All articles tagged with #gamers
A leak suggests the PlayStation 6 may launch in fall 2027 or early 2028, with full backward compatibility and three times the graphics performance of the PS5, sparking disappointment among some PS5 gamers who feel they haven't received enough quality exclusives yet.
Ubisoft claims that microtransactions enhance the enjoyment of premium games by allowing optional personalization and progression, a stance that has upset many hardcore gamers who see microtransactions as inappropriate for full-priced titles. The practice, introduced in 2017 with Assassin's Creed Origins, continues to be a point of contention, despite Ubisoft's assertions that these purchases are optional and cosmetic.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed concerns about the higher price of Switch 2, emphasizing that it offers a valuable gaming experience and that Nintendo is creating alternative ways for young children to engage with their characters and games outside of consoles, while also paying attention to the potential barrier the price may pose for younger gamers.
A large international study identified four psychological profiles of gamers—avoidant, engaged, relational, and dysregulated—each linked to different mental health and attachment patterns, highlighting the complex relationship between gaming behavior and psychological well-being, with implications for tailored clinical interventions.
Security researchers at FortiGuard Labs have identified a new malware threat, Winos4.0, targeting Windows gamers. This advanced malicious framework is hidden within gaming-related applications and allows hackers to take control of infected systems. The malware can gather sensitive information, including crypto wallet data and system details, by leveraging game-related applications to trick users into downloading it. FortiGuard advises gamers to download software only from trusted sources to avoid falling victim to these attacks.
4.5 million gamers worldwide have contributed to advancing biomedical research by playing a minigame within the video game Borderlands 3, helping to reconstruct microbial evolutionary histories and refine estimates of relationships among gut microbes. This collaboration has significantly improved our understanding of the microbiome and enhanced AI programs for future research. The project, led by McGill University researchers in collaboration with gaming company Gearbox Entertainment and MMOS, demonstrates the potential for leveraging video game technology to make substantial scientific advancements.
PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users are reporting being "permanently suspended" from their accounts and games without any apparent reason. Sony has yet to acknowledge the issue, but affected users can appeal the suspension on the PlayStation support page.
Doritos has developed a free app called Doritos Silent, in collaboration with Smooth Technology, that cancels out the sound of chewing on voice chats, Zoom calls, or any call that uses headphones. The app was primarily created for gamers who often snack while playing and find the noise of others chewing distracting. The software, trained on the sound of Doritos crunching, uses AI to separate voices from crunch sounds. Doritos conducted a survey and found that chips were the most bothersome noise while gaming. The company plans to expand the app to other devices in the future.
Microsoft is shutting down the Microsoft Xbox Rewards program in December, discontinuing the weekly reward quests on the console and shutting down the Microsoft Rewards app entirely on Xbox. This comes after a series of disappointments with the service, and while Microsoft claims activities will move to another 'Rewards' app, previous changes have resulted in fewer rewards. The closure of Xbox Rewards marks the end of many players' weekly streaks and a decline in available activities, raising concerns about the future of freebies for gamers.
The Supreme Court has denied a group of gamers' attempt to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. The gamers had filed for an emergency injunction, claiming that the merger would harm competition in the gaming market. The Ninth Circuit of Appeals had previously rejected their request. With this obstacle removed, Microsoft's main challenge now lies in the block imposed by the UK's CMA, while negotiations for a potential divestment and deadline extension with Activision Blizzard are ongoing.
Call of Duty players have sent pizzas to the game's developer, Activision, to protest a recent update to Modern Warfare 2 that left the game unplayable for some players. Petitions have also been started. The attached battle royale mode Warzone is one of the biggest games in the world, so it's likely that a patch is being worked on.
Deloitte's annual Digital Media Trends study shows that 45% of gamers surveyed want more games licensed from other screen properties. The study also found that 40% of Gen Z and Millenials socialize more via video games than in the physical world, and 49% of these age brackets feel better about their self-image in video games. Additionally, 73% said experiencing success in video games boosts their self-confidence.
Microsoft has responded to a re-filed lawsuit by a group of gamers against its $68.7bn Activision Blizzard acquisition, stating that the complaint contains "unsupported and implausible claims about the deal's effect on competition". The gamers' lawsuit aims to argue that the acquisition would limit output, reduce consumer choice, raise prices, and further inhibit competition. The original lawsuit was dismissed by a judge last month, but the gamers were allowed to re-file if fresh information were to be included.