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☆ Nintendo CEO once cut his salary in half to prevent layoffs—here's why that's so uncommon today
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As sweeping rounds of layoffs rock the tech, media and finance industries in 2024, some video game fans are thinking about former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata. Iwata ran the Kyoto, Japan-based video game company from 2002 until his death in 2015. To avoid layoffs, Iwata took a 50% pay cut to help pay for employee salaries, saying a fully-staffed Nintendo would have a better chance of rebounding. Iwata had faith in his talentFor Iwata, taking a pay cut over layoffs centered around his employees' ability to bounce back, Verma says. "Nintendo [needed] to see through the changes that necessitated launching the Nintendo Switch, which has been massively profitable for the company," says Verma.

Persons: Satoru Iwata, Iwata, Rohan Verma, —, it's, Verma, could've, Sandra Sucher, Sucher Organizations: Nintendo, Riot Games, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Stanford University, Harvard Business, CNBC Locations: Kyoto, Japan, —, U.S

☆ I moved to Montreal to be with a man I met on Xbox. It was a bigger culture shock than I expected.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I spent almost my entire life in Massachusetts until I met my now husband, Marc, six years ago. He's from Montreal, and we met online while playing Grand Theft Auto on Xbox. I'm a pet sitter, so once I got my PR, I could start pet sitting and dog walking here. Quebec is different from the rest of North AmericaThe culture shock was more than I expected. I'm much more confident now, and sometimes when I think I'm going to say something in English, French comes out first.

Persons: —, Melissa Rebelo, Marc, Sauve, poutine, Sauve It's, It's, it's, Thomas, Frank Pepe's Organizations: Service, Business, Facebook Locations: Sauve, Massachusetts, Montreal, Boston, Canadian, Quebec, North America, you'll, Springfield , Massachusetts, Canada, Connecticut

☆ Xbox chief announces mysterious event after weeks of leaks, layoffs, and drama
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Camilo Fonseca | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, promised a "business update event" to clarify the situation. The controversial rumors came weeks after Microsoft announced layoffs in its gaming divisions. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox."

Persons: It's, Phil Spencer, —, Spencer, We've Organizations: PlayStation, Microsoft Gaming, Microsoft, Service, Xbox

☆ Apple wants to know what developers really think about its App Store changes. It may regret asking.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewApple is about to find out what developers really make of its App Store shake-up . The iPhone maker has started to offer 30-minute online consultations to any app maker seeking to give feedback on a raft of controversial changes made to its App Store last month . To address lawmakers' concerns, Apple set about allowing third-party app stores onto iOS. AdvertisementFor one, it can expect to hear strong thoughts about rules dictating which third-party app stores will be allowed onto its operating systems. That said, it's still open to talk about topics including alternative distribution on iOS, alternative payments in the App Store, and more.

Persons: —, Tim Sweeney, Daniel Ek, Don Emmert, Sarah Bond, Apple, Sweeney, It's, Zach Meyers, it's Organizations: Service, Union's, Business, Apple, EU, Epic, iOS, Getty, Center, European Locations: Cupertino , London, Singapore, AFP, @Zach_CER

☆ Mark Zuckerberg hits out at Apple's 'onerous' new App Store rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the latest to slam Apple's new app store rules. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMeta has joined the ranks of companies criticizing Apple's new App Store rules. AdvertisementOn a call with analysts this week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the changes were "so onerous" that he'd be "very surprised if any developer" chooses to opt in. The streaming giant also released a statement accusing Apple of acting like "they don't think the rules apply to them."

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, —, It's, Apple, Daniel Ek, Apple's, Sarah Bond Organizations: Service, Meta, Union's, Apple, Digital

☆ Tech's longtime highfliers are growing up by getting smaller
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

They're still out hunting for the best technical talent, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, but headcount growth is measured. Last year, tech companies were responding to dramatically changing market conditions — soaring inflation, rising interest rates, rotation out of risk — after an extended bull market. Meta slashed over 20,000 jobs in 2023, Amazon laid off more than 27,000 people, And Alphabet cut over 12,000 positions. Other than Nvidia , which had a banner 2023 due to soaring demand for its AI chips, none of the other mega-cap tech companies have been growing at their historic averages. By late this year, analysts are projecting growth at Meta will be back down to the low teens at best.

