Tag: Activision Blizzard
News Activision Tasks New AAA Studio with Crafting Narrative-Based Series
Timing is everything
Activision has reportedly opened a new studio, tasking the nascent, Warsaw-based Elsewhere Entertainment with developing a "narrative-based and genre-defining AAA franchise". The huge entity underwent a massive wave of layoffs following the closure of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard King acquisition earlier this year. As...
News Microsoft's Recent Layoffs Contradict Activision Blizzard Buyout Pledges, Says FTC
When can we stop writing about this
In case you missed it, Microsoft made an industry-shaking acquisition at the tail end of last year, buying up Activision Blizzard King for an eye-watering $69 billion. It took a long time to close, though, because of intense scrutiny from a handful of different sources — one of those being the USA's Federal...
News Former Call of Duty Dev Says Decisions Made by Bobby Kotick 'Made Our Games Worse'
Glowing references
The decisions made by outgoing Activision CEO Bobby Kotick actively made Call of Duty games worse. That's according to Christina Pollock a programmer who previously worked on the series. Pollock, along with many other former colleagues, made their feelings regarding the controversial exec known on social media once it was...
News PS5, PS4 Players Will 'Remain Welcome' As Xbox Closes $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Buyout
Update: Microsoft now officially owns ABK
Update: Well, there we go. Microsoft has wasted no time, and has officially concluded the transaction to acquire Activision Blizzard King. The announcement comes via Xbox Wire, where Phil Spencer writes about this historic merger. Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard King, will remain in place for at...
News Microsoft Documents Show How PlayStation Now Saved Fallout 76
Fallout shelter
Microsoft boss Phil Spencer thought about pulling support for Fallout 76 back when the platform holder acquired developer Bethesda as part of the larger purchase of parent company ZeniMax. In a revealing email, Spencer suggested that if the game couldn't manage 10 million monthly average users (a number it would ultimately surpass),...
News Microsoft One Step Closer to Activision Buyout as CMA Approves of Deal Changes
It's almost over?
Microsoft's bid to purchase Activision Blizzard King for an enormous $69 billion is now closer than ever to finding approval from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. Thanks to a change in the proposal, whereby the rights to stream Activision's games via the cloud would be entrusted to Ubisoft, the CMA looks to have changed...
News Microsoft to Sell Activision Blizzard Streaming Rights to Ubisoft in Revised Deal
Happy now, CMA?
Microsoft has announced it has restructured its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a bid to appease the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. The CMA has been against the deal for a long time, with a monopoly on gaming via cloud streaming services being its biggest concern. Microsoft's revised deal addresses this...
News Microsoft Urges UK Regulator to Renege on ActiBlizz Block, Points to PlayStation Deal
"Industry's most powerful player will have the game it considers most important"
It’s been mercifully quiet on the Microsoft front these past two weeks, and may we underline how beautifully blissful it’s been! But of course, the Redmond firm’s well imbursed legal team hasn’t stopped putting in the overtime, as it seeks to overcome the final...
News Microsoft Extends Deadline of $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Acquisition
"Excited about bringing more games to more players"
We’ve reached the point with Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard where it’s likely only a matter of time before the deal closes, but the trillion dollar tech titan still has some hurdles to overcome with the UK’s regulator. While it’s returned to the...
News FTC Fails to Delay Microsoft's $69 Billion Buyout of Activision Blizzard
"Another step closer to the finish line"
In expected news, the Federal Trade Commission has failed in its attempts to delay Microsoft’s eye-watering $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard. Earlier this week, the US regulator lost its court case against the trillion dollar tech titan, meaning it was unable to impose a temporary injunction on the...
News The FTC Officially Files an Appeal Against Microsoft-Activision Court Victory
Not over 'til it's over
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) isn't giving up without a fight, it seems. After losing its courtroom battle for a preliminary injunction against Microsoft's intended purchase of Activision Blizzard, the government body has officially filed an appeal. The court's decision in favour of the Redmond corporation's acquisition...
News UK Regulator 'Still Stands' by Decision to Block Xbox's $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Buyout
Talks with Microsoft in their infancy
It feels like, one way or another, Microsoft will now acquire Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $69 billion, following the outcome of US regulator the Federal Trade Commission’s failed temporary injunction attempt earlier this week. In the immediate aftermath of this week’s court ruling, the UK’s...
