hearing Archives

AppWizard

February 1, 2026

Can you guess which game these competitive rank crests are from?

PC Gamer has created a collection of gaming trivia quizzes covering various topics, including health bars and in-game currencies. A gamer is hosting a challenge where participants identify games based on their competitive ranked logos, incorporating familiar and surprising elements to test knowledge and engagement.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Beaty students win regional Minecraft challenge and advance to states

A trio of students from Beaty-Warren Middle School, named Earth’s Green Team, won first place in the Pennsylvania Scholastic eSports League Regional Minecraft Education Build Challenge at the elementary level. The team members, Bo Winkels, Patrick Ferrie, and Grayson Zapel, designed a Minecraft-based solution focused on sustainable agriculture to address food security and community support. Their victory qualifies them for the PSEL State Championship on February 6 in Lancaster at the Just Press Play Mega Store. The Build Challenge required participants to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing farm in Minecraft, incorporating crops, animals, and essential features. The competition involved hundreds of teams and was conducted virtually from November 10 to December 19. At the State Championship, regional winners will face a new challenge and have two hours to construct a Minecraft Education world.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Valve faces lawsuit over developer commissions on Steam

Valve is facing a legal battle over allegations of imposing excessive commissions on publishers using its Steam platform, with potential damages reaching £656 million. The lawsuit, initiated in June 2024, represents the interests of up to 14 million UK consumers who purchased games via Steam since 2018. Vicki Shotbolt leads the case, claiming Valve restricts publishers from offering lower prices on competing platforms and locks customers into its ecosystem. Valve's commission is reportedly as high as 30 percent. The London Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed the case to proceed, despite Valve's objections. This is not the first scrutiny Valve has faced; a previous antitrust lawsuit from Wolfire Games was dismissed in late 2021 but was refiled and merged with another claim in 2022, gaining class action status by November 2024.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

Epic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services deal

A judge is questioning whether Epic Games and Google are settling their antitrust fight partly because of a new partnership involving the Unreal Engine, Fortnite, and Android. The deal includes joint product development, marketing commitments, and partnerships. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney referred to the agreement as relating to the "metaverse." The deal involves Epic spending 0 million over six years to purchase services from Google. The settlement arrangement is tied to the business deal, and Epic views it as a significant transfer of value from Epic to Google. Epic and Google would only make the deal if the settlement goes through, and Sweeney considers it an important part of Epic's growth plan for the future.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

Google and Epic Games struck a secretive $800 million deal, ‘helping Google market Android’

Google and Epic Games have struck a secret deal involving Android, Unreal Engine, and product development. The deal is worth 0 million over the next six years, with Epic paying Google. The details of the partnership are being kept confidential.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

Microsoft backs court injunction against Google

Microsoft has filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging a federal court to maintain an injunction against Google, which requires the company to dismantle its alleged monopoly in the Android apps market, particularly regarding payment practices. This injunction stems from Epic Games' lawsuit against Google, initiated in 2020. On January 16, Microsoft submitted its brief ahead of a court hearing where Google and Epic are seeking modifications to a permanent injunction issued in October 2024. The proposed changes could allow Google to impose fees between 9% and 20% on app developers, which Microsoft argues would undermine the original intent of the injunction. A recent settlement between Google and Epic includes a partnership valued at 0 million over six years, but details remain confidential. Judge Donato is reviewing the settlement and has requested briefings from the FTC and appointed an expert witness for evaluation. Epic Games has also announced that its games app is now available on Google Play worldwide.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

PC Games Class Action Certified

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has granted certification for opt-out proceedings against Valve Corporation, alleging that approximately 14 million consumers have been overcharged for games and additional content on Steam, potentially amounting to £656 million. The claim accuses Valve of abusing market dominance through practices such as Platform Parity Obligations, Anti-steering and Tying Provisions, and excessive commission charges. Valve contested the certification, questioning the methodologies for establishing liability and loss, but the CAT dismissed these objections. The Tribunal examined the Class Representative’s funding arrangements and concluded that the claim is representative of a large group of consumers with moderate losses, aligning with the Supreme Court's description of a 'paradigm' case for opt-out certification. Legal representation for the Class Representative was provided by Milberg London LLP and the claim is financially supported by Bench Walk Advisors.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

Epic And Google Quietly Signed $800 Million Deal To Help Market Android

- Epic and Google have entered into a new business arrangement involving joint product development, joint marketing commitments, and shared partnerships. - The agreement would see Epic helping Google market Android, while Google gains broader access to Epic’s core technology, including Unreal Engine. - The partnership involves a 0 million commitment spread across six years. - The sudden revelation of the partnership has raised questions about whether it helped smooth negotiations behind the scenes between Epic and Google.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

Epic Games $800 Million Deal with Google

- Epic Games and Google have entered into a six-year, 0 million partnership involving joint product development, marketing, and technical collaboration. - The partnership includes closer integration of Unreal Engine, which powers Fortnite and many third-party games. - The judge raised concerns about how the partnership might affect Epic's legal demands in the antitrust lawsuit against Google. - Google has proposed changes to Android monetization, including new fee structures for in-app billing and web payments. - The outcome of the case could shape how monetization works across mobile platforms for years to come.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Plymouth students blend gaming and conservation with new nature-themed Minecraft project

Young individuals in Plymouth are participating in a summer education initiative called Minecraft in the Blue, which is a collaboration between Plymouth Marjon University, the University of Salford, and the Plymouth City Council Youth Service. The project, funded by the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, aims to engage 13 and 14-year-olds in the marine environment while developing skills like confidence, creativity, and teamwork. Participants explored outdoor spaces along the waterfront and engaged in activities such as rock pooling, photography, sound recording, and taking observation notes. These experiences informed the recreation of Plymouth landmarks and marine habitats in a custom-designed Minecraft world. The project emphasizes listening to young people's ideas, with Dr. Tracy Hayes stating that their voices and creativity are central to the Minecraft world. The digital environment includes wildlife modeled after local species, such as dolphins and seals, and aims to challenge misconceptions about marine life. An interactive element of the game addresses pollution, where players must rescue a turtle caught in plastic waste, promoting environmental awareness. Dr. Adam Hart expressed hopes for the project's national availability, while Councillor Tom Briars-Delve emphasized the importance of engaging with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park through technology. Elaine Hayes noted that Minecraft's global reach could help connect people with the ocean.