Articles about activision blizzard

A ‘painful’ reset for Xbox: 3,200 job cuts, studio spinoffs, and a vow to return to growth in 2027

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history: 3,200 job cuts, four studio spinoffs, a new COO, and a flattened management structure — all aimed at turning around a division she says has been losing 64 cents on every dollar invested in its studios. Read More

Xbox at a crossroads: 25 years later, Microsoft is done playing around

Microsoft is pressing its Xbox business for growth and stronger profits after 25 years of losses and thin margins. Here’s the math and the strategy behind the reset, with Xbox layoffs expected as soon as next week. Read More

Microsoft’s new Xbox chief makes first major change, cutting Game Pass price, but with a catch

Microsoft is dropping Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 a month, but future Call of Duty games will no longer be available at launch. It’s the first significant move by new gaming CEO Asha Sharma. Read More

Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft’s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business

Microsoft’s new top gaming exec has the trust of Satya Nadella, a track record running platforms at Facebook, Instacart, and Microsoft’s AI division, and a goal to restore Xbox’s “renegade spirit.” What she doesn’t have is gaming industry experience — and the community is watching closely. Read More

Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring after 38 years at Microsoft; Asha Sharma named new gaming CEO

Phil Spencer, who reshaped Xbox through landmark acquisitions and a bet on cloud gaming, is stepping down. His successor, Asha Sharma, has roots in the Seattle startup community, with deep experience in consumer platforms. Xbox President Sarah Bond is leaving. Read More

Nearly two years later, FTC drops final challenge to Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard deal

Like a seasoned gamer navigating a tricky boss fight, Microsoft has completed one of the most high-stakes regulatory campaigns in… Read More

Analysis: Microsoft now owns Activision Blizzard, which shifts the balance of power in video games

OK, now what? I wasn’t sure we’d ever get here, but 21 months later, Microsoft has successfully fended off the… Read More

Microsoft completes landmark Activision Blizzard acquisition after 21-month regulatory saga

Updated on Oct. 13 with details of acquisition closing. Microsoft completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard on Friday… Read More

UK regulator: Microsoft concessions ‘substantially address’ concerns about Activision deal

Microsoft’s plan to sell Activision Blizzard’s cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft appears to have appeased UK antitrust regulators who previously… Read More

Analysis: Legal battle is only the first step to success in Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision

Microsoft on Tuesday cleared a significant hurdle to its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, as a federal judge sided… Read More

What we learned from Microsoft vs. the FTC in tech giant’s battle to acquire Activision Blizzard

From the start, Microsoft’s hearing against the US Federal Trade Commission was going to be interesting to anyone who follows… Read More

Day two of Microsoft’s FTC trial: Court documents point to new Xbox in 2028

Microsoft plans to bring the next generation of Xbox video game consoles to market in 2028, according to documents unsealed… Read More

The view from day one: Microsoft challenges FTC in court over acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Today marked the first of a five-day court session that pits Microsoft against the US Federal Trade Commission, in the… Read More

FTC files injunction to block Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in court Monday to block Microsoft’s acquisition of video game developer Activision… Read More

Analysis: Microsoft’s regulatory concessions in Activision deal may tamper Xbox ecosystem growth

Microsoft may end up controlling a shocking amount of the most popular, beloved video game franchises in modern media if… Read More

UK’s rejection of $69B Activision Blizzard deal leaves Microsoft fighting battles on two continents

Fifteen months after Microsoft started its journey to join forces with Activision Blizzard, another boss is now standing in its… Read More

Analysis: If the FTC blocks Microsoft’s $69B acquisition, the real loser is Activision Blizzard

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday that it intends to sue to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of giant… Read More

Microsoft reaches ‘Call of Duty’ deal with Nintendo amid standoff with Sony over Activision acquisition

Microsoft says it has reached a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring “Call of Duty” games to Nintendo systems if… Read More

Analysis: Microsoft’s plans to launch mobile game app store reframes Activision-Blizzard deal

As Microsoft’s pending $68.7 billion-dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard continues to undergo investigation in the UK, new filings reveal Microsoft’s… Read More

Microsoft tells Brazilian regulator that Sony pays devs to not push content to Xbox Game Pass

In a filing to Brazil’s national competition regulator, Microsoft has claimed that Sony pays unnamed video game developers to prevent… Read More

Will Microsoft buy Netflix? Why a deal makes sense — and why it doesn’t

Recent headlines detailing subscriber loss at Netflix combined with the streaming giant’s advertising deal with Microsoft to launch an ad-supported… Read More

Microsoft signs ‘labor neutrality agreement’ with union representing Activision Blizzard employees

The Communications Workers of America announced Monday that it entered into a labor neutrality agreement with Microsoft that will apply… Read More

Microsoft acquisition drama continues, as Activision subsidiary’s QA team votes to unionize

The quality-assurance department at Wisconsin-based Call of Duty developer Raven Software has voted to unionize, which could significantly impact its… Read More

U.S. regulators seek more info on Microsoft’s $68.7B Activision Blizzard acquisition

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission asked Microsoft and Activision Blizzard “for additional information and documentary material” for its review of… Read More

Steve Ballmer offers a scorecard on Microsoft’s big acquisitions, and revisits his own legacy as CEO

It’s 2022, and Microsoft’s cloud business is on track to become half of its overall revenue. Big investments in Xbox… Read More

Barry Diller calls his Activision-Blizzard options trade in advance of blockbuster Microsoft deal a ‘lucky bet’

Media mogul Barry Diller acknowledged that he made what turned out to be a lucrative investment in options to buy… Read More

Xbox vet Ed Fries on blockchain, life as a venture capitalist and the run of extraordinary gaming deals

Ed Fries is having a big week. His games-focused venture fund 1Up Ventures put money into two separate new gaming… Read More

Microsoft Gaming head confirms Activision’s ‘Call of Duty’ will keep coming to PlayStation

New Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has confirmed that the best-selling video game series Call of Duty will continue to… Read More

Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard deal will test new U.S. antitrust approach

Announcing its record-setting deal to acquire game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, Microsoft pointed out that the combination would… Read More

Microsoft’s $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard will create a new gaming behemoth

Microsoft is aiming to vault itself into the upper echelon of video games with its $68.7 billion deal to acquire… Read More