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Forbes
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
RedOctane Is Back, And ‘Guitar Hero' Finally Gets Spiritual Successor
RedOctane Games — the company behind Guitar Hero — is back. Well, sort of — Embracer Freemode, which has been much more about layoffs than new IPs these last 18 months, has relaunched the studio, which initially closed in 2010, and hopes to make rhythm gaming the next old-new thing. For those who connected the dots, it's probably one of the more minor shocks of recent weeks. Fans of the genre have been well aware for months that another Embracer Freemode company, peripheral manufacturer CRKD, recently and somewhat incongruously announced a Gibson Les Paul controller as the latest addition to its line-up. Until then, CRKD was much more traditional with its products, including its retro-style NEO S pad, the miniature Atom controller, and the superb Nitro Deck and Nitro Deck + for Switch — something which seemed more likely to be its next big step in line with the Switch 2. Naturally, the RedOctane team leaned into this perfectly planned pairing pretty heavily in today's announcement trailer: The studio will be led by industry veteran Simon Ebejer, who previously served as production director on Guitar Hero at Neversoft, then held roles as studio head at Vicarious Visions (Band Hero), before jumping up a couple of grades to VP of operations at Blizzard Entertainment. With RedOctane, he's leading a team containing both legacy Guitar Hero and DJ Hero developers and new talent. RedOctane Games has also enlisted the services of Charles and Kai Huang, co-founders of the original Guitar Hero franchise, as special advisors on its (re?)debut title, which will be announced later in the year. The team aims to work on a community-first basis, speaking directly with rhythm game fans from the start and throughout. For Embracer, which has spent the last year or more attracting much more negative headlines from its restructuring and redundancies, RedOctane Games is an interesting bet on nostalgia — sentimentality I'm absolutely on board with on a personal level. Still, there was a reason that many other players and I consigned Guitar Hero sessions to arcades. Maybe — hopefully — RedOctane and CRKD hit the right notes together. Judging by their first-ever blog post, you can see the passion is obviously there. Now, CRKD, make that Switch 2 Nitro Deck. And some Rock Band drums.
Mint
25-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Want "pin code-level granularity" in data - brands tell quick delivery firms
BENGALURU , NEW DELHI : Bengaluru/New Delhi: In India's fast-growing world of quick commerce, the real power lies not just in speedy deliveries and wholesome product portfolios, but in the data behind them. As major platforms expand private-label lines and monetize analytics, small consumer brands crib they are being shut out of critical insights on who's buying, where, and why. With limited visibility into customer behaviour, product performance, and advertisement effectiveness, these brands claim they are being priced out of planning and left behind in one of the country's most competitive new retail frontiers. From identifying best-selling products, timing of high demand, and deciding the right marketing budget, this data is crucial for brands to cut down unnecessary spending, improve operational efficiency, and keep up with cut-throat competition from brands. In the end, revenue preservation is the goal. This also signals the growing friction between sellers and marketplaces, as both try to build their own businesses with minimal expenditure and maximum output. Zepto and Blinkit have been doubling down on their private label efforts, with categories like staples, packaged food, and household items fetching higher margins. The founder of a Delhi-based kidswear brand, which sells baby accessories like feeding bottles and sippers through quick commerce channels in the top 5 cities, is worried that inadequate planning of inventory and pricing could seriously dent its revenues. 'On some of these quick commerce platforms, I can't see the distribution channels: where my ads are being shown, what kind of people are seeing them, how many are adding products to their cart, or proceeding to checkout," the founder said. A Delhi-based skincare brand founder concurs. 'Who is our customer? What's their age bracket? Within a city, which pockets are buying? That's the kind of insight we want. These platforms are sitting on pin code-level granularity." Quick commerce currently contributes about 5% to the company's revenue, but the share is growing fast. The firm expects the channel to account for 15-20% of its overall revenue in the next 18 months. 'On our D2C website, we track everything - conversion rates, drop-offs, repeat purchase percentages, and cohort behavior across months. If we could get similar insights from quick commerce, it would help us understand customer behaviour so much better," the founder added. To be sure, some platforms are making an attempt to share relevant information. In May, Zepto launched Atom, a paid analytics platform meant for providing access to relevant data points at a subscription fee. In an emailed response to Mint's queries, Zepto said it is already sharing anonymized, aggregated insights with over 100 partner brands through tools like Zepto Atom and Consumer Persona. 