At kong last, Activision Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick will become chair of the embattled videogame publisher and a high-profile executive will replace him as CEO. One option for the CEO slot is Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia, who is expected to step down after Discovery completes its purchase of Warner next year.

Or the company could pick a woman for the role, in part to address accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination at the company. Sarah Bond, a corporate vice president in Microsoft’s games group, and Laura Miele, chief operating officer at Electronic Arts, are two possibilities.  Regardless, as soon as it happens, the stock will rise 📈 #Game addicts 🤪🎮 

Game addicts 🤪🎮

At kong last, Activision Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick will become chair of the embattled videogame publisher and a high-profile executive will replace him as CEO. One option for the CEO slot is Jason Kilar, CEO of WarnerMedia, who is expected to step down after Discovery completes its purchase of Warner next year.  Or the company could pick a woman for the role, in part to address accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination at the company. Sarah Bond, a corporate vice president in Microsoft’s games group, and Laura Miele, chief operating officer at Electronic Arts, are two possibilities.  Regardless, as soon as it happens, the stock will rise 📈 #Game addicts 🤪🎮

Jerome Cody

Over several decades, Blizzard Entertainment established itself as a top shop in videogames—the maker of titles like Diablo, Hearthstone, Starcraft and the World of Warcraft series.
Outwardly, the company projected an image as a thriving creative wonder. The truth is much more complicated, chronicled in “Play Nice,” a history of the company that isn’t shy about unearthing the dirt. Some Blizzard executives, for instance, received nicknames based on “Mad Men” characters because, like the Mad Men, they drank a great deal in the office. At the company’s annual conference, BlizzCon, attendees treated Blizzard executives like rock stars, and in turn, executives had no qualms about handing out their autographs—no matter where a fan wanted their signature inscribed. “If a girl puts boobs in your face and says sign them, you sign them,” Joeyray Hall, a former top Blizzard exec, told Schreier.  
In whole, the Blizzard tale is one of “men getting rich very fast, a hostile corporate takeover, and a culture that left many of its employees with complicated and contradictory feelings. It’s also a story about money, power, and the hunt for never-ending growth.” Huh. How familiar sounding.

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/?lens=grand-central-publishing&utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-13782&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg

 #Game addicts 🤪🎮 #The Book Club 📚

The Book Club 📚

Over several decades, Blizzard Entertainment established itself as a top shop in videogames—the maker of titles like Diablo, Hearthstone, Starcraft and the World of Warcraft series. Outwardly, the company projected an image as a thriving creative wonder. The truth is much more complicated, chronicled in “Play Nice,” a history of the company that isn’t shy about unearthing the dirt. Some Blizzard executives, for instance, received nicknames based on “Mad Men” characters because, like the Mad Men, they drank a great deal in the office. At the company’s annual conference, BlizzCon, attendees treated Blizzard executives like rock stars, and in turn, executives had no qualms about handing out their autographs—no matter where a fan wanted their signature inscribed. “If a girl puts boobs in your face and says sign them, you sign them,” Joeyray Hall, a former top Blizzard exec, told Schreier.   In whole, the Blizzard tale is one of “men getting rich very fast, a hostile corporate takeover, and a culture that left many of its employees with complicated and contradictory feelings. It’s also a story about money, power, and the hunt for never-ending growth.” Huh. How familiar sounding.  https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/?lens=grand-central-publishing&utm_campaign=article_email&utm_content=article-13782&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sg   #Game addicts 🤪🎮 #The Book Club 📚

From a New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist comes The Social Network for the video game industry, a riveting examination of Blizzar...

Play Nice

Nate

At the Bloomberg Technology Summit, Microsoft announced plans to launch its own mobile game store in July, with Xbox president Sarah Bond detailing the inclusion of Microsoft's first-party titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft. Initially web-based, the store aims for universal accessibility across devices and countries, circumventing closed ecosystem store policies.

The initiative stems from Microsoft's acquisition deal with Activision Blizzard, intending to utilize the mobile gaming presence of both Activision and King.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/10/microsoft-is-launching-its-mobile-game-store-in-july/

 #Game addicts 🤪🎮

At the Bloomberg Technology Summit, Microsoft announced plans to launch its own mobile game store in July, with Xbox president Sarah Bond detailing the inclusion of Microsoft's first-party titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft. Initially web-based, the store aims for universal accessibility across devices and countries, circumventing closed ecosystem store policies.  The initiative stems from Microsoft's acquisition deal with Activision Blizzard, intending to utilize the mobile gaming presence of both Activision and King.  https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/10/microsoft-is-launching-its-mobile-game-store-in-july/   #Game addicts 🤪🎮

Microsoft has announced that it will launch its own mobile game store in July, starting on the web with its own titles.

Microsoft is launching its mobile game store in July | TechCrunch

Bobby

What the numbers say: The $200B video game industry is facing its most significant slowdown in 30 years, with consumer spending on mobile gaming dropping by 2% to $107.3B last year. Sony has reduced its PlayStation 5 sales forecast due to slowing hardware sales, and Microsoft, after acquiring Activision Blizzard for $75B, is considering selling its own games on rival consoles, as the industry's growth rate last year was less than 1%, indicating slower growth compared to other entertainment categories.

