We've got good news and bad news coming in in light of the recent merger between Activision and Vivendi.

The good news is that Activision has announced that it will be keeping six of Vivendi's game franchises: Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro the Dragon, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Prototype (still in development), and a yet-to-be-identified title also under works.

The bad news: Activision further confirmed to GameSpot that the five titles mentioned are the only ones the company will be publishing. Vivendi's operations are being streamlined to help the company focus on the five franchises in Activision's plans. To this end, Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios are expected to experience realigned staffing.

Activision is also exploring several options regarding Massive Entertainment, Swordfish Studios, Vivendi Games Mobile, and Sierra Online which may including closing down or selling the four studios. Here is a list of some of the titles that are now in limbo following Activision's announcement:

• Brutal Legend
• Wet
• Ghostbusters
• Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
• World at Conflict: Soviet Assault
• 50 Cent Blood on the Sand
• Zombie Wranglers
• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust
• several Xbox Live Arcade titles
  

"We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing," said the Activision representative during the GameSpot inquiry. Sad news indeed for the readers, though we remind you that Activision did not explicitly say anything regarding game cancellation.

Given just how close games like Ghostbusters are to completion, there's a chance the company may be transferring its publishing rights to another studio. Visit us again in case we hear any more regarding this news.

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*Update* We hear from Destructoid that Sierra has explained that Ghostbusters should not be part of this list. The game is still very much in development and will be having a release in the future.

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*Update 2* Looks like Brutal Legend is also off the limbo list. According to a post by developer Tim Schafer at the Double Fine website, "Brutal Legend is fine." Or at least, the dead weevil on his Kashi oatmeal says so. Follow this link and hover on the picture to see for yourself.

Originally posted on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:49AM