Call of Duty and World of Warcraft-pusher, Activision Blizzard, has gone ahead and purchased itself, effectively returning the company to its former, independent status. Vivendi, the previous owner of the name has sold off most of its shares, retaining only a small 12 per cent stake.
The $8 billion deal was made by Activision Blizzard CEO, Kotick, and a group of outside investors. Kotick has stated that this transaction will see Activision emerge stronger than ever.
"These transactions together represent a tremendous opportunity for Activision Blizzard and all its shareholders, including Vivendi. We should emerge even stronger—an independent company with a best-in-class franchise portfolio and the focus and flexibility to drive long-term shareholder value and expand our leadership position as one of the world's most important entertainment companies," Kotick said in an official statement.
The sale comes following reports of Vivendi's declining share prices, and previous rumours that it considered selling its stake in the publisher back in 2012. With WoW losing so many subscribers, and Call of Duty: Ghosts gathering some lukewarm feedback from gamers, perhaps Vivendi is making a prudent decision. Still, to doubt the selling power of Call of Duty, regardless of any lack of innovation, is simply foolish. We'll have to see how the new Activision Blizzard fares going forward.
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