Tag: Activision Blizzard

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrive in Call of Duty surrounded by controversy

The Season 2 Reloaded update for Black Ops 6 and Warzone is now available, bringing with it hints of what will be a collaboration event with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although the event officially starts next week, the four main characters—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—can already be purchased in the in-game store for 2,400 CoD Points each, totaling 80 euros if one wishes to unlock them all. In addition to the characters, the collaboration will also include three additional skins, which will be released on February 27 and consist of Splinter and two Foot Clan soldiers. Splinter […]

The Season 2 Reloaded update for Black Ops 6 and Warzone is now available, bringing with it hints of what will be a collaboration event with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although the event officially starts next week, the four main characters—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—can already be purchased in the in-game store for 2,400 CoD Points each, totaling 80 euros if you want to unlock them all.

In addition to the characters, the collaboration will also include three additional skins, which will be released on February 27 and consist of Splinter and two Foot Clan soldiers. Splinter will be available in the premium pass, which costs 10 euros, while the Foot Clan soldiers will be part of the rewards for the free event pass. In total, to collect the seven TMNT skins of the season, players will need to spend 90 euros.

Controversial skins: they are considered to offer competitive advantages

It is important to note that these skins are purely cosmetic and do not provide competitive advantages, although players using the Turtles in Zombies mode will receive small bonuses. The turtles will have a 50% damage reduction from behind, and Splinter will offer an increased chance of obtaining a Slice-O-Pie from defeated enemies, which, while introducing a certain level of advantage, is not perceived as a “pay to win” approach.

Comparing this collaboration with that of Fortnite, where the four TMNT characters were offered for approximately 32 euros, the prices for Call of Duty have been considered quite high. However, for those who do not wish to spend money, it is possible to unlock Foot Clan skins and various TMNT cosmetics for free, in addition to the base versions of the Turtles’ weapons and a skate-style melee weapon.

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrive in Call of Duty surrounded by controversy

The Season 2 Reloaded update for Black Ops 6 and Warzone is now available, bringing with it hints of what will be a collaboration event with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although the event officially starts next week, the four main characters—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—can already be purchased in the in-game store for 2,400 CoD Points each, totaling 80 euros if you want to unlock them all. In addition to the characters, the collaboration will also include three additional skins, which will be released on February 27 and consist of Splinter and two Foot Clan soldiers. Splinter […]

The Season 2 Reloaded update for Black Ops 6 and Warzone is now available, bringing with it hints of what will be a collaboration event with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although the event officially starts next week, the four main characters—Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo—can already be purchased in the in-game store for 2,400 CoD Points each, totaling 80 euros if you want to unlock them all.

In addition to the characters, the collaboration will also include three additional skins, which will be released on February 27 and consist of Splinter and two Foot Clan soldiers. Splinter will be available in the premium pass, which costs 10 euros, while the Foot Clan soldiers will be part of the rewards for the free event pass. In total, to collect the seven TMNT skins of the season, players will need to spend 90 euros.

Controversial skins: they are considered to offer competitive advantages

It is important to note that these skins are purely cosmetic and do not provide competitive advantages, although players using the Turtles in Zombies mode will receive small bonuses. The turtles will have a 50% damage reduction from behind, and Splinter will offer an increased chance of obtaining a Slice-O-Pie from defeated enemies, which, while introducing a certain level of advantage, is not perceived as a “pay to win” approach.

Comparing this collaboration with that of Fortnite, where the four TMNT characters were offered for approximately 32 euros, the prices for Call of Duty have been considered quite high. However, for those who do not wish to spend money, it is possible to unlock Foot Clan skins and various TMNT cosmetics for free, in addition to the base versions of the Turtles’ weapons and a skate-style melee weapon.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II DOWNLOAD

Warcraft is one of the worst movies in history according to the former CEO of Activision Blizzard

In 2016, the collaboration between Universal and Activision Blizzard brought the movie Warcraft to the big screen, based on the popular video game World of Warcraft. Although the movie grossed $47.4 million in the United States and $439.1 million worldwide, its reception was lukewarm, and former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has described Warcraft as “one of the worst movies he has ever seen.” Kotick has pointed out that the production of the film turned out to be a significant distraction for Blizzard, causing delays in expansions and updates for the game. Bobby Kotick is not a fan of the […]

In 2016, the collaboration between Universal and Activision Blizzard brought the movie Warcraft to the big screen, based on the popular video game World of Warcraft. Although the movie grossed $47.4 million in the United States and $439.1 million worldwide, its reception was lukewarm, and former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has described Warcraft as “one of the worst movies he has ever seen”. Kotick has pointed out that the production of the film turned out to be a significant distraction for Blizzard, causing delays in expansions and updates for the game.

