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Metaverse News
Massivelyop
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The MOP Up: Helldivers 2 surges to 2.5M weekly players
- Helldivers 2 has surged to 2.5 million weekly players following the Heart of Democracy update.
- World of Warships has introduced a new temporary PvE battle type called Perilous Route in Update 14.4.
- War Thunder banned 4781 additional accounts in the last month.
- Various MMO games like EverQuest II, ESO Tavern, World War II Online, Elden Ring Nightreign, and more have introduced updates and events.
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The Verge
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Image Credit: The Verge
Meta’s antitrust defense wraps with one big claim: WhatsApp and Instagram couldn’t be better
- Meta wrapped up its antitrust defense with a claim that Instagram and WhatsApp wouldn't be better off outside its control.
- Meta argued that its involvement helped Instagram and WhatsApp grow in ways they wouldn't have on their own.
- The tech giant suggested that the apps might have withered if not acquired, remaining less useful to consumers.
- Meta witnesses also highlighted TikTok as a significant factor in the discussion.
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Siliconangle
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Image Credit: Siliconangle
AI budgets are hot, IT budgets are not
- Many enterprises are still unsure about the benefits of AI investments versus historical IT initiatives like ERP, data warehousing, and cloud computing.
- ETR's data shows a shift towards building in-house AI applications, with 83% of IT decision makers planning to increase spend on AI app/dev in 2025.
- There is a consensus across different buyer types on expanding budgets for custom AI workloads to accelerate time-to-value.
- Enterprises are still in proof-of-concept or early production stages indicating a multi-year investment wave in AI application development.
- Geopolitical tension and shifting policy frameworks are not derailing enterprise AI agendas, with more firms proceeding cautiously than slowing down adoption.
- ROI for AI projects lags with 27% of respondents yet to see tangible returns, indicating enterprises are still in experimentation mode rather than harvesting immediate benefits.
- C-suite executives rank AI initiatives as the second-most vulnerable category to cuts, next to outsourced IT services, highlighting the potential vulnerability of experimental AI funding.
- AI budget growth expectations have retreated, indicating a cautious sentiment towards IT spending due to economic uncertainties and geopolitical unrest.
- Policy uncertainty is causing executives to tap the brakes on net-new IT projects, with 71% acknowledging some form of pullback due to uncertainty.
- Enterprise adoption of specific AI foundation models shows OpenAI's GPT leading in mindshare, with Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service being widely adopted.
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Ubergizmo
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Image Credit: Ubergizmo
WhatsApp Introduces Voice Chats For All Groups, Inspired By Telegram
- WhatsApp has introduced a new voice chat feature for group conversations, inspired by Telegram.
- This update allows users to engage in live audio conversations without starting a formal group voice call.
- Voice chats are now available for all group sizes, offering a more casual and less intrusive way to communicate.
- The feature includes interactive tools like raising hand to speak and real-time emoji reactions, all protected with end-to-end encryption.
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Massivelyop
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Christie Golden writes the first World of Warcraft: Midnight novel, this time as a freelancer
- Blizzard is preparing for the next chapter of the Worldsoul Saga, Midnight, with an upcoming prequel novel called World of Warcraft Midnight: Blood Ties, written by former Blizzard writer Christie Golden.
- The novel follows the journey of Arator the Redeemer investigating rumors of a strange glow emanating from an abandoned Legion base, uncovering more about himself, his parents, and their legacy.
- Christie Golden, who was let go by Blizzard in early 2024, expressed excitement about the novel and highlighted the positive interactions with Blizzard Publishing and the WoW team.
- Golden clarified that she wrote the novel as a freelancer, reminiscing about her freelance work on the first Warcraft novel 25 years ago while being employed at Blizzard.
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Massivelyop
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WRUP: Please rise for the National Seagull Anthem edition
- Leprechauns refuse to sell real estate after ancestors ate two leprechaun cakes, sparking outcry.
- An interesting discussion on body proportions and mathematical perfection ensues, questioning the supposed symmetry of arms.
- A variety of gaming activities are discussed, ranging from Monster Hunter Wilds to beachside preferences.
- Contributors share their favorite beach activities, including swimming, whale watching, gaming, and enjoying drinks by the water.
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Bitcoinist
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Image Credit: Bitcoinist
Kraken to Offer Tokenized Stock Trading for Non-US Users via Solana and Backed
- Crypto exchange Kraken is launching tokenized stock trading for non-US users in collaboration with Backed.
- The offering, named 'xStocks,' will include tokenized shares of major companies like Apple, Tesla, Meta, and Nvidia.
- Users across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia will have access to trade tokenized stocks and ETFs 24/7 via Solana and DeFi protocols.
- Tokenized stock market innovation is seen as a significant opportunity in digital assets, enabling global financial inclusion and decentralized equity access.
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Massivelyop
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World of Warcraft promises its focus on mods is about better conveyance, not ‘smashing a bunch of addons’
- World of Warcraft is taking steps to phase out addons that have become mandatory for raid progression.
- Director Ion Hazzikostas clarified that quest helpers, gathering aids, and RP-specific mods are not the target for removal.
- Blizzard aims to enhance the native functionality of the UI to reduce the gap between players using addons and those who do not.
- The focus is on improving raid mechanics readability so that addons become unnecessary, while maintaining the challenge of encounters.
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Silicon
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Image Credit: Silicon
FTC Drops Case To Block Microsoft’s $69bn Activision Purchase
- The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dropped its opposition to Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard following a legal setback.
- The FTC's pursuit of the complaint against the acquisition was deemed 'not in the public interest' after losing an appeal to block the deal.
