Ghostbusters could be sold off, several studios to be ‘realigned or divested’ in efficiency drive
Activision Blizzard has revealed that it will sell off unwanted studios and projects it acquired after its colossal deal with Vivendi games.
Develop reports that North American studios High Moon Studios (developer of the recent Bourne game) and Radical (developer of upcoming game Prototype) are to be ‘realigned’ the publisher confirmed in a statement – which presumably means merged into other Activision-Blizzard teams or downsized.
Meanwhile the publisher added it was “exploring options… including divestiture” for European studios Massive (based in Sweden, developer of World in Conflict) and Swordfish (based in Birmingham and Manchester, UK developer of the upcoming 50 Cent game).
The Sierra Online and Vivendi Mobile business are also possibly up for sale.
At the same time, Activision-Blizzard confirmed what Vivendi-started projects it would and wouldn’t be keeping. Big kids franchises Crash and Spyro will be kept, as will the videogame rights to movie franchise Ice Age plus new IP Prototype.
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However that leaves in the cold a number of other key, high-profile games Vivendi label Sierra was originally planning to publish. These include Ghostbusters, new rock music adventure IP Brutal Legend, plus rights to the Bourne/Robert Ludlum estate and the 50 Cent games.
Publishing rights for these games are also up for sale - Ghostbusters for one was presumed nearly finish given its upcoming October release date.
"We are focused on improving efficiency across the combined organisation and are concentrating on businesses where we have leadership positions that are aligned with Activision Publishing's long-term corporate objectives," said Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith in a statement.
"We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy. We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."
Comments
Who bought who here?
I thought Vivendi/Sierra was the leader in the "merger", but seems Activision is pushing all Viv franchises underground. I mean have these guys actually looked at World in Conflict or Massive who developed it? The game is amazing and if they ever want an online version of Call of Duty these are the guys. Typical American xenophobia against all that is European if you ask me.
Re: Who bought who here?
@1
Activision have picked up Vivendi as far as I am aware although its published as a merger. Many Vivendi employees will probably find themselves applying for jobs internally or taking redundancy - As will some Activision staff.
Re: Re: Who bought who here?
I think if you look at the name of the newly merged entity, "Activision-Blizzard", it tells you all you need to know about the future of anything under the Sierra brand.
Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
On a positive note, we do have the loss of the new 50 Cent game
Re: Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
A dark day indeed. I loved World in Conflict, Caesar 3 and some of the Sim/management games that Sierra brought us.
Good luck to all those losing their jobs, its never nice.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
@4
My thoughts, too :-D
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
Odd that Activision is throwing their weight around, considering that the Vivendi website states that it holds the majority of shares (52%).
Not fussed about anything in that list bar Ghostbusters, though!
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
I think that Vivendi owns a maj of Activision, but Activision's brand is stronger.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Who bought who here?
Stupid. They may have had a shot at xmas number one with Ghostbusters. Also the crash & spyro games have been selling worse each year - Ice Age has never been a contender, now the movie's so old I doubt anyone will care and as for Prototype...that will get lost in the xmas rush this year..
who bought
Long live Blizzard and good bye to everything else including people and games....
Re: who bought
It's not Vivendi Games or Activision who bought anything. The Vivendi group includes many things like Universal Music, SFR, Sierra, Blizzard, Vivendi Games Mobile and others.
So, the Vivendi group boutgh 52% of Activision, put the Activision top man in charge of all Vivendi Games, told them to name it whatever they want. So in their actions Activision answers to the owner, which is still Vivendi Group.
Activision will no longer support emerging studios, like Vivendi Games Mobile, some Sierra studios and products that did not sell good, like World in conflict. Yes, World in conflict is a good game, but it did not sell good and it didn't make any profit.
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