The Samsung Q1 (known as Samsung SENS Q1 in South Korea) was a family of ultra-mobile PCs produced by Samsung Electronics starting in 2007. They had a 7" (18 cm) LCD and were made in several different versions with either Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium.
153-463: The Q1 is one of the first ultra-mobile computers (UMPC) produced under Microsoft 's "Origami" project. The Q1 can boot into two different modes: typical Windows XP (OS can be replaced), and AVS mode running Windows XP Embedded. AVS mode runs in a separate partition and boots directly to a music, photo, and video player with no Windows Explorer interface. The AVS feature is unique to the Q1. The SSD version
306-647: A BASIC interpreter for the device. Gates called MITS and claimed that he had a working interpreter, and MITS requested a demonstration. Allen worked on a simulator for the Altair while Gates developed the interpreter, and it worked flawlessly when they demonstrated it to MITS in March 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico . MITS agreed to distribute it, marketing it as Altair BASIC . Gates and Allen established Microsoft on April 4, 1975, with Gates as CEO, and Allen suggested
459-661: A Senate Finance Committee hearing featuring U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai , Senator Cantwell highlighted concerns about high-end game market in Japan, asserting that PlayStation holds a 98% monopoly in this sector in Japan. Cantwell expressed disapproval of what was characterized as Sony's anti-competitive behavior facilitated by exclusive deals and payments to game publishers. The senator further criticized Japan Fair Trade Commission for purportedly neglecting to investigate Sony's conduct, referring to it as "exclusionary." Cantwell sought insights into how Japan aimed to establish
612-417: A "level playing field" in response to these perceived issues. Microsoft Gaming manages numerous software services, including Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming , Xbox Network , Microsoft Store , and Battle.net . The Xbox Network experienced substantial growth, with 120 million monthly active players as of December 2022, marking a notable increase from 46 million at the beginning of 2016. By July 30, 2024,
765-500: A 1024×600 screen. A GPS accessory is also offered, which may be used with the included mapping software. Uses an Intel Core Solo U1500 processor at 1330 MHz. 1GB of RAM upgradeable to 2GB. This was the last and highest performance machine in the Q1 and Q1 Ultra series. Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington . Founded in 1975,
918-465: A 30% market share as of 2023. At a bilateral trade discussion between the United States and Japan, United States senator Maria Cantwell from Washington raised concerns regarding what she perceived as a dominant market position held by PlayStation. The senator specifically highlighted the perceived monopoly by PlayStation and expressed support for Xbox as a competitive alternative. During
1071-451: A Microsoft HR investigation, Schlosser was subsequently removed from her role. Despite her departure, the persisting toxic work environment led to a significant turnover of experienced staff. The amalgamation of these issues, coupled with a lack of a clear design direction, resulted in substantial delays in the development of State of Decay 3. Employees also pointed fingers at Microsoft for not promptly addressing reports of abuse, claiming that
1224-528: A Microsoft operating system or a non-Microsoft operating system. In effect, the royalty payment to Microsoft when no Microsoft product is being used acts as a penalty, or tax, on the OEM's use of a competing PC operating system. Since 1988, Microsoft's use of per processor licenses has increased." Following Bill Gates's internal "Internet Tidal Wave memo" on May 26, 1995, Microsoft began to redefine its offerings and expand its product line into computer networking and
1377-472: A broader value proposition to gamers through a subscription service that provided access to a vast library of games. In 2017, Spencer was named Executive Vice President, Gaming at Microsoft. In 2019, as part of a larger branding, MGS was renamed to Xbox Game Studios (XGS) as to align with the Xbox hardware branding, and further acquired Double Fine . Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media for $ 8.1 billion in 2020,
1530-448: A call must verify on their respective ends. On October 7, Microsoft acquired Ally.io, a software service that measures companies' progress against OKRs . Microsoft plans to incorporate Ally.io into its Viva family of employee experience products. On January 18, 2022, Microsoft announced the acquisition of American video game developer and holding company Activision Blizzard in an all-cash deal worth $ 68.7 billion. Activision Blizzard
1683-523: A chain of Microsoft-branded retail stores, and on October 22, 2009, the first retail Microsoft Store opened in Scottsdale, Arizona ; the same day Windows 7 was officially released to the public. Windows 7's focus was on refining Vista with ease-of-use features and performance enhancements, rather than an extensive reworking of Windows. As the smartphone industry boomed in the late 2000s, Microsoft had struggled to keep up with its rivals in providing
SECTION 10
#17327804773121836-722: A combination of AI, high-performance computing and quantum computing . The service includes Copilot, a GPT-4 based large language model tool to query and visualize data, write code, initiate simulations, and educate researchers. At a November 2023 developer conference, Microsoft announced two new custom-designed computing chips: The Maia chip, designed to run large language models, and Cobalt CPU, designed to power general cloud services on Azure. On November 20, 2023, Satya Nadella announced that Sam Altman , who had been ousted as CEO of OpenAI just days earlier, and Greg Brockman , who had resigned as president, would join Microsoft to lead
1989-499: A competitive presence in the evolving landscape of virtual environments. According to Microsoft, this acquisition is not solely about expanding Microsoft's gaming portfolio but also about leveraging Activision Blizzard's established franchises to enhance the overall gaming experience. The move aligns with industry trends where companies are exploring ways to create immersive and interconnected virtual worlds, combining social interactions with in-game purchases. Microsoft has been observing
2142-525: A completely new user interface with a novel start button , and 32-bit compatibility; similar to NT, it provided the Win32 API. Windows 95 came bundled with the online service MSN , which was at first intended to be a competitor to the Internet, and (for OEMs) Internet Explorer , a Web browser . Internet Explorer has not bundled with the retail Windows 95 boxes, because the boxes were printed before
2295-456: A day after hosting a Sting concert for 50 people, including Microsoft executives, in Davos , Switzerland. On January 23, 2023, Microsoft announced a new multi-year, multi-billion dollar investment deal with ChatGPT developer OpenAI . In June 2023, Microsoft released Azure Quantum Elements to run molecular simulations and calculations in computational chemistry and materials science using
2448-551: A deluxe version for $ 399.99. Increasingly present in the hardware business following Xbox, Microsoft 2006 released the Zune series of digital media players, a successor of its previous software platform Portable Media Center . These expanded on previous hardware commitments from Microsoft following its original Microsoft Mouse in 1983; as of 2007 the company sold the best-selling wired keyboard ( Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 ), mouse ( IntelliMouse ), and desktop webcam ( LifeCam ) in
2601-469: A graphical extension for MS-DOS , despite having begun jointly developing OS/2 with IBM that August. Microsoft moved its headquarters from Bellevue to Redmond, Washington , on February 26, 1986, and went public on March 13, with the resulting rise in stock making an estimated four billionaires and 12,000 millionaires from Microsoft employees. Microsoft released its version of OS/2 to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on April 2, 1987. In 1990,
2754-471: A joint venture with NBC since 1996. On October 1, Microsoft announced its intention to launch a news operation, part of a new-look MSN , with Windows 8 later in the month. On October 26, 2012, Microsoft launched Windows 8 and the Microsoft Surface . Three days later, Windows Phone 8 was launched. To cope with the potential for an increase in demand for products and services, Microsoft opened
2907-438: A limited number of video game publishing efforts. With the announcement of the first Xbox in 2000 and its release in 2001, Microsoft established a division for internal development of video games for the Xbox and Windows, then known as Microsoft Game Studios (MGS). The Xbox hardware remained a separate division within Microsoft. After Steve Ballmer 's departure as Microsoft's CEO, Microsoft investors attempted to exert pressure on
