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Siliconera
7d
261
Image Credit: Siliconera
Overwatch 2 Street Fighter Skins Include Cammy, Chun-Li
- Activision Blizzard and Capcom unveiled an Overwatch 2 Street Fighter skin collection at EVO Japan 2025.
- The skins include characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, Cammy, and M. Bison and will be sold starting on May 20, 2025.
- Eight total skins are part of this crossover, featuring characters like Blanka, Guile, Juri, and Dhalsim.
- Overwatch 2 is available on multiple platforms, and these Street Fighter skins will be added to the game on May 20, 2025.
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Kotaku
7d
4
Image Credit: Kotaku
Blizzard's Overwatch Team Just Unionized: 'What I Want To Protect Most Here Is The People'
- The Overwatch 2 team at Blizzard, consisting of nearly 200 developers, has unionized across various disciplines without direct reports.
- This marks the second unionization at Blizzard after the World of Warcraft team did so in July last year.
- The Overwatch team joined the Communications Workers of America, aiming to protect worker interests and rights.
- The unionization occurred following frustrations with layoffs and an aim to shield employees from abrupt terminations.
- Issues like pay disparities, work-from-home restrictions, and the desire for protections against crunch and layoffs were key motivators.
- The unionizing effort aims to improve working conditions, thereby enhancing game development and preventing negative impacts like layoffs and low pay.
- The team felt the need for a union particularly after changes to profit sharing left them without bonuses for a year.
- The move for unionization is led by employees from various disciplines, emphasizing the importance of worker security and fair treatment.
- Unionizing is seen as a crucial step in initiating discussions with companies about job security and other key issues in the gaming industry.
- The unionization effort at Blizzard's Overwatch team, spearheaded by diverse roles, is seen as transformative for the industry and aims to inspire similar actions.
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Digitaltrends
7d
287
Image Credit: Digitaltrends
Activision is escalating its fight against cheaters in Call of Duty
- Activision is taking legal action against the creators of well-known Call of Duty hacks that have caused some fans to quit playing.
- The hacks allow users to kick players, crash servers, and ensure all shots hit opponents, violating terms of service.
- Activision is seeking monetary compensation and punitive action, potentially amounting to millions of dollars, against the creators and resellers of the hacks.
- Cheating in Call of Duty has been a persistent issue, with previous measures like shadowbanning proving ineffective in combating the toxic behavior within the community.
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Massivelyop
7d
407
Gachapwned: Examining the nature of gacha mechanics as a concept
- Gacha games, like Genshin Impact, are often disliked for their predatory monetization but still rake in money due to their appeal.
- While gacha games may seem like soulless cash grabs, many are crafted with care by developers who love the games they create.
- Playing gacha games can be unexpectedly fun, leading players to spend more money than intended.
- Understanding the benefits and downsides of gacha games is crucial to becoming a more conscientious player.
- The term 'gacha' originated from Japan, revolving around the concept of paying for random rewards, often characters and weapons.
- Gacha mechanics in games operate similarly to lootboxes, offering random rewards that can be essential to gameplay.
- Not all monetization schemes are gacha mechanics, but all gacha mechanics are predatory in nature.
- Gacha games use systems to make players feel they can eventually attain desired items, encouraging continued spending.
- The series 'Gachapwned' by Eliot Lefebvre delves into the complexities of gacha games and their impact on the MMO industry.
- Future columns in the series will explore pity mechanics, game economies, and tactics used to entice players to spend money.
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TechCrunch
7d
153
Image Credit: TechCrunch
Meta’s speeding up the ‘Mad Men to Math Men’ pipeline
- Mark Zuckerberg pitched a fully automated AI ad engine at Stripe's Sessions conference, aiming to replace agencies and media buyers.
- The AI system could generate thousands of image ads and test them in real time, potentially revolutionizing advertising.
- TechCrunch's Equity podcast delves into whether this AI innovation is the future of advertising or just another wave of AI impacting digital marketing.
