Latest news with #SamPorterBridges
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Death Stranding photo mode helps users to sneak past UK age rules on Discord
(Image via Kojima Productions) The UK has enforced the new Online Safety Act. In the wake of it, the gamers seem to have stumbled upon the unexpected workaround. As per reports, using Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's photo mode allows players to pass the facial verification on platforms like Discord. It might sound bizarre, but truly, it's working. Such a clever workaround, though, is raising questions not just about the tech, but even about how we define age verification within the digital world. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach digital workaround outwits the facial age scans Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has become one of the unlikely tools for age verification bypass in the United Kingdom. With the Online Safety Act now in force in the country, platforms like Reddit and Discord have implemented stricter age-verification checks. But it didn't take much time for the users to find a loophole. Dany Sterkhov, a user on X, was the first to demonstrate how the high-fidelity video game photo mode of Death Stranding 2 can trick the facial recognition technology. While pointing the camera at Sam Porter Bridges, in the photo mode of the game, users can successfully pass the age verification of Discord. It was, though, not the only case. There are many others who have replicated this result with utmost ease. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo Why does the Death Stranding 2 photo mode work for age verification? The age verification on Discord, which is powered by the k-ID system, has promoted users for performing just some basic actions, like closing/opening their mouths. The Death Stranding 2 photo mode allows users to animate Sam's face with another level of realism. This means that even some dynamic verification prompts, like turning the head or moving the lips, can be easily met by the use of game settings. Reddit, which uses a different service (Persona), even failed to distinguish between an in-game model and a real human. It was only Bluesky that uses a much more robust system of Yoti was able to successfully flag the attempts of users. Though for many, Reddit and Discord remained the primary targets, and they were able to fool the system in just seconds. Is this a clever bypass or a concerning loophole? What makes the entire workaround here so striking is not just the simplicity of the process but also its implications. The law in the UK demands robust verification to protect minors. Yet, just a smartphone camera and a PlayStation game were enough to satisfy the verification requirement. The entire verification method does not just avoid uploading personal IDs or selfies but also hints at how easily current tech can be fooled. While the VPNs definitely are another method here, the Death Stranding 2 bypass does not need any downloads, payments or users to know about the tech know-how. Its complete simplicity might appeal to privacy-conscious users, but it even calls into question the broader strategy of UK law and its effectiveness. If asked, what's next, quite likely the platforms will be required to either improve tech or go ahead and rethink their entire approach; after all, if they do not, they will be facing fines of up to $24.2 million or 10% of the global revenue (whichever is higher). As of now, Death Stranding 2 has offered much more than just a haunting narrative. It has become a part of the real-world debate on privacy concerns, identity and even the AI-based enforcement limits. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Death Stranding character used to bypass UK age checks due to realistic facial rendering
UK residents are reportedly using images of Death Stranding protagonist Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, to bypass online age verification systems. The workaround exploits the game's high-fidelity facial rendering and photo mode features. Recent government-imposed online age restrictions in the UK require users to verify their age using real-time facial recognition for accessing adult-rated content. These measures extend beyond websites to platforms like Discord, where even access to age-restricted channels is gated. To comply, users are often prompted to upload photos of themselves in different poses, preventing the use of static or duplicated images. However, images from Death Stranding's in-game photo mode have proven detailed enough to pass some of these checks. The character model of Sam Porter Bridges includes dynamic facial expressions, which users have applied to generate multiple images with varied poses. According to reports, the facial recognition systems occasionally misidentify these game-generated images as real faces, allowing users to access restricted content. Tests show the trick works with both Death Stranding titles and, to a lesser extent, other highly detailed games such as Baldur's Gate 3 and WWE 2K25. The unintended use of Kojima Productions' advanced graphics technology highlights potential weaknesses in automated age verification systems. While developers originally designed the game's photo mode to enhance player immersion and narrative depth, it has inadvertently become a tool for circumventing digital age gates. Authorities and platform providers may need to re-evaluate current systems as this method gains attention online.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How to find and use Mines in Death Stranding 2
