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Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard
- Thread starter Belegarsson
- Start date
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Microsoft Has Started Asking Devs Why They're Skipping Xbox
In 2024, when a new game is announced, you can usually count on it to be released on PC, PlayStation, and possibly Switch. But it’s become a bit less of a guarantee that new games or ports will land on Xbox consoles, and it seems Microsoft is aware of this and is asking devs why.
Last month, Enotria: The Last Song launched on PS5 and PC...but not Xbox. The devs explained that this was because Xbox had stopped communicating with them. Xbox boss Phil Spencer later reached out to the team and Enotria is now planned to arrive on Xbox in the future, but it’s just the latest example of games skipping Microsoft’s console. And Xbox wants to find out why and what they can do to fix the situation.
On September 30, Microsoft posted a developer-focused blog about how the company is directly reaching out to developers and studios to help “enhance the experience” of making games on Xbox. And interestingly, Xbox wants to hear from all devs, even those not working on Xbox games.
“If you are making video games, we’re interested in hearing from you,” said Dr. Deborah Hendersen, a principal user researcher for Xbox. “If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!”
Xbox claims this strategy will allow it to “gain fresh perspectives and avoid becoming an ‘echo chamber.’”
“It’s a bit like testing players who play games like yours—they are your target audience and you want to hear fresh perspectives because their expectations may differ from folks who are deep in your community,” said Dr. Hendersen.
While I think many devs and creators would applaud Microsoft for openly asking for feedback from everyone, even those only developing PS5 games, it does seem odd that Xbox is openly asking devs, “Hey, why don’t you make games for our consoles?” Though the reasons are pretty obvious.
Between a lack of communication, Game Pass potentially training Xbox players to not buy games, and low hardware sales, there’s plenty of reason to avoid Xbox and focus on Switch and PS4 or PS5. It also doesn’t help that devs have signaled that the weaker Xbox Series S might be holding back some games, something we saw with Baldur’s Gate 3. This is a problem because Xbox requires games to be released on both Series S and the more powerful Series X. We even have reports that some publishers have questioned why they should keep releasing games on Xbox due to poor sales.
So while I’m sure some are happy Xbox is reaching out to devs for feedback, it seems like a bad situation that Xbox should have worked to avoid in the first place.
In 2024, when a new game is announced, you can usually count on it to be released on PC, PlayStation, and possibly Switch. But it’s become a bit less of a guarantee that new games or ports will land on Xbox consoles, and it seems Microsoft is aware of this and is asking devs why.
Last month, Enotria: The Last Song launched on PS5 and PC...but not Xbox. The devs explained that this was because Xbox had stopped communicating with them. Xbox boss Phil Spencer later reached out to the team and Enotria is now planned to arrive on Xbox in the future, but it’s just the latest example of games skipping Microsoft’s console. And Xbox wants to find out why and what they can do to fix the situation.
On September 30, Microsoft posted a developer-focused blog about how the company is directly reaching out to developers and studios to help “enhance the experience” of making games on Xbox. And interestingly, Xbox wants to hear from all devs, even those not working on Xbox games.
“If you are making video games, we’re interested in hearing from you,” said Dr. Deborah Hendersen, a principal user researcher for Xbox. “If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!”
Xbox claims this strategy will allow it to “gain fresh perspectives and avoid becoming an ‘echo chamber.’”
“It’s a bit like testing players who play games like yours—they are your target audience and you want to hear fresh perspectives because their expectations may differ from folks who are deep in your community,” said Dr. Hendersen.
While I think many devs and creators would applaud Microsoft for openly asking for feedback from everyone, even those only developing PS5 games, it does seem odd that Xbox is openly asking devs, “Hey, why don’t you make games for our consoles?” Though the reasons are pretty obvious.
Between a lack of communication, Game Pass potentially training Xbox players to not buy games, and low hardware sales, there’s plenty of reason to avoid Xbox and focus on Switch and PS4 or PS5. It also doesn’t help that devs have signaled that the weaker Xbox Series S might be holding back some games, something we saw with Baldur’s Gate 3. This is a problem because Xbox requires games to be released on both Series S and the more powerful Series X. We even have reports that some publishers have questioned why they should keep releasing games on Xbox due to poor sales.
So while I’m sure some are happy Xbox is reaching out to devs for feedback, it seems like a bad situation that Xbox should have worked to avoid in the first place.
Cael
Arcane
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2017
- Messages
- 22,449
Microshite not being an arrogant cunt is an impossibility. It is bred into it, starting from Gates downwards.Microsoft Has Started Asking Devs Why They're Skipping Xbox
In 2024, when a new game is announced, you can usually count on it to be released on PC, PlayStation, and possibly Switch. But it’s become a bit less of a guarantee that new games or ports will land on Xbox consoles, and it seems Microsoft is aware of this and is asking devs why.
Last month, Enotria: The Last Song launched on PS5 and PC...but not Xbox. The devs explained that this was because Xbox had stopped communicating with them. Xbox boss Phil Spencer later reached out to the team and Enotria is now planned to arrive on Xbox in the future, but it’s just the latest example of games skipping Microsoft’s console. And Xbox wants to find out why and what they can do to fix the situation.
On September 30, Microsoft posted a developer-focused blog about how the company is directly reaching out to developers and studios to help “enhance the experience” of making games on Xbox. And interestingly, Xbox wants to hear from all devs, even those not working on Xbox games.
“If you are making video games, we’re interested in hearing from you,” said Dr. Deborah Hendersen, a principal user researcher for Xbox. “If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!”
Xbox claims this strategy will allow it to “gain fresh perspectives and avoid becoming an ‘echo chamber.’”
“It’s a bit like testing players who play games like yours—they are your target audience and you want to hear fresh perspectives because their expectations may differ from folks who are deep in your community,” said Dr. Hendersen.
While I think many devs and creators would applaud Microsoft for openly asking for feedback from everyone, even those only developing PS5 games, it does seem odd that Xbox is openly asking devs, “Hey, why don’t you make games for our consoles?” Though the reasons are pretty obvious.
Between a lack of communication, Game Pass potentially training Xbox players to not buy games, and low hardware sales, there’s plenty of reason to avoid Xbox and focus on Switch and PS4 or PS5. It also doesn’t help that devs have signaled that the weaker Xbox Series S might be holding back some games, something we saw with Baldur’s Gate 3. This is a problem because Xbox requires games to be released on both Series S and the more powerful Series X. We even have reports that some publishers have questioned why they should keep releasing games on Xbox due to poor sales.
So while I’m sure some are happy Xbox is reaching out to devs for feedback, it seems like a bad situation that Xbox should have worked to avoid in the first place.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Activision Releases Report on Results of AI-Powered Anti-Toxicity Efforts
[Emphasis added]
Call of Duty creator Activision released a new report showing the results of its AI-powered anti-toxicity efforts.
Activision completed the research paper in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). It provides a glimpse at the effectiveness of the publisher's anti-toxicity moderation efforts. The studio introduced these in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
This comes as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is just two weeks away from launch. Activision's Disruptive Behavior team released a new blog post that details how their moderation efforts would translate to the newest entry in the series.
