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☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ How Dumbledore Became Michael Gambon’s Most Recognizable Role
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the latter part of Michael Gambon’s long and storied acting career, some of the most animated analyses of his performances could be found not in theater or film reviews, but in forums for the “Harry Potter” fandom, where dedicated Hogwarts obsessives would dissect his every onscreen utterance as the wizard Albus Dumbledore. It wasn’t originally his role. Richard Harris, the eminent actor who was originally cast, died after filming the second “Harry Potter” movie. Several other well-known actors were initially considered to succeed Harris in the role, including McKellen, who demurred, and Peter O'Toole, who turned it down because of his long, close friendship with Harris. In the end the choice was Gambon, whose family said Thursday that he had died.

Persons: Michael Gambon’s, Harry Potter ”, Albus Dumbledore, Richard Harris, Harry Potter, Gambon, Alec Guinness, Obi, Wan, Ian McKellen, Gandalf, Harris, McKellen, Peter O'Toole, Harris’s Organizations: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft

☆ Michael Gambon, Dumbledore actor in ‘Harry Potter,’ dies age 82
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Zahid Mahmood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in most of the “Harry Potter” movies, has died at 82 following a “bout of pneumonia,” a statement issued on behalf of his family said on Thursday, PA Media news agency reported. I collect cars and guns, which are much more expensive, and much more difficult to store.”Michael Gambon in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Four years later, Gambon joined the Birmingham Repertory Company, finally playing title roles in his favorite Shakespearean plays. But it was as Hogwarts’ headmaster Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” film series that Gambon will perhaps be best remembered, a role he took up following the death of Richard Harris in 2002. In all, Gambon was cast as Dumbledore for six of the eight “Harry Potter” films.

Persons: Michael Gambon, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter ”, ”, Sir Michael Gambon, Clair Dobbs, Michael, Anne, Fergus, ” Gambon, Gambon, toolmaker, “ I’ve, “ Richard Briers, Harry Potter, Murray, Laurence Olivier, Philip Marlow, ’, Dumbledore, Richard Harris Organizations: CNN, Media, Guardian, Warner Bros, Royal Academy of Dramatic, National Theatre Company, Birmingham Repertory Company, British Empire Locations: Cabra, Dublin, London, Irish, Camden, British

☆ Epic Games is laying off roughly 900 employees - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Epic Games logo, maker of the popular video game "Fortnite", is pictured on a screen in this picture illustration August 14, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - "Fortnite" maker Epic Games is laying off about 900 employees, or 16% of its staff, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The videogame industry is struggling with a slowdown in spending as inflation-weary gamers become more selective in picking popular titles. Epic Games could not immediately be reached for comment. Reporting by Chavi Mehta and Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Harry Potter, Chavi Mehta, Samrhitha, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Epic Games is laying off about 830 employees, divesting Bandcamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Epic Games logo, maker of the popular video game "Fortnite", is pictured on a screen in this picture illustration August 14, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - "Fortnite" maker Epic Games is laying off about 830 employees, or 16% of its staff, and divesting online music platform Bandcamp, the company said on Thursday. The videogame company will also spin-off most of SuperAwesome, which Epic Games acquired in 2020. SuperAwesome is a platform for developers to include kid-safety tools in their products. The videogame industry is struggling with a slowdown in spending as inflation-weary gamers become more selective in picking popular titles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney, Harry Potter, Chavi Mehta, Samrhitha, Jaspreet Singh, Arun Koyyur, Maju Samuel Organizations: REUTERS, Epic Games, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: SuperAwesome, Bengaluru

But as it turns out, I was just not using my imagination, because this year’s Burning Man was an absolute nightmare. casey newtonA bit more of a Drowning Man than a Burning Man, I have to say. kevin rooseYeah, so as someone who’s been to Burning Man, I was fascinated by just the logistics of it all, because it is already a mess to get in and out of Burning Man. kevin rooseSo you are, in addition to a Burning Man escapee this year, you’ve been actually going to Burning Man for a long time. When I say I don’t know what happened, I don’t know what happened to prompt the things that were being directed at us.

