The acquisition of Activision by Microsoft has been one of the most talked about topics in recent years. Finally, it appears that everything is on track for a successful conclusion of the purchase following the victory in the lawsuit against the FTC and the resumption of negotiations with the CMA. So closing is closer than ever.
That is why we in this House would like to take a moment to reflect on what might happen in the future when the merger is complete. And we are not talking about departures of personalities or reorganization of studies, but rather projects from which players can benefit.
But instead of going for the obvious and most likely, we want to look into Activision Blizzard King’s past and see what IPs are stored in the drawer of oblivion that Microsoft could bring back to light. Games that at some point in the past made us happy but somehow got forgotten.
Starcraft, it’s time to return to the Dominion
We start, perhaps, with one of those games that will lift many of their chairs when announced. If there’s one great franchise that’s been forgotten by Blizzard, it’s Starcraft. The one who was a reference in the RTS genre was left in a second installment not so up to the excellent first game. Since then, we have only known the cancellation of projects that we would like to see see, like this Starcraft Ghost with Nova.
However, and contrary to the feeling of the majority, I think that Starcraft should return more in this second way rather than with a Starcraft 3. I think that the franchise has enough power to tell us a story that takes place in a shooter or an action game, far from the RTS genre. I think this is the approach that could put Starcraft back where it deserves.
Serpent Riders Must Return
One of the most iconic games of the 90s is witches. Created by Raven Software and published by id Software, the Heretic/Hexen saga was a before and after for many. Today, the rights are split between Raven Software, which is owned by Activision, and id Software, which is part of Bethesda. If the purchase is finalized, Microsoft will own all rights to the license, which will replenish years later.
Thus, the return of this acclaimed saga could be a reality. Additionally, Phil Spencer appeared at the last Xbox Game Showcase wearing a Hexen t-shirt. Although he stressed that he meant nothing, he pointed out that the saga was one of the most important of his youth. We can therefore bet that he will do everything possible for his return.
Spyro, another of those who should return
One of the downsides I’ve put as a user on Xbox and Game Pass is the lack of any old-school platformers. Yes, Psychonauts 2 was released a while ago, but the slot is still half empty. With Activision’s agreement, Microsoft will own the rights to two of the industry’s most iconic sagas in this sector: Crash Bandicoot and Spyro.
There is little to say about Crash. Our favorite marsupial has had a second life in recent years with the relaunch of its classic games (including its Karts games), as well as a new game in the form of its fourth opus. And he even dared a more competitive side with the recent Crash Rumble Battle. But what about Spyro?
Our little purple dragon got its remaster a few years ago, where we were able to once again enjoy his classic adventures adapted to new times. But beyond that, we haven’t heard anything about a new installment. And maybe with the purchase, it’s time to add a new chapter to your adventure book, right?
Prototype
Another of those franchises that are in the drawer of oblivion is Prototype. The IP lived a golden age on Xbox 360 and PS3, where he had two very interesting games and a different proposal. However, since the release of his second aside in 2012, we haven’t heard from him.
The saga is well received by both specialized critics and the public, with good sales. Its second opus even managed to surpass sales of titles like Dragon’s Dogma, one of the most anticipated of its year. However, for Activision, the title did not find “a large business audienceand decided not to give it continuity, moving its developer, studio Radical Entertainment, to be a support studio for other games.
With all that, Prototype’s proposal was a breath of fresh air in the action genre and a third-person adventure that could return through the big door after the Activision purchase. A franchise that had a third installment in development that never saw the light of day and that many of us are dying to see a new installment. Perhaps this is the moment under Microsoft’s arm.
Of course, Activision has many more IP addresses stored in this oblivion drawer. sagas like Guitar Hero, The Lost Viking, Caesar, Pistol, Blur and many other shared spaces. These four we’ve highlighted are just one example of the power of licensing and offerings that Microsoft will now have at their fingertips. Because at Activision Blizzard King it’s not just Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, WoW and Candy Crash, but there are a legion of games and franchises waiting to be reborn and have their moment of glory again.
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