‘Birth’ is the macabre indie game quietly crushing the convention circuit

Madison Karrh’s booth at Summer Game Fest 2022 was on the far right side of the demo area, hugging a wall at the front of the small industrial space in downtown Los Angeles. Her game, Birth, was one of the first projects you’d see after grabbing a swag…

UK bill would ban videos portraying Channel immigrant crossings in a ‘positive light’

The UK government is still expanding the scope of its Online Safety Bill. Digital, Culture, Media and Sport secretary Michelle Donelan said in a statement that politicians will propose amending the bill to ban videos portraying Channel immigrant crossings by boat in a “positive light.” Those clips are “aiding [and] abetting” immigration law violations, according to Donelan. As with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and terrorist content, internet platforms will have to pull crossing-related footage quickly.

The culture secretary detailed other significant proposed amendments. Senior company leaders could face prison time if they’ve “consented or connived” to ignore online child safety requirements. Platforms will also have to remove content that promotes LGBTQ conversion therapy practices. Violations of any aspect of the bill could lead to fines up to £18 million (about $22.3 million) or 10 percent of a company’s global turnover.

The amendments should be ready for a version of the bill reaching the House of Lords. The changes came after pressure from Conservative MPs like Natalie Elphicke, who serves Dover — a frequent landing site for illegal immigrants.

The alterations aren’t surprising given growing concerns in the country over the impact of illegal immigration, not to mention existing provisions in the bill for child safety. However, they add to the feature creep of a bill that has already been delayed several times. There have been concerns the Online Safety Bill might not pass before the next general election, due within two years.

The new provisions also won’t satisfy critics like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which already claim the measure amounts to censorship. They’re worried the bill will also hurt privacy by eroding protections for the use of end-to-end encryption. Whatever your stances on the issues, it’s safe to say the changes would further limit what UK residents are allowed to say online.

‘Endless Dungeon’ will hit PC, Xbox and PlayStation on May 18th

Sega has at last revealed when folks will be able to snap up Endless Dungeon. The action-packed game is coming to Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on May 18th. A Nintendo Switch version will be available later.

Endless Dungeon, from developer Amplitude Studios, was previously slated for a 2022 debut. It’s a squad-based blend of a tower defense game and a twin-stick shooter. Players are tasked with both protecting a so-called crystal bot and progressing further into a dungeon.

You can team up with three friends or go it alone and control three characters by yourself (you’ll have direct control over one and bark orders at the other two). Endless Dungeon is a roguelite, so you’ll gradually unlock persistent upgrades, weapons and characters.

Alongside the release date announcement, Sega opened up pre-orders for most platforms. You’ll get early access two days before the official launch, as well as some extra goodies, by pre-ordering the “Last Wish” digital edition. A physical Day One edition with a card game and art book is available too. Sega also released a new trailer which shows some more chaotic gameplay:

Uber teams with car makers to design EVs for ridesharing and deliveries

Some cars seem oddly well-suited to Uber (Toyota Prius, anyone?), but the company is now taking things a step further. Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi told guests at a Wall Street Journal event that his firm is now teaming up with car manufacturers to des…

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch will soon stream live video from Nest and Ring cameras

Samsung says it’s bringing more smart home features to Galaxy Watch devices. It will enable users to view live feeds from home and doorbell Ring and Nest cameras on their smartwatch. Ring camera owners can also use the two-way intercom feature from their Galaxy Watch. Samsung first brought Nest integration to the SmartThings ecosystem in early 2021.

Users will soon be able to control a broader selection of devices from their wrist as well, including smart air purifiers, thermostats and blinds. This builds on existing Galaxy Watch support for TVs, air conditioners, lights and other devices.

Samsung says users won’t need to open the SmartThings app to control their smart home devices. They can swipe right from the watch face to access those functions. The company didn’t reveal exactly when the update will be available, but we could learn more details at Unpacked on February 1st.

Ubisoft cancels team battle game ‘Project Q’

Ubisoft has identified one of the three games it cancelled last week. A spokesperson for the publisher has confirmed to Engadget and Eurogamer that it will “no longer support the development” of Project Q, the team battle arena title it revealed last April. The move will help the company concentrate on “priority projects,” according to the representative. Ubisoft is reassigning team members to games still in development.

Developers shared little about Project Q. Besides concept art, Ubisoft only said the game was “not a battle royale” and would have a range of player-versus-player modes. It added that there were no plans to offer NFTs.

The firm still hasn’t named the two other cancelled games. The reasoning, however, is the same. Ubisoft expects its revenue to drop year-over-year due to a rough economy, delayed releases and shifting game trends, and notes that holiday offerings like Just Dance 2023 and Rabbids: Sparks of Hope didn’t sell as well as expected. Management is looking to shave expenses wherever it can, and fewer games is clearly part of that strategy alongside “targeted restructuring” that could include layoffs.

The year has already been problematic. A labor union called for a strike at Ubisoft Paris after CEO Yves Guillemot made statements suggesting rank-and-file staff, not leadership, had to be “especially careful” with money. Kotakuclaims Guillemot offered a partial apology in a follow-up meeting. However, the incident apparently underscored the rift between management and employees — one that may not be mended in the near future.