Activision Publishing Broadens Product Portfolio With Crash Bandicoot(R), Ice
Age(R), Spyro(R) and Two New Intellectual Properties
Company to Streamline Vivendi Games' Studio Operations
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Further
strengthening its foundation for future growth, Activision Publishing, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that the company will broaden its product
portfolio by adding Vivendi Games' multi-million unit selling properties Crash
Bandicoot(R), Ice Age(R) and Spyro(R) to its roster of proven franchises. The
company will also retain two new intellectual properties that are currently in
development -- Prototype and a second game that has not yet been announced.
Additionally, Activision Publishing will continue to support the Vivendi
Games' catalogue including The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor(TM), which
was launched on July 22 in conjunction with the release of Universal Pictures'
theatrical feature film.
Games based on Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro have been top-selling
titles in North America and Europe. The Crash Bandicoot franchise has sold
more than 35 million units across multiple platforms in North America and
Europe since its first release in 1996, and life-to-date units of Spyro have
exceeded 20 million worldwide. The Ice Age feature films have grossed in
excess of $1 billion in theatrical box office revenues worldwide, and Sierra
Entertainment's Ice Age(R) 2: The Meltdown(TM) sold nearly two million units
worldwide.
"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."
Additionally, Activision Publishing announced that the company intends to
adapt the Vivendi Games' studio operations to better align the studio
structure against the new product slate. The company will realign staffing at
Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios and is exploring options regarding
Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios, including the possibility of
divestiture.
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."
The company also is evaluating options regarding two non-strategic
business units Vivendi Games Mobile and Sierra Online, which provides casual
games for the PC and Xbox(R) Live(R) Marketplace, including the possibility of
divesting these business units.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Publishing, Inc. is
a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive
entertainment and leisure products.
Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands,
Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision
Publishing and its products can be found on the company's website,
http://www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this
press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans,
intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements
that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Activision Publishing generally uses words such as "outlook", "will," "could,"
"would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes", "may", "expects,"
"intends," "anticipates," "estimate," future," "plan," "positioned,"
"potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to,"
"upcoming" and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking
statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales of
Activision Publishing's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the
seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision
Publishing's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware
platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing,
product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of
Activision Publishing's products, adoption rate and availability of new
hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in
technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights,
litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with
key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and
international economic, financial and political conditions and policies,
foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the
identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision
Publishing's success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing
and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company's
ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction
to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated. Other such factors include
additional risk factors identified in Activision Blizzard's most recent annual
report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information
available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of
this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard
assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove
to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future
performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to
risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control
and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.
Kristin Southey, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-310-255-2635,
ksouthey@activision.com, or Maryanne Lataif, Vice President, Corporate
Communications, +1-310-255-2704, mlataif@activision.com, both of Activision
Publishing, Inc.
