Game on for Xbox
No more hurdles for Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard
It’s game on for the US$69B acquisition of gaming firm Activision Blizzard — over a year since the announcement — after Microsoft won in court against the Federal Trade Commission over antitrust concerns. In response, Sony has signed a deal with Microsoft to keep Call of Duty, one of the most popular gaming franchise, on the PlayStation platform for ten years. Microsoft has also signed a similar deal with Nintendo to make Call of Duty available for the Switch.
The acquisition will be the largest deal in the gaming business. Besides Call of Duty, Activision Blizzard also has some of the biggest names in gaming, including Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush. And it will instantly make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world, behind Tencent and Sony.
While Call of Duty games will not be Xbox exclusives for now, there’s no such guarantee for other Activision Blizzard games. In fact, critics can point to the upcoming Xbox exclusive Starfield by Bethesda, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2021. But one thing is for sure: Gamers will now have more reasons to consider Microsoft’s Netflix-like Xbox Game Pass service. It’s a shot in the arm for the Xbox Series X|S console, which has been struggling against the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
ICYMI: We checked out Dyson’s latest stick vacuum, Samsung’s latest QD-OLED TV, and Torras’ wearable neck airconditioner.
The Dyson V12s Detect Slim upgrades its 2021 predecessor with a stronger laser in its cleaning brush head. A new wet cleaning module also makes it easy to mop up spills. Performance and battery life are similar to the previous model, so V12 owners probably don’t need to get this.
With a new 77-inch screen size, the introduction of the One Connect box (with all the ports and connectors), and a second-gen QD-OLED screen that’s up to 30% brighter than last year’s version, the Samsung S95C makes a strong case to be on our shortlist of OLED TVs to get this year.
Stay cool for longer with the new Torras Coolify 2S. This portable neck airconditioner now offers up to 3.5 hours of runtime, or around twice as long as the previous model. It can also heat up to keep you warm, if you’re experiencing colder weather.