#gaming-ethics

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fromwww.theguardian.com
1 hour ago

Gambling is easy, right? Wrong: it turns out betting on sport is designed to disturb you | Barney Ronay

Nearly everyone is losing money, a club executive is quoted as saying, presumably while dressed in a suit made entirely from gold leaf, bitcoin shavings and vintage parmesan cheese.
Poker
Artificial intelligence
fromArs Technica
15 hours ago

What leaked "SteamGPT" files could mean for the PC gaming platform's use of AI

Valve is integrating AI tools, named SteamGPT, to enhance internal evaluations of in-game incidents and analyze suspicious accounts.
#valve
Games
fromGadgets 360
1 day ago

Valve Reportedly Working on SteamGPT Tool for Steam Support, CS2 Anti-Cheat

Valve is developing an AI tool called SteamGPT for Steam to assist with support and anti-cheat measures for Counter-Strike 2.
Games
fromGadgets 360
1 day ago

Valve Reportedly Working on SteamGPT Tool for Steam Support, CS2 Anti-Cheat

Valve is developing an AI tool called SteamGPT for Steam to assist with support and anti-cheat measures for Counter-Strike 2.
Video games
fromKotaku
12 hours ago

Ex-Bethesda Exec Says The Elder Scrolls 6 Maker Isn't Part Of Something 'Genuine' Or 'Authentic' At Microsoft - Kotaku

Pete Hines retired from Bethesda after 24 years, feeling powerless under Microsoft’s ownership to protect the studio's legacy and efficiency.
Film
fromVulture
13 hours ago

The Horrors of Being a Content Moderator Fuel the New Faces of Death

Poor character decisions in horror films can frustrate viewers, but Margot's journey in Faces of Death offers a relatable and engaging narrative.
#social-media
Social media marketing
fromHer Campus
1 day ago

They Knew, They Didn't Care, & We Are All Paying For It

Social media platforms like Instagram have been found liable for mental health damage to young users, with internal documents revealing harmful strategies targeting teens.
Digital life
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Including online games in social media bans is unworkable, unnecessary and would harm young people

Meta and YouTube were found liable for creating addictive products affecting young users, prompting calls for social media restrictions for under-16s.
Social media marketing
fromHer Campus
1 day ago

They Knew, They Didn't Care, & We Are All Paying For It

Social media platforms like Instagram have been found liable for mental health damage to young users, with internal documents revealing harmful strategies targeting teens.
Digital life
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Including online games in social media bans is unworkable, unnecessary and would harm young people

Meta and YouTube were found liable for creating addictive products affecting young users, prompting calls for social media restrictions for under-16s.
Law
fromgizmodo.com
1 day ago

Meta Is Pulling Down Ads That Seek to Recruit Clients for Social Media Addiction Litigation

Meta is removing ads from attorneys recruiting clients for social media addiction lawsuits after recent legal defeats.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Roblox predator who groomed girl and sent highly sexualised' messages jailed

Carlo Tritta, 19, has been locked up for 28 months after pleading guilty to various offences including making indecent images of a child and sexual communications with a child.
Privacy professionals
US news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Moment Roblox predator arrested after grooming 14-year-old girl

A 19-year-old man was jailed for 28 months for sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl he met on Roblox.
National Basketball Association
fromDefector
2 days ago

The 65-Game Rule Exacerbates The Fake Problem It Was Intended To Solve | Defector

The 65-game rule complicates NBA award eligibility, impacting star players who may miss out due to injuries or insufficient game time.
Cryptocurrency
fromKotaku
2 days ago

Resident Evil Star's AI-Coded Tool Accused Of Being Snake Oil

Milla Jovovich and Ben Sigman launched MemPalace, an AI memory system, claiming it outperforms competitors, but skepticism surrounds their partnership and claims.
European startups
fromEntrepreneur
2 days ago

The 'Sneaky' Ways Companies Are Making You Pay More - Without Raising Prices

Companies are creatively offsetting price increases due to rising fuel costs, often passing hidden costs to consumers.
#child-safety
fromTechCrunch
2 days ago
Privacy professionals

OpenAI releases a new safety blueprint to address the rise in child sexual exploitation | TechCrunch

Parenting
fromComputerWeekly.com
3 days ago

Tech can't wait for regulation to protect children online | Computer Weekly

Harmful online content for children results from profit-driven algorithms, not parenting or education failures.
Privacy professionals
fromTechCrunch
2 days ago

