Will Any of the Major Publisher buy CD Projekt?

[BLOOD]

They own CD Projekt Red, GoG.com, coupled with Great and Passionate Staffs. What not to like. Will one of the major publishers from Activision Blizzard, EA, Take-Two Interactive,Sega,Konami,Square Enix, Zenimax, Ubisoft etc. ever look into buying the Studio?

[MCMXCII]

I hope that neither Activision nor EA, mostly just EA, buys CD Project Red. I'd hate to see what they would do to that great studio.

[RogerWho]

Oh my f*cking god, don't even joke about that! They're the only company I buy games from anymore.

 

Fortunately, CDP is big enough and have diverse enough activities that even a failed project shouldn't put them down, Remember they're not just a studio, but also publisher, a distributor in several countries, they have GOG and I believe other areas of interests as well so it's not like they're some indie studio susceptible to a buy-out. I also believe they're private-held so no hostile takeover should be possible.

 

And seriously, neither of those big-ass publishers have values that even scratch the surface of what CDP is doing. People may know CDP for the Witcher series and for GOG, but I've known them for a long time as a distributor that sells disc games with no protection (at least they used to before everything went to Steam).

 

Every other company is an absolutely abysmal match for GOG. And each one of the large publishers just keeps getting worse and worse. ZeniMax used to be cool and look what they're doing now. I used to respect Ubisoft (they released 3 games DRM-free after all) but not anymore. EA, Activision? Don't make me laugh/cry. Squenix - no. Konami? Take 2?? Oh geez. Even Deep Silver, while maybe not terrible, don't have any regards for quality.

 

So, no. If ever CDP gets bought out, they're gone.

[Leftist Bastard]

Oh my f*cking god, don't even joke about that! They're the only company I buy games from anymore.

 

Fortunately, CDP is big enough and have diverse enough activities that even a failed project shouldn't put them down, Remember they're not just a studio, but also publisher, a distributor in several countries, they have GOG and I believe other areas of interests as well so it's not like they're some indie studio susceptible to a buy-out. I also believe they're private-held so no hostile takeover should be possible.

 

And seriously, neither of those big-ass publishers have values that even scratch the surface of what CDP is doing. People may know CDP for the Witcher series and for GOG, but I've known them for a long time as a distributor that sells disc games with no protection (at least they used to before everything went to Steam).

 

Every other company is an absolutely abysmal match for GOG. And each one of the large publishers just keeps getting worse and worse. ZeniMax used to be cool and look what they're doing now. I used to respect Ubisoft (they released 3 games DRM-free after all) but not anymore. EA, Activision? Don't make me laugh/cry. Squenix - no. Konami? Take 2?? Oh geez. Even Deep Silver, while maybe not terrible, don't have any regards for quality.

 

So, no. If ever CDP gets bought out, they're gone.

The first Witcher game had DRM.

[RogerWho]

Well not all of the disc games they distribute have always been DRM-free. IIRC in case of the Witcher they were forced to use it by the distributors. If I'm not mistaking, the localized versions they distributed themselves had no DRM, or it was patched out later, not sure which was it. The buyers also got a GOG code.

 

There was another nice thing about the games distributed by them. They had a budget line of re-releases with the usual ugly covers (you know like Sold Out, all kinds of 'Best Hits' and similar stuff). But the covers could be flipped and the other side had the original game cover. That was really cool and made me look up the games distributed by them. Not sure if they still do it, haven't bought a new PC disc game in ages.

 

Yea I'm kind of a CDP fanboy.

[Trix_N]

Well how big is independent enough, and sure depends on top on the amount money they offer. See Activision Blizzard when they merged with Vivendi.

But sure i hope they got the guts to stay as it is now, they sure grew alot with witcher3 income; but i think cyberpunk 2077 will top that.

 

So many people i know never like playing as gerald(well me myself i love the witcher series) or the setting, the one in cyberpunk 2077 will cater a much bigger crowd.

I cant wait too

 

And as cyberpunk is a new IP and u got so many options to continue it as series, bet some big dogs will awake and want cdpr as whole.

[Mister Pink]

Are you asking us that literally, OP? Because nobody knows the answer.

