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RUMOR: Activision Eyeing Takeover Bid of Take Two

08:35 PM - February 11, 2011 by RaychelSnr

It appears we have a new bombshell of a rumor to follow very closely in the sports gaming universe, as Take Two -- owners of the 2K Sports Brand -- appears to possibly be a takeover target of Activision, owner of the Call of Duty franchise.

Quote:


	"An eventful week for Activision rolls on: rumours are circulating at the highest level that the company is eyeing a shock acquisition of rival Take-Two. If true, and if successful, the bid would bring blockbuster brands and hit studios under one roof � Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, BioShock and World at Warcraft, all living together. On Wednesday, Activision proved it isn't afraid to abandon any under performing franchise as it focuses on the best of the best. Adding teams like Irrational and Rockstar Games to its stable would only underline that."

This rumor is all about the merger of the Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto brands, but it would have huge implications for our genre as well if it were followed through with real action.

The fate of 2K Sports in this merger would be a huge question mark, since Activision has the resources to develop sports games and chooses not to for the most part. Would they continue a relatively popular brand and/or expand it given their already skeptical view of sports games? That's a good question, but the already thin 2K Sports lineup could become a lot thinner in the event of a takeover by Activision.

There is no indication we are going to see this followed through into more than a rumor, but all big stories usually start out as a rumor. We'll keep a close eye on this one to see what happens. What do you guys think of the rumor?

Member Comments

# 1 statum71 @ 02/11/11 08:41 PM

NBA 2K must live on..

# 2 The GIGGAS @ 02/11/11 08:55 PM

I really really don't trust Activision. Blizzard? Sure. Not Activision. I trust EA more than Activision.

# 3 kenkraly2004 @ 02/11/11 09:14 PM

Why can't EA merge with 2Ksports? Not Activision please that whould be the end of 2Ksports as we know it.

# 4 BlueNGold @ 02/12/11 12:29 AM

Wow, I really hope this doesn't happen.

I'm not sure what it would mean for 2K Sports, but I sure as hell don't want Grand Theft Auto being bastardized the way games like CoD and Guitar Hero have been by Activision.

# 5 statum71 @ 02/12/11 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenkraly2004


	Why can't EA merge with 2Ksports? Not Activision please that whould be the end of 2Ksports as we know it.

I wouldn't hope for that if I were you. That would end NBA 2K and we'd all be stuck with NBA Elite.

# 6 TracerBullet @ 02/12/11 03:32 AM

Activision is were creativity goes to die. Please do not let this happen ever.

# 7 Dazraz @ 02/12/11 03:44 AM

I don't want EA or Activision going anywhere near 2K. 2K have made some pretty poor decisions down the years but they create arguably the best sports game out there in NBA 2K11 whilst their MLB series seems to be heading back in the right direction. I also believe they are set to come back with a strong NHL title to compete with EA's effort that is starting to show signs of reaching stagnation point.

EA would simply destroy everything that 2K has done so well. EA don't follow the same creation process as 2K. The little details that have made NBA 2K so special would be thrown out the window by a company that has developed a reputation of cutting costs by cutting corners.

As for Activision. This is a company that, put in simple terms, don't do sport games. At least that's what history suggests. That said the forthcoming NASCAR is looking good & there is a possibility with a merger they might broaden their horizons. However what typically happens in any business merger is cost reductions. Therefore we might still get an NBA 2K game but one that no longer has the same funding.

I personally feel 2K has the chance to become the big name in sports games over EA. They already own the best basketball game. We know what they are capable of doing if they can get the rights to an NFL game. If 2K continue to head in the current direction we as gamers will have a lot to look forward to.

# 8 dickey1331 @ 02/12/11 06:08 AM

While Im not a huge 2K fan I really hope this doesnt happen. Im afraid sports games would take a hit and no one wants that.

# 9 Goffs @ 02/12/11 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElCoyote


	To me it seems like EA is Activision's biggest competitor, and with a little more financial backing, 2K Sports might be making an NFL game soon. I'm sure Activision would love to crash Madden's party every August.

thats how i see it as well...2k already owns the basketball market and im sure Activision will love to keep it that way...but still...Activision..

