14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors coming from the top level of the business are suggesting that Activision Blizzard, one of the biggest video game publishers in the world, is interested in acquiring Take Two Interactive, the company which handles publishing for the very successful developer Rockstar.
A senior executive has told MCV that, “There are very strong rumours amongst people at a very senior level within the global business.”
He added, “But there're not much more than that at the moment – they are just rumours. And, of course, given Activision's news this week, everyone is now looking to see what their next move is. But you can definitely put two and two together and make four-ish.”
It's not clear whether the take over would be a hostile one, with Activision trying to get shareholders to cede their shares for a good price and gain control, or if the two publishers are talking about it and a deal is being worked out for the profit of both.
In 2008 another big publisher, Electronic Arts, tried to take over Take Two the hostile way, and offered about 2 billion for the shares it needed for control but the move was unsuccessful, with Strauss Zelnick, the chief executive officer at Take Two, clearly opposed to the move.
It's not clear why the executive would reverse his position when Activision comes knocking.
The obvious reason for a Take Two takeover by Activision would be Rockstar, the highly successful developer which creates the games in the Grand Theft Auto series and in 2010 launched Red Dead Redemption.
Both Take Two and Activision released good financial results for the last quarter of 2010, which included the important Christmas shopping season, and that could mean that a takeover is even harder, with shares value rising.
Neither of the two companies has offered official comment on the takeover rumors.