What’s up, gamers? Hope you’re ready to dive in for a fresh week of tech and gaming news, because it’s been a busy one. With the end of October, we’re full-speed ahead on games launching right before the Christmas season. Just this week, we’re seeing a brand new Call of Duty, a Yakuza live-action show and the final instalment of Alan Wake 2 downloadable content drop.
AI also continues to be a significant pain point as more companies rush to release their models, with serious consequences.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches today
Say goodbye to your boyfriends for the next few weeks because the brand new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches today.
On launch, the game will release 16 new multiplayer maps. The fan-favourite Zombies game mode will also receive two new maps, so you better get in quick before the sweats figure out the best ways to play the game.
The game also continues the campaign, directly tying in with Black Ops 2 and Black Ops Cold War. The new story will take place in 1990, and set you on yet another spy-thriller blockbuster that’ll have you inevitably gunning down hallways of bad guys.
You can play the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S | X and PC today.
6. X’s changes to blocking and AI-training cause largest migration to rival Bluesky
In a bizarre move that no one except absolute psychos asked for, X has decided to make it impossible to block someone entirely. Blocked accounts won’t be able to interact with your posts, but will still be able to see them. Sick one, Elon! Did your ex block you or something?
Many pointed out the immense risks to personal security and privacy, however X mostly ignored those concerns.
In even more alarming news, X quietly added a line to its Terms of Service that will allow the platform to use your content (including images) to train its generative AI system.
Understandably, countless users have decided that they no longer feel safe on the platform. By sheer coincidence, Bluesky — the Twitter-like platform founded by former Twitter CEO / co-founder Jack Dorsey, said it welcomed another 500,000 users this week.
Content Warning: this next section discusses suicide.
5. Mother sues Character.AI after 14-year-old son kills himself.
In other fresh AI hell news, AI chatbot site Character.ai came under fire this week after 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III took his own life after conversing with one of the site’s chatbot’s.
Now, Setzer’s mother has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the company is responsible. In her lawsuit, she argues that Character.ai recklessly developed chatbots without proper guardrails or precautions. As a result, she claims vulnerable children could be hooked on the platform and become immensely influenced by their chatbots responses.
Conversations with the chatbot, which was made to look like Daenerys Targaryen from HBO’s Game of Thrones series, were also found to be romantic and sexual, reinforcing the argument that a younger kid could be immensely influenced by that chatbots responses.
Character.ai has defended itself, announcing that it has been taking measures by implementing new safety features in the past six months, including pop-ups that can direct users to a suicide prevention lifeline. The lawsuit has also listed parent company Google as a defendant.
4. Overwatch 2 confirms bringing 6v6 gameplay back by the end of year
Overwatch 2 developer Blizzard has announced they’ll be bringing back its original 6v6 matches next season in December.
For those out of the loop on why this is a big deal, one of the big changes and justifications for Overwatch 2 was the switch from 6v6 to 5v5. With Blizzard cancelling the story mode and now moving back to 6v6, there isn’t much to separate Overwatch 2 from its prior entry except for a new controversial monetisation system.
The returning game mode will be trialing out a few different methods in the future to figure out the best way to move forward with the game.
3. Yakuza: Like A Dragon live-action show drops today
The live-action adaptation for Japanese video game series Yakuza is here, and unsurprisingly, reactions are mixed.
It’s one of the wackiest and most melodramatic video game series of all time, so what else would you expect? Fans gush over the great characters, unique gameplay and excellent karaoke scenes, yet laugh manically if you ask them about the maddening mini games.
@j6ryu i love yakuza5 #rgg #ryugagotoku #kiryukazuma #yakuza5 ♬ the_chumss on socials – The Chums
Fans were fearful a live-action adaption would nix the game’s campiness and play it as a straight gritty crime drama, and guess what? The adaptation nixed the campiness and went straight for a gritty crime drama.
Rolling Stone was a bit more generous in its review than others, claiming the series did enough to “pave its own way while maintaining the endearingly silly heart of the game” — but still. Fans aren’t exactly going hog wild.
2. Bernie Sanders & Mark Hamill Joined Twitch Stream And Learn What a Vtuber Is
I’m not gonna lie, chat; the second-hand embarrassment is hitting me hard right now. As if I didn’t need it already, this was such a humbling reality check that I need to go outside and make more friends. Being a full-grown adult, I really shouldn’t know who all these streamers are. But alas, I do, and now we’re all here.
US Senator Bernie Sanders and Star Wars actor Mark Hamill joined Twitch streamers Pokimane, Valkyrae, Sykkuno and AustinShow to discuss the upcoming election.
The conversation started off awkwardly as Vtuber Sykunno asked Sanders if he knew what a Vtuber was. Sanders (obviously) said no, and then uncomfortably sat while being given the description. Seeing a serious and professional political conversation take place while a 3D catboy nodded along broke me.
Of course, as the conversation went on, both Hamill and Sanders would go on to discuss the importance of the election this year, while the Twitch streamers fielded questions from their audience.
This was always going to be an inevitability, however. Twitch is a platform famous (for better or worse) for hosting political debates and commentators, so I’m not surprised to see more attempts to connect with the younger audience there.
Regardless, nothing makes me want to walk off into a forest and never be seen again than when my terminally online subculture gets mainstream attention.
1. Alan Wake 2 dropped final DLC ‘The Lake House’
For horror fans looking for something to sink their teeth into this Halloween, I’ve got great news for you. Alan Wake 2‘s latest downloadable content, The Lake House, has just dropped, and it’s bound to give you a much-needed fright to your system.
A year after Alan Wake 2‘s release, the critically acclaimed horror game from Remedy Studios has finally dropped its last downloadable content for the game, closing the book on the story it wanted to tell.
In this self-contained story, you play Janina Gavankar, who briefly appears in the main game. An outpost from the Federal Bureau of Control has gone quiet, and you, as Janina, investigate what happened.
Inside, you find the facility abandoned, with possessed beings called the Taken inhabiting the facility.
Reviews have called it a scary and continuously unsettling horror experience that’s sure to keep you engaged with suspense and dread.
As Alan Wake 2‘s number one simp, I’m sad to see the game wrap up, but oh boy am I keen to see what Remedy Studios does next.
That’s all, folks. Be sure to tune in next week for more tech and gaming news.
- If you need mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
- Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
- You can also reach the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or chat online.
- If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
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