# 10 kennyacid @ 02/12/11 08:29 AM

it could end up being a blessing and a curse. Activision has resources take two doesnt doesnt. Im sure they will keep the 2k crew because NBA 2K is a gold mine and they will just use their extra resources to make it even better. Maybe we will finally have a more stable online along with other things the game really need. On the other hand....it is Activision after all and i dont really trust them with sports game.....but hey who knows

# 11 Goffs @ 02/12/11 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinSainn


	If this happens I see it going one of two ways. 1) Activision kills off 2K Sports or 2) With the release of Nascar, Activision maybe wants to open their door to a sports branch. Could be that they know how much an NFL game can bring in and that they know 2K could do it better than Madden if only 2K had the funding for the liscense. I really could care less what they do with all the FPS games as I have 0 interest in them. I would just really hate to see 2K Sports die. I guess we'll always have MLB The Show if nothing else in the sports genre, I don't see them going anywhere.

Why would they kill off 2k sports when NBA2k is a big seller? Activision knows this and they will most definitely back it up and will support it to keep it on top...

As Elcoyote said EA is the big rival for activision and having 2k sports under their belt would mean that they would finally have a sports division to compete against EA's sports games...albeit its only NHL and NBA but its a start...

# 12 BlackRome @ 02/12/11 10:14 AM

Umm. 2K SPORTS SUCKS. They wasted their baseball license and NBA2k has gotten worse every year since 2k8. Online is just terrible for NBA2k11. I was hoping EA would take over 2k so at least I know the online part of the game would work. Which has had multiple problems since 2k8.

# 13 slideez @ 02/12/11 01:24 PM

Based on the fact the the guy that runs Activision despises EA this would basically signal a football game from 2k...with no concern for the nfl with a huge editor ................or thats what my dreams tell me

# 14 ANT_P1989 @ 02/12/11 01:47 PM

If Activision does acquire Take Two Interactive, hopefully that means Activision will back 2Ksports so they can make a football game FULL of the things we've asked for.

# 15 spit_bubble @ 02/12/11 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	...since Activision has the resources to develop sports games and chooses not to for the most part. Would they continue a relatively popular brand and/or expand it given their already skeptical view of sports games? That's a good question, but the already thin 2K Sports lineup could become a lot thinner in the event of a takeover by Activision...

What sports game could Activision make that would bring in money? Football? Nope, EA has that market. Baseball? Nope, 2K has that. Basketball? I guess they could make an NBA game, but since when has Activision done that? They'd be fighting an uphill battle. Soccer? Same thing as basketball. Hockey? You get the picture: the sports game market is intimately tied into licensing and the popularity of the sport. There's just really not much they can do.

An acquisition of TTWO would change things for them. They would be fools to mess with NBA 2K. MLB? Who knows... Maybe they'd make changes for the better, or maybe they simply let the licensing agreement expire and let another company *cough EA* have a go at it. Considering Activision's recent philosophy of scrapping titles not pulling their own weight, that just might be a possibility.

Landscapes are always changing. I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

# 16 spit_bubble @ 02/13/11 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyvoodoo


	Umm.. I don't think you understood what Chris was trying to say..

He wrote:

"...Activision has the resources to develop sports games and chooses not to for the most part..."

And so I merely pointed out that why would they even try when there's very little chance for them to make money doing so...

And then I speculated that the situation would be different if they do indeed acquire TTWO, saying they would be foolish to do anything differently with NBA 2K... And that MLB might be a different story considering their track record of giving the ax to franchises that drag them down.

It's all there, right there in my post. Check again if you want.

# 17 tabulaRasa @ 02/13/11 03:47 PM

Bobby Kotick is a true ******* so this would be crap. He milks every franchise dry, like he destroyed Guitar hero for example by saturating the market. He has a locust mentally, and short term profit per share to the shareholders is his goal. In the industry he is known as a true *******.

That would be a shame, the only reason he hasn�t destoryed blizzard is that they are autonoumous and he can change **** on how they make their games. Activision is now a company that can�t create new franshises , only milk established ones and buy up and milk famous ones, Kotick is the reason and a true *******.

# 18 tabulaRasa @ 02/13/11 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackRome


	Umm. 2K SPORTS SUCKS. They wasted their baseball license and NBA2k has gotten worse every year since 2k8. Online is just terrible for NBA2k11. I was hoping EA would take over 2k so at least I know the online part of the game would work. Which has had multiple problems since 2k8.

Way to ruin your credibility, crapping on the best sport frachise in history along with MLB the show.

# 19 tabulaRasa @ 02/13/11 03:52 PM

oh and I meant NBA2k and MLB the show.

# 20 videlsports @ 02/14/11 12:02 AM

The merger would be great for resouces for take two to make games the way take two wants too,but it will cost them their integrity of their games with gimmicks, an eventually will lose out. Honestly I think Warner Bros would be a better Fit, the Have Mortal Kombat, and Batman Asylum. Adding a sports revenue would solidfy them as a power with all that 2k games brings.

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