News
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight Will Exclusively Use Gender-Neutral Language
World of Warcraft seems an immortal yet evolving game, and the next massive expansion, Dragonflight, directs its evolution in a logical yet a bit unexpected way. The character generator, as the developer emphasizes, will not use gendered language when it comes to characterization. At least, in the beginning, later, things will get more interesting.
The alpha version of the expansion, already available to reviewers, features no gender characteristics when it comes to character creating. Instead of “Male” and “Female” options, you will choose between “Body 1” and “Body 2”. In fact, these numbered bodies are the same as they used to be under gendered names. The change mostly concerns words used in descriptions.
Slight as it is, this change allows for creating a character that does not conform to any gender (though, of course, there is an opportunity to create an obviously male or female personality). Even more than that: so far, the generator does not allow characters to have both beard or mustache and female breasts (sorry, Lil Nas X). This is just the first step to gender neutrality that will be developed further. Even the current code suggests that later players will be free to choose their preferred pronouns. The options are standard: he/him, she/her, and they/them. This, though, will appear in the expansion later.
This is not the most important new addition in Dragonflight in terms of gameplay (playable dragons or professional system updates will certainly excite most players much more). But this paradigm shift will certainly make nonbinary, transgender, or just nonconformist players feel more comfortable in this environment.
What do you think about this addition? What else do you expect from Dragonfly after it evolves from alpha? We’d like to read your opinion in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
25 07 2022
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News
Twitter Blue Subscribers Will Get Their Accounts More Customizable
If you needed one more reason to become a Twitter Blue subscriber, here it is. Now the subscribers can remove the Spaces button in case they don’t actually use it (which is the case for many Twitterians). The navigation bar at all is now also way more customizable. This applies to both iOS and Android mobile apps, and this isn’t the only improvement in your experience.
Twitter Spaces, a Clubhouse-like audio room feature, is great… if you ever use it. For many text-oriented Twitter users, Spaces is just another addition that’s good to know you have, but the button for which only stands in the way of more demanded features.
Now, Twitter Blue subscribers have more options in customizing the navigation bar in their apps. If you’re not a fan of Spaces, you can just hide the button and forget such a service exists (unless there is some active Spaces event by one of those you follow, which will still be visible on the banner above).
Other buttons can be removed as well. By no means does this exclude the tabs themselves from the app or the features from your account. You still can access your alerts and DMs even if you remove the buttons from the bar. And of course, everything remains accessible in the web version or via third-party apps if you ever feel like exploring Spaces or checking your DM just one time.
The banner above may be the last reminder that Twitter Spaces exists at all. Yet it becomes way more informative. Now it displays the information about who’s hosting the event, who’s tweeting about it or within it, and the topics it revolves around. Maybe you will one day find Spaces interesting enough to return the button where it was. Or at least Twitter hopes so.
Do you ever use Twitter Spaces? Is this customization option a reason to become a Twitter Blue subscriber? Is it worth the price for you? Let us know what you think about it in the comments!
Ava Reynolds
08 07 2022
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News
No More Party Events on Airbnb
No secret that Airbnb is used not only for room rental but for other purposes as well, though these features aren’t what the service was made for. One of these uses was party advertising. It was now Airbnb announced it bans these events. The violators can have their accounts deleted without any chance of recovering.
The ban on events was emphasized in 2020 when COVID-19 struck. The complicated relationship between Airbnb and event managers can be tracked further, for example, down to the 2019 shooting in California that claimed five lives. Even then, though, property owners were, at the end, free to provide their properties for parties. What turned out to be an efficient measure in 2020 now becomes a permanent policy by Airbnb.
The company acknowledges it directly by calling party prohibition “a bedrock community policy”. This attitude grew tighter when undercover parties were massively helped in private places under the lockdowns caused by COVID-19. Now it finds its embodiment in the new stricter rules that rule out any Airbnb mediation in any private or public events. Having the ban, as a rule, the company representatives say, works better than a temporary ban that seemingly can be lifted at any minute.