News Microsoft Beats US Regulator FTC in Activision Blizzard Buyout Battle
Update: Xbox maker agrees to "stay of litigation" with UK regulator
Update: In a rapidly developing update in this snowballing story, Microsoft president Brad Smith has revealed that his company have agreed to a “stay of litigation” with UK regulator, the CMA. An appeal hearing with the CAT had been scheduled to get underway on 28th July, but it...
News Starfield, Redfall Exclusivity 'Powerful Evidence' Against Xbox's Activision Buyout, Claims FTC
PlayStation's Jim Ryan to be a witness in case
We’re on the cusp of peak corporate pettiness, so batten down the hatches and brace yourselves, because the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft’s unfathomable $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is about to get underway. A number of high-profile witnesses...
News Microsoft Welcomes FTC's Injunction on Xbox's Activision Blizzard Buyout
Star-spangled lawsuits
Update: So, yes, the FTC has filed an injunction in an attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft's $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard — and the trillion dollar titan has welcomed it. The thinking here, allegedly, is that the Redmond firm is playing 4D chess, and it believes that by taking this to court earlier than...
News Microsoft Bigwig Hoping to Voice Frustration to UK Politicians Over $69 Billion Buyout Block
Channel crossing
Having been frustrated in its $69 billion dollar bid to acquire Activision Blizzard in the UK, Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, is scheduled to meet with UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this week to plead the company's case in person. This follows the EU's acquiescence to the deal, a matter to which the UK's regulator, the Competition...
News Xbox Wouldn't Shoot Itself in the Foot by Yanking Call of Duty Off PS5, Says EU
PS5 outselling Xbox Series X|S dramatically in Europe
A big point of contention over Microsoft’s stumbling $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is whether Call of Duty becoming exclusive would negatively impede PlayStation’s ability to compete in the console space. While regulators have, ultimately, determined cloud streaming is a...
News UK's Regulator Responds to European Commission's Decision to Pass Xbox's Activision Buyout
"The CMA stands by its decision"
With the European Commission’s decision to pass Microsoft’s unprecedented $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard today, it was inevitable that the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority would be asked to comment. Unsurprisingly, the division – which made the unexpected move to block the acquisition a few...
News Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Deal Approved by the EU Commission
Issues on cloud gaming answered
The European Commission has today confirmed its approved Microsoft's proposed $69 billion purchase of Call of Duty maker Activision. Having addressed concerns in the cloud gaming space, the EU Commission rules Microsoft's 10-year commitments to "represent a significant improvement for cloud gaming as compared to the...
News Sorry, But the Drama Over Xbox's Activision Buyout Ain't Over Yet
Mentally prepare yourselves for next week
The UK’s unexpected decision to block Microsoft’s bonkers $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard provided us with a temporary reprieve from the corporate skulduggery that’s dominated the industry this past year, but the bees nest will be poked again next week when the European Commission is expected...
News Activision Blizzard's Player Numbers Have Taken a Tumble
Numbers, like hips, don't lie
Monthly active users for Activision and Blizzard games have taken a tumble, dropping to levels last seen before the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 or Warzone 2.0. A still-monstrous 98 million players logged on in March 2023 (mostly playing COD), which is down from some 111 million in December 2022. It was...
News Microsoft Goes Scorched Earth Over UK's Activision Buyout Block
"Darkest day in our four decades in Britain"
Microsoft already tried the charm offensive to get its unfathomable $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard past regulators – and now the deal has been blocked by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), it’s just plain gone on the offensive. In an eye-popping interview with the BBC,
News Microsoft Dealt Major Blow as UK Blocks Activision Buyout
Didn't see that one coming
In a dramatic twist that we frankly never saw coming, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard after months of investigations and deliberations. Microsoft's industry-shaking $69 billion buyout of the colossal publisher has, predictably, been the subject of...
News US Justice Department, Activision Blizzard Settle Following Esport Wage Suppression Accusations
Still in the spotlight
On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department filed a complaint in the district of Columbia accusing embattled publisher Activision Blizzard of suppressing the wages and compensations of esports players, a matter which has reportedly already been settled. The Justice Department alleged that Activision Blizzard limited competition...
