Roblox's Hit Farm Game Spurs Underground Digital Fruit Economy
Roblox Corp. 's 2-month-old Grow a Garden video game has quickly become one of the most-played titles in its history — and spawned a market for virtual crops and livestock that appears to violate company rules.
At a recent peak on Saturday, May 24, some 8.7 million people were playing at once, roughly the population of Switzerland, according to data from RoMonitor Stats, an independent analysis site.
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Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
Miss the LG V60's second screen? This Dual Screen add-on might be the next best thing
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CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
The Outer Worlds 2 Launches at $80, Joining a New Trend in Gaming
The Outer Worlds 2, from developer Obsidian Entertainment, is the follow-up to its 2019 sci-fi action RPG that felt like a slightly shallower version of Fallout 4, but in space. There are a few differences between the two games, but one very glaring discrepancy is the price. When The Outer Worlds 2 launches on Oct. 29, it will carry a price tag of $80 for both the PC and Xbox versions -- a $20 increase from the original game's $60 launch price in 2019. It's the second major title confirmed at this higher price, following Mario Kart World for the Switch 2. Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the price of The Outer Worlds 2. Back in May, Microsoft announced it was raising prices for its Xbox Series consoles and accessories. While the Xbox Series console price increase can be clearly attributed to tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump back in April -- since the system is primarily manufactured in China -- pricing for digital products isn't affected by those tariffs. Also, in the case of Mario Kart World, the game is available on a physical cartridge, which can have an increased cost due to the expense that comes with physical storage. In that same announcement, the company said it was also going to increase the price of its first-party games. "We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development," Microsoft said in its announcement about the price increases. "Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players." Developing a AAA game like The Outer Worlds can be expensive. The first Outer Worlds was speculated to cost between $30 million and $40 million and was noted for having a constrained budget, as team members mentioned in the documentary about the making of the game. In just a matter of a few years, developing the same game can cost double that amount. As the price of labor increases and the time for development continues to lengthen, the cost of making games will continue to rise. Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 reportedly has a budget of more than $1 billion, partly due to the game being in development for five to seven years. Due to that huge budget, some experts warn not to be surprised if GTA 6 costs $100. Fortunately, The Outer Worlds 2 will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, and Microsoft has given no indication that it plans to increase subscription prices anytime soon.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Tencent Games Joins the Playing for the Planet Alliance to Champion Green Gaming
HONG KONG, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tencent Games, a leading global platform for game development, publishing and operations, today announced that it has joined Playing for the Planet as a member. Playing for the Planet is an Alliance of studios, publishers, and games organizations, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and led by the industry to reduce the environmental impact of gaming and inspire climate action through play. This collaboration reflects Tencent Games' commitment to sustainable innovation and environmental responsibility, aligning with Tencent's goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its operations and supply chain, by 2030. More importantly, it underscores Tencent's support of the gaming community and commitment to driving positive change in the industry. 'Tencent Games encompasses a diverse global ecosystem — from our homegrown studios to our global studio network — united by a shared commitment to building a sustainable video games business and future for all,' said Brent Irvin, Corporate Vice President of Tencent. 'Joining the Alliance underscores our belief that video games can be a force for good and a powerful platform for paving the way to a greener future. We look forward to close collaboration with partners across the industry to drive climate awareness and action through engaging, innovative gameplay experiences.' Tencent Games, along with its network of global studios, has already been working closely with the Alliance on its flagship initiative, the Green Game Jam, in which game developers create in-game activations that encourage players to take actions for the planet. As a committed advocate for sustainability in gaming, Tencent Games and its network studios will continue to champion green action through the Green Game Jam, while collaborating with industry partners and experts to explore new programs that inspire positive environmental awareness among younger players. As part of the commitment, Tencent Games will support the Alliance and gaming industry in its sustainability endeavors by developing training programs that empower game developers to integrate sustainability principles in their development practices, from energy-efficient operations to eco-conscious game design. Tencent Games is also collaborating with the Alliance to explore the development of an environmental awareness initiative for university students. 'The video games industry has the ability to engage, inspire and captivate the imaginations of billions of people across the world. This makes them a really important partner in addressing the nature and climate emergencies,' said Sam Barratt, Chief of Youth, Education, and Advocacy at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 'We are delighted that Tencent Games is committing to take further action on this agenda. Working with the video games industry to strengthen a collaborative and collective approach to reduce carbon emissions and build a more sustainable world is a mission more urgent than ever.' Tencent Games has been recognized for its sustainability initiatives. The company was awarded the Sustainability Award at Gamescom 2024, for its action-oriented commitments to operating its business sustainability. About Tencent Games Tencent Games was launched in 2003, and has since grown into a leading global platform for game development, publishing and operation, as well as the operator of the largest online game community in China. It is dedicated to offering engaging and high quality interactive entertainment experiences for players around the world. Tencent Games now offers more than 170 in-house developed and licensed games across 200 countries and regions, which provides hundreds of millions of users with cross-platform interactive entertainment experiences. Honor of Kings, PUBG MOBILE, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Mobile and Brawl Stars are some of our most popular titles around the world. About the Playing for the Planet Alliance The Playing For The Planet Alliance was launched during the Climate Summit at UN Headquarters in New York. In total, the members of the Alliance have the ability to reach more than 1 billion video game players. In joining the Alliance, members have made commitments ranging from integrating green activations in games, reducing their emissions, and supporting the global environmental agenda through initiatives ranging from planting millions of trees to reducing plastic in their products. About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. For further information on the Playing for the Planet Alliance, contact [email protected] Media Enquires: Edelman for Tencent Games June Wong +852 6986 5822 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Tencent Games