Persons: Tayfun, There's, Daniel Flax, Neuberger Berman, CNBC's, Morgan Stanley, Brian Nowak, Brian Olsavsky, They're, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Olsavsky, Phil Spencer, Justin Sullivan, Okta, Zuora, Evan Sohn, Recruiter.com, " Sohn, Susan Li, Ben Barringer, Cheviot, Barringer, —, Annie Palmer Organizations: Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Technology, Amazon, Meta, hasn't, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, SAN FRANCISCO, Activision, FTC, Getty, Federal, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tech, Nvidia, Finance, CNBC Locations: Menlo Park , California, Silicon Valley, CALIFORNIA, San Francisco , California

☆ AMD shares fall as first-quarter forecast comes in light
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

AMD reported fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday that were in line with analyst expectations, while the company's revenue beat estimates, but AMD offered a first-quarter forecast that fell short of expectations. It said that its data center revenue would be flat as server chip declines would be offset by AI GPU sales. Net income in the fourth quarter was $667 million, or $0.41 per share, versus $21 million, or $0.01 per share a year ago. AMD gave a positive update on its AI chips sales. Data center, which includes server CPUs and AI chips, rose 38% on an annual basis to $2.28 billion in sales.

Persons: Lisa Su, It's Organizations: AMD, Nvidia, Data Center, Microsoft Xbox, Sony Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday that its profit for the October-December quarter soared 33%, powered by its significant investments in artificial intelligence technology. The company said that increase largely reflected growth in its cloud-computing unit, where Microsoft focuses most of its AI investments. “Microsoft is firmly establishing itself as a frontrunner in the AI race,” said Jeremy Goldman, director of briefings at Insider Intelligence. In addition to other benefits, Goldman suggested that AI technology could help expand Microsoft’s share of digital advertising. That merger boosted Microsoft's revenue growth by four points, according to James Ambrose, the company's director of investor relations.

Persons: ”, Jeremy Goldman, Goldman, James Ambrose, Microsoft's Organizations: FRANCISCO, — Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, Intelligence, Google, FactSet Research, Activision, Revenue Locations: Redmond, Washington

☆ Microsoft is laying off 1,900 workers at Activision, Xbox, and ZeniMax
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft is laying off 1,900 workers at Activision, Xbox, and ZeniMaxAngle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. The cuts will mostly impact Activision Blizzard employees, reports say. SOPA/Getty Images

Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Xbox, Activision Blizzard

☆ Microsoft lays off 1,900 workers, nearly 9% of gaming division, after Activision Blizzard acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra said Thursday on social media platform X he would be leaving Microsoft and Blizzard. Activision Blizzard is the publisher and developer of several massive gaming franchises, including Call of Duty and Diablo. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard was the company's largest ever acquisition, more than double the size of its 2016 purchase of LinkedIn. Unlike the Microsoft layoffs, eBay and SAP saw a significant bump in their share prices following their announcements. Read the full memo below:It's been a little over three months since the Activision, Blizzard, and King teams joined Microsoft.

Persons: Phil Spencer, Mike Ybarra, Spencer, Activision Blizzard, Candy, It's, we'll, I'm, Phil CNBC's Steve Kovach Organizations: Microsoft, CNBC, Activision Blizzard, Former, Blizzard, Activision, LinkedIn, Tech, Games, eBay, SAP, King, Microsoft Gaming, Leadership Team, Xbox

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is laying off about 1,900 employees in its gaming division, according to an internal company memo, just over three months since the tech giant completed its $69 million purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard. Those impacted worked on teams for Activision Blizzard as well as Xbox and ZeniMax — which are also owned by Microsoft. “As we move forward in 2024, the leadership of Microsoft Gaming and Activision Blizzard is committed to aligning on a strategy and an execution plan with a sustainable cost structure that will support the whole of our growing business,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wrote in the memo. The union deal was part of a 2022 agreement with the CWA that helped address U.S. political concerns about the merger’s effects. So far, however, only a small set of Activision Blizzard divisions have formed unions.

