Microsoft has been on something of a buying spree lately, and its latest purchase – of the beleaguered developer Activision Blizzard – has been its most surprising, and controversial, acquisition yet.
It’s not just about the numbers involved, though the all-cash $68.7 billion price tag is certainly eye-catching, or what the implications are about buying a company that’s currently mired in scandal and facing several lawsuits. What’s got a lot of people talking is what the impact of an acquisition of this size will do to the gaming landscape.
Activision Blizzard has a huge library of some of the biggest titles in gaming, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Diablo, and the idea that these franchises could one day be exclusive to Microsoft platforms has got some people worried. The repercussions are already being felt, with Sony’s shares falling after the news.
I personally think that big acquisitions like this are bad for gaming. It reduces competition and consumer choice, especially if Sony and Nintendo follow suit. What we don’t want to end up with is one company owning most of the games developers.
There’s also a feeling that while Nintendo and Sony have grown and developed many of their first party studios organically (while also acquiring third party studios, of course), Microsoft is taking more of a ‘pay to win’ approach by buying up existing studios to help fill in gaps in its first party output, which was pretty dire during the Xbox One days.
While it’s still not clear what impact this move will have on PlayStation and Switch owners, what does this mean for PC gamers – especially those waiting for the Steam Deck handheld console?
What this means for PC gamers
Things are a little more straightforward for PC gamers. As Microsoft is also behind the Windows operating system that powers most of our rigs, it’s pretty likely that even if Microsoft made some of Activision Blizzard’s games exclusive, they would still come to PC.
After all, many of its franchises, like World of Warcraft and Diablo, are either PC-only or have long histories with PC gaming. It would be pretty inconceivable for either of those to stop coming to PC.
So, for many PC gamers, there may not be any immediate changes – barring any distaste for Microsoft’s growing dominance over game developers.
In fact, it may end up being quite positive for PC gamers. For a start, assuming that Activision Blizzard games will be coming to PC Game Pass (Microsoft’s subscription service that, as with Xbox Game Pass, gives you access to a library of games), then that will make the service an even better value for PC gamers who have subscribed.
It could also lead to fewer game launchers as well, as many Activision Blizzard games use the Battleet launcher. If Microsoft brings those games to the Microsoft Store, and even Steam, it means one less piece of software to install – and that’s always good.
Microsoft has also been doing a commendable job of launching its games on Steam as well, and that could have some very exciting possibilities.
What this means for the Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a hotly-anticipated handheld game console from Valve, the company behind the Steam store (and games like Half-Life). Essentially a handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck will allow you to play (hopefully) the majority of your Steam library while on the go.
While Steam has a huge library of games, there are some noticeable absences – particularly many Activision Blizzard games, which are not on the service. So, people wanting to play World of Warcraft on the Steam Deck would have struggled to play the game.
It would be possible, as Valve has said you can replace the Linux-based SteamOS operating system with Windows, which would then allow you to install Battleet and play World of Warcraft that way. However, if Microsoft does bring more Activision Blizzard games to Steam, it’ll make things even easier – and could potentially make the Steam Deck’s library even larger.
Of course, this may not happen. Microsoft may stick with Battleet for some titles, or make them exclusive to the Microsoft Store. After all, Steam is a competitor.
Has the damage been done?
Perhaps the biggest concern about all of this is the controversies dogging Activision Blizzard . Some of the alleged accusations are extremely upsetting and troubling, and that has led to many people boycotting future games from the developer.
Now that Microsoft has acquired the company (pending the usual legal paperwork), there may be a chance to address concerns about Activision Blizzard. Microsoft will certainly have its work cut out, and until it can demonstrate that it has made sweeping positive changes, many PC gamers will continue to give Activision Blizzard games a wide berth.
Canon EOS R1 could be first camera with Quad Pixel AF, new patent suggests
A new patent suggests that Canon is stepping up its plans to develop a next-gen autofocus system, with rumors tipping the Canon EOS R1 as the most likely pioneer of the new tech.
As spotted by Asobinet and Canon Rumors , a Canon patent (see below) was published on January 6 for a new focus detection method that shows so-called "dual cross" autofocus points within a quad-pixel structure.
This leap forward from Canon's current Dual Pixel AF tech would theoretically make it even more reliable at locking onto horizontal and vertical edges (which can still be a weakness on the latest mirrorless cameras), whatever orientation you're holding the camera in.
While it's just a patent and there's naturally no specific reference to the Canon EOS R1, Canon Rumors says it "thinks we'd see such technology appear on the Canon EOS R1 first". The EOS R1, which we named in our guide to the most exciting cameras of 2022 , has been tipped to be Canon's next flagship camera.
This isn't the first patent we've seen for Quad Pixel AF, with Canon News highlighting a separate one back in October 2020. But it does explain in a little more detail how the autofocus tech might work, with the pixels not only split into four photodiodes, but also including 'dual-cross' AF points that can detect lines in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions.
Currently, Dual Pixel AF works by splitting each pixel into two photodiodes, with the differences between the two respective images analyzed by a processor, so it can drive the lens in the right direction to achieve sharp focus. While this generally works well, it can fail in specific situations, like when the edge you're focusing on is parallel to the orientation in which you're holding the camera.
