Activision Blizzard | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:30:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Activision Blizzard | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Activision Blizzard games are finally coming to Game Pass, starting with Diablo 4 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-finally-coming-to-game-pass-starting-with-diablo-4/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-finally-coming-to-game-pass-starting-with-diablo-4/#respond Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:01:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=648525 Yesterday during the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer announced plans to bring four Xbox games to rival consoles. While this is happening, Xbox, PC and mobile will continue to be the only places with Xbox Game Pass access, and soon, Microsoft will finally start bringing Activision Blizzard titles over.  During the podcast, in which Phil …

The post Activision Blizzard games are finally coming to Game Pass, starting with Diablo 4 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Yesterday during the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer announced plans to bring four Xbox games to rival consoles. While this is happening, Xbox, PC and mobile will continue to be the only places with Xbox Game Pass access, and soon, Microsoft will finally start bringing Activision Blizzard titles over. 

During the podcast, in which Phil Spencer was joined by Sarah Bond and Matt Booty, it was announced that Activision Blizzard games will finally start coming to Game Pass next month, starting off with Diablo IV on the 28th of March.

Diablo IV has been out for roughly nine months now and is currently in its third season of post-launch content. This season has been widely seen as a bit of a step back compared to Season 2 but players are very hopeful for Season 4, which kicks off in April.

This means those joining the game for the first time via Game Pass can spend a couple of weeks learning the game, beating the excellent story campaign and maybe trying out a few different classes to get a feel for what you like best. Then, they can jump into Season 4 as it kicks off.

Season 4 will include a massive itemization update and will also make changes to the way aspects are gathered. Blizzard will fully detail these upcoming changes shortly before launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I really liked Diablo 4's second season but season 3's theme didn't really grab me. All indications so far appear to be that Blizzard is putting the most effort into preparing for Season 4, which will coincide with the game's 1-year anniversary. If it ends up being really good, then Blizzard needs to focus on keeping up that momentum leading up to the expansion, as there is tough competition in the ARPG market right now between the likes of Path of Exile (and its upcoming sequel), and Last Epoch, which launches next week. 

The post Activision Blizzard games are finally coming to Game Pass, starting with Diablo 4 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-finally-coming-to-game-pass-starting-with-diablo-4/feed/ 0
FTC files complaint against Microsoft after recent lay-offs at Xbox and Activision https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-files-complaint-against-microsoft-after-recent-lay-offs-at-xbox-and-activision/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-files-complaint-against-microsoft-after-recent-lay-offs-at-xbox-and-activision/#respond Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:04:44 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=647777 Despite Microsoft already completing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and has made many concessions to get the deal approved by regulators across the world, the FTC is still hoping to reverse the transaction. In its latest appeals letter, the FTC takes issue with the recent lay-offs announced at Activision Blizzard. The letter, as spotted by …

The post FTC files complaint against Microsoft after recent lay-offs at Xbox and Activision first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Despite Microsoft already completing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and has made many concessions to get the deal approved by regulators across the world, the FTC is still hoping to reverse the transaction. In its latest appeals letter, the FTC takes issue with the recent lay-offs announced at Activision Blizzard.

The letter, as spotted by The Verge, sees the FTC claiming that the lay-offs at Activision Blizzard prove that Microsoft lied about having Activision Blizzard operate independently post-merger. The letter also states that the lay-offs go against Microsoft's previous assurances to “maintain the status quo” once it acquired Activision.

Microsoft has since responded, offering a lengthy statement to Eurogamer, stating that the FTC “ignores the reality” that the deal has “substantially changed”. The spokesperson adds: “Since the FTC lost in court last July, Microsoft was required by the UK competition authority to restructure the acquisition globally and therefore did not acquire the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard games in the United States. Additionally, Sony and Microsoft signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation on even better terms than Sony had before.”

Microsoft is undergoing a number of layoffs across Xbox as a whole, not just Activision Blizzard. There could be some even bigger changes on the way, as Microsoft plans to offer a ‘business update' next week, during which it is expected to address plans for multiplatform game releases moving forward.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This does seem like a weak argument from the FTC when you consider the sheer number of lay-offs that have been occurring across the entire games industry over the past 12 months. Chances are, Activision Blizzard would have undergone some cost-cutting whether the merger went through or not.

The post FTC files complaint against Microsoft after recent lay-offs at Xbox and Activision first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-files-complaint-against-microsoft-after-recent-lay-offs-at-xbox-and-activision/feed/ 0
Microsoft gaming revenue surpasses Windows following Activision acquisition https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-gaming-revenue-surpasses-windows-following-activision-acquisition/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-gaming-revenue-surpasses-windows-following-activision-acquisition/#respond Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:30:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=646678 Several months on from acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft kicked off 2024 with the announcement that it would be laying off nearly 2000 employees. Unsurprisingly, this has been followed up by a glowing earnings report from Microsoft executives.  With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft's gaming business is now one of the biggest in the industry, …

The post Microsoft gaming revenue surpasses Windows following Activision acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Several months on from acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft kicked off 2024 with the announcement that it would be laying off nearly 2000 employees. Unsurprisingly, this has been followed up by a glowing earnings report from Microsoft executives. 

With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft's gaming business is now one of the biggest in the industry, solidifying its position in the market moving forward. The impact of Activision releases like Call of Duty can already be observed in Microsoft's earnings report, with Microsoft gaming revenue jumping up to over $7 billion for the previous quarter.

Importantly, if Microsoft's gaming division can keep this momentum going, then it may eclipse Windows earnings moving forward. For comparison, Windows earned $5.26 billion USD over the last quarter, although gaming still falls behind some of Microsoft's other major software areas, as Office and Cloud Services still brought in the most, generating just shy of $24 billion for the quarter.

Year on Year, Microsoft gaming grew by a massive 61 percent in revenue and Microsoft has seen a significant increase in active users for its gaming services too. Unfortunately, all of that success couldn't put a stop to the layoffs, which are now taking place across various Xbox studios, including teams at Activision Blizzard.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Activision Blizzard acquisition is already paying off. In a few months time, we should also begin to see the impact Activision Blizzard titles can have on services like Game Pass, which has yet to receive support from Microsoft's newly owned studios. However, games like Call of Duty are expected to land on the service later this year. 

The post Microsoft gaming revenue surpasses Windows following Activision acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-gaming-revenue-surpasses-windows-following-activision-acquisition/feed/ 0
The Overwatch League is no more, competitive Overwatch will go in ‘new direction’ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-overwatch-league-is-no-more-competitive-overwatch-will-go-in-new-direction/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-overwatch-league-is-no-more-competitive-overwatch-will-go-in-new-direction/#respond Thu, 09 Nov 2023 17:07:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=636897 Activision Blizzard let go of most of its Overwatch League staff earlier this year, marking a turning point in the company's future esports plans. A few weeks after the company's merger with Microsoft, it has been confirmed that the Overwatch League is shutting down.  The Overwatch League was dreamt up around the time of the …

The post The Overwatch League is no more, competitive Overwatch will go in ‘new direction’ first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Activision Blizzard let go of most of its Overwatch League staff earlier this year, marking a turning point in the company's future esports plans. A few weeks after the company's merger with Microsoft, it has been confirmed that the Overwatch League is shutting down. 

The Overwatch League was dreamt up around the time of the game's release. Blizzard hoped to turn professional Overwatch matches into a widely-viewed event, with franchised teams, home-team arenas and a big yearly playoffs tournament following a regular season to establish seeding. Teams had to pay tens of millions of dollars to get a spot in the league, but it quickly started to become clear that achieving profitability would be no easy feat.

The pandemic certainly had an impact, as the league's in-person, live-audience matches could no longer take place. In a statement sent to PCGamer, Activision Blizzard confirmed that it is now “transitioning” to take competitive Overwatch “in a new direction”.

Overwatch will likely continue to be an esports-focused game but moving forward, it may be more community-focused.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Overwatch League was an ambitious idea but it didn't pan out. Pivoting seems like the right move at this point after years of decline. 

