Microsoft Hits Back at UK Regulator’s Decision to Block Activision Acquisition

Microsoft Hits Back at UK Regulator’s Decision to Block Activision Acquisition

Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said the UK regulator’s decision to prevent its acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard “had shaken confidence” in Britain as a destination for tech businesses. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently from government, blocked the deal on Wednesday, saying it could…

Activision Blizzard Accused of Spying on Employees, Threatening Them

Activision Blizzard Accused of Spying on Employees, Threatening Them

Activision Blizzard violated US labour law by illegally surveilling employees during a walkout and threatening to shut down internal chat channels as a union sought to organize its workers, a federal labour agency said on Friday. A National Labor Relations Board spokeswoman said that unless Activision settles, the agency will…

Microsoft’s Licensing Offer Said to Likely Satisfy EU on Activision Deal

Microsoft’s Licensing Offer Said to Likely Satisfy EU on Activision Deal

Microsoft’s offer of licensing deals to rivals is likely to address EU antitrust concerns over its $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,68,000 crore) acquisition of Activision, three people familiar with the matter said, helping it to clear a major hurdle. Microsoft announced the Activision bid in January last year, its biggest ever,…

Call of Duty Maker Activision Blizzard Accused of Firing Employees for Using Strong Language

Call of Duty Maker Activision Blizzard Accused of Firing Employees for Using Strong Language

Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard has been accused by a union of illegally firing two video game testers for using “strong language” in a protest of a new company policy that limits remote work. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) said it filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board…

Microsoft Seeks to Push Activision Deal at EU Hearing for Market Competition

Microsoft Seeks to Push Activision Deal at EU Hearing for Market Competition

Microsoft President Brad Smith on Tuesday will seek to convince EU antitrust regulators at a closed hearing that the US software giant’s $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,71,800 crore) bid for Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard will boost competition. Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives, including Microsoft Gaming Chief…

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Crossed $1 Billion in Sales Within 10 Days of Launch, Says Activision

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Crossed $1 Billion in Sales Within 10 Days of Launch, Says Activision

Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter adjusted sales on Monday, thanks to the success of the latest game in its Call of Duty franchise. A string of launches in October and November, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0, and World of Warcraft: Dragonflight…

Activision Blizzard Agrees to Pay $35 Million to Settle Workforce Allegations

Activision Blizzard Agrees to Pay $35 Million to Settle Workforce Allegations

Activision Blizzard has agreed to pay $35 million (nearly Rs. 290 crore) to settle allegations over the video game maker’s handling of workplace complaints and violations of whistleblower protection rules, US financial regulators said on Friday. The Securities and Exchange Commission said the company knew employee retention issues were “a particularly…

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan Met EU’s Antitrust Chief to Discuss Microsoft’s Activision Deal

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan Met EU’s Antitrust Chief to Discuss Microsoft’s Activision Deal

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 Activision Takeover: No ‘Substantive’ Settlement Talks With US FTC, Lawyer Says

Microsoft Activision Takeover: No ‘Substantive’ Settlement Talks With US FTC, Lawyer Says

There are no “substantive” settlement discussions under way between US President Joe Biden’s administration and Microsoft to resolve a legal dispute over the Xbox maker’s $69 billion (roughly Rs. 5,71,900 crore) bid for games maker Activision Blizzard, a Federal Trade Commission attorney said on Tuesday. The FTC, which enforces antitrust law, asked a…