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Topic: activision

Activision will use Modulate's ToxMod system to moderate hate speech. Gaming 

AI to be Utilized in ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ to Combat Toxic Voice Chats

Sanjay Patil, ,

Activision has announced a new partnership with Modulate, a technology company focused on identifying toxic speech and hatred, to enhance direct voice chat moderation in Call of Duty. This collaboration aims to minimize the negative aspects of online gaming, while still fostering enjoyment and teamwork among players worldwide. Modulate’s artificial intelligence system, ToxMod, attempts to identify threats such as hate speech, radicalization and self-harm in real time. It claims to work in three steps: triage, analyze and escalate. ToxMod listens to all audio conversations and scores that require further review.…

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The guest roster also includes Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg and others. Gaming 

Lara Croft Joins Call of Duty’s Battle Against War

Jim Hendler, , ,

The Call of Duty franchise is further embracing the trend set by Fortnite, as it reveals that the iconic character Lara Croft from Tomb Raider will be joining the roster of playable characters. Lara Croft will make her appearance in both Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare II, following the inclusion of real-life celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Kevin Durant, and several characters from the popular Prime Video series The Boys. Publisher Activision hasn’t released details on how you’ll get Lara Croft on your side, though you’ll…

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In the coming months, Microsoft Corp. hopes to complete its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard. (AP) News 

Revival of Microsoft-Activision Partnership

Adriana Marais,

Should Microsoft Corp. successfully finalize its purchase of Activision Blizzard in the upcoming months, the $69 billion agreement will be remembered as a remarkable turnaround tale within the realm of mergers. Last April, the biggest acquisition in the gaming industry seemed doomed. The takeover had been challenged by US regulators and blocked by their UK counterparts. But Microsoft revived the purchase earlier this summer, deploying a bluff that pitted US and UK regulators against each other. And on Tuesday, Britain agreed to open a new investigation into the deal, following…

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Microsoft said the deal makes for 'a substantially different transaction under UK law.' Gaming 

Microsoft to Acquire Ubisoft Streaming Rights for Activision Blizzard in Bid to Gain UK Approval

Adriana Marais, , ,

In a recent blog post, Microsoft announced a major revision to its proposed merger with Activision Blizzard. The company plans to sell the cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft, a rival company. This move aims to address the concerns raised by UK regulators, who previously blocked the deal due to Microsoft’s potential monopoly in cloud gaming. However, the approval for this revised proposal is not expected until October 18th. “As a result of the agreement with Ubisoft, Microsoft believes that its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard is…

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The sequel will debut with modernized versions of every original 'Modern Warfare 2' (2009) multiplayer map. Gaming 

‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ to Feature Largest Zombies Map in Series History

Sanjay Patil, ,

Activision has disclosed details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, providing further insights into the upcoming installment of the revamped series. Notably, enthusiasts of Call of Duty’s Zombies mode can anticipate an exciting experience. Activision guarantees the largest map ever seen in this mode, allowing players to join forces with other squads and confront “massive hordes” of zombies in their quest for survival. While Sledgehammer Games is leading the development of Modern Warfare III, a number of other Activision studios are lending a hand. Treyarch, one of the core…

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This is the first time Activision has let players carry unlockable CoD items between mainline games. Gaming 

Players Can Transfer ‘Modern Warfare II’ Gear to ‘Modern Warfare III’

Adriana Marais, ,

Activision is taking a unique approach with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, the latest installment in the highly popular military shooter franchise. Instead of starting anew and having to rebuild their arsenal and cosmetic items, players will now be able to retain almost all of their unlocked content from Modern Warfare II. This so-called Carry Forward initiative also applies to Call of Duty: Warzone, as the content is shared between the main games and the free-to-play battle royale. Warzone Mobile, due to arrive later this year, will also be…

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The latest entry in the rebooted series will arrive on November 10th. Gaming 

‘Modern Warfare III’ is the Latest Call of Duty Game

Adriana Marais, ,

As we approach the autumn season, it is evident that a new installment of the popular video game franchise, Call of Duty, is on its way. Activision has officially announced that this year’s release will be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, developed by Sledgehammer Games. Furthermore, the publisher has disclosed that the upcoming game, part of the rebooted series, will be available on PC and consoles, potentially including the Nintendo Switch, starting from November 10th. There aren’t many other confirmed details yet besides the teaser video. However, Activision recently…

