Gait Games

The Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), established earlier this year in response to the contentious job reductions at the Grand Theft Auto 6 creator, has seen a notable increase in its membership. A recent video from People Make Games reports that the RGWU is actively pursuing voluntary acknowledgment from Rockstar Games. If Rockstar refuses, the union may seek statutory recognition due to its expanded membership, which could force the studio to recognize the union.

Upon recognition, the RGWU would rank as the second and largest video game union in the UK, overtaking the current largest, the union of ZA/UM, formed last October. Alex Marshall, president of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), to which RGWU belongs, disclosed that negotiations with Rockstar Games are ongoing. A preliminary meeting is expected soon, and the IWGB is ready to employ various strategies to obtain recognition if needed.

Marshall credited the RGWU’s increase in membership to a “chilling effect” following the dismissal of around 30 developers last year, rekindling interest in unionization among the studio’s staff. Rockstar has rejected allegations of union-busting, asserting it was unaware of union connections when it let go of employees under allegations of gross misconduct.

The repercussions of the layoffs have emerged as a major topic within the UK’s gaming sector, prompting protests at Take-Two’s offices and the issue has been brought to the attention of UK parliament. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the firings as “deeply concerning.”

The $55 billion leveraged buyout which will see Saudi Arabia, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner-founded investment firm Affinity Partners become the new owners of EA has been given the thumbs up by the European Commission. The body have ruled that the acquisition’s ok as far as the EU’s rules on mergers go, and that it doesn’t “raise competition concerns”.

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**Halo: Campaign Evolved Released Amid Technical Challenges**

*Halo: Campaign Evolved*, the highly awaited remake of the original 2001 game, has officially launched for those who bought the $70 Digital Premium Edition. Nevertheless, technical challenges have impacted the initial experience for numerous players, especially on Xbox and Steam platforms.

The early access period commenced on July 23, giving players a jump on the full release, planned for July 28. This limited access is aimed at the $50 standard edition owners and Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Unfortunately, many players encountered server and login complications that impeded gameplay, preventing them from accessing the game they were excited to play.

A considerable number of Game Pass users opting for the standalone $20 Premium Upgrade for early access encountered a notification stating that the game wasn’t available yet. Concurrently, Steam users faced booting issues, frequently needing to perform tedious actions to circumvent problems, like disabling bonus content such as the digital story and art book collection.

Community responses have been predominantly negative, with players voicing their dissatisfaction over being unable to play despite purchasing the upgraded editions. Tweets from users showcase a blend of disappointment and calls for improved recognition and solutions from the developers, with some seeking refunds due to the service interruptions.

The technical issues are not exclusive to *Halo: Campaign Evolved*. Xbox services experienced widespread problems affecting various games, including players attempting to participate in other titles, such as *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7*. Xbox Support acknowledged the situation and noted that their engineering teams were actively working on a fix.

Initial feedback from early players has indicated a problematic start, with complaints about server congestion and login errors dominating responses on the Steam platform. However, by mid-afternoon on July 23, Xbox Support revealed that the server challenges were being alleviated, showing progress in addressing the outages that affected many users.

In spite of the present technical hurdles, *Halo: Campaign Evolved* has created considerable excitement and continues to be a cherished franchise among its dedicated fanbase, eager to re-experience the iconic gaming sensation in a contemporary format. As developers strive to resolve these issues, players remain optimistic for a more seamless gaming experience in the days leading up to the full release.

Nvidia continues to be the top player in AI hardware, largely because of the impact of CUDA. Nevertheless, AMD claims that CUDA’s significance is waning as organizations shift towards programming at higher levels of abstraction, eliminating the necessity for CUDA. Andrew Dieckman at AMD remarks that conversations about CUDA with clients have decreased, underscoring the move to different frameworks. Nvidia’s supremacy is linked to CUDA’s incorporation into numerous AI tools and libraries, creating a hurdle for firms to transition. AMD contends this might not be as critical a competitive obstacle as it seems, with AI agents capable of optimizing without CUDA. If this pattern persists and AMD introduces affordable alternatives like ROCm, it could persuade AI firms to consider options beyond Nvidia. However, many companies may still stick with the reliable Nvidia framework, especially given the significant investments tied to AI data centers.