OpenAI releases a new safety blueprint to address the rise in child sexual exploitation | TechCrunch

OpenAI has introduced a Child Safety Blueprint to combat AI-enabled child exploitation and enhance child protection efforts in the U.S.
fromReadWrite
3 days ago

Prediction markets disrupt tribal gaming law balance, experts say

"Today, our Board took decisive action to protect what generations before us fought to build. These so-called prediction markets are an attempt to bypass tribal authority and recast gambling as a financial product. We will not allow that. We will stand united to defend tribal sovereignty and the integrity of Indian gaming."
SF politics
UX design
fromMedium
3 days ago

Careful, liable UX is a thing now

Design decisions that manipulate users are being recognized as deceptive practices with significant real-life consequences.
fromKotaku
18 hours ago

Cozy RPG Deleted From Steam After Seemingly Ripping Off Tetris

The official X account for Starsand Island stated that the removal was due to 'insufficient verification during the planning stage of a minigame within this game.'
Games
Poker
fromESPN.com
1 day ago

Senator contacts leagues over 'gambling's ugly takeover'

A U.S. senator raised concerns about the impact of gambling on sports integrity and athlete safety in letters to major sports leagues.
Video games
fromEngadget
9 hours ago

Epic is reportedly building an extraction shooter for Disney

Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic aims to create an entertainment universe, with a Disney-themed extraction shooter set for release in November.
UX design
fromSmashing Magazine
4 days ago

Identifying Necessary Transparency Moments In Agentic AI (Part 1) - Smashing Magazine

Designing for agentic AI requires balancing transparency and simplicity to build user trust without overwhelming them with information.
#polymarket
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Polymarket criticized over disgusting' bets on fate of pilots on US jet shot by Iran

Polymarket ceased betting on the rescue of US pilots after criticism from Congressman Seth Moulton, who deemed it inappropriate and disgusting.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Polymarket criticized over disgusting' bets on fate of pilots on US jet shot by Iran

Polymarket ceased betting on the rescue of US pilots after criticism from Congressman Seth Moulton, who deemed it inappropriate and disgusting.
Video games
fromKotaku
12 hours ago

Epic Is Reportedly Making A Disney-Themed Extraction Shooter

Epic is developing an extraction shooter featuring Disney characters, expected to launch in November.
Poker
fromESPN.com
2 days ago

Nicklaus, Watson, Player favor rolling back golf ball distance

Increased driving distance in golf is seen as a tragedy, prompting calls for a rollback of the golf ball to preserve the game's integrity.
Artificial intelligence
fromFast Company
3 days ago

BadClaude: Serious ethics issues arise as users abuse Anthropic AI with slurs and a digital whip

Users are encouraged to be rude to AI chatbots for better responses, exemplified by the creation of a tool called 'BadClaude'.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
5 days ago

More teens are getting hooked on gambling. Parents say it often goes undetected

Gambling addiction among boys is rising, with 36% of U.S. boys aged 11 to 17 having gambled in the past year.
#amazon-luna
Games
fromThe Verge
14 hours ago

Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases

Amazon Luna will restrict access to only its subscription games, removing third-party purchases and subscriptions by June 2026.
Video games
fromEngadget
14 hours ago

Amazon Luna ends support for third-party subscriptions and game purchases

Amazon is discontinuing third-party integrations on Luna, affecting subscriptions and game access.
Games
fromThe Verge
14 hours ago

Amazon Luna axes third-party game purchases

Amazon Luna will restrict access to only its subscription games, removing third-party purchases and subscriptions by June 2026.
Video games
fromEngadget
14 hours ago

Amazon Luna ends support for third-party subscriptions and game purchases

Amazon is discontinuing third-party integrations on Luna, affecting subscriptions and game access.
Poker
fromReadWrite
2 days ago

Australia gambling ads reform draws sharp criticism

Australia is implementing reforms to reduce gambling ads, aiming to protect children and address public health concerns related to gambling.
#online-gaming
fromLondon On The Inside
2 weeks ago
Digital life

Cultural Codes in Gaming: How Innovation Is Rewriting the Rules

Online gaming design adapts to local behaviors and cultural expectations, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach.
#game-development
Games
fromKotaku
1 day ago

Game Devs Explain The Tricks Involved With Letting You Pause

Pausing a game involves various techniques, including manipulating time and adjusting game speed, depending on the game engine used.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 week ago

