Google-parent Alphabet makes its largest ever acquisition of Wiz, Assassin’s Creed reaches 2 million players in two days, EU slams Apple and Google, and more top tech news of the week

During the past week, the tech industry witnessed several major developments. Alphabet made headlines with its largest-ever acquisition, agreeing to purchase cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion to bolster Cloud's security capabilities. Google also announced the Pixel 9a, a mid-range smartphone featuring the Tensor G4 chip and advanced AI capabilities, scheduled for release in April 2025. In gaming, Ubisoft celebrated a successful launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, which attracted 2 million players within two days of its March 20th release. Meanwhile, regulatory challenges continued as the EU took enforcement action against Google and Apple for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act, and more. Here are all the top tech news of the week.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is acquiring cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion in what would be the tech giant's largest-ever acquisition, significantly surpassing its previous record purchase of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in 2012.
The all-cash deal aims to strengthen Google Cloud's security capabilities amid growing demand for cloud computing services driven by the AI boom. Five-year-old Wiz, founded by four friends who met in the Israeli army and currently headquartered in New York, is on track to generate $1 billion in revenue this year.
The acquisition faces potential regulatory scrutiny, particularly given Google's ongoing antitrust battles with the U.S. Justice Department over its search and advertising businesses, though analysts suggest both companies likely see a path to approval under the Trump administration. If approved, the deal is expected to close in 2026.

The Google Pixel 9a is a new mid-range smartphone priced at Rs 49,900, featuring Google's Tensor G4 chip and a sleek redesign with a 6.3-inch Actua display that's 35% brighter than its predecessor with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The phone comes in four colors: Peony, new Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian. Camera upgrades include a dual rear system with a 48MP main camera, 13MP ultrawide, and first-time Macro Focus for the A-series. AI features include Add Me, Best Take, Magic Editor with Auto Frame, and Gemini built-in with Gemini Nano, making it the only sub-$500 phone with this capability. The Pixel 9a boasts over 30 hours of battery life (up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver), seven years of OS updates, IP68 water and dust resistance, and enhanced security features. Additional features include Circle to Search, Pixel Studio, Call Assist, and family-focused tools like Google Family Link, School Time, and the new Google Wallet for kids rolling out in select countries.
The phone will be available beginning in April 2025.

Assassin's Creed Shadows has reached 2 million players within two days of its March 20th release, according to Ubisoft's announcement on social media. The company stated that this milestone surpasses the launch performance of both Assassin's Creed Origins and Odyssey. While Ubisoft hasn't confirmed specific sales figures, the game is currently the top-selling title on Steam with nearly 59,000 concurrent players at the time of reporting, approaching Odyssey's all-time Steam peak of 62,069 players.
The game's success is particularly significant for Ubisoft following several high-profile commercial disappointments, including Star Wars Outlaws, and amid reports that the founding Guillemot family is exploring buyout talks with Tencent. Despite facing controversies in Japan that prompted a day-one patch to address concerns about in-game temples and shrines, Assassin's Creed Shadows has received "very positive" user reviews on Steam, with 81% of over 6,000 reviews marked as positive. The game is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Ubisoft+, Amazon Luna, and , with an iPad version expected in the future.

The European Commission has taken enforcement action against Google and Apple for allegedly violating the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), despite potential retaliation from the Trump administration.
In its preliminary findings announced on March 19, the Commission accused Google's search engine of unfairly prioritizing Alphabet's own services over competitors and preventing app developers on Google Play from directing consumers to better offers elsewhere. Apple faces requirements to make its operating systems compatible with competitors' devices and provide a clear methodology for responding to app developers' requests to access its systems.
Violations of the DMA could result in fines of up to 10% of worldwide revenue (20% for repeat offenders), potentially reaching nearly $80 billion based on Apple's 2024 revenue. Apple criticized the decision as "red tape" that would slow innovation, while Google argued the changes would make it harder for users to find what they're looking for.

Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government, alleging that the Ministry of Information Technology is unlawfully expanding its censorship powers. The lawsuit claims that the government has created a parallel content removal system that bypasses legal safeguards protecting free speech by allowing countless officials to issue removal orders without proper oversight.
X argues this violates constitutional rights to equality and freedom of expression. The case represents the latest conflict between X and Indian authorities over content moderation, dating back to disputes in 2021 regarding farmers' protests. This legal battle comes at a significant time as Musk reportedly prepares to launch his other ventures—Starlink and Tesla—in India, with the Karnataka High Court scheduled to continue hearing arguments on March 27.

OpenAI and Meta Platforms have been holding separate discussions with India's Reliance Industries about potential partnerships to expand their AI offerings in the country, according to a report by The Information.
One possibility being discussed involves a relationship between Reliance Jio and OpenAI to distribute ChatGPT, potentially at a reduced subscription price. Reliance has also discussed selling OpenAI's models to its enterprise customers through an API and hosting both Meta and OpenAI models locally in a planned three-gigawatt data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which Reliance claims will be the world's largest. This local hosting would allow customer data to remain within India. Meta declined to comment on the report, while OpenAI and Reliance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The original creator of the Pebble smartwatch, Eric Migicovsky, is preparing to release two new smartwatches through his company Core Devices. The first model, called the Core 2 Duo, will cost $149 and is expected to ship in July. It features the same black-and-white e-paper display as the original Pebble 2 and even uses leftover frames from the old Pebble designs. Despite being based on 8-year-old technology, the watch benefits from advances in efficiency, offering over 30 days of battery life compared to the original's seven days, and includes a new speaker for AI assistant interactions. Only about 10,000 units will be available.
The second model, the Core Time 2, will ship in December for $225 and adds a touchscreen to the classic Pebble design while maintaining the signature buttons, long battery life, and customization features. Both watches will run the newly open-sourced Pebble operating system. Migicovsky notes that while iPhone compatibility remains challenging, Android integration is more straightforward. He emphasizes that his goal isn't to sell millions of units but rather "to make something I really want."