Relevance: The gaming industry's sharp slowdown contrasts with the peak growth experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing concerns about growth, profitability, job cuts, and the lack of new gaming devices sold to expand the market. Rising development costs, dependence on blockbuster franchises, and increased competition from entertainment giants like Disney and Netflix contribute to the challenges faced by the gaming industry.

More data: Disney's $1.5B investment in Epic Games and Netflix's expansion into gaming indicate renewed interest in the gaming sector from entertainment companies. The industry focuses on finding new sources of growth among players who cannot afford expensive consoles or packaged games, underscoring the importance of accessibility and innovation in future strategies.
 #Game addicts 🤪🎮 #Data is beautiful

Data is beautiful

What the numbers say: The $200B video game industry is facing its most significant slowdown in 30 years, with consumer spending on mobile gaming dropping by 2% to $107.3B last year. Sony has reduced its PlayStation 5 sales forecast due to slowing hardware sales, and Microsoft, after acquiring Activision Blizzard for $75B, is considering selling its own games on rival consoles, as the industry's growth rate last year was less than 1%, indicating slower growth compared to other entertainment categories.  Relevance: The gaming industry's sharp slowdown contrasts with the peak growth experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing concerns about growth, profitability, job cuts, and the lack of new gaming devices sold to expand the market. Rising development costs, dependence on blockbuster franchises, and increased competition from entertainment giants like Disney and Netflix contribute to the challenges faced by the gaming industry.  More data: Disney's $1.5B investment in Epic Games and Netflix's expansion into gaming indicate renewed interest in the gaming sector from entertainment companies. The industry focuses on finding new sources of growth among players who cannot afford expensive consoles or packaged games, underscoring the importance of accessibility and innovation in future strategies.  #Game addicts 🤪🎮 #Data is beautiful

Todd Smith

Chinese #Game addicts 🤪🎮  cheered the news that Blizzard Entertainment, the video game giant behind World of Warcraft, is resuming its partnership with NetEase under its new owner Microsoft.

The long-running partnership had an acrimonious break-up over a year ago.

Last January, the two companies suspended services for all Blizzard titles on the mainland, except for Diablo Immortal, a mobile title co-developed by NetEase and Blizzard, as their 14-year partnership came to an end. Both sides blamed each other for treating Chinese players badly after failing to agree to new terms to extend the deal.

The latest announcement comes five months after US tech giant Microsoft finalised its US$68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment.
 #A Glance of China 行摄中国 

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3258471/microsofts-blizzard-resumes-netease-partnership-bringing-world-warcraft-back-chinese-players-after?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cm&utm_campaign=enlz-insidechinatech&utm_content=20240412&tpcc=enlz-insidechinatech&UUID=f9aaf50d26626de042873bfe2733d91d&tc=9

A Glance of China 行摄中国

Chinese #Game addicts 🤪🎮  cheered the news that Blizzard Entertainment, the video game giant behind World of Warcraft, is resuming its partnership with NetEase under its new owner Microsoft.  The long-running partnership had an acrimonious break-up over a year ago.  Last January, the two companies suspended services for all Blizzard titles on the mainland, except for Diablo Immortal, a mobile title co-developed by NetEase and Blizzard, as their 14-year partnership came to an end. Both sides blamed each other for treating Chinese players badly after failing to agree to new terms to extend the deal.  The latest announcement comes five months after US tech giant Microsoft finalised its US$68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment.  #A Glance of China 行摄中国   https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3258471/microsofts-blizzard-resumes-netease-partnership-bringing-world-warcraft-back-chinese-players-after?utm_medium=email&utm_source=cm&utm_campaign=enlz-insidechinatech&utm_content=20240412&tpcc=enlz-insidechinatech&UUID=f9aaf50d26626de042873bfe2733d91d&tc=9

Blizzard Entertainment is resuming its partnership with NetEase under its new owner Microsoft, marking a revival of a long running US-China video game pact that had an acrimonious break-up over a year

Microsoft’s Blizzard resumes NetEase partnership after bitter break-up

The move bolsters a promise Microsoft made last year, as its purchase of Activision Blizzard was being reviewed by antitrust regulators, to make Activision games available on other companies’ consoles for at least 15 years. At the time, regulators aiming to stop the deal argued that Microsoft could use Activision to strengthen Xbox’s market share by keeping Activision games exclusive.

https://memes.the.select/posts/microsoft-is-planning-to-bring-xbox-games-to-ps5-ps-qnkogdp

The move bolsters a promise Microsoft made last year, as its purchase of Activision Blizzard was being reviewed by antitrust regulators, to make Activision games available on other companies’ consoles for at least 15 years. At the time, regulators aiming to stop the deal argued that Microsoft could use Activision to strengthen Xbox’s market share by keeping Activision games exclusive.  https://memes.the.select/posts/microsoft-is-planning-to-bring-xbox-games-to-ps5-ps-qnkogdp

The move bolsters a promise Microsoft made last year, as its...

Jerome Cody

A group of likeminded people in The Most Important Thing are talking about this.