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The game also brings back a noted D-O-Double G. Gaming 

‘Modern Warfare II’ welcomes back beloved canine companion in triumphant return

Adriana Marais, ,

Activision is reintroducing dogs, including one named Dogg, to Call of Duty. After ten years since the introduction of Riley, the loyal dog companion in Call of Duty: Ghosts, players can now bring Merlin, the adorable dog shown in the image above, to join them for both companionship and powerful finishing moves in season five (BlackCell) of CoD: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. According to Activision, Merlin the Dog is an optional companion in Multiplayer, Battle Royale, and DMZ modes. “[Merlin] offers an unmatched partner advantage as well as…

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Microsoft, which is seeking to wrap up its acquisition of gamemaker Activision Blizzard, urged the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to withdraw a case against the deal that the agency had brought before an internal FTC judge, according to a motion posted to the FTC's website on Wednesday. News 

Microsoft and Activision Call on US to Abandon Antitrust Case Prior to Ruling by Internal FTC Judge

Adriana Marais,

According to a motion posted on the FTC’s website on Wednesday, Microsoft, who is in the process of finalizing its acquisition of game-maker Activision Blizzard, has requested the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to drop the case against the deal that was filed by the agency before an internal FTC judge. Microsoft and Activision on Wednesday extended the deadline for closing their $69 billion deal by three months to Oct. 18, as the American companies scramble to secure British approval for the biggest gaming deal in history. In Washington, the FTC…

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Microsoft Corp is in talks about an extension of its acquisition contract with video game maker Activision Blizzard, which is set to expire on Tuesday, so the parties can overcome the remaining regulatory hurdles to their $69 billion deal, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday. News 

Microsoft Negotiating To Renew Agreement With Activision: Report

Adriana Marais,

On Monday, a reliable source revealed that Microsoft Corp is currently engaged in discussions regarding an extension of its acquisition agreement with video game manufacturer Activision Blizzard. The existing contract, valued at $69 billion, is set to expire on Tuesday. The purpose of this extension is to address any remaining regulatory obstacles that may hinder the completion of the deal. Termination of the agreement would not automatically result in the deal collapsing, as it simply gives either company the right not to do the deal. Nevertheless, Microsoft, which makes the…

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Microsoft urges appeals court to reject FTC's request to pause $69 billion Activision deal, citing litigation disagreement over impact on gamers News 

Microsoft Challenges FTC’s Request to Block Activision’s USD 69B Acquisition

Adriana Marais, , ,

On Friday, Microsoft strongly urged an appeals court to dismiss the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) plea to halt its $69 billion acquisition of Activision, using harsh language at times. Late Thursday, the agency asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to require the companies to delay the deal while the court examines the FTC’s broader appeal. Microsoft said Friday that the agency had been slow to file in federal court, and therefore it was inappropriate to push for a delay so late in the game. “The court should not…

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Microsoft Corp and Activision Blizzard are considering giving up some control of their cloudgaming business in the UK to appease regulators so they can complete their $69 billion merger. News 

UK Merger Could Require Microsoft and Activision to Divest Certain Cloud-Based Game Rights

Adriana Marais, ,

According to a report from Bloomberg News on Thursday, Microsoft Corp and Activision Blizzard are contemplating relinquishing a portion of their authority over their cloud-gaming enterprise in the UK. This move is aimed at satisfying regulators and facilitating the successful completion of their $69 billion merger. The deal, the largest in the history of the video games industry, was also struggling in Britain until this week. Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority, which opposed the deal, said on Wednesday that a restructuring between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard could satisfy its concerns,…

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The fight's not over yet. Gaming 

FTC Challenges Decision That Would Allow Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision to Progress

Adriana Marais, , , ,

The Federal Trade Commission is persisting in its efforts to block Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, valued at $68.7 billion. The agency has filed an appeal against Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley’s decision to reject their request for a temporary injunction to halt the completion of the deal. The FTC has sued to prevent the merger from happening on antitrust grounds. The administrative trial starts in August, but the deadline for the merger of the companies is July 18. The agency was concerned that Microsoft and Activision would close their…