Image via: Kojima Productions Resource management in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach gets a whole new dimension. With Australia's broken infrastructure crying out to be rebuilt, the need for resources goes through the roof, turning mines into one of your most powerful weapons. So if you're paving the road, constructing a building, or lengthening your delivery network, figuring out how to efficiently find and use mines will make Sam Porter Bridges a genuine rebuild master. How to unlock Mines Mines open after you finish Main Order 13, when Sam gets the Monorail working again to the Mine North of F1. This is your introduction to the mine system. It is only the start of what becomes a core gameplay loop. Nine mines in the Australian landscape. Some are gargantuan monorail-linked termini, others are more modest, remote outposts. Each mine focuses on one material, be it Metals, Ceramics, Special Alloys, Resins or Chemicals. Death Stranding 2 - How to Mine for materials at the mine north of F1 (Get Chiral Crystals) How to claim Mines Prior to mining, the mine has to be reclaimed. This echoes the structure-upgrading mechanic from the first game. You'll have to invest certain resources (usually Special Alloys and Resins) to get the mine online. Small Mines tend to require less, making them less early-game targets. Large Mines request additional, but reward you with significantly higher harvests and monorail accessibility. If the mine is beyond the Chiral Network, the entire responsibility of resource reclamation falls upon you. Within the network, asynchronous multiplayer mechanics can help. Other players' donations might alleviate your burden. How does Mining work Once a mine is up and running, mining isn't automatic, you'll have to spend Chiral Crystals to mine resources. No shallow mining here, you either mine it or not. Pay up the full amount of Crystals, and you get the mine's total output. Mine Types and Materials Each mine provides a static material type, and that's not alterable. Therefore, if you require Metals, you're going to have to find a mine that produces them specifically. For the bulk of them, you have two sources save Chemicals, only one mine provides it. Key examples: Smoke Hill Mine (Small): Ceramics Mine North of F1 (Large): Special Alloys Twin Valley Mine (Small): Chemicals Mine Near F3 Crater (Large): Resins Mine for Materials at the Mine North of F1 | Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Transporting Materials Even if Sam's powerful, he can't haul 500 kgs of alloys by himself. Fortunately, Death Stranding 2 lets you decide: Monorail Transport: Big mines are usually close to monorail stops. These, in turn, enable rapid, bulk shipments of goods directly to any station locker on the route. Pickup Off-Roader : For mines not on the rail. With weather-proof storage capacity, it's a nice option. Tri-Cruiser: Fast but low on haul, great for brief scouting missions or small hauls. If you're trophy hunting, getting all nine mines operational again and actually using them feeds into the 'Dig, Dig, Dig!' achievement. trophy. This not only indicates your commitment to remaking the world, but it says that you've got the hang of DS2's beefed-up logistics gameplay. The mining system in Death Stranding 2 isn't just about resource gathering. It captures the game's overall motif of restoration and re-bonding. Each mine reclaimed, each cart filled, each trainload shipped–a moment toward resurrecting a wounded world. With preparation and the proper equipment, Sam is more than a porter. He's a beacon of optimism. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Stranded Again, but Unable to Escape an Auteur's Themes
The first moments of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach offer us glimpses of a very different sort of game. Sam Porter Bridges, the grumpiest delivery man in the postapocalypse, is awakened from his nap by a cooing baby's small pudgy fist. This is Lou, the child Sam saved at the end of Death Stranding by freeing her from an embryonic pod. Lou is a toddler now, at the mercy of Sam's clumsy single-dad shenanigans. You spend the first few hours of Death Stranding 2 toting Lou around in a custom harness, taking extra care not to trip while navigating pitched inclines. You watch as Sam cooks her breakfast, sings her lullabies and distracts her with toys. This touching sequence is cut short, unfortunately, so that the real game can begin. When Lou is taken away from Sam (Norman