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Microsoft is laying off around 1,900 workers in its gaming unit, extending tech job losses in early 2024. The cuts represent roughly a 9 percent reduction at Activision Blizzard and Xbox from the 22,000 employees. The president of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, is leaving the company, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.  Activision Blizzard is the developer and publisher of massive gaming franchises, including “Call of Duty.” The division’s mobile subsidiary, King, is the developer…

The sun finally came out for Microsoft. On 11 July, Judge Jacqueline Corley ruled in favor of the Redmond, Washington-based company in its dispute against the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the purchase of Activision Blizzard, one of the world's largest video game developers. An appeal by the FTC to temporarily halt the deal was denied by an appellate court late last week.With these decisions, the tech giant is now one step closer to closing the $69 billion acquisition deal, which was first announced…

Microsoft got a boost in the process of acquiring "Call of Duty" game maker Activision Blizzard when a US court refused to allow gamers in a private suit to preliminarily block the acquisition, a report said. The case was a potential early legal obstacle in its $69 billion deal. Microsoft is yet to get a green light from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to acquire the video game maker.The private plaintiffs sued Microsoft in California federal court in December calling the deal harmful to competition. A US judge said…

Activision Blizzard Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick called UK regulators' decision to block Microsoft Corp.'s $69 billion acquisition of his company “irrational” and predicted the deal will ultimately win approval.In a Bloomberg Television interview, Kotick didn't say whether the companies would extend their purchase agreement beyond a July deadline. The pair are preparing their response to the UK decision, he said, adding, “I think the appeals process will work in our favor.” On Wednesday, the UK's Competition…

Microsoft on Wednesday faced its biggest challenge yet in its effort to buy US video game powerhouse Activision Blizzard, with the decision by the UK to block the deal.The transaction, which was expected to be finalized this year, would beef up Microsoft's muscle in the booming gaming market while playing to its strengths in software and cloud computing. Here are key things to know about the blockbuster transaction: - Video game titans -Buying Activision, the maker of "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush", would make…

Depending on which side you're on, tech giant Microsoft is either the hero fighting to bring some of the most popular video games to more people, or the villain on the brink of killing competition in the sector.The Xbox-owner has embarked on a campaign to convince all three EU, UK and US regulators to back its $69 billion bid to take over Activision Blizzard, owner of hit games "Candy Crush" and "Call Of Duty". The effort to create the world's third largest gaming company by revenue was launched last year but the company…

Microsoft Corp. announced an agreement to bring its games to Nvidia Corp.'s GeForce Now service, part of efforts to show that the industry will remain competitive if it's allowed to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. in a $69 billion deal. Microsoft President Brad Smith disclosed the Nvidia accord after meeting with European Union officials in Brussels on Tuesday. The partnership “resolves Nvidia's concerns” about the merger, the companies said in a joint statement. “Nvidia therefore is offering its full support for…

Sony's gaming chief Jim Ryan met EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Wednesday to discuss Microsoft's $69 billion (about Rs. 5,62,647 crore) bid for Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.The meeting came as the EU competition watchdog prepares to warn Microsoft this week about the potential anti-competitive effects of the US software giant and Xbox maker's acquisition in the biggest gaming industry deal in history.Microsoft is looking to Activision to help it…

Xbox One sold less than half of the PS4 throughout its lifetime, Microsoft has confirmed. Court documents from the ongoing Microsoft-CADE trial have revealed details on how well the Xbox One units sold. The company currently acquiring Activision Blizzard has refused to release console sales information since 2015, instead focusing on Xbox Live numbers. “Sony has surpassed Microsoft in terms of console sales and installed base, having sold more than twice as many Xbox in the last generation,” admits Microsoft, as…