Thoughts Unboxed

Sony's fierce opposition to Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has been no secret since the announcement last year. The gaming giant has been lobbying extensively against the deal's approval. In an attempt to assuage Sony, Microsoft offered a guarantee of Call of Duty's availability on Sony's PlayStation platform. Recent developments have shed light on a twist in the tale. According to a Twitter post, Sony's CEO, Jim Ryan, purportedly made a counteroffer to Xbox Boss, Phil Spencer, as a condition to green-light the deal. The counterproposal laid out several demands, as follows: Ensure that all existing and future Activision Blizzard games are still available on PlayStation & have parity with Xbox. Don't make PlayStation Activision Blizzard games more expensive than Xbox. Treat all Activision Blizzard games equally on subscription services of Xbox and Playstation. Upon comp

The post-COVID aftershocks are still in full swing. This time, the victim is Google Domains. It is always like walking on eggshells to cling on to anything Google that is not Search or Android. Google Domains used to be a quick way for anyone to not only purchase a domain but also build a website using various options, including Blogger and Google Sites. In a surprise announcement on Friday, June 16th, Squarespace announced the takeover of Google Domains, including approximately 10 million domains. The transaction is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023. Squarespace also commits to honor existing customer pricing for at least 12 months. While this may not seem like a significant announcement considering a domain is typically registered for at least a year, it aims to ensure a seamless transfer of domains by leveraging Google's infrastructure. The purchase will also see Squarespace becoming the exclusive partner for anyone looking to purchase a domain alongside Goog