3060-530: A major target of the controversy, will leave the company after the acquisition is finalized. The deal was closed on October 13, 2023. In December 2022, Microsoft announced a new 10-year deal with the London Stock Exchange Group for products including Microsoft Azure; Microsoft acquired around 4% of LSEG as part of the deal. In January 2023, CEO Satya Nadella announced Microsoft would lay off some 10,000 employees. The announcement came
3213-622: A mode for the Windows operating system rather than a separate and unique operating system. In March the company also established guidelines that censor users of Office 365 from using profanity in private documents. In April 2018, Microsoft released the source code for Windows File Manager under the MIT License to celebrate the program's 20th anniversary. In April the company further expressed willingness to embrace open source initiatives by announcing Azure Sphere as its own derivative of
SECTION 20
#17327804773123366-504: A modern smartphone operating system, falling behind Apple and Google -sponsored Android in the United States. As a result, in 2010 Microsoft revamped their aging flagship mobile operating system, Windows Mobile , replacing it with the new Windows Phone OS that was released in October that year. It used a new user interface design language, codenamed "Metro", which prominently used simple shapes, typography, and iconography, utilizing
3519-427: A mono speaker and a single microphone. Manufacturer Part #: NP-Q1-F000 This is almost identical to the original Q1 but with a faster 1 GHz Intel Pentium M processor (723) which enables SpeedStep technology for better battery usage. It is possible to buy a 6-cell battery instead of the default 3-cell to double the time on all these devices. The Pentium edition also has: The Q1 Ultra series differed greatly from
3672-695: A more aggressive multiplatform strategy. In September 2024, Spencer announced another round of layoffs affecting 650 staffers in "corporate and supporting functions" following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In an interview with Bloomberg News in November 2024, Phil Spencer expressed a desire to continue acquiring studios, specifically taking interest in Chinese developers and partnerships with mobile game publishers similar to their relationship with Tencent Games , whom they collaborated with to produce Age of Empires Mobile . Spencer also confirmed that
3825-531: A motion-sensing input device made by Microsoft and designed as a video game controller , first introduced in November 2010, was upgraded for the 2013 release of the Xbox One video game console. Kinect's capabilities were revealed in May 2013: an ultra-wide 1080p camera, function in the dark due to an infrared sensor, higher-end processing power and new software, the ability to distinguish between fine movements (such as
3978-605: A new 24/7 cable news channel, MSNBC . Microsoft created Windows CE 1.0 , a new OS designed for devices with low memory and other constraints, such as personal digital assistants . In October 1997, the Justice Department filed a motion in the Federal District Court , stating that Microsoft violated an agreement signed in 1994 and asked the court to stop the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows. On January 13, 2000, Bill Gates handed over
4131-508: A new acquisition strategy, starting with the acquisition of Mojang Studios , the developer of Minecraft , for $ 2.5 billion. Between 2014 and 2019, MGS also acquired several high profile studios, including Ninja Theory , Playground Games , Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment . These acquisitions were aimed to help position MGS as the company's premier first-party development house comparable to PlayStation Studios for Sony . Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass in 2017, marking
4284-418: A new advanced AI research team. However, the plan was short-lived, as Altman was subsequently reinstated as OpenAI's CEO and Brockman rejoined the company amid pressure from OpenAI's employees and investors on its board. In March 2024, Inflection AI 's cofounders Mustafa Suleyman and Karen Simonyan announced their departure from the company in order to start Microsoft AI, with Microsoft acqui-hiring nearly
4437-416: A new advertising campaign titled "This is an Xbox", intent on showcasing the various compatible devices that can access Xbox games and services beyond the traditional consoles, such as Windows PCs, Samsung Smart TV sets, and streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV through cloud streaming. Xbox Senior Marketing Director Craig McNary stated that the campaign's message was to illustrate "the evolution of Xbox as
4590-503: A new storefront in the mobile game industry to rival Apple and Google and break the mobile duopoly. In 2023, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft Gaming is in talks with video game publishers for a partnership to launch a mobile store aimed at competing with Google Play and App Store in the mobile gaming market. In 2024, Sarah Bond announced that Microsoft Gaming would be launching its own mobile game store in July of that year, starting with
4743-736: A notable presence at events such as E3 and Summer Game Fest in the United States, Gamescom in Germany, Paris Games Week in France, the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, and CCXP in Brazil. The company organizes major gaming conventions such as BlizzCon and QuakeCon , and also have other shows, including Developers Direct , Xbox Partner Preview , Xbox Games Showcase , Inside Xbox and Xbox X0 . Phil Spencer emphasized that participating in large gaming expos and maintaining transparency
Samsung Q1 - Misplaced Pages Continue
4896-646: A number of "holiday stores" across the U.S. to complement the increasing number of "bricks-and-mortar" Microsoft Stores that opened in 2012. On March 29, 2013, Microsoft launched a Patent Tracker. In August 2012, the New York City Police Department announced a partnership with Microsoft for the development of the Domain Awareness System which is used for Police surveillance in New York City . The Kinect ,
5049-407: A number of acquisitions of studios to help build out the Xbox software library over its first decade, including Bungie , Lionhead Studios , and Rare while establishing internal studios 343 Industries for Halo development and Turn 10 Studios for Forza games. In 2014 after Satya Nadella was promoted to CEO (combined with the ascension of Phil Spencer to head of Xbox), Microsoft embarked on
5202-597: A pivotal year in which the company reevaluated its strategy to focus on a service-based business model rather than exclusive titles. This strategic shift allowed Microsoft to distinguish itself from other console manufacturers . By prioritizing a service-oriented business model with the Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft differentiated its approach from traditional console strategies that often relied heavily on exclusive game titles to attract users. Instead of competing solely based on exclusive content, Microsoft aimed to offer
5355-602: A platform that extends across devices," thus being evocative of a future where their games and content are accessible on a variety of hardware and software. Microsoft Gaming develops and produces the Xbox line of home gaming consoles along with associated peripherals. The company supports the consoles with online services, utilizing the base Xbox network . Since the late 2010s, Microsoft began combining its standard paid subscription service, originally known as Xbox Live Gold, with Xbox Game Pass , which in addition to online multiplayer and matchmaking support, provides subscribers with
5508-410: A portion if it were to go through. On August 5, 2020, Microsoft stopped its xCloud game streaming test for iOS devices. According to Microsoft, the future of xCloud on iOS remains unclear and potentially out of Microsoft's hands. Apple has imposed a strict limit on " remote desktop clients " which means applications are only allowed to connect to a user-owned host device or gaming console owned by
5661-601: A publishing division named Microsoft Press . Paul Allen resigned from Microsoft in 1983 after developing Hodgkin's lymphoma . Allen claimed in Idea Man: A Memoir by the co-founder of Microsoft that Gates wanted to dilute his share in the company when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease because he did not think that he was working hard enough. Allen later invested in low-tech sectors, sports teams, commercial real estate, neuroscience, private space flight, and more. Microsoft released Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985, as
5814-452: A record profit in 2007. The European Union imposed another fine of €899 million ($ 1.4 billion) for Microsoft's lack of compliance with the March 2004 judgment on February 27, 2008, saying that the company charged rivals unreasonable prices for key information about its workgroup and backoffice servers. Microsoft stated that it was in compliance and that "these fines are about the past issues that have been resolved". 2007 also saw
5967-783: A rotating library of games to play through the Xbox, on Windows computers, or through cloud gaming . Among the video game franchises owned by Microsoft Gaming include Call of Duty , Halo , Minecraft , Warcraft , Diablo , StarCraft , Overwatch , The Elder Scrolls , Fallout , Crash Bandicoot , Spyro , Banjo-Kazooie , Battletoads , Killer Instinct , Perfect Dark , Doom , Wolfenstein , Quake , Dishonored , Pillars of Eternity , Wasteland , State of Decay , Hellblade , Gears of War , The Evil Within , Fable , Forza , Tony Hawk's , Guitar Hero , Skylanders , Microsoft Flight Simulator , Age of Empires and Candy Crush . The business isn’t how many consoles you sell. The business
