Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard business and news from across the web.
This week in PC games: sci-fi shooter Pragmata, 2.5D platformer Replaced, and the most wishlisted game on Steam compete with illuminated manuscriptsThis week in PC games features a variety of upcoming titles including the sci-fi shooter Pragmata and the 2.5D platformer Replaced. Other notable releases and demos include the survival game Oceaneers, the espionage RPG Moves of the Diamond Hand, and the pirate-themed Windrose. The article also highlights unique management games like Sintopia and Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts.
Gaming Community Divided Over Xbox and Activision Job CutsThe gaming community is divided over recent layoffs at Xbox and Activision, sparking debates about industry awareness versus personal engagement with games. This discourse highlights a growing tension between viewing games as corporate products and appreciating the human effort behind them, especially in the context of industry consolidation.
Former Bethesda Executive Says Studio Isn’t Part of Anything “Authentic”, “Genuine” AnymoreFormer Bethesda executive Pete Hines stated that under Microsoft's ownership, the studio has lost its sense of authenticity and genuineness. Hines expressed feeling powerless to properly manage Bethesda and protect its development culture after the acquisition. He also mentioned internal complaints about Call of Duty remaining multiplatform while Bethesda's games became Xbox console exclusives, though Microsoft has since shifted away from strict exclusivity.
New God of War Could be Revealed at Reported April State of Play Showcase – RumorIndustry insider Tom Henderson suggests that a new mainline God of War game could be revealed soon, potentially at an unconfirmed April State of Play showcase. While the showcase is rumored to focus on third-party titles, Henderson also heard separately that a God of War announcement was imminent. There are also ongoing rumors about Insomniac Games announcing something in Spring, possibly related to Marvel's Wolverine.
Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW caseActivision Blizzard has won a copyright infringement lawsuit against the fan-operated private server network Turtle WoW. The District Court of California ruled in favor of Blizzard, ordering an immediate cease and desist for Turtle WoW and any successor projects. While a settlement has been reached, the ruling effectively signals the end for the third-party server group.- Imminent removal of CoD from Game Pass will show ‘cracks’ in Microsoft’s gaming strategy, leaker suggestsLeaker Jez Corden suggests that the potential removal of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass' Day One program could expose weaknesses in Microsoft's gaming strategy. Such a move might be intended to boost game sales by encouraging players to purchase titles at full price, though it could impact the perceived value of higher Game Pass tiers.
Microsoft Might Be Considering Removing Call Of Duty From Game PassIndustry insider Jez Corden suggests Microsoft is considering removing Call of Duty from Game Pass due to internal revenue calculations and potential negative impacts on both the subscription service's economics and the franchise's own sales model. This potential move comes despite Call of Duty being a key factor in Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
'I Saw How It Was Getting Damaged': Ex-Bethesda Exec Goes to Town on Xbox's MistreatmentFormer Bethesda executive Pete Hines has criticized Microsoft's management of the studio following its acquisition, stating that he witnessed the company being "damaged and broken apart and frankly mistreated." Hines, who left Bethesda in 2023 after a 24-year tenure, expressed disappointment that he was unable to protect the studio's efficient operations and authentic culture under Microsoft's ownership.
Ex-Overwatch Director Says Tracer's Butt Was Never "Nerfed"Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan stated that Tracer's butt was never 'nerfed' in the game, despite a controversy over a victory pose shortly after the original Overwatch's debut. Kaplan also discussed his departure from Activision Blizzard and shared his views on players criticizing games they haven't played.
PS6 Won’t Cost $1,000, Will Likely Cost Between $600 and $800 – RumorA rumor suggests Sony's PlayStation 6 console will likely be priced between $600 and $800, avoiding the $1,000 mark. Manufacturing cost estimates for various PS6 models, including a potential handheld and a lower-powered 'PS6S', place the main console's BOM around $743. These estimates are influenced by component costs and potential import tariffs, with the final retail price expected to be significantly higher than the manufacturing cost.
Triple-I Initiative Showcase 2026: Castlevania, Dead As Disco, And Every Game ShownThe Triple-I Initiative Showcase featured 40 game announcements, including world premieres and DLC for existing titles. Highlights included new looks at Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Dead as Disco, and Windrose, alongside reveals for games like Final Sentence and Crop. Several titles announced release dates or entered early access, with many coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Reviving Legacy Gaming Rigs for Mod-Heavy Classics and Community ServersEnthusiasts are reviving older PC hardware to play modded classic games and connect to community-run servers. This trend prioritizes stability and compatibility with older operating systems and fan-made patches over high-end specifications. The focus is on maintaining legacy gaming rigs for a dedicated subculture that organizes events and shares curated mod packs.
Next PlayStation State of Play Set for the Coming Weeks, It's ClaimedSony is reportedly planning to host its next State of Play livestream within the next seven weeks, likely before June. This event is expected to showcase upcoming PlayStation titles, potentially including Marvel's Wolverine, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Marvel Tokon, alongside third-party announcements.- Overwatch releases redesign of Anran for Season 2Activision Blizzard has released a redesign for the character Anran in Overwatch, responding to player critiques about her previous design. The developers aimed to strengthen her overall presence in the game.
UK software sales chart for the week ending April 4, 2026 – Mario Kart World still putting in workThe UK software sales chart for the week ending April 4, 2026, shows Mario Kart World remaining a top performer, holding the second position. Resident Evil Requiem moved up to first place, while Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 saw a significant jump in sales.- PS6 Won’t be Delayed Past 2027 or AMD Wouldn’t Waste Time Validating Chips – RumorRumors suggest Sony and Microsoft are targeting a 2027 launch for their next-generation consoles, with AMD reportedly validating chips for the PlayStation 6. Industry insider KeplerL2 indicated that AMD's investment in validation work points to a commitment to this timeframe, despite potential memory shortages. Updates to the PlayStation 5's SDK also suggest a new console is not far off, with potential for a handheld variant.
- Sunday Legal BriefsTech companies are reportedly attempting to weaken Colorado's new right-to-repair law. This legislation aims to give consumers and independent repair shops greater access to parts, tools, and diagnostic information for electronic devices.
- Halo director alleges he experienced ‘multiple harassment campaigns’ and ‘blacklisting, fraud, rampant favoritism’ at Halo StudiosFormer 343 Industries art director Glenn Israel has accused Microsoft and Halo Studios executives of orchestrating "multiple harassment campaigns," blacklisting, fraud, and rampant favoritism. Israel alleges that these actions were designed to create grounds for the termination of employees, and that HR departments failed to act. He also claims Microsoft uses layoffs to remove employees who have filed complaints.
- Jason Blundell announces his new-new studio, Magic FractalJason Blundell, formerly of Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has announced the formation of his new studio, Magic Fractal Studios. This marks Blundell's third studio since leaving Activision in 2020, following the closures of Deviation Games and Dark Outlaw Games. Little is known about Magic Fractal's projects, but it is confirmed not to be a live-service game.
Reddit posts can be more important than data, and other lessons from maintaining Candy Crush as a forever gameEva Ryott, King's head of live operations, discusses maintaining Candy Crush Saga as a 'forever game' by focusing on player needs and leveraging AI for content creation and workflow support. She highlights the importance of combining data-driven insights with innovation and listening to player feedback, even from platforms like Reddit, to keep the long-running mobile title engaging.