union

AppWizard
November 15, 2025
Battlefield 6 developers have acknowledged criticism regarding the lack of large maps since its launch and have promised additional maps are forthcoming. Bobby Kotick revealed he offered [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Good morning and welcome to your regularly scheduled Friday. As you prepare to embrace the weekend, take a moment to catch up on today’s Morning Checkpoint, a curated selection of noteworthy updates from the gaming industry. Battlefield 6 devs address lack of big maps and offer some hope Since its launch last month, Battlefield 6 has faced criticism regarding the absence of expansive maps. In response, EA has taken to their blog to reassure players that additional maps of various sizes are on the horizon. The developers at Battlefield Studios have acknowledged the community's creativity, particularly in the Portal mode, where user-generated maps have begun to reshape the gaming experience. In a recent playtest, I had the opportunity to explore the upcoming map, Eastwood, and it appears to be a promising addition that will likely satisfy players’ desires for larger battlegrounds. The hope remains that future updates will deliver even more expansive environments, fulfilling the expectations of dedicated fans. Bobby Kotick offered Notch .5 billion for Minecraft In a recent podcast appearance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that he nearly acquired Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Kotick recounted his experience negotiating with Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, stating, “We offered him .5 billion. And he said, ‘By the way, I’m quitting, and my top leadership guys are all quitting.’” With only 30 employees at the time, the deal fell through, leaving Activision to eventually gain ownership of Minecraft through Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2023. Insider claims RDR2 is going to get a PS5 upgrade In recent news, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, enhancing its performance on newer consoles. According to reliable leaker NateTheHate, there are also plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, although the timeline has been impacted by delays related to GTA 6. The gaming community eagerly awaits further developments on this front. Phasmophobia devs don’t want the game to be a live-service ‘treadmill’ The co-op ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia has garnered a significant following, yet its developers are keen to distance themselves from the live-service model prevalent in titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. In an interview with PCGamesN, art director Corey Dixon expressed a desire to avoid the pressures of live-service development, emphasizing the importance of creating a game that players enjoy for its inherent fun rather than as a means to retain their attention. This refreshing perspective highlights a commitment to player experience over monetization strategies. Rockstar’s firing of 31 employees is now officially being discussed in the UK Parliament Earlier this month, Rockstar Games made headlines by terminating over two dozen employees in the UK. The affected workers, along with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, have accused the company of union-busting and are demanding their reinstatement. Rockstar contends that the dismissals were due to the sharing of confidential information. This situation has escalated to the point where it was addressed in the UK Parliament, raising questions about the company's practices and the implications for its workforce. ICYMI: Watch This:" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].5 billion to acquire Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, and there are plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, though delays related to GTA 6 have impacted the timeline. The developers of Phasmophobia aim to avoid the live-service model, focusing instead on creating a game that players enjoy for its fun. Rockstar Games recently fired 31 employees in the UK, leading to accusations of union-busting and discussions in the UK Parliament regarding the dismissals.
Tech Optimizer
November 12, 2025
The Linux ecosystem is facing increased threats from sophisticated cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure. Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity firm, has launched antivirus protection specifically for home Linux users following a ban on its products in the U.S. as of July 2024. This marks the first time Kaspersky's home user products officially support Linux, with compatibility for major 64-bit distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and RED OS. The software includes features such as real-time monitoring, behavioral analysis, automatic scanning of removable media, anti-phishing alerts, online payment protection, anti-cryptojacking capabilities, and AI-powered scanning. However, Kaspersky for Linux is not GDPR-ready, which may concern EU users regarding data protection compliance. Users need an active paid subscription to download the software, but a 30-day free trial is available. Installation is straightforward, with DEB and RPM packages provided.
AppWizard
November 11, 2025
Over 30 employees at Rockstar Games were terminated, leading to protests organized by the Independent Workers' of Great Britain (IWGB) union, which labeled the firings as union busting. Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, stated that the dismissals were due to "gross misconduct" related to employees discussing confidential information, denying any link to union activities. As a result of these events, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 has been postponed from May 2026 to November 2026 to ensure quality standards. A representative from People Make Games expressed belief that the financial impact of the firings and delays has been considered by management, but he remains optimistic about the strength of worker solidarity in response to the situation.
AppWizard
November 11, 2025
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for release on November 19, 2026, despite previous delays. He highlighted that Grand Theft Auto 5 has sold over 220 million copies since its 2013 launch, with approximately 20 million copies sold in the past year alone. Zelnick emphasized the company's philosophy of releasing games only when they are ready and the importance of early marketing efforts. Additionally, Rockstar Games recently faced criticism for dismissing over 30 employees linked to a Discord server focused on labor organization, citing "gross misconduct" and leaking confidential information. This incident has been criticized by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain as a significant act of union busting.
AppWizard
November 10, 2025
Meta Platforms Inc. is enhancing WhatsApp to allow communication with users on other messaging platforms, responding to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) mandating interoperability. The initiative, which began in early 2024, is currently in beta testing in Europe and utilizes the Signal Protocol for secure communications. Third-party apps can submit integration requests to Meta, which will conduct security reviews before allowing message exchanges. The beta version currently supports only basic text messaging with BirdyChat. Users can manage their third-party inboxes and block unwanted services, with a focus on security measures like client-side scanning. Meta plans to expand interoperability features, including group chats by 2025 and calling features by 2027. While the current rollout is limited to Europe, it may influence global standards for messaging interoperability.
AppWizard
November 7, 2025
WhatsApp is beta-testing support for third-party messaging applications, currently limited to BirdyChat, as part of its exploration into cross-platform messaging. This initiative is influenced by the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which imposes stricter regulations on tech companies. The rollout is expected to be selective, primarily benefiting users in Europe, while users outside this region will not have access to these features for the time being.
AppWizard
November 7, 2025
WhatsApp is developing a feature to allow users to send messages to users of other messaging applications, responding to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Currently, this capability is limited to messaging BirdyChat and is only available to users within the European Union. The feature is still in beta testing, and users outside the EU will not have access to it yet. App-specific functionalities may be limited when messaging across platforms.
AppWizard
November 7, 2025
WhatsApp is introducing a beta feature for European users that allows them to send and receive messages from other messaging platforms, starting with BirdyChat. This initiative is a response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires major platforms to collaborate with competitors. Users can exchange messages, images, videos, and voice notes securely, although some WhatsApp features like status updates and disappearing messages will not be available in cross-platform conversations. The feature will be opt-in by default, allowing users to control communication preferences, and currently only BirdyChat is supported, with future integration from other apps expected. This feature is in beta within EU regions, with no plans for expansion outside Europe at this time.
AppWizard
November 1, 2025
Rockstar Games has terminated the employment of 30 to 40 staff members across various offices in the UK and Canada on October 30. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) alleges that these firings are a form of union busting, as some of those dismissed were union members or in the process of organizing. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, denies these claims, stating the dismissals were due to misconduct.
Search