Activision makes Bizarre acquisition

Santa Monica-based publisher acquires Project Gotham Racing indie developer as part of "ongoing strategy to enter new genres."

At the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Activision surprised the industry by announcing its acquisition of Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane. The buyout proved more than fruitful, with Guitar Hero II selling more then a million copies in the US alone. Today, Activision set its sights on the racing genre, announcing its acquisition of Bizarre Creations, developer of the popular Project Gotham Racing series.

Previously, the Santa Monica-based publisher has only ventured into the racing genre twice, with middling success. In 2002, Activision released Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. In 2004, the publisher put out MTX Mototrax on the Xbox and PS2, with a PlayStation Portable version following in 2006.

Bizarre Creations, on the other hand, has been in the racing business for more than 10 years. Debuting with Formula 1 on the original PlayStation in 1997, the independent developer first made a name for itself with Project Gotham Racing on the Xbox in 2001. The fourth iteration in the Microsoft-exclusive street racing series is set to hit store shelves next week. Bizarre Creations has two other projects currently in development: Geometry Wars: Galaxies for later this year on the Wii and Nintendo DS, and The Club for the PS3 and Xbox 360, which is slated for next February.

While the terms of today's deal were not disclosed, Activision said that Bizarre Creations is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the company and that Bizarre's management team and employees would continue working on its current projects.

Expressing enthusiasm for the acquisition, Activision CEO and chairman Robert Kotick said, "Bizarre Creations is the leading independent developer with a proven track record in developing highly successful and influential original properties, especially in the racing field. They are one of the most innovative and creative studios in the industry, and we are very excited to welcome this talented creative team to Activision."

As for what the deal means to Bizarre Creations, a posting on the company's Web site assures its fans that it will be business as usual for the studio--with one big exception. "Our future titles can be on whatever we please--we are a truly multiplatform studio now," the company said. Bizarre also said that it would soon begin work on two games for Activision, a racing game and a "character game," with its first offering to arrive in 2009.

89 Comments

  • billeadan

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 9:25 pm PT

    "Eh i think this is bad news,Bizarre makes quality games...Activision ahsn't for....well i don't think activision has ever produced/published a quality game."

    Actually Activision publish COD4 which is great games and have done some pretty cool stuff. Its still a bit dodgy losing them to a cross platform developer. Will this mean generic cross platform graphics? Well thats Bungie, Bizarre and Moore! Looks like people are leaving Microsoft in the droves! This is not good! Hoepfully Microsoft play it smart and pick up some new ideas and developers to replace them. I really don't want to see Halo 4 and PGR5 on PS3. That would gut me, and I bet they would both be crap!

  • Blortag4784

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 10:11 am PT

    First, Bizarre was NEVER owned by MS. Only PGR series was exclusive because MS bought the rights. That's why geometry wars was coming to Wii and DS before this happened and that's why The Club was also coming to PS3 and 360 before this happened. This is a good thing because under Activision this INDEPENDENT developer will now have more money and resources at its disposal. Unless Activision starts taking control and telling them what they can and can't do, but Activision really doesn't have that kind of track record.

  • thekey

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 9:50 am PT

    Also no worries PGR is a MS game, bizzar is a developer. So PGR 5 will still be on 360.(Atleast I think)

  • thekey

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 9:47 am PT

    Karaam "honestly I find PGR to be basically boring and a total rip off of gran turismo. i never liked it, the controls suck and thats about it."

    I can tell from you post that you never played PGR at all. Because if you did you would know that it's anything but a Gran Tourismo rip-off it plays nothing like Grand tourismo.(It's actually fun) and it never was about buying a new muffuler, or exaust pipe, it was about style and speed. (IT'S an arcade racer Not a sim.)

  • boyakasha_1988

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 7:53 am PT

    MS owns the IP of PGR so no worries.. i wont go multi platform...

  • Karaam

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 9:46 pm PT

    honestly I find PGR to be basically boring and a total rip off of gran turismo. i never liked it, the controls suck and thats about it.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    Maybe Activision will carve out some sort of deal with MS to make it remain X360 exclusive ala Gears of War or KOTOR.

  • anavailablename

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 9:02 pm PT

    Microsoft owns the PGR franchise so the series won't be going multi-platform. Activision and Bizarre will have to create a new franchise to do that.

  • carl2tan

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 8:44 pm PT

    at least pgr4 is still 360 exclusive

  • iceteo012

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:35 pm PT

    For a moment there, I thought Activision has acquired Blizzard lol

  • tatinhawk

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 7:17 pm PT

    Great News!!! Way to go Activision!!

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 6:37 pm PT

    Great news, hopefully the PGR games will come to the Wii.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 6:15 pm PT

    Not a bad acquisition.

  • AlMar12345

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 6:11 pm PT

    This makes no sense, did M$ run out of $ lol, anyway sounds cool for PS3 owners, like me

  • hamnut

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:20 pm PT

    @Hotrod2142, if you look at the box art, it says Xbox 360 only.

  • HotRod2142

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    soon the 360 is going to have no exclusives like all there game r going 2 pc as well will any way I will be playing PGR4 on PS3! It's looking now that MS fanboys can't bash the PS3 anymore! what's next PS3 and wii is going to have live!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:04 pm PT

    wow, this could be bad

  • slapme7times

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:39 pm PT

    racing games suck... there's just not enough variety. just race and race and race and race and race and.... pgr, gt, forza, sorry!

