*renter. A ****** and his money are soon parted. Your fault you rented and participated in a DRMed online service.

[Modded by Sarafan: Please refrain from posting inappropriate suggestions against other users]

Microsoft still has not closed the digital Bethesda.Net Launcher/Store.

Since many games do require and/or utilize client app-crap for functionality for server-checks, DRM, functionality, Cloud Saves, Achievements, Stat Recording, etc from the ground-up - they might just leave it alone.

As long as Kotick gets a nice bootprint on his ass and his cronies leave, I can only see things going up.

If they don't kick him out, I hope Microsoft enjoys the new money hole; unless this buyout is a honey trap to open up the discovery process.

+1 as usual (not that rep matters). If people hadn't accepted the rental model with such enthusiasm all these years, maybe we would still have chances to own games without fear of losing them (I'm speaking generally, don't know what the specific options (if any) are with Starcraft franchise).

Blizzard has been a notorious DRM offender for quite some time going now, PC version of Diablo 3 taking the cake, and obviously Activision is no better. The headline "Microsoft to acquire Activision-Blizzard" in my reading is to be followed by "...and nothing of value was lost!"

I'm not really up to date with these things. What/who are you referring to?

Probably.
Unless Microsoft goes and buys out CDP and GOG.

https://boundingintocomics.com/2022/01/12/xbox-head-phil-spencer-says-xbox-is-not-a-free-speech-platform-proposes-cross-console-bans-to-combat-toxicity/

Under the guise of "combatting online harassment" and "toxicity", Phil Spencer is salivating at the prospect of being able to gather user data, including chat logs being analyzed by robots all the time, selling it to other companies and people seeing it as something virtuous on the outside.

I believe Crash Bandicoot 4 on PC also requires Battle.Net client-app and an always-online Internet-connection to play.
Don't recall if they ever changed the stance on that.

Come home from work and see this holy crap this is totally unexpected.

Not familiar with the fourth installment but if it is anything like the previous mainline games then I will go ahead and assume that is always-online needed for singleplayer...lovely. Not that there is any excuse for multiplayer DRM either, but why is anyone buying this stuff at all? I get being a fan of certain series, but is it really THAT important to play another Crash Bandicoot sequel that it keeps wreaking havoc on the rest of us being able to own games?

Meh, wake me up when there will be new releases...

You might never be waking up then :)

Just saw this news, say goodbye to any blizzard stuff here. It will soon all be windows store/games for windows dead.
Wonder who will be next?

I was a little upset when they acquired Zenimax. I'm actually happy they'll get Activision/Blizzard. Few companies have been as anti-consumer as Activision. If only Bobby Kotick would get thrown out on his ear without a dime to his name.