O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Game

  • Microsoft announces $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard

    Microsoft announces $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard

    Because $68.7 billion forms a pretty enormous gaming empire.

    Microsoft on Tuesday announced its acquisition of Activision Blizzard for US$95 per share, bringing the total valuation to US$68.7 billion, on Tuesday. The deal includes iconic franchises from the Activision, Blizzard and King studios such as “Warcraft,” “Diablo,” “Overwatch,” “Call of Duty” and “Candy Crush.”

    The deal, when complete, would make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world, by revenue, with only Sony and Tencent ahead of them.

    The company has studios around the word with nearly 10,000 employees. In addition to the above franchises it includes global eSports activities through Major League Gaming.

    Bobby Kotick will remain CEO of Activision Blizzard and will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, offered the following:

    Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms. We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all.

    Microsoft also announced that Activision Blizzard games will be included in the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, which offers a rotating catalog of games from a variety of publishers. The addition of Activision Blizzard’s nearly 400 million monthly active players in 190 countries and three billion-dollar franchises would bolster the service’s game lineup.

    The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, completion of regulatory review, and Activision Blizzard’s shareholder approval, and expected to close in fiscal year 2023. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and Microsoft

  • Fortnite now playable on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS again through Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service

    Fortnite now playable on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS again through Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service

    You can once again play Fortnite on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, albeit through a web browser.

    Nvidia and Epic Games have announced that Fortnite will return to Apple platforms via the GeForce Now cloud streaming service, which will offer the game through a web browser.

    Fortnite has been missing from the App Store since August 2020 — and it appears that this will remain the case for a while. However, Nvidia on Thursday announced an alternative for “Fortnite” players on iPhone and iPad.

    Nvidia officially opened up a beta for the streamed version of the games on iOS and Android. For users of Apple devices, they’ll be able to play “Fortnite” via Apple’s Safari browser.

    Unlike the currently available version of Fortnite on of GeForce Now, the version being beta tested will be a native mobile variant optimized for touch-based controls. Fortnite is technically already available for Android, but only as a desktop port.

    GeForce Now functions as a cloud gaming platform that allows users to stream titles across their devices. On iOS, GeForce Now is accessible via web browser, which is the only way that iPhone or iPad users can use cloud-based game streaming platforms.

    Interested users can sign up for Nvidia’s Fortnite beta on the company’s website, and while testers will receive access later this month, Nvidia noted that only “selected members” will receive an invitation.

    Fortnite is the centerpiece of a tortuous and ongoing legal battle between developer Epic Games and Apple.

    In August 2020, Epic snuck a direct payment mechanism into Fortnite in violation of Apple’s guidelines, leading to the game’s removal from the App Store. That led to a lawsuit and court battle that largely ended up in Apple’s favor.

    Both Apple and Epic Games have appealed the court’s decision.

    However, both Apple and Epic Games have appealed the decision.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Nvidia

  • Alien: Isolation now available for iPhone and iPad

    Alien: Isolation now available for iPhone and iPad

    If you’re hankering for a good sci-fi game, this is it.

    Alien: Isolation is now available for iOS and iPadOS devices.

    Players take on the role of Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, as she strives to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance. Aboard the desolate Sevastopol space station, her search for answers soon becomes a desperate fight for survival as she’s relentlessly hunted by a deadly, unknown menace. 

    The game includes all seven DLC packs, gamepad support, and a customizable touchscreen interface that’s been redesigned for mobile devices.

    Alien: Isolation retails for $14.99 and requires iOS 14.8 or iPadOS 14.8 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the game on your iPhone or iPad, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via The Mac Observer and the App Store

  • GeForce Now updated, offers improved service on Apple Silicon-based Macs

    GeForce Now updated, offers improved service on Apple Silicon-based Macs

    If you’re looking to use GeForce Now’s gaming service on your Apple Silicon-enabled Mac, you’re going to like this.

    A new update to the service now offers improved gameplay, and RTX 3080 members can play at native 1600p on their Apple Silicon-enabled Macs.

    The GeForce Now update brings a few new perks for members like linking Nvidia and Ubisoft accounts for fast sign-in. Mac users get a treat with improved streaming performance and new gaming modes for the Apple Silicon Macs.

    In addition to the streaming improvements, Mac players using Apple Silicon hardware can now run their games at their native 1600p resolution. This is restricted to RTX 3080 members and enables streaming sessions for up to 8 hours.

    Set RTX on for both RTX 3080 and Priority members to experience real-time ray tracing without the need for a PC. Of course, players will need robust network connections for great streaming sessions.

    Nvidia also cited that the update includes a fix for streaming in the correct aspect ratio when gaming on a MacBook Pro with M1 Max.

    GeForce Now functions as a cloud gaming service that offers players access to their PC library over Ubisoft connect, Steam, and other platforms. Players can enjoy their games on any supported browser from Macs to Safari on iPhone.

    Finally, Nvidia removed a previous statement saying that GeForce Now is Apple Silicon-native, and cited that it is actually Intel-based running on Apple’s Rosetta 2 software.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and blogs.nvidia.com

  • Pokemon Unite launches for iOS, iPadOS

    Pokemon Unite launches for iOS, iPadOS

    If you’re looking for more Pokemon goodness on your iPhone or iPad, the long-awaited “Pokemon Unite” has just launched for the iOS and iPadOS platforms and features cross-platform saves and multiplayer features.

    “Pokemon Unite” is a strategic battle game which released on Nintendo Switch in July. Existing players can import their save data to their mobile devices and battle with other players regardless of platform.

    Nintendo has stated that more than five million players pre-registered for the app version of the game, and in-app incentives are unlocked for any player who logs into the app by October 31. Players will receive Pikachu as a playable character, and a costume for the character. Also, everyone will receive 1,000 Aeos tickets, which can be exchanged for in-game items.

    Players can also readily create or join Unite Squads, which allows players to find other squads to join via a tag search feature. Throughout the game, players play as several Pokemon and fight in five-versus-five battles. Players compete to earn the most pints in a round using each Pokemon’s special advantages and techniques.

    Pokemon Unite requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS 10 or iPadOS 10 or later. The iPhone 5S or newer can play the game, while anything newer than the original iPad Air, iPad mini 2, or 5th-generation iPad is compatible.

    Pokemon Unite is free to download, with a significant volume of in-app purchases available through Apple’s App Store.

    If you’ve had a chance to try Pokemon Unite, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider, Nintendo, and the App Store