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Sunday Legal Briefs
Tech companies are reportedly attempting to weaken Colorado's new right-to-repair law. This legislation aims to give consumers and independent repair shops greater access to parts, tools, and diagnostic information for electronic devices.
Halo director alleges he experienced ‘multiple harassment campaigns’ and ‘blacklisting, fraud, rampant favoritism’ at Halo Studios
Former 343 Industries art director Glenn Israel has accused Microsoft and Halo Studios executives of orchestrating "multiple harassment campaigns," blacklisting, fraud, and rampant favoritism. Israel alleges that these actions were designed to create grounds for the termination of employees, and that HR departments failed to act. He also claims Microsoft uses layoffs to remove employees who have filed complaints.
Jason Blundell announces his new-new studio, Magic Fractal
Jason Blundell, formerly of Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has announced the formation of his new studio, Magic Fractal Studios. This marks Blundell's third studio since leaving Activision in 2020, following the closures of Deviation Games and Dark Outlaw Games. Little is known about Magic Fractal's projects, but it is confirmed not to be a live-service game.
Reddit posts can be more important than data, and other lessons from maintaining Candy Crush as a forever game
Eva Ryott, King's head of live operations, discusses maintaining Candy Crush Saga as a 'forever game' by focusing on player needs and leveraging AI for content creation and workflow support. She highlights the importance of combining data-driven insights with innovation and listening to player feedback, even from platforms like Reddit, to keep the long-running mobile title engaging.
Revisiting the last truly great Call of Duty
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is revisited as the last truly great entry in the series, praised for its atmosphere, sound design, and grounded realism. The article highlights its superior gunplay and attachment customization compared to later titles, lamenting the shift towards cosmetic collaborations and the integration with Warzone.
Black Ops 7's April Fools' joke is very much real: the smallest Call of Duty map in history
Treyarch has released a new, extremely small map called GRWM for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, initially conceived as an April Fools' joke. The map, resembling a walk-in closet, supports an 8-player free-for-all and is noted for its fast-paced, violent gameplay and potential for rapid player progression.
World of Warcraft lead asks how players would feel about playing the MMO on controller with a dedicated UI, but fans…
Blizzard Entertainment is exploring the possibility of adding controller support and a dedicated UI for World of Warcraft, with executive producer Holly Longdale actively researching player interest. While some players expressed concerns about potential negative impacts on the PC experience, others see it as an inevitable move, especially following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Stop Killing Games Campaign Reaches EU Parliament in Historic Push
The 'Stop Killing Games' campaign has reached the EU Parliament, initiating policy discussions on game shutdowns and digital art preservation. The movement advocates for legislation to prevent publishers from making older games unplayable by shutting down servers, arguing it destroys cultural heritage. While facing industry pushback regarding costs and technical challenges, the campaign leverages the EU's strong stance on consumer rights and digital regulation.
Microsoft is building new '100% native' Windows programs to replace memory-hogging web apps
Microsoft is encouraging developers to build '100% native' Windows applications, moving away from memory-intensive web apps that utilize WebView content. This initiative aims to improve the performance and reduce the memory footprint of Windows, with former Microsoft operative Mikhail Parakhin's '20/20 project' also contributing to this goal.
UK software sales chart for the week ending March 28, 2026 – Mario Kart World still doing well
The UK software sales chart for the week ending March 28, 2026, shows Mario Kart World holding strong at number two. Super Mario Bros. Wonder re-entered the top ten, boosted by its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The chart features a wide range of titles from various publishers, including EA SPORTS FC 26, Resident Evil Requiem, and Assassin's Creed Shadows.
The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026
This guide highlights the best games available on Xbox Game Pass in 2026, covering a wide range of genres from roguelites to open-world adventures. It details different subscription tiers and provides brief descriptions of each recommended title, including recent additions and critically acclaimed games from previous years.
PS5, PS5 Pro’s Price Hikes Might Lead to PS6 Costing 50 Percent More, Say Analysts
Industry analysts predict that recent price hikes for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro could lead to the PlayStation 6 costing up to 50 percent more. Factors such as US economic policies, rising component costs, and market volatility are cited as reasons for the anticipated increase, potentially normalizing $1,000 console prices.
The PS5 is increasing in price yet again. So, what’s going on with all these price hikes in gaming?
Sony has announced another price increase for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal in several global markets, citing economic pressures and the need to deliver high-quality gaming experiences. This follows previous price hikes for PlayStation and Xbox consoles, with factors like inflation, increased tariffs, and the demand for AI-powered hardware contributing to rising costs across the tech industry.
Artificial Detective: Breaking Down the Gameplay Behind This Incredible Xbox Partner Preview Reveal
Artificial Detective is an upcoming action-adventure game from indie studio Vivix, featuring a robot detective named AD 2846 in a neo-noir, retro-futuristic city. The game emphasizes companion and survival mechanics, with players exploring a dystopian world alongside a robodog and a human girl. Developers Ilya Kuzyuk and Vadim Krayevoy highlighted the game's blend of investigation, combat, and environmental interaction, inspired by classic archetypes and films like Blade Runner.
March Xbox Update: New Console Updates Available to Insiders, Xbox at GDC, and More
Xbox is rolling out new console features for Insiders, including customizable Home groups, custom colors, and Quick Resume settings. Updates from GDC include Project Helix, a next-generation console concept, and the expansion of Xbox mode to all Windows 11 devices. New dynamic backgrounds for Sea of Thieves and Towerborne are also available.
Open-World Action Games Similar to GTA in 2026: 15 Exciting Alternatives
This guide explores 15 open-world action games that offer similar experiences to the Grand Theft Auto series, catering to various preferences in 2026. It highlights titles ranging from realistic crime dramas like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Mafia: Definitive Edition to over-the-top chaotic sandboxes like Saints Row and Just Cause 4. The list also includes immersive RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, as well as mobile options like Gangstar Vegas.
Microsoft Gaming’s New CEO Might Revamp Game Pass Subscription Prices – Rumor
A report suggests that Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, plans to make Game Pass more affordable with lower-priced tiers. While Microsoft has not officially commented, the report also mentions potential partnership talks with Netflix for subscription bundles. Former Microsoft Game Studios co-founder Laura Fryer and former FTC commissioner Lina Khan have criticized recent price hikes and business decisions.
The Rise of Tech Startups in the Caribbean: Innovation Beyond Tourism
The Caribbean is experiencing a significant economic transformation driven by the rise of technology startups, moving beyond its traditional reliance on tourism. Sectors like fintech, AI, blockchain, and e-commerce are rapidly growing, fueled by improved digital infrastructure, a young tech-savvy workforce, and a focus on solving local challenges with scalable solutions. While challenges in funding and regulation persist, the region is increasingly attracting international investment and positioning itself as a global hub for innovation.
Savvy Games acquires Mobile Legends developer Moonton for $6 billion
Savvy Games has acquired Mobile Legends developer Moonton from ByteDance for $6 billion, aiming to expand its mobile gaming division and esports presence. Separately, Roblox announced plans to charge creators for brand integrations starting in 2027, framing it as an evolution of user, creator, and brand responsibility rather than a revenue-driven move.
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All Time
This article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