Bobby Kotick is not a fan of the Warcraft movie

During an appearance on the Grit podcast, Kotick reflected on the impact that the movie had on the development team, mentioning that veteran designer Chris Metzen left Blizzard in 2016 due to burnout caused by the production of the feature film. Kotick expressed that the idea of making the movie was “terrible,” considering that it affected the quality and delivery time of the games, as many employees were distracted with tasks related to the filming, such as casting and production.

Despite Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it has been confirmed that World of Warcraft will not be available on Game Pass, which has surprised some fans of the game. However, the title will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024, and there are no signs that its development is coming to an end. The community remains hopeful, despite past controversies and changes in the studio’s direction.

Since Metzen returned to Blizzard in 2022, Kotick has mentioned that they have barely kept in touch. When asked what he could teach him about game design, he is cautious, reflecting the complexity of the relationship between creatives and management in the entertainment industry.

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Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, shares his opinion on who the worst CEO in the industry is

In 2013, John Riccitiello resigned as CEO of Electronic Arts after a six-year period marked by challenges and controversies. During his tenure, the popularity of Activision’s Call of Duty franchise surpassed that of Battlefield, which contributed to the pressure on his leadership. Riccitiello made comments that were considered insensitive, such as suggesting that Battlefield players should pay to reload, which only worsened his image among fans. Bobby Kotick, the CEO that no one wants, says there are worse ones Recently, Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, […]

In 2013, John Riccitiello resigned as CEO of Electronic Arts after a six-year period marked by challenges and controversies. During his tenure, the popularity of Activision’s Call of Duty franchise surpassed that of Battlefield, which contributed to the pressure on his leadership. Riccitiello went on to make comments that were considered insensitive, such as suggesting that Battlefield players should pay to reload, which only worsened his image among fans.

Bobby Kotick, the CEO that no one wants, says there are worse

Recently, Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, shared his critical opinion about Riccitiello, calling him the worst CEO in the video game industry. In a joint appearance on the “Grit” podcast with Bing Gordon, former creative director of EA, Kotick revealed that there was concern within Activision about the possibility of Gordon taking control of EA. “We feared that Bing was going to run [EA]. And we would have paid for Riccitiello to stay as CEO forever,” he commented.

Kotick also recalled that there were multiple attempts at a merger between EA and Activision. According to him, EA tried to buy Activision several times and held discussions about mergers. However, EA ultimately rejected significant opportunities to acquire popular franchises like Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and Blizzard, which ended up in the hands of Activision.

Additionally, Kotick criticized the Warcraft movie, describing it as one of the worst he has seen and pointing out that it was a mistake for Blizzard to dedicate so much time and resources to this project. This perspective reflects a broader criticism of the strategic direction of some of the most influential companies in the industry at that time.

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Xbox is becoming less interesting as a console, but its numbers are growing thanks to its flagship franchise

Microsoft reported a notable increase in the use of its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform, reaching 140 million hours of streaming in the last quarter. This growth occurs despite a 7% decline in Xbox division revenue, presenting a mixed outlook for the company. Although details about player and subscriber engagement are often elusive, the recent investor call provided a glimpse of significant progress. The reason for the growth: Call of Duty. The rise in the popularity of Xbox Cloud Gaming coincides with a 30% growth in the […]

Microsoft reported a remarkable increase in the use of its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform, reaching 140 million hours of streaming in the last quarter. This growth comes despite a 7% decline in Xbox division revenue, presenting a mixed outlook for the company. Although details about player and subscriber engagement are often elusive, the recent investor call provided a glimpse of significant progress.

The Reason for the Growth: Call of Duty

The increase in the popularity of Xbox Cloud Gaming coincides with a 30% growth in PC Game Pass subscribers. This momentum is largely attributable to the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which arrived on the Game Pass service as a playable title from its launch. Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, highlighted that Black Ops 6 became the best-selling game on Xbox and PlayStation platforms, breaking records with more players at its launch than any other paid title in the series.

