X just released its first full transparency report since Elon Musk took over

X has published its most detailed accounting of its content moderation practices since Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The report, X’s first in more than a year, provides new insight into how X is enforcing its rules as it struggles to hang on to advertisers who have raised concerns about toxicity on the platform.

The report, which details content takedowns and account suspensions from the first half of 2024, shows that suspensions have more than tripled since the last time the company shared data. X suspended just under 5.3 million accounts during the period, compared with 1.6 million suspensions during the first six months of 2022.

In addition to the suspensions, X says it “removed or labeled” more than 10.6 million posts for violating its rules. Violations of the company’s hateful conduct policy accounted for nearly half of that number, with X taking action on 4.9 million such posts. Posts containing abuse and harassment (2.6 million) and violent content (2.2 million) also accounted for a significant percentage of the takedowns and labels.

While these numbers don’t tell a complete story about the state of content on X — the company doesn’t distinguish between posts it removes and those that it labels, for example — it shows that hateful, abusive and violent content are among the biggest issues facing the platform. Those are also the same issues numerous advertisers and civil rights groups have raised concerns about since Musk’s takeover of the company. In the report, X claims that rule-breaking content accounted for less than 1 percent of all posts shared on the platform.

Numbers shared by X.
X

The numbers also suggest there have been significant increases in this type of content since Twitter last shared numbers prior to Musk’s takeover. For example, in the last half of 2021, the last time Twitter shared such data, the company reported it suspended about 1.3 million accounts for terms of service violations and “actioned” about 4.3 million.

X previously published an abbreviated report in a 383-word blog post last April, which shared some stats on content takedowns, but offered almost no details on government requests for information or post removals. The new report is a significant improvement on that front. It says that X received 18,737 government requests for information, with the majority of the requests coming from within the EU and a reported disclosure rate of 53 percent. X also received 72,703 requests from governments to remove content from its platform. The company says it took action in just over 70 percent of cases. Japan accounted for the vast majority of those requests (46,648), followed by Turkey (9,364).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-just-released-its-first-full-transparency-report-since-elon-musk-took-over-110038194.html?src=rss

X just released its first full transparency report since Elon Musk took over

X has published its most detailed accounting of its content moderation practices since Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The report, X’s first in more than a year, provides new insight into how X is enforcing its rules as it struggles to hang on to advertisers who have raised concerns about toxicity on the platform.

The report, which details content takedowns and account suspensions from the first half of 2024, shows that suspensions have more than tripled since the last time the company shared data. X suspended just under 5.3 million accounts during the period, compared with 1.6 million suspensions during the first six months of 2022.

In addition to the suspensions, X says it “removed or labeled” more than 10.6 million posts for violating its rules. Violations of the company’s hateful conduct policy accounted for nearly half of that number, with X taking action on 4.9 million such posts. Posts containing abuse and harassment (2.6 million) and violent content (2.2 million) also accounted for a significant percentage of the takedowns and labels.

While these numbers don’t tell a complete story about the state of content on X — the company doesn’t distinguish between posts it removes and those that it labels, for example — it shows that hateful, abusive and violent content are among the biggest issues facing the platform. Those are also the same issues numerous advertisers and civil rights groups have raised concerns about since Musk’s takeover of the company. In the report, X claims that rule-breaking content accounted for less than 1 percent of all posts shared on the platform.

Numbers shared by X.
X

The numbers also suggest there have been significant increases in this type of content since Twitter last shared numbers prior to Musk’s takeover. For example, in the last half of 2021, the last time Twitter shared such data, the company reported it suspended about 1.3 million accounts for terms of service violations and “actioned” about 4.3 million.

X previously published an abbreviated report in a 383-word blog post last April, which shared some stats on content takedowns, but offered almost no details on government requests for information or post removals. The new report is a significant improvement on that front. It says that X received 18,737 government requests for information, with the majority of the requests coming from within the EU and a reported disclosure rate of 53 percent. X also received 72,703 requests from governments to remove content from its platform. The company says it took action in just over 70 percent of cases. Japan accounted for the vast majority of those requests (46,648), followed by Turkey (9,364).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-just-released-its-first-full-transparency-report-since-elon-musk-took-over-110038194.html?src=rss

Palworld suddenly arrives on PS5

There have been murmurings for some time that Pocketpair was planning to bring Palworld, one of the biggest games of the year, to PlayStation 5. However, it was a bit of a surprise to find out during Sony's State of Play stream that the action-adventure game is available for the console today.

Palworld (which is often described as "Pokémon with guns") landed on Xbox and PC in Early Access in January and was an immediate hit, selling over a million copies in just eight hours. Within a month, it had reached more than 25 million players. According to Microsoft, it had the biggest ever debut for a third-party title on Game Pass

However, it quickly emerged that The Pokémon Company was investigating Palworld. Fast forward eight months, and the company and Nintendo filed suit against Pocketpair in Japan. In a post on X, the developer said that the PS5 version of the game is now available in 68 countries and regions around the world, but Japan isn't one of them. The release date for the country has yet to be decided. 

