DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Microsoft offers Sony 10-year deal for Call of Duty on PlayStation if Activision deal goes through
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Regulators have raised concerns that Microsoft could block the hit Call of Duty franchise from being released on rivals' games consoles. Microsoft said it has offered Sony a 10-year contract for Call of Duty to be released on the PlayStation on the same day it comes to the Xbox. Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company offered Sony a 10-year contract to make each new release of Call of Duty available on Sony's PlayStation console at the same time as the U.S. giant's Xbox. Sony shares sank initially after Microsoft announced the acquisition plans in January as investors feared PlayStation would not get access to hit Activision games. "That's why we've offered Sony a 10-year contract to make each new 'Call of Duty' release available on PlayStation the same day it comes to Xbox.

☆ Microsoft offers Sony 10-year contract for 'Call of Duty' releases on PlayStation - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) has offered Sony (6758.T) a 10-year contract to make each new "Call of Duty" release available on PlayStation the same day it comes to Xbox, according to an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Monday from a Microsoft executive. Xbox maker Microsoft's latest offer to Sony comes as it faces increased regulatory scrutiny over its $69 billion buyout deal for Activision Blizzard. Reuters reported last month that Microsoft's remedy would consist mainly of a 10-year licensing deal to Playstation owner Sony. "The main supposed potential anticompetitive risk Sony raises is that Microsoft would stop making 'Call of Duty' available on the PlayStation. But that would be economically irrational," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in the WSJ opinion piece.

The documentary series "Harry & Meghan" will debut on Netflix on December 8. "Harry & Meghan" is six episodes in total; the second volume will premiere on December 15. "Harry & Meghan" is helmed by award-winning director Liz Garbus, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated documentary "What Happened, Miss Simone." How to watch 'Harry & Meghan'You can watch "Harry & Meghan" exclusively on Netflix starting December 8. "Harry & Meghan" will consist of six episodes, but Netflix is separating them into two volumes for release.

☆ Activision acquisition would be good for Microsoft and the overall stock market
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

That implies that the other 35% of the market is made up of firms with equal to or less than about a 2% market share. For simplicity's sake, let's say an additional 17 firms have a 2% market share each to bring us to 100% of the market. That means the HHI, calculated by the market share number squared and then added together for all 27 companies, would be under 650. If the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal goes through, and you combine the market share concentration of the two companies, the HII would be just over 700. The other issue is how one measures the gaming market.

Consumers took advantage of heavy discounting by online retailers to kick off the holiday shopping season in high gear. According to Adobe Analytics, record online spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday drove Cyber Week — Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday — to $35 billion in total sales. Even with inflation looming in the background, consumers were motivated by the hunt for deals, Adobe Analytics said. While the company's figures are not adjusted for inflation, even if online inflation were factored in, there would still be growth in underlying consumer demand, it said. Consumers have shown their willingness to keep shopping, thanks in part to the resilience of their pandemic savings.

Cyber Monday 2022 is quickly coming to an end so this is your last chance to save big on games for PlayStation 5, as well as discounts on PS5 accessories. Best Cyber Monday deals on PS5 controllers and accessoriesDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $49.99 from Best Buy Originally $69.99 Save 29%Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $44.99 from PlayStation Originally $59.99 Save 25%Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $1,698.00 from Amazon Originally $2,299.99 Save 26%Best Cyber Monday deals on PS5 gamesDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

☆ Exclusive: Microsoft likely to offer EU concessions soon in Activision deal - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. The U.S. software giant and Xbox maker announced the deal in January to help it compete better with leaders Tencent (0700.HK) and Sony (6758.T). Microsoft's remedy would consist mainly of a 10-year licensing deal to Playstation owner Sony, another person with direct knowledge said. The EU competition watchdog, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by April 11, declined to comment. We want people to have more access to games, not less," a Microsoft spokesperson said.

☆ Exclusive: Microsoft likely to offer EU concessions soon in Activision deal -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. The U.S. software giant and Xbox maker announced the deal in January to help it compete better with leaders Tencent (0700.HK) and Sony (6758.T). The deadline for the European Commission, which is investigating the deal, to set out a formal list of competition concerns known as a statement of objection is in January. Microsoft's remedy would consist mainly of a 10-year licensing deal to Playstation owner Sony, another person with direct knowledge said. The EU competition watchdog, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by April 11, and Sony declined to comment.

Cyber Monday is delivering some fantastic deals on Xbox consoles, games, and gear, including the best price we've seen on the Xbox Series S.Microsoft's online store is the best place to find the more expensive and more powerful Xbox Series X console on Cyber Monday, while discounts on controllers and games can be found at stores like GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon. Below, we've collected all the best Xbox deals during Cyber Monday 2022, from console sales and bundles to various popular games and accessories. Best Cyber Monday deals on Xbox consolesDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Great Price Xbox Series S During the holidays, Microsoft is offering their budget console, the Xbox Series S, for $60 off. Deal Microsoft Xbox Series S|X Wireless Controller The new Xbox controller is a streamlined, enhanced version of the previous Xbox gamepad.

The best Cyber Monday game console dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Great Price Xbox Series S During the holidays, Microsoft is offering their budget console, the Xbox Series S, for $60 off. The best Cyber Monday game dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $39.99 from Best Buy Originally $59.99 Save 33%The best Cyber Monday gaming accessory dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Deals on essential subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online are also available during Cyber Monday, too.

☆ Amazon Cyber Monday 2022: Shop these 71+ deals before they're gone
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Mili Godio | Mili Godio Is An Associate Reporter For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +23 min

Amazon is still hosting several Cyber Monday deals, as are major retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. SKIP AHEAD Home and kitchen deals | Tech deals | TV deals | Beauty and wellness deals | Pet deals | Best Amazon Cyber Monday sales | Do you need a Prime membership to shop Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals? Anyone can shop Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals, though the retailer does offer some exclusive deals for Prime members. The best Amazon Cyber Monday 2022 dealsBelow, we rounded up some of the best deals from Amazon’s Cyber Monday savings event based on our previous coverage and Select reader interest. Best Amazon Cyber Monday 2022 sales to shopHere are some of the best sales to shop for during Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale that we think you’ll want to know about.

☆ How Microsoft can double its ad business to $20 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As the ad industry braces itself for what's sure to be a challenging 2023, we're taking a look at what Microsoft will need to do to achieve its ambitious goal of doubling its advertising business to $20 billion. Microsoft plans to grow its advertising business to $20 billion. In an interview with Insider, Microsoft Ads chief Rob Wilk shared plans to double the size of the company's ad business. Were Microsoft to reach $20 billion in ad revenue, it would overtake Chinese tech and media giant Tencent to become the sixth-largest digital ad seller worldwide, based on Insider Intelligence's estimates. Gyasi Calhoun, a front-end software engineer and developer at Twilio, said there's perks to the job, but that the industry can be stressful.

Cyber Monday 2022 is here with big deals on games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as well as discounts on PS5 accessories. Best Cyber Monday deals on PS5 controllers and accessoriesDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $49.99 from Best Buy Originally $69.99 Save 29%Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Great Price PlayStation Plus Essential (12 Months) Cyber Monday is one of the best times of the year to renew your PlayStation Plus subscription thanks to the 25% discount. $44.99 from PlayStation Originally $59.99 Save 25%Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

☆ Best Amazon Cyber Monday deals available now: Apple, Kindle and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Mili Godio | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +21 min

SKIP AHEAD Home and kitchen deals | Tech deals | TV deals | Beauty and wellness deals | Pet deals | Best Amazon Cyber Monday sales | Do you need a Prime membership to shop Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals? The best Amazon Cyber Monday 2022 dealsBelow, we rounded up some of the best deals from Amazon’s Cyber Monday savings event based on our previous coverage and Select reader interest. Best Amazon Cyber Monday home and kitchen deals4.7-star average rating from 10,573 reviews on AmazonThis All-Clad two-piece cookware set comes with 8- and 10-inch non-stick frying pans. 4.6-star average rating from 150,441 reviews on AmazonFitBit makes some of the best fitness smartwatches you can buy. Best Amazon Cyber Monday 2022 sales to shopHere are some of the best sales to shop for during Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale that we think you’ll want to know about.

☆ 40+ best Cyber Monday tech deals in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Christina Colizza | Christina Colizza Is An Editor For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

SKIP AHEAD Cyber Monday tech deals | Cyber Monday tech salesTo help you make the most of the shopping holiday, we compiled some of the best Cyber Monday deals and sales on tech products that we think you’ll want to know about. Best Cyber Monday 2022 tech dealsBelow, we’re sharing the best Cyber Monday tech deals based on our previous coverage and reporting. Lowest price ever4.7-star average rating from 13,906 reviews at Best BuyBeats (now owned by Apple) is known for its great over-the-ear headphones, and these are no exception. 4.6-star average rating from 38 reviews at Best BuySelect-favorite brand Netgear says the Nighthawk AX5300 Wi-Fi router provides expanded network capacity and extended coverage. Best Cyber Monday 2022 Tech salesHere are the best Cyber Monday tech sales that we think you’ll want to know about.

☆ 41 best Cyber Monday tech deals in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Christina Colizza | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

The Nintendo Switch Black Friday Bundle, which pairs the console with a Mario Kart game and three-month online membership, all for the same price as the Nintendo Switch alone. Nintendo Switch BundleIf you want to introduce a loved one to the magic of the Nintendo Switch gaming — or just give it a try for yourself — then this bundle is a good place to start. Nintendo Switch accessories on saleTo ensure the quality of each deal, we’re running deals through price trackers like CamelCamelCamel and Honey — each product is at its lowest price in three months. 4.8-star average rating from 15,571 reviews on AmazonWhile the Nintendo Switch is famously portable, it can come with various accessories and games. Best Cyber Monday 2022 gaming salesHere are the best Cyber Monday gaming sales we think you’ll want to know about.

Among them is Best Buy: Its holiday sale began on October 24 and we expect even better deals to pop up today. It's now available on clearance from Best Buy, making it even more affordable to buy than ever. $739.00 from Best Buy Originally $799.00 Save 8%Best Buy Cyber Monday 2022: What to expectThough Best Buy's holiday sale already kicked off a while ago, the best deals are cropping up today on Cyber Monday. Best Buy has stated that its sale has already begun since October 24, but we expect the best deals to show up on Cyber Monday. Best Buy store hours differ by location, so you'll need to check your local store's Cyber Monday hours.

Great Price Hisense U8H 4K TV (55-inch) This HiSense 4K TV offers impressive features like Dolby Vision, Alexa-voice control, and variable refresh rate for gaming at an excellent price for a TV that launched in 2022. Great Price Vizio 70-inch MQ6 QLED 4K TV Vizio's latest MQ6 4K TV model uses quantum dots to deliver a wide ranger of colors. Deal LG 65-inch C1 OLED 4K TV LG’s C1 remains an excellent 4K TV. Who has the best TV deals on Cyber Monday? Many stores offer TV deals on Cyber Monday, but Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart tend to have the best sales.

Great Price GIGABYTE AORUS 17 Gaming Laptop The GIGABYTE AORUS is a fantastic gaming laptop that comes with a powerful RTX 3070 graphics card and a thin HD screen. Deal Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 was already a fantastic budget gaming laptop. Great Price ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop The ROG Zephyrus G14 has the specs of a high-end gaming laptop for an affordable price. Deal Alienware m15 Ryzen™ Edition R5 Gaming Laptop Alienware gaming laptops are notoriously expensive. The best gaming laptops feature top-of-the-line GPUs, which is what lets them run new games with the best visuals possible.

The Nintendo Switch Black Friday Bundle, which pairs the console with a Mario Kart game and three-month online membership, all for the same price as the Nintendo Switch alone. Nintendo Switch BundleIf you want to introduce a loved one to the magic of the Nintendo Switch gaming — or just give it a try for yourself — then this bundle is a good place to start. The dock also allows for tabletop gaming, Nintendo says, which can be great when gaming with an audience. Nintendo Switch accessories on sale4.6-star average rating from 17,971 reviews on AmazonThis Bluetooth-enabled, wireless controller has everything you need if you want to play Nintendo Switch games with a crowd, PowerA says. Best Black Friday 2022 gaming salesHere are the best Black Friday gaming sales we think you’ll want to know about.

Best Cyber Monday gaming PC gaming dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Great Price ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Desktop PC ROG Strix is ASUS' premiere PC gaming brand, and this prebuilt PC is a great example of the quality that name brings. Best Cyber Monday PC gaming monitor dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. $139.99 from Best Buy Originally $249.99 Save 44%Best Cyber Monday PC gaming graphic card dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Best Cyber Monday PC gaming SSD dealsDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

☆ These are the hottest Black Friday tech deals from Amazon, Apple, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

They're offering around-the-clock coverage of all the best deals — Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Below, you'll find the hottest deals on games, laptops, Apple products, and more. Check out our live coverage of all the best deals here. We gathered the top deals from Best Buy's Black Friday sale. Shop the best deals from Best Buy.

Below, we've collected all the best Xbox deals during Black Friday 2022, from console sales and bundles, to discounts on Xbox Game Pass. Best Black Friday deals on Xbox consolesDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Great Price Xbox Series S During the holidays, Microsoft is offering their budget console, the Xbox Series S, for $50 off. Deal Microsoft Xbox Series S|X Wireless Controller The new Xbox controller is a streamlined, enhanced version of the previous Xbox gamepad. Deal Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-Month Membership (Digital) Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers a Netflix-style subscription with hundreds of games for Xbox and PC, and the Xbox Live Gold service needed to play Xbox games online.

☆ 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.

Search resuls for: "XBox"

25 mentions found