View source for Activision

{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Activision Publishing, Inc.
| logo = Activision.svg
| image = Activisionheadquarters.jpg
| image_caption = Santa Monica headquarters
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Computer Arts, Inc.|(1979)|Activision, Inc.|(1979–1988; 1992–2000)|Mediagenic|(1988–1992)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Video game industry]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1979|10|01}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|[[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]]|[[Larry Kaplan]]|[[Alan Miller (game designer)|Alan Miller]]|[[Bob Whitehead]]|[[Jim Levy]]}}
| hq_location_city = [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Rob Kostich ([[President (corporate title)|president]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/activision-blizzard-exec-shuffle-appoints-new-heads-of-activision-king-emerging-business-1203103289/|title=Activision Blizzard Exec Shuffle Appoints New Heads of Activision, King, Emerging Business|first1=Brian|last1=Crecente|first2=Brian|last2=Crecente|date=January 9, 2019|website=variety.com|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109173033/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/activision-blizzard-exec-shuffle-appoints-new-heads-of-activision-king-emerging-business-1203103289/|archive-date=January 9, 2019|dead-url=no}}</ref>
| products = [[List of Activision video games]]
| num_employees = 4,000
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|Activision, Inc.|(2000–2008)|[[Activision Blizzard]]|(2008–present)}}
| subsid = See {{section link||Studios}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.activision.com/|activision.com}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=About Activision Publishing |url=http://www.activision.com/company/aboutus |website=www.activision.com |publisher=Activision Publishing |accessdate=August 17, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920233518/http://www.activision.com/company/aboutus |archivedate=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/718877/000104746914001688/0001047469-14-001688-index.htm |title=Activision Blizzard, Inc. 2013 Annual Report Form (10-K) |publisher=United States Securities and Exchange Commission |format=XBRL |date=March 3, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407061826/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/718877/000104746914001688/0001047469-14-001688-index.htm |archivedate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
}}

'''Activision Publishing, Inc.''' is an American [[video game publisher]] based in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]]. It currently serves as the publishing business for its parent company, [[Activision Blizzard]], and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one of the largest third-party video game publishers in the world and was the top United States publisher in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newzoo.com/insights/rankings/top-25-companies-game-revenues/ |title=Top 25 Companies by Game Revenues |website=newzoo.com |date= |accessdate=January 12, 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306074425/https://newzoo.com/insights/rankings/top-25-companies-game-revenues/ |archivedate=March 6, 2017}}</ref><!--In this context, 'third party' means parties other than the consumer and the platform manufacturer. Note the discussion of this under 'history,' below.-->

The company was founded as '''Activision, Inc.''' in October 1979 in [[Sunnyvale, California]], by former [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]] game developers, upset at how they were treated at Atari, to develop their own games for the popular [[Atari 2600]] home video game console. Activision was the first independent third-party video game developer. The [[1983 video game crash]], in part created by too many new companies trying to follow in Activision's footsteps without the expertise of Activision's founders, hurt Activision's position in console games, forcing them to diversify into games for home computers, including the acquisition of [[Infocom]]. After a management shift, with CEO [[Jim Levy]] replaced by [[Bruce Davis (video game industry)|Bruce Davis]], the company renamed itself as '''Mediagenic''' and branched out into business software applications. Mediagenic quickly fell into debt, and the company was bought for around {{USD|500,000}} by [[Bobby Kotick]] and a small group of investors around 1991.

Kotick instituted a full rework of the company to cover its debts: dismissing most of its staff, moving the company to Los Angeles, and reincorporating under the Activision name. Building on existing assets, the Kotick-led Activision pursued more publishing opportunities and, after recovering from the former debt, started acquiring numerous studies and [[intellectual properties]] over the 1990s and 2000s, among these being the ''[[Call of Duty]]'' and ''[[Guitar Hero (series)|Guitar Hero]]'' series. Activision Holdings was formed to manage the internal and acquired studios. In 2008, Activision's parent merged with [[Vivendi Games]], the parent company of [[Blizzard Entertainment]], and formed Activision Blizzard, with Kotick as its CEO. Within this structure, Activision serves to manage numerous third-party studios and publish all of the parent company's games outside of those created by Blizzard.

== History ==
=== Founding (1979) ===
[[File:David Crane (10453626776).jpg|thumb|left|Co-founder David Crane in 2013]]
By 1979, [[Nolan Bushnell]] had sold [[Atari, Inc.]] to [[Warner Communications]] and left the company over several disagreements with the direction Warner wanted to take the company—particularly with the popular [[Atari 2600]] game console (then known as the Atari Video Game Console or VCS).<ref>{{cite book |last=Ramsay |first=Morgan |year=2012 |title=Gamers at Work: Stories Behind the Games People Play |isbn=978-1430233510}}</ref> Bushnell's replacement as CEO, [[Ray Kassar]], showed little respect to developers, giving them no financial compensation for profitable games<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Gaming Expo Distinguished Guest: ALAN MILLER |url=http://www.cgexpo.com/bios/amiller.htm |work=Classic Gaming Expo |publisher=CGE Services, Corp |accessdate=August 22, 2012 |year=1999–2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208143935/http://www.cgexpo.com/bios/amiller.htm |archivedate=February 8, 2012 }}</ref> and refusing them public credit for fear they would be recruited by other game companies.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/03/easter-eggs-the-hidden-secrets-of-videogames.html | title = Easter Eggs: The Hidden Secrets of Videogames | first = Jack | last = Yarwood | work = [[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | date = March 27, 2016 | accessdate = March 27, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160330033934/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/03/easter-eggs-the-hidden-secrets-of-videogames.html | archive-date = March 30, 2016 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> [[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]], one of Atari's [[game programmer|programmers]], recalled a memo sent by Kassar that listed the best-selling cartridges from the previous year to help guide game ideas; Crane noted that the games he was fully responsible for had brought in over {{USD|20 million}} for the company but he was still only receiving a {{USD|20,000}} salary.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Crane, along with [[Larry Kaplan]], [[Alan Miller (game designer)|Alan Miller]] and [[Bob Whitehead]], became vocal about the lack of recognition within the company and became known as the "Gang of Four".<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The group met with Kassar in May 1979 to demand that the company treat developers as [[record labels]] treated musicians, with royalties and their names on game boxes. Kaplan, who called the others "the best designers for the [2600] in the world", recalled that Kassar called the four men "towel designers" and claimed that "anybody can do a cartridge".<ref name="hubner19831128">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sy8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA158 | title=What went wrong at Atari? | work=InfoWorld | date=November 28, 1983 | agency=Originally published in the San Jose Mercury News | accessdate=March 5, 2012 | last1=Hubner|first1=John|last2=Kistner Jr.|first2=William F.| page=151}}</ref>

