So long E3, we knew you weren’t long for this world. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Engadget Senior Editor Jessica Conditt to talk about the death of E3 and what it means for the gaming industry. We also explore some of the highlights (and low points) of last week’s Game Awards, which couldn’t quite balance celebrating video games and functioning as a marketing tool. We’re particularly excited for Light No Fire, the next ambitious game from the folks behind No Man’s Sky, as well as Arkane Lyon’s Blade.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
Topics
We mourn E3 and break down everything announced at the Game Awards with Jess Conditt – 00:40
Beeper Mini, Sunbird, and the endless quest to spoof iMessage – 37:57
Apple ads theft protection in iOS 17.2 beta – 54:12
EU set to hand Apple a huge loss in its legal fight with Spotify – 58:04
Google loses antitrust trial against Epic games – 59:30
Executives fired after Sports Illustrated tries to publish generative AI articles (with fake writers behind them) – 1:06:32
Netflix engagement report reveals its most popular shows and movies of the first half of 2023 – 1:07:23
The Hugo Award-winning The Murderbot Diaries books from Martha Wells are becoming a 10-episode Apple TV+ series starring Alexander Skarsgård, Apple announced. It will follow a self-aware "SecUnit" robot that must hide its free will in order to complete a dangerous assignment and comes from About a Boy creators Chris and Paul Weitz.
"Murderbot is an action-packed sci-fi series, based on the award-winning books by Wells, about a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable 'clients,'" Apple wrote. "Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe."
The Weitz brothers will write, direct and produce the series, while Skarsgård will also serve as executive producer. Apple TV+ currently offers other sci-fi series including Silo, For All Mankind, Invasion and others. The streaming service needs to keep the content flowing as it has doubled Apple TV+ prices in just over a year. At the same time, Apple is looking for the right kind of content as it aims to avoid hot-button topics following the cancellation of The Problem with Jon Stewart.
Several Murderbot chapters have made Engadget's gift guides and recommended reading lists. We called the Fugitive Telemetry novella a "banger" with "space intrigue and robotic mysteries" and recommended the earlier novella series in our 2019 holiday guide.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-adapting-the-hugo-award-winning-sci-fi-book-series-murderbot-115559433.html?src=rss
Alas, The Last of Us Online will never see the light of day. Naughty Dog has announced that it has "made the incredibly difficult decision to stop" its development. It explains that the online team had a clear vision of the project and had already refined its gameplay. However, it soon became clear when the company was ramping the game up to full production that it was going to bite off more than it can chew. If it releases an online game, it has to dedicate all its resources to supporting post launch content in the future. That means becoming a studio that exclusively offers live gaming services — one with no capacity to release more single-player narrative games like the original The Last of Us titles.
The studio first gave us a peek at concept art from the project in 2022, but it offered very little in terms of updates since. After the PlayStation Showcase in May, it admitted that it knows fans of the franchise are looking forward to hearing more about the game but that it realized that it needed more time to work on it and couldn't share details just yet. Bloomberg reported shortly after that, though, that the studio had already reassigned developers working on the project to other teams and was reconsidering its viability. Clearly, Naughty Dog has decided its path, and it doesn't lead to the release of an online title. The developer says it has "more than one ambitious, brand new single player game" in the works and will be sharing what's next when it's ready.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/naughty-dog-cancels-development-on-the-last-of-us-online-055333989.html?src=rss
The Video Game History Foundation set up shop back in 2017 and offers a gigantic collection of gaming-related archival materials, from magazines to art books and even source code. Previously, you’d have to make the trek to Oakland, California to peruse the archive, but that changes soon. The VGHF just announced a digital library that will offer remote access.
These tools will be made available to researchers, academics and garden-variety gaming enthusiasts like the rest of us. The library will offer access to the collection “for free from anywhere in the world.” There’s a video that shows the archive in action, hosted by library director Phil Salvador.