The report also comes as online competitive gameplay often comes with trash talk. However, the majority of Call of Duty players have most likely experienced some form of trash talk that quickly turned into pure toxicity at least once in their gaming sessions, according to WindowsCentral.
The franchise has such a rampant history of toxicity that it has almost become a meme on the internet. Some people even argue that you would not survive a Call of Duty lobby when discussions about hate speech, sexism, or general toxicity are brought up.
Based on the results of Activision's internal research, this toxicity has had negative effects on both the game and across additional platforms. They seemingly normalize hate speech, racism, and sexism.
The studio has been using ToxMod from Modulate which uses artificial intelligence to identify in real-time and enforce against toxic speech. These include hate speech, discriminatory language, and harassment, IGN said.
Activision insisted that voice chat is only monitored and recorded "for the express purpose of moderation."
The statement was made to address concerns from the Call of Duty community. It added that it is focused on detecting harm within voice chat versus specific keywords.
In a fresh progress update, the company said that the Disruptive Behavior team knows that hype and passion are part of the Call of Duty franchise. It added that voice and text-based moderation tools in Call of Duty do not target their competitive spirit.
The company said that the AI-powered anti-toxicity efforts resulted in a 43% drop in voice toxicity among English, Spanish, and Portuguese speakers in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
Activision also plans to implement the same technology in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on day one when it releases on Oct. 25, 2024.
The game would also expand voice moderation support to French and German on top of the previously mentioned languages, according to Blizzard News.
[Emphasis added]
Call of Duty creator Activision released a new report showing the results of its AI-powered anti-toxicity efforts.
Activision completed the research paper in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). It provides a glimpse at the effectiveness of the publisher's anti-toxicity moderation efforts. The studio introduced these in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
This comes as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is just two weeks away from launch. Activision's Disruptive Behavior team released a new blog post that details how their moderation efforts would translate to the newest entry in the series.
The report also comes as online competitive gameplay often comes with trash talk. However, the majority of Call of Duty players have most likely experienced some form of trash talk that quickly turned into pure toxicity at least once in their gaming sessions, according to WindowsCentral.
The franchise has such a rampant history of toxicity that it has almost become a meme on the internet. Some people even argue that you would not survive a Call of Duty lobby when discussions about hate speech, sexism, or general toxicity are brought up.
Based on the results of Activision's internal research, this toxicity has had negative effects on both the game and across additional platforms. They seemingly normalize hate speech, racism, and sexism.
The studio has been using ToxMod from Modulate which uses artificial intelligence to identify in real-time and enforce against toxic speech. These include hate speech, discriminatory language, and harassment, IGN said.
Activision insisted that voice chat is only monitored and recorded "for the express purpose of moderation."
The statement was made to address concerns from the Call of Duty community. It added that it is focused on detecting harm within voice chat versus specific keywords.
In a fresh progress update, the company said that the Disruptive Behavior team knows that hype and passion are part of the Call of Duty franchise. It added that voice and text-based moderation tools in Call of Duty do not target their competitive spirit.
The company said that the AI-powered anti-toxicity efforts resulted in a 43% drop in voice toxicity among English, Spanish, and Portuguese speakers in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
Activision also plans to implement the same technology in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on day one when it releases on Oct. 25, 2024.
The game would also expand voice moderation support to French and German on top of the previously mentioned languages, according to Blizzard News.
"AI-powered"
The catch-phrase for every problem and every retard these days.
The catch-phrase for every problem and every retard these days.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Microsoft 'resolves' class-action antitrust lawsuit against Activision-Blizzard merger
[Emphasis added]
One of the last lawsuits opposing Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has been dismissed. The case in question, Dante DeMartini et al v. Microsoft, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 3:22-cv-08991-JSC, also referred to as the "gamer's lawsuit" by media, alleged that Microsoft's buyout of Activision Blizzard showed signs of breaking antitrust law. A group of private citizens banded together to sue to challenge the merger, seeking an enjoining ruling that would prevent the two groups from merging.
The case has been dismissed with prejudice by the courts, meaning that the same complaints cannot be refiled. It's believed that Microsoft has settled the lawsuit with the plaintiffs, but exact details remain unclear.
"The parties have resolved the litigation," Microsoft told AP News.
The document filing reads:
"Pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiffs and Defendant, by and through their undersigned counsel, stipulate and agree to the dismissal with prejudice of the Amended Complaint and Plaintiffs' claims in this action. Each party shall bear their own costs and fees."
...
The Federal Trade Commission's ongoing administrative lawsuit currently remains the sole opposition to the Microsoft-Activision merger.
[Emphasis added]
One of the last lawsuits opposing Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has been dismissed. The case in question, Dante DeMartini et al v. Microsoft, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 3:22-cv-08991-JSC, also referred to as the "gamer's lawsuit" by media, alleged that Microsoft's buyout of Activision Blizzard showed signs of breaking antitrust law. A group of private citizens banded together to sue to challenge the merger, seeking an enjoining ruling that would prevent the two groups from merging.
The case has been dismissed with prejudice by the courts, meaning that the same complaints cannot be refiled. It's believed that Microsoft has settled the lawsuit with the plaintiffs, but exact details remain unclear.
"The parties have resolved the litigation," Microsoft told AP News.
The document filing reads:
"Pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiffs and Defendant, by and through their undersigned counsel, stipulate and agree to the dismissal with prejudice of the Amended Complaint and Plaintiffs' claims in this action. Each party shall bear their own costs and fees."
...
The Federal Trade Commission's ongoing administrative lawsuit currently remains the sole opposition to the Microsoft-Activision merger.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Activision Says It Wants to Catch and Remove Call of Duty Cheaters Within 1 Hour of Them Being in Their First Match
[Emphasis added]
Ahead of the launch of Black Ops 6, Activision has said it’s using AI in its ongoing battle against Call of Duty cheaters, and hopes to kick cheaters out of the game within one hour of them being in their first match.
Call of Duty has had a cheating problem for years, with free-to-download battle royale Warzone on PC suffering in particular. Activision has spent millions of dollars developing its anti-cheat technology as well as pursuing cheat makers in the courts, with a number of recent high-profile successes stemming the tide.
But video game publishers face an uphill battle in the war against the increasingly sophisticated cheat makers, so Activision has announced plans to draft in AI to help.
“Fighting cheats today – on the client where illicit programs are activated – is a little like battling on a bad guy’s home turf: it is their machine and their code,” Activision said in a blog post.
“Kernel-level drivers on PC have enhanced anti-cheat’s reach, but cheaters are already offering cheats that go beyond the kernel, even going as far to utilize special PC hardware that is designed entirely for attacking games and enabling cheating.
“What our team has been working on for the future is a suite of tools that use AI to find and fight cheaters.”
So, what does this mean in practice? Activision said that “cheaters can run and hide but a trail exists,” but what if that trail disappears? That’s where AI-powered behavioral models come into play.
“Cheat developers can’t hide player behavior. How people play – the legit, the phony, the good, and the bad – gives us information and we use that to build ways to pick those bad folks out of a lineup,” Activision explained.
“We already have data from cheaters but to help build out profiles for those God-tier players we examine the data from the Call of Duty League – where every match is recorded, and every stat is preserved.
