Game Control: FTC Restraining Microsoft, Reddit Protests, And A VR Theme Park
Console: The Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Star Wars, Cyberpunk 2077, and other major subreddits are going dark in protest of Reddit's API price changes affecting third-party apps. While these subreddits previously allowed users to peruse all the usual conversations, the Xbox, Nintendo, and PS5 pages are now blank. Some of these subreddits are going private, meaning only invited members can access them and no new members will be accepted. The increased cost of Reddit's API, the interface used by third-party developers to access and use Reddit data, set things in motion. The severity of the changes only came to light earlier in June when the developer of Apollo, an app used by millions to browse and read Reddit posts, said it would now cost upwards of $20 million a year to run. It's unclear if or when these protests will end, but Reddit CEO Steve Huffman showed no sign of changing the policy when asked about it during a press conference on June 9th.
On June 13, 2023, a collaboration between Guerilla Collective and Dames 4 Games featured new games and interviews with the creators in what is called the Summer Collective. One of the main guests was the nonprofit organization Black Voices in Gaming. Founded in Oakland, California, Black Voices in Gaming is committed to increasing Black representation and Inclusion within the gaming industry. The organization specializes in curating culturally relevant games centered on Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color’s lived experiences. Black Voices in Gaming highlighted four video games during the showcase: Roller Girl, a musical adventure narrative set in a small town within Ontario; Hyper Light Breaker, an action RPG sequel to Hyper Light Drifter where players explore the world of Hyper Light and fight monsters; Breeze in the Clouds, a 2-D action-adventure featuring a corgi who can control the weather; and Coreupt, an Unreal-based 3D fighter game with futuristic and intergalactic themes.
On June 21, 2023, a brand-new Nintendo Direct was streamed live on its official website and other platforms. The show lasted over 40 minutes and contained numerous announcements, including a brand new 2D Mario game in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a Super Mario RPG remake, a release date and a new trailer for Detective Pikachu 2, a confirmation that the Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol. 1 will release on Switch, and much more. In addition to Detective Pikachu 2, Pokémon fans got a new look at Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expansion, which includes the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk, both arriving this fall and winter respectively. New RPGs like Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, Persona 5 Tactica, MythForce, Silent Hope, and more were announced for the Nintendo Switch.
PC: Diablo 4 has set another record for Blizzard, crossing $666 million within five days of its launch. In a press release, the $666 million milestone occurred within five days of its launch—this is not the early access period that began on June 1, which players could gain access to by buying special editions of Diablo 4. Blizzard has not revealed how many copies of Diablo 4 have sold, and the $666 million also includes microtransactions from Diablo 4's in-game shop. Blizzard also shared some other in-game milestones players have reached, like the total playtime passing 276 million hours. During that playtime, players killed 276 billion demons and died 316 million times. Blizzard also confirmed that 163 players reached the maximum level in Hardcore mode, where the death of a character is permanent. Amidst this success, Blizzard has also confirmed two expansions in the works for Diablo 4.
On June 12, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked for a temporary restraining order to stop Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard. A spokesman for the FTC claimed in an email that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have not given any guarantees that they will stick with their decision to block the merger owing to antitrust investigations into the agreement in other jurisdictions. We have asked for a temporary restraining order to stop Microsoft and Activision Blizzard from closing while the review is ongoing in light of that and reports in the media that the two companies are considering terminating their agreement soon. Shortly after, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick published a letter saying that the action was "a welcome update and one that accelerates the legal process." The FTC maintains its argument that if the deal were to go through, Microsoft would harm competition in high-performance gaming consoles and subscription services by denying or degrading rivals' access to its popular content.
There's news of a bubbling back-alley market for imported Nvidia graphics cards in China. These are globally sought-after chips since the rise of large language models like ChatGPT. But in China, there's a different challenge—the US banned Nvidia from exporting its most powerful AI accelerators last year. China is no longer allowed to directly import any Nvidia A100 or H100 GPUs. AMD's MI250 is also blocked from sale to the country. China made do with less powerful options, but Reuters reports an underground chip market has popped up in light of the new restrictions. These chip markets are said to be in Shenzhen, one of China's largest technology hubs. Vendors that Reuters spoke to say that they can provide small numbers of Nvidia A100 GPUs to customers willing to pay overprice for an AI accelerator. Rather than bypassing taxation and import fees, the setup seems to focus on legitimate businesses and users of cards who are turning to these vendors to keep their AI work afloat.
