NOV. 4, 2009 • Blizzard has finally jumped into micro-transactions tied to its market leading World of Warcraft. The publisher introduced two special companion pets that can be purchased for $10 each. Previously, special pets were available for attendance to events such as Blizzcon, incentives for subscription, or tied to branded playing card games. Impact: The problem with t.....

SEPT. 27, 2009 • Blizzard Ent. chief operating officer Paul Sams is announced as part of the new ownership group of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. The franchise reorganization followed the sale of team stock by members of the Rooney and McGinley families to Steelers preside.....

SEPT. 12, 2008 • To bolster its music-themed product, Activision Blizzard acquires U.K.-based FreeStyleGames. The latter is already localizing downloadable content for the Guitar Hero franchise, and is creating a new unannounced title in the music game genre. Impact: Th.....

JULY 18, 2008 • Activision Blizzard is now a reality having passed muster with both shareholders and regulators. The merger creates the largest video game publisher in the business, at least for the near future. That kind of clout is one of the reason why the company felt secure in withdrawing from the Entertainment Software Association, and why DFC wanted to speak with Activision Blizzard chief financial officer Thomas Tippl. Thanks to solid choices in product development, Activisio.....

MARCH 4, 2008 • Blizzard Ent. has traded its long-time home in a nondescript business park in Irvine for the former headquarters of Broadcom Corp. in the same city. The new home for the World of Warcraft creative team boats 240,000 square-feet, 65% more space than the studio’s old location, to house more .....