Xbox Financial News

(Reuters) -Gaming platform Roblox missed estimates for second-quarter bookings on Wednesday as waning demand for its online games and intensifying competition hurt growth, sending its shares down 8% in trading before the bell.

Fortnite developer Epic Games has executed a game-wide pause to usher in the rollout of update 25.30. This update, accessible across platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, Android, and PC, is slated for download on the morning of August 8. However, this advancement comes hand in hand with a transient phase of server downtime, implying a temporary cessation of Fortnite gameplay for a span of a few hours. For those yearning to rejoin the virtual battleground, a peek into the 25.30 server downtime schedule offers guidance. Downtime Chronicles: Insights and Expect

Activision has officially declared that this year's installment of the popular game series, Call of Duty, will follow up on the events of the previous year's game. The new release, titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, is set to hit the market on November 10, as announced in a brief teaser released on Monday.

Game Pass has revealed its roster of complimentary games for the first half of August 2023. Let us see the games, which will be available for console, PC and Ultimate subscribers.

Snoop Dogg, the renowned rapper and musician, is making a significant appearance in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 as a playable character. This marks a notable change from his previous brief appearances in past Call of Duty games. Gamers are excited to witness Snoop in action as a playable character, and his celebrity presence is sure to draw in more players and generate buzz around the game. Season 5 is highly anticipated by fans as it brings the opportunity to unlock the new operator. Players are eager to discover the requirements needed to obtain this character. Once the necessary conditions are met, they can access the operator in both Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2.

Madden Championship Series (MCS) will launch in August, featuring a substantial $1.7 million prize pool. As Madden 24 releases worldwide on August 18, players can gear up for exciting competitions throughout the NFL season 2023. The action-packed MCS 24 is scheduled to begin immediately after the game's launch, kicking off with the Ultimate Kickoff event. EA Sports will inaugurate the competitive Madden esports circuit with the Ultimate Kickoff finals taking place on September 5-6. Interested participants can register for the Ultimate Kickoff starting from August 1 at 11 AM ET until August 20 at 12:59 PM ET. The MCS 24 Ultimate Kickoff will begin with two days of ladder play on August 19-20, followed by a two-day Single Elimination round on August 27-28, featuring the top 544 competitors who qualify from the ladder stage. Additionally, EA will introduce Ultimate Challenges for the MCS, consisting of four events to be held between September 2023 and January 2024. Challenge #1 will commence on September 16 with ladder play. Players earning top 544 spots in each of the five MCS events will accumulate points toward the finals, where the top 14 players with the highest points after the Ultimate Kickoff and the four challenges will battle it out in the prestigious Ultimate Madden Bowl. The cumulative prize pool for all MCS tournaments amounts to $1.7 million, with the Ultimate Madden Bowl offering a substantial $1 million prize pool, including a grand prize of $250,000 for the winner. To participate, players must be 16 years old or above. Cross-platform competition is open to PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S owners, while tournaments will be exclusively accessible through Madden Ultimate Team.

Immortals of Aveum, Atlas Fallen, Sea of Stars, Armored Core 6, Baldur’s Gate 3, and more.

A mark on a map. A movie too outrageous to give a rating. It's the stuff of revolutionaries (Malcolm X) and punks (X, the band).

Microsoft has recently unveiled limited-edition Xbox controllers that smell like pizza, at least the claims say. In anticipation of the much-awaited release of TMNT, a.k.a. «Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem», the gaming giant is readying up. These limited-edition controllers come ooze-green colored and are a piece of art to complete the game’s content. The unique feature of these controllers is a built-in scent diffuser, cleverly shaped like a slice of pizza. Furthermore, there are four variations of the controller, each representing one of the beloved «Ninja Turtle» brothers: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. These controllers mirror the brothers' individual signature colors, weapons, and personalities, making them an exciting collectible for fans of the franchise.

