It began when Take Two bought Zynga, the studio behind mobile games like Farmville. Then Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. This week, Bungie got scooped up by Sony.
Why are gaming companies attracting so many buyers? Tech expert Omar Gallaga says some are about cashing in on a low stock price, while other acquisitions give the new owners exposure to platforms where they haven’t been before.
Highlights from this segment:
– Bungie, creators of the popular Halo, and a former part of Microsoft, is attractive to Sony because of its current Destiny offering, and a forthcoming franchise that has yet to be announced.
– Activision Blizzard has faced withering criticism from employees who accuse company leadership of tolerating or participating in sexism, and creating a toxic culture. Stock in the maker of Call of Duty, Diablo and other major games has lost a lot of value, and the purchase was a bargain for Microsoft.
– Take Two wants to add mobile gaming to its portfolio, which is where the Zynga acquisition comes in.
