Author: Tim Rogers
Stealth layoffs have been occurring at Google throughout January, resulting in job cuts across multiple departments. Those affected include employees from ad sales, hardware, AR, and YouTube departments, with hundreds of layoffs in each department. Layoffs have been prevalent across the tech industry in the past year, impacting companies such as Amazon, Nokia, Epic Games, and Google. Last January, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, laid off 12,000 employees. In December, rumors of another Google restructure acted as a warning sign of potential layoffs. In an apparent effort to avoid causing alarm, Google has been implementing smaller layoffs of “a few hundred”…
When the former editor-in-chief of TechCrunch, Matthew Panzarino, joined a startup, it immediately captured our attention. Panzarino, a well-known collector of various items, recently became part of TipTop, a new startup from Postmates founder Bastian Lehmann. The app promises a quick and easy way to sell consumer electronics with instant cash offers and pickup. TipTop initially focused on the consumer electronics category, offering instant payouts for items like smartphones, iPads, computers, game systems, and cameras. The idea was born from Lehmann’s own desire to declutter a garage, which eventually led to a more specific focus on consumer electronics due to…
Upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) for your PC or device is now more affordable than ever. With favorable pricing, SSDs are now a must-have, leaving traditional hard drives only suitable for long-term storage. The PlayStation 5 now supports the addition of an additional SSD, with Windows 11 also incorporating Direct Storage — promising the same rapid loading times experienced in the Xbox Series X. Meanwhile, PC users can enjoy top-notch performance with the latest technologies in PCIexpress 4.0 and 5.0. The Steam Deck is also well suited for an upgraded SSD to accommodate larger game libraries. Whether you need…
Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. During today’s Xbox Developer Direct, Oxide Games revealed new details about its upcoming strategy title, Ara: History Untold. According to the developers, the new game launches in fall 2024 for PC and Game Pass on PC. Developers aimed to expand the strategy genre, offering a living world for players to explore and experiment. Ara also delves into new areas of history from Oxide’s other games, as well as new gameplay mechanics. The “leaders” in Ara are not…
Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. Xbox unveiled gameplay for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle during its Developer Direct show today. The game is set to release this year for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Developer MachineGames is known for the Wolfenstein series. Similar to those games, this title is also a first-person game. The gameplay showcases an Indiana Jones reminiscent of the original trilogy, with plenty of action, set pieces, and whip play. The story is set between the events of…
“`html Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (left) and Galaxy S24 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Samsung’s latest Unpacked event has unveiled the next generation of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series. Whether you’re interested in the base Galaxy S24 or the flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra, or want to go with the middle option, the S24 Plus, all three phones are worth checking out. “`
Build a Rocket Boy, a Scotland-headquartered game development company founded by one of the former lead developers behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, announced today that it has raised $110 million in a Series D round of funding. This funding follows the highly anticipated launch of the company’s first titles and immersive open-world platform. Leslie Benzies, a former president of Rockstar North, who played a significant role in the development of the Grand Theft Auto series, has been a key figure in building the company. Benzies entered into legal action against his former employer, which eventually led him to lay…
The release of GranBlue Fantasy Verus Rising in 2024 has made a significant impact in the fighting games community, with numerous tournaments being organized to test out the early meta. This weekend will host several events, one of the most anticipated being the Cygames Cup Special – an official tournament organized by the publishers. Regarded as one of the best fighting games of 2024, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a perfect fit for competitive events. The Cygames Cup Special 2024, the largest Japanese tournament so far, will unfold over the weekend, showcasing high-level gameplay and strategies. Source: @gbvs_offical Cygames Cup…
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends A surprising rumor about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has been confirmed, and it’s quite a shock. The new Ultra phone does not include the 10x optical zoom camera that was a prominent feature of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Instead, it is equipped with a 3x and a 5x optical zoom, along with an AI-enhanced hybrid 10x “optical quality” mode. This actually makes it more similar to the Galaxy S20 Ultra than any subsequent models. Despite this decision, I am not ready to dismiss the Galaxy…
Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. Talofa Games has raised $6.3 million in seed funding to develop fitness games aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle. The company, founded by Jenny Xu, focuses on creating “healthy gaming” experiences and recently launched Run Legends, a cooperative and competitive social fitness game. The funding round was led by Chamaeleon and supported by A16Z Games Speedrun, Basis Set Ventures, Insight Partners, and 1Up Ventures, along with other strategic investors. Jenny Xu is CEO of Talofa Games.