6120-443: A rudimentary computer to track and analyze automobile traffic data. Gates enrolled at Harvard University while Allen pursued a degree in computer science at Washington State University , though he later dropped out to work at Honeywell . The January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics featured Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems 's (MITS) Altair 8800 microcomputer, which inspired Allen to suggest that they could program
6273-543: A significant part of Microsoft's gaming strategy. In 2022, Microsoft announces Xbox Game Pass surpassed 25 million subscribers. Microsoft Gaming is investing over $ 1 billion in the gaming market annually to expand the Game Pass library by bringing in third-party games. By February 15, 2024, the number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers reached 34 million. Microsoft Gaming launched Xbox Cloud Gaming for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on September 15, 2020. Xbox Cloud Gaming
Samsung Q1 - Misplaced Pages Continue
6426-583: A significant position in the multiplayer gaming, serving as one of the leading publishers of multiplayer and live-service games along with Take-Two Interactive , Electronic Arts and Tencent . Popular multiplayer titles under Microsoft Gaming's umbrella include Minecraft , Sea of Thieves , Grounded , Call of Duty: Warzone , World of Warcraft , Hearthstone , Overwatch 2 , Diablo IV , The Elder Scrolls Online , Fallout 76 , Halo Infinite , State of Decay 2 , and many others. Microsoft Gaming has had difficulties finding success in
6579-565: A single division. With the completion of the Activision Blizzard acquisition in 2023, Microsoft became one of the largest gaming companies, the third- by revenue and the largest by employment . The division owns intellectual property for some of the most popular, best-selling , and highest-grossing media franchises of all time, including Call of Duty , Candy Crush , Warcraft , Halo , Minecraft , and The Elder Scrolls . Up through 2000, Microsoft had only
6732-487: A statement, claimed that Activision Blizzard had already been planning to eliminate a significant number of jobs while still operating independently, and that these layoffs are unrelated to the merger. After several studio closures, multiple Microsoft employees and video game journalists criticized Microsoft for its decision. Dinga Bakaba, the studio head of Arkane Lyon , publicly criticized Microsoft Gaming executives for their decision to close several studios. He emphasized
6885-515: A strategic partnership focused on expanding the availability of NetEase video games across various Microsoft Gaming platforms. Microsoft Gaming shut down three development studios on May 7, 2024: Alpha Dog Games in Canada, Arkane Austin in the US, and Tango Gameworks in Japan. Additionally, Roundhouse Studios will merge with ZeniMax Online Studios in the US. According to Microsoft Gaming, this move
7038-453: A thumb movement), and determining a user's heart rate by looking at their face. Microsoft filed a patent application in 2011 that suggests that the corporation may use the Kinect camera system to monitor the behavior of television viewers as part of a plan to make the viewing experience more interactive. On July 19, 2013, Microsoft stocks suffered their biggest one-day percentage sell-off since
7191-415: A web-based version before expanding further. The store will initially showcase its first-party portfolio, featuring popular titles such as Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft . Subsequently, it will welcome other publishers to join. Microsoft entered the home video game console market in 2001 with release of the first-generation Xbox . It since has manufactured three successive systems, as of 2023, as part of
7344-459: Is Microsoft's cloud gaming service designed to allow users to play high-quality video games via streaming on a variety of devices. The service uses cloud technology to enable gaming on devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs without the need for high-end hardware. Microsoft Gaming oversees the management and licensing of its gaming franchises to external production studios. The division has expressed that these partnerships are aimed at bringing
7497-505: Is US$ 500,000 per year. Some analysts deemed this unthinkable ten years prior, however, as in 2001 then-CEO Steve Ballmer called Linux "cancer". Microsoft planned to launch a preview of Intune for Education "in the coming weeks", with general availability scheduled for spring 2017, priced at $ 30 per device, or through volume licensing agreements. In January 2018, Microsoft patched Windows 10 to account for CPU problems related to Intel's Meltdown security breach . The patch led to issues with
7650-426: Is a part of a larger "reprioritization of titles and resources" that Microsoft's gaming division is carrying out. The intention is to boost investment in their library of games and new intellectual assets while focusing on high-impact titles. Some teams have been reassigned to other projects inside Bethesda and ZeniMax, and production on some games has stopped as a result of these companies closing. In June 2024 during
7803-595: Is best known for producing franchises, including but not limited to Warcraft , Diablo , Call of Duty , StarCraft , Candy Crush Saga , Crash Bandicoot , Spyro , Tony Hawk's , Guitar Hero , and Overwatch . Activision and Microsoft each released statements saying the acquisition was to benefit their businesses in the metaverse , many saw Microsoft's acquisition of video game studios as an attempt to compete against Meta Platforms , with TheStreet referring to Microsoft wanting to become "the Disney of
SECTION 50
#17327804773127956-549: Is considered one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Alphabet , Amazon , Apple , and Meta . However it has been criticized for its monopolistic practices and the company's software has been criticized for problems with ease of use , robustness , and security . Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen sought to make a business using their skills in computer programming . In 1972, they founded Traf-O-Data , which sold
8109-766: Is crucial for Microsoft Gaming, emphasizing that they will not compel a video game studio to create a sequel. Microsoft Gaming will support developers in making whatever they want. Microsoft Gaming's video game development business holds a strong position in the video game industry, regularly developing widely played titles. In certain video game genres such as first-person shooter (FPS) and role-playing games (RPG), Microsoft Gaming has held market dominance, owning popular FPS franchises like Call of Duty , Halo , Doom , Quake , Rage , and Overwatch , as well as RPG franchises such as The Elder Scrolls , Fallout , Fable , Pillars of Eternity , Wasteland , Warcraft , and Diablo . Starfield has become
8262-464: Is defined as the combined total of console hardware, console game content, and console subscriptions. As of 2023, with a 45% market share in PlayStation system hardware, games, and services, Sony remains the worldwide industry leader, followed by Nintendo with a 27.7% market share and Microsoft with a 27.3% market share. Sony has a 70% share of the global high-end console market, while Microsoft has
8415-580: Is essential to connect with their business partners, fans, consumers and various gaming communities, showcase their latest innovations, and engage with fans on a global scale. Following the troubled launch of Redfall , Phil Spencer, in an interview with Kinda Funny Games , has apologized to the fans and pledged to provide a more robust roadmap for releasing high-quality games. Microsoft Gaming has faced criticism from video game journalists and industry observers regarding its strategic acquisitions. The company's move to acquire major gaming publishers, including
8568-422: Is how many players are playing the games that they buy, how they play. —Phil Spencer on Xbox's business Microsoft Gaming's strategy in the video game industry is characterized by a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. The company aims to reach a wider audience and meet different gaming preferences by publishing games on mobile , PC and Xbox platforms . At the center of Microsoft Gaming's strategy
8721-505: Is identical to the Q1 except that the 40 GB hard disk drive has been replaced by Samsung's 32 GB solid-state drive . At release, the SSD version was about twice as expensive as the normal Q1. The Q1b was Samsung's second UMPC device, with a much improved battery life and 30% brighter screen compared to the Q1. The CF card slot and the Ethernet port were removed on this version. It also had
8874-438: Is most affected by layoffs. Project Odyssey , a game that Blizzard Entertainment has reportedly been working on for six years, has been cancelled. Toys for Bob and Sledgehammer Games reportedly lost over 30% of their staff due to layoffs. Microsoft Gaming also reportedly laid off the entire internal customer support team of Activision Blizzard and the team dedicated to bringing Xbox games to physical retail. Johanna Faries,