Persons: casey newton, kevin roose, I’ve, KEVIN, casey newton It’s, you’ve, it’s, I’ll, casey newton What’s, kevin roose Bluetooth, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, Jonathan Greenblatt, Elon, Kevin, casey newton Oh, casey newton You, “ shay, denfreude, kevin roose Schadenfreude, shay, who’s, It’s — casey newton, casey newton That’s, Smart, casey newton Ugh, kevin roose —, casey newton Right, — casey newton, kevin roose What’s, casey newton Sure, ” casey newton Never, Adrian Aoun, He’s, ” adrian aoun, adrian aoun, Larry Page, Adrian, I’m, casey newton Amen, here’s, you’d, we’ve, you’re, Larry, roose, Max, Harry Potter, adrian aoun I’m, they’re, adrian aoun —, —, Rice Krispie, kevin roose Wow, let’s, adrian aoun Oh, adrian aoun She’s, She’s —, We’re, wrenches, hitchhike, I, Gerlach, kevin roose She’s, Y, It’s, They’re, — you’re, casey newton We’re, it’s Elon Musk, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, West, kevin roose It’s, Casey, casey newton Well, Linda Yaccarino, Jonathan, kevin roose Jonathan, ” jonathan greenblatt, jonathan greenblatt, CHUCKLES, I’d, Linda, kevin roose You, Nick Fuentes, haven’t, Kevin —, that’s, what’s, we’re, casey newton I’ve, jonathan greenblatt I’m, We’ve, — what’s, Here’s, That’s, John, “, ”, CASEY, kevin roose Totally, Hank Green, Hank, ” Hank, hank, It’s Hank, Ben Shapiro, kevin roose Hank, Diana Dionisio, Diana, Snapchat, Jay Hepler, Jay, ” Casey, don’t, casey newton Really, casey newton I’m, Holly Godfrey, Holly, Kevin Scott, Kevin Scott’s, Bing, Rachel Cohn, Jen Poyant, Caitlin Love, Chris Wood, Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano, Paula Szuchman, Tam, Nell Gallogly, Kate LoPresti, Jeffrey Miranda, CASEY CHUCKLES Organizations: The New York Times, Defamation League, porta, Electric, Google, Labs, Black Rock, casey newton Fair, Burning, Reno, Defamation, Elon, Labor, Twitter, Center, ADL, Nazi, Anti, Twitter’s Trust, Safety, OG, YouTube, Cato Institute, US, Microsoft, Kevins, Davis Locations: Nevada, La Habra , California, Spanish, East, Iraq, Coachella, Bay, Solano County, Toronto, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Hogwarts, playa, Haiti, Dunkirk, ”, Gerlach, LA, New York, Reno, it’s Reno, America, Florida, chemo, Tokyo, That’s, hardfork@nytimes.com

☆ They’re Tiny, They’re Toony, They’re Packing Off to Uni
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Laurel Graeber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First-year college students everywhere are now adjusting to campus life. Few, however, have to choose between classes like Banana Peel Placement and Whoopie Cushion Alternatives. Or suffer the crash of anvils on their heads when they give wrong answers. These experiences belong exclusively to the incoming freshmen of “Tiny Toons Looniversity,” a new animated series that begins streaming on Friday on Max and airing on Saturday on Cartoon Network. With Steven Spielberg as an executive producer, the show revives the characters and setting of the Emmy Award-winning early-’90s series “Tiny Toon Adventures,” whose own comic DNA descended from the “Looney Tunes” short films of the 1930s-60s.

Persons: Steven Spielberg, ”, Bugs, Daffy Duck, Wile E, Babs, Buster Bunny, Plucky, Hamton J, they’ve Organizations: Max, Cartoon Network, Acme, Warner Bros Locations: hilarity

☆ Electronic Arts misses quarterly bookings expectations, forecast weak
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

