microsoft
End-of-year Eleven: The healthiest live MMOs at the end of 2023
When it comes to making a judgment call about the "healthiest" MMORPGs on the market at any given time, there are always plenty of...
ARK Survival Ascended confirms release delay for Xbox, targets possible PlayStation launch by month’s end
Xbox and PlayStation fans who are eager to get in to ARK: Survival Ascended are waking up to some unfortunate news as Studio Wildcard...
MMO Business Roundup: Gaming addiction, GTA6, Ubisoft layoffs, Epic v. Google, and more
Welcome back to another roundup of MMO and MMO-adjacent industry news. There's been a lot this week, so we'll keep 'em brief!
Addiction: A woman...
Vague Patch Notes: BlizzCon 2023 wasn’t a disaster, but it needed to be better
The last live BlizzCon in 2019 was not a great show, but it was fundamentally a hype festival for Blizzard just like they've all...
Massively Overthinking: Did BlizzCon do what it needed to do?
Given the last couple of years, which have been inarguably rocky for both the company and its games, Blizzard needed a big win at...
Xbox announces plans for AI-based gamedev tools that generate game dialogue and quests ‘at scale’
The invasion of generative AI text and large language model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT into game development and design has gotten the backing of...
Blizzard president confirms a focus on mobile and live service games, briefly discusses studio’s ‘new era’
The tide of change is continuing to slip its way across the shores of Blizzard, which is the general tone of a BlizzCon interview...
Blizzard suggests World of Warcraft is ‘pretty well positioned’ for a console port
World of Warcraft coming to consoles almost seems like a no-brainer, considering MMORPGs being playable on a gamepad is hardly beyond the pale -...
BlizzCon 2023: WoW, Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and more at the Opening Ceremony
All the big news is at the end!
We're gearing up for the start of BlizzCon - and its freebie virtual stream - as the...
BlizzCon 2023: Diablo is getting a tabletop RPG and a ‘co-op adventure’ board game
BlizzCon hasn't even begun and we've already got our first announcement of the day: Diablo is getting a tabletop game and a board game.
"Glass...
Here’s how to watch BlizzCon 2023 for free – plus everything to expect from WoW, Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and more
After several years away - and one goofy BlizzConline in 2021 - BlizzCon is finally back and in person as of today, though of...
The Stream Team: Backseat Streaming shoots a few rounds in Redfall
In an era of armchair warriors, we bring you Backseat Streamers! Here, Massively OP’s Chris and MJ get to take a backseat and watch...
The Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear from this year’s BlizzCon?
Perhaps I think or say this every year, but I truly feel that 2023's BlizzCon is setting up for a make-or-break moment for Blizzard....
Massively Overthinking: What’s next for Blizzard under Microsoft?
So the Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard is basically a done deal. Oh, sure, the FTC is still fumbling around with hapless appeals, but look,...
Court docs show Activision-Blizzard helped a gun manufacturer market to ‘young consumers’ in Call of Duty title
Just when you thought that Activision-Blizzard news might finally slow down now that Microsoft's officially acquired it, no less than the Wall Street Journal...
Diablo IV has launched on Steam to ‘mixed’ reviews alongside its Season of Blood update
Diablo IV has kicked off the centerpiece of its autumn today with the launch of Season of Blood and the launch of the game...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 441: A Blizzard trick or treat
Justin and Bree discuss MMO Halloween events, Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition, WoW Classic's LFD, Embers Adrift, and Ship of Heroes, with adventures in LOTRO, New World, and WoW Classic, plus a mailbag topic on the potential for WoW on console and Gamepass.
Microsoft reaffirms its neutrality agreement with CWA union following Activision-Blizzard buyout
With everything swirling around the events of Microsoft's $69B buyout of Activision-Blizzard, it might have been easy to forget that during the proceedings, Microsoft...
Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout is official, Kotick to stay through end of 2023
After nearly two years of drama, UK regulators have finally approved Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, and Microsoft announced the buyout is official this morning.
The...
Activision-Blizzard’s latest internal town hall meeting was bizarrely helmed by a celebrity host
We appreciate that making a company meeting interesting is a challenge, but we also have to curl an eyebrow upwards at the choice made...