Microsoft's app store on smartphones by next year, to rival with Google, Apple
1 year, 9 months ago

Microsoft's app store on smartphones by next year, to rival with Google, Apple

Hindustan Times  

Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch a new app store for games on iPhones and Android smartphones by next year subject its $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard getting cleared by regulators, a report from Financial Times says. However Spencer says that the move will indeed help increase competition on smartphones - “ the largest platform people play on” and where Apple and Google have a strong hold. Microsoft’s current lack of mobile games was an “obvious hole in our capability” that it is expecting Activision Blizzard to fill, Spencer added. The tech behemoth says that there is too much friction between creators and gamers today; app store policies and practises on mobile devices limit what and how creators can offer games, and they also restrict what and how gamers can play them.

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History of this topic

‘Fortnite’ publisher debuts mobile storefront after years in court
4 months, 1 week ago

‘Fortnite’ publisher debuts mobile storefront after years in court

LA Times  

Gaming fans play “Fortnite. Publisher Epic Games is launching a new mobile storefront Friday after four years of legal wrangling with Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google over their app store practices. Epic Games Inc. is launching a new mobile storefront Friday after four years of legal wrangling with Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google over their app store practices. …

Judge weighs proposed changes to Google’s Android app store to prevent anticompetitive tactics
7 months ago

Judge weighs proposed changes to Google’s Android app store to prevent anticompetitive tactics

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Google is tried to confront the latest in a succession of legal attacks on its digital empire on Thursday as federal judge began to address anticompetitive practices in the app market for smartphones powered by its Android software. The San Francisco court hearing before U.S. District Judge James Donato comes five months after a nine-person jury decided …

Meta, Microsoft, X are teaming up to fight Apple’s plan to open up App Store to other external payment options
9 months ago

Meta, Microsoft, X are teaming up to fight Apple’s plan to open up App Store to other external payment options

Firstpost  

Meta Platforms Inc, Microsoft Corp, X Corp, and Match Group Inc have jointly urged a federal judge to dismiss Apple’s proposed plan to open its App Store to external payment options While Apple maintains it is complying with the court order while safeguarding the privacy and security of its app store users, it continues to seek a revenue share from …

Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games
54 years, 11 months ago

Google’s App Store Ruled an Illegal Monopoly, as a Jury Sides With Epic Games

Wired  

Epic says in an unsigned blog post that the “verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers around the world. It proves that Google’s app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation.” It called on regulators and legislators to take action to “address Apple and Google strangleholds …

Epic Games wins antitrust lawsuit against Google over barriers to its Android app store
1 year ago

Epic Games wins antitrust lawsuit against Google over barriers to its Android app store

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court jury has decided that Google’s Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. The nine-person jury in the Play Store case apparently saw things through a different lens, even though Google technically allows Android …

Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard in $69-billion gaming deal
1 year, 2 months ago

Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard in $69-billion gaming deal

LA Times  

Microsoft announced plans to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2022 and closed the deal Friday. Microsoft acquired gaming giant Activision Blizzard on Friday, closing the biggest deal in video game history after more than a year of close scrutiny from antitrust officials around the world. Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement the combination “will benefit players …

Microsoft budges on video game streaming rights in push for UK to approve Activision Blizzard deal
1 year, 4 months ago

Microsoft budges on video game streaming rights in push for UK to approve Activision Blizzard deal

Associated Press  

LONDON — British competition regulators opened a new investigation Tuesday into Microsoft’s revamped bid to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, representing the last major hurdle to closing one of the biggest deals in tech history. Under the restructured deal, Microsoft will sell cloud streaming rights outside of the European Economic Area for all current and new Activision games released …

Microsoft acquiring Activision will be good for gaming and everyone, Satya Nadella tells US court
1 year, 5 months ago

Microsoft acquiring Activision will be good for gaming and everyone, Satya Nadella tells US court

