// GAMESPOT — GAMING
After Plotting Buyouts Of EA And Activision, This Media Giant Could Again Try To Push Into Gaming
NBC Universal and Comcast are splitting into two companies, and when that happens, NBC Universal could go after gaming assets as it looks to grow. This is according to a report from Reuters, which clarified that nothing is locked down as of yet, and any potential transaction would not happen until Comcast and NBC Universal officially split in about a year.
In any event, the report reminded everyone that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has been interested in gaming for a long time, previously pondering acquisitions of Activision and Electronic Arts, as well as an investment in Fortnite studio Epic Games.
Those plans never came to be, but Roberts' son, Tucker Roberts, is currently running Comcast's gaming division and is reportedly keen to do more in the area.
Comcast is already involved in gaming adjacently through its partnership with Nintendo for the mega-successful Mario animated movies that are made at Comcast's Illumination studio.
Additionally, NBC Universal has an existing partnership with the generative AI gaming startup Wolf Games, which released its first game, Law & Order: Clue Hunter, earlier this year, based on the popular NBC TV show.
NBC Universal will be run by Michael Cavanagh when the company splits from Comcast. He told Reuters that the companies breaking up provides the "freedom now to explore adjacent businesses where we have the right to play."
The Reuters report mentioned names like Take-Two and Xbox in the report, but not specifically as acquisition targets. The report did not include any further specifics about NBC Universal's reported plans for gaming.
This news comes at the same time that Xbox is reportedly looking to close or sell a number of its development studios as part of a strategic "reset" under Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. There has also been chatter of Microsoft considering the possibility of spinning Xbox out, which in theory could make it an acquisition target. As for the report's mention of Take-Two, the company is about to release the biggest game ever, GTA 6, and there is no indication that it is looking to sell.
If NBC Universal does make a bigger play in gaming, it wouldn't be the only media giant doing so. Paramount is in the process of buying Warner Bros. Discovery, and as part of this, the company will take ownership of a number of game studios, including NetherRealm, Avalanche Software, Rocksteady, TT Games, WB Games, and more.