The four made the decision to soon leave Atari and start their own business, but were not sure how to go about it. Some developers had already left Atari, only to be hired back as contractors, effectively doubling their pay rate, but the four wanted something more ambitious.<ref name="Gamasutra" />  In 1979, the concept of [[third-party developer]]s did not exist,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nwsdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QX8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635%2C1989311 | title=Stream of video games is endless | work=Milwaukee Journal | date=December 26, 1982 | accessdate=January 10, 2015 | pages=Business 1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093025/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nwsdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QX8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635%2C1989311 | archive-date=March 12, 2016 | dead-url=no | df=mdy-all }}</ref> as software for [[video game console]]s were published exclusively by makers of the systems for which the games were designed.<ref>{{cite news | title=Video Gaming World | work=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1988 |last1=Kunkel|first1=Bill|last2=Worley|first2=Joyce|last3=Katz|first3=Arnie | pages=54}}</ref> The four decided to create their own independent game development company. They were directed by their attorney to [[Jim Levy]], who was at the time raising [[venture capital]] to manufacture of [[Tape drive|cassette tape drives]] for early home computers. Levy listened to their plans, agreed with its direction, and helped the four to secure about {{USD|1 million}} in capital from [[Sutter Hill Ventures]].<ref name="Gamasutra" /> By August, Crane and Miller had left Atari, with Whitehead and Kaplan joining them shortly after.<ref name="hubner19831128" /> Activision was formally founded on October 1, 1979, with Levy serving as CEO. The company was initially named "Computer Arts, Inc." while they considered a better title. The four founded had thought of the name VSync, Inc., but feared that the public would not understand or known how to say it. Levy suggested combining "active" and "television" to come up with Activision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.video-game-ephemera.com/010.htm |title=DAVID CRANE INTERVIEW (1994) |publisher=Video Game Ephemera |accessdate=December 10, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191930/http://www.video-game-ephemera.com/010.htm |archivedate=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/06/gallery-game-history/ |title=Console Portraits: A 40-Year Pictorial History of Gaming |author=Wired Staff |date=June 15, 2007 |website=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712215741/https://www.wired.com/2007/06/gallery-game-history/ |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |dead-url=no  }}</ref> The four's departure from Atari created a major dent in Atari's developer staff, and Atari pursued legal action from 1980 to 1982 to try to shut Activision down, claiming the four had stolen trade secrets. The lawsuit was settled by 1982, with Activision agreeing to pay royalties to Atari but otherwise legitimizing the third-party development model.<ref name="Gamasutra" /><ref name="forbes kotick">{{cite web | url = https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/052.html#788254c31a16 | title = Activision's Unlikely Hero | first = Peter | last = Beller | date = January 15, 2009 | accessdate = February 12, 2019 | work = [[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170806105646/https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/052.html#788254c31a16 | archive-date = August 6, 2017 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

===Early years (1980–1982)===
The four's knowledge of the Atari 2600, as well as software tricks for the system, helped them make their own games visually distinct from Atari-produced games.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Each of the founders developed their own titles, about one a year, over the first few years of the company. To further distinguish themselves, Activision's boxes were brightly colored and featured an in-game screenshot on the back cover.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Instruction manuals for games devoted a least one page to credit the developer. Additionally, for nearly all of Activision's games through 1983, the instruction manuals included instructions for sending the company a photograph of a player's high scores to receive an embroidered patch in return.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/10/26/activision-badges-the-original-gaming-achievement.aspx | title = Activision Badges – The Original Gaming Achievement | first = Kyle | last = Hillard | date = October 23, 2016 | accessdate = February 12, 2019 | work = [[Game Informer]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190213123800/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/10/26/activision-badges-the-original-gaming-achievement.aspx | archive-date = February 13, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Activision's breakout title was 1982's ''[[Pitfall!]]'', created by Crane. More than 4 million copies of the game were sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/903/903024p1.html|title=Top 10 Best-Selling Atari 2600 Games|author=Levi Buchanan|website=[[IGN]]|date=August 26, 2008|accessdate=September 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726161836/http://retro.ign.com/articles/903/903024p1.html|archive-date=July 26, 2011|dead-url=no}}</ref> Total revenues around 1983 were estimated to be about {{USD|60 million}}, at which point they had around 60 employees.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> [[Danny Goodman]] stated in ''[[Creative Computing]] Video & Arcade Games'' in 1983, "I doubt that there is an active [Atari 2600] owner who doesn't have at least one Activision cartridge in his library".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Goodman |first=Danny |author-link=Danny Goodman |date=Spring 1983 |title=Home Video Games: Video Games Update |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/cva/v1n1/vgupdate.php |magazine=Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games |page=32 |access-date=November 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020633/http://www.atarimagazines.com/cva/v1n1/vgupdate.php |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |dead-url=no  }}</ref> The company launched a success [[initial public offering]] in 1983 on NASDAQ under the stock ticker AVSN.<ref name="Gamasutra" /><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.inc.com/magazine/19830901/2878.html | title = Small Company Initial Public Offerings: June 1983 | date = June 1983 | work = [[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]] | accessdate = February 12, 2019}}</ref> The founders were given the [[Game Developers Choice Awards|Game Developers Choice]] "First Penguin" award in 2003, reflecting on being the first successful third-party developer.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/penguin.html | title = First Penguin Archive | accessdate = February 12, 2019 | publisher = [[Game Developers Conference]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181130125453/http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/penguin.html | archive-date = November 30, 2018 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

