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☆ Microsoft Signs ‘Call of Duty’ Pact With Nintendo as Activision Deal Faces Scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Sarah E. Needleman | Kim Mackrael | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The deal would give Nintendo access to new ‘Call of Duty’ games on the same day Microsoft’s Xbox system does. Microsoft Corp. has signed a pact to give Nintendo Co. access to “Call of Duty” games for a decade if its $75 billion deal to buy the game’s developer, Activision Blizzard Inc., gets approved, part of the software maker’s efforts to relieve regulators’ concerns about the transaction. In a tweet Tuesday, Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith said the commitment with Nintendo, first proposed late last year, is now solidified. It means that Nintendo would gain access to new “Call of Duty” games the same day as they appear on Microsoft’s Xbox system.

☆ Microsoft Signs ‘Call of Duty’ Pacts With Nintendo and Nvidia as Activision Deal Faces Scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Sarah E. Needleman | Kim Mackrael | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The deal would give Nintendo access to new ‘Call of Duty’ games on the same day Microsoft’s Xbox system does. Microsoft Corp. signed pacts to give Nintendo Co. and Nvidia Corp. access to “Call of Duty” games for a decade if its $75 billion deal to buy the game’s developer, Activision Blizzard Inc., gets approved, part of the software maker’s efforts to relieve regulators’ concerns about the transaction. In a tweet Tuesday, Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith said the commitment with Nintendo, first proposed late last year, is now solidified. It means that Nintendo would gain access to new “Call of Duty” games the same day they appear on Microsoft’s Xbox system.

Microsoft President Brad Smith told a news conference on Tuesday he was now more optimistic of getting the Activision acquisition done after the Nvidia deal and a similar arrangement with Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T). Instead, Nvidia's 25 million customers will need to pay Nvidia for access to its cloud gaming platform and pay Microsoft for its games. Shares of Microsoft fell 2%, Nvidia dropped 3.4% and Activision fell 0.7% in a broadly lower market on Tuesday afternoon. Nvidia said it now supports the Xbox maker's bid to purchase Activision, but the deal could still be a hard sell with regulators. Smith said he hoped that rival Sony Group Corp (6758.T) will consider doing the same type of deal with Nvidia.

☆ Microsoft to defend Activision deal at EU hearing on Feb. 21
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) will make a last-ditch effort to defend its $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) in front of EU and national antitrust officials at a closed hearing on Feb. 21, the U.S. software company said on Tuesday. The company asked for the hearing after receiving a statement of objections from the European Commission warning about the possible anti-competitive effects of the deal. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the oral hearing. Microsoft is expected to offer remedies after the hearing. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Shares of Japan's Nintendo, SoftBank and Sharp tumble after earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Nintendo dropped 6% after the maker of the Switch video game console reported lower sales and profit and cut its full-year outlook. Nintendo shares were on track for their biggest one-day loss since November. SoftBank shares fell 6.2% after it reported a quarterly loss, hit by its massive Vision Fund investment unit, which fell into the red for the fourth straight quarter. Nintendo is struggling with softer sales for the ageing Switch, while SoftBank has seen valuations weaken for its sprawling tech portfolio. "The Nintendo Switch is now a six-year-old console and demand is now exhausted," analyst Mark Chadwick said on Smartkarma.

☆ Shares of Nintendo, SoftBank tumble after earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Nintendo dropped 7.6% after the maker of the Switch video game console reported lower sales and profit and cut its full-year outlook. Nintendo shares were on track for their biggest one-day loss since late 2021. SoftBank shares fell 6.6% after it reported a quarterly loss, hit by its massive Vision Fund investment unit, which fell into the red for the fourth straight quarter. Nintendo is struggling with softer sales for the ageing Switch, while SoftBank has seen valuations weaken for its sprawling tech portfolio. "The Nintendo Switch is now a six-year-old console and demand is now exhausted," analyst Mark Chadwick said on Smartkarma.

☆ Morning Bid: The Powell Put
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. Wall Street must be hoping Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell would speak in public every day. Given a chance to react hawkishly to the bumper January payrolls report, Powell demurred and chose to stay boringly balanced on the rate outlook. Asked if he regretted using "disinflation" 11 times in his media conference last week, he said no, he would do the same again. Hardly earth shattering stuff, but for markets these days if Powell is not all-out in-your-face hawkish, then he's dovish.

☆ Nintendo trims annual profit outlook on firmer yen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Japanese videogame maker Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) lowered by 4%on Tuesday its forecast for full-year operating profit, because of a firmer yen. It now expects total operating profit of 480 billion yen ($3.6 billion) for the year to March 31, down from a previous forecast of 500 billion. The latest outlook is lower than an average estimate of a profit of 582 billion yen from 21 analysts, according to Refinitiv data. It cut its Switch console sales target to 18 million units from 19 million. Nintendo, which competes with PlayStation creator Sony Group Corp (6758.T) and Xbox maker Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), sold 14.91 million Switch units in the nine months to Dec 31, compared with 18.95 million units in the same period a year earlier.

