Microsoft buys Skype for 8 billion dollars

It’s a little shocking to find out that Skype has been purchased by Microsoft. That’s not even adding in the cost it took to buy the online call service. 8… billion… dollars… WOW! That’s an astounding amount of money, but I think Microsoft thinks it is worth it. It was a rumor yesterday, and it has turned into fact this morning. Microsoft says that it will be bringing the Skype service to Xbox Live, Kinect, Windows Phone, and various other services (Guess: Windows Live Messenger).

Now if you’re using a device like Iphone, don’t worry about losing your new favorite app. Microsoft says they will continue support for it on all non-Microsoft platforms as well. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had this to say about the acquisition:

“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world, together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”

Source: Gamasutra

Battlefield 3 is getting a Back to Karkand Expansion

If you buy the Limited Edition version of Battlefield 3, you will receive 4 maps from the old Battlefield games. Namely, Strike at Karkand, Gulf of Oman, Wake Island, and Sharqi Penisula were four of the maps announced. This DLC will include special weapons, bonus unlocks, and special rewards from Battlefield 2. DICE has promised that each of these maps will be reworked for the Frostbite 3 engine. So they will be fully destructible when they are released.

This is no doubt exciting for those of us who have played the previous Battlefield games. Now let’s hope that the new maps can hold a candle to the old ones. I don’t want to have be stuck playing Karkand constantly like in Battlefield 2.

Source: VG247

Hitman: Absolution brings the series back to life

Our bald headed assassin returns to life in Hitman: Absolution. He is still on the run from the police after all these years, this is after he was forced to become freelance by his agency. IO interactive has stated that the fifth series will have a new engine named Glacier 2, and it will be a “familiar and yet significantly different experience from the other Hitman Games,” says Tore Blystad, who is the game’s director.

No more information has come to light on this game, but we’ll keep you up to date as news comes rolling in.

Source: IGN