“There’s more in progress around what we’re doing with AI beyond behavioral models and as work continues, we’ll share what we can.”
As we near Black Ops 6’s release on October 25, Activision has made an ambitious commitment to players: it's targeting booting cheaters out of Call of Duty within one hour.
“A lot has been put into Black Ops 6 to upgrade security, but here is the goal we’re targeting: we want to catch and remove cheaters within one hour of them being in their first match,” Activision said.
Activision calls this metric ‘Time to Action,’ which it saw (eventually) make a positive impact during Black Ops 6’s beta weekends. It saw that cheaters were able to complete just five matches before being booted out of the game, with 25% of all Weekend Two bans happening during the first match a cheater ever played.
Meanwhile, 12,000 confirmed cheating accounts were stopped before they “ever saw the inside of a match” in the beta, Activision said.
"The people behind cheats are organized, illegal groups that pick apart every piece of data within our games to look for some way to make cheating possible," Activision said. "These bad guys are not just some script kiddies poking around with code they found online. They are a collective who profit from exploiting the hard work of game developers across the industry.
But cheat developers are flawed (clearly – they have to pretend to be good at video games). Every time they cheat, they leave breadcrumbs behind.
“We’re always looking for those breadcrumbs to find the bad actors and get them out of the game."
For more, we've got confirmation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's launch Multiplayer maps, modes, and Operators, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's preload and global launch times.
[Emphasis added]
Ahead of the launch of Black Ops 6, Activision has said it’s using AI in its ongoing battle against Call of Duty cheaters, and hopes to kick cheaters out of the game within one hour of them being in their first match.
Call of Duty has had a cheating problem for years, with free-to-download battle royale Warzone on PC suffering in particular. Activision has spent millions of dollars developing its anti-cheat technology as well as pursuing cheat makers in the courts, with a number of recent high-profile successes stemming the tide.
But video game publishers face an uphill battle in the war against the increasingly sophisticated cheat makers, so Activision has announced plans to draft in AI to help.
“Fighting cheats today – on the client where illicit programs are activated – is a little like battling on a bad guy’s home turf: it is their machine and their code,” Activision said in a blog post.
“Kernel-level drivers on PC have enhanced anti-cheat’s reach, but cheaters are already offering cheats that go beyond the kernel, even going as far to utilize special PC hardware that is designed entirely for attacking games and enabling cheating.
“What our team has been working on for the future is a suite of tools that use AI to find and fight cheaters.”
So, what does this mean in practice? Activision said that “cheaters can run and hide but a trail exists,” but what if that trail disappears? That’s where AI-powered behavioral models come into play.
“Cheat developers can’t hide player behavior. How people play – the legit, the phony, the good, and the bad – gives us information and we use that to build ways to pick those bad folks out of a lineup,” Activision explained.
“We already have data from cheaters but to help build out profiles for those God-tier players we examine the data from the Call of Duty League – where every match is recorded, and every stat is preserved.
“There’s more in progress around what we’re doing with AI beyond behavioral models and as work continues, we’ll share what we can.”
As we near Black Ops 6’s release on October 25, Activision has made an ambitious commitment to players: it's targeting booting cheaters out of Call of Duty within one hour.
“A lot has been put into Black Ops 6 to upgrade security, but here is the goal we’re targeting: we want to catch and remove cheaters within one hour of them being in their first match,” Activision said.
Activision calls this metric ‘Time to Action,’ which it saw (eventually) make a positive impact during Black Ops 6’s beta weekends. It saw that cheaters were able to complete just five matches before being booted out of the game, with 25% of all Weekend Two bans happening during the first match a cheater ever played.
Meanwhile, 12,000 confirmed cheating accounts were stopped before they “ever saw the inside of a match” in the beta, Activision said.
With this in mind, Black Ops 6 launches with an updated version of the kernel-level driver (this also applies to Warzone), with new machine-learning behavioral systems focused on speed of detection and the analysis of gameplay to combat aim bots in place. Upgrades are set to launch alongside Ranked Play."The people behind cheats are organized, illegal groups that pick apart every piece of data within our games to look for some way to make cheating possible," Activision said. "These bad guys are not just some script kiddies poking around with code they found online. They are a collective who profit from exploiting the hard work of game developers across the industry.
But cheat developers are flawed (clearly – they have to pretend to be good at video games). Every time they cheat, they leave breadcrumbs behind.
“We’re always looking for those breadcrumbs to find the bad actors and get them out of the game."
For more, we've got confirmation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's launch Multiplayer maps, modes, and Operators, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's preload and global launch times.
Cael
Arcane
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2017
- Messages
- 22,449
Translation: If someone doesn't like you, you get banned from the game permanently, making your purchase meaningless. That's the real scam at Activision.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
'Call of Duty: Black Ops 6' Is Only Getting 1 Ending, Changing the Series' Iconic Experience
[Emphasis added. Lamenting Raven Software.]
...
IGN's latest interview with Raven Software's associate director, Jon Zuk, revealed one of the most interesting twists in this installment of "Call of Duty," with the development team focusing on only one (1) ending for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." This latest turn is looking to deliver a different kind of experience on this game series, with Zuk saying that "Black Ops 6 is a linear story, so there is not a branching ending for this one."
Despite this massive change that was previously enjoyed in past 'Black Ops' games, Zuk assures the public that the upcoming FPS game will deliver immersive gameplay and a noteworthy storyline.
Moreover, the "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's" campaign is also one to look out for, as despite many gamers mainly focusing on its multiplayer experiences, this upcoming release will offer more gameplay variety and compelling plots to enjoy.
One of the main advantages of having a single, concrete ending for "Black Ops 6" is getting a canon plot that was already laid out by the writers and its developers, offering a sound conclusion to this story.
Raven Software assures gamers that there is still a lot to look forward to in the upcoming "Black Ops 6" despite its one ending, especially as it is set to deliver a significantly immersive experience filled with its unique twists.
...
[Emphasis added. Lamenting Raven Software.]
...
IGN's latest interview with Raven Software's associate director, Jon Zuk, revealed one of the most interesting twists in this installment of "Call of Duty," with the development team focusing on only one (1) ending for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." This latest turn is looking to deliver a different kind of experience on this game series, with Zuk saying that "Black Ops 6 is a linear story, so there is not a branching ending for this one."
Despite this massive change that was previously enjoyed in past 'Black Ops' games, Zuk assures the public that the upcoming FPS game will deliver immersive gameplay and a noteworthy storyline.
Moreover, the "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's" campaign is also one to look out for, as despite many gamers mainly focusing on its multiplayer experiences, this upcoming release will offer more gameplay variety and compelling plots to enjoy.
One of the main advantages of having a single, concrete ending for "Black Ops 6" is getting a canon plot that was already laid out by the writers and its developers, offering a sound conclusion to this story.
Raven Software assures gamers that there is still a lot to look forward to in the upcoming "Black Ops 6" despite its one ending, especially as it is set to deliver a significantly immersive experience filled with its unique twists.
...
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella gets $30M raise — while company fired nearly 2,500 workers
[Emphasis added]
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was awarded a $30 million pay raise — 63% more than what he earned last year — even as the Windows maker slashed its workforce by 2,500 people.
