Blizzard renews NetEase partnership

(Reuters) -Apple Inc has renewed discussions with OpenAI about using the startup's generative AI technology to power some new features being introduced in the iPhone later this year, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

With Blizzard Entertainment having several major upcoming releases in the works, many had expected that the company would have a lot to say at BlizzCon later this year. Recently, however, it was announced that Blizzard had decided not to host the event in 2024. With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard having gone through last year, there were some who wondered if it was Blizzard’s new parent company that made the decision to not go ahead with a BlizzCon event this year, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

Apple Inc has renewed discussions with OpenAI about using the startup's generative AI technology to power some new features being introduced in the iPhone later this year, Bloomberg News reported.

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that has been canceled, although the company does have plans for future live events this year. While there won’t be an in-person or digital BlizzCon event for this year, Blizzard promises the event will return in future years, although it may have a different format.

Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings call with shareholders has revealed that its Activision Blizzard acquisition has bolstered the company's gaming division revenue for Q3, offsetting a number of otherwise negative returns. The Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition has endured a series of legal challenges across several countries, but it would seem the Xbox parent company's persistence has more than paid off.

Gamers worldwide have long wondered whether Microsoft’s historic acquisition of Activision Blizzard would lead to structural and organizational changes for the World of Warcraft developer. Now, six months after the acquisition’s finalization, a higher-up at World of Warcraft has revealed that the Xbox maker has “let Blizzard be Blizzard.”

For nearly two years, Microsoft's unprecedented $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard stayed in the news, mostly due to the Windows and Xbox company's battle with certain regulators (chiefly the US FTC and the UK CMA). That came to an end, even though the FTC is still trying to unmake the deal, on October 13, when Microsoft announced the closure of the acquisition.

Blizzard has spoken on the popular topic of whether its long-running multiplayer online RPG World of Warcraft might finally make its way to console platforms. The latest comments come from a leading member of the development team for the game, as the studio gears up to promote the latest World of Warcraft expansion.

officially acquired in October, closing a massive $68.7 billion deal. With the company now firmly integrated into Microsoft’s corporate structure, some might wonder how the software giant is influencing Blizzard. However, at least for now, it seems that Microsoft isn’t that interested in meddling with the developer’s affairs.

The vice president of World of Warcraft, Holly Longdale, has discussed what it is like being with Microsoft from a developer standpoint after an interview was shared with VGC. Especially after the official closing of $68.7 billion acquisition with Activision Blizzard which happened in October, there is a lot to be curious about.

Microsoft has “let Blizzard be Blizzard” following its acquisition of the studio last year.

Blizzard has said that it still has discussions a console version of World of Warcraft.