Miuku. Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 SANTA MONICA, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business -- which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s? World of Warcraft?, the world’s #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise -- with Activision, creating the world’s largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party video game publisher. On closing of the transaction, Activision will be renamed Activision Blizzard and will continue to operate as a public company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ATVI. Activision, one of the world’s leading independent publishers of interactive entertainment, is best known for its top-selling franchises, including Guitar Hero?, Call of Duty? and the Tony Hawk series, as well as Spider-Man™, X-Men™, Shrek?, James Bond™ and TRANSFORMERS™. Blizzard Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, has projected calendar 2007 revenues of $1.1 billion, operating margins of over 40% and approximately $520 million of operating profit. Blizzard owns the #1 multi-player online role-playing game franchise, World of Warcraft, which currently has over 9.3 million subscribers worldwide. Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, Warcraft?, StarCraft? and Diablo? games account for four of the top-five best-selling PC game titles of all time. Vivendi Games also owns popular franchises, including Crash Bandicoot™ and Spyro™. Pro forma for calendar 2007, Activision Blizzard expects to generate approximately 70% of its revenues from owned franchises. As a result of the business combination, Activision Blizzard expects to have the most diversified and broadest portfolio of interactive entertainment assets in its industry, positioning the combined company to capitalize on the continued worldwide growth in interactive entertainment. Source: Businesswire Well, this can't be good. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosidius Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 The companies behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft are merging in a deal which could shake up the global video games industry. 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. Nine million people pay a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031575 Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I dunno why you'd think that. Activision puts out some pretty great games. I'm actually less a fan of Blizzard than Activision, but only because I'm just not really interested in the games they create, not because I think they aren't a great quality developer. -Spenser Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031580 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimy Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Holy **** this is huge! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031587 Share on other sites More sharing options...
macrosslover Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 maybe activision can actually finish starcraft ghost.... Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031589 Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Spork) Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 this will be HUGE ! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031592 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=604400 On retrospect, I should've posted that in BPN. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031610 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Star Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. :blink: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031612 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexcyn Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Wow ... never saw this coming at all. Wonder what's going to happen with any future games, such as WoW 2, etc. This will be interesting indeed. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031615 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregb0b Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. :blink: Money talks :). I think Blizzard is getting too greedy, I guess millions in revenue monthly means nothing. Gotta go for the gold! "WoW coming to consoles Q4 2008!" Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031616 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNay Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Wow, I am surprised that Blizzard would do this. :blink: Me too, mayb they're making a game called, World of Doom 4! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031618 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid~vaeda Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I hope this doesnt effect Starcraft 2....that would suck big time Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031619 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosidius Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 "WoW coming to consoles Q4 2008!" Not a bad idea actually. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregb0b Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Not a bad idea actually. To bad there is too much junk going on, and with limited buttons on a controller it would be very difficult to accomplish that :p Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031625 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoue Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I don't like this one bit. It's just one more step towards giant conglomerate companies monopolizing the gaming market. Too many smaller companies and games are going under because they don't have the money and resources to compete with companies like this. In the long run it only stifles competition and innovation. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031643 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malisk Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I don't like this one bit. It's just one more step towards giant conglomerate companies monopolizing the gaming market. Too many smaller companies and games are going under because they don't have the money and resources to compete with companies like this. In the long run it only stifles competition and innovation. I agree, it's getting tougher and tougher for companies to compete. It doesn't just take a good game anymore, but a massive marketing engine backing it, for example. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031646 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freedom Phantom Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Whoa, I wonder how this will affect how blizzard works. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031649 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosidius Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 A Blizzard employee has posted a FAQ on the merge... http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.h...13659&sid=1 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031651 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Star Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Q: Will Activision and Blizzard now share development teams?A: No, both of our companies will continue to operate as they have previously with regard to game development. Then why merge? That is just stupid. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031658 Share on other sites More sharing options...
einsteinbqat Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 2 companies, different markets, different games, but combined revenues and profits! Also, reducing structural expenses (= reducing the number of employees), thus more revenues and profits! It's all about the money! :p Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031665 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogan Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 After reading that FAQ all I get out of it is, "Everything will stay the same". What's the point? What WILL it change? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031693 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMELTN Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 this is HUGE.. World of Call of Duty anyone? http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.h...13654&sid=1 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadBoat89 Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Then why merge? That is just stupid. it is the same reason why companies buy other companies... money Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031702 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMELTN Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 After reading that FAQ all I get out of it is, "Everything will stay the same".What's the point? What WILL it change? Money.. Just means the money will go to 1 central pot. And activision can put their name on the game. Also Activision is HUGE as far as Publishing goes. Just means they can now Publish Blizzards' games. lol World of Call of Duty anyone? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031705 Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Spork) Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Money talks :). I think Blizzard is getting too greedy, I guess millions in revenue monthly means nothing. Gotta go for the gold!"WoW coming to consoles Q4 2008!" blizz has said many many times before they have no plans on porting wow to console Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/604405-blizzard-entertainment-and-activision-to-merge/#findComment-589031722 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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