Square Enix reveals Eidos bid

[Mazy]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/s ... -eidos-bid

Pretty cool if you ask me (Since Io is Eidos owned) But I guess its too early to see if there are other interested buyers.

[Steppenwolf]

Not a bad trend at all that japanese publishers show more and more interest in western game development.

[-HP-]

Yeah, they do... I remember a few weeks ago, Kojima saying that he's loving western games more and more, and he's addicted to L4D. heh

I wouldn't like to see a mix of those two "styles" tho.

[Jetsetlemming]

":2398c0yb] I remember a few weeks ago, Kojima saying that he's loving western games more and more, and he's addicted to L4D

I've been liking Square Enix's behavior lately, even though I'm not all that big a fan of their games. PC versions, more action oriented games, and they've been trying to escape from that nasty eastern game development quagmire.

[sarge mat]

Eidos have been having money problems of late if I remember correctly. Would be good for them to get picked up by a much larger company. It should prevent a ton of layoffs from the company too which is always good.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else is interested in making a bid.

[Warby]

i hope this goes through =)

can wait to work for a Japanese company

[kleinluka]

[Jetsetlemming]

i hope this goes through =)

can wait to work for a Japanese company

Hope you enjoy four hours overtime without pay a day. For your family's honor!

[kleinluka]

i hope this goes through =)

can wait to work for a Japanese company

Hope you enjoy four hours overtime without pay a day. For your family's honor!

That's already common practice in many western companies

[-HP-]

Indeed...

[dux]

In Gamesindustry, slave drivers do not care for you.

[kleinluka]

Update:

http://kotaku.com/5154208/time-warner-s ... -eidos-bid

The Square Enix takeover bid for UK publisher Eidos Interactive solidified even further today, as 20% Eidos shareholder Time Warner throws its support behind the Japanese company's offer.

Once thought to be a front runner to buy out the company themselves, Time Warner is now backing Square Enix's recently revealed bid to buy out Tomb Raider publisher Eidos Interactive. Time Warner first invested in Eidos parent company SCi in late 2006, upping their 10% stake in the company to 20% last year. Now all 20% is firmly pledged to Sqaure Enix.

Between Time Warner's support and the management at Eidos asking stockholders to go along with the Square Enix bid, it is looking even more likely that 75% of shareholders will vote for the takeover come the March stockholder meeting.

[Furyo]

Yeah I read that, and was like "Ok consider it done now". Warner Bros was the only company even remotely likely to make a counter offer. This one is in the bag.

And that's the best thing that could happen to Eidos too. Really excited to see what comes of it for the industry in general and Montreal in particular.

[kleinluka]

Sources:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/m ... -eidos-bid

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/s ... s-up-speed

More investors back Square-Eidos bid

Key Eidos shareholders are continuing to flock to the Square Enix bid for the company, with another major investor now confirmed as backing the deal.

Pioneer Investment Management Ltd has agreed to put its weight behind the acquisition, bringing a block of 27.2 million shares - just over 10 per cent of the issued share capital - to the table.

That means that the SQEX holding company now has the support of around 123 million shares, including those covered by a letter of intent, which equates to almost 47 per cent of the issued share capital.

Other major shareholders, including Warner Bros with its 20 per cent stake, have already agreed to the deal which offered GBP 84.3 million for the company in total, which is equal to 32 pence per share.

Square acquisition of Eidos picks up speed

Square Enix has bought a significant number of shares in Eidos as its acquisition of the Tomb Raider publisher gathers pace.

Insight Investment Management and Pioneer Investment Management have sold approximately 11.13 per cent of the issued share capital to Square Enix, at the price of 32 pence per share.

Pioneer had already backed the acquisition deal, as has Warner Bros. and Legal & General Investment Manager.

According to Square Enix, it now has "irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the EGM in respect of, in aggregate 84,947,489 Eidos Shares representing 32.23 per cent of the existing share capital of Eidos."

Square revealed the Eidos offer earlier this month, with the publisher hoping to increase its presence in the West.

Valuable Eidos properties include Tomb Raider, Hitman and Kane & Lynch: Dead Men.

[e-freak]

On a related note:

SQUARE ENIX DELIVERS GAMES TO PC USERS VIA STEAM

THE LAST REMNANT will be available for online download beginning April 9, 2009

LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2009) - Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America (Square Enix), and Valve Corporation (Valve), a developer of leading-edge technologies and software, announced today an agreement to bring Square Enix titles to customers in North America via Steam®, Valve's leading platform for digital content distribution and management.

Beginning April 9, THE LAST REMNANTT will be available for purchase via Steam, which makes PC games available online to more than 15 million users worldwide. An action RPG from the makers of the FINAL FANTASY® series, THE LAST REMANT will be the first Square Enix game to utilize Steamworks and be distributed via Steam. Square Enix will continue to add to its roster of games on Steam, providing users with instant access - after purchase, they can download the game immediately and start playing. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

"We are excited to offer the millions of Steam customers online access to Square Enix titles beginning with our major action RPG, THE LAST REMNANT," said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Inc. and Square Enix Ltd. "Square Enix is committed to delivering the best quality titles to PC gamers and distribution on Steam is one of the many steps we are taking to increase accessibility for fans in North America and PAL territories."

Once players have a Steam account, they can sign in from any PC to access their Steam-distributed Square Enix games. Because games are associated with their account and not their computer, players can get lost in the world of their favorite game anytime, anywhere.

"Square Enix is a fantastic addition to the Steam lineup," said Jason Holtman, director of business development at Valve. "We are thrilled that Square Enix chose to bring its diverse portfolio of titles to Steam and know that our customers will be ecstatic to hear this news."

For more information about Square Enix games coming to Steam, please visit http://www.steamgames.com.