The post The Overwatch League is no more, competitive Overwatch will go in ‘new direction’ first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-overwatch-league-is-no-more-competitive-overwatch-will-go-in-new-direction/feed/ 0
Activision Blizzard games are heading to Ubisoft+ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-heading-to-ubisoft/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-heading-to-ubisoft/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:00:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=634171 As of today, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has completed and as a result, Ubisoft now owns the cloud streaming rights to all Activision Blizzard games, including all previously released games and all new games released over the next 15 years. As a result, Ubisoft announced today that it plans to bring Activision Blizzard games …

The post Activision Blizzard games are heading to Ubisoft+ first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
As of today, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has completed and as a result, Ubisoft now owns the cloud streaming rights to all Activision Blizzard games, including all previously released games and all new games released over the next 15 years. As a result, Ubisoft announced today that it plans to bring Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft+. 

While Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft were once competitors as standalone publishers, now under Microsoft, Activision Blizzard will operate a bit differently as part of Xbox. While Ubisoft+ does not currently support cloud streaming directly, Ubisoft is currently working on ensuring that “the back end fully supports” a good experience.

Ubisoft+ won't be the only service getting access to Activision Blizzard games. Ubisoft owns the rights to current ActiBlizz games and each game released over the next 15 years in perpetuity, meaning the company will be able to continue licensing them out for as long as Ubisoft exists.

There are already a number of suitors that would gladly snap up a license. Obviously, Microsoft will want its own license for Xbox Cloud Gaming, something that may have already been worked out and baked into the initial deal. From there, services like GeForce Now and Amazon Luna are also expected to gain access to these games at some point in the future.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is certainly weird to see Ubisoft bringing Activision Blizzard games to its own service but that just goes to show how wild this deal ended up being. It was the biggest deal in gaming history and will likely remain that way for quite some time. 

The post Activision Blizzard games are heading to Ubisoft+ first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-games-are-heading-to-ubisoft/feed/ 0
It’s official – Bobby Kotick is leaving Activision https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/its-official-bobby-kotick-is-leaving-activision/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/its-official-bobby-kotick-is-leaving-activision/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:22:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=634168 While Bobby Kotick has managed to turn Activision into a hugely successful publisher over the last few decades, the CEO has had his fair share of controversies too. Just two years ago, employees were protesting and calling for his resignation. Now, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Kotick will indeed be leaving.  This is something …

The post It’s official – Bobby Kotick is leaving Activision first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While Bobby Kotick has managed to turn Activision into a hugely successful publisher over the last few decades, the CEO has had his fair share of controversies too. Just two years ago, employees were protesting and calling for his resignation. Now, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Kotick will indeed be leaving. 

This is something that many suspected would happen but due to the fact that Microsoft did not own the company, it could not publicly comment on plans, nor could Kotick. However, with the acquisition closing today, Kotick has now confirmed that he will be leaving the company at the end of the year.

Over the next few months, Kotick will report directly to Phil Spencer and then at the end of 2023, he will be gone. Kotick says he hopes to aid in a “smooth transition” as Activision Blizzard enters this new era under Microsoft.

Kotick's open letter ends off on a positive note, stating that “as part of Microsoft, we will be even better”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KtiGuru Says: It will be interesting to see who takes up the CEO role in 2024 after Kotick's departure. For now, the future of Activision Blizzard appears bright after a rocky number of years over the past decade. 

The post It’s official – Bobby Kotick is leaving Activision first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/its-official-bobby-kotick-is-leaving-activision/feed/ 0
Microsoft now officially owns Activision Blizzard https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-now-officially-owns-activision-blizzard/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-now-officially-owns-activision-blizzard/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:52:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=634163 The largest deal in gaming history has now completed after 20 months of battling regulatory hurdles. Microsoft now owns Activision Blizzard King and most importantly, employees at those studios are looking forward to the change.

The post Microsoft now officially owns Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Early this morning, the CMA officially approved Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We weren't sure if the deal would close today or early next week but as it turns out, Microsoft was eager to get things squared away. Activision Blizzard King is now officially part of the Xbox division. 

This afternoon, Xbox head, Phil Spencer, published a newly penned blog post confirming that Activision Blizzard King is now part of Xbox. The deal has closed, granting Microsoft ownership over some of gaming's most historic franchises, including Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, World of Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, Candy Crush Saga and more.

To commemorate the occasion, Microsoft even went through the effort of putting together a trailer, showcasing some of Activision Blizzard's biggest franchises alongside the games we already know Xbox for. Interestingly, we see older IP like Guitar Hero and Prototype make an appearance here, indicating that Microsoft has an interest in bringing those back.

Spencer's blog post also has an interesting note towards the end, saying: “Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favourite franchise”.

This indicates that established franchises from Activision Blizzard will continue to be multiplatform. New IP will likely be a different story.

One of the bigger benefits of this acquisition is that Microsoft can make the necessary changes to put Activision Blizzard's recent management issues behind them. In recent years, workers at Activision Blizzard studios have staged protests, calling out company leadership for ignoring issues like harassment and unfair treatment.

As a result, a lot of Activision Blizzard employees are looking to unionise. The CWA, the largest comms and media union in the US, has already commented, stating that it is pleased with the acquisition, as Microsoft had agreed to a Union neutrality agreement, making it easier for employees to unionise without backlash. Additionally, Microsoft will apply those same principles to unionisation efforts at ZeniMax studios.

Through organised efforts, employees will be able to bargain for fairer contracts and work conditions. Given that the games industry has been historically anti-union, this change could end up being a big one, making these studios among the more desirable places to work, a move that in turn will attract talent as Microsoft bolsters its efforts to turn Xbox into a true gaming powerhouse.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For me, the biggest part of this acquisition has always been getting Activision Blizzard away from its current shareholders and getting some fresh leadership and guidance in. A couple of years ago, it certainly seemed like the company was on its way towards self-destruction and now, that can hopefully be avoided. 

The post Microsoft now officially owns Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-now-officially-owns-activision-blizzard/feed/ 0
The EU reportedly won’t reinvestigate Microsoft’s ActiBlizz deal following restructure https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-reportedly-wont-reinvestigate-microsofts-actiblizz-deal-following-restructure/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-reportedly-wont-reinvestigate-microsofts-actiblizz-deal-following-restructure/#respond Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:20:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=633823 Earlier this month, reports claimed that Microsoft would obtain UK approval for its Activision Blizzard deal this week, with plans to close as soon as this coming Friday. However, given that the deal was tweaked after obtaining EU approval for the old deal, there have been questions as to whether the restructured transaction would have …

The post The EU reportedly won’t reinvestigate Microsoft’s ActiBlizz deal following restructure first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Earlier this month, reports claimed that Microsoft would obtain UK approval for its Activision Blizzard deal this week, with plans to close as soon as this coming Friday. However, given that the deal was tweaked after obtaining EU approval for the old deal, there have been questions as to whether the restructured transaction would have to go through a new approval process. According to a new source this week, that won't be the case.

Bloomberg backs up earlier claims that the deal will close very soon, with the UK apparently set to approve the acquisition in the next few days. The report also claims that the EU Commission has concluded that the changes made to the deal to appease the UK's Competition & Markets Authority won't warrant a new investigation into the deal. With that in mind, there should be no hold-ups once the CMA's decision comes through, allowing Microsoft to close the deal ahead of its contracted October 18th deadline.

The reworked deal will see Microsoft obtaining Activision Blizzard King, but the company will transfer the cloud streaming rights to those games over to Ubisoft. Under the agreement, Ubisoft will be free to sub-license those games out to any company it chooses and it will be allowed to request ports from Microsoft to support specific platforms, such as cloud services that don't rely on Windows – however, there will be fees involved with ports.

The CMA did initially block the acquisition as while Microsoft had managed to beat the console theory of harm, the CMA still held concerns over the effect of the deal on the burgeoning cloud gaming market. With Ubisoft set to take control of Activision Blizzard games in the cloud market, those concerns have been squashed.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: At some point within the next week, this whole ordeal will finally come to an end. Either everything closes by the October 18th deadline (next Wednesday), or Microsoft takes a tough defeat and parts with roughly $5 billion in break-up fees with Activision.

The post The EU reportedly won’t reinvestigate Microsoft’s ActiBlizz deal following restructure first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-reportedly-wont-reinvestigate-microsofts-actiblizz-deal-following-restructure/feed/ 0
Microsoft will reportedly complete Activision Blizzard acquisition next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-reportedly-complete-activision-blizzard-acquisition-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-reportedly-complete-activision-blizzard-acquisition-next-week/#respond Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:30:31 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=633174 It was January 2022 when Microsoft first announced its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard. Now some 20 months later, the deal finally looks set to close next Friday.  According to “a source familiar with Microsoft's plans” speaking with The Verge, Microsoft is hoping to complete the transaction on Friday, the 13th of October. However, the …

The post Microsoft will reportedly complete Activision Blizzard acquisition next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It was January 2022 when Microsoft first announced its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard. Now some 20 months later, the deal finally looks set to close next Friday. 