☆ Nintendo cuts sales forecast for its ageing Switch console after disappointing holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nintendo said its Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games for the Nintendo Switch hit an all-times sales record for the company. Nintendo on Tuesday cut the outlook for its Nintendo Switch console and games sales and slashed its profit outlook for its current fiscal year. The Japanese gaming giant said it now expects to sell 18 million Switch units for the fiscal year ending March 2023, down from a previous forecast of 19 million. Nintendo said it now also expects sales of 205 million software units, down from a previous projection of 210 million units. Nintendo sold around 8.23 million Switch consoles in the December holiday quarter, down around 22% year-on-year.

☆ Microsoft faces EU antitrust warning over Activision deal - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) is likely to receive an EU antitrust warning about its $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O), people familiar with the matter said, that could pose another challenge to completing the deal. The European Commission is readying a charge sheet known as a statement of objections setting out its concerns about the deal which will be sent to Microsoft in the coming weeks, the people said. The EU antitrust watchdog, which has set an April 11 deadline for its decision on the deal, declined to comment. U.S. and UK regulators, however, have voiced concerns, with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission going to court to block the deal. Microsoft was expected to offer remedies to EU regulators in an attempt to avert a statement of charge and shorten the regulatory process, other sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in November.

☆ Saudi Arabia's wealth fund raises Nintendo stake to 6%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has increased its stake in Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) to 6%, a filing showed on Thursday, reflecting the sovereign wealth fund's growing exposure to the Japanese video gaming industry. PIF's stake in the Kyoto-based company has risen from 5.01% to 6.07%, according to the ownership report filed with Japanese regulators. PIF revealed its 5% stake in Nintendo in a regulatory filing in May last year, stating that it was made for investment purposes. It has also taken stakes in video game companies Nexon (3659.T), Capcom (9697.T), and Koei Tecmo (3635.T). Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; editing by Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ No 'substantive' settlement talks between U.S. FTC, Microsoft over Activision -lawyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FTC attorney James Weingarten, speaking in a brief telephonic pretrial hearing, said there were no "substantive" settlement discussions between the two sides under way. The case reflects the muscular approach to antitrust enforcement being taken by the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Michael Chappell, the FTC administrative law judge, will rule on the deal after hearings set for August 2023. Either side can then appeal to the same FTC commissioners who voted to bring the challenge, and then to a U.S. appeals court. The deal faces scrutiny in the European Union which is to decide by March 23 whether to clear or block the deal.

☆ First pre-trial hearing in Microsoft-Activision case set for Jan. 3
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | Thomson Reuters Institute | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A judge has set Jan. 3 for the first pre-trial hearing in the Biden administration's case against Microsoft (MSFT.O) over its $69 billion bid to take over "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O). Microsoft has countered that the deal would benefit gamers and gaming companies alike, offering to sign a legally binding consent decree with the FTC to provide "Call of Duty" games to rivals including Sony (6758.T) for a decade. Microsoft made the argument in a filing aimed at convincing a judge at the FTC to allow the deal to proceed. The case is a sign of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden taking a muscular approach to anti-trust enforcement. Reporting by Alexandra Alper; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Microsoft responds to FTC case seeking to block Activision Blizzard deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Microsoft on Thursday filed its response to U.S. regulators' antitrust case attempting to block the software maker from buying video-game publisher Activision Blizzard . But then Microsoft revealed its plan to buy Activision Blizzard. To relieve government opposition to the deal, Microsoft has offered concessions. "Sony refuses to deal," Microsoft said in its filing. In the months since then, two groups of Activision Blizzard employees have voted to form unions.

☆ Video gamers sue Microsoft in US court to stop Activision takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Microsoft Corp was hit on Tuesday in US court with a private consumer lawsuit claiming the technology company’s $69 billion bid to purchase “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard Inc will unlawfully squelch competition in the video game industry. The private lawsuit also seeks an order blocking Microsoft from acquiring Activision. It was filed on behalf of 10 video game players in California, New Mexico and New Jersey. The proposed acquisition would give Microsoft “far-outsized market power in the video game industry,” the complaint alleged, “with the ability to foreclose rivals, limit output, reduce consumer choice, raise prices, and further inhibit competition.”A representative for Microsoft did not immediately comment on Tuesday. The FTC previously said it sued to stop “Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio.” The agency said the merger would harm competition among rival gaming platforms from Nintendo Co Ltd and Sony Group Corp.

