Posted Mar 22, 2007 at 12:50AM by Victor B. Listed in: News Tags: Microsoft, Ubisoft, Activision, Shane Kim, Take-Two Interactive, CNN
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Take Two Interactive Logo - Image 1Contrary to rumors, Microsoft's Shane Kim is saying that the company is not interested in buying Take-Two Interactive, and for good reason.

CNN's Chris Morris talks about the potentially powerful acquisition, citing Shane Kim and some pretty good reasons why Microsoft wouldn't want to take over Take-Two:

One company that says it's not in the running is Microsoft. Because today's independent publishers are platform agnostic - that is to say, they build games for all major systems - taking over one would result in a massive revenue loss for Microsoft, as all development would be redirected toward the Xbox 360.


"We could never launch an acquisition bid at a third party publisher," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft (Charts) Game Studios.


Of course, where there's a will (for rumormongering), there's a way. "Potential buyers" now include Ubisoft, Activision, Bono (care of Elevation Partners), and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Sorry folks, Cthulthu won't be making any bids this time, so consider that rumor smashed.


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16 Comments


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   by Ludikhris - 2007-03-22
 » I see your Bull***** and raise you some crap

If you were to get the names Take two has under its belt and make them exclusive to your system you will result in much larger sales, which in turns gives you more exclusives from other development teams and thus more money. Would it repay itself? Well, with the greatest selling game ever in your pocket, maybe.

What we do know at this point is Sony is in a position to take them where they already own significant share in Take two. They could move to buy a majority for not too much then make GTA and other classic series exclusive. That would severly hurt the competition.

my 2cp


   Re: gf (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » Huh?

I don't see how buying Take Two would put the greatest selling game ever in your pocket, since Mario is the greatest selling franchise, but whatever

   Re: hush404 - 2007-03-22
 » my2C

Well, I agree that its BS. But, at the same time, Take two is in partnerships with any companies under them correct? They don't own them, they simply have contracts to publish their said games.

If Sony does have shares of T2 then it's a very good position for them, for they will be making cash off of sales other than just their consoles, right?

Honestly, tho, I dun want any of the console makers buying up huge companies like this, their games should be enjoyed by everyone. Tho... Microsoft is notorious for buying up talent just to help their standings in the console wars, see: Bungie, Lionhead Studios and Rare.
   by Devise (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » ...

I read those comments from Shane Kim before Take-Two announced it would look at selling up. Shane went onto say that if the publisher would help the console a money maker they would consider it. MS could generate about 20 million+ 360 console sales if it secured Take-Two and obtained GTA. They could sell off any IP's that need to be cross platform to generate a profit and be left over with the meat to drive their console.

I have no doubt MS will be thinking about this. Whether or not it happens, who knows. It's not like MS is short of cash, Google wasted crap loads of money on YouTube and that runs at a loss.

   by stephenb5203 - 2007-03-22
 » what a load of pis#

If a console maker got Take two under it's belt it would be a major coup. Shane Kim makes no sense. GTA IV exclusive to one console? That would shift a million units at least. Come on Sony pick up the slack and slap M$ in the face with a Take Two buy out. You know it makes sense :)


   Re: bcv (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » Spelling problem

Why do you spell MS with a $ have you a spelling difficulty ?, Do you not know what the Yen sign for $ONY?.

   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2007-03-22
 » sony can't afford take two

Not after sacraficing the playstation brand for blu ray. Take Two ans sony have their own money problems.

   Re: stephenb5203 - 2007-03-22
 » to mister common sense

can i just say as after tomorrow i will have my ps3 and wont really need to come back to this site. That
you,sir are the most prejudiced xbot stalwart i have ever had the displeasure of reading. I wouldn't be surprised if you are actually bill gates. You are also in more need of a blow job than anyone i have ever known.
   by Advertising -
   by eaglebaize (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » Let there be good gaming for all!

Like in the description, let there be good gaming for all!

   by mANNY151 (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » *

Buying Take Two does not necessarily get you Rockstar which is the rightful owner of the GTA series.

   by Mister Common Sense - 2007-03-22
 » .

If news corp buys take two, everyone will suffer. There will be lots of military themed games about killing terrorists.

   by Shane (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » ?

How about take two sells rockstar to sony or something else to get back on its feet

   by HEY MISTER ZERO SENSE (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » STFU

" If news corp buys take two, everyone will suffer. There will be lots of military themed games about killing terrorists."

You mean killing your kind? That would be a good thing :)

   by dave (Unregistered) - 2007-03-22
 » you know what I think

That Microsoft is too goodly to buy it and if they do buy it, they will ***** up Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto all up. Good bye hijacks, good bye rockluncher, good bye vice city.

   by Harbinger (Unregistered) - 2007-03-23
 » Short Memory

So what the hell was the purchase of Bungie?!

   by zzz (Unregistered) - 2007-03-23
 » Read it again

The reason revenues would be lost is because Take Two sells games on all the platforms. If Microsoft were to buy it and make it exclusive to the 360, only people with a 360 would buy their games. Yes, this would in fact sell a few more 360s than otherwise would be sold. However, given that currently games for Microsoft systems make up only a portion of Take Two's sales, the company would have to make up the rest by selling many many more 360 games, which is rather risky.

It would be like Disney buying Universal Studios Orlando and requiring anyone wanting to enter Universal to first buy a Disney ticket.



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