===The video game market crash (1983–1988)===
The success of Activision, alongside the popularity of the Atari 2600, led to many more home consoles third-party developers as well as other home consoles. Activision produced some of its Atari games for the [[Intellivision]] and [[Colecovision]] consoles, among other platforms.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/08/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-and-fall-of-gamings-third-party-exclusives/ | title = The rise and fall (and rise and fall) of gaming’s third-party exclusives | first = Kyle | last = Orland | date = August 13, 2014 | accessdate = February 12, 2019 | work = [[Ars Technica]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150708081756/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/08/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-and-fall-of-gamings-third-party-exclusives/ | archive-date = July 8, 2015 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> However, several new third-party developers also arose, attempting to follow the approach Activision had used but without the experience they had; according to Crane, several of these companies were founded with venture capital and hired programmers with little game design experience off the street, mass-publishing whatever product the developers had made. This was a contributing factor to the [[video game crash of 1983]], among other factors.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> For Activision, while they survived the crash, they felt its effects in the following years. These third-party developers folded, leaving warehouses full of unsold games, which savvy retailers purchased and sold at a mass discount ({{USD|5}} compared to Activision's {{USD|40}} [[manufacturer's suggested retail price]]). While there was still a demand for Activision games, uneducated consumers were more drawn to the heavily-discounted titles instead, reducing their income. Because of this, Activision decided that they needed to diversity their games onto home computers such as the [[Commodore 64]], [[Apple, Inc.|Apple]], and [[Atari 8-bit family]] to avoid a similar event.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> There still was a drain of talent through 1985 from the crash. Kaplan left Activision in 1983 to return to Atari as he wanted to be more involved in hardware development.<ref name="edge history">{{cite web | url = http://www.edge-online.com/features/short-history-activision/ | title = A Short History Of Activision | date = August 24, 2006 | accessdate = February 13, 2019 | work = [[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130404231907/http://www.edge-online.com/features/short-history-activision/ | archivedate=  April 4, 2013 }}</ref> Miller and Whitehead left in 1984 due to the large devaluation of their stock, and went to form [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]].<ref name="Gamasutra" /><ref name="edge history"/>

With the video game crash making console game development a risky proposition, the company focused on developing for home computers with games like ''[[Little Computer People]]'' and ''[[Hacker (video game)|Hacker]]'', while Levy tried to keep expenditures in check as they recovered.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Looking to expand further, Activision acquired, through a corporate merger, the struggling [[Interactive fiction|text adventure]] pioneer [[Infocom]] in June 1986. This acquisition was spearheaded by Levy, who was a big fan of Infocom's titles and felt the company was in a similar position as Activision.<ref name="edge history"/> About six months after the "Infocom Wedding", Activision's board decided to replace Levy with [[Bruce Davis (video game industry)|Bruce Davis]]. Davis was against the purchase of Infocom from the start and was heavy-handed in its management,<ref name="mit infocom" /> and even attempted to seek a lawsuit to recover their purchase from Infocom's shareholders.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Crane also found Davis difficult to work with, and was concerned with how Davis managed the closure of [[Imagic]], one of the third-party development studios formed in Activision's success in 1981.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Crane left Activision in 1988 and helped [[Gary Kitchen]] found [[Absolute Entertainment]] in 1988.<ref name="Gamasutra" />

===Mediagenic (1988–1992)===
In 1988, Activision began involvement in software besides video games, such as business applications. As a result, Activision changed its corporate name to '''Mediagenic''' to better represent all of its activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |title=InfoWorld |date=October 3, 1988 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |via=Google Books |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160846/https://books.google.com/books?id=oDoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=mediagenic%20activision%20divisions&source=bl&ots=bW8gBM1_xe&sig=Q99Dme4yB05X7U04oS5zex9SwzI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB4P-ti6bQAhWn64MKHdrkDWQQ6AEIWDAN |archivedate=December 30, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1537/the_history_of_activision.php?print=1 |title=The History Of Activision | work = Gamasutra | first =Jeffrey | last =Flemming |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122651/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1537/the_history_of_activision.php?print=1 |archivedate=December 20, 2016}}</ref>

Mediagenic consisted of four groups:
* Activision: video game publisher for various platforms, notably the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], the [[Sega Master System]], the [[Atari 7800]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]] and [[Amiga]]
* [[Infocom]]: developer of interactive fiction games
* [[Scott Orr#GameStar|Gamestar]]: initially an independent company but purchased by Activision in 1986. Specialized in sports video games
* Ten Point O: business application software

In 1989, after several years of losses, Activision closed down the Infocom studios, extending to only 11 of the 26 employees an offer to relocate to Activision's [[Silicon Valley]] headquarters. Five of them accepted this offer.<ref name="mit infocom">{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/6.933/www/Fall2000/infocom/infocom-paper.pdf |title=Down From the Top of Its Game: The Story of Infocom, Inc. |date=December 15, 2000 |accessdate=February 12, 2016 |publisher=[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105111124/http://web.mit.edu/6.933/www/Fall2000/infocom/infocom-paper.pdf |archivedate=November 5, 2015}}</ref>

Notably during this period, Mediagenic, via Activision, secured the rights to distribute games from [[Cyan Worlds]]. The first game published by Activision from Cyan was ''[[The Manhole]]'', on [[CD-ROM]] for personal computers, the first major game distributed in this format.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2008/09/sept-24-1993-beautiful-myst-ushers-in-era-of-cd-rom-gaming/ "Sept. 24, 1993: Beautiful ‘Myst’ Ushers In Era of CD-ROM Gaming"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104182909/http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2008/09/sept-24-1993-beautiful-myst-ushers-in-era-of-cd-rom-gaming/ |date=November 4, 2012 }} Wired Magazine</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=100 | title=3900 Games Later... | work=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1992 | accessdate=July 4, 2014 | author=Sipe, Russell | pages=8 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702235552/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=100 | archive-date=July 2, 2014 | dead-url=no | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Purchase by Bobby Kotick (1990–1997) ===
Davis' management of Mediagenic failed to produce a profitable company; in 1991, Mediagenic reported a loss of {{USD|26.8 million}} on only {{USD|28.8 million}} profit and had over {{USD|60 million}} in debt.<ref name="Gamasutra" /><ref name="brick" /> Cyan severed their contract with Activision, and instead turned to [[Broderbund]] for publishing, including what would become one of the most significant computer games of the 1990s, ''[[Myst]]''.<ref name="brick" />

