Latest news with #Hearthstone
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Over 160 Blizzard workers in Irvine join union as gaming-industry labor movement expands
More than 160 workers at video game company Blizzard Entertainment have voted to unionize. The workers, who produce in-house cinematics, animation, trailers, promotional videos and other narrative content, are just the latest batch in the video game industry to unionize, with more than 6,000 having organized across the U.S. and Canada. A wave of organizing in the industry has been driven in recent years by such issues as crunch-time hours before a product releases, job insecurity and workplace harassment. The newly unionized workers are largely based in Irvine, where Blizzard Entertainment's campus is located. They will join Communications Workers of America Local 9510 in Orange County. John Gearratana, a cinematic producer who works out of the Irvine campus, said he and other workers had become frustrated with frequent layoffs and with lack of remote work options. Activision Blizzard laid off about 400 workers last year. 'People who work in games, a lot of the reason is they love [games], they want to make them and share them with people,' Gearratana said. 'But these waves of layoffs are really hard. It makes it hard to make games, it makes it hard to be creative, and it makes it hard to want to do this work.' Microsoft Corp.-owned Blizzard Entertainment has recognized the union. The company is a subsidiary of Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard, the largest game company in the Americas. Activision Blizzard was created in 2008 when Santa Monica-based Activision merged with the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment. It's known for successful titles such as 'Call of Duty,' 'Warcraft,' 'Overwatch,' 'Hearthstone' and 'Candy Crush.' It was acquired in 2023 by tech giant Microsoft. The worker vote did not have to go through a typical election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board because Microsoft pledged to take a neutral stance toward workers who sought to form a union. Microsoft's pledge, unusual among largely nonunionized tech giants, has paved the way for thousands of additional workers to more easily unionize. 'We continue to support our employees' right to choose how they are represented in the workplace,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement last year. Blizzard did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nearly 3,000 workers at Microsoft-owned studios have unionized with CWA thus far, according to union spokesperson Sean Nesmith. CWA is the largest media and telecommunications labor union in the U.S. North America saw its first video game union form at the end of 2021 at Vodeo Games, an indie studio with about a dozen employees. In 2022, a small group of quality assurance workers at Raven Software, an Activision Blizzard-owned game studio in Wisconsin, unionized — marking the arrival of the first labor union at a major U.S. gaming company. And last year, more than 500 game developers at Blizzard Entertainment who work on the blockbuster video game 'World of Warcraft' elected to form a union.
Engadget
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Blizzard is giving up on its Warcraft mobile game amid layoffs
It's nearly the end of the road for Warcraft Rumble . Blizzard has announced that it will no longer be developing new content for the free-to-play mobile strategy game, and instead focus on "regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes." The change comes as the rest of Microsoft's business is in upheaval: The company is laying off as many as 9,000 employees across its global workforce. Blizzard's statement doesn't get into the details of what motivated the decision, but is clear that Warcraft Rumble hasn't been living up to expectations. The game "struggled to find its footing" relative to Blizzard's ambitions, prompting the studio to explore different options to improve it over the last few years. "Some of that work showed signs of progress, but ultimately wasn't enough to put the game on a path to sustainability," Blizzard writes. Warcraft Rumble was announced in 2019 as Warcraft Arclight Rumble. Much like Hearthstone , the game was a high-profile attempt to translate a popular Blizzard franchise into something that works on smartphones and tablets. Warcraft Rumble plays like a more flexible version of Clash Royale , where miniaturized armies face off in PVP or singe-player challenges, and the biggest strategic choices are when and where characters are placed. Aftermath reports that winding down Warcraft Rumble is a direct result of the wider Microsoft layoffs effecting Blizzard. While some of the team who created new content for Rumble will be given new roles at the studio, others will be let go, according to a staff email sent by Blizzard president Johanna Fairies that Aftermath viewed. Blizzard's public statement doesn't acknowledge these layoffs beyond a mention that the studio is "focused on supporting [its] teammates," which is telling in context. While Warcraft Rumble will live on for now in a diminished state, some future Xbox games have been outright cancelled as a result of Microsoft's restructuring, including Everwild and Perfect Dark . The bigger damage is the loss of talent. Greg Mayles, the lead designer on Donkey Kong Country and creative director of Sea of Thieves, is leaving Rare, according to Video Game Chronicle . ZeniMax Online Studios shared on X that director Matt Firor is also making an exit following the cancellation of the studio's next MMO.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five Point to acquire controlling interest in Hearthstone Venture
Five Point Holdings (FPH) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in a newly formed entity that will include substantially all of the business and operations of Hearthstone, a provider of capital solutions to the U.S. homebuilding industry. The new entity, Hearthstone Residential Holdings, will be 75% owned by Five Point, with the remaining 25% retained by entities affiliated with Hearthstone's Founder and CEO Mark Porath. The venture is designed to expand flexible, off-balance sheet capital for homebuilders. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See today's best-performing stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on FPH: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Five Point Holdings Concludes Annual Shareholder Meeting Five Point Holdings Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Amid Market Challenges Five Point Holdings Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Five Point Holdings, LLC to Acquire Controlling Interest in New Landbank Venture With Hearthstone, Inc.