Reedus), he is thrust back into the deeply familiar role of a porter designated with reconnecting a bunch of estranged cities and bunkers. Like in the first game, most of the action of Death Stranding 2 involves making solitary, perilous deliveries — across mountains, through forests, over rivers — in order to rebuild a world torn apart by its returning dead. Though Death Stranding 2 has Sam connecting the forts and outposts of a ravaged Australia rather than the United States, its format remains the same. The game is less a sequel than a reiteration. Many of these story beats overlap with those of the game's 2019 predecessor. There's still Sam's ambivalent relationship to power and his reluctant, if inevitable, obedience to shadowy figures and organizations who wind up revealing their true nature in the third act (a staple plot device of the series' auteur director, Hideo Kojima). The dastardly Higgs Monaghan, playfully embodied by a returning Troy Baker, appears intermittently to foil Sam's steady advancement. There are even occasional visits to an alternate dimension where Sam must do battle against a mysterious man with sad, beautiful eyes; Neil Vana (Luca Marinelli) takes over the position that Cliff Unger (Mads Mikkelsen) ably filled the last time around. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How to unlock Skeleton in Death Stranding 2
Image via: Kojima Productions In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Sam Porter Bridges once again makes the journey across the hauntingly beautiful and dangerous terrain. This time, he's not doing it solo—or at least, not without some hard-core machinery assistance. Skeletons-exoskeleton suits-are some of the most precious weapons in Sam's arsenal. The Battle Skeleton Your first exoskeleton is the Battle Skeleton, and that's exactly what you'd expect – a combat-centric slice of kit that transforms Sam into a frontline bruiser. You'll crack it open in Order 10, when you link the Western Environmental Observatory to the Chiral Network. When activated, this skeleton enhances Sam's stamina, makes him faster, and most critically, enables you to carry more equipment all while delivering decent damage resistance. In the more combat-heavy sequel, that last bit is a life saver. Upgrades are linked to your relationship with the Observatory, so the better your relationship, the better your skeleton. Tip : Pre-ordering players or deluxe edition buyers will receive exclusive Silver or Gold variants that beautifies and potentially increases durability. How to Equip a Skeleton in Death Stranding 2 On the Beach The Boost Skeleton Trying to outrun BTs, MULEs or just the rain itself? Enter the Boost Skeleton, a battery powered engineered for one thing ,speed and momentum. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo It opens up on Order 21, when you finish the delivery associated with The Dowser, a prepper unlocked by the main story. This exoskeleton reintroduces the fan-favorite speed-based mechanics from the original game, and it's particularly helpful whenever Sam has to traverse ground quickly. In combat, linking it with jump strikes transforms Sam into a man-missile. Tip : Boost Skeletons suck battery quickly, combine it with mobile generators or location-based recharge nodes. The Bokka Skeleton Don't let the poetic moniker fool you, the Bokka Skeleton is for gnarly terrain. This skeleton doesn't come around until much later, Order 30, and is unlocked by bonding with East Fort Knot. Built for elevation and rough trails, this is the frame you'll count on when the route goes alpine and ruthless. Unlike the rest, it's not associated with that same prepper Bokka (weird, right?). Instead, it's a story unlock that indicates you're entering the most challenging terrains to date. Tip : Without the Bokka Skeleton, you'll exhaust your stamina quicker, stumble over rocks, and risk hurting your load or worse. Don't MISS These INSANE Upgrades & Unlocks In Death Stranding 2! | Death Stranding 2 Tips Tips and Tricks Each skeleton in Death Stranding 2 is purpose-designed, and knowing when to swap them out can be the difference between success and failure. Going into battle? Battle On. Need to do a timed delivery across flatlands? Boost is your pal. Confronting snowy summits and jagged ridges? Don't step out without the Bokka. As you forge stronger bonds with facilities and preppers, you'll unlock higher-tier variations of each skeleton. These additions tend to make things more rugged, less power hungry, and enhance fundamental attributes such as speed or load. Skeletons aren't just wearable updates, they're survival tools in a game that keeps pushing how you navigate the world. Each type complements a different playstyle or mission need, and unlocking them at just the right moment makes your path as Sam not just manageable. It is empowering. Whether you're striding into battle, running across chiral wastelands, or scaling a snowy cliff, the right skeleton could wonder-carry you home. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
