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Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has promised that if Hollywood doesn't move forward with the movie in 2024, he'll "figure it out outside". 

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A Sky News presenter has attracted criticism for appearing to belittle a 13-year-old Tetris record breaker during a live broadcast.

In a significant step today, the tech major has taken the expansion of artificial intelligence-enabled tools to the next level. It has announced Microsoft Copilot key for Windows 11 PCs. Notably, this is the first major change to Microsoft Windows keyboard in almost 3 decades. Henceforth, Copilot will be the entry point into the AI space on a Windows PC. The Windows key to the PC keyboard was rolled out almost 30 years ago and it had then enabled users to interact with Windows. 

Platinum Games co-founder Hideki Kamiya has said that in 2024 he wants a new job in games so that he can “have a meal.”

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu says the company will be “aggressive” in using generative AI technology to create content, including in development and publishing. This not only means more investment in technologies but also a desire to use the tech for all kinds of development, and “create new forms of content” in a balance between product and marketing.

Nintendo’s Switch successor will launch this year and will likely be an iteration of the current hardware design, rather than a revolution.

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 Microsoft president Brad Smith has softened his stance on the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) following the completion of the Activision Blizzard acquisition by Microsoft.

Microsoft President Brad Smith has softened his stance on the UK regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, following the Microsoft – Activision deal.

The president of Japanese publishing giant Square Enix, Takashi Kiryu, has said that the company intends to be "aggressive" in its application of artificial intelligence.

Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu has released a new year letter outlining the strategies that the publisher will be adopting going forward. One of those is the application of AI in content development as well as publishing, using AI in conjunction with other technologies. There is also talk of making the development chain more efficient, while on the publishing side there is more effort being put into better collaboration globally in an effort to expand the fan base of Square Enix titles with new games, as well as games from the publisher back catalogue.

Technology continues to evolve rapidly, and the hottest trend is the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI. To start 2024, Square Enix President and Representative Director Takashi Kiryu released a letter sharing his interest in adding more AI processes in developing future games.

In a New Year’s letter, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu plans to be “aggressive in applying” generative AI to their “content development and publishing functions” going forward.

After singing its fingers on the hot stove of NFTs, Square Enix has decided to go in for another cheeky touch with AI—as stated by the company's new president Takashi Kiryu in a New Year's letter to his employees.

Industry veteran Jurgen Post (pictured) has returned to Sega Europe after over six years.

As customary every January 1st, the new president of Square Enix posted a public New Year's letter on the Japanese game publisher's website.

Microsoft president Brad Smith has seemingly walked back on comments criticising the UK over the handling of its Activision Blizzard deal.

While Microsoft has now officially acquired Activision Blizzard, the company had to restructure the deal to win the approval of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority regulator, which originally found the deal concerning for a variety of reasons. Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, wasn't happy about the original verdict, meeting it with some harsh words, but it seems like things have changed since, now that the deal has finally gone through.

By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.

Nintendo’s creative leader, Shigeru Miyamoto, has reiterated he has no plans to retire from the company.

Blizzard is reportedly back to working with Netease again to bring their video games to China.

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu has already ruffled feathers in the new year by reaffirming a desire for the company to utilize AI technology in its upcoming games and projects.

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu says the company will be “aggressive in applying” AI in its development and publishing efforts in the future.

Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu has released a new year letter outlining the strategies that the publisher will be adopting going forward. One of those is the application of AI in content development as well as publishing, using AI in conjunction with other technologies. There is also talk of making the development chain more efficient, while on the publishing side there is more effort being put into better collaboration globally in an effort to expand the fan base of Square Enix titles with new games, as well as games from the publisher back catalogue.

Chief Justice John Roberts on Sunday turned his focus to the promise, and shortcomings, of artificial intelligence in the federal courts, in an annual report that made no mention of Supreme Court ethics or legal controversies involving Donald Trump.

 Data-driven hiring ways, inclusive and diversity-focused practices and nearly double-digit salary hikes are likely to leave their stamp on the human resource landscape in 2024 as companies continue to scout for the right talent amid economic uncertainties. Over the last few years, the expectations of candidates and employers have changed dramatically. Employees want workplace flexibility, a greater emphasis on diversity, and impartial hiring processes, while companies are eager to provide fair, engaging and streamlined candidate experiences to attract and retain top talent, according to experts.

Shigeru Miyamoto supposedly has no plans to retire from Nintendo, though his role at the company has shifted dramatically. 

It was a comeback year for the world's wealthiest. The combined net worth of the 500 richest people surged by $1.5 trillion in 2023, fully rebounding from the $1.4 trillion lost the year prior, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Once again, their fortunes were closely correlated to the performance of tech stocks, which rose to fresh records this year despite recession fears, lingering inflation, lofty interest rates, and geopolitical turmoil. Tech billionaires saw their wealth grow by 48% or $658 billion, propelled by intense hype around artificial intelligence. No one did better than Elon Musk, who recaptured the title of world's richest person from French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault. The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer netted an additional $95.4 billion through Thursday's close, bolstered by the success of Tesla and SpaceX, after losing $138 billion in 2022. His net worth is now more than $50 billion above Arnault's after a global slowdown in demand for luxury goods dented shares of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE.

