What’s to come from PS5 and Xbox Series X? With both next-gen consoles – and their cheaper, discless counterparts – having launched to market, with the tidal wave of hype that we all expected, the question on our lips is what will be different in the long term.
What will Sony and Microsoft do differently compared to previous generations that we’re yet to hear about, and are we entering a time when increased cross-platform play and hardware agnostic platforms are finally bringing the age-old ‘console wars’ to a close?
We sat down with Rishi Chadha, Head of Gaming at Twitter UK, to talk about how these launches had varied from previous consoles, and how conversations around and between these console makers were signalling a shift for both platforms.
Chadha works in the midst of the gaming ecosystem on Twitter, working with publishers such as Epic Games or Activision Blizzard to ensure they can grow and engage with their audiences effectively on the social media platform.
So what does Xbox or PlayStation’s social media presence say about the future of gaming? Here’s what we learnt.
Gamer synergy
One of the key things Chadha puts across to me is how differently the PlayStation and Xbox platforms have engaged with their audiences for these console launches, with the former seemingly happier to keep things under wraps, and largely let hype accumulate in its silence.
“PlayStation has had a kind of simmering conversation that’s been going on all throughout the year, with massive spikes during their reveal events,” says Chada. “So the one in June, and then the one that they had in September – after which there was another big spike. But everything else was kind of just simmering.
“Meanwhile, if you look at Xbox, they’ve actually had much more of a volatile conversation, in that there’s big spikes in conversation, whether it’s around the game showcases that they’ve done, or the fridge giveaway. And so too with the launch, it’s been much more announcement based and event based and content based – whereas PlayStation has just really been focused on key marquee events that have happened throughout the year.“
Xbox has largely been happier to show off gameplay ahead of the new console launch (Image credit: The Verge)
What I really like seeing happening now is that it’s not a Xbox versus PlayStation type of conversation, it’s more of a ‘these are different consoles doing different things’. And, you know, we can celebrate both consoles.
Rishi Chadha
That’s something that’s easier to do after the PS4’s runaway success, of course, and it was clear from early on that Microsoft was going to be playing catchup with its next-gen Xbox consoles.
But Chadha adds that there’s also a big similarity between Xbox Series X and PS5 discourse, in that platforms, studios, and fans alike are largely engaging with conversations around both consoles over social media:
“What I really like seeing happening now is that it’s not a Xbox versus PlayStation type of conversation, it’s more of a ‘these are different consoles doing different things’. And, you know, we can celebrate both consoles. We’re excited for what each console is doing. And I think one of the things that has been unanimously celebrated for both consoles has been things like load time, and the way that each console is so much faster now. So like, I think that’s been something that’s been applicable to both as well.
“And this is a bit wholesome, but I love the way that brand accounts are engaging with one another, congratulating each other on launch day and talking about that, like, that’s something we never really expected to see. I was always very much like, ‘the two are separate’. And so to see them engage with one another now and just have that type of, you know, supportive commentary on the platform is really great to see.”
Cross platform gaming
(Image credit: Sony)
But is this collaborative discourse of posting and commenting and sharing going to change the way that platforms actually work together – manifesting the future through tweets?
Maybe not, but Chada suggests that the gradual increase of cross-platform play – made easier by the increasingly PC-like architectures of today’s flagship gaming machines – is changing the conversation around gaming.
“We are now moving into a world where the idea and concept of cross platform play is a real thing from the off,” says Chadha. “So I think that the hype that people normally have, because of a lot of first party exclusives, that’s shifted a bit, so now the same conversation can include both platforms more easily. There’s certain games, obviously, like Spider Man: Miles Morales and things like that, where Sony corners the hyper around that one game specifically. But I think those are some of the shifts that we’re seeing right now.”
It’s a nice change to the usual narrative of social media echo chambers, funnelling users into ever more hardline and exclusionary positions. But is this really happening?
A big difference may just be that social media was still in its infancy when the last generation of consoles came around in 2013, and comparisons are hard to make when the underlying mechanics for public discourse have changed so much in the past decade.
(Image credit: Future)
One thing is clear, though: gaming platforms are changing from what they were, moving to more hardware-agonistic services than can be streamed to a huge range of devices, as with xCloud or Google Stadia, or even Microsoft’s long-running Play Anywhere initiative ensuring players can access their same titles on both Xbox and PC.
“We are seeing more cross platform play for games,” says Chadha, “so people can be on multiple platforms, whether it’s PC, Xbox, PlayStation and play together with more ease. I think that’s going to continue to evolve and mature. And we’re gonna see the evolution of game streaming, whether it’s with Microsoft or with Google Stadia.
“I think those are some of the big areas. And I also think that the ability to play your games on mobile is going to continue to be an area of a lot of growth. Because, you know, let’s face it, not everyone can afford to purchase a console or a new PC, but mobile is something that’s far more accessible for everybody. So how games can be ported, or how games can be played on mobile, is going to be a very interesting area in the very near future.”
With Destiny 2 now confirmed to be getting cross-platform play in 2021 for current- and next-gen consoles, and a rise in titles like Among Us and Fortnite that ignore the traditional boundaries between platforms, there’s certainly evidence of this already happening – and by the end of this console life cycle, likely in seven or eight years time, we could be playing in an ecosystem almost unrecognizable in how it lets gamers play together, whatever machines they’re using to do it.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