The VGHF has an eventual goal of digitizing the entire archive, but this is a massive undertaking. It’ll be a while before the whole collection is digitized, as this stuff takes time. Just ask any museum curator. The organization has already been at it for two years, but some of that was spent designing the search technology and interface platform. The library is expected to launch sometime next year and will likely release with a sampling of the catalog.
Once completed, however, this will be an absolutely crucial tool for preserving the legacy of gaming for future generations. The collection includes print magazines, design documents, audio assets, press materials, concept art and so much more. Some of the current physical archive is already grouped into handy collections, like media chronicling the atmosphere surrounding the Nintendo Entertainment System’s launch in the US. Perhaps the digital archive will do the same.
The VGHF has an extraordinary pedigree. The organization was founded by games journalist Frank Cifaldi, who ran a popular website about unreleased games called Lost Levels. Cifaldi is also known for his journalism work at Gamasutra. He's joined by a team of industry veterans like Game Developers Conference leader Simon Carless and Smithsonian exhibit creator Chris Melissinos, among others.
Beyond the archive, the VGHF is heavily involved with restoring media materials from companies like Bethesda, Capcom, SNK and others. The foundation is also an advocacy group for game preservation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-video-game-history-foundation-will-open-a-digital-version-of-its-research-library-182800502.html?src=rss
Spotify is testing an AI-powered feature that creates playlists from text prompts. TikTok user @robdad_ posted a short clip of it, captioned, “I just randomly discovered Spotify’s ChatGPT?” For the chosen guinea pigs, the feature is available as an option under Your Library after tapping the plus sign to create a new playlist. The news was reported byTechCrunch, which says it received confirmation from Spotify that it’s testing AI playlists. It isn’t yet clear if the music streamer plans to launch it publicly.
“Turn your ideas into playlists using Al,” the feature’s in-app description reads in the TikTok video (while noting it’s only available in English). Above a chatbot field for custom inputs, it also suggests prompts. These include, “Get focused at work with instrumental electronica,” “Fill the silence with background cafe music,” “Get pumped up with fun, beat, and positive songs” and “Explore a niche genre like Witch House.”
@robdad_ TikTok
@robdad_ chose the last option. “Here’s your Witch House Exploration playlist,” the bot responded. “Swipe left to remove any songs you don’t want as you continue refining your playlist.” Due to video editing, it’s impossible to tell from the TikTok clip how long Spotify’s AI took to generate the tracks.
The resulting (Grimes-heavy) playlist included “Bloom for Me” by Pearly Drops, “Goth” by Sidewalks and Skeletons, “Pin” by Grimes, “After Dark” by Mr.Kitty, “Suffocation” by Crystal Castles, “Cold Touch” by Kito and GrimesAI and “chain” by Aziya and “Nothing Lasts Forever” by Sevdaliza and Grimes. I’ll leave it to the Witch House experts to determine if the AI did a good job.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Spotify was tight-lipped about whether the general public can expect to see AI playlists. “We routinely conduct a number of tests,” a Spotify spokesperson wrote. “Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have anything further to share at this time.”
Earlier this year, Spotify launched an AI DJ feature (powered by OpenAI tech) that talks you through recommendations. It does so using an AI voice trained on the company’s Head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan.
Like much of the tech industry, the music streamer appears eager to incorporate artificial intelligence into its products. In addition to the AI DJ, Spotify CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek said in a July earnings call that the company could use AI to “contextualize and personalize content.” The Ringer founder Bill Simmons noted in May (first reported by Semafor) that Spotify was developing “a way to use my voice for ads.” The sports analysis podcaster added, “You have to obviously give the approval for the voice, but it opens up, from an advertising standpoint, all these different great possibilities for you.”
It's been a year since we learned that a movie based on Death Stranding was in the works. Now, Kojima Productions has brought another notable partner on board. A24, the celebrated studio behind movies such as Everything Everywhere All At Once and Uncut Gems, is helping to adapt Death Stranding into a live-action film.
More than 16 million people have explored Hideo Kojima's haunting game so far. Death Stranding tasks a courier named Sam Porter Bridges (played by Norman Reedus) with unifying a fractured America after a cataclysmic event. It's a strange, captivating game. Perhaps most importantly for A24, it's also deeply cinematic.