Firstpost  

Microsoft’s Satya Nadella testified before a US court over FCC’s opposition of the Microsoft-Activision acquisition. Microsoft and Activision maintain that the acquisition will be a major win for gamers, and won’t hamper other console makers like Sony During his testimony on Wednesday in a San Francisco federal court, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his belief that the proposed acquisition of …

US Judge asks Microsoft CEO if he plays Activision mobile game Candy Crush? Satya Nadella says…
1 year, 5 months ago

US Judge asks Microsoft CEO if he plays Activision mobile game Candy Crush? Satya Nadella says…

Hindustan Times  

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told a judge Wednesday that his company's proposed $69 billion takeover of video game-maker Activision Blizzard will be good for the gaming industry, remarks that came as he defended the deal against an attempt by federal regulators to block it. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley interjected to ask if Nadella plays Activision's best-known mobile game, …

Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk
1 year, 7 months ago

Microsoft’s bid to buy Activision Blizzard clears a key hurdle. But the $69B deal is still at risk

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union on Monday approved Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard, deciding the deal won’t stifle competition for popular console titles like Call of Duty and accepting the U.S. tech company’s remedies to boost competition in cloud gaming. The acquisition, sweetened by Microsoft’s promises to automatically license Activision games to cloud gaming platforms, …

Microsoft ambitious to expand to mobile gaming with Activision King acquisition
1 year, 9 months ago

Microsoft ambitious to expand to mobile gaming with Activision King acquisition

Hindustan Times  

In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Microsoft has announced its intention to acquire Activision King. According to Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, the move is driven by Microsoft's desire to expand its services to the mobile gaming market, an area in which Activision King has a wealth of expertise and dominance. Microsoft has announced …

Video gamers sue to stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buy
2 years ago

Video gamers sue to stop Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buy

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — A group of gamers is suing to stop Microsoft from buying video game publisher Activision Blizzard, arguing that the $68.7 billion acquisition would stifle competition and reduce consumer choice. The lawsuit was filed late Tuesday in a U.S. federal court in San Francisco on behalf of 10 individual gamers who are fans of Activision Blizzard’s Call of …

App store avalanche forecast as Apple bows to EU demands
2 years ago

App store avalanche forecast as Apple bows to EU demands

The Hindu  

Apple's rivals are positioning themselves as the go-to alternative to its dominant App Store as the iPhone maker prepares to allow others on its devices in the European Union. The bloc's Digital Markets Act will force Apple and fellow tech giant Google to provide space for third-party app stores on their respective iOS and Android devices. Ben Wood, CMO of …

Microsoft is planning to build a super app to challenge Apple, Google app stores: report
2 years ago

Microsoft is planning to build a super app to challenge Apple, Google app stores: report

The Hindu  

Microsoft is said to be building a “super app” that will allow users to shop, text, web search, and check news feeds among other features in a one-stop smartphone app, according to a report by The Information. The tech company wants the app to boost its multibillion-dollar advertising business and Bing search, as well as draw more users to Teams …

Google agreed to pay $360 million to Activision to stop competition, Epic Games alleges
2 years, 1 month ago

Google agreed to pay $360 million to Activision to stop competition, Epic Games alleges

The Hindu  

Alphabet Inc's Google has struck deals with at least 24 big app developers to stop them from competing with its Play Store, including an agreement to pay Activision Blizzard Inc about $360 million over three years, according to a court filing on Thursday. Google also agreed in 2020 to pay Tencent Holdings Ltd's Riot Games unit, which makes "League of …

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal faces more UK scrutiny
2 years, 3 months ago

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal faces more UK scrutiny

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft’s plan to buy video game company Activision Blizzard faced a potential setback Thursday after British antitrust regulators demanded concessions from both companies to ease competition concerns about the blockbuster deal. The Competition and Markets Authority said it was worried the $69 billion deal would hurt rivals by restricting their access to Activision Blizzard games. “Following our Phase …

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Bid Faces UK Antitrust Probe
2 years, 5 months ago

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Bid Faces UK Antitrust Probe