"This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights," Nintendo said after filing the suit last week. Pocketpair's CEO said the game "cleared legal reviews" and the studio said it would "begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement."

So it's not exactly ideal timing for Palworld to land on PS5. But hey, if you're willing to buy a game that could potentially be forced to shut down in a few months or years due to a lawsuit, you can now do that on your PlayStation.

Update, Sept. 25, 2024, 3:13AM ET: Added information that Palworld for the PS5 is not yet available in Japan.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/palworld-suddenly-arrives-on-ps5-224601245.html?src=rss

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered arrives October 31 on PS5 and PC

Jan-Bart van Beek, Guerilla Games' art and animation director, has officially announced that a remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is arriving on October 31. The game will feature over 10 hours of re-recorded audio, mocap, as well as improved character models, animation, lighting and textures that he said will bring it "to the same visual fidelity" as Horizon Forbidden West. That means it has been upgraded for the PlayStation 5 and compatible PCs, and it even supports the PS5 Pro, which will be available on November 7. 

In his announcement, van Beek explained that seven years is a long time when it comes to computer graphics and that a lot of technological improvements have become available since the game's original release. Nixxes, a Dutch video game developer, worked on the remaster, which will also feature improved audio and Atmos rendering that will make it more immersive. The remastered version will come with The Frozen Wilds expansion and all its additional lands, machines and skills, as well. Those who get the PC version can also expect support for ultra-wide resolutions and for performance-enhancing technologies, such as NVIDIA's DLSS 3 AI-based rendering accelerator. 

The original game's accessibility features, like its remappable controls and haptic cues, have been carried over to this version. In addition, there's a new optional accessibility feature that can notify players of interactable elements with sound and haptic feedback. 

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will be available for purchase for $50, but those who already own the original game and the complete edition version can upgrade for $10, whether they're buying on the PS5 or on the PC via Steam or the Epic Games Store. The $10 upgrade will even be available to players who added the game to their libraries from one of Sony's Play at Home program giveaways during the pandemic lockdowns. Fans upgrading with a PS4 game disc will have to insert it into their console every time they play, though, so they cannot access the upgrade offer if they have the disc-free version of PS5.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-arrives-october-31-on-ps5-and-pc-052407167.html?src=rss

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered arrives October 31 on PS5 and PC

Jan-Bart van Beek, Guerilla Games' art and animation director, has officially announced that a remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is arriving on October 31. The game will feature over 10 hours of re-recorded audio, mocap, as well as improved character models, animation, lighting and textures that he said will bring it "to the same visual fidelity" as Horizon Forbidden West. That means it has been upgraded for the PlayStation 5 and compatible PCs, and it even supports the PS5 Pro, which will be available on November 7. 

In his announcement, van Beek explained that seven years is a long time when it comes to computer graphics and that a lot of technological improvements have become available since the game's original release. Nixxes, a Dutch video game developer, worked on the remaster, which will also feature improved audio and Atmos rendering that will make it more immersive. The remastered version will come with The Frozen Wilds expansion and all its additional lands, machines and skills, as well. Those who get the PC version can also expect support for ultra-wide resolutions and for performance-enhancing technologies, such as NVIDIA's DLSS 3 AI-based rendering accelerator. 

The original game's accessibility features, like its remappable controls and haptic cues, have been carried over to this version. In addition, there's a new optional accessibility feature that can notify players of interactable elements with sound and haptic feedback. 

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will be available for purchase for $50, but those who already own the original game and the complete edition version can upgrade for $10, whether they're buying on the PS5 or on the PC via Steam or the Epic Games Store. The $10 upgrade will even be available to players who added the game to their libraries from one of Sony's Play at Home program giveaways during the pandemic lockdowns. Fans upgrading with a PS4 game disc will have to insert it into their console every time they play, though, so they cannot access the upgrade offer if they have the disc-free version of PS5. Pre-orders for both PC and PS5 will open on October 3.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-arrives-october-31-on-ps5-and-pc-052407167.html?src=rss

Ghost of Yōtei is a Tsushima sequel coming to PS5 in 2025

The 2020 PlayStation hit Ghost of Tsushima is getting a sequel featuring a new protagonist, era and landscape. Ghost of Yōtei is heading to PlayStation 5 in 2025.

Ghost of Yōtei stars a new Ghost, Atsu, who's journeying through the lands at the base of Mount Yōtei in Ezo — modern-day Hokkaido — in 1603. This means the sequel is set 300 years after the events of Tsushima, which focused on the Mongol invasion of that region. In 1603, Yōtei was not under Japanese rule, and the debut trailer shows vast, untouched grasslands, snowy forests and sun-drenched ridges dotted with wildflowers, a strong breeze blowing through each scene. There's a distinct cowboy twang to the music in the trailer, particularly as Atsu interacts with wild horses. She also meets a wolf, which is neat.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sucker Punch noted that Yōtei wasn't home to organized samurai clans like those in Tsushima, and said this formed the basis of the sequel's new, original story.

