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scandals and controversies Latest news (5)

Abandoned Devs Deny Rumors of Game's Cancellation

Milosz Szubert, 01 April 2022, 13:38

Blue Box Game Studio has addressed the recent commotion related to the removal of a large number of posts related to their upcoming game - Abandoned - from Twitter. According to their assurances, work on the title is progressing.

Activision Blizzard Will Pay $18 Million to Discriminated Employees

Michael Zegar, 31 March 2022, 20:48

Activision Blizzard has finalized the settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The company will pay the affected employees $18 million.

Vanishing Tweets and Cheated Composer; Abandoned Faces New Controversy

Przemyslaw Dygas, 31 March 2022, 19:22

The developers of Abandoned have removed many previously published posts from Twitter. Moreover, the creator of the soundtrack of the game shared an unflattering opinion about the studio.

War Thunder Still Without Chat; Devs Don't Want Politics in the Game

Jacob Blazewicz, 31 March 2022, 19:09

The chat feature in War Thunder has been disabled for over a month now. The developers from Gaijin Entertainment turned it off so it wouldn't be used to discuss politics (read: the war in Ukraine).

Review Bombing on Steam; Storybook Brawl Takes Flak for NFT

Milosz Szubert, 31 March 2022, 15:43

Storybook Brawl has been review bombed on Steam. All because the developers of this title were bought by a cryptocurrency company.

Activision Blizzard Sued Again; Harassment and Psychological Violence

Przemyslaw Dygas, 28 March 2022, 12:18

Activision Blizzard has been hit with another lawsuit. Once again, it is related to employee mistreatment.

Anti-mask Message in Domina Patch Notes Enrages Players on Steam

Adrian Werner, 14 March 2022, 12:58

The patch notes of the latest update for Domina included controversial anti-mask content. As a result, the game's profile on Steam was flooded with negative reviews.

Lootboxes in FUT are Not Gambling in the Netherlands; EA's Appeal Succeeds

Jacob Blazewicz, 09 March 2022, 22:22

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has withdrawn its recognition of FIFA Ultimate Team packs as gambling. Electronic Arts has thus avoided having to pay a €10 million fine.

STALKER Review Bombed After Being Pulled From Sale in Russia

Michael Zegar, 08 March 2022, 22:06

The STALKER series has become another victim of review bombing on Steam. This is a consequence of GSC's games being pulled from sale in Russia.

NBA 2K is Scamming Kids? $5 Million Lawsuit Filed

Sonia Selerska, 08 March 2022, 15:39

NBA 2K series publisher Take-Two Interactive is set to face legal action for its practices regarding virtual currency and loot boxes.

Activision Blizzard Struggles to Hire and Retain Staff

Krzysztof Kaluzinski, 05 March 2022, 19:52

In its latest annual report, Activision Blizzard admitted that numerous lawsuits and controversial situations are translating into staffing issues.

Space Engineers Review Bombed by Chinese and Russians

Adrian Werner, 02 March 2022, 14:49

Space Engineers has become another target of review bombing by the Chinese and Russians users. All because the developers expressed opposition to the invasion of Ukraine.

Rise of Mordor Mod Removed From Mod DB at Request of Warner Bros

Jacob Blazewicz, 12 February 2022, 15:27

Warner Bros. has recalled it owns the rights to the Lord of the Rings movie universe. As a result, a mod developed for years, called Rise of Mordor for Total War: Atilla, disappeared from Mod DB.

Low Wages, Overtime and Problems - Team17 as Seen by Employees

Jacob Blazewicz, 11 February 2022, 15:18

Team17 is in trouble even after NFTs got removed from the Worms series. Employees of the British developer are said to complain of low pay, problems with their bosses and harassment.

The Sims 4 DLC Won't Appear in Russia Due to Homophobic Law

Przemyslaw Dygas, 10 February 2022, 12:12

Russians will not play the latest addition for The Sims 4. All because of the local law.

'Remove Polish From Dying Light 2'; Italian Players Protest

Hubert Sledziewski, 07 February 2022, 14:41

Dying Light 2 collects very positive reviews from players on Steam and fairly average from Metacritic users. A large part of the credit for this goes to the Italians, who are review bombing the game for lack of native dubbing.

Star Citizen Abandons Roadmap, Offers Coffee Shop Instead

Jacob Blazewicz, 03 February 2022, 12:21

Cloud Imperium Games is fed up with the „noise” of players in connection with delays in the development of Star Citizen. Therefore, the developers are abandoning the long-term roadmap. Fortunately, we can expect the addition of a coffee vendor.

