Blizzard News Articles
Sunday16th Jul 2023
News Microsoft & Sony Sign Binding Agreement To Keep Call Of Duty On PlayStation
Phil Spencer confirms
Update: It's now been confirmed Microsoft has committed to a 10-year deal for Call of Duty on PlayStation. Sony has also confirmed this with Axios. "While Microsoft’s initial announcement doesn’t mention 10 years for Call of Duty on PlayStation, Kari Perez, head of global communications at Xbox, confirmed the 10-year
Saturday15th Jul 2023
News Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition Given Greenlight In US After FTC Loses (Again)
"This brings us another step closer to the finish line"
Following FTC's appeal of the previous court ruling permitting Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the US regulator has now lost again. The Federal Trade Commission was also seeking injunctive relief to prevent Microsoft from closing the deal but has been denied by the US Ninth...
Friday14th Jul 2023
News Xbox Activision Blizzard Deal Officially Approved In Turkey Amidst Ongoing FTC Battle
Another win for Xbox
Although Microsoft seems to be getting closer to the final stage of acquiring Activision Blizzard in the US, it's still trying to pass the deal in other regions around the world, and is seeing success in most countries. The company is currently in the process of sorting out some issues relating to the deal with the UK's CMA,...
Wednesday12th Jul 2023
News Xbox's ActiBlizz Deal Seems Closer, But Some Game Pass Arrivals Could Be Delayed
A recent CMA report mentions COD on Game Pass
Following yesterday's blockbuster news that the FTC's attempted injunction against Microsoft has been denied, the Activision Blizzard deal going through feels closer than ever. Even so, the acquisition is still not confirmed by any means, and a remaining authority that still needs winning over has also...
News Microsoft And UK CMA Agree To Pause Legal Battle Over Activision Blizzard Deal
Update: CMA warns of a potential "new merger investigation"
Update: The CMA has warned that its latest discussions with Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are at an "early stage", and a restructured deal could ultimately lead to a "new merger investigation". Here's a statement courtesy of The Verge: "Whilst merging parties don’t have the...
Tuesday11th Jul 2023
News Xbox's Phil Spencer 'Grateful' For Speedy Court Decision On FTC Activision Blizzard Case
"I’m proud of our efforts to expand player access and choice"
The FTC has just lost its case to block Microsoft's Activision Blizzard purchase, and company executives are already out there on the internet, reacting to the news and providing statements on the matter. One of those execs is Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who has released a multi-post...
News Blizzard Reiterates That Diablo 4 Isn't Coming To Xbox Game Pass For Now
Things may change if the ActiBlizz purchase goes through
Back in March, Blizzard confirmed ahead of launch that Diablo 4 wasn't coming to Xbox Game Pass, but the ongoing ActiBlizz deal has continued to stir speculation about its eventual arrival. That speculation came to another infliction point this week when a Brazilian digital retailer listed...
Thursday29th Jun 2023
News Microsoft's CEO Isn't A Fan Of Console Exclusives, Blames Sony
Sony has "defined market competition using exclusives"
Exclusives are arguably one of the main selling points of console gaming, but if Microsoft's boss had any say, he would apparently abolish them. During his testimony in the Microsoft v FTC hearing today, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella said he would do away with exclusives on Xbox consoles if it...
Tuesday20th Jun 2023
News New Zealand Regulator Shares Concerns Over Xbox's Activision Blizzard Takeover
"We have agreed an extension of time"
We've got another development in the Activision Blizzard saga! The New Zealand Commerce Commission has officially asked for an extension before making a decision on the takeover, with the date now set as July 17th, 2023. The Commission's concerns are centred mainly around cloud gaming, with a statement...
Monday12th Jun 2023
News FTC Requests Temporary Restraining Order Against Microsoft & Activision Blizzard
Along with a preliminary injunction
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it's filed a request for a temporary restraining order along with a preliminary injunction against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. The FTC, which issued a lawsuit against the ActiBlizz takeover back in December, told IGN today that the restraining order is...
