blizzard entertainment

Image: Sergei Elagin (Shutterstock)After the Federal Trade Commission sued to block Microsoft’s acquisition of popular video game company Activision Blizzard over antitrust concerns, a California judge has given Microsoft the thumbs up to proceed with the $68.7 billion merger Tuesday—the largest purchase in gaming history.Warning! Microsoft Wants ChatGPT to Control Robots NextThe ruling by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for District Court for the Northern District of California comes just ahead of the deal’s July 18…

Diablo IV's much-awaited season 1 update will release July 20, nearly a month-and-a-half since the game debuted to rave reviews. Dubbed ‘Season of the Malignant,' the update was shown off during a developer live stream, held early Friday, detailing new quests, items, and further focus on its battle pass. As the title suggests, the upcoming season introduces a brand-new questline where the realm of Sanctuary is slowly getting corrupted by a plague, turning all living things into Malignant Monsters with new powers. The…

An industry watchdog group says the judge tasked with ultimately determining the fate of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion bid to acquire Activision Blizzard should recuse herself because her son works at Microsoft. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley revealed the family connection during a pre-hearing conference last week. Though Corley said her son works outside of the gaming division, the watchdog group says that proximity to the company still poses a clear conflict of interest.Warning! Microsoft Wants ChatGPT to…

Cards on the table: I've never played a Diablo game before. Yes, I know, I'm a bit late to the party, which is strange considering this hellish franchise is sprinkled with all the right ingredients from ghoulish monsters, perilous dungeons, loot drops, and lots of blood — elements that would normally have me giddy with excitement. It's a household name that still holds some well-deserved clout, despite last year's Diablo Immortal tarnishing it with pay-to-win mechanics, which for obvious reasons didn't sit well with the…

The mountain of pushback against the largest acquisition in gaming history just got a fair bit steeper. On Monday, CNBC first reported that the Federal Trade Commission is close to filing an injunction to block the $68.7 billion merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.Warning! Microsoft Wants ChatGPT to Control Robots NextThe deal is nearing its July 18 deadline, and an injunction would halt the process while the agency is working on bringing its own ongoing legal complaints to the fore. The FTC, under the…

In Diablo 4, you’ll need to collect a wide variety of items to increase your chance of survival, especially as you progress through the game. To acquire the Light Healing Potion — which grants 141 life instantly and 35% of your max life over 3 seconds — you’ll first need to acquire 20 Gallowvines, 10 Biteberries, and five Crushed Beast Bones. However, finding Crushed Beast Bones can be tricky during the early stages of the game. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly where to find Crushed Beast Bones in Diablo 4.…

Diablo IV has just launched across all platforms, but that hasn't stopped developer Blizzard from expanding its legacy. In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, general manager Rod Fergusson confirmed that the studio already has two expansions in development. “As I sit here we're about to launch the main game, we're finishing up season one, we're working on season two, we're working on expansion one” he said, adding that development on the second major expansion was about to kick off. Diablo IV was designed keeping a…

Activision Blizzard leaders didn’t appreciate jokes that poked fun at greedy corporate execs via a conniving, scampering, and loot-obsessed character in World of Warcraft, so much so they fired the game designer who wrote the little goblin’s voice lines.The Boogeyman's Sophie Thatcher Reveals What Draws Her to Dark Characters | io9 InterviewIn a series of tweets posted Wednesday, former Activision Blizzard game designer and nine-year company veteran Eric Covington said that he was fired in March for “lampooning generic…

“Diablo 4's wealth of loot and meaningful customization systems make up for most of its frustrating MMO concessions.” Pros Frenetic combat Lots to see and do Deeply engaging stories Robust character customization Meaningful progression Cons Frustrating always-online setup…

Diablo IV just got a gothic horror-themed live-action trailer, ahead of its release on June 6. The latest ad campaign, dubbed ‘Saviors Wanted,' is shot by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) and co-directed by Kiku Ohe, capturing the fear and conflict plaguing the lands of the Sanctuary. In this twisted place brimming with monsters, the High Heavens and Burning Hells wage destructive battles, leaving its inhabitants in turmoil. Diablo 4 officially went gold, late last month, suggesting that it is ready for…