Microsoft Tried 2 Times Earlier to Aquire Blizzard
At the beginning of the year, Microsoft closed – and you could say it even then – on one of the most spectacular deals of the year: because the Redmond-based company announced it was acquiring Activision Blizzard. In Blizzard’s case, this isn’t the first attempt either.
Currently, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is still in the intent stage, as the shareholders of the well-known publisher and developer must first give their approval for the deal. Even then, the deal is not automatically over, because it still has to be approved by various competition authorities.
Two takeover attempts earlier
In Blizzard’s case, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has attempted a takeover. Because according to Ed Fries, one of the fathers of the first Xbox, this is the third attempt overall, at least if you consider the makers of Starcraft, Warcraft, Diablo, and Co. view separately. Infographic Activision, LinkedIn & Co.
Microsoft’s multi-billion dollar business As the former Microsoft executive was in talks with The XboxEra Podcast asked if there were any “gaming acquisitions” he would have liked to complete during his time at Redmond. And Fries revealed in a rather unusual openness for this company that Microsoft wanted to acquire Blizzard not once, but twice in the past (via IGN) The first time was in 1994, the second attempt was four years later: “Blizzard is put up for sale for the second time. And I bid again, and this time I am outbid by a French water company,” Fries recalls. Of course, this means Vivendi:
The French media group has its origins as a water supply company called Compagnie Générale des Eaux and took over Blizzard at the time. Fries indicated that Blizzard was still on Microsoft’s radar after the release of World of Warcraft, but after the release of World of Warcraft, it became impossible to think of purchase – at least until Microsoft’s war chest was so full that even the greater part of Activision Blizzard could be swallowed.
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