Nation Oct 13 News Wrap: Health care unions reach tentative agreement to end Kaiser Permanente strike
Economy Jul 14 Microsoft gets more time from UK to plead case to buy Activision Blizzard The Competition and Markets Authority had rejected the deal, set to be the biggest in tech history. They feared it would stifle competition for popular titles like Call of Duty in the fast-growing cloud gaming market. By Associated Press
Economy Jul 11 Microsoft can move ahead with $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, judge rules Regulators are seeking to ax the deal because they say it will hurt competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in a ruling that the Federal Trade Commission "has not shown a likelihood it will prevail."… By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press
Nation Jun 22 Microsoft heads to court over $69 billion deal that could reshape video gaming The battle will pit Microsoft's ambition to expand its video game imprint beyond its Xbox console against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's bid to block a deal that it contends will stifle competition and innovation to the detriment of consumers. By Michael Liedtke, Associated Press
Politics Apr 27 Microsoft’s ‘good guy’ approach with governments frays in Activision Blizzard battle Microsoft's charm offensive with the world's governments is starting to lose some of its luster as the software giant is confronting its toughest antitrust scrutiny since co-founder Bill Gates was in charge. By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press
Feb 21 Microsoft makes case for Activision Blizzard merger amid EU scrutiny By Associated Press Microsoft has announced new partnerships with Nintendo and chipmaker Nvidia. The moves come as Microsoft is trying to persuade European regulators to approve its planned $68.7 billion takeover of game publishing giant Activision Blizzard. Continue reading
Feb 08 Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal will hurt gamers, UK antitrust watchdog says By Kelvin Chan, Associated Press Microsoft's stalled $68.7 billion deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard has hit a fresh hurdle in the United Kingdom. Continue reading
Jan 03 Video game testers form Microsoft’s 1st U.S. labor union By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press A group of video game testers is forming Microsoft's first labor union in the U.S. It will also be the largest union in the video game industry. Continue reading
Dec 08 FTC sues to block Microsoft-Activision Blizzard $69 billion merger By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft's planned $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying it could suppress competitors to its Xbox game consoles and its growing games subscription business. Continue reading
Dec 07 As the video game industry evolves, making ‘indie’ video games gets trickier By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press How long these “indie” studios can flourish is up for debate as the gaming industry undergoes increasing consolidation. Continue reading