Kate Irwin

The Xbox Series S with controller. Image: Kamil S. on Unsplash.

Xbox Goes Crypto? Leaked Microsoft Roadmap Includes Wallet Plans

The next-generation Xbox console ecosystem could offer gamers a crypto wallet integration, according to unredacted documents published as a part of the FTC’s case against Microsoft in its planned acquisition of developer Activision. An internal Microsoft presentation slide from May 2022 viewed by Decrypt shows that the next-gen Xbox console and surrounding ecosystem would offer users a range of different ways to spend money, including in-game economies and a “crypto wallet” feature. Axios first...

SAG-AFTRA members join WGA members on the picket lines outside of Hollywood studios. Image: Jason Nelson/Decrypt.

Video Game Actors Ready to Strike Over AI Concerns, Wage Demands

The interactive media division of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) voted to authorize a strike if current negotiations with video game publishers do not lead to a favorable new contract for voice actors, along with motion capture game performers. While only about 27% of eligible voters participated, over 98% of those 34,687 who did cast ballots in favor of a strike, SAG-AFTRA shared Monday. Talks between SAG-AFTRA’s video game representatives and signatory game studios begin today and will c...

Unity Apologizes, Walks Back Fee Changes After Game Developer Backlash

Game engine maker Unity has substantially revised its controversial Unity Runtime Fee policies announced last week after game developers created an uproar of anger and frustration on social media. In a blog post published Friday, Unity Create President Marc Whitten apologized for not taking more developer feedback into account before establishing the new runtime fee model, which charges developers on a per-install basis once they hit certain revenue thresholds. The fees as first announced scare...

Artwork from some of NHN's mobile games. Image: NHN

South Korean Mobile Developer NHN Is Building Crypto Games on Sui

South Korean tech firm NHN is developing crypto games and will use the Sui blockchain, NHN’s gaming division announced Thursday. NHN has previously developed social casino games like Hangame Poker and mobile titles including Crusader’s Quest and Guns Up! Mobile War Strategy. The company claims that its games have over 37 million total users, according to an announcement. Now, the firm plans to develop digital board games that leverage NFTs. While the firm has yet to solidify exactly how it will...

South Korean rapper Psy. Image: Shutterstock

South Korea's Dreamus Debuts Avalanche NFT Tickets for Events, K-Pop Concerts

South Korean entertainment and events firm Dreamus, a subsidiary of SK Planet, is now offering NFT ticketing services through SK Planet’s OK Cashbag loyalty rewards app, allowing fans to buy tickets to events like K-pop concerts and other shows as Avalanche NFTs. OK Cashbag rewards members with points for making qualifying purchases. OK Cashbag also offers games and quizzes on its Android Google Play Store app, which has over 10 million downloads. OK Cashbag’s NFT ticket offerings will leverage...

Ben Armstrong in October 2021. Image: Hit Network on YouTube.

After Failed Bid to Reclaim Namesake Company, Ben 'Bitboy' Armstrong Asks Fans for Cash

Ben "Bitboy" Armstrong, former host of the Bitboy Crypto YouTube channel, has been denied an emergency injunction request filed to the Cobb County Superior Court in Georgia as a part of his ongoing lawsuit against Hit Network CEO TJ Shedd and Shedd’s father, new documents filed this week revealed. The Cobb County Clerk’s office told Decrypt that a new filing in the case shows the order as “denied,” with documents reading that “Plaintiffs failed to meet their burden” to support the case for Armst...

Hashflow Turned DeFi Trading Into a Sci-Fi Game—With an AI Dictator

Decentralized crypto exchange Hashflow has launched a competitive gamified financial experience called the Hashverse, which offers narrative and educational quests around decentralized finance (DeFi) activities like trading cryptocurrency. In the Hashverse, traders will be able to choose a character avatar, stake tokens, complete various browser-based “quests,” mint Hashverse character NFTs, climb the leaderboard, and earn or potentially win HFT—Hashflow’s governance token. “We hope to positivel...

Next-Gen Xbox Due in 2028, But Updated Series X Coming Next Year

The next generation of Microsoft’s Xbox console is potentially five years away—but new versions of the current Xbox Series X and S consoles will apparently be released in 2024. That's according to documents revealed in the FTC's case against Microsoft over its planned acquisition of game publisher Activision. The documents were apparently not intended for release without redactions, but ultimately made it to public view in full. Microsoft’s vision for its next-generation console, per documents p...

Artwork from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Image: Bethesda Game Studios.

The Elder Scrolls VI Isn't Coming to PlayStation 5, Won't Release Before 2026

The sixth planned installment of Bethesda Game Studios’ acclaimed Elder Scrolls series won’t be released for at least another three years—and apparently won’t be available on the PlayStation 5 at all, according to a chart released as part of the FTC’s legal case against Bethesda parent company Microsoft. The chart, which is labeled as “highly confidential,” offers details on seven different games in Microsoft’s release pipeline since 2018 as a part of its many acquisitions, including Bethesda So...

A still from the official Overdare teaser trailer. Image: Krafton

PUBG Creator Krafton Unveils 'Overdare' NFT Game With AI Creation Tools

South Korean game studio Krafton, maker of the popular battle royale shooter PUBG, announced Thursday that its upcoming NFT-driven metaverse game project will be called Overdare—and offered a first look at the creation-centric platform. Previously known as Project Migaloo, Overdare will soft-launch in December and fully release sometime between January and July 2024, Krafton said in a statement. The company has created its own blockchain, Settlus, for the game. Overdare appears to be a Roblox-l...