1,300 Videos Removed From YouTube; Nintendo Blocks Content

Hubert Sledziewski, 31 January 2022, 11:58

Nintendo has blocked more than 1,300 videos with music from its games that were shared by a YouTube user nicknamed GilvaSunner. The author claims that he did not make any money from the content.

Blockverse - Minecraft's NFT Project Turned Out to be Scam

Adrian Werner, 30 January 2022, 13:32

Blockverse, Minecraft's NFT-powered PvP server turned out to be a huge scam. The creators first sold tokens for $1.2 million and then vanished along with the money.

CD Projekt Reaches Settlement With Disappointed Cyberpunk 2077 Investors

Jacob Blazewicz, 28 January 2022, 14:24

The case of investors who lost out on the release of Cyberpunk 2077 has come to an end. CD Projekt has signed a settlement that includes a statement of "no admission of any fault on the part of the Company or the other defendants”.

Activision Blizzard Won't Recognize the Union of CoD Warzone Devs

Jacob Blazewicz, 27 January 2022, 11:06

Raven Software didn't get Activision Blizzard's approval to form a union, but the recently striking employees are planning to take matters into their own hands.

Cartels Recruit Smugglers in GTA Online and Other Games

Jacob Blazewicz, 24 January 2022, 19:44

The popularity of games like Grand Theft Auto Online and Call of Duty is attracting more than just cheaters. Players in these titles have apparently found themselves targeted by cartels looking for „couriers”.

Strike at Raven Software is Over

Jacob Blazewicz, 24 January 2022, 17:56

After nearly two months and the announcement of unionization, a strike by Raven Software studio employees, started in response to recent layoffs, has ended.

Riot Sues Teamfight Tactics Copycats

Sonia Selerska, 24 January 2022, 14:03

Riot Games has sued a Vietnamese developer, accusing it of copying Teamfight Tactics. The similarities are indeed apparent.

Kotick Reportedly Ignoring Activision's Problems, Employees Irritated

Adrian Werner, 24 January 2022, 11:53

The video conference for Activision Blizzard employees did not go as planned. Contrary to promises, CEO Bobby Kotick did not address questions from subordinates, and the entire event was actually ended sooner than scheduled.

CoD: Warzone Developers Form a Union, Against Activision's Efforts

Adrian Werner, 24 January 2022, 10:17

After weeks of striking, a group of testers from the Raven Software studio has begun the process of forming a trade union. If they succeed, it will be the first such organization formed within a large American game publisher.

Work on Lego Star Wars: Skywalker Was a 5-year Crunch

Jacob Blazewicz, 21 January 2022, 16:58

Five years full of crunch and problems with an untested engine - that's what the development of LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga looked like, according to the latest information.

Blizzard Apologizes and Promises Improvements; Regular Updates Announced

Przemyslaw Dygas, 21 January 2022, 14:47

Blizzard continues to repair its image. The head of the company assured that he will make sure to maintain the right working conditions inside the studio, and players will get regular updates.

Bobby Kotick Considered Buying Kotaku and PC Gamer, Rumor Claims

Jacob Blazewicz, 20 January 2022, 12:34

Before the announcement of the Activision Blizzard acquisition by Microsoft, Bobby Kotick was said to have been considering his own purchases. According to rumors, the CEO suggested improving the company's image - by buying Kotaku and PC Gamer.

Take-Two CEO Claims GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition is a Success

Przemyslaw Dygas, 19 January 2022, 12:52

According to Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two, the release of GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition was a success. The bundle is said to have done a lot of good for the company.

Activision Blizzard Laid Off Nearly 40 Employees in Wake of Scandals

Adrian Werner, 18 January 2022, 16:01

Activision Blizzard has laid off nearly 40 employees involved in mobbing and sexual harassment scandals, reports Wall Street Journal.

Crytek and Modder Battle Over Photo Mode in Crysis 2 and Crysis 3 Remasters

Milosz Szubert, 14 January 2022, 15:35

Crytek has sent a C&D letter to content creator Frans „Otis_Infa” Bouma. It informs that the man's project introducing a photo mode to Crysis 2 Remastered and Crysis 3 Remastered violates the EULA of these items.

LEGO Delays Overwatch 2 Sets Due to Activision Scandals

Adrian Werner, 12 January 2022, 10:53

LEGO has suspended the release of Overwatch 2 sets due to recent scandals at Activision Blizzard. The manufacturer is concerned about the publisher's handling of the issues.

