Google Shuts Down Internal Game Studios

Tech News Roundup: February 1, 2021

Significant shifts are occurring within the tech landscape, as Google re-evaluates its gaming initiatives, Microsoft advances its quantum computing capabilities, and UiPath achieves a substantial $35 billion valuation. This summarizes the key developments from February 1, 2021.

Google Adjusts Gaming Strategy

Google is revising its approach to gaming, specifically concerning its Stadia platform. The company initially announced the formation of Stadia Games and Entertainment (SG&E) to develop exclusive titles.

This decision represents a notable change, considering Google had already established studios in both Montreal and Los Angeles, and also completed the acquisition of Typhoon Studios. These actions indicated a considerable commitment to internal game development.

According to a statement from Google executive Phil Harrison, the company will no longer invest in exclusive content creation from SG&E, beyond projects already in late stages of development. This shift aligns with a focus on enhancing Stadia’s core technology and strengthening existing business partnerships.

Updates from Tech Giants

Microsoft has launched the public preview of its Azure Quantum platform. This cloud-based service provides access to quantum hardware and software tools, collaborating with partners such as Honeywell Quantum Solutions, IonQ, and 1QBit.

Xiaomi is currently pursuing legal action against the US government regarding its placement on a blacklist. The company asserts that this decision is both “unlawful and unconstitutional” in its official filing.

Google has implemented changes to its search results, providing users with more detailed information about websites. A new menu icon allows users to access an information panel containing supplementary details about each site.

Funding and Startup Activity

UiPath, a leading robotic process automation platform, has secured $750 million in funding, resulting in a valuation of $35 billion. The platform aims to streamline workflows and enhance productivity by enabling companies to automate tasks across various departments.

Databricks, a data and AI company, has raised $1 billion at a $28 billion valuation, alongside achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $425 million. The company specializes in managing and analyzing corporate data stored in public cloud environments.

Weights & Biases, a provider of machine learning tools, has obtained $45 million in funding. The company reports a user base exceeding 70,000 individuals across more than 200 enterprises.

Insights from Extra Crunch

Analysis of Robinhood’s Q4 2020 revenue indicates a resurgence in growth for the popular trading platform. Robinhood has been a central topic of discussion within the startup world recently.

The concept of “best practices as a service” is identified as a key investment trend for 2021. Providing effective training and guidance on tool utilization is considered as important as offering the tools themselves.

A discussion featuring Lightspeed’s Gaurav Gupta and Grafana Labs’ Raj Dutt explores their investment partnership and collaborative journey. This is part of the enhanced Extra Crunch Live series.

(Extra Crunch is a membership program designed to support founders and startup teams. Subscription details can be found here.)

Additional News

Amazon reports an 800% increase in government requests for user data during 2020. The company processed 27,664 such requests in the latter half of the year.

The evolving landscape of research and inspiration in the COVID-19 era is examined, highlighting the continued importance of remote research methodologies.

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s daily compilation of significant news stories. To receive this roundup directly in your inbox around 3pm Pacific time, you can subscribe here.