Internal tension mounts as Activision-Vivendi merger heads for approval

In case you'd forgotten, Activision shareholders are voting today on whether to approve the Vivendi merger and create the world's largest games publisher.

The City is excited by the prospect, and Wall Street has been heavily tipping the new firm for profitable performance in recent weeks.

There's a high level of tension in the companies at the moment, however, with UK insiders in both camps uncertain of how any axes will fall.

"Activision is calling the shots," we were told by a senior source this week, "and two doesn't go into one."

UK operations were caused to sweat further at the end of June, when Activision boss Bobby Kotick said he had no plans to expand operations in Britain due to the high cost of living here.

Watch for news on the shareholder vote later today.