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☆ AMD's stock pops after Microsoft tech chief touts chipmaker's AI products
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of AMD rose almost 5% Thursday, a day after Microsoft's technology chief said the chipmaker is bolstering its position in artificial intelligence, where Nvidia dominates. For years, Microsoft has offered some AMD GPUs to its Azure cloud customers, in addition to powering some of its computers and its Xbox consoles with AMD chips. In May, AMD said Microsoft had started offering a cloud networking service to clients, drawing on the chipmaker's Pensando products. Bloomberg reported in May that AMD was working with Microsoft on a custom AI chip, but Scott declined to say if that's actually happening. Microsoft's cloud rivals Amazon and Google have developed homegrown silicon.

Persons: chatbot, Kevin Scott, Nilay Patel, Scott, Lisa Su, Bryn Organizations: AMD, Nvidia, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Google Locations: Dana Point , California

☆ Meta Connect: All the details on Quest 3, Ray-Ban smart glasses, AI chatbots
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers a speech, as a pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses appear on screen, during the Meta Connect event at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, U.S., September 27, 2023. AI CHATBOTS, STICKERSMeta unveiled more than two dozen chatbots that will work within its social media applications. The company announced Meta AI Studio, a platform for developers to build custom AI chatbots. RAY-BAN SMART GLASSESMeta announced new generation Ray-Ban smart glasses, priced at $299. The smart glasses will also have Meta AI built in, with the ability to give information on the item a user is looking at.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Carlos Barria, Snapdragon, Meta, Microsoft's Bing, Bear Grylls, Chloe Kim, Josh Richards, RAY, Yuvraj Malik, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: Meta, REUTERS, Gaming, Facebook, United States, Thomson Locations: Menlo Park , California, U.S, WhatsApp, United, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) gaming master plan is slowly coming together. But Microsoft’s gaming revenue was still around 8% of group sales, or $15 billion, for the year ended June 2022. Given these risks, it makes sense for Nadella to grow his exposure to those parts of the gaming market which are less likely to be upended by cloud gaming. It remains possible that cloud gaming is a dog that doesn’t bark – or at least not for some time. As a result of the Activision deal, Nadella has a hedge of sorts against cloud gaming happening too fast.

Persons: Kevork, Satya Nadella’s, Ampere, ”, GamesIndustry.biz, Nadella, George Hay, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Activision, REUTERS, Reuters, Bethesda, Microsoft, Satya Nadella’s Activision, Ampere, Sony, Nintendo, Reuters Graphics, Netflix, Gamers, Xbox, PlayStation, Big Tech, Apple, HK, reckons, Competition, Markets Authority, CMA, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Ubisoft Entertainment, Ubisoft, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, United States, U.S

☆ CD Projekt's 'Phantom Liberty' rated very positive on Steam
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GDANSK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - "Phantom Liberty", the long-awaited expansion to Polish video game developer CD Projekt's (CDR.WA) flagship game "Cyberpunk 2077", had received a "very positive" rating on Steam platform based on 1,067 user reviews just few hours after game's launch on Tuesday. Cyberpunk 2077, which is offered at a 40% discount, has led the top sellers chart on Steam platform since Monday, with Phantom Liberty in second place. The release of Phantom Liberty is CD Projekt's first major game premiere since bug-ridden launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in December 2020. "Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 at its best. The expansion is the last project to be developed on CD Projekt's own technology RED Engine, with the company switching to external Unreal Engine for its upcoming developments, that include Cyberpunk sequel.

Persons: Keanu Reeves, Johnny Silverhand, Idris Elba, Solomon Reed, Adrianna Ebert, Kirsten Donovan, Michael Perry Organizations: Phantom Liberty, Liberty, PlayStation, GameSpot, Thomson Locations: GDANSK, American

☆ Asian Games: South Korea's Esports stars target medal success -- and a military exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

For South Korean male participants, winning a gold medal in the Asian Games or Olympic Games not only brings honor but also grants them a military exemption. However, the mandatory duty can be waived for some athletes, in particular those who win an Olympic medal or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Seven games will be featured as official medal events at the 19th Asian Games, building on the success of the pilot event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The venue for the Asian Games esports competitions is state-of-the-art and an impressive sight to see. With its inclusion as an official Asian Games medal event, the possibility of esports becoming a part of the Olympic Games is a topic of growing debate.