Peak Devs Call Out Entitled Gamers Who Want Endless Free Updates

Endless support for games is not guaranteed; updates are considered a bonus, not a right.
Artificial intelligence
fromFuturism
5 days ago

Nonprofit Research Groups Disturbed to Learn That OpenAI Has Secretly Been Funding Their Work

Frontier AI companies are engaging in morally questionable tactics to influence child safety legislation for their benefit.
Video games
fromKotaku
3 days ago

Marathon's Top Players Are Begging Bungie To Do More About Cheaters - Kotaku

Marathon players report a significant cheating problem affecting gameplay, particularly in ranked matches and the Cryo Archive map.
fromKotaku
4 days ago

Pokemon Competitive Player Loses Title After Celebrating Too Hard

Firestar73, a seasoned player, was reportedly barred from the first-place finish he'd earned due to what was deemed an 'unsportsmanlike' reaction to winning.
Poker
#gunzilla
Video games
fromKotaku
1 day ago

Gunzilla CEO Denies Claims Of Not Paying Devs In Long Rant On Twitter

Gunzilla faces allegations of unpaid wages from employees, while CEO Vlad Korolev defends the company's practices and blames critics for spreading misinformation.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 days ago

Studio Behind NFT Battle Royale Game Accused Of Not Paying Staff For Months

Gunzilla faces accusations from employees of unpaid salaries and lack of communication regarding owed wages.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 day ago

Gunzilla CEO Denies Claims Of Not Paying Devs In Long Rant On Twitter

Gunzilla faces allegations of unpaid wages from employees, while CEO Vlad Korolev defends the company's practices and blames critics for spreading misinformation.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 days ago

Studio Behind NFT Battle Royale Game Accused Of Not Paying Staff For Months

Gunzilla faces accusations from employees of unpaid salaries and lack of communication regarding owed wages.
Games
fromGameSpot
1 day ago

Samson's Launch Woes Deemed "Unacceptable," Incoming Patch Aims To Beat Down Bugs

Samson: A Tyndalston Story launched with significant bugs, prompting a patch to address performance issues and enhance gameplay.
Video games
fromBusiness Matters
3 days ago

How the Gaming Market Continues to Expand

The gaming market is evolving into a mainstream, influential entertainment industry, driven by mobile gaming and diverse player demographics.
Games
fromEngadget
2 days ago

You'll soon be able to hide games from your Xbox achievements list

Microsoft is testing new features for Xbox achievements, allowing users to hide games and redesigning achievement displays.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 day ago

Heated Arc Raiders Debate Between PvE And PvP Players Goes Viral

A PvE player confronted a PvP player in Arc Raiders, raising questions about player expectations in PvP-enabled games.
Law
fromArs Technica
4 weeks ago

Valve compares its loot boxes to Labubus in lawsuit defense

Valve refuses to restrict item transferability and opposes New York's loot box regulations, arguing proposed oversight measures would violate user privacy and harm game innovation.
fromGameSpot
3 days ago

You Could Be In A PlayStation Game If You Write Well, Love PlayStation, Play And Own A Lot, Have Anecdotes, And More

PlayStation has announced a new contest called The Playerbase, allowing winners to have their likenesses scanned to appear in PlayStation games, starting with Gran Turismo 7.
Games
Poker
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Online Sports Gambling Risks Among Gen-Z Youth

Online sports gambling among Gen Z is surging, particularly among men, raising concerns about gambling disorders.
fromKotaku
3 days ago

Canceled Game 'Would Have Been Crimson Desert' Says Avalanche Head

I haven't played Crimson Desert enough, but we had everything that I've seen from Crimson Desert in the plans for that game. It was signed with a big publisher that has a lot of famous IPs...And then they just changed business direction again and wanted to focus on their existing IPs instead of new ones. They broke up with us on a text message, which I will never forgive them for.
Video games
#marathon
fromKotaku
3 days ago
Video games

Marathon, One Month Later - Kotaku

Marathon has received positive reviews but faces uncertainty regarding its long-term support and player engagement.
fromKotaku
1 week ago
Video games

Marathon Cracks Down On Cool Exploits To Make Things Fair

Bungie has removed the slide-canceling exploit in Marathon to maintain balanced gameplay and has updated the Outpost loot area.
Video games
fromKotaku
3 days ago