Stock awards for Nadella, who earned $48.5 million in 2023, climbed to about $71 million from $39 million a year earlier, according an SEC filing.
The raise comes after Microsoft shed 1,900 people from its gaming workforce following the company’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Months later, it shuttered another gamer firm, Arkane Austin, and handed out pink slips to 650 employees.
...
Nadella asked for a pay cut that shaved $5.5 million off of his total compensation for fiscal year 2024 because of cyberattacks that rocked the software giant, which the government has alleged can be traced back to Russia and China.
...
Microsoft said in its filing that Nadella asked the company’s compensation committee to take the security breaches into account when determining his pay.
“Mr. Nadella agreed that the Company’s performance was extremely strong, but reflecting on his personal commitment to security and his role as the CEO, asked the Board to consider departing from the established performance metrics and reduce his cash incentive to reflect his personal accountability for the focus and speed required for the changes that today’s cybersecurity threat landscape showed were necessary,” the committee wrote.
Lawmakers in June grilled Microsoft President Brad Smith about the tech giant’s security practices and ties to China a year after alleged China-linked hackers spied on federal emails by hacking the firm.
...
Microsoft’s business accounts for around 3% of the US federal IT budget, Smith said at the hearing.
Lawmakers grilled Microsoft for its inability to prevent both the Russian and Chinese hacks, which they said put federal networks at risk despite not using sophisticated means.
In May, Nadella circulated a memo to employees titled “Prioritizing security above all else.”
“If you’re faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security,” Nadella wrote.
Microsoft said that it would take into account employees’ contributions to cybersecurity when determining compensation.
Despite the hacks, Nadella has delivered for investors. Since Jan. 1, Microsoft’s stock has risen by more than 16% — though it still lags the S&P 500, which has yielded gains of more than 23% year-to-date.
...
As of Friday, Microsoft, with a market capitalization of $3.2 trillion, was the third most valuable company in the world behind Nvidia, which leapfrogged Apple.
[Emphasis added]
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was awarded a $30 million pay raise — 63% more than what he earned last year — even as the Windows maker slashed its workforce by 2,500 people.
Stock awards for Nadella, who earned $48.5 million in 2023, climbed to about $71 million from $39 million a year earlier, according an SEC filing.
The raise comes after Microsoft shed 1,900 people from its gaming workforce following the company’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Months later, it shuttered another gamer firm, Arkane Austin, and handed out pink slips to 650 employees.
...
Nadella asked for a pay cut that shaved $5.5 million off of his total compensation for fiscal year 2024 because of cyberattacks that rocked the software giant, which the government has alleged can be traced back to Russia and China.
...
Microsoft said in its filing that Nadella asked the company’s compensation committee to take the security breaches into account when determining his pay.
“Mr. Nadella agreed that the Company’s performance was extremely strong, but reflecting on his personal commitment to security and his role as the CEO, asked the Board to consider departing from the established performance metrics and reduce his cash incentive to reflect his personal accountability for the focus and speed required for the changes that today’s cybersecurity threat landscape showed were necessary,” the committee wrote.
Lawmakers in June grilled Microsoft President Brad Smith about the tech giant’s security practices and ties to China a year after alleged China-linked hackers spied on federal emails by hacking the firm.
...
Microsoft’s business accounts for around 3% of the US federal IT budget, Smith said at the hearing.
Lawmakers grilled Microsoft for its inability to prevent both the Russian and Chinese hacks, which they said put federal networks at risk despite not using sophisticated means.
In May, Nadella circulated a memo to employees titled “Prioritizing security above all else.”
“If you’re faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security,” Nadella wrote.
Microsoft said that it would take into account employees’ contributions to cybersecurity when determining compensation.
Despite the hacks, Nadella has delivered for investors. Since Jan. 1, Microsoft’s stock has risen by more than 16% — though it still lags the S&P 500, which has yielded gains of more than 23% year-to-date.
...
As of Friday, Microsoft, with a market capitalization of $3.2 trillion, was the third most valuable company in the world behind Nvidia, which leapfrogged Apple.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Black Ops 6 QA staff strike over Activision return to the office policy, which has "unquestionably harmed disabled employees"
[Emphasis added]
A number of Call Of Duty: Ops 6 quality assurance staff from Eden Prarie, Minnesota have walked out in protest over Activision's ending of hybrid or remote working, which was announced in December last year. They're being supported by the Communication Workers Of America union, who claim that Activision are forcing the return to the office on staff "with serious medical conditions and doctor's recommendations to work from home".
As reported by Eurogamer, Activision workers group ABetterABK have also issued a statement criticising the "unequal" ROI policy, which has been in effect for nine months. The ABK union say the move has "unquestionably harmed disabled employees and employees in need of work from home accommodations", who have been refused exemption from the policy.
There's also a reference to staff being "disrespected" by a recent company email discussing the USA's National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which falls in October. The email in question apparently "depicted a disabled person working from home while our coworkers in need are not allowed this essential tool for equal accessibility," according to the ABK statement. As such, it argues that Activision have "been championing [diversity, equity & inclusion] while they continually fail us."
The walkout is small, with about 30 people shown holding CWA signs in photographs, but it's caught the attention of local media like Fox9.
Eurogamer also have a statement from Activision, in which an Acti spokesperson comments that negotiations around individual employee needs are "ongoing", despite the many months since the policy was introduced.
"We respect our employees' rights to express their point of view," it reads. "We understand that returning to the office has been an adjustment for some. We engage in an interactive process with employees who request accommodations. This is an ongoing conversation at the bargaining table, and we will continue to discuss our respective interests in that forum."
The Activision QA walkout is one of many clashes between developers and management over the end of hybrid and fully remote-working since the lifting of pandemic lockdown measures. Earlier this month, 700 Ubisoft staff went on strike in protest at a three-day return to the office mandate which the French Video Game Workers Union (STJV) insists was arrived at "without any tangible justification or any consultation with the workers' representatives".
[Emphasis added]
A number of Call Of Duty: Ops 6 quality assurance staff from Eden Prarie, Minnesota have walked out in protest over Activision's ending of hybrid or remote working, which was announced in December last year. They're being supported by the Communication Workers Of America union, who claim that Activision are forcing the return to the office on staff "with serious medical conditions and doctor's recommendations to work from home".
As reported by Eurogamer, Activision workers group ABetterABK have also issued a statement criticising the "unequal" ROI policy, which has been in effect for nine months. The ABK union say the move has "unquestionably harmed disabled employees and employees in need of work from home accommodations", who have been refused exemption from the policy.
There's also a reference to staff being "disrespected" by a recent company email discussing the USA's National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which falls in October. The email in question apparently "depicted a disabled person working from home while our coworkers in need are not allowed this essential tool for equal accessibility," according to the ABK statement. As such, it argues that Activision have "been championing [diversity, equity & inclusion] while they continually fail us."
The walkout is small, with about 30 people shown holding CWA signs in photographs, but it's caught the attention of local media like Fox9.
Eurogamer also have a statement from Activision, in which an Acti spokesperson comments that negotiations around individual employee needs are "ongoing", despite the many months since the policy was introduced.