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A ruling favorable to Microsoft was not a surprise after the company's lawyers had the upper hand in a 5-day San Francisco court hearing that ended late last month. (REUTERS) News 

Judge Approves Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 Billion

Adriana Marais,

Microsoft has secured a significant win as a federal judge rejects attempts to halt its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. Regulators argued that the deal would negatively impact competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in her ruling that the merger merited review and noted that it could be the largest in the history of the technology industry. But federal regulators couldn’t show how it would cause serious harm, and likely wouldn’t if they put it to a full test, he wrote. The Federal Trade Commission,…

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The companies may close the deal in the coming days, despite opposition from UK and US regulators. Gaming 

Judge Denies FTC’s Request to Block Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision

Adriana Marais, , ,

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley has denied the Federal Trade Commission’s plea for a preliminary injunction to halt Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. In the event that the injunction was granted, both Microsoft and Activision had expressed their intention to withdraw from the significant merger. “This court’s responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide whether the merger should be halted — perhaps even terminated — despite these current circumstances, pending resolution of the FTC’s administrative action,” Corley wrote in the decision. “For the reasons explained,…

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The announcement comes after Microsoft beat back the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction against the deal. Gaming 

Microsoft and UK Regulators Enter Talks to Resolve Dispute Over Activision Acquisition

Adriana Marais, , , ,

The Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard was denied by a US federal judge. However, Microsoft and the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have decided to pause their legal dispute and engage in negotiations to potentially reach a compromise that would enable the deal to proceed. “Following today’s court decision in the US, our focus now turns back to the UK. While we ultimately disagree with the CMA’s concerns, we are considering how the deal could be…

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Federal judge declines to block Microsoft's $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, stating that regulators failed to show serious harm to competition Gaming 

US Court Approves Microsoft-Activision USD 69 Billion Agreement

Adriana Marais, , ,

Microsoft has secured a significant win as a federal judge rejects attempts to halt its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. Regulators argued that the deal would negatively impact competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in her ruling that the merger merited review and noted that it could be the largest in the history of the technology industry. But federal regulators couldn’t show how it would cause serious harm, and likely wouldn’t if they put it to a full test, he wrote. The Federal Trade Commission,…

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Canada's Department of Justice has concluded that Microsoft's deal to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard "is likely to" lead to less competition in some aspects of gaming, according to a court filing on Thursday. News 

Canada Warns of Reduced Competition Following Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision

Adriana Marais,

According to a court filing on Thursday, the Department of Justice in Canada has determined that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the creator of “Call of Duty,” is expected to result in reduced competition in certain areas of the gaming industry. In a letter dated Wednesday to Microsoft’s U.S. lawyers, the department said it had informed lawyers for Microsoft and Activision in Canada that the deal would likely lead to less competition “in game consoles and multiplayer subscription services (as well as cloud gaming).” The letter was included in a…

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Only detected or suspected hackers can see and interact with these 'hallucinations.' Gaming 

Call of Duty Employs Clones of Real Players to Combat Cheaters

Jim Hendler, ,

Activision has implemented various strategies in its ongoing struggle against Call of Duty cheaters, ranging from obstructing their ability to spot targets to confiscating their weapons. The most recent action taken by the developers is among the initial measures aimed at countering Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 hackers who employ prohibited tools, such as wallhacks, to gain an unfair advantage by acquiring additional information. When Activision’s systems detect or suspect cheaters, a “hallucination” can be activated. These do not affect legitimate players at all and are designed to disrupt…

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As the Federal Trade Commission seeks in court to block the Activision merger, the agency pointed to the ZeniMax deal to poke holes in Microsoft’s assertion that the acquisition will be good for the industry and question its intention to make more games available on multiple platforms. (REUTERS) News 

Critics Criticize Microsoft’s Selection of Exclusive Video Games

Adriana Marais,

US officials are taking legal action to prevent Microsoft Corp. from acquiring Activision Blizzard Inc. for $69 billion, claiming that the tech company’s previous acquisitions indicate a desire to monopolize popular video games and exclude competitors. Microsoft routinely distributes its video games to multiple consoles, but with its 2020 purchase of gaming conglomerate ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion, the company put even more emphasis on exclusive top games. As the Federal Trade Commission seeks to block the Activision merger in court, the agency cited the ZeniMax deal to poke holes…

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