Microsoft Won - GameLinked July 11, 2023

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NEWS SOURCES:

 

ACTIVATE ACTIVISION ACQUISITION

Judge rules against FTC injunction, Microsoft can close Activision deal IF UK agrees?

https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23779039/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-trial-win

Judge Corley https://www.sfbar.org/blog/senior-district-judge-thelton-henderson-set-to-retire/

Microsoft first has to negotiate with UK’s CMA

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-to-modify-activision-blizzard-acquisition-to-address-cma-concerns

but CMA agreed to pause appeal

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/uk-antitrust-agency-pauses-microsoft-activision-appeal-on-ftc-court-loss-in-us-1.1944226

Dang. Jim Ryan should’ve taken that 10 year deal https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-says-it-offered-sony-a-10-year-deal-to-keep-call-of-duty-on-playstation/

And the FTC antitrust case is ongoing, hearing on August 2nd https://lmg.gg/ZY9pe

 

GRIN AND BEAR IT

Baldur’s Gate 3 lets you “romance” a druid in bear form

https://twitter.com/vaughandavies97/status/1677361748658069516

Gets Tiktok stream blocked for it https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/07/larian-studios-gets-tiktok-ban-for-bear-form-druid-sex-scene-in-baldurs-gate-3

Even while getting a boost on Steam charts

https://www.pcgamesn.com/baldurs-gate-3/bear

There’s also an option for people who don’t like enjoying games

https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3s-hardest-difficulty-is-supposed-to-feel-like-youre-going-up-against-a-dm-thats-trying-to-push-you-to-your-limits/

 

GOTTA GO (TO THE MOON) FAST

Sega licensing “immensely popular” IP for web3 game

https://venturebeat.com/games/line-next-signs-deal-with-sega-to-make-web3-game-for-game-dosi/

https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-plans-to-bring-immensely-popular-franchise-to-blockchain-platform

less than a week after COO told Bloomberg they’re pulling black from blockchain

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/sega-pulls-back-from-blockchain-gaming-as-crypto-winter-persists-1.1942465

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/11/sega_blockchain_web3/

 

QUICK BITS

 

MARKED FOR DELETION

87% of classic games are “critically endangered”

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/87-of-classic-video-games-are-critically-endangered-says-game-history-organisation

https://gamehistory.org/87percent/

https://zenodo.org/record/7996492

what defines “classic game”? https://lmg.gg/feRW3

 

20-YEAR RULE, THESE ARE STILL GOOD

Halo 1 cut content being restored to MCC with help from 343 Industries

https://www.pcgamesn.com/halo/rts-third-person-restored

https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/digsite-deliveries

maps https://lmg.gg/T3Sae

these guys! https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/07/Wildlife.jpg

https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/07/Slugman.jpg

 

COUNTING MAREEP

Pokemon Sleep public beta in certain regions (and only on Android)

https://www.ign.com/articles/i-played-pokmon-sleep-and-now-i-just-want-to-go-back-to-bed

https://youtu.be/qxigNaZuosg

https://www.engadget.com/pokemon-sleep-is-coming-later-this-month-and-theres-a-gameplay-trailer-to-prove-it-182444048.html

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sleep-sign-ups-are-live-and-a-new-trailer-teaches-you-how-to-sleep/1100-6515714/

 

OLD GAME, NEW TRICKS

Star Wars Galaxies Restoration adds planetary control mechanic

https://www.mmorpg.com/videos/star-wars-galaxies-restoration-brings-galatic-civil-war-with-its-11-update-drop-2000128386

https://youtu.be/cZFqNXBKCsE

more stuff on the roadmap. Wild

https://swgr.org/roadmap/
 

YOU’RE A LEGEND, DAVE

Dave the Diver comes out of nowhere and sells a million copies

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1868140/DAVE_THE_DIVER/

https://youtu.be/pwm7sFMNdns

Overwhelmingly Positive reviews https://lmg.gg/ZmjPj