Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Acitivision-Blizzard Buys Out Vivendi Universal

An investment group, led by CEO Bobby Kotick, has bought enough shares to hold a majority of the companies' ownership, plunging Activision Blizzard into the independent category.
This article is over 11 years old and may contain outdated information

In a corporate buy-out of $8.2 billion by CEO Bobby Kotick’s investment group, Activision Blizzard is on its way to becoming an independent company. The publisher is set to buy 439 million shares from Vivendi, knocking their ownership down to 12 percent of the company, which Vivendi has been trying to sell for nearly a year. 

Recommended Videos

Kotick is optimistic as the possibilities for independent status give more freedom to the publisher of games like Call of Duty, StarCraft, and World of WarCraft. Does this mean that we should expect more creativity out of the publishers? What does this hold for Blizzards presently in hiatus, Project Titan?

Kotick commented, “Our successful combination with Blizzard Entertainment five years ago brought together some of the best creative and business talent in the industry and some of the most beloved entertainment franchises in the world, including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. Since that time, we have generated over $5.4 billion in operating cash flow and returned more than $4 billion of that to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. We are grateful for Vivendi’s partnership through this period, and we look forward to their continued support.”

All eyes are on Activision Blizzard, with World of WarCraft subs still in steady decline, what will be there next big project? With the possibility of retaining $3 billion cash on hand while investing in new opportunities, Activision Blizzard may be poised to grab an even greater market share in the future.


GameSkinny is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chad "Chuina" Albritton
Chad "Chuina" Albritton
Communications and Media Studies graduate from Stetson University with a fascination towards virtual escapism.