They also tried to buy Blizzard – twice.
Like a flash from the clear January sky, the message came that Microsoft wants to buy Activision Blizzard for just over 68 billion dollars. But Microsoft has been close to taking over Warcraftand Diablodeveloper no less than twice before. In addition, they must have been stumbling close to buying Westwood, the now closed studio behind the RTS classics Dune 2, Command & Conquer and Red Alert. Why did the deal not end? A honeymoon came in between.
This information comes from Ed Fries, who was an important force behind the first Xbox console. In the podcast Xboxera, he says that he negotiated so that the Westwood deal was basically finished. But since he was newlyweds, he went on a honeymoon for a few days, and when he returned, EA had managed to steal the deal. And you may remember how it went – in 2003, EA shut down Westwood.
As for Blizzard, Fries says that the studio was for sale several times in the 90s. Fries is said to have tried to buy it on two occasions, but both times he was outbid by other companies.
The question of takeover attempts begins 41:20 into the broadcast.
Microsoft’s attempt to buy Activision Blizzard is under review by US authorities. Notice if it is approved is expected to come this summer.
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