However, the challenge persists: Xbox hardware sales experienced a 29% drop, suggesting a growing disinterest in consoles. To counter this trend, Microsoft has been working on a portable gaming device and has implemented marketing campaigns, despite some users’ criticism of its focus on services rather than hardware. The strategy seems to rely on AAA titles to maintain momentum in Cloud Gaming and Game Pass, which becomes a challenge given that the Call of Duty franchise only releases new titles once a year.

In addition to Call of Duty, other games from Activision Blizzard’s catalog, such as Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, have also contributed to strengthening the service, becoming accessible for cloud streaming for the first time. As Microsoft continues to explore the future of gaming, the combination of hardware and services is emerging as a key strategy in its business development.

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An former director of World of Warcraft says that AI should be used… but only in the least important things

Greg Street, formerly of Activision Blizzard, has stated that in his new games, he will use artificial intelligence from now on, but only to handle those mechanical tasks that no one wants to do.

AI has definitely come to stay. Or at least that’s what the doomsayers and those who believe that a drawing with hundreds of graphic errors is good enough to not pay people who really know how to work say. The latest to give his opinion has been Greg Street, former from Activision Blizzard, who has stated that he will now use artificial intelligence in his new games, but only to replace those mechanical tasks that no one wants to do.

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AIzeroth

As an example of its own World of Warcraft, it has put the cliffs that only a few players see and that have nothing to do with gameplay: “Players could swim and see them, and we felt bad if we left them looking bad and full of bugs. So a level designer would spend time making sure those cliffs didn’t look bad even if we didn’t think players would look at them too much”.

The solution? Let a machine do that tedious work, along with other tasks like alphabetizing lists or calculating logarithms. And… It makes sense. That’s what the future should be like in the industry, but certainly not what we are seeing, with people risking everything on the idea that AI has complete freedom to do whatever it wants. After all, considering how much it costs (for now)…

“I don’t believe machines should create art for new monsters or write missions or tell stories. That’s the fun part and there are thousands of talented people dying to do it. That’s the job you don’t want to be cloned from the many others who did it before you“. Normally, voices with such sense are not usually heard within the industry, so it is appreciated. Now we just have to see in a few years if, after all, reason or the pocket won.”

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It’s official: we will never be able to play Blizzard’s survival game

The announcement came hours after Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, announced more than 500 layoffs. The survival game bids farewell before…

It was one of the games they had in the oven for almost half a decade. They announced it in 2022, with a lot of fanfare, and now in 2024 they confirm that they had to kill it. This is the story of the Survival game that Blizzard wanted to release.

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Yesterday, Microsoft announced that it was laying off 1,900 employees from its gaming divisions. The cuts mainly affected Activision Blizzard staff -which Microsoft acquired in October for $68.7 billion-, although some workers from its ZeniMax and Xbox divisions were also affected.

The announcement came hours after Riot Games, developer of League of Legends, announced over 500 layoffs as part of an ongoing trend of layoffs in the gaming industry.

We will never be able to play this game and the desire was real

“Today’s actions affect multiple teams within Blizzard, including development teams, shared services organizations, and corporate functions,” said Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Studios, in a note to staff.

“As part of this approach, Blizzard is finishing the development of its survival game project and will move some of the people working on it to one of the several new promising projects that Blizzard has in the early stages of development,” announced on social media.

As part of the announcement, Booty also confirmed that Blizzard’s president, Mike Ybarra, will be leaving the company, as well as the chief designer, Allen Adham. It will no longer be the Blizzard we always knew and loved.

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Although few details were revealed about the survival game, it was nice to see Blizzard announcing the creation of a new franchise, since this company mainly focuses on its main brands of Diablo, Warcraft, Overwatch, and StarCraft.

Blizzard’s latest game is now available: Warcraft Rumble, here’s how you can download it

Some players have already started downloading the game ahead of its release. You may be one of the lucky ones, we explain how to do it.

It’s a game that many of us had forgotten. But that doesn’t make it any less important, as Warcraft Rumble is a game coming to mobile with the intention of expanding in a market where the Warcraft universe has a lot to say.

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Nearly 18 months after its initial announcement, Warcraft Rumble, Blizzard’s free-to-play strategy game, now has a release date: it will be available for iOS and Android on November 3, coinciding with the start of BlizzCon 2023.

