Dec 2
Move over EA: Activision/Vivendi merger to become world’s largest publisher
Activision, the gaming publisher responsible for such hits as Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and Call of Duty, is now officially set to merge with Vivendi Games, publisher of such mega-hit franchises as Starcraft, World of Warcraft, Diablo and Crash Bandicoot. The resulting company, now the world’s biggest publisher, will be called Activision Blizzard, or, as I like to think of them, the Third Reich. Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision, commented:
By combining leaders in mass-market entertainment and subscription-based online games, Activision Blizzard will be the only publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry and reach the broadest possible audiences.
By joining forces with Vivendi Games, we will become the immediate leader in the highly profitable online games business and gain a large footprint in the rapidly growing Asian markets, including China and Korea, while maintaining our leading operating performance across North America and Europe.
Does this sound like the beginning of an Axis-like companionship between Activision and Vivendi to anyone else? Are they actually planning an entire take-over of the online gaming world? I can only speculate.
Actually, this type of merger might be good for Activision. Hopefully, because they are now coupled with Blizzard’s excellent online system, Activision will learn a thing or two about how to get online ranked matches to actually work in their next update of the Guitar Hero franchise. Or will we see a MMO Guitar Hero game? Think of the possiblities!
[Via Gamesindustry.biz]
Categories: Gaming Industry8 Comments so far
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Sweet photo. Whoever made that is a god.
I agree. A god amongst mere men.
You mean that’s Photoshopped? I thought it was actual promotional art for the newly announced merger!