With the economy as it is worldwide it is a prime time for mergers and buyouts as some companies remain strong and others weaken.  Currently there are two huge mergers concerning the gaming community.  Several months ago we told you that Blizzard and Activision are teaming up. After months of negotiations its finally official. Also there is a lesser known Ubisoft and Hybride deal coming together.  These two mergers can only help to strengthen an ever growing gaming industry that is already topping DVD sales for the first time ever. 

Ubisoft is acquiring Hybride which is the visual effects studio responsible for movies like 300, and Sin City.  Ubisoft is adding the movie study company to help bolster the graphics and visual effects of their games, as the industry is focusing more and more on that area.  With games such as Assassin's Creed and the Tom Clancy series, Ubisoft has already proven that they can delivery the visual effects needed to survive. 

Blizzard and Activision are teaming up to create what they call the world's most profitable gaming business, worth over 18.8 billion dollars.  Blizzard is owned by Vivendi which will now be a subsidiary of Activision even though Blizzard will own a majority of the stocks.  Suprizingly though ID, a developer owned by Activision has left them to join with EA.