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    I guess 360 fanboys can wave goodbye to one of their most successful exclusive franchises.

  • radiocreed

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:44 pm PT

    Woohoo, PGR4+ for other consoles and possibly PC.

  • neonblueshadow

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:36 pm PT

    @Sidbob
    I find it a bit boring as well , however,
    Games like PGR and GT appeal mostly to racing game and car enthusiasts, having said that, I have a friend who loves PGR because they have Ferrari cars in it. Either way, I'm sure there will be many in the other platforms who will welcome this. For those of us that own both consoles, this is clearly of no consequence... I think only corporate fanatics will make something big out of this

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    This is good news for people who don't own a 360. The PGR games are awesome.

  • FVK

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:27 pm PT

    How could they leave out Dreamcast's Metropolis Street Racer out of this story?!?!! One of the best arcade racers ever and the real beginning of the PGR franchise? Anyway, here's to continuing to make great games regardless of who is handing out the development dough.

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:17 pm PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Activision sucks.

  • sancezz

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    ...why did Microsoft do that? Did somebody tick the wrong box or sign the wrong paper or something?

  • Vishvanath

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:12 pm PT

    I guess PGR 5 on the PS3 is exiting for some people. But I'm a Gran Turismo player.

  • squirtle4

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    I hate puns.... that one wasn't so bad though

  • Nintendoes

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    *Sigh* Another pun...

  • Cypher_187

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:01 pm PT

    newb16 "RMGreen the company who will make PGR 5 wil most likely be Activision but they have to get the rights and the help from Bizarre Creations. heh besides there is no way in hel1 that Activision could make those bad as$ graphics, maybee gameplay but not graphics."

    WTH are u talking about? No wonder your name has "newb" in it.

  • bluntiss

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:56 pm PT

    I jsut did the funniest thing in the world.. I called xbox support and this is how it went: Hello Ca nI speak with mr. gates please.. Rep says who? I said mr Gates I think his first nmae is bill.. She said that she is not going to be able to transfer me over to him and bla bla bla.. Sorry just some amusment for me

  • Sidbob

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:56 pm PT

    Does anyone else find PGR a bit boring? As a sole PS3 owner this doesn't excite me one bit.

  • runstalker

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:56 pm PT

    Now you get Bizarre games on all platforms. It's all good.

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    What?? Ughh... Activision isn't as good as Microsoft... hope they don't ruin the PGR franchise...

  • KingJ2002

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    i hope pgr doesnt go the way of the dodo.

  • Bgrngod

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:36 pm PT

    "Looks like M$ will be looking for a new Car Franchise for the console after this, amazing they didnt pull this off."

    It's called Forza. There have been 2 so far....

  • thekey

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:35 pm PT

    Oh well MS blew it. I guess Project Gothom 5 will be on PS3. Way to got MS.

  • grandpamurder

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:13 pm PT

    Damn it

  • lucky326

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:05 pm PT

    Looks like M$ will be looking for a new Car Franchise for the console after this, amazing they didnt pull this off.

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:00 pm PT

    "airbus_a340_86

    Formula one for the ps1 was the best"

    I agree, F1 '97

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    How did MS let that happen!? They are so talented, I can't believe it. I hope MS still has the licenses of PGR and their best people.

  • HK-47-M4

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:57 pm PT

    I'm so glad Activision got them before EA did. I'd rather have Bizarre in Activision's hands than EA's. But I think this will be a small blow to Microsoft, seeing as how Project Gotham Racing was one of their important and successful franchises. Good news for Sony and Nintendo though.

  • twashington9737

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:44 pm PT

    Yup, PGR5 or, even, PGR4 on PS3 is gunna happen. I wouldn't mind.

  • HellsingSoldier

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:38 pm PT

    hmm, interesting.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    I would have assumed that M$ already owned Bizarre Creations by now. PGR is their flagship racer.

  • newb16

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    RMGreen the company who will make PGR 5 wil most likely be Activision but they have to get the rights and the help from Bizarre Creations. heh besides there is no way in hel1 that Activision could make those bad as$ graphics, maybee gameplay but not graphics.

  • pooladden

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    imagine pgr for wii ! activison good job!

  • hair001

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    I'm a little worried about this, as Activision could damage Bizzare, who have in the past been excelent. I hope they don't obviously. Either way, this is good news for activison and possibly good news for PS3 owners

  • airbus_a340_86

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    Formula one for the ps1 was the best

  • bwgamer

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 12:59 pm PT

    For those who don't know about business just because Microsoft owns the rights to PGR means nothing now. That contract was with Bizarre Creation. With Activision acquiring Bizarre Creation there must be a new contract with Activision if Microsoft still wishes for PGR to remain an exclusive game. The only thing that can save PGR to remain an exclusive for MS is if in the contracts it has a clause stating the rights remain if buyout out or bankruptcy occurs. If that is not stated in the contracts then more than likely Activision will do the same as Guitar Hero and produce it for all consoles unless Microsoft is willing to pay a nice chunk of cash for it.

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