According to “a source familiar with Microsoft's plans” speaking with The Verge, Microsoft is hoping to complete the transaction on Friday, the 13th of October. However, the likelihood of meeting this date does hinge on the UK's Competition & Markets Authority finalising its approval of the deal. Current rumours suggest a decision on that front will land next week.

Microsoft was in the process of appealing the UK's block on the deal but both sides agreed to pause appeal proceedings to evaluate a new version of the deal. The tweaked transaction will see Ubisoft obtaining the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard game with free reign to offer sub-licenses to any competitors and request ports for specific platforms from Microsoft at an additional cost. The CMA provisionally approved this new version of the acquisition a couple of weeks ago so a final decision should arrive soon.

Once the acquisition closes, Microsoft will own all of Activision Blizzard King, allowing Microsoft to benefit from worldwide sales of Call of Duty and bring a fresh injection of content to Game Pass.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Verge typically has good sources when it comes to Microsoft so this could very well be true, but the CMA has not been easy to predict during this process, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the deal slip into the following week. Either way, Microsoft has until October 18th to complete the transaction, or Activision will get to walk away with a few billion in breakup fees. 

The post Microsoft will reportedly complete Activision Blizzard acquisition next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-reportedly-complete-activision-blizzard-acquisition-next-week/feed/ 0
Diablo 4 surpassed 10 million players in June https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-surpassed-10-million-players-in-june/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-surpassed-10-million-players-in-june/#respond Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:57:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=623758 Back in June following Diablo 4's launch, Blizzard announced that it was the company's fastest selling game ever, without sharing specific sales numbers. Now six weeks on from launch, we know that the game brought in over 10 million players during its first month.  Diablo 4 first launched on the 5th of June, although Ultimate …

The post Diablo 4 surpassed 10 million players in June first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Back in June following Diablo 4's launch, Blizzard announced that it was the company's fastest selling game ever, without sharing specific sales numbers. Now six weeks on from launch, we know that the game brought in over 10 million players during its first month. 

Diablo 4 first launched on the 5th of June, although Ultimate Edition buyers got access five days earlier. According to Activision's latest earnings report, Diablo 4 brought in over 10 million players in June and drove Blizzard to its first quarter with $1 billion in net bookings. Of course, other franchises like WoW and Hearthstone will have contributed to that overall number, but Diablo 4 was the main driver that tipped it over the edge.

Between early access and launch day, players had accrued a total of 93 million gameplay hours in the game. By the end of June, that number rose to 700 million hours worth of game time.

While there was plenty of positivity around Diablo 4 in June, this month has been a different story. Diablo 4's first season is coming up and not only will players have to grind through most of their Renown unlocks again, players have also been hit by massive nerfs in the pre-season patch. Rather than making weaker builds more effective, Blizzard instead chose to nerf absolutely everything, making all classes squishier in endgame content. You can read up more on that, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Diablo 4 had a great first month but based on the community's reaction to the pre-season patch, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some drop-off until Blizzard can fix some of the Quality of Live and build diversity issues in the game. 

The post Diablo 4 surpassed 10 million players in June first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-4-surpassed-10-million-players-in-june/feed/ 0
Activision Blizzard will be delisted from stock exchange next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-will-be-delisted-from-stock-exchange-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-will-be-delisted-from-stock-exchange-next-week/#respond Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:30:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=623218 Earlier this week, a US judge ruled against the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In the ruling, the judge stated that the FTC simply did not provide enough evidence to prove a theory of harm. Now, Microsoft is preparing to close the deal, with Activision Blizzard set …

The post Activision Blizzard will be delisted from stock exchange next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Earlier this week, a US judge ruled against the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction to stop Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In the ruling, the judge stated that the FTC simply did not provide enough evidence to prove a theory of harm. Now, Microsoft is preparing to close the deal, with Activision Blizzard set to be delisted from the stock exchange on Monday. 

Nasdaq announced in a press release today that it is planning to remove its listing for Activision Blizzard on Monday the 17th of July, one day before the contractual deadline for Microsoft to complete the acquisition. Activision Blizzard's spot on Nasdaq will be taken by a different company, The Trade Desk Inc.

This essentially confirms that Microsoft is preparing to close the acquisition by next week. As the FTC did not secure a preliminary injunction, Microsoft will legally be allowed to complete the acquisition, although the FTC can still bring legal action later to try and force the companies to split.

This also shows that Microsoft is planning to close despite the UK's Competition and Markets Authority blocking the deal. Microsoft is currently holding a new round of talks with the CMA this week and has paused its appeal proceedings in hopes that an agreement can be reached with the CMA.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru Says: The deal might close by next week, but this saga is unfortunately not over, as Microsoft still has to deal with the CMA and later on, the FTC may still attempt to reverse the deal after the fact. 

The post Activision Blizzard will be delisted from stock exchange next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/activision-blizzard-will-be-delisted-from-stock-exchange-next-week/feed/ 0
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard could merge as early as next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-blizzard-could-merge-as-early-as-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-blizzard-could-merge-as-early-as-next-week/#respond Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:58:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=622943 This week, a US court officially made its decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, denying the FTC's request to block the merger. This leaves the UK's CMA as the final hurdle against the deal closing and within an hour of the US court decision going public, Microsoft and the CMA announced a plan to pause their appeal battle to renegotiate. At the rate things are going, Microsoft could officially own Activision Blizzard as soon as next week. 

The post Microsoft and Activision Blizzard could merge as early as next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
This week, a US court officially made its decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, denying the FTC's request to block the merger. This leaves the UK's CMA as the final hurdle against the deal closing and within an hour of the US court decision going public, Microsoft and the CMA announced a plan to pause their appeal battle to renegotiate. At the rate things are going, Microsoft could officially own Activision Blizzard as soon as next week. 

After 18 months of back-and-forth debate over the merits of the transaction, we are finally at the finish line. The FTC has lost its request for an injunction to stop the merger, allowing Microsoft to legally complete the transaction in the US. Previously, Microsoft executives have alluded to potentially closing despite the CMA's decision to block the deal in the UK. Such a situation could involve restrictions on Microsoft's xCloud offerings in the UK, or perhaps seeking a new publishing partner to bring Activision games to the UK market.

According to CNBC's David Faber, Microsoft and the CMA may have already come to an agreement involving a “small divestiture” to address the regulator's concerns. Given that the CMA's decision primarily focused on the deal's impact on the cloud gaming market, it has been theorised that this divestiture could involve pulling xCloud from the UK, or perhaps just agreeing not to offer Activision Blizzard titles like Call of Duty over xCloud.

If Microsoft does pull its cloud-streaming tech out of the UK, the company could still position itself as a supplier of games to rival cloud gaming services. This would mean that while Microsoft doesn't offer the ability to stream games directly, users would be able to use services like Nvidia's GeForce Now to access those games instead.

As reported by Reuters, the CMA has stated that “while merging parties don't have the opportunity to put forward new remedies once a final report has issued, they can choose to restructure a deal”. However, doing so “can lead to a new merger investigation”. Given that there has already been an extensive investigation into the deal, it is unclear how long a second ‘investigation' based on new proposals would take.

The contract between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard stipulates a July 18th deadline for the deal to close. After that date, Microsoft will be obligated to fork out $3 billion to break the contract. Microsoft will be moving fast this week to get everything in order to ensure the transaction can go through next week. Activision has made it clear that it does not want to extend the current deal any further than the current deadline.

While the deal can theoretically close by July 18th, the FTC can seek to split the companies up after the merger. The process will be much more difficult and given the FTC's weak case in the injunction hearing, it is unclear if they would seek another trial. With that said, the FTC is reportedly “leaning towards” appealing the injunction decision, according to Bloomberg.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We're in the final stretch of this Microsoft-Activision saga. This time next week, we should finally be able to put this story to rest and start focusing on what happens next. 

