DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 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

☆ Why Microsoft’s $75 Billion Bid for Activision Blizzard Hinges on Call of Duty
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Sarah E. Needleman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-microsofts-75-billion-bid-for-activision-blizzard-hinges-on-call-of-duty-e86df589

☆ Microsoft sets out grounds for Activision appeal against UK regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) is challenging Britain's decision to block its $69 billion takeover of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) on the grounds of "fundamental errors" in the assessment of Microsoft's cloud gaming services. Britain's anti-trust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), vetoed the deal in April, saying it could hurt competition in the nascent cloud gaming market, sparking a furious row. Microsoft confirmed on Wednesday it had filed an appeal against the ruling to Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), and a summary of its arguments was published on Friday. It said the CMA's conclusion that the deal would lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the United Kingdom's cloud gaming market was wrong, according to the summary. ISetting out five grounds for appeal in total, it also said it would challenge the CMA's understanding of the cloud gaming market and the impact of the deal.

☆ Facebook-Giphy sale shows how fear of regulators is slowing M&A market
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri touted Giphy's "amazing team" and "expressive" userbase, and stressed Giphy's user data was "not the motivation." The sale was forced by the U.K.'s antitrust regulator, which ruled Meta's acquisition posed a risk to the social media and advertising markets. Jonathan Kanter, who helms the Department of Justice's Antitrust Unit, and Lina Khan, the Federal Trade Commission's chair, have been given wide latitude by President Joe Biden to pursue potentially anticompetitive behavior. Prior to his DOJ posting, Kanter worked in private practice, advising directors and executives on potential deals and attendant regulatory pitfalls. Van Grack, the former chief of the DOJ's Foreign Agent Registration Act unit, noted regulatory scrutiny was increasing for years prior to the current administration.

☆ Microsoft paused raises and cut bonuses to 'invest in the AI wave,' exec tells employees in internal message
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One exec explained a reason for the change is "wanting to invest in the AI wave." A Microsoft executive said a reason behind the company's decision to halt raises and cut bonuses and stock awards this year is "wanting to invest in the AI wave," an internal message viewed by Insider read. "The most important lever for almost all our employees' compensation upside is the stock price," Capossela wrote in the message. Some Microsoft employees have been vocal about the blow to morale from pay changes and recent layoffs, saying in internal messages directed at executives and viewed by Insider. That might be true if we were a private company perhaps like a private law firm, but for publicly traded companies like Microsoft, investors become a critical stakeholder.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Chris Capossela, Capossela, I've, Ashley Stewart Organizations: Microsoft, OpenAI, Activision, Companies

☆ Meta sells Giphy to Shutterstock at a loss in a $53 million deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The online stock-photo marketplace Shutterstock announced Tuesday it would acquire Giphy from Meta Platforms for $53 million, a significant loss for Meta, which acquired Giphy in 2020 for $315 million. The acquisition is an all-cash deal, and in an investor presentation, Shutterstock said it would maintain its full-year revenue guidance. U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority had ordered Meta to divest Giphy in 2022, citing potential anti-competitive effects. Like many technology companies, Meta has faced stiffening regulatory oversight in the U.S. as well. The FTC proposed a "blanket" ban preventing Meta from monetizing young user's data and alleged Meta had violated a 2020 privacy order.

Persons: Shutterstock, Shutterstock's, Meta Organizations: Meta, Markets Authority, CMA, Technology, Activision, FTC, CNBC Locations: Giphy, U.S

☆ Microsoft is bringing an A.I. chatbot to data analysis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence group, speaks at the Microsoft CIO Summit in Redmond, Washington, on Feb. 1, 2023. Microsoft 's hefty investment in artificial intelligence chatbots is finding its way into data analysis. For example, the data can be tapped in Synapse Data Science for collaborating on AI models and Power BI business intelligence software for building charts and dashboards. A single Copilot will be available for the tools in the Microsoft Fabric portfolio, which includes Data Factory, Synapse Data Engineering, Synapse Data Warehousing, Synapse Real-Time Analytics and a new monitoring tool called Data Activator, in addition to Power BI and Synapse Data Science, a Microsoft spokesperson said. He said that Copilot will be able to write formulas using Microsoft's Data Analysis Expressions language in Power BI.

