Latest news with #gaming
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Affirm Partners with Xsolla to Offer Flexible Payment Options for Gamers
Affirm Holding Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is one of the best up and coming stocks to invest in now. On June 26, Xsolla announced a new partnership with Affirm. This collaboration will enable game developers utilizing Xsolla's payment tools in the US to offer Affirm's flexible payment options to players, with expansion to Canada and the UK planned for the coming months. Under this partnership, players who purchase games or in-game content can now choose Affirm at checkout for purchases starting at $50. This addition allows them to split costs into interest-free biweekly payments or longer-term monthly installments. Most importantly, these installments have no late or hidden fees. An entrepreneur launching her new brand on the company's platform, looking confident and joyful. The President of Communication & Strategy at Xsolla, Chris Hewish, stated that integrating Affirm's transparent payment options empowers developers to offer gamers a smarter way to pay. After a quick eligibility check, approved players can select a personalized payment plan. Affirm Holding Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) operates a payment network internationally. Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a powerful set of tools and services. While we acknowledge the potential of AFRM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds mirrors Mario Kart World's move away from traditional 3-lap races with tracks that put you in a whole "different universe"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mario Kart World is courting controversy with a new update that makes it even harder to play traditional three-lap races, but Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has been planning to make a very similar change since the beginning. Speaking to GamesRadar+, veteran Sonic producer Takashi Iizuka said that early in the development process on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Sega was trying to come up with a fresh new idea for the new iteration. In that brainstorming session, he says, "we had this idea that we've had this three-lap course up until now - it's always once, twice, three times around. What if that's the thing that we change?" That idea brought the CrossWorlds team to the concept of its 'travel rings'. These portals allow the racer in first place to select which world the second lap will take place in, before the racers all return to the original track for the final lap. The aim, Iizuka says, is that "instead of racing the same lap around the same course, you're going to a different world, a different universe, a whole different racecourse." It's an interesting way to change things up, and it's also felt across CrossWorlds' approach to its Grand Prix format. The travel ring means that "we can warp around to different places, we don't need to stay on the same course," so the final race in each Grand Prix will be an amalgamation of the previous races. It's an interesting new spin on the traditional one-two-three that kart racers have largely relied on for years. It's also part of why Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds can get around introducing characters like Hatsune Miku, and courses based on Minecraft. It might, however, prove to be more controversial than Sega expects - Mario Kart World has just pushed an update that means you're no longer guaranteed to get a regular three-lap race and it seems to be going down quite badly. Granted, that seems to be because Mario Kart is moving firmly away from the traditional three-lap formula, which CrossWorlds isn't doing - you'll just run a different second lap, rather than a whole new race. Still, it makes for a more interesting run-up to launch, especially as Sonic's biggest competition stumbles during its headstart. Veteran Sonic producer says Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds team completely removed items from the game if they were too "stressful" or let players "win all the time"
The National
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Saudi horror game Aunt Fatima uses Gulf folklore to deliver bone-chilling experience
The Gulf is rich in folk tales. Some speak of bravery and adventure, while other tell stories of hardship and turmoil. For Saudi YouTuber Abdulla Al Hamad, it was the scary folk tales that drew him when he was looking for inspiration for his first-person horror game, Aunt Fatima. Adapted from an Emirati jinn story about an entity called Umm Al Duwais that ensnares weak men to their death, the game follows a being inhabiting an empty house that stalks anyone who enters. Al Hamad says he was pushed to create a horror game when he realised how much people like the genre. 'I realised people genuinely enjoy being scared – it's fun for them,' he tells The National. He also wanted to create something simple yet effective, he adds. 'The games don't require loads of development. You only need to develop about five or six things, really simple stuff, and the rest is all about creativity in the story.' Since its launch in October 2024, Aunt Fatima has grown in popularity as more regional YouTubers began playing it on their channels. Al Hamad is also encouraged by feedback he's received from gamers in other parts of the world. 'When YouTubers picked it up, that's when things took off, horror is perfect content for creators,' he says Al Hamad. 'I discovered people were playing the game in East Asia and Turkey – we have similar cultures when it comes to folklore.' The game is played in first person, meaning the gamer is the eyes and ears of the main character. Upon entering what looks like an abandoned house, it quickly becomes clear that someone, or something, is lurking – watching every movement and reacting. The character is then tasked with solving puzzles around the house while also evading capture, and certain death, from the malevolent being known as Aunt Fatima. Some who play might be reminded of Resident Evil 7 or Hideo Kojima 's P.T., but despite the parallels, Al Hamad says those popular games were not on his mind while creating the game. 