What shall the company do to an event holder or advertiser if such blatant behavior is detected? The rules allow for various measures, from temporary account suspensions to complete deletion of them, without any chance of recovery. According to Airbnb, in 2021, over 6,600 users were suspended for violating this exact rule.
Do you agree that Airbnb is no place for advertising parties? Have any participated in an event organized like this? As a property owner, have you ever been annoyed by using your place for a party, or did you rather benefit from it? Welcome to the comments; let us know what you think!
Ethan Blackstone
08 07 2022
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News
Adobe Comes Up with Metaverse Creation Tools
While everybody is crazily rushing to get on board as the Metaverse train is accelerating, Adobe already has something in store to stay related and relevant in the Metaverse-obsessed world. The tool the Photoshop maker offers for creating Metaverse destinations will be useful not only within the VR environment by Meta but in other Metaverses as well.
Adobe Substance 3D is an environment editor developed for this specific purpose, and it’s already here. The core tool Substance 3D was introduced by Allegorithmic no later than in 2007 and acquired by Adobe in 2019. But with the recent update, it becomes much more suitable for creating virtual environments where Metaverse users (or rather their avatars) can meet, interact, and communicate. It’s also rebranded into Adobe Substance 3D, while the old version has become unavailable since September 30.
The tool has been extremely popular among, for example, game designers who used it for creating environments. With the new update, though, it becomes more VR-oriented. Also, its integration with other Adobe products reaches a new level: now Substance 3D can be used with, say, Photoshop and Illustrator via a dedicated plugin.
Arguably the most important addition is the introduction of Substance SDK. With this tool, third-party developers will be able to create their plugins and expand the functionality of the core application. With this SDK, the Substance 3D engine can also be run within other applications. Later, Adobe plans to add even more features and again rebrand it into Substance Modeler 3D, emphasizing its primary function from then on.
What do you think about the perspectives of this project? Will Substance 3D Modeler become the Photoshop of the Metaverse generation? Are you already planning to master it? If you have an idea or two to share about it, share it in the comments if you please!
Ava Reynolds
28 06 2022
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News
Snapchat Reportedly Start Internal Testing for Premium Subscription
Every messenger wants a premium plan now. First, it was officially launched by Telegram, and now we learn that Snapchat also may be testing its premium plan. Reportedly dubbed Snapchat+, it will offer new possibilities for creating content. Some non-functional but pleasant to have bonuses also come with it, adding to the impression.
The news was first delivered by Alessandro Paluzzi, a well-known app researcher, on his Twitter page. According to Paluzzi, Snapchat has indeed been testing subscription-based features. He even disclosed the supposed pricing: €4.59/month, €24.99 for six months, and €45.99 for the yearly subscription. This is about the same as the price of Telegram Premium.
Then the plans were confirmed by Liz Markman, the Snap spokesperson – it doesn’t get more official than that. According to Liz Markman, the new plan is under internal testing, and soon it may be announced officially. She did not disclose any details of what Snapchat+ will offer, but the leaks have brought out at least a part of these features.
Snapchat+ users will have a special badge next to their names, marking them as such. They will also be able to use special icons for their contacts and pin one of them, probably the most trusted one (#1 BFF, oh what status to have on somebody’s contact list!) Also, Snapchat may let its Plus users see who rewatches their stories.
A more important selling point, though, is early access to new and experimental features. It’s not known yet for how long these features (which Snapchat constantly adds) will remain Plus exclusives. Neither is it clear whether any of them will remain Plus-only forever.
Does it sound convincing for you to subscribe as soon as it’s available? What other features would you like to see in Snapchat+ that would be worth the price? Will the free version of the app heavily lack these advantages? Tell us what you think about it in the comments if you please!
Ethan Blackstone
28 06 2022
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News
Meta Works on the “Basic Ads” Plan to Comply with New Privacy Policies
Everyone seems to know that Facebook has built its success on advanced targeting which made ads on it more relevant. But how can it go without it, forced by regulations and privacy obsession? The answer is called “Basic Ads”, and it seems to be the version of Facebook advertising that (as Meta puts it) does not use too advanced targeting technologies that come close to stalking.
