INSIDER
Microsoft profit soars 33% on AI, cloud-computing investments
Read full article: Microsoft profit soars 33% on AI, cloud-computing investmentsMicrosoft Corp. says that its profit for the October-December quarter soared 33%, powered by its significant investments in artificial intelligence technology.
Microsoft lays off 1,900 employees in its gaming division following Activision Blizzard buyout
Read full article: Microsoft lays off 1,900 employees in its gaming division following Activision Blizzard buyoutMicrosoft is laying off about 1,900 employees in its gaming division, according to an internal company memo, just over three months since the tech giant completed its $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard.
Activision Blizzard to pay $54 million to settle California state workplace discrimination claims
Read full article: Activision Blizzard to pay $54 million to settle California state workplace discrimination claimsActivision Blizzard has agreed to pay about $54 million to settle discrimination claims brought by California’s civil rights agency on behalf of women employed by the video game maker.
Microsoft spent two years trying to buy Activision Blizzard. For Xbox CEO, that was the easy part
Read full article: Microsoft spent two years trying to buy Activision Blizzard. For Xbox CEO, that was the easy partAfter two years co-piloting the biggest acquisition in video game history past an onslaught of challenges, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer now moves on to his next quest: making Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard worth the hassle.
Microsoft closes deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard after antitrust fights
Read full article: Microsoft closes deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard after antitrust fightsMicrosoft has completed its purchase of video game-maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, closing one of the most expensive tech acquisitions in history that could have repercussions across the video game industry.
Microsoft's revamped $69 billion deal for Activision is on the cusp of going through
Read full article: Microsoft's revamped $69 billion deal for Activision is on the cusp of going throughBritish competition regulators has signaled that Microsoft’s restructured $69 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard is likely to receive antitrust approval.
Microsoft budges on video game streaming rights in push for UK to approve Activision Blizzard deal
Read full article: Microsoft budges on video game streaming rights in push for UK to approve Activision Blizzard dealBritish competition regulators have opened a new investigation into Microsoft’s revamped bid to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft moves closer to completing $69 billion Activision takeover after court rebuffs regulators
Read full article: Microsoft moves closer to completing $69 billion Activision takeover after court rebuffs regulatorsA U.S. appeals court has rejected a bid by federal regulators to block Microsoft from closing its $68.7 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft gets more time from UK to plead case to buy video game maker Activision
Read full article: Microsoft gets more time from UK to plead case to buy video game maker ActivisionBritish antitrust regulators have extended their deadline to issue a final order blocking Microsoft’s $69 billion plan to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard.
FTC appeals judge's ruling that would allow Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeover
Read full article: FTC appeals judge's ruling that would allow Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeoverThe Federal Trade Commission says it is appealing a judge’s ruling that would have allowed Microsoft to close its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard.
Fate of record tech industry tie-up heads to judge as Microsoft defends $69B Activision deal
Read full article: Fate of record tech industry tie-up heads to judge as Microsoft defends $69B Activision dealThe fate of what could be the priciest merger in tech industry history is now in the hands of a federal judge who must decide whether to stop Microsoft from closing its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft CEO Nadella tells a judge his planned Activision takeover is good for gaming
Read full article: Microsoft CEO Nadella tells a judge his planned Activision takeover is good for gamingMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella told a judge Wednesday that his company's proposed $69 billion takeover of video game-maker Activision Blizzard will be good for the gaming industry.
Microsoft, regulators tangle in court over fate of $69 billion deal that could reshape video gaming
Read full article: Microsoft, regulators tangle in court over fate of $69 billion deal that could reshape video gamingFederal regulators on Thursday launched a legal attack on Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard by depicting it as an anticompetitive weapon while Microsoft hailed the deal as a way to make popular games such as Call of Duty more widely available at cheaper prices.
FTC sues to block Microsoft's takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard
Read full article: FTC sues to block Microsoft's takeover of video game maker Activision BlizzardThe Federal Trade Commission has sued to block Microsoft from completing its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, the latest antitrust challenge to the proposed merger but one that could hasten its conclusion.
