Microsoft

Netflix Adds Industry Veteran Joseph Staten from Microsoft

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Netflix has been making waves in the gaming industry, and its latest move will turn heads. Joseph Staten, a veteran video game writer, and designer, has joined the company as Creative Director for an upcoming AAA game.

Staten, who is best known for his work on the Halo franchise, will be working alongside a talented team of game developers to create what is sure to be an exciting and innovative gaming experience.

Staten’s experience in the video game industry is impressive. He has worked on some of the most successful and beloved franchises of all time, including the aforementioned Halo series, Destiny, and Sleeping Dogs. His work has always been characterized by a deep respect for the medium, a keen eye for detail, and a passion for storytelling.

Now, Staten is bringing all of that experience and passion to Netflix. In his new role as Creative Director for the streaming giant’s upcoming AAA game, Staten will be responsible for overseeing the development of the unannounced title, from its initial concept to its final release. He will work closely with the game’s designers, writers, and programmers to ensure that the final product meets the high standards that Netflix has set for itself.

This is an exciting time for Netflix, as the company continues to expand its reach into the gaming industry. In addition to its upcoming AAA game, the company has also been experimenting with mobile games and interactive programming. These moves are part of a larger effort to provide viewers with a more immersive and engaging entertainment experience, one that blurs the lines between television and video games.

As for the upcoming AAA game, little is known about it at this point. However, with Joseph Staten at the helm, fans of the video game medium can be sure that it will be something special. Staten has a proven track record of delivering high-quality games that are both engaging and memorable. It will be interesting to see what he and his team come up with in this new, exciting chapter of his career.

The news of Joseph Staten joining Netflix as Creative Director for its upcoming AAA game is sure to generate a lot of excitement among gamers and industry insiders alike. With his impressive track record and deep passion for the medium, Staten is sure to deliver a game that is both innovative and engaging. As Netflix continues to expand its reach into the gaming industry, it will be interesting to see how the company’s unique vision and storytelling approach translate into the world of video games.

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.

Sony Claims The UK’s CMA is Being “Irrational” Regarding Microsoft’s Purchase of Activision

Posted on by Spieler Dad

On March 22nd, 2022, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reversed its decision to block Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing concerns about the deal’s potential impact on competition in the gaming industry.

In response to the CMA’s decision, Microsoft released a statement welcoming the reversal and expressing its commitment to working with the CMA to address its concerns.

“We are pleased that the CMA has decided to reconsider its previous decision,” Microsoft said in its statement. “We remain committed to working with the CMA to ensure that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard does not harm competition in the gaming industry.”

However, Sony, one of Microsoft’s main competitors in the gaming industry, criticized the CMA’s decision and called it “irrational.”

In a statement released shortly after the CMA’s reversal, Sony expressed its disappointment with the decision and emphasized the need for continued competition in the gaming industry.

“We are disappointed by the CMA’s irrational decision to reverse its approval of the Microsoft Activision acquisition,” Sony said in its statement. “Competition is critical to the success of the gaming industry, and we believe that this decision will harm both competition and consumers.”

It certainly seems like the tide is shifting toward Microsoft’s favor regarding this acquisition, irrespective of Sony’s objections.

Microsoft Hits Back As Things Heat Up in the Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Posted on by Spieler Dad

The Holidays are just days away, but before everyone takes a well-deserved break prior to 2023, Microsoft has responded to the FTC regarding the contentious Activision Blizzard purchase.

Microsoft has published its response to the FTC’s lawsuit regarding the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Similar to Microsoft’s response to the UK’s CMA. The gloves are now seemingly off as Microsoft has pointed out that Sony has been adding “exclusion” terms on deals for third-party games on Playstation for years. This includes titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 16, Silent Hill 2 Remake, and From Software’s Bloodborne, which will most likely never see the light of day on an Xbox console.

According to Microsoft:

“In addition to having outright exclusive content, Sony has also entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the “exclusion” of Xbox from the set of platforms these publishers can distribute their games on. Some prominent examples of these agreements include Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix), Bloodborne (From Software), the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix) and the recently announced Silent Hill 2 remastered (Bloober team).”

Microsoft

It’s odd that the FTC as well as the CMA have taken the position of protecting Sony, which is the market leader, and have been adding exclusionary terms in contracts with third-party publishers, blocking popular titles from appearing on competing platforms. That seems anti-competitive to me, but not to the FTC and CMA apparently.

All in all, it appears that Microsoft is preparing to build a case and fight this in court if the FTC and CMA attempt to block the deal. According to the terms of the merger, Microsoft would owe Activision Blizzard $2 to $3 billion if the deal is blocked by regulators. So it is pretty safe to assume that Microsoft is not just going to give up.

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.

Microsoft President Says Sony Is Acting Like Blockbuster Video During the Rise of Netflix

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith has called out Sony’s stance against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a The Wall Street Journal op-ed comparing them to the failed video rental chain.

