In a , Nexon shared some valuable insights into the company's strategy around Khazan. It reads: "The game made its global debut on March 28 with strong ratings from both 🐓players and critics. While Q1 revenue was below our outlook, the game achieved our objective as a strategic first step in a multi-year plan to introduce Dungeon & Fighter IP to a global audience."

Before♕ I played Khazan, I'd never even heard of Dungeon & Fighter, so it clearly did work to promote that game. If you're also unaware of it, it's a multiplayer beat 'em up known as Dungeon Fighter Online in the Wes꧋t, and it's since its release in 2005.

That's not all, though. Khazan has "set a stage for two new titles – Project OVERKILL and Dungeon&Fighter: ARAD – expected by 2027." Iꦅts publisher Tencent🌠 has also "opened pre-registration for a Chinese adaptation of Khazan."

So, not only has the game increased visibility for Dungeon Fighter Online,꧋ but it's also hopefully going to raise the profile on two more games, and we all love more games.

As for Khazan itself, it's had 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:two new free boss rush modes added that you can try once you beat it.

You can also check out some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best action games you can play instead if you've already had your fill of Khazan.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Elden Ring is getting a free-to-play mobile port with Genshin Impact-style microtransactions. Understandably, fans of the FromSoftware title are skeptical about how well the action RPG will translate to mobile devices, especially if it&apo꧃s;s likely to be full of microtransactions 𒉰and require players to explore The Lands Between by tapping their screen. 

Elden Ring fans and FromSoftware experts are already reacting negatively to the news. The report was shared by Reuters reporter Josh Ye via Twitter, and has since been picked up by various well-known fans. For instance, Dark Souls YouTuber quote ꧂tweeted Ye's report and sim🎉ply added: "...what?"

The Dark Souls fan seemed to be mostly dismayed by the free-to-play and microtransaction element of reported developer Tencent's plans. "I'm imagining a stressed developer somewhere being tasked with figuring out how to replace the crafting system with loot boxes," illusionarywall continues⛄. Elsewhere on Twitter, another FromSoftware fan and YouTuber, @Ziostorm1, shared a glimpse into what Elden Ring mobile could look like, and it's about as chaotic as you're imagining. 

Other fans have also poked fun at the possibilit꧙y of a free-to-play Elden Ring and brought back the Ubisoft Elden Ring meme that re-imagines the gamꦡe flooded with chaotic UI. It's overwhelming, to say the least.

"Imagine you still can’t pause, you get a call and come back to find out you got invaded and lost 4 hours of soul farming,"ꦯ one Twitter user . "Oh god please no Genshin Ring," a fan on also shared. 

The mobile port is probably still a while away, thankfully, fans will hopefully soon have the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Elden Ring Shadow of Erdtree DLC to keep them busy. 

I say distant because it's going to take some time for the gears to start turning. Eventually, you should expect to see franchises like Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and others join the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Game Pass fold – just not immediately. 

Below you'll find our Xbox Activision deal explainer, which we will continue to keep updated as more information comes as the deal cl🔥osure details are released. 

The basics

When did Xbox buy Activision?

News of the Xbox Activision 𒆙deal first surfaced on January 18, 2022. Naturally, this is just the first step in a lengthy process for approval, with both the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission (EC) formally filing complaints to block the acquisition due to concerns surrounding competition in the market. Even without investigations, these massive deals can often take some time to complete: When Microsoft announced its intention to acquire ZeniMax Media in September 2020, it took a further six months before the likes of Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks could be officially welcomed into the Microsoft Gaming fold. Xbox has said that it is targeting a June 2023 closure date for its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. 

How much was the Xbox Activision Deal?

