has been no stranger to recent controversy, and some new buzz around the involvement of AI has reignited tensions regarding the future of the game. Artificial intelligence has been a big talking point in the past couple of years, with developments in text, image, and video generation leaving many concerned about the future of artistic industries. As people look to companies for reassurance about creator rights and a focus on human work, they're often receiving the opposite in return.
The relationship between and community creators has always been a crucial aspect of the tabletop game, from the homebrew that a dungeon master might make for their table to large-scale publishers printing major additions to the game. This came under threat in 2023 when publisher Wizards of the Coast announced changes to the Open Game License that's used to legally build on core ideas and mechanics from the game. After significant backlash, the company rolled it back completely and even added a Creative Commons provision to assuage fears that the permanence of the license could no longer be trusted.
Wizards of the Coast might have more or less weathered the OGL storm, but trouble is once again brewing between the company and 's community. As reported by, a recent interview with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks included some concerning comments regarding the use of AI in Hasbro brands, included. Cocks became the CEO of Hasbro in 2022 after starting in 2016 as the president of Wizards of the Coast, which has been a division of the larger toy and game company since 1999.
When questioned about the possibility of training AI on Hasbro IPs to guide future franchise work, Cocks elaborated on the direction that Hasbro could ultimately take with AI. Although he hedges that he doesn't think Hasbro "" in its usage of AI, he mostly frames it as a source of exciting possibilities.The most troubling statement for fans is a reference to "" from the sourcebooks and adventures created over the years, positioning the thoughtful work of talented creatives as a pool of resources for generated material and development.
Cocks: «D&D has 50 years of content that we can mine. Literally thousands of adventures that we've created, probably tens of millions of words we own and can leverage.»
Cocks is clearly trying to emphasize that Hasbro's explorations of AI would be focused on licensed material, but AI development has essentially been built on the use of unattributed content, and it's hard to see any clear path forward that involves proper sourcing and crediting. Creating future content through the use of AI also poses a threat to the roles that writers and game designers currently play in guiding the game. Cocks discusses recent gaming industry layoffs
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has a large variety of crops to grow for the authentic farm simulation experience, but the 1.6 update puts the spotlight on one choice in particular that can yield higher profits than ever before. With fruits, vegetables, flowers and more, there's plenty to grow all year round, and deciding how to optimize a high-performing farm can be difficult. As the game has grown in complexity over the years, the sense of overwhelming options has only increased, making knowing a few tips and tricks more essential than ever.
Getting to go on a date at the Gold Saucer is an exciting moment in , but this iconic event doesn't get to properly play out on the first trip to the amusement park. From a narrative standpoint, it's probably a good thing that Cloud's break time is interrupted, as the sequence running from Costa del Sol to the Gold Saucer has quite a lot of downtime for an intense plot. All the same, it's hard not to spend a lot of time wondering when there is another chance to go on a Gold Saucer date.
The Android 15 update is coming soon and will surely be full of exciting new features. If you're interested in trying the beta or wondering if your phone is supported, here's which Pixel phones and tablets will officially get Android 15 and which won't.
has all kinds of crucial interactions between characters peppered across the story, but there's one essential piece that can easily get passed over in a playthrough. As an expansion and modification of the original story, one of the main things that does with its vastly extended runtime is offer more memorable moments involving Cloud and his party. Although some can be minor or even questionable additions, others flesh out emotional beats and deep relationships in meaningful ways that help make the game a worthy successor.
Protorelic quests might not seem like critical content to play in , but there's one in particular that's well worth completing. As unique objectives that make up a part of the World Intel checklists found throughout the game, Protorelic quests task Cloud and company with tracking down pieces of ancient armor. Although this can lead to unlocking a powerful summon and gear late in the game, anyone uninterested in committing to the long haul could easily decide to ignore all the quests in favor of focusing on the main story.
The objective known as Operation Swift Disassembly is an exciting push of momentum against the threat of the Automatons, but soldiers of Super Earth would be unwise to place too much stock in its success. Unlike most online multiplayer games, has a constantly updating narrative based around the tides of the Galactic War. Progress is partly determined by the community's efforts in each Major Order, but the overall path is also shaped by a game master who ultimately controls the story.
An upcoming update to Xbox consoles could finally make it possible to address some key graphical and performance shortcomings in major titles like , and it won't even require a hardware upgrade to do it. The standard for mid-generation updated models established with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X has seemed like the obvious solution to keep hardware capable of running increasingly challenging games, but it can force owners of the original consoles to play compromised versions. The right software updates, however, have the chance to improve the play experience for everyone already invested in the ecosystem.
is an adventure of substantial size, but whether it's possible to keep playing after the credits roll is one question that's likely to come to mind over the course of the game. As an open-world experience, has plenty of side content that could be passed over while racing toward the story's climax. The game's developer Team Ninja included a variety of optional missions in prior games like , so it's no surprise that this element carries over to the more expansive historical setting of Edo in Japan.
’s 1.6 update packs a lot of exciting changes into the farming and life simulation title, but there’s one in particular that could carry the future of the game on its shoulders. Ever since its release in 2016, has received a lot of support from its solo developer ConcernedApe, making what was already a polished experience at launch even better and more robust. Although the future is more likely to be focused on ConcernedApe’s next title,, it’s hard to ask for much more than what has already provided.
The newest big crossover for pairs the collectible card game with the series, but there's a major reason why the collaboration might not be everything that it could be. Although there was a time when the fantasy CCG teaming up with a pulp history video game series might have seemed like a pipe dream, the brand has made IP crossovers a regular thing. From to an crossover, there's been something for just about everyone, but even fans might not love the newest venture.
In January, the «Pokemon with guns» game Palworld blew up the internet. Thanks partly to its availability via Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, the game attracted some 25 million players. Developer Pocketpair says that plans to bring the game to other platforms continue apace, and discussions with unnamed platform holders are underway, likely including PlayStation.