socalTECH

JANUARY 2, 2019

Santa Monica-based Activision has fired its CFO, saying on December 31st that it has notified its current Chief Financial Officer, Spencer Neumann, that it intends to terminate his employment. According to Activision, the move is "unrelated to the Company's financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures. " As a result of the firing, Activision said on Tuesday that it has named Dennis Durkin, its Chief Corporate Officer, as its principal financial officer.

Activision 109

Activision Netflix Santa Monica Report 109

socalTECH

JANUARY 9, 2019

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard made a trio of executive appointments today, naming Rob Kostich has been named President of Activision; apointing Humam Sakhnini as President of King Digital Entertainment; and naming Dennis Durkin President of Activision Blizzard's Emerging Businesses. Activision did not say what propted the shuffling of roles. activision blizzard executive kostich humam sakhini ennis drukin

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica Entertainment 109

L.A. Business Journal

JANUARY 10, 2019

Gimbal acquires part of UberMedia; Bungie terminates Activision contract early, Ring’s security not so secure

Activision 100

Activision Report 100

L.A. Business Journal

JANUARY 2, 2019

Blizzard tweaks e-sports chats; Disney and Verizon sign deal; Durkin replaces Neumann at Activision Blizzard

Activision 100

Activision Report 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 12, 2018

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision said this morning that the latest sequel in its Call of Duty series of games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 , is now available worldwide. callofduty activision ombie videogame content launch treyarchThe company said the title is now avaliable both digitally and at global retailers worldwide.

Activision 126

Activision Santa Monica Platform Develop 126

L.A. Business Journal

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard Inc. named J. Allen Brack its new president of Blizzard Entertainment Oct. 4, alongside two new promotions to the executive leadership team

Activision 149

Activision Santa Monica Entertainment 149

socalTECH

AUGUST 10, 2012

is back, thanks to a reboot by Activision , which released a new version of the game yesterday for the Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. is "inspired by the original 1982 classic", Activision said. The new game comes out of Activision's Leeds, UK studio.

Activision 188

Activision Mobile Content 188

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2017

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision has brought back Crash Bandicoot , its popular videogame character, in a new remake of the original three games for the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Crash Bandicoot was originally developed by LA-based Naughty Dog Entertainment, originally for Sony Computer Entertainment; Activision acquired the rights to Crash Bandicoot in 2008. Activision said the new version of the three games was done by its team at Vicarious Visions.

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica Entertainment Develop 109

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard reported a win in court late Thursday, saying that the United States District Court, Central District of California has invalidated all patent claims asserted by McRO, Inc. McRO had sued Activision over the use of lip synchronization and facial expression technology in Call of Duty, Skylanders, and StarCraft II. activision blizzard patent lawsuit legal mcro planet blue callofduty synchronization uspto

Activision 160

Activision Patents Santa Monica Report 160

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 14, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision said late Monday evening that it is planning to bring back its popular Crash Bandicoot character, through both an incorporation of the character into its Skylanders Imaginators game, as well as a "remaster" of three, Crash Bandicoot games for Playstation 4. Activision said the three games, Crash Bandicoot; Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back; and Crash Bandicoot: Warped will run on PlayStation 4.

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica 109

socalTECH

JUNE 15, 2015

Los Angeles-based apartment search startup RadPad > said today that it has hired on Activision veteran Mike Pelletier as its first Vice President of Marketing, the company said this morninng. Pelletier had previously been head of Activision's Call of Duty franchise, and also had been at Dell. He was last in charge of marketing Call of Duty Advanced Warfare at Activision. radpad activision rental marketplace payment startup callofduty executive marketing

Activision 143

Activision Marketing Los Angeles Help 143

socalTECH

JANUARY 12, 2015

Santa Monica-based Activision and Chinese game maker Tencent said today that the two are launching the popular Activision title Call of Duty into China, releasing the game as a free-to-play -- and also adapting the game to Chinese customs.

