Activision

EE and Xbox Announce 10-Year Partnership to Expand Gaming on Mobile Devices in the UK

Posted on by Spieler Dad

EE, one of the UK’s largest mobile network operators, has announced a 10-year partnership with Xbox to bring cloud gaming to mobile devices. The partnership will enable EE customers to access Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes over 100 games, on their mobile devices via the cloud.

The move represents a major shift in the gaming industry, as it marks the first time that Xbox has partnered with a mobile network operator to bring its cloud gaming service to a wider audience. EE, which is owned by BT, is hoping to tap into the growing demand for mobile gaming, as more and more people turn to their smartphones and tablets for entertainment.

The partnership will allow EE customers to play Xbox games on the go, without the need for a console or high-end PC. The service will be available on Android devices initially, with support for iOS devices coming later this year.

The move is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy of focusing on cloud-based services, as the company seeks to expand its reach in the gaming industry. By partnering with EE, Xbox is hoping to reach new audiences and make gaming more accessible to people who may not have access to consoles or gaming PCs.

EE is also hoping to capitalize on the growing trend of mobile gaming, which has seen significant growth in recent years. The partnership is expected to help the mobile network operator to differentiate itself from its competitors, by offering unique and innovative services that appeal to a wide range of customers.

Overall, the partnership between EE and Xbox represents an exciting new development in the gaming industry, as more and more players turn to cloud gaming and mobile devices for their entertainment needs. With the 10-year partnership, both companies are hoping to drive innovation and expand the reach of gaming, making it more accessible to a wider audience than ever before.

Also, these partnerships are in Microsoft’s best interests as it attempts to calm UK CMA as it tries to push the Activision acquisition through.

Surprise – 75% of Respondents to UK Regulator Survey Approve Microsoft’s Activision Purchase

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Microsoft continues to push forward with its planned acquisition of Activision, despite challenges from regulatory agencies. Today it received some good news from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority requested feedback from the public on Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. The regulatory group reviewed responses from over 2,100 and 75% were in favor of the acquisition.

Below are some of the views expressed by the respondents:

  • Sony and Nintendo are stronger than Microsoft in console gaming, and the Merger will help Microsoft to compete more closely against them.
  • The Merger will not harm rival consoles because Microsoft has made public and private commitments to keep Activision content, including Call of Duty, non-exclusive. The availability of Minecraft on rival consoles shows that Microsoft’s commercial strategy is not to make games exclusive; 1 The CMA received approximately 2,600 emails, but some of these were excluded from our review because they contained abusive content (with no other substantive content), or were blank, unintelligible, stated to be from non-UK consumers, or not in English.
  • It is unlikely that Microsoft would make Call of Duty exclusive due to its multiplayer nature. Making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox would only create a gap in the market that could be filled by a rival cross-platform shooter game.
  • Call of Duty has competition from a number of other games including Battlefield (Electronic Arts), Grand Theft Auto (Take Two), and FIFA (Electronic Arts).
  • The Merger will push Sony to innovate, such as by improving its subscription service or creating more games to compete with Call of Duty.
  • The Merger is a reaction to Sony’s business model for PlayStation, which has historically involved securing exclusive content or early access to popular cross-platform gaming franchises, such as Final Fantasy and Silent Hill.
  • Microsoft’s plans to add Call of Duty to Game Pass are pro-competitive and will lower the price of accessing games for consumers.
  • Microsoft would not make Activision’s content exclusive to Xbox post-merger because it would lose significant potential revenue from rival platforms.
  • Consumers could revert to buying games on a buy-to-play basis if Microsoft were to raise the price of Game Pass post-Merger.
  • The Merger will lead to more funding and higher-quality games in the industry.
  • The Merger will allow Microsoft to provide Activision with better guidance and leadership, and encourage it to invest more in games other than Call of Duty.
  • The Merger is pro-competitive in the mobile segment because it will create new options for mobile gamers and allow Microsoft to compete against Google and Apple, which are the two dominant mobile platforms.
  • The Merger will not create competition concerns in cloud gaming services because there are other potential competitors, such as Netflix.
  • Some industry participants have said they are not opposed to the Merger.

This is certainly an interesting development and may pave the way for approval of the acquisition in the UK.

Activision Blizzard Employees Walk Out Following Bombshell Wall Street Journal Report On Bobby Kotick

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Activision Blizzard employees have staged a walkout today following a Wall Street Journal report stating CEO Bobby Kotick has known about instances of sexual misconduct at the publisher and its studios dating back to 2018.

The report which follows months of reporting, interviews, and documents obtained by the WSJ claims that Kotick knew of numerous sexual assault and harassment claims at the publisher and its stable of studios for years. The report also states that Kotick did not notify the board of directors of an out-of-court settlement to an employee who accused a supervisor of rape. That is a major no-no. Boards for billion-dollar companies like to know of these things.

Just last month, Kotick agreed to take a massive pay cut down to $62,500 per year until Activision Blizzard’s board feels that diversity, equity, and inclusion goals are met. 

In hindsight, the board may need to reconsider that decision entirely and perhaps seek tougher action against Kotick.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Activision Hides Their Logo from Call Of Duty: Vanguard Trailer & Alpha Start Up Screens

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Activision Blizzard has found itself in a bit of legal trouble lately for being a shitty company, but it still has games to launch.

So with Call of Duty: Vanguard nearing release, Activision released a new trailer to hype up the upcoming playable alpha. However, the Activision logo is suspiciously absent from the both the trailer and the alpha’s start up screen.

Hey, who can blame them right? Activision’s name is toxic right now, am I right?