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Five Point Holdings, LLC ('Five Point' or the 'Company') (NYSE:FPH), an owner and developer of large mixed-use planned communities in California, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in a newly formed entity that will include substantially all of the business and operations of Hearthstone, Inc. ('Hearthstone'), a provider of capital solutions to the U.S. homebuilding industry. The new entity, Hearthstone Residential Holdings, LLC (the 'Hearthstone Venture'), represents a strategic partnership between Five Point and Hearthstone designed to expand access to flexible, off-balance sheet capital for homebuilders pursuing land-light strategies. This marks a significant expansion of Five Point's capabilities, positioning it as a more active manager of capital solutions for the homebuilding sector through investment funds. The Hearthstone Venture will benefit from Five Point's deep development expertise, valuable long-term relationships with the homebuilding industry, and strong capital base, while leveraging Hearthstone's respected platform and experienced leadership. As part of the transaction, Hearthstone will contribute substantially all of its assets into the new venture, of which Five Point will own 75%, with the remaining 25% retained by entities affiliated with Mark Porath, Hearthstone's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. The Hearthstone Venture will continue to be led by its existing management team. Hearthstone was founded in 1992 and is focused on managing institutional capital in residential for-sale housing in select target markets across the country. Hearthstone's business consists of a land banking (or lot option) program that provides capital to public homebuilders, a joint venture financing program, and advisory services for real estate investors and financial institutions. With over $2.6 billion in assets under management, the firm has funded over 173,000 homes and lots, totaling approximately $21 billion in investments in connection with approximately 750 transactions. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. 'Hearthstone has built an impressive track record over more than three decades, consistently delivering value through changing market conditions, and we are very excited to bring this exceptional platform and talented team into Five Point,' said Dan Hedigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Point. 'We've had the opportunity to partner with Hearthstone on several transactions and have great respect for their disciplined execution and deep relationships across the homebuilding industry. This acquisition will create new revenue streams for Five Point, while connecting us to a broader network of capital providers and strengthening our relationships with builder partners. Hearthstone's market insight, innovative approach, and operational excellence are a strong complement to our land development platform, and both companies have established trust with their homebuilder partners. Together, we're positioned to scale Hearthstone's land banking business, while further supporting Five Point's asset-light growth strategy.' 'Partnering with Five Point is a strategic step forward for Hearthstone,' said Mark Porath, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hearthstone. 'This venture will allow us to scale our platform and broaden our impact while aligning with an industry leader that shares our long-term vision. We're entering this partnership to leverage the respective strengths of both companies, and my continued ownership stake reflects my confidence in the future of the business. Our builder clients will experience continuity in service—with the added advantage of expanded resources, enhanced capital solutions, and increased capacity to support their growth strategies.' About Five Point Holdings, LLC Five Point Holdings, LLC (NYSE: FPH) designs and develops large mixed-use planned communities in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Francisco County that combine residential, commercial, retail, educational, and recreational elements with public amenities, including civic areas for parks and open space. Five Point's communities include the Great Park Neighborhoods® in Irvine, Valencia® in Los Angeles County, and Candlestick® and The San Francisco Shipyard® in the City of San Francisco. About Hearthstone, Inc. Hearthstone, Inc. is a leading private investment partner in for-sale housing in the United States, with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, innovation, and integrity. Hearthstone's primary business is managing institutional capital in their investment in residential housing in select target markets. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements concern expectations, beliefs, projections, plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. When used, the words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would,' 'result' and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to: our expectations of future home sales and/or builder sales; our future revenues, costs and financial performance, including with respect to cash generation and profitability; the expected timing, completion, and effects of the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to consummate the transaction on the anticipated timeline or at all; anticipated benefits, synergies, or strategic advantages; and other statements that are not historical in nature. We caution you that any forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on our current views and information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in Five Point's filings with the SEC, including Five Point's Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading 'Risk Factors.' Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by applicable law.
