We plan to challenge the verdict. Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform. - Wilson White, Google VP, Government Affairs & Public Policy

Hey there!

🎉 But we have so much more:

The Day Before is gone, and also the studio that made it. Misfortune or scam? 

Insomniac was hacked and Hogwarts Legacy is the most searched video game on Google in 2023. 

Oh, and the 2023 PlayStation wrap-up is here. My numbers: 49 games played, a total of 1.023 hours and Cyberpunk was the most played game (for the 2nd year in a row), with 189 hours.

How are your numbers? Let us know in a reply to this email! 

Play on:

Welcome to The Power-Up #50

Biz-Up

🪧 ZeniMax Workers United and the Communication Workers of America have reached a tentative agreement with Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax, setting guidelines for the ethical use of AI in the workplace that enhance worker productivity and safety.

🍾 Epic Games has won a significant legal battle against Google, with a jury finding that Google's practices around its Play app store and billing services constitute an illegal monopoly. The remedies for this ruling, not aimed at monetary damages but rather at opening up Android to alternative app stores and billing systems, will be decided by Judge James Donato.

⚽️ Cristiano Ronaldo has invested in and joined the development of UFL, an upcoming free-to-play soccer video game, contributing to its $40 million funding. His involvement, extending beyond financial support, aims to reshape the virtual soccer gaming experience.

💰 Allstar.gg has raised $12 million in Series A funding, led by Drive Capital and supported by investors like Mark Cuban, to advance its automated content platform for gamers, simplifying video editing and sharing.

💰 Magma has secured $5 million in seed funding, led by GFR Fund and supported by Bandai Namco Entertainment and other investors, for its AI-enhanced art creation and project management platform.

Industry Level-Up

🤝 Larry Hyrb, known as Major Nelson, has joined Midwest Games' advisory board after leaving Xbox, where he served as the senior director of corporate communications for more than 20 years. 

🤢 Fntastic, the developer of The Day Before, announced its sudden shutdown due to financial failure, just days after the game's poorly received Early Access launch on Steam. The game faced criticism and accusations of being a scam.

Round-Up

🚔 Speaking of Fntastic: there were a lot of red flags showing that The Day Before it’s a scam, according to this article. 

💸 However, Mytona, the publisher of the game, will work with Steam to open refunds.

🤬 Insomniac Games has suffered a ransomware attack, compromising employee personal information and unreleased content from its upcoming Wolverine game. The ransomware group Rhysida threatens to auction the stolen data, including in-progress screenshots and personal documents.

🪄 Hogwarts Legacy has become the most searched video game on Google in 2023, surpassing titles like Diablo IV and The Last of Us, following its successful launch in February. The game achieved significant success, selling 15 million copies by May and sparking rumors of a potential sequel.

🎮 According to Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming, Sony is expected to distribute PS5 Pro development kits to third-party developers, indicating more concrete information about the console's capabilities may emerge.

🔚 The Entertainment Software Association has declared the end of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), a key event in the video game industry, after more than two decades. 

🏆 The launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has set a new record as the most-viewed game trailer on YouTube, amassing over 142 million views in a short period.

🎮 PlayStation 2023 Wrap-Up is now available. You can check your achievements for the year, such as top games played, trophies earned, a breakdown of your monthly gaming stats, along with your personalized gaming style.

Game-Up

👾 SEGA announced plans to revive classic games including Jet Set Radio for the PS5, involving the original creators to capture the game's advanced concepts and edgy spirit. This revival effort also extends to other iconic titles like Crazy Taxi and Golden Axe. 

⚔️ Players of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox may risk losing their game saves due to a system-level issue, with Larian Studios advising an update to the Xbox Series X/S system software to prevent this.

📢 Xbox is considering a new approach for its Game Pass service, where players could access it for free by watching advertisements, as part of their expansion strategy in various global regions. This idea  is aimed at developing countries like Africa and India, where gaming consoles are less prevalent.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Stay powered-up until next time.

Bobby & Andrei