“Sony has emerged as the loudest objector… It’s as excited about this deal as Blockbuster was about the rise of Netflix… Think about how much better it is to stream a movie from your couch than drive to Blockbuster. We want to bring the same sort of innovation to the videogame industry.”

WSJ

It is really starting to appear that Microsft is not going to back down from this acquisition. They have agreed to concessions on the deal in the EU, offering to keep Call of Duty on Playstation for 10 years. Now, according to the New York Post, FTC insiders are claiming that of the four-person panel currently investigating the proposed deal, two may be looking to side with Microsoft. This now splits voting 2-2.

Lina Khan, the Federal Trade Commission chairperson has even floated the idea of suing Microsoft over the proposed acquisition. However, former FTC chairperson William Kovacic told the New York Post regarding a lawsuit to block the merger: “Lina [Khan] would probably not put things in a position for that to take place, so instead of having that vote she would make the motion to approve the settlement.”

So in the end it looks like Microsoft will make concessions for the US, similar to the EU, to keep Call of Duty on Playstation for the foreseeable future, which is really in their best interests anyway.

Looks like Playstation Boss Jim Ryan racked up the frequent flier miles protesting the deal for nothing.

[Source: WSJ & New York Post]

TCL Really Wants You To Buy a New TV for Xbox Series X PRO and PlayStation 5 PRO – Really?

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Consumer electronics company TCL, which makes decent TVs at competitive price points, really wants you to believe that Sony and Microsoft are going to be refreshing the PS5 and Xbox Series X soon. So you really should be considering upgrading your boob tube.

According to Polish news outlet PPE, TCL presented at an electronics conference in Poland and the company believes that a “PS5 Pro” and “new Xbox Series X|S” will arrive between 2023 and 2024.

TCL’s presentation showed a history of consoles, starting with the original PS4 and Xbox One in 2013. TCL then notes that the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X were released a few years later. The presentation goes on to show the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2020. Naturally, that means a refresh should come out next year or so, right? RIGHT!?!

At the end of TCL’s presentation, they claim that Series X / PS5 PRO will provide 60-120 FPS resolution at 4K, and have the ability to display 8K. TCL also believes that the new consoles will have AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT technology. Shit, the TV that I bought specifically for my PS5 and Xbox Series is a total piece of shit now. I should consider buying a fancy new TV from TCL.

Sorry, TCL, but I think a mid-generation refresh is a bit further out, given that the current builds of the Xbox Series X and PS5 are still relatively hard to come by.

Nice try though.

Xbox Sees Massive Jump in Sales According to NPD

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Even though videogame sales saw an overall decrease of 8% between January and March of this year, compared to 2021, most likely because folks are returning to work from the pandemic, Xbox hardware sales saw a massive increase in the US compared to the same time last year.

And when we say massive, we mean fucking massive, to the tune of a 92% increase, according to the NPD.

The NPD Group’s consumer spending report for Q1 2022 shows that hardware spending has decreased by 15% compared to Q1 2021, however, Xbox hardware saw a huge 92% increase.

NPD has given no specifics for the increase, but the fact that you can actually find an Xbox Series S on store shelves easily, and the Xbox Series X is attainable relatively easily online are certainly possibilities. Who knew, if you make your shit available, people will buy it.

Even though the Xbox is doing well, it cannot touch the mighty Nintendo Switch, which was the best-selling console during the same time frame in terms of total units sold.

[Source: NPD]

Microsoft Plans to Release the Xbox Streaming Stick Within the Next Year

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Microsoft is planning to release the rumored Xbox Streaming Stick within the next 12 months. The Xbox Streaming Stick will allow users to stream Xbox Game Pass games to your TV without a dedicated console.

The Xbox Streaming Stick aligns with Microsoft’s “Xbox Everywhere” initiative, to get Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Game Pass into as many connected devices as possible. Microsoft is also partnering with Samsung to develop an Xbox Cloud Gaming app for the TV manufacturer. This will allow Samsung TV owners to stream Game Pass titles without a streaming stick.

The Xbox Streaming Stick was initially revealed during E3 2021, but things have been quiet since then. Looks like Microsoft has been quietly ramping and perhaps an announcement is imminent.

[Source: VentureBeat]

Fortnite is Playable Again on Mobile Thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming

Posted on by Spieler Dad

Playing Fortnite on a mobile device has been a real pain, if not impossible since Epic started its legal fight with Apple and Google due to their app store fees. However, things are going to be much easier now, as Epic Games has partnered with Microsoft to get the title onto Xbox Cloud Gaming. Fortnite is officially the first free-to-play title on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Now, anyone who wants to play Fortnite on mobile just needs a Microsoft account, an iOS device or Windows PC, and an internet connection to play via browser. Also, there’s no need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass since Fortnite will remain free-to-play.

I’m not a fan of Fortnite, because I’m a grown-ass man, but it is cool to see Epic and Xbox partner up to bring the game back to mobile.

[Source: Microsoft]