Microsoft Completes Activision Blizzard Acquisition Amidst Incentives and Layoffs
Microsoft has officially finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard after a lengthy regulatory review. This major deal comes as Microsoft offers incentives for Xbox pre-orders of Call of Duty. Recent news also includes layoffs at some Microsoft-owned studios.
Coverage across 3 outlets
Microsoft is bribing people to pre-order Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox instead of PS5
Microsoft is offering a £4 Xbox gift card for pre-ordering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox or PC, a move seen as an attempt to discourage PlayStation 5 pre-orders. This incentive comes after a disappointing reception to the game's beta and a public apology for the previous title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The article also touches on recent layoffs at Microsoft-owned studios like id Software.
Evening Tech Bits
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is mentioned in passing. The article also touches on Kevin O'Leary's scaled-back AI data center project in Utah and the growing interest in humanoid robots.
AI Yi-Yi!
Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a sovereign wealth fund for Artificial Intelligence companies, advocating for 50% public ownership of American AI firms. This initiative aims to ensure broader public benefit from the burgeoning AI industry.
Evening Legal Briefs
Microsoft has finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard after a four-year regulatory process. Separately, law enforcement announced a successful hack of a VPN service used by criminals, highlighting vulnerabilities in perceived online safety.
DNA building blocks on asteroid Ryugu, bacteria that eat plastic waste, and more science news
Recent scientific findings include the discovery of DNA building blocks on asteroid Ryugu, suggesting these molecules were widespread in the early solar system and potentially transported to Earth. Additionally, a consortium of bacteria has been identified that can collectively digest plastic additives, offering a potential solution for plastic pollution. The Hubble Space Telescope also captured a rare, early view of a comet breaking apart.