**The Wild Year of Tech 2022**
Imagine being in a virtual reality headset without legs attached to it. That's exactly what Meta Quest Pro users had to deal with when the headset was first released for $1,500. Complete with legs for Meta's avatars right on top, it seemed like a dream come true. However, things took a drastic turn when Meta's value plummeted by 700 billion dollars, sending shockwaves throughout the tech industry.
As the Meta debacle unfolded, Amazon and YouTube also felt the pinch, seeing their stock prices drop. The tech giant layoffs that occurred were not limited to Meta alone; thousands of workers across Silicon Valley lost their jobs. It was a rough year for the region, but there's always hope on the horizon. Apple, in particular, promised to release its VR headset next year, and it's expected to be "really good."
The antitrust news was big in 2022, with scrutiny of Apple and Google widening to include other companies under pressure from regulators. Nvidia dropped its planned acquisition of ARM, while Microsoft put in a bid to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. However, the question on everyone's mind was: would they get legs? Unfortunately, it seems that only Microsoft will be getting legs – literally.
The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal was wrangled due to Sony's concerns over making popular franchises like Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox. To ease their fears, Microsoft offered a 10-year deal to keep the game on PlayStation. However, Sony refused, and the deal ultimately fell through. The FTC even sued to block the acquisition, putting everything on hold.
But there were other major acquisitions in the tech world that caught everyone's attention. Sony bought Bungie for $3.6 billion, while AMD acquired ZeniMax Media (parent company of Bethesda) for $35 billion. Ubisoft announced that they would consider selling their company if someone was interested, but it seems like no one was willing to take on the challenge.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Apple found itself at odds with regulators once again. The Netherlands forced Apple to pay four weeks' worth of fines for not allowing alternative payment options on the iOS app store. South Korea also took issue with Google's refusal to allow other payment options on the Play Store, but things have since changed.
The European Parliament finally passed legislation that will force Apple to put USB-C on iPhones and allow third-party app stores and side loading. Apple has stated that they will comply with these laws, but it seems like a long time coming.
When asked about the difficulty of sending ungarbled photos to an Android phone's mom (because she doesn't have an iPhone), Tim Cook responded by telling people to buy their moms an iPhone. It was a bit cringeworthy, and some might say that's exactly what put him in a situation where he needed a prison break.
**The World of Retro Games**
In the world of retro games, things didn't look good for several beloved consoles. uFE's local cameras were found to be uploading user data to the cloud without users' knowledge or consent. Meta acknowledged and fixed some of the security issues but hasn't apologized for lying about it.
Wordle, the popular word-guessing game, was acquired by The New York Times, but its popularity quickly waned. It seems like most people thought Wordle was dead already, and developers are now facing the reality that their exclusive game launches were canceled due to Twitter's actions.
**The Rise of Steam Deck**
In a much brighter note, the Steam Deck was released, and it's been well-received by gamers. To keep things cool, the creators added a special cooling system on the back of the device. It's been a welcome change for those looking for a gaming experience that's both portable and powerful.
**The Dark Side of Hacking**
In a shocking turn of events, a hacking group called Lapsos made headlines by releasing footage of GTA 6. This was after they hacked into various tech giants' systems, exposing sensitive information in the process. It's a sobering reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and the dangers that lurk online.
**Science Breakthroughs**
On a more positive note, scientists have achieved something truly remarkable – getting more energy out of a fusion reaction than they put in for the first time ever! The James Webb Telescope also provided breathtaking images of space, giving us a glimpse into the vastness of our universe. It's moments like these that make all the tech drama worth it.
**A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year**
As we conclude this wild year in tech, we can't help but feel grateful for the advancements we've made. From improved VR headsets to major acquisitions and scientific breakthroughs, there's been no shortage of exciting news in 2022. As we move into the new year, we can only hope that 2023 will be less eventful – or at least more predictable. Until then, happy New Year, and may your Christmas be merry and bright!