All articles tagged with #activision blizzard
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Eurogamer
Workers from Blizzard's Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble teams have voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, joining over 1900 other Activision Blizzard employees, with Microsoft reportedly recognizing the union, as part of a broader movement for workers' collective voice and solidarity in the industry.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by GamesIndustry.biz
Over 400 employees in Blizzard's Platform & Technology division voted to unionize under the CWA, joining other Blizzard divisions and reflecting a broader movement within the gaming industry to improve workplace standards and address issues like low pay and redundancies. Microsoft has recognized the union, and this development is part of ongoing efforts to change industry perceptions of game developers as disposable workers.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by aftermath.site
Workers at Blizzard's Battle.net platform have unionized under the CWA, forming two new unions for tech and support staff, just before the expiration of a neutrality agreement with Microsoft that facilitated union efforts during its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The unions aim to negotiate better policies on layoffs, return-to-office, and workplace treatment, with some unions having already ratified contracts. The future of unionization without the neutrality agreement remains uncertain.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by Eurogamer
The former FTC chair Lina Khan criticizes Microsoft's recent 50% price increase for Xbox Game Pass, linking it to the company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and market consolidation concerns, despite the FTC dropping its case against Microsoft earlier this year.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by Windows Central
Many Xbox fans are frustrated with the slow rollout of Activision, Bethesda, and Microsoft games on Xbox Game Pass, despite Microsoft's promises to bring the full Activision Blizzard library to the service. While some titles have been added, a large portion of the extensive back catalog remains unavailable due to legal, licensing, and strategic reasons, including concerns over cannibalization of sales and engagement. Microsoft appears cautious about flooding the platform with older titles to protect third-party developer interests and manage platform growth, which has been relatively stagnant.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by Eurogamer
Activision Blizzard's recently unionized SFD team, along with other departments, seeks better pay, AI regulation, layoff protections, and transparency amid industry instability and layoffs following Microsoft's acquisition. The unionization effort aims to secure stability, protect creative work, and improve working conditions in a rapidly changing industry, reflecting a broader trend of increased union activity driven by layoffs and industry frustrations.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by Eurogamer
Microsoft is reportedly planning significant job cuts across Xbox and its distribution in central Europe as part of a company-wide reorganization, with the layoffs expected to begin next week amid ongoing pressure to improve profit margins following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Insider Gaming
Actors involved in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies mode have reportedly quit due to insufficient AI protection in their contracts, leading to recasting issues. This comes amid ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes against game studios, including Activision Blizzard, over similar concerns. The strike began in July after failed negotiations for actor protections.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Time Extension
GOG has announced a new feature in its game preservation program, pledging to maintain compatibility for games even after they are delisted from its store. This comes as Activision Blizzard requested the removal of Warcraft I & II from GOG's storefront. GOG assures that existing owners will continue to receive updates and support for these games. The company emphasizes its commitment to game preservation and offers a discount code for purchasing the games before their removal.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Video Games Chronicle
Xbox Game Pass is teasing the addition of Spyro Reignited Trilogy to its subscription service, with the trilogy set to join on November 12. This follows Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which has already brought several titles to Game Pass, including Diablo 4 and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy, developed by Toys for Bob, includes remakes of the first three Spyro games and was initially released in 2018.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com
The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been the series' biggest ever, partly due to its debut on Microsoft's Game Pass, which has attracted returning and new players. This is the first Call of Duty title released on Game Pass since Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. The game has set new records for day-one players and new subscribers, with significant sales increases on PlayStation and Steam. The developers aim to keep players engaged with ongoing content updates and community feedback.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Eurogamer
Activision Blizzard has announced the multiplayer open beta dates for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, starting from 6th to 9th September for all players. Early access for pre-order customers and Game Pass subscribers begins a week earlier, from 30th August to 4th September. The game will feature new maps, modes, and the Omnimovement system, and launches on 24th October for multiple platforms, including day-one availability on Game Pass.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Variety
Xbox's Matt Booty discussed the highlights of the recent Xbox Games Showcase, which featured major announcements from Xbox's studios and third-party developers, including the reveal of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." Booty emphasized Xbox's commitment to delivering a steady stream of games and the impact of recent acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He also touched on the future of the "Fallout" franchise, the success of Xbox Game Pass, and the strategic decisions behind studio closures and game releases.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Video Games Chronicle
The upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 9 is expected to run for two hours and feature around 30 games, including several new titles. The event will include games from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard, with potential announcements for Gears of War 6, a new Doom game, and updates on Dragon Age.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by IGN
Microsoft has confirmed that Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will be available on all existing Xbox Game Pass tiers at launch, dispelling rumors of a new, more expensive tier for day-one titles. However, the company has not ruled out potential price increases for current Game Pass tiers. This move follows Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and aims to boost Game Pass subscriptions, despite concerns about cannibalizing game sales.