The private plaintiffs sued Microsoft in California federal court in December to enjoin the deal, which they called harmful to competition. Corley pushed back on the gamers' allegation that Microsoft would limit availability of the game. A lawyer for the gamers said on Monday they will press on with their challenge to the deal despite losing this preliminary round. Corley dismissed the gamers' first lawsuit in March, ruling that plaintiffs had not offered adequate factual support for claims that the deal would violate U.S. antitrust law. The case is DeMartini v. Microsoft Corp, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

☆ Janet Yellen told bank CEOs more mergers may be necessary, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —During Thursday’s meeting with the CEOs of large banks, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told executives that more bank mergers may be necessary as the industry continues to navigate through a crisis, two people familiar with the matter told CNN. However, sources tell CNN that bank mergers were discussed during Yellen’s meeting with bank CEOs. Yellen echoed remarks from US regulators who have said there may be bank mergers in the current environment, one person familiar with the matter said. Yet earlier this month, regulators allowed JPMorgan Chase, the nation’s largest bank, to buy most of First Republic, the second-largest bank to fail in US history. Michael Hsu, acting comptroller of the currency, told lawmakers earlier this week that his agency would be willing to quickly consider bank mergers.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO.O) on Wednesday rounded off a strong March quarter for the sector that saw its three major players post net bookings growth of between 11% and 66%. The company said "NBA 2K23", "Grand Theft Auto V" and "Grand Theft Auto Online" were some of the top contributors to its net bookings growth in the reported quarter. The company forecast net bookings of more than $8 billion for next year, which was above analysts' estimates. "It (the GTA VI release) would be a watershed moment for the category of open-world games," said MoffettNathanson analyst Clay Griffin. "Tens and tens of millions of units would be sold immediately, and a new or completely refreshed GTA: Online would redefine what a modern 'metaverse' really looks like."

☆ These are the top 10 holdings of Berkshire Hathaway's $325 billion stock portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

These are the top 10 stocks held in Berkshire Hathaway's $325 billion stock portfolio as of March 31. With various portfolio changes in the first quarter of the year, Berkshire Hathaway's top 10 holdings of US stocks has shifted, though Apple still represents a near 50% of the portfolio. In fact, the top 10 positions in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio make up a massive 90.2% of its entire portfolio. These are the top 10 stocks held in Berkshire Hathaway's $325 billion US stock portfolio as of March 31. American ExpressCredit cards fill a display at American Express headquarters John Moore/Getty ImagesTicker: AXPPosition: $25.0 billionPercent of portfolio: 7.7%2.

☆ Take-Two gains on gaming demand rebound, title delivery forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Tiyashi Datta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company also said it expects to deliver 36 video game titles through 2025 and 2026, and forecast $8 billion in 2025 net bookings and over $1 billion in operating cash flow. Take-Two, however, did not make any announcements about its highly anticipated title "Grand Theft Auto VI". Its fourth-quarter adjusted sales grew 65% to $1.39 billion, compared with Wall Street's estimate of $1.34 billion, according to Refinitiv data. During an earnings call with analysts, Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick said Take-Two was assuming a continuation of the current challenging consumer backdrop within its forecast. Its annual adjusted revenue forecast between $5.45 billion and $5.55 billion came below Street's estimate of $6.07 billion.

☆ Take-Two beats adjusted sales estimates on higher gaming demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 17 (Reuters) - Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO.O) on Wednesday beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter adjusted sales on strong demand for legacy titles "NBA 2K" and "Grand Theft Auto", sending the video game maker's shares up over 7% after the bell. Take-Two has established itself as one of the dominant players in the U.S. with strong sales from its successful video game franchises and a solid pipeline including titles "Grand Theft Auto VI" and "Star Wars Hunters". Fourth-quarter adjusted sales grew 65% to $1.39 billion, compared with Wall Street's estimate of $1.34 billion, according to Refinitiv data. However, its annual adjusted revenue forecast between $5.45 billion and $5.55 billion came below Street's estimate of $6.07 billion. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK regulators must understand need to promote growth, Hunt says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - British regulators should understand the need to promote growth, finance minister Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday when asked about the UK's antitrust watchdog's decision to block Microsoft's (MSFT.O) $69 billion acquisition of Activision (ATVI.O). "One of the reasons that companies like Microsoft and Google want to invest in the UK is because we have independent regulators that aren't controlled by politicians," Hunt told a business conference. "I would not want to undermine that at all, but I do think it's important all our regulators understand their wider responsibilities for economic growth." The European Union cleared the deal on Monday, accepting a practically identical set of remedies put forward by Microsoft that the CMA had rejected. Reporting by David Milliken and Sachin Ravikumar, writing by William James, editing by Paul SandleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The Commerce Department reported retail sales rose 0.4% in April, at half the pace against an expected increase of 0.8%. "The retail sales data has been positive in several months, but it's still weak," said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. You are probably seeing the end of the decline in retail sales, but it's not going to be a smooth ride from here." Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) component Home Depot (HD.N) shed 1.4%, hitting its lowest level in over six months after the company lowered its annual sales forecast. Shares of Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N) jumped 2.4%, rising the most on the S&P 500, after Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Monday disclosed it has begun investing in the consumer lender.

