World of Warcraft Subscriber Numbers Fall to 5.5 Million
Activision Blizzard's latest earnings report reveals World of Warcraft subscriber numbers have fallen to 5.5 million, down 100,000 from three months ago.
The MMO continues to see the number of players actively paying to play the game fall, though this is to be expected in a period where no new content is arriving ahead of the next expansion. With Blizzcon coming the end of this week, it's likely we'll be getting details on just how much longer the wait for that expansion, Legion, will be.
Destiny Hits 25 Million Players, up 5 Million in 3 Months
Activision Blizzard has revealed Destiny currently has more than 25 million registered users, compared with 20 million in May and 16 million in February.
The news comes as part of the company's official earnings report, with more information expected to come out of an investor call scheduled for later today.
The publisher didn't reveal how many accounts are still active, but players are averaging around three hours a day in the game, and it's also become the "most watched console game on Twitch."
Elsewhere on the shooter front, revenue from the Call of Duty franchise increased by a "double-digit percentage" when compared with last year. This was due to strong sales from older titles in the franchise, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, Black Ops II, and Advanced Warfare.
UK Deals: NBA 2K16 under £30
NBA 2K16 is £29.99 on Amazon for both Xbox and PS4.
- NBA 2K16 PS4 - £29.99 on Amazon
- NBA 2K16 Xbox One - £29.99 on Amazon
Google Plans to Begin Drone Package Delivery by 2017
Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google and its former divisions, aims to begin delivering goods to consumers via airborne drones in 2017.
Head of Google's Project Wing, David Vos, revealed that the company is in discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration about establishing an air traffic control initiative for drones. The proposed system would use wireless telecommunications and Internet technology to govern and coordinate drone flight paths under 500 feet (152 meters).
"Our goal is to have commercial business up and running in 2017," Vos said, speaking at an air traffic control convention near Washington on Monday, CNBC reports.
Rumours of Kojima Productions LA Studio Closure Rise
The Los Angeles-based studio of Kojima Productions, recently rebranded as Konami Los Angeles Studios, is rumoured to be shutting down with 35 jobs on the line.
3D Worlds co-founder George Broussard, who has a penchant for sharing industry lay-off rumours on social media, tweeted the yet-to-be confirmed information today.
BREAKING: Rumor tells me that Konami has shut down the Kojima Productions LA studio, taking with it approx 35 jobs, just before Xmas.
— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) November 3, 2015
John Wick to Become a Virtual Reality Experience
John Wick is making its way to virtual reality with a brand-new experience that allows users to inhabit the character using HTC's Vive headset.
According to Variety, Lionsgate is partnering with VR startup Wevr to produce the experience, which allows you to explore the Continental Hotel as Wick as you're tasked with figuring out how to "bribe the concierge, pick up dubious clues, and finally dodge bullets as someone breaks the Continental’s code of conduct and attacks their hotel room."
Users will be able to move about freely in a 10-by-10 feet space and even "have to get on your knees to escape the bullets once the attack starts." It also makes use of Vive's pair of handheld controllers, which give you the ability to interact with things, like moving a virtual lever in the hotel's elevator.
Activision Blizzard Acquiring Candy Crush Saga Giant King for $5.9 Billion
Activision Blizzard will acquire social games giant King Digital Entertainment for a total equity value of US$5.9 billion, the companies jointly announced today.
Activision Blizzard subsidiary ABS Partners C.V. will acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Candy Crush Saga developer for $18.00 in cash per share for the US$5.9 billion total. The acquisition, still subject to approval by King’s shareholders, the Irish High Court, antitrust authorities, is expected to be finalized by Spring (Northern Hemisphere) 2016.
According to the announcement, Activision Blizzard believes the performance-topping portfolio of games at both companies and expertise across diverse monetization models will boost its position to global leader in the interactive entertainment industry. The company behind Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, Guitar Hero, Skylanders and Destiny wants to be the leader across PC, consoles and mobile.
New Legendary Race Cars Coming to Forza Motorsport 6
The November DLC for Forza Motorsport 6 has been revealed, and again features seven new vehicles that are new to the Forza series. It will be available from Tuesday, November 3 on Xbox One for $7 USD (or free for Car Pass owners).
This 'eBay Motors Car Pack' boasts a typically eclectic assortment of vehicles, including Ayrton Senna’s 1988 McLaren MP4/4 (winning all but one of the 16 races in 1988, including 10 1-2 finishes, it remains one of the most dominant F1 cars ever built) and Australia’s legendary 1977 Holden Torana A9X (which, helmed by Peter Brock, won the 1979 Bathurst 1000 by a record six laps and broke the lap record on the last lap of the race). It also features a 1980 Lancia #31 Lancia Corse Beta Montecarlo Turbo, a 2014 Maserati #35 M.Calamia Swiss Team MC Trofeo, a 2014 Mazda #70 SpeedSource Lola B12/80, plus a 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster and 2000 Plymouth Prowler to boot.
Crazy Delinquent Fantasy Land: An Ode to Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is my favourite game of all time. Though, I don’t really think of it as a game so much as an experience, like an epic holiday packed with unique and unexpected pleasures, the memories of which will forever bask in a golden glow. I’m not even sure I’ll play it again - not seriously - not like the first time, ransacking every square foot of the Capital Wasteland, getting drawn into every quest, deliberating over each decision, big and small, for hundreds of hours.
Naturally, then, with the series’ fourth instalment just ‘round the corner, I can’t help being racked with nerves. That perfect holiday? Remember when you tried to recreate it the next year, and it just wasn’t the same? You were different, everyone was different, the weather was different, that place had closed down, or been renovated or attracted a different crowd… All the pieces which went into making your nerves jangle with excitement at waking each day have been altered, and the sequel is like a cake baked with the right ingredients in wrong quantities. A salty brick. O great gaming gods, please don’t let me feel this way about 4!
Star Wars: Theaters Banning Masks and Weapons
Those planning to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens dressed as their favorite character may need to rethink their costume, as several theater chains are limiting what will be allowed during screenings.
Both Cinemark and AMC won't allow you to wear masks, sport face paint, or bring fake weapons. "AMC does not permit weapons or items that would make other guests feel uncomfortable or detract from the movie-going experience," the company announced on its website (via TheWrap).
"Guests are welcome to come dressed in costume, but we do not permit masks," AMC's statement adds. "In short, bring your lightsaber, turn it off during the movie, and leave the blaster and Darth Vader mask at home."