The adaptation will "delve into the mysteries surrounding the apocalyptic event called the 'Death Stranding,' which blurred the lines between life and death, and brought forth nightmarish creatures into a world on the brink of collapse," according to a press release. Don't expect the film to directly follow the events of the game, though.
"There are a lot of 'game adaptation films' out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game," Kojima, who claims to have taken inspiration from some of A24's work, said. "The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.”
Kojima is a renowned movie buff who may very well have been a film director in another life. He may not have enough time to slide into the director's chair on this occasion though, as Kojima Productions has its hands full with two games that are in the works: a Death Stranding sequel and a new project called OD. Still, A24 has a number of high-profile collaborators who'd make a compelling Death Stranding film. I'm curious as to what Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, Sofia Coppola or Alex Garland might be able to do with that source material.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a24-will-help-bring-the-death-stranding-movie-to-life-171735945.html?src=rss
Every day, there seems to be new generative AI news, and while it can often be serious and quite technical, this time around it's just plain fun. Instagram has launched a new generative AI-powered tool called backdrop that lets you create a new image in the, yes, background of your Story. Meta's generative AI lead, Ahmad Al-Dahle, announced the feature on Threads alongside a video tutorial.
Instagram's backdrop tool appears once you upload or capture content for your Story. It sits alongside existing icons at the top of your screen, like text and music, represented by an image of a person with a rectangular frame behind them. To use backdrop, just click on that icon, and the image's entire background will go checkered (similar to picture editors like PhotoShop) along with a text box prompting you to "describe the backdrop you want..." From there, you can add anything from "surrounded by puppies" to "chased by dinosaurs" — very different vibes — and the AI tool will generate it in the background.
Don't expect people to actually think you're hanging out under the aurora borealis (another possible prompt), as your Story will get tagged with AI·Backdrop by Instagram, along with a sticker saying try it and your description in quotation marks. Currently, Instagram's backdrop tool is only available to users in the United States.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-now-offers-ai-generated-backgrounds-on-stories-115054259.html?src=rss
Meta's Threads has finally arrived in Europe, over five months after rolling out in the US, UK and elsewhere around the world. Following a countdown and Instagram teaser invitation, the app is now officially on the web, with the iOS and Android apps also widely available after a short delay.
I was able to sign in using my Instagram account and Meta also offers access without creating a profile — but you can't post or interact with content in that case. Once I agreed to use Instagram and chose my profile, it asked if I was okay with it being public and if wanted to follow the same people I do on Instagram. A few more clicks and I was in.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The delay was reportedly due to the EU's upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) set to take effect in 2024. As one of seven tech giant "Gatekeepers," Meta wanted to ensure it's in compliance with the DMA, particularly around rules for sharing data between apps. In compliance with EU policies, the app also allows users to access the platform without needing to create a profile.
Threads launched July 5 on mobile with a basic feature set and required users to sign in using their Instagram accounts. It was much like Twitter (now X) when it launched, with support for text posts up to 500 characters, along with photos and five-minute videos. It also supported reposts and quote posts, while allowing users to limit their replies and block/report other users.
Since then, it has added a web version, along with both "following" and "for you" feeds, the ability to send Threads posts on Instagram, following list sorting, liked posts on your profile page and more. In short, it's become a robust rival to X, Bluesky and its other short-form social media apps.
In addition, yesterday Meta started testing the ability to make Threads posts available on Mastodon and other fediverse apps. That compatibility with the decentralized "ActivityPub" service, and the ability to cross-post to other apps, was a key promise Meta made when it introduced Threads.
Threads' rise came with the steep decline of Elon Musk's X, now seen as more polarized than ever. Among much other drama, the platform recently lost a number of key advertisers after Musk boosted an antisemitic conspiracy theory. In response to that, Musk delivered a new message for advertisers pulling back from the platform: “Go fuck yourself.”