[[File:Bobby Kotick in NYC photographed by Jordan Matter.jpg|thumb|right|Bobby Kotick in 2012]]
[[Bobby Kotick]] had become interested in the value of the video game industry following the crash, and he and three investors tried to buy [[Commodore International]] as to be able to gain access to the [[Commodore Amiga]] line of personal computers. Failing to complete this, the group bought a company that licensed [[Nintendo]] characters, and through Nintendo was directed to the failing Mediagenic.<ref name="mw" /> Kotick was drawn to buy out Mediagenic not for its current offerings but for the Activision name, given its past successes with ''Pitfall!'' with hopes to restore Activision to its former glory.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/18/activision-passed-on-the-sims | title = Activision Passed on The Sims | first = Matt | last = Casamassina | date = February 18, 2010 | accessdate = March 2, 2019 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043610/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/18/activision-passed-on-the-sims | archive-date = March 6, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Kotick and additional investors bought Mediagenic for approximately {{USD|500,000}} in 1991; among these investors included real estate businessman [[Steve Wynn]] and [[Philips|Philips Electronics]].<ref name="nytimes dec1993" /><ref name="mw">{{cite web | url = https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bobby-kotick-changes-game-activision | title = Kotick changes the game at Activision Blizzard | first = Dan | last = Gallagher | date = December 4, 2008 | accessdate = February 12, 2019 | work = [[Market Watch]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190308043931/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bobby-kotick-changes-game-activision | archive-date = March 8, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Kotick became CEO and made several immediate changes: He let go of all but 8 of the companies' 150 employees, performed a full restructuring of the company, developed a bankruptcy restructuring plan, and reincorporated the company in Los Angeles, California.<ref name="forbes kotick" /> In the bankruptcy plan, Kotick recognized that Mediagenic still had valuable assets, which included the Infocom library as well as its authoring tools to make games, Activision's distribution network, and licenses to develop on Nintendo and Sega home consoles.<ref name="brick" /> Kotick offset some debt by giving stock in the company to its distributors as to keep them vested in the company's success.<ref name="brick" /> Kotick also had the company reissue several of its past console and Infocom titles as compilations for personal computers. Kotick had also recognized the value of the ''[[Zork]]'' property from Infocom, and had the company develop a sequel, ''[[Return to Zork]]''. Combined, these steps allowed Mediagenic to fulfill on the bankruptcy plan, and by the end of 1992, Kotick renamed Mediagenic to the original Activision name.<ref name="brick">{{cite journal | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980128082919/http://www.newmedia.com/NewMedia/96/09/screens/Activision_Rebound.html | url=http://www.newmedia.com:80/NewMedia/96/09/screens/Activision_Rebound.html | title=Activision: Reorganized, Redefined and on the Rebound | date=June 24, 1996 | author=Sengstack, Jeff | archivedate=January 28, 1998 | journal=NewMedia | deadurl=yes | access-date=May 6, 2019 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> The new Activision went public in October 1993, raising about {{USD|40 million}},<ref name="forbes kotick" /> and was listed on NASDAQ under its new ticker symbol ATVI.<ref name="nytimes dec1993">{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/28/business/market-place-home-software-s-treasure-hunt.html | title = Market Place; Home Software's Treasure Hunt | first = Steve | last = Lohr | date = December 28, 1993 | accessdate = February 13, 2019 | work = [[The New York Times]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002846/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/28/business/market-place-home-software-s-treasure-hunt.html | archive-date = February 14, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

By 1995, Kotick's approach had met one promise he made to investors: that he would give them four years of 50% growth in revenues while remaining break-even. Reaching this goal, Kotick then set Activision on his second promise to investors, as to develop high-demand games as to make the company profitable by 1997.<ref name="brick" />

Activision published the first-person perspective ''[[MechWarrior (1989 video game)|MechWarrior]]'' in 1989, based on [[FASA]]'s pen-and-pencil game ''[[BattleTech]]''. A sequel, ''[[MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat|MechWarrior 2]]'', was released in 1995 after two years of delays and internal struggles, prompting FASA not to renew their licensing deal with Activision. To counter, Activision released several more games bearing the ''MechWarrior 2'' name, which did not violate their licensing agreement. These included ''NetMech'', ''[[MechWarrior 2: Ghost Bear's Legacy#Ghost Bear's Legacy (expansion pack)|MechWarrior 2: Ghost Bears Legacy]]'', and ''[[MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries]]''. The entire ''MechWarrior 2'' game series accounted for more than {{US$|70&nbsp;million}} in sales.

Activision procured the license to another pen-and-paper-based [[Wargaming|war game]], ''[[Heavy Gear]]'', in 1997. [[Heavy Gear (video game)|The video game version]] was well received by critics, with an 81.46% average rating on [[gamerankings.com|GameRankings]] and being considered the best game of the genre at the time by [[GameSpot]]. The ''Mechwarrior 2'' engine was also used in other Activision games, including 1997's ''[[Interstate '76]]'' and finally 1998's ''[[Battlezone (1998 video game)|Battlezone]]''.