With the year almost behind us, it's hard not to look back at 2023 with conflicted feelings. It was a fantastic year for gamers at home with great tentpole releases from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, and some excellent indies, too. For years to come, we will all likely argue that 2023 was one of the best – if not the best – year for games. But it was also a terrible year for the people who make games, with more than 10,000 developers laid off, studios closed, and more. 

It shouldn't be too long now before Nintendo reveals a successor to the Nintendo Switch, but the lack of concrete information so far has made a potential release something of a guessing game. That hasn't done much to curtail anticipation, however, with expectations mounting for the next console from the pedigreed company. The Switch was a major comeback after the lackluster reception of the Wii U hardware, and it seems unlikely that Nintendo will completely fumble the momentum of a hit generation this time around.

Following a 14-year partnership, Blizzard and NetEase had a loud and controversial split in late 2022. The Chinese publisher operated Blizzard's games in China as the licensed partner required by the government. The announcement came in November 2022, revealing to angry fans that popular games such as Overwatch 2, Diablo III, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm would not be available any longer starting on January 23, 2023 across mainland China.

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.

Nearly three years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the false election conspiracy theories that drove the violent attack remain prevalent on social media and cable news: suitcases filled with ballots, late-night ballot dumps, dead people voting.

Samsung Electronics Co. has delayed mass production plans at its new chip plant in Taylor, Texas, the Seoul Economic Daily said, potentially dealing another blow to the Biden administration's ambition to increase domestic semiconductor supplies. te

As Apple Stores across the US closed on Sunday, December 24, it is with the knowledge that when they open once again on Boxing Day (stores remain closed on Christmas), December 26, they won't be able to sell the latest smartwatches — Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. In October 2023, Apple lost a long-running patent dispute involving a SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor which Masimo, a healthtech firm claimed to be theirs. As a result, the International Trade Commission banned Apple from selling products featuring this technology in the US.

Regulators in China announced on Friday a wide range of rules aimed at curbing spending and rewards that encourage video games, dealing a blow to the world's biggest games market, which returned to growth this year.

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There's a Cantonese saying I've been looking for an excuse to use in one of these columns for months, and with the year drawing to a close, I'm going to drop it here as a little present to myself.

Yesterday, December 21, Apple lost a decisive appeal after the International Trade Commission refused to delay the ban on the sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. These two smartwatches were banned in the US after ITC ruled in favor of Masimo in the patent dispute involving a SpO2 (blood oxygen) sensor used by Apple. As per the ruling, Apple has now removed both of the products from its US online stores and they are no longer available to purchase. The smartwatches are still available in-store and through third-party retailers, but only till the existing stock lasts.

Intel and many other tech companies have amassed against NVIDIA in a "War of Words" claiming that the green team's AI success came from "Luck". However, NVIDIA says that the company's success is attributed to clear vision and execution which Intel lacked.

Arion Kurtaj, the 18-year-old Lapsus$ hacker who leaked GTA 6 footage last year, has been sentenced to life in hospital indefinitely until he is "no longer a danger".

Apple Inc. is on the verge of pulling its most popular smartwatches from sale at its US physical and online stores to comply with a trade regulation ruling. And while other retailers can continue to sell the devices, Apple has told staffers it can't let people know.

Masimo Corp. Chief Executive Officer Joe Kiani, head of the medical device maker that has put Apple Inc.'s smartwatch on the brink of a US ban, said he'd be open to settling with the company. 

Activision Blizzard boss Robert Kotick is stepping down as CEO.

Barring a last minute (and unlikely) presidential veto, the Apple Watch is largely coming off US shelves. Starting Thursday, Apple Inc. will stop selling the latest versions of the device though its online store and then in its physical stores, too, by Christmas Eve. Other sellers like Best Buy can continue to sell them until they are out of stock. It's a miserable end to a lackluster year for America's most valuable company and its chief executive officer, Tim Cook.

Microsoft has appointed Jill Braff as head of Bethesda/ZeniMax studios.

It's been a strong year sales-wise for Sony, as the PlayStation 5 has now reportedly sold over 50 million units as it enters its fourth year on the market.

Alphabet Inc.'s agreement to pay $700 million to consumers and states and open the Google Play Store to competition will leave intact the heavily-criticized commissions the technology giant charges mobile app developers.

AMD has reiterated its commitment to the AM5 socket till 2025 and beyond as it continues to expand its Ryzen Desktop platform in the coming years.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

It’s official: The Bobby Kotick era at Activision Blizzard will end on December 29. According to The Verge, Instead of appointing a new replacement, the top Activision Blizzard executives will now report to Microsoft’s game content and studios president Matt Booty. Several more higher-level Activision Blizzard employees will also leave the company in the new year with departures planned through March 2024.

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Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is officially resigning from the company after the completion of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of the gaming developer and publisher. Kotick’s last day is Dec. 29, when Microsoft studio head Matt Booty will take lead of the Activision Blizzard executive leadership team. Kotick led Activision Blizzard for 32 years.

