GamesIndustry.biz

JANUARY 5, 2024

A former Activision executive has sued the publisher in California state court accusing the company of age discrimination and violating the state's whistleblower protection law, as reported by Law360. The suit doesn't say exactly when the conference was.)

143

143

GamesIndustry.biz

APRIL 26, 2024

Microsoft has released its latest financial results, showing significant growth in gaming revenues — thanks in no small part to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The company's overall revenues were up 17% to $61.9 billion, primarily due to growth in Microsoft Cloud which saw revenues rise 23% to $35.1 billion.

Games 98

Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

MARCH 8, 2024

Another swath of Activision QA workers has unionized, as the Communication Workers of America announced today that Microsoft has voluntarily recognized a union for workers at Activision Central Quality Assurance. Read more

Quality Assurance 144

Quality Assurance Communications Software Games 144

GamesIndustry.biz

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Activision Blizzard and California's Civil Rights Department have reached a settlement over the latter's accusations that the company had become a "breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women."

145

145

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Toys For Bob today announced that it will be returning to its roots as an independent studio, spinning off from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. "We This opportunity allows us to return to our roots of being a small and nimble studio."

Studios 130

Studios Games Development 130

GamesIndustry.biz

JANUARY 31, 2024

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox The fruits of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition have been shown in its financial results for the previous quarter, with Xbox revenues showing year-on-year growth of 49%. The company brought the Call of Duty publisher into the fold when the $68.7

Games 136

Games 136

GamesIndustry.biz

MAY 23, 2023

PEGI has fined Activision Blizzard and Plaion for not disclosing the presence of loot boxes in two games during the ratings process. Since this amounts to a violation of the rules described in the PEGI Code of Conduct, the PEGI Enforcement Committee sanctioned both companies with a fine of €5,000," the ratings board said.

Mobile Gaming 126

Mobile Gaming Editing Mobile Mobile 126

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

The UK regulator has summarised six meetings it held with Xbox rivals as part of its investigation into the proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. The six companies are either an existing competitor or a potential competitor in "console gaming services or cloud gaming services," the CMA explained. Read more

Console 120

Console Games 120

GamesIndustry.biz

MAY 11, 2023

Activision Blizzard today released its Environmental, Social, and Governance report , detailing the company's efforts to improve representation in the company and reduce its environmental impact in 2022.

Build 101

Build Games 101

GamesIndustry.biz

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

In all the furore over Microsoft's record-breaking acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it's almost been possible to forget that Sony recently had a major acquisition of its own – a far cry from the scale of the Activision deal, certainly, and not even a match for the price tag of Microsoft's earlier Zenimax acquisition , but Sony's $3.6

Software 140

Software Studios Platformer Development 140

GamesIndustry.biz

APRIL 3, 2023

The National Labor Relations Board is pursuing a complaint against Activision Blizzard after finding merit in two of three charges made by the Communications Workers of America union, as reported by IGN. Wage decision protecting abortions.

Communications 119

Communications 119

GamesIndustry.biz

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Activision Blizzard is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microsoft after two years of regulatory investigations and in the face of protests from various corners of the games industry. The deal is done. With the 'will they/won't they' part of this saga finally over, the pressing question is: What happens next? "At

Studios 145

Studios Games 145

GamesIndustry.biz

JUNE 13, 2023

At a glance: The Federal Trade Commission has asked a US court to prevent Microsoft from completing its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard before the Commission's legal challenge against the deal has been addressed.

103

103

GamesIndustry.biz

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Activision Blizzard has laid off some developers from the Hearthstone team, the company confirmed to Kotaku senior reporter Ethan Gach. Organizational changes were made to the Hearthstone team," an Activision Blizzard representative told Gach.

Development 80

Development 80

GamesIndustry.biz

JANUARY 13, 2023

Google and Nvidia are the latest companies to weigh in on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reportedly expressing their own concerns over the deal to the Federal Trade Commission.

Mobile Gaming 98

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Sony remains opposed to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, despite the two companies meeting in Brussels today. This will include Activision Blizzard games (and Call of Duty) if the deal goes through. It follows a similar deal the firm has signed with Nintendo.

Games 98

Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

DECEMBER 7, 2022

Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard has released its 2022 representation data. The company says that women and non-binary individuals make up 26% of its staff. In 2021, women represented 24% of Activision Blizzard. This year's report includes data on full-time employees who identify as non-binary. Read more.

