In a nod to the renewed importance of gaming at the software juggernaut Microsoft, the firm’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, got a promotion and a spot on chief executive Satya Nadella’s senior leadership team.
Mr Spencer, now an executive vice president, previously reported to the Windows division head Terry Myerson, who has a seat on Mr Nadella’s council of chiefs. The group meets weekly and is comprised of the tier of executives directly below the chief executive.
It is a change in focus from earlier in Mr Nadella’s tenure. In 2014, in his first big company wide strategy memo, Mr Nadella defined gaming as outside Microsoft’s core businesses, but still a very important "other business in which we can have fundamental impact".
At the time, the business had just gone through a lacklustre release of the overpriced Xbox One and some investors were calling for Mr Nadella to get out of gaming entirely. Since then, Mr Spencer has cut prices and introduced new models, stabilising Xbox sales which topped US$9 billion last year. Microsoft’s purchase of the wildly popular Minecraft video game three years ago has also proven to be a success.
In another sign of the growing importance of gaming, Comcast is among the latest round of investors in the new Overwatch esports league founded by video-game maker Activision Blizzard. The largest US cable TV operator is acquiring the rights to the Philadelphia team, which will compete in tournaments centred around Overwatch, a cartoonish shooting game released last year by Activision that has attracted 30 million players worldwide.
Comcast’s participation in the nascent esports industry adds another deep-pocketed backer to a league that has attracted investors including the owner of the American football team New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft and his NFL competitor Stanley Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams.
“We’re very focused on the theme that this is premium content,” said Pete Vlastelica, the chief executive of Activision’s Major League Gaming division. “I think Comcast coming in is validation of that.”
Esports, where professional contestants play video games before live and online audiences, is a growth business for video-game companies. The business has attracted investments from many traditional sports team owners looking to connect with younger audiences and buy in at a fraction of the cost of other pro teams. Activision is charging team owners a franchise fee of $20 million.
Riot Games, a unit of China's Tencent Holdings, is expected to announce shortly the team owners for its League of Legends series.
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Read more:
Tencent profit soars as Chinese tech major wins on smartphone games
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Comcast, which owns the Philadelphia Flyers hockey franchise and the Wells Fargo Center where the team plays, also bought the rights to a professional lacrosse team and a minor league hockey team this year. The Philadelphia-based company also owns the NBC broadcast network and the Universal Studios film and theme-park business.
There are 300,000 Overwatch players in the Philadelphia area, said Dave Scott, the chief executive of Comcast’s sports and live events business. The company is in the process of hiring a coach and players as well as looking for an arena seating less than 5,000 people.
“We like the idea of hosting events, bringing in fans and growing this market,” Mr Scott said.
Activision, based in Santa Monica, California, announced two other Overwatch League owners last Wednesday. Team Envy, backed by Hersh Family Investments, will control the Dallas franchise, while OpTic Gaming, founded by the video-game player and Web personality Hector Rodriguez, got the Houston rights.
Team Envy was founded 10 years ago by Mike Rufail, a professional video gamer who said he got his start playing Activision’s Call of Duty. Mr Rufail said he has raised an “eight-figure sum” for a training facility, corporate headquarters and support staff in Dallas.
Activision now has 12 Overwatch League teams in place in Asia, Europe and North America. They will begin preseason play December 6, with regular competition running January 10 through to the finals in July. All games in the first season will played at Activision’s new 450-seat studio space in Burbank, California.
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
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Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
Naga
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
More on animal trafficking
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