'Brands can now tap into real behavioural patterns like repeat purchase frequency, time-of-day affinities, category loyalties, and even cart correlations, all without compromising user privacy. These insights have helped brands optimize everything from product bundles to creative messaging and geo-targeted launches," Zepto said. Zepto Atom's pricing starts at around ₹30,000 per month, or 0.5% of the previous month's gross merchandise value (GMV), whichever is higher, and can go up to several lakhs depending on scale, said the D2C brands. Blinkit, on the other hand, charges listing fees (around ₹25,000 per product, typically credited to the brand's ad wallet) and generates revenue through commissions, ad placements, and user subscriptions like Blinkit Prime. 'Looking ahead… we're enabling brands to simulate buyer personas, run precision marketing experiments, and even validate new stock keeping units (SKUs) through city-specific sampling and surveys," Zepto added. Queries on the issue sent to Swiggy and Zomato did not elicit a response. The lookout for data and analytics comes at a time when brands are increasingly banking on quick commerce platforms for sales, with the channel accounting for the fastest growing one for many small as well as legacy brands. In the September quarter of FY25, Maggi-owner Nestle India saw 60% of its domestic e-commerce sales come from quick commerce. Nearly 7% of Mamaearth parent Honasa Consumer's business now comes from quick commerce and the firm expects its quick commerce market share to outperform that of e-commerce soon. 'We did the trial subscription (for the analytics), but don't plan to renew," said the founder of a Mumbai-based jewellery brand. 'For a growing brand, spending ₹30,000 to ₹2 lakh a month just to access data, we feel platforms should already be sharing is a big ask." 'It would make sense for us if most of our revenue came from quick commerce, or even just one specific platform," said the founder of the kidswear brand mentioned above, adding 'But right now, juggling three quick commerce platforms, along with e-commerce and logistics isn't the solution." Third parties to the rescue Brands are now seeking assistance from third-party analytics firms to help forecast demand to help plan their quick commerce actions better and reduce wastage. Startups like Inflexor Ventures-backed Clickpost, Info Edge Ventures-backed Gobblecube, and global analytics company Actowiz are at the forefront of providing revenue intelligence for brands active on quick commerce platforms, assisting them with demand forecasting and other data points like identifying best-selling products, shifting consumer preferences, fast-moving package sizes and pricing points, as well as improving ad performance. 'The information shared by marketplaces is limited and often delayed, as platforms require adequate data sets to be able to crunch it into relevant insights. We have enabled neighbourhood-level data that is so granular that brands can understand how their strategy should be shaped to suit geographical differences in demand and behaviour," said Naman Vijay, founder and chief executive of e-commerce intelligence platform Clickpost. Bengaluru-based Clickpost, which last raised $6 million from Inflexor Ventures, Athera Partners, and Riverwalk Holdings in April 2024, introduced a new feature called Prism last week, aimed at offering detailed quick commerce insights to brands at a dark store-level through API integrations with quick commerce platforms. Consumer behaviour on quick commerce often varies with regions, with different states and cities showing affinity to different brands, product sizes, and even time of purchase. 'Dark store-level data is too nuanced for brands to figure out themselves," Vijay added. Gobblecube, which raised $3.5 million from Info Edge Ventures and Kae Capital earlier this month, believes consumer brands often struggle with making sense of basic data that is crucial for decision-making. 'Quick commerce has unleashed an impressive amount of growth for small direct-to-consumer brands. However, true value lies in knowing the consumer well which is best done through real-time data," said Gobblecube's co-founder and chief executive Manas Gupta. The shift comes at a pivotal time for the quick commerce industry that is expected to triple in size by 2027, reaching ₹1.5-1.7 lakh crore, as per estimates by Kearney. The trade channel has expanded beyond being an impulse purchase mode, with 93% of sales coming at the expense of modern trade, e-commerce and kirana stores. 'Data isn't just for measuring performance. It's essential for planning, predicting demand, and connecting with customers. If brands don't know which products are selling quickly, where demand is growing, or how often items run out of stock, they're working in the dark. In today's fast-paced market, having the right data at the right time is crucial for keeping stock levels accurate, running effective marketing, and protecting sales," said Nitin Jain, managing director at consulting company Protiviti India Member that is part of Proviti's global network. The tiff between sellers and marketplaces in Indian e-commerce is not new. Several restaurants that joined food delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato in its early days often complained about protective data sharing practices. In January, the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) criticized the aggregators' move to unfairly use customer demand data to model their private label offerings, thereby giving them an unfair advantage over restaurants. 