SCEE Claims PlayStation 4 U.K. Lead

JAN. 30, 2014 • The PlayStation 4 is doing very well in the United Kingdom. At a morning briefing in London, Fergal Gara, Sony Computer Ent. Europe’s (SCEE) vice president and managing director for the U.K. disclosed that his company’s latest console is selling 1.5 units for every Xbox One sold in the country. That ratio is a complete reversal of ratio of the Xbox 360 over the PlayStation 3. The PS4’s strong sales have also seen Sony’s sh.....

Microsoft Acquires Gears of War IP

JAN. 28, 2014 • Epic Games’ Gears of War franchise has been acquired by Microsoft Studios. Financial terms were not disclosed but the deal secures the IP for Microsoft including rights to all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise. Vancouver, BC-based Black Tusk Studios will now be responsible for development of Gears of War product moving forward. In addition, Epic’s former Gears of War director of production Rod Fergus.....
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Exceed Launch Unit Sales Expectations

PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Exceed Launch Unit Sales Expectations

JAN. 7, 2014 • Both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One achieved better than expected launch unit sales through the end of 2013. Using the industry focus on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sony Computer Ent. president and group chief executive Andrew House disclosed that 4.2 million PlayStation 4s had been sold through at retail world between November 15 and December 28. The day be.....
Xbox One Launch Ups & Downs

Xbox One Launch Ups & Downs

NOV. 25, 2013 • As with the PlayStation 4 the previous week, Microsoft Corp.’s $499 Xbox One launch was mostly solid  marred somewhat by some reports of defective equipment out of the box. The company was pleased to announce that more than one million units of the new console has sold during the first 24 hours after its November 22 launch in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, I.....

Free Unity to ID@Xbox

NOV. 5, 2013 • Indie developers who have signed up for Microsoft Corp.’s ID@Xbox self-publishing program for the Xbox One will now get Unity Technologies deployment tools for the platform as an add-on to their existing Unity license. A special Xbox One version of t.....

Microsoft Grabs Nokia Hardware Biz

SEPT. 3, 2013 • With its 2011 partnership deal coming up for recommitment next year, Microsoft Corp. is paying €5.44 billion ($7.2 billion) to purchase Nokia Corp.’s phone business outright. The transaction amount is about one-quarter of Nokia’s 2012 sales. Of the total, €3.79 billion is devoted to purchasing Nokia’s devices business and 8,500 key patents, with €1.65 bill.....

Steve Ballmer to Retire From Microsoft

AUG. 23, 2013 • Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer has announced he will retire within the next 12 months after a successor for the position is chosen. The company’s board of directors has appointed a special committee to oversee the succession process that includes lead independent director John Thompson, chairman of the board Bill Gates, chairman of the audit committee Chuck Noski, and compensation committee chairman Steve Luczo. The only clu.....