Splitgate studio reveals its new game, looks a lot like its old game

Civ 7’s massive overhaul update brings its highest Steam player count in over a year

This week marks the culmination of Civilization 7’s yearlong attempt at a post-launch redemption arc, as Firaxis has released its Test of Time update, a free patch the studio has called an expansion-sized overhaul. Alongside the much-requested option to play as the same civilization between age transitions, Test of Time reworks victory conditions, adds systems…

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Valve asks New York court to dismiss Counter-Strike lawsuit, says ‘people enjoy surprises’ and equating loot boxes to gambling is ‘nonsensical’

Valve has moved to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, in February this year, which argues that “children and adults alike illegally gamble for the chance to win virtual prizes” in Counter-Strike 2. Some of the arguments that Valve brings forward in its motion are familiar: this isn’t the…

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Embark busts 9 myths about Arc Raiders’ aggression-based matchmaking, and says defending yourself is no longer a hostile action

Are PvE-only lobbies a thing in Arc Raiders? Will one measly kill mark me as a hostile player in future matches? These are questions Embark tackles head-on in a new matchmaking-focused blog post. This is by far the most the developer has spoken in detail about its unique aggression-based matchmaking system since we first learned…

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007 First Light’s James Bond (probably) won’t be a sexist, misogynist dinosaur: ‘Some things fall by the wayside,’ IO Interactive says

James Bond, the dashing 007 of British intelligence, is famous for his way with the ladies: smooth, casual, kind of misogynistic sometimes. If you’ve watched any of the pre-Daniel Craig movies, you know what I mean. The womenfolk in the films tend to be treated a bit like furniture from Ikea: Nice to look at…

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An AI speaker messed up and skipped the names of students at a college commencement ceremony and yes, there were many boos

Well, it’s been a hell of a few weeks for AI interfering with educational ceremonies, after two speakers at separate events (including ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt) were roundly booed for calling it the future. This instance, though, is slightly different. @nowthisimpact You can hear the outrage. ♬ original sound – NowThis Impact Glendale Community College…

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