9027-491: Is selling consoles at a loss, losing $ 200 per unit sold. However, Microsoft Gaming is compensating for this loss by taking a 30% cut from sales of third-party games on its platform. Microsoft and Sony have been longstanding rivals in the console hardware market since 2001. The competition reached a peak during the seventh console generation, with the Xbox 360 emerging as the primary competitor to Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3). In
9180-487: Is the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This service offers a variety of game libraries for a monthly fee, emphasizing a shift towards a content-first platform. Microsoft Gaming's chief financial officer (CFO), Tim Stuart, has asserted that Microsoft ceased disclosing the number of consoles sold in 2016 because their focus shifted towards content, services, and increased customer spending. Phil Spencer has expressed that his vision for Xbox has consistently aimed at shifting
9333-491: Is to expand the games with big communities. Phil addresses the gaming industry's stagnation, acknowledging its impact on job cuts and tough decisions within companies. He emphasizes the necessity of industry growth for sustainability, advocating for a focus on expanding the player base rather than solely maximizing revenue from existing players. By prioritizing Xbox's growth through attracting new players and supporting creators, Phil aims to ensure long-term strength and success for
SECTION 60
#17327804773129486-520: The Altair 8800 . It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Windows. The company's 1986 initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent rise in its share price created three billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires among Microsoft employees. Since the 1990s, it has increasingly diversified from the operating system market. Steve Ballmer replaced Gates as CEO in 2000 which would see
9639-664: The California Civil Rights Department on behalf of women employed by the company. Activision Blizzard also agreed to take steps to ensure “fair pay and promotion practices” at the company. On December 5, 2023, 300 quality assurance (QA) workers at ZeniMax Media announced that they were organizing a union. In June 2023, Microsoft and the Communication Workers of America (CWA) announced a labor neutrality agreement. This agreement enabled Activision Blizzard employees to freely establish
9792-460: The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed a competitive impact statement that said: "Beginning in 1988 and continuing until July 15, 1994, Microsoft induced many OEMs to execute anti-competitive 'per processor licenses. Under a per-processor license, an OEM pays Microsoft a royalty for each computer it sells containing a particular microprocessor, whether the OEM sells the computer with
9945-599: The Linux operating system. In May 2018, Microsoft partnered with 17 American intelligence agencies to develop cloud computing products. The project is dubbed "Azure Government" and has ties to the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) surveillance program. On June 4, 2018, Microsoft officially announced the acquisition of GitHub for $ 7.5 billion, a deal that closed on October 26, 2018. On July 10, 2018, Microsoft revealed
10098-470: The Microsoft Azure virtual machines reliant on Intel's CPU architecture. On January 12, Microsoft released PowerShell Core 6.0 for the macOS and Linux operating systems. In February 2018, Microsoft killed notification support for their Windows Phone devices which effectively ended firmware updates for the discontinued devices. In March 2018, Microsoft recalled Windows 10 S to change it to
10251-688: The Minecraft animated television series, to be produced by WildBrain ; the Gears of War live-action feature film as well as its adult animated spin-off series, to be produced by Netflix ; the Grounded animated television series, to be produced by Bardel Entertainment ; and others. The division also manages the motion picture production company Activision Blizzard Studios . In terms of international engagement, Microsoft Gaming has actively participated in key gaming expos worldwide. The company has been
10404-580: The Open Networking Foundation started on March 23, 2011. Fellow founders were Google , HPE Networking , Yahoo! , Verizon Communications , Deutsche Telekom and 17 other companies. This nonprofit organization is focused on providing support for a cloud computing initiative called Software-Defined Networking. The initiative is meant to speed innovation through simple software changes in telecommunications networks, wireless networks, data centers, and other networking areas. Following
10557-515: The Surface Go platform to the public. Later in the month, it converted Microsoft Teams to gratis . In August 2018, Microsoft released two projects called Microsoft AccountGuard and Defending Democracy. It also unveiled Snapdragon 850 compatibility for Windows 10 on the ARM architecture . In August 2018, Toyota Tsusho began a partnership with Microsoft to create fish farming tools using
10710-604: The World Wide Web . With a few exceptions of new companies, like Netscape , Microsoft was the only major and established company that acted fast enough to be a part of the World Wide Web practically from the start. Other companies like Borland , WordPerfect , Novell , IBM and Lotus , being much slower to adapt to the new situation, would give Microsoft market dominance. The company released Windows 95 on August 24, 1995, featuring pre-emptive multitasking ,
10863-473: The Xbox video game consoles and services, in addition to overseeing production and sales, and is led by CEO Phil Spencer , who has overseen Xbox since 2014. Prior to 2022, Microsoft had several different video game-related product lines, including Xbox hardware, Xbox operations, and game development studios. Microsoft Gaming was created with the announcement of Microsoft's plans to acquire Activision Blizzard to unify all of Microsoft's gaming groups within
11016-543: The Xbox brand. Microsoft's latest gaming hardware, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S , were released in November 2020. The Series X is a high-performance console with powerful hardware for native 4K gaming, while the Series S offers a more affordable option with a focus on digital gaming at lower resolutions. Xbox Series X/S consoles sold 21 million units in total by 2023. Phil Spencer emphasized that Microsoft Gaming
11169-436: The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S video game consoles. In February 2021, Microsoft released Azure Quantum for public preview. The public cloud computing platform provides access to quantum software and quantum hardware including trapped ion , neutral atom , and superconducting systems. In April 2021, Microsoft announced it would buy Nuance Communications for approximately $ 16 billion. The acquisition of Nuance
11322-610: The third-person shooter (TPS) and single-player genre, finding it difficult to compete with industry leaders like Sony , Take-Two Interactive, Nintendo, Capcom , and Square Enix in this space. Despite intense efforts, the company faced difficulties in establishing itself and gaining the same level of recognition and market share as its competitors. This competitive landscape presented challenging obstacles that prompted Microsoft Gaming to re-evaluate their strategy and potentially explore other genres or approaches to improve their market position. Microsoft Gaming attempted to gain traction in
11475-822: The 1990s. Its best-known software products are the Windows line of operating systems , the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity applications, the Azure cloud computing platform, and the Edge web browser. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers. Other consumer and enterprise software it produces include Internet search with Bing ; digital services through MSN ; mixed reality through HoloLens ; cloud computing with Azure ; and software development through Visual Studio . Today, Microsoft
11628-574: The CEO position to Steve Ballmer , an old college friend of Gates and employee of the company since 1980, while creating a new position for himself as Chief Software Architect . Various companies including Microsoft formed the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance in October 1999 to (among other things) increase security and protect intellectual property through identifying changes in hardware and software. Critics decried
11781-662: The Federal Trade Commission examined Microsoft for possible collusion due to the partnership with IBM, marking the beginning of more than a decade of legal clashes with the government. Meanwhile, the company was at work on Microsoft Windows NT , which was heavily based on their copy of the OS/2 code. It shipped on July 21, 1993, with a new modular kernel and the 32-bit Win32 application programming interface (API), making it easier to port from 16-bit (MS-DOS-based) Windows. Microsoft informed IBM of Windows NT, and
