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☆ Microsoft to shut Xbox 360's online store next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) said on Thursday it would pull the plug on Xbox 360's online store and marketplace next year, as it focuses on its latest consoles and subscription service Game Pass. Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace will be shut on July 29, 2024, and gamers using the old console will not be able to purchase and download new games, according to a post on Xbox's website. Microsoft is, however, allowing users to play with their already purchased Xbox 360 games and older titles that are compatible with the console. "A lot has changed since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005. Xbox 360 is regarded as one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time, right up against Sony's PlayStation 3.

Persons: Yuvraj Malik Organizations: Microsoft, Technology, Sony's PlayStation, Xbox, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

The Nova Pro Wireless improves on many of the best features found on SteelSeries' cheaper Arctis Nova 7, which is another one of our favorite wireless headsets. While cheaper options like the Nova 7 will satisfy most gamers, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless offers high-end features for those willing to pay top dollar. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is an excellent headset for anyone who wants high-end performance. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset: SpecsSpecifications Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset Connectivity 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm wired Drivers 40 mm neodymium drivers Battery About 20 hours per battery, two rechargeable batteries included Microphone Embedded dual noise-canceling mics 2.4 GHz Wireless range 30 to 40 feet Charging port Charges battery via wireless transmitter or USB-C Colors Black Weight 0.74lb/336g Platforms PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, MacOSShould you buy the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset? SteelSeries' Arctis Nova Pro is the high-end wireless gaming headset to beat.

Persons: you'll, comfy, it's, Kevin Webb, 2.4GHz, SteelSeries, Dolby, MacOS Organizations: Nova Pro, Nintendo, Nova Pro Wireless, PlayStation, Base, Nova, Wireless, ANC, Nova Pro Wireless's ANC, Bluetooth, Xbox, Pro, Buyers

☆ D1 Capital slashes big tech holdings and adds new bet on hotels, real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sundheim also added 59% to a position in Jack Dorsey's Block in the second quarter, now worth $101 million. D1 also exited its position in tech giants Amazon , Alibaba and Salesforce in the second quarter, the filing showed, and sold 21% of a stake in Google parent Alphabet. Meanwhile, D1 added new semiconductor holdings. Elsewhere, D1 added to positions in General Electric , Insulet and Elevance Health . The firm managed about $27 billion at the end of the second quarter, according to WhaleWisdom.com , including about $5 billion in 13F securities.

Persons: Dan Sundheim's, Sundheim, Jack Dorsey's Block Organizations: Capital Partners, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Facebook, Microsoft, AMD, Nvidia, General Electric, Elevance Health, Nation Entertainment Locations: Hilton

☆ Roblox misses quarterly bookings estimates on lower spending, shares tumble
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The videogame industry is struggling with a slowdown in spending as inflation-weary gamers become more selective in picking popular titles. Roblox, which operates a metaverse – an emerging virtual space where people play games and make transactions - is available on mobile devices, desktops and Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Xbox. and "Brookhaven", posted net bookings of $780.7 million in the quarter, missing analysts' average estimate of $784.9 million, according to Refinitiv data. Net loss attributable to shareholders stood at $282.8 million in the quarter, compared with $176.4 million, a year earlier. The company released its eponymous online game "Roblox Beta" on Meta Platforms' (META.O) Quest virtual reality headsets in July.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Samrhitha, Pooja Desai Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Electronic Arts, Quest, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Brookhaven, Bengaluru

☆ Meet a 27-year-old concierge at the Four Seasons hotel catering to VIP guests paying up to $25,000 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The queen ant in this metaphor is 27-year-old guest relations manager Jessica Waddy, whose job revolves around the hotel's high-profile guests and their countless needs. The cellar level of the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. The Empire Suite at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, with rates starting at $25,000 a night. Courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. The needs of high-profile guests are listed on a "rider," a document that's typically multiple pages long and attached to their hospitality contract.

