These layoffs, confirmed by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, represents an 8 to 9 percent reduction of the total workforce in the company's gaming division

Microsoft’s Gaming Division to Cut 1,900 Jobs in Tech Layoffs of 2024

Adriana MaraisJanuary 26, 24Gaming, Microsoft

Microsoft joins a growing number of technology companies whose employees have been reduced from the beginning of 2024. The Redmond-based technology giant, which recently reached a market value of $3 trillion, has officially announced the immediate layoff of 1,900 employees at its Activision. Blizzard and Xbox divisions. The layoffs will take effect this week. These layoffs, which Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirmed in an internal memo, represent an 8-9 percent reduction in the company’s gaming division’s total workforce, which currently employs a total of 22,000 people. Spencer says this…

Fancy owning Minecraft on mobile? Now you can buy it for just Rs 29 in the latest deal on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Here are the details.

Minecraft Available at a Steal: Get it for Only Rs 29 on Apple App Store and Google Play

Adriana MaraisJanuary 25, 24Gaming, Minecraft

If you’ve been looking to buy Minecraft for your Android or iOS device, now could be the perfect time to pull the trigger as it’s been discounted to just Rs 29 from its usual Rs 690 on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. This limited-time offer is sure to be a sweet deal for long-time Minecraft fans who have been dying to play the best-selling video game of all time right on their mobile devices. Notably, this isn’t the first time the game has been discounted; on three…

Los Angeles-based Riot, whose popular titles include "League of Legends”, said teams outside of core development will see the largest impact from layoffs.

League of Legends Developer Announces Layoffs of 530 Employees, Citing Unsustainable Costs

Jim HendlerJanuary 24, 24Gaming

Tencent Holdings’ Riot Games plans to lay off 530 employees, or about 11 percent of its workforce worldwide, the online game company said on Monday in its blog, which included CEO Dylan Jadeja’s letter to employees. Los Angeles-based Riot, whose popular titles include “League of Legends,” said teams outside of core development will see the biggest impact from the layoffs. Digital game publishers are struggling to grow because the public isn’t buying expensive games or staying with games less frequently amid high inflation. At the beginning of last year, Electronic…

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge by Apple to a lower court's decision requiring changes to certain rules in its lucrative App Store.

US Supreme Court Rejects Apple-Epic Games App Legal Dispute

Adriana MaraisJanuary 18, 24Apple, epic games

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to rule on Apple’s appeal of a lower court ruling that required changes to certain rules in its lucrative App Store, as judges avoided a lengthy legal battle between the iPhone maker and Epic Games. the popular video game “Fortnite”. The justices also rejected Epic’s appeal of a lower court ruling that Apple’s App Store policies, which restrict distribution and payment for software, do not violate federal antitrust laws. The judges did not give reasons for their decision to reject the appeals.…

The US Supreme Court declined to hear the case from Epic and Apple. (REUTERS)

CEO of Epic concedes defeat in court battle with Apple, claiming it will not lead to opening up iPhone to rival stores.

Adriana MaraisJanuary 17, 24Apple, epic games

On Tuesday, the CEO of Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, acknowledged that the company’s legal fight to allow alternative app stores on Apple’s iPhone had come to an end. The high court’s decision not to consider appeals from both Apple and Epic effectively concluded the lengthy court battle. Epic in 2020 launched a case aimed at breaking Apple’s grip on the App Store and accusing the iPhone maker of a monopoly on the digital services store. Apple is cutting up to 30 percent of all financial transactions in its…

CES 2024 is being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is expected to feature big tech announcements. (Bloomberg)

Updates for CES 2024: AI predictions, inclusive gaming, airborne transportation, and Martha Stewart

Febin MathewJanuary 13, 24Artificial Intelligence

The Consumer Technology Association is hosting CES 2024, a multi-day trade event that is anticipated to attract over 130,000 attendees and feature more than 4,000 exhibitors in Las Vegas. This event will showcase the latest advancements and devices in various fields such as personal technology, transportation, healthcare, sustainability, and others. Artificial intelligence will be prominently featured, demonstrating its expanding applications. From the latest announcements to the wackiest smart gadgets, the Associated Press keeps a rolling report on everything we find interesting on the CES floor. GYROGLOVE WORKS TO HELP those…

Sony Honda Mobility its latest electric vehicle, the Afeela during 2024 CES event in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 8. (Bloomberg)

What CES 2024 is Highlighting: From AI and gaming to automotive advancements, here’s what to expect at this year’s tech extravaganza.