Microsoft has said it will buy Activision Blizzard for $95 dollars a share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. This would be the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:most expensive video g⛄ame acquisitions in the industry's history, dwarfing the $8.1 million that Microsoft paid for ZeniMax Media in 2021 and the massive $12.7 billion that Take-Two Interactive paid to acquire Zynga last year. As for why Xbox paid so much for Activision, there's a number of factors. Activision Blizzard is a global business, with studios positioned all over the world and with nearly 10,000 employees on its books. That's certainly a factor in the valuation,  alongside Activision's mass🃏ive share in the mobile market and its ownership of some of the video game industry's most popular and long-lasting franchises. 

Why did Xbox buy Activision? 

There are a variety of factors at play when trying to understand why Microsoft would want to buy Activision. The most obvious is that it gives the Xbox division access (and creative control) to some of the video game industry's most enduring IP – Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Overwatch, Spyro the Dragon, StarCraft, World of Warcraft, and so the list goes on. Not only would Microsoft Gaming profit from new entries to these franchises, but it would be able to use legacy games to significantly bolster the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Game Pass games list. Activision Blizzard "nearly 400 million monthly active players in 190 countries and three billion-dollar franchises" across its console, PC, and mobile divisions, which would significantly bolster the growth of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Game Pass, Xb🔥ox's investment in Cloud Gaming technology, and Microsoft's ability to compete with Sony and Nintendo. 

The details

When are Activision games coming to Xbox?

Many Activision games are already on 🔜Xbox, because Activision is a third-party publisher. That means that it produces games regardless of platform, as opposed to first-party publishers (Microsoft, Sony🍌, and Nintendo), who produce games for their specific ecosystems (Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch, respectively).

For example, every Call of Duty game comes to Xbox, as have other notable Activision games; recently, that includes the likes of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, and Crash Bandicoot 4. Blizzard games are also released on Xbox; Overwatch 2 launched into early access on Xbox Series X and Xbox One, while 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Diablo 4 is also coming to both consoles later this year.

If the deal goes through, future Activision Blizzard games will continue to be available on Xbox – and day and date through Game Pass – but it remains to be seen if their availability on Sony consoles will be impacted. Activision-Blizzard would become a first-party company within Mi꧙crosoft, meaning that it would primarily be producing games for the wider Xbox ecosystem. Microsoft has made a years-long commitment to keeping several of Activision-Blizzard's games on other platforms, but it's likely that eventually, those games will be exclusive to Xbox,PC, and Microsoft's Game Pass and Cloud Gaming services.

Will dormant Activision franchises return?

Activision was founded in 1979, and has a wealth of IP and legacy titles locked away in its vault. With Xbox in control of the portfolio, there's every chance that some older (or long-dormant) franchises could make a return, which is something Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:has claimed is a "pretty exci🌳ting" prospect. Naturally, we all have our dream series revivals, and we have already made a wishlist of Activision Blizzard🌃 franchises we want to see reborn 💝at Xbox. 

When will Activision games come to Game Pass?

There are already hundreds of video games available as part of the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Game Pass games list, and that's expected to grow following the completion of the deal. However, there is no timeline for how long that may take. When Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media, for 20 of the biggest Bethesda games to join the service – and more have joined since. Microsoft has🤡 said that it expects franc♔hises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo to join Xbox Game Pass eventually, although the arrival of Call of Duty 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:may be delayed by ༺"a number o💜f years" due to ongoing negotiations with Sony. While you wait for those, here's our pick of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Game Pass games to play today.

What the publishers have said

What has Microsoft said? 

Microsoft has maintained that the goal is making Activision Blizzard's catalog more accessible. While Game Pass will be stronger with Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo included, Spencer noted as far back as Microsoft's that "Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms". As such, the plan is "to continueღ to support those communities moving forward".

A question of competitive  fairness within the gaming market has also arisen, with Microsoft previously adding 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the likes of Bethesda to its ranks. To that, the company has pointed out that, should the deal go through, Microsoft would be the third-larಞgest gaming company revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.

What has Sony said? 