11934-580: The Great Circle (2024) from Bethesda and MachineGames , which was originally announced as an Xbox Series X/S console exclusive , would launch on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025 following its Xbox and PC launch in December 2024. On the decision to pursue a PS5 release for the title after initially amending the licensing terms with Lucasfilm to exclude the platform from distribution plans, Spencer cited
12087-484: The Microsoft Azure application suite for Internet of things (IoT) technologies related to water management. Developed in part by researchers from Kindai University , the water pump mechanisms use artificial intelligence to count the number of fish on a conveyor belt , analyze the number of fish, and deduce the effectiveness of water flow from the data the fish provide. The specific computer programs used in
12240-554: The OS/2 partnership deteriorated. In 1990, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Office suite which bundled separate applications such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel . On May 22, Microsoft launched Windows 3.0 , featuring streamlined user interface graphics and improved protected mode capability for the Intel 386 processor, and both Office and Windows became dominant in their respective areas. On July 27, 1994,
12393-543: The U.S. smartphone market in January 2016 was 2.7%. During the summer of 2015 the company lost $ 7.6 billion related to its mobile-phone business, firing 7,800 employees. In 2015, the construction of a data center in Mecklenburg County , Virginia led to the destruction of a historic African American cemetery despite archeological recommendations for preservation. On March 1, 2016, Microsoft announced
12546-517: The United States. That year the company also launched the Surface "digital table", later renamed PixelSense . Released in January 2007, the next version of Windows, Vista , focused on features, security and a redesigned user interface dubbed Aero . Microsoft Office 2007 , released at the same time, featured a " Ribbon " user interface which was a significant departure from its predecessors. Relatively strong sales of both products helped to produce
12699-494: The Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft announced that the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages (2025) from id Software would launch simultaneously on multiple platforms, with Spencer detailing that the decision to develop a PS5 version stemmed from the series' prior multiplatform history and persuasion from the developers. Jerret West, Xbox's chief marketing officer , left Microsoft Gaming at the end of June 2024. West led
12852-499: The ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy." In November 2018, Microsoft introduced Azure Multi-Factor Authentication for Microsoft Azure. In December 2018, Microsoft announced Project Mu , an open source release of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) core used in Microsoft Surface and Hyper-V products. The project promotes the idea of Firmware as a Service . In
13005-438: The acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming doubled the number of video game employees, studios and its revenue with the addition of Activision Blizzard to the company. In 2023, during an interview with Famitsu , Phil Spencer announced that, leveraging Activision Blizzard's capabilities, they are now planning to release a first-party video game every three months. Phil Spencer also talked about how creative freedom
13158-400: The alliance as a way to enforce indiscriminate restrictions over how consumers use software, and over how computers behave, and as a form of digital rights management : for example, the scenario where a computer is not only secured for its owner but also secured against its owner as well. On April 3, 2000, a judgment was handed down in the case of United States v. Microsoft Corp. , calling
13311-573: The beloved gaming universes to a wider audience through the medium of television. Licensed completed works or those in production include the following: the Halo television series, produced by Showtime Networks and released in 2022; the Fallout television series, produced by Amazon MGM Studios and released in 2024; the Minecraft feature film, produced by Warner Bros. with a release in 2025;
13464-525: The biggest Bethesda game launch of all time. Eleven of the twelve best-selling video games released in the United States in the last thirteen years were from the Call of Duty franchise. Microsoft also has a strong presence in the real-time strategy (RTS) sub-genre, platformer genre and racing game genre with popular franchises such as Age of Empires , StarCraft , Crash Bandicoot , Spyro , Banjo-Kazooie , and Forza . Microsoft Gaming holds
13617-402: The brand's focus from being primarily console-centric to becoming a content-first platform, with a strong emphasis on prioritizing player engagement over sheer console sales. Phil Spencer expressed his viewpoint by stating that the essence of the business lies not in the quantity of consoles sold but in the number of players actively participating in and enjoying the games they acquire, as well as
13770-488: The company , citing it abused its dominance with the Windows OS, resulting in a judgment of €497 million ($ 613 million) and requiring Microsoft to produce new versions of Windows XP without Windows Media Player : Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N. In November 2005, the company's second video game console, the Xbox 360 , was released. There were two versions, a basic version for $ 299.99 and
13923-541: The company an "abusive monopoly." Microsoft later settled with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004. On October 25, 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP , unifying the mainstream and NT lines of OS under the NT codebase. The company released the Xbox later that year, entering the video game console market dominated by Sony and Nintendo . In March 2004 the European Union brought antitrust legal action against
14076-606: The company announced it was laying off 1,850 workers, and taking an impairment and restructuring charge of $ 950 million. In June 2016, Microsoft announced a project named Microsoft Azure Information Protection. It aims to help enterprises protect their data as it moves between servers and devices. In November 2016, Microsoft joined the Linux Foundation as a Platinum member during Microsoft's Connect(); developer event in New York. The cost of each Platinum membership
14229-461: The company became highly influential in the rise of personal computers through software like Windows , and the company has since expanded to Internet services, cloud computing , video gaming and other fields. Microsoft is the largest software maker , one of the most valuable public U.S. companies, and one of the most valuable brands globally. Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for
14382-453: The company fell short of its diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. There have also been concerns about whether Microsoft will address the toxic work environment at Activision Blizzard following the acquisition. Microsoft pledged to address the toxic workplace environment at Activision Blizzard after the acquisition. On December 16, 2023, Activision Blizzard agreed to pay approximately $ 54 million to settle discrimination claims brought by
14535-550: The company has also expanded its video gaming business to support the Xbox brand, establishing the Microsoft Gaming division in 2022, which is currently the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue, following the 2023 acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $ 68.7 billion. Microsoft has been market-dominant in the IBM PC–compatible operating system market and the office software suite market since
14688-523: The company to either sell or shut down its gaming business. However, these efforts did not gain significant traction. Microsoft's gaming division, including products such as the Xbox console, has remained a strategic focus for the company. Under the leadership of Satya Nadella , who assumed the role of CEO in 2014, Microsoft has continued to invest in and expand its presence in the gaming market. Since 2009, Microsoft's games operations, including Xbox division, are located at Microsoft West Campus . MGS made
14841-595: The company was prototyping a possible handheld Xbox console, though stressed that "such a device is a few years out." Spencer commented on Microsoft Gaming's efforts to establish a first-party Xbox storefront for mobile devices amidst ongoing conflicts with platform holders such as Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. , who respectively control the App Store and Google Play , saying that he envisions an environment where such companies are more open to hosting Xbox's content in co-existence with their marketplaces. He also addressed
14994-633: The company's war profiteering from a $ 480 million contract to develop virtual reality headsets for the United States Army . On March 26, 2020, Microsoft announced it was acquiring Affirmed Networks for about $ 1.35 billion. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Microsoft closed all of its retail stores indefinitely due to health concerns. On July 22, 2020, Microsoft announced plans to close its Mixer service, planning to move existing partners to Facebook Gaming . On July 31, 2020, it