Hatsune Miku - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT
Mobile: The Singapore-based LandShark Games studio has officially announced Grifford Academy, the studio's upcoming turn-based RPG that lets players experience a coming-of-age narrative set in the land of Caldria. Developed by a husband-and-wife team, the game follows the tale of protagonists Erika, Viva, and Cap on a quest for self-discovery within an enchanted book world. In Grifford Academy, players encounter mystical and malevolent entities on their journey to save their friends and choices they will have to make when shaping the protagonists' personalities. Combat is a strategic and turn-based affair that boasts an intuitive system that eliminates any steep learning curve for players. Paul Naylor, Landshark Games founder, claims his inspiration started when he introduced Dungeons and Dragons to his kids. “Seeing their wide, excited eyes as they went on whimsical adventures, rescuing dragons and catching giant chickens, it inspired me to bring this experience to the next level of immersion - the medium of video games," said Naylor.
Recently released idol management simulation game Idoly Pride has made its way onto the scene with a new collaboration with legendary Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku. Hatsune Miku is a digital pop star that has been around for ages and is easily one of the biggest pop culture icons in Japan. This collaboration brings new songs for players to experience alongside cosmetics, login bonuses, new campaigns, and even the opportunity for their idols to perform alongside Miku herself. Idoly Pride has had a strong opening, making a name for itself by introducing players to a lovely cast of different idol girls whom each have an endearing personality and plenty of great story beats to discover. The game features a gameplay loop of leveling up and training each of its idols, performing different songs with them, and getting more of their stories.
Charles Okpaleke, a Nigerian entrepreneur, has made remarkable milestones with his production company, Play Network Studios. With the production of blockbuster remakes like Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, Glamour Girls, and Nneka The Pretty Serpent, Okpaleke now sets his sights on mobile gaming. In 2021, Okpaleke acquired the rights to the 2002 film Aki na Ukwa and successfully remade it with acclaimed director Biodun Stephen. Two years later, Play Network Studios launched a revolutionary game, Aki and Pawpaw Epic Run, the first-ever Nollywood game. The game features characters based on Aki na Ukwa as they try to run through various hurdles to get points and coins. In an interview, Okpaleke describes what inspired him to make the game. He states, “I've always thought of the Aki and Pawpaw brand as exportable. I grew up watching them, and when you have legends like this who are still alive, one way to immortalize them is to create something that will work even after they are gone,” adding how he believes the game allows him to continue the story and export it outside the country.
VR: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company’s next VR headset on June 1—the Quest 3. The mixed reality headset is launching in Fall 2023 at $499 for a 128GB variant. Zuckerberg showed the first look at Meta Quest 3, a standalone headset that he calls “the first mainstream headset with high-res color mixed reality.” He explains how the headset is said to be 40% thinner and “more comfortable” in a Facebook post. Notably, Meta is saying Quest 3 is coming with the “highest resolution display yet” along with the inclusion of pancake optics, the latter of which is used to slim down any headset’s profile by a considerable amount over traditional Fresnel lenses, like those seen in Quest 2. Another change from Quest 2 is the newly named “Touch Plus” controllers, which Meta says were completely redesigned with a more streamlined and ergonomic form factor. A more extensive reveal is scheduled for the company’s Connect developer conference, slated to take place on September 27, 2023.
Later this year, the minimum age will be reduced to 10 years old for Quest 2 & 3. Currently, Meta's terms state its headsets "must not be used by children under 13". Meta says Quest accounts for children aged 10, 11, or 12 will be set up and managed by a parent through a specific new interface. The parent will be able to control which apps these preteen accounts can and can't access set time limits for headset usage, and preteen accounts will only be recommended titles rated for their age by the ESRB and IARC. When the child turns 13, their account will become a teen account, managed by the child but still having Meta's existing parental controls. The announcement has caused many to believe the company may be preparing to market Quest 3 to a younger age group than it did with previous Quests, hoping to be a holiday gift of choice later this year.
Shanghai was the venue for the launch of Chinese streaming firm iQiyi’s latest venture into VR. Its Luoyang VR Project is a studio-based experience in which users experience up to 12 different entertainment zones in the ancient city of Luoyang in Henan province. Requiring headsets and using a physical space of some 300 square meters, the set-up stimulates the physical experience of high winds, waterfalls, and explosions. IQiyi described the project as “the first attempt in the VR industry to integrate different elements from immersive theatre, VR, and original IP,” and claims to leverage industry-leading, sensory-simulation techniques to build cars, boats, carriages, and other props. Hu Shihui, founder, and CEO of metaverse-themed park X-META, iQiyi’s partner and offline operator, pointed out how the project also incorporates dining and opportunities for dressing up in costumes and photoshoots. Building on the momentum of the Luoyang VR Project, iQiyi expects to launch three shorter interactive experience projects by the end of June: Mars Rescue, Kunlun Maze, and Apocalyptic Adventure.