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Senate advances the latest Kids Online Safety Act out of committee
The Senate has advanced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) out of committee, following the House's passage of its own version in June. This legislation aims to enhance online safety for minors.
King declines collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions
King, the developer of Candy Crush, has decided not to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer. The company stated that its existing benefits and operating structure are better suited for its employees and operations in Sweden. This decision follows nearly a year of negotiations and comes despite employee interest in the security and influence a CBA could provide.
We May Already Know One Major Diablo 4 BlizzCon Announcement
A Nintendo Switch 2 version of Diablo 4 is reportedly planned for release around September 15 or 18, with a $70 price point. This port is expected to be officially announced at BlizzCon in September, alongside other Diablo-related news. Blizzard has previously released Diablo 3 and Diablo 2: Resurrected on Nintendo platforms.
Saudi-acquired EA is reportedly planning to make massive cuts after taking $18 billion of debt, and we all know what…
Electronic Arts has officially gone private under the ownership of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This transition involves taking on $18 billion in debt, leading to a reported $700 million in annual cost-cutting measures, which are expected to result in significant layoffs across the company.
Mass layoffs expected at EA as the now-private publisher reportedly tells its new debt masters that it's going to…
Following its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, Electronic Arts is reportedly planning mass layoffs to manage significant debt. The publisher has informed debt investors of plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in organizational efficiencies, to service approximately $1.8 billion in annual interest payments.
EA is now a private company, with stakeholders that include Saudi's PIF and Affinity Partners
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company following a $55 billion buyout, with stakeholders including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners. This deal, the second largest in gaming history, has raised concerns regarding human rights and LGBTQ+ issues due to the nature of some investors. The future of EA's franchises and potential company restructuring remain uncertain.
EA har nu sålts till bland annat saudiarabiska Public Investment Fund
Electronic Arts has been acquired by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners, making it a privately held company. The Public Investment Fund is the largest stakeholder, acquiring 93.4% of the company for $55 billion. This acquisition follows Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard.
EA Has Officially Been Sold, And What Comes Next Could Be Painful
Electronic Arts has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in a $55 billion leveraged buyout, making it the largest LBO in history. The deal has raised concerns about potential layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations due to the significant debt involved. EA CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his position, but the company's future financial operations will be less transparent as it moves from public to private ownership.
Xbox 360 games are coming to PC and Project Helix reveals leaked document
A leaked document suggests Microsoft is planning to bring Xbox 360 games to PC and other next-generation devices through emulation, with a gradual rollout expected by 2027. The company is also reportedly working on a disc-to-digital service to allow players to obtain digital licenses for their physical games, potentially supporting a move away from physical media.
Game Crossovers and Collaborations
Xbox will continue to support Steam while also strengthening its PC ecosystem through the Xbox App and Battle.net integration. Separately, Amazon is developing a 'Warhammer 40,000' animated series.
Xbox Won’t Leave Steam Leading Up to Project Helix Launch – Rumor
A rumor suggests Xbox will not remove its games from Steam before the launch of Project Helix, with sources indicating no immediate plans to leave the platform. Xbox is heavily investing in PC gaming, with Game Pass targeting a different audience than Steam users. Microsoft may also open the Battle.net launcher to third-party developers following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Xbox to double down on its 'strongest franchises' as boss sets crazy new goals
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has outlined ambitious goals to reverse the brand's fortunes by fiscal year 2027, focusing on strengthening major franchises like Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Halo, and prioritizing 'biggest new ideas'. The plan includes improving profits and player growth, with a long-term ambition to entertain half a billion people daily by 2030. This strategy shift emphasizes console revenue and established IPs, potentially at the expense of newer or less established titles.
Xbox is (probably) not for sale | Opinion
Despite recent financial struggles and layoffs, Microsoft is unlikely to sell or spin off its Xbox division. The article argues that the financial impact of Xbox on Microsoft's overall business is minimal, making it not a significant drag. Furthermore, finding a suitable buyer with the necessary capital and without regulatory issues is highly improbable, suggesting Xbox will remain part of Microsoft in the foreseeable future.
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts will happen next week
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is set to complete its $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts next week, with all regulatory approvals secured. This acquisition, which will take EA private, has raised concerns among content creators and former employees regarding potential shifts in game content and the company's values. The deal, the largest leveraged buyout in history, will saddle EA with significant debt, potentially leading to cost-cutting measures focused on its most profitable franchises like Battlefield and EA Sports FC.
Xbox Was Microsoft’s Biggest Weak Spot Last Quarter
Microsoft's gaming division, primarily Xbox, experienced a significant revenue decrease of $1.7 billion last quarter, despite overall company profits rising. This decline is attributed to lower sales of Xbox hardware, services, and content, with hardware revenue dropping by 29%. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the business did not grow with its audience and aims for growth by the end of FY27, while CEO Satya Nadella expressed confidence in Xbox's IP and studios to drive future revenue increases.
Xbox hardware revenue fell by $1.7 billion during fiscal 2026
Xbox hardware revenue saw a significant decrease of 7%, approximately $1.7 billion, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This decline is attributed to reduced console sales and a 5% drop in Xbox content and services revenue, despite growth in Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft also faces ongoing challenges with component shortages and has implemented mass layoffs across its gaming division.
Xbox revenue plunges $1.7bn, with hardware dropping 29% YoY
Microsoft's latest financial results reveal a significant 7% year-on-year decline in Xbox revenue for the full year and 10% in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by a 29% drop in hardware sales. Despite growth in Game Pass, content and services revenue also fell by 10%. The company announced widespread layoffs affecting 4,800 roles, including 1,600 at Xbox, as part of a restructuring aimed at long-term growth, with several studios transitioning to new management or becoming independent.
“Necessary Decisions” Are Being Made to Reset Xbox for Long-Term Growth, Says Microsoft CEO
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that "necessary decisions" are being made to reset Xbox for long-term growth, citing a 10 percent revenue decline in the last quarter. The company plans to diversify its business across subscriptions, ads, and digital stores, and expand to new ecosystems. This strategy follows recent layoffs and the divestment of four studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.
EA Handed Its CEO $38.6 Million In The Same Year It Cut Battlefield 6 Staff
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson received $38.6 million in compensation during the same fiscal year the company conducted layoffs across its Battlefield development teams. Despite the cuts, EA reported a record net revenue of $7.531 billion, driven by the successful launch of the Battlefield franchise, which reportedly outsold a Call of Duty title released in the same year.
Microsoft (MSFT) Q4 FY26 earnings results beat revenue and EPS expectations
Microsoft exceeded revenue and earnings per share expectations for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2026, reporting $90.0 billion USD in revenue and $4.81 per share. The company highlighted significant growth in its cloud division, with Azure revenue surpassing $100 billion and Microsoft 365 Copilot reaching over 30 million paid seats, driven by AI investments. Despite these successes, the personal computing division, including Windows and Xbox content and services, saw a decline.
