badmin
Shared on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 10:02So if you guys have been keeping up with Vivendi’s Search For Activision/Blizzard Suitors you know that one of the possible buyers (no real confirmation) is Microsoft. It looks like Vivendi is looking to sell off the 8 billion dollar company in hopes to recoup some of its debt.
Now if Microsoft does buy the company they stand to gain a lot from owning the market on the MMO , FPS, and even RTS space. With a library like Halo, COD, WoW, and Starcraft they certainly would have a massive edge over Sony and Nintendo.
The even more ironic part of this deal however would be the relationship between Bungie and Microsoft. The story would unfold like some jilted lover in a cheesy romance novel.
1) Microsoft buys Bungie: Love at First Sight
2) Bungie releases Halo series and helps sell Xbox to the world: They have beautiful children
3) Bungie leaves Microsoft: Can't take controlling abusive significant other and files for divorce
4) Bungie gives Microsoft Halo: Divorce court leaves custody of kids in the hands of a broken home
5) Bungie joins Activision: Finds new love and plans to start a family with a long term plan
6) Microsoft Buys Activision->Bungie: Jilted lover becomes obsessed and murders new lover in order to MAKE HER LOVE ME.
While none of this is really confirmed, it would make for a pretty twisted turn of events if Microsoft ended up with not only the Halo series, but Bungie back under its wing. One would think the contract with Activision would still stand even after Microsoft bought out Vivendi's shares. Realistically I think Microsoft could stand to lose the 8billion dollars over a move like this as well. What do you guys think?
NOTE: For some reason people are taking this blog post as if it were news or stated as fact. It's not nor does it pretend to be. This isn't a front page article or some lame attempt at pretending I can actually write. It's purely a fun look at the possible turn of events and how all roads could lead back to Microsoft. Its just a blog post. Something for us to speculate about and discuss as gamers. Real news is on our home page, not at this personal blog.
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Comments
Submitted by YEM on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 10:09
Do it, do it
Submitted by Dixon_Tufar on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 10:10
My knee jerk reaction is that owning Bungie's contract again would just be collateral damage, but you've got to think that there are some bridges between Bungie and Microsoft still, and there were already conversations about this happening, even if they were hypotheticals.
Submitted by Leviticus78 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:10
I think it would be cool if Microsoft had Blizzard. Not much of a COD fan anymore so the Activision thing isn't a big deal to me. If these rumors turn out to be true though, I would hope that MS will continue to let 343 handle the Halo franchise and leave Bungie out of it. Let Bungie develop something new and not bully 343 as I think they have done a great job keeping the core gameplay in tact while at the same time adding some new elements.
Just my 2 cents.
Submitted by DEEP_NNN on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:20
Don't forget that MS owning Activision does not meant it owns Bungie. Also, there is no way the contract would be changed because of the takeover.
Submitted by Leviticus78 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:38
So Bungie is only under contract with Activision and not owned by them? This I did not know.
Submitted by badmin on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:56
Correct. They just signed a multi year deal with them under a publishing license. So if this sale went forward, that deal would carry over.
Submitted by NorthernPlato on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 18:46
Yup, if any company purchaes Activision it would inherit any contractual obligations already in existance at the time, such as the obligation to pay Bungie for any work done under the terms of the contract.
I'm always amazed at how people are quick to jump into doom and gloom prognosticating about how the bought company is going to go to hell. It's like they don't understand the reasons why one company would buy another, if not to rip it apart and sell it or run it into the ground for short-term (personal) profits.
I think Microsoft would be a pretty good buyer, considering the alternative commonly bantered about. Though an investment group would do pretty well also. I wonder if the CPP would consider buying it for the cashflow?
Submitted by badmin on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 11:55
Correct, which is why I never used the word own. Still it leaves for a very strange turn of events with Bungies long contract with Activison. I'm fairly certain the contract with them would stand unless Bungie somehow contested it.
Submitted by GUL74 on Fri, 07/13/2012 - 13:13
This looks like a good in a business sense, the question is what could stop this from ever happening?..I know this is all speculation but figured I'd ask
Submitted by Automan21k on Sat, 07/14/2012 - 08:50
I don't think the SEC would ever allow it to happen. Sony and Nintendo would have this deal tied up in the courts for years. I think it would leave EA as the only independant powerhouse left in the gaming industry (who doesn't have their own console). Though if it did go through, it might lead to a dark age of gaming; why put out good games or work to improve when you are the only player in town?
Submitted by medic113 on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 08:10
How could you even think it would/could lead to the dark ages? Microsoft has consistently tried (albeit occasionally unsuccessfully) to either develop or buy the best software to expand their market.
Submitted by eksessiv on Sat, 01/19/2013 - 20:41
You need competition in order to be the best. If you do not then you have no reason to look for the next best thing. Kind of like being the only gas station in town. You can do whatever you want.... people need gas when it's all said and done.
Submitted by FreynApThyr on Sun, 07/15/2012 - 20:05
I think ending a blog post with "what do you guys think?" makes you sound like J-Cat.
Submitted by badmin on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 09:47
My plan is working
Submitted by Drost on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 10:19
don't pretend like you ever have a plan.
Submitted by FadeIntoBlack on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 15:52
She sent me cookies once so I admit I had a fondness for J-Cat.
Submitted by Drost on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 00:38
it's probably a better deal for MS to have a stake in bungie's next game in this fashion than the way they did in their previous relationship. If MS bought Activision/Blizzard, they'd have no financial responsibility for Bungie producing the game, right? They just publish it and reap whatever financial windfall comes their way. Much less risk, plenty of reward on MS's part.
Keep in mind, Bungie's next game is no sure thing. There were a number of factors present when Halo dropped and made Bungie a powerhouse that are not present now. I'm not doubting Bungie's ability to innovate, but the marketplace does not look the same as it did when Halo:CE came out a decade ago.
Submitted by LocGaw on Fri, 08/03/2012 - 12:20
Hell, maybe they will force Bliz to import some of it's games to console.
Submitted by SarcasmoJones on Sat, 01/19/2013 - 22:37
I love the fact that you had to explain that this was not a news article. I had a blue friend sharing a FB post about Mike Muir being institutionalized in 1983, when all he really wanted was a Pepsi. She was ready to swoop in and save Mike from a wrongful institutionalization (is that a real word? If it is it's unnecessarily lengthy).