===Growth and acquisitions (1997–2008)===
With several of its own successfully-developed games helping to turn a profit, Kotick led Activision to start seeking acquisitions of video game development studios, guided by market surveys to determine what areas of content to focus on.<ref name="mw" /> It is estimated that between 1997 and 2008, Activision made 25 acquisitions, several for undisclosed amounts. Several of these came prior to 2001, in the midst of the [[Dot-com bubble]], enabling the company to acquire studios at a lower valuation.<ref name="mw" /> By June 2000, Activision Holdings was created as a [[holding company]] within Activision to manage more effectively Activision and its subsidiaries.<ref name="Activision Holding">{{cite web|url=http://www.shareholder.com/Common/Edgar/718877/912057-01-521517/01-00.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=November 13, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104063233/http://www.shareholder.com/Common/Edgar/718877/912057-01-521517/01-00.pdf |archivedate=January 4, 2017}}</ref> Immediately after, Activision changed its corporation name from "Activision, Inc." to "Activision Publishing, Inc.", while Activision Holdings took Activision's former "Activision, Inc." name.<ref name="Activision Holding" /> Activision Publishing became a subsidiary of Activision in this transition.<ref name="pcgamer hirshberg">{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-is-leaving-the-company/ | title = Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg is leaving the company | first = Andy | last = Chalk | date = January 18, 2018 | accessdate = January 18, 2018 | work = [[PC Gamer]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180119072905/http://www.pcgamer.com/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-is-leaving-the-company/ | archive-date = January 19, 2018 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Some of the key acquisitions and investments made by Activision in this period include:
* [[Raven Software]]: Raven was founded in 1990; because of their close proximity, Raven frequently collaborated with [[id Software]], and some of the studio's early successes was the ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' series using id's [[Doom engine]]. Around 1997, Raven's founders Brian and Steve Raffel felt the need to seek a parent company. They arranged a publishing deal with Activision in 1997, which not only served to provide Raven addition financial support, but also gave Activision the opportunity to work closely with id Software and gain business relationships with them.<ref>{{cite web|title = From Dungeon & Dragons to Call of Duty: The Story of Raven Software|url = http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|website = USgamer.net|access-date = February 15, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170827165702/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|archive-date = August 27, 2017|dead-url = no|df = mdy-all}}</ref> By the end of 1997, Activision acquired Raven as one of its first subsidiaries under Kotick.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/activision-set-to-acquire-raven-1116676216/ | title = Activision set to acquire Raven | first = Paul | last = Karon | date = August 8, 1997 | accessdate = February 14, 2019 | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233438/https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/activision-set-to-acquire-raven-1116676216/ | archive-date = February 14, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
* [[Neversoft]]: Prior to its acquisition in 2000, Activision had arranged a development deal with Neversoft to re-develop ''[[Apocalypse (video game)|Apocalypse]]'', a title that failed to be completed within Activision. Subsequently, Activision had Neversoft work on a prototype for a [[skateboard]]ing game, which would end up becoming the first in the ''[[Tony Hawk's (series)|Tony Hawk's]]'' series of skateboarding video games. ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater]]'' was a critical success, leading Activision to acquire Neversoft in April 2000.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-acquires-neversoft/1100-2448473/ | title = Activision Acquires Neversoft | first = Sam | last = Kennedy | date = April 27, 2000 | accessdate = February 13, 2019 | work = [[GameSpot]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002759/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-acquires-neversoft/1100-2448473/ | archive-date = February 14, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> After eight games, the series has brought in {{USD|1.6 billion}}.<ref name="forbes kotick" />
* [[Infinity Ward]]: After [[Electronic Arts]] released ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]'' in 2002, several of the developers from [[2015, Inc.]], disenchanted with their current contracts, left to form a new studio, Infinity Ward. Kotick himself provided the group with startup funding, as they were seeking to develop a similar title to ''Medal of Honor''. Activision acquired the studio for {{USD|5 million}} in January 2003, and later publish their first title, ''[[Call of Duty (video game)|Call of Duty]]'', directly competing with Electronic Arts.<ref name="forbes kotick" /> The ''[[Call of Duty]]'' series has since seen nearly yearly releases and as of 2016 had sold more than 250 million units and brought in more than {{USD|12 billion}} in revenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160211006451/en|title=Activision Blizzard Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Results|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=February 11, 2016|accessdate=December 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220082153/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160211006451/en|archive-date=December 20, 2016|dead-url=no}}</ref>
* [[Treyarch]]: The Santa Monica, California studio was founded in 1996. With the success of the first ''Tony Hawk'' game from Neversoft, Activision used Treyarch to assist in further ''Tony Hawk'' games as well as to develop titles using Activision's license of [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s [[Spider-Man]]. Activision acquired the studio in 2001 for about {{USD|20 million}}.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/04/business/fi-53391 | title = Activision to Acquire Treyarch Invention | date = October 4, 2001 | accessdate = February 14, 2019 | work = [[Reuters]] | via = [[The Los Angeles Times]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160301163903/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/04/business/fi-53391 | archive-date = March 1, 2016 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>  Following the success of ''Call of Duty'' from Infinity Ward, Activision moved Treyarch to assist in the series' development, trading off each year' major release between the two studios.
* [[Gray Matter Interactive]]: While Gray Matter was originally founded in 1993 as Xatrix Entertainment, it was rebranded to Gray Matter in 1999 as they began work on ''[[Return to Castle Wolfenstein]]'', in conjunction with [[Nerve Software]] and oversight by id Software who owned the ''Castle Wolfenstein'' IP. Activision, the game's publisher, acquired a portion of Gray Matter's stock during this time. ''Return to Castle Wolfenstein'' was a critical and financial success, and led Activision to acquire the remain shares of Gray Matter in 2002 for about {{USD|3.2 million}},<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1011018184632447240 | title = Activision Acquires Rest Of Gray Matter Interactive | date = January 14, 2002 | accessdate = February 14, 2019 | work = [[The Wall Street Journal]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085929/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1011018184632447240 | archive-date = June 13, 2018 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> with the intent to help Infinity Ward expand out the ''Call of Duty'' franchise. In 2005, Activision made the decision to merge the smaller Gray Matter into the larger Treyarch to put their combined talents towards ''Call of Duty 3''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/8/17316562/call-of-duty-black-ops-zombies-treyarch-interview | title = Meet the studio behind Call of Duty: Black Ops and Zombies mode | first = Charlie | last = Hall | date = May 8, 2018 | accessdate = February 14, 2019 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180630052949/https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/8/17316562/call-of-duty-black-ops-zombies-treyarch-interview | archive-date = June 30, 2018 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
* [[Red Octane]]: Around 2005, Red Octane was co-developing ''[[Guitar Hero]]'', a console game based on the arcade game ''[[GuitarFreaks and DrumMania|GuitarFreaks]]'', with [[Harmonix]]; Harmonix was developing the software while Red Octane developed the instrument controllers. ''Guitar Hero'' was a major success. Activision purchased Red Octant for nearly {{USD|100 million}} in June 2006. The series has since earned more than {{USD|2 billion}} in revenues.<ref name="forbes kotick" />
* [[Toys for Bob]]: Toys for Bob was founded by [[Paul Reiche III]], [[Fred Ford (programmer)|Fred Ford]], and Terry Falls in 1989 and gained success in developing the first two ''[[Star Control]]'' games, and later made film-to-video game adaptions. Activision purchased the studio in 2005, and had given them work on some of the ''Tony Hawk's'' games as well as other licensed properties.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/03/activision-buys-toys-for-bob | title = Activision Buys Toys for Bob | first = David | last = Adams | date = May 3, 2005 | accessdate = March 2, 2019 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044722/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/03/activision-buys-toys-for-bob | archive-date = March 6, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Following Activision's merger with Vivendi, Activision gained the intellectual property of ''[[Spyro]]'', and Activision gave Toys for Bob to develop the series in a new direction, leading to the [[toys-to-life]] ''[[Skylanders]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/05/how-paul-reiche-turned-activision-into-a-giant-toy-company-with-skylanders-interview/ | title = How Toys for Bob turned Activision into a giant toy company with Skylanders | first = Dean | last = Takahashi | date = October 5, 2012 | accessdate = March 2, 2019 | work = [[Venture Beat]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111558/https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/05/how-paul-reiche-turned-activision-into-a-giant-toy-company-with-skylanders-interview/ | archive-date = March 6, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Merger with Vivendi Games (2008) ===
{{main|Activision Blizzard}}
While Activision was highly successful with its range of developers and successful series, Kotick was concerned that they did not have a title for the growing [[massively multiplayer online]] market, which presented the opportunity for continued revenues from subscription models and microtransactions instead of the revenue from a single sale. Around 2006, Kotick contacted [[Jean-Bernard Lévy]], the new CEO of [[Vivendi]], a French media conglomerate. Vivendi had a games division, [[Vivendi Games]], that was struggling to be viable at the time, but its principle feature was that it owned [[Blizzard Entertainment]] and its highly-successful ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' game, which was drawing in {{USD|1.1 billion}} a year in subscription fees. Vivendi Games also owned [[Sierra Entertainment]].<ref name="forbes kotick" />

