Category: Uncategorized

Gregg Mayles leaves Rare after 36 years — what it means for Sea of Thieves and Everwild Gregg Mayles, a longtime designer and the creative director behind titles such as Banjo‑Kazooie and Sea of Thieves, has confirmed he has left Rare after a 36‑year tenure. Mayles’ short poem posted on X (Twitter) on October 14, 2025, made his departure public following earlier reports during a wave of layoffs at Xbox Game Studios. Mayles joined Rare when the studio was still closely tied to Nintendo and remained through its transition to a Microsoft subsidiary. Over decades he contributed to classics like Donkey Kong Country, Battletoads and Banjo‑Kazooie, and more recently led Sea of Thieves to become one of Rare’s modern successes. The departure comes amid turmoil at Rare: the studio continued…

Meta Removes Facebook Group Allegedly Tracking ICE Agents After DOJ Contact Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that the Department of Justice contacted Facebook asking it to remove a group she said "was being used to dox and target" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Chicago. Meta told reporters the group was removed for violating its policies against "coordinated harm," but the company did not confirm the group name or directly acknowledge DOJ involvement. Reports say some ICE officers in Chicago have moved without visible name tags, sometimes wearing facial coverings and using unmarked vehicles. A U.S. District Judge has ruled that ICE agents who are not undercover must display visible identification while operating in the Chicagoland area — a ruling that underscores the tension between…

Google Proposes Equal Treatment for Vertical Search Services in EU Search Results Reuters reports Google is preparing to change how Search displays results to avoid billions in fines under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The proposed change would let "vertical search services" (VSS) such as Expedia or Hotels.com show their own result boxes in Search with the same formatting as Google’s own services. Key points: Google would allow each VSS to display a dedicated results box populated from that VSS’s inventory. Google’s own services would keep the same visual format and appear alongside the VSS box; displayed order would be determined by "objective and non-discriminatory criteria." Results from airlines, car rental companies, and other direct suppliers would still appear, placed above or below the VSS box depending on…

5CA denies being hacked after Discord breach claims — what we know Customer support firm 5CA has pushed back against reports that it was the entry point in Discord’s recent data breach. Discord previously announced a breach affecting a “small number” of government-issued IDs submitted for age verification, later clarifying that roughly 70,000 users’ IDs may have been exposed and naming a third-party vendor involved in support operations. In a public statement, 5CA said none of its systems were involved and that it did not handle government-issued IDs for the client in question. The company added that the incident occurred outside its systems and that a preliminary investigation suggests the cause may be "human error," though it gave no specific details. Discord originally disclosed a breach that included government IDs…

Kobo launches $30 Bluetooth Remote for eReaders — on sale Nov 4 Kobo has introduced the Kobo Remote, a compact Bluetooth page-turner priced at $30 and set to be available starting November 4. Designed to pair with Kobo eReaders that support Bluetooth, the remote is meant to make long reading sessions more comfortable by letting users flip pages without holding the device. The remote will ship in black and white to match Kobo's product lineup and is compatible with devices such as the Libra 2 and Clara Colour. Kobo says the accessory will be sold in multiple regions including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Singapore and Japan. Price: $30 Availability: November 4 (multiple regions) Compatibility: Kobo eReaders with Bluetooth (e.g., Libra 2, Clara Colour) Colors: Black and White The concept…

OpenAI Forms Expert Council on Well‑being and AI — Oversight or Optics? OpenAI announced the creation of an Expert Council on Well-being and AI composed of eight researchers and experts focusing on the intersection of technology and mental health. The council is intended to advise OpenAI on user mental and emotional wellness, including safety measures and protections for younger users. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of AI companies after lawsuits and reports linked chatbots to tragic incidents involving teens. Some members on the new council previously advised OpenAI on parental controls. Size & focus: Eight experts specializing in mental health, technology, and youth safety. Scope: Advisory — members provide guidance but do not hold decision-making power. Context: Announced as part of broader safety discussions across the AI industry. OpenAI’s…

OpenAI to allow adult content in ChatGPT starting December OpenAI says it will begin allowing verified adult users to access erotica and other mature (18+) content in ChatGPT beginning in December, as it rolls out age‑gating and parental controls. CEO Sam Altman framed the change as part of a "treat adult users like adults" approach after months of tightening safety measures. The company previously tightened ChatGPT’s responses to reduce harmful outcomes and to address mental‑health concerns. OpenAI added parental controls and automatic age detection features in September, and signaled during DevDay 2025 that support for mature experiences would arrive once appropriate verification and controls were in place. What’s changing: Verified adults will be allowed to access mature content (including erotica) through ChatGPT and compatible apps after age‑gating is fully deployed.…

OpenAI to Loosen ChatGPT Restrictions — More Emotional Responses and Erotic Content Allowed OpenAI has announced plans to relax some of the usage restrictions on future versions of ChatGPT. According to statements from CEO Sam Altman, upcoming releases will come with "significantly fewer" limitations, restoring certain expressive features users enjoyed in earlier versions. Key points: OpenAI aims to allow more emotionally expressive responses from ChatGPT. Some categories previously restricted — including erotic content under controlled conditions — may be permitted again. The change is described as a partial return to behaviors present in earlier ChatGPT builds that some users preferred. OpenAI has not yet published a full policy text for these changes. If implemented, the move will require careful moderation, age-verification and safety mechanisms to address legal and ethical risks.…

Spotify video podcasts are coming to Netflix — US launch early 2026 Netflix will begin offering video versions of select Spotify Studios and The Ringer podcasts in the United States starting in early 2026, with additional shows and markets to follow. The move brings sports, culture, lifestyle and true crime podcasts to Netflix’s platform as another way to expand its non-scripted and background-listening offerings. At launch, nine sports podcasts will be available, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, Fairway Rollin’, and The Ringer’s F1, fantasy football, NFL and NBA shows. Other titles joining the lineup include The Rewatchables, The Recipe Club, Dissect, Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers. Why it matters: Netflix gains a low-cost way to increase time spent on the service with talk-style content, while Spotify…

5CA Disputes Discord Breach Claim After 70,000 IDs Reported Exposed Customer support provider 5CA has publicly denied that its systems were involved in the recent data breach Discord disclosed on October 3. Discord said the incident exposed a “small number” of government-issued IDs — later quantified at roughly 70,000 users — submitted during age-verification checks. Discord later named 5CA as the contractor it believed was targeted, but 5CA’s statement contradicts that claim. According to 5CA, none of its platforms were compromised and it has not handled any government-issued IDs for the client in question. The company says the incident occurred outside of its systems and that it may have resulted from “human error,” without providing further detail. Discord has not yet publicly replied to 5CA’s denial. Key points: Discord announced…