Day: August 6, 2014

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World of Warcraft Loses 800,000 Subscribers in Three Months

World of Warcraft lost 800,000 subscribers during the April-June quarter, publisher Activision Blizzard announced today as part of its latest earnings report. As of June 30, the game had 6.8 million subscribers, which is down from the 7.6 million subscribers as of March 31.

Activision says the downturn in subscribers came mostly in the East. The company called the decline "seasonal" and pointed out that the dip in subscribers was similar to what we saw in the second quarter of 2012, ahead of the release of World of Warcraft expansion Mists of Pandaria.

The next World of Warcraft expansion is Warlords of Draenor, which launches this fall for PC. The expansion’s release date will be announced during a special event next week in Los Angeles. Though the expansion isn’t out yet, it has already sold 1.5 million units in pre-purchases, Activision Blizzard said today.

Though World of Warcraft’s subscriber count is down, revenue from the game is up, Blizzard Entertainment CEO Mike Morhaime said. He did not provide a specific revenue figure, and Actvision Blizzard does not share this information publicly.

Activision Blizzard also announced today that Diablo III has now sold more than 20 million copies. This figure includes sales of Diablo III itself and the expansion Reaper of Souls, which was the top PC game during the quarter in terms of dollars in both North America and Europe, Activision Blizzard said. Diablo III originally launched as a PC-exclusive, but is now available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions will be released this month as the Ultimate Evil Edition.

Overall, Activision Blizzard posted better-than-expected earnings results for the quarter. Revenue was $658 million compared to $608 million this time last year. Net income, on the other hand, stood at $45 million, just half of the $90 million the company posted last year during the same quarter. On the bright side, Activision Blizzard reported that a record 73 percent of the company’s total revenue came from digital sales.

"Today, we have more opportunities to create great content using new platforms and business models while also expanding into new geographies, and are embracing all of these growth opportunities with the same commitment to excellence that we have demonstrated over the past 23 years," Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. "As the world’s largest and most profitable independent interactive entertainment company, we remain focused on creating the most compelling, engaging games for our dedicated audiences and providing superior returns for our shareholders."

Activision Blizzard is currently holding an earnings call to discuss these results and answer investor and media questions. Check back later for more.

Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Navdy is portable HUD with smart phone integration and a sense of humor

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Navdy Portable HUD

Automotive head-up displays were once limited to high-end luxury sedans and sports cars, but in recent years they have started trickling down to affordable models like the latest Mini Cooper and Mazda3. Navdy, a startup from San Francisco, is aiming to broaden this tech even more with its new, portable device that combines all of the features of a HUD with apps and smartphone controls.

The Navdy sits on a vehicle’s dashboard and has a tiny screen that seemingly projects information about six feet in front of the car. It plugs into the model’s OBDII port for data and syncs with Android 4.3+ or iOS 7+ smartphones. When driving normally, Navdy displays important info like speed and direction, but with hand gesture and voice recognition the user can also control apps, take calls and dictate text messages.

Navdy is pitched as much for its safety benefits than as a cool toy. According to the company, it keeps your focus on the road and eliminates the need to look down at a phone. The device already supports popular apps like Google Maps, Spotify and iTunes Music and can read text messages.

"Touchscreen-based apps force you to take your eyes off the road. So we started by completely rethinking what the experience of using apps behind the wheel should be like," said company co-founder and CEO Doug Simpson in the company’s release.

Pre-orders for the Navdy are available now with shipments starting in early 2015, and for the first 30 days it’s priced at $299 – $499 after that. The company is also borrowing from Kickstarter and allowing early-bird customers to vote on what apps and features the device should support later. The company’s humorous video showing off the product (above) has some funny Easter eggs – check out the logo on the Ford Fusion.

Continue reading Navdy is portable HUD with smart phone integration and a sense of humor

Navdy is portable HUD with smart phone integration and a sense of humor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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