Lévy recognized Kotick wanted control of ''World of Warcraft'', and offered to allow the companies to merge, but only if Lévy held the majority shares in the merged group, forcing Kotick to cede control. Kotick fretted about this decision for a while, according to friends and investors. During this time in 2006–2007, some of Activision's former successful properties began to wane, such as ''Tony Hawk's'', and Activision faced harsher competition from Electronic Arts, who had purchased Harmonix after Activision bought Red Octane as to develop ''[[Rock Band]]'', a competing title to ''Guitar Hero''.<ref name="forbes kotick" /> Kotick met with Blizzard's president [[Mike Morhaime]], and learned that Blizzard had also had successful inroad into getting their games into China, a potentially lucrative market. Given this potential opportunity, Kotick agreed to the merger.<ref name="forbes kotick" />

Activision's board signed onto the merger by December 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vivendi To Merge With Activision |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/12/02/vivendi-computer-guitar-tech-media-cx_rr_1202activision.html |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |accessdate=August 22, 2012 |first=Rachel |last=Rosmarin |date=December 2, 2007 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620012647/http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/02/vivendi-computer-guitar-tech-media-cx_rr_1202activision.html |archivedate=June 20, 2013}}</ref> The merger was completed in July 2008. The new company was called [[Activision Blizzard]] and was headed by Kotick, while Vivendi maintained a 52% share in the company.<ref name="forbes kotick" /><ref>{{cite press release|title=Vivendi and Activision to create Activision Blizzard – World's Largest, Most Profitable Pure-Play Video Game Publisher|publisher=Activision, [[Vivendi]]|date=December 2, 2007|url=http://www.activisionblizzard.com/pressReleases/pr120207.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409211320/http://www.activisionblizzard.com/pressReleases/pr120207.php|archivedate=April 9, 2008|accessdate=December 2, 2007}}</ref> The new company was estimated to be worth {{US$|18.9&nbsp;billion}}, ahead of [[Electronic Arts]], which was valued at {{US$|14.1&nbsp;billion}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/activision-vivendi-shake-games-biz-96314 |title=Activision-Vivendi to Shake Up Games Biz |first=Georg |last=Szalai |date=July 8, 2008 |work=AdWeek |accessdate=February 12, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054037/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/activision-vivendi-shake-games-biz-96314 |archivedate=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

=== Post-merger developments (2009–present) ===
Activision Publishing remains a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard following the merger, and is responsible for developing, producing, and distributing games from its internal and subsidiary studios. Eric Hershberg was announced as Activision Publishing's CEO in 2010.<ref name="pcgamer hirshberg" />

Activision Publishing established [[Sledgehammer Games]] in November 2009. Formed earlier in 2009 by [[Glen Schofield]] and [[Michael Condrey]], former [[Visceral Games]] leads that had worked on ''[[Dead Space (series)|Dead Space]]'', Sledgehammer intended to develop a ''Call of Duty'' spin-off title fashioned after the gameplay in ''Dead Space''. However, in early 2010, [[Infinity Ward#2010 employee firings and departures|legal issues between Infinity Ward and Activision Blizzad]] led to several members of Infinity Ward leaving, and Activision assigned Sledgehammer to assist Infinity Ward in the next major ''Call of Duty'' title, ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3|Modern Warfare 3]]''.<ref name="Digital Trends profile">{{cite news|last=Flemming|first=Ryan|title=Inside Sledgehammer Games and the Biggest Gamble You Never Knew About|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/inside-sledgehammer-games-and-the-biggest-gamble-you-never-heard-of/|accessdate=March 2, 2013|newspaper=Digital Trends|date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221063229/http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/inside-sledgehammer-games-and-the-biggest-gamble-you-never-heard-of/|archive-date=February 21, 2013|dead-url=no}}</ref> Since then, Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, and Treyarch share development duties for the flagship series, with support from Raven and other studios as necessary.

