Microsoft Buys Vivendi?

Taken from Computer and Video Games.

"If insider speculation is to be believed, Microsoft has bought US publisher Vivendi, with an announcement to that effect due soon. Take a deep breath and reflect on the implications of that, if true.
Half-Life 2, Warcraft, Counter-Strike, Crash, Spyro, Lord of the Rings... Vivendi has an enormous portfolio boasting some of the biggest titles on all formats, and it would be an ultra-smart move on Microsoft's part to snap them up. Such a buyout, of course, would come at a terrifically high price, making the 365 million acquisition of Rare look like peanuts. But if anyone has the necessary funds, it's Microsoft.

Rumours regarding potential buyout targets for Microsoft are nothing new, of course, and have been spreading for months, with the likes of Sega and Capcom both mentioned in dispatches. However, talk of the Microsoft/Vivendi deal seems far more serious, with one insider suggesting the buyout could be confirmed as early as Friday.

Furthermore, an email from Universal was accidentally sent out to developers last week stating that all work on GBA titles should be suspended. The email was promptly recalled and branded an error, but could it be that this was in some way tied in with this alleged deal?

We contacted Vivendi for comment and a spokesperson told us: "We've heard all sorts of rumours over the past months - Activision, EA and many more. They'd all like to get their hands on Blizzard. I guess Microsoft are one of the few companies that has enough money."

A Microsoft spokesperson would only state: "This is a rumour and we do not comment on rumours."

If the rumours prove true, this will be a huge boost for Microsoft's soaring Xbox console, providing it with a broad spectrum of big-name games that would either appear as Xbox lead or as Xbox exclusives outright."

Zelaron will keep you updated. If anyone sees anything else on other news sites, let me know.

they buy sega and capcom? =\

They are evil!! AHHH They're going to ruin the gaming industry those filthy bsatards!

They're going to ruin the gaming industry by buying Vivendi? It's going to take a lot more than a buyout of Vivendi for the gaming industry to go under.

Microsoft's put out good games, like uh... uh.. ya Age of Empires and Midtown Madness. You can complain all you want, they're making a smart move to buy Vivendi- I didn't even know they had purchased Valve. The companies won't change at all that much, Microsoft will probably publish the games themselves but Blizzard will still be there. Heck Microsoft even owns Bungie (creater of the greatest game ever made PERIOD... Halo).

Greatest game ever made period? Halo? I think not.

its the console only(x-box) factor that scares me

i say... "NUKE ALL HOLDING COMPANIES!!"

Gsus, you bring up a very good point. More than likely Microsoft will probably almost demand that Vivendi pump out a steady stream of Xbox exclusives. Which means that Vivendi's PC line up could become very lack luster.

Will* I'm almost positive they will.

personally, i dont know of anyone who is willing to pay a monthly charge to play the next diablo online ><

No one is. And I would personally love nothing more then for bill gates to mysteriously vanish, and microsoft disperse into quarelling company branches till nothing is left.

You won't have to pay to play online. That's what Gamespy and XBConnect are for.