Tom's Guide
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I tested these desktop speakers with 5.1 surround sound for 8 months — and it's a game changer
SteelSeries is known for its computer peripherals and array of headsets, many of which make it into our list of best gaming headsets. Still, what you may not know is that the company also has its own lineup of speakers, and while they cater to multiple budgets with varying numbers of speakers, you can find the Arena 9 nestled at the top of the tree. This 5.1 setup comes with surround sound speakers, SteelSeries GG for all the customization a user could ask for, and some slick RGB lighting to boot. It's a whole soundscape in a box, essentially, and while it's mostly easy to recommend thanks to a whole host of clever tweaks and great directional audio, there are caveats. For one, the rear speakers are prone to interference, while there's a definite learning curve to its many outputs. Once you've got the hang of it, though, it really can take your desktop audio to new heights. SteelSeries Arena 9 Price $549/£580 Audio 5.1 surround sound Speakers Subwoofer, 2x desktop speakers, 2x real speakers, one soundbar-like front monitor Frequency response 35 - 20,000Hz Lighting RGB Reactive PrismSync Connectivity Bluetooth, USB, Optical, 3.5mm audio jack Size 6.5 inches (speaker size) Weight 33.2 pounds (all speakers0 From solid audio to great lighting, there's a lot to like about the Arena 9. If there's one thing your speaker setup needs to nail, it's sound, and thankfully the SteelSeries Arena 9 set ticks plenty of boxes. Playing Hearthstone had me feeling like I was sitting in a warm tavern, enjoying a game of cards with friends, and the audio in more hectic games also came through clearly. I've always tended to reach for a headset if I want to hear an enemy's footsteps in, say, Valorant or Call of Duty Warzone, but now I needn't do so because the sound on the Arena 9 offers a truly cinematic 3D soundstage. While some had remarked that 5.1 upscaling wasn't great at launch, I found it to be a great way to listen to my eclectic music collection, both through USB (Windows) or via Bluetooth (Mac). The chiptune-esque synths and djenty guitar chugs of recent Sleep Token album ''Even In Arcadia'' sounded great, with the right amount of bass hitting from the floor-based sub-woofer and everything folding in nicely from the desktop speakers. It'll depend on how music has been mixed, of course, but to my tastes, there's plenty to like. It seems a small touch, but the puck-like remote of the Arena 9 is a great way to quickly reach over and adjust settings, switch connection type, or just hit mute when I need to make a phone call. The OLED display, or Control Pod, is easy to read in all lighting conditions, and is always within an arm's reach. That's handy because SteelSeries GG's Sonar setup is very powerful, with a whole host of EQ options and customization. But be warned: it does have a tendency to change the default audio output every so often. Lighting on your desk setup can go one of two ways:, either setting a vibe that's uniquely yours, or end up distracting you. Thankfully, SteelSeries puts that choice squarely in your hands, and SteelSeries GG's settings for tweaking the lighting on your speakers are, quite frankly, very impressive. You can have them cycle through colors, set solid hues for each independently, and much, much more. It only works for the desktop speakers, however, so it's worth bearing that in mind — don't expect the longer speaker under your display to light up. While the Arena 9 delivers a great set of speakers for your PC setup, the price tag and some reliability issues mean it's a bittersweet symphony. Look, there are a lot of excellent speakers around, many of which cost half as much. Do they offer the 3D audio of having multiple outputs positioned around the user? No, but considering the SteelSeries Arena 9 cost around $550, we'd be remiss if we didn't bring up the price. Moreover, if you're in the U.K., you'll be hard-pressed to find these at any retailer, with the SteelSeries Arena 7 speakers being the optimal choice instead (although, they lack 5.1 surround sound). The rear speakers are great, but they can feel as though they're communicating with spirits from time to time. From a subtle scratchy, static sound to just sounding as though they've been dunked underwater until they're unplugged and power-cycled, it's a shame, as they really are the main reason to go for a 5.1 set. As you'd probably imagine with a 5.1 speaker array, you'll need space for the speakers included. The rear ones can sit nicely on a bookshelf, for example, and the desktop ones take up very little space, but the front dual-driver unit is pretty chunky. We managed to nestle it under the LG UltraGear 39GS95QE-B I reviewed recently, but it was a tight fit. If you want to be able to jump scare yourself by making a horror game antagonist sound as if they're right behind you, or want to upscale your music so you can feel enveloped in your favorite album, the SteelSeries Arena 9 can help. That's not to say it's perfect, however, and the crackling from the rear speakers is definitely something that drags the experience down, especially at this price. Thankfully, it doesn't happen every time, and when the Arena 9 speakers are singing, they really hit just right. If you're after a quieter setup, check out the best gaming headsets instead.
