By the end of 2015, the media giant Vivendi began to acquire Ubisoft's malicious, launched the "Blitzkrieg" Weiwangdi rapidly eroded ubisoft.

Ubisoft founder Guillemot recalled brother said Vivendi's "Declaration of war", they feel Vivendi's full-scale invasion, unwilling to bow to the Gallic Rooster immediately began a tug of war.

The capital in this game, but the back of Vivendi's "White Knight" in the name of the Tencent, once again sparked lenovo. You Changba me play, the drama director may not end Vivendi, after Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, they may have a new goal.

Vivendi "capital game"

Founded in 1853, formerly known as Vivendi universal Water Service Company, has won the Paris 50 years of water supply concession rights, is one of the world's largest Water Service Company. Since 1980, the CEO Guy Dejouany began to enter the energy, construction, transportation and other industries through a wanton acquisition.

After 1998, the general Water Service Company acquired a number of companies such as Morocco Telecom and harass news agency, which formally entered the field of digital media and formally changed its name. To make the game companies turn "Vivendi" was born.

At the time of Vivendi's acquisition of the list, there is a company that is not to mention havas. Havas best known as the world's first news agency, formerly also Agence France-Presse, Vivendi saw its advertising and media business.

But this acquisition is Vivendi began to enter the video game industry, in 1998 the price was Hawass belongs to CUC game company snow Leshan, but after the famous snow blizzard was part of Leshan. 维旺迪鬼使神差地获得了两家实力强大的游戏公司。

When the snow in Leshan is not only excellent game developers, also has a certain ability to issue, "half life" is published by it. At that time, blizzard had made the two games series of "Warcraft" and "Diablo".

Vivendi's tough tactics during this time period beginning. "One hundred years old shop" harass renamed, the name of the right to use was "taken away", snow and Leshan's game development department disbanded, only to retain the distribution business. The Blizzard has also been affected, the frequent replacement of team leaders, at odds with Vivendi's game strategy Blizzard North ("Diablo" series of developers) four leaders collective resignation in 2003.

The four founders of the northern Blizzard: David Brevik, Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, Bill Roper

The "big four" leaving away from Blizzard North divided in public opinion, the staff reached 30 people, the number of the re establishment of Flagship Studios, launched the "Diablo" spiritual sequel "torch light".

In 2002, the investment risk of a net loss of 23 billion 300 million euros of Vivendi restructuring after the establishment of NBC and Vivendi universal joint General Company, once again into the rising channel. In 2004, Blizzard's "World of Warcraft" has been a spectacular success, become the media giant Vivendi to the "devil" out of another game maker activision.

On 2007, Activision and Vivendi merged with Vivendi games (blizzard company) two major manufacturers, it has more than EA became the world's largest gaming company, has attracted a large number of employers look.

Hawass, Blizzard, universal pictures are part of "capital Vivendi games". The frequent separation, reorganization, cash, let the acquired company miserable, but for Vivendi, money is the hard truth.

Independent Activision Vivendi "the face"

"On 2013, Activision Blizzard is facing down on the luck" multi line crisis, Activision IW core members of the studio's home, "call of Duty: Ghost" look bad; "Diablo 3" reputation suffered a crisis; "World of Warcraft" "no glory"; "the huge investment project Titan" dystocia.

After the merger in 2007, the two pillars of World of Warcraft and call of duty support the high price of Blizzard, but the trend has slowed after 2013. When cash is needed compensate for the economic vulnerability Vivendi began to sell Activision's shares.

By Vivendi from Activision also plans to ransom, finally Activision behind its ASAS II LP investment group spent nearly $8 billion 200 million to repurchase the majority stake in Vivendi shares accounted for decreased from 61% in 12%, the board of directors from Activision blizzard.

What's dramatic is that after the blizzard independence, with the heat of legend of the hearth and lookout pioneer, the price of activ Blizzard increased 4 times in less than 5 years.

Was "the face" in electronic games have to face potential, but only to meet this giant appetite is not easy, Activision Blizzard's rapid growth of Jean Vivant Di with no remorse, the most suitable prey than their French "compatriots" ubisoft.

Ubisoft in the 2013 fiscal year loss of 49 million 300 thousand euros, "watchdog" and "blockade" throughout the high investment game has bounced. The 2014 release of "Assassin's Creed:" revolution, "" masterpiece watchdog Ubisoft makes profitability in 2014, net profit reached 112 million 700 thousand euros, but the two big problems and optimization, BUG server itself that Ubisoft has suffered an unprecedented crisis of confidence.