Not so, according to Activision Blizzard. In a statement to reporter Stephen Totilo:

“Call of Duty has continued to expand into an incredible universe of experiences. This was a creative choice that reflects how Vanguard represents the next major installment in the franchise…”

Activision Blizzard Corporate Flack

What does that statement even mean? How is that even a valid answer to the question? Matter of fact, the Activision logo only appears in small legal mouse type. Meanwhile every previous Call of Duty game boots up by proudly displaying Activision’s logo, loud and proud.

Listen, I understand, you don’t want your name to tarnish what could possibly be the biggest launch of the year. Just don’t give me chicken shit and tell me its chicken salad.

[Source: Gamespot]

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Trailer Revealed

Posted on by Spieler Dad

I don’t usually get pumped for trailers, let alone trailers of Call of Duty games, but the latest entry in the franchise looks mighty impressive.

First off, the last Call of Duty game that I really enjoyed was Black Ops, so for the next entry to be a direct sequel of my personal favorite is pretty cool.

Add in that I’m a child of the 80’s, now your pushing my nostalgia button. There was just something exhilarating about coming of age during a time when civilization as we knew it could be vaporized at any moment.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War launches November 13.

[Source: Activision]

Hoping Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Will Not Be Mediocre Crap

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Call of Duty was, at one time, arguably the superlative first person shooter series, but the franchise has been on a downward spiral for quite some time.

I’ll go ahead and say that the series has been trending downward to mediocrity since reaching its pinnacle with the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which came out in 2007.

So I was somewhat intrigued when Activision announced that it was bringing back Modern Warfare, with an impressive reveal trailer last week.

This looks mighty impressive. Sure, it’s a trailer, and even shit games have great trailers, but come on, Captain Price and Soap are back, no more of this futuristic shit, and getting back to your roots with gritty realistic combat. It’s about fucking time.

What’s even more interesting, is that Modern Warfare 2019 will feature cross-play support, so console gamers and PC gamers can play together. Don’t worry about getting the shit beat out of you by folks on a PC playing with a mouse and keyboard, either.

According to a Forbes article, cross-play will be based on your input device. Folks on a PC with a mouse and keyboard will be pitted against others with a mouse and keyboard. Those on a PC who opt for a controller (why?), will be matched up against folks with a controller, whether they are also on a PC or on a console.

I’m also assuming that if you have a keyboard and mouse with the Xbox One, you could be matched with PC gamers with a mouse and keyboard, provided the Xbox version supports mouse and keyboard, but what do I know?

I’ve cooled on the Call of Duty series the past few years, but I really want the new Modern Warfare to be good. Here’s to hoping that they don’t fuck it up.

We’ll find out for sure on October 25, 2019 when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare releases for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

[Source: Forbes]

Divorce Developer Style: Bungie and Activision to Split

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Bungie contemplating life without Activsion.

Bungie and Activision are no longer an item. Bungie will extricate themselves from their Activision overlords, and they are taking Destiny with them. No news if Activsion will get to visit Destiny during weekends.

The news was first announced on the official Bungie blog.

“When we first launched our partnership with Activision in 2010, the gaming industry was in a pretty different place. As an independent studio setting out to build a brand new experience, we wanted a partner willing to take a big leap of faith with us. We had a vision for Destiny that we believed in, but to launch a game of that magnitude, we needed the support of an established publishing partner.


With Activision, we created something special. To date, Destiny has delivered a combination of over 50 million games and expansions to players all around the world. More importantly, we’ve also witnessed a remarkable community – tens of millions of Guardians strong – rise up and embrace Destiny, to play together, to make and share memories, and even to do truly great things that reach far beyond the game we share, to deliver a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.


We have enjoyed a successful eight-year run and would like to thank Activision for their partnership on Destiny. Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans for Activision to transfer publishing rights for Destiny to Bungie. With our remarkable Destiny community, we are ready to publish on our own, while Activision will increase their focus on owned IP projects.


The planned transition process is already underway in its early stages, with Bungie and Activision both committed to making sure the handoff is as seamless as possible.


With Forsaken, we’ve learned, and listened, and leaned in to what we believe our players want from a great Destiny experience. Rest assured there is more of that on the way. We’ll continue to deliver on the existing Destiny roadmap, and we’re looking forward to releasing more seasonal experiences in the coming months, as well as surprising our community with some exciting announcements about what lies beyond.


Thank you so much for your continued support. Our success is owed in no small part to the incredible community of players who have graced our worlds with light and life. We know self-publishing won’t be easy; there’s still much for us to learn as we grow as an independent, global studio, but we see unbounded opportunities and potential in Destiny. We know that new adventures await us all on new worlds filled with mystery, adventure, and hope. We hope you’ll join us there.


See you starside. “

Official Bungie Blog

Activision also chimed in via Twitter:

Well, it least they’re making it appear like it’s an amicable split.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 to Forgo Traditional Single Player

Posted on by Spieler Dad

According to a report from Polygon,  anonymous sources with knowledge of the title’s development status claim that Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will not include a traditional single-player story mode. This will mark a first for the franchise, as all previous titles shipped with a single-player campaign.

According to the sources, the project was behind schedule and the only way that developer Treyarch could hit the October 12 launch date was to forgo the single-player story mode. This may lead to some speculation that perhaps a story mode could be “patched” in later.

Running parallel to this story is a rumor from Call of Duty fan site CharlieIntel stating that is has information from sources close to Activision that Raven Software has been onboarded to develope a battle royale mode for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

Activision has responded, of course with an obligatory “We don’t comment on rumor and speculation. We look forward to revealing Black Ops 4 on May 17.”

[Source: Polygon]

[Source: CharlieIntel]