Persons: Jessica Waddy, Waddy, There's, Hannah Towey, willy nilly, it's, Jason Jean, It's, Jessica, Carbone Organizations: Morning, Hotel, Monday, Vogue, Polo Bar Locations: New York, York Downtown, Staten Island, Queens

Keep reading for details on how to watch Paul vs. Diaz live streams once the bell tolls. How to watch Paul vs. Diaz live stream from anywhereThe UK has the best PPV price for Paul vs. Diaz. How to watch Paul vs. Diaz live streams in the USADAZN will also offer the pay-per-view event in the US. Paul vs. Diaz PPV Fight Bundle (ESPN+) Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz will stream live on ESPN+. How to watch Paul vs. Diaz in AustraliaKayo Sports will offer the championship bout for Australian viewers.

Persons: Jake Paul, Nate Diaz, Diaz, Paul, he's, Amanda Serrano, Heather Hardy, DAZN, Cox, ExpressVPN, It's, CEST, UK's DAZN, Shadasia, Olivia Curry, Ashton Sylve, William Silva, Alan Sanchez, Angel Beltran Villa, Chris Avila, Jeremy Stephens Organizations: American Airlines Center, Paul, UFC, Amazon, Apple, Android, Samsung, LG, PlayStation, TV, Xbox, ESPN, ESPN Plus, Samsung Smart, DAZN's, Sports, UK's Locations: Dallas , Texas, USA, Australia

☆ Wall Street looks past AMD's light guide, leading us to make a price target change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Club name Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) delivered better-than-expected second-quarter results after the closing bell Tuesday, leading us to make a price target change. Revenue fell 18% year over year to $5.36 billion but outpaced the Street's expectation of $5.31 billion, according to estimates compiled by Refinitiv. Wall Street seems to think so as well, bidding up the chipmaker's stock in after-hours trading by more than 2%. The MI300A is designed to address High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI workload needs, while the MI300X is designed specifically for generative AI applications. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: we're, —, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Lisa Su, Robyn Beck Organizations: Devices, Revenue, Refinitiv, AMD, Management, Club, Nvidia, Data, PlayStation, Vision, Healthcare, Automotive, CNBC, Consumer Electronics, Afp, Getty Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada

You'll want to know how to watch the UFC 291 live stream tonight, July 29. We'll also guide you step-by-step on how to use a VPN to watch UFC 291, no matter where you are. If you're not in the US, you still have a few options to watch UFC 291. In Canada, UFC 291 will be available as a pay-per-view through most TV providers and directly via UFC Fight Pass. UFC 291 Fight Card: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2Main Card — 10 p.m.

Persons: Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Poirier, Gaethje, Jan Blachowicz, Alex Pereira, We'll, CEST, McGregor, ExpressVPN, Stephen Thompson, Michel Pereira, Tony Ferguson, Bobby Green, Michael Chiesa, Kevin Holland, Gabriel Bonfim, Trevin Giles, Derrick Lewis, Marcos Rogerio De Lima, Claudio Ribeiro, Jake Matthews, Darrius, CJ Vergara, Vinicius Salvador, Matthew Semelsberger, Uros Medic, Miranda Maverick, Priscila Organizations: UFC, Delta Center, ESPN, ABC, TNT Sports, Amazon, Apple, PlayStation, Samsung, BT, BT Sport, You'll, LG, AEST Locations: Salt Lake City , Utah, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Switzerland, Asia, Africa, Brazil

If you want to know how to watch Spence vs. Crawford live streams without paying absurd pay-per-view prices, you're not alone. How to watch Spence vs. Crawford live stream from anywhereWhen it comes to the Spence vs. Crawford PPV price, you can't beat the UK. How to watch Spence vs. Crawford with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one. Shop at ShowtimeHow to watch Spence vs. Crawford in AustraliaKayo Sports will offer the championship bout for Australian viewers. Spence vs. Crawford fight scheduleAhead, we list a schedule of other bouts happening, listed in reverse chronlogical order starting from the main event.