15147-409: The company's ongoing plans to publish their first-party games on competing platforms such as PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, stating that he did not see "red lines" in their franchise portfolio with regards to games considered for release on such systems, but that certain tentpole franchises like Halo had not reached a consensus at this early stage. During the month, Microsoft Gaming launched
15300-468: The concept of minimalism. Microsoft implemented a new strategy for the software industry, providing a consistent user experience across all smartphones using the Windows Phone OS. It launched an alliance with Nokia in 2011 and Microsoft worked closely with the company to co-develop Windows Phone, but remained partners with long-time Windows Mobile OEM HTC . Microsoft is a founding member of
15453-579: The creation of a multi-core unit at Microsoft, following the steps of server companies such as Sun and IBM. Gates retired from his role as Chief Software Architect on June 27, 2008, a decision announced in June 2006, while retaining other positions related to the company in addition to being an advisor for the company on key projects. Azure Services Platform , the company's entry into the cloud computing market for Windows, launched on October 27, 2008. On February 12, 2009, Microsoft announced its intent to open
15606-857: The criticism was directed at Matt Booty, President of Game Content and Studios, for his past management of Xbox Game Studios division. Microsoft Gaming has faced criticism on multiple occasions for video game layoffs. In 2022, 343 Industries lost over 60 employees due to layoffs, leading to public criticism from several former 343 Industries employees regarding Microsoft's leadership and management policies. In 2024, Microsoft Gaming underwent another round of layoffs, with Microsoft laying off 1,900 employees. Additionally, during this time, Microsoft canceled Blizzard Entertainment's new game Project Odyssey , which also garnered criticism from fans and journalists. FTC expressed concern that Microsoft's layoffs seemed inconsistent with past claims of preserving operational autonomy post-Activision Blizzard acquisition. Microsoft, in
15759-471: The day the acquisition was announced, Phil Spencer formed the Microsoft Gaming business, taking over as CEO, while Matt Booty headed Xbox Game Studios. Spencer's role includes all Microsoft's global interactive entertainment business across all devices and services. In 2022, ZeniMax Media, acquired Nemesys Games, a Hungarian video game development studio. Following the acquisition, Nemesys Games
15912-792: The entirety of its 70-person workforce. As part of the deal, Microsoft paid Inflection $ 650 million to license its technology. In January 2024, Microsoft became the most valued publicly traded company. Meanwhile, that month, the company announced a subscription offering of artificial intelligence for small businesses via Copilot Pro. Microsoft Gaming Microsoft Gaming is an American multinational video game and digital entertainment division of Microsoft based in Redmond, Washington established in 2022. Its five development and publishing labels consist of: Xbox Game Studios , Bethesda Softworks (publisher of ZeniMax Media ), Activision , Blizzard Entertainment , and King (the latter three are publishers of Activision Blizzard ). It produces
16065-650: The evolving digital entertainment landscape. Phil Spencer emphasized that for the Xbox brand to remain relevant, it must establish its presence on mobile, PC, and console platforms simultaneously. With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Gaming has become a significant player in the mobile gaming industry. It owns one of the largest mobile game developers and publishers, King, and publishes popular mobile games such as Candy Crush Saga , Fallout Shelter , Diablo Immortal , Warcraft Rumble and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile . Phil Spencer has reiterated multiple times that Microsoft Gaming desires to launch
16218-432: The former general manager of the Call of Duty franchise, officially took on the role of the new president of Blizzard Entertainment on January 29, 2024, commencing her position on February 5. Simultaneously, Matt Cox assumed the position of the new general manager of the Call of Duty franchise. In February, Toys for Bob's office closed, and employees will work remotely. After rumors in early February 2024 that Microsoft
16371-908: The future, but specifically stated that these titles would not include Starfield nor Indiana Jones and the Great Circle . Phil Spencer stated that one of the reasons for this decision is to grow the Microsoft Gaming franchises, and he anticipates that in the next 5–10 years, console-exclusive games will be a smaller part of the gaming industry. In addition, the Podcast stated that the next generation of Xbox hardware would likely be discussed in late 2024, and that Microsoft would start bringing Activision Blizzard games to Game Pass, starting with Diablo IV in March 2024. Microsoft Gaming announced that four games will be released on other platforms, namely Pentiment , Hi-Fi Rush , Grounded , and Sea of Thieves . On February 29, 2024, Activision developer Toys for Bob announced their intentions to spin off from
16524-490: The game content and studios division led by Matt Booty, while Xbox marketing, led by Chris Lee, would move to the Xbox organization and report to Xbox president Sarah Bond. On August 7, 2024, Krafton reached an agreement with Microsoft Gaming to acquire Tango Gameworks as well as the Hi-Fi Rush IP . On August 20, 2024 during Gamescom: Opening Night Live , Microsoft announced that the upcoming Indiana Jones and
16677-451: The importance of taking care of artists and entertainers in the video game industry, highlighting that their role is to create value for corporations. Booty was also criticized for comments he made during a town hall meeting with employees following the closures, in which he stated that Microsoft needed “smaller games that give us prestige and awards,” which many saw as hypocritical as one of the studios that Microsoft closed, Tango Gameworks ,
16830-440: The last version of the operating system; set to be released in the third quarter of 2021. It was released to the general public on October 5, 2021. In September 2021, it was announced that the company had acquired Takelessons, an online platform that connects students and tutors in numerous subjects. The acquisition positioned Microsoft to grow its presence in the market of providing online education to large numbers of people. In
16983-424: The manner in which they choose to engage with them. By February 2024, Microsoft Gaming began planning to release their games on other platforms as part of a pivot in strategy to grow their franchises and compete with online game platforms like Fortnite and Roblox . Phil Spencer has stated that Xbox will continue to make exclusives and Game Pass will still be at the center of their strategy, but their goal
17136-473: The marketing efforts for the Xbox Series X/S consoles and his team was responsible for developing marketing plans for games, hardware, and Xbox Game Pass. Following his departure, Microsoft is reorganizing some of its marketing teams. A new, expanded central gaming marketing team is set to be created under Kirsten Ward, VP of Xbox integrated marketing. Consequently, games marketing would become a part of
17289-525: The merger of its PC and Xbox divisions, with Phil Spencer announcing that Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps would be the focus for Microsoft's gaming in the future. On January 24, 2017, Microsoft showcased Intune for Education at the BETT 2017 education technology conference in London . Intune for Education is a new cloud-based application and device management service for the education sector. In May 2016,
17442-487: The metaverse". Microsoft also named Phil Spencer , head of the Xbox brand since 2014, the inaugural CEO of the newly established Microsoft Gaming division, which now houses the Xbox operations team and the three publishers in the company's portfolio (Xbox Game Studios, ZeniMax Media, Activision Blizzard). Microsoft has not released statements regarding Activision's recent legal controversies regarding employee abuse, but reports have alleged that Activision CEO Bobby Kotick ,
17595-400: The name "Micro-Soft", short for micro-computer software. In August 1977, the company formed an agreement with ASCII Magazine in Japan, resulting in its first international office of ASCII Microsoft . Microsoft moved its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington , in January 1979. Microsoft entered the operating system (OS) business in 1980 with its own version of Unix called Xenix , but it
17748-463: The next decade. Additionally, Microsoft Gaming sold Activision Blizzard's cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft for 15 years due to regulatory pressure from the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. After several regulatory challenges, the deal was closed on October 13, 2023. The total cost of the acquisition amounted to $ 75.4 billion. This made Microsoft the third largest publisher of video games after Tencent and Sony Interactive Entertainment . On