The new product for marketers is advertised as “privacy-friendly”, the term that sounds contradictory as it refers to ads. But Meta seems to come up with the best of both worlds: the users get their privacy intact, and the marketers still may get the right audience. How will it function?
Well, it’s secret so far, but we know what it’s supposed not to do. According to the article by Business Insider, Facebook wants to develop a method of marketing that does not use any personal data from users even in the anonymized form that’s been so hyped about recently. The name of the new plan is “Basic Ads”, and it only uses the basic metrics like video views and overall engagement.
This will, in theory, motivate marketers to develop the new approach that makes their ads more engaging (read: viral), so the more engagement the ad generates, the easier it is for it to reach the audience. The price will vary too, though not too much. The main change Basic Ads will bring is shifting the focus to general brand awareness rather than specific products targeted to narrower audience.
The effect of these campaigns may be lower than that of those using targeting heavily. But this seems to be the most adequate response to the new policies around, like, say, Apple ATT update which allows users not to be tracked by apps they install on their iPhones and iPads. So, while lesser efficiency is recompensed by wider approach and reviewed strategies, it has a chance to succeed.
What do you think of this new product? If you are a marketer or an advertiser, how do you expect to use it relevantly? If you are just a user, don’t you think it will bring lots of unrelated ads to your feed? Let’s speak about it in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
20 06 2022
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News
Cuphead’s New Look Revealed at Summer Game Fest
Cuphead and Mugman really rock this year. Not only do they star in The Cuphead’s Show! animated series on Netflix. After four years of success, the protagonist of the show has received a new fashionable look. Now we only have to wait while the extension that features the new Cuphead and some new adventures is on the way, set to release on June 30.
The original game took the gaming community by surprise. Its design inspired by the 1930s’ cartoons (and remaking it better than any other), the charmingly absurd setting and storyline, and the gameplay which is both rewarding and frustrating (just the way a good run-and-gun should be) – everything was just fine. More than that: The Cuphead Show, an animated series made in collaboration with the original game creators, showed that the entire style of the game can be transferred to another type of media. Look and learn, Warcraft and Pac-Man!
The DLC named Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is set to release this year. Not only will it feature the renovated protagonist. There is also a new playable character named Ms. Chalice you can unlock. And, of course, a new location – an island full of challenges and incredibly hard (as usual, you know) tasks to complete. The Devil is still after the protagonists, and you cannot simply dismiss it… if you have played the game at least once.
But what about the new Cuphead look? Oh, it was revealed at the Summer Game Fest which starts on June 9. Not only did we finally get to see Ms. Chalice: the fragment of the gameplay revealed at the fest shows that the DLC (which stands for Delicious Last Course, in case you missed the point) is in fact a full game inside Cuphead. And yes, it’s quite a challenge, but if Cuphead can, so can you.
Are you a Cuphead fan? Are you already anticipating the DLC? Have you added it to your wishlist? What do you love about Cuphead the most? Tell it in the comments if you please!
Ava Reynolds
20 06 2022
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News
Netflix Pays the Italian Authorities Almost $60M to Settle the Tax Dispute
As digital business goes international, legal conflicts are inevitable. So it happened to Netflix which recently faced allegations of tax evasion in Italy. It cost the company about 55.8 M EUR (about $60M) to reach an agreement with Italian authorities. In addition, Netflix now has a local office in Rome with about 40 employees to operate legally.
The reason for the allegation was the fact that Netflix has been using Italian digital infrastructure to deliver its services to subscribers and thus has been subject to the Italian tax code. The case was initiated by Milan prosecutors who reasoned that, while Netflix had been using Italian physical communication means (like cables and data centers), it should have paid taxes in Italy.
Probably the amount in question had been much higher before the issue was settled. The prosecutors in their statement didn’t drop any names, referring to some “multinational video-on-demand streaming company” instead. Netflix, though, confirmed the fact in its own statement a bit later.
Netflix isn’t the only international corporation that Italian prosecutors took to the court for tax evasion. Similar settlements have been reached with Amazon, Apple, and Facebook, and the amounts were much larger than that paid by Netflix, being in the billions.
