Entertainment Software Association of Canada
Entertainment Software Association of Canada business and news from across the web.
How Gaming Became Much More Mobile Focused - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThe gaming industry has shifted significantly towards mobile platforms, with mobile devices becoming the primary gaming screen for many. This trend is driven by convenience and the increasing revenue generated by mobile games, which are projected to account for over half of the global games market by 2025. Even traditional genres like puzzle and adventure games are adapting to mobile-first design principles, while titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile highlight the challenges of porting console experiences without proper mobile optimization.
The Video Game History Foundation calls on the ESA to offer "meaningful solutions" for preserving digital-only gamesThe Video Game History Foundation, through its director Frank Cifaldi, is urging the Entertainment Software Association to develop meaningful solutions for preserving digital-only games. Cifaldi highlights that physical media is becoming obsolete and even digital patches render physical copies unrepresentative of the final product, calling for legal frameworks to aid archives and museums in preservation efforts.- Game History and PreservationThe Video Game History Foundation has urged the Entertainment Software Association to develop a legal framework for preserving digital-only games for research purposes. The ESA has indicated that game preservation is not part of its current responsibilities.
Private Minecraft servers are "Illegal," according to an ESA officialAn official from the Entertainment Software Association stated that private Minecraft servers are illegal and considered piracy, despite Microsoft's encouragement of community servers. Minecraft's creator, Markus Persson, criticized the ESA's stance, while Microsoft and Mojang Studios have not officially commented.
Next Xbox, Project Helix, Will Reportedly Not Have a Disc DriveReports indicate the next Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, will be a discless model, eliminating support for physical media. This follows PlayStation's announcement of ending physical disc production in 2028 and Rockstar Games' confirmation of no disc version for Grand Theft Auto VI. The move raises significant concerns for game preservation and the physical game market, with figures like Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation highlighting the challenges for archiving digital-only content.- QuoteworthyThe creator of Minecraft, Markus 'Notch' Persson, has spoken out against the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), calling their stance on private servers 'illegal'. This statement comes amid ongoing discussions about intellectual property rights and server hosting for popular games.
The ESA quietly starts walking back baffling statements about private servers being 'illegal', though it's still tutting and wagging its fingerThe Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has softened its stance on private game servers, clarifying that concerns primarily relate to those that host or distribute copyrighted content without authorization. While still asserting publishers' rights to enforce intellectual property, the ESA's updated statement acknowledges that private servers are not inherently illegal and that publishers may approach them differently. This follows earlier, more condemnatory statements made by the ESA regarding private servers for games like Minecraft.
How to build an Xbox game night for every kind of playerThis guide provides advice on hosting a successful Xbox game night for players of all skill levels and preferences. It emphasizes selecting a variety of games, structuring the evening in rounds, and accommodating both active players and spectators. The article also touches on practical tips like food choices, room setup, and utilizing services like Game Pass.
Private Minecraft servers are "illegal," game industry lobbyists declare as another Stop Killing Games effort…The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has declared private Minecraft servers illegal, arguing they infringe on Microsoft's intellectual property rights and lack safety standards. This statement comes as the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign faces setbacks with the failure of the Protect Our Games Act in California and similar legislative inaction in the EU. Despite these challenges, 'Stop Killing Games' remains determined to pursue legislation for community server support.
ESA Tries To Walk Back Calling Private and Community Servers IllegalThe Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has walked back its earlier statements calling private and community game servers illegal. Initially, the ESA's vice president stated that unauthorized servers are illegal and akin to piracy. However, the ESA has since clarified that while unauthorized servers infringe on intellectual property rights, publishers may approach enforcement differently, and they are concerned about the lack of publisher oversight and safety standards on such servers.
Minecraft, Call Of Duty Community Servers Are “Illegal,” Claims ESA RepAn Entertainment Software Association (ESA) representative claimed that private community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are illegal and constitute piracy. Jennifer Gibbons, the ESA's vice president of state government affairs, argued that these servers are not affiliated with Microsoft and do not adhere to the same safety standards as official servers. The 'Stop Killing Games' movement has vowed to continue advocating for game preservation and the legality of community servers in future legislation.- ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are 'Illegal' and 'Piracy' in Stop Killing Games HearingThe Entertainment Software Association has controversially claimed that private Minecraft servers constitute 'illegal' activity and 'piracy' during a recent hearing. This statement has drawn criticism and confusion regarding intellectual property rights and user-created content.
ESA lobbyist claims Minecraft & Call of Duty community servers are illegalAn Entertainment Software Association lobbyist claimed that community servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty are illegal during a hearing for California's Protect Our Games Act. The bill, which aimed to provide consumer protections for game preservation and prevent the shutdown of older games, was ultimately voted down in committee. The ESA's stance may surprise players who have long utilized community servers for Minecraft.
ESA VP calls Minecraft Community Servers “illegal,” which is an impressively stupid thing to say in an industry full of impressively stupid things alreadyAn Entertainment Software Association VP called Minecraft community servers "illegal," a statement widely criticized as inaccurate and damaging. While individual servers can violate EULAs, the concept of community servers is officially supported by Mojang and Microsoft. This statement occurred during a California Senate committee hearing opposing the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to ensure players retain access to games after services shut down.
ESA bafflingly declares private Minecraft servers 'illegal' in Stop Killing Games hearing: 'We consider…The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) declared private servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty to be illegal and considered piracy during a California State Senate hearing. ESA vice president Jennifer Gibbons stated that these servers infringe on publisher intellectual property rights and do not meet safety standards, despite community pushback and the failure of the Protect Our Games Act to pass in its current form.
Minecraft servers are apparently "illegal," according to the Vice President of America's biggest gaming associationJennifer Gibbons, Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association, stated that community-run Minecraft servers are "illegal" and akin to "piracy" during a California State Senate hearing. This statement contradicts Microsoft and Mojang's official promotion and support of community servers for the game. The hearing was regarding Assembly Bill 1921, which aims to protect players' access to server-dependent games.
"We were only three votes away": Stop Killing Games-backed California bill to keep online games playable fails to win over senate committeeA California bill, the Protect Our Games Act, which aimed to ensure online games remain playable or offer refunds when servers are shut down, failed to pass a senate committee vote. The bill, backed by the Stop Killing Games campaign, was three votes short of advancing. Despite the setback, campaigners plan to reintroduce the bill in future sessions and explore similar legislation in other states and at the federal level.
Ubisoft closing studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and cutting publishing roles worldwide, 380 jobs at riskUbisoft is closing its studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and making further cuts to its global publishing team, affecting approximately 380 roles. The Barcelona studio will refocus exclusively on the Rainbow Six franchise. Separately, the Entertainment Software Association is warning that a proposed 'No Fakes Act' could harm the video game industry by failing to distinguish between harmful deepfakes and legitimate digital replicas used in game development.- Morning Legal BriefsThe Entertainment Software Association is urging lawmakers to consider video game replicas when drafting new legislation. Separately, the European Union has instructed Meta to reinstate access for rival chatbots to its WhatsApp platform.
ESA says anti-deepfake act could 'devastate' video game industryThe Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has expressed strong opposition to SAG-AFTRA's proposed "No Fakes" act, arguing that its current wording creates significant legal uncertainty and could devastate the video game industry. ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis stated that the act's broad definition of "digital replica" could lead to frivolous lawsuits and that the cost of litigation would be economically devastating, despite the industry likely prevailing in court.