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E3 06: Activision acquires James Bond license

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted May 3, 2006 1:12 pm PT

[UPDATE] Number-two publisher takes over spy-film-inspired game license after archrival Electronic Arts ends agreement; now holds PC, handheld, and console rights until 2014.

Since the late 1990s, Electronic Arts has held the license to publish games based on the James Bond film franchise. The results have been mixed on the current generation of consoles. One effort, 2004's James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, garnered high praise and sold more than 1.3 million units in the US, according to the NPD group. However, EA's four other Bond games--James Bond 007 in Agent Under Fire (2002), James Bond 007: NightFire (2003), GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (2004), and From Russia With Love (2005)--have seen middling sales and reviews.

In 2003, Electronic Arts announced a deal with film distributor MGM to make James Bond-based games until 2009. The following year, MGM was bought by Sony, which now co-owns the James Bond license with the production company EON.

Now, three years later, EA no longer holds the once-coveted James Bond license. Today, Activision shocked the game industry by announcing that it had struck a deal with MGM and EON to publish James Bond games through 2014. "The James Bond franchise creates tremendous global expansion opportunities for Activision as it is one of the few video game licenses that appeals equally to domestic and international consumers," said Mike Griffith, president and CEO of Activision Publishing.

The deal is extensive and gives Activision "worldwide rights to create video games for all current- and next-generation consoles, PC and handheld platforms" based on the James Bond character. It includes both original games set in the Bond universe and games based on new films, such as the forthcoming Casino Royale. Royale will be the first film to feature Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Munich) in the role of Agent 007.

[UPDATE] But while the deal is potentially lucrative, it does raise a number of questions. Namely, how did Activision get the license to publisher 007 titles? As it turns out, EA decided it didn't want to make them anymore. "EA has decided to conclude our agreement for the James Bond license," a rep told GameSpot. "The current contract was set to expire in 2009. This was a good relationship with MGM and it produced a lot of great games."

According to EA, the end of the 007 deal is part of the publisher's larger strategy to refocus on all-new games. "While movie games will always be in our portfolio, EA is moving away from licensed properties and committing our resources to wholly-owned IP, created in our own studios," said the rep. "Wholly owned properties allow better financial margins and more creative control to develop the type of games that consumers want."

Requests for comment sent to Activision were not returned as of press time.

261 Comments

  • LittleDuck

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:42 am PT

    Personally goldeneye was a fantastic shooter, but lacked any real spy work, which in a way was great. I still love goldeneye and love it more than any other James Bond game released, probably because they were all made by EA and we all know how good they are (HAHAHA). I am looking forward to this though, the first NEW movie tie in in what 6 years? ish.

  • TQ_NintyNoE

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 6:57 am PT

    I enjoyed The World is Not Enough, Everything or Nothing, and From Russia wih Love. Those were the coolest Bond games out there, Everything or Nothing totally topped Goldeneye, although that was also brilliant (by Rare). I hope Activision do well too!

  • n2Deepeth

    Posted Dec 4, 2006 11:12 am PT

    EA has made pretty good Bond games, but none of them ever appealed to me. Spider-Man 2 by Activision, however, features some of the funnest video game mechanics in a game. I kinda wished Activision put more focus on the content in the missions like development of the enemies, rather than make you go through so many repetitive "fight the nameless thugs" and "save the helpless people scenarios."

  • JoePiervincenti

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 3:04 pm PT

    Me too, I just found this out a few days ago lol... But I figured something was up when there was no game made since From Russia With Love. Maybe Activision will do better with the license, they sure did with Spider-Man!

    Smart move for EA to focus on their own IP's instead of mainly producing licensed games. Licenses rarely lend themselves to great games, and this way EA can have more freedom without the concerns of pleasing movie fans. Not to mention their profit as stated in the article.

  • frankfurter209

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 1:37 pm PT

    Too bad EA already ran the series into the ground

  • alex_bateman

    Posted Nov 3, 2006 8:47 am PT

    damn i thought ea still had this damn was i late

  • Crianna

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 2:27 am PT

    No! EA makes better games than Activision ever will!

  • dennie64

    Posted Jul 21, 2006 4:30 pm PT

    Oooof, well, I really dunno, I'd rather see the license go to Rare indeed, or maybe Ubisoft But that's just my silly idea

  • colbster

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 4:08 pm PT

    Activision makes the worst movie games. Look at their history. If Eon was smart they'd give it back to Rare - who is making games for the XBOX 360. Now that's a good idea.

  • Sandman100

    Posted May 8, 2006 3:45 am PT

    Hopeful there do a better than EA did all those years they had to bring it back, and make it a top franchise again.

  • Alkafrazin

    Posted May 5, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    Don't forget Wolfenstein.

    I think Activision is perfect for this. They could make a great bond game, and will hopefully make some good multiplatformed bond games that streatch to Revo, DS, and PC.

  • cj007

    Posted May 4, 2006 9:58 pm PT

    "I can honestly say I like more EA games than Activision games."

    There NEEDS to be some change. They had 4 chances to get it right... and they all were good for about 3 missions max. As far as activision goes... COD 2, Quake, Doom, SOF, Spidey, X-Men, Tony Hawk... I think they have a good shot at making a good bond game and probably much better than other choices.

  • chwcrisco

    Posted May 4, 2006 6:17 pm PT

    FINALLY, maybe 007 games will be good!

  • Vash67

    Posted May 4, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    Am I the only person sad about this? I can honestly say I like more EA games than Activision games

  • blueday

    Posted May 4, 2006 4:02 pm PT

    Yeah,

    EA does suck.

    What's funny is that I've been saying this after they butchered Bon on PS1, right after Golden Eye on N64.

    Finaly, people have caught up with EA dissatisfaction

  • bigbenbeast

    Posted May 4, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    Thank Goodness! I hated the last few Bond games. Mabie the next few will be a little more like Goldeneye64......

  • Lost2017

    Posted May 4, 2006 3:46 pm PT

    wow hopefully the bond games wont be just license-cashins and activision please make them better than what ea redwood-shores or eala did and yeah Goldeneye still rules.

  • Bigmag

    Posted May 4, 2006 2:11 pm PT

    Activision? OH I remember them! They're still a company? Who knew?

  • JLCrogue

    Posted May 4, 2006 1:31 pm PT

    w00t! EA is teh sUxx0r5!!

    I can't wait to find out about the next James Bond game that Activision will be making this time.

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james bond   activision   ea   007   license   mgm   bond   electronic arts   eon   e3
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