Tensions Archives

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

Skyrim was ‘personally rebalanced’ by producer Jeff Gardiner just 2 weeks before launch: ‘Well, I hope this is good’

Jeff Gardiner, a former Bethesda producer, had conflicts with the design team over the balance of Skyrim as its launch approached. He argued that the designers' reliance on AI simulations did not accurately reflect human player behavior, which could lead to a disconnect in gameplay experience. Gardiner took it upon himself to extensively playtest the game and make adjustments to creatures and weapons in a focused effort just weeks before release. He believed that his background in design allowed him to effectively contribute to the game's balance. Gardiner reflected on the unpredictable nature of RPGs, which he found appealing in his own experience with Skyrim.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Kotick: EA’s Riccitiello was “worst CEO” in games

Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, referred to John Riccitiello, the former CEO of Electronic Arts, as the "worst CEO" in the gaming sector during an episode of the Grit show. Kotick mentioned that there had been multiple discussions about potential mergers between EA and Activision Blizzard, noting that EA had attempted to buy Activision Blizzard several times. He acknowledged that EA's business model was sometimes stronger than that of Activision Blizzard. Riccitiello joined EA in 1997 as president and COO, returned as CEO in 2007, and left in 2013 after poor financial results. He later became the CEO of Unity and departed in 2023 amid controversy. Riccitiello made provocative comments about developers in an interview, contributing to his polarizing reputation in the industry.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Windows 11 hits a new market share milestone ahead of Windows 10’s end-of-life support

As of July 2025, Windows 10 will have been in service for a decade, with its end-of-life status set for October 2025. Microsoft typically provides five years of broader support followed by five years of security updates for its operating systems. Windows 10 has a user base reluctant to upgrade, partly due to concerns over telemetry and new hardware requirements for Windows 11, which some older motherboards do not meet. Recent data shows Windows 11's market share at 36.65%, while Windows 10's share has declined to 60.33%. Windows 7 holds about 2.4% of the market. Many enterprises prefer paying for extended security support instead of upgrading. The UK National Health Service upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 10 in 2018. Microsoft and OEM partners expect the end-of-life status for Windows 10 to drive upgrades in 2025, although trade tensions could complicate this. Valve's Steam Hardware Survey indicates Windows 11 has seen a slight decline in market share, while it still dominates the gaming market with approximately 54%. Overall, Windows holds a 96% share on Steam, with Linux at around 2% and macOS at 1.4%.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

Russian authorities block Viber messaging app

Russia has officially blocked access to the Signal messaging app, making it non-functional without the use of a VPN. Additionally, Russian authorities are considering a ban on WhatsApp.

AppWizard

December 9, 2024

Don’t sleep on Infinity Nikki’s stylist battles like I did—they’re secretly one of the coolest parts of the game

In Infinity Nikki, styling battles initially appeared as a minor gameplay element overshadowed by adventure aspects. However, they revealed themselves to be a blend of creativity and charm. The battles involved scoring high with themed attire and featured lengthy cutscenes. The lore became richer as players encountered factions like the Golden Daisies and Ebony Scissors, and tensions within Beyond the Basics regarding the Sovereign's leadership. A mission led to a basement bar where players interacted with the Sovereign's lackeys. The final confrontation with Aderinna, the Sovereign of Cool, was a theatrical performance, showcasing dramatic elements and campy charm. This experience deepened the narrative, leading players into new tales involving banshees and eerie melodies, contrasting with the initially cozy gameplay.

AppWizard

December 3, 2024

Microsoft accuses Google of blocking direct game purchases on Xbox Android app

Microsoft has delayed the launch of its Android app portal for purchasing and playing Xbox games following a court ruling against Google's policies on Android applications. The Xbox app aims to allow users to purchase games for streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, taking advantage of a recent court order requiring Google to stop blocking third-party storefronts on Android. Xbox President Sarah Bond stated the company's commitment to providing players with more options, initially through the Google Play Store in the U.S. Microsoft has also enhanced the experience for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, allowing them to stream games outside of the subscription service, while currently directing mobile users to purchase titles via a web interface to avoid commissions from app stores. The announcement came after a U.S. judge ruled against Google in an antitrust case, although Google received a temporary stay on the enforcement of the ruling. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticized Google's 30 percent commission as detrimental to game streaming profits. The situation has attracted regulatory scrutiny, with Apple beginning to allow mobile cloud gaming apps on its app store due to legislative changes in the EU. Microsoft's app represents a strategic effort to expand the Xbox brand beyond traditional console gaming, supported by a new advertising campaign.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Xbox Vs Android: Can Games Be Sold Through The Xbox App

Microsoft and Google are in conflict over the sale of Xbox games via the Xbox Games app on Android devices. Sarah Bond from Xbox confirmed that the functionality for in-app purchases is developed but stalled due to a court-issued administrative stay. Microsoft wants Google to allow direct game sales through the app, while Google claims such capabilities have always existed. Currently, game purchases go through the Google Play Store, which incurs fees that Microsoft wants to avoid. The court ruling prevents Google from requiring developers to use Google Play Billing but does not stop them from directing users to other payment methods. Google argues that its restrictions are to maintain a secure environment for users, although this concern may be less relevant for established companies like Xbox and Microsoft.

Winsage

October 30, 2024

Arm and Qualcomm are fighting–what does that mean for Windows on Arm?

Qualcomm is currently engaged in a legal battle with Arm, which has issued a 60-day ultimatum threatening to revoke Qualcomm's license to its technology before a court date in December. This conflict stems from Arm's lawsuit initiated in 2022 over Qualcomm's acquisition of Nuvia and involves financial disagreements over licensing fees. Qualcomm generates approximately billion annually from using Arm's technology, and its potential loss of access could disrupt various manufacturers reliant on its chips, including major players like Microsoft and Android manufacturers. Arm accounted for about 10% of its total revenue from Qualcomm last fiscal year, indicating a mutual dependence between the two companies. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the broader technology sector.

Winsage

October 4, 2024

Microsoft Windows ‘Critical Vulnerability’ Warning—You Have 72 Hours To Update Your PC

Microsoft Windows users face a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43461, which emerged in the September security update and has been added to the U.S. government's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has mandated that Windows users apply necessary mitigations by October 7, particularly for federal employees, but many organizations are expected to follow suit. This vulnerability allows attackers to spoof web pages and was exploited alongside CVE-2024-38112, which involves using outdated Internet Explorer to redirect users to malicious URLs. Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative has indicated that the latest CVE allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. Patching CVE-2024-38112 also addresses CVE-2024-43461, but many users remain on outdated versions of Windows, putting them at significant risk.

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Ukraine Bans Telegram Use For State, Military Officials

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the United Nations Security Council on September 24, stating that peace with Russia can only be achieved through force and characterizing Russia as the sole aggressor in the conflict. He condemned Iran and North Korea as accomplices in Russia's military actions and dismissed negotiations with Putin as "insanity." Following recent Russian strikes that killed three individuals in Ukraine, Zelenskiy urged the United States to take decisive action to expedite the end of the war. He expressed gratitude for U.S. support and highlighted the critical role the U.S. plays in defending Ukraine's sovereignty. Zelenskiy is scheduled to address the UNGA again on September 25 and will meet with President Joe Biden on September 26. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 66 out of 81 drones launched by Russia on September 24, while damage to energy infrastructure in Poltava was reported due to Russian strikes. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted Ukrainian drones over its territories.