Persons: Suga, Oh, Wang Zhao, Son Heung, ” Shin, ”, esports, ” Kim Sa, “, ” Lee Kyung, Kwak, hyouk, it’d, ” Kwak, Thailand’s Teedech, Lee Sang, –, Michael Chow, Yoonjung Seo, Michael Jordan, ” Chow, Faker, JUNG YEON, Philip Fong, Rowan Crothers, “ I’m, I’ll, ” Crothers, Jess Bolden, Chow, Niko, Young Organizations: CNN, Gaming, Hangzhou Asian Games, Asian Games, Games, BTS, Asian, Getty, Premier League soccer, Tottenham Hotspur, Marine Corps, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, “ Times, CNN Sport, FIFA, Hangzhou, South Korea, Believer Company, Riot, South, Team Korea, League, “ League, SK Telecom, Riot Games, Microsoft Studios, Xbox, Studios, International Federation of, Phonographic Industry, EA Sports FC Online, PUBG, of Valor, of, Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Maekyung Media, Paralympic, IOC, Kodikara, International Federations, Niko Partners Locations: South Korea, Hangzhou, AFP, Seogwipo, Jeju, Republic of, Seoul, esports, Jakarta, South, . South Korea, Palembang, Asia

☆ CD Projekt's rocky road from Cyberpunk 2077 to Phantom Liberty
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Adrianna Ebert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

GDANSK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Phantom Liberty, the long-awaited expansion to CD Projekt's (CDR.WA) flagship game Cyberpunk 2077, will debut on Tuesday on current generation consoles and PCs. In the months leading up to the release, CD Projekt's market capitalisation exceeded 40 billion zlotys ($9.28 billion). NEXT-GENERATION UPDATEIn February 2022, CD Projekt released a Cyberpunk update for next-generation consoles. PHANTOM LIBERTY RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCEDOn June 11, 2023, CD Projekt said the Phantom Liberty expansion would be released in September. UPDATE 2.0On Sept. 21, CD Projekt released a free update 2.0 to the base game, featuring various improvements to the game mechanics.

Persons: Liberty, Phantom Liberty, Adam Kicinski, Projekt, Adrianna Ebert, Milla Nissi, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Polish, OF, Projekt, Xbox, SONY, Sony, PlayStation, Netflix, North America ., Liberty, Steam, Thomson Locations: GDANSK, North America

LONDON (AP) — British competition regulators gave preliminary approval Friday to Microsoft’s restructured $69 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, easing a final global hurdle that paves the way for one of the largest tech transactions in history to go through. The updated offer “opens the door to the deal being cleared,” the watchdog said, though there are lingering concerns. “The CMA’s position has been consistent throughout — this merger could only go ahead if competition, innovation and choice in cloud gaming was preserved," CEO Sarah Cardell said. Crucially, it got a thumbs-up from the 27-nation European Union after agreeing to allow users and cloud gaming platforms to stream its titles without paying royalties for 10 years. The CMA then put its original decision on hold and opened a new investigation into the revamped proposal.

Persons: Sarah Cardell, “, Brad Smith, ”, Bobby Kotick Organizations: Microsoft’s, Activision, The, Markets Authority, Microsoft, Union, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, CMA, Ubisoft Entertainment Locations: British, U.S, Britain

☆ Microsoft's $68.7 billion Activision acquisition clears key hurdle after UK regulator provisionally approves deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The CMA provisionally greenlit Microsoft's acquisition of the "Call of Duty" developer. It comes after a lengthy period in which the deal was threatened because of competition concerns. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. The CMA will conduct a consultation until October 6, before the acquisition agreement expires on October 18. Activision said in a statement issued to Insider, "The CMA's preliminary approval is great news for our future with Microsoft."

Persons: Activision Blizzard, Sarah Cardell, Brad Smith, We're Organizations: Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, CMA, Service, Activision, Markets, Ubisoft, Cloud Gaming Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Microsoft projects two new areas of growth for gaming, leaked document says: Mobile and ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The document does not mention the $68.7 billion Activision deal, which had been announced months earlier. It shows gaming revenue doubling to $36 billion in the 2030 fiscal year, compared with a forecast of $18 billion for the 2022 fiscal year. Actual fiscal 2022 gaming revenue totaled $16.23 billion, according to an annual report. And it indicated that management saw revenue from mobile transactions reaching $2.6 billion, compared with none in fiscal 2022. The total of the two categories is $4 billion, or 11% of total gaming revenue.

Persons: Jacqueline Scott Corley, Corley, Phil Spencer, Candy, Spencer, Amy Hood Organizations: Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Activision Blizzard, U.S, Northern, Northern District of, Activision, Twitter, Yahoo, Xbox, King Digital Entertainment, United Kingdom's, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Locations: Northern District, Northern District of California

☆ Microsoft's Xbox plans revealed in emails tied to FTC case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kevin Collier | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An attorney with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) carries an XBOX game console box following a hearing at the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. A huge collection of purported Xbox files related to the Federal Trade Commission's case against Microsoft have been published online, spilling some of the company's plans for the gaming console into public view. They include more than 100 documents, many of them partially redacted, related to Microsoft's Xbox plans. The files include emails from corporate executives like Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and timetables for gaming releases. Some of the documents include Microsoft Gaming senior employees discussing the value of the exclusive hold they have on key video game titles.

Persons: Phillip Burton, Douglas Farrar, Phil Spencer, It's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Phillip Burton Federal Building, Federal Trade, Microsoft, U.S, Northern, Northern District of, Activision Blizzard, NBC News, Microsoft Gaming, Sony, Elder Locations: San Francisco , California, Northern District, Northern District of California

☆ Poland's CD Projekt to release Cyberpunk 2077 update on Sept. 21
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Boxes with CD Projekt's game Cyberpunk 2077 are displayed in Warsaw, Poland, December 14, 2020. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGDANSK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Poland's biggest video game developer CD Projekt (CDR.WA) will release an update to its flagship game Cyberpunk 2077 on Sept. 21, a company representative said on Thursday during a livestream on YouTube. The update will launch just a few days before the premiere of Phantom Liberty, a highly-anticipated expansion of Cyberpunk 2077, set for Sept. 26. Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. In September last year, CD Projekt said it had sold 20 million copies of the game.

Persons: Kacper, Phantom Liberty, Adrianna Ebert, Susan Fenton, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, YouTube, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, GDANSK

☆ Discord CEO Jason Citron: 15% of our workforce is dedicated to trust and safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Discord CEO Jason Citron: 15% of our workforce is dedicated to trust and safetyJason Citron, Discord co-founder and CEO, joins 'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer to talk user growth, partnerships with Xbox and Playstation, user safety, the possibility of going public and more.

Persons: Jason Citron, Jim Cramer Organizations: Xbox

☆ Barclays CEO Venkatakrishnan: Financial assets are relatively stable
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBarclays CEO Venkatakrishnan: Financial assets are relatively stableBarclays CEO C.S. Venkatakrishnan joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the company’s new credit card partnership with Xbox, the state of the banking industry, and more.

Persons: Venkatakrishnan Organizations: Barclays, C.S, Xbox

We'll also guide you step-by-step on how to use a VPN to watch UFC 293, no matter where you are. How to watch UFC 293 in the USUS viewers can watch the main event of UFC 293 on ESPN Plus tonight at 10 p.m. Ways to save on the UFC 293 pay-per-view priceIf you're not already a member and plan to sign up for ESPN Plus to watch UFC 293, you can take advantage of a discounted package. How to watch UFC 293 everywhere elseIf you're not in the US, you still have a few options to watch UFC 293. In Canada, UFC 293 will be available as a pay-per-view through most TV providers and directly via UFC Fight Pass.

Persons: Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Strickland, Tai Tuivasa, Alexander Volkov, We'll, McGregor, ExpressVPN, CEST, Felipe Dos Santos, Justin Tafa, Austen Lane, Tyson Pedro, Anton Turkalj, ESPN Plus Carlos Ulberg, Da Woon Jung, Jack Jenkins, Chepe Mariscal, Jamie Mullarkey, John Makdessi, Landon Quinones, Charles Radtke, Shane Young, Gabriel Miranda, Kevin Jousset, Kiefer Crosbie Organizations: UFC, ESPN Plus, ESPN, Amazon, Apple, PlayStation, Samsung, TNT Sports, BT, BT Sport, You'll, LG, AEST, ESPN Plus Israel, ESPN Plus Carlos Locations: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, Asia, Africa, Brazil

Learn moreThe Razer Kaira Pro is one of the best gaming headsets you can buy for an Xbox. The Kaira Pro also earns design points thanks to Razer's trademark style, with three color choices and customizable lighting. Razer Kaira Pro Wireless Headset The Kaira Pro headset can connect directly to Xbox consoles using Microsoft’s proprietary wireless signal, and it also has the ability to connect to Bluetooth devices at the same time. Kevin Webb / InsiderThe Razer Kaira Pro for Xbox comes in three colors: black, white, or a Halo Infinite-inspired green. AmazonThe most unique benefit of the Razer Kaira Pro is its ability to connect to Xbox Wireless devices.

Persons: it's, Slick, Kevin Webb, I've Organizations: Razer, PlayStation, Xbox, Bluetooth, Xbox Wireless, Dolby, DTS, Windows, Forza, Kaira

☆ Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer says Starfield is seeing 'huge demand'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, appears at the Political Opening of the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 23, 2023. Microsoft is seeing "huge demand" for its new Starfield video game, Phil Spencer, the software company's CEO of gaming, said Wednesday. Microsoft picked up the game through its $8.1 billion acquisition of game publisher ZeniMax, the parent of Bethesda. Spencer said Starfield is the most wish-listed game the company has had on the Steam game store. Spencer said tens of millions of Game Pass subscribers were getting a chance to play Starfield on Wednesday.

Persons: Phil Spencer, Spencer, CNBC's Steve Kovach, ZeniMax, Jim Ryan, Ryan, We've, we've, Starfield Organizations: Microsoft Gaming, Microsoft, Microsoft's Bethesda Game Studios, PlayStation, Gaming, Activision Blizzard, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Activision, Sony, Nintendo, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Locations: Cologne, Germany, Microsoft's, Bethesda, San Francisco

☆ 12 Video Games Releasing This Fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Jason M. Bailey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It has been such a fruitful year for video games that you couldn’t blame someone for wanting a light fall lineup to finish titles like Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3. For better or worse, this season is stacked with AAA releases, long-awaited sequels and promising independent games. (Some games will be available before their official launch dates because of early-access programs.) (Sept. 19; PC, Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox Series X|S)LIES OF P This is not Disney’s Pinocchio. (Sept. 19; PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)

Persons: Johnny Cage, Belle Organizations: AAA, Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, Microsoft, Xbox

In the opening hours of the role-playing video game, it’s possible to land your spaceship on Earth’s moon or zip 16 light-years to Alpha Centauri. That sprawling celestial journey within Starfield, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, reveals both the tremendous potential and the monumental challenge of an open-world space adventure. Bethesda has hyped an expansive single-player campaign with 1,000 explorable planets. And expectations around the game, officially releasing on Sept. 6 after a 10-month delay, are nearly as vast. To compete, Microsoft went on a spending spree, acquiring Bethesda’s parent company in 2020 and agreeing to purchase Activision Blizzard in 2022, a $69 billion bet that is being challenged by regulators.

Persons: Starfield, It’s Organizations: Alpha Centauri, Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard Locations: Starfield

Where to watch FIBA World Cup basketball live streams free from anywhereYou can catch some of the FIBA World Cup action using free live streams in countries like New Zealand (TVNZ), Spain (RTVE), and France (France.tv). When: August 25 - September 10How to watch the FIBA World Cup in the USAESPN will stream all FIBA World Cup in the US across its various platforms. How to watch the FIBA World Cup in AustraliaYou have quite a few options for watching FIBA World Cup games in Australia. How to watch the FIBA World Cup in CanadaSportsNet is the only destination to watch the FIBA World Cup in Canada, and you'll only be able to watch the national team's games live. FIBA World Cup scheduleBelow is a full schedule of FIBA World Cup games that will run through the September 10 final.

Persons: Giannis Antetekounmpo, Luka Dončić, Rudy Gobert, Bodan Bogdanovic, Karl, Anthony Towns, ExpressVPN, Spain RTVE, Jordan Organizations: FIBA, NBA, FIBA World, New Zealand, TVNZ, ESPN, NBA.com FIBA, USA ESPN, ESPN2, USA, Subscription, Foxtel, Sky NZ, ESPN Australia, Kayo, Android, Apple, Samsung, LG, Amazon, PlayStation, Viewers, Canada SportsNet, New Zealand TVNZ, Blacks, Spanish, France Viewers, French, France, Araneta Coliseum Finland, Okinawa, Mexico, Asia Arena Latvia, Indonesia Arena Dominican, Araneta Coliseum Germany, Asia Arena Canada, Indonesia, B, Araneta Coliseum, Jordan, Asia Arena Iran, G, Indonesia Arena Slovenia, Serbia, Asia Arena Spain, Sunday, Araneta Coliseum Australia, Okinawa Arena Montenegro, Asia Arena Lebanon, Philippines, Araneta Coliseum Japan, Lithuania, Asia Arena France, Araneta Coliseum Venezuela, Okinawa Arena New Zealand, Asia Arena Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia Arena Georgia, Okinawa Arena Puerto Rico, Asia Arena Brazil, Angola, Indonesia Arena Australia, Araneta Coliseum Montenegro, Wednesday, Araneta Coliseum Georgia, China Locations: Asia, Pacific, United States, Germany, Canada, Spain, France, China, Greece, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, New, Australia, USA, Angola, Argentina, Cape Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Finland, Italy, Montenegro, Lebanon, Philippines, Okinawa, Egypt, Sudan, Verde, . Georgia, Brazil, Venezuela, Zealand, Cote d'Ivoire, South Sudan, Iran

Microsoft announced the biggest gaming deal in history in early 2022, but the acquisition was blocked by Britain's competition regulator, which was concerned the U.S. computing giant would gain too much control of the nascent cloud gaming market. Under the restructured deal, Microsoft will not be able to release Activision games like "Overwatch" and "Diablo" exclusively on its own cloud streaming service — Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms for rival services. Instead, French gaming rival Ubisoft will acquire the cloud streaming rights for Activision's existing PC and console games, and any new games released by Activision in the next 15 years. A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft offices in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, January 25, 2023. Microsoft said Ubisoft would acquire the rights through a one-off payment and a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism, including an option that supports pricing based on usage.

Persons: Tom Smith, there's, Gonzalo Fuentes, Alex Haffner, Fladgate, Sarah Cardell, Yadarisa, Kate Holton, Foo Yun Chee, Barbara Lewis, Sharon Singleton, Mark Potter Organizations: CMA, Microsoft, Activision, Ubisoft Deal, Ubisoft Entertainment, Ubisoft, Markets Authority, European Commission, Geradin Partners, Big Tech, Reuters, REUTERS, European Union . Competition, Federal Trade Commission, European, European Union, Sony, U.S, Thomson Locations: New York, Paris, U.S, Europe, Brussels, EU, Issy, France, British, United States, Bengaluru, London

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the only regulator to block Microsoft's $69 billion Activision deal, in a test of its post-Brexit clout. The CMA in a statement said the revised transaction would "allow Ubisoft to commercialise these rights to other cloud gaming services providers (including to Microsoft itself)". Under the new terms, Microsoft will not be able to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on its own cloud streaming service — Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services. The new transaction deals with streaming rights outside the European Economic Area, reflecting the fact that Brussels had already approved the deal. Ubisoft will, however, receive a non-exclusive licence for Activision's European gaming rights too, enabling the French group to also stream the rights in the EU.