Data 90

Data Development 90

GamesIndustry.biz

MAY 12, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox The Competition and Markets Authority, the UK regulator who last month blocked Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, has imposed further restrictions on both companies. Read more

115

115

GamesIndustry.biz

JUNE 30, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Sega has dismissed speculation that it may be acquired by Xbox or any other company after speculation was triggered by the FTC vs Microsoft hearings. Read more

97

97

GamesIndustry.biz

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Activision Blizzard has announced the end of the Overwatch League. In a statement sent to GGRecon , the company said it was "transitioning" away from the Overwatch League and is planning to take competitive Overwatch in a "new direction." "We We are excited to share details with you all in the near future." Read more

Esports 80

Esports Build 80

GamesIndustry.biz

JANUARY 17, 2023

Activision Blizzard has said it asked NetEase to delay the end of the long-running partnership between the two companies – whereby the handled publishing and operations for key Blizzard titles in China – but NetEase declined. Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox.

Media 97

Media Platformer Games 97

GamesIndustry.biz

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

EU antitrust regulators are reportedly asking companies if they are affected by Microsoft's changes to its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which was modified to win approval in the UK. According to Reuters , the watchdog reportedly emailed companies for feedback regarding the changes made to the $69 billion deal.

82

82

GamesIndustry.biz

MARCH 24, 2023

Activision Blizzard has released its first annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Look-Back report, giving an insight into how the company's workforce looked by the end of 2022. Read more

102

102

GamesIndustry.biz

JULY 7, 2023

Annual reports are full of interesting facts companies aren't likely to advertise. Read more

Electronics 98

Electronics Advertising Art Software 98

GamesIndustry.biz

AUGUST 2, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Welcome to our ninth conflict minerals report, our annual look at game companies' efforts to ensure their business isn't fueling armed conflict, slave labor, child soldiers, and other human rights abuses.

Games 98

Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

MARCH 16, 2023

billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft, Sony and Activision Blizzard's response to the findings have been revealed in full, and repeat many of the arguments that the companies have made already. The regulator prefers structural remedies, such as selling off the Call of Duty IP.

Studios 98

Studios Console Platformer Entertainment 98

GamesIndustry.biz

MARCH 2, 2023

Reuters is reporting that the European Commission is expected to approve Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard without demanding it sell off parts of the publisher first.

Platformer 124

Platformer Development 124

GamesIndustry.biz

MAY 31, 2023

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick believes the company's image problems stem not from a workplace culture that spawned numerous gender discrimination lawsuits from former employees and state and federal agencies alike, but from "outside forces" and unionization supporters. Read more

Media 106

Media 106

GamesIndustry.biz

DECEMBER 19, 2022

Original Story: Activision Blizzard is losing its president and chief operating officer next year. A new 8K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission reveals Daniel Alegre will be leaving the company for "another opportunity" elsewhere. He will finish his current term of employment, which ends on March 31, 2023.

Writing 98

Writing 98

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Bobby Kotick will reportedly retain his position as CEO of Activision Blizzard if the proposed acquisition by Microsoft is blocked by regulators or scrapped altogether. Sources familiar with the matter told Fox Business that even if the $68.7 Read more

Games 98

Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox In a rare television interview, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said he believes UK regulators should "embrace" Microsoft's proposed acquisition of his company.

Media 98

Media 98

GamesIndustry.biz

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Several members of Congress have penned a letter to ask top game companies how they are addressing extremism. As reported by Axios , the inquiry will be sent to gaming firms such as Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony.

Electronics 98

Electronics Art Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox Activision Blizzard's earnings report for the three months ending December 31 – and the financial year as a whole – see the company coming in strong overall, thanks to the launch of Overwatch 2 and the continued success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Games 98

Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Microsoft and Nintendo have signed a binding legal agreement to bring Call of Duty to the latter's platforms for ten years – if the former's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard goes through.

Platformer 98

Platformer Games 98

GamesIndustry.biz

JUNE 1, 2023

Activision Blizzard yesterday released its first Transparency Report , a planned-to-be-annual look at efforts to curb abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the company that includes details on the number of employee reports, as well as how many of them were acted upon.

54

54

GamesIndustry.biz

APRIL 26, 2023

Activision Blizzard suffered a setback today with the UK blocking its sale to Microsoft , but the publisher can take some solace in its freshly reported first quarter financial results, which showed growth across every division and major franchise. Read more

89

89

GamesIndustry.biz

JANUARY 10, 2023

Activision Blizzard is refusing to voluntarily acknowledge an employee union at its Proletariat Games studio, as revealed in a note posted to the Proletariat Games blog yesterday and signed by "The Proletariat Leadership Team.". Read more.

Studios 98

Studios Games Development 98