The post Microsoft and Activision Blizzard could merge as early as next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-blizzard-could-merge-as-early-as-next-week/feed/ 0
Microsoft and CMA pause appeal battle to negotiate on Activision Blizzard deal https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-cma-pause-appeal-battle-to-negotiate-on-activision-blizzard-deal/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-cma-pause-appeal-battle-to-negotiate-on-activision-blizzard-deal/#respond Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:15:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=622799 Earlier this afternoon, a US judge blocked the FTC's request for an injunction to stop Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With this loss, the only regulator standing to stop the deal from closing immediately is the UK's CMA. Within an hour of the US court decision coming down, Microsoft has revealed that it has agreed …

The post Microsoft and CMA pause appeal battle to negotiate on Activision Blizzard deal first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Earlier this afternoon, a US judge blocked the FTC's request for an injunction to stop Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With this loss, the only regulator standing to stop the deal from closing immediately is the UK's CMA. Within an hour of the US court decision coming down, Microsoft has revealed that it has agreed to pause its legal battle with the CMA to negotiate. 

In a statement published at 4:59PM BST, Microsoft President, Brad Smith, said: “After today's court decision in the U.S., our focus now turns back to the UK. While we ultimately disagree with the CMA's concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified in order to address those concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA”.

new-microsoft-logo1.png

The statement continues on to say: “In order to prioritise work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest”. Both Microsoft and the CMA have let the Competition Appeal Tribunal know of this decision.

Microsoft's original agreement with Activision had a closing date of July 18th baked in. This could potentially be extended for a short period of time now that the CMA and Microsoft are talking things over, but Activision has made it clear that it does not want a long-term extension on the deal date.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We don't know how long this process will take but it sounds like Microsoft and the CMA will end up working things out now that Microsoft has won its court case against the FTC. With how things are going, I would expect Microsoft to officially own Activision Blizzard within the next few weeks. 

The post Microsoft and CMA pause appeal battle to negotiate on Activision Blizzard deal first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-cma-pause-appeal-battle-to-negotiate-on-activision-blizzard-deal/feed/ 0
US Judge rejects FTC’s injunction request against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/us-judge-rejects-ftcs-injunction-request-against-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/us-judge-rejects-ftcs-injunction-request-against-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal/#respond Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:30:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=622796 The FTC's case against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition finally entered federal court in recent weeks. While the UK's CMA wanted to block the deal on cloud gaming concerns, the FTC's case primarily focused on the deal's impact on Sony and the PlayStation business. Now, the judge has rejected the FTC's request for an injunction to …

The post US Judge rejects FTC’s injunction request against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The FTC's case against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition finally entered federal court in recent weeks. While the UK's CMA wanted to block the deal on cloud gaming concerns, the FTC's case primarily focused on the deal's impact on Sony and the PlayStation business. Now, the judge has rejected the FTC's request for an injunction to stop the deal from closing.

The FTC's case requested that an injunction be granted to stop the deal from closing on the grounds that it would harm competition. Much of the FTC's case centred around the impact it would have on Sony, but Microsoft was able to successfully argue that it would not and could not foreclose the PlayStation business by pulling games like Call of Duty. Microsoft was also able to argue the merits of its recent deals with cloud gaming companies to bring games to services like GeForce Now, as well as Microsoft's commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo consoles for the first time in over a decade.

The hearing wrapped up after five days and now almost a week later, U.S. Federal Judge Corley has ruled against the FTC's injunction request. This immediately frees up Microsoft to close the Activision Blizzard deal. However, the company may not be so quick to do so, as the UK's CMA has still vetoed the deal and an appeals case to reverse the ruling is still ongoing.

The FTC can also sue to force Microsoft to sell Activision Blizzard after the deal closes, but given the FTC's loss here, it is thought by some analysts that further action is unlikely, or at the very least, unlikely to succeed. The FTC's current loss could also help Microsoft arrange a settlement with the CMA to get the deal approved without having to go through further CAT appeals hearings.

Xbox head, Phil Spencer, has commented on the outcome of the hearing, saying:

“We're grateful to the court for swiftly deciding in our favour. The evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry and the FTC’s claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don’t reflect the realities of the gaming market. Since we first announced this deal, our commitment to bringing more games to more people on more devices has only grown. We’ve signed multiple agreements to make Activision Blizzard’s games, Xbox first-party games and Game Pass all available to more players than they are today. We know that players around the world have been watching this case closely and I’m proud of our efforts to expand player access and choice throughout this journey.”

As reported by Windows Central, Microsoft President, Brad Smith, has also commented on the outcome today, saying: “We're grateful to the Court in San Francisco for this quick and thorough decision and hope other jurisdictions will continue working towards a timely resolution. As we've demonstrated consistently throughout this process, we are committed to working creatively and collaboratively to address regulatory concerns.”

Update: Brad Smith has issued another statement publicly, announcing that Microsoft and the CMA have agreed to negotiate on the deal. Read our full story on that, HERE

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is unclear if the FTC will take further action and it is possible that the CMA still wins the appeal and is able to remain firm on the initial ruling. However, Microsoft could potentially close without the CMA's approval, so we'll have to wait and see what happens in the weeks to come. There is a July 18th deadline for Microsoft to complete the transaction without a renegotiation and a potential $3 billion fee. 

The post US Judge rejects FTC’s injunction request against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/us-judge-rejects-ftcs-injunction-request-against-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal/feed/ 0
Bohemia Interactive is quietly working on a DayZ sequel https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/bohomia-interactive-is-quietly-working-on-a-dayz-sequel/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/bohomia-interactive-is-quietly-working-on-a-dayz-sequel/#respond Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:00:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=621570 DayZ is one of just a handful of titles responsible for ushering in a wave of early access survival games on PC. The original game has been out of early access for a while now and thanks to documents revealed as part of the FTC VS Microsoft hearing over the Activision Blizzard acquisition, we know …

The post Bohemia Interactive is quietly working on a DayZ sequel first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
DayZ is one of just a handful of titles responsible for ushering in a wave of early access survival games on PC. The original game has been out of early access for a while now and thanks to documents revealed as part of the FTC VS Microsoft hearing over the Activision Blizzard acquisition, we know that a DayZ sequel is in development. 

One Microsoft summary card (via DSOG) shared during the hearing provides information about Bohemia Interactive, the developer behind popular titles such as ArmA, DayZ, and Vigor. The document mentions that DayZ remains one of the most played survival games, with over 34,000 peak concurrent players in the 30 days prior to the submission and just under 19 million console hours logged. The document also confirms that DayZ 2 is currently in development, along with ArmA Reforged and ArmA 4.

Image Credit: DSOG

While no specific release window or development progress is mentioned for DayZ 2, it is worth noting that Bohemia Interactive is using its new Enfusion engine for its latest titles. As such, there's a good chance DayZ 2 will also be based on it.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of DayZ? Would you be interested in a sequel? 

The post Bohemia Interactive is quietly working on a DayZ sequel first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/bohomia-interactive-is-quietly-working-on-a-dayz-sequel/feed/ 0
Microsoft acquisition targets included Sega but company says it is not for sale https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-acquisition-targets-included-sega-but-company-says-it-is-not-for-sale/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-acquisition-targets-included-sega-but-company-says-it-is-not-for-sale/#respond Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:50:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=621684 Documents related to Microsoft's potential acquisition targets have surfaced through the ongoing hearing against the FTC over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. This document revealed a number of high-profile targets, including the likes of SEGA, Square Enix, CD Projekt Red as well as plenty of smaller studios.  Microsoft was indeed considering making offers to acquire companies …

The post Microsoft acquisition targets included Sega but company says it is not for sale first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Documents related to Microsoft's potential acquisition targets have surfaced through the ongoing hearing against the FTC over the Activision Blizzard acquisition. This document revealed a number of high-profile targets, including the likes of SEGA, Square Enix, CD Projekt Red as well as plenty of smaller studios. 

Microsoft was indeed considering making offers to acquire companies including Sega, Square Enix, CD Projekt Red, Bungie, IO Interactive and a host of other companies, including indie studios like Supergiant Games. The full table of companies on Microsoft's internal watchlist shows around 100 companies, but the table is also several years old and there is no indication that Microsoft approached any company on the list with an offer. However, rumours have long claimed that Microsoft wants to buy Sega and there were claims that the company had approached Bungie with an offer prior to Sony acquiring them.