Persons: Activision Blizzard, Phil Spencer, Mike Ybarra, ” Ybarra, “, ”, _________________ O'Brien Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Associated Press, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming, Twitter, European Union, The U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Google, Riot, eBay, Communications Workers, CWA Locations: United Kingdom, European, U.S, Canada, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ ‘Palworld’ dubbed ‘Pokémon with guns’ ignites furor as it becomes an overnight sensation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Michael Nam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Cute video game creatures with guns have become a surprise monster hit. Fans of the long-running Pokémon franchise on Nintendo platforms have been angry about the close similarities of various creature designs, according to video game outlet IGN. It’s gotten bad enough that Pocketpair has said it received death threats. I promise…However, you’ll excuse me if I skip over the death threats, threats to the company and massively outlandish claims,” posted one Pocketpair community manager. “Nintendo has come for me, please leave me in your thoughts and prayers,” he posted on X.

Persons: Pocketpair, It’s, “, ”, Takuro Mizobe, doxxing, Mizobe didn’t, Nintendo’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, PC Steam, Xbox, Nintendo, Developers Locations: New York, Kansas

☆ The 'Prince of Persia' will speak Persian for the first time in 34 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview"Prince of Persia" released its first major installment in nearly 14 years and its first title since it was first unveiled in 1989 in which the characters will actually speak Farsi. Ubisoft released "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" on Thursday for the Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and PC. Related storiesThe game's designer, Mounir Radi, told the outlet that the developers wanted to "depict and to respect Persia and Iran" in the gameplay. Another Reddit user said under the same post that the option to use Persian dialogue in the game made him "finally feel seen" by others in the gaming community.

Persons: —, of, Prince of Persia, Mounir Radi, Radi, Abdelhak Elguess, Elguess, Reddit Organizations: Service, Business, Ubisoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft Montpellier, BBC Locations: of Persia, Persia, Iran, USA

We'll also guide you step-by-step on how to use a VPN to watch UFC 297, no matter where you are. ET / 3 a.m. GMT (Sun) / 11 a.m. AWST (Sun)How to watch UFC 297 in the USUS viewers can watch the main event of UFC 297 on ESPN Plus tonight at 10 p.m. UFC PPV + Annual ESPN+ Membership (Bundle) ESPN+ is the home of UFC PPV events, meaning that fans need to purchase a subscription in addition to buying the one-off cards. Where to watch UFC 297 everywhere elseIf you're not in the US, you still have a few options to watch UFC 297. In Canada, UFC 297 will be available as a pay-per-view through most TV providers and directly via UFC Fight Pass.

Persons: Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, Raquel Pennington, Mayra Bueno Silva, There's, We'll, ExpressVPN, Strickland, Plessis, Dricus du Plessis, Neil Magny, Mike Malott, Chris Curtis, Marc, Andre Barriault, Arnold Allen, Movsar Evloev, Brad Katona, Garrett Armfield, Charles Jourdain, Sean Woodson, Serhiy Sidey, Ramon Taveras, Gillian Robertson, Polyana Viana, Sam Patterson, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Priscila Cachoeira, Malcolm Gordon, Jimmy Flick Organizations: UFC, Scotiabank Arena, ESPN Plus, ESPN, TNT Sports, Amazon, Apple, PlayStation, Samsung, BT, BT Sport, League, LG Locations: Toronto, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, Asia, Africa, Brazil

☆ Xbox is banning users for automatically uploading steamy sex scenes from Baldur's Gate 3
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewXbox Live users playing Baldur's Gate 3 are getting caught with their pants down, literally, sort of. Baldur's Gate 3 crashed onto the gaming scene last year, nearly sweeping The Game Awards and taking home the prestigious Games of The Year prize. AdvertisementIt's these spicy scenes, however, that are causing Xbox Live to ban users when their devices automatically record and upload them. Sensitive content can be found practically every second of Baldur's Gate because the game allows players to remove all their clothes at any point. how to turn off auto-upload when sensitive content is being captured)."

Persons: —, Vegas Organizations: Service, Games, Business, Kotaku Locations: Baldur's

☆ I'm the 28-year-old mayor of my town and I had to live at home until I could buy a house
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Paulin talked about his experience living in his childhood home for three years to save for a down payment on his own house. My girlfriend and I started saving for a home in 2019 – that's when I decided to continue living at home. In Indian Head, you run for three town council seats and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor, which was me. Like I would leave school work or documents from town meetings in the living room or on the coffee table. You just have to be prepared to make some sacrifices or not have as much freedom depending on your house rules.