EA (Eletronic Arts) Sports logo is seen in this illustration, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAug 1 - Videogame publisher Electronic Arts (EA.O) missed booking estimates for its first quarter on Tuesday, hurt by competition from other franchise-based games and muted spending by gamers. Its shares fell 4.5% to $130.25 in extended trading as the company posted net bookings of $1.58 billion in the quarter ended June 30, compared with Refinitiv estimates of $1.59 billion. EA forecast second-quarter net bookings in the range $1.70 billion to $1.80 billion, also below analysts' estimate of $1.81 billion. Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Harry Potter, Yuvraj Malik, Pooja Desai Organizations: EA, Eletronic, REUTERS, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros Discovery, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ In Scotland, Taking the Traditional and Making It New
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Amy Tara Koch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This being the Highlands, the great outdoors beckons. “Ghillies,” or local guides, are on tap for horseback riding, fly-fishing, birding and hiking in Cairngorms National Park (doubles from £600 per night). ToursWith its widely spread out attractions, wind-whipped landscape and lack of public transport, Scotland can be challenging to tackle on your own, especially if the thought of driving on the “wrong” side is daunting. Rabbie’s Tours offers one-day (£54) and four-day (£209‌ without lodging) “Outlander”-themed tours centered on filming locations. Beyond activities‌‌, the company can secure tucked-away lodging and car transfers‌ (starting at $1,000 per day for a couple, including hotel, guide and experiences, but excluding dining).

Persons: Manuela, Iwan Wirth, Wirth, Zhang Enli, Queen Victoria, Elsa Schiaparelli, Flora Macdonald, “, Harry Potter, Skye, Outlander, Ben Nevis Organizations: Hauser, Jacobite, brac, Hogwarts Express, Rabbie’s Locations: Fife, Highlands, Braemar, Scotland, Orkney, Isle

☆ Warner Bros, NetEase launch 'Harry Potter: Magic Awakened' video game
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 27 (Reuters) - A Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) unit and China's NetEase Inc on Tuesday announced the worldwide launch of role-playing video game "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". The free-to-play title will let players experience life as a student at Hogwarts, the fictional school of wizardry in the popular "Harry Potter" series of books by J.K.Rowling. Players can learn magic spells and summon "Harry Potter" characters such as Hermione Granger and Rubeus Hagrid as allies to aid in their battles. The game can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android platforms from Tuesday, the companies said. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb ChakrabartyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Harry Potter, J.K.Rowling, Hermione Granger, Rubeus Hagrid, Tiyashi Datta, Saumyadeb Organizations: Warner Bros Discovery Inc, Inc, Tuesday, Thomson Locations: Hogwarts, Bengaluru

☆ Emma Watson’s ‘levitating’ dress is confusing the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Did someone say Wingardium Leviosa? “Harry Potter” fans are asking whether Emma Watson’s new dress may be the result of some Hogwarts wizardry. The star, who played Hermione Granger in the blockbuster movies, posted a picture of herself wearing the gravity-defying sky-blue gown on Instagram on Monday. The dress is not ‘hanging from her ears’ or ‘Photoshopped’, the dress is designed to have ‘bones’, it’s just couture. Renais is our love letter to Chablis; is carbon-neutral, lovingly made from upcycled grapes.

Persons: Harry Potter ”, Emma Watson’s, Hermione Granger, Loewe, Carolina__emme, ’, ” Watson, Duchess, Alex, Watson, “, Emma ” Organizations: CNN, Twitter Locations: Spanish, Ginspiration, Chablis

One is about the possibility that we’re going to have this super intelligent AI that’s capable of great destruction. casey newtonI think that’s right. But it’s just like — I don’t think — I don’t think about to do these things in the moment like Dan. I don’t think that there’s an ethical issue with doing what he wants to do. And yeah, I just think it’s going into an area that’s going to be uncomfortable for the friend.

Persons: kevin roose, casey newton, we’re, ” casey newton I’ve, kevin roose It’s, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, clowned, New York Times ’, Kate Conger, Casey, Ajeya Cotra, kevin roose Totally, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, They’re, Kevin, Dan Hendricks who’s, “, “ I’m, don’t, you’re, I’m, — casey newton, it’s, ChatGPT, casey newton I’m, I’ve, Martinez, Varghese, kevin roose Tyler, —, Steven A, Schwartz, ”, they’re, it’ll, there’s, Mr, Bean, We’ve, James Vincent, It’s, Jensen Huang, Harry Potter, Harry Potter of, kevin roose —, casey newton Parallelelizable, Parallelizable, — casey newton Let’s, that’s, who’s, NVIDIA —, casey newton Well, doesn’t, katie cogner, Kate Conger who’s, katie cogner Hi, katie cogner I’m, Dan, what’s, Getty, casey newton Kate, let’s, John, Here’s John, john, kevin roose That’s, Kate, he’s, He’s, he’ll, casey newton That’s, There’s, we’ve, “ I’ve, ” Kate, cogner, Prince Harry, katie cogner Doesn’t, Harry, casey newton We’re, We’re, kevin roose Kate, they’ve, Joni Mitchell, Chris Vecchio, Chris, kevin roose I’m, You’d, casey newton “, you’ll, casey newton Oh, ” kevin roose Organizations: The New York Times, NVIDIA, New York Times, Safety, Google, AI, ChatGPT, Avianca Airlines, Delta Airlines, China Southern Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, “, Bar Association, Texas, M University Commerce, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Harry Potter of Kentucky Christian, Facebook, eBay, “ New York Times, Boston, Garden, MetLife, TED, AIs Locations: British, Avianca, Durden, ChatGPT, Taiwan, Kentucky, Hogwarts, Harry Potter of Kentucky, California, Madison, —

