Games: Core Keeper, Valheim, Microsoft Monopoly Trouble

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Apr 27, 2023

• Core Keeper is getting pets and a creative mode on May 10th

  The upcoming "Paws & Claws" update for Core Keeper sounds wonderful, adding in two major features with pets and a creative mode.

• Valheim is getting siege weapons, fortresses and fearsome foes

  The upcoming major update to Valheim with The Ashlands is sounding increasingly exciting, as the developers have another spoiler-filled development blog post up. Naturally, you'll want to avert your eyes if you don't want anything spoiled.

• Stellaris: Galactic Paragons announced for May 9th and a big free update

  Stellaris: Galactic Paragons is the next expansion for my favourite space strategy game from Paradox Interactive and it's coming May 9th. This DLC will give deeper character and story progression allowing for more customisation of your leaders.

• Steam Deck gets a Preview update with STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor improvements

  STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor is releasing on April 28th, so Valve has released an updated graphics driver in the Preview update branch for Steam Deck. This is the work covered previously where Valve wouldn't name the game, so we got a bit too excited about it.

• U.K. regulators to block Microsoft's $69 billion deal for Activision

  British antitrust regulators on Wednesday said they'll seek to block Microsoft's $69 billion takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, citing how the merger could hinder competition in the emerging cloud gaming market.

• UK CMA blocks the Microsoft takeover of Activision

  Here's some industry news for you: the UK's Competition and Markets Authority has announced today they've blocked Microsoft's takeover of Activision.

• U.K. Watchdog Blocks Microsoft’s Bid to Buy Activision

  The British antitrust watchdog blocked the takeover attempt, in a decision that will be closely watched in Washington and Brussels.

• U.K. Blocks Microsoft’s Activision Bid, a Blow to the Tech Giant

  The decision barring the takeover of a big video game publisher is a major loss for Microsoft, which also faces pushback from U.S. regulators.

• The U.K. blocks Microsoft's $69 billion deal to buy game giant Activision Blizzard

  The Competition and Markets Authority said in its final report that "the only effective remedy" to the substantial loss of competition "is to prohibit the Merger." The companies have vowed to appeal.

  The all-cash [sic] deal faced stiff opposition from rival Sony and was also being scrutinized by regulators in the U.S. and Europe over fears that it would give Microsoft control of popular game franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush.

• UK regulator blocks Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision

  In a news release, posted on Wednesday, the CMA said the investigation revealed that Microsoft already accounts for an estimated 60-70% of global cloud gaming services. The agency said allowing the company to procure Activision’s gaming content — including the popular games Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft — could allow Microsoft to monopolize the market.

• Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Deal Blocked by U.K. Regulator

  The acquisition, the largest in Microsoft’s history, would have made the tech powerhouse the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The transaction, which has faced opposition from such rivals as Sony and U.S. regulators, would bring together Microsoft, which owns the Xbox game platform and Xbox Game Studios (owner of Bethesda Softworks and 343 Industries, among other game publishers) and Activision, maker of the Call of Duty, Warcraft, Tony Hawk and Candy Crush franchises, reshaping the gaming landscape.