Marathon, One Month Later - Kotaku

Marathon has received positive reviews but faces uncertainty regarding its long-term support and player engagement.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 week ago

Marathon Cracks Down On Cool Exploits To Make Things Fair

Bungie has removed the slide-canceling exploit in Marathon to maintain balanced gameplay and has updated the Outpost loot area.
Games
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Why is gaming becoming so expensive? The answer is found in AI

PlayStation 5 prices have risen significantly due to increased demand for computing power driven by AI, alongside global economic disruptions.
Artificial intelligence
fromKotaku
3 weeks ago

VC Guy 'Shocked And Sad' About How Much Gamers Hate AI

Only 7 percent of game industry workers view generative AI positively, while executives struggle with widespread skepticism about AI's impact on gaming.
#loot-boxes
fromKotaku
1 month ago
US politics

Valve Accused Of Promoting Illegal Gambling With Loot Boxes In New Lawsuit

Games
fromReadWrite
4 weeks ago

Valve disputes claims loot boxes violate gambling laws

Valve defends loot boxes as collectible products rather than gambling, arguing cosmetic-only items provide no competitive advantage while claiming to have blocked over one million accounts linked to gambling activity.
Games
fromwww.bbc.com
4 weeks ago

Games with loot boxes to get minimum 16 age rating across Europe

PEGI will assign minimum age rating of 16 to games with loot boxes starting June, with potential for rating 18 in some cases.
Games
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

Valve says it will fight New York's loot box lawsuit

Valve disputes New York AG's loot box gambling allegations, comparing mystery boxes to collectible cards and arguing items are optional cosmetics.
fromEngadget
4 weeks ago
Video games

PEGI ratings for game releases in Europe will be age-restricted if they contain loot boxes

fromKotaku
1 month ago
US politics

Valve Accused Of Promoting Illegal Gambling With Loot Boxes In New Lawsuit

Games
fromReadWrite
4 weeks ago

Valve disputes claims loot boxes violate gambling laws

Valve defends loot boxes as collectible products rather than gambling, arguing cosmetic-only items provide no competitive advantage while claiming to have blocked over one million accounts linked to gambling activity.
Games
fromwww.bbc.com
4 weeks ago

Games with loot boxes to get minimum 16 age rating across Europe

PEGI will assign minimum age rating of 16 to games with loot boxes starting June, with potential for rating 18 in some cases.
Games
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

Valve says it will fight New York's loot box lawsuit

Valve disputes New York AG's loot box gambling allegations, comparing mystery boxes to collectible cards and arguing items are optional cosmetics.
fromEngadget
4 weeks ago
Video games

PEGI ratings for game releases in Europe will be age-restricted if they contain loot boxes

fromKotaku
6 days ago

Pro Call Of Duty Player Dropped After Sending Unwanted Sexts

Sorry I have a real life. A lot of gamers communicate primarily online, through Twitter and DMs, and the way people talk in those spaces can be very different. That said, what was sent clearly wasn't received appropriately, and I understand that. I just wish this could've been handled privately instead of turning into a public pile on.
Video games
fromArs Technica
1 month ago

How strong is New York's "illegal gambling" case against Valve's loot boxes?

The problem here is 100% the ability to resell the items from the loot boxes. A loot box/gacha mechanic is fine when you can't turn around and resell the items because you're not getting something of value. When Valve is also providing a marketplace for those items, they've added the third element.
Miscellaneous
Video games
fromEngadget
1 week ago

MindsEye will litigate its own launch 'sabotage' controversy in DLC form

Build a Rocket Boy plans to reveal evidence of corporate sabotage in a new mission for MindsEye.
Games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Two Major Game Age Rating Agencies Split Over Dark Patterns

PEGI updates its game assessment guidelines to include online behavior and monetization practices, while ESRB expresses concerns about potential confusion for players.
Video games
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Parents should monitor children '24/7' on Roblox, says developer

Roblox's child safety measures are deemed insufficient by an independent developer, urging parents to monitor their children constantly.
Games
fromReadWrite
3 weeks ago

PEGI updates video game age ratings for online safety

PEGI will expand its video game rating system in June 2026 to evaluate online features, in-game purchases, loot boxes, and engagement mechanics that influence player interaction and monetization.
Online Community Development
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

This shouldn't be normal': developers speak out about bigotry on Steam, the world's biggest PC gaming storefront

