Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard
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Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard
Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone, across every device
https://news.microsoft.com/features/...-every-device/
https://news.microsoft.com/features/...-every-device/
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Didn’t realize it the Activision Blizzard merge was 15 years ago.
https://acurazine.com/forums/console...vision-379672/
https://acurazine.com/forums/console...vision-379672/
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Man I would love a mobile version of Starcraft.
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I have not bought or played an Activision or Blizzard game since before 2000. So not relevant to me. Remember when all Activision made back in the day were horribly bad movie license games?
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Looks like COD is safe for now on PlayStation.
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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...on-playstation
Activision’s Next Three Call of Duty Games Will Be on PlayStation and Xbox
Agreements struck before Microsoft’s deal will be honored Microsoft could eventually deprive its rival of top franchise
Activision Blizzard Inc., which is being bought by Microsoft Corp., will release at least the next three games in its hit Call of Duty franchise on Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation as well as its new owner’s Xbox.
Before news of the $69 billion acquisition broke last week, Activision had already committed to make the next few Call of Duty games available on Sony’s console, according to four people with knowledge of the deal, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to press.
That includes this year’s Call of Duty, expected to be a new entry in the popular Modern Warfare sub-series being developed by Infinity Ward, and the following game, which is in development at Treyarch, both Activision-owned studios. The deal also includes a planned new iteration of Call of Duty Warzone, the lucrative free-to-play game that was released in 2020.
Phil Spencer, who was recently appointed chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, said last week that he had spoken to Sony leadership about the franchise. “I confirmed our intent to honor all existing agreements upon acquisition of Activision Blizzard and our desire to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation,” he said on Twitter. “Sony is an important part of our industry, and we value our relationship.”
But gamers have been wondering what those “existing agreements” were.
Traditionally, Call of Duty games have been released on Xbox, PC and PlayStation, where they drive substantial sales. Call of Duty games have received heavy promotion on the PlayStation store and been tied to massive marketing deals in recent years. Every game in the annual franchise ranks among the top-selling games on PS4 and PS5. Call of Duty games have been the bestselling titles in the U.S. each of the last three years, according to the NPD Group.
For at least the next two years, Microsoft is committed to releasing Call of Duty on PlayStation, the people said. Neither Sony, nor Activision responded to requests for comment. Microsoft declined to comment.
Plans are hazier for the Call of Duty games further out, said the people familiar with the matter. Microsoft said it expects the acquisition to close sometime in the next six to 18 months, after which it will be able to decide whether to continue releasing future Call of Duty games on PlayStation. Top employees at Activision have also discussed spacing out Call of Duty releases rather than putting them out every year, Bloomberg has reported.
Eventually, Microsoft could deprive its biggest gaming rival of an integral franchise. With some previous acquisitions, Microsoft has honored existing contracts then pivoted.
In 2020, following its acquisition of the game publisher Bethesda Softworks, the tech titan said it would retain all existing contracts and release the previously announced Bethesda games Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo on PlayStation. But a few months later, when Microsoft unveiled new Bethesda games Starfield and Redfall, they were exclusive to the Xbox and Microsoft Windows PCs. New games from other studios Microsoft bought recently, such as Obsidian Entertainment, have also skipped the PlayStation.
Agreements struck before Microsoft’s deal will be honored Microsoft could eventually deprive its rival of top franchise
Activision Blizzard Inc., which is being bought by Microsoft Corp., will release at least the next three games in its hit Call of Duty franchise on Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation as well as its new owner’s Xbox.
Before news of the $69 billion acquisition broke last week, Activision had already committed to make the next few Call of Duty games available on Sony’s console, according to four people with knowledge of the deal, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to press.
That includes this year’s Call of Duty, expected to be a new entry in the popular Modern Warfare sub-series being developed by Infinity Ward, and the following game, which is in development at Treyarch, both Activision-owned studios. The deal also includes a planned new iteration of Call of Duty Warzone, the lucrative free-to-play game that was released in 2020.
Phil Spencer, who was recently appointed chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, said last week that he had spoken to Sony leadership about the franchise. “I confirmed our intent to honor all existing agreements upon acquisition of Activision Blizzard and our desire to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation,” he said on Twitter. “Sony is an important part of our industry, and we value our relationship.”
But gamers have been wondering what those “existing agreements” were.
Traditionally, Call of Duty games have been released on Xbox, PC and PlayStation, where they drive substantial sales. Call of Duty games have received heavy promotion on the PlayStation store and been tied to massive marketing deals in recent years. Every game in the annual franchise ranks among the top-selling games on PS4 and PS5. Call of Duty games have been the bestselling titles in the U.S. each of the last three years, according to the NPD Group.
For at least the next two years, Microsoft is committed to releasing Call of Duty on PlayStation, the people said. Neither Sony, nor Activision responded to requests for comment. Microsoft declined to comment.
Plans are hazier for the Call of Duty games further out, said the people familiar with the matter. Microsoft said it expects the acquisition to close sometime in the next six to 18 months, after which it will be able to decide whether to continue releasing future Call of Duty games on PlayStation. Top employees at Activision have also discussed spacing out Call of Duty releases rather than putting them out every year, Bloomberg has reported.
Eventually, Microsoft could deprive its biggest gaming rival of an integral franchise. With some previous acquisitions, Microsoft has honored existing contracts then pivoted.
In 2020, following its acquisition of the game publisher Bethesda Softworks, the tech titan said it would retain all existing contracts and release the previously announced Bethesda games Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo on PlayStation. But a few months later, when Microsoft unveiled new Bethesda games Starfield and Redfall, they were exclusive to the Xbox and Microsoft Windows PCs. New games from other studios Microsoft bought recently, such as Obsidian Entertainment, have also skipped the PlayStation.
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#8
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antitrust?
#9
Not to get left out, Sony buys Bungie for $3.6 billion
https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/50988
https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/50988
BUNGIE JOINS SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
We believe games have limitless potential, and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people.
In SIE, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.
Today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company.
[ . . . ]
We believe games have limitless potential, and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people.
In SIE, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums.
Today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company.
[ . . . ]
#10
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so Halo coming to PS?
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HARO!??? Finally get to see what the hype is about.
#12
No, because Microsoft owns the rights to Halo after Microsoft bought Bungie in 2000 and continue to hold those rights after Bungie and Microsoft split up in 2007.
It was rumored that Microsoft tried to buy Bungie in 2020 but things didn't work out.
It was rumored that Microsoft tried to buy Bungie in 2020 but things didn't work out.
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Oh that’s lame.
Halo wasn’t even all that anyways.
I mostly played the shlt out of the 1st one because everyone else was.
don’t recall playing any Halo games with my Elite 360.
Halo wasn’t even all that anyways.
I mostly played the shlt out of the 1st one because everyone else was.
don’t recall playing any Halo games with my Elite 360.
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