Sony doesn't appear convinced Microsoft's pledges to keep games like Call of Duty readily available are genuine. As various international regulators scrutinize the deal, we've seen 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:plenty of back and forth between the pair. For example, throughout the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:UK's investigation into the agreement, Microsoft accused the competition r𝔍egulator of relying on Sony's objections, namely "misplaced"🦹 concerns over Call of Duty. 

In a statement to , a Sony spokesperson reiterated that the deal was "bad for competition, bad for the gaming industry, and bad for gamers themselves". "This deal would give Microsoft's Xbox ecosystem a unique combination of tech and content, and hence a dominant position in gaming, with devastating consequences for c⛄onsumers❀, independent developers, and Sony itself," they said. 

More broadly, a lot of concern stems from Call of Duty's continued availability. Sony reportedly said that Microsoft isn't offering parity, with the Xbox creator that a 10-year d💃eal has been put up. The i🍒mportance of the series to gaming has also been a constant, with Sony playing it up while Microsoft plays it down.

What has Nintendo said?

Nintendo has been largely silent on the Xbox Activision deal. While Sony and Microsoft continue to trade words and legal filings, the Switch manufacturer has been holding conversations behind-closed-doors. Microsoft president Brad Smith has confirmed that the pair have signed a "binding 10-year contract to bring 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox games to Ninte♉ndo's gamers, should the deal cl♛ose. This would of course include Call of Duty – the franchise has appeared on Nintendo consoles in the past, although not for a long while; a Wii U port of Call of Duty: Ghosts𓂃 arrived in 2013. 

What has Valve said?

Despite being offered a similar deal to Nintendo, Valve president Gabe Newell has said that it "wasn't necessary" as he's okay with the storefront's current relationship with Activision over Call of Duty and Microsoft. "We're happy that Microsoft wants to continue using Steam to reach customers with Call of Duty when their Activision acquisition closes," he told in a statement." Microsoft has been on Steam for a long time and we take it as a💟 signal that they are happy with gamers' reception to that and the work we are doing. Our job is to keep building valuable features for not only Microsoft but all Steam customers and partners."

The CMA decision

In April 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority blocked the deal in its home country, citing Microsoft&a�𝔉�pos;s strength in cloud gaming. Microsoft has suggested that it might be forced to cease trading in the UK if the decision – which it is appealing – is upheld. 

The FTC Trial

In the final weeks of June, Microsoft went to trial against the US Federal Trade Commission's injunction against the closure of its deal. The trial aimed to determine whether the deal could be finalized before its July 18 deadline. Microsoft claimed that if it lost, it could potentially lead to years of litigation 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:that might kill the merger.

Over the course of the trial, many senior figures, including PlayStation's Jim Ryan, Activision's Bobby Kotick, Xbox heads Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, were questioned, offering detailed information about the current state of the games industry. It&ඣapos;s been hard to sift through that flood of info, but here are some of the standoඣut headlines:

• Microsoft's CEO doesn't like console exclusives
•  The Last of Us Part 2 and Horizon Forbidden West both cost more than $200 million to develop 
• PlayStation boss claims publishers "do not like Game Pass" 
• Sony expected Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 to launch on PlayStation, but noted that the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:exclusivity isn't anti-competitive. 
• And it was potential PlayStation exclusivity for Starfield that kicked off Microsoft's purchase of Bethesda. 
• Microsoft thinks the PS6 and next Xbox will launch in 2028, and knows 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox lost the console wars 

So, what happens next?

Whether Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard completes remains unknown. Microsoft will need to wait for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, European Commission, U🌜K Competition and Markets Authority to complete its investigations, while there are ongoing legal challenges in various states in the United States which may need to be resolved. 

As it stands, Microsoft will continue🍸 to make its case, and everybody else will continue to argue their positions until the last. The deal is expected to close, one way or the other, by the end of Spring 2🐟023. So we will of course keep you up to date on any new information as we receive it. 

Looking for more on the Xbox Activision deal? Here's our look into what Microsoft's latest acquisition could mean for Activision Blizzard and Xbox Game Studios.

