Expanding Reach
Africa and India are in Microsoft's sights for ad-supported game streaming
The Xbox giant is planning on using ads to reach new players and expand its audience
Company Profile
Microsoft
Website
www.microsoft.com
About
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
Related People
Brad Smith
President
Satya Nadella
CEO
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
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Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
New Competition
Microsoft accelerates plans for Xbox mobile marketplace launch
“This move is part of a broader strategy to extend the joy and community of Xbox gaming beyond consoles, bringing it into the mobile world," claims Montgomery Singman
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news, including games tech making movies, Microsoft's app store aspirations and procuring prize Pokémon…
Microsoft Mobile
Microsoft in discussions with potential partners over mobile app store for games
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer hints its launch may not be far off
Mobile Mavens
Mobile Mavens: One month on, what next for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
A month ago today Microsoft closed it’s deal and with no immediate upsets was it all a storm in a teacup? Or 28 days later, is the apocalypse imminent? We ask the experts…
Acquiblizz
Microsoft's Xbox boss Phil Spencer sticks to Call of Duty non exclusivity promise
"We have no goal of somehow trying to use Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console."
Fallout Series
Fallout TV series gets April 2024 release date
The adaptation of the hit franchise is just the latest sign that Hollywood is turning to games
Hot Five
Hot Five: Unity’s new CEO, Applovin rumours, and the biggest deal in games industry history is complete
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Done Deal
Microsoft's mobile mishaps: Why the Activision Blizzard deal had to happen
The tech giant has had a troubled history on mobile. Could gaming's biggest ever deal finally put right their wrongs?
It's Over
It's official. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is now complete
The "legendary teams" at Activision Blizzard and King are now part of Team Xbox
Acquiblizz
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard: The complete timeline
From inception to lawsuits - how has the biggest deal in gaming history progressed?
Mission Accomplished
Done deal: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal approved by UK regulators
Video game's biggest deal ever just got approved with Activision Blizzard becoming part of Microsoft for $68.7 billion
Cloud Competition
Amazon and Microsoft cloud services to face CMA competition probe
The competition and markets authority will investigate the tech giants to ensure fair play
Acquiblizz
Microsoft hopes to close its Activision Blizzard deal as early as October 13
The long-running saga may finally be coming to a close
Acquiblizz
The CMA gives Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard its provisional approval
The UK's competition watchdog has long been the largest remaining hurdle in the deal's way
Xbox Leaks
Microsoft's big gaming leak: Meet Brooklin, Sebile, Ellewood and more…
Undisclosed documents surface revealing Microsoft's new hardware, cloud and mobile plans and company's aim to deliver gaming everywhere
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including the rebirth of a legend and the creation of a new genre
Acquiblizz
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer stresses the importance of mobile in Xbox’s future success
The Xbox boss claims that Xbox needs mobile presence to thrive
Acquiblizz
Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kottick clarifies his company's position in the latest deal twist
With Microsoft cutting their cloud gaming titles adrift, what does that mean for Activision Blizzard?
Aquiblizz
Microsoft sell cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft to dodge the UK's Activision Blizzard deal block
And the deal goes on… All parties are agreed on the new UK-specific arrangement with an October 18 deadline for final approval
Breakdown
Drake Star's Global Gaming Report: Breaking down the numbers, charts and more
What do Drake Star’s charts and graphs tell us about the gaming industry today?
Acuiblizz
FTC to appeal against the judge’s decision in Microsoft case
A San Francisco judge denied the regulatory body’s preliminary injunction against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Acquiblizz
California judge denies the FTC’s preliminary injunction against Microsoft
The FTC’s attempts to scupper Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard have hit a roadblock
No Halo Killer
ID@Xbox's Chris Charla on discoverability and launching into a saturated market
The three day conference opens with a short talk on indie devs from which game makers on all platform can draw insights
Legislation
Google, Apple and others now have six months to comply with new digital markets rules
The Digital Markets Act in the EU will see digital “gatekeepers” forced to adhere to new rules
Competition Authority
South African authorities unconditionally approve Activision Blizzard acquisition
Another win for Microsoft despite home-grown struggles
Sonic Speculations
Microsoft acquiring Sega? Rumours get extinguished by COO Shuji Utsumi
The Federal Trade Commission’s suit against Microsoft reveals notions of acquiring Sega… Which went precisely nowhere
Ranking
AppLovin takes downloads top spot for US companies worldwide
Data.ai's latest shows mobile-first beating the big names to take pole position
Documentation
Zynga, Playrix and Niantic were all potential entries on Microsoft’s shopping list
News comes as part of the revelation Microsoft considered buying Sega
Delays
New Zealand competition authorities to delay decision on Activision Blizzard acquisition to July 17th
The delay comes as the US FTC and UK CMA both levy actions against the landmark deal
Partnerships
Hutch to partner with Forza's Turn 10 for standalone racing game
The studio behind Top Drives is set to tackle working with Microsoft's top driving team
Acquiblizz
A US judge has blocked Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Despite being approved around the world, the biggest acquisition in gaming history still faces significant hurdles
Deal Disruption
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard sued by FTC
The Federal Trade Commission aims to block the acquisition sooner rather than later
Teaming Up
Activision Blizzard piles in to support Microsoft’s CMA appeal
UK regulator to face Microsoft and Activision Blizzard together in cloud gaming appeal
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including Apple's latest hardware, Silent Hill's next steps, and Microsoft's appeal against the CMA
Acquiblizz
Microsoft and the UK's CMA begin their appeal tribunal on July 24
Microsoft hopes to change the CMA’s mind regarding its acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Aquiblizz
South Korean regulators approve Activision Blizzard deal
The approval puts further pressure on the UK CMA
China Chimes In
China approves Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition
Yet another approval counter to the UK’s decision
Acquiblizz
“It’s really important that we own this decision." The EU responds to the UK CMA’s Microsoft merger comments
The EU commission cements its stance on the Activision Blizzard takeover following the UK CMA's mixed messages yesterday
Acquiblizz
Could Microsoft pull off a 'Mexit' and quit the UK after Aquiblizz blocks?
It's not impossible. Microsoft could pull prohibited games out of the UK to close the Activision Blizzard deal. But what would that mean and how likely is it to happen?
Acquiblizz
Electronic Arts boss Andrew Wilson claims Microsoft/Activision Blizzard deal is immaterial to them
EA remains Microsoft's "biggest partner and number one publisher on their platform"
Acquiblizz
The CMA responds to the European Commission’s approval of the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard Deal
The group took to Twitter to reaffirm its position regarding the acquisition
Acquiblizz
Approved: The EU gives Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard the go ahead
The EU’s decision puts it at odds with the UK and USA
Regulation
The UK CMA place blanket ban on investment between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
It just gets worse. Now the two giants will not even be able to “acquire an interest” in one another
Acquiblizz
Microsoft prepares to appeal against the CMA’s Activision Blizzard ruling
The UK group blocked the biggest acquisition in gaming history last month
A Yes From Ukraine
Ukraine grants approval of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition
Ukraine is less concerned about cloud gaming than the European Commission
Acquiblizz
Is the biggest deal in gaming history dead and what happens next?
With the UK's CMA blocking Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, where does that leave the deal and the rest of the industry?
Regulators
Bobby Kotick and Brad Smith defiant after CMA ruling
The bosses of both Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have hit back harshly at regulators who've blocked their deal
Acquiblizz
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority blocks the Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal
Microsoft was unable to address the CMA’s concerns regarding how the deal would affect competitors in the cloud gaming space
Acquiblizz
Sony claims CMA narrowing scope of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is “irrational”
The tech giant has been one of the deal’s biggest opponents