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      Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard

      January 18, 2022 /

      Activision January 2022

      Microsoft is doubling down on its huge gaming bet as it strikes a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. CEO Satya Nadella explains that the will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms at Microsoft. In other words, they’re not leaving this space to Meta/Facebook.

      Microsoft gains iconic titles in the deal:

      Microsoft is acquiring Activision, the troubled publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The deal will value Activision at $68.7 billion, far in excess of the $26 billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. It’s Microsoft’s biggest push into gaming, and the company says it will be the “third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony” once the deal closes.

      Microsoft plans to add many of Activision’s games to Xbox Game Pass once the deal closes. With the acquisition of Activision, Microsoft will soon publish franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush. “Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog,” says Microsoft’s CEO of gaming Phil Spencer.

      There have been tons of problems at Activision Blizzard regarding allegations of sexual harassment. Microsoft will have plenty to deal with through any transition. For gamers it will be interesting to see if this creative studio will thrive or wilt under the Microsoft umbrella. Nadella is an excellent CEO so their track record is improving.

      Activision, Xbox 360

      Tezos blockchain gains in NFT-based play-to-earn gaming

      January 16, 2022 /

      Tezos blockchain

      The NFT gaming movement is growing fast, and various blockchains are in a battle to be the platform of choice for game developers. Tezos is making real progress in this area with its emphasis on low energy consumption, cheaper fees, community governance and easily upgradeable architecture.

      Energy consumption is a real factor here, as many consumers and gamers are in open revolt over the concept of NFTs that can hurt the environment when housed on platforms that burn a considerable amount of energy. Tezos is one of many blockchains focusing on more efficient energy consumption:

      One of the main criticisms levied at NFTs is the high energy consumption of the blockchains that host them. The Ethereum blockchain, for instance, is said to consume around 26TWh annually, the equivalent of the nation of Ecuador. Tezos however is able to distance itself from those criticisms as it’s one of the most environmentally-friendly blockchains of all, thanks to its use of a Proof-of-Stake consensus to validate transactions on the network. As a result, in comparison to Ethereum, it uses a minuscule 60MWh of energy per year.

      The battle for game NFTs will be fierce, so it will be interesting to see if Tezos emerges as one of the long-term winners here.

      NFTs

      Legacy Land Sale off to a fast start

      January 16, 2022 /

      Legacy Land sale

      Game developer Peter Molyneux has gone all-in on NFTs and the concept of “play-to-earn” games, announcing in December that the next project from his studio 22Cans called “Legacy” will incorporate blockchain technology and NFTs. The point of the game is basically to scale from a small local business into a mega corporation, but they key component is that you have to own land in the game. There’s the rub, and the huge potential for revenues. Welcome to the metaverse!

      You can see the Legacy Land Sale here with the following intro:

      Our first Land sale takes place in London, England, one of the World’s most lucrative real estate locations. Here, you can grab yourself a piece of the UK, home to Peter Molyneux and the 22cans team. Be quick, this is a city with a history of property price rises — in Legacy, you’ll not get a better chance to own a piece of this magnificent city. Avoid delay, get in today!

      Players reacted with enthusiasm as they invested over $54 million in digital land! This is definitely another “play-to-earn” project to keep your eyes on.

      NFTs

      Konami sells Castlevania 35th Anniversary NFTs

      January 16, 2022 /

      Castlevania 35th Anniversary NFT

      When you think of NFTs being issued by game publishers, one might expect NFTs that can be used in game play. That’s obviously the most logical and popular use case, but game collectibles can also be very lucrative.

      Knoami is cashing in on the 35th anniversary of its Castlevania title by issuing a series of anniversary NFTs for fans and collectors. The publisher sold 14 NFT images and videos on OpenSea, earning over $160,000 for the series. Konami will also get a 10% royalty on all future sales on the secondary market.

      This is obviously a money-grab for the publisher, but it will be interesting to see how many of these collectible NFTs emerge in the gaming space. Fans love these old titles, so these types of collectibles will likely earn good revenues for publishers while we remain in NFT mania, but will these projects have staying power?

      NFTs

      SEGA files for NFT trademark in Japan

      January 16, 2022 /

      SEGA NFT trademark filing in Japan

      There’s a ton of controversy out there regarding NFTs in games. Some games have literally grown around the concept of “play-to-earn” NFTs that are an integral part of the game. For some established games, however, the announcement of NFTs that can be purchased has created a huge backlash from fans who believe the gaming companies are just using NFTs for profits as opposed to enhancing the games.

      Expect this battle to continue, but NFTs in games are here to stay. SEGA recently filed for a trademark for SEGA NFT in Japan, so we can expect a lot more of this from other game companies.

      NFTs

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