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☆ Nintendo Switch sales plunge 22% and the gaming giant expects further declines
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nintendo is hoping key games such as Mario and Zelda will help it keep players interested in its ageing Switch console series. Nintendo reported a fall in profit and revenue in its fiscal year driven by a drop in sales of its flagship Switch console. The Japanese gaming giant sold 17.97 million units of its flagship Nintendo Switch console series, in line with its own forecast of 18 million units for the fiscal year. For the fiscal year ended March 2024, Nintendo forecast sales of 15 million units of the Switch. The company was twice forced to slash its forecast for Switch sales in the last fiscal year after a disappointing holiday season.

☆ Explainer: What next for Microsoft's $69 billion Activision deal after UK ban?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday blocked Microsoft's (MSFT.O) $69 billion acquisition of 'Call of Duty' maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) over concerns it would hinder cloud gaming. The regulator's decision reflected a flawed understanding of the market, it said. Microsoft can appeal to Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), an independent judicial body, which will only examine the CMA's decision-making process, not the merits of the merger. "The CAT aims to deal with 'straightforward' cases in under nine months – and Microsoft/Activision is anything but straightforward," Lane, said. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint to block the deal, which Microsoft has indicated it will fight.

☆ Explainer: What next for Microsoft's $69 bln Activision deal after UK ban?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The regulator's decision reflected a flawed understanding of the market, it said. Microsoft can appeal to Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), an independent judicial body, which will only examine the CMA's decision-making process, not the merits of the merger. "The CAT aims to deal with 'straightforward' cases in under nine months – and Microsoft/Activision is anything but straightforward," Lane, said. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint to block the deal, which Microsoft has indicated it will fight. The regulator then "identified certain potential errors" in its investigation chaired by Martin Coleman, who also oversaw the Microsoft-Activision case.

☆ Investor warns it's 'looking a lot like the tech bubble' and names 3 cheap stocks to buy outside it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The S & P 500 is "supported" by just seven mega-cap tech stocks right now — and it's starting to look a lot like the 1990s tech bubble, one analyst told CNBC on Wednesday. "The S & P 500 [is being] supported by a few expensive mega cap techs," said Eric Lynch, managing director of Scharf Investments. Seven companies — Apple , Microsoft , Nvidia , Meta , Tesla , Amazon and Alphabet — account for 95% of the S & P 500's total return in the first quarter, he noted. "To us this looks a lot like the tech bubble in 1990s when tech gave the world massive outperformance over value, over mid cap small caps, international stocks," he told CNBC's " Street Signs Asia. " Stock picks Lynch named three stocks he said are cheap right now.

☆ Microsoft's blockbuster Activision deal may be doomed. But the tech giant's future is still bright
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Microsoft 's (MSFT) proposed blockbuster acquisition of video-game publisher Activision Blizzard (ATVI) may be doomed thanks to British regulators. The U.K.'s top antitrust body — the Competition and Markets Authority — said Wednesday that it opposes Microsoft's $69 billion bid because of competition concerns in the budding cloud gaming market. Microsoft's multipart gaming business includes Xbox consoles, cloud-based Xbox Game Pass service and in-house titles, such as the long-running "Halo" series. The CMA's opposition centered on competition concerns in the burgeoning world of cloud gaming, which Jefferies analysts estimate is less than 2% of the overall gaming market. Cloud gaming enables players to, essentially, stream video games without having to buy a physical console.

☆ Microsoft tells UK it will license 'Call of Duty' to Sony for 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft last month struck a similar deal with Nvidia Corp's (NVDA.O) gaming platform, dependent on it getting the go-ahead for the much-contested acquisition. Microsoft President Brad Smith had said he hoped that rival Sony - which has strongly opposed the takeover - would consider doing the same type of deal. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in February said the deal could weaken the rivalry between Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation, and stifle competition in cloud gaming. It suggested that structural remedies could be needed to allay its concerns, including divesting the business associated with 'Call of Duty.' The biggest-ever deal in gaming, announced in January last year, is facing scrutiny in the United States and in Europe.

☆ Success of Sony's PlayStation 5 is a prerequisite for the success of VR2, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | 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 EmailSuccess of Sony's PlayStation 5 is a prerequisite for the success of VR2, analyst saysDamian Thong of Macquarie Capital Securities says that for virtual reality to become "really mainstream," it has to be accessible to a mass audience, not just a gamer audience.

☆ Explainer: How Microsoft is addressing antitrust concerns over Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WHAT IS THE ACTIVISION DEAL? The UK competition agency CMA has suggested divesting Call of Duty to address its concerns while the European Commission has warned Microsoft about the possible anti-competitive impact of the deal. A group of 10 gamers in the United States has filed a private consumer antitrust lawsuit over the deal. WHAT ARE THE NINTENDO AND NVIDIA LICENSING DEALS? Both companies have signed 10-year licensing deals that will bring Call of Duty to their gaming platforms but these are conditional on the Activision deal being approved.

Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. BRUSSELS — Microsoft said Tuesday it will bring its Xbox PC games to Nvidia's cloud gaming service. Microsoft President Brad Smith said at a press conference that, effective immediately, its Xbox games will be available on Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud games service. Smith said if the Activision deal closes, it will bring all Activision Blizzard titles to GeForce Now. The commission is also concerned that it could give Microsoft an unfair edge in the nascent area of cloud gaming.

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.

