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Source: Gabe Ginsberg / Getty / D&D
The iconic tabletop game D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) is valiantly attempting to attract a new generation of players by making it more inclusive. Still, as expected, some folks are not happy about that.
D&D has gone “woke,” according to some OG players after the iconic game’s first significant rule changes in a decade became law during its 50th anniversary.
Gone are “races,” and they have been replaced with the term “species.” Plus, character traits are no longer tied to biological identity; for example, “a mountain dwarf is no longer inherently brawny and durable, a high elf no longer intelligent and dexterous by definition,” as per The New York Times explanation.
Wizards of the Coast, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons, which Hasbro owns, is on board with the trend of role-playing games allowing players to stop playing if they begin to feel uncomfortable.
Elon Musk & Other Hardcore D&D Players Were Big Mad
As expected, some OG D&D players, including Elon Musk, feel the game is going the “woke” route. Musk responded to a post on his crappy platform X complaining about the Dungeons & Dragons 40th Anniversary Making of Dungeons & Dragons book’s foreword, claiming that it “slams the original creators and attempts to distance themselves” from sexism, cultural appropriation, and other problematic tropes from the 1970s.
“Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons,” Musk said. “What the f*** is wrong with Hasbro and WOTC?? May they burn in hell.”
Jason Tondro, a project lead for D&D, was part of the backlash against Musk’s comments about changes made considering progressives and underrepresented groups.
Musk then responded as any spoiled billionaire would by asking, “How much is Hasbro?”
If the folks at Hasbro have been paying attention to how Phony Stark is running Twitter—oops, we mean X—since he reluctantly acquired it, they wouldn’t let him get his greasy hands on the company.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Donald Trump / TikTok
TikTok is still facing a potential ban in the United States, but the popular social media platform might have found an unlikely savior in Donald Trump. Some folks can see the jig with this latest move.
In an interesting turn of events, Donald Trump, who has had a wishy-washy position on the matter, is now calling for the Supreme Court to pause the looming ban on the popular social media platform TikTok.
Trump’s take on the matter is in direct contrast to the Biden administration and some Republican, former Trump, and Democratic official’s stance that the Chinese-owned platform poses a “grave” threat to the country’s national security.
If TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, doesn’t sell TikTok to an American company, it will be officially banned on January 19, one day before Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Per NBC News:
“President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute,” wrote D. John Sauer, Trump’s lawyer who is also the president-elect’s pick for U.S. solicitor general. “Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump’s incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case.”
The US Supreme Court decided to hear the case and fast-tracked the schedule for briefings and oral arguments, but it did not decide whether to consider TikTok’s request to pause the implementation of the ban.
Never Forget, Donald Trump Wanted TikTok Banned
Trump, who famously tried to ban TikTok in 2020 during his first failed presidency, is now claiming he can somehow negotiate a deal to “save” the platform after he met with the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, claiming he now has a “warm spot” for the platform.
“President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government—concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged,” Sauer notes.
While the news of TikTok’s potential saving is making some people happy, there are many who see the move as a political one.
“Donald Trump’s reversal on the TikTok ban is the most billionaire thing ever. The president-elect, himself a billionaire, changed his mind because his billionaire donor Larry Ellison asked him to. Not good for democracy!” read one post on X, formally Twitter.
Another post on X read, “Hold the fuck on. The same Donald Trump who is threatening to “take back the Panama Canal” from PANAMA because it’s being “controlled by” the Chinese, has asked the Supreme Court to pause the law which would ban TikTok here unless it’s sold, thereby allowing the app to continue to be controlled by… the Chinese? Do I have that just about right?”
We can also see the jig.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. This video proves why Donald Trump isn’t the brightest person on the planet
2. Imperial fluffing
3. We guess
4. LOL, of course he doesn’t
Days after a panel of federal judges voted to uphold a new law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning on Jan. 19, the independent label Artist Partner Group (APG) started assessing how that might potentially impact its marketing campaigns — and how the company should adjust.
“It’s hard to imagine a reality where TikTok actually goes down,” says Alec Henderon, head of digital at APG. “But we need to be prepared. We are doing video shoots ahead of time, so if it does go, we have top-tier content hitting other short-form video platforms very quickly.”