News Microsoft Is Still 'Very Committed' To The Activision Blizzard Acquisition
Xbox boss remains "confident" team will find solutions
At an Xbox panel earlier on titled 'What's Next for Gaming', Xbox boss Phil Spencer provided another update about the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reiterating how Microsoft is "very committed" to seeing the deal through. The team is out there working with regulators to "find solutions"...
Wednesday7th Jun 2023
News Diablo 4 'Feels Remarkably Polished' At 60FPS On Both Xbox Series X And Series S
Digital Foundry takes a look
Diablo 4 is here and it's breaking records already - proving to be Blizzard's biggest game launch ever and prompting a congratulations post from Xbox's Phil Spencer. Thankfully, the game seems to have the technical chops to go along with it, as showcased in a recent breakdown by Digital Foundry. <rel
News Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Congratulates Blizzard On Diablo 4's 'Amazing Success'
It's now Blizzard's "fastest-selling" game ever
Diablo 4 is now available to everyone, and Blizzard has already shared some rather exciting news - revealing the title is officially the fastest-selling game the company has ever released. The celebrations didn't end there, either - with Xbox also confirming it is the "fastest-selling" Blizzard game...
Tuesday6th Jun 2023
News Diablo 4 Dynamic Background Now Available On Xbox Series X And S
Adorn your dashboard with a Diablo hellscape
Blizzard has brought a brand-new Diablo 4 dynamic background to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and it's a beauty. To coincide with the game's standard edition launch, you can now decorate your dashboard with this hellish design. In order to activate the Diablo 4 dynamic background, you'll need to go to...
Wednesday31st May 2023
News Xbox's Appeal Against UK ActiBlizz Verdict Set For July 2023
The show goes on
Ever since the CMA made its move to block Xbox's Activision Blizzard deal in the UK, we've known that Microsoft would appeal against the decision. The Xbox owner came out proclaiming as much straight after the decision was made, and we now have a tentative timeline for the appeals process. The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal is...
Tuesday30th May 2023
News Diablo 4 Early Reviews Suggest A Potential GOTY Candidate On Xbox
Coming in extra hot
Early reviews of Blizzard's upcoming epic RPG Diablo 4 are starting to hit the web, and it's looking like a fantastic start for the team's fourth mainline entry in the series. Here at Pure Xbox, we thought the game was excellent; granting it a 9/10 in our full written review. You can check out our thoughts down below, along with...
News Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal Approved By South Korean FTC
Approval stamped
The Asian nation of South Korea is the latest to unconditionally approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard merger, as announced by the country's Federal Trade Commission on May 30th. The South Korean FTC says that it sees no issue with the deal going ahead, ultimately determining that there would be "no risk of substantially restricting...
Friday19th May 2023
News In The Latest Xbox ActiBlizz Twist, China Reportedly Approves Microsoft's Acquisition
Capitalism W?
While Microsoft looks like it has a fight on its hands with the UK CMA — and potentially the US FTC — over its Activision Blizzard acquisition, in a new twist today - China has reportedly approved the deal. According to the financial analysts over at
News 2K Seems To Be Totally In Favour Of Xbox Acquiring Activision Blizzard
It could be a slam dunk
Earlier this week, 2K parent company Take-Two released its latest financial report, and a batch of related Q&As have led to some interesting Xbox tidbits. We already reported on the company's CEO saying we're "probably" going to see mid-gen console upgrades, and the 2K boss also discussed Microsoft's ongoing acquisition...
Thursday18th May 2023
News UK CMA Encouraged To Promote 'Economic Growth' Despite Reservations Over ActiBlizz Deal
It's all getting rather political isn't it
Since the CMA decided to try and block Xbox's Activision Blizzard deal in the UK, we've been left a little unsure as to where the whole saga will go next. The EU has now approved the deal which at least paints a slightly rosier picture for Microsoft, but here in the UK and over in the U.S. it all seems up...