From now on, though, Netflix operates legally in Italian jurisdiction, its office in Rome granting that. By the way, since 2017, Netflix has been making shows in Italy, including popular ones like The Trial, Black Moon, Suburra: Blood on Rome, and Generation 56K. Italy has rich traditions of cinema and TV shows, but Netflix still brought something new there: for example, Luna Nera was made almost entirely by women, which was new for Italian traditions.
What do you think about this settlement? Are local laws ready to handle international business as efficiently as they do locally? Let us know what you think about it in the comments.
Ethan Blackstone
25 05 2022
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News
Disney Promises There’ll Be No More Than 4 Minutes of Ads an Hour
To make its plans more attractive for those who think $8/month is too much for Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and the original Disney classics, Disney+ introduces new ad-supported plans. More affordable than the default one, it will feature ads periodically. And Disney assures us there won’t be too much time spent on ads in your streams.
According to the statement made by some Disney executives, the service will not show more than 4 minutes of ads per hour. This is a rather modest ratio. For example, Hulu easily doubles that number with its own ad-supported plan. If Disney offers you such a bundle, you’ll be able to subscribe to both and then compare the experience. Even if not, though, it can make a lot of people consider subscribing and joining the 137-million ranks of Disney+ users which has recently shown serious growth.
Little is known so far about when, where, and how much. Disney only states that ad-supported plans will be launched in the U.S. later in 2022, and if the experiment is a success, they will continue with it in other markets too, probably in 2023. As for the price, hardly will it be above $5/month: otherwise, it just wouldn’t be worth it. Still, you can’t expect it to be completely free as well.
Last but not least: movies, cartoons, and series for kids will not feature ads at all. How does Disney detect who’s watching? By the profile type. Within family subscriptions, kids’ accounts will remain ad-free, but with limited content (which Disney+ has in abundance). But if you want to watch something more adult, including even Marvel and Lucasfilm, works, they will be ad-supported. Even among content for grown-ups, though, alcohol and politics will not be advertised.
Are you interested in an ad-supported plan for Disney+? How much should it cost to make sense for you? What do you think about similar plans by, say, Hulu (that’s owned by Disney too)? Let us know your opinion in the comments if you please!
Ethan Blackstone
23 05 2022
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News
GTA 6 Trailer: Now Yet Shown, But So Much Rumored about
Officially, little is known about the upcoming GTA VI (except for it’s neither cancelled nor postponed). But more and more leaks are spreading around these days, and some of the leakers even call the dates. According to some of them, the official trailer of GTA 6 will be available to the wide audience on May 13 – that is, sooner than anyone might expect.
The information that circulates through the web has it that Rockstar really is all up for the new game. In April, it was said that Rockstar has already tested and perfected its new proprietary engine that will power, for example. GTA 6. Another leak
The loudest of all hints and announcements, though, was made by some Krypto9095, a Twitter user that has millions of subscribers, including the official one by Rockstar. According to Krypto9095’s tweet from May 6, “GTA 6 is coming”. And many other sources (like, for example, GTA 6 NEWS & LEAKS) cite the tweet as one coming from a trustworthy source.
The most interesting of all the rumors about GTA 6 says that on May 13, the official trailer will finally pop up. The trailer will contain some footage of real gameplay, as they say. At the same time, according to another leak that refers to a presentation possibly assembled for investors, the game is due to arrive in the late 2024. IMDB says it’s 2025, but it’s already being refuted by GTA 6 NEWS & LEAKS.
It’s okay for rumors to pop up, spread, be refuted by their initiators or just by time. The official accounts by Rockstar and GTA so far remain silent about the upcoming game. What we can logically assume is that the game will really be powered by a new engine (simply because the previous installment looks way too dated), and it may take years to complete the game to any playable condition.
What do you hope to see in the next GTA installment? Do you expect any official info to appear this year at all? If you have something to say, share it in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
11 05 2022
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News
Google Assistant to Roll Out Password Autoupdater Wider
Do you find it annoying to manually change passwords each time you’re notified they have been compromised? If you do, Google has some good news for you. Google Assistant is now able to automate the process – to some extent. Given how delicate a matter it is, you’ll still be at the helm, but with much less hassle.
