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PMWC 2024 Main Event Day 2 Overall Standings: Alpha7 Esports Leads the Table, Followed by Team Reject

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pmwc 2024 day 2
Image via PUBG Mobile Esports YT

As PUBG Mobile World Cup 2024 Main Event Day 2 Concludes, Alpha7 Esports retains their top spot with 117 points with 63 elimination points adding to their tally. They scored two chicken dinners on Day 2 as well which significantly contributed to their overall lead.

Alpha7 Esports’ consistent gameplay and strategic prowess have set them apart from the competition, making them the team to watch as the tournament progresses. Team Reject currently holds the second position with a total of 107 points. A dominant 24-point victory in the third match propelled the Japanese team up the leaderboard, significantly improving their overall standing.

Talon Esports, TJB, and DRX completed the top five teams with 84, 77, and 76 points respectively. Boom Esports and Tianba secured the sixth and seventh positions, followed by DXavier and Vampire Esports in the eighth and ninth spots.

Reijioco from Team Reject became the MVP of PUBG Mobile World Cup 2024 Main Event Day 2 with 18 kills to his name.

PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC 2024) Main Event Day 2: Overall Standings

pubg mobile world cup 2024
Image via PUBG Mobile Esports YT
  1. Alpha 7 Esports – 117 points
  2. Reject – 107 points
  3. Talon Esports – 84 points
  4. TJB Esports – 77 points
  5. DRX – 76 points
  6. BOOM Esports – 74 points
  7. Tianba – 68 points
  8. D’Xavier – 63 points
  9. Vampire Esports – 59 points
  10. Team Liquid – 59 points
  11. IW NRX – 59 points
  12. Twisted Minds – 57 points
  13. 4Merical Vibes – 53 points
  14. AL ULA x IHC – 52 points
  15. POWR Esports – 39 points
  16. Yoodoo Alliance – 36 points

Match 1: Sanhok – BOOM Esports secured a dominant 16-kill victory in the first match of Day 2. Vampire Esports took second place with 4 kills, while IW NRX earned 10 points, bolstered by 9 finishes.

Match 2: Erangel – Vampire Esports emerged victorious in the second match on Erangel, securing the Chicken Dinner with five eliminations. Talon Esports showcased their dominance with an impressive 11 kills, while Tianba Esports rounded out the top three with seven finishes.

Match 3: Erangel –Team Reject secured the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner (WWCD) with 14 finishes. D’Xavier and TJB followed in second and third place, each with 5 finishes. Tianba added 9 kills to their tally, boosting their position on the overall leaderboard.

Match 4: Erangel – Alpha7 Esports showcased impressive defensive tactics to secure the Chicken Dinner with five eliminations. Talon Esports claimed second place with six kills, while IW NRX edged them out for overall points with ten eliminations. Team Reject also contributed ten points to their tally in the match.

After Match 4, Team Reject led the table with a three-point advantage.

Match 5: Miramar – D’Xavier emerged victorious in the fifth match, securing the Chicken Dinner with an impressive 11 kills. Team Liquid and IHC Esports followed closely behind, earning 15 and 12 points respectively. Team Reject added seven more kills to their overall tally.

Match 6: Miramar – Alpha7 Esports secured their second Chicken Dinner on Day 2, dominating the sixth match with an astounding 19 kills. This dominant performance earned them a total of 29 points for the match. Twisted Minds and Team Reject followed with seven and six kills respectively.

Following are the overall points scored by the champion teams of respective PUBG Mobile Global tournaments.

  • 2024 PMGO – Team Reject – 157 points
  • 2023 PMGC – IHC Esports – 142 points
  • 2023 PMWI – Vampire Esports – 227 points
  • 2022 PMGC  – S2G Esports – 190 points
  • 2022 PMWI – Vampire Esports 220 points
  • 2021 PMGC – Nova Esports – 222 points

With only six matches remaining, how many points will it take for the teams in the PMWC 2024 Main Event to become the champions?

Also Read: Fortnite Exits Galaxy Store as Epic Games Partners with New App Stores

Fortnite Exits Galaxy Store as Epic Games Partners with New App Stores

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epic games

Epic Games has announced a significant shift in its mobile store strategy. The company plans to launch its own Epic Games Store app for Android globally and iOS in the EU. It also collaborates with independent storefronts to provide “fair deals” to developers. This announcement also comes with the surprising announcement that Epic Games will remove Fortnite and other titles from the Samsung Galaxy Store.

Epic Games Store Offers Competitive Rates for Developers

According to Epic’s official blog post, the Epic Games Store will provide developers with a significantly lower revenue cut than traditional platforms such as the App Store and Google Play. These platforms typically charge a 30% share for in-app purchases, which Epic has long opposed. The Epic Games Store provides a 12% cut and eliminates any fees for payments made through third-party channels.epic games samsung galaxy store

The company has already announced a partnership with AltStore for iOS devices in the EU and hinted at collaborations with at least two other stores shortly.

Why is Epic Games Removing Fortnite from the Samsung Galaxy Store?

Epic Games will end partnerships with mobile stores that act as “rent collectors” and lack fair competition. As a result, Fortnite and other Epic titles will be removed from Samsung stores due to Samsung’s new default block on sideloading apps—installing apps from outside official stores. Epic considers this policy anti-competitive, contrasting with their previous collaboration, which included an exclusive Fortnite skin for Samsung Galaxy users in 2019.

Despite removing its games from the Galaxy Store, Epic Games remains committed to supporting Samsung devices. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney affirmed that the company will “continue to support Samsung devices fully and wholeheartedly now and in the future.” For those affected, players need to uninstall Fortnite from their Samsung devices and download the Epic Games Launcher from Fortnite.com to preserve their game progress, which will not be lost during the transition.

Also Read: Valorant Open Beta is Now Live on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S

BGMS Season 3 Survival Week Day 6 Teams, Schedule and More: Vasista Esports is Leading

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bgms season 3

BGMS Season 3 Survival Week Day 5 concluded with Vasista Esports leading the overall points table with 93 points, followed by Raven Esports with 80 points. Team Orangutan and Entity Gaming rounded up the top four in third and fourth places with the same number of points.

Carpedium secured the fifth position while Team Reckoning is following them closely in the sixth position. The sixth day of the BGMI Master Series Season 3 is set to take place today; as usual, two matches will occur. Teams will continue their battle in the tournament to stay on top and advance to the Grand Finals.

Check out the Survival Week Day 6 Groups, Teams, Schedule, and more below.

BGMS Season 3 Survival Week Day 6 Groups and Match Schedule

Group A
  • Team 8bit
  • Carnival Gaming
  • Raven Esports
  • Team Z
Group B
  • OneBlade
  • Reckoning Esports
  • WSB GAMING
  • Hero Xtreme Godlike
Group C
  • iQOOSOUL
  • Team Forever
  • VASISTA ESPORTS
  • CarpeDiem
Group D
  • Team X Spark
  • Gods Reign
  • TEAM ORANGUTAN
  • Team Tamilas
Group E
  • REVENANT Esports
  • Entity
  • Global Esports
  • MOGO eSports

Match Schedule

  • Match 1 – Miramar – ABCD
  • Match 2 – Erangel – ABCE

Nodwin is adding to the excitement by hosting a giveaway for viewers tuning in to the live stream. Every Saturday and Sunday throughout the tournament, starting today, fans have a chance to win signed merchandise and other exciting prizes.

bgms season 3

To participate in today’s giveaway, viewers must help the BGMS livestream reach 7.5K likes before Match 1 kicks off at 7 PM IST. Additionally, the livestream needs to hit 160K concurrent viewers before Match 2 concludes. To enter, fans can fill out a form that will appear in the live chat during the stream. If the targets are met, lucky participants will be selected to win amazing rewards.

On Sunday (28 July), Three matches will take place and that marks the end of Survival Week. Then we will have another phase of the League Stage i.e., Domination Week starting July 29 and running til August 4. The detailed format is yet to be unveiled.

However, it is known that the top four teams from the League Stage will be granted a direct slot at the Grand Finals while the rest will get another chance in the Playoffs Stage.

BGMS Season 3 Survival Week Overall Standings After Day 5

  1. Vasista Esports – 93 Points
  2. Raven Esports – 80 Points
  3. Orangutan Gaming – 79 Points
  4. Entity Gaming – 79 Points
  5. Carpediem – 78 Points
  6. Reckoning Esports – 75 Points
  7. Global Esports – 74 Points
  8. Team Tamilas – 70 points
  9. Gods Reign – 68 Points
  10. Team Forever – 60 Points
  11. Godlike Esports – 58 Points
  12. Carnival Gaming – 57 Points
  13. MOGO Esports – 50 Points
  14. Team X Spark – 50 Points
  15. Team Z – 45 Points
  16. Team 8Bit – 45 Points
  17. Team Soul – 45 Points
  18. WSB Gaming – 40 Points
  19. Revenant Esports – 38 Points
  20. Team OneBlade – 31 Points

Also Read: Valorant Open Beta is Now Live on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S

Valorant Open Beta is Now Live on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S

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valorant console
Image via Riot Games

Valorant is now launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the form of Open beta, as announced by Riot Games. Following a successful limited beta period that began on June 11, 2024, the game is now freely accessible to all console players.

‘No More Codes, Download now,’ says Riot. Valorant is one of the most popular FPS out there with a thriving and growing esports community. The game has been available on PC since 2020 and Riot has made it available on consoles before GTA 6.

Valorant Open Beta Now Available On PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Players can now directly download the game and enjoy the game on their favourite consoles. The game has been well received during its limited beta test period.

However, there are some key differences when you are playing this console. On consoles, Valorant introduces Focus, a new shooting mode that improves gameplay with a more refined control scheme. Unlike the PC version, where hip-fire is the primary shooting mode and aim-down-sights (ADS) is secondary, Focus provides a similar function but with less sensitivity for more precision.

According to a post on Xbox Wire, this mode enables players to shoot from the hip for fast actions such as peeking and dodging, whilst Focus mode assures accurate shots.

The game has been modified to fit console control systems. Microsoft states that several Agent abilities have been revised to align with the new input mechanisms, to preserve the original PC version’s fast-paced and mechanically rich gameplay.

Due to these changes, Valorant does not support crossplay between PC and console players, although crossplay between PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is supported. According to Microsoft, this move is intended to maintain competitive integrity in light of the different control systems.

Players can still enjoy shared progression between the PC and console versions. This implies that items like skins and battle pass progress will be transferred between platforms.

An additional benefit for Game Pass users is that all Valorant agents (including the future agents) will be unlocked. A mobile port of Valorant is in the works with no planned release date.

Also Read: SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Over AI Concerns: Major Impact on Industry

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Over AI Concerns: Major Impact on Industry

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sag-aftra strike

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike: As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make waves across several industries, the gaming industry is involved in a major labour issue. Video game actors, represented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), have declared a strike against major gaming firms like Activision, EA and more. This strike, the first of its kind since 2017, highlights rising concerns about AI’s influence on job security and fair compensation in the gaming industry.

The Strike’s Background

In the fall of 2023, SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, citing major gaming companies’ refusal to safeguard performers’ rights concerning AI use. The main concern is that AI can replicate actors’ voices and likenesses without proper consent or compensation. Since November 2022, around 2,600 voice actors and motion capture artists, including well-known individuals such as Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect), and Matt Mercer (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom), have been working without an Interactive Media Agreement.

The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually,” stated SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games. That includes the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies.

Companies Impacted

The strike affects major players in Hollywood and beyond. Companies like Disney Character Voices Inc. (owned by Walt Disney), Insomniac Games Inc. (owned by Sony), and WB Games Inc. (part of Warner Bros. Discovery) are feeling the impact. Publishing giants such as Activision Productions (owned by Microsoft), Take-Two Interactive (Take 2 Productions Inc.), and Electronic Arts Productions Inc. (EA) are also part of the strike. The list extends to Blindlight LLC, Formosa Interactive LLC, Llama Productions LLC, and VoiceWorks Productions Inc.

Game studios have responded that they have made considerable sacrifices, including substantial wage increases and safety improvements. They also claim to have included strong AI safeguards, such as requiring consent and fair compensation for actors.

While the strike aims to address industry concerns, it will almost certainly have an impact on players. Some highly anticipated games may have delays or changes, causing the whole development process to be disturbed. However, it’s worth noting that not all games are affected. Some productions have secured interim agreements or existing contracts that meet SAG-AFTRA’s requirements.

Additionally, games that were in development before September 2023 are also not officially struck, although they might still experience indirect effects. Kotaku has reported this issue concerning GTA 6, and more details are available on the SAG-AFTRA strike website.

How to Support

SAG-AFTRA is encouraging creators and streamers to invite video game performers onto their platforms to discuss the strike. The union also asks supporters to amplify their messages using the hashtags #LevelUpTheContract, #VideoGameStrike, and #SagAftraStrong on social media. For those interested in showing support, SAG-AFTRA has provided shareable graphics and additional information on how to get involved.

Also Read: The Future of Gaming Consoles: A Glimpse into the Next Decade (and Beyond!)

PMWC 2024 Grand Finals Day 1: Alpha7 Esports and DRX Share Top Spot

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pmwc 2024 finals day 1
Image via PUBG Mobile Esports YT Channel

The PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC 2024) Grand Finals kicked off today with sixteen competing teams buying for the ultimate championship title and a huge chunk of 1.5 Million USD. A total of 18 matches are said to take place for three days from July 26 – 28.

As the first day of the competition concluded, Alpha7 Esports (Brazil) took the lead with a total of 62 points. They share this impressive score with DRX (South Korea), who are in second place due to a slight deficit in placement points.

Team Reject (Japan) and TJB Esports (China) are close behind, occupying the third and fourth positions respectively. Rounding out the top six are Indonesian teams: Talon Esports in fifth place and Boom Esports in sixth.

Let’s take a look at the overall standings of PMWC 2024 Grand Finals Day 1.

PMWC 2024 Grand Finals Day 1: Overall Standings

pmwc 2024 finals day 1
Image via PUBG Mobile Esports YT Channel

  1. Alpha7 Esports (Brazil) – 62 points
  2. DRX (South Korea) – 62 points
  3. Team Reject (Japan) – 49 points
  4. TJB Esports (China) –  45 points
  5. Talon Esports (Indonesia) – 38 points
  6. Boom Esports (Indonesia) – 38 points
  7. Team Liquid (Brazil) – 36 points
  8. Tianba (China) – 32 points
  9. IW NRX (Turkey) – 31 points
  10. 4Merical Vibes (Mongolia) – 27 points
  11. Twisted Minds (Brazil) – 23 points
  12. POWR Esports (Saudi Arabia) – 23 points
  13. Yoodoo Alliance (Malaysia) – 22 points
  14. AL ULA X IHC (Mongolia) – 21 points
  15. D’Xavier Esports (Vietnam) – 19 points
  16. Vampire Esports (Thailand) – 18 points

Match Highlights

Match 1 – Sanhok: Alpha7 Esports started with a victory on the first match of the Finals with eight finishes. TJB Esports and Talon Esports secured second and third places with nine and ten eliminations respectively.

Match 2 – Erangel: TJB Esports secured a WWCD (Winner Winner Chicken Dinner) in this match, finishing with five kills while maintaining strong cover positions in the final zone.IHC Esports showcased their firepower with 11 kills but ultimately fell short, securing second place. Team Liquid also put up a strong fight, racking up 10 finishes, but had to settle for fifth position.

Match 3 – Erangel: Talon Esports claimed victory in this match with five impressive finishes. DRX and Alpha7 Esports also delivered strong performances, securing second and third positions with seven and five eliminations, respectively.

Match 4 – Erangel: DRX emerged victorious, completely dominating Team Liquid and securing five crucial finishes. Despite a valiant effort and 10 impressive kills, Team Liquid ultimately fell to DRX’s relentless pressure. Vampire Esports showcased their firepower with 7 kills, while Team Reject managed to secure 5 eliminations.

Match 5 – Miramar: Alpha7 Esports shined again by marking their second WWCD on the first day in this match with 9 finishes. Twisted Mind managed to secure a single elimination, placing second, while Team DRX fought hard to claim third position with 10 kills.

Match 6 – Miramar:  Team Reject utterly dominated the match, securing a decisive victory with an impressive 17 eliminations. BOOM Esports put up a strong fight, claiming second place with five finishes. 4Merical Vibes rounded out the top three, finishing with nine kills.

Also Read: Elgato Expands Stream Deck Plus with New XLR Dock and USB Hub for Enhanced Functionality

Elgato Expands Stream Deck Plus with New XLR Dock and USB Hub for Enhanced Functionality

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elgato stream deck plus
Image via Elgato

Elgato is expanding its Stream Deck Plus device with two new docks: the XLR Dock and the USB Hub. The additions, which were released to expand the device’s potential, satisfy a range of demands, including microphone support and expanded connectivity.

XLR Dock: Enhanced Microphone Support

The $119.99 XLR Dock plugs onto the back of the Stream Deck Plus and provides up to 75dB of gain. This makes it compatible with popular microphones such as Shure’s SM7B. The dock also has a headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring, comparable to Elgato’s Wave XLR.

stream deck plus xlr dock
Image via Elgato

Key advantages of the XLR Dock include:

  • Simplified setup: It just requires one USB connection to your laptop or PC, eliminating the need for several XLR interfaces.
  • Integrated control: The microphone settings can be managed via the Stream Deck Plus knobs, while the main buttons can be used to set mute switches and other controls.

USB Hub: Enhanced Connectivity

For those without an XLR microphone, the $59.99 USB Hub adds more ports. It connects to the rear of the Stream Deck Plus and includes:

  • Two USB-C ports.
  • Two USB A ports
  • An SD or microSD card reader

stream deck plus usb hub
Image via Elgato

These ports can handle data transfers up to 5Gb/s. Additionally, the hub has a 65-watt uplink connector that can charge a laptop when connected to an external USB-C power supply. Elgato recommends using a power supply for best performance to minimize issues caused by insufficient power from the system alone.

Availability

The XLR Dock and USB Hub are also available right away from Elgato’s website, providing consumers with increased adaptability and convenience for their Stream Deck Plus setups.

Also Read: Sea of Thieves Season 13: Captain Flameheart Returns with New Challenges and Rewards

Sea of Thieves Season 13: Captain Flameheart Returns with New Challenges and Rewards

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sea of thieves season 13

Rare has released the much-anticipated Season 13 update for Sea of Thieves, bringing back the deadly Captain Flameheart and his renowned flagship, the Burning Blade. This update, which was released on July 25th, includes new gameplay elements, a revamped Renown track, and exciting rewards.

Players may now participate in epic naval battles against the Burning Blade, with the option of joining Flameheart’s crew or defeating him for major rewards. The update now includes Skeleton Camps, which defend old temples containing important secrets. In these strange locales, players can choose whether to support or oppose Flameheart’s objectives.

sea of thieves season 13

Key features of the Season 13 update include:

  • The return of Captain Flameheart and his flagship, the Burning Blade
  • New Skeleton Camps and Ancient Temples to explore
  • 100 levels of Renown and a Plunder Pass for additional rewards
  • Gameplay enhancements and bug fixes

In addition to new content, Season 13 introduces 100 levels of Renown, allowing players to access rare prizes and cosmetics. The Plunder Pass offers additional incentives for those looking for more treasure.

While the game’s popularity has surged since its PS5 launch, it has also struggled to maintain gamers. It remains to be seen whether this huge improvement will revive player interest.

For a comprehensive list of changes and updates, players can refer to the official Sea of Thieves Season 13 patch notes. Highlights include new commendations, rewards, and updates to the Emissary Ledgers, along with a range of new items available in the Pirate Emporium and Outpost shops.

Sea of Thieves Season 13 is now available for download, free for all players. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Also Read: PlayStation Portal Update 3.0.1: Enhanced Connectivity and Performance Unveiled

PlayStation Portal Update 3.0.1: Enhanced Connectivity and Performance Unveiled

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playstation portal

Sony has released a new system software update for the PlayStation Portal, the Remote Play-focused handheld device introduced last year. The update, version 3.0.1, brings notable enhancements to improve user experience and device performance.

PlayStation Portal Update 3.0.1 Patch Notes and Highlights

Expanded connectivity options

One of the key features of the new update is the expanded connectivity options. Users can now connect their PlayStation Portal to various public networks, including 5GHz ones. This upgrade seeks to give users greater freedom and better connectivity when using the smartphone on the go.

Performance and Stability Improvements

In addition to enhanced connectivity features, the update contains unspecified system software performance and stability improvements. Users on the PlayStation Portal subreddit have observed considerable improvements since the upgrade. However, more testing is necessary to determine the magnitude of these performance improvements.

Visual feedback for touchpad areas

The emulated touchpad on the PlayStation Portal’s vibrant 8-inch screen gives fresh visual feedback. When using the touchpad regions during remote play, you’ll notice better effects that improve your game experience.

Battery Level Display

Want to keep an eye on your battery? You may now see the remaining battery level % in the status bar in the top right corner of your screen. Navigate to [Settings] > [System] > [Battery] and enable [Show Battery Percentage].

Since its release in November, the PlayStation Portal has fascinated players with its combination of important elements from the DualSense wireless controller and its stunning 8-inch LCD display. Over 60% of PlayStation Portal owners have used Remote Play for the first time, making it a significant addition to the gaming ecosystem.

According to Rishi Alwani, PlayStation Portal is set to arrive in India by August 15 and the price could be around Rs 20000.

Also Read: Activision Sells AI-Generated Skins in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: Report

Activision Sells AI-Generated Skins in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: Report

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modern warfare 3 AI

AI has already taken over the stage of creative art, employment and video games are no exception. A recent report from WIRED revealed that leading gaming firms, such as Activision Blizzard and Riot Games, are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate their development processes. According to the report, Activision Blizzard went above and above by directly selling AI-generated material to customers.

COD Modern Warfare 3 Yokai’s Wrath bundle: Activision Sold AI-Generated In-Game Content

The gaming company allegedly began experimenting with AI in early 2023, gaining access to advanced language models such as GPT-3.5 by July of the same year. These tools were subsequently approved for use in developing concept art and marketing materials. A crucial turning point occurred in late 2023 when Activision is said to have offered an AI-generated cosmetic item through Modern Warfare 3s in-game store.

The report (spotted by Dexerto) links to Yokai’s Wrath bundle, implying that it was partially created by AI. This package, which debuted in December 2023, includes an Operator skin, a weapon blueprint, a calling card, a weapon sticker, and a loading screen. It was priced at 1,500 CoD Points, or around $15.

While it is unknown which components of Yokai’s Wrath bundle were created using AI, the report indicates that Activision’s developers were given permission to utilize AI tools such as Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to create AI art.

However, the situation took a more contentious turn in early 2024 when Microsoft laid off a significant portion of Activision Blizzard and Xbox staff. According to a company insider, remaining concept artists were subsequently pressured to utilize AI to meet production demands.

The report also cites Riot Games, which experimented with its own generative AI. However, the technology apparently did not garner much momentum inside the organization.

As of yet, Activision Blizzard has not responded to the report. The implications of using AI in game production remain an ongoing topic of debate in the industry.

Also Read: PlayStation Unveils New PS5 Beta: Customizable 3D Audio Profiles, Remote Play Access, and Adaptive Charging