Activision and Blizzard have said they will form "the world's most profitable games business" in a deal worth $18.8bn (£9.15bn). US-based Activision also makes hit console games such as the Tony Hawk series and Guitar Hero. Blizzard, currently owned by the French media group Vivendi, is the biggest player in online gaming and Warcraft is the global market leader of what are known as massively multi-player online role-playing games, or MMORPGs. As part of the merger plan, Blizzard will invest $2bn in the new company, while Activision is putting up $1bn.
The merged business will be called Activision Blizzard and its chief executive will be Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group. Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi chief executive, said: "This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector. The two firms are hoping that their different strengths will combine to form a business which is powerful on every gaming platform and in every territory. "By combining Vivendi's games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry."
News source: BBC
View: Neowin Forum Discussion
The merged business will be called Activision Blizzard and its chief executive will be Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group. Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi chief executive, said: "This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector. The two firms are hoping that their different strengths will combine to form a business which is powerful on every gaming platform and in every territory. "By combining Vivendi's games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry."
News source: BBC View: Neowin Forum Discussion
That's not the name. Just check the Blizz website.
Blizzard Entertainment will still exist, as a division of Activision Blizzard. The news post on www.blizzard.com is actually quite informative, as is their FAQ on it.
Overall, it sounds like they're just pooling money/knowledge, and not really 'merging' like most companies do.
Press release: http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15203/Activi...s-Release-Text/
Press release: http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15203/Activi...s-Release-Text/
I disagree. Blizzard (currently owned by Vivendi) is merging with Activision. Vivendi is then plowing money into the project. Vivendi are still a company in their own right. In essence it's a division of them
Press release: http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15203/Activi...s-Release-Text/
I disagree. Blizzard (currently owned by Vivendi) is merging with Activision. Vivendi is then plowing money into the project. Vivendi are still a company in their own right. In essence it's a division of them
Did you even read the Press Release?
not sure what to think of this, good or bad?
ea = more than scum
blizzard = ace
well, more companies will go to crap... great :
try and get a patch to any of there games that are older than... 5 months ? you can get them off lameplanet and places but not from activision
Either way, hopefully this merge doesn't bring down Blizzard's quality. They are second to none when it comes to releasing a top notch game.
It was so bad that a lot of key Blizzard dev's left Blizzard (and formed Anet which came out with Guildwars - The dev's for Starcraft and Battlenet especially) getting sick of hearing about news about there company and sale attempts coming more from gaming web sites vs internal information.
Overall, I don't see this as being too bad.
EA would of been a kiss of death.....
maybe theyll resurrect SC Ghost
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes out of the cooker.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes out of the cooker.
What about The Lost Vikings?
:-(
This means the other companies will be crushed basically..........
Well but I guess we can expect better qualities of game from those companies
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