Microsoft announces new game studio acquisitions

In a race to develop exclusive titles for its own platform, Microsoft continues its game studio acquisitions. This time around, the company announced that it’s acquiring inXile Entertainment and Obsidian Entertainment. Both California-based game developers. inXile was formed by Brian Fargo and works on RPG games like Wasteland 2. Obsidian is known for games such as Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and South Park: The Stick of Truth.

The studios are going to operate autonomously from Microsoft. But as part of Microsoft Studios, Xbox games head Matt Booty said, “Obsidian and inXile will have the support and freedom to fully realize their creative ambitions on both existing franchises and new RPG titles.” The creation of more RPG titles will certainly be a boon for the Xbox platform. Microsoft now has 13 game development teams under its belt and these two join the likes of The Initiative, Playground Games, and Ninja Theory, to name a few.

Source: The Verge

Apple’s latest acquisition suggests company is working on AR headset

Will this new acquisition benefit Apple ARKit or prepare us for an enitrely different product line?

Apple has yet to confirm or deny that it’s been developing an augmented reality headset but the newest startup it’s acquired might suggest that is in the works. Apple just bought Colorado-based Akonia Holographics, a company that develops lenses for augmented reality glasses. As usual, the company is keeping mum about what it plans to do with the company. Akonia though specializes in what it calls HoloMirror technology, which allows for the development of “thin, transparent smart glass lenses that display vibrant, full-color, wide field-of-view images.” The company also has 200 patents on holographic systems and materials.

As Reuters points out, Apple has bought smaller companies before to make use of the technologies for their devices. Perhaps this could appear in existing products—or as what’s being rumoured, it could appear in an AR-based product. Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously admitted that the company sees a future in AR. He said during a 2017 earnings call, “We are high on AR for the long run. We think there are great things for customers and a great commercial opportunity.”

Logitech will buy Blue Microphones for US$117 million

Logitech is securing its place in the high-end audio recording market with its latest acquisition. The company just announced that it is buying Blue Microphones for US$117 million. It’ll be an all-cash transaction. Blue, which is known for creating USB condenser mics like the Snowball and Yeti, will be joining Logitech’s other brands like Astro Gaming, Jaybird, and Ultimate Ears.

In a blog post announcing the deal, Logitech wrote, “For Logitech, this is a new space. But, at the same time, it’s not at all. Gamers are already using our Logitech G webcams to stream. People are video calling with friends and family thanks to Logitech every day. And in business, our audio and video know-how is apparent every time a video meeting takes place at the office. Joining up with Blue and their microphone lines is a logical adjacent opportunity with great synergies.”

Valve buys ‘Firewatch’ developer Campo Santo

Firewatch

Valve has just purchased game developer Campo Santo. The small 12-person team known for its game Firewatch will be relocating to the video game developer’s headquarters in Seattle. In a blog post announcing the sale, Campo Santo claims they “found a group of folks who, to their core, feel the same way about the work that they do” in Valve. The studio has confirmed that they will continue working on its next game In The Valley of Gods and that this game won’t be a PC-exclusive under Valve. Campo Santo also plans to continue supporting Firewatch and will still release its literary journal, The Quarterly Review.

Source: The Verge