Vivendi May Sell Activision Blizzard to Microsoft or Time Warner

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/activision-blizzard-Sale-Buyers-Acquisition,news-15812.html

"Vivendi is strangled by a pile of only slowly declining debt that currently stands at about $15.5 billion. The sale of Activision Blizzard, which is majority-owned by Vivendi, could alleviate the growing pain substantially. The 60 percent stake Vivendi holds is estimated to be worth about $10 billion. According to Reuters, Vivendi may have started fielding potential buyers, which reportedly include Time Warner as well as Microsoft.

When asked for comment, both companies declined to comment on Activision Blizzard, but did not deny their interest either. Similarly, Vivendi did not deny that Activision Blizzard is for sale and said that "all options are on the table". As attractive as Activision Blizzard may be as a game publisher, it would be relatively easy for Vivendi to part ways as it is not a core business for the company.

Founded back in 1853, and headquartered in Paris, Vivendi's heart is in music publishing and TV broadcasting."

Not sure if posted if so delete.

Warner would be the better option as a whole, MS will clamour for it considering the immense amouts of IP's and control they could gain in the market.Although competitive monopoly could be called into play considering how massive acti bliz are.

Microsoft ? please god no...

that would be killer for MS

Sony would be dead in the water if that happens

Wow the end of Blizzard, that's really sad, one of if not the greatest game devs in the history of gaming are about to be killed by M$.

Wow the end of Blizzard, that's really sad, one of if not the greatest game devs in the history of gaming are about to be killed by M$.

Eddie-Vedder

they are pretty much just selling cod.campzor

[QUOTE="Eddie-Vedder"]

Wow the end of Blizzard, that's really sad, one of if not the greatest game devs in the history of gaming are about to be killed by M$.

reach3

clearly has never been old enough to remember WC3.

they are pretty much just selling cod.campzor

That would be good for Xbox in the meantime sort of, but the track record of studios folding under M$ makes me nervous in the longterm. Activision has a similar track record of closing/selling off studios/downsizing studios, so the irony wouldn't be lost on me. I'm not sure this would be a great deal for gamers, but it certainly would give the Xbox brand more 1st party power. However, there are other things to consider.

For instance, this deal would be bad in the sense that those ACTI games coming to 360...would still be coming to 360. Those games are still coming to 360 gamers, so nothing changes for 360 Gamers. Basically, it would just make the COD and other ACTI games exclusive instead of multiplatform. I'm sure some licenses would also expire like Marvel, Bond as the conditions for those franchises may be nullified depending on the contract. So, as a 360 gamer myself, it wouldn't change my life at all. However, again looking at previous closures done by M$, in the longterm it could be bad for gamers if M$ gave ACTIVISION the treatment we've seen from Ensemble/Rare/et cetera.

It would be hilarious when you consider the Bungie deal. LMAO. Think of Bungie. They break away only to be back. They have got be be having a good laugh over there.

Logically looking at this rumor though, like "EA being bought by M$!!" rumors years back, a multiplatform company like Activision reaps far more money as is currently than going 1st party and only selling to one install base, or even two. As it is, it makes games as a platform agnostic entity, which brings in revenue from the handheld, PC, and ENTIRE gaming console sectors.

Let's be honest, selling the idea that an Activision purchase would actually be good investment to the entire company of board members and investors probably wouldn't fly as Activision's profit margins would be reduced radically...and it wouldn't fly for Sony or Nintendo either if they were in a position to purchase Activision.

Beggars can't be choosers, though.

If MS bought Activision Blizzard, that would be a major thing for them.

This is definately worth the investment for them. They might struggle to outbid Time Warner though. I'm not entirely sure MS is as financially powerful as Time Warner. But this one is worth busting the bank for.

It would be a massive coup for them.

I'm not sure what would happen if CoD suddenly became Xbox/PC only. But bringing in Blizzard as well, the pros far outweigh the cons for MS. Guess we'll see.

I don't understand how Vivendi are losing money though, doesn't Activision Blizzard on it's own bring in enough?

I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.nintendoboy16

That would be good for Xbox in the meantime sort of, but the track record of studios folding under M$ makes me nervous in the longterm. Activision has a similar track record of closing/selling off studios/downsizing studios, so the irony wouldn't be lost on me. I'm not sure this would be a great deal for gamers, but it certainly would give the Xbox brand more 1st party power. However, there are other things to consider.

For instance, this deal would be bad in the sense that those ACTI games coming to 360...would still be coming to 360. Those games are still coming to 360 gamers, so nothing changes for them. Basically, it would just make the COD and other ACTI games exclusive. I'm sure some licenses would also expire like Marvel, Bond as the conditions for those franchises may be nullified depending on the contract.

Logically looking at this rumor though, like EA being bought rumors years back, a multiplatform company like Activision reaps far more money as is currently than going 1st party and only selling to one install base, or even two. As it is, it makes games as a platform agnostic entity, which brings in revenue from the handheld, PC, and ENTIRE gaming console sectors.

Let's be honest, selling the idea that an Activision purchase would actually be good investment to the entire company of board members and investors probably wouldn't fly...and it wouldn't fly for Sony or Nintendo either if they were in a position to purchase Activision.

Beggars can't be choosers, though.

SolidTy

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

That would be good for Xbox in the meantime sort of, but the track record of studios folding under M$ makes me nervous in the longterm. Activision has a similar track record of closing/selling off studios/downsizing studios, so the irony wouldn't be lost on me. I'm not sure this would be a great deal for gamers, but it certainly would give the Xbox brand more 1st party power. However, there are other things to consider.