Splitting the pixel into four photodiodes and including 'dual cross' AF points would theoretically get around this issue and could be a big boon for sports and wildlife photographers, along with videographers.
Analysis: A fitting new tech for a flagship?
Canon's Dual Pixel AF technology dates back to 2013 when it arrived on the Canon EOS 70D, but it remains one of the best systems around for stills and video. That's particularly the case when it combines with Canon's latest AF subject-tracking algorithms, as we've seen on the likes of the Canon EOS R3 .
But Canon was keen to point out that the EOS R3 isn't its flagship mirrorless camera, which leaves a gap in its lineup for a true Sony A1 rival – hence the growing rumors about a Canon EOS R1.
Most of the latest advances in mirrorless cameras have been in areas like burst shooting speeds and video, thanks to the arrival of 'stacked sensors'. These chips bring super-fast read-out speeds that mean we're starting to see some cameras, like the Nikon Z9, arrive without mechanical shutters.
But autofocus continues to be one of the main battlegrounds for the latest flagship cameras. If Canon is making strides with its Quad Pixel AF tech, as this new patent suggests, then the rumored Canon EOS R1 would be the ideal camera to introduce it on.
In theory, it could deliver near-faultless autofocus performance, which would be particularly appealing for sports and wildlife shooters. And with other autofocus technologies like Lidar, which we saw arrive on the DJI Ronin 4D , also able to lock onto subjects in the dark, it seems there's still another big step in the evolution of hybrid cameras coming down the pipeline. Whether we see it arrive in 2022 on the Canon EOS R1, though, remains to be seen.
Squid Game season 2: everything we know
Unless you were living under a rock, you'll know how popular Squid Game became in 2021.
Hwang Dong-hyuk's Korean survival drama took Netflix (and the world) by storm last year, smashing countless streaming records and literally changing the game for how the streamer measures the success of its shows (fans even smuggled Squid Game into North Korea , it was that successful).
It’s no wonder, then, that Netflix has given the ‘green light’ (get it?) to Squid Game season 2.
Plot, cast and release date details are thin on the ground at this early stage, but we’ve nonetheless rounded up everything we know so far about the show’s sophomore outing.
Naturally, proceed with caution if you want to avoid spoilers for Squid Game’s first season . You can still catch up with the show’s first nine episodes on Netflix.
Release date: No release date has been set for Squid Game season 2 just yet, but the show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has teased a 2024 return following the completion of "other things he’s working on” right now.
Cast: Hwang has promised that “Gi-hun will come back” in season 2, meaning we’re likely to see actor Lee Jung-jae again. Wi Ha-joon, Hwang Jun-ho and Gong Yoo could also all return as Jun-hon, In-ho and the recruiter, respectively, but the likes of HoYeon Jung and Oh Yeong-su probably won’t be coming back (given their characters are presumed dead).
Story: The most likely plot thread to explore is Gi-hun’s quest for revenge, but creator Hwang has also expressed an interest in delving deeper into the relationship between the Front Man, In-ho, and his brother, Jun-hon. We could see more of the recruiter, too.
Squid Game season 2 was, at long last, officially renewed by Netflix in January, after Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying that "the Squid Game universe has just begun."
There’s been no confirmed release date for new episodes as yet, but creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has teased Squid Game's potential return in 2024 . The director recently submitted a script for his upcoming movie project, Killing Old People Club, and now plans to dedicate time towards working on Squid Game season 2 (per Variety ).
That might sound like a long wait, but Squid Game fans should be grateful that a second season is in the works at all. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk was, at first, hesitant to talk about whether or not Squid Game season 2 would happen (he initially told The Sunday Times that it wouldn't), citing his desire to focus on other projects, including an upcoming feature film.
The runaway success of the show, though – which saw fans across the world tune in to Squid Game for a total of 1.6 billion hours during its opening month – seemed to encourage its creator to rethink his early reluctance.
In subsequent interviews, Hwang appeared increasingly confident about potential narratives for the future of Squid Game. In an October 2021 chat with The Hollywood Reporter , he said he does in fact have a few ideas for what a second season could look like, before later telling The Guardian that he actually has "a very high-level picture" of a potential follow-up story.
He then confirmed in November last year that "there will indeed be a second season" of Squid Game – before Netflix itself had revealed as much – with Hwang feeling as though audiences have left him "no choice" but to write more.
What’s more, given that Netflix boss Ted Sarandos spoke of a “Squid Game universe” in his announcement about the show’s renewal, we think it’s unlikely that Hwang’s world-beating series will stop at just two seasons.
Because most of Squid Game’s season 1 characters (spoilers!) bite the dust, it’s difficult to predict which actors may return for season 2.
As we explain in more detail below, we’re likely to see one (if not all) of Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Hwang Jun-ho and Gong Yoo return as Gi-hun, Jun-hon, In-ho and the recruiter, respectively, but the jury is out on the rest of season 2’s cast.
It seems as though some of the actors who played those deceased characters aren't too fussed about not returning for more, either. In a theory-debunking video feature with Vanity Fair, for instance, Sae-byeok actor HoYeon Jung said: "I was quite happy that [Sae-byeok] can die [...] so I can get rid of [the] stress."
