Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
Discover how Elon Musk drew inspiration from gaming lore in naming OpenAI, briefly considering "Freeman" after Gordon Freeman, the silent protagonist of Valve's Half-Life series, symbolizing "maximum freedom of action for humanity". This revelation comes from internal emails released amidst the legal battle between Musk and Sam Altman. The name, inspired by the intentionally enigmatic character, reflects the company's ambitious goals.
Microsoft has abruptly ended its Gaming Copilot AI project for Xbox, less than two months after its unveiling, due to strong negative feedback from gamers. The move is part of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's efforts to "win back fans" and realign the platform's focus. Despite this, Xbox isn't abandoning AI entirely, with features like AutoSR still in development.
Masters of Albion, the upcoming god game from 22cans, has been marked as Unsupported on Steam Deck despite the developer's assurance of full optimisation for handheld play. Performance issues, including inconsistent fps rates, led to the Unsupported badge. The game's mixed performance on Steam Deck raises questions about Valve's verification criteria.
Microsoft's new Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, halts development of Copilot, an AI chatbot intended for Xbox consoles, as part of a broader strategic realignment. The move follows an internal leadership shift and signals a focus on core, community-driven initiatives. Copilot's cancellation comes despite previous plans for a console rollout later this year.
Hokum director Damian McCarthy expresses regrets over his debut film Caveat, citing rushed scriptwriting due to budget constraints. Despite its success and enduring scare factor, McCarthy wishes for another chance to refine it. His reflections offer insight into the evolution of his directing style, evident in subsequent films like Oddity and Hokum.
James Cameron contemplates converting his 1986 sci-fi classic Aliens to 3D, leveraging advanced depth mapping tools. This move, if realized, would offer a new cinematic experience for the evergreen film's enduring fanbase. Cameron's affinity for 3D, previously showcased in Avatar, drives this consideration.
Saros, the spiritual successor to Returnal, sparks debate among fans over its difficulty level, with some finding it too easy and others too hard. The game's Carcosan Modifiers aim to balance accessibility and challenge. Despite mixed opinions, the community remains supportive of struggling players.
Marking 20 years since the release of Dissension, the final set of the Ravnica block, Magic: The Gathering's foundational identity was reshaped. The introduction of 10 guilds, each representing a unique two-color pairing with distinct mechanics and philosophies, transformed the game. Ravnica gifted players a shared language, evolving deck identities beyond mere color combinations.
Step back in time with us as we explore the humble, often hilarious beginnings of iconic video game websites. From EA's flipping squares to Ubisoft's enthusiastic "GAME SERVICE" launch, and the surprising past lives of Discord.com and Elgato.com, discover how far the industry has come. Relive the simplicity and personality of late 90s and early 2000s gaming sites.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a spiritual successor to BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic series, is being developed by Arcanaut Studios, a team predominantly composed of former BioWare developers. Led by Casey Hudson, project director of the original KotOR and Mass Effect series, the studio's leadership includes several veterans of BioWare's iconic franchises. This reunion of talent promises a deep understanding of the series' roots.