☆ ChatGPT Secret Training Data: the Top 50 Books AI Bots Are Reading
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

To figure out what GPT-4 has read, they quizzed it on its knowledge of various books, as if it were a high-school English student. One way to answer the question is to look for information that could have come from only one place. Genre — sci-fi, mystery, romance, horror — is, broadly speaking, more interesting, partially because these books have plots where things actually happen. Bamman's GPT-4 list is a Borgesian library of episodic connections, cliffhangers, third-act complications, and characters taking arms against seas of troubles (and whales). See what a bot makes of Gene Wolfe's "The Book of the New Sun," maybe, or Sheri Tepper's "Grass."

☆ A 'Harry Potter' TV series is in the works. Here's everything we know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warner Bros. Television is working on a scripted "Harry Potter" TV show. AdvertisementA "Harry Potter" TV show is in the works. AdvertisementThe series will be a 'faithful adaptation of the beloved original Harry Potter books'Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson starred in the "Harry Potter" films. J.K. Rowling will serve as an executive producerJ.K. Rowling is the author of the "Harry Potter" book series. The show is eyeing a release in 2026Daniel Radcliffe as Harry in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Persons: Harry Potter, —, Max, J.K, Rowling, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Casey Bloys, Evan Agostini, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley, Letts, David Heyman, Harry, David Zaslav, Zaslav, Channing Dungey, Kirsten Acuna Organizations: Warner Bros . Television, Warner Bros, Discovery, Service, HBO, Max, Business, Twitter, WB, Hollywood Locations: Los Angeles, WarnerMedia

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is bringing Harry Potter back as it closes in on a deal for a new TV series, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Warner Bros. Discovery is close to a deal for a new Harry Potter TV series, per Bloomberg. The people, who asked not to be identified because the deal is yet to be announced, said Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Meanwhile, the overall Harry Potter franchise which includes books, toys, and games has earned $15 billion, Insider reported in 2021.

☆ 'FIFA' publisher EA to cut 6% of workforce, reduce office space
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc (EA.O) said on Wednesday it would lay off about 6% of its workforce and reduce office space, making it the first major videogame publisher to announce job cuts. Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) announced a second round of job cuts this month. Video game sales so far this year were flat and spending on video game content across platforms is down 2%, according to analytics firm Circana. Newly launched "Hogwarts Legacy" game from Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) topped the videogame sales charts in February, according to Circana. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The company showed a preview of a new “Harry Potter” studio tour in the Japanese capital on Wednesday, its first outside the United Kingdom. “We’ve kept it all,” Jeff Nagler, president of worldwide studio operations at Warner Bros., told CNN in an interview in Tokyo. Warner Bros. and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. The films “provided a lot of the profits of Warner Bros. Motion Pictures over the last 25 years,” he told analysts in a November results presentation. “We are very fortunate to have a huge share of the most beloved and globally recognized storytelling IP in the world, including ‘Harry Potter,’” he said.

☆ Fact Check-J.K. Rowling tweet thanking LGBTQ community for ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ game sales is fabricated
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Author J.K. Rowling did not tweet a post thanking the LGBTQ community for sales of the ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ computer game, despite a screenshot circulating online. A spokesperson for JK Rowling, Rebecca Salt, told Reuters that no such tweet was published. A Twitter advanced search via Rowling’s account did not reveal the tweet (archive.is/wip/PmBkF). Archived versions of Rowling’s Twitter account saved on Feb. 24 did not reveal the tweet either (here). No such tweet was posted by J.K. Rowling.