Persons: —, Brandon Paulin, Paulin, isn't, He's, Fortnite, Fornite, Taryn, I've, Brandon Paulin We Organizations: Service, Business, Southern New Hampshire University, PlayStation, FedEx Field, Major League Baseball Locations: Indian Head , Maryland, Washington, DC, Southern

☆ All I Want for Christmas Is Clearly Detailed in My PowerPoint Presentation
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Suzanne Kapner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

After getting some dud Christmas presents last year, Ben Galvani decided his family needed more specific instructions. This year, the 11-year-old created a nine-page slide deck detailing every item on his list. One slide is dedicated to sneakers, including two types of Air Jordans. Another one, “Jerseys,” has pictures of gear from NBA athletes such as Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole. Then there are videogames for his Xbox and a temporary tattoo kit, the latter listed under “miscellaneous.”

Persons: Ben Galvani, ”, Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole

NEW YORK (AP) — The highly-anticipated trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI arrived a little early after a copy was leaked online. In an early Tuesday brief, Raymond James analysts said that they originally expected Grand Theft Auto VI to arrive in the 2024 holiday season. "It is simply a shift rather than a reduction in expectations.”The first Grand Theft Auto hit store shelves back in 1997. Grand Theft Auto VI will arrive more than a decade after Grand Theft Auto V's 2013 release. Stifel researchers pointed to “exceptionally strong” buzz and pent-up demand following the Grand Theft Auto VI teaser — pointing to the tens of millions of views collected within hours.

Persons: Lucia, Raymond James &, Raymond James, hasn't, ” Organizations: Rockstar Games, Rockstar, Twitter, Software Inc, Associated, Auto, City, Raymond James & Associates, VI, PlayStation Locations: New York, Miami

☆ These tenbagger stocks are well liked by analysts and may rally even more
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Over the last 10 years of market turbulence, there haven't been very many stocks that have seen a more than 1,000% compound return. Fewer still of these "tenbaggers," companies that have multiplied in value 10 times, have sizeable upside expectations ahead. The average analyst still sees potential upside of 40%. Early last month, Jefferies began research coverage of Celsius with a buy rating, citing several growth opportunities that lie ahead. With a 10-year compound total return of nearly 13,000%, chipmaker Nvidia was also at the top of the list.

Persons: Jefferies, Kaumil Gajrawala, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Holdings, PepsiCo, Nvidia, Microsoft, Semiconductor, Broadcom, Builders, Neurocrine Biosciences Locations: Florida

☆ Autodesk's CMO explains why advertising on the MSG Sphere in Vegas, which reportedly costs $450,000 a day, was worth every penny
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

@brycebetts132 I've watched every video of the Sphere in Vegas and this new ad is by far my favorite. By comparison, running a billboard campaign in New York's Times Square for one to three days costs between $5,000 and $25,000, according to outdoor advertising company Inspiria Outdoor. A representative for the Sphere Entertainment Company said the company doesn't discuss financials. One TikTok video, which has notched up more than 14,000 likes, declared it " the best Sphere ad ." The Sphere debuted its first advertising campaign in September of this year and has featured brands including YouTube, the NBA, Heineken and Xbox.

Persons: @brycebetts132 I've, ♬, Dara Treseder, Treseder, tentacled, Ryan Reynolds, Otto Desć, Carla Herrero, Herrero Organizations: Autodesk, Marvel, Business, ♬ Marvel Studios, Sphere Entertainment, Autodesk University, YouTube, NBA, Heineken, Xbox, University College London, Mercedes, AMG PETRONAS Formula One Locations: Las Vegas, Vegas, New

☆ Opinion: What the Sports Illustrated AI debacle is telling us
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Opinion Will Leitch | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

(Full disclosure: I briefly hosted a television show for Sports Illustrated a few years back that no one watched.) But the only difference between those sports sites using AI writers and other sports sites using AI writers is that people actually used to enjoy Sports Illustrated and Deadspin; Yahoo, for example, has been contracted with a company called “Automated Insights” to write AI sport stories for years. Another game I like to play in my downtime is NBA2K, the wildly popular NBA video game. But in the game, Aldridge is not real; he’s just some pixels synced to audio the real Aldridge recorded years ago. Sports writers insist, as we fight back against a creeping AI world, that we can always do our jobs better than a robot can.

