Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher advised Vivendi in connection with the French communications giant’s sale of 41.5 million common-stock shares of videogame maker Activision Blizzard, half of the 11.6 percent stake it still held in the company, for more than $850 million.

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard, which produces the popular Call of Duty and World of Warcraft lines and several other top-selling interactive games around the world, said it would not receive any of the proceeds of the sale.