J.D. Tuminski, former digital marketing lead at Def Jam and founder of Casadei Collective Marketing Agency, is also advising clients to be ready. “If folks are being smart right now,” he says, “they’re already putting plans in place for other platforms and thinking about alternative marketing strategies.”
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At least most music marketers have been down this road before. President Trump tried to ban TikTok in 2020 but was blocked by the courts. “We’ve had this conversation internally so many times,” sighs Rafael Rocha, CEO of the marketing agency NuWave Digital. “If I was a betting man, I would bet confidently that it will not get banned.”
Or maybe not banned for long. President Trump returns to office on Jan. 20, and recently he has appeared more enthusiastic about TikTok, saying he had “a warm spot in my heart” for the app. In addition, on Wednesday (Dec. 18), the Supreme Court agreed to hear TikTok’s challenge to the law that would ban it in the U.S. TikTok’s stance is that a ban would lead to “massive and unprecedented censorship of over 170 million Americans.”
Marketers are trying to prepare for the app’s potential disappearance nonetheless. No one wants to be caught flat-footed, especially because TikTok has “become such a large part of our execution when music is released and for teasing new music,” says Allison Laughter, vp of digital, marketing and streaming for Red Light Management. If the app were outlawed in the U.S., it would “hurt us in the short run for sure.”
The pain would probably be felt more acutely by rising artists who don’t yet have name recognition. “Where is new artist discovery happening in 2025 if this app completely disappears?” asks Johnny Cloherty, co-founder of the digital marketing company Songfluencer. “There is new artist discovery on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts — it just doesn’t happen on the same scale as it does on TikTok.”
Some genres that are reaching a new audience abroad might also be more vulnerable if TikTok use is prohibited. “Country music is bigger than it’s ever been, and we’re seeing more global success than we ever have,” Laughter adds. “It would be a shame to have an international platform taken away from us at a moment when we really have leverage with country acts. It’s slowing down a rocket ship while it’s hot for us.”
Many executives got some practice grappling with a TikTok-less existence earlier this year. On Feb. 1, Universal Music Group’s deal with the platform expired, and all its artists’ music was pulled from the app. A month later, many songs from other labels that featured contributions from Universal Music Publishing Group writers were removed as well.
“That was a wake up call for a lot of people,” says Dan Roy Carter, a former TikTok employee who recently launched Carter Projects, his own music marketing company. “That made people look at other platforms [outside of TikTok] and realize they have to develop them.”
But most marketers did not find that other short-form video platforms could fill the void left by TikTok’s absence. “Anyone I’ve spoken to who tried to pivot to another platform during that time frame generally didn’t find anything that was comparable straight away,” Carter says. That was certainly Laughter’s experience: “I don’t think that we found the sweet spot of how to mimic the success or reach we might see on TikTok with any other platform.”
If the TikTok ban did go through in the U.S., however, the platform would still be available for hundreds of millions of users globally (at least for now). And clips that are popular on TikTok often make their way to other social media platforms. “Say TikTok is banned here — that doesn’t mean that internationally it can’t be a part of a strategy to drive streaming,” says Jen Darmafall, director of marketing for ATG Group. “When you see Reels and Shorts make an impact on music consumption, it is often following something that’s going viral on TikTok first.”
Several marketers discussed using VPNs to circumvent a potential ban Stateside and continue to market their acts to audiences in Europe, Latin America and Asia. And digital marketers abroad would almost certainly see an influx of business from American artists and labels. “Hiring companies to be a liaison to TikTok creators outside of the U.S. is something that I would think about if I was a musician,” Tuminski notes.
Artists and labels would also watch carefully to see where TikTok’s large, famously active user base in the U.S. ends up. “If this goes down, we’ll need to be reactive towards where the content and the traffic and energy shifts,” Henderson says. “Short form video is not going away,” Cloherty agrees. “The TikTok audience will go somewhere.”
Reels and Shorts are typically mentioned as potential TikTok substitutes due to their short-form video focus. But other platforms can also serve as potential conduits for conveying music to listeners.
X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t pop up in many music marketing conversations these days, but Henderson has seen it bring in new listeners for rappers. He’s been focused on trying to harness the power of Twitch as well. The APG artist Flawed Mangoes saw a sizable jump in streams after appearing on the stream of Kai Cenat, one of the most popular personalities on the platform.