Febin MathewJanuary 9, 24Artificial Intelligence

This week, CES, the annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association, is commencing in Las Vegas, showcasing a wide range of technological innovations. Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the multi-day event showcases the industry’s latest advancements and gadgets in personal technology, transportation, healthcare and more — and the use of artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing everywhere you look. The Consumer Technology Association bills CES as the world’s largest audited in-person technology event. The organizers hope to get around 130,000 participants this year. More than 4,000 exhibitors,…

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Samsung unveils the world’s inaugural transparent MicroLED screen at CES 2024.

Febin MathewJanuary 8, 24Gaming, Samsung, TV

During its First Look event at CES, Samsung has unveiled a groundbreaking innovation – the world’s first transparent MicroLED display, adding to the list of surprises at the event. While there’s still no word on how much it will cost or when this technology will find its way to retail devices, Samsung showed off not one, but three different transparent micro-LED displays with slightly different designs. Two of the demo units featured tinted glass to make it easier to overlook areas behind possible panels, while the other appeared to be…

Get ready for a tech spectacular at CES 2024! From AI TVs to innovative laptops and smart homes, discover the latest in consumer electronics and gaming. (ces.tech)

Get a sneak peek into what to expect at CES 2024: From TVs and laptops to AI and gaming

Febin MathewJanuary 8, 24Artificial Intelligence, Smart TV

Get ready for the highly anticipated Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, taking place in Las Vegas from January 9 to 12. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is hosting this year’s CES, which guarantees an impressive display covering 2.4 million square feet and showcasing over 4000 exhibitors. This event serves as a platform for unveiling the year’s tech trends, as companies present their newest advancements in a wide range of fields. Whether it’s TVs or gaming equipment, here’s a glimpse of what to expect at CES 2024. 1. televisions Televisions are…

Apple made big strides in expanding the Mac's gaming capabilities in 2023. Read on to know how the synergy between software and its M Series chipsets is helping achieve this.

Apple’s Focus on Gaming for Mac Becomes Evident with 2023 Initiatives

Adriana MaraisDecember 29, 23Gaming, Mac

Apple’s Mac computers have traditionally not been known for their gaming prowess; Instead, they’ve gained a reputation as reliable tools that creatives and professionals rely on to get things done. However, that hasn’t stopped Apple from trying to change that perception—indeed, making significant strides in this area. It was only earlier this year that the iPhone manufacturer introduced a game mode with macOS Sonoma. This mode maximizes system performance so AAA games can run as well as possible. Speaking of AAA games, of course, we can’t forget the move to…

Ever wondered what X would be like if it allowed PS5 gamers to stream directly on the platform? Well, that future may soon become a reality, per Elon Musk.

Elon Musk Teases Possibility of Direct Streaming of PS5 Games on X Platform: Find Out More

Adriana MaraisDecember 29, 23Elon Musk, Gaming, ps5

PlayStation 5 gamers may soon be able to stream games directly to X (formerly Twitter), possibly through an official app, as a recent conversation between Elon Musk and a user suggests. For X, user @AlexJonesMW3, responding to Elon Musk’s Diablo gameplay video, asked if X could launch a standalone streaming app for PS5. “I’m happy to pay whatever price I have to pay to be able to stream directly from my PS5 to @X,” the user said. He also asked Musk if he could contact someone at PlayStation. To which…

Chinese gaming giants recently suffered big losses due to new online game restrictions. In response, regulators approved 105 games to mitigate the impact.

China Rushes to Approve 105 Online Games Following Recent Restrictions

Febin MathewDecember 27, 23Online Gaming

Over the years, we’ve seen the Chinese government clamp down on online gaming, which includes limiting the amount of time children can spend playing games and the constant dissemination of information emphasizing how addictive gaming is. Recently, Chinese regulators announced new restrictions aimed at introducing spending limits across gaming platforms and even preventing minors from tipping game streamers. These were implemented by the National Press and Publications Administration. Shortly after the announcement, several companies, including gaming giants Tencent and NetEase, were forced to bear the brunt of the announcement as…

Let's take a look at how 2023 has unfolded for gaming, and why it is a landmark year in gaming history.

Here’s Why 2023 Will Go Down as an Exceptional Year in Gaming

Nitin MisraDecember 25, 23Gaming, Microsoft, PlayStation

The year 2023 is almost over and there are no more major video game releases in sight. But looking back, this year has been incredible for gaming, both in terms of games released and the evolution of the industry. We saw huge releases this year like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PS5, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft finally releasing a first-party game with Starfield. Square Enix and Ubisoft also added the release of Final Fantasy XVI and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. And of course,…

Epic Games is gifting 17 free games, kicking off with Destiny 2: Legacy Collection. Additionally, there are big discounts on games like Alan Wake 2 as well.