Persons: Errol Spence Jr, Terence Crawford, Spence, Crawford, We've, ExpressVPN, CEST, There's, Terence Crawford —, Isaac Cruz, Giovanni Cabrera —, Alexandro Santiago, Yoenis Tellez, Sergio Garcia — Organizations: Showtime, TNT Sports, BT Sport, TNT, USA Showtime, Apple, TV, LG, Samsung, Xbox, Sports, UK's TNT Sports, Spence, Giovanni Cabrera — WBC, WBC Locations: Las Vegas, USA, Australia

☆ Stocks making the biggest midday moves: Microsoft, Alphabet, Boeing and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft — The Xbox owner saw its shares slide 3.7% after issuing quarterly revenue guidance that fell short of analysts' expectations. Microsoft did report earnings and revenue that beat Street estimates for the calendar second quarter, however. Alphabet — Shares of the Google parent rose 5.8% after Alphabet beat analysts' revenue and profit in the second quarter. Boeing's revenue of $19.75 billion topped analysts' estimates of $18.45 billion, according to Refinitiv. The company also reported an 82-cent-loss per share, while Refinitiv analysts had estimated a loss of 88 cents per share.

Persons: Refinitiv, Morgan Stanley, Lauren Schenk, Chubb, Spotify's, selloff, PacWest, Warburg Pincus Organizations: Microsoft, YouTube, Boeing, Texas, Texas Instruments, FactSet, Visa, Spotify, Deutsche Bank, Warburg, Centerbridge Locations: Banc, California

☆ The responsible investing boom is over. Can anything replace ESG?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Environmental, social and corporate governance, or ESG, investing is on a downward spiral. But in 2022, the pace of inflows quickly eased as a confluence of political, geopolitical and market events severely damaged interest in ESG investing. ESG investing took off and became a buzzword — the “artificial intelligence of six years ago,” said Jenkins. Alphabet reported revenue of $74.6 billion, marking a 7% jump compared to last year and beating Wall Street’s estimates. Banc of California reported a much smaller decline in net income of $2.4 million last quarter.

Persons: ESG, Larry Fink, ”, Robert Jenkins, Jenkins, “, ” Jenkins, he’s, What’s, Clare Duffy, Catherine Thorbecke, Wall, ” Thomas Monteiro, —, Elisabeth Buchwald, Jared Wolff, Wolff, PacWest Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, BlackRock, CNN, Lipper, Pleiades Strategy, Google, Microsoft, Wall, Bancorp, Western Bank, Beverly, Santa, Bank Locations: New York, YOLO, Ukraine, Banc, California, Santa Ana, United States

July 24 (Reuters) - Billionaire Elon Musk's decision to rebrand Twitter as X could be complicated legally: companies including Meta (META.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) already have intellectual property rights to the same letter. X is so widely used and cited in trademarks that it is a candidate for legal challenges - and the company formerly known as Twitter could face its own issues defending its X brand in the future. Microsoft since 2003 has owned an X trademark related to communications about its Xbox video-game system. Meta and Microsoft likely would not sue unless they feel threatened that Twitter's X encroaches on brand equity they built in the letter, Gerben said. Insider reported earlier that Meta had an X trademark, and lawyer Ed Timberlake tweeted that Microsoft had one as well.

Persons: Elon, Josh Gerben, Gerben, Meta, Douglas Masters, Loeb, Ed Timberlake, Blake Brittain, Sheila Dang, Peter Henderson, Sonali Paul Organizations: Twitter, Meta, Microsoft, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Washington

☆ Why we're raising our price target on Microsoft despite a softer revenue outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Revenues beat across the board, Azure's revenue growth decelerated in line with expectations, and companywide operating margins expanded nicely from last year. But total revenues fell a little less than expected, at 4%, mostly due to a 12% decline in Windows OEM revenue and a 18% drop in devices revenue growth. Gaming revenue grew 2%, with Xbox content and services revenue up 6%, offset by a 13% decline in Xbox hardware. In the productivity and business processes segment, revenue increased about 10% from last year thanks to a 15% increase in Office 365 Commercial Revenue growth. Microsoft sees Azure revenue growing 25% to 26% in constant currency, including roughly 2 points from all Azure AI services.