'They have all our data, and they don't share it with us. They know exactly who our customers are, while we face consumer masking. They can easily divert traffic to their apps and sell similar products, like samosas or momos, under their private labels," NRAI president Sagar Daryani had told CNBC-TV18 channel earlier this year. Another personal care brand founder noted that inventory management is tough, especially with details of product movement generally under wraps. 'I don't have control over which part of Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru my products are being sold in. That's a big limitation, because visibility without control limits strategy," the founder said. According to Proviti's Jain, as quick commerce grows, it is becoming more obvious that better teamwork between platforms and sellers is needed. 'Right now, many platforms keep their data closed off, which limits how efficient the whole industry can be." Naturally, the demand for revenue intelligence is picking up. Gobblecube currently helps break down data that is available to brands through platforms, however, it intends to expand its operations by enabling API integrations with platforms soon. 'The ecosystem is evolving rapidly. As the industry grows, hyperlocal behaviour can be understood better, resulting in efficient operations and better planning," said Gobblecube's Gupta. Proviti's Jain noted that setting up dedicated teams just for quick commerce is also becoming more prevalent. 'We're also seeing brands start to build hybrid data systems, pulling information from platforms, delivery partners, and third-party tools to get a clearer view of demand and deliveries. Looking ahead, there's a strong need for industry-wide rules around data sharing and transparency, similar to what happened in organized retail years ago."
GMA Network
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
20 years later, Atom Araullo gets his graduation moment with parents at UP Cebu
After skipping his own college graduation 20 years ago, Atom Araullo finally had his sablay moment at the University of the Philippines Cebu. On Facebook, the Kapuso journalist revealed that he didn't attend his graduation ceremony in 2005 because "tinatamad lang talaga ako." Admittedly, he failed to realize back then that the ceremony's significance was not just for him but for his parents. "Ang hindi ko naisip noon, para rin sana ang araw na 'yon sa mga magulang nating ilang taon nagsakripisyo para maitawid ang pag-aaral natin," he wrote. Two decades later, Atom made up for it by joining the 2025 graduating class of UP Cebu, not as a student but as the keynote speaker. And this time, he brought his parents along. "Kaya kahapon, nang maanyayahan akong maging graduation speaker sa UP Cebu, isinama ko na sina Mama at Papa," he said. "First time ko rin magsuot ng sablay—ang opisyal na academic costume ng UP. O 'di ba, parang nag-march na rin ako… 20 years delayed nga lang!" he added. He ended the post with a warm thank you to the university and a powerful reminder to the graduates. "Daghang salamat, University of the Philippines Cebu, sa pagkakataon,"he said. "At isang taos-pusong pagpupugay sa lahat ng nagsipagtapos. Paglingkuran ang bayan!" Meanwhile, Jessica Soho also served as a keynote speaker at the 114th General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Diliman on Sunday. Previously, Atom and Jessica were among the guest speakers at an industry roundtable organized by the Asian Academy of Creative Arts, where they shared their purpose as journalists and the importance of telling the stories of underprivileged and marginalized communities. —Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News
Hypebeast
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Ariel Atom 4RR Unveiled to Celebrate 25 Years of Lightweight Performance
Summary Ariel Motor Companyhas revealed the Atom 4RR, the most powerful Atom ever built, to mark the 25th anniversary of its iconic lightweight track car. Limited to 25 units, the made-to-order Atom 4RR packs a bespoke turbocharged Honda 2L engine producing 525 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, pushing the limits of Ariel's already extreme performance DNA. Based on the Atom 4R platform, the 4RR is designed for serious track enthusiasts, blending road-legal capability with circuit-focused engineering. The upgraded engine features extensive internal enhancements and optimized oil and fuel systems, delivering dyno-tested performance aimed at the most demanding drivers. The Atom 4RR honors Ariel's 25-year legacy of high-performance minimalism, dating back to the original Atom's launch in 2000. Known for its radically open chassis and lightweight construction, the Atom helped redefine British sports car design. Full specifications and pricing for the Atom 4RR will be announced later this year, but Ariel has confirmed this special edition reflects the brand's commitment to performance, craftsmanship and an unfiltered driving experience.
