-
Cardi B performs eight songs with rock-inflected band at Tiny Desk
Cardi B performed an eight-song NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 18 minutes, with only brief pauses between tracks. The performance puts the focus on her music, while a nine-piece band gives familiar songs fresh, rock-inflected arrangements. The set included “ErrTime”, “Up” and “Bodak Yellow”; Cardi B briefly praised her backing musicians and remarked that her…
-
“Too big a risk”: Moonlighter devs delay new game’s demo for fear of genAI cloning, calling on platforms to “keep strengthening protections for original work”
Digital Sun Games has delayed a public Steam playtest of ReVamp because it fears the unfinished game could be copied with generative AI and released before the original. The studio says the risk is too great while launch is still months away, and has urged platforms to improve protections for original work. A smaller, closed…
-
AI-assisted imitation pushes indie studios to keep game demos private
AI coding tools are making it faster to imitate games, prompting some independent developers to limit access to early demos and prototypes. Alliance Arts delayed the public demo of its game Drunken Goddess Reflex, concerned that others could copy its gameplay and presentation and release a clone before the original. The studio plans to show…
-
Samson Dev Confirms Closure, Open World’s Console Sales Were ‘Far Better’ Than on PC
Liquid Swords has confirmed it is closing, despite Samson: A Tyndalston Story selling “far better” on consoles than on PC. The studio’s closure highlights how improved console sales could not make up for the game’s earlier struggles or secure the team’s future. The open-world crime game launched on PC in April and arrived on PS5…
-
“Sexy sorceresses” and “bare-chested fighters”: Dragon Age’s original artists wanted to base it on Conan the Barbarian, much to the outrage of the designers
David Gaider says Dragon Age: Origins was shaped by disagreements at BioWare over what kind of fantasy world the game should be. Artists favoured a Conan the Barbarian style, while designers wanted something closer to The Lord of the Rings; the clash helps explain the series’ changing feel across releases. The production team proposed a…
-
Apple teases MacBook Pro event next week
Apple has announced a second product launch this month, scheduled for 28 October in Los Angeles, where it is expected to unveil new Macs and an updated iPad Mini. The event matters because reports point to significant display and design changes across Apple’s laptop and tablet lines. The expected products include a MacBook Pro with…
-
WhatsApp Help Pages Leaked Hidden Instructions for a Meta Chatbot
An analysis by privacy company Redact found that about 80 WhatsApp help and FAQ pages had exposed hidden instructions written for a Meta chatbot. The text, embedded in the pages’ code, offered a rare look at how the chatbot was directed and included guidance not shown to users. Among roughly 100 blocks of instructions, one…
-
French unrest fuels bond and share sell-off amid debt concerns
Violent protests across France prompted a sell-off in government bonds and shares, as investors questioned whether the unrest would make it harder for the government to control spending and reduce debt. The market reaction adds to political and fiscal concerns ahead of the 2027 election and the government’s efforts to pass next year’s budget. France’s…
-
Uber dodges £340M cabbie lawsuit after drivers miss legal deadline
Uber has defeated a £340 million lawsuit brought by thousands of London black cab drivers and two former private hire firms, after a High Court judge ruled the claims were filed outside the six-year legal time limit. The case concerned allegations that Uber misled Transport for London to obtain permission to operate in London, but…
-
Disney found a way to buy Character.AI without buying its lawsuits
Disney has structured a deal to hire most of Character.AI’s staff and seek rights to much of its technology while leaving the startup responsible for its lawsuits and regulatory issues. The arrangement is being pursued through bankruptcy, which Character.AI says is intended to resolve claims and maximise value for shareholders. Disney paid Character.AI $5.5 million…