Due to Sega being mentioned on the list, rumours about Microsoft having been in negotiations with the Japanese publisher resurfaced. Due to this, Sega did actually release a statement, with Shuki Utsumi, Sega COO, telling Bloomberg that there are “no plans to sell” but also noted that the company does have a good relationship with Microsoft.

Chances are, plans to acquire any other studios were dropped as soon as it became known that Activision Blizzard was potentially available. Microsoft will likely still acquire some studios after this acquisition if it goes through, but I don't expect them to attempt to buy another major publisher.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is worth noting that Microsoft did have an acquisition plan for Sega, which outlined details like keeping all games multiplatform, so franchises like Sonic would never become exclusives. 

The post Microsoft acquisition targets included Sega but company says it is not for sale first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-acquisition-targets-included-sega-but-company-says-it-is-not-for-sale/feed/ 0
FTC temporarily blocks Microsoft-Activision merger, hearing coming next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-temporarily-blocks-microsoft-activision-merger-hearing-coming-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-temporarily-blocks-microsoft-activision-merger-hearing-coming-next-week/#respond Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:05:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=619424 This week has brought through another update in the ongoing saga between Microsoft, Activision Blizzard and regulators. This time around, the FTC has finally begun to move its feet, filing for a temporary restraining order to stop the deal from closing, as well as a preliminary injunction that would block the deal for a longer …

The post FTC temporarily blocks Microsoft-Activision merger, hearing coming next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
This week has brought through another update in the ongoing saga between Microsoft, Activision Blizzard and regulators. This time around, the FTC has finally begun to move its feet, filing for a temporary restraining order to stop the deal from closing, as well as a preliminary injunction that would block the deal for a longer period. 

The FTC filed its complaint with the US District Court for the Northern District of California. This is the same court that the private ‘gamer' lawsuit ended up going through. During that lawsuit, requests to stop the deal were denied by the judge.

The FTC has secured its temporary order to stop the deal from closing within the next couple of weeks. A hearing will take place on the 23rd and 24th of June to discuss the case. If the FTC fails to secure the Preliminary Injunction, then Microsoft would be able to close the deal, although the FTC could still take Microsoft to court after the fact.

Microsoft does not seem too concerned by the FTC's filings this week, with President Brad Smith saying that this should “accelerate the decision-making process”, which in turn would be a good move for everyone.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We're finally getting towards the final decision point for this deal. Microsoft's appeal in the UK is ongoing and the Preliminary Injunction hearing in the US will be another milestone. We still don't know if Microsoft would close the deal despite the UK regulator's objections, but if the FTC does not secure the injunction, Microsoft would certainly close the deal despite their lawsuit. 

The post FTC temporarily blocks Microsoft-Activision merger, hearing coming next week first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ftc-temporarily-blocks-microsoft-activision-merger-hearing-coming-next-week/feed/ 0
EU says benefits of Microsoft-Activision deal were recognised by devs, consumers and cloud providers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/eu-says-benefits-of-microsoft-activision-deal-were-recognised-by-devs-consumers-and-cloud-providers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/eu-says-benefits-of-microsoft-activision-deal-were-recognised-by-devs-consumers-and-cloud-providers/#respond Thu, 25 May 2023 14:30:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=616817 Shortly after the European Commission announced its decision to approve Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the CMA took to Twitter to outline the reasons it disagrees with the decision and is moving ahead with its decision to block. Now today, the EU has put out a lengthy statement on its approach to mergers, promoting Microsoft's …

The post EU says benefits of Microsoft-Activision deal were recognised by devs, consumers and cloud providers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Shortly after the European Commission announced its decision to approve Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the CMA took to Twitter to outline the reasons it disagrees with the decision and is moving ahead with its decision to block. Now today, the EU has put out a lengthy statement on its approach to mergers, promoting Microsoft's deal as good for the cloud gaming industry.

The speech comes from the European Commission's Executive VP, Margrethe Vestager, who points out that while the EU and the CMA shared initial concerns about the deal, their thinking on the deal diverged significantly. While the CMA believes the acquisition needs to be stopped in order for the cloud market to flourish, Vestager says not all vertical mergers need to be viewed in a negative light, adding that Microsoft's investment in this area, combined with the EU's agreed remedies, would allow the cloud gaming market to flourish in a way it otherwise wouldn't have.

“No less recently than last week, we cleared the Microsoft/Activision deal, while the CMA decided to block it. That divergence raises important questions regarding our assessment, our remedies policy and our cooperation.”

“First, a few words on policy. Currently, some people think that agencies should either block or clear mergers. Nothing in between. So if you block you are a “tough” enforcer. If you clear, well, let's just say you are not perceived as tough. That is not our policy. The European Courts have held that we cannot, as a matter of principle, dismiss remedy proposals. We have to investigate the merits of every solution offered.”

Going deeper into the EU's divergence from the CMA on the subject of Microsoft/Activision, Vestager says:

“Occasionally, we reach decisions that are not aligned with every other jurisdiction. So I'd like to take a few moments to set out why we believe the Microsoft/Activision merger – with appropriate remedies – is not only compatible with the Single Market, but in fact represents a positive development.”

The EU acknowledges that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is a “landmark transaction” in the gaming industry, but the investigation found that Microsoft's proposal would have more benefit to the industry, particularly the cloud gaming industry, with appropriate remedies in place. The EU was able to negotiate a global, free license for cloud gaming providers and consumers for Activision Blizzard titles for at least the next ten years.

In the pre-merger situation, Activision has not shown interest in bringing its titles to cloud services, so in this case, the EU finds that the remedy “opens the door for smaller cloud services in the EU to offer big games on their platforms, widening choice for gamers”.

The EU also said the benefits of this remedy were universally recognised amongst consumer groups, developers, distributors and cloud gaming providers, as it is seen to be unlocking “the potential of the cloud market”.

“Again, let me emphasize that these types of remedies are the minority of our cases, by far. But when they work, why deprive ourselves of the option? This is what useful enforcement is all about”, Vestager continues.

Currently, Microsoft is appealing the CMA's ruling with hopes of having it overturned. The timeline for the appeal has not been set yet, so expect to hear more in the next few months.

You can read Vestager's whole speech here. If you are interested in this story and have been following it closely, then it is a highly recommended read.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Typically, we don't see regulators speaking so openly on their support or lack of support on mergers outside of the public reports that have to be published whenever a major decision is made. What's more interesting here is that the CMA seems to believe Microsoft already has a monopoly on cloud gaming, while the EU recognises this as not being the case, with many competitors out there, ranging from the likes of Nvidia and Amazon to smaller players like Boosteroid and NWare.

The post EU says benefits of Microsoft-Activision deal were recognised by devs, consumers and cloud providers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/eu-says-benefits-of-microsoft-activision-deal-were-recognised-by-devs-consumers-and-cloud-providers/feed/ 0
KitGuru Games: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition has turned into a political circus https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/kitguru-games-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-has-turned-into-a-political-circus/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/kitguru-games-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-has-turned-into-a-political-circus/#respond Wed, 17 May 2023 19:47:37 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=615224 The Microsoft-ABK acquisition has turned into a political circus here in the UK and Microsoft is making sure to throw its weight around, going as far as to hint at the possibility of pulling products out of the UK and investing elsewhere.

The post KitGuru Games: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition has turned into a political circus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
At this point, many countries across the globe have approved Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, including the European Commission, which worked with Microsoft on remedies to ensure continued access to Activision games for cloud gaming providers big and small all across the world, not just in Europe. However, the CMA is standing firm on its decision to block the deal, which is now drawing criticism from UK politicians. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, was recently asked whether the company would consider pulling products from the UK market.

Typically, it would be inconceivable to see a major company like Microsoft withdrawing from the UK and the idea would be shot down immediately. However, against the backdrop of the political landscape and the UK's struggling economy, Microsoft does have an opportunity to throw its weight around a bit here and we've seen the company take that opportunity. After the CMA initially announced its decision to block, based on cloud gaming market concerns, Activision and Microsoft execs claimed that it was a sign that the UK is “closed for business” for tech companies. Now, Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, is dangling the possibility of major changes to its presence in the UK.

In an interview with CNBC, Nadella was asked “Could you ever see an age where you sell the product in the US if it was approved, sell the product in Europe, but not sell it in the UK if they did not approve it?”. Nadella replied with a smile, saying “Let's wait for it all to play out”.