In February 2010, Activision Blizzard reported significant losses in revenue stemming from a slow down in ''Guitar Hero'' sales and from its more casual games. Subsequently Activision Publishing shuttered Red Octane, [[Luxoflux]] and [[Underground Development]] as well as laid off about 25% of the staff at Neversoft.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activision-lays-off-200-shuts-luxoflux.html | title = Activision lays off about 200 employees, shuts down Santa Monica studio Luxoflux | first = Ben | last = Fritz | date = February 11, 2010 | accessdate = February 14, 2019 | work = [[The Los Angeles Times]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050545/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activision-lays-off-200-shuts-luxoflux.html | archive-date = February 15, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="kotaku.com"/> Within the same year, Activision shuttered [[Budcat Creations]] in November 2010, and [[Bizarre Creations]] in February 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ | title = Updated: Activision shutting down Bizarre and Budcat studios? | date = November 16, 2010 | accessdate = February 15, 2019 | work = [[PC Gamer]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233411/https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/ | archive-date = February 14, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="bizzare close">{{cite web |author=Wesley Yin-Poole |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-18-bizarre-says-goodbye-with-farewell-video#cm-2156706 |title=Bizarre says goodbye with farewell video |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=February 18, 2011 |accessdate=May 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304232906/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-18-bizarre-says-goodbye-with-farewell-video#cm-2156706 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |dead-url=no  }}</ref>

Hirshberg left the CEO position in March 2018, and the position remains open as of February 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/18/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-is-leaving-in-march-after-8-years/|title=Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg is leaving in March|author=|date=January 18, 2018|website=venturebeat.com|access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015834/https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/18/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-is-leaving-in-march-after-8-years/|archive-date=September 8, 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>

== Studios ==
=== Active ===
* [[Beenox]] in [[Québec City]], [[Québec]], Canada, founded in May 2000, acquired on May 25, 2005.
* [[Demonware]] in both [[Dublin, Republic of Ireland]] and [[Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada, founded in 2003, acquired in May 2007.
* [[High Moon Studios]] in [[Carlsbad, California]], founded as [[Sammy Corporation]] in April 2001, acquired by [[Vivendi Games]] in January 2006.
* [[Infinity Ward]] in [[Woodland Hills, California]], founded in 2002, acquired in October 2003.
* [[Raven Software]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], founded in 1990, acquired in 1997.
* [[Sledgehammer Games]] in [[Foster City, California]], founded on July 21, 2009.
* [[Toys for Bob]] in [[Novato, California]], founded in 1989, acquired on May 3, 2005.
* [[Treyarch]] in [[Santa Monica, California]], founded in 1996, acquired in 2001.
* [[Vicarious Visions]] in [[Menands, New York]], founded in 1990, acquired in January 2005.

=== Defunct ===
* The Blast Furnace in [[Leeds]], United Kingdom, founded in November 2011 as Activision Leeds, changed rename in August 2012, closed in March 2014.
* [[Gray Matter Interactive]] in [[Los Angeles, California]], founded in the 1990s as Xatrix Entertainment, acquired in January 2002, merged into Treyarch in 2005.
* [[Infocom]] in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], founded on June 22, 1979, acquired in 1986, closed in 1989.
* [[Luxoflux]] in [[Santa Monica, California]], founded in January 1997, acquired in October 2002, closed on February 11, 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activision-lays-off-200-shuts-luxoflux.html |work=Los Angeles Times | title=Activision lays off about 200 employees, shuts down Santa Monica studio Luxoflux |date=February 11, 2010 |accessdate=May 2, 2010 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100515180856/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/activision-lays-off-200-shuts-luxoflux.html| archivedate= May 15, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* [[Shaba Games]] in [[San Francisco, California]], founded in September 1997, acquired in 2002, and closed on October 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5376826/activision-lays-off-shabas-ranks-closes-studio |title=Activision Lays Off Shaba's Ranks, Closes Studio (Update) |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |publisher=Kotaku |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010224322/http://kotaku.com/5376826/activision-lays-off-shabas-ranks-closes-studio |archivedate=October 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-confirms-shaba-studios-closure |title=Activision confirms Shaba Studios closure |work=GamesIndustry.biz |last=Martin |first=Matt |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=February 12, 2016 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213601/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-confirms-shaba-studios-closure |archivedate=March 3, 2016}}</ref>
* [[RedOctane]] in [[Mountain View, California]], founded in November 2005, acquired in 2006, closed on February 11, 2010.<ref name="kotaku.com">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5470149/activision-shutters-guitar-hero-creators-gh-van-halen-developers |title=Activision Shutters Guitar Hero Creators, GH: Van Halen Developers (Update) |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |publisher=Kotaku |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213081101/http://kotaku.com/5470149/activision-shutters-guitar-hero-creators-gh-van-halen-developers |archivedate=February 13, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Underground Development]] in [[Redwood Shores, California]], founded as Z-Axis in 1994, acquired in May 2002, closed on February 11, 2010.<ref name="kotaku.com" />
* [[Budcat Creations]] in [[Iowa City, Iowa]], founded in September 2000, acquired on November 10, 2008, closed in November 2010.
* 7 Studios in [[Los Angeles, California]], founded in 1999, acquired on April 6, 2009, closed in February 2011.
* [[Bizarre Creations]] in [[Liverpool, England]], founded as Raising Hell Productions in 1987 and changed name in 1994, acquired on September 26, 2007,<ref>[http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=265950 Activision Acquires U.K. Game Developer Bizarre Creations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206045007/http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=265950 |date=December 6, 2008}} from Activision's website</ref> closed on February 18, 2011.<ref name="bizzare close"/>
* [[Radical Entertainment]] in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1991, acquired by [[Vivendi Games]] in 2005, laid off most staff in 2012. While studio name remains active within Activision, remaining staff support other projects and the studio does not have an ongoing development.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/prototype-creators-shutting-down-update-5922129 | title = Prototype Creators Shutting Down | first = Jason | last = Schreier | date = June 28, 2012 | accessdate = March 6, 2019 | work = [[Kotaku]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091513/https://kotaku.com/prototype-creators-shutting-down-update-5922129 | archive-date = March 27, 2019 | dead-url = no | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
* Beachhead Studio in [[Santa Monica, California]], founded in February 2011.
* [[Neversoft]] in [[Los Angeles, California]], founded in July 1994, acquired in October 1999, merged into Infinity Ward on May 3, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/report-neversoft-merging-with-call-of-duty-developer-i-1571334321 |title=Report: Neversoft Merging With Call Of Duty Developer Infinity Ward |first=Mike |last=Fahey |work=kotaku.com |date=May 3, 2014 |accessdate=June 16, 2014 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614085544/http://kotaku.com/report-neversoft-merging-with-call-of-duty-developer-i-1571334321 |archivedate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and was officially made defunct on July 10, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-07-11-tony-hawk-studio-neversoft-bids-farewell-burns-eyeball-effigy |title=Tony Hawk studio Neversoft bids farewell, burns eyeball effigy |first=Tom |last=Phillips |date=July 10, 2014 |accessdate=July 11, 2014 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713203848/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-07-11-tony-hawk-studio-neversoft-bids-farewell-burns-eyeball-effigy |archivedate=July 13, 2014}}</ref>