- The podcast also discusses Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro, a countertop robot for cooking, Uber's progress in autonomous vehicles, and a venture for age-reversing treatments using AI.
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The Verge
7d
170
Image Credit: The Verge
Why Apple is trying to save Google
- Apple's high-powered executives like Eddy Cue have sided with Google in the antitrust court, advocating that Google operates in a competitive market and should be left alone.
- Apple receives $20 billion annually from Google as part of a revenue-sharing deal to make Google the default search engine in Safari, explaining why Apple is supporting Google's stance in court.
- Despite claims of Google searches decreasing in Safari and potential cannibalization by AI, the $20 billion partnership between Apple and Google remains significant.
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Massivelyop
7d
274
The Daily Grind: Where do you stand on hero bans and similar rulesets in multiplayer games?
- Overwatch 2's new hero ban system in competitive play receives mixed feedback, with some players expressing strong dislike for it.
- Critics argue that the hero bans give low-skill players the ability to block characters for trivial reasons, negatively impacting high-skill specialized players.
- Some players feel that hero bans penalize those who approach the game strategically and punish correct play, while inadvertently rewarding bad play.
- Debate continues on the acceptability of hero bans and similar rulesets in multiplayer games, with concerns about their impact on gameplay experience and fairness.
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The Verge
7d
34
Image Credit: The Verge
Threads adds dashboard to better explain post and account restrictions
- Threads is introducing a new dashboard feature to provide transparency on account restrictions for breaking platform rules.
- The dashboard will display when content is removed or demoted, posts that violate guidelines, and any blocked features.
- Users can appeal if they believe they were penalized wrongly, aiming to offer clarity on account actions and help prevent future penalties.
- Threads is also starting video ads testing, with Meta planning to introduce video ads on the platform to monetize, following the global expansion of advertising last month.
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Insider
7d
229
Image Credit: Insider
I interviewed at multiple Big Tech companies and landed at Salesforce after a Meta layoff. These 6 things helped me stand out during my job search.
- Selma Mouloudj faced layoffs at Meta and a sales startup before landing a job at Salesforce.
- To stand out in Big Tech, she utilized strategies like networking, quantifying her resume, and negotiating job offers.
- Mouloudj emphasizes the importance of quantifiable metrics on resumes to showcase impact.
- Attending networking events was crucial for her job search success in the tech industry.
- Building relationships online and engaging with potential employers were also key tactics.
- She advises job seekers to continue interviewing and not settle until finding the best offer.
- Following up after interviews and negotiating job offers are essential steps for candidates to consider.
- Negotiation should extend beyond salary to include perks like remote work options and educational benefits.
- Mouloudj's advice for those interviewing in Big Tech is to know their worth, push back on offers, and strive for what they deserve.
- Her experience navigating layoffs and securing roles at top tech companies provides insights for job seekers in the competitive market.
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Rockpapershotgun
7d
162
Image Credit: Rockpapershotgun
Tamagotchi and Quake both join World Video Game Hall Of Fame
- New inductees Tamagotchi, Quake, Goldeneye, and Defender join the World Video Game Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play.
- Tamagotchi garnered attention for offering a unique form of play that focused on connection, intimacy, and personalization, contrasting with traditional video game electronics.
- Quake was recognized for its pioneering use of 3D space, introduction of competitive multiplayer, and popularization of esports as an industry, as well as being the first shooter with widespread mod support.
- The addition of these four games expands the hall of fame to a total of 49 games, with entries ranging from the earliest game Spacewar! to the more recent The Last Of Us.
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Massivelyop
1w
263
Massively Overthinking: Are you a random reward disliker in MMOs?
- The article delves into the debate of being a Random Reward Disliker or Enjoyer in MMOs, discussing personal preferences and frustrations with random rewards systems.
- Brianna Royce expresses strong dislike for random rewards, preferring specific rewards over gambling her time and money, even in crafting systems.