This is the first game that Sucker Punch has built from the ground-up for PS5.

"We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future," Sucker Punch communications manager Andrew Goldfarb said. "Our new setting also gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ghost-of-yotei-is-a-tsushima-sequel-coming-to-ps5-in-2025-231306124.html?src=rss

Ghost of Yōtei is a Tsushima sequel coming to PS5 in 2025

The 2020 PlayStation hit Ghost of Tsushima is getting a sequel featuring a new protagonist, era and landscape. Ghost of Yōtei is heading to PlayStation 5 in 2025.

Ghost of Yōtei stars a new Ghost, Atsu, who's journeying through the lands at the base of Mount Yōtei in Ezo — modern-day Hokkaido — in 1603. This means the sequel is set 300 years after the events of Tsushima, which focused on the Mongol invasion of that region. In 1603, Yōtei was not under Japanese rule, and the debut trailer shows vast, untouched grasslands, snowy forests and sun-drenched ridges dotted with wildflowers, a strong breeze blowing through each scene. There's a distinct cowboy twang to the music in the trailer, particularly as Atsu interacts with wild horses. She also meets a wolf, which is neat.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sucker Punch noted that Yōtei wasn't home to organized samurai clans like those in Tsushima, and said this formed the basis of the sequel's new, original story.

This is the first game that Sucker Punch has built from the ground-up for PS5.

"We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future," Sucker Punch communications manager Andrew Goldfarb said. "Our new setting also gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ghost-of-yotei-is-a-tsushima-sequel-coming-to-ps5-in-2025-231306124.html?src=rss

Palworld suddenly arrives on PS5

There have been murmurings for some time that Pocketpair was planning to bring Palworld, one of the biggest games of the year, to PlayStation 5. However, it was a bit of a surprise to find out during Sony's State of Play stream that the action-adventure game is available for the console today.

Palworld (which is often described as "Pokémon with guns") landed on Xbox and PC in Early Access in January and was an immediate hit, selling over a million copies in just eight hours. Within a month, it had reached more than 25 million players. According to Microsoft, it had the biggest ever debut for a third-party title on Game Pass

However, it quickly emerged that The Pokémon Company was investigating Palworld. Fast forward eight months, and the company and Nintendo filed suit against Pocketpair in Japan. In a post on X, the developer said that the PS5 version of the game is now available in 68 countries and regions around the world, but Japan isn't one of them. The release date for the country has yet to be decided. 

"This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights," Nintendo said after filing the suit last week. Pocketpair's CEO said the game "cleared legal reviews" and the studio said it would "begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement."

So it's not exactly ideal timing for Palworld to land on PS5. But hey, if you're willing to buy a game that could potentially be forced to shut down in a few months or years due to a lawsuit, you can now do that on your PlayStation.

Update, Sept. 25, 2024, 3:13AM ET: Added information that Palworld for the PS5 is not yet available in Japan.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/palworld-suddenly-arrives-on-ps5-224601245.html?src=rss

Astro Bot is getting a free update that adds speedrunning levels

Charming 3D platformer Astro Bot just released earlier this month and the game is already getting a content update. Later this fall, the game is adding a free add-on of five levels designed specifically for speedrunning. The news kicked off Sony's September State of Play showcase. Check out the teaser above for all the cuteness to come.

Inside the new levels, Team Asobi is also adding ten new robot pals to be rescued. These include bots designed after the futuristic armies of Helldivers II and Eve from Stellar Blade. The bots are a fun wink and nod to the PlayStation fandom, with familiar franchise stars alongside deeper cuts from the console's history.

Basically, if you haven't already gotten on the Astro Bot hype train, now is the time.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-is-getting-a-free-update-that-adds-speedrunning-levels-224234066.html?src=rss

Astro Bot is getting a free update that adds speedrunning levels

Charming 3D platformer Astro Bot just released earlier this month and the game is already getting a content update. Later this fall, the game is adding a free add-on of five levels designed specifically for speedrunning. The news kicked off Sony's September State of Play showcase. Check out the teaser above for all the cuteness to come.

Inside the new levels, Team Asobi is also adding ten new robot pals to be rescued. These include bots designed after the futuristic armies of Helldivers II and Eve from Stellar Blade. The bots are a fun wink and nod to the PlayStation fandom, with familiar franchise stars alongside deeper cuts from the console's history.

Basically, if you haven't already gotten on the Astro Bot hype train, now is the time.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-is-getting-a-free-update-that-adds-speedrunning-levels-224234066.html?src=rss