Earlier today it was reported that Blizzard Entertainment and Activision have announced a merger worth over 18 billion dollars.

Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi chief executive, said: “This alliance is a major strategic step for Vivendi and is another illustration of our drive to extend our presence in the entertainment sector.” “By combining Vivendi’s games business with Activision, we are creating a worldwide leader in a high-growth industry.”

The merged entity will be known as Activision Blizzard, and taking the reins will be former CEO of Activision. Bobby Kotick. It is also reported that Vivendi will be the largest shareholder in this company.

What does this all mean for us gamers? Honestly, it is hard to say at this point. Blizzard has a nearly flawless record of producing quality game after quality game, but Activision is a little bit more hit or miss. Lets just hope they can both keep producing the top notch games that they have done in the past, such as Starcraft, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and more.

[Blizzard Entertainment Press Release]