☆ Video gamers sue Microsoft in U.S. court to stop Activision takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mike Scarcella | Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It was filed on behalf of 10 video game players in California, New Mexico and New Jersey. A Microsoft representative on Tuesday defended the deal, saying in a statement that it "will expand competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers." After the FTC sued, Microsoft President Brad Smith said, "We have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court." Private plaintiffs can pursue antitrust claims in U.S. court, even while a related U.S. agency case is pending. The FTC previously said it sued to stop "Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio."

☆ Microsoft Needs to Play Activision Out
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Phil Spencer, CEO of videogaming at Microsoft, had told The Wall Street Journal, “We have to break that duopoly” of two storefronts controlling the mobile market. One irony of Microsoft Corp.’s battle to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. is that the deal’s fate may hang on the company’s ability to convince regulators—and now judges—that it has moved beyond the Xbox. Another is that the deal could prove key to reducing the market power of two other tech giants. Consoles were the main way that consumers played videogames then, and their respective makers worked to pile up exclusive content to keep players in their ecosystems. Those exclusive games augmented mega-popular franchises such as “Call of Duty” that were available across platforms.

"The legal precedent is not on the side of the FTC," said Andre Barlow, an antitrust lawyer at Doyle, Barlow & Mazard PLLC. Barlow pointed to three recent mergers challenged by the FTC or Justice Department that were ultimately allowed to proceed. Those cases share something else in common with the proposed Microsoft deal: in each instance, a company would merge with a supplier in a so-called "vertical" merger. "Vertical merger challenges are really difficult to win so it will be an uphill battle for the FTC," said Roger Alford, who teaches law at the University of Notre Dame. Reuters reported last month that Microsoft was expected to offer remedies to EU antitrust regulators in the coming weeks to stave off formal objections to the deal.

☆ Microsoft Pledges to Put ‘Call of Duty’ on Nintendo Switch If Activision Deal Is Approved
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sarah E. Needleman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft Corp. pledged to give Nintendo Co. access to the popular “Call of Duty” games for a decade if its $75 billion deal to buy the game’s developer, Activision Blizzard Inc., gets approved, the software giant’s latest move to head off possible American regulatory action to block the acquisition. The offer follows a similar pledge that Microsoft made to Sony Group Corp., maker of the PlayStation videogame console. Sony has been the loudest of the critics of the planned Activision deal, arguing that it could hurt competition if Microsoft restricts access to Activision games. Sony has also said Microsoft could hinder competition in the global videogame industry if it were to gain ownership of “Call of Duty.”

☆ Microsoft says it has reached a 10-year deal to bring ‘Call of Duty’ to Nintendo
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft said late Tuesday it has reached a 10-year deal to bring the 19-year-old game franchise to Nintendo after its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which makes the game, is completed. The Nintendo deal is the latest attempt by Microsoft to ease concerns that its blockbuster acquisition of the gaming giant could harm competition in the industry. Microsoft head of gaming Phil Spencer announced the commitment with Nintendo in a tweet and said it will continue to offer “Call of Duty” on gaming platform Steam if the deal is completed. The company’s decision to bring “Call of Duty” to Nintendo comes as Microsoft’s Activision deal faces regulatory scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic. “Nintendo is not a high priority for ‘Call of Duty,’ all things considered – it has done perfectly fine without being on Nintendo recently,” Abbruzzese added.

☆ Nintendo shares head for biggest one-day drop in a year after Switch sales projection cut
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Shares in Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) fell nearly 7%, putting them on track for their biggest one-day drop in a year on Wednesday after the Japanese videogame giant cut its annual sales projection for its Switch console by nearly 10%. The Kyoto-based company on Tuesday cut its sales forecast for the Switch to 19 million units for this business year from 21 million, as microchip shortages constrained production. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa told an earnings briefing on Tuesday that chip supply had begun recovering in recent months, helping boost Switch production. Still, Nintendo shares were up 6.9% in Tokyo trade, against a nearly flat broader market. Shares of Nintendo are up 8.3% so far this year.

☆ Nintendo lifts profit guidance on weaker yen, sees slower console sales
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Japanese videogame maker Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) raised its annual profit forecast by 18% on Tuesday as a softer yen helped offset slower-than-expected Switch console sales. Nintendo, which earns about 80% of its revenues overseas, expects its net profit to come to 400 billion yen ($2.73 billion) for the year to March 2023, up from the previous forecast of 340 billion yen. The new projection still falls short of the consensus forecast of a 463 billion yen profit, based on a Refinitiv poll of 21 analysts. The creator of such blockbuster titles as "Super Mario Bros." and "Legend of Zelda" cut its Switch console sales forecast for the business year to 19 million units from 21 million. Nintendo sold 6.68 million units of its Switch console in the six months to September 30, down from 8.28 million a year earlier.