The idea of the update is simple. Not only does Google now tell you which of the passwords saved in your account are compromised and need replacement. It also leads you through this process with a master. As you are notified about the risk, the option pops out that offers you to “let Google Assistant help you change your password”. Passwords that can be changed with Google Assistant will appear on the list with a small icon of the service.
How does the process look? If you opt for assistance, Google will take you right to the password change pages of all the sites that require the change. You can agree to use secure passwords made up by Chrome password manager or invent your own. Anyway, you won’t have to go through endless authorization while you can be redirected right where you want to be to change the password.
This didn’t come out of the blue: the first announces of this password changing assistance date back to Google I/O 2021. It’s said and done now; in the heart of this ease lies the Duplex on the Web technology by Google developed to automatize recurring tasks. The routine parts of the process are assigned to the AI; the human only has to do the most creative part or make decisions, like, say, agree to use a machine-generated password or invent something unique.
Have you often run into issues with your passwords that get compromised and leak on the web? Do you change them manually? Do you find Google Assistant a substantial help for that? Let us know what you think in the comments; just don’t leave your passwords even as examples!
Ethan Blackstone
09 05 2022
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News
Mobile Puzzle Fans Spend 4% More Money in 2022
The mobile gaming industry is faring better and better now, with its revenue far ahead of that of consoles and PC combined. And what games do players prefer to spend their money at? While every genre has its cash grabbers, puzzle games are prominent as the leader of casual gaming, and in 2022, people are ready to spend even more on them.
How much do you think these puzzle games made from April 21 to March 22? The answer is about 5 billion dollars, and it’s 4% (that is, $200M) more than the previous year. These games mostly utilize a free-to-play model, so players can enjoy all the levels for free, but can accelerate their playthrough by buying extra lives, powerups, and stuff. Each microtransaction is small, but together they form a ginormous cash waterfall.
The leaderboard of this branch, at least, in the USA, is surprisingly conservative. Two of the top 3 games in this class are famous puzzles by King, namely Candy Crush Saga (who said it looked obsolete in Emoji Movie, back in 2017?) and Candy Crush Soda Saga. Between them, the silver medal goes to Homescapes, a heavily advertised game by Playrix that provides a rather diverse yet easy gameplay. Among other games, one can name Angry Birds Blast, a Match-3 by Rovio, Royal Match, a Match-3 game combining diverse modes and involving setting, and Zen Match.
At the same time, the number of downloads decreased, but there is no contradiction. The games are available for free, and many users start paying only when they reach a certain difficulty level. Many do it in months or even years after they downloaded the game and started playing.
Have you ever bought any content in mobile puzzles? Did it help you through a frustratingly difficult level? How often do you make such purchases? Tell us about how it’s going with your mobile puzzles in the comments! And drop some of your favorite names!
Ethan Blackstone
27 04 2022
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News
Halo Infinite to Launch Co-Op Campaign in August
The most common complaint about Halo: Infinite was the lack of a co-op campaign. How soon will the developers address it? No sooner than in August 2022, the publisher says. It means players will have to wait longer than until the new season begins.
Cooperative play was one of the most anticipated things about Halo Infinite. Despite the first disappointment about its absence in the original versions, players were ready to wait until Season 2 starts online on May 3. This isn’t going to happen because of development delays.
343 explains these delays by ongoing COVID-19 issues. According to the roadmap published by it, the company is still not completely sure about the upcoming events and updates. While Season 2 will definitely start on May 3, other new features are not so precisely scheduled. It’s not clear, for example, when Season 2 will end, and, consequently, when to expect Season 3 to start. Another tool in production that surely isn’t going to arrive soon is the Forge, the editor for maps and campaigns that may help in solving the problem with insufficient content.
In August, the publisher is going to launch the online co-op mode, but there is more to it. At some unspecified time later, 343 will also roll out split-screen co-op mode, allowing you to play on the same screen with your friend. So make sure you have a really big TV and at least a couple of gamepads.
