Mergers and Acquisitions
Ongoing coverage on Mergers and Acquisitions.
Latest coverage
DoorDash (DASH) is in advanced talks to acquire Instacart (CART)
DoorDash is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire grocery delivery company Instacart, with a deal potentially valued at $17 billion and announced as soon as Thursday. While Instacart shares rose on the news, DoorDash shares declined. This acquisition would represent a significant shift in the food and grocery delivery market, where DoorDash also competes with Uber Eats and GrubHub.
As Skydance merges with Warner Bros. and Paramount, the company offers voluntary redundancy and mandates return to the office
Skydance, the newly formed entity combining Warner Bros. and Paramount, has implemented a mandatory five-day return-to-office policy for all employees, citing the importance of in-person collaboration. The company has also offered voluntary buyouts as part of its integration process. This move follows similar return-to-office mandates from EA and voluntary buyout offers from Microsoft.
Skydance launches employee Voluntary Buyout Program following merger
Skydance has launched a voluntary buyout program for employees following its merger with Paramount and Warner Bros. The program offers financial and career support to staff who choose to leave, with rumors suggesting it precedes potential forced layoffs as the two companies integrate.
Microsoft offers 'voluntary exit' buyouts to 60,000 employees in US, UK & Canada
Microsoft has offered voluntary exit buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees across the US, UK, and Canada, providing financial support and career planning resources. This move follows recent layoffs within Xbox, which saw 3,200 employees affected and several studios closed.
Bioware Shut Down by EA With 400 More Jobs Cut
Electronic Arts is shutting down BioWare and cutting approximately 400 jobs as part of a cost-cutting measure, also canceling the next Mass Effect game. The company cited a need to align talent and investments for long-term growth, with the closure of BioWare potentially linked to recent financial pressures and past game performance.
EA closes Mass Effect, Dragon Age creator BioWare after 30 years of game development
Electronic Arts has announced the closure of BioWare, the acclaimed studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, after 30 years of development. The closure is accompanied by significant layoffs across EA, including 50 employees at BioWare working on a new Mass Effect title, which has now been canceled. This decision follows a recent acquisition of EA and a strategic review of the company's portfolio.
EA Kills BioWare, Cancels New Mass Effect, Pauses New Sims Game, And All The Other Big EA News That Just Happened
Electronic Arts has confirmed significant layoffs impacting approximately 400 employees and has canceled the next Mass Effect game, leading to the closure of the BioWare studio. Additionally, a new Sims game has been paused, and the Skate title is being scaled back. These changes follow EA's recent $55 billion leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with the company aiming to reduce costs and streamline development.
EA cancels new Mass Effect, closes BioWare after being bought by Saudi Arabia
Electronic Arts studio BioWare is closing down after 30 years, with early development on the next Mass Effect project also ending. The closure follows EA's acquisition by private investors led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, sparking concerns about layoffs and studio shutdowns.
Prospective Buyers Reportedly Value Xbox As High As $150 Billion
A new report suggests that private equity firms have considered purchasing Microsoft's Xbox division for as much as $150 billion. Despite these considerations, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has previously stated that Xbox is not for sale. The article also touches on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's comments about Xbox needing to improve its financial performance, which has led to layoffs and studio departures.
Evening Reading - October 20, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including updates for Cyberpunk 2077 and EVE Online, a potential delay for Umamusume: Pretty Derby due to immigration policies, and the announcement of a new Deadlock update. It also touches on financial news for Tesla, SpaceX, and Netflix, and mentions the potential for a 2027 Xbox handheld.
Elon Musk says there is a lot of merit to a merger of Tesla and SpaceX
Elon Musk, CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, has proposed the idea of merging the two companies, stating it would be a good idea if shareholders approve. Both companies have formed committees to discuss the potential merger, though Musk, as a conflicted party, is not involved in the discussions. SpaceX recently became a publicly traded company and reported strong quarterly earnings.
MMO Week in Review: Funcom’s folly
Funcom has confirmed significant layoffs and the stepping down of its CEO as part of a restructuring effort. The company will now focus on its existing titles, Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles. This news comes amidst a broader week of MMO updates, including RuneScape halting its Reignited plans and Enshrouded launching its 1.0 release.
What will happen to video games under Skydance?
The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery will significantly impact the video game industry, potentially leading to layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations. While studios like NetherRealm and Avalanche may be relatively safe due to successful IPs, Rocksteady faces uncertainty after the poor reception of Suicide Squad. The consolidation of major IPs under Skydance presents both creative opportunities and business challenges.
Games Inbox: What is the next FromSoftware game?
Readers discuss upcoming game releases like The Duskbloods and Phantom Blade Zero, express concerns about Activision's Call of Duty franchise, and praise the unique experience of Big Walk. There are also requests for PlayStation 3 repair services and commentary on EA's acquisition history and the impact of AI on game emulation.
Aream & Co: Games industry M&A generates $57.8 bn in Q3, including EA's $55bn leveraged buyout
Investment bank Aream & Co reported that the games industry saw 54 M&A transactions totaling $57.8 billion in Q3, including Electronic Arts' $55 billion buyout. Public market revenue increased significantly, while console segment revenue experienced its steepest drop in two years across all platforms.
Lego is combining Star Wars with Marvel for an all-new set, and you get to design it
Lego is launching 'Hope Assembles,' a new initiative that combines Star Wars and Marvel intellectual properties for the first time, allowing fans to design and vote on potential Lego sets. The challenge is split into vehicles, characters, or scenes, with submissions opening soon and winners announced next year. Actor and writer Kevin Smith announced the project at New York Comic Con, highlighting the creative spirit of the crossover.
Evening Reading - October 8, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Order of the Sinking Star and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, discussions on Phantom Blade Zero and Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC, and updates on Ultima IP rights. It also touches on Xbox's new film and TV division, Apple's upcoming event, a Cyberpunk 2077 movie in development, and Sony's AR/VR patent sales to Meta.
MMO Business Roundup: Xbox is ‘back to growth,’ Kotick is on the Skydance board, and Aion 2 misses projections
Xbox is reportedly returning to growth, according to Xbox boss Asha Sharma. Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of Skydance, the company formed from the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger. NCsoft's earnings forecast was lowered due to Aion 2's performance, while Necesse developer Fair Games was acquired by Fireshine Games. Additionally, Gardens Interactive, a studio founded by former Journey and Sky: Children of the Light developers, secured $35 million in Series B funding.
As it lays off developers and closes studios, Xbox gets into the movie business
Xbox has launched a new division called Xbox XP, focusing on film, television, merchandise, partnerships, and live experiences, headed by former Mojang president Kayleen Walters. This move comes as Xbox is undergoing significant layoffs and studio closures, drawing criticism for prioritizing expensive new ventures over game development staff.
Bobby Kotick returns: former Activision boss becomes board member of Skydance, the new company formed by Paramount and Warner Bros
Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of Skydance, a new entertainment company formed by the merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount. This move comes despite ongoing controversies surrounding Kotick's leadership at Activision, including allegations of a toxic company culture and knowledge of sexual misconduct. Skydance's CEO David Ellison praised Kotick's experience in building franchises, while the merger also combines the gaming divisions of Warner Bros. and Paramount.