How to download Warcraft Rumble on your smartphone now

“Warcraft Rumble, formerly known as Warcraft Arclight Rumble, promises a blend of strategy and tower defense throughout its 70-mission single-player campaign, featuring some well-known heroes and villains from the Warcraft universe, such as Warsong chieftain Grommash Hellscream and the archmage Jaina Proudmoore.

To tackle the various Rumbles scenarios, players must assemble an army, selecting leaders, troops, and spells from over 65 collectible character miniatures in the game, each of which has their own distinctive ‘talents’ to use in battle.

These talents also come into play in other modes and features of Rumble, such as cooperative, PvP, guilds, raids, and dungeons.

Warcraft Rumble Pre-Registration and Pre-Order Now Available on Google Play and the iOS App Store. Some players have already started downloading the game before its release. You may be one of the lucky ones.

The release of Warcraft Rumble on November 3rd on iOS and Android coincides with the start of this year’s two-day BlizzCon (the first in-person event since 2019, after several years of digital-only events and absences while Blizzard navigated through a workplace controversy and a pandemic)

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How to watch BlizzCon 2023 live and for free: everything about WoW, Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and more

Blizzard is going to broadcast all the panels at the fair on its YouTube and Twitch channels, so you will only have to tune in to the channel…

We’ve been talking about Blizzard all summer, albeit always within the Activision/Blizzard/King conglomerate. Being acquired by Microsoft for almost 70 billion dollars is always newsworthy, isn’t it?

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Luckily for fantasy fans, today we exclusively talk about Blizzard, a company that has been making great games for over two decades. And always fantastic games (in both senses of the word).

This weekend marks the beginning of BlizzCon 2023, Blizzard’s expo where they exclusively unveil the immediate future of their IPs: sequels, expansions, and more content. After tumultuous years, this expo should be good and powerful.

Schedules and how to watch BlizzCon 2023 for free

Here’s how the company communicates it on their website: BlizzCon 2023 is here! For those tuning in from home, we will be livestreaming all the content from the BlizzCon Arena for free.

For the first time in years, BlizzCon 2023 can be watched for free from home through Blizzard’s YouTube or Twitch channels on November 3rd and 4th to view all the panels and programming.

Blizzard will broadcast all the panels of the expo on their YouTube and Twitch channels, so you just have to tune in to the company’s official channel, which we provide here, to be able to follow the conference live.

If you are interested in only one of Blizzard’s games, the company has provided thematic schedules where you can follow the updates for:

With all this information, we already have covered what is coming this weekend, which is very important for the Blizzard community after the company’s acquisition by Microsoft. In 2024, at some point, we should see all the games (WoW, Diablo IV, Overwatch, etc.) arrive on Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know is that this highly anticipated announcement will not be made during this BlizzCon 2023, as Phil Spencer explained just two weeks ago in an interview on the Xbox channel.

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Do you miss Guitar Hero? Bobby Kotick too and that's good news for you

Bobby Kotick has spoken internally at Activision about Microsoft’s purchase of the company, talking again about Guitar Hero

Now that Activision Blizzard is officially becoming a part of Microsoft, starting next Friday, significant changes in their production methods are expected. Under Microsoft’s umbrella, they will likely alter their current development approach. This is natural and happens in all companies when they are acquired. And while their games won’t automatically enter Game Pass, a likely change for the near future is the return of an acclaimed fame that no one understands why it vanished.

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On Tuesday, October 10th, the infamous CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, had a meeting with the company’s employees. In this meeting, he wanted to discuss the state of the company given the imminent acquisition by Microsoft.

Regarding what Kotick himself has done, he emphasized that he has taken a keen interest in what they are working on at Microsoft. Highlighting that Microsoft has made significant advancements in many areas, particularly in the fields of AI and data analytics, he believes they can bring a lot of potential to the company in developing their franchises. As for Activision itself, he stated that he believes that is what they bring most substantially to Microsoft— a series of major franchises that can be exploited in unique ways.

This is where Bobby Kotick emphasized Guitar Hero. Saying that he has a very particular vision of what a new Guitar Hero could be, he stated that only with Microsoft’s technology does he believe it would now be possible to carry out what he truly wants to do with the franchise. This is something he has talked about in the past, but it seems that this time, it could be formalized more concretely.

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