Square Enix announced that Dawntrail will mark Final Fantasy XIV or FF14’s fifth major expansion. This announcement was made during the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest keynote during the American Leg at Las Vegas alongside a brief introduction trailer. The trailer provided a re-introduction to the main characters of the series, who are seen exploring a tropical island referred to as Eorzea's «New World.» It appears that the Scions, after their tireless efforts to save existence, are now taking a well-deserved break and engaging in treasure hunts while relishing the breathtaking scenery and immersive experiences of this uncharted territory.

NBA offseason is always a time of change, with star players switching teams and new talents joining the league. This year, we can expect even more significant changes, as the NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary season. The release of NBA 2K24, the latest installment in the popular basketball simulation game, is also on the horizon. Moreover, crossplay will be available for the first time in franchise history in 2K24, though not everyone will have access to it. Additionally, 2K plans to introduce ProPLAY, a revolutionary technology that translates NBA footage into the game's gameplay. Further, players can honor Kobe Bryant by recreating memorable moments from his career through the new Mamba Moments Mode.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has deepened its relationship with PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), the company announced Wednesday, with the integration of PayPal's Pay Later solution in the U.S., UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing" is set to hit the gaming scene in 2023. This action-packed title will be available on various platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam).

Massive Entertainment has been at the helm of Ubisoft's ambitious open-world Star Wars project, known as "Star Wars Outlaws," which was officially revealed during the Xbox Summer Games Fest 2023. Initially codenamed «Project Helix,» the game has undergone playtesting and is set in the beloved Star Wars universe.

EA Sports' Madden NFL franchise, Madden 24 is set to revolutionize the football gaming experience with new gameplay upgrades and modes.

Diablo IV or Diablo 4 has been an instant hit with gamers across the world. The European video gaming market also felt the positive impact of the Diablo IV as the last month's sales in the continent recorded a staggering figure of 15.5 million, as per GSD data. For those unaware, this data covers digital games primarily from major AAA games publishers and physical retain games from major European cities. If we segregate the numbers, then the obtained data shows that more than 5 million were sold physically and around 10.5 million digitally. Now, the big credit behind the uptick in sales goes to Diablo IV. The hype surrounding the game seems to have paid off, after a 20 per cent hike was recorded from June previous year.

Microsoft Corp. has taken a strategic step in its pursuit of acquiring Activision Blizzard by extending the agreement for the $69 billion acquisition until October 18, 2023. The extension aims to overcome remaining regulatory obstacles and create one of the largest video game developers globally. Negotiations led to revised terms, including termination fees, in case the deal does not go through after specific dates. The original deadline for the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft was set for July 18. However, to address regulatory concerns and ensure a smooth merger process, both companies have agreed to extend the deal deadline until October 18, 2023. This extension allows them to navigate and resolve any remaining hurdles.

The deadline for Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard has been extended to as the companies seek to close a deal that has been opposed by regulators in the U.S. and the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority

Republican lawmakers urged the Federal Trade Commission to drop its fight against Microsoft's deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, calling it «an example of the FTC's rejection of sound antitrust policy.» The lawmakers, all members of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in a letter sent on Monday to FTC Chair Lina Khan and two commissioners and publicly released on Tuesday, said the proposed deal is a «pro-competitive transaction.» The agency, which enforces antitrust law, is considering its options after a U.S. District Court judge ruled last week that the deal was legal and an appeals court declined an emergency motion to pause the transaction.

Destiny 2 are geared up for one of the major events around the videogame, the Solstice. The 2023 edition of Destiny 2: Solstice is about to begin for a limited time, from July to August 2023. Here are the details of Destiny 2: Solstice 2023; Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter video game that can be played free. It is available to play on PlayStation, Xbox, or even Windows. Destiny 2: Solstice 2023 promises new armor, a weapon, and the Bonfire Bash mode on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC.

Microsoft Corp is in talks about an extension of its acquisition contract with video game maker Activision Blizzard, which is set to expire on Tuesday, so the parties can overcome the remaining regulatory hurdles to their $69 billion deal, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday. The expiration of the contract would not automatically lead to the collapse of the deal, as it simply affords either company the right to walk away from the transaction.