One of the most prolific acquisitions today is Microsoft's bid to buy Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard, a move that has 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:attracted scrutiny from regulatory bodies as they seek to block the Xbox Series X parent company. While there are certain Activision Blizzard franchises we want to see reborn at Xbox, let's not get ahead 𒐪of ourselves. Here's a look at 10 of the most expensive video game acquisitions in the gaming biz, how they transp💞ired, and what the companies look like today.

Biggest video game acquisitions at a glance

10 most expensive video game acquisitions

10. Facebook buys Oculus VR

Year of acquisition: 2014
Price: $2 billion

You might know the company now as Meta Platforms, but in the same year that Facebook acquired instant messaging service WhatsApp, they also bought Oculus VR. The Oculus gaming device was later rebranded, with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Meta Quest 2 still going strong today. Meta is committed to the concept of a metaverse, hence the very telling company name change, and harnessing VR technology is key to how they plan to actualize these concepts. With the newer rival 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PSVR 2 headset posing some fair competition, it's safe to say that VR isn't going anywhere ju🌳st yet.

9. Electronic Arts buys Glu Mobile

Year of acquisition: 2021
Price: $2.4 billion

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:The Sims 4 publisher Electronic Arts purchased Glu Mobile, and with it brought the likes of MLB Tap Sports Baseball to the EA foꦕld. Mobile gaming is one of the largest sectors in the industry, with China, India, and the USA accounting for the highest numbers of players in the world. Since acquiring Glu, EA&apos🦂;s Mobile division has been booming, with over last year alone and a planned Lord of the Rings RPG currently in development for smartphone gamers. 

8. Microsoft buys Mojang

Year of acquisition: 2014
Price: $2.5 billion

Minecraft developer Mojang Studios was purchased by Microsoft in 2014, at the time one of the company's biggest acquisitions. Since Microsoft took ownership of the studio, Minecraft continues to be a chart-topping game – recording over 140 million active players in 2021 alone. Minecraft is able to achieve this as it continues to be available on PS4, PS5, PC, and Switch – as well as the Microsoft owned Xbox One and Xbox Series X. The franchise continues to grow, with Mojang collaborating with external studios for 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Xbox Series X games like Minecraft Legends. 

7. Sony buys Bungie

Year of acquisition: 2022
Price: $3.6 billion

When Sony bought out Destiny 2 developer Bungie, they 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:acquired a lot more than a few games. The company could have bigger plans for the sprawling online multiplayer game, with Sony Productions, the cinematic branch of🐼 the company, already developing games-related films and TV shows. The most prolific of these in recent months is The Last Of Us, a show based on the post-apocalyptic survival horror game s♎eries that has brought the experience from consoles to international streaming services. Sony's merger with Bungie could point to exciting things for the future of not only its games, but the future of these games across the wider media.

6. ByteDance buys Moonton

Year of acquisition: 2021
Price: $4 billion

TikTok owners ByteDance bought games studio Moonton in a bid to expand and diversify its business. This put the company directly in competition with Chinese conglomerate Tencent, who also own 💯Riot Games. Although Moonton doesn't necessarily produce some of the bigger ticket names in mobile gaming, it does extend the power of ByteDance further into the sector and will give them opportunities for growth as the company continues to 🎐expand. TikTok: The Game? It could come sooner than you think.

5. Activision Blizzard buys King

Year of acquisition: 2015
Price: $5.9 billion

When King released Candy Crush S🏅aga in 2012, it became a global phenomenon – and is now considered to be one of the most financially successful of all time. So it didn't com🐟e as all that much of a surprise when one of the industry titans, Activision, made a record $5.9 billion acquisition offer for the company. The completion of this deal swelled Activision's presence in the mobile gaming market, a factor which would (a decade later) become a major factor behind Microsoft's decision to go after the publisher. 

