contract Archives

BetaBeacon

August 15, 2025

What Do the Epic Games’ Lawsuits Against Apple and Google Say About the DOJ’s Apple Case?

Epic Games filed lawsuits against Apple and Google in 2020 for restricting users' access to Epic's offerings through third-party app stores. The Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Epic against Google, finding antitrust violations, while Epic lost the federal antitrust case against Apple. The Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against Apple under Section 2 of the Sherman Act for monopolization. Apple's closed system was found to be successful, while Google's open-source system faced legal challenges. The court in the Google Play case issued remedies targeting exclusivity, which could lead to better user experiences and lower prices.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Blizzard story and franchise staff form new union

Blizzard's Story and Franchise Development team has voted to establish a new union in collaboration with the Communications Workers of America, recognized by Microsoft, resulting in approximately 3,000 Xbox employees becoming part of a unionized workforce. The union aims to preserve company culture, ensure transparency in decision-making, and apply policies equitably. This effort follows successful contract negotiations by staff at Raven Software and ZeniMax with Microsoft, indicating a trend towards collective bargaining in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Raven union secures Microsoft contract

Unionised employees at Raven Software have secured their first contract with Microsoft after nearly three years of negotiations involving 19 quality assurance staff members. The contract includes a ten percent compensation increase over the next two years, allows for permanent work-from-home arrangements, and reduces mandatory overtime while requiring a minimum of seven days' notice for any required overtime work. The unionisation process began in 2022, with Activision Blizzard recognizing the bargaining unit shortly after. However, in August 2024, the union accused Microsoft and Activision Blizzard of negotiating in "bad faith."

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

SAG-AFTRA members approve new video games deal

SAG-AFTRA members voted 95.04 percent in favor of a new contract with video game companies, which includes a 15.17 percent pay increase and additional raises of three percent scheduled for November in 2025, 2026, and 2027. The agreement also introduces protections against the influence of artificial intelligence in the industry. The strike began in July 2024 and lasted for 11 months, emphasizing the need for updated protections in the face of technological advancements.

AppWizard

July 6, 2025

Warren Spector was so desperate to make Deus Ex that it almost became a Command & Conquer RPG: ‘I was going to find a way to make it one way or another, even if it meant making another damn sci-fi game!’

Deus Ex recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. In an alternate reality, PC gamers are celebrating a different 25th anniversary for a first-person Command & Conquer game that could have been created by Warren Spector, who initially conceived a game called "Troubleshooter" in 1994. Spector aimed to create an open-ended near-future simulation featuring a supercop named Jake Shooter. He managed to persuade Westwood Studios to invest in a version of his game set in the Command & Conquer universe, intending to combine genre elements and player choice. However, he later joined Ion Storm after receiving an invitation from John Romero, leading to the development of Deus Ex, with Jake Shooter evolving into JC Denton.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

How to unlock Inferno, Serenith, and Stellaris in Mecha Break

Players can unlock the mechs Inferno, Serenith, and Stellaris in Mecha Break by using Mission Tokens, which can be earned through gameplay activities like Operation VERGE, Ace Arena, and Mashmak Battles. Each mech costs 15,000 Mission Tokens and can be found in the Matrix Selections menu under "Logistics." Players can also trial the mechs for a week. Alternatively, purchasing the Matrix Contract (battle pass) grants immediate access to Inferno and provides 15,000 Mission Tokens if Inferno is already owned, which can be used to unlock Serenith or Stellaris. The mechs belong to different classes: Inferno is an Ultra-Heavy Attacker, Serenith is a Light Support, and Stellaris is a Light Brawler. The Matrix Contract also offers a Merit Boost Bonus that increases Mission Token earnings by 200%.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Counterfeit Minecraft mods deliver malware

A series of sophisticated cyberattacks using ACR Stealer-based Amatera Stealer malware have been executed as part of ClearFake web injection campaigns between April and May. These campaigns utilize advanced techniques, including EtherHiding to obscure malicious activities, targeting smart contracts on the Binance Smart Chain for unauthorized access, and ClickFix Exploitation to manipulate user interactions for executing harmful scripts.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

iState: A Russian Government Messenger?

On June 10, the Russian State Duma approved the establishment of a national messenger to be pre-installed on all newly sold smart devices starting September 1. This app will include a digital ID system and aims to streamline access to government services, identity verification, contract signing, and banking transactions. The initiative is inspired by China's WeChat but raises concerns about surveillance and data storage by the Russian government. The specific application for the national messenger has not yet been finalized, with Max, developed by VKontakte, being a leading candidate. Legal expert Sarkis Darbinyan doubts that Max will attract WhatsApp's user base and predicts it will be limited to domestic use without end-to-end encryption. Despite these issues, State Duma IT Committee head Sergei Boyarsky believes that existing messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram will continue to operate if they comply with Russian laws.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

SAG-AFTRA board approves new contract

The SAG-AFTRA performers union has approved a tentative agreement with leading game companies, encouraging members to vote positively for ratification on June 18th. The new contract includes a 15.17% increase in compensation, annual raises of 3% from November 2025 through 2027, and an increase in health and retirement contributions from 16.5% to 17%, rising to 17.5% by October 2026. It provides protections against exploitation related to artificial intelligence, requiring consent for the use of digital likenesses and mandating their withdrawal during strikes. Safety provisions include the presence of a qualified medical professional during hazardous rehearsals and performances, as well as mandated rest periods for on-camera principal performers. Employers are prohibited from asking performers to undertake stunts during virtual auditions. The tentative agreement led to the suspension of strike action on June 11th.