In a significant move today,  the Lok Sabha has cleared the Telecom Bill 2023, laying the foundation for some far-reaching changes and even the transformation of the sector. The bill allows the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security. Not just that, in a huge move away from yesteryears, it also provided a non-auction route for the allocation of satellite spectrum. Significantly, the bill also allows the Centre to take possession of a telecom network in case of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety. It also provides for stopping transmission and even intercepting of messages in case of public emergency, in the interest of the public, to prevent incitement for committing offence. "The bill will promote structural reforms in the telecom sector," said Union Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. 

In a new Inside Blizzard blog post, President of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Ybarra reflects on the past year of Blizzard games, celebrating the company's cultural growth and community achievements throughout 2023, while looking ahead to 2024.

Upon the formal close of the merger between Activision and Microsoft this past October, Kotick shared his commitment to remain with his company as CEO during a transition period through the end of 2023. That day is now soon to come, as long time Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has released a new message to employees saying goodbye to the company he led over the past 32 years. His last day will be December 29th, 2023.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will officially leave the company on December 29, it’s been confirmed.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has announced he’s stepping down from his position on December 29. The news comes two months after Microsoft officially completed its acquisition of the developer/publisher. 

Bobby Kotick has confirmed that he'll be stepping down as CEO of Activision-Blizzard-King on December 29, with no direct replacement planned to take his place.

By Tom Warrenand Ash Parrish

By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

PS5 sales have surpassed 50 million units globally, Sony has today announced.

Sony announced Wednesday that it has sold 50 million units of its PlayStation 5 console since the system launched three years ago. That puts the PS5 on pace with the PlayStation 4, which also hit the 50 million sales mark in 2016, just three years after Sony’s last-gen console launched in 2013.

Remnant 2's first DLC dropped a short while ago—and it's a pretty good romp. It adds a whole new area to explore, a new class, and some new gear to grab—it also enhances Losomn as a whole, since having the DLC lets its areas and bosses crop up during your randomised runs of the main campaign.

After expecting “record-breaking sales” this holiday season, Sony has announced that the PlayStation 5 has sold over 50 million units in its lifetime. According to The Financial Times, the company reported reaching that figure on December 9th, about 161 weeks after the console launched (the PS4 took 160 weeks).

The Biden administration is “tracking” the impending US ban of nearly all Apple Watch sales due to a patent dispute, with power to veto the decision resting with the US Trade Representative. 

World of Warcraft revealed its roadmaps for both retail and Classic yesterday, and while there's plenty of exciting news—including a confirmed Summer release window for The War Within—one particular stop on the road hit me like a cannon full of grapeshot. A black flag with a skull and crossbones.

On the 2024 Roadmap, Blizzard announced a mysterious Patch 10.2.6 with a Skull and Crossbones Flag. Could this mean… Pirates? The World of Warcraft 2024 Roadmap revealed the entire 2024 plan for Retail WoW with features for each of the upcoming patches, except for a suspicious looking Patch 10.2.6.

Ex Machina director Alex Garland looks like he will try to do the impossible when his new film Civil War hits theaters in 2024: depict a second civil war in the United States without directly engaging with the politics of why that war is taking place. It’s not hard to see why Garland might want to avoid thorny connections between the movie and the very real politicians and political groups openly calling for succession and open conflict in the United States. Maybe he believes there’s enough value in the arresting visuals of a modern America under siege.

The release of Team Ninja’s upcoming action role-playing game, Rise of the Rōnin, is getting closer and closer, and it’s now been revealed what major Japanese locations players will be able to explore in it. 

Using Navia’s best character builds in along with solid team comps is a great way of maximizing her potential as a DPS hero. Navia is a 5-star Geo character from Fontaine that was first introduced as an NPC in Version 4.0. A few updates later, though, Navia has been confirmed to be a playable character in 4.3, which allows players to control her in-game and use her abilities in combat. The president of the Spina di Rosula, Navia is a capable fighter and excels at dealing damage in parties.

An Apple Watch sales ban was recently announced by the company as it is believed that certain models were violating patent infringements. Even though Apple is said to halt the sales of its smartwatches starting later this month, a new report states that a software update can help the company operate in the U.S. market once more. Unfortunately, Masimo, the firm that helped push the sales ban as it argues that its patents were infringed upon, brings another problem in Apple’s path.

It’s been a while since we last heard about Rick and Morty: The Anime, the stand-alone anime spin-off series based on Adult Swim’s popular sci-fi sitcom. Not to worry, though: Adult Swim released a new clip of the anime over the weekend and revealed that the series, which was originally announced to release this Fall, would instead premiere next year on Adult Swim and Max.

Making waves in the Indian audio market today was the US-based Bose Corporation, which has participated in India's wearables startup Noise's Series A fund-raising round. While Bose has been one of the top audio companies in the world for decades, the Gurugram-based Noise has been working its way up the ladder over the recent years and currently, it is ranked as India's number two wearable brand. Looking to power up growth, the company is looking for funds for expansion. However, the exact amount that has been invested by Bose in Noise has not been revealed. The fund-raise is notable because this is the first time Noise has ventured into the area and immediately it has been able to attract the attention of one of the biggest audio companies with an iconic reputation in the form of Bose.

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