- There is a deeper discussion on external rewards versus enjoying the content itself, questioning the reliance on rewards in MMOs by Carlo Lacsina.
- Chris Neal mentions a preference for a balanced structure between random and targeted rewards, highlighting the dissatisfaction with not being able to obtain desired items.
- Eliot Lefebvre illustrates examples from V Rising to explain the difference between good and bad random reward systems, emphasizing the importance of being able to eventually obtain desired rewards through gameplay.
- Sam Kash shares a mixed view on random rewards, enjoying them during leveling but finding the repetition for endgame gear in games like WoW tedious.
- Tyler Edwards leans towards preferring consistency and predictability in rewards but acknowledges the fun aspect of randomness when not relied upon as a necessity.
- The discussion showcases varying perspectives on random rewards in MMOs, with some advocating for more control and predictability in obtaining desired items.
- Overall, the article encourages readers to contemplate their stance on random rewards and engage in the ongoing discourse within the MMO gaming community.
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The Verge
1w
230
Image Credit: The Verge
Instagram CEO testifies about competing with TikTok: ‘You’re either growing, or you’re slowly dying’
- Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, testified in a court hearing about the challenges of competing with TikTok and the need to adapt quickly to stay relevant.
- Mosseri highlighted the impact of TikTok on Instagram's user engagement, with a significant decline attributed to TikTok's rise in popularity.
- The testimony took place during the FTC's antitrust trial against Meta, with the government alleging market monopolization in personal social networking services.
- Mosseri emphasized the importance of growth in the face of competition, stating that 'you're either growing, or you're slowly dying.'
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Insider
1w
129
Image Credit: Insider
What we learned from Instagram boss Adam Mosseri's testimony at the Meta antitrust trial
- Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, testified at Meta's antitrust trial regarding the FTC's claims that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp created an illegal monopoly.
- The FTC is pushing for Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging antitrust violations in the social networking market.
- Mosseri's testimony could impact the outcome of the case, which centers on Meta's alleged monopolistic practices.
- Mosseri highlighted tensions between Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram's founders, leading to strategic conflicts.
- Instagram faced significant competition from TikTok, prompting the launch of Reels in response to TikTok's success.
- Mosseri admitted that Instagram's first version of Reels was a mistake and recounted challenges faced by the platform in competing with TikTok.
- Instagram invested heavily in supporting content creators, acknowledging the industry shift towards individual empowerment.
- Mosseri highlighted ongoing struggles around content safety on Instagram, addressing concerns about platform integrity and resource allocation.
- Instagram's efforts to address safety issues and support creators are ongoing, reflecting the evolving landscape of social media.
- Mosseri's testimony provided insights into Instagram's internal dynamics, strategic decisions, and responses to competitive threats.
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Insider
1w
318
Image Credit: Insider
Instagram's top executive says the company has spent 'hundreds of millions' of dollars wooing creators
- Instagram's top executive, Adam Mosseri, revealed that the company has invested 'hundreds of millions, maybe a billion or two' into content creators.
- The investment includes incentives and infrastructure to help creators expand their reach on the platform.
- Since 2018, when Mosseri took over as head of Instagram, creators have increasingly become a core focus for the company.
- Instagram has introduced various creator monetization programs, such as 'Bonuses,' to compete with platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
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Siliconangle
1w
164
Image Credit: Siliconangle
OpenAI appoints former Instacart, Meta executive Fidji Simo CEO of Applications
- OpenAI has appointed Fidji Simo as CEO of Applications, taking over responsibilities from CEO Sam Altman.
- Simo's areas of responsibility will include finance and product development at OpenAI.
- Simo, who is currently CEO of Instacart, has a background in tech from her time at Meta Platforms Inc., and has a track record of improving profitability in companies.
- Simo's consumer market experience may hint at a potential shift in focus towards this sector for OpenAI, with reports suggesting the AI provider may be considering launching a social network.
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