Latest news with #LeagueofLegends'
Leaders
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Sakura Trees Enchant Visitors at Japan Pavilion During Esports World Cup
At the Esports World Cup (EWC 2025) held at Riyadh City Boulevard, visitors were drawn to the Japan Pavilion by the graceful presence of sakura trees—cherry blossoms that serve as powerful cultural symbols of Japan. As part of the pavilion's immersive cultural showcase, Crunchyroll, the leading platform for Japanese anime, presented a striking sculpture inspired by these iconic blooms. Sakura trees, known for their delicate pink blossoms that bloom in spring, are deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Beyond their beauty, they hold culinary value: salted cherry blossoms are brewed into sakura tea—traditionally served to offer good wishes—and their leaves are used to wrap sakura mochi, a fragrant and flavorful rice cake enjoyed during seasonal celebrations. The installation provided guests with a chance to experience both the visual elegance and the emotional depth of one of Japan's most beloved natural and cultural treasures. Related Topics: Sakura Garden: A Must Visit Destination in Jeddah Gen.G Esports Secures 'League of Legends' Title at Esports World Cup 2025 Russian Team Spirit Clinches Dota 2 Title at 2025 Esports World Cup\ Esports World Cup 2025: Prince Faisal Reveals Tournament's Grand Vision Short link : Post Views: 3 Related Stories
Leaders
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Gen.G Esports Secures ‘League of Legends' Title at Esports World Cup 2025
Korean esports team Gen.G Esports clinched the 'League of Legends' title at the Esports World Cup (EWC 2025) in Riyadh City Boulevard, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Gen.G Esports team has defeated the Chinese team, in the final match with a score of 3-2. Launched on July 16, the tournament witnessed the participation of 12 of the world's elite teams, competing for the title and a total prize pool of $2 million. Gen.G Esports secured the largest share of the total prize pool, $600,000, along with 1,000 Club Championship points. Meanwhile runner-up won $320,000 and 750 points in the league table as well. 'The vibes in the arena were so exciting, and the fans were incredibly supportive, which certainly contributed to our strong performance and encouraged us to win. We thank them all for that and dedicate this title to them,' said Chovy, one of the game's most accomplished professionals, after securing the title. Gen.G Esports Secures 'League of Legends' Title at Esports World Cup 2025 Being the most popular online multiplayer battle arena game, the League of Legends's 2023 World Finals recorded an unprecedented attendance at Gocheok Sky Stadium in South Korea, with more than 6.4 million viewers at its peak, marking the highest number in esports history. 2025 Esports World Cup Currently, the 2025 Esports World Cup is bringing together 24 of the world's top games in one venue. Interestingly, participants are competing for a total prize pool of $70 million, the highest amount ever allocated in esports history. Such prestigious awards seek basically to encourage global talents and unleash unparalleled new heights for esports competitions. Therefore, they play a central role in boosting the esports sector, supporting its sustainable growth, and ensuring its sustainability worldwide. Related Topics: Saudi Coffee Celebrates Tradition at Esports World Cup 2025 Riyadh Roars: Esports World Cup Returns with Unprecedented Scale Esports World Cup 2025 kicks off with Press Conference in Riyadh Short link : Post Views: 86
Winnipeg Free Press
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here's what it means for AI in gaming
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An 11-month strike by video game performers could formally end this week if members ratify a deal that delivers pay raises, control over their likenesses and artificial intelligence protections. The agreement feels 'like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted,' said Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' interactive branch negotiating committee. Union members have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on ratifying the tentative agreement. Voice and body performers for video games raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. 'It's obviously far from resolved,' Elmaleh said. 'But the idea that that we're in a zone where we might have concluded this feels like a lightening and a relief.' AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated $187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract 'builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union' to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions,' wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90% support, with 10% of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification and an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Striking video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here's what it means for AI in gaming
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An 11-month strike by video game performers could formally end this week if members ratify a deal that delivers pay raises, control over their likenesses and artificial intelligence protections. The agreement feels 'like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted,' said Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' interactive branch negotiating committee. Union members have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on ratifying the tentative agreement. Voice and body performers for video games raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. 'It's obviously far from resolved,' Elmaleh said. 'But the idea that that we're in a zone where we might have concluded this feels like a lightening and a relief.' AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated $187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract "builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union" to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions," wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90% support, with 10% of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification and an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said. Itzel Luna, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Los Angeles Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
SAG-AFTRA, video game companies reach tentative deal that would end strike
Video game performers and producers have reached a tentative contract agreement, reaching terms that could end a long strike over artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the game companies came to a resolution on Monday, more than two years after their previous agreement covering interactive media expired. The deal is subject to review and approval by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks, the union said. Specific terms of the deal were not immediately available. Terms of a strike suspension agreement are expected to be finalized with employers soon, the union said. Until then, though, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike. SAG-AFTRA members must vote on whether to ratify the new contract, which covers roughly 2,600 performers doing voice-acting, performance- and motion-capture work in the video game industry. Since fall 2022, video game performers have been fighting for a new contract containing AI protections, wage increases to keep up with inflation, more rest periods and medical attention for hazardous jobs. Game actors went on strike in late July after contract talks broke down over AI. Throughout the walkout, performers demanded a deal that would require video game producers to obtain informed consent before replicating their voices, likenesses or movements with AI. During the first few months of the strike, SAG-AFTRA reached numerous side deals with individual game companies that agreed to follow the union's AI rules in exchange for a strike pardon. By Nov. 18, the labor organization announced that it had made AI pacts with the developers of 130 different video games. 'The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are,' Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the union's video game negotiating committee, said in a statement in September. While some companies earned the union's approval, others felt its wrath. Halfway through October, SAG-AFTRA added the popular computer game 'League of Legends' to its list of struck titles in an effort to punish audio company Formosa Interactive for allegedly violating terms of the walkout. SAG-AFTRA also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa, which provides voice-over services to 'League of Legends,' according to the union. Formosa denied SAG-AFTRA's allegations. The biggest sticking point for actors under the umbrella of AI involved on-camera performers, whose job is often to disappear into the characters they are bringing to life. They expressed concerns that the companies' AI proposal would leave them defenseless against the technology. The game companies argued that their AI proposal already contained robust protections that would require employers to seek prior consent and pay actors fairly when cloning their performances. 'All performers need AI protections,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, in an interview with The Times months ago. 'Everyone's at risk, and it's not OK to carve out a set of performers and leave them out of AI protections.' This work stoppage marked SAG-AFTRA's second video game strike in less than a decade and second overall strike in roughly a year. While the walkout persisted, video game performers weren't allowed to provide any services — such as acting, singing, stunts, motion capture, background and stand-in work — to struck games. Union actors were also barred from promoting any struck projects via social media, interviews, conventions, festivals, award shows, podcast appearances and other platforms. AI was also a major sticking point during the film and TV actors' strike of 2023. That walkout culminated in a contract mandating that producers obtain consent from and compensate performers when using their digital replica.