 

If you are asking to speculate, then I think it's unlikely for now. They could me made an offer like Rockstar has with Take-Two where they're almost completely autonomous and have complete creative control and time complete projects, or so I understand. But why now? They also received millions for the Polish government recently as a part of an initiative so they're being funded and I think the success of The Witcher speaks for itself.

 

Right now, they're only being praised and I think CDPR are the new Rockstar in terms of quality DLC, polished, open-world games and emphasis on the gamer experience. They seem like a gamer-friendly company.

Edited February 8, 2017 by Mister Pink

[Hit by Lightning]

Don't worry, they're protected by the Polish government and this guy >>

 

 

 

 

No one would dare to touch CD Projekt!

[RogerWho]

Now it's true that everyone has their price but I can't really see any of the large companies going for something like CDP if they have at least a bit shred of sense.

 

CDP doesn't have much of a IP portfolio, which is the most valuable thing game companies own (no, from the point of view of the CEOs, it's not the people; it's the IPs they can milk to death).

 

Their values are obviously completely incompatible with just about every other game company out there. Those that used to treat their customers like people and not like dirt have either died out or changed.

 

And there are the people; Eastern Europeans don't handle changes in company culture well. From what I know, pretty much every studio in this region that got bought out by Western companies got disbanded sooner or later, and the key people usually leave as soon as the buyout happens.

 

So it just makes no sense for anyone to buy CDP, even the Witcher series is not worth that ton of money it would cost, not to mention the rights to the original property aren't even CDP's since it's adapted work.

 

Well of course that's now. In 10 years CDP may just as well deteriorate like like other names we used to respect, but let's hope not.

 

Now I'm thinking, there's Devolver Digital that shares a lot of CDP's values, but I believe they're actually smaller than CDP.

[Error2k]

Oh my f*cking god, don't even joke about that! They're the only company I buy games from anymore.

 

Fortunately, CDP is big enough and have diverse enough activities that even a failed project shouldn't put them down, Remember they're not just a studio, but also publisher, a distributor in several countries, they have GOG and I believe other areas of interests as well so it's not like they're some indie studio susceptible to a buy-out. I also believe they're private-held so no hostile takeover should be possible.

 

And seriously, neither of those big-ass publishers have values that even scratch the surface of what CDP is doing. People may know CDP for the Witcher series and for GOG, but I've known them for a long time as a distributor that sells disc games with no protection (at least they used to before everything went to Steam).

 

Every other company is an absolutely abysmal match for GOG. And each one of the large publishers just keeps getting worse and worse. ZeniMax used to be cool and look what they're doing now. I used to respect Ubisoft (they released 3 games DRM-free after all) but not anymore. EA, Activision? Don't make me laugh/cry. Squenix - no. Konami? Take 2?? Oh geez. Even Deep Silver, while maybe not terrible, don't have any regards for quality.

 

So, no. If ever CDP gets bought out, they're gone.

Have fun buying one game every 10 years.

[RogerWho]

Say what? Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of the 192 games I bought from CDP in the last 3 years or so.

[Zello]

I hope they stay independent I don't see any reason for them to get bought out they are doing just fine. Why do they need to be acquired by a big publisher though? It's not necessary. I am kinda concerned about that loan they got from the Polish Government the last time a video game company took a loan it's the government did that it didn't end so well for them just look at 38 studios they took a loan and then went bankrupt.

 

https://www.apnews.com/1c506a25afd6426e85c9d831c28b78d9

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/11/curt-schillings-38-studios-lawsuit-settlement-reached

 

Then again this is CD Projekt Red and not Curt Schilling and 38 studios I'm sure they will be fine

Edited February 13, 2017 by Zello

[feckyerlife]

They own CD Projekt Red, GoG.com, coupled with Great and Passionate Staffs. What not to like. Will one of the major publishers from Activision Blizzard, EA, Take-Two Interactive,Sega,Konami,Square Enix, Zenimax, Ubisoft etc. ever look into buying the Studio?

Red and Projekt are the same people. i doubt they would it. you can just go ask them on their forums lol. Marcin replies all the time. But if they did, they should just go with WB, since they already have a working relationship with them.