Wednesday17th May 2023
News Blizzard Has Axed Overwatch 2's PvE Hero Mode
"We can't deliver on that original vision"
Blizzard's Overwatch 2 team has dropped a bombshell today, announcing it will no longer deliver the game's long-awaited PvE Hero Mode. This mode was originally part of the reasoning behind the release of Overwatch 2, and now in an official Twitch livestream the game's executive producer Jared Neuss has...
Tuesday16th May 2023
News UK MPs Question Why The CMA Blocked Xbox's ActiBlizz Deal Following EU Approval
The CMA says the EU is "fully entitled to reach that view"
Yesterday brought the latest twist in the Xbox Activision Blizzard tale when the European Commission officially approved Microsoft's attempted merger. They now join a fairly extensive list of regions that are in favour of the deal going ahead, however, as is seemingly becoming the norm in...
Monday15th May 2023
News EU Makes Microsoft 'Automatically License' ActiBlizz Cloud Games Post-Merger
"This will apply globally", says Microsoft's president
Following today's news of the EU approval over the Xbox Activision Blizzard merger, Microsoft president Brad Smith has quickly made a follow-up statement that makes for interesting reading. While we knew of lots of individual cloud gaming deals that the Xbox owner struck with various companies...
News COD Going Xbox Exclusive 'Would Not Significantly Harm Competition', Says EU
The European Commission weighs in
Well, Xbox's huge Activision Blizzard deal has been officially approved in the EU! The region is happy with the concessions Microsoft has made in regards to cloud gaming, and going off some of the statements in its new report, the European Commission wa
Friday12th May 2023
News Xbox & Activision Among Long List Of Devs Involved With Summer Game Fest 2023
Geoff reveals the lineup
With the cancellation of E3 this year, Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest essentially takes over as the main gaming event for the season. With less than a month to go until The Game Awards host delivers the show, a pretty long list of partnered game companies have been announced. There are some huge names in this list,...
News UK CMA Places Further Restrictions On Microsoft And Activision Blizzard
Clamping down
There's been a slight update in Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority now restricting the tech and video game giants from "acquiring an interest" in each other. As explained by the BBC, a recent interim order reveals the two parties would need "prior written consent"...
Wednesday10th May 2023
Report Activision Blizzard Hires Royal Family-Level Lawyer To Fight UK CMA
He represented the Queen at one point!
Things are seemingly getting pretty serious when it comes to Xbox's squabble with the UK CMA over its Activision Blizzard deal! According to law analyst Florian Mueller (via Eurogamer), ActiBlizz has gone all the way to the top in hiring a lawyer to overturn
Friday28th Apr 2023
News Ukraine The Latest Nation To Pass Xbox's Activision Blizzard Acquisition
Microsoft sees success in the region
It's not all doom and gloom for Microsoft when it comes to the ongoing ActiBlizz deal! The Ukrainian government has announced this week that it is happy for Xbox's acquisition of the company to go ahead. Yep, despite hitting a major stumbling block here in the UK, the Eastern European nation seems satisfied with...
News Microsoft Signs New 10-Year Deal Despite UK ActiBlizz Verdict
"We are full speed ahead in our mission"
This week brought earth shattering Xbox news, when the UK CMA decided to block Microsoft's huge purchase of Activision Blizzard. The Xbox owner is already committed to appealing the decision though, and now, it's made another move to suggest that this deal is far from over. This morning, Microsoft has...
Wednesday26th Apr 2023
News Microsoft Will Appeal UK Decision To Block Activision Blizzard Purchase
"We remain fully committed to this acquisition"
In case you missed the megaton news earlier on, the UK Competition and Markets Authority has officially blocked Xbox's Activision Blizzard deal. We definitely weren't expecting that decision, but it seems that Microsoft is already prepared for what comes next. In an official statement from company...