17901-462: The notable purchase of ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard , has sparked debates about potential monopolistic tendencies. Critics argue that such acquisitions may concentrate too much power within Microsoft, raising concerns about healthy competition within the gaming industry. Various Video game journalists have criticized Microsoft Gaming of attempting to create a monopoly by acquiring two significant gaming publishers. The concern centers around
18054-427: The number of monthly active players had reached 500 million following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft created Xbox Game Pass in 2017. Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that offers a vast library of games for a monthly fee. This includes a mix of first-party titles, third-party games, and titles available across PC and console platforms. The service has been praised for its value and has become
18207-407: The original Q1 series with more features, including: The Ultra model runs on a 600/800 MHz Intel A100/A110 (Stealey) processor and includes dual cameras, a 40GB/60GB hard disk, HSDPA and just like its predecessor, it comes installed with either Windows XP or Vista. All Q1U models offer a new split keyboard, 1GB of RAM (user upgradeable to 2GB), a SD card slot (excluding the base model), and
18360-617: The parent company of id Software , MachineGames , Arkane Studios , publisher Bethesda Softworks and others, to further expanding its portfolio of game development studios. ZeniMax remained a separate entity from XGS from its acquisition though overseen by Spencer. Microsoft announced its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $ 68.7 billion in cash on January 18, 2022. Simultaneously, Microsoft announced that Xbox Game Studios, ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard will fall under Microsoft Gaming, Microsoft's newly formed gaming division. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated that one of
18513-511: The perceptual gap. PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch have surpassed Xbox One due to their design and large portfolio of first-party games. In 2017, Xbox began rethinking its tactics and placing more emphasis on exclusive content and gaming-focused methods to better compete in the market. The Xbox Series X/S consoles continued to face challenges in competing against the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 (PS5). The console gaming market
18666-585: The platform and the industry as a whole. Microsoft Gaming, as of October 2023, is the third largest video game publisher in the industry following Sony and Tencent . Microsoft Gaming owns three major video game publishers: Xbox Game Studios, ZeniMax Media (through Bethesda Softworks), and Activision Blizzard (which includes Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and King). In addition, Microsoft Gaming also publishes third-party games with Xbox Game Studios Publishing and helps indie video game studios to self-publish their own games with ID@Xbox . Since Microsoft entered
18819-439: The positive reception to the prior four Xbox titles released on other platforms in the earlier half of 2024, in addition to a need to maintain a strong business and interest in their franchises as they work to grow the Xbox ecosystem. Spencer also called to attention that the gaming industry was undergoing changes in the methods by which games were developed and distributed, that Microsoft was prepared to anticipate when considering
18972-505: The potential impact on market competition, with skeptics worrying that the consolidation of major titles under one umbrella might limit choices for gamers and stifle innovation. There has been controversy surrounding Microsoft's mismanagement of their gaming studios. Following the failed launch of Halo Infinite and Redfall , critics have started to criticize Microsoft for this issue. There have been reports about Everwild and Perfect Dark also being in development hell. Most of
19125-551: The primary reasons for acquiring Activision Blizzard is to enter the mobile gaming market. Meanwhile, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick mentioned that they accepted the offer to access more talent, capitalize on the growing demand in the gaming industry, and to compete with rising gaming companies from China and Japan . Microsoft Gaming has entered into several 10-year agreements with gaming companies including Sony, Nintendo , Nvidia , Boosteroid, Ubitus, Nware, and EE to bring Call of Duty to their respective platforms over
19278-699: The process fall under the Azure Machine Learning and the Azure IoT Hub platforms. In September 2018, Microsoft discontinued Skype Classic . On October 10, 2018, Microsoft joined the Open Invention Network community despite holding more than 60,000 patents. In November 2018, Microsoft agreed to supply 100,000 Microsoft HoloLens headsets to the United States military in order to "increase lethality by enhancing
19431-432: The publisher to become an independent studio but confirmed that they were open to working with both Activision and Microsoft on future projects. On April 9, 2024, Microsoft Gaming and NetEase Games announced an agreement to bring Blizzard Entertainment games back to China . Previously, Blizzard terminated a publishing deal with NetEase in 2022. Microsoft Gaming also revealed plans to bolster their collaboration through
19584-521: The release of Windows Phone , Microsoft undertook a gradual rebranding of its product range throughout 2011 and 2012, with the corporation's logos, products, services, and websites adopting the principles and concepts of the Metro design language . Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 , an operating system designed to power both personal computers and tablet computers , in Taipei in June 2011. A developer preview
19737-644: The release of the IBM PC in August 1981. IBM had copyrighted the IBM PC BIOS , so other companies had to reverse engineer it for non-IBM hardware to run as IBM PC compatibles , but no such restriction applied to the operating systems. Microsoft eventually became the leading PC operating systems vendor. The company expanded into new markets with the release of the Microsoft Mouse in 1983, as well as with
19890-507: The role of CFO. On February 4, 2014, Steve Ballmer stepped down as CEO of Microsoft and was succeeded by Satya Nadella , who previously led Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise division. On the same day, John W. Thompson took on the role of chairman, in place of Bill Gates, who continued to participate as a technology advisor. Thompson became the second chairman in Microsoft's history. On April 25, 2014, Microsoft acquired Nokia Devices and Services for $ 7.2 billion. This new subsidiary
20043-407: The same month, Microsoft acquired Australia-based video editing software company Clipchamp . In October 2021, Microsoft announced that it began rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) support for Microsoft Teams calls in order to secure business communication while using video conferencing software. Users can ensure that their calls are encrypted and can utilize a security code that both parties on
20196-927: The same month, Microsoft announced the open source implementation of Windows Forms and the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) which will allow for further movement of the company toward the transparent release of key frameworks used in developing Windows desktop applications and software. December also saw the company discontinue the Microsoft Edge project in favor of Chromium backends for their browsers. On February 20, 2019, Microsoft Corp said it will offer its cyber security service AccountGuard to 12 new markets in Europe including Germany, France and Spain, to close security gaps and protect customers in political space from hacking. In February 2019, hundreds of Microsoft employees protested
20349-737: The start of 2024 to help with the transition. In an email sent to employees, Bobby Kotick announced that he would leave the Activision Blizzard on December 29, 2023. Following Bobby Kotick's departure, Activision Blizzard has undergone organizational changes to realign with Microsoft Gaming. Vice Chairman of Activision Blizzard, Thomas Tippl; President of Activision, Rob Kostich; President of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra; and President of King, Tjodolf Sommestad, have begun reporting to Matt Booty, President of Game Content and Studios. The leadership teams at Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and King remained unchanged. CCO Lulu Meservey departed Activision Blizzard on January 31, 2024. After assisting with
20502-615: The subsequent generation, Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) outperformed Microsoft's Xbox One , selling twice as many consoles. During the eighth generation of gaming consoles, the PlayStation 4 sold 117 million units, the Nintendo Switch sold 133 million units, and the Xbox One sold 58 million units. Sony's success is attributed to its exclusive game catalog and marketing techniques. Microsoft initially prioritized multimedia features over gaming capabilities; Sony has managed to exploit