☆ UK's competition boss: We do not want a hostile environment for tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - The head of Britain's anti-trust regulator said it was not seeking to create a "hostile environment" for tech companies with its decision to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Cardell added that the CMA had engaged widely with companies across the sector. "I don't find that we are operating sort of, broadly speaking, in a hostile environment," she added. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has also filed a complaint to block the deal, which Microsoft has indicated it will fight. Reporting by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway Opens New Position in Capital One, Exits BNY Mellon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Akane Otani | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Neb., was held earlier this month. Photo: Madeline Cass for The Wall Street JournalWarren Buffett ’s company spent the first quarter opening a new position in Capital One Financial and adding to its already large holdings of Bank of America and Apple . A regulatory filing released Monday showed Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its stakes in Chevron , General Motors , Amazon.com and Activision Blizzard , among other companies. It dumped the remainder of its stakes in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing , Bank of New York Mellon , U.S. Bancorp and RH , the home-furnishings company formerly known as Restoration Hardware.

The Commerce Department reported retail sales rose 0.4% in April, at half the pace against an expected increase of 0.8%. "The retail sales data has been positive in several months, but it's still weak," said Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group. You are probably seeing the end of the decline in retail sales, but it's not going to be a smooth ride from here." The S&P 500 retail index (.SPXRT) lost 0.6%. Shares of Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N) jumped 5.4%, rising the most on the S&P 500, after Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) on Monday disclosed it has begun investing in the consumer lender.

☆ Microsoft is 'putting their money where their mouth is,' says asset management firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft is 'putting their money where their mouth is,' says asset management firmJake Dollarhide of Longbow Asset Management discusses European Union regulators' approval of Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of gaming firm Activision Blizzard.

☆ Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on OpenAI relationship, generative A.I., Microsoft-Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella on OpenAI relationship, generative A.I., Microsoft-Activision dealCNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss the company's relationship with OpenAI, concerns of A.I. moving too fast, Microsoft-Activision merger, and more.

☆ Keith Meister’s Corvex Management bets on Amazon, slashes other big tech holdings
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Keith Meister's Corvex Management scooped up shares of Amazon during the first quarter, while slashing its stakes in technology giants Alphabet and Microsoft . Meister also bought shares of Endeavor Group , a position worth $44.9 million at the end of the first quarter. Other new bets from Corvex included a $22.7 million position in Uber Technologies and a stake in Algonquin Power . Prior to launching Corvex, Meister worked closely with legendary activist investor Carl Icahn. At the end of the first quarter, Corvex managed about $2.9 billion in regulatory assets, according to securities filings.

☆ Microsoft’s Activision Deal Goes Down to the Wire
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

An EU antitrust regulator approved Microsoft’s $75 billion deal to buy gaming company Activision Blizzard on Monday, a win for the two companies after a U.K. regulator rejected the deal in April. Photo: Avalon/Zuma PressLike any good videogame, Microsoft ’s proposed takeover of Activision Blizzard seems to have multiple—though not infinite—lives. The European Commission approved the deal on Monday morning. The announcement came just three weeks after the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority issued a surprise ruling against the proposed merger.

☆ Microsoft wins EU antitrust approval for Activision deal vetoed by UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. Microsoft has in recent months signed licensing deals with Nvidia (NVDA.O), Nintendo (7974.T), Ukraine's Boosteroid and Japan's Ubitus to bring Activision games to their platforms should the deal go through. "The European Commission has required Microsoft to license popular Activision Blizzard games automatically to competing cloud gaming services. CLOUD GAMING MARKET GROWTHVestager said the Commission had a different view from UK regulators of how the game streaming market, which accounted for just 1% of the total market last year, would develop. "Microsoft and Activision’s lawyers will also use the decision to provide greater ballast to their appeal of the CMA's decision."

☆ Microsoft wins EU antitrust nod for Activision deal, after UK veto
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, May 15 (Reuters) - Microsoft has won EU antitrust approval for its $69 billion Activision takeover, which was vetoed by Britain, after regulators said its offer of free 10-year licensing deals to gamers and cloud streaming rivals addressed their concerns. The European Commission said on Monday that the biggest-ever deal in gaming was pro-competitive due to Microsoft's (MSFT.O) licensing deals, confirming a Reuters report in March. Such licenses are "practical and effective", European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters. "Actually they significantly improve the condition for cloud game streaming compared to the present situation, which is why we actually consider them pro-competitive," she added. The EU watchdog said Microsoft has offered 10-year free licensing deals to European consumers and cloud game streaming services for Activision's (ATVI.O) PC and console games.

☆ Microsoft’s $75 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Gets EU Approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Kim Mackrael | Sarah E. Needleman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A U.K. antitrust regulator rejected Microsoft’s $75 billion deal to buy gaming company Activision Blizzard on Wednesday. The deal is also being scrutinized by the European Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated PressBRUSSELS—The European Union’s antitrust watchdog approved Microsoft ’s planned $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard , giving the two companies a win after the deal hit a regulatory roadblock in the U.K. The decision comes weeks after the U.K. regulator rejected the agreement, saying it would crimp competition in the country’s gaming market. Monday’s approval in Brussels won’t have any direct legal bearing on that process, and antitrust lawyers say Microsoft faces long odds in overturning the British decision.

Search resuls for: "Activision"

25 mentions found