☆ Britain says Microsoft's 'Call of Duty' deal could harm gamers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Activision games "Call of Duty" are pictured in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File PhotoSummarySummary Companies Deal raises concerns- regulatorAcquisition threatens Xbox and PlayStation rivalryMicrosoft says committed to addressing concernsLONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Britain's antitrust regulator said Microsoft's (MSFT.O) $69-billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) could harm gamers by weakening the rivalry between Xbox and Sony's PlayStation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal could result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation for millions of gamers, as well as stifling competition in the growing cloud gaming market. In December, the United States moved to block the deal, citing Microsoft's record of hoarding valuable gaming content. Microsoft, which has pledged to keep "Call of Duty" on PlayStation, said it would address the CMA's concerns.

The PlayStation VR2 headset launches February 22 for $550, and preorders are available now. Sony says more than 30 PS VR2 games will be released during the initial launch window. PlayStation VR2 The PS VR2 is a new virtual reality headset built for the PS5. PS VR2 featuresThe PlayStation VR2 carries over many features found on the original model released in 2016, while offering a few key upgrades and new options. The PlayStation VR2 base package costs $550 and includes the headset, two wireless PS VR2 sense controllers, and a pair of headphones.

☆ Take-Two lowers annual adjusted sales forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (TTWO.O) lowered its annual bookings forecast on Monday, a sign that it is struggling to keep gamers glued amid a weakening economy and broader slowdown in the gaming market. Third quarter adjusted sales stood at $1.38 billion, compared to analysts' estimate of $1.46 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Take-Two said it now expects full-year adjusted sales between $5.2 billion and $5.25 billion, compared with $5.4 billion to $5.5 billion forecast previously. Analysts expected a figure of $5.39 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ There's 'a lot of potential' for Sony this year, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | 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 EmailThere's 'a lot of potential' for Sony this year, analyst saysMio Kato of LightStream Research says Sony's PlayStation VR2 could be a "very big deal" this year and PlayStation 5 sales are likely to rise.

☆ 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.

☆ Metaverse off to ominous start after VR headset sales shrank in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demonstrates an Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset and Oculus Touch controllers during the Oculus Connect 3 event in San Jose, California, U.S., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. With the ad business mired in a slump, Zuckerberg has been looking to VR devices and related technology to pull Meta into the future. Taken together, the estimates of VR headset sales and shipments create a problematic picture for Meta, whose stock price has lost about two-thirds of its value this year. Meta's Quest 2 headset, released in 2020, is by far the leader in the VR market, according to several analysts. VR headset revenue in the U.S. doubled in 2021 from about $530 million in 2020, according to NPD.

☆ From ads in video games, retail media, and cookieless tracking — experts predict these surging areas will drive ad industry M&A in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Despite an economic downturn, experts predict there will be plenty of advertising M&A in 2023. While that could include some and firesales, deals are expected in hot areas like retail media and CTV. Insider spoke to more than a dozen industry experts who dished on the trends that will drive advertising M&A next year. Companies in hot areas like performance marketing, retail media and CTV will buy others to build out their offeringsPerformance marketing, retail media, and the growth of connected TV advertising have been among the hottest trends for advertising companies and agencies in recent years. Areas like retail media and ad-supported streaming are on fire.

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☆ Costco CEO's cautious consumer outlook justifies our near-term view on the stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Craig Jelinek, chief executive officer of Club holding Costco (COST), said Monday he sees a more-vigilant consumer this holiday shopping season and potentially beyond. Consumer behavior Jelinek highlighted a number of stronger areas for Costco, including its Kirkland-branded products across a number of categories. "Our food [and] sundry business, our fresh business, our travel business, continues to be strong," Jelinek added. Looking ahead to next year, Jelinek said Costco is taking stock of the economic uncertainty and factoring that into its merchandising plans. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

"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 says it will bring Call of Duty to Nintendo for 10 years if Activision deal closes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 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 was not immediately available for comment on these points when contacted by CNBC. Spencer also said that Microsoft has "committed" to offer Call of Duty on game distribution platform Steam simultaneously to Xbox after the close of the deal. Activision is the developer for Call of Duty.

☆ 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.

☆ Apple's long-rumored headset is reportedly getting a new name for its software: 'xrOS'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple's mixed-reality headset will rename its operating software to 'xrOS,' Bloomberg reports. The tech giant's headset will be its newest product group since the Apple Watch was released. The mixed-reality operating system will encompass new versions of popular Apple apps like Messages and Maps, Bloomberg reported. In addition to the software, Apple may also name the headset hardware "xrOS, "Bloomberg reported, citing trademark applications from Deep Dive, a shell company that may be owned by Apple. The Apple headset could rival similar products like Meta's Quest Pro, Facebook's Oculus Quest, and Sony's Playstation VR headset, as major tech companies vie to lay claim to the metaverse.

☆ 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.

☆ Kaedim's founder doesn't play video games — but her startup's use of AI to develop graphics has caught the attention of the former head of PlayStation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Jacob E. Robbins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"I thought there has to be a secret to doing 3D modeling. She asked game developers how they would approach 3D modeling, thinking they'd have an answer from their experience rendering objects on a screen. It uses machine learning to turn drawings into digital 3D models. Kaedim's plan to take on 3D modeling in the metaverse and digital businessPsoma said that with the rise of the metaverse and digital spaces, the need for 3D modeling has only grown. For example, she said, retailers could use Kaedim's 3D-modeling software to digitize inventory and create online storefronts for customers to interact with.

The PlayStation VR2 headset launches February 22, 2023 for $550; preorders start November 15. PlayStation VR2 The PS VR2 is a new virtual reality headset built for the PS5. PS VR2 featuresThe PlayStation VR2 carries over many features found on the original model released in 2016, while offering a few key upgrades and new options. SonyTo get the PlayStation VR2 at launch on February 22, 2023, you'll need to preorder it from Sony via the online PlayStation store. That said, other competitors designed for PC cost way more than PS VR2, like the Valve Index and the $750 Vive Cosmos Elite, both of which require external sensors that PS VR2 doesn't need.

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