Nine amicus briefs have been filed in support of Microsoft's $68.7 billion merger with Activision Blizzard by a group including indie developers, venture capitalists, the CWA labor union, and former regulatory advisors.
25.08.2023 - 16:19 / gameranx.com / Stephen Totilo
When it comes to Call of Duty, the game franchise has been in the headlines quite a bit this year. But it didn’t have to do with any specific video game installment. Instead, the focus lately had been on the franchise as a whole. If you have been following the video game industry this year, you know that Microsoft has been pushing to get its hands on Activision Blizzard. The company was given a massive bid, and the only thing stopping this acquisition from going through was the regulators. Fortunately, we know Call of Duty won’t be leaving the PlayStation platform anytime soon, regardless if Microsoft gets the green light.
Right now, the battle to acquire this Activision Blizzard company remains awaiting a decision from the CMA. However, just recently, Sony opted to sign a contract deal with Microsoft finally. With so much concern over the future of Call of Duty titles, Microsoft started to make updrafts to ensure the franchise would remain on competitor platforms. The company stressed that they were not looking to make Call of Duty an Xbox exclusive. As a result, contracts were written up and signed by various competitor platforms like Valve with their Steam digital storefront on PC, along with even Nintendo.
Small detail that I may have just missed earlier, but Microsoft says the 10-year Call of Duty deal they signed with Sony in July was the deal they offered Sony last December. pic.twitter.com/CrkFukkY6f
These contracts would ensure that for at least ten years after the official purchase of Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty games would be available on their various platforms. The only company that opted out of signing these contracts was Sony. That finally changed with Sony agreeing to the deal. But today, we’re finding out, thanks to a tweet from Stephen Totilo, that the Call of Duty games could land on their various services like PlayStation Plus. That might be a big deal as it means you’ll find Call of Duty on both Xbox Game Pass and the Sony PlayStation Plus. There wouldn’t be any exclusive deals or limited releases either, so no particular platform is going to get a headstart with the latest Call of Duty games.
But again, this all comes down to the CMA giving Microsoft the official okay to purchase Activision Blizzard. Initially, this regulator shot the idea of Microsoft acquiring this company down. Now, it looks like they are opening up discussions once again. In other news, Call of Duty fans are getting ready for the next mainline installment. During Gamescom ONL, we got a better look into the gameplay of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. If you missed out on the official footage reveal, you can check it out right here.
Nine amicus briefs have been filed in support of Microsoft's $68.7 billion merger with Activision Blizzard by a group including indie developers, venture capitalists, the CWA labor union, and former regulatory advisors.
The FTC appealed their case vs Microsoft, which they lost in a rapid decision from District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. That appeal is being heard at the 9th appeals court, and it is in these unlikeliest of situations that indie devs made their defense of Game Pass.
A new PS5 update will allow players to assign a second controller as an assist.
Several game developers have called on their players to protest Unity's recently announced new pricing structure, under which developers who reach a certain threshold of revenue or game installations will be charged every time somebody installs their game. A few teams have also announced plans to dump Unity and move their projects to other game engines, such as Godot or Unreal.
This morning, Unity Technologies announced an update to its pricing plans and fees that sparked a bit of an outcry among developers. Unity says that, starting on January 1 of 2024, the company will introduce a new runtime fee based on game installs for any game that passes certain thresholds.
After finishing your first playthrough of Starfield, you can choose to leave your previous life behind and start anew with all the knowledge and experience you gained, but almost nothing else. Unlike other New Game Plus modes, here you start off at essentially zero with just a ship and your wits. No credits, no weapons, aid items, nothing. That makes the first few things you do even more important, as they will set the tone for the rest of your new playthrough. In this guide, we’ll discuss the five most valuable things to accomplish when you start NG+ in Starfield.
A FromSoftware staple is the New Game+ feature which allows you to experience their games all over again with the gear, upgrades, and levels you have earned in your first playthrough and this is no different in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Once you have unlocked your first ending, you will have the chance to battle the many threats on Rubicon again with a better master of your AC. This New Game+ mode isn’t just something that allows you to play the game again, however. This mode also has many exclusive items and even completely unique missions that players who want to fully experience the new mecha title will need to play. This guide will explain to players how the New Game+ mode works in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
Warning: Full Spoilers for Starfield follow
If you’ve somehow already completed the main story missions and seen the end of the story, you’ll be wanting to know if there’s a Starfield New Game Plus mode or not.
The third and final season of Ragnarok, Netflix's Norwegian teen fantasy drama, is one spot away from dethroning Who is Erin Carter? as the number one on the streaming charts.
Starfield is going to be packed to the brim with content. There are over 1,000 procedurally generated planets to explore in your customizable ship, various NPCs to interact with, and of course, a plethora of mysteries to uncover. If one gigantic space adventure isn’t enough, you may be wondering if Starfield has New Game Plus.
Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Publishing have released some more details about the upcoming space RTS Homeworld 3. The newest installment in the Homeworld series will feature a new roguelike-inspired multiplayer mode called War Games. Unveiled at GamesCom, the new mode creates a strategic co-op experience mixed with elements of roguelike gameplay.