Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Next 100 Days: XBOX Reset
An internal message to Xbox employees outlines a 'reset' for the business, highlighting early successes in platform updates, Game Pass growth, and community engagement. The message also addresses significant challenges including declining revenue, a hardware component crisis impacting console production, an overextended studio system, and outdated platform infrastructure, emphasizing the need for strategic adjustments and innovation to become the number one gaming and entertainment company.
After a 'corporate mandate' demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took 'many mini miracles' to buy their independence from Activision
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, has successfully bought back its independence from Activision Blizzard. Studio head Paul Yan stated that a 'corporate mandate' to support Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 was not the right fit for the studio's identity. Following layoffs at Microsoft, Toys for Bob proposed a radical plan to spin out as a separate company, focusing on making the types of games they are best known for.
ESA says anti-deepfake act could 'devastate' video game industry
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has expressed strong opposition to SAG-AFTRA's proposed "No Fakes" act, arguing that its current wording creates significant legal uncertainty and could devastate the video game industry. ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis stated that the act's broad definition of "digital replica" could lead to frivolous lawsuits and that the cost of litigation would be economically devastating, despite the industry likely prevailing in court.
$80 Games Are Already Here
The video game market is already seeing $80 games, with Nintendo leading the charge on titles like Mario Kart World and upcoming Switch 2 releases. This trend is fueled by rising development costs and inflation, with analysts predicting more publishers will adopt higher price points. While some companies like Sony and Microsoft have maintained $70 prices, others like Take-Two Interactive have successfully implemented price hikes, suggesting $80 could become the new standard for AAA games.
There's never been an easier time to boycott Microsoft, the most boring video game publisher in the business
This opinion piece argues that Microsoft's gaming division lacks innovation and momentum, making it an easy target for boycotts. The author criticizes recent game announcements like Halo and Gears of War remakes, and highlights the company's perceived stagnation despite owning numerous studios and franchises. The article suggests that boycotting Microsoft is a small sacrifice given the company's broader business practices and the abundance of alternative games available.
Xbox CEO unsure whether Activision Blizzard merger is paying off
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma expressed uncertainty about whether Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been profitable, despite acknowledging the value of its franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush. The article notes that Microsoft has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs since the 2023 merger, impacting various studios and divisions, and that Xbox hardware sales have been in decline.
Nintendo Direct June 2026: Everything Announced!
Nintendo held a surprise Nintendo Direct presentation showcasing numerous upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The showcase included new releases, ports of existing games, and DLC announcements across various genres, with many titles slated for release in late 2026 and into 2027.
Gears Of War: E-Day PS5 promo refutes Microsoft's claims about Xbox exclusivity
An official Xbox podcast trailer for Gears Of War: E-Day briefly showed PlayStation 5 and Steam logos, contradicting Microsoft's claims of it being an Xbox exclusive. Despite Xbox's vice president of games marketing Aaron Greenberg denying a last-minute pivot, the inclusion of the PS5 logo suggests it was initially planned for the platform. This incident adds to confusion surrounding Microsoft's evolving exclusivity strategy for its first-party titles.
Xbox is rethinking Project Helix amid the AI chip cost crisis
Microsoft's Xbox is reconsidering its future hardware plans, including Project Helix, due to the rising costs of AI chips and component shortages. Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball indicated that the company is exploring changes to the console model to ensure affordability and flexibility, acknowledging the ongoing supply chain crisis which may last for several years. This strategic shift comes as Xbox faces pressure on hardware specs and pricing, with current Xbox Series X consoles now priced at $650 in the US.
Official Gears of War: E-Day video gets taken down for including a PS5 logo, adding more fuel to the last-minute change theory
A PlayStation 5 logo was mistakenly included in promotional material for Gears of War: E-Day, fueling speculation about a last-minute platform exclusivity change. Xbox marketing VP Aaron Greenberg clarified that the decision was made internally about a month prior and was not a last-minute change, with knowledge limited to a small group.
"Our business today is not healthy": Xbox exec says plan for exclusive games is "not ready" but…
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball stated that the company's current business is "not healthy" and a new plan for exclusive games is being developed under new CEO Asha Sharma. While some games like Gears of War: E-Day will be console exclusives, live-service titles will remain multi-platform, with a clearer strategy to be communicated to players soon.
Toys For Bob Discusses Flying Free In Spyro: A Realm Beyond
Toys for Bob, now an independent studio formerly part of Activision Blizzard and briefly Microsoft, has revealed Spyro: A Realm Beyond. Studio Head Paul Yan and Associate Creative Director Lou Studdert discussed the studio's independence and the game's emphasis on true player-controlled flight. The spark for the new game came during the development of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
Reaction: Mealy-Mouthed Microsoft Takes Us Back to 2023 with Mixed Messaging on Xbox Exclusivity
Microsoft's recent Xbox Showcase and subsequent statements from executives like Matt Booty have reintroduced ambiguity regarding game exclusivity. Despite promises of multiplatform releases for big multiplayer and live service titles, games like Gears of War: E-Day are now confirmed as Xbox console exclusives, leading to confusion and criticism about inconsistent messaging.
Xbox and Sony's games all looked the same this year. Here's why the PC Gaming Show won
The author argues that while major showcases from Xbox and Sony featured many anticipated titles, most triple-A games looked visually similar. In contrast, the PC Gaming Show highlighted innovative indie and double-A titles across various genres, demonstrating where true creativity in gaming currently lies.
Xbox will still release multiplatform games, but expect more full exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day
Xbox executives have clarified their exclusivity strategy, stating that while titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be Xbox console exclusives, this is not a universal rule. Live service and multiplayer-first games, along with titles already announced for PlayStation 5, will remain multiplatform. Other games will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
UK software sales chart for the week ending June 6, 2026 – Nintendo Switch 2 gives Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a big boost
The latest UK software sales chart for the week ending June 6, 2026, shows Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth re-entering the top ten at number four following its release on the Nintendo Switch 2. Other titles like Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World also charted within the top ten.
Xbox boss explains logic behind PS5 exclusivity and it makes no sense at all
Xbox boss Matt Booty attempted to clarify Microsoft's shifting strategy on game exclusivity, stating that major multiplayer and live service titles will remain multiplatform. However, the decision to make Gears Of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution Xbox console exclusives, while other titles like Senua and State Of Decay 3 will be multiplatform, has caused confusion. This 'case by case' approach, similar to past vague statements, raises questions about Xbox's long-term vision for its exclusive content.
There's suddenly a terrifying number of games releasing this fall
The fall release calendar for major video games has become unexpectedly crowded, with numerous high-profile titles scheduled to launch within an eight-week period. This surge in releases is seen as a strategy to avoid direct competition with the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. The article highlights a selection of these upcoming games, noting the challenge players will face in keeping up with the dense schedule.
Xbox's big pitch for the future sure involves a lot of going backwards
Xbox's recent showcase emphasized a return to familiar franchises and a focus on exclusivity, aiming to recapture a sense of nostalgia and differentiate itself from competitors like PlayStation. However, the article questions the long-term viability of this strategy given ongoing controversies and the evolving landscape of game development and distribution.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond Announced, Coming Spring 2027 to Game Pass — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Activision Blizzard and Toys for Bob have announced Spyro: A Realm Beyond, the first new mainline Spyro game since 2008, set for a Spring 2027 release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game will feature full flight mechanics and will be available on Game Pass from day one, with original voice actor Tom Kenny returning.