=== Sold ===
* [[Behaviour Santiago|Wanako Games]] in [[Santiago, Chile]], founded in 2005, acquired by [[Vivendi Games]] on February 20, 2007, sold to [[Behaviour Interactive|Artificial Mind and Movement]] on November 20, 2008.
* [[Ubisoft Leamington|FreeStyleGames]] in [[Leamington Spa]], [[Warwickshire]], United Kingdom, founded in 2002, acquired on September 12, 2008, sold to [[Ubisoft]] on January 18, 2017, subsequently renamed Ubisoft Leamington.
* [[Swordfish Studios]] in [[Birmingham, England]], founded in September 2002, acquired by [[Vivendi Games|Vivendi Universal Games]] in June 2005, sold to [[Codemasters]] on November 14, 2008.
* [[Massive Entertainment]] in [[Malmö, Sweden]], founded in 1987, acquired by [[Vivendi Games|Vivendi Universal Games]] in 2002, sold to [[Ubisoft]] on November 10, 2008.

== Notable games published ==
{{Main|List of Activision video games}}
<!-- This section has historically suffered a lot of bloat. In the future this section should be overhauled to provide such explanations of why each item is "notable." If you can't think what it will say at that point, then DON'T ADD your new items. See the Talk Page for discussion. -->
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

=== 1980s ===
* ''[[Fishing Derby]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Boxing (1980 video game)|Boxing]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Skiing (Atari 2600)|Skiing]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Freeway (video game)|Freeway]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Ice Hockey (1981 video game)|Ice Hockey]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Kaboom! (video game)|Kaboom!]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Stampede (video game)|Stampede]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Laser Blast (video game)|Laser Blast]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Tennis (Atari)|Tennis]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Megamania]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Barnstorming (video game)|Barnstorming]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Enduro (video game)|Enduro]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Chopper Command]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Starmaster]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Pitfall!]]'' series (1982–2004)
* ''[[River Raid]]'' series (1982–1988)
* ''[[Oink! (video game)|Oink!]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Beamrider]]'' (1983)
* ''[[H.E.R.O.]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Little Computer People]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Hacker (video game)|Hacker]]'' series (1985–1986)
* ''[[Shanghai (video game)|Shanghai]]'' series (1986–1990)
* ''[[List of Transformers video games|Transformers]]'' series (1986, 2007–2017)
* ''[[The Last Ninja]]'' series (1987–1988)
* ''[[MechWarrior]]'' series (1989–1996)

=== 1990s ===
* ''[[Hunter (video game)|Hunter]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Zork]]'' series (1993–1997)
* ''[[Dark Reign: The Future of War|Dark Reign]]'' series (1997–2000)
* ''[[Heavy Gear (video game)|Heavy Gear]]'' series (1997–1999)
* ''[[Quake (series)|Quake]]'' series (1997–2007)
* ''[[Interstate '76|Interstate]]'' series (1997–1999)
* ''[[Battlezone (1998 video game)|Battlezone]]'' series (1998–1999)
* ''[[SiN]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Heretic II]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Vigilante 8]]'' series (1998–2008)
* ''[[Tenchu]]'' series (1998–2004)
* ''[[Civilization: Call to Power|Call to Power]]'' series (1999–2000)
* ''[[Star Trek games|Star Trek]]'' series (1999–2003)
* ''[[Tony Hawk's (series)|Tony Hawk's]]'' series (1999–2015)
{{col-2}}

=== 2000s ===
* ''[[Soldier of Fortune (video game series)|Soldier of Fortune]]'' series (2000–2007)
* [[List of X-Men video games|''X-Men'']] series (2000–2011)
* ''[[Spider-Man: The Movie#See also|Spider-Man]]'' series (2002–2014)
* ''[[Lost Kingdoms]]'' series (2002–2003)
* ''[[Total War (series)|Total War]]'' series (2002–2004)
* ''[[Call of Duty (series)|Call of Duty]]'' series (2003–present)
* ''[[True Crime (series)|True Crime]]'' series (2003–2005)
* ''[[Wolfenstein]]'' series (2003–2009)
* ''[[Doom 3]]'' (2004)
* ''[[The Movies]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Gun (video game)|Gun]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' series (2006–2015)
* ''[[Marvel: Ultimate Alliance]]'' series (2006–2013)
* ''[[James Bond in video games|James Bond]]'' series (2007–2012)
* ''[[Crash Bandicoot]] series'' (2008–present)
* ''[[Spyro|Spyro the Dragon]] series'' (2008–present)
* ''[[Prototype (series)|Prototype]]'' series (2009–2012)

=== 2010s ===
* ''[[Blur (video game)|Blur]]''  (2010)
* ''[[Singularity (video game)|Singularity]]'' (2010)
* ''[[NASCAR The Game]]'' series (2011–2013)
* ''[[Skylanders]]'' series (2011–present)
* ''[[List of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' series (2013–2016)
* ''[[Destiny (video game)|Destiny]]'' series (2014–2018)
* ''[[Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice]]'' (2019)
{{col-end}}

==See also==

* [[List of video game companies]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.activision.com}}

{{Activision}}
{{Guitar Hero series}}
{{Infocom games}}
{{Star Trek video games}}

[[Category:Activision| ]]
[[Category:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences members]]
[[Category:American brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Santa Monica, California]]
[[Category:Former Vivendi subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Video game companies based in California]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game publishers]]