News 18  

LONDON: Microsoft's acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard faces antitrust scrutiny in the U.K., where competition regulators said Wednesday they've opened an initial inquiry into the $69 billion deal. The U.S. tech giant announced in January that it was buying Activision Blizzard in a deal that would make it a bigger video game company than Nintendo but raised questions about …

Microsoft record-breaking buyout Activision Blizzard to be investigated by competition watchdog
2 years, 5 months ago

Microsoft record-breaking buyout Activision Blizzard to be investigated by competition watchdog

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Microsoft’s planned buyout of video game-maker Activision Blizzard is to be investigated by …

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard bid faces UK antitrust probe
2 years, 5 months ago

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard bid faces UK antitrust probe

Associated Press  

LONDON — Microsoft’s acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard faces antitrust scrutiny in the U.K., where competition regulators said Wednesday they’ve opened an initial inquiry into the $69 billion deal. The U.S. tech giant announced in January that it was buying Activision Blizzard in a deal that would make it a bigger video game company than Nintendo but raised questions …

UK plans to probe Apple, Google mobile dominance
2 years, 6 months ago

UK plans to probe Apple, Google mobile dominance

The Hindu  

Britain’s competition watchdog said it was planning to investigate the market dominance of Apple Inc. and Google’s mobile browsers, as well as the iPhone maker’s restrictions on cloud gaming through its app store. We're consulting on launching a market investigation into #Apple and #Google's power over: 📱 mobile browsers and ☁️ cloud gaming on mobile devices We're also taking action …

Activision Blizzard approves $68.7 bn Microsoft deal, Wall Street bets 'fail’
2 years, 7 months ago

Activision Blizzard approves $68.7 bn Microsoft deal, Wall Street bets 'fail’

Hindustan Times  

Activision Blizzard Inc. shareholders approved the company’s $69 billion sale to Microsoft Corp on Thursday, but Wall Street is betting that Biden antitrust enforcers could unravel one of the largest mergers in U.S. history. A view shows Blizzard Entertainment's campus, after Microsoft Corp announced the purchase of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in the biggest gaming industry deal in history, …

Apple’s App Store meets its nemesis in the East
2 years, 9 months ago

Apple’s App Store meets its nemesis in the East

The Hindu  

Fourteen years ago, Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs launched a digital marketplace. Apple said it had paid $21 million to developers within a month since the App Store’s launch. “The money that developers have earned through the App Store will top $100 billion.” That’s about $14 billion into Apple’s coffers, which is just $4 billion short of the company’s iPad sales …

Microsoft seeks approvals for Activision Blizzard buy through new app store rules
2 years, 10 months ago

Microsoft seeks approvals for Activision Blizzard buy through new app store rules

The Hindu  

Microsoft introduced new Open App Store Principles in an effort to address regulatory concerns over its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will review Microsoft Corp's $68.7 billion proposed purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard Inc. The new app store principles will apply to the Microsoft Store on Windows and their next-generation marketplaces for games. …

Microsoft's $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision Blizzard To Be Reviewed By FTC: Here's Why
2 years, 10 months ago

Microsoft's $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision Blizzard To Be Reviewed By FTC: Here's Why

News 18  

Microsoft’s roughly $69 billion acquisition will surely make it one of the largest gaming company in the world. However, it can also land the company in trouble as the US Federal Trade Commission is going to undertake an antitrust review of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a report from Bloomberg said on Monday. It will look at whether combining …

EXPLAINER: Microsoft’s Activision buy could shake up gaming
2 years, 11 months ago

EXPLAINER: Microsoft’s Activision buy could shake up gaming

Associated Press  

Microsoft stunned the gaming industry when it announced this week it would buy game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, a deal that would immediately make it a larger video-game company than Nintendo. Others include Guitar Hero, the Tony Hawk skateboarding games and MechWarrior, which McKeon-White said “basically wasn’t touched for two decades.” On the other hand, the prospect of …

Microsoft to buy ‘Call of Duty’ maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion
2 years, 11 months ago

