Harmonix for Sale

Parent company Viacom has decided that Harmonix is just too small potatoes, and is now looking for a buyer for the music game developer. On the company’s latest financial report, the media giant qualified Harmonix as a discontinued operation, attributing a $299 million loss to the company.

However, this valuation is inflated due to the company’s perception of Harmonix’s worth, which is a little confusing. Harmonix didn’t actually burn through $299 million bucks, but that figure includes a comprehensive estimate of loss from the current ownership of Harmonix… or something. I didn’t get a business degree and this stuff all sounds a little like voodoo science.

Viacom representatives stated that “third parties have a different economic view of Harmonix. It will be worth more to them than it is to us.” Essentially Viacom is operating on a different level than Harmonix – buying and selling countries before lunch – and that Harmonix would fit better on a game publisher’s docket.

Harmonix PR John Drake posted the following update on the Rock Band forums today, assuring all that Harmonix would continue to support their games:

“This morning’s announcement does not affect the ongoing work at the studio as we continue to support our existing franchises, Rock Band and Dance Central,” Drake said. “As stated earlier, Viacom is in discussions with several potential buyers and will continue to fully support the business until a sale is completed.”

So the immediate question is – who will buy the company? The obvious candidate would be EA, having adequately published the Rock Band series and Dance Central. However, Bethesda has been on an acquisition tear lately, and Harmonix would fill a huge gap in their pool of talent.

[via Develop Online, Rock Band Forums]