Activision Snaps Up Spyro, Crash, Prototype & Ice Age News

Following in the aftermath of the Vivendi Games merger, Activision today announced plans to absorb a number of Vivendi's brands into its own catalogue and take a close look at the publisher's internal studios.

Brands now falling underneath the Activision banner include videogame stalwarts Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, Radical Entertainment's Prototype, Ice Age and an unannounced original IP.

"Four of the five properties that we are keeping will be wholly owned properties that further bolster our strong brand portfolio," said Mike Griffith, CEO of Activision Publishing. "We are very excited to add such recognizable and successful brands as Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, which reinforce our leadership position in movie-based and family entertainment video games."

Griffith added, "We have conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games' brand portfolio and are retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy. We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

The announcement also divulges Activision's intent to "adapt" Vivendi Games' studio operations, which is likely to cause a considerable stir for the company's internal studios as it attempts to "better align the studio structure against the new product slate."

To serve the new product line-up employees at Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios will face realignment, although the future for Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios is less clear with Activision admitting its "exploring options" and open to the possibility of them being put up for purchase. Non-strategic studios (those focussed on the casual market), Vivendi Games Mobile and Sierra Online, face an equally uncertain future.

Griffith continued, "We are focused on improving efficiency across the combined organization and are concentrating on businesses where we have leadership positions that are aligned with Activision Publishing's long-term corporate objectives."