Epic Offers 17 Free Games and Significant Discounts on Alan Wake 2 and More

Febin MathewDecember 16, 23epic games, Gaming

Epic Games has revealed that it will be giving away a total of 17 games as part of its holiday celebrations. The first game in this lineup is Destiny 2: Legacy Collection, which can be claimed until December 20th. When you visit Epic Games’ free games page, you’ll notice that the next mystery game hasn’t been revealed yet. It will be interesting to see what it is on December 20th. New games are still unlocked in the same way going forward. The holiday festivities extend beyond free games; you can…

Fortnite-maker Epic Games triumphs over Google in a landmark antitrust case and CEO Tim Sweeney put things in perspective. (REUTERS)

CEO Tim Sweeney’s response following Epic Games’ surprising victory against Google in an anti-trust lawsuit

Adriana MaraisDecember 14, 23epic games, Google

Epic Games, the company responsible for Fortnite, has won a major legal battle against Google regarding its Play Store policies. This high-profile case, which had garnered significant attention from the tech industry, resulted in a jury finding Google guilty of antitrust violations. The verdict represents a significant milestone for Epic Games in its ongoing efforts to promote fair competition within the app store market. In an interview with CNBC, Epic Games’ CEO, Tim Sweeney, discussed the contrasting outcomes of the company’s legal disputes with both Apple and Google. Sweeney attributed…

PlayStation Wrap-Up 2023 lets you create a year-end summary of your gaming on a PlayStation 4 or PS5. You can see how many games you played, your most-played game, the trophies you earned, and more.

Learn How to Create Your PlayStation Wrap-Up 2023

Adarsh V.KDecember 14, 23Gaming, PlayStation, ps5

It’s that time of year again, when streaming apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and even social media apps like Reddit release their year-end reviews. And now PlayStation, Sony’s gaming division, has released its own synopsis. PlayStation Wrap-Up 2023 allows you to create a year-end summary of your gaming experience on PlayStation 4 or PS5. You can see the number of games you’ve played, your most played game, the rewards you’ve earned and more. This year has been particularly exciting with the release of many critically acclaimed games such as Marvel’s…

Admit it, you've spent 25 hours playing Suika Game too, right?

Nintendo has launched its Switch year in review website

Febin MathewDecember 14, 23Gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has joined Sony and Microsoft in releasing their own year in review tools, allowing players to discover the amount of time they have dedicated to playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom, Pikmin 4, and Suika Game on their Nintendo Switch this year. Sign in to the web app with your Nintendo Account to see the first game you play on Switch this year. You can then scroll down to see how many different games you’ve watched on the console during our last trip around the sun,…

It will tell you how many hours you've spent gaming this year.

Comparing your performance with other players in Xbox’s 2023 year-in-review recap

Nitin MisraDecember 13, 23Gaming, Microsoft, xbox

Xbox is providing users with a comprehensive overview of their gaming habits and preferences for the year. The 2023 recap showcases the total amount of time spent gaming on the Xbox system in the past year, highlights the most active month, displays the total number of achievements earned, and presents a pie chart illustrating the top genres enjoyed. This information can help users determine if their gaming preferences have evolved over time. Additionally, users will be able to view a list of the games they have played the most this…

Once considered the biggest gaming event, E3 is now permanently cancelled. Read on to find out why.

E3, the Formerly Prominent Gaming Event, Faces Permanent Cancellation

Febin MathewDecember 13, 23Gaming

E3, once the biggest annual show in the video game industry where developers showed off their latest games to the public, has been canceled permanently. Over the past few years, several editions of E3 have been canceled, first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then due to a lack of commitment from developers and major publishers such as Sony, which decided to hold its own events such as the PlayStation Showcase instead. Stanley Pierre-Louis, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the organization responsible for E3, said in a statement to…

Epic has spent years railing against the practice and got a federal jury to agree that Alphabet Inc.’s Google unit had acted unfairly as a monopoly. The case is likely to accelerate the weakening of app store rules, which have already come under fire from regulators and lawmakers around the world. (AP)

The $200 Billion App Store Industry Faces Major Threat Following Google’s Legal Defeat

Adriana MaraisDecember 12, 23epic games, Google

The recent legal loss of Google to Epic Games Inc., the creator of Fortnite, poses a significant risk to the app store duopoly dominated by Apple Inc. This duopoly generates nearly $200 billion annually and has a profound influence on how billions of mobile device users engage with apps. The loss handed down by a San Francisco jury on Monday is a blow to the two companies’ business model for apps, where they charge fees of up to 30 percent to software developers who usually have no other options. Epic…