If Microsoft is able to get the deal approved everywhere except for the UK, then Microsoft could theoretically make some major changes. The company currently has a huge presence in the UK, having not just its own offices with thousands of employees, but also a number of UK-based game studios under its wing. Decreasing investment in the UK and moving over to Europe would be a major blow to the UK and hurt the current government's desire to transform the country into a Silicon Valley-style tech hub. The UK has already suffered a blow in this area, as the country's biggest and most relevant chip maker, ARM, rejected offers to list on the London Stock Exchange after its deal to be acquired by Nvidia fell through. Instead, ARM is set to be listed on the US stock exchange.

Following the EU's approval of the acquisition, Activision confirmed plans to expand its investment across its European studios. In a post-Brexit world, the UK is directly competing with the EU for investment exactly like this and alarm bells have begun ringing in politicians' ears. Recently, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, posted on LinkedIn directly addressing the CMA, expressing a desire to “steer” the regulator's direction. UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, also told Reuters in an interview this week that he thinks it is “important all our regulators understand their wider responsibilities for economic growth”, directly referring to the ongoing situation with Microsoft and Activision.

It is worth noting for non-UK readers that this comes at a time when the UK economy is struggling and there are many more pressing issues that the government should be spending its time on, such as food shortages, energy prices and inflation. As a Brit myself, I feel that far more citizens care about whether or not they'll be able to cook a roast dinner next Sunday than whether or not this acquisition goes through. The fact of the matter is though, the CMA's decision here could indeed have a negative impact on the economy and its flimsy arguments against it could reflect poorly on the country in enterprising circles.

As analyst Florian Mueller points out, the acquisition has already been approved in 37 countries with a total population count 14 times higher than the UK's and with an aggregate GDP that is far higher than the UK's as well. That's a tough market proposition for Microsoft to give up on.

The CMA isn't the only regulator opposing the deal, the FTC in the US is also suing to block it but the key difference is that in the US, the FTC needs to get a court-ordered injunction and fight to block a case in a court of law. The FTC has lost many cases this way and the general consensus is that Microsoft has a good chance to beat the lawsuit. Here in the UK, the CMA is allowed to make its own decisions as an independent entity without oversight from an actual court.

Microsoft is set to appeal the CMA's ruling, which will go to a tribunal that can then direct the CMA to correct course if a successful argument is made. Given that the CMA made a number of errors in its calculations, such as counting all Game Pass subscribers as XCloud users and significantly overstating Microsoft's market share in cloud gaming, it will be interesting to see how the appeal plays out.

KitGuru Says: When I first heard that Microsoft was acquiring Activision Blizzard, at no point did I think I would be writing articles about the UK economy and high-ranking politicians, yet here we are. Hopefully, this appeal situation and the FTC case can have a quick turnaround, no matter what the outcome is, so we can get back to talking about actual video games once again.

The post KitGuru Games: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition has turned into a political circus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/kitguru-games-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-has-turned-into-a-political-circus/feed/ 0
The EU officially approves Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-officially-approves-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-officially-approves-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/#respond Mon, 15 May 2023 14:46:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=614947 Last week, it was reported that the European Commission would announce its decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard this week. As it turns out, that report was indeed accurate, with the commission publishing its press release today, approving the deal. 

The post The EU officially approves Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Last week, it was reported that the European Commission would announce its decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard this week. As it turns out, that report was indeed accurate, with the commission publishing its press release today, approving the deal. 

The European Commission has approved the acquisition under the EU Merger Regulation. While the UK's CMA said Microsoft's concession commitments weren't enough to dispel competition concerns, particularly when it comes to the cloud gaming market, the EU says that Microsoft's commitments have fully addressed their concerns and even goes on to say that the merger would actually help the cloud gaming market, making for a very different conclusion compared to the UK's regulator.

One of those concessions for the cloud gaming market is a free license to consumers in the EEA to stream all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and Console games through whatever cloud game streaming service they want. A corresponding free license has also been extended to rival game streaming services. Since Activision does not currently license its games to any cloud gaming service provider, this change is seen as a positive one, and one that would only come to fruition if the merger is approved.

The EU goes on to say that the commitments “will unlock significant benefits for competition and consumers, by bringing Activision's games to new platforms, including smaller EU players, and to more devices than before”. The EU also says that the remedies “fully address the competition concerns” identified in the preliminary investigation.

While the EU is approving the acquisition, the FTC in the US has sued to block the deal and over in the UK, the CMA has also opted to block the deal. However, the general consensus has been that Microsoft has a good chance to beat the FTC in court. Over in the UK, Microsoft and Activision are filing an appeal to overturn the CMA's decision.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is very interesting to see just how different the conclusions are in the EU investigation versus the CMA's. The CMA seems to think that this acquisition would doom the cloud gaming market, meanwhile, the EU says it will actually strengthen it and help the market grow. 

The post The EU officially approves Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-officially-approves-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/feed/ 0
The EU will reportedly approve Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition this month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-will-reportedly-approve-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-this-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-will-reportedly-approve-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-this-month/#respond Wed, 10 May 2023 16:51:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=614513 While the FTC and the CMA are opposing Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reports this week claim that the European Commission has a different view on the deal and plans to approve it.  According to sources speaking with Reuters, the EU will approve Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition. Previously, the Commission had set a May 22nd …

The post The EU will reportedly approve Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition this month first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While the FTC and the CMA are opposing Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reports this week claim that the European Commission has a different view on the deal and plans to approve it. 

According to sources speaking with Reuters, the EU will approve Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition. Previously, the Commission had set a May 22nd deadline for ruling on the deal, but according to the new report, they could make the decision public as early as the 15th of May.

While approval in the EU would be a big win for Microsoft there are other major hurdles the company has to clear before it can close the deal. The FTC is suing to block the acquisition in the US and all parties are currently preparing for trial. Meanwhile, the UK's Competition & Markets Authority has voted to block the deal, forcing Microsoft to file an appeal.

With all of that in mind, even if Microsoft does get good news from Europe later this month, we're still a long way from seeing the final say on this deal.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Do you think Microsoft should be allowed to acquire Activision Blizzard? 

The post The EU will reportedly approve Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition this month first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-eu-will-reportedly-approve-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-this-month/feed/ 0
Nvidia and others speak out against CMA’s decision to block Xbox-Activision merger https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/nvidia-and-others-speak-out-against-cmas-decision-to-block-xbox-activision-merger/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/nvidia-and-others-speak-out-against-cmas-decision-to-block-xbox-activision-merger/#respond Fri, 28 Apr 2023 15:34:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=613321 Earlier this week, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) officially announced its decision to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns around the future of the cloud gaming market. Now, some of the cloud gaming companies that Microsoft signed deals with are speaking out in favour of the deal.  The CMA has concluded …

The post Nvidia and others speak out against CMA’s decision to block Xbox-Activision merger first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Earlier this week, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) officially announced its decision to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns around the future of the cloud gaming market. Now, some of the cloud gaming companies that Microsoft signed deals with are speaking out in favour of the deal. 

The CMA has concluded that while Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would not harm Sony's position in the console market, the acquisition would have a significant impact on the cloud gaming market – a market that doesn't really account for a meaningful chunk of the gaming market at this point in time and while there has been growth, we are still a long, long way from cloud taking over as the main source of gaming.

Microsoft saw this coming and sought to prevent this outcome by signing 10-year deals to bring Xbox first-party games and Activision Blizzard titles like Call of Duty to rival cloud gaming services. Activision so far has steered clear of supporting cloud gaming, so this change would have been a Microsoft-led one. The deals would have seen Nvidia's GeForce Now, EE, Ubitus and other cloud gaming companies gaining access to titles they otherwise would not get.

Now, some of those cloud gaming providers who were looking forward to offering games like Call of Duty are speaking out against the CMA's decision. Nvidia has the largest following of the bunch and possibly the most successful cloud gaming service in GeForce Now. In a tweet this week, Nvidia stated that it sees Microsoft's acquisition of Activision as “a benefit to cloud gaming” and calls for a “positive resolution” to the situation.

Similarly, cloud gaming provider Boosteroid also tweeted out against the CMA's decision, saying that its position on the issue “is in line” with Microsoft's.