20655-575: The success of other Metaverse games. The company strategically positioning itself in the Metaverse trend, evident in its efforts to strengthen its gaming portfolio and explore opportunities for social interactions and monetization strategies within virtual environments. Microsoft's strategic positioning through acquisition of Activision Blizzard to play a significant role in shaping the future of gaming by integrating Metaverse elements into its gaming ecosystem. Microsoft Gaming plans to remain competitive in
20808-467: The team finished the Web browser, and instead were included in the Windows 95 Plus! pack. Backed by a high-profile marketing campaign and what The New York Times called "the splashiest, most frenzied, most expensive introduction of a computer product in the industry's history," Windows 95 quickly became a success. Branching out into new markets in 1996, Microsoft and General Electric 's NBC unit created
20961-528: The then-largest of Microsoft's corporate acquisitions in Skype Technologies in 2011, and an increased focus on hardware that led to its first in-house PC line, the Surface, in 2012, and the formation of Microsoft Mobile through Nokia . Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, the company has changed focus towards cloud computing , as well as its large acquisition of LinkedIn for $ 26.2 billion in 2016. Under Nadella's direction,
21114-442: The third-person single-player genre by developing titles like Gears of War , Quantum Break , and Sunset Overdrive . However, despite these efforts, the company continues to face challenges in competing successfully in this genre, struggling to match the market dominance of competitors such as Sony and Nintendo. Today, big games like Fortnite and Roblox can actually be bigger than any one platform, and that really has changed
21267-416: The transition, Thomas Tippl, along with several other top Activision Blizzard executives, departed from the company in March 2024. Microsoft Gaming laid off 1,900 staff (approximately 8% of its workforce) in January 2024. Additionally, Blizzard's president Mike Ybarra and Blizzard's co-founder and chief design officer Allen Adham left the company. Blizzard Entertainment reportedly is the organization that
21420-407: The user. On September 21, 2020, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire video game company ZeniMax Media , the parent company of Bethesda Softworks , for about $ 7.5 billion, with the deal expected to occur in the second half of 2021 fiscal year. On March 9, 2021, the acquisition was finalized and ZeniMax Media became part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios division. The total price of the deal
21573-749: The video game industry in 2001, Sony has consistently been viewed as its main competitor. But, Microsoft Gaming has stated that their main competitors are big tech companies, specifically Amazon , Google and Apple . Among the gaming franchises owned by Microsoft, Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with 300 million units sold, while Call of Duty is the 4th best-selling video game series of all time with 425 million units across multiple installments sold and $ 30 billion in revenue. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Microsoft Gaming now owns 20 franchises that have each generated over $ 1 billion in lifetime revenues. Candy Crush Saga alone generated $ 20 billion in lifetime revenue. Following
21726-604: The way we think about things. —Matt Booty on online game platforms Microsoft Gaming has stated that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard reflects a strategic effort to tap into the growing Metaverse trend in the gaming industry. For Microsoft, the Metaverse concept involves creating online game platforms where users can interact, similar to popular games like Grand Theft Auto V , Fortnite , and Roblox . Microsoft aims to incorporate strong social features and effective monetization strategies within games like Call of Duty , Minecraft and World of Warcraft to establish
21879-607: The year 2000, after its fourth-quarter report raised concerns among investors on the poor showings of both Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. Microsoft suffered a loss of more than US$ 32 billion. In line with the maturing PC business, in July 2013, Microsoft announced that it would reorganize the business into four new business divisions, namely Operating systems, Apps, Cloud, and Devices. All previous divisions will be dissolved into new divisions without any workforce cuts. On September 3, 2013, Microsoft agreed to buy Nokia 's mobile unit for $ 7 billion, following Amy Hood taking
22032-542: Was MS-DOS that solidified the company's dominance. IBM awarded a contract to Microsoft in November 1980 to provide a version of the CP/M OS to be used in the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC). For this deal, Microsoft purchased a CP/M clone called 86-DOS from Seattle Computer Products which it branded as MS-DOS, although IBM rebranded it to IBM PC DOS . Microsoft retained ownership of MS-DOS following
22185-438: Was $ 8.1 billion. On September 22, 2020, Microsoft announced that it had an exclusive license to use OpenAI 's GPT-3 artificial intelligence language generator. The previous version of GPT-3 , called GPT-2 , made headlines for being "too dangerous to release" and had numerous capabilities, including designing websites, prescribing medication, answering questions, and penning articles. On November 10, 2020, Microsoft released
22338-415: Was behind the critically acclaimed and award-winning game Hi-Fi Rush . In 2022, an investigation conducted by Kotaku revealed concerns about the studio environment at Undead Labs , suggesting the presence of sexism within the company. The studio's new leader, Philip Holt, who succeeded Strain, and the then-Head of HR, Anne Schlosser, were both implicated in fostering this problematic culture. Following
22491-468: Was completed in March 2022. In 2021, in part due to the strong quarterly earnings spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic , Microsoft's valuation came to nearly $ 2 trillion. The increased necessity for remote work and distance education drove demand for cloud computing and grew the company's gaming sales. On June 24, 2021, Microsoft announced Windows 11 during a Livestream. The announcement came with confusion after Microsoft announced Windows 10 would be
22644-629: Was looking to bring its first-party exclusives to either PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, and that Microsoft may be leaving the hardware business, Microsoft held a special installment of the Official Xbox Podcast scheduled on February 15, 2024, to address the future strategy of Microsoft Gaming and Xbox, with Phil Spencer appearing alongside head of Xbox Sarah Bond and Matt Booty, president of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft Gaming. Spencer announced that four Xbox-exclusive games will be released on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in
22797-494: Was officially renamed to ZeniMax Online Studios Hungary. Shortly after completion of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft further reorganized Microsoft Gaming. In this move, the Xbox hardware line was brought into Microsoft Gaming led by Sarah Bond . Matt Booty was made president of game content and studios, which includes oversight of Xbox Game Studios and ZeniMax Media, while Activision Blizzard also remained directly under Spencer, with Bobby Kotick remaining as CEO until
22950-693: Was released on September 13, which was subsequently replaced by a consumer preview on February 29, 2012, and released to the public in May. The Surface was unveiled on June 18, becoming the first computer in the company's history to have its hardware made by Microsoft. On June 25, Microsoft paid US$ 1.2 billion to buy the social network Yammer . On July 31, they launched the Outlook.com webmail service to compete with Gmail . On September 4, 2012, Microsoft released Windows Server 2012 . In July 2012, Microsoft sold its 50% stake in MSNBC, which it had run as
23103-592: Was released, with its server sibling, Windows Server 2016 , released in September 2016. In Q1 2015, Microsoft was the third-largest maker of mobile phones , selling 33 million units (7.2% of all). While a large majority (at least 75%) of them do not run any version of Windows Phone — those other phones are not categorized as smartphones by Gartner – in the same timeframe 8 million Windows smartphones (2.5% of all smartphones) were made by all manufacturers (mostly Microsoft). Microsoft's share of
23256-425: Was renamed Microsoft Mobile Oy. On September 15, 2014, Microsoft acquired the video game development company Mojang , best known for Minecraft , for $ 2.5 billion. On June 8, 2017, Microsoft acquired Hexadite , an Israeli security firm, for $ 100 million. On January 21, 2015, Microsoft announced the release of their first Interactive whiteboard , Microsoft Surface Hub . On July 29, 2015, Windows 10
23409-590: Was reported that Microsoft was in talks to acquire TikTok after the Trump administration ordered ByteDance to divest ownership of the application to the U.S. On August 3, 2020, after speculation on the deal, Donald Trump stated that Microsoft could buy the application, however, it should be completed by September 15, 2020, and that the United States Department of the Treasury should receive
#311688