4. Microsoft buys ZeniMax Media

Year of acquisition: 2020
Price: $8.1 billion

One of the most consequential acquisitions in the video game market in quite some time, Microsoft brought ZeniMax Media into the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Game Studios fold in 2021. The $8.1 billion deal saw Xbox take control of ZeniMax and its vast library of IP; including franchises like Doom, Dishonored, Fallout, Prey, Quake, The Elder Scrolls, and Wolfenstein. With studios like Arkane, Bethesda, and MachineGames now exclusively developing games for the wider Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft's reputation with core players is steadily improving – so too is the strength of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Game Pass library. 

3. Tencent buys Supercell (majority shareholder)

Year of acquisition: 2016
Price: $8.6billion

Tencent is one of the three largest🌳 gaming companies by revenue these days, and that success can be partially attꦛributed to smart investments across the industry. One such deal happened in 2016, when Tencent bought out over 81.4% of Supercell's shares for $8.6 billion. Such a massive fee was required to complete the purchase due to the ongoing success of Clash of Clans and its various spin-off titles – some of the largest games in the mobile gaming space. Tencent has retained its majority shareholder status in Supercell to this day. 

2. Take Two Interactive buys Zynga

Year of acquisition: 2022
Price: $12.7 billion

Take-Two Interactive has an enviable position in the video game industry, owing in large part to its ownership🌊 of 2K Games and Rockstar Games. But the company sought to improve its standing in the ever-expanding mobile games market, something it achieved in 2022 through the purchase of Zynga. The deal was worth $12.7 billion, thanks in no small part to the ongoing success and name-recognition of Farmville, as well as games like Zynga Poker, CSR Racing, Words with Friends 2, and plenty others. These games may not be as overtly visible as something like a GTA 6 or BioShock, but the Zynga portfolio is arguably just a🍌s important (if not more so) to Take-Two's ongoing success. 

1. Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard

Year of acquisition: Filed 2022; yet to be completed
Price: $68.7 billion

Here it is, the acquisition that set the internet on fire, earned the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, and has resulted in months of mud-slinging between Xbox and PlayStation representatives. In January 2022, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard King for $68.7 billion – a landmark deal which would bring the Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Diablo, Overwatch, World of Warcraft franchises (along with🍌 countless others) into the Xbox ecosystem. The deal is expected to close no la♔ter than June 2023, although its completion remains uncertain. 

reports that Tencent - whi♛ch is the world's largest video game publisher in terms of revenue - is set to "cut costs and headcount" at its "extended reality" XR unit, which only launched last year. It currently employs around 300 people.

Anonymous sources sugꦏgest that the delay in hitting a profit - in this case, internal forecasting reckons Tencent's system would not be profitable unt💖il 2027 - and a lack of "promising games" has seen the company u-turn on its VR plans, despite designing a ring-like hand-held controller.

"Under the company's new strategy as a whole,🍰 it no longer quite fit in," one o🧸f the sources said.

🍷With the cost of VR still pretty high, it's a shame we won't see Tencent bring its own system to light any time soon, as the more competition there is, the better the choice - and affordability - for players. 

Whilst Blizzard’s spat with its Chinese publisher NetEase continues, Tencent has announced a new MMO… and it certainly has fans talking about its similarities with WoW. 

As we've noticed in the recently released promotional material, Tarisland leans into fantasy, though WoW fans are zeroing in on the character and airship design alongside several choice shots from cinematics. Interestingly, fans have also clocked that one d🧔ragon looks a fair bit like Deathwing, and whilst the comparisons are chiefly aesthetic at the moment, some might also find the sight of dragon-riding familiar – including Blizzard itself, apparently. 

🌠While it seems that Tarisland has taken some notes from World of Warcraft, others have n🌺oted that Blizzard’s MMO has borrowed plenty from D&D and beyond. 

Tarisland is currently undergoing a closed beta and is set to release on PC and mobile. At the time of writing, it i꧅sn’t clear if th💛e MMO will make the journey west.