Before these updates arrive, though, you can spend your time ranting about the Paramount+ Halo series and how it contradicts the canon. Forget the fact it wasn’t designed to be a part of the canon, but rather an inspired-by. Did you imagine Master Chief’s face like this? Oh, when the multiplayer arrives, you will have much more to discuss.
Are you one of those disappointed with Halo Infinite? DO you think the multiplayer will finally make the experience more satisfying? What else can you tell me about this game? Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
25 04 2022
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News
The Witcher 3 for Next-Gen Delayed, But Not for Long, CDPR States
If you still love the Witcher 3 (like we do) but the game of 2015 looks a bit obsolete to you, probably you are anticipating the next-gen update for your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S/X to show its potential on one of the best RPG ever. Alas, you will have to wait a little more. As CD Projekt RED states, the game will arrive soon, but still later than announced.
The reason for this move is, according to the previous statements, the necessity to move the development to the home office. Previously, the next-game update had been the responsibility of Saber Interactive, a studio located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Yet after the Russian invasion in Ukraine had started, CDPR was among the first game developers that articulated their attitude. Along with donating $1M to Ukraine, it suspended sales in Russia and Belarus and stopped working with Russian developers.
This was probably the the primary cause, though a CDPR spokesperson Karolina Gnaś didn’t confirm it straight up. Still, it looks like this was the case, given that it was Saber Interactive that ported The Witcher 3 to Nintendo Switch. Now probably the transition is on the way, and there is no clear notion when it will be complete.
Yet another representative of CDPR, SVP of business development Michał Nowakowski, says it’s not all so bad. Not that the next-gen update is delayed indefinitely; though he didn’t name even the approximate release time either, he said that players won’t have to wait until, say, summer of 2023. The update will arrive much sooner. Again, there will be no new content, but the visuals and the performance will be upgraded to match the abilities of the next-gen hardware.
Do you anticipate the next-gen version of this iconic RPG? How many times did you play it, and how many different endings you came to? Will you replay it on the new visual level? Tell us what you think in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
20 04 2022
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News
WhatsApp to Finally Bring in Emoji Reactions
Now, emoji reactions are officially coming to WhatsApp. Long-awaited and spotted in the beta versions, now this fast way to react to the messages you receive is announced. When the update arrives, you will be able to send a loving, laughing, or just approving emoji to react to your friend’s message instead of a text reply.
On April 14, the post on the official WhatsApp blog announced introduction of emoji reactions. You have probably seen them on Facebook and Messenger and something similar in Instagram/Facebook stories. Instead of typing words in response to the message that doesn’t require discussion but does require some response, you can leave a reaction under it. The emoji reactions will be available right after the official launch (the date isn’t specified so far). You will be able to react with emoji in both private and group chats.
What emoji does WhatsApp introduce? The initial set only includes six pics to express your attitude towards messages. They are: Thumb up, Love, Laugh, Wow, Cry, and Thanks. No thumb down, no puke or poo, like in Telegram: all of them are positive so far, the one with a tear being the only one to show compassion rather than frustration or disagreement. Probably, that was made intendedly, to cut the possibilities of cyberbullying or harassment on WhatsApp.
Emoji reactions don’t render words very unnecessary, and the original set of them doesn’t let you express all you ever wanted. Nevertheless, they will save you a lot of time. And those you speak to will also be glad to see you don’t ignore their messages even if you don’t have time to reply or just don’t know what to add.
Do you use emoji reaction on Facebook or in other messengers? Do you think six are enough, or would you like to have more? Tell us what you think about it in the comments (which don’t support emoji reactions… yet).
Ethan Blackstone
18 04 2022
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News
Catch Your Chance to Play CoD: Vanguard for Free
You can play Call of Duty: Vanguard for free, and that is not a joke. Of course, Activision will not allow full access for any gamers, but you are welcome to check out the new Multiplayer content that will be coming out shortly. For two weeks, you can visit fan favorites maps and try your luck in a battle against other players. Be sure to see everything that’s available, as time can fly by.
