Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has hired three researchers from OpenAI to bolster his company’s work on artificial intelligence. This strategic move aims to guide Meta Platforms through its current AI challenges. The social-media corporation brought aboard Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, all of whom previously held positions at OpenAI’s branch in Zurich, as per sources privy to this information. These individuals established OpenAI’s location in Zurich towards the end of last year. Prior to their time at OpenAI, they collaborated closely within Google DeepMind, which is the organization’s artificial intelligence division. A representative from OpenAI verified that the three scientists have departed from the organization. Zuckerberg has been on an intense recruiting drive To correct the company’s AI initiatives following the underwhelming reception of its most recent model, he has sometimes proposed giving researchers up to $100 million to become part o...
The letter section of Tuesday’s newspaper believes Sony erred in moving their PlayStation division to a new location. US , as one reader is astonished by the minimal amount Sonic the Hedgehog sells.
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Lost exclusives
I can't help but question whether we're exaggerating the importance of exclusives more than needed.
The weekend feature he mentioned 'It’s all quite grim and disheartening actually. Quality games will keep being developed – this year has been fantastic so far – but not by Sony , or at most once a year or so."
Initially, when selecting among gaming platforms, exclusives play a crucial role, especially during the early stages of a new console era. Nonetheless, once the pace of console sales decelerates and players have committed to a particular system, does it still hold significance which company develops the games, provided that these games maintain high quality?
I understand the reasoning that suggests it benefits platform manufacturers in the long run, but one might also contend that an increase in cross-platform games would be advantageous for both gamers and game creators?
Matt (runs_from_them – PSN ID)
GC: Sony games stand out uniquely, and no one else creates titles quite like theirs. This statement holds even more truth for Nintendo.
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Blue shelled
Mario Kart World is certainly not up to par with Mario Kart 8.
The most frustrating aspect of Mario Kart World occurs when you're overwhelmed by the competition and find yourself stuck at the back, repeatedly getting struck by items like shells, fireballs, boomerangs, or anything else the AI decides to use against you. In my view, increasing the number of competitors to 24 does not improve this experience.
The most disappointing aspect I've encountered in this game is the monotonous tracks featuring endless, unrealistically broad straightaways. In Mario Kart, overcoming the AI often relies on taking turns more effectively. However, this game drastically reduces cornering opportunities in favor of extended sections with minimal variation.
Except for the initial race of each cup, which takes place on a proper During most other races, it feels like a total roll of the dice, with players merely relying on getting a perfectly timed blue shell against the AI opponent two turns from the finish line or scoring a triple/super mushroom to propel themselves back into the running.
For me, this entry is somewhat off-target. In racing terminology, you might say I took a wrong turn and spun out.
StellarFlux
Souls I like
I'm almost finished with the fantastic "The First Berserker: Khazan." If you're unfamiliar with it, this game combines elements from both Soulslike titles and Sekiro. I thoroughly enjoy the combat system, the variety of foes, and the extensive customization options. Additionally, I appreciate the fairly straightforward level layout—it feels akin to progressing through a series of challenges leading up to each boss battle.
This game ranks among the toughest I've ever played, and it’s significantly more challenging than Elden Ring or Shadow of the Erdtree, which I found relatively straightforward with the proper setup and access to helpful summons.
There’s substantial continuing support from the developers as well – including an upcoming patch that will introduce the capability to save loadouts (which is sure to be highly beneficial).
In general, I would strongly endorse this despite the storyline being rather typical and the main hub area being fairly unremarkable (though practical, it does come off as somewhat dull).
Has anyone else liked it as much as I did?
Tom
GC: We thought It was also quite good.
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Between two stools
Nice review of Death Stranding 2 However, I find myself let down as it appears quite comparable to the original, with the primary gameplay seemingly simplified due to the inclusion of vehicles. Since I haven't had the chance to play it yet, I'm not entirely sure how this works, but navigating the landscape and maintaining balance were key aspects of the initial game’s appeal.
I similarly dislike the notion of simply targeting BTs, as this reduces them to typical video game enemies. In my view, the initial version remains superior. Although there might be an inclination to make the game more straightforwardly 'entertaining,' for whom would such changes cater? They could alienate current enthusiasts and deter newcomers due to the legacy of the first installment.
I believe it would have been preferable to create an entirely new game instead, and I suspect that Death Stranding 2's sales will be impacted negatively because of this decision.
Manny
Skynet’s revenge
Is anyone else finding the AI in Mario Kart World somewhat flawed? I've earned gold in every cup for Grand Prix mode yet have found myself challenged by Knockout Tour. Despite this, I've still secured a few victories here and there, though it remains quite tough. The computer-driven racers appear absurdly quick as you reach the final lap stages; without having built a significant advantage before then, winning becomes nearly impossible. If you're not leading coming into those last laps, overtaking them just isn’t feasible.
The good news is that I performed much better this time online and won my very first Knockout Tour event recently.
matc7884
World’s slowest scramble
The primary reason for Sony's limited engagement this console cycle, which isn't due to 'pride,' could be attributed to a significant miscalculation regarding their online services strategy, leaving them scrambling to recover. Clearly, not having new exclusive titles hasn't financially harmed them, yet I believe their slow progress doesn't stem from lacking competition from Xbox.
It’s more probable that redirecting nearly all of their internal studios towards developing live service games (at least for a period) along with the setbacks caused by COVID-19, has created a significant gap in their lineup of exclusive titles. This void is something they're currently trying hard to address. Hence, the reason behind them being tight-lipped might simply be because... they don’t yet have substantial news to share.
While they may have found success towards the end of this console era, they've largely abandoned what set them apart in the gaming industry. The integration of various divisions like America, Europe, and Japan into a more Western-oriented approach led to a loss of their distinctive character. Additionally, shifting focus from developing innovative single-player titles to unsuccessful live-service models significantly diminished their reputation for pushing creative boundaries.
There’s plenty more to enjoy on the PlayStation 5, and I find the hardware impressive (especially its appearance, surprising considering how divisive it seems!). However, it feels as though this generation from PlayStation Studios has been somewhat underwhelming so far.
Magnumstache
GC: We always said that consolidating the PlayStation operations in the United States It was a significant error. It was among the earliest actions taken by Jim Ryan after assuming control.
Where the money is
Seeing how few sales Sonic the Hedgehog games appear to generate I'm quite surprised that Sega has managed to stay operational, particularly after their parent company acquired Atlus; they ended up being bundled together.
The only video game franchise I can recall making more from merchandise like t-shirts and lunch boxes than from the actual games would be Sonic. It’s not surprising that the quality of these games has declined over time; imagining that your creations generate less revenue than children's coloring books probably doesn’t do wonders for team spirit.
Dench
Uncertain future
The PlayStation 5 era turning out to be the most lucrative one provides intriguing food for thought.
The profits for the PlayStation 5 era began in 2020 and encompass revenue from both the PS4 and PS5 systems. A significant issue during this generation has been the limited number of titles that fully utilize the advanced capabilities of the PS5 hardware. However, extending the crossover phase between generations hasn’t had any adverse effects on overall earnings, nor on console sales and profitability. For the upcoming PlayStation 6, I anticipate an even more prolonged transitional period across different generations.
It seemed to indicate that about half of the revenue from the PlayStation Store comes from just a few games, such as FIFA, plus money spent on microtransactions.
It's not surprising that Sony wants their own live-service game platform, allowing them to keep 100% rather than sharing 30% of those substantial earnings with Apple. However, this does not justify the careless and inept approach they have taken to achieve this goal.
Releasing on PC has not negatively impacted their performance in console sales or profits. The previous CEO, Andrew House, highlighted that once development costs for games become excessively large, exclusive deals can no longer be supported sustainably. There were predictions of a significant shift towards PC gaming when Sony began launching titles there as well. However, this migration hasn't occurred.
Actually, Sony's record-breaking profits stem primarily from conventional income streams such as services, game content, and third-party sales. These components appear to represent an even larger share of their overall earnings now compared to before. However, the lasting impact on the development of first-party single-player games—something both myself and dedicated fans desire—is still uncertain and won’t be clear for some time.
If they fail to deliver the same high-profit margins from game content, services, and ongoing support, while becoming less crucial for their primary role—driving console sales so profits can be made through these additional offerings—you will allocate fewer resources to them.
I haven’t hit the panic button just yet. However, I find myself frowning more often when keeping up with many gaming updates nowadays, which has left some additional creases on my forehead. On the flip side, there seem to be countless amazing games for me to enjoy throughout my life. It makes one wonder how everything will turn out eventually.
Simundo
GC: Only a handful of Sony exclusives have made their way successfully to PC, namely Helldivers 2 and Stellar Blade, with the latter being more prominent primarily in Asian markets.
Inbox also-rans
I have numerous joyful recollections of playing Mario Kart 64. While part of this might be due to nostalgia, I firmly believe it isn’t a poor game. In fact, it doesn’t even rank as the least favorable Mario Kart; that distinction would go to Double Dash!!.
Onibee
We ought to compile a list of every instance where Xbox has reversed their stance on statements they previously made. However, I must admit, an Xbox VR headset was not something I ever expected.
Walters
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