Persons: Amy Hood, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Satya Nadella, Flipkart, Nadella, Amit Madheshiya Organizations: Microsoft, Revenue, Refinitiv, Revenues, Services, Activision Blizzard, Office Consumer Products, Nvidia, CNBC, Microsoft Corp, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Mumbai, India

Grab one of the best OLED TV deals while you canDeal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Lowest Price Samsung 65-inch S95B OLED 4K TV Samsung's first 4K OLED is also one of the very first OLED TVs to feature quantum dots. The S95B is our pick for the best 4K TV you can buy, and the 65-inch model is down to an all-time low of $1,599. Lowest Price Samsung 65-inch S95B OLED 4K TV Samsung's first 4K OLED is also one of the very first OLED TVs to feature quantum dots. The S95B is our pick for the best 4K TV you can buy, and the 65-inch model is down to an all-time low of $1,599.

Organizations: Samsung, Amazon, Sony, LG, Dolby

☆ Meta, Microsoft, hundreds more own trademarks to new Twitter name
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Billionaire Elon Musk’s decision to rebrand Twitter as X could be complicated legally: companies including Meta and Microsoft (already have intellectual property rights to the same letter. X is so widely used and cited in trademarks that it is a candidate for legal challenges - and the company formerly known as Twitter could face its own issues defending its X brand in the future. Microsoft since 2003 has owned an X trademark related to communications about its Xbox video-game system. Meta Platforms - whose Threads platform is a new Twitter rival - owns a federal trademark registered in 2019 covering a blue-and-white letter “X” for fields including software and social media. Meta and Microsoft likely would not sue unless they feel threatened that Twitter’s X encroaches on brand equity they built in the letter, Gerben said.

Persons: Reuters — Billionaire Elon, “, ”, Josh Gerben, Nikolas Kokovlis, Gerben, Meta, Douglas Masters, Loeb, Ed Timberlake Organizations: Reuters — Billionaire, Twitter, Meta, Microsoft, Elon, Getty, Facebook Locations: Athens, Greece

☆ Elon Musk's rebrand of Twitter to 'X' could get him in legal trouble with Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk's Twitter rebrand could land him in legal hot water with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and others, experts say. On Sunday, Musk announced that he was getting rid of the Twitter brand and logo. Meta's trademark for a white-and-blue X relates to "social networking services in the fields of entertainment, gaming and application development." The announcement comes just weeks after the launch of Threads, a Meta-owned app seen by some as a "Twitter clone." X may be "powered by AI" in the future, as Yaccarino noted, but the first phase of Twitter's rebrand is simple for now.

Persons: Elon, Mark Zuckerberg, Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Josh Gerben, Stacy Wu, Wu, didn't, Yaccarino, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Biden, " Biden, adieu Organizations: Twitter, Meta, Microsoft, Reuters, CNBC, Google Locations: we're, New York, China

☆ In Philadelphia, City Pools Bring Relief as Closed Ones Stir Frustration
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Elise Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At their neighborhood pool in West Philadelphia, Markyda Anderson’s little boys could not wait to get back in. They had grown tired of playing in a nearby splash pad as lifeguards conducted a periodic check of chlorine levels. So once the break was over and swimmers were welcome again, they dashed back and — plunk, plunk — into the water they went. “They say it’s a lifeguard shortage,” Ms. Watson said Friday. “My question is, you’ve got all these other pools open, and you can’t swap the lifeguards around?”