Now, more into details: you will have an opportunity to play on new maps – Gondola and Casablanca, which have been largely expected in the CoD community. Moreover, fans can take the challenge in a new large-map objective mode, where you and your team will need to hold points and try to capture those of your enemies. Traveling around will be your main objective, as time is the most valuable resource out there.
In addition, fan favorites Shipment and Das Haus will make an appearance during this two-week event. Players will have a lot of time to check out other maps and playlists, looking themselves at everything the game can offer.
Don’t forget to use this opportunity, as the Multiplayer event will end on April 13. Activision might’ve decided to start the so-called sale in order to attract more players, and now they can have a taste of what they can expect from the game. After the event ends, you can buy the game for your PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. The game supports high-resolution quality, and the Multiplayer mode gets a lot of updates to keep the player entertained.
We will see what more we can expect from the company. For now, we are sure that CoD: Vanguard will probably get a wave of players and maybe even future buyers.
Would you like to try out Call of Duty: Vanguard for yourself? Why do you think Activision allowed free two weeks? Please, share your ideas in the comments below.
Ava Reynolds
15 04 2022
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News
Fortnite to Bring the MK-Seven AR Back
After the recent Unvaulting Battle, Fortnite might bring back one of its most iconic assault rifles back. As you have read in the headline, it’s MK-Seven AR, one of the most popular and time-tested assault rifles in the game. Many veterans of the game will heartily welcome its comeback.
This weapon remained popular even despite its nerfing in Chapter 3, and its removal, though contingent given Epic’s approach to weapon rotation, upset numerous players that listed it among their favorites. Now, it’s about to return, though probably inn its nerfed version. This weapon did an equally good job regardless of the distance, dealing serious damage.
The return of this AR, though, was possible under a new initiative that will influence the game even stronger. Unvaulting Battles where players vote for one of two (or maybe more) items they want to see back in the game are probably to become a regular practice. For it, the game introduced Funding Stations, also known as Donating Stations. The name is telling: to vote which weapon to unvault, players would have to pay in Gold Bars, so The Seven can fulfill one of the initiatives they offer.
Funding Stations were welcomed by most players, but they were soon disabled because of technical issues. The latest voting campaign allowed players to choose between two weapons to unvault: MK-Seven AR or Combat Assault Rifle, also popular among players. The MK-Seven AR was the winner. It’s not clear yet, though, when it will become available again and for how long, as well as when the next Unvaulting Battle is to begin and what options it is to offer.
Have you voted at Funding Stations, and if so, was it your choice that won? What do you think about the concept of Funding Stations? And, as we touch this matter, what’s your favorite weapon on Fortnite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Ethan Blackstone
13 04 2022
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News
Google Sets Up the Rules for Apps that Can Install More Apps
Does Google Play support other market apps? The most obvious answer is no, but it’s not that simple, because some apps still can install other apps. Now, Google is to address this possibility with setting up rules for the apps that have this feature.
Indeed, an app does not have to be a store to try to install other apps. And these attempts can be successful if the user has enabled this option and given its permission to the app. But Google also has its leverages in this zone of freedom and vague responsibility. This approach materialized in the April 2022 Developers Program Policy Update that addresses this matter in certain regulations.
When can now developers enable their apps to install other apps on users’ devices? The new policy has it covered. Now apps can only feature this ability if enabling users to install app packages or transferring them is included into their core functionality. How should be understood? Does this imply that third-party app stores are allowed on Google Play?
The explanation is not that broad, though. Among the apps that have their legal right to install other apps, Google names file browsers, web browsers, messengers that can share files, or apps for enterprise device management. They can be legally used to access APK’s from local or remote sources. The ability to install apps not from Google Play remains one of the staples for Android.
What does it mean for app developers? If they use third-party modules, they need to check whether they add this permission. This also goes out to ad networks that are crucial for monetizing free apps. If such a module is used by the app, the developer should declare this permission, both for Google play moderators and for end users.
Do you often install apps from downloaded APK files? Have they ever turned out dangerous or just unwanted? Do you welcome this addition by Google? Tell us what you think about it in the comments if you please!
Ethan Blackstone
11 04 2022