Tag: Microsoft - Page 2
News Publishers Don't Like 'Value Destructive' Subs Like Xbox Game Pass, Says Sony Boss
"This is a very commonly held view over many years"
Sony has dipped its toe into the hypothetical subscription future with its revamped PS Plus tiers, but it’s resisted the temptation to include tentpole AAA titles in its service on day one, like Xbox Game Pass does. It’s argued since the beginning that this business model is unsustainable, and...
News Microsoft Planned to Conquer Japan with Square Enix Buyout, Eye-Opening Documents Reveal
Final Fantasy a key component
Wow, this just never ends! In its ongoing attempts to sate the FTC — which is currently scrutinising Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard — the tech giant has been forced to disclose internal documents and emails, placing a spotlight on the company's behind-the-scenes planning. Just days ago,...
News Microsoft's Potential Game Plan in 2020: 'Spend Sony Out of Business'
Money talks
Look, we're sick of hearing about the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard saga as you are, but you've got to admit, some of these details are just too juicy to ignore. In its ongoing attempts to appease the FTC, Microsoft has had to present a number of internal emails before the courts — and boy are they eye-opening. One such email saw...
News SEGA and Bungie Were On Microsoft's Shopping List in 2020, Xbox Emails Show
All to "accelerate" Game Pass
Microsoft's ongoing attempts to buy Activision Blizzard for an absurd $69 billion (we still struggle to comprehend that number) have forced the company to divulge all kinds of weird details on how Xbox operates behind the scenes. Case in point: Microsoft has just been forced to share internal emails, in which Xbox bo
News Xbox Boss Wishy-Washy on Whether The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Come to PS6, PS5
"It's so far out"
Microsoft has consistently reiterated that Bethesda games will come to PlayStation on a case-by-case basis, but while it admittedly continues to support live service efforts like Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online on Sony’s consoles, we’re slowly beginning to see that won’t be the outcome for new projects. The recently...
News Xbox Insinuates It Bought Bethesda to Block Starfield PS5 Console Exclusivity
Things could have been very different
At the beginning of the generation, there were rumours that Sony was acting incredibly aggressively, attempting to sign console exclusives with as many publishers as possible. Ultimately, we’ve seen evidence of that, with the likes of Deathloop, Ghostwire Tokyo, and more recently Final Fantasy 16 all launching...
News "We've Lost the Console Wars," Says Trillion Dollar Underdog Xbox
Incentive to spend $69 billion
One consistent theme throughout the entire sorry Activision Blizzard buyout saga has been how both Sony and Microsoft have utterly dismantled their own businesses in attempt to convince regulators to get their own way. The latest effort comes courtesy of the US Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing court case, where...
News Starfield, Redfall Exclusivity 'Powerful Evidence' Against Xbox's Activision Buyout, Claims FTC
PlayStation's Jim Ryan to be a witness in case
We’re on the cusp of peak corporate pettiness, so batten down the hatches and brace yourselves, because the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft’s unfathomable $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is about to get underway. A number of high-profile witnesses...
News Microsoft Welcomes FTC's Injunction on Xbox's Activision Blizzard Buyout
Star-spangled lawsuits
Update: So, yes, the FTC has filed an injunction in an attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft's $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard — and the trillion dollar titan has welcomed it. The thinking here, allegedly, is that the Redmond firm is playing 4D chess, and it believes that by taking this to court earlier than...
Roadmap will soon be required
The curtain has closed on what was, in this author’s partially informed opinion, probably the strongest Xbox Showcase in recent memory. This wasn’t a total knockout on par with some of PlayStation’s best ever E3 presentations – is such a thing even possible now we’ve effectively transitioned from live...
News Microsoft Bigwig Hoping to Voice Frustration to UK Politicians Over $69 Billion Buyout Block
Channel crossing
Having been frustrated in its $69 billion dollar bid to acquire Activision Blizzard in the UK, Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, is scheduled to meet with UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this week to plead the company's case in person. This follows the EU's acquiescence to the deal, a matter to which the UK's regulator, the Competition...
News Xbox Wouldn't Shoot Itself in the Foot by Yanking Call of Duty Off PS5, Says EU
PS5 outselling Xbox Series X|S dramatically in Europe
A big point of contention over Microsoft’s stumbling $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is whether Call of Duty becoming exclusive would negatively impede PlayStation’s ability to compete in the console space. While regulators have, ultimately, determined cloud streaming is a...
Random Xbox Politely Points Out All the Non-Exclusives from Sony’s PS5 Showcase
Which was most of 'em
The post-press conference haze is a real phenomenon, and it can be difficult to determine exactly which games are exclusive and which aren’t. To be honest, Sony’s show this evening wasn’t the worst example we’ve ever seen, because it became pretty obvious as the minutes ticked by that we weren’t seeing many...
News UK's Regulator Responds to European Commission's Decision to Pass Xbox's Activision Buyout
"The CMA stands by its decision"
With the European Commission’s decision to pass Microsoft’s unprecedented $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard today, it was inevitable that the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority would be asked to comment. Unsurprisingly, the division – which made the unexpected move to block the acquisition a few...
News Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Deal Approved by the EU Commission
Issues on cloud gaming answered
The European Commission has today confirmed its approved Microsoft's proposed $69 billion purchase of Call of Duty maker Activision. Having addressed concerns in the cloud gaming space, the EU Commission rules Microsoft's 10-year commitments to "represent a significant improvement for cloud gaming as compared to the...
News Sorry, But the Drama Over Xbox's Activision Buyout Ain't Over Yet
Mentally prepare yourselves for next week
The UK’s unexpected decision to block Microsoft’s bonkers $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard provided us with a temporary reprieve from the corporate skulduggery that’s dominated the industry this past year, but the bees nest will be poked again next week when the European Commission is expected...
News Xbox Boss Admits Microsoft Can't 'Outconsole' PS5
Phil Spencer chimes in on current trends
In a rather eye-opening interview with Kinda Funny Games, Xbox boss Phil Spencer basically admits that Microsoft's gaming arm can't directly compete with Sony and Nintendo. It's fairly common knowledge that in the current generation of consoles, the PS5 is comfortably outselling the Xbox Series X|S, but it's...
News UK's Activision Buyout Block Forbids Microsoft from Trying Again for 10 Years
Time-out
Microsoft's effort to acquire Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard was already starting to look quite dire, but an appeals process is currently underway, we're told. If unsuccessful, however, Microsoft will apparently need to wait a full decade before it will be able to try again. Over on
News Activision Poised to Pocket a Cool $3 Billion if Xbox Buyout Breaks Down
Must be funny
Microsoft’s unfathomable $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard is hanging by a thread after the deal was blocked by UK regulators earlier this week. In the aftermath of the decision, the trillion dollar tech titan immediately went on a rampage, piling pressure on the government by
News Microsoft Goes Scorched Earth Over UK's Activision Buyout Block
"Darkest day in our four decades in Britain"
Microsoft already tried the charm offensive to get its unfathomable $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard past regulators – and now the deal has been blocked by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), it’s just plain gone on the offensive. In an eye-popping interview with the BBC,
News Activision Blizzard Boss Bobby Kotick Warns Billion Dollar Buyout Saga Ain't Over
"This is far from the final word"
After a shock upset at the eleventh hour, the UK's CMA has blocked Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, stunning pundits and analysts alike as the deal was generally expected to be given the go-ahead. An internal email from Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick
News Microsoft Dealt Major Blow as UK Blocks Activision Buyout
Didn't see that one coming
In a dramatic twist that we frankly never saw coming, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard after months of investigations and deliberations. Microsoft's industry-shaking $69 billion buyout of the colossal publisher has, predictably, been the subject of...
Let it end
The bell tolls for Call of Duty on PlayStation, as a (pay-walled) Financial Times report indicates the CMA's long-awaited decision regarding Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard could come down as soon as tomorrow, and in the Xbox parent company's favour. There really isn't too much more to say;
News American Senators Continue to Target Sony Over PS5, PS4 Timed Exclusives
PlayStation alleged of engaging in "anticompetitive conduct"
More and more American senators are calling out Sony over its timed exclusivity deals, as the fallout from Xbox’s unfathomable $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard continues to rumble. North Dakota’s Kevin Cramer is the latest to throw his hat into the ring, sending a letter...
News Sony Claps Back at UK Regulator's 'Irrational' Reversal on Microsoft Activision Deal
Down, but not out
Sony has hit back at the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over its revised stance regarding Microsoft's proposed $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard, which has softened significantly in recent days. The CMA published Sony's response, which calls out the organisation's abrupt about-face, stating: "The CMA’s...
News Sony Is Acting Unfairly Against Xbox in Japan, US Congress Members Say
Politics are coming for your PS5
In another twist for the surreal, the Biden administration is now being pressured by members of Congress from both sides of the political aisle to take decisive action on a supposed 'monopoly' held by PlayStation on the Japanese video game market. Some required reading on this one, as it all stems from comments made...
News UK Regulator No Longer Concerned About Activision Buyout's Impact on Console Competition
Update: Activision rips into Sony in response to updated findings
Update: Activision Blizzard has released a gleeful response in relation to the UK regulators’ softened stance today. “The CMA’s updated provisional findings show an improved understanding of the console gaming market and demonstrate a commitment to supporting players and...
News Microsoft Thinks It Hasn't 'Pulled Any Games' from PS5, PS4
Reckons it's brought more games to PlayStation
Microsoft has today responded to the news of a cancelled PS5 version of Redfall by saying it hasn't "pulled any games from PlayStation". In fact, the platform holder thinks it's actually "expanded our footprint of games that we've shipped on Sony's PlayStation since our acquisition of ZeniMax, and the...
News US Senator Says Sony Has 'Monopoly' on High-End Japanese Game Market
You'll never guess her biggest campaign contributor
A new player has entered the neverending saga of Microsoft's proposed $69 billion dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell (who represents the state of Washington) weighed in on the subject today in a rather confusing fashion. Spotted over
News Sony Concerned Microsoft Could, Knowingly or Not, Sabotage Call of Duty on PlayStation
The knives come out
It's time to return to everyone's favourite ongoing story in games, namely, the war of words between Microsoft and Sony in regard to the former's intent to purchase publisher Activision Blizzard. In the latest turn, Sony has voiced concern that should the acquisition come to pass, future Call of Duty titles on PlayStation could...
News European Union Likely to Pass Xbox's $69 Billion Buyout of Activision
Money talks
According to a Reuters report, the European Union will apparently not object to Microsoft’s unprecedented $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard. The Redmond firm went on a charm offensive in Brussels last week, signing a variety of deals with Nintendo and NVidia GeForce Now, promising Call of Duty for at least the n
News Sony Must Share Details of Exclusivity Deals with Microsoft in FTC's Court Hearing
The saga continues
We hope you're not bored of this yet, but it's time once again to talk about Microsoft's industry-shaking attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard. The deal, worth a ridiculous $69 billion, would see the company absorb ActiBlizz and all its intellectual property. The convergence of two such large publishers has caused concerns about...
News Xbox Series X|S Is Getting Trounced by PS5, Microsoft Weirdly Reveals
The solution? $69 billion
The funniest thing about the never-ending Activision Blizzard acquisition saga is how it’s prompted tech giants Microsoft and Sony to undermine their own businesses. Case in point: during a media briefing in Brussels earlier today, the Redmond firm proudly (?) declared that Xbox has a global market share of just 30 per...
News Xbox on Charm Offensive to Push $69 Billion Activision Acquisition Through
Squeaky bum time
Microsoft is in Brussels today, trying to convince the European Commission that it should be allowed to acquire Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $69 billion sum. Both the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the United States’ Federal
News Some Fans Are So Invested in Xbox's Activision Acquisition They're Tracking a Sony Plane
Ryan air
The obsessive interest in Microsoft’s eye-watering $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has hit new highs – or lows, depending on your perspective – as fans have taken to tracking the flights of a private Sony jet. A strangely engaged fanbase has discovered that a plane from London to Seattle was charted on 6th February,...
News Microsoft Can't Deny Xbox Game Pass Cannibalises Software Sales
Redmond firm releases statement
Update: Following a wave of reporting based on documentation from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority which suggested what we all suspected, that Xbox Game Pass is harming full-price software sales, the Redmond firm has released a statement to Kotaku which fails to deny the claims: "Xbox Game Pass offers...
News Bobby Kotick Says Sony Is 'Trying to Sabotage' Microsoft's Activision Bid
War of words
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has accused Sony of "trying to sabotage" Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the company and claims that PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has "stopped talking" to both parties involved. In an interview with the Financial Times, Kotick stated that 'Sony’s entire leadership team stopped talking to...
News Call of Duty Is the Main Reason People Buy PS5, PS4, Says New Survey
New data used against Microsoft's buyout
It doesn't really come as a huge surprise, but Call of Duty's overall popularity on PlayStation consoles is being used as an argument against Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The UK's Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA for short) has found that a seemingly significant number of...
News UK Determines Xbox's $69 Billion Activision Buyout Could Harm Gamers
May result in "higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation"
Microsoft’s eye-watering $69 billion proposal to purchase Activision Blizzard has been the source of intense scrutiny from global governments for nearly a year now, but the UK’s regulator has released a provisional report today which says it “could harm gamers” and potentially...
News PS5's Market Share Is Expanding Significantly in Xbox's Backyard
Sony takes control in USA
There had been a school of thought that, due to the various stock shortages, Sony and Microsoft were neck-and-neck in the all-important battleground of the United States. That’s actually not the case, and the PS5 is actually outperforming the Xbox Series X|S at a ratio greater than the PS4 against the Xbox One at the same...
News Activision Blizzard Exec Says Last of Us HBO Proves Microsoft Acquisition Should Go Ahead
Sony is "the first of us"
Well, that's a new tact. Lulu Cheng Meservey, Activision Blizzard’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer, thinks that HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us is great. Like, REALLY good. So good, in fact, that she believes it is proof that Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of...
News Xbox, Nintendo Reportedly Join Sony in Skipping E3
No shows all-round
Platform holders Microsoft and Nintendo will not bother with a presence on the E3 2023 show floor according to a new report from IGN. Joining Sony — who hasn't attended the convention since 2018 — it raises more questions about what the expo will look like as Reedpop takes over manag
News Microsoft Summons Sony to FTC's Activision Blizzard Court Hearing
Sony requests more time to prepare
Here we go, then. It's been roughly a year since Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for a huge $69 billion. In terms of major industry news, it doesn't get much bigger than that, and the result is a story that's lasted a full 12 months. The saga isn't likely to end any time soon,...
News US Government's FTC Will Attempt to Block Microsoft's Activision Buyout
Points to repeatedly withholding content
The FTC (USA's Federal Trade Commission) has confirmed it will attempt to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Call of Duty developer Activision. In a statement on its official website, the FTC pointed to Microsoft's record of buying other developers to suppress content from its rivals. "Microsoft...
News Microsoft Invites Sony to Sign Its Own 10-Year Call of Duty Deal
As Nintendo and Steam sign up
Microsoft is inviting Sony to sign an agreement that would see the Call of Duty series appear on PlayStation platforms for another 10 years. Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed this morning Nintendo has already agreed to the deal, which takes effect should Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision go through. It now wishes...
News PS5 Games Likely to Remain $70 as Xbox Bumps Prices
Pressure's off
Any hope of Sony feeling pressured into reducing the price of its first-party releases looks over, as Microsoft has announced plans to increase the cost of its own exclusives. While the dynamics aren’t directly comparable – Xbox owners will point to Game Pass as an alternative, cheaper means of playing the Redmond firm’s output...
Report FTC Could File an Antitrust Lawsuit to Block Xbox's Activision Buyout
And that's Jenga
A day dominated by stories involving Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard has concluded with an exclusive story by Politico, which claims the Federal Trade Commission could be poised to file an antitrust lawsuit against the acquisition. The website cites “three people with knowledge on the matter”,...
News PlayStation Says Activision Blizzard Simply Must Remain Independent
Throws the gauntlet at regulators to block the acquisition
Sony and Microsoft are embarrassing themselves publicly to extreme levels, which perhaps demonstrates just how much is on the line with Xbox’s proposed near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The platform holders have bickered, back-talked, and are one step away from arranging...
News Sony: Xbox Wants Us to Be Like Nintendo, a Less Effective Competitor
Nintendo, meanwhile, is counting its Pokémon cash
Sony and Microsoft’s very public war of words continues, with paperwork published by the UK government today outlining PlayStation’s stance against Xbox’s unprecedented near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In the document, the Japanese giant’s legal team responds to a point...
News PS Plus Is Losing to Xbox Game Pass, And Sony Fears Call of Duty Would Make It Worse
Bruised and broken
As industry titans Sony and Microsoft continue to play the victim in an attempt to influence regulators regarding the latter’s outrageous near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we’re beginning to see both companies openly acknowledge their weaknesses. Earlier today, the Redmond firm effectively admitted that its...