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“Buying any of our games helps support the studio”: Psychonauts studio Double Fine are the latest former Xbox-owned studio to get the rights to their games back
Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, has regained publishing rights to its games after becoming independent from Xbox, according to chief executive Tim Schafer. The change means purchases of the studio’s catalogue now directly support Double Fine, giving it more financial control as it seeks to sustain itself outside Microsoft. Schafer said Microsoft branding may…
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23 Years Ago Today, We Said Goodbye to the Honky-Tonk Pioneer Once Dubbed the “Original Outlaw” by Willie Nelson
Floyd Tillman, a pioneering honky-tonk musician and songwriter, died at his Texas home on 22 August 2003 aged 88. The article marks the 23rd anniversary of his death, highlighting his influence on country music through candid songwriting, jazz-inflected guitar playing and songs that helped shape later artists including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard.…
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Modern Warfare 4 beta’s first update is live, adding a new map, mode, and toned-down footsteps
Infinity Ward has released the first major update for the Modern Warfare 4 beta after responding to feedback from its opening day. The patch reduces the volume and audible range of enemy footsteps and gear, adjusts weapon lethality, and enables map voting, aiming to improve the multiplayer experience during the test. The update adds the…
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GTA6 leaker Cyberleek shows off gas station rampage, refueling, promises strip club gameplay if people juice his cryptocurrency enough
A leaker known as “Cyberleek” has continued sharing purported Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay footage, this time showing a rampage at a gas station and vehicle refuelling, while dangling the promise of strip club footage if a cryptocurrency they promote receives enough investment. The story fits a wider pattern of unofficial GTA6 material circulating online…
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Frontier AI labs still won’t say how they’d contain a rogue model
A study by AI safety group Guidelight AI Standards found that leading AI developers have published little detail about how they would contain a model that tried to evade human control. This matters as more autonomous AI systems are deployed within companies and gain the ability to take consequential actions, while US regulators begin requiring…
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Before you buy a used GameCube, check for this common issue
Buying a second-hand GameCube requires care because the console is region-locked: machines sold for North America, Japan and Europe/Oceania only play games made for their own market. This matters as importing a cheaper console or collecting foreign releases could leave buyers unable to use their games without a technically involved modification. The article notes that…
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The Blood of Dawnwalker’s console modes top out at 40fps, with no 60fps option at launch
The Blood of Dawnwalker will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S without a 60fps performance mode, according to newly released console gameplay. Its highest available option will target 40fps, a decision that has prompted criticism from some players and may affect expectations for the forthcoming action RPG. Both consoles will offer a Quality…
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If you’re not using AI to attack your own systems, your adversaries will
AI agents are increasingly capable of carrying out cyber-attacks, creating risks both as external tools for criminals and as internal systems with privileged access. The article argues that organisations should use AI-driven red teaming to test their own defences, because adversaries are likely to deploy similar technology regardless. Experts warn that agents create new data-integration…
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Destiny 2’s Slow, Painful Death Removes a Critical Third Space for Gamers
Bungie’s decision to end new live-service content for Destiny 2 on 9 June marks the close of a major chapter for a game that has connected players for almost 12 years. Although Destiny 2 will remain playable, the absence of future Strikes, Raids and story content is significant for players who treated it not merely…
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W. Kamau Bell has the most practical ‘most indispensable tool’
Comedian, activist and broadcaster W. Kamau Bell discusses the technology and online habits that support his busy professional and family life in The Verge’s weekly questionnaire. His answer to the “most indispensable tool” question is deliberately practical: a charger, because phones and other devices are useless without one. Bell says he relies heavily on map…