#activision-blizzard
#activision-blizzard

WGB

2 weeks ago

Blizzard games set to return to China following leaked photo

Blizzard titles like World of Warcraft returning to Chinese market after 2023 ban.

NetEase and Activision Blizzard's partnership for game publishing in China rekindled after a collapse in 2022. [ more ]

VG247

3 weeks ago

Activision Blizzard is hiring senior staff for a brand-new game

Activision Blizzard is hiring senior staff for an unannounced game, including creative and design directors.

Little indication on the type of game, but potential for live service game based on job description. [ more ]

www.gamespot.com

Hearthstone Helped Popularize Loot Boxes, Then Weathered The Backlash

Hearthstone popularized loot boxes in gaming industry

Hearthstone maintained its monetization strategy amidst industry scrutiny [ more ]

WGB

Toys for Bob is leaving Activision-Blizzard and going independent

Toys for Bob is splitting from Activision-Blizzard to become an independent game development studio.

Toys for Bob is exploring a potential partnership with Microsoft for their future projects. [ more ]

Polygon

You can play Call of Duty: Warzone on your phone in March

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile releasing on March 21 for Android and iOS.

Shared progression between Call of Duty games includes player level, weapon level, and battle pass progression. [ more ]

GameSpot

Activision Blizzard Accused By Call Of Duty Pros Of Illegal Esports Monopoly

The Call of Duty League faces a lawsuit alleging it as an illegal monopoly with coercive financial terms.

Activision Blizzard's ownership of the league stifles competition and control over revenue streams. [ more ]

moreVideo games

Polygon

Diablo 4 joined by The Quarry, MLB The Show 24, and more on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass adding new titles including Activision Blizzard game

MLB The Show 24 introduces women players for the first time [ more ]

Polygon

Diablo 4 coming to Xbox Game Pass in March

Diablo 4 will be the first new Activision Blizzard title to join Xbox Game Pass on March 28.

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard allows them to slowly roll out games on Game Pass to keep the service's offerings fresh. [ more ]

GameSpot

Diablo 4 Coming To Game Pass On March 28

Diablo IV is coming to Xbox Game Pass, marking the first Activision Blizzard title on the subscription service.

Microsoft confirmed four Xbox games heading to rival platforms in their multiplatform release strategy. [ more ]

Engadget

Diablo IV will be the first Activision Blizzard title on Xbox Game Pass

Diablo IV will be the first Activision Blizzard game to join Xbox Game Pass on March 28.

Microsoft plans to offer more Activision Blizzard titles in Game Pass, both new releases and classic games. [ more ]

The Verge

Diablo IV is coming to Xbox Game Pass in March

Diablo IV will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting March 28th.

Microsoft promises more Activision Blizzard games to come on Game Pass. [ more ]

Engadget

Marketing

Activision Blizzard's ex-CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly wants to buy TikTok

Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, is considering buying TikTok amidst looming US ban threats.

Activision Blizzard faced lawsuits over sexual harassment claims under Kotick's leadership. [ more ]

GameSpot

Xbox Still Plans On Having Activision Blizzard Games Appear Day One On Game Pass

Microsoft plans to have first-party games, including those from ZeniMax, Activision Blizzard, and Xbox Game Studios, on Game Pass on day one.

Xbox is working on the back-end processes to make Activision Blizzard games available simultaneously on PC and console. [ more ]

Kotaku

Diablo IV Will Be The First Activision Blizzard Title On Game Pass

Activision Blizzard titles will be coming to Xbox Game Pass starting with Diablo IV on March 28.

This move aligns with Xbox's goal of allowing players to play anywhere on any device. [ more ]

WIRED

'Diablo IV' Heads to Game Pass as Microsoft Eyes 4 Games to Expand Beyond Xbox

Microsoft is bringing its first Activision Blizzard title to Game Pass starting March 28.

There are four Xbox-exclusive games that will no longer be exclusive, but Xbox sees this as a move to reach more players. [ more ]

GameSpot

Microsoft Is Undermining Activision's Independence With Latest Layoffs, FTC Says

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has criticized Microsoft's layoff plan of 1,900 employees within its Xbox division, including Activision Blizzard employees, stating that it contradicts how Microsoft represented itself in the buyout proceedings.

The FTC is seeking to temporarily pause the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard buyout until it can review the deal on antitrust grounds. [ more ]

VG247

While impressing shareholders about Xbox revenue, Microsoft avoids saying "layoffs" when talking about 1900 job losses

Microsoft hosts earnings call without directly addressing recent layoffs

Xbox's gaming revenue is up 49% due to Activision Blizzard acquisition [ more ]

Polygon

Microsoft laying off 1,900 Activision Blizzard and Xbox workers

Microsoft is laying off 1,900 workers - or around 8% of Microsoft Gaming's 22,000 employees - from its gaming division.

The majority of layoffs are at Activision Blizzard, though cuts will impact Xbox and ZeniMax employees as well. [ more ]

VG247

Diablo 4 heats up the Eternal Conflict on Game Pass this March

Diablo 4 is coming to Game Pass for PC and Xbox on March 28.

The announcement was made on the Official Xbox Podcast. [ more ]

GameSpot

Ubisoft Says Xbox Games Going Multiplatform Wouldn't Make A Huge Impact

Microsoft may take its games multiplatform in the future, but Ubisoft's CEO says it won't have a significant impact on the industry.

Activision Blizzard's multiplatform games would already have prepared the gaming industry for Microsoft's potential move to make its games multiplatform. [ more ]

Kotaku

Legendary Industry Veterans Get Candid On Ageism In Gaming

Age discrimination is a hot-button issue in the video game industry.

Many older game developers transition to the business side of game dev due to the intense demands of development cycles. [ more ]

Tech industry

GSMArena.com

Tech industry

Microsoft's Q2 report is out: gaming brought more money than Windows

Gaming revenue has surpassed Windows revenue as Microsoft's third largest revenue stream.

The acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has had a positive impact on Microsoft's financial performance. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Tech industry

Microsoft Cuts 1,900 Jobs in Its Video Game Division

Microsoft is cutting 1,900 jobs in its video game division, including at Activision Blizzard.

The job cuts represent a reduction of nearly 9% of Microsoft's video game team. [ more ]

moreTech industry

www.gamespot.com

Xbox Posts Massive Surge In Sales Thanks To Activision Blizzard Deal

Microsoft's gaming revenue surged thanks to the addition of Activision Blizzard.

Gaming is now Microsoft's third-largest business category. [ more ]

VG247

Former Call of Duty boss is now in charge of Blizzard, and she knows what she's walking into

Johanna Faries has been appointed as the head of Blizzard Entertainment, after previously working as the chief of the Call of Duty franchise at Activision.

Faries is the first Blizzard boss appointed after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. [ more ]

Kotaku

Not Even Call Of Duty Devs Are Safe From Layoffs

Microsoft announced layoffs in its gaming division, affecting almost 2,000 workers across Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Xbox.

Employees working on Call of Duty, one of the industry's biggest franchises, were among those who lost their jobs. [ more ]

GameSpot

Microsoft Is Cutting 1,900 Jobs From Its Video Game Division

Microsoft's video game division will lay off 1,900 employees as part of a cost-cutting measure.

The layoffs come after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and are intended to align the company's gaming division with a sustainable cost structure. [ more ]

Kotaku

Microsoft Cuts Nearly 2,000 Video Game Workers' Jobs

Nearly 2,000 employees at Microsoft, specifically in the gaming workforce, have been let go.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer called this a 'painful decision' and highlighted the company's commitment to growing the business and bringing more games to more people. [ more ]

Creative Bloq

4 months ago