From Princess Peach to Pikachu: 6 Biggest Reveals From Nintendo Direct

Nintendo livestreamed its latest Nintendo Direct announcement event Thursday, revealing a large roster of new upcoming titles, downloadable add-on content, and remakes for the Switch console. While numerous games were either announced or shown with fresh trailers, here are the six biggest takeaways from the Nintendo Direct livestream. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Ubisoft has developed a new Prince of Persia game called Prince of Persia: Lost Crown, which blends 2D side scrolling gameplay wit...

Game Developers Are 'Fucking Livid' Over Unity's New Fees

Game development tech firm Unity, the company behind the widely used video game engine of the same name, has announced changes to its pricing model—sowing discord and fury among video game developers who call it harmful and “gross," among other descriptors. One day after the announcement, Unity has already walked back and clarified some of its policies. However, there's no current indication that the firm will completely withdraw its new fees that have some developers reconsidering their plans f...

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Will Have Ray Tracing, Support Ubisoft and Capcom Games

Apple announced its iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro smartphones on Tuesday, the latter of which comes with a new chip and a host of promised upgrades like ray tracing that the company says will make video games run smoother on the device. In addition, games like Capcom’s Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4’s remake will be available for the new iPhone 15 Pro model, according to the announcement video. The tech giant says that its iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip, which contains its graphics proces...

Champions Arena Beginner's Guide: How to Start Playing the NFT Fantasy Game

Champions Arena is a mobile-first role-playing game (RPG) from Gala Games and OneUniverse that incorporates trading card game and gacha elements—and optional NFTs, too. The game is available for iOS, Android, and Windows PC users. We recently reviewed Champions Arena and came away largely impressed by the addictive fantasy battle game—and if you’re looking to jump into the game, we’ve put together a guide below with a few key things to know. Here’s how to get started with Champions Arena. How t...

A blockchain maintains a decentralized record of transactions. Image: Shutterstock

Sony Reveals Blockchain Plans to 'Connect Souls Across Generations'

Sony Network Communications, a subsidiary of global tech giant Sony, announced late Monday that is it developing a new blockchain platform in a joint venture with crypto tech firm, Startale Labs. The Singapore-based joint venture will be known as Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd. “We are excited to announce the establishment of this joint venture with Startale Labs, a company renowned for its advanced Web3 technology and expertise,” said Sony Network Communications President and Represe...

'Bitboy' Ben Armstrong Files Suit Against Former Hit Network Colleagues

YouTuber Ben Armstrong, formerly known as "Bitboy," has filed a lawsuit in Georgia against Hit Network CEO Timothy “TJ” Shedd Jr. and father Timothy Shedd Sr.—two Hit employees—for removing Armstrong from the media company he created in 2018. The lawsuit also names corporate entities BJ Investment Holdings (BJIH) as a plaintiff alongside Armstrong, and TJSJ Holdings as a defendant with the Shedds. According to the suit, originally filed August 30 and obtained by Decrypt, Armstrong remains the ma...

Microsoft Reveals Xbox Mastercard That Helps You Earn Free Games

Xbox gamers can now rep their gamertag on their credit card—and earn loot in the process. Microsoft announced the official Xbox Mastercard Monday, which allows cardholders to earn points that can be redeemed on Xbox’s website. Barclays is issuing the card, which will only be available for United States-based members of the Xbox Insider Program when the card launches on September 24. The Xbox Insider Program is a feedback program from Microsoft that lets gamers share their thoughts on Xbox updat...

Roblox Is Finally Coming to PlayStation This Year

The popular 3D gaming platform Roblox will finally be available on PlayStation consoles in October, Roblox founder and CEO David Baszucki announced at the 2023 Roblox Developers Conference on Friday. The news comes a whopping 17 years after Roblox was first released back in 2006. Currently, the free-to-play game is available for a wide range of platforms like Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, Mac, Meta Quest VR headsets, iOS, and Android. As such, the lack of a PlayStation version has felt like a majo...

A screenshot from the PC game "Only Up." Image: SCKR Games

Only Up Developer Removes Hit Game From Steam Citing 'Stress'

Just a few months ago, the indie climbing game “Only Up” gained a massive Twitch audience, with streamers like xQC, Ninja, and Pokimane broadcasting the clumsy, clunky experience to over 279,000 simultaneous viewers. Now the game’s developer has abruptly removed it from the PC game store Stream, citing months of “stress.” In a Steam patch note attached to the now-removed game, Only Up’s creator—who goes by the name Indiesolodev—explained why the once-viral game has since gone dark via the leadin...

A screenshot from Starfield. Image: Bethesda Game Studios

Skyrim Creator's Starfield Tops One Million Concurrent Players on Launch Day

Starfield has already surpassed the one million concurrent player mark across all platforms after just one day, Xbox boss Phil Spencer tweeted late Wednesday. Bethesda announced Starfield in 2018 during its E3 presentation and released the Xbox and PC game to much fanfare five years later on September 6. The sci-fi action role-playing game is Bethesda Game Studios’ first new IP in 25 years, following the massive success of game series like The Elder Scrolls (Skyrim) and Fallout. Microsoft, which...

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Stories by Kate Irwin