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Blizzard to Join Forces With Activision

News | Dec. 2, 2007 (7 months, 3 weeks ago) | by Teza | via forums.worldofwarcraft.com | Filed in World of Warcraft

The announcement was made 1 hour ago, hopefully our favorite game wont be affected by that merge:

We're pleased to announce that along with the other companies that make up Vivendi Games, we are merging with Activision to form a new global entertainment organization called Activision Blizzard (pending shareholder and regulatory approval). Similar to our previous arrangement, Blizzard Entertainment will now operate as a division of this new organization.

There will be no changes to our games, our websites, our personnel, or our day-to-day operations as a result of the deal. However, this combining of resources will benefit all of the companies involved and will further strengthen Blizzard's ability to continue delivering high-quality content for our players around the world for many years to come. To learn more about this exciting new development, please read our Activision Blizzard FAQ.

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Waylo_EarthenRing
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Blizzard and Activision are far from the dying method, yes.

Now EA Games Online is close to that stage in my opinion.
They killed a lot of good friendly titles they deemed a profit loss.
'Motor City Online' (Race car game) and 'Earth and Beyond' (Space game) are my most favorite EA destroyed. They gave one year and killed them, rather than giving incentives to return.

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xarephonic
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Call of Starcraft XD

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Indelible
7 months, 3 weeks ago

IT is blatantly a money thing. Vivendi Games has a dire reputation. They ruined the Tribes series and screwed over Homeworld fans so it is no surprise that Vivendi would take the (wise) decision to distance themselves from their games area.

The naming is simple - Activision are attributed with major console titles not to mention franchise titles such as Star Trek, Transformers, X-Men and Spiderman. This gives them a reputation as a major player in the franchise arm of the games industry. Blizzard are the foremost authority on RPG/RTS/MMO deveopment, with the top 3 gaming franchises (based on sales) being tehir franchises (with World of Warcraft occupying the top spot as a stand-alone).

Couple the two names together - Activision Blizzard - and you have a company that combines to of the most well known gaming companies into one easy-to-identify team...

Activision Blizzard = End of EA.

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oopomopoo
7 months, 3 weeks ago

did somebody say "Warchief Thrall Proskater 4" ? woot lol

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2rbear
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Warchief Thrall's Azerothian Wasteland ^^

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Kody
7 months, 3 weeks ago

By the way, I've done a bit more looking into this, and this merger will actually still retain Vivendi as the owner of the combined company -- they're simply moving their games division (which is worth nearly twice as much as Activision, at 8.1 billion USD) out into its own public stock -- under the name Activision Blizzard. Vivendi, once all is said and done, will own 68% of Activision Blizzard.

It's honestly a mark of how successful Blizzard Entertainment has been thus far to have their co-branded parent company carry part of their name, when this company is going to encompass far more than just Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. I think that's where a lot of confusion is being caused; this also includes Sierra Entertainment, and any other game developer currently under the Vivendi Games umbrella.

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Shuri
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Guitar Hero: Warcraft! now in stores! Download the exclusive Lvl 70 Elite Tauren Chieftan song and get a code for a free World of Warcraft prize!

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2rbear
7 months, 3 weeks ago

That song rocks^^

Would be cool to play it on GuitarHero :P

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Simulo
7 months, 3 weeks ago

oh joy....another merger....... -_-

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asp
7 months, 3 weeks ago

I find it somewhat strange they would call it Activision Blizzard.. the damn name doesn't even make sense and I also think Blizzard is a better game studio. They really should come up with a name that doesn't suck. Putting Activision first also makes me think they will have more control of the new entity.

I can't really see what good or bad this would even bring to Blizzard. Smells like a Vivendi deal to me. Typical moneybags thinking... one good game studio + one great game studio = the new halo 3! .. shame game development is actually more of a creative process than anything else. Let's just hope the soup doesn't taste as bad as the name :)

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Wowza1
7 months, 3 weeks ago

It's Activision Blizzard since blizzard is a division and it seems like a minority in the whole merger. Hopefully this does not effect greatly the power and creativity of Blizzard and its games.

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Kody
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Activision is definitely far from "dying" by any stretch of the imagination. With staple quality games like Guitar Hero and Call of Duty chugging along, selling hundreds of thousands of copies a month, this is great timing for the merger with Vivendi Games.

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Belaur
7 months, 3 weeks ago

I don't buy solidarity for one second. I agree with FallenIbis that its a money game. I don't think Vivendi has shown Blizzard the love it has deserved, and I doubt this merger will improve things. In fact, given time and the inevitable progression of the bought, I fear for Blizzard and its trust of pure power hitters. Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo universes. Glad I would be if I were wrong, I just don't think the chances are high enough.

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geddion
7 months, 3 weeks ago

personally i am glad vivendi games is looking out for one another instead of letting EA games buy out their vivendi game affiliates. this shows that vivendi games is strong together. something that i like to see every now and then team work solidarity

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Indelible
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Activision were far from dying... as were Blizzard. I think this was the only way they think they can compete with EA.

What I want to know is if this means that Activision Blizzard may start working on SC: Ghost? :o

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2rbear
7 months, 3 weeks ago

o_O Would be sweet :D

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TxBodyBag
7 months, 3 weeks ago

It could be worse, Blizzard could have been bought out by Electronic Arts.

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V_Master
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Whatever happens, I hope that Activision will not be "in charge" of Blizzard. Look what they did to their own company! If anything, Blizzard should have bought out Activision instead of joining with them.

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FallenIbis
7 months, 3 weeks ago

activision is not really dying, they still have a ton of stuff under them. I am surprised still by the merger, when you look at the revenue WoW is bringing in and if they had done similar projects with both starcraft and diablo universes, you would be looking at roughly what, a potential half a billion revenue a month...

this just goes to show you what "resources" mean...meaning the 1 percent of profit we put back into development while the other 99 percent goes into the pockets of investors. Blizzards revenue exceeds most companies because of WoW alone...they did not need this for "better resources"...its all a money game

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Rixier
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Vivendi to Contribute Vivendi Games Valued at $8.1 Billion, Plus $1.7 Billion in Cash in Exchange for Approximately 52% Stake in Activision Blizzard at Closing;

Total Transaction Valued at $18.9 Billion

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