Steam's lax moderation permits pervasive abuse and bigotry, especially targeting transgender creators, undermining developer safety and exposing games to review-based harassment and coordinated campaigns.
fromKotaku
3 weeks ago

Arc Raiders Studio Drops Dev After Investigation Into Misconduct

Our leadership team was recently made aware of allegations against an Embark employee. We take these matters seriously, and as a part of our process for addressing any types of allegations, we immediately hired a law firm to conduct an external investigation. The investigation did not substantiate the allegations, but we found the situation unsustainable and mutually agreed to part ways with Rob.
Video games
Miscellaneous
fromEngadget
2 months ago

Italian regulators are investigating Activision Blizzard's monetization practices

Italian regulator is investigating Activision Blizzard's Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile for misleading, aggressive monetization practices, deceptive UI, and permissive parental controls.
Games
fromThe Verge
4 weeks ago

PEGI's new age ratings will restrict FC 27 to kids over 16

PEGI introduces four new age rating categories targeting loot boxes, in-game purchases, addictive mechanics, and unrestricted communication, with loot boxes triggering PEGI 16 ratings by default.
Video games
fromWIRED
4 weeks ago

Gamers' Worst Nightmares About AI Are Coming True

Xbox faces internal challenges amid industry-wide pressures from AI adoption, memory shortages, and rising hardware costs, though the console is not shutting down.
fromGadgets 360
2 months ago

Valve Changes Steam's AI Disclosure Rules for Game Developers

"We are aware that many modern game development environments have AI powered tools built into them. Efficiency gains through the use of these tools is not the focus of this section," reads the generative AI disclosure form for developers, as seen in a screenshot posted by Carless on LinkedIn. "Instead, it is concerned with the use of AI in creating content that ships with your game, and is consumed by players. This includes content such as artwork, sound, narrative, localization, etc.," the form reads.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
fromGameSpot
2 months ago

Valve Updates AI Disclosure Guidelines To Allow For AI-Powered Tools

Valve's revised disclosure policy removes the requirement to report AI-assisted development and focuses disclosure on AI-generated assets players interact with.
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

Activision silences trusted Call of Duty leaker

Still gonna stick around and chat about Official Call of Duty info and anything not related to leaks/confidential information. Cheers for these past few years.
Video games
Video games
fromGameSpot
2 months ago

Activision Faces Investigation Over "Misleading And Aggressive Practices" In Two Games

Italian regulator investigates Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile for potentially deceptive UI, aggressive monetization, weak parental defaults, and problematic data-consent practices.
fromGameSpot
2 months ago

Dev Plans To Voluntarily Delete AI-Generated Game

I made this game during the summer in couple months and thought to use AI because in university there is so much brainwashing on students and all the tools are given for free,
Video games
Video games
fromKotaku
2 months ago

What If More Gaming CEOs Just Logged Off?

Pre-release Pokémon card prices have surged, with Mega Gengar ex listed for $1,300 and Mewtwo ex selling for $900 on reseller sites.
Video games
fromFuturism
2 months ago

Indie Developer Deleting Entire Game From Steam Due to Shame From Having Used AI

An indie developer is deleting his partially AI-made game from Steam after concluding AI-generated assets harm the economy, environment, and game-making integrity.
fromKotaku
2 months ago

Marvel Rivals Promises Major Crackdown On Lord Farming

The updated system changes how players earn proficiency. Rather than a tiered system where players earn proficiency through universal and hero-specific challenges, there is now a linear system that players progress through via solely universal challenges, so each hero progresses identically regardless of role. There are now 70 levels for players to progress through, with rewards across various milestones. Players now also earn more proficiency per minute spent playing.
Video games
Video games
fromGameSpot
1 month ago

Skate Players Unload On EA Over Broken Promise About Not Paywalling Maps

EA will restrict Isle of Grom access in Skate Season 3, locking the tutorial island behind a premium pass and paid temporary passes for non-buyers.
fromWGB
2 months ago

MindsEye Developer Says They Have Evidence Of 1-Million Campaign To Sabotage The Game

A few weeks before MindsEye launched last year, Mark Gerhard, co-CEO of Build A Rocket Boy, alleged that the game was the victim of a targeted campaign to trash the game and studio. The company doubled-down after launch, blaming "saboteurs" for the game's poor reception. They alleged that somebody was unhappy with the success of Leslie Benzies, founder of the studio and former producer for Grand Theft Auto at Rockstar, as well as being president of Rockstar North.
Video games
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