All articles tagged with #developers
Sony confirms a 60+ minute State of Play for Thursday, February 12, featuring news and updates from developers worldwide—including third parties, independents, and PlayStation Studios—streaming on YouTube and Twitch across multiple time zones.
Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan says players hate “generative AI slop” but want AI tools that assist developers in making better games, a stance aligned with the company’s $600 million AI investment to hire 150 engineers for QA and development support.
Apple has released the first beta version of macOS Tahoe 26.3 for developers, marking an early testing phase for the upcoming update.
Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to developers for testing, signaling upcoming updates for these platforms.
Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to developers for testing, indicating upcoming updates for iPhone and iPad devices.
A study by Rokky reveals that 72% of developers believe Steam has a monopoly on the PC games market, with most studios relying heavily on it for revenue, though many are diversifying to other platforms like Epic Games Store and GOG, and expect to increase their use of alternative channels in the future.
Microsoft has increased the prices of Xbox Development Kits from $1,500 to $2,000 and raised the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription by 50%, citing macroeconomic factors like tariffs, as part of broader efforts to improve margins amid economic pressures.
OpenAI has expanded ChatGPT to include app integration, allowing users to interact with apps like Spotify, Canva, and Zillow directly within the chat. Developers can create and submit new apps for inclusion, with a future app store-like directory planned. This feature is available to all ChatGPT users outside the EU, enhancing the chatbot's functionality and user experience.
Microsoft is now allowing developers worldwide to publish apps to the Windows Store without any onboarding fees, removing a significant barrier and promoting a more inclusive platform for app innovation and distribution.
The EU lobbying group Video Games Europe responded to the Stop Killing Games petition, arguing that laws forcing developers to support online games indefinitely would make live service titles too costly to develop and maintain, potentially limiting developer flexibility and game preservation. The petition, which has gained over 1.2 million signatures, aims to prevent publishers from shutting down online services and destroying games, but industry representatives emphasize the complexities and costs involved in supporting online-only titles and private servers.
Spotify has announced it will restrict third-party developers' access to several features of its Web API, including song and artist recommendations, audio analysis, and algorithmically-created playlists. This move aims to prevent misuse of its data, particularly in creating competitive AI music recommendation models. The decision has sparked backlash among developers, some of whom were using these features for non-AI applications. Spotify's changes will not affect official partners or those with extended API access, but many developers were not forewarned about the changes.
Steam is integrating support for season passes on its platform, introducing guidelines to ensure transparency and protect buyers. Developers must provide a detailed list of expected content and adhere to timelines, with refunds required for canceled DLCs. Steam will only allow season passes from trusted partners, posing challenges for indie developers who may lack resources to meet these standards.
Google has released the first preview of Android 16 for developers, introducing expanded photo library and medical data-sharing capabilities. This early release is part of Google's effort to accelerate API updates and innovation. Key features include an embedded photo picker for apps and an updated Privacy Sandbox. The Health Connect app preview supports FHIR format for medical records, enhancing data sharing between apps and devices. The public beta is expected in January 2025, with a full release after April, aligning with Google's annual I/O event.
PS5 Pro owners are expressing frustration over poorly implemented patches that degrade game performance, prompting some to campaign for the option to disable these updates. While the console shows strong results in some games, others like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Silent Hill 2 suffer from subpar enhancements. The issue highlights a challenge for Sony, as the PS5 Pro is aimed at enthusiasts who may desire more flexibility. The problem seems to stem from developers not fully optimizing patches, leading to a call for better quality control.
Apple is advancing Siri's capabilities with a new API in iOS 18.2, allowing developers to make onscreen content accessible to Siri and Apple Intelligence. This includes ChatGPT integration, enabling Siri to answer questions about photos and documents. While full onscreen awareness features are expected in iOS 18.4 in 2025, Apple is preparing developers now with App Intent APIs to ensure readiness for future updates.