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Epic Games Store to introduce age checks for R18+ games in Australia
Epic Games will implement age verification for R18+ titles on the Epic Games Store in Australia starting September 9, aligning with the country's online safety code. Players will have multiple verification options, including selfie, credit card, or government ID checks. This follows similar age verification rollouts by Xbox and Valve in Australia and the UK.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers vote through a "historic" union contract securing protections against layoffs and gen-AI
Approximately 1,900 unionized workers at Blizzard Entertainment have ratified their first contract, securing protections against layoffs and mandating bargaining over the use of generative AI. This historic agreement provides enhanced severance and recall rights for employees across multiple game teams, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
Microsoft's AI vulnerability detection results in record-breaking Patch Tuesday, addressing 974 security flaws
Microsoft's September Patch Tuesday addresses a record-breaking 974 security flaws in Windows 10 and Windows 11, significantly boosted by AI vulnerability detection tools. The update includes fixes for two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities. This follows Microsoft's increased use of AI in security, which also led to a large number of fixes in July.
Available for XBOX Insiders: More Ways to Customize, Play, and Connect
Xbox Insiders can now test new console features including customizable startup animations, profile badge showcases, and a local search function for games and achievements. Updates also improve Xbox Remote Play streaming quality up to 1440p and allow downloads to continue in the background while streaming cloud games. Voice Clarity for party chat is also being tested on Xbox Series X|S.
Unionised Blizzard workers vote through contract giving them a say on genAI adoption and protection against layoffs
Unionized Blizzard Entertainment workers have ratified a new contract that requires the company to negotiate with them over the use of generative AI tools and provides protections against layoffs. The contract covers approximately 1900 staff and includes provisions for recall rights for laid-off employees and additional severance pay. This development occurs amidst ongoing workforce reductions at Microsoft's gaming division.
Now You Can Play Star Fox Adventures On Switch 2 And Decide If It’s Terrible Or Great Yourself
Star Fox Adventures, originally a GameCube title developed by Rare, has been added to the Nintendo Switch Online service for subscribers of the Expansion Pack. The game, which marked a departure from the series' traditional dog-fighting gameplay with its Zelda-like action-adventure style, is now available for players to experience and form their own opinions on its divisive legacy.
"It's a new day at Blizzard": Union wins historic contract protecting 1,900 World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and more workers as Microsoft plans another 1,600 layoffs
Blizzard Entertainment union members, represented by the CWA, have secured a new contract covering 1,900 workers across titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. The agreement includes strong protections against layoffs and mandates negotiation over the use of AI in game development. This comes as parent company Microsoft plans further layoffs across Xbox.
Instead of convincing us digital-only games are secretly a good thing, Sony was just caught testing dynamic pricing…
Sony has been observed testing dynamic pricing for digital games on the PlayStation 5, with users seeing different discounts for titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor based on account factors. This practice, which has been noted before, is criticized as anti-consumer and further fuels concerns about a digital-only future for gaming, especially as Microsoft's Xbox has also faced similar accusations regarding Game Pass discounts.
Nearly two thousand Blizzard developers secure a union contract that includes AI safeguards and layoff protection
Nearly two thousand unionized Blizzard Entertainment developers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have secured a new contract. This agreement includes wage increases, a hybrid work week, and significant protections regarding layoffs and the use of artificial intelligence in development. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. lauded the contract as a new industry standard.
Blizzard union workers ratify historic contract covering 1,900 employees
Employees at Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Microsoft, have ratified a new union contract covering 1,900 workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The historic agreement includes protections for AI usage, layoff recall rights, improved severance, wage increases, and a three-day hybrid work week, setting a new industry standard.
No more USB installation: Windows 11 Insiders now able to fully reset their system via cloud download even when the OS…
Microsoft has introduced a new 'cloud rebuild' feature for Windows 11 Insiders, allowing users to perform a full operating system reinstall via cloud download without needing USB media. This new recovery option aims to provide a quick and easy way to restore the system to a clean state, even if Windows won't boot, by downloading both the OS image and device drivers from Windows Update.
'No-one puts Double Fine out of business except me', says Tim Schafer on taking Double Fine independent:…
Double Fine has become an independent studio again after parting ways with Microsoft, a move initiated by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's significant layoffs. Studio head Tim Schafer expressed that while the games industry has harsh realities, he is determined to keep Double Fine afloat and sees the transition as a creative awakening, despite having to lay off 23 employees himself.
Switzerland trials ditching Microsoft and using free and open-source software, available for 'around 3,000…
Switzerland's Federal Chancellery has successfully trialed the use of open-source software as a replacement for Microsoft 365, concluding it is feasible for its Federal Administration. A follow-up program will make these solutions available to approximately 3,000 employees by the end of 2027, aiming for greater digital sovereignty.
Xbox Game Pass Adds A Great Call Of Duty Game Today
Xbox Game Pass has added Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War to its service starting September 8. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the 2020 title is available on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass, supporting cloud streaming. This addition marks a selective approach by Microsoft to integrate Activision Blizzard titles into the subscription service.
Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital Program Has A Big Problem: Several Major Publishers Aren’t Participating
Xbox's disc-to-digital program is facing significant limitations as major publishers like Sega, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Bandai Namco are not participating. This means physical copies of many popular games, including Far Cry 4, Final Fantasy 15, and Dark Souls 3, cannot be converted to digital licenses. This lack of participation raises concerns for game preservation, especially given Square Enix's history of requiring repurchase for new console generations.
Xbox disc-to-digital missing Elden Ring and Final Fantasy as publishers including Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Ubisoft,…
Microsoft's new Xbox disc-to-digital initiative is facing criticism as major publishers like Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Sega are reportedly not supporting the program. This means popular games such as Elden Ring and Final Fantasy will not be eligible, raising concerns about its effectiveness as a game preservation tool.
'They're doing some kind of dynamic pricing BS': Xbox Game Pass is being offered cheaper for some users,…
Microsoft appears to be experimenting with dynamic pricing for Xbox Game Pass, offering some lapsed subscribers discounts of up to 30% on annual subscriptions. This promotion is not universally visible, leading to speculation that it's a targeted effort to re-engage users, with some users expressing frustration over the perceived 'BS' pricing strategy.
The Tetris Company says it was "not involved in the creation" of White House parody, takes "copyright infringement very seriously"
The Tetris Company has stated it was not involved in the creation of a parody game called 'Build the Wall: Zombie Border Siege' that was featured on a US government minigame site. The company takes copyright infringement seriously and emphasized its belief in connection rather than division. The parody game, which involved building a wall to keep out 'aliens,' has since been removed.
Don't Nod might not have enough cash to make it through January 2027, and even if it does, pulling up could…
Developer Don't Nod is facing severe financial difficulties, with a material uncertainty about its ability to continue operating beyond January 31, 2027. Poor sales of recent titles like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, coupled with increased development costs for a Netflix collaboration, have led to a significant decrease in operating revenue. The company is undergoing a restructure in France that may involve up to 90 layoffs.
Square Enix, Ubisoft Have Opted Out of Xbox’s Disc-to-Digital Program – Report
Ubisoft and Square Enix have reportedly opted out of Microsoft's Xbox disc-to-digital program, preventing users from converting physical game discs into digital licenses. While neither company has commented, it's possible they may join the service upon its full public release. The program allows users to obtain digital entitlements for physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X games, with Microsoft emphasizing player choice in media formats.