Persons: Markyda, —, plunk —, ”, Anderson, Isaiah, Elijah, Tiffany Fletcher, “, Joy Watson, Barack Obama, Charles Baker, Ms, Watson, you’ve Organizations: Tiffany Fletcher Recreation Center Locations: West Philadelphia, Overbrook

☆ Barbenheimer Memes Are an Art Form All Their Own - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Elizabeth Spiers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Did the world need Arizona Iced Tea-branded Adidas sneakers marketed for 99 cents? Did they attract so many potential buyers that the New York Police Department had to shut the sale down at the pop-up store selling them? The “Barbie” marketing team absolutely understands this, and the absurd brand-collaboration drops have spread with the speed of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London. There’s a real-world Barbie dream house on Airbnb, Barbie Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Barbie rugs and a Barbie Xbox. Surprisingly, there is no Barbie Pepto Bismol, which seems like a natural fit in terms of existing I.P.

Persons: Robert Oppenheimer, Taylor Swift, Barbie, There’s, Oppenheimer, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, launders Organizations: “ Raiders, Adidas, New York Police Department Locations: Arizona, London

☆ Microsoft and Activision extend their deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft and Activision have mutually agreed to extend their merger deadline by three months in the face of ongoing negotiations with the UK government that could allow the $69 billion acquisition to close, the two companies announced on Wednesday. The announcement highlights the commitment by both companies to complete the deal after back-to-back court defeats for US regulators who had challenged the merger. The new contractual deadline for consummating the deal will be October 18, the companies said. If the deal fails to close by Sept. 15, the breakup fee could increase to $4.5 billion, the filing said. We’re confident in our next steps and that our deal will quickly close.”In a memo to employees, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick thanked staff for their patience.

Persons: ” Brad Smith, We’re, Bobby Kotick, “, ” Kotick, Phil Spencer, ” Spencer Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, Activision, Securities and Exchange Commission, Markets Authority, CMA, Activision Blizzard, ” Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Activision, Microsoft extend deal deadline to secure UK approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Aditya Soni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) on Wednesday extended the deadline for the close of their $69 billion deal by three months to Oct. 18 as the American companies work to secure UK approval for the biggest gaming deal in history. The extension will "provide ample time to work through the final regulatory issues," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet. Strength in those titles helped Activision beat market estimates for second-quarter net bookings and adjusted profit in the second quarter, it announced on Wednesday. The deadline extension came after the companies had to contend with varying concerns from regulators in the UK and the United States. Microsoft responded to these concerns by offering 10-year licensing deals to rivals after the deal closes.

Persons: Brad Smith, Bobby Kotick, Chavi Mehta, Yuvraj Malik, Devika Organizations: Activision, Microsoft, Reuters, HK, Sony, Diablo, FTC, Nintendo, PlayStation, CMA, Sony Group, Xbox, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ FTC and DOJ lay out new rules for merger review to reflect a digital economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced on Wednesday new long-awaited guidelines on how they will enforce merger law. Almost two years ago, the FTC voted to withdraw the previous version of the vertical merger guidelines released in 2020, citing flaws. A vertical merger is a transaction between two businesses that are often in different parts of the supply chain in an industry, according to the FTC. Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard is an example of a vertical merger, because Microsoft distributes games through its Xbox consoles and streaming services, while Activision creates the games. On the call with reporters, the FTC official and a senior DOJ official said the guidelines reflect their updated approach to enforcing merger law, emphasizing the law itself has not changed.