- The decision to drop the case was made after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FTC did not successfully argue its case for a preliminary injunction against the merger.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority had previously blocked the deal in April 2023, causing tensions between Microsoft and the British regulator. Microsoft had to make concessions, including not acquiring cloud rights for certain games, to gain UK approval.
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Massivelyop
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WoW Factor: How could World of Warcraft reclaim the leveling journey?
- World of Warcraft Classic and Retail offer different gameplay loops, with Classic focusing on the leveling journey while Retail is focused on endgame activities.
- The loss of the leveling journey is considered a significant drawback in modern WoW compared to the past.
- Blizzard's current focus on fast XP gain and level boosts shows a lack of interest in emphasizing slow leveling progression in Retail WoW.
- Although reclaiming the leveling journey in Retail WoW may be challenging due to past design changes, there are potential ways to reintroduce it.
- Remix seasons, accelerated leveling challenges based on older expansions, are one approach to reviving interest in past content.
- Introducing a special leveling challenge ruleset server or allowing players to opt for challenge options could offer a slower-paced and more engaging leveling experience.
- The idea is to create opportunities for players to immerse in the leveling process and explore content systematically rather than rush to endgame.
- By implementing new leveling challenges, Blizzard could potentially inject life and purpose into older expansions while providing players with fresh gameplay experiences.
- Blizzard's willingness to adapt and innovate in retaining player interest and engagement in the leveling journey could shape the future of World of Warcraft.
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Siliconangle
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Image Credit: Siliconangle
Red Hat’s Inference Server: The open-source glue for scalable AI
- Red Hat AI Inference Server provides a scalable, secure platform for deploying machine learning models across hybrid cloud environments, addressing the need for unified AI infrastructure.
- It serves as the core platform similar to Linux, allowing innovation, accelerators, and models to reach users seamlessly without the need for constant change.
- Red Hat's vLLM project contributes to unifying AI infrastructure by enhancing scalability and enterprise readiness for large language deployment through integration with Kubernetes and focus on open-source innovation.
- The Llama Stack, integrated into Red Hat's OpenShift AI platform, enables the development of enterprise-ready agentic AI systems for complex reasoning and tool integration.
- Enabling AI models to run across various environments, including cloud, on-premise, and edge, is emphasized by Red Hat to optimize performance and ease of deployment.
- Red Hat supports running AI models across any environment and accelerator to cater to diverse business needs, emphasizing the importance of cloud-native and containerized architecture.
- Red Hat leverages the Llama Stack and Meta's Model Context Protocol to build intelligent agents capable of complex reasoning and seamless integration.
- The company's commitment to a unified AI infrastructure is highlighted through the development of vLLM and advanced AI systems on OpenShift AI platform.
- Red Hat's Inference Server is positioned as a key component in providing a cohesive platform for AI development, deployment, and management for organizations.
- Red Hat's vision is to unify the fragmented AI landscape into a common platform akin to Linux, enabling users to leverage future models and accelerators seamlessly.
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Psu
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The FTC Confirms It Has Dropped Its Case Against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Buyout
- The US Federal Trade Commission has dropped its case against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard after two years.
- The FTC's initial attempt to block the acquisition through a preliminary injunction was denied by the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
- An appeal by the FTC to overturn the court's decision was rejected, leading to the confirmation that the case has been dropped.
- Microsoft now owns major IPs from Activision Blizzard, and notable franchises like Call of Duty continue to release on PS5 and PS4 formats.
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TechJuice
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Meta Collabs With Blumhouse to Make A VR Horror Game
- Blumhouse Productions partners with Meta to launch 'Horrorverse,' a VR horror game on Meta Horizon.
- The game features iconic characters from Blumhouse franchises like M3GAN, Babyface, and Lady Liberty.
- Players can engage in various mini-games, including Survival Lockdown, with randomly assigned roles as victims or villains.
- Accessible on Meta Quest and mobile devices, the Horrorverse showcases immersive environments and exclusive Blumhouse content, marking Blumhouse's expansion into interactive media.
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Siliconangle
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Image Credit: Siliconangle
Apple reportedly planning to launch smart glasses in late 2026
- Apple is reportedly planning to launch artificial intelligence smart glasses in late 2026 to compete with Meta Platforms Inc.'s Ray-Ban Meta glasses, offering features like music playback, calling, live translation, and navigation.
- The smart glasses are being developed by the same unit behind the Vision Pro headset and will feature a more lightweight design, likely using a chip derived from Apple Watch series processors for better power efficiency.
- Apple's smart glasses chip will be optimized for controlling multiple cameras, potentially offering more cameras or higher-resolution lenses than the Ray-Ban Meta series.
- Apple engineers are accelerating work on the glasses, aiming for a late 2026 launch, though there is a possibility the project could be scrapped. Meta is also set to release an upgraded version of Ray-Ban Meta glasses in 2027 with additional display features.
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Guardian
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Image Credit: Guardian
FTC drops case over Microsoft’s $69bn Activision Blizzard acquisition
- The US Federal Trade Commission has dropped a case aimed at blocking Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, citing that pursuing the case against the closed deal was not in the public interest.
- FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is focusing agency resources on cases aligning with the previous administration's agenda, such as investigating if advertisers colluded to spend less on X.
- Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, called the FTC's decision a victory for players and common sense, while Ferguson is discontinuing efforts initiated by predecessor Lina Khan, dropping a price discrimination case against PepsiCo on Thursday.
- The FTC lost an appeal to block the Microsoft-Activision deal, which closed in 2023, marking the largest-ever acquisition in the video gaming market, with concerns raised over potential anti-competitive implications for Xbox and Microsoft's gaming business.
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