Sky News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Savings Guide: More options than ever for savers to beat inflation - and good news about top easy access ISA
From easy access to fixed rate bonds, there are lots of savings accounts to choose from. Savers now have more options than ever to beat inflation. For this week's Savings Guide, Anna Bowes, expert from The Private Office, reviews the best account options on the market in June. Easy access There has not been a lot of change to the easy access table, apart from the addition of a new financial app provider, Snoop. Like other fintech providers such as Chip, Moneybox, Tembo, Plum, and Sidekick, Snoop offers savings and investment services. These companies are not banks themselves, but they partner with fully authorised and regulated banks. This means that funds placed in their savings accounts are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). However, it's important to remember that the FSCS protection limit of £85,000 applies per person, per bank. So if you already hold money with one of these underlying partner banks - either directly or through another financial app - you'll need to consider your total balance across all accounts. If you exceed the £85,000 limit, any amount over that may not be protected. Of the top five accounts listed in the table, Chase and Atom are also app-only, but unlike the fintechs above, these are authorised and regulated banks in their own right. For those who would prefer not to use an app-only provider, Cahoot's Simple Saver offers a straightforward, unrestricted, easy access account with an interest rate of 4.55% AER. However, note that after 12 months, any remaining funds in this account will be transferred to a Cahoot Savings Account, which currently pays only 1.20% AER. Fixed-term bonds The Bank of England's decision to keep the base rate on hold at 4.25% last week has given savers another reprieve - and the good news is that fixed-term bond rates have not only remained steady, but we've actually seen some improvements. Of the top five one-year fixed-term bonds, four are new and improved since the base rate decision last Thursday - and the top rate on offer has jumped up to 4.55% AER, from 4.50% a week before. It's not quite as impressive in the two-year table, but the top rate has edged up from 4.42% to 4.45% AER. However, we have also seen one provider cutting the rate it is offering very slightly, leaving the new rate high enough to keep it in the best buy tables. The longer-term tables have seen very little activity, which makes sense - although there was no base rate cut this time around, the trajectory is very much downwards, so providers don't want to be paying out more than they need to over the longer term. While the new, better rates are only marginally higher, it does mean that savers have more options than ever to choose from that still beat inflation - especially if we see inflation fall in the next few months and years. Fixed-term cash ISAs It's a similar picture for fixed-term ISAs - in fact, in some cases, it's even better. We've seen some rate hikes among the top longer-term accounts. And, just like with the one-year bonds, there have been multiple improvements. All of the top five fixed-term cash ISAs are now paying more than they were a week ago. The average has improved from 4.26% to 4.30% following a little battle between Cynergy, Castle Trust and Hodge. Cynergy is currently the winner, paying 4.35% tax free/AER. If you are looking to fix for two years, the top rates are still slightly lower, as the markets are expecting rates to fall in the next few months and years, but there have been a few increases in the meantime. The top rate available over this term is now 4.25% with both Cynergy Bank and United Trust Bank, with Vanquis falling slightly behind them, paying 4.22%. Over in the three-year table, the top rates are all exactly the same as in the two-year table, so if you want to hedge against further cuts by locking in for a bit longer, you're not missing out by doing so. Finally, in the five-year table, the average among the top five is 4.22%, which is the same as both the three-year and two-year terms, as the rates are very similar. However, the top five-year rate is very slightly less at 4.23% with the Nottingham Building Society. What term you choose all depends on what you think will happen to interest rates over the next few years. In the meantime, once again, there are plenty of inflation-beating accounts to choose from for those who have not yet used this year's ISA allowance or who are looking to switch from a poorer-paying ISA account. Easy access cash ISAs Competition has been more muted among the easy access cash ISA providers and we have seen a few rates being cut over the last few days. That said, the top easy access ISA with Plum increased the rate for new customers from 4.85% to 4.88% - an unexpected move as it was already paying quite a bit more than the rest of the field. For those who do not want to choose a financial-app-only fintech provider, the top rate is now a little less, as Vida Savings has reduced rates. The new best Easy Access ISA is with Kent Reliance, paying 4.46%. This is a refreshingly straightforward account, as there are no restrictions on the number of withdrawals you can make, and there is no short-term bonus to watch out for. It can be opened online or even in a branch if you live close to one. As ever, check all the terms and conditions to make sure you choose the best account to meet your needs.