Battlefield 2042's Reddit Too Toxic? Players Outraged by Moderators’ Warning

Jacob Blazewicz, 08 January 2022, 23:00

The Battlefield 2042's Reddit may be temporarily shut down, allegedly due to toxic behavior. The users don't believe the moderators.

FIFA 22's FUT Targeted by Hackers; Streamers Lost Fortune

Jacob Blazewicz, 07 January 2022, 15:34

What do you need to clean the account of a leading FIFA Ultimate Team card trader? Judging by recent hacks, apparently only the player tag.

'Brutal' Expectations and Removal of Rush - Battlefield 2042 Fans Complain

Jacob Blazewicz, 07 January 2022, 13:38

The creators of Battlefield 2042 have recently lost a lot of fan sympathy. First, players were upset by the mention of their 'brutal' expectations, and later the devs removed the Rush mode from Battlefield Portal.

Genshin Impact Censored in China; New Skins Optional Only in the West

Hubert Sledziewski, 05 January 2022, 21:28

Several characters in Genshin Impact will receive alternative skins, however, they will not be optional for Chinese fans. The reason? Censorship.

Activision Sues CoD: Warzone Cheatmakers

Piotr Sadowski, 05 January 2022, 12:07

Activision has filed a lawsuit against a company selling cheating software that gives players an advantage and destroys Call of Duty: Warzone's ecosystem.

Censorship in Lost Ark? Gamers Criticize Amazon and Point Out Differences

Agnes Adamus, 28 December 2021, 18:29

Lost Ark sparks controversy due to strange artistic decisions in version prepared for western market. Fans point out that this edition changes, among others, character skin colors. Additionally, Amazon bans people who express their dissatisfaction with this state of affairs.

Riot Games Agrees to Pay $100 Million in Discrimination Lawsuit

Piotr Sadowski, 28 December 2021, 13:11

Riot Games has come out with a settlement offer in the lawsuit about alleged discrimination against female employees.

CoD: Vanguard Devs on Activision Blizzard Scandals

Hubert Sledziewski, 24 December 2021, 14:10

Treyarch Studio, the creators of the Zombie mode for Call of Duty: Vanguard and Black Ops - Cold War, referred to the scandals surrounding Activision Blizzard. The developers want to start 2022 with a clean slate.

School Shooting Level in Ready or Not Sparks Controversy; Devs Respond

Adrian Werner, 24 December 2021, 13:26

Despite the controversy, the creators of Ready or Not aren't won't abandon their plans to add a level, in which players will have to stop a school shooting.

Intel Apologizes to China for Wanting to Stop Cooperation With Xinjiang

Arkadiusz Strzala, 23 December 2021, 14:55

Intel's call to break off cooperation with the Xinjiang region was negatively received by the Chinese. This, in turned, prompted the company to publish an official apology in a damage control attempt.

Ubisoft Won't Give Up NFTs: ‘It's a Major Change That Will Take Time’

Jacob Blazewicz, 22 December 2021, 20:09

The massive criticism of digits isn't deterring Ubisoft from blockchain. The company still sees the technology as the future of gaming, albeit admitting that such a big change takes time.

Ubisoft Faces Staff Exodus; Game Development Slows Down

Przemyslaw Dygas, 21 December 2021, 13:38

Ubisoft is facing an exodus of developers. This applies to both high-profile names and lower-level employees.

Free Game Added to GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition on PC; Rockstar Continues to Apologize

Jacob Blazewicz, 20 December 2021, 23:28

Rockstar Games has prepared another compensation for buyers of the PC edition of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition - a free game or virtual coins.

Ubisoft Removes Player Account in Accordance With GDRP

Paul Musiolik, 19 December 2021, 21:28

After a year of inactivity on the player's account, Ubisoft removed it, depriving the user of access to games worth hundreds of dollars. All this was done in compliance with the regulations and laws of the European Union.

Ubisoft's CEO Wants to Go With NFTs Despite Player and Developer Criticism

Adrian Werner, 18 December 2021, 22:00

Ubisoft's CEO tried to calm the emotions caused by the introduction of NFTs to Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. According to reports, however, his arguments did not convince the developers.

CD Projekt Will Pay Investors Disappointed With Cyberpunk 2077

Adrian Werner, 16 December 2021, 15:13

CD Projekt has signed a settlement with investors who sued the company over the underperformance of Cyberpunk 2077.

Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Lawsuit Ends in Settlement; CD Projekt Negotiates

Jacob Blazewicz, 09 December 2021, 16:53

CD Projekt has entered negotiations on a lawsuit filed by investors unhappy with the worse-than-promised launch of Cyberpunk 2077.