[BLOOD]

Take-Two Interactive is now in acquisition mode after buying Social Point ($250 million: $175 million cash, $75 million stock) so i will not be surprise if they pick up CD Projekt between now and late 2018/early 2019 (that is if they dont buy Zenimax or Daybreak Gaming Company or Madfinger etc.) Take-Two Interactive will make them their 4th/5th publishing label like Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports, and now Social Point. And that comes with alot of autonomy even though they are wholly-owned, plus they expand having their own development studios or creating popular brands.

[Gremlin Sombra]

Unless they start having troubles founding their own projects. I really hope that they stay independent as long as they can. I can see nothing but trouble coming from them being under the wing of a big publisher. Regardless of whoever it is.

[feckyerlife]

Take-Two Interactive is now in acquisition mode after buying Social Point ($250 million: $175 million cash, $75 million stock) so i will not be surprise if they pick up CD Projekt between now and late 2018/early 2019 (that is if they dont buy Zenimax or Daybreak Gaming Company or Madfinger etc.) Take-Two Interactive will make them their 4th/5th publishing label like Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports, and now Social Point. And that comes with alot of autonomy even though they are wholly-owned, plus they expand having their own development studios or creating popular brands.

idk. social point is nothing compared to CD Projekt, they bought social point for less than $300 million, CD project is almost worth a billion after witcher 3. The price will be to high and the return on the profits will be too long of a wait. Plus if you read their boards they dont sound like a company that will sell.

[BLOOD]

 

Take-Two Interactive is now in acquisition mode after buying Social Point ($250 million: $175 million cash, $75 million stock) so i will not be surprise if they pick up CD Projekt between now and late 2018/early 2019 (that is if they dont buy Zenimax or Daybreak Gaming Company or Madfinger etc.) Take-Two Interactive will make them their 4th/5th publishing label like Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports, and now Social Point. And that comes with alot of autonomy even though they are wholly-owned, plus they expand having their own development studios or creating popular brands.

idk. social point is nothing compared to CD Projekt, they bought social point for less than $300 million, CD project is almost worth a billion after witcher 3. The price will be to high and the return on the profits will be too long of a wait. Plus if you read their boards they dont sound like a company that will sell. Cool to hear that they are worth over a billion(s) same with privately-held Zenimax (rumoured to be worth $2.5 billion), so Take-Two Interactive which as of recently have $1.4 billion in cash coupled with $400 million in cash flow could buy a controlling stake of 70% or just a complete takeover (cash and stock (the founders remains post-acquisition)) same tactics could be used on Zenimax (only that Bethesda will become a label while the "Zenimax" name is retired)). However I see Take-Two Interactive spending that $1-2 billion in buying more mobile gaming developers, other game small/growing developers (Obsidian, Undead Labs etc.),mid-size publishers (Daybreak,Telltale, Thq Nordic, Koch/Deep Silver etc.),and lastly expanding their current giant labels Rockstar, 2K,2K Sports (organically or inorganically to acquisitions).

 

Note/Edit: Is the Witcher game series the only IP they own?

Edited February 13, 2017 by BLOOD-MOND

[feckyerlife]

 

 

Take-Two Interactive is now in acquisition mode after buying Social Point ($250 million: $175 million cash, $75 million stock) so i will not be surprise if they pick up CD Projekt between now and late 2018/early 2019 (that is if they dont buy Zenimax or Daybreak Gaming Company or Madfinger etc.) Take-Two Interactive will make them their 4th/5th publishing label like Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports, and now Social Point. And that comes with alot of autonomy even though they are wholly-owned, plus they expand having their own development studios or creating popular brands.

idk. social point is nothing compared to CD Projekt, they bought social point for less than $300 million, CD project is almost worth a billion after witcher 3. The price will be to high and the return on the profits will be too long of a wait. Plus if you read their boards they dont sound like a company that will sell.