The next Nintendo Direct will be livestreamed at 10 a.m. Check out the Nintendo Direct livestream on September 13What games will be featured in the September Nintendo Direct? However, there's still a chance that the Nintendo Direct could contain new information on the titles or announce new games altogether. Nintendo could also make new announcements associated with the Nintendo Switch Online service which regularly adds retro games for users to play via emulation. Downloadable content for Nintendo exclusives like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart 8 could also be added to the $50 Nintendo Switch Online expansion pack.

☆ Агентство Bloomberg опубликовало список 50 людей с наибольшими достижениями в своей сфере в 2020 году
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-06 | by ( ) ru.diez.md time to read: +3 min

Агентство Bloomberg опубликовало список 50 людей с наибольшими достижениями в своей сфере в 2020 годуИздание Bloomberg представило список из 50 человек, достигших самых выдающихся успехов в своей сфере в 2020 году. Перечень состоит из пяти категорий по областям: политика, бизнес, развлечения, финансы, наука и технологии, пишет Сноб. Развлечения:# Билли Айлиш, певица;# Бон Джун Хо, режиссер;# Селеста Барбер, актриса;# Донна Лэнгли, глава Universal Filmed Entertainment Group;# Swizz Beatz и Timbaland;# Сара Купер, комик;# Колин Каперник, активист;# Гай Фьери, ресторатор, писатель и телеведущий;# Джейсон Хехир, документалист;# Рене Монтгомери, активист;# Айя Кьогоку и Хисаши Ногами, руководители Nintendo Co;# Маркус Рашфорд, нападающий «Манчестер Юнайтед». Политика:# Светлана Тихановская, лидер оппоиции в Белоруссии;# Луис Лакалье Поу, президент Уругвая;# Алисия Гарза, Патрис Каллорс и Опал Томети, основательницы движения Black Lives Matter;# Джон Робертс, главный судья Верховного суда США;# Абдалла Хамдук, премьер-министр Судана;# Летисия Джеймс, генеральный прокурор штата Нью-Йорк;# Одунайо Эвенийи и Дамилола Одуфауа, соосновательницы Феминистской коалиции;# Мухаммад ибн Заид Аль Нахайян, наследный принц Абу-Даби;# Мэдисон Коуторн, избранный член палаты представителей конгресса США;# Мариа Ресса, генеральный директор Rappler Inc.;# Цай Инвень, президент Тайваня. Бизнес:# Аврора Джеймс, основательница проекта Fifteen Percent Pledge;# Страйв Масайиа, основатель Econet Group;# Рид Хастингс, глава Netflix;# Сумит Сингх, генеральный директор Chewy Inc.;# Вонг Чинг, генеральный директор Meituan;# Джон Фоли, генеральный директор Peloton Interactive Inc.;# Бюджу Равиндран, основатель и глава Think & Learn Pvt.

Persons: Swizz Beatz Timbaland, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup —, Билли Айлиш, Бон Джун Хо, Селеста Барбер, Донна Лэнгли, Сара Купер, Колин Каперник, Гай Фьери, Джейсон Хехир, Рене Монтгомери, Айя Кьогоку, Хисаши Ноги, Маркус Рашфорд, Светлана Тихановская, Луис Лакалье Поу, Алисия Гарза, Патрис Каллорс, Опал Томети, Джон Робертс, Летисия Джеймс, Одунайо Эвенийи, Дамилола Одуфауа, Мухаммад ибн Заид Аль Нахайян, АбуДаби, Мэдисон Коуторн, Мариа Ресса, Цай Инвень, Аврора Джеймс, Страйв Масайиа, Рид Хастингс, Сумит Сингх, Вонг Чинг, Джон Фоли, Бюджу Равиндран, Вийя, Форрест Ли, Кристалина Георгиева, Джеймс Горман, Байжа Бхатт, Владимир Тенев, Джейн Фрейзер, Алан Ховард, Линда Киркпатрик, Даррен Уильямс, Чанпэн Чжао, Цзэн Юйцюнь, Гвинн Шотвелл, Тим Брэй, Энтони Фаучи, Чон ЮнКен, Келлер Ринаудо Organizations: Bloomberg, Universal, Entertainment, Nintendo, Rappler Inc, Econet, Netflix, Chewy Inc, Interactive, Sea Ltd, Citigroup, Citigroup — —, Howard Asset Management, Mastercard Inc, Southern Bancorp Inc, Binance Holdings, Technology, SpaceX, годуИздание, Сноб, Манчестер Юнайтед, Верховный суд, Феминистская коалиция, Международный валютный фонд, Корейское агентство по контролю и профилактике заболевания Locations: Белоруссия, Уругвай, США, Судан, НьюЙорк, Тайвань, Северная Америка, Белый дом

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