Operating segments and geographic region (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 467	$ 300	$ 1,141	$ 811
Net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales	332	227	838	637
Stock-based compensation expense	(20)	(17)	(43)	(60)
Restructuring	(3)	(1)	(22)	(4)
Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments	(7)	(10)	(16)	(28)
Operating segments total
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	165	101	384	266
Activision
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	31	(53)	78	(46)
Blizzard
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	135	155	306	313
Distribution
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ 0	$ (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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