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'90s virtual reality, Battlefield 2142, and Total War: This month in PC Gamer 10, 20, and 30 years ago
This article looks back at PC Gamer magazine issues from May 1996, May 2006, and May 2016, highlighting cover stories and notable news from those periods. It revisits predictions about virtual reality and online gaming, discusses sequels like Battlefield 2142, and covers the launch of Total War: Warhammer and the early days of VR technology.
Meta's AI agent plans reportedly include an OpenClaw competitor that can shop on Instagram
Meta's AI agent plans reportedly include the development of a competitor to OpenClaw, with capabilities such as shopping on Instagram. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has expressed a desire to make AI agents more accessible.
MMO Business Roundup: Xbox Copilot is dead, Steam Controller will restock, and Bank of America has opinions
Xbox is discontinuing its Copilot AI feature for consoles and winding down mobile development, with CEO Asha Sharma aiming to refocus the division. Valve has promised to restock the Steam Controller due to high demand. Additionally, a Bank of America analyst suggested that Grand Theft Auto VI should be priced at $80 to help the struggling games industry.
Xbox shake-up sees multiple AI leads join the leadership team
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has announced a significant leadership reshuffle within Microsoft's gaming division, bringing in several new executives with backgrounds in Artificial Intelligence. These changes aim to streamline development and improve the company's focus on community engagement. The shake-up also involves some existing leaders transitioning to new roles or departing, alongside a shift away from dedicated Copilot gaming support development.
Evening Metaverse
Meta will regain the ability to read Instagram direct messages after Friday, following a change in privacy settings. This reversal impacts user privacy on the platform.
Evening Legal Briefs
Several legal developments are impacting major tech companies. The FTC has settled a lawsuit with Media Matters alleging retaliation, while publishers including Scott Turow are suing Meta over the use of their works for AI training. Apple is also facing a $250 million settlement.
Irish regulators are investigating whether Meta is using 'dark patterns' to steer people away from non-algorithmic feeds
Irish regulators are investigating Meta for potentially using 'dark patterns' to discourage users from opting out of algorithmic feeds. European law mandates that large platforms offer non-algorithmic alternatives.
New Xbox CEO replaces 24-year Microsoft employees with former CoreAI, Meta, Instacart execs to "evolve how we…
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is implementing a significant leadership restructuring, bringing in former colleagues from Instacart, Meta, and Microsoft's CoreAI. This move follows a 33% decline in quarterly Xbox hardware sales, with veteran Microsoft employees Kevin Gammill and Roanne Sones departing. Sharma aims to "evolve how we work and how we are organized across our platform" to build a more affordable, personal, and open ecosystem.
Book publishers accuse Meta and Mark Zuckerberg of copyright infringement
Book publishers have filed a class action lawsuit against Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, alleging copyright infringement. The suit claims that Meta's Llama AI model was trained on unauthorized scraped data, violating copyright laws.
Meta is using AI bone structure analysis to detect and remove underaged users
Meta is implementing an AI system that analyzes bone structure to detect and remove underage users from its platforms. This technology is being expanded to Facebook's user base to enhance its existing teen account detection systems.
Respawn: Finding Community After Social Media Burnout
The author discusses their experience with social media burnout, particularly with Instagram, and the negative impact it had on their mental health and creativity. They found a positive alternative in Channel 3, a new social media app specifically designed for gamers, which fosters a sense of community and offers a less toxic online environment.
Meta acquires robotics AI startup as it makes the push into humanoid machines
Meta has acquired the robotics AI startup Assured Robot Intelligence. The staff from Assured Robot Intelligence will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs as the company increases its focus on developing humanoid robots.
Apple CEO doesn't expect the RAM memory crisis to go away any time soon
Apple CEO Tim Cook anticipates that the current crisis of expensive RAM memory will persist, impacting the company's business. He noted that while Apple managed minimal impact in the last quarter, significant effects are expected on Mac models due to high demand and continued high memory costs. This situation is exacerbated by the increasing demand for AI data centers, contributing to a wider industry-wide supply crunch.
Meta says it may withdraw its apps from New Mexico if judge agrees to the state's demands
Meta has stated it may remove its applications from New Mexico if a judge sides with the state's demands regarding app policies. The company is contesting legal actions that could impact its operations within the state.
Instagram's recommendation algorithm will penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts
Meta's Instagram is updating its recommendation algorithm to penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts. Content creators, particularly meme makers, who do not make significant edits to their material may experience reduced reach on the platform.
Apple has reportedly 'given up' on the Vision Pro headset and that doesn't seem like a good thing for VR,…
Reports suggest Apple has halted development on its Vision Pro headset, with the team reportedly being reassigned. This follows earlier rumors of slow sales for the $3,500 device. The broader VR landscape is also seen as lacking major investment, with Meta reportedly stepping back from the Metaverse.
Facebook (META) Reality Labs lost $4.028 billion in Q1 2026
Meta's Reality Labs division reported a loss of $4.028 billion in the first quarter of 2026. While still a significant loss, it was smaller than in previous quarters.
Listen to the Meta Q1 2026 earnings call here
Meta Platforms is holding its Q1 2026 earnings call, providing an opportunity to hear directly from company leadership regarding the latest financial performance. The call will cover key financial metrics and strategic updates for the first quarter of 2026.
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is working on AI agents for personal and business use
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the company is developing AI agents for both personal and business use, aiming for a user-friendly experience. The focus is on creating an accessible artificial intelligence that even non-technical users can operate.
Evening Tech Bits
Meta's significant investment in Graviton technology underscores the ongoing CPU shortages impacting AI infrastructure, according to Tom's Hardware. The article also provides further details on Intel's revenue streams.