Microsoft stakes Xbox video game sales on long-awaited space adventure Starfield
Read full article: Microsoft stakes Xbox video game sales on long-awaited space adventure StarfieldOne small step for an intrepid crew of 24th century space explorers could be a giant leap — or flop — for Microsoft when the Xbox-maker launches its long-awaited video game Starfield.
Microsoft's bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
Read full article: Microsoft's bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at riskThe European Union has approved Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft's 'good guy' approach frays in UK gaming battle
Read full article: Microsoft's 'good guy' approach frays in UK gaming battleMicrosoft’s charm offensive with the world’s governments is starting to lose some of its luster as the software giant is confronting its toughest antitrust scrutiny since co-founder Bill Gates was in charge.
Explainer: Is Microsoft still buying Activision Blizzard?
Read full article: Explainer: Is Microsoft still buying Activision Blizzard?It’s not “game over” yet for Microsoft’s quest to buy the video game maker Activision Blizzard, but the software giant is starting to run out of clear pathways to complete its $69 billion takeover.
China's NetEase criticizes Blizzard offer as unequal, unfair
Read full article: China's NetEase criticizes Blizzard offer as unequal, unfairChina games company NetEase Inc. says it has rejected a proposal from World of Warcraft creator Activision Blizzard to temporarily extend its partnership while the U.S. company seeks a new partner, in an escalating public spat.
Microsoft strikes 10-year deal with Nintendo on Call of Duty
Read full article: Microsoft strikes 10-year deal with Nintendo on Call of DutyMicrosoft has agreed to make the hit video game Call of Duty available on Nintendo for 10 years should its $69 billion purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard go through.
EU's Call of Duty: Probe Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal
Read full article: EU's Call of Duty: Probe Microsoft-Activision Blizzard dealThe European Union has launched an investigation into Microsoft’s planned takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, fearing the $69 billion deal would distort fair competition to popular titles like Call of Duty.
Call of Duty's latest battle is between Microsoft and Sony
Read full article: Call of Duty's latest battle is between Microsoft and SonyHunting down your enemies on the bustling streets of Amsterdam, along the U.S.-Mexico border or in a Middle Eastern fishing village is just part of the intense action in the latest Call of Duty video game.
EXPLAINER: Microsoft's Activision buy could shake up gaming
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Microsoft's Activision buy could shake up gamingMicrosoft stunned the gaming industry when it announced this week it would buy game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, a deal that would immediately make it a larger video-game company than Nintendo.
Fortnite maker CEO won't cut ties with players for pro-Hong Kong views
Read full article: Fortnite maker CEO won't cut ties with players for pro-Hong Kong views(CNN) - Fortnite maker Epic Games said it would allow its esports players to express political beliefs in support of Hong Kong democracy protesters, despite its partial ownership by Chinese tech giant Tencent. Responding to Twitter users Wednesday, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said if a famous Twitch streamer like Tfue or Ninja hypothetically shouted "Free Hong Kong," there would be no repercussions from Epic. "China players of Fortnite are free to criticize the US or criticize Epic just as equally as all others." Its rival Activision Blizzard received flak from gamers around the world after it disqualified and banned a "Hearthstone" player for shouting a popular Hong Kong protest slogan. On Tuesday, Blizzard said player Ng "Blitzchung" Wai Chung violated competition rules when he shouted "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" during a livestreamed post-match interview.
'World of Warcraft Classic' draws on gaming nostalgia
Read full article: 'World of Warcraft Classic' draws on gaming nostalgia"World of Warcraft" is losing players, and the players that have stuck with the video game are aging. SANTA MONICA, Calif. - "World of Warcraft" is losing players, and the players that have stuck with the video game are aging. The company launched "World of Warcraft Classic" Monday, a nostalgic version of the multiplayer online roleplaying game, in which players can adventure as orcs and elves, among other characters. "World of Warcraft Classic" returns things to the way they were when the game first launched in 2004. The company said interest in "World of Warcraft Classic" was so strong that it overwhelmed Blizzard's servers.