Microsoft and Activision have both separately stated that they are still committed to the deal and will appeal the CMA's decision. Microsoft went as far as to call the CMA's move “bad for Britain” while an Activision spokesperson said that the move shows that the UK is “closed for business”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The CMA's move to block the deal is a setback but Microsoft hopes to power through. Depending on how long the appeals process takes, the completion of the deal could end up being pushed to 2024. 

The post Nvidia and others speak out against CMA’s decision to block Xbox-Activision merger first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/nvidia-and-others-speak-out-against-cmas-decision-to-block-xbox-activision-merger/feed/ 0
Microsoft and Activision respond to CMA’s block on acquisition https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-respond-to-cmas-block-on-acquisition/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-respond-to-cmas-block-on-acquisition/#respond Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:12:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=612884 The CMA announced its final decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard today, moving to block the deal based on concerns around the future of the cloud gaming market. As you would expect, Microsoft and Activision have been quick to issue statements, with Activision going as far as to brand the UK as ‘closed …

The post Microsoft and Activision respond to CMA’s block on acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The CMA announced its final decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard today, moving to block the deal based on concerns around the future of the cloud gaming market. As you would expect, Microsoft and Activision have been quick to issue statements, with Activision going as far as to brand the UK as ‘closed for business'. 

Microsoft's statement is level-headed, acknowledging the decision today and confirming plans to appeal:

“We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal. The CMA’s decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom. We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard’s popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies. We’re especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works.”

If the deal has to go through the appeals process, then the deadline for closing would need to be extended. If both parties remain committed to pushing forward, the deal may not close until sometime in 2024.

In a statement given to GI.biz, an Activision spokesperson gave a less measured statement: “The CMA’s report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses. We will work aggressively with Microsoft to reverse this on appeal. The report’s conclusions are a disservice to UK citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the UK. Global innovators large and small will take note that – despite all its rhetoric – the UK is clearly closed for business.”

This specific statement is markedly different to the one CEO Bobby Kotick published publicly on the Activision Blizzard substack, which simply notes that he believes a combined Microsoft-Activision would work well for the UK tech sector and games industry, while expressing frustration in the lengthy regulator process.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It sounds like both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard want to take this deal as far as they can, which likely means a big delay in closing while the case moves through the courts. 

The post Microsoft and Activision respond to CMA’s block on acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-and-activision-respond-to-cmas-block-on-acquisition/feed/ 0
UK moves to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/uk-moves-to-block-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/uk-moves-to-block-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/#respond Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:28:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=612856 While Microsoft was able to convince the UK's Competition & Markets Authority that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard would not harm the console gaming market, it would seem the CMA was not convinced that the deal wouldn't impede competition in the cloud gaming market. 

The post UK moves to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While Microsoft was able to convince the UK's Competition & Markets Authority that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard would not harm the console gaming market, it would seem the CMA was not convinced that the deal wouldn't impede competition in the cloud gaming market. 

According to the CMA, Microsoft accounts for as much as 70 percent of the global cloud gaming market and due to its other strengths in operating systems with Windows and cloud infrastructure with Azure, the CMA has concluded that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would provide a pathway to monopolising the market.

While Activision has publicly stated that it would not be pursuing certain deals, like putting Call of Duty on subscription services, without Microsoft's acquisition. However, the CMA says it has evidence that Activision would offer its games more broadly to cloud gaming providers in the near future independently of Microsoft.

The CMA says Microsoft's remedy proposal had “a number of significant shortcomings”, claiming it did “not sufficiently cover different cloud gaming service business models” and that it was “not sufficiently open to providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows”.

Microsoft's large presence in multiple parts of the tech sector seems to be the big hang-up here. While the CMA is opting to block the deal, Microsoft has said it will appeal the ruling. Microsoft is also going to court against the FTC in the US to try and push the merger through. Presumably, if the EU moves to block the deal, Microsoft would appeal there too.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It seemed like things were trending in the right direction for Microsoft, so this final decision does seem somewhat shocking. If Microsoft needs to embark on a number of appeals, then it will need to extend the deadline for the deal, which is currently set at mid-July. 

The post UK moves to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/uk-moves-to-block-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/feed/ 0
Microsoft will be at 10 Downing Street on CMA deadline day for ActiBlizz acquisition https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-be-at-10-downing-street-on-cma-deadline-day-for-actiblizz-acquisition/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-be-at-10-downing-street-on-cma-deadline-day-for-actiblizz-acquisition/#respond Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:47:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=612323 The CMA has set a 26th of April deadline to announce its final decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The CMA has already changed its initial stance, finding that the deal would not harm competition in the console space. As it turns out, the Xbox team is also apparently scheduled to appear at …

The post Microsoft will be at 10 Downing Street on CMA deadline day for ActiBlizz acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The CMA has set a 26th of April deadline to announce its final decision on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The CMA has already changed its initial stance, finding that the deal would not harm competition in the console space. As it turns out, the Xbox team is also apparently scheduled to appear at 10 Downing Street next week as part of a government event. 

According to Sky News, Microsoft is set to be amongst a number of companies appearing at 10 Downing Street on the 26th of April for a UKIE-organised event. UKIE is the UK's Interactive Entertainment industry board.

The event takes place on the same day as the CMA's decision, which could be taken as a good sign that the deal will be approved. Getting bad news while sitting in Number 10 would be “embarrassing” for Microsoft, a source cited in the report claims, and one source said it would likely damage the company's relationship with the UK government.

The CMA recently concluded that the deal is unlikely to harm competition in the console market. However, the CMA did still have concerns around the cloud market and has been discussing remedies. To get ahead of this, Microsoft has signed a number of 10-year deals, guaranteeing access to Xbox first-party and Activision Blizzard content on rival cloud gaming platforms. The most recent deal signed was with EE, the UK's biggest mobile network.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is looking like the CMA will approve the deal with some conditions in place. However, we are still waiting on decisions from the European Commission and the FTC has chosen to sue to block the merger, although this could be settled before going to trial. 

The post Microsoft will be at 10 Downing Street on CMA deadline day for ActiBlizz acquisition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-will-be-at-10-downing-street-on-cma-deadline-day-for-actiblizz-acquisition/feed/ 0
Microsoft signs 10-year deal to offer cloud games through EE https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-signs-10-year-deal-to-offer-cloud-games-through-ee/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-signs-10-year-deal-to-offer-cloud-games-through-ee/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:15:50 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=610956 As part of its effort to get the CMA on board with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has signed a number of 10-year deals, not only guaranteeing Call of Duty on other console platforms but all Xbox first-party titles for various cloud services. The latest 10-year cloud support deal has now been signed, this …

The post Microsoft signs 10-year deal to offer cloud games through EE first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
As part of its effort to get the CMA on board with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has signed a number of 10-year deals, not only guaranteeing Call of Duty on other console platforms but all Xbox first-party titles for various cloud services. The latest 10-year cloud support deal has now been signed, this time with the UK's biggest mobile network, EE. 

In an announcement this morning, Xbox head, Phil Spencer, confirmed the deal, saying: “Microsoft and EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to EE customers.”

Microsoft has signed similar cloud gaming deals with companies like Nvidia, Boosteroid and Ubitus. It has also made commitments to continue supporting the Steam store on PC alongside the Windows Store, and Microsoft has signed a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo consoles. A similar deal has also been offered to Sony for PlayStation consoles but the company has yet to sign as it continues its mission to try and block the merger.

The CMA will be making its final decision on the deal later this month and the EU will follow shortly after, with plans to reach a final decision in May. Over in the US, the FTC is suing to block the deal and all parties involved are preparing for trial.

KitGuru Says: This is all part of the remedies package Microsoft is putting together to convince regulators to approve the deal. We already know from the CMA's last public update that the tides are starting to turn in Microsoft's favour, but the deal with EE could help further. 

The post Microsoft signs 10-year deal to offer cloud games through EE first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/microsoft-signs-10-year-deal-to-offer-cloud-games-through-ee/feed/ 0
CMA: Microsoft’s Activision buyout “will not result” in lessening of competition https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/cma-microsofts-activision-buyout-will-not-result-in-lessening-of-competition/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/cma-microsofts-activision-buyout-will-not-result-in-lessening-of-competition/#respond Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:59:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=597851 The CMA has published its latest update into its ongoing investigation into Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While previously, the regulator seemed to have many concerns, it has now “narrowed its scope” of issues with the deal and no longer feels that it would “result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to …

The post CMA: Microsoft’s Activision buyout “will not result” in lessening of competition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The CMA has published its latest update into its ongoing investigation into Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While previously, the regulator seemed to have many concerns, it has now “narrowed its scope” of issues with the deal and no longer feels that it would “result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK”.