Four years ago, a developer called Jean Nguyen shared a short video on Dwitter of a spinosaurus pulling off a sick combo with Cloud Strife‘s Buster Sword. This, of course, blew up, but it wasn’t actually a game, just some animation work from the dev. And then, somewhere along the line, Nguyen decided to make it into an actual game. It’s now called Dinoblade, it’s out today, and it is jank and over top in exactly the right ways, and genuinely a rip roaring time.

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### Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Investigating the Memory Erasure and Its Ramifications

Later this month, the eagerly awaited MCU movie *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* is set to release in theaters. Following the intense finale of *Spider-Man: No Way Home*, where Peter Parker encounters an extraordinary scenario of being wiped from the memories of nearly everyone on Earth, fans are left grappling with significant queries regarding the repercussions of Doctor Strange’s memory-altering spell. Will pictures of Peter Parker still be around? What becomes of references to him in various forms of media? Director Destin Daniel Cretton tackled these compelling inquiries in a recent discussion.

In a dialogue with *IndieWire*, Cretton expanded on his partnership with actor Tom Holland and how he moved into directing *Brand New Day* after the cancellation of his intended *Avengers* film. Given the intricate premise, conversations about the “rules” surrounding the memory erasure became unavoidable. Nonetheless, Cretton openly stated, “We did have way too many conversations about how it works… And I honestly don’t think it fully matters. But the movie does adhere to some strict guidelines.”

When pressed for details concerning those guidelines, Cretton opted to remain ambiguous but verified that they had deliberated whether Parker’s likeness would still be found in his high school yearbook. His reply was revealing: “We believe… gosh, we went back and forth. But we believe no.” This raises numerous questions about the existence of pictures and records involving Peter Parker. When probed further about the status of visuals that feature him, he mentioned he lacked a definitive answer, resulting in the choice to avoid displaying old images in the film.

“The reason why you don’t see any photos in our movie. Because I don’t fully know how to answer that,” Cretton shared. He underscored that the film’s storyline revolves around the memory erasure of individuals’ minds rather than any significant alterations of time itself. However, the director confessed that the details of what occurs to printed materials and names are outside his understanding: “What happens to print or names? I can’t even start.”

Cretton’s perspective emphasizes a refreshing transparency regarding the complexities of comic book narratives. Instead of vaguely implying that viewers should simply wait and observe, he recognized the complicated nature of such plots, admitting the possibility of bewilderment if examined too closely. His emphasis remained squarely on making sure the characters were not encumbered by esoteric issues unrelated to the film’s narrative.

*Spider-Man: Brand New Day* is set to explore the ramifications of Peter Parker’s newly found anonymity while dealing with the challenging implications of a world forgetting his identity. Scheduled for debut on July 31, audiences can look forward to a new chapter in the Spider-Man saga that harmonizes the known with the unexpected.

Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is the kind of unwholesomely large real-time strategy game where you keep accidentally auto-constructing 50 missile trucks because you were preoccupied with (e.g.) a massive spiderbot offensive on the other side of an ocean. Those things breed like rabbits! Still, easy come, easy go: simply charge your 50 superfluous missile trucks into the nearest line of energy domes, and watch as they, the enemy, and everybody we have ever loved disintegrates in about 20 seconds.

Shattered Sun does reward micromanagement – “every projectile is simulated”, the devs proclaim, which means you can dance your tanks away from incoming shells – and also encourages resource efficiency, with a “flow-based economy” that hinges on access to generators and alloy extraction sites. But going by my hour with the demo, it more immediately rewards the act of scooping together a continent-sized deathball and rolling it through the nearest pocket of red on your map.

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### Xbox Initiates Limited Testing for Free Game Streaming with Ads

Xbox has formally commenced a limited testing program aimed at Xbox Insiders, investigating ad-supported, no-cost game streaming options with select titles. This initiative allows participants to stream games they already possess from their library free of charge, for an hour, on various streaming-compatible devices, including Xbox consoles, compatible televisions, PCs, and mobile devices.