Microsoft to buy ‘Call of Duty’ maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion

The Hindu  

Microsoft said on Tuesday it has agreed to buy Activision Blizzard, a leader in game development, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, which would be its largest-ever and the biggest gaming industry deal. With this acquisition iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush, will become part …

Why Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal could mean better games
2 years, 11 months ago

Why Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal could mean better games

LA Times  

Few things are as perpetually uncool as a tech behemoth, but this week Microsoft gets to play the role of savior. The company on Tuesday agreed to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, continuing Microsoft’s strong investment in providing content for its Xbox gaming ecosystem, primarily the Game Pass subscription service. No one doubts the financial appeal of the “Call …

Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard in $69BN metaverse bet
2 years, 11 months ago

Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard in $69BN metaverse bet

Al Jazeera  

Founded in 1979, Activision is home to some of the most popular game franchises in the world, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush and Guitar Hero. Microsoft Corp. agreed to buy Activision Blizzard Inc. in a $68.7 billion deal, uniting two of the biggest forces in video games to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company. Adding Activision’s …

Microsoft was once ready to bring Xbox-exclusive games as apps to iPhone, including AAA titles
3 years ago

Microsoft was once ready to bring Xbox-exclusive games as apps to iPhone, including AAA titles

India Today  

Microsoft jumped on the cloud gaming bandwagon with Project xCloud shortly after Google Stadia arrived. The Verge has obtained emails shared between Microsoft Xbox head of business development Lori Wright and key people in the App Store team at Apple, and, according to the information revealed in them, Microsoft was willing to accept many of Apple’s demands at one point …

Analysis | Epic’s narrow win in App Store case toughens fight against Google Play rules
3 years, 3 months ago

Analysis | Epic’s narrow win in App Store case toughens fight against Google Play rules

The Hindu  

Android app makers suing to stop Alphabet Inc's Google from siphoning up to 30% of their sales received little reassurance about their chances on Friday as a judge allowed a comparable fee charged by Apple Inc to stand. Developers including "Fortnite" maker Epic Games in the last year took aim at the two biggest mobile app stores, run by Apple …

UK watchdog is looking into iOS, Android 'mobile ecosystem' over concerns of the tech giants stifling competition
3 years, 6 months ago

UK watchdog is looking into iOS, Android 'mobile ecosystem' over concerns of the tech giants stifling competition

Firstpost  

The authority said it’s taking a closer look at the “effective duopoly” Google and Apple have on the various gateways through which users can access online content. UK competition regulators are looking into Apple and Google smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers, over concern that the control of “mobile ecosystems” by the two tech giants is harming consumers. The …

Apple CEO faces tough questions about app store competition
3 years, 7 months ago

Apple CEO faces tough questions about app store competition

Associated Press  

SAN RAMON, Calif. — Apple CEO Tim Cook described the company’s ironclad control over its mobile app store as the best way to serve and protect iPhone users, but he faced tough questions about competition issues from a judge Friday about allegations he oversees an illegal monopoly. Created by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs a year after the iPhone’s 2007 debut, …

Apple holds edge in app store trial despite nagging issues
3 years, 7 months ago

Apple holds edge in app store trial despite nagging issues

The Hindu  

Apple seems to be prevailing in an antitrust trial examining whether its mobile app store illegally skims profits from smaller companies. To prevail, Epic will have to persuade U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that Apple’s app store has become a monopoly that has enabled the Cupertino, California, company to engage in price gouging. After Schmalensee likened Apple’s in-app commissions …

A look at Apple's high and low points in 2020
3 years, 11 months ago

A look at Apple's high and low points in 2020

The Hindu  

In an eventful year marked with a number of new launches, Apple has seen both crests and troughs in 2020. Apple is also introducing a new anti-app tracking feature in iOS 14 that will require all apps in the App Store to request users' consent before tracking them for personalised ads. Apple’s Fortnite removal Apple removed Epic Games-owned Fortnite from …

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