Microsoft has been adamant that it has no plans to remove Call of Duty from other platforms and instead wants to bring the franchise to more platforms and devices. This led to a round of 10-year licensing deals with rival companies, like Nintendo, Valve (Steam), Nvidia and others, promising to bring Call of Duty to rival consoles and cloud gaming services. In light of this, the CMA is no longer concerned about Microsoft taking Call of Duty away from PlayStation.

“The CMA has received a significant amount of new evidence in response to its original provisional findings. Having considered this new evidence carefully, together with the wide range of information gathered before those provisional findings were issued, the CMA inquiry group has updated its provisional findings and reached the provisional conclusion that, overall, the transaction will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK”, the regulator writes in its latest public report.

The CMA specifically points to Microsoft's financial arguments as a key reason for this change in decision. Microsoft argued that it would not make financial sense to take Call of Duty away from PlayStation and even pointed out a number of flaws in the CMA's assessment of the console market.

While the CMA is convinced that the acquisition won't reduce competition in the console gaming space, it does still have concerns about the future of cloud gaming, which is still an emerging market.

“Our provisional view that this deal raises concerns in the cloud gaming market is not affected by today’s announcement”, the CMA writes.

Microsoft has tried to combat this with 10-year deals with Nvidia's GeForce Now and other services, like Ubitus, a cloud gaming provider that brings Triple-A games to Nintendo Switch through streaming.

The CMA will make its final decision on the deal by the end of April, as will the European Commission.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Given that the CMA has been viewed as the most problematic of the regulators up to this point, today's update does seem like a positive sign that the deal will go through. There are still some concerns around the cloud market, but things are clearly moving in Microsoft's favour at this point. 

The post CMA: Microsoft’s Activision buyout “will not result” in lessening of competition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/cma-microsofts-activision-buyout-will-not-result-in-lessening-of-competition/feed/ 0
Six game studios tell CMA Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal would improve competition https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/six-game-studios-tell-cma-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-would-improve-competition/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/six-game-studios-tell-cma-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-would-improve-competition/#respond Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:30:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=597134 While we've known for a while now that Sony has been in talks with the CMA to express concerns about Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we haven't heard much about studios speaking out in defence of the acquisition. That changed today, with the CMA's filings being updated with responses from other third-party developers on …

The post Six game studios tell CMA Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal would improve competition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While we've known for a while now that Sony has been in talks with the CMA to express concerns about Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we haven't heard much about studios speaking out in defence of the acquisition. That changed today, with the CMA's filings being updated with responses from other third-party developers on the deal. 

Six studios shared their opinions on the deal with the CMA, but only 4J Studios chose to make its name public. This group of studios said that the acquisition would not harm the industry and would provide more robust competition in the console market.

Making his comments public, 4J Studios co-founder, Chris van der Kuyl, said that the deal seems like a “natural evolution of the industry”. Another company said that it found the arguments against the acquisition to  “be slightly exaggerated and out of proportion”.

As pointed out by Game Developer, one CEO of an independent studio that has worked with Xbox, Sony and even Activision spoke in defence of Microsoft, saying the company has always honoured its contracts and obligations, which seems to be a response to suggestions that Microsoft made promises to regulators that Zenimax games would not be exclusive in order to get the deal approved.

Another developer simply said that “PlayStation needs better competition to force the platform to up its game”. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would lead to stronger competition between the two consoles.

Sony has made its objections to the deal clear once again in recent weeks, claiming that Microsoft has lied to regulators in the past, and also trying to convince regulators that Microsoft could sabotage Call of Duty by hampering performance on PlayStation if it gained control of the IP.

KitGuru Says: The war over Call of Duty continues. Hopefully in the next few months this whole situation can finally be put to rest. 

The post Six game studios tell CMA Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal would improve competition first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/six-game-studios-tell-cma-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-would-improve-competition/feed/ 0
The FTC reveals Microsoft is already working on next-gen Xbox https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-ftc-reveals-microsoft-is-already-working-on-next-gen-xbox/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-ftc-reveals-microsoft-is-already-working-on-next-gen-xbox/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:03:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=596985 Just recently, we heard that Sony is developing a PS5 Pro console, indicating that the PlayStation 6 should arrive sometime between 2027 and 2028. Now, regulatory filings have confirmed that Microsoft is also working on its next generation of Xbox hardware and services.  The FTC is currently suing Microsoft to block the acquisition of Activision …

The post The FTC reveals Microsoft is already working on next-gen Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Just recently, we heard that Sony is developing a PS5 Pro console, indicating that the PlayStation 6 should arrive sometime between 2027 and 2028. Now, regulatory filings have confirmed that Microsoft is also working on its next generation of Xbox hardware and services. 

The FTC is currently suing Microsoft to block the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a case that Microsoft is planning to fight in court. As part of the discovery process, involved parties have to hand over requested documents and information as all sides build their cases. We've already seen Microsoft request a trove of files from Sony, including exclusivity and licensing contracts dating back to 2019. Now, the FTC is requesting particular files from Microsoft, including documents related to its “next generation gaming ecosystem”.

The codename has been redacted in the public version of the file, but what we can see tells us enough. The file states that the FTC is requesting “documents related to [redacted], the code name for Microsoft's next-generation gaming ecosystem”. According to the document, this is part of Microsoft's “forward-looking strategy for its console, subscription, and cloud gaming businesses”.

We are unlikely to get any further details, as these files are scrutinised and sensitive information is redacted before the documents are made public.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft won't be talking about its next-gen plans publicly anytime soon, after all, the company still has a number of announced Xbox Series X/S games that seem to be years away from release. Still, it is always interesting to see how far ahead the big companies are planning. 

The post The FTC reveals Microsoft is already working on next-gen Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-ftc-reveals-microsoft-is-already-working-on-next-gen-xbox/feed/ 0
Xbox signs deal to bring first-party games to Switch cloud gaming provider Ubitus https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-signs-deal-to-bring-first-party-games-to-switch-cloud-gaming-provider-ubitus/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-signs-deal-to-bring-first-party-games-to-switch-cloud-gaming-provider-ubitus/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:50:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=596976 Yesterday Microsoft announced a new deal with a competing cloud gaming provider in an effort to convince regulators that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard won't squeeze the competition out of the market. Today, the company is announcing yet another deal, this time with a more widely known cloud gaming company.  Today's deal is signed with …

The post Xbox signs deal to bring first-party games to Switch cloud gaming provider Ubitus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Yesterday Microsoft announced a new deal with a competing cloud gaming provider in an effort to convince regulators that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard won't squeeze the competition out of the market. Today, the company is announcing yet another deal, this time with a more widely known cloud gaming company. 

Today's deal is signed with Ubitus, a Japan and Taiwan-based cloud gaming provider. While you may not recognise the name immediately, Ubitus does have a pretty big place in the industry, having partnered with multiple publishers to bring AAA games to the Nintendo Switch through cloud streaming. Games like Control, Resident Evil 7 and Village, Hitman 3, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Assassin's Creed Odyssey were all brought to the Switch through Ubitus and its service.

Just like the deals with Nintendo, Boosteroid and Nvidia, the deal with Ubitus will ensure that Activision Blizzard titles, including Call of Duty, will be made available through the Ubitus platform. The deal will also bring Xbox first-party games to the service.

Why is Microsoft focusing so much on cloud gaming services? Well in its provisional findings, the UK's CMA found that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could have a heavy impact on the cloud gaming market and give Microsoft a huge advantage in this emerging market. With that in mind, Microsoft is now opening up its games and services to as many viable competing services as it can in an effort to squash that argument. With deals like this in place, it will become harder for regulators to make a case for anti-competitive practices in court.

Microsoft has also recently stated that if any regulators do try to block the deal, the company is willing to take things to court and fight the decision.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The CMA and EU Commission are both due to make their final decisions on the deal in late April, so there is still some time for more moves to be made. At this point, Sony seems to be the odd one out as the only company heavily opposing the deal. 

The post Xbox signs deal to bring first-party games to Switch cloud gaming provider Ubitus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-signs-deal-to-bring-first-party-games-to-switch-cloud-gaming-provider-ubitus/feed/ 0