Keep up to date with all the best games set to launch later this year with our guide to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games 2023. 

As you’ll see from the promotional material released so far, Tarisland leans into fantasy, though WoW fans are on the alongside several choice shots from cinematics – it’s also that one dragon looks a fair bit like Deathwing. The comparisons are mainly down to aesthetics, though some might also find the sight of dragon-riding familiar – mind you, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:that was in Guild Wars long before World of Wౠarcraft. Regardless, it hasn’t gone by Blizzard, either. 

While it seems that Tarisland has taken some notes from World of Warcraft, others that Blizzard’s MMO didn’t invent most of its concepts and has borrowed plenꩵty from D&D and beyond. You can see it for yourself in the trailer below.

The timing of Tarisland’s reveal🅰 is certainly fortuitous, with World of Warcraft due to shutdown in China due to Blizzard’s public fallout with publisher NetEase. Recently, Activision Blizz❀ard claimed to offer NetEase a six-month extension to its contract, calling it a “pity” that the publisher turned it down. 

It was far from a light ‘no’, though, as NetEase then an Orc statue that signified its relationship with the developer, doing so publicly while offering a new beverage at its staff cafe called Blizzard Green Tea. As Bloomberg’s Zheping Huang on Twitter, the play on local slang is far from kind, referring to "a woman who presents herself as innocent and sweet in order to approach gꦚuys who she finds useful."

Tarisland is currently undergoing a closed beta and is set to release on PC and mobile. At the time of writing, it isn’t clear if the 😼MMO will make the journey west.

Check out all the biggest releases of the year with our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games 2023 list.

The Chinese-owned tech giant has been heavily investing in the games industry over the past few years, beginning in 2011 when it purchased a 93% stake in League of 🐲Legends developer Riot Games.

"In this new role, I hope to advise, assist, and support the team at Tencent as they deepen their activities and coꦇmmitments within the industry to which I've devoted the majority of my career," Layden wrote on .

He added, "We are at an epoch defining moment in gaming and interactive entertainment. There are many possible roads ahead but only a few are profound, broadening, inclusive, edifying, inspiring, and/or sustainable. I am thrilled to continue this journey of discovery and thank Tencent for the🐽 opportunity."

Layden is a familiar face to PlayStation fans, having served as president and CEO of SIE Am♔erica before becoming chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios in 2016 until he departed the company in 2019. He first joined Sony in 1996 as a producer on international software development and, in the following years, held numerous positions, including vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment E𒁃urope beginning in 1999 and, eight years later, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Tencent is 澳洲幸运5开奖号码𒅌历史查询:inves⛎ting €300 million ($297m USD) in Ubisoft. It's also increasing its direct stake in the company from 4.5%, which it acquired back in 2018, to 9.99%. Tencent, along with Sony, has also recently acquired an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:increased share in Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer FromSo🐭ftware. Sony now owns 14.09% of the studio, while Tencent has 16.25%.

Don't miss the biggest and best games coming to Sony's latest console with our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming PS5 games guide.

When news of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the Lord of th🏅eও Rings MMO's cancelation broke in April of last year, Amazon only said that it had "been unable to secure terms to proceed" with the project following Tencent's acquisition of developer Leyou Technologies. So, we had reason to suspect it had something to do🌳 with the entertainment conglomerate being involved, but now we have confirmation.

In an interview with , Amazon Games preside🥀nt Christoph Hartmann explained that the ill-fated Lord of the Rings project became "very complicated" after Tencent's buyout, and that's when Amazon decided it was 🥃best to walk.

One major roadblock was a clause written into Middle-earth Enterprises that allowed it to terminate the deal in the event of a partner acquisition, and when Tencent bought Leyou, the license-holder did exactly that. However, Hartmann said that negotiations continued for a while in an effort by the companies to work out a way forward for the MMO, ꦚbut eventually Amazon called it quits.