As much as fans have called for Sae-byeok’s miraculous resurrection in Squid Game season 2, then, we think it’s highly unlikely she’ll be returning to the fray. The same goes for actors Heo Sung-tae and Oh Yeong-su, who played Jang Deok-su and Oh Il-nam in season 1, respectively.
Mind you, Gi-hun actor Lee Jung-Jae recently shared his own wild idea for Squid Game season 2 . Speaking after winning Best Actor at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, he revealed to Entertainment Tonight that he hopes to see fan-favorite characters like Sae-byeok and Ali return in new episodes.
“My idea is that maybe the masked men took all of [the dead characters away] and made sure they came back to life,” Jung-jae told reporters on the red carpet. If that wish turns out to be accurate, perhaps we could see the likes of Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryeong and Anupam Tripathi return in Squid Game season 2, after all.
In all likelihood, though, new episodes will feature Jung-jae as Gi-hun alongside a host of new actors. How long they last in the show, of course, is an altogether larger question.
So, what might this second season actually look like?
Again, there’s been no confirmed details just yet, but creator Hwang’s early suggestions – coupled with our own thoughts about Squid Game’s season 1 ending – mean we can envision several possible narrative scenarios for Squid Game season 2.
The most obvious plot thread to explore in future episodes is Gi-hun’s quest for revenge. Evidently, given the show’s final shot, the character is enraged by the game organizers’ continued pursuit of downtrodden contestants, and the suggestion is that Gi-hun wants to expose them.
Hwang seems to share the interest in fleshing out Gi-hun’s journey, too. In his season 2 admission to The Associated Press , the writer said: "I will promise you this: Gi-hun will come back, he will do something for the world."
"[We could] explore more about how he’s going to navigate through his reckoning with the people who are designing the games," the creator also told THR .
Should the show decide to go in this direction – as seems likely to be the case – it could do so in two ways. The first might see Gi-hun attempt to convince others of the game’s existence, exposing its corruption and inhumanity from the outside – he is, after all, a much richer man now. The second could see Gi-hun return to the game itself, with greater knowledge of its inner workings and ultimate objectives.
As unlikely as that second scenario sounds – it doesn’t really make sense for Gi-hun to return to a game which almost cost him his life – the former, more realistic scenario would likely eliminate much of what makes Squid Game so entertaining: the games themselves.
Gi-hun actor Lee Jung-jae seems to share this sentiment. Speaking to E! on the SAG awards red carpet , he responded to questions about Squid Game season 2 by saying: “I hope that [Gi-hun] is definitely going to win [the games] again to do something good.” That suggests Gi-hun will be returning to the mysterious island (and competing in its deadly puzzles) in new episodes of the show, presumably in an effort to uncover the truth behind their design.
Evidently, then, the show’s creator and screenwriters have a job on their hands if they hope to repeat Squid Game's initial appeal while also maintaining narrative logic. According to Vulture , Netflix is currently “trying to figure out the right structure," along with Hwang himself, so it’s no wonder we’re unlikely to see a follow-up season for at least a few years.
Other possible plot threads include examining the fate of Jun-hon, the undercover cop who discovers the Front Man to be his brother, In-ho. Although he was shot and subsequently fell off the edge of a cliff, there’s a good chance Jun-hon survived the encounter, and given that we still don’t know In-ho’s motivation for becoming the game’s Front Man, this seems a likely narrative thread for the show to explore.
Hwang has shown an interest in developing this thread, too. "I’d like to explore that storyline – what is going on between those two brothers?," he told THR.
Interestingly, the show's creator has also hinted at the possibility of following the mysterious recruiter in more detail. "I could also go into the story of that recruiter in the suit who plays the game of ddakji with Gi-hun and gives him the card in the first episode," Hwang told THR in the same interview.
Elsewhere, though, Squid Game’s first season doesn’t leave a whole lot of questions unanswered – mainly because, well, most of its characters end up dead.
As such, there’s an outside chance Hwang may wipe the slate clean with Squid Game season 2, introducing audiences to a slate of entirely new characters – perhaps from a different city or time period – that allow him to write from the ground up.
Of course, the most likely scenario will see audiences reintroduced Gi-hun, Jun-hon, In-ho and the recruiter alongside several new characters – but there’s still a possibility Squid Game could opt for an anthology format, in the vein of True Detective or American Horror Story.
The most important thing, for Hwang and fans of the show, is that Squid Game season 2 maintains the drama, intrigue and dark humor that made the first crop of episodes so unique. While we’d love to see more of the show’s deadly puzzles, it'd be a shame if Netflix sanctioned a shoddy second run (that doesn't make narrative sense) for the sake of cashing in on its popularity.
But Hwang himself is well aware of that risk. “I do realise there are huge expectations for season 2,” he told The Guardian . “I keep asking myself whether I can make it better than season 1. I do not want people to [be] disappointed."
In the history of television, it's difficult to think of a writer under heavier weight of expectation than Hwang right now. However Squid Game season 2 turns out, though, one thing is certain: millions will be tuning in to watch it.