Persons: Antitrust Jonathan Kanter, Lina Khan, Microsoft's, Jonathan Kanter, they're Organizations: Antitrust, Federal Trade, American Bar Association Antitrust, Marriott Marquis, Washington , D.C, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice Antitrust, FTC, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, Activision, Big Tech, DOJ, Facebook, Democratic, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Washington ,

☆ Republican lawmakers urge FTC to drop fight against Microsoft deal for Activision
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - Twenty-two Republican lawmakers urged the Federal Trade Commission to drop its fight against Microsoft's (MSFT.O) deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O), calling it "an example of the FTC’s rejection of sound antitrust policy." In response to the losses, the lawmakers, said: "We write to express our concerns, and to urge you to drop this matter." Microsoft, maker of the Xbox video game console, has been fighting for months to save the $69 billion deal, which was criticized by U.S. and British antitrust enforcers, but appears close to finalizing it. The acquisition of "Call of Duty" video game maker Activision would be Microsoft's biggest ever and the largest in the history of the video game industry. "For two decades, Microsoft’s Xbox business has been the much smaller challenger in the video game publishing and video game console markets," they added.

Persons: Microsoft's, Lina Khan, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Diane Bartz, Leslie Adler Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Activision, Republican, Representatives, U.S, Microsoft, Committee, FTC, Xbox, Thomson

☆ Wall Street is bullish on Big Tech heading into earnings — here's what we think
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Wall Street kicked off the week with bullish takes on several high-flying tech stocks in the portfolio — validating our decision to stick with these mega-caps heading into quarterly earnings. It's also important to understand that some price target raises are just chasing a big move, and that the price reaction to an earnings release has less to do with the results and much more to do with expectations. It's also why Citigroup also put AMD on a "negative catalyst watch," meaning it is negative on the stock heading into earnings. In the analysts' view, Apple has an opportunity to grow its revenue by seven times in the U.S. over the next decade to about $40 billion, while adding 170 million new users. Microsoft What the analysts say: Analysts at Mizuho reiterated their buy rating on Microsoft while taking up their price target to $390 from $360.

Persons: bullish, Meta, It's, CUDA, Morgan Stanley, we're, —, Jim Cramer, monetize, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Jensen Huang, Sam Yeh Organizations: Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Devices, Citigroup, AMD, Intel, Mizuho, Activision Blizzard, JMP Securities, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Afp, Getty Locations: U.S, China, India, Taipei

☆ Analysis: Microsoft tests the limits of Britain's antitrust authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Paul Sandle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The European Union approved the deal in May, when it accepted commitments to license games to rival platforms. At the same time, Microsoft offered a "detailed and complex" new proposal to the CMA, prompting the regulator to take the unprecedented step of reopening talks. The CMA said it was awaiting further Microsoft submissions on what had changed and how it would restructure the transaction. "We will then consider whether the proposals create a new merger situation and address the CMA's competition concerns," a spokesperson said on Tuesday. CLOSED FOR BUSINESSAfter the CMA block, Microsoft thundered that Britain was closed for business; exactly what the government did not want to hear as it tries to reignite the economy after the uncertainty sparked by Brexit.

Persons: we've, Becket McGrath, they're, Brexit, Tom Smith, Brad Smith, Jeremy Hunt, Meta, Smith, Marcus Smith, Gareth Mills, Charles Russell Speechlys, Sam Tobin, James Davey, Kate Holton, Sharon Singleton Organizations: CMA, Microsoft, U.S, Activision Blizzard, Markets Authority, Xbox, FTC, Reuters, European Union, Activision, CAT, Euclid Law, Geradin Partners, Brexit, Britain's, Facebook, Meta, Markets Unit, Thomson Locations: U.S, Barcelona, Brexit, London, Brussels, British, United States, Britain

[1/2] Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. Nonetheless, Microsoft, which makes the Xbox gaming console, has been seeking the contract extension to ensure that Activision is not wooed by another potential acquirer or has a change of heart, the source said. The terms of the extension under negotiation and whether it would come with more financially advantageous terms for Activision could not immediately be learned. Microsoft and Activision did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Microsoft and Activision are negotiating potential remedies with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which they hope will appease its antitrust concerns.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Anirban Sen, Matthew Lewis, Stephen Coates Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, REUTERS, Microsoft Corp, Competition, Markets Authority, CMA, Sony Group, Sony, U.S . Federal, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S, New York

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