'I did play P.T. back when it first came out, but honestly, no – I wouldn't say it was an influence. I scare easily, and I don't like horror games at all. I don't even watch horror films. But somehow, I ended up making a horror game.' His main objective was to make a game that drew from the Gulf's culture, and paid tribute to it. He even went to a delipidated area in his city Al Khobar, which was believed by the locals to be haunted. His grandfather's house also served as the blueprint for the haunted house in the game. 'For example, you might notice the clock in the house chimes every quarter of an hour – that's directly inspired by my grandfather's house, which had a clock that did exactly that,' Al Hamad says. 'Or the old telephone, that's another thing that still exists. The rugs, the bed, the lamp, the light switch – all these little details are things I grew up with. I visited these places again just to recapture the feel.' Those details are instantly noticeable when playing Aunt Fatima. At one point, players come across a table with a mubkhar on top of it, bellowing incense smoke in the house, something that can be seen in most homes across the Gulf. Despite being developed and published by one person, Aunt Fatima is no small game. It clocks in at more than an hour of gameplay and uses Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling system, or DLSS, to enhance its capabilities. DLSS is AI-powered technology that renders fewer pixels and then upscales the image to a higher resolution, allowing a smaller-budget game like Aunt Fatima to look and feel like a game developed by major studios. The use of DLSS has allowed gamers to enjoy it exactly how Al Hamad envisioned it and has also allowed it to be highlighted by chips maker Nvidia alongside some of the biggest video games in the industry. 'To make a horror game work, you need quick reaction time, and that's why DLSS made a real difference,' he says. 'Seeing Aunt Fatima listed on Nvidia's website alongside games like Marvel Rivals and God of War made me incredibly proud.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Macau's Recovery Accelerates: Will Melco's Top Line Keep Up?
Macau's recovery from pandemic-era lows is gaining steam and Melco Resorts & Entertainment MLCO appears to be riding that wave. Melco delivered a strong performance in the first quarter, beating revenue and earnings estimates. The company benefited from a sharp rise in visitation during peak travel periods, such as Golden Week, reflecting a renewed momentum in tourism in Macau. Strong demand in the mass gaming segment lifted table drop volumes at its flagship properties, City of Dreams and Studio City. But as investor optimism returns, the key question is whether this top-line strength is sustainable. CEO Lawrence Ho emphasized that recent gains are not just recovery-driven but also the result of operational improvements, like property renovations and the relaunch of 'House of Dancing Water.' These moves are helping to differentiate Melco's offerings and tap into China's shifting consumer preference for experiences over luxury retail. Still, high-end shopping remains a drag, especially at City of Dreams, while Studio City's more mass-focused retail has performed tailwind is China's current pro-consumption policy environment, which supports domestic tourism and discretionary spending. Yet challenges loom. Non-Macau assets, such as Manila, face a tougher competitive landscape, prompting cost revisions and strategic reviews. Furthermore, while Macau gaming spend shows resilience, the broader recovery could be vulnerable to macro headwinds and shifts in top line looks stable with further gains in first-quarter 2025. However, sustaining this momentum long-term will hinge on disciplined reinvestment, further diversification of non-gaming revenues and navigating regional volatility. The company's strong liquidity and ongoing buybacks provide a cushion, but investors should keep an eye on execution risk and competitive pressures as the post-recovery phase matures. As Melco rebuilds momentum in Macau, it faces growing competition from other U.S.-listed operators with deep pockets and established brand power, namely, Wynn Resorts WYNN and MGM Resorts MGM. Wynn, with a stronghold in the premium segment, continues to attract high-end clientele through its luxury positioning and high-quality service at Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau. Its emphasis on mass premium and operational discipline could challenge Melco's efforts to retain its share among affluent MGM China has been aggressively expanding its market share, recently surpassing 17% thanks to the strong mass-market appeal and rising contributions from non-gaming segments. MGM's alignment with local policy, especially its focus on family-friendly, non-gaming attractions, mirrors Melco's diversification strategy, intensifying the all three push forward in a more rational, cost-conscious environment, maintaining top-line growth will depend on differentiated offerings, operational excellence and effective targeting of the evolving consumer of China. Shares of MLCO have gained 84.8% in the past three months compared with the industry's growth of 40.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MLCO's current valuation looks promising for investors. The stock is currently trading at a discount compared with the industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.73X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MLCO's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 52.6% and 56.3%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Melco currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) : Free Stock Analysis Report MGM Resorts International (MGM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Winnipeg girl heading to Pokemon World Championship
Winnipeg Watch A 12-year-old Winnipeg girl is competing to be the very best at Pokemon at the World Championships. Danton Unger has more.
