Underscoring its commitment to broaden its product portfolio and deliver compelling entertainment experiences to consumers worldwide, Activision announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire video game publisher RedOctane, the publisher of the popular Guitar Hero franchise, released last year on PlayStation 2. This acquisition will provide Activision with an early leadership position in music-based gaming, which the company expects will be one of the fastest growing genres in the coming years.
“Our acquisition of RedOctane perfectly aligns with Activision’s strategy to broaden its portfolio by entering new genres that have strong global appeal,� said Ron Doornink, Director and Strategic Advisor, Activision, Inc. “Guitar Hero integrates music and gaming in a unique and highly engaging way that delivers a compelling game experience for both the current-and next-generation consoles. The success we are seeing today is a strong indicator that Guitar Hero and the many potential extensions, new platform exploitations and international versions appear to be somewhat transition proof, as consumers are responding to this product on current-generation platforms in a manner that defies traditional late-cycle behavior.�
