prior period presented in the entity's annual report for the year in which the adjustments are made.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_CorrectionOfErrorBasicAndDilutedEps
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_CorrectionOfErrorNetIncome
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_CorrectionOfErrorNetRevenuesAndOperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	atvi_DetailsOfFinancialInstrumentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the maximum contractual term for foreign exchange forward contracts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ForeignExchangeForwardContractMaximumContractualTerm
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the maximum amortization period in years, which can extend beyond, of Intellectual Property License costs that are to be amortized to cost of sales-intellectual property licenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ResearchAnddevelopmentexpenseIPcostmaximumamortizationperiod
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the maximum amortization period of capitalized software development costs that are to be amortized to cost of sales - software royalties and amortization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseSoftwareCostMaximumAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the lower end of the maturity period over which investments of highly liquid nature are classified as short-term investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ShortTermInvestmentMaturityPeriodLowerEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the upper end of the maturity period over which investments of highly liquid nature are classified as short term investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atvi_ShortTermInvestmentMaturityPeriodUpperEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	atvi_SoftwareDevelopmentCostsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	atvi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Basis of Consolidation and Presentation
Correction of Error - Net Revenues and Operating Income	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (11)	$ (4)	$ (2)	$ (4)
Correction Of Error Net Income						$ (8)
Correction Of Error Basic And Diluted EPS						$ (0.01)
Investment Securities
Short-term investment classification, lower end of the maturity range, greater than						90
Short-term investment classification, upper end of the maturity range, less than						1
Auction Rate Securities, interest rate setting interval - period one						7
Auction Rate Securities, interest rate setting interval - period two						28
Auction Rate Securities, interest rate setting interval - period three						35
Financial Instruments
Maximum contractual terms of foreign exchange forward contracts						1
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of significant customers for concentration of credit risk						1	0	1
Software Development Costs
Maximum amortization period for software development costs						6
Maximum amortization period for Intellectual Property license, extend beyond (in years)						1
Wal-Mart \| Consolidated gross receivables
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration risk (in percent)		21.00%				20.00%	21.00%
GameStop \| Consolidated net revenues
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of concentration risk (in percent)						10.00%		12.00%