"The question was,♕ sure, maybe could have worked together with Tencent to do something, but I think we're too big as companies to really turn into partners doing a property together where they own the license and we develop the game," Hartmann said. "So we decided it's better to not work together there. Then we tried to figure something out with both ends, but I think it just dragged on too long."

Of course, Amazon Games did wind up launching its own original MMO, titled New Wor𒉰ld, and it's also the Western publisher for the top-down MMO Lost Ark. "I want to keep on 😼investing in that. I know, it's not going to be Lord of the Rings, but we have our own fantasy; why not keep building on that," Hartmann said.

For what to play now, check out our ranking of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best MMOs in 2022.

The elaborate transaction also includes money Tencent is giving Guillemot Brothers Limited to refinance its de🌜bt and "provide additional financial resources that can be used to acquire equဣity in Ubisoft."

With its investment at $80 a share, Tencent has secured a 49.9% e🐈conomic stake in Guillemot Brothers Limited, but the companies have made clear that this isn't a takeover. The Guillemot family will remain the sole owners of the Assassin's Creed maker, with Tencent now having 5% voting rights. 

This comes just a few months after reports surfaced claiming several prꦫivate equity firms had expressed interest in buying Ubisoft outright. At the time, Ubisoft itself commented that the buyout rumors proved iꦰts "appeal a🅰nd value," something Guillemot echoed in his statement on today's news.

"In a context where platforms and business models are converging, this transaction, which validates our strategy and highlights the strong intrinsic value of the assets we have built over the long term, is excellent news for our teams, gamers and shareholders," says Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. "Tencent is a key shareholder partner for many of the industry’s leaders, who have created some of the most outstanding video games. This transaction reinforces our ability to create strong value 💃over the coming years."

"The team at Ubisoft has shown an impressive ability to consistently create world-class entertainment along with a diverse portfolio of brands that include some of the most successful franchises in the industry," says Tencent president Martin Lau. "We are excited to expand our engagement with the founders, the Guillemot family, as U🍬bisoft continues to develop immersive game experiences, and to bring some of Ubisoft’s most well-known AAA franchises to mobile. This agreement also aligns with our philosophy to invest alongside creative founders with full confidence that they will lead their companies to new heights."

Included in the deal are terms that say Tencent can't further increase its ✤Ubisoft stake for eight years and can't sell its shares for five years. And if it does end up selling shares, it'll give the Guillemot family the chance to buy them back first.

For everything on the horizon across consoles and PC, check out our guide to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games of 2022.

In an this morning, FromSoft parent company Kadokawa Corpor💦ation - which remains the majority owner of the developer - confirmed that Sony now owns 14.09% of FromSoftware. Tencent - arguably best known in the West as the company behind League of Legends developer Riot Games - now owns 16.25% of the studio.

Kadokawa Corporation says that the aim of the sale is to "proactively invest in development of more powerful game UP [...] to strengthen FromSoftware's development capabilities." It also mentions Tencent's "strength in its capabilities to develop and deploy mobile games and other network technologies in the global market," implying that Fr🍒omSoft could be looking into mobile gaming in some capacity.

While none of the companies involved in the sale have mentioned specific plans, fans have their own wishlist. 'Bloodborne' has begun trending on Twitter as desire for a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Bloodborne sequel continues to grow. Beyond that, attention is likely to turn to Elden Ring - as well as hopes for upcoming 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Elden Ring DLC, FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco have discussed their desire for the title to act as 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the start of a new franchise. While the future of Elden Ring seems in a better space than its more gothic older brother, it's far from clear at this point what we can expect from the deal, and Kadokawa Corporation suggests that the deal&apꦓos;s impact on its 2023 financial results is likely to be "minor."

This list of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games 2022 should prove a more reliable wishlist.

According to anonymous sources cited by , the Chinese gaming conglomerate is planning to raise its stake in the Canadian developer and publisher. It's not actually clear how much of Ubisoft Tencent plans to purchase, but the report makes it clear the goal is to become the single largest stakeholder in Ubisoft, and Tencent has ac🃏tually reached out to Ubisoft expressing its intent.

