Author: Tim Rogers
The state of the streaming and esports industries was recently outlined in a collaborative report published by GameSquare and Stream Hatchet. The report delved into a series of data points to reveal some staggering information about esports viewing trends. In 2023, esports viewers watched 2.7 billion hours of competitive content, marking a substantial increase of around 75% compared to 2019, as highlighted by GameSquare, the company that recently acquired FaZe Clan. The free-to-access report also detailed key statistics related to the streaming industry, highlighting trends and growth areas identified over the last year. It discussed the shift in the content…
Hydrogen has always been presented by automakers and politicians as an alternate clean-energy option for electric vehicles, but it’s never really caught on. However, CES 2024 showcased a significant increase in hydrogen-powered vehicles across all sizes. There has been so much focus on battery-powered electric vehicles over the last few years that it seemed like hydrogen might be left behind. Is hydrogen power about to experience a comeback? Let’s take a closer look at the vehicles showcased at CES 2024. Nikola, a trucking startup, has recently started shipping a U.S.-built hydrogen truck to customers. Additionally, Croft Motors is developing “rugged”…
Google has announced plans to support more real-money games (RMG) on the Play Store this year by allowing a wider variety of games in this category, while also adapting to local laws. The company has stated that it will start this extended support program for real-money gaming in India, Brazil, and Mexico in June, with plans to expand to more countries in the future. Google is also considering a new service fee model for subscriptions and in-app purchases; however, specific details about the company’s share of developers’ earnings have not been disclosed. “With this policy update, we will also be…
Nintendo Altec Lansing has announced the upcoming release of AI Shark, an AI-powered successor to GameShark at CES 2024. The press release for this software also claims that the Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in September 2024. According to Altec Lansing’s press release, AI Shark, formerly known as GameShark, will revolutionize gaming with its AI-enhanced technology. It is set to offer enhanced gameplay for beginner-level users and is expected to coincide with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2024. However, it’s worth noting that Nintendo has not confirmed the name or release window for its next console.…
Generative AI is garnering significant investment, particularly in the gaming sector. Titan AI, a new mobile games studio, recently secured over $500,000 in pre-seed funding led by Berkeley SkyDeck. This marks the company’s entry into the growing landscape of generative AI gaming startups aiming to streamline the creation of 2D and 3D content for games, which can otherwise be costly and time-consuming. Titan AI utilizes image generators Stable Diffusion and DALL-E to produce 2D graphics and merges them with 3D models using proprietary technology. Additionally, the company is training AI to develop level segments, addressing what co-founder Fabien-Pierre Nicolas describes…
Pixar, a Disney-owned animation studio, is facing layoffs this year, according to sources at the company and confirmed by Pixar itself. While initial reports suggested layoffs could be as high as 20%, or reduce the team of 1,300 to less than 1,000 employees, Pixar stated that the actual number of impacted employees is still being determined due to various factors. These include production schedules and staffing for future greenlit films. The layoffs are not immediate, but will take place later this year as Pixar shifts its focus to producing less content. Insiders revealed that the layoffs also include headcount hired…
If every silly idea I had as a teenager was permanently captured on the internet, I’d be in for a rainbow of embarrassment. Despite the risks, kids can find themselves in trouble quickly in today’s always-on and very socially networked world. The MMGuardian Phone, developed in partnership with Samsung, uses AI to make phone use safer for kids and teenagers. A decade after the launch of MMGuardian’s parental control app, the company introduced the MMGuardian Phone, which has many of the same ideas deeply integrated into the device. It is designed to provide safety and control for concerned parents. Other…
Low-code development platforms have experienced significant growth in recent years due to their ability to shorten the typically lengthy app development cycle. According to data from analytics firm GlobalData, VC funding into low-code development platforms increased fivefold from 2021 to 2022. While demand has shifted towards AI, particularly generative AI, low-code development remains a strong player in the industry. This is highlighted by the recent financing round of low-code development startup FlutterFlow. FlutterFlow, which is focused on building a low-code platform for mobile app developers, announced that it closed a $25.5 million Series A funding led by key players in…
At CES 2024, top PC hardware from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel was showcased. Each of them released new processors for both mobile and desktop, as well as new graphics cards. Now the question remains— which one came out on top? Intel introduced a new lineup of CPUs ranging from the Core i3 to the Core i9-HX, expanding their range of top-tier chips. AMD also made significant strides with revolutionary APUs and a new graphics card. And Nvidia, in an unprecedented move, offered better value in its new GPUs. So, let’s take a closer look at each one and determine the…
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends I didn’t cover a ton of keyboards at CES 2024 because, frankly, they’re not too exciting for the most part. Hyte made me do a double take, though. Its new Keeb keyboard is, without a doubt, one of the strangest, most exciting keyboards I’ve ever seen. And I can’t wait for it to start shipping. Hyte isn’t the name you think of when it comes to peripherals — in fact, this is its first peripheral ever. The company known for PC cases is expanding its horizons with the Keeb, and it seems focused on bringing…