"Assassin's Creed: Lawrence" and "watchdog" 2 sales almost halved compared to before, Ubisoft over the years by "trailer manufacturers", "potato server" and many other.

So there is the opportunity to swoop in, in 2015, suddenly announced Vivendi continuous acquisition of Ubisoft, this is for 3 years with Ubisoft's tug of war kicked off.

Vivendi and Ubisoft 3 years of tug of war

According to French law, if Weiwangdi at Ubisoft's stake of more than 30%, they can launch a bid. For this acquisition Vivendi sold its stake in the hands of the remaining Activision Blizzard, in exchange for more than $1 billion in cash.

Vivendi first turned to Ubisoft subsidiary Gameloft, once with high quality and other advantages in the early development of Mobile Games Gameloft fame in 2014, the growth rate slowed in 2015, in Vivendi Jinyuan offensive, shareholders have. In mid 2016, the acquisition was completed, and the Gameloft founder and CEO Michel Guillemot were collectively left with the board of directors. Gameloft has turned to free krypton gold hand tour development.

Let the Ubisoft founder Guillemot brothers headache not only acquired by Gameloft. In less than a year's time, Vivendi has more than 20% in Ubisoft holdings, the Guillemot brothers will lose control.

Ubisoft began a long-term confrontation with Vivendi, Ubisoft and the French investment bank Bpibank stock repurchase plan reached 4 million, the Guillemot brothers stock repurchase shares accounted for increased 3.2%, the solution as pressing danger. After seeking capital Ubisoft Canada and other countries and against vivendi.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot

On the other hand, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot became active in the media, do not understand the criticism of Vivendi games, described how acquired by Ubisoft will become a production line of products making machines. To have a large number of overseas Ubisoft studio, once acquired, they must be the first knife.

The use of public benefits "selling miserable" Ubisoft quickly occupy the moral high ground in steam, there have been a number of "buy game anti takeover" comment.

Ubisoft also plans to fight through the issuance of shares by way of Vivendi employees, the number of employees to break million shares will become Ubisoft, employees of this hostile takeover of a stumbling block, but when Vivendi has had more than 20% of the vote, the plan to end abortion.

"Independence" in the media is not tongues fast ubisoft. After the acquisition of the crisis is the game development efficiency improvement in Ubisoft launched, "Assassin's Creed:" origin, "watchdog 2" high reputation "sequel, Rainbow Six: Siege", "blockade" and other services throughout the game also achieved success. At the same time, "the son of light", "World War: the heart of the brave" and other independent masterpieces have also been launched.

Ubisoft against a hostile takeover of Vivendi became a big game player and the capitalists will fight, but only sell the game against profit may still crazy, Ubisoft still need to find a "white knight".

In March 21, 2018, Vivendi finally relented, Ubisoft, Ubisoft founder Guillemot brothers, the Tencent and the Ontario teachers' pension plan all the shares Ubisoft spent 2 billion euros to buy Weiwangdi hands, also no longer purchase shares of Vivendi Ubisoft in 5 years.

Possession of the first poem in administrative micro-blog released by Ubisoft

The soap opera finally ended. While Vivendi is the loser? In the last few years of confrontation, Vivendi spent a total of nearly 750 million euros, the withdrawal will bring great benefit for them.

Get away from the war in May and Vivendi in search of new prey.

Tencent is a Weiwangdi?

In Vivendi quit after netizens eyes and moved to the Tencent, the Tencent acquired 5% stake in Ubisoft will become a Weiwangdi?

In fact, Tencent and Ubisoft cooperation had appeared, Ubisoft announced Mobile Games login WeChat small program is a hint. Tencent will not get a seat on the board in the investment, they also announced that it would not increase, in contrast to the attitude and Vivendi, is a greater degree of partnership.

Tencent Wegame needs a lot of high quality single game for its endorsement, before the introduction of the "fort night" and a large number of independent games are prepared in one hand. Ubisoft influence in the domestic core game player in the group is not small, but also holding a number of built-in fan service game, Tencent need this natural ally.

Ubisoft also envious Chinese market, they offer many years of "Assassin's Creed" series of additional Chinese is their performance to the Chinese market by the CEO Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft said they and Tencent cooperation will further accelerate the development of the market in their Chinese.

Ubisoft and Tencent jointly is more like each one takes what he needs. Just let the tiger with bisong breath, don't magic Tencent.