All eight Spider-Man live-action movies are returning to theaters this spring, in a series Sony is calling Spider-Mondays . We’ve updated and reposted this essay on Spider-Man’s best movie arc in conjunction with the re-release.
19.04.2024 - 00:03 / engadget.com / Kris Holt
Like many other multiplayer games, Overwatch 2isn't immune from cheaters. And it's not only an issue on PC, where cheaters use tools like aimbots. Some folks use XIM devices so they can play with a keyboard and mouse (KBM) on consoles. This is against Blizzard's rules, as KBM players typically have an aim advantage over those who use a controller, even though the console versions of the game have features like aim assist. While it's taken some time to get the ball rolling, the developer is finally doing something about the XIM problem.
XIM devices trick consoles into believing that KBM users are playing with a controller. However, in a blog post, Blizzard says it has been able to detect KBM players on consoles over the last few Overwatch 2 seasons. It has found that the cheating problem is more prevalent among higher ranked players. The developers say that use of so-called unapproved peripherals is «very rare» in lower ranks.
During the current season (which started this week), Blizzard will dish out permanent bans to the most extreme users of unapproved peripherals. It will rely on reports from other players and its own data to pinpoint those who are breaking the rules.
Starting in Season 11, which should get underway in June, the developers will tackle the issue at a broader level. The first time a console player is detected using an unapproved device on consoles, they'll be banned from Competitive modes for a week. If they keep using KBM or other unapproved peripherals in casual modes, they'll get a season-long Competitive suspension, only have the option of playing with other KBM users in Quick Play and lose access to aim assist features. It's all in the name of fairness.
There are accessibility concerns here, though, as some folks simply can't play games with a standard controller. Blizzard says that it has done its «utmost to ensure that players with accessibility needs will be less likely to trigger our detection.» The developers say they will tailor their enforcement actions so that folks with accessibility needs can still land a sick Earthshatter or keep healing their teammates.
With all that said, Blizzard is looking into adding official KBM support on consoles so folks can play the game that way without negatively impacting controller players. As things stand, console and PC players are separated into separate pools for Competitive play. So to make things fair, Blizzard would need to shuffle console players who want to use a keyboard and mouse into games with other KBM players and no aim assist.
The XIM problem isn't exactly new. The Overwatch 2 developers' colleagues at Activision last year started banning Call of Duty players who spoof input devices (or just messing with them, as usual).
All eight Spider-Man live-action movies are returning to theaters this spring, in a series Sony is calling Spider-Mondays . We’ve updated and reposted this essay on Spider-Man’s best movie arc in conjunction with the re-release.
Blizzard is aware of the Dragonflight Legendary upgrade bug and it's a priority issue for them, but it'll take some time to fix.
With Blizzard Entertainment having several major upcoming releases in the works, many had expected that the company would have a lot to say at BlizzCon later this year. Recently, however, it was announced that Blizzard had decided not to host the event in 2024. With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard having gone through last year, there were some who wondered if it was Blizzard’s new parent company that made the decision to not go ahead with a BlizzCon event this year, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that has been canceled, although the company does have plans for future live events this year. While there won’t be an in-person or digital BlizzCon event for this year, Blizzard promises the event will return in future years, although it may have a different format.
Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings call with shareholders has revealed that its Activision Blizzard acquisition has bolstered the company's gaming division revenue for Q3, offsetting a number of otherwise negative returns. The Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition has endured a series of legal challenges across several countries, but it would seem the Xbox parent company's persistence has more than paid off.
After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it. While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years.
While doesn’t have any plans for working on a Marvel project yet, the renowned filmmaker has expressed his interest in doing one in the future. And if the potential gets made, he says he will be focusing on Peter Parker’s “personal growth.”
Gamers worldwide have long wondered whether Microsoft’s historic acquisition of Activision Blizzard would lead to structural and organizational changes for the World of Warcraft developer. Now, six months after the acquisition’s finalization, a higher-up at World of Warcraft has revealed that the Xbox maker has “let Blizzard be Blizzard.”
For nearly two years, Microsoft's unprecedented $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard stayed in the news, mostly due to the Windows and Xbox company's battle with certain regulators (chiefly the US FTC and the UK CMA). That came to an end, even though the FTC is still trying to unmake the deal, on October 13, when Microsoft announced the closure of the acquisition.
Blizzard has spoken on the popular topic of whether its long-running multiplayer online RPG World of Warcraft might finally make its way to console platforms. The latest comments come from a leading member of the development team for the game, as the studio gears up to promote the latest World of Warcraft expansion.
officially acquired in October, closing a massive $68.7 billion deal. With the company now firmly integrated into Microsoft’s corporate structure, some might wonder how the software giant is influencing Blizzard. However, at least for now, it seems that Microsoft isn’t that interested in meddling with the developer’s affairs.
The vice president of World of Warcraft, Holly Longdale, has discussed what it is like being with Microsoft from a developer standpoint after an interview was shared with VGC. Especially after the official closing of $68.7 billion acquisition with Activision Blizzard which happened in October, there is a lot to be curious about.