Activision & Blizzard Entertainment to merge

Written By deanogee 217 days ago
News Category: Industry News
Relevant Consoles: : Franchises : PC : PlayStation : PlayStation 2 : PlayStation 3 : Wii : Xbox : Xbox 360

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Two video game giants are set to merge in a deal which could send shock waves throughout the global video games industry. Activision and Blizzard plan to form "the world's most profitable games business". The deal is thought to be worth $18.8 billion (£9.15bn).

Activision, based in the US and formed in 1979, is the company behind hit console games such as the Tony Hawk series and Guitar Hero.

Blizzard on the other hand is the biggest player in online gaming with its title - World of Warcraft. Nine million people currently pay a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft, making it the biggest MMORPG.

The plans include Blizzard, currently owned by French media group Vivendi since 1998, investing $2billion in the new company, while Activision will put $1billion into the hat.

The merged business will go by the name of; Activision Blizzard. Activision's current CEO Bobby Kotick will take up the post of chief executive. Vivendi will be the biggest shareholder in the group.

Vivendi chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy, explains "This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector. By combining Vivendi's games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry."

The two firms hope that their different strengths will combine to rival every gaming platform in the gaming industry.

Get ready for the takeover!

Tags : activision : activision blizzard : blizzard : Blizzard Entertainment : guitar hero : mmorpg : tony hawk : vivendi : World of Warcraft

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Comments

By: ApplesauceNinja On: 09:36 Dec 2nd, 2007 Offline	Great, just what the gaming world needs - another EA. I hope for the best, but now that a new giant has been born I fear the worst for gaming.
By: Dragonfly On: 09:36 Dec 2nd, 2007 Offline	O.o Square Enix Namco Bandai Now Activision Blizzard? The gaming table is going to get pretty interesting once this goes ahead. And their first title? Guitar Hero: Legends of Azeroth! *laughs*
By: dragongee On: 09:40 Dec 2nd, 2007 Offline	Words of Ivory;37919 O.o Square Enix Namco Bandai Now Activision Blizzard? The gaming table is going to get pretty interesting once this goes ahead. And their first title? Guitar Hero: Legends of Azeroth! *laughs* when i heard this, i was consistantly saying in my head please dont name the company the obv choice by joining the names together. all of a sudden "the new company will be called 'Activision Blizzard'" guhh
By: Dragonsoul On: 08:43 Dec 2nd, 2007 Online	I still think SquareEnix is a worse sounding name but the name these guys are using smacks of a lack of creativity. But hell, as long as good games come as a result, I'll be happy. I guess that's the real kicker though--will they still produce quality games?
By: Marty Chimpants On: 05:56 Dec 3rd, 2007 Offline	I miss Square Soft. Give it back. I guess they're just scared. If the game corporations are growing, they're going to need someone to cling to. Or they could be trying to squish everyone else before they get the chance. Bew. What will this mean in the long run?
By: Dragonfly On: 05:11 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	Marty Chimpants;37980 Bew. What will this mean in the long run? Apparently, their combined weight makes them larger than Electronic Arts now. Mind you, if this means more updates for World of Warcraft, more often, then I'll be a very happy camper.
By: Tiamat On: 05:36 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	Blizzard said in an interview, that it's not going to affect their inner workings at all. It just gives them more resources and more clout. Maybe we'll get things like Diablo III now!!!
By: Marty Chimpants On: 05:58 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	I just hope they don't eff it up. Mind you, if this means more updates for World of Warcraft, more often, then I'll be a very happy camper. If it means better WoW . . . I don't know. They need to fix a lot of things in the funfactor department. If they want to keep loyal subjects like me strung along they're going to need something shiny to hold my attention.
By: Dragonfly On: 06:02 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	Marty Chimpants;38081 If it means better WoW . . . I don't know. They need to fix a lot of things in the funfactor department. If they want to keep loyal subjects like me strung along they're going to need something shiny to hold my attention. Appealing to the established consumers is always going to be the hardest part. When you put a lot of time into that game, and reach the proverbial "end", where exactly are you meant to go from there? A new expansion? New dungeons? New gear? Sadly, clicking their fingers and making the game "fun" again is beyond their capabilities.
By: Evren On: 06:07 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	Hmmm, Could be good or bad, depending on who is in charge and who gets all the money. Cant they just make a whole new name, because Activision Blizzard is too long, I call square enix, Squeeenix.
By: Marty Chimpants On: 06:23 Dec 4th, 2007 Offline	Words of Ivory;38083 Appealing to the established consumers is always going to be the hardest part. When you put a lot of time into that game, and reach the proverbial "end", where exactly are you meant to go from there? A new expansion? New dungeons? New gear? Sadly, clicking their fingers and making the game "fun" again is beyond their capabilities. Well Wrath of the Lich King I guess. I don't know though. I don't think they can pull it together before I finally give up for good. (hah! that's funny.)

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