Santa Monica video game company Activision Blizzard Inc. will join the S&P 500 after the close of trading Friday, becoming the second video game publisher to join the benchmark index.

The S&P 500 index tracks 500 large companies that trade on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq that are selected by a committee and represent a diverse group of industries. Electronic Arts of Redwood City is the only other video game company in the S&P 500.

Joining the benchmark index tends to be a boon for companies, as funds that track the index funds are required to buy their shares. S&P Dow Jones Indices, which manages the index, announced Activision’s addition after markets closed Thursday. Activision shares climbed 6 percent Friday, closing at $29.21.

French multimedia giant Vivendi bought a majority stake in Activision in 2008, and Activision Chief Executive Bobby Kotick led a buyout five years later. With one of its video games, “Destiny,” breaking records for biggest video game launch ever, Activision’s stock is up nearly 47 percent year-to-date.