☆ Harry Potter video game 'Hogwarts Legacy' has done $850 million in sales so far, despite calls for a boycott after JK Rowling's anti-trans comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Warner Bros. Discovery said "Hogwarts Legacy" has sold 12 million units so far, worth $850 million. The game's success comes despite protests over "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling's comments that many say are anti-trans. Many have called her comments transphobic, and "Harry Potter" film stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have denounced her stance. Many gamers criticized the release of "Hogwarts Legacy" in light of Rowling's comments.

☆ Warner Bros Discovery posts quarterly loss after restructuring charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) Inc on Thursday posted a $2.1 billion loss in its fourth quarter, reflecting ongoing charges related to the restructuring of the merged media companies. Warner Bros Discovery reported a loss of 86 cents per share, versus expectations of a 21-cent-per-share loss. Warner Bros Discovery said the months-long merger-related restructuring, which resulted in thousands of layoffs and canceled film and television projects, is complete. Warner Bros Discovery also said it has paid down $7 billion in debt since April. Like other media companies, Warner Bros Discovery has yet to turn a profit on its HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services, though the company has reduced losses from them.

☆ ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Videogame Tops Sales Charts Amid Debates About ‘Harry Potter’ Creator
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Luke Winkie | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The new videogame ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ transports players to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry Potter and his friends mastered spellbooks. When the new, highly anticipated “Harry Potter” videogame “Hogwarts Legacy” made its debut earlier this month, it shot immediately to the top of the sales charts. Set in a 19th-century Wizarding World where wizards wear top hats and drive buggies, the game transports players to the school where Harry and his friends mastered spellbooks and learned how to fight against the dark arts. Game fans are captivated by its immersive open world: In the days following its release, “Hogwarts Legacy” had at one point had more than 879,000 concurrent players, according to distribution platform Steam. Developed by Avalanche Studios and released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, it marks the first time “Harry Potter” has been given blockbuster treatment by a videogame company.

☆ The Harry Potter video game 'Hogwarts Legacy' is here, and topping sales charts — despite the JK Rowling controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Hogwarts Legacy" was at the top of the Steam PC and PlayStation Store sales charts on Friday. The early success comes despite backlash over Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling's anti-trans comments. The game's early success is in the face of some calls for a boycott over Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling's past anti-trans comments. Warner Bros. Games, which released "Hogwarts Legacy," wrote on the game's FAQ page that Rowling was "not directly involved in the creation of the game." Discovery CEO David Zaslav in November expressed an interest in doing "something with J.K. on Harry Potter going forward."

☆ Hogwarts Legacy breaks record before official release, despite controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hogwarts Legacy – the new open-world video game by Avalanche and Warner Bros. Hogwarts Legacy is based on Harry Potter but is set in the late 1800s, well before the action in the Harry Potter books take place, and opens the Harry Potter World beyond Hogwarts Castle. Videogamesnewyork, a New York City store that sells modern and retro video games, is ordering just enough games to their store based on pre-orders. Some gamers also are boycotting Hogwarts Legacy over the controversy. The company says J.K. Rowling is not involved in the Hogwarts Legacy game.

☆ The upcoming Harry Potter game is already a top seller, despite JK Rowling controversy and boycott calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"Hogwarts Legacy" is topping charts on Steam and the PlayStation Store, a month from its release. Warner Bros. has suggested it wants to cooperate with Rowling on future Potter-related content. "Hogwarts Legacy" is an open-world role-playing game set in the Harry Potter universe during the 1800s, and the player will play as a student at Hogwarts during that time. Warner Bros. Games representatives did not respond to requests for comment from Insider on whether Rowling will be compensated for "Hogwarts Legacy." But Rowling has far-reaching control over Harry Potter.

☆ Elon Musk Was Always a Visionary Jerk, Bad Boss at SpaceX, Tesla. but It Won't Work at Twitter.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Elon Musk has a pretty tried-and-true playbook for doing business — he's used it for years to build companies from Tesla to SpaceX. Twitter is the antithesis of an "Elon Musk company." And without a big, world-changing promise to paper over his sophomoric product ideas and erratic management, Musk's Twitter takeover is doomed. No time to wasteA Musk company is usually the first, and sometimes the only, company in a specific market. Based on his most recent quarterly calls with investors — the ones where he is supposed to talk about plans to make more money — Musk does not have one.

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