"We respect our employees' rights to express their point of view," it reads. "We understand that returning to the office has been an adjustment for some. We engage in an interactive process with employees who request accommodations. This is an ongoing conversation at the bargaining table, and we will continue to discuss our respective interests in that forum."
The Activision QA walkout is one of many clashes between developers and management over the end of hybrid and fully remote-working since the lifting of pandemic lockdown measures. Earlier this month, 700 Ubisoft staff went on strike in protest at a three-day return to the office mandate which the French Video Game Workers Union (STJV) insists was arrived at "without any tangible justification or any consultation with the workers' representatives".
JC'sBarber
Educated
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2024
- Messages
- 148
Remember when video games were developed by about a dozen, competent white men with little fuss?. It's interesting when you check out the wikipedia pages for the best selling games of various consoles, and you can spot a decline in total units sold from the PS2 generation onwards. Aside from GTA, the top games were selling less then their PS1-era counterparts.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 sets records for "Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day", says Microsoft
[Emphasis added]
Microsoft boss Satya Nadella has called last week's Black Ops 6 launch the "biggest Call of Duty release ever", saying its arrival set a record for "Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day."
News of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's success came amid Microsoft's Q1 FY2025 financial earnings report, which saw the company once again reporting notable gains in gaming revenue, up 43 percent year-over-year. That's alongside a 61 percent year-on-year increase for Xbox content and services revenue, although growth was primarily a result of Microsoft's $69bn Activision Blizzard acquisition. In contrast, the company's Xbox hardware revenue has continued to fall, this time by 29 percent year-on-year.
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition also helped provide more good news for investors, thanks to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's recent arrival. While opening weekend numbers saw physical sales of Black Ops 6 fall by 10 percent in the UK compared to Modern Warfare 3, likely due to its day one appearance on Game Pass, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella trumpeted the launch in an earnings call today, calling Black Ops 6 the "biggest Call of Duty release ever".
While the Nadella didn't share specific figures to illustrate his claims, he also noted Black Ops 6's launch had set a "record for day one players as well as Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day." That Game Pass metric was previously rolled out last year, when Nadella announced Bethesda's Starfield had "set a record for the most Game Pass subscriptions added on a single day ever", indicating higher numbers of Black Ops 6. Whether those numbers prove sufficient for Microsoft, given Black Ops 6's Game Pass launch marked a critical test for its subscription service strategy following acquisition of Activision Blizzard, remains to be seen.
Nadella also revealed Black Ops 6's launch had attracted the highest number of opening weekend PC players in the franchise's history, while unit sales on PlayStation and Steam were said to be up 60 percent year-over-year. Black Ops 6 developer Treyarch repeated many of Nadella's record-setting claims in a message shared on social media before throwing in some of its own - adding Black Ops 6 had seen the highest number of total players, hours played, and total matches played during a three-day opening weekend in Call of Duty's history.
But how has it gone down with the critics? Eurogamer's Chris Tapsell shared his thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's "nonsensical, but surprisingly intimate" campaign earlier this week, calling it a "return to form for the series, mixing the usual, slightly unsavoury real-world set dressing with cracking action, horror twists and tongue-in-cheek charm." We'll be reaching a verdict on Black Ops 6's multiplayer component at a later date.
[Emphasis added]
Microsoft boss Satya Nadella has called last week's Black Ops 6 launch the "biggest Call of Duty release ever", saying its arrival set a record for "Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day."
News of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's success came amid Microsoft's Q1 FY2025 financial earnings report, which saw the company once again reporting notable gains in gaming revenue, up 43 percent year-over-year. That's alongside a 61 percent year-on-year increase for Xbox content and services revenue, although growth was primarily a result of Microsoft's $69bn Activision Blizzard acquisition. In contrast, the company's Xbox hardware revenue has continued to fall, this time by 29 percent year-on-year.
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition also helped provide more good news for investors, thanks to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's recent arrival. While opening weekend numbers saw physical sales of Black Ops 6 fall by 10 percent in the UK compared to Modern Warfare 3, likely due to its day one appearance on Game Pass, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella trumpeted the launch in an earnings call today, calling Black Ops 6 the "biggest Call of Duty release ever".
While the Nadella didn't share specific figures to illustrate his claims, he also noted Black Ops 6's launch had set a "record for day one players as well as Game Pass subscriber adds on launch day." That Game Pass metric was previously rolled out last year, when Nadella announced Bethesda's Starfield had "set a record for the most Game Pass subscriptions added on a single day ever", indicating higher numbers of Black Ops 6. Whether those numbers prove sufficient for Microsoft, given Black Ops 6's Game Pass launch marked a critical test for its subscription service strategy following acquisition of Activision Blizzard, remains to be seen.
Nadella also revealed Black Ops 6's launch had attracted the highest number of opening weekend PC players in the franchise's history, while unit sales on PlayStation and Steam were said to be up 60 percent year-over-year. Black Ops 6 developer Treyarch repeated many of Nadella's record-setting claims in a message shared on social media before throwing in some of its own - adding Black Ops 6 had seen the highest number of total players, hours played, and total matches played during a three-day opening weekend in Call of Duty's history.
But how has it gone down with the critics? Eurogamer's Chris Tapsell shared his thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's "nonsensical, but surprisingly intimate" campaign earlier this week, calling it a "return to form for the series, mixing the usual, slightly unsavoury real-world set dressing with cracking action, horror twists and tongue-in-cheek charm." We'll be reaching a verdict on Black Ops 6's multiplayer component at a later date.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Microsoft launches ‘This is an Xbox’ campaign
[Emphasis added]
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, assured fans that the Xbox console isn’t going anywhere, despite a new push into cloud gaming. This comes after Xbox launched a new ad campaign titled “This is an Xbox,” which showcases the brand’s cloud gaming capabilities across various devices like smart TVs, phones, handheld PCs, and laptops. The campaign has sparked some concern among fans who worry that Xbox might be transitioning away from traditional consoles.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25733394/TIAXB_SocialStaticBanner_1920x1080_Black_No_CTA_7c54037c516f07744b5d.jpg)
However, Spencer addressed these concerns, stating, “We’ll definitely do more consoles in the future, and other devices.”
Spencer acknowledged that while some fans may prefer the simplicity of a single console, the gaming industry is evolving. “Xbox isn’t just one device; Xbox is on your smart TV, Xbox is on your PC, Xbox is on your phone, and we’re in the middle of that transition,” he said. The Xbox brand has grown significantly in recent years, particularly after the acquisitions of ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard.
These acquisitions have brought popular franchises like The Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty under the Microsoft umbrella. Despite the growth in Xbox’s game library, Spencer noted that the console market isn’t expanding. “Our biggest growth in Xbox players is on PC and cloud,” he said.
“The console space all up isn’t growing, across all of them. We love those customers, but in terms of continuing to expand and grow Xbox, it’s about PC, it’s about cloud, and it’s about making our games more available in more places.”
When asked about the possibility of a mid-generation hardware refresh, similar to Sony’s recently released PS5 Pro, Spencer implied that it might not be necessary.