Activision 193

Activision Santa Monica Custom Customer 193

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 10, 2017

Santa Monica-based Activision has been sued by the developer of the ubiquitous Humvee military vehicles, AM General LLC , over the use by Activision of its vehicles in the game Call of Duty. The lawsuit covers not only the use of the Humvee in Activision's video game, but also related game-related toys and merchandise. activision humvee callofduty legal lawsuit trademark

Activision 100

Activision Santa Monica Develop Development 100

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 9, 2018

SpaceX requests lower launch threshold; Activision nets $1.7 billion third quarter revenues; Tastemade to release a book

.Net 109

.Net SpaceX Activision Report 109

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2014

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision Blizzard announced late Wednesday that Vivendi S.A. is planning to sell 41,499,689 shares of Activision Blizzard common stock, in a public offering. Those shares represent half of Vivendi''s stake in Activision Blizzard, and is worth around $866M. According to Activision Blizzard, the offering is being run by Barclays and Credit Suisse. activision vivendi blizzard sale finance stock merger acquisition

Activision 138

Activision Santa Monica Capital Sales 138

socalTECH

APRIL 19, 2018

Santa Monica-based game publisher Activision said Wednesday that it has rolled out a new Alexa Skill, which lets players of its popular game, Call of Duty: WWII , get in-game advice from Alexa. According to Activision, the new skill will provide personalized player recommendations, updates on in-game achievements, and more. Activision said the new skill is free. activision callofduty wwii gaming videogame alexa amazon skill machine learning artificial intelligence

Activision 100

Activision Santa Monica 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 7, 2013

Santa Monica-based videogame developer Activision said late Friday that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against two companies. Activision said the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Activision claims the two companies have infringed on a U.S. activision lawsuit legal patent infringement worlds District Court of the Central District of California, against Worlds Inc. and Worlds Online Inc.

Activision 125

Activision Companies Company Santa Monica 125

socalTECH

OCTOBER 3, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision said today that it has launched a new, mobile app, which lets players creat real-life, 3D printed figures for its Skylanders game. According to Activision, its new Skylanders Creator app lets fans create 3D, printed Skylanders Imaginators figures, which are playable in the Skylanders Imaginators console game. activision skylanders mobile printed figure toystolife videogame imaginators

Activision 143

Activision Santa Monica Companies Company 143

socalTECH

JULY 17, 2014

Santa Monica-based videogame maker Activision has been sued by former Panama dictator Manual Noriega, over his depection in the game "Call of Duty: Black Ops II". Noriega is suing Activision Blizzard over what he says is using his name and likeness without his permission. activision manuel noriega lawsuit legal trademark videogame video

Activision 160

Activision Santa Monica Los Angeles Angel 160

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision said this morning that it has completed its acquisition of King Digital Entertainment. Activision paid $18.00 Activision said it expects to boost its revenues in 2016 to $6.25 Activision said King will operate as an independent unit, led by current CEO Riccardo Zacconi, Chief Creative Officer Sebastian Knutsson, and COO Stephane Kurgan. activision king digital entertainment merger acquisition videogame

Activision 109

Activision Acquisition Santa Monica Entertainment 109

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2017

Santa Monica-based games publisher Activision said on Tuesday that it has released Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles , a collection of eight, Zombie-themed maps from Call of Duty: World at War, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Activision said it has "remastered" the maps and titles, adding new visuals, enhanced audio, and new gameplay. Activision said the MSRP on the new collection is $29.99.

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica 109

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2016

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision Blizzard said this week that it is expanding efforts to help veterans find high quality careers, by launching a new, in-game purchase in its popular Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare videogame. According to Activision Blizzard, its new Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Activision Blizzard said the endowment--which is a nonprofit founded in 2009 by CEO Bobby Kotick--so far has funded over 29,000 job placements of veterans.

Activision 130

Activision Santa Monica Help Funding 130

socalTECH

MARCH 15, 2018

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard is bolstering its efforts in the growing esports arena, saying it has named three sports veterans--Daniel Cherry as Chief Marketing Officer, Marc Kolin as Vice President of Finance and Strategy, and Brandon Snow as Chief Revenue Officer, all in an effort to boost its Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. activision executive sports team esports daniel cherry marc kolin brandon snow

Activision 100

Activision Santa Monica Hollywood Marketing 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

Activision said Friday that it has launched a new Call of Duty gaming competition, which will feature a $1 million prize, for the top player of Call of Duty: Black Ops II on the Xbox 360. Activision said 32 teams will compete in the head-to-head, live-streamed championship in April.