Threads is still in a precarious spot, though. It was an instant hit, crossing the 100 million signup mark just five days after launch and counted 141 million users as of November 10, according to research company Quiver Quantitative. However, engagement is another issue — the number of daily active users has fluctuated and dropped steeply a month or so after launch. It should get a massive boost now that it's in Europe, though, and Meta easily has the might (and money) to make it work and crush both established and potential rivals.
Update 12/17/2023 8:59 AM ET: Story updated to indicate that the iOS and Android apps are now widely available in Europe.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-finally-launches-in-europe-110747780.html?src=rss
Twitch has finally streamlined its confusing guidelines surrounding sexual content after a creator was able to appear seemingly topless in a stream posted on the website. The incident compelled viewers to question what kind of content could actually appear — and what could get you banned — on livestreams. Following feedback from users, Twitch has merged the two separate sexual content policy sections on its guidelines page and clarified that some materials that were previously prohibited are now allowed on the platform, as long as they're properly labeled.
They include content that "deliberately highlight breasts, buttocks and pelvic region" when fully clothed, which Twitch admits has caused female-presenting streamers to be "disproportionately penalized." The website now also allows streams to show drawn, animated or sculpted female-presenting breasts, genitalia or buttocks that are fully exposed. That said, fictionalized sexual acts and masturbation are still prohibited. Videos that show writing on female-presenting breasts and buttocks are now allowed, as well, along with videos that contain strip tease dances. Meanwhile, dance moves that include "twerking" and "grinding" can now be shown in videos even without being labeled.
In addition to clarifying its sexual content policy, Twitch has also altered its homepage algorithm so that it'll no longer recommend content that had been labeled with Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes. The website explains that while viewers must deliberately click on videos on the homepage to watch them, parts of streams with those themes were still visible even to those who may be uncomfortable seeing them due to their thumbnails. Now, viewers must explicitly seek out videos containing those themes.
We’ve gotten feedback that our policies around sexual content are unclear so we’ve drawn clearer boundaries between what is & isn’t permitted on Twitch.
We also recognize that not everyone wants to see certain content, so we’re updating our criteria for homepage recommendations. pic.twitter.com/rvZ4kFADR6
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-clears-up-its-confusing-sexual-content-guidelines-065648446.html?src=rss
OpenAI will pay German publisher Axel Springer to use its news articles to train its AI models and show real-time information from Axel Springer's brands, which include Business Insider and Politico in the US and Bild and Welt in Europe, in ChatGPT’s responses. None of the companies disclosed how much the deal was worth, but Bloomberg reported that OpenAI will pay the publisher tens of millions of euros over the next three years.
“This partnership with Axel Springer will help provide people with new ways to access quality, real-time news content through our AI tools,” said OpenAI’s chief operating officer Brad Lightcap in a statement. “We are deeply committed to working with publishers and creators around the world and ensuring they benefit from advanced AI technology and new revenue models.”
OpenAI’s partnership with Axel Springer comes on the heels of concerns from creators, authors, and publishers who have criticized and sued generative AI companies for training their models on their content without consent or compensation. Some publishers like The New York Times, Vox Media, BBC News, Reuters, and CNN have blocked OpenAI from accessing their data. Striking deals with AI companies, however, could provide a brand new revenue source for publishers who are currently going through the worst year for the media business in decades.
As part of the deal, Alex Springer will provide OpenAI with both current news articles as well as archives from all its brands to train its large language models, the foundational tech that powers ChatGPT. When ChatGPT uses Axel Springer’s articles in its responses, it will include attribution and links to the pieces for transparency. Axel Springer will also be able to use OpenAI’s technology to improve its own products, The Wall Street Journal reported.
This isn’t the first deal that OpenAI has struck with a news publisher. Earlier this year, the company entered into a two-year partnership with The Associated Press to use select content from the AP’s archives dating back to 1985 to train its AI models, although the terms of that deal do not include letting ChatGPT use AP content in its responses. OpenAI also has a $5 million partnership with the American Journalism Project to explore how local news organizations can benefit from artificial intelligence.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-will-pay-to-train-its-models-on-business-insider-and-politico-articles-200327559.html?src=rss