He emphasized that new hardware should offer unique value to players and creators, and that incremental upgrades are less impactful than they were in the past. We think about hardware that can create unique value for our players or creators on our platform,” Spencer said. “We don’t need to do incremental hardware for our own benefit.
Does a new device really give you a unique experience on screen in some way? [It’s] less like the old days, going from the original Xbox to 360; that was standard definition to high definition. Now, [it’s] harder to show the benefits.”
Looking to the future, Spencer expressed his desire for Xbox to remain a vibrant and successful brand.
“We are trying to expand, ‘What does an Xbox mean?’ I want Xbox to be something 20 years from now,” he said. “I think in order for Xbox to be vibrant, be successful, it needs to be about multiple pieces of hardware.”
[Emphasis added]
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, assured fans that the Xbox console isn’t going anywhere, despite a new push into cloud gaming. This comes after Xbox launched a new ad campaign titled “This is an Xbox,” which showcases the brand’s cloud gaming capabilities across various devices like smart TVs, phones, handheld PCs, and laptops. The campaign has sparked some concern among fans who worry that Xbox might be transitioning away from traditional consoles.
However, Spencer addressed these concerns, stating, “We’ll definitely do more consoles in the future, and other devices.”
Spencer acknowledged that while some fans may prefer the simplicity of a single console, the gaming industry is evolving. “Xbox isn’t just one device; Xbox is on your smart TV, Xbox is on your PC, Xbox is on your phone, and we’re in the middle of that transition,” he said. The Xbox brand has grown significantly in recent years, particularly after the acquisitions of ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard.
These acquisitions have brought popular franchises like The Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty under the Microsoft umbrella. Despite the growth in Xbox’s game library, Spencer noted that the console market isn’t expanding. “Our biggest growth in Xbox players is on PC and cloud,” he said.
“The console space all up isn’t growing, across all of them. We love those customers, but in terms of continuing to expand and grow Xbox, it’s about PC, it’s about cloud, and it’s about making our games more available in more places.”
When asked about the possibility of a mid-generation hardware refresh, similar to Sony’s recently released PS5 Pro, Spencer implied that it might not be necessary.
He emphasized that new hardware should offer unique value to players and creators, and that incremental upgrades are less impactful than they were in the past. We think about hardware that can create unique value for our players or creators on our platform,” Spencer said. “We don’t need to do incremental hardware for our own benefit.
Does a new device really give you a unique experience on screen in some way? [It’s] less like the old days, going from the original Xbox to 360; that was standard definition to high definition. Now, [it’s] harder to show the benefits.”
Looking to the future, Spencer expressed his desire for Xbox to remain a vibrant and successful brand.
“We are trying to expand, ‘What does an Xbox mean?’ I want Xbox to be something 20 years from now,” he said. “I think in order for Xbox to be vibrant, be successful, it needs to be about multiple pieces of hardware.”
Wanna play our games on PC? You're now an Xbox gamer.
Genius.
Genius.
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
‘World of Warcraft' at 20: Blizzard Team on Milestone Anniversary Plans, Bringing in New Players and the Potential for a Movie Do-Over
[Emphasis added]
Wow, 20 years ago today the team at Blizzard Entertainment launched its massive multiplayer online addition to the "Warcraft" franchise, and changed the gaming industry forever. While many MMOs have followed in "World of Warcraft's" footsteps and drawn younger audiences into the genre, the power of the game that created a giant customer support team to handle the masses trying to log in to the overwhelmed servers from Day 1 cannot be denied two decades later.
"Gaming went from a niche, geek thing to a lifestyle. And ‘World of Warcraft' is very much a lifestyle," "World of Warcraft" executive producer Holly Longdale tells Variety. "It's not just what you do in game, it's also out of game. You're engaging with your guilds and your friends, or booking time to play with your friends. So how do we reinforce that in a healthy, fun way and get Azeroth in the hands of everyone?"
Longdale, who joined game developer Blizzard in 2020, just ahead of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, oversees the "WoW" franchise, including the ongoing development of the game's current expansion, "The War Within," as well as operation of the "World of Warcraft Classic" game. A 20-year vet of the game industry, Longdale hails from Disney studios, and was previously executive producer of "EverQuest" and "EverQuest II," friendly rivals to "World of Warcraft."
According to Blizzard, "World of Warcraft" has drawn more than 240 million players over the past 20 years across 10 modern expansions, as well the "World of Warcraft Classic" experiences. To mark the franchise's big anniversary, Longdale and the team began plotting an in-game milestone, the "Worldsoul Saga," more than a year ago, with both virtual and in-person events planned to mark the occasion through January.
"'World of Warcraft's' anniversary is an incredible milestone that allows us to reflect on 20 years of online adventures and life-long friendships," Blizzard president Johanna Faries says. "‘Warcraft' is so much more than a game; it has positively influenced the lives of players and developers alike, while also being a true cultural phenomenon over the decades. I am so humbled by the passion shown by players, who are on this wonderful journey alongside us. And I'm incredibly proud of our ‘Warcraft' teams for their continued innovation, as they continue to create vibrant and immersive worlds that players can make their own."
[Johanna Faries, President Blizzard]
So far, the team's off-line efforts have included everything from a rebranding of the University of Washington to University of Warcraft for a special college football game, to "Warcraft" taking over the hit cartoon mobile game "Candy Crush" (a title also owned by Microsoft).
["World of Warcraft" executive producer Holly Longdale]
"While we certainly have our in-game 20th anniversary events to play, it's much broader than that," Longdale says. "The whole epic ‘Worldsoul Saga' that we announced last year kicked off with ‘The War Within.' This trilogy, the saga, was a reaction to, what do we do that meets the moment of a 20th anniversary? Well, we tell an epic story that's for all the marbles for the past 20 years. That has been a significant journey with a lot of focus and passion on trying to get it right."
Longdale says the entire celebration is about honoring the "WoW" community" - but with a "leave no player behind" strategy aimed at longtime "Warcraft" devotees and potential newcomers eyeing the title during this milestone.
"We have to be welcoming for new players. And when you do have a 20-year-old MMO, we shouldn't take for granted that we could have really good entry points. So the team is very much working on, how do we sustain this game for another 20 years?" Longdale said. "We've made a lot of changes because we want, ultimately, ‘WoW' to grow. We want everybody on the planet to, at some point, engage with ‘Warcraft' in some way. Gamers' tastes change. We want to acknowledge that the types of gamers we have, they've changed over the years. Or maybe we haven't served them as well as we could have. And we've focused on that, this idea of leave no player behind."
Throughout all of this, Blizzard's new parent company is remaining very hands off, and letting the brand have its flowers during "World of Warcraft's" big moment.
"It's been great, the content cadence that they've had over the last 12 months," Xbox president of gaming content and studios Matt Booty says.
[Xbox president of gaming content and studios Matt Booty]
"For us, it's been as much about learning about the franchise and really going to school on how they do such a good job of managing that. And we're just proud to have it as one of those billion dollar IPs we own," Booty says. "‘Warcraft' is a mass-market pop culture franchise that can deliver everything from games to consumer products to linear. And I think we're just getting started on what we can see with that team as part of Xbox. First and foremost, it is just such a testament to the power of the community around a game, and how they've done a good job of working with that community and the content."