Activision 232

Activision Hollywood Competition 232

socalTECH

DECEMBER 16, 2016

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision Publishing , the arm of Activision Blizzard which publishes Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare , says its title is the number one console video game in the U.S., Those revenues were not announced by Activision in the announcement. Activision said Call of Duty is the number one grossing console franchise in the U.S. activision call duty infinite warfare videogame game software content blizzard

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica Sales Content 109

L.A. Business Journal

OCTOBER 18, 2018

Activision’s new game has a $500-million opening; Ticketmaster acquires blockchain startup; Bird’s new service could bypass city regulations

Ticketmaster 100

Ticketmaster Activision Services Report 100

socalTECH

JUNE 24, 2015

Santa Monica-based Activision , along with Bungie and Red Bull , are in a major marketing partnership around the launch of the new expansion for Destiny , called The Taken King , the companies said this morning.

Activision 172

Activision Marketing Santa Monica Companies 172

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2017

Gaming accessory maker Razer , game studio Bungie , and Santa Monica-based game publisher Activision said last week that Razer will release a suite of Destiny 2-themed products, including a mouse, keyboard, headset, and mouse mat. Destiny 2 is published and distributed by Activision. razer activision bungie videogame game gaming accessory accessories computer

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica Product 109

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2013

Santa Monica-based videogame developer Activision Blizzard said late Friday that it has completed its acquisition of its shares from Vivendi, in a deal worth approximately $5.83 The deal once again makes Activision Blizzard a fully independent company. The investor group which led the acquisition was led by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and Chairman Brian Kelly, as well as Davis Advisors, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.,

Activision 146

Activision Santa Monica Companies Company 146

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Activision Blizzard of Santa Monica plans to open an e-sports arena in Burbank to play host to a variety of video game tournaments including the Overwatch Contenders Playoffs and Hearthstone Championship Tour in October, the company said Thursday

Burbank 141

Burbank Activision Santa Monica Companies 141

socalTECH

JUNE 13, 2012

Santa Monica-based Activision , via its subsidiary Activision Publishing, said today that it is in a strategic relationship with Flurry , a provider of mobile application, advertising, and analytics software. According to Activision, Flurry will help the firm to establish a new mobile publishing initiative. android publishing mobile flurry activision

Activision 116

Activision Draper Santa Monica Advertising 116

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2018

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision announced on Thursday afternoon that it will release its latest game in its popular Call of Duty games, the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 , on October 12th. Activision says that its Call of Duty games have over 200 million players, who have racked up a total of more than 15 billion hours of gameplay. callofduty call duty videogame activision games contentn

Activision 100

Activision Santa Monica Develop Development 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 4, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision has reportedly acquired e-sports organization Major League Gaming , in a deal worth $46M. activision major league gaming merger acquisition esports videogame video game tournaments tournamentAccording to leaked documents sent to shareholders of Major League Gaming, the deal is split between $31M in cash immediately, plus $15M held in escrow.

Activision 109

Activision Santa Monica Organization Report 109

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Santa Monica-based videogame publisher Activision Publishing reports that it sold more than $500M of its latest title, Destiny , as of day one. Activision claimed that the numbers make Destiny the "most successful new video game franchise launch of all time." Activision said the numbers include retail and first party orders worldwide. activision destiny videogame sales opening console

Activision 135

Activision Sales Santa Monica Report 135

socalTECH

JUNE 17, 2016

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard says that it is branching out its content to the world of streaming television with its first, original title out of its new television and film studio, Activision Blizzard Studios. According to Activision Blizzard, the studio has created Skylanders Academy , a new, animated series which will show on Netflix. activision blizzard content netflix streaming animated videogame

Netflix 109

Netflix Activision Santa Monica Product 109