For instance, this deal would be bad in the sense that those ACTI games coming to 360...would still be coming to 360. Those games are still coming to 360 gamers, so nothing changes for 360 Gamers. Basically, it would just make the COD and other ACTI games exclusive instead of multiplatform. I'm sure some licenses would also expire like Marvel, Bond as the conditions for those franchises may be nullified depending on the contract. So, as a 360 gamer myself, it wouldn't change my life at all. However, again looking at previous closures done by M$, in the longterm it could be bad for gamers if M$ gave ACTIVISION the treatment we've seen from Ensemble/Rare/et cetera.

It would be hilarious when you consider the Bungie deal. LMAO. Think of Bungie. They break away only to be back. They have got be be having a good laugh over there.

Logically looking at this rumor though, like "EA being bought by M$!!" rumors years back, a multiplatform company like Activision reaps far more money as is currently than going 1st party and only selling to one install base, or even two. As it is, it makes games as a platform agnostic entity, which brings in revenue from the handheld, PC, and ENTIRE gaming console sectors.

Let's be honest, selling the idea that an Activision purchase would actually be good investment to the entire company of board members and investors probably wouldn't fly as Activision's profit margins would be reduced radically...and it wouldn't fly for Sony or Nintendo either if they were in a position to purchase Activision.

Beggars can't be choosers, though.

Zaibach

Quoted For Truth! ;) :P

Microsoft:Global Dominance.Screw Sony.

would be awful if MS got them, i would quit gaming, because MS would kill Blizzard.

if Vivendi sell them, hope to god Time Warner get them.

would be awful if MS got them, i would quit gaming, because MS would kill Blizzard.

if Vivendi sell them, hope to god Time Warner get them.

HaloinventedFPS

I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.nintendoboy16

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

God, if only Blizzard would somehow split from Acti, and become like Valve..

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.edidili

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

MS would make Blizzard Xbox only, which would kill them, Warner would most likely let Blizzard keep doing what they are doing (making loadse mone)

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.edidili

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

[QUOTE="HaloinventedFPS"]

would be awful if MS got them, i would quit gaming, because MS would kill Blizzard.

if Vivendi sell them, hope to god Time Warner get them.

WilliamRLBaker

Ensemble were one of the best PC devs in their prime, MS forced them to make a console exclusive RTS and then shut them down.

So dont roll your eyes at me.

[QUOTE="edidili"]

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.HaloinventedFPS

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

MS would make Blizzard Xbox only, which would kill them, Warner would most likely let Blizzard keep doing what they are doing (making loadse mone)

Microsoft ? please god no...

Blake135

[QUOTE="HaloinventedFPS"]

[QUOTE="edidili"]

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

locopatho

MS would make Blizzard Xbox only, which would kill them, Warner would most likely let Blizzard keep doing what they are doing (making loadse mone)

HA, wish that was true.

[QUOTE="HaloinventedFPS"]

[QUOTE="edidili"]

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

locopatho

MS would make Blizzard Xbox only, which would kill them, Warner would most likely let Blizzard keep doing what they are doing (making loadse mone)

. They might struggle to outbid Time Warner though. I'm not entirely sure MS is as financially powerful as Time Warner.

HalcyonScarlet

Wat? Microsoft's cash reserves dwarf any other company besides Apple.

AdrianWerner

And Time Warner is the second largest media conglomerate on Earth.

[QUOTE="edidili"]

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]I'd take Warner. I dread to see what crap MS would do to Acti-Blizz. This would also mean Activision wouldn't be a multiplat publisher if MS got a hold of them.WilliamRLBaker

What makes you think warner is better than MS?

IMO if the new owner whoever that is doesn't let Blizzard do its thing then Blizzard is finished.

[QUOTE="AdrianWerner"]

Wat? Microsoft's cash reserves dwarf any other company besides Apple.

Lucianu

And Time Warner is the second largest media conglomerate on Earth.

[QUOTE="locopatho"][QUOTE="HaloinventedFPS"]

MS would make Blizzard Xbox only, which would kill them, Warner would most likely let Blizzard keep doing what they are doing (making loadse mone)

parkurtommo

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"][QUOTE="locopatho"] MS is perfectly happy to support both Xbox and PC.locopatho

[QUOTE="locopatho"][QUOTE="parkurtommo"] Nice joke, you almost got me laughing.AdrianWerner

[QUOTE="locopatho"][QUOTE="parkurtommo"] Nice joke, you almost got me laughing.AdrianWerner

that would be killer for MS

Sony would be dead in the water if that happens

ebrezzy1

Lol this would be huge if true

Microsoft is more than just Xbox people.

Blizzard wouldn't make a console game. Their people have enough talent and experiance to just walk away from Blizzard if that happens and make their own studio. We've seen it before. Remember what happened with Bungie? Microsoft wanted more Halo, Bungie told them to shove it and left to form their own studio.

[QUOTE="reach3"][QUOTE="Eddie-Vedder"]

Wow the end of Blizzard, that's really sad, one of if not the greatest game devs in the history of gaming are about to be killed by M$.

razgriz_101

clearly has never been old enough to remember WC3.

Also this article forgets to mention that Kohlberg Kravis Roberts,Blackstone,and Providence-equity partners are also the potential buyers,witch are private equity films,that would be huge if any of them bougth since Province-equity partners are also the ones that fund ZeniMax Media,Hulu.Warner Music,etc.

Wow the end of Blizzard, that's really sad, one of if not the greatest game devs in the history of gaming are about to be killed by M$.

Eddie-Vedder