Where Microsoft really comes into play is in the transmedia strategy for "World of Warcraft" going forward. And per both Booty and Longdale, the idea of attempting another "Warcraft" movie after the disaster that was the 2016 film is not out the realm of possibility.
...
On the heels of the success of Amazon's "Fallout" TV series adaptation of the Bethesda Game Studios franchise, and the anticipation for next spring's "A Minecraft Movie," Microsoft is cautiously eager to adapt its other owned games into TV shows and films.
"Something that really always has to be considered is, there's no slam dunk," Booty says. "These things need to be thought through. They need to be thoughtful. For us, when we approach linear media - and we've had a lot of interest, which I think is great - it gets back to that point about games being mass market and interest in Hollywood, much as there has been interest over the last decade in comic books or Marvel and DC. So there's plenty of interest for us. It really has to start with the game team, and do they think that the game has got something that makes sense to take to linear. Not every game is an obvious choice to do that. So we always want to make sure that we start with the team and that we find a great partner. … These things take time, and we just want to make sure we've got a good match between the game team and then the linear team that's got a vision for what they want to make."
"World of Warcraft's" 20th anniversary comes on the heels of the release of journalist Jason Schreier's "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," a detailed account of the early days of Blizzard and allegations of a very "bro" culture within the gaming company over the years. At a time when Longdale is looking to bring as many new players into "WoW" as possible and retain the old standbys, she wants to make it clear how welcome women are at today's Blizzard, which is run by Johanna Faries.
"I have been fortunate, honestly, for the bulk of my career, to have had very supportive leadership, very supportive co-workers, been treated professionally my entire career," Longdale says. "It's no exception at Blizzard. I've got this incredible job, and I'm surrounded by women leadership on my team who are incredibly brave and bold and respected. And I feel like we're in a good place. Can we be better? Always. But we are absolutely committed to a healthy, strong, bold, creative environment, and I haven't seen any negativity. At this point, I think we're setting ourselves up for pretty bold and brave future."
[Emphasis added]
Wow, 20 years ago today the team at Blizzard Entertainment launched its massive multiplayer online addition to the "Warcraft" franchise, and changed the gaming industry forever. While many MMOs have followed in "World of Warcraft's" footsteps and drawn younger audiences into the genre, the power of the game that created a giant customer support team to handle the masses trying to log in to the overwhelmed servers from Day 1 cannot be denied two decades later.
"Gaming went from a niche, geek thing to a lifestyle. And ‘World of Warcraft' is very much a lifestyle," "World of Warcraft" executive producer Holly Longdale tells Variety. "It's not just what you do in game, it's also out of game. You're engaging with your guilds and your friends, or booking time to play with your friends. So how do we reinforce that in a healthy, fun way and get Azeroth in the hands of everyone?"
Longdale, who joined game developer Blizzard in 2020, just ahead of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, oversees the "WoW" franchise, including the ongoing development of the game's current expansion, "The War Within," as well as operation of the "World of Warcraft Classic" game. A 20-year vet of the game industry, Longdale hails from Disney studios, and was previously executive producer of "EverQuest" and "EverQuest II," friendly rivals to "World of Warcraft."
According to Blizzard, "World of Warcraft" has drawn more than 240 million players over the past 20 years across 10 modern expansions, as well the "World of Warcraft Classic" experiences. To mark the franchise's big anniversary, Longdale and the team began plotting an in-game milestone, the "Worldsoul Saga," more than a year ago, with both virtual and in-person events planned to mark the occasion through January.
"'World of Warcraft's' anniversary is an incredible milestone that allows us to reflect on 20 years of online adventures and life-long friendships," Blizzard president Johanna Faries says. "‘Warcraft' is so much more than a game; it has positively influenced the lives of players and developers alike, while also being a true cultural phenomenon over the decades. I am so humbled by the passion shown by players, who are on this wonderful journey alongside us. And I'm incredibly proud of our ‘Warcraft' teams for their continued innovation, as they continue to create vibrant and immersive worlds that players can make their own."
[Johanna Faries, President Blizzard]
So far, the team's off-line efforts have included everything from a rebranding of the University of Washington to University of Warcraft for a special college football game, to "Warcraft" taking over the hit cartoon mobile game "Candy Crush" (a title also owned by Microsoft).
["World of Warcraft" executive producer Holly Longdale]
"While we certainly have our in-game 20th anniversary events to play, it's much broader than that," Longdale says. "The whole epic ‘Worldsoul Saga' that we announced last year kicked off with ‘The War Within.' This trilogy, the saga, was a reaction to, what do we do that meets the moment of a 20th anniversary? Well, we tell an epic story that's for all the marbles for the past 20 years. That has been a significant journey with a lot of focus and passion on trying to get it right."
Longdale says the entire celebration is about honoring the "WoW" community" - but with a "leave no player behind" strategy aimed at longtime "Warcraft" devotees and potential newcomers eyeing the title during this milestone.
"We have to be welcoming for new players. And when you do have a 20-year-old MMO, we shouldn't take for granted that we could have really good entry points. So the team is very much working on, how do we sustain this game for another 20 years?" Longdale said. "We've made a lot of changes because we want, ultimately, ‘WoW' to grow. We want everybody on the planet to, at some point, engage with ‘Warcraft' in some way. Gamers' tastes change. We want to acknowledge that the types of gamers we have, they've changed over the years. Or maybe we haven't served them as well as we could have. And we've focused on that, this idea of leave no player behind."
Throughout all of this, Blizzard's new parent company is remaining very hands off, and letting the brand have its flowers during "World of Warcraft's" big moment.
"It's been great, the content cadence that they've had over the last 12 months," Xbox president of gaming content and studios Matt Booty says.
[Xbox president of gaming content and studios Matt Booty]
"For us, it's been as much about learning about the franchise and really going to school on how they do such a good job of managing that. And we're just proud to have it as one of those billion dollar IPs we own," Booty says. "‘Warcraft' is a mass-market pop culture franchise that can deliver everything from games to consumer products to linear. And I think we're just getting started on what we can see with that team as part of Xbox. First and foremost, it is just such a testament to the power of the community around a game, and how they've done a good job of working with that community and the content."
Where Microsoft really comes into play is in the transmedia strategy for "World of Warcraft" going forward. And per both Booty and Longdale, the idea of attempting another "Warcraft" movie after the disaster that was the 2016 film is not out the realm of possibility.
...
On the heels of the success of Amazon's "Fallout" TV series adaptation of the Bethesda Game Studios franchise, and the anticipation for next spring's "A Minecraft Movie," Microsoft is cautiously eager to adapt its other owned games into TV shows and films.
"Something that really always has to be considered is, there's no slam dunk," Booty says. "These things need to be thought through. They need to be thoughtful. For us, when we approach linear media - and we've had a lot of interest, which I think is great - it gets back to that point about games being mass market and interest in Hollywood, much as there has been interest over the last decade in comic books or Marvel and DC. So there's plenty of interest for us. It really has to start with the game team, and do they think that the game has got something that makes sense to take to linear. Not every game is an obvious choice to do that. So we always want to make sure that we start with the team and that we find a great partner. … These things take time, and we just want to make sure we've got a good match between the game team and then the linear team that's got a vision for what they want to make."