Persons: Will Leitch, ”, it’s, I’m, —, William Faulkner, Robert Frost, John Steinbeck, AdVon, Richard Johnson, Emma Baccellieri, Pat Forde, Tom Verducci, you’ve, It’s, Fox, Charissa Thompson, I’ve, Hall, Hall of Famer Andrea Kremer, Thompson, “, can’t, Curt Gowdy, David Aldridge, Aldridge, Video Aldridge, Julius Randle, Randle, … I’d Organizations: New York Magazine, CNN, Park Baseball, MLB, Sports, The Arena Group, The, Group, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, Amazon, Hall of Famer, New York Times, NBA, Video Knicks

☆ All kids want for Christmas this year … Robux and gaming subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Nicole Randol — a Missouri-based mother of two boys, ages 6 and 10 — recently posted a message on a popular Facebook parenting group about Robux, the virtual gaming currency for the platform Roblox: Target was having a 40%-off sale for Robux. “I expect it to be the most exciting thing they open [on Christmas],” Randol, who bought two $100 Robux cards, told CNN. Gaming subscriptions continue to gain popularity, too. “What’s changed, naturally, is the games that families are playing.”According to ESA, more than 212 million Americans play video games on a regular basis. Still, with the rise of subscriptions and gaming currency, what lands under the Christmas tree may be smaller in size than years before.

Persons: CNN — Nicole Randol —, —, ” Randol, Fortnite, trumping, ”, Christopher Byrne, Guy, “, ” Roblox, Robux, Michael Inouye, Cozy, Byrne, “ What’s, ” Byrne, Jim Silver, Bitzies, ” Bryne, Parija Kavilanz Organizations: CNN, Robux, Entertainment Software Association, Epic Games, PlayStation, Pro, Apple, ABI Research, National Retail Federation, ESA, Gaming Locations: Missouri

Some of the best discounts we've found include a few Cyber Monday Chromebook deals that bring already affordable laptops down to even lower prices. These Cyber Monday Chromebook deals are expected to run until midnight and we likely won't see discounts like this again until Prime Day in the summer. Best Cyber Monday Chromebook deals right nowWhat is a Chromebook? A Chromebook is a budget-friendly laptop that uses Google's ChromeOS rather than Windows or Mac operating systems. If you think you might want something a bit more powerful than a Chromebook, be sure to check out our guide to all of the best Cyber Monday laptop deals for Windows and Mac options.

Persons: Chromebooks Organizations: Acer, GE Chromebook, Windows

Right now, top Cyber Monday TV deals include an all-time low price on the 65-inch Samsung S90C, our pick for the best TV you can buy. We'll be updating this roundup with all of the best Cyber Monday TV deals as the sale continues through November 27. The best Cyber Monday TV deals right now (50-inches and under)The best Cyber Monday TV deals right now (55-inches)The best Cyber Monday TV deals right now (65-inches)The best Cyber Monday TV deals right now (75-inches and up)Cyber Monday TV FAQsWhat kind of TV should I buy? But while we generally prefer OLED TVs over QLEDs, QLED TVs have an edge with peak brightness. Top QLED TVs can get brighter than even the best OLED TVs.

Organizations: Black, LG, Samsung, Sony

Thanks to these Cyber Monday Meta Quest 3 and Oculus Quest 2 deals, you can save big on the jump to virtual reality. Meta Quest headsets (formerly known as Oculus Quest) don't often get discounts, but right now you can snag several promotions on Quest 2 bundles at different retailers. Meta Quest 2 $249.00 $299.99 Save 17% Walmart was the first to discount the Meta Quest 2 to the price that other major retailers have since price-matched. Meta Quest 2 $249.99 $299.99 Save 17% The Meta Quest 2 is still a hot VR headset to buy in 2023. Here are a few Quest 2 accessory deals you should check out:The best Meta Quest 3 Cyber Monday deals todayBest Value Meta Quest 3 $499.99 Newegg is one of the only retailers offering an exclusive incentive for buying the Quest 3 right now.

Persons: you've, aren't, you'll Organizations: Black, Meta, Walmart, Elite, YouTube

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