#### Advertising Integration and Streaming Experience

During the first hour of gameplay, users will be presented with advertisements prior to the start of their streaming session. Importantly, these ads will not interfere with the gameplay itself, offering a smoother experience. As reported by *The Hollywood Reporter*, the ad breaks will accumulate to “up to two” minutes, and players will have the opportunity to prolong their gaming time beyond the initial hour by viewing additional ads. This model reflects the advantages already accessible to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, now provided at no cost to those enrolled in the Xbox Insider program.

#### Xbox’s Motivation Behind the Program

In a communication published on Xbox Wire, the company clarifies its motivation for this ad-centric approach, emphasizing that while advertising in gaming is not a novel concept, it has frequently lacked a focus on players. Xbox seeks to enhance the advertising experience, creating an avenue for individuals who might not otherwise have the means to access streaming games, thereby improving accessibility.

To guarantee a favorable user experience, Xbox has outlined six guiding principles for the advertisements within this new framework:

1. Prioritize the player by ensuring ads provide value.
2. Prevent interruptions to the gameplay experience.
3. Uphold high-quality standards for ad content, aligned with Xbox’s own offerings.
4. Clearly differentiate what constitutes advertising.
5. Align ads with player expectations on each respective platform.
6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the test and adjust based on player input, ultimately seeking to deliver more affordable gaming access.

#### Industry Perspectives and Doubts

Considering the current path of Xbox and the wider gaming industry, there exists a sense of skepticism regarding this initiative. Xbox has allegedly been planning this strategy since at least last year, drawing inspiration from other service organizations such as Netflix that have adopted economical, ad-supported subscription models. Given previous experiences with ad quality and placement in different sectors, it raises concerns about how effectively Xbox can uphold its commitments to value-driven advertising.

#### Conclusion

As the testing continues, players will observe how Xbox’s ad placements develop and adapt. The company’s methodology could potentially influence the future of gaming accessibility, depending on the equilibrium between user experience and advertising efficacy. Only time will determine the reception and viability of this groundbreaking endeavor in the gaming world.

The recently formed Rockstar developer union – officially the Rockstar Games Workers Union – have had their first meeting with management at the GTA 6 maker, whom they’re still seeking voluntary recognition from. The union, who’re part of the wider Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), have called this first meeting “a step in the right direction” and that they’ve secured “a roadmap for a speedy negotiation process”.

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There is considerable discussion regarding the “optimal” method of viewing *The Odyssey*, particularly since Christopher Nolan’s epic was filmed for 70mm IMAX displays. Nevertheless, one option frequently criticized is 4DX, especially considering it is a three-hour film. Although 4DX seeks to provide a more immersive experience through motion seats and environmental features, like water sprays during ocean scenes, it can quickly overwhelm audiences.

For those who are not acquainted with 4DX, the format amplifies film watching by integrating effects that imitation sensations from the movie, such as movement, breeze, and aromas. In the case of *The Odyssey*, which depicts an extensive journey across perilous waters, the 4DX experience might intensify feelings of motion sickness, as viewers are jostled in their seats and sprayed with water, transforming a lengthy film into what feels more like an extended amusement park attraction.

Viewer reviews and responses have varied, with some enjoying the experience as a fresh idea, while others, including Variety’s Matt Minton, found it challenging to sit through the entire duration. He mentioned that, even though he can manage roller coasters, the continuous motion throughout the film became unpleasant, prompting him to leave halfway. Many other participants conveyed similar views on social networks, articulating their unease or thrill about the distinctive format.

While the immersive features of 4DX can offer an amusing novelty, for a lot of people, it might not represent the best way to enjoy a lengthy, intricately woven film. The sensations provided might detract from the storytelling aspect of the film, causing some viewers to ponder if they would rather experience a classic viewing method.

In contrast, the experiences relayed by those who attended regular screenings of *The Odyssey* reflect a sense of contentment with the film, free of any overwhelming effects. As the demand for IMAX screenings rises, audiences are evaluating their choices, balancing the discomfort of sitting in contorted positions in the front row against the alternative of a tumultuous, effects-heavy experience in 4DX. Ultimately, individual taste plays a crucial role in defining the most suitable viewing approach for this cinematic adventure.