"World of Warcraft's" 20th anniversary comes on the heels of the release of journalist Jason Schreier's "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," a detailed account of the early days of Blizzard and allegations of a very "bro" culture within the gaming company over the years. At a time when Longdale is looking to bring as many new players into "WoW" as possible and retain the old standbys, she wants to make it clear how welcome women are at today's Blizzard, which is run by Johanna Faries.
"I have been fortunate, honestly, for the bulk of my career, to have had very supportive leadership, very supportive co-workers, been treated professionally my entire career," Longdale says. "It's no exception at Blizzard. I've got this incredible job, and I'm surrounded by women leadership on my team who are incredibly brave and bold and respected. And I feel like we're in a good place. Can we be better? Always. But we are absolutely committed to a healthy, strong, bold, creative environment, and I haven't seen any negativity. At this point, I think we're setting ourselves up for pretty bold and brave future."
ghardy
Educated
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2024
- Messages
- 377
Happy new year as AI takes your jobs!
Activision’s Response to Black Ops 6 Cast Quitting Over AI Dispute Is Concerning but Company Wants a “mutually beneficial outcome”
[Emphasis added]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been the most successful title of the series in recent history. But alongside all its positives, it also comes with some massive drawbacks, including the recent AI controversies. Voice actors involved in the Zombies mode have quit over concerns related to AI exploitation, leading to fan backlash.
Activision has responded with a cautious statement, citing respect for performers’ choices while seeking a “mutually beneficial outcome.” However, the absence of transparency and the apparent use of AI-generated voice lines have raised ethical and creative concerns that the studio has to address in a better way.
The issues initially started when updates to Black Ops 6 Zombies introduced new voice lines that players noticed sounded markedly different. Characters like William Peck and Samantha Maxis, previously voiced by Zeke Alton and Julie Nathanson, now appear to have been recast.
Alton confirmed to GameDeveloper that he did not reprise his role and raised concerns about the lack of transparency. Nathanson remains credited, though it’s unclear which lines are hers. For many, this development symbolizes the growing unease around AI in creative roles.
In response, Activision acknowledged the recasting but refrained from directly addressing AI concerns. A company spokesperson also stated to GameDeveloper, “We respect the personal choice of these performers. Out of respect for all parties, we won’t add new commentary about the ongoing negotiations with SAG-AFTRA.“
The controversy ties into the larger SAG-AFTRA strike, which began in July 2024 and centers on AI protections for video game performers. While Black Ops 6 is not technically a struck production due to existing union agreements, many actors have chosen not to renew their contracts in solidarity.
Fans have responded by immediately calling for more transparency. Many have called for Activision and Treyarch to implement stronger AI usage policies and ensure human-driven creativity. Without clear safeguards against AI overreach, Activision risks alienating the creative talent and players that have defined the Call of Duty franchise’s success.
This isn’t the only area where Black Ops 6 has faced this issue. In the same period of time, fans started to notice other in-game assets that seemed suspiciously like AI. The main example that was brought forward was a loading screen artwork of a zombie that had six fingers.
The union representing video game actors has made AI protections a key focus of its strike. Current disputes highlight the industry’s refusal to provide clear safeguards for performers, with negotiators pushing for explicit terms that prevent exploitation. The issue extends beyond voice actors, encompassing motion capture and other creative roles vulnerable to AI replacement.
The Black Ops 6 controversy offers Activision and other studios an opportunity to set a positive example in AI ethics. By having transparent policies and safeguarding creative talent, companies can ensure a sustainable future for gaming so both players and studios can benefit.
Activision’s Response to Black Ops 6 Cast Quitting Over AI Dispute Is Concerning but Company Wants a “mutually beneficial outcome”
[Emphasis added]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been the most successful title of the series in recent history. But alongside all its positives, it also comes with some massive drawbacks, including the recent AI controversies. Voice actors involved in the Zombies mode have quit over concerns related to AI exploitation, leading to fan backlash.
Activision has responded with a cautious statement, citing respect for performers’ choices while seeking a “mutually beneficial outcome.” However, the absence of transparency and the apparent use of AI-generated voice lines have raised ethical and creative concerns that the studio has to address in a better way.
The issues initially started when updates to Black Ops 6 Zombies introduced new voice lines that players noticed sounded markedly different. Characters like William Peck and Samantha Maxis, previously voiced by Zeke Alton and Julie Nathanson, now appear to have been recast.
Alton confirmed to GameDeveloper that he did not reprise his role and raised concerns about the lack of transparency. Nathanson remains credited, though it’s unclear which lines are hers. For many, this development symbolizes the growing unease around AI in creative roles.
In response, Activision acknowledged the recasting but refrained from directly addressing AI concerns. A company spokesperson also stated to GameDeveloper, “We respect the personal choice of these performers. Out of respect for all parties, we won’t add new commentary about the ongoing negotiations with SAG-AFTRA.“
The controversy ties into the larger SAG-AFTRA strike, which began in July 2024 and centers on AI protections for video game performers. While Black Ops 6 is not technically a struck production due to existing union agreements, many actors have chosen not to renew their contracts in solidarity.
Fans have responded by immediately calling for more transparency. Many have called for Activision and Treyarch to implement stronger AI usage policies and ensure human-driven creativity. Without clear safeguards against AI overreach, Activision risks alienating the creative talent and players that have defined the Call of Duty franchise’s success.
This isn’t the only area where Black Ops 6 has faced this issue. In the same period of time, fans started to notice other in-game assets that seemed suspiciously like AI. The main example that was brought forward was a loading screen artwork of a zombie that had six fingers.
The union representing video game actors has made AI protections a key focus of its strike. Current disputes highlight the industry’s refusal to provide clear safeguards for performers, with negotiators pushing for explicit terms that prevent exploitation. The issue extends beyond voice actors, encompassing motion capture and other creative roles vulnerable to AI replacement.
The Black Ops 6 controversy offers Activision and other studios an opportunity to set a positive example in AI ethics. By having transparent policies and safeguarding creative talent, companies can ensure a sustainable future for gaming so both players and studios can benefit.
Lyric Suite
Converting to Islam
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2006
- Messages
- 58,603
So the age of AI is upon us. The slop is gonna get even more sloppy. Progress!
Totally healthy and sustainable. You wonder how many of those are devs, and how many are bureaucrats.
Inec0rn
Educated
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2024
- Messages
- 286
I was going to say with todays dev's it can only improve things as AI can write and code better than them. However AI is still bound by the questions and intentions of the dev team so the watered down safe space unimaginative slop will continue, hell of lot of jobs will be lost though.
That said there are huge efficiency gains in using AI tooling for development, i still stand by smaller teams / indy taking over as it allows them to accomplish more with less staff, small teams are the only ones being creative, taking some risks and not necessarily pandering to reddit politics.
the slop factories will continue to milk any property they have to death, and if an indy studio cracks a game that sells well, then they will copy paste the game 100x over like they've been doing the last 20 years.
Those 700m budget franchises are a never ending money printing press, retard gamer will always buy them, the 30-40 same same releases are proof of that.
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