Microsoft will require users to verify their age when purchasing games rated R18+ on Xbox and Microsoft Store starting in August 2026 to comply with Australian regulations.
Google has introduced an AI model called Gemini Omni in the Create tab of the Google Photos app, featuring a tool named Video Remix. This allows users to transform 10-second video clips into new creations using various templates. The feature enhances existing content but has limitations, such as not generating remixes for videos with faces of minors. For creating new video content, the Omni model in the Gemini app is preferred, while Video Remix is more convenient for minor modifications. Users can access Video Remix through a subscription to Google AI, and purchasing a Google Pixel 10 Pro includes a complimentary year of Google AI Pro.
Numerous countries have implemented restrictions on online access, requiring users to verify their identities to view adult content. In Utah, Bill S.B. 73 has taken effect to prevent children from using VPNs to bypass age verification for adult content. The bill prohibits commercial entities from facilitating or encouraging the use of VPNs to circumvent age verification requirements. It lacks clarity on what constitutes "material harmful to minors," leading to varied interpretations. The bill also states that individuals are considered to be accessing a website from Utah if they are physically located in the state, regardless of VPN use, which poses challenges for website operators in determining user locations.
The game "I got reincarnated… as a hamster!" is set to launch in the third quarter of this year after facing a postponed release originally planned for winter 2025. It was pulled from Steam due to unforeseen circumstances. The game is also expected to be available on the Epic Games Store and DLsite. It features adult themes and is not a family-friendly title, contrasting with games like Baldur's Gate 3. The romantic elements in the game have generated mixed reactions among players.
North Korea allows limited access to the internet, smartphones, and laptops, but this access is heavily monitored by the government. Citizens use rebranded Chinese smartphones equipped with surveillance software called Red Flag, which captures screenshots of user activities. The country has developed a Linux-based operating system, Red Star, that alerts authorities if a file from outside the country is opened. Software designed by North Korean engineers tags media files accessed on devices, enabling tracking of foreign content consumption.
The telecommunications system, developed with Egypt's Orascom, operates a dual network for locals and tourists, preventing direct communication between the two. Foreign SIM cards are tracked and destroyed to limit global internet access. Viewing certain foreign content can lead to severe penalties, including the death penalty for materials that criticize the regime or involve pornography. There is a black market for USB drives containing contraband content, reflecting demand despite the risks.
To combat the appeal of foreign entertainment, the government has created approximately 125 mobile games, including one featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, to keep citizens engaged with local content.
The author began PC gaming over a decade ago, starting with a second-hand desktop and memorable experiences in games like Skyrim and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. An upgrade to a 1060 GPU significantly enhanced their gaming experience. The landscape of PC gaming has evolved, with major companies like Sony and Xbox releasing titles on Steam and the introduction of handheld devices like Valve's Steam Deck. In 2025, the Steam Machine and Xbox's ROG Xbox Ally X were unveiled, while payment processor censorship affected Steam Deck users. The author upgraded their GPU during Black Friday sales but faced challenges with high DDR5 RAM prices, leaving their full upgrade incomplete. They express concerns about the financial burden of PC gaming and the impact of censorship on adult games, noting that payment providers like Visa have imposed restrictions. The author reflects on their gaming experiences and encourages others to revisit beloved titles as the year ends.
The horror game Horses has been banned from both Steam and Epic Games for violating policies on "inappropriate content" and "hateful or abusive content." Epic Games informed publisher Santa Ragione of the ban just one day before the game's scheduled launch on its platform, without specifying how the game violated guidelines. Santa Ragione's appeal was rejected within 12 hours, also without clarification. While Epic suggested the game could be updated to meet compliance standards, they did not provide specific guidance on necessary changes. Horses contains elements of nudity and adult themes, contributing to the sensitivity surrounding its release. Despite the bans, the game is still available on platforms like GOG, Itch.io, and the Humble Store, which shifted to a DRM-free distribution model.
Vitalik Buterin donated approximately 5,000 ETH to the privacy messaging applications Session and SimpleX. He emphasized the importance of encrypted messaging for digital privacy and mentioned two key areas for improvement: permissionless account creation and metadata privacy. Session aims to minimize metadata leakage and saw its token, SESH, rise by 371% in a day. SimpleX focuses on user identity ownership and plans to introduce community support vouchers. Buterin acknowledged both applications have room for improvement in user experience and security. The increasing interest in privacy applications is driven by concerns over global surveillance, with recent government regulations highlighting the need for privacy solutions. The Ethereum Foundation has formed a new privacy team to enhance its initiatives. Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Zcash have also seen significant growth, with Zcash rising by 793% over the past year.
Santa Ragione, the developers of Saturnalia and Wheels of Aurelia, may close their studio following Valve's refusal to list their upcoming horror game, Horses, on Steam. The rejection was based on an unfinished build submitted in 2023, deemed inappropriate due to its themes and imagery, specifically concerning content that could be interpreted as depicting sexual conduct involving a minor. Horses, which combines surreal body horror with silent cinema techniques, is set to launch on December 2nd on Epic, GOG, the Humble Store, and Itch.
The developers initially submitted a rough version of Horses for Steam approval about two years ago, which was rejected after an automated review in June 2023. They have sought clarification from Valve and expressed willingness to modify any unsuitable elements but have not received a response. Santa Ragione clarified that all characters in Horses are over 20 years old and that while the game includes sexual elements, the intent is to provoke discussion rather than arousal.
Having invested around 0,000 into Horses, Santa Ragione faces financial difficulties, as the anticipated funding from sales of Saturnalia did not materialize. They have raised remaining funds through private contributions, making them reliant on the success of Horses. The ban on Horses is seen as part of a broader trend of delisting adult content from platforms, but Santa Ragione argues that their game has been unjustly censored compared to other media platforms.
Attackers are using malicious emails with links to adult websites to exploit human curiosity and urgency, leading to the installation of harmful malware through deceptive update processes. Acronis has identified these "JackFix" attacks, which use screen hijacking techniques combined with ClickFix methods, presenting victims with fake Windows Update screens that claim to deliver critical security updates. This campaign leverages counterfeit adult websites as phishing mechanisms, increasing psychological pressure on victims to comply with prompts to install updates. The attack takes over the victim's screen and displays a convincing update interface, occurring entirely within the browser. Acronis advises users to avoid accessing adult sites through links in emails or messages and to navigate directly to these sites for safer browsing.
