14 DAY TRIAL // Activision is reportedly eyeing up Take-Two, according to a research note by Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey.
The rumor has been reported by multiple investment websites, and claims that Activision is looking to get its tendrils into the movie-making business, and that it would benefit greatly from having some of Take-Two’s most recognizable franchises, Grand Theft Auto in particular.
"For Activision, acquiring Take-Two Interactive would be a no-brainer, in our view, circling some of the strongest development talent and owned IP in the world, within a company that has nearly $1 / €0.75 billion in cash and trades at a comparably lower multiple," Hickey says.
Hickey adds that such a deal would end up with Activision owning three of the strongest development studios in the world, in the form of Blizzard Entertainment, Rockstar and Bungie.
He argues that Activision, based in Los Angeles, having enjoyed a close working relationship with Hollywood, might be the best candidate to take Take-Two’s franchises to the big screen.
He also notes that the Houser brothers, who are in charge of the Grand Theft Auto franchise at Rockstar, might benefit greatly from Activision’s generous and deep pockets, in realizing a film adaptation of the franchise that matches its irreverence and keeps true to the original vision.