This would effectively wᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrestle control away from the Guillemot family, who has always owned Ubisoft, with CEO Yves Guillemot leading the developer. Currently, the Guillemot is the largest stakeholder in Ubisoft at 15% of the company owned, and Tencent sits a🔴t 5%, a stake it purchased back in 2018.

The Guillemot family has typically fought against takeovers of Ubisoft over the past few years in particular. When asked in a press conference about a potential acquisition of Ubisoft by a larger company back in February 2022, Yves Guillemot said the company "澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:can remain independent," but wo🦩uld consider acquisition offers, dancing ar൩ound the matter.

A few months later in April, a report actually claimed U♎bisoft was being courted for acquisition by a priv🃏ate equity firm. At the time, the reporﷺt claimed that private companies including Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co. were actively discussing acquiring Ubisoft, and several current and former developers at the latꦰter company believed it would eventually be sold.

Months on, and we've heard nothing of these talks with the private equity firms. It could be that talks between the parties have broken down, or that Ubisoft has decided on another path, one potentially involving Tencent. As al👍ways, we'll have to wait a while longer to see who, if anyone, wrestles control♑ of Ubisoft away from the Guillemot family.

Head over to our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games 2022 guide for a full list of all the Ubisoft games launching over the remainder of the year. 

According to the between the two companies, Remedy will handle global publishing outside of Asia along with the g🌼ame's development, of course. It also reveals the game is being built with the Unreal Engine for "PC and console platforms" and Tencent will be "co-financing" Vanguard alongside Remedy, which reportedly boasts a "AAA game budget". 

The Chinese megacorp has also acquired worldwide rights to developing and🦂 publishing a mobile versi🍒on of the new game, too.

“Vangඣuard marks Remedy’s first entry into Games-as-a-Service business model, executed by our top tier team of free-to-play experts," explains Remedy Entertainment CEO,🐎 Tero Virtala. "We are building something new and exciting for co-operative multiplayer space, on top of Remedy’s strengths. Expanding our capabilities to take on publishing responsibilities is the next step in the development of our company. 

"We are excited for this long-term partnership with Tencꦯent and with confidence can say that it is an excellent fit in supporting Vanguard’s ambitious plans. Vanguard is a globa🉐l opportunity, and Tencent can support Remedy internationally, and lead the operations in Asia and the mobile markets."

Interestingly enough, the agreement says the game is "codenamed" Vanguard – which differs from what we've previously thought – and will remain "Remedy’s original intellectual property". Described as a free-🌊to-play, co-operative PvE shooter, the new title will combine "Remedy’s narrative expertise and action gameplay into an immersive multiplayer experience" and is currently in the "proof-of-conc♛ept" phase.

ICYMI yes, Remedy's other hotly-anticipated title, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Alan Wake 2, will indeed be keeping its third-person perspective, as well as bringing back Matthew Porretta to portray the titular character. The sequel was revealed at The Game Awards 2021 earlier this month, but unlike the original game, this sequel is reportedly going full survival horror.

Remedy Games studio head andཧ writer/director Sam Lake tweeted at the 🃏time: "Thank you for being as excited about Alan Wake 2 as we are. A couple of easy clarifications before we go dark to continue the work. Yes, this is a third-person game. Yes, both Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta return in the role of Alan Wake."

Check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Alan Wake 2 story theories feature for more on what to expect from Remedy's upcoming game.

CoD fans will notice that much of this content is based on multiplayer levels and൲ weapons that were alread🌊y featured in the last five games from Modern Warfare 1 onward. So try not to be too sad that this isn't coming to America, you're not missing much.

Call of Duty Online is currently only planned for release in China, but you can expect that to change if the service does well over there. Frankly, we'd be pretty shocked if Acti-Blizz doesn't announce a microtransact𓃲ion-suppor๊ted CoD within the next two years.