Persons: Yadarisa, Kate Holton, Rashmi Aich, Sachin Ravikumar, Barbara Lewis Organizations: CMA, Activision, Ubisoft Deal, Microsoft, Ubisoft Entertainment, Britain's, Markets Authority, Ubisoft, European Union, Sony, U.S, Activision Blizzard, Economic, Activision's, Thomson Locations: Paris, British, Brussels, Bengaluru, London

☆ Microsoft Offers British Regulators Changes to Activision Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Adam Satariano | More About Adam Satariano | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Why It Matters: The offer aims to address concerns over cloud gaming. Under the new terms, Microsoft will give Ubisoft control over licensing deals for cloud gaming services for 15 years. This is aimed at preventing Microsoft from launching titles exclusively on its own cloud streaming service, called Xbox Cloud Gaming. But Microsoft scored a major victory in May, when the European Union approved the deal. The British regulator said it would issue a decision by Oct. 18, the date that Microsoft has set as a deadline to complete its deal with Activision.

Persons: Microsoft’s, Sarah Cardell, ” Organizations: Markets Authority, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Cloud Gaming, Activision, Sony, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, European Union Locations: U.S

☆ Microsoft submits new Activision Blizzard takeover deal to British regulator after initial block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dado Ruvic | ReutersMicrosoft on Tuesday submitted a new deal for the takeover of Activision Blizzard, offering a spate of concessions after U.K. regulators rejected its initial proposal. Under the restructured deal, Microsoft will not acquire cloud rights for existing Activision PC and console games, or for new games released by Activision during the next 15 years, the CMA said. Regulators previously argued that Microsoft could also take key Activision games, like Call of Duty, and make them exclusive to Xbox and other Microsoft platforms. To cross that line, Microsoft offered concessions, such as offering royalty-free licenses to cloud gaming platforms to stream Activision games, if a consumer has purchased them. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission was fighting a legal battle with Microsoft in an effort to get the Activision takeover scrapped.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Brad Smith Organizations: Activision, Reuters Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Markets Authority, Microsoft, CMA, Redmond, Activision PC, Ubisoft Entertainment, Ubisoft, Netflix, European Union, Federal Trade Commission Locations: U.S, Europe

☆ Microsoft says it will sell Activision streaming rights to Ubisoft to unblock its takeover bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft has restructured its deal to hand Activision cloud gaming rights to rival Ubisoft. Microsoft really wants to get its takeover of Activision Blizzard over the line. The tech giant has substantially restructured its deal to try and appease the UK regulator's concerns that a takeover would hurt competition in cloud gaming. The new deal involves selling Activision cloud-gaming rights for countries outside the European Economic Area to video-game publisher Ubisoft. Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in January 2022, but the deal has been entangled in competition concerns ever since.

Persons: Sarah Cardell, Brad Smith Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, Ubisoft, Morning, Activision Blizzard, Economic Area, Cloud Gaming, European Commission, Markets Authority, CMA Locations: British

☆ Ubisoft shares pop 9% on revised Microsoft-Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Yves Guillemot, CEO and co-founder of Ubisoft, speaks at the Ubisoft Forward livestream event in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 2023. Shares of French game maker Ubisoft popped 9% in Europe trading Tuesday after Microsoft submitted a new deal for the takeover of Activision Blizzard to try and appease wary U.K. regulators. The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority confirmed it blocked the original $69 billion deal that Microsoft first put forward in January 2022. Instead, these rights will be divested to Ubisoft before Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Ubisoft offers cloud games on services like Amazon Luna and Nvidia 's GeForce Now, which compete with Microsoft's Xbox streaming service.

Persons: Yves Guillemot, Brad Smith, Tom Clancy's, Smith, CNBC's Arjun Kharpal Organizations: Ubisoft, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Markets Authority, CMA, Activision Blizzard PC, Activision, Amazon, Nvidia Locations: Los Angeles , California, Europe, U.S

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