An annual report into the use of minerals sourced from conflict zones by major technology companies has praised Microsoft and Nintendo for their efforts to improve over the past year.

But the same report – compiled by former GamesIndustry.biz writer Brendan Sinclair, now at Unlosing Writer – also highlighted how Sony had regressed.

The use of minerals in hardware manufacturing – most commonly tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold – is tracked by US and EU legislation to ensure companies disclose the countries and specific mines where their resources originate in a bid to ensure these operations aren’t funding human rights abuses.

This year’s report reflects on an overall dip in standards caused by the Covid pandemic – when inspections were more difficult and …

Sorry folks, there’s “no chance” of forthcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Astro Bot coming to PS VR2.

The creative director of the much-anticipated colourful platformer, Nicolas Doucet, was interview by MinnMax with 176 rapid-fire questions about the game.

When asked if there’s a chance this Astro Bot could come to PS VR2, Doucet replied simply: “no chance, it’s designed for a different medium”.

Astro Bot – Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games

…

Considering its huge success during its first week, it’s no surprise that modders are already busy tinkering with Black Myth: Wukong.

Mods so far range from small tweaks to new character models, though perhaps the most inevitable of all was adding Dragon Ball Z’s Goku as the main character.

Both Black Myth: Wukong and Dragon Ball Z are based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West, and both The Destined One and Goku are based on the character Sun Wukong from the novel.

To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Manage cookie settings …

Bandai Namco will shut down the servers of its anime MMORPG Blue Protocol in Japan and has cancelled its release in the West.

Blue Protocol was released in Japan in June 2023, with the forthcoming western release managed by Amazon Games.

However, in a new statement from the developers on the game’s website, the “difficult decision” has been made to end service as “it will not be possible to provide a service that satisfies all of you”.

BLUE PROTOCOL: Announce Trailer – The Game Awards

…

Obsidian is targeting 30fps on Xbox consoles for its fantasy RPG, Avowed.
In conversation with the Iron Lords podcast, Obsidian art director Matt Hansen said the studio is “core targeting 30 frames per second, bare minimum” for the upcoming release, adding since “it’s a first-person, single-player game, you don’t necessarily need that 60 frames”.
Explaining further, Hansen said this will allow the Avowed team to “get a lot juicier with VFX and lighting and all this other stuff”.

Avowed Story Trailer – Xbox Games Showcase 2024

…

Epic Games has won a major victory in its ongoing legal battle against Google, which a US judge has now ruled operates an illegal monopoly via its smartphone app store.

Google – which is appealing the verdict – has been ordered to allow third-party storefront apps such as the Epic Games Store to be made available from the Google Play Store in the US next year.

For at least the next three years, Google will also be forced to allow users to pay via alternate means, rather than just Google Play Billing, from which Google takes a 30 percent cut.

In a statement released in response to the verdict, Google said it would push back against the ruling and request a pause on its required changes “to maintain a consistent and safe experience for users and developers…

Diablo 4’s expansion Vessel of Hatred released earlier today, welcoming a record number of Steam players in the process.
At the time of writing, there are 45,231 Diablo 4 players on Steam, a record for Blizzard’s hellish game on the platform. Earlier today, the all-time Steam player peak was sitting at 39,782, recorded four months ago.
Diablo 4 originally launched on consoles and for PC via Battle.net in June 2023, then popped up on Steam that October, by which point it had reached 12 million players total.

Diablo IV | Vessel of Hatred | Gameplay Launch Trailer

…