Cool to hear that they are worth over a billion(s) same with privately-held Zenimax (rumoured to be worth $2.5 billion), so Take-Two Interactive which as of recently have $1.4 billion in cash coupled with $400 million in cash flow could buy a controlling stake of 70% or just a complete takeover (cash and stock (the founders remains post-acquisition)) same tactics could be used on Zenimax (only that Bethesda will become a label while the "Zenimax" name is retired)). However I see Take-Two Interactive spending that $1-2 billion in buying more mobile gaming developers, other game small/growing developers (Obsidian, Undead Labs etc.),mid-size publishers (Daybreak,Telltale, Thq Nordic, Koch/Deep Silver etc.),and lastly expanding their current giant labels Rockstar, 2K,2K Sports (organically or inorganically to acquisitions).

 

Note/Edit: Is the Witcher game series the only IP they own?

 

I think take two will, i just dont see CD projekt as it. i mean they applied for grants from their country too finish there new game. i think its a sign that they want to stay independent

 

 

[RogerWho]

You can't just buy 70% of another company's shares and declare yourself kings. That happens only in the movies, in reality there are laws and protections against that sort of sh*t. A company has to accept such a buyout.

 

A few years ago EA (I think) went on to buy a lot of Ubisoft's shares and they had to stop at some point (later they sold off even those shares they had, because EA either has to control everything or is not interested at all).

 

Some of those companies mentioned in the post above... Obsidian, Telltale etc. are well known for wanting to stay independent. So is CDP.

 

Remember when ZeniMax acquired id Software? Id and John Carmack were known for their open policy regarding source code and everything. Now ZeniMax is suing Carmack himself for IP theft, they haven't released any source code or much of anything, and won't even provide review copies anymore. Getting acquired by a large publisher always carries this sort of risks to change the company outright. And ZeniMax used to be one of the good guys.

 

CDP's policies are too incompatible with everyone else and after all the horror stories we've all heard about indie studios being bought and butchered, they surely know better than to get into any of those claws.

[Candy_Licker]

Well, they certainly would be a valuable asset. Their networth has skyrocketted to 1,6 bn $, they are one of Polands top dogs right now, in the IT sector they're already no1.

 

At this point, I bet the Polish government wouldn't even let it happen. The Polish Prime Minister even gave Obama a copy of Witcher 2 as a gift on a state visit.

[Error2k]

Say what? Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of the 192 games I bought from CDP in the last 3 years or so.

Most of these games are old and I played them 10 years ago. GoG doesn't much new games, and while Swat 4 was great, I don't see myself playing it for the next 10 years without trying out new games. Also I bet you didn't played more than maybe 15 of these games, maybe if you force yourself to do so, but then it's not that enjoyable. I have 300 games on Steam and most of them are sh*tty indies. Also how do you play GTA games, I mean this is GTAforums? I mean Rockstar is an evil company that steals your money and you said you only buy games from CDP, the saviours of gaming industry /s.

 

 

Or you know what? Do what you want. Keep sucking their dicks, keep downloading their FREE (cut content) DLC, keep playing old games that everyone already played and keep waiting few years for any decent game from (not) glorious CDPR!

Damn CDPR you have pretty good PR marketing. Brainwashing people like that.

Edited February 14, 2017 by quxxo

[Osho]

They have already denied any possibility of takeover. It wont happen. I'm not a huge fan of their games, other than Witcher 1, but I'm a huge fan of GOG and their mission to offer DRM free games, which is really cool.

[Spider-Vice]

CDProjekt are sort-of their own Take-Two either way...

[Candy_Licker]

 

Say what? Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of the 192 games I bought from CDP in the last 3 years or so.

 

Most of these games are old and I played them 10 years ago. GoG doesn't much new games, and while Swat 4 was great, I don't see myself playing it for the next 10 years without trying out new games. Also I bet you didn't played more than maybe 15 of these games, maybe if you force yourself to do so, but then it's not that enjoyable. I have 300 games on Steam and most of them are sh*tty indies. Also how do you play GTA games, I mean this is GTAforums? I mean Rockstar is an evil company that steals your money and you said you only buy games from CDP, the saviours of gaming industry /s.

 

 

Or you know what? Do what you want. Keep sucking their dicks, keep downloading their FREE (cut content) DLC, keep playing old games that everyone already played and keep waiting few years for any decent game from (not) glorious CDPR!

Damn CDPR you have pretty good PR marketing. Brainwashing people like that.

 

 

lol. Yes, we're all brainwashed zombies. Your rant about free post-release support is beyond ridiculous.

[Error2k]

 

 

Say what? Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of the 192 games I bought from CDP in the last 3 years or so.

 

Most of these games are old and I played them 10 years ago. GoG doesn't much new games, and while Swat 4 was great, I don't see myself playing it for the next 10 years without trying out new games. Also I bet you didn't played more than maybe 15 of these games, maybe if you force yourself to do so, but then it's not that enjoyable. I have 300 games on Steam and most of them are sh*tty indies. Also how do you play GTA games, I mean this is GTAforums? I mean Rockstar is an evil company that steals your money and you said you only buy games from CDP, the saviours of gaming industry /s.

 

 

Or you know what? Do what you want. Keep sucking their dicks, keep downloading their FREE (cut content) DLC, keep playing old games that everyone already played and keep waiting few years for any decent game from (not) glorious CDPR!

Damn CDPR you have pretty good PR marketing. Brainwashing people like that.

 

 

lol. Yes, we're all brainwashed zombies. Your rant about free post-release support is beyond ridiculous.

 

 

This isn't post release content. Scripts for "free" DLC quests were found in game files before the DLC released, locations for those quests were in game, concept art for armor set for one of those dlcs was shown a long time before the game released. So yeah you are brainwashed.

 

If they really care about post release support then where are the modding tools they promised?

Edited February 14, 2017 by quxxo

[Leftist Bastard]

Content that wasn't finished on time =/= cut content.

[Candy_Licker]

 

 

 

Say what? Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of the 192 games I bought from CDP in the last 3 years or so.

 

Most of these games are old and I played them 10 years ago. GoG doesn't much new games, and while Swat 4 was great, I don't see myself playing it for the next 10 years without trying out new games. Also I bet you didn't played more than maybe 15 of these games, maybe if you force yourself to do so, but then it's not that enjoyable. I have 300 games on Steam and most of them are sh*tty indies. Also how do you play GTA games, I mean this is GTAforums? I mean Rockstar is an evil company that steals your money and you said you only buy games from CDP, the saviours of gaming industry /s.

 

 

Or you know what? Do what you want. Keep sucking their dicks, keep downloading their FREE (cut content) DLC, keep playing old games that everyone already played and keep waiting few years for any decent game from (not) glorious CDPR!

Damn CDPR you have pretty good PR marketing. Brainwashing people like that.

 

 

lol. Yes, we're all brainwashed zombies. Your rant about free post-release support is beyond ridiculous.

 

 

This isn't post release content. Scripts for "free" DLC quests were found in game files before the DLC released, locations for those quests were in game, concept art for armor set for one of those dlcs was shown a long time before the game released. So yeah you are brainwashed.

 

If they really care about post release support then where are the modding tools they promised?

 

 

Wow, how dare they? Just because they were hinted in the files, doesn't mean they were ready for release. Look t GTA Online, people find stuff for the next update all the time, that means that they fool people with their cut content too yes?

 

And really, what stupid reason is it to hate on a company that releases a 100+ hours game, and then use additional stuff for free to keep the game in the talks for a bit?

And if every company would release as good and substantial dlc content as HoS and B&W, they would be universally loved.

Edited February 14, 2017 by Candy_Licker

[BLOOD]

I can see Take-Two Interactive choosing Telltale Games over CD Projekt to make it their 5th label and bulking up Digital and Mobile which started with Social Point. If they were to buy Obsidian it will get thrown under the 2K Games label (the Rockstar Games label will just completely rename any studio), and Daybreak owned by a consortium firm which is in turned owned by a Russia tycoon will be easy to pick up. I cannot see Take-Two Interactive stand by and watch Zenimax go public, heck they will make a deal to pick them up or start a smart bidding war so their two main rivals: Activision Blizzard, and EA will join. The Industry is consolidating. It Natural.

 

 

Note/Edit: I was thinking whether i should ask so this thread will be renamed to "General Acquisition in the Gaming Industry" including rumours and news.

Edited February 14, 2017 by BLOOD-MOND