News UK Regulator No Longer Concerned About Activision Buyout's Impact on Console Competition
Update: Activision rips into Sony in response to updated findings
Update: Activision Blizzard has released a gleeful response in relation to the UK regulators’ softened stance today. “The CMA’s updated provisional findings show an improved understanding of the console gaming market and demonstrate a commitment to supporting players and...
News Xbox on Charm Offensive to Push $69 Billion Activision Acquisition Through
Squeaky bum time
Microsoft is in Brussels today, trying to convince the European Commission that it should be allowed to acquire Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $69 billion sum. Both the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the United States’ Federal
News Next Overwatch 2 Hero Confirmed as Rammatra
Arrives on 6th December
Rammatra has been revealed as the very first Hero to be added after the launch of Overwatch 2. Announced during the Overwatch League Grand Finals, the new Tank character will join the ranks on 6th December 2022 alongside the game's second season. You can view their origin story video above. "Ramattra’s story is complex and...
News PlayStation Bites Back At 'Inadequate' Call of Duty Offer from Microsoft
Jim Ryan says Xbox only offered three years
Wow! This is really freakin’ spicy, to say the least! Earlier this week, Microsoft bigwig Phil Spencer publicly revealed that his company had provided a “signed agreement” to Sony that would guarantee Call of Duty remains on PlayStation consoles for “several more years” beyond the Japanese...
News Sony Sounds Shook by Xbox's Activision Buyout, Says Call of Duty Has No Rival
Reckons series "influences users' console choice"
Sony sounds terrified of Xbox’s unprecedented Activision Blizzard buyout – and it’s easy to understand why. While the Japanese giant has historically had its own way in the console business, it now finds itself up against a competitor with unrestricted access to its parent company’s trillion...
News Xbox on Acquisitions: The Last Thing We Want to Do Is Take Games Away from PS5, PS4
Doesn't want to cut communities into pieces
Microsoft, still meticulously navigating its way through the legal red tape required to seal its Activision Blizzard acquisition, has once again insinuated that it will not make the publisher’s games exclusive. Earlier in the year, it was very clear that “great titles like
News So, It Seems Xbox Really Will Keep Activision Games Like Call of Duty on PS5, PS4
Interview makes things crystal clear
Well, this is quite the turnaround, isn’t it? Perhaps under the cloud of regulatory investigations, Microsoft has effectively committed to multiplatform releases of Activision Blizzard games, like Call of Duty and others. This news broke as part of a
Blah blah blah
God, we're never going to hear the end of this are we? In a new official blog post, Microsoft has outlined its "Open App Store Principles", and it's...well, it's a really boring read, so we'll just skip to the part that mentions Sony and PlayStation. It states: "First, some commentators have asked whether we will continue to make...
Check yourself before you wreck yourself
One jobsworth at French supermarket chain Cora has attached a warning to its PlayStation 5 display, informing unsuspecting customers to choose their console carefully following Microsoft’s near-$70 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard. It’s added a handwritten clarification in parenthesis to the bottom...
News All These Activision Blizzard Studios Will Likely Cease PlayStation Development
All the teams on the line
Sony’s slate of PlayStation Studios was once regarded as the strongest in the industry, but even with recent additions like Housemarque and Firesprite, it’s now dwarfed by Microsoft following its publisher shopping spree. So, we’ve already looked at the brands and franchises that will almost certainly cease to exist...
News These Are the Franchises PS5, PS4 May Lose to Activision Blizzard Buyout
There's a lot
Until the ink is dry on Microsoft’s colossal Activision Blizzard buyout, the status of franchises like Call of Duty will likely remain unclear. For the time being, it’s business as usual for all involved, and Bloomberg sources have said that Xbox may continue to support PlayStation platforms in the future – although as evidenced...
Reaction Activision Blizzard Buyout Is Devastating for PS5, PS4
The end of an era
Is this the end of PlayStation? It’s always easy to get apocalyptic in situations like this, but it’s obviously not. Sony’s gaming division remains a wildly popular brand globally, and no single publisher can ever detract from that. Make no mistake, though, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $70 billion is a...
News Microsoft Buys Call of Duty Publisher Activision Blizzard
Game over
In news that will once again rock the industry, Microsoft has bought Activision Blizzard, the publisher of franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. The deal is reportedly valued at $70 billion, which is several times the sum that the giant already stumped up for Bethesda. It will presumably mean that franchises like Call of...