Marketers are also intrigued by the possibilities of Snapchat. “It’s still very heavily used by kids, but it’s not as heavily used by artists,” says Jenna Rosenberg, former vp of digital marketing at Atlantic Records. “There is an audience on there, it’s just that no one’s talking to them.” Darmafall has observed “more and more artists posting about following them on Snapchat.”
And if TikTok gets outlawed, the audience hunting for a substitute might end up on another app altogether, something that isn’t currently part of everyday conversation. “Platforms ebb and flow,” Rosenberg says. “Kids will find one that they’ll gravitate towards, and then we’re all going to have to learn it really quickly and educate the artists on how to utilize it.”
For now though, TikTok continues to operate in the U.S., driving new listeners to songs like Lola Young’s “Messy” and Sam Barber’s “Indigo.” “As people are building out their plans for any releases that are coming at the start of the year, they are still including TikTok as part of that plan,” Darmafall says. “It just can’t be your only plan.”
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Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3
SEGA might have the greatest video game movie franchise ever thanks to the company’s iconic speedy mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog. The third installment in the franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, keeps the same energy as the first two films and, based on the critical reception, is the best one yet.
Like the Sonic The Hedgehog video game franchise, the movies follow the same trajectory, each being a level-up from the next.
While Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s domestic box office opening was slightly under Sonic 2’s $72.1 million, it raced to an impressive $70.5 million.
But where Sonic 3 trumps its predecessor is in its critical reception, currently sitting at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% audience score, making it the highest-rated movie out of the three. Hence, everyone, except IGN, who gave the film a 6 (okay) rating, is more than pleased with the latest movie.
Now, we’re not totally bashing everyone’s favorite video game website. The reviewer did love Jim Carrey’s duo performance as Dr. Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald Robotnik, and the excellent use of CGI for the film’s scenes featuring Team Sonic and the bad-ass anti-hero Shadow The Hedgehog.
But for the other critics and fans, those things mentioned above, the perfect casting of Keanu Reeves to bring Shadow to the big screen alongside returning favorites Ben Schwartz (Sonic), Idris Elba (Knuckles), and Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Tails) were the chef’s kiss.
Jeff Fowler Went Out His Way To Please Sonic the Hedgehog Fans
Returning director Jeff Fowler clearly did his homework when making these Sonic films. He went hard on the fan service, which was also a big hit with fans of the video game franchise, as the movie is peppered with references to the video games.
I did this like seven times during #SonicMovie3 pic.twitter.com/AmdAZqnRur
— The Green Kasey 🎃 (@RawbertBeef) December 21, 2024
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Sonic The Hedgehog’s success at the box office should be studied; who can forget the reaction to the film’s first CGI design for Sonic, which was so bad that social media successfully bullied the director and his team to go back to the drawing board and make changes.
Those changes have paid off big-time, giving Paramount some bragging rights because they can say, without much pushback from anyone, that the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise is the best video game film adaption ever.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Definitely not wrong with this take.
3. A job well done Jeff.
4. We agree
For all the value derived from social media, artists and labels have yet to generate revenue directly from their activity on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. In contrast, Weverse, a social media and e-commerce platform owned by South Korean company HYBE, changes up the typical social media dynamic by generating direct revenue from the fandom it facilitates.
This month, in an effort to generate even more revenue from superfans, Weverse introduced a digital membership tier that offers additional perks such as ad-free viewing, video downloads for offline access, high-quality streaming and language translation. The paid digital membership is separate from the fan clubs offered on the platform and Weverse’s own direct messaging feature that allows users — for a fee — to message their favorite artists.
“Digital membership, we believe, is the very first cornerstone of the future evolution” of the music business,” Weverse CEO Joon Choi tells Billboard. He adds that in the first two weeks that digital memberships were made available on the platform, 79 artists (out of 162 active artist communities on Weverse) have given fans the option of signing up for them.
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Weverse is an anomaly in social media: a platform with a small number of high-demand musicians rather than a large number of mostly unpopular artists. Launched in 2019, Weverse had 9.7 million monthly active users (MAUs) as of Sept. 30, according to HYBE’s latest financial results, down from 10.6 million a year earlier. The platform is a Swiss Army knife of a promotional vehicle. Artists not only post media content and updates but also conduct live-streams and respond — for a fee — to fans’ direct messages, while the platform additionally sells concert live streams, music and merchandise. And HYBE’s most popular