Did Blizzard Buy Activision or Did Activision Buy Blizzard?
In the world of video games, the two giants, Blizzard Entertainment and Activision, have been making headlines with their merger in 2008. The question on everyone’s mind is: Did Blizzard buy Activision or did Activision buy Blizzard?
To answer this question, let’s dive into the history of both companies.
History of Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment was founded in 1991 by three University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) graduates: Mike Morhaime, Frank Pearce, and Allen Adham. Initially, the company was known as Silicon & Synapse, and it developed games such as Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing and The Lost Vikings. In 1994, the company changed its name to Blizzard Entertainment and released Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, which became a huge success.
Blizzard continued to develop games, including Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, StarCraft, and Diablo, which cemented their reputation as a leading game developer.
History of Activision
Activision was founded in 1979 by David Crane and Larry Kaplan, two friends who worked at Atari. Initially, the company focused on developing games for Atari, including Pitfall! and River Raid.
In the 1980s, Activision went public and expanded its game development to include console games for various platforms. The company also developed Ghostbusters and Double Dragon, which became hits.
The Merger: Blizzard Enters Activision
In 2008, Activision merged with Vivendi Games, which owned Blizzard Entertainment, to form Activision Blizzard. The merger created a gaming powerhouse, with a combined market value of over $11 billion.
So, Did Blizzard Buy Activision or Did Activision Buy Blizzard?
From a historical perspective, it’s clear that Blizzard was the smaller company, while Activision was a well-established gaming giant. Activision bought Blizzard, effectively merging the two companies into Activision Blizzard.
Key Statistics:
| Company | Revenue (2008) | Employees (2008) |
|---|---|---|
| Blizzard Entertainment | $1.4 billion | 4,000 |
| Activision | $2.5 billion | 12,000 |
| Activision Blizzard | $6.5 billion | 16,000 |
Why the Merger Made Sense
The merger brought together two companies with complementary strengths:
- Blizzard’s focus on developing high-quality, engaging games like World of Warcraft and StarCraft, which appealed to a niche audience.
- Activision’s experience in publishing games for various platforms, including console games like Call of Duty and Guitar Hero.
The merger allowed Activision Blizzard to expand its reach and create new revenue streams by combining the strengths of both companies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the question of whether Blizzard bought Activision or did Activision buy Blizzard can be answered by looking at the history of both companies. Activision bought Blizzard, merging the two companies into Activision Blizzard, a gaming giant with a combined market value of over $11 billion.