Rumour: Microsoft in Running to Buy Activision Blizzard

A new report has appeared on Games Industry International this morning, suggesting that Microsoft might be among the cashed-up companies interested in purchasing Activision Blizzard.

Activision, it seems, could be about to go under the hammer, as their parent company - Vivendi - face flagging share prices and other financial woes. The estimated US$10 Billion dollars that could be raised from the sale of Activision Blizzard would go a long way to appeasing their shareholders.

"It's nothing official yet, but they've asked a bank to go and talk to possible buyers for Activision," said a source quoted by Reuters.

Other parties listed as being interested in the purchase of the mega-publisher include Chinese publisher Tencent, Time Warner, and private-equity firms like KKR, Providence, and Blackstone.