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☆ Microsoft says it looked at acquiring Zynga but opted to go bigger with Activision
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Zynga was originally for the Facebook hit social game FarmVille, before eventually expanding into mobile games, largely through acquisitions. Prior to the Microsoft offer, Activision met with a financial firm to work on topping Take-Two's purchase of Zynga, CNBC reported at the time. Spencer didn't say when Microsoft was in talks with Zynga, and the company wouldn't provide further comment. Spencer said that after the company went to Zynga, he worked with Microsoft finance chief Amy Hood to look for mobile opportunities. Activision grew its portfolio of mobile games with the 2016 acquisition of King, publisher of Candy Crush Saga.

Persons: Phil Spencer, Justin Sullivan, Spencer, Spencer didn't, Tencent, Amy Hood, King, Candy Organizations: FRANCISCO, Microsoft, Activision, FTC, Activision Blizzard, Zynga, Federal Trade Commission, Facebook, FarmVille, CNBC, Sony, Apple Locations: CALIFORNIA, San Francisco , California, San Francisco

☆ F.T.C. Said to Plan to Sue to Stop Microsoft’s Activision Deal From Closing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( David Mccabe | Kellen Browning | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The planned lawsuit would be the latest blow to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, which makes popular video games like Call of Duty and Candy Crush. sued to block the deal through an in-house court, arguing it would damage competition in various parts of the video game market. The agency plans to file the separate lawsuit on Wednesday because unlike the F.T.C.’s in-house court, a federal court can issue a restraining order to block a purchase from being completed. In April, the British Competition and Markets Authority also moved to stop the deal, though regulators in the European Union said in May that it could go forward. Governments around the world have been challenging the power of tech giants like Microsoft.

Persons: Meta Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Activision, behemoth, British Competition, Markets Authority, European Union, Amazon, of Justice, Google

☆ Some Diablo 4 players reported invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after Diablo 3 was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of Diablo 4. It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony, Associated Press Locations: U.S

☆ Some Diablo 4 players are reporting invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after "Diablo III" was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of "Diablo IV." It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo III: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Associated Press, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony Locations: U.S

☆ Barclays says there's a big buying opportunity in Activision Blizzard after blocked Microsoft deal, sees shares rallying 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Activision Blizzard's recent tumult could be a buying opportunity for investors, according to Barclays. Regulators in the UK blocked Microsoft's attempt to purchase the company over competition concerns. ATVI YTD mountain Activision Blizzard could be a buying opportunity for investors despite the fallout of Microsoft deal. Lu said the move to stop the Microsoft deal was somewhat surprising, given that regulators seemingly eased up on concerns over the takeover at the end of March. Activision executives told investors the UK's Competition and Markets Authority was "disproportionate, irrational and inconsistent."

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Meta, Amazon, Ford, Activision Blizzard & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bernstein reiterates Apple as market perform Bernstein said it remains "torn" on Apple heading into earnings next week. Morgan Stanley reiterates Meta as overweight Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the AI beneficiary to $300 per share from $250 after the company's earnings report Wednesday. " Morgan Stanley reiterates Ford as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating heading into earnings next week. Citi reiterates Amazon as buy Citi said it's bullish on the e-commerce giant heading into earnings on Thursday after the bell. Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight Morgan Stanley said the stock is one of the firm's top picks heading into earnings in May.

☆ UK blocks Microsoft's $69 bln Activision deal over cloud gaming concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The country's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft's commitment to offer access to Activision's multi-billion dollar "Call of Duty" franchise to leading cloud gaming platforms would not effectively remedy its concerns. The gaming company also reported quarterly results on Wednesday, a day earlier than scheduled, beating quarterly bookings estimates although that seemed to do little to allay investor concerns about Britain's move. Europe will decide on the Activision deal by May 22. The CMA said the cloud gaming market was forecast to be worth 11 billion pounds ($13.7 billion) globally by 2026. The CMA said Microsoft had an estimated 60%-70% of global cloud gaming services as well as competitive advantages including owning Xbox, PC operating system Windows and cloud provider Azure.

☆ UK blocks Microsoft $69 bln Activision deal over cloud gaming concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The country's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft's commitment to offer access to Activision's multi-billion dollar "Call of Duty" franchise to leading cloud gaming platforms would not effectively remedy its concerns. Microsoft announced its Activision bid in January 2022 to boost its firepower in a video gaming market led by Tencent (0700.HK) and Sony (6758.T). Europe will decide on the Activision deal by May 22. The CMA said the cloud gaming market was forecast to be worth 11 billion pounds ($13.7 billion) globally by 2026. The CMA said Microsoft had an estimated 60%-70% of global cloud gaming services as well as competitive advantages including owning Xbox, PC operating system Windows and cloud provider Azure.

An Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video game is inserted into the Microsoft's Xbox One video game console arranged in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. LONDON — Britain's top competition regulator on Wednesday moved to block Microsoft 's acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard . Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022 for $69 billion, in one of the biggest deals the video game industry has seen to date. Sony , in particular, has voiced concern with Microsoft's Activision purchase. The Japanese gaming giant fears that Microsoft could make Call of Duty exclusive to its Xbox consoles in the long run.

Microsoft President Brad Smith told a news conference on Tuesday he was now more optimistic of getting the Activision acquisition done after the Nvidia deal and a similar arrangement with Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T). Instead, Nvidia's 25 million customers will need to pay Nvidia for access to its cloud gaming platform and pay Microsoft for its games. Shares of Microsoft fell 2%, Nvidia dropped 3.4% and Activision fell 0.7% in a broadly lower market on Tuesday afternoon. Nvidia said it now supports the Xbox maker's bid to purchase Activision, but the deal could still be a hard sell with regulators. Smith said he hoped that rival Sony Group Corp (6758.T) will consider doing the same type of deal with Nvidia.

☆ Deutsche Bank upgrades Activision Blizzard, says video game stock can rally regardless of Microsoft deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activision Blizzard can generate returns for shareholders regardless of if the Microsoft deal goes through, Deutsche Bank said. Analyst Benjamin Soff upgraded the gaming stock to buy from hold and raised his price target by $7 to $90. In 2022, Microsoft proposed buying the "Call of Duty" maker for $68.7 billion in cash. Despite headwinds to consumer spending, Soff expects health growth and predicts the company's 2023 releases will be commercially successful. Overall, Soff forecasted growth of 12% for net bookings and 17% for operating incomes in 2023.

☆ Duty Calls Activision Blizzard Back to the Top
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It probably would have been more helpful to Microsoft if Activision Blizzard had put out another clunker. Alas, that didn’t happen. Fourth-quarter results from Activision late Monday showed that “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II” revived the blockbuster franchise after the previous year’s serious misfire. That, combined with strength in the company’s “World of Warcraft” and “Overwatch” franchises, and the ever-consistent mobile mainstay “Candy Crush,” drove net bookings to $3.6 billion in the fourth quarter—beating Wall Street’s projections by 12%, according to FactSet. Bookings also surged 43% year over year, making for Activision’s best growth in at least five years for that important metric during the crucial holiday season.

☆ Parents who say their kids are addicted to Fortnite slam Epic Games with lawsuit — and research shows it's not the only game people are worried about
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Candy Crush and Minecraft are among other video games people are searching for addiction support for, research finds. However, the court didn't agree with the parents' claim that Epic Games deliberately made Fortnite addictive. As part of the class-action, other Fortnite players in Quebec who believe they've experienced symptoms of addiction to the game. In 2019, the World Health Organization officially classified video game addiction as a mental health disorder named "gaming disorder." These include Minecraft (2,800 monthly searches), World of Warcraft (2,620 monthly searches), League of Legends (2,130 monthly searches), and Candy Crush (1,550 monthly searches).

☆ Activision Blizzard falls as FTC says it is suing to stop Microsoft's takeover of the gaming giant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Activision Blizzard shares fell as the FTC announced it will sue to stop Microsoft from acquiring the video game giant. The deal would harm competition in the gaming industry, the FTC said in a statement on Thursday. Microsoft said it would buy the video game publisher for $69 billion in January. "Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets." Activision publishes many of the most popular video game franchises, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.

☆ The FTC is 'likely' to file a suit to block Microsoft's purchase of Activision, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FTC is 'likely' to file a lawsuit to block Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard. The suit would signify a major step by FTC chair Lina Khan to reign in big tech companies. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Graeme Jennings/Pool via REUTERSMicrosoft first announced its purchase of Activision Blizzard, which manufactures popular video game titles like Call of Duty and Candy Crush, in January. This merger will benefit gamers and the U.S. gaming industry, especially as we face increasingly stiff competition from abroad," a spokesperson for Activision told Insider.

☆ A new player in the grocery software space just raised $10 million to compete in the nearly $150 billion online grocery segment. Check out the 13-page pitch deck that helped Vori secure the deal.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vori raised a $10 million Series A for its grocery-inventory software aimed at indepedent grocers. Vori, an inventory-management startup, pitches itself as a solution for those smaller grocers — a position that just helped it raise $10 million. Vori's inventory software provides inventory services to grocers that might only have a few stores, Hill said. "Our customers have been our most active and enthusiastic investors," Hill said. Check out the 13-slide pitch deck that Vori used to raise its $10 million Series A round:

☆ FTC likely to file lawsuit to block Microsoft bid for Activision -Politico
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationNov 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) $69 billion takeover bid for video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc (ATVI.O), Politico reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The acquisition could damage the industry if Microsoft refused to give rivals access to Activision's best-selling games, Britain's antitrust regulator has said. The deal has drawn criticism from Sony, maker of the Playstation console, citing Microsoft's control of games like "Call of Duty." A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "We are prepared to address the concerns of regulators, including the FTC, and Sony to ensure the deal closes with confidence.

☆ FTC likely to file lawsuit to block Microsoft's $69 bln bid for Activision - Politico
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) $69 billion takeover bid for video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc (ATVI.O), Politico reported on Wednesday. However, the FTC staff reviewing the deal are skeptical of the companies' arguments, the report said. The FTC and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. The proposed bid is also facing EU scrutiny as regulators opened a full-scale investigation earlier this month and warned about the impact of the deal. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Microsoft wants to create more competition among game publishers, CEO Satya Nadella says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella says the American tech giant wants to create more competition among game publishers, as it faces an anticompetition probe over its $69 billion offer to buy Activision Blizzard . Activision Blizzard, the American game publisher behind popular franchises such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Candy Crush, could boost Microsoft's mobile gaming presence where it is largely absent. Microsoft has largely been in the console and PC video game businesses, offering access to hundreds of games via their video game subscription services Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. What can Microsoft uniquely do for gamers and game publishers? When asked about the next step if the Activision Blizzard deal doesn't happen, Nadella said: "We have been in gaming for decades.

☆ A 500-drone fleet lit up a Candy Crush ad over New York City. Night sky ads drive a wedge between humans and nature, astronomers say.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A fleet of 500 drones lit up the New York City skyline with a Candy Crush advertisement on Thursday. While it didn't contribute significantly to light pollution in New York, astronomers say the event is a sign of our dwindling relationship with the night sky. A heart formed by by 500 drones over the New York City skyline, on November 3, 2022. It might not be as deadly as other kinds of pollution, but light pollution can harm animals and people. Many studies have indicated that light pollution — from streetlights, light displays, and other sources — disorients migratory birds and plays a role in insect population decline.

☆ Microsoft says UK influenced by Sony in probing Activision Blizzard deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft could use its control over popular games to harm rivals, including those operating in multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming, it said. Microsoft said the CMA had adopted Sony's complaints without the "appropriate level of critical review". The Phase 1 decision identified three areas where the deal could cause harm: gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming services," a CMA spokesperson said in a statement. A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "This deal will benefit gamers, developers, and the industry as we seek to bring more games to more people." A spokesperson for Sony PlayStation reiterated its view that the deal was "bad for competition, bad for the gaming industry and bad for gamers themselves".

☆ A new player in the grocery software startup just raised $10 million to compete in the nearly $150 billion online grocery segment. Check out the 13-page pitch deck that helped Vori secure the deal.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Vori raised a $10 million Series A for its grocery-inventory software aimed at indepedent grocers. Roughly a third of US grocery sales happen at independent grocers, but many of these grocers lack the technology of bigger players like Kroger and Walmart. Vori, an inventory-management startup, pitches itself as a solution for those smaller grocers — a position that just helped it raise $10 million. Vori's inventory software provides inventory services to grocers that might only have a few stores, Hill said. "Our customers have been our most active and enthusiastic investors," Hill said.

Ce să faci dacă nu mergi la vot? 10 idei de activități alternativeAstăzi are loc al doilea tur al Alegerilor Locale în 458 de localități din Moldova. Pentru că în primul tur al alegerilor s-a constatat o prezență scăzută a tinerilor, echipa #diez îți propune o listă de activități pe care le-ai putea face ca alternativă în loc să mergi la vot. Luând în considerare motivele pentru care tinerii nu au ieșit la vot, am elaborat o listă de activități pe care le-ai putea face astăzi, dacă decizi iarăși să nu ieși la vot. Vă reamintim că cei care decid să-și exercite dreptul la vot sunt așteptați astăzi la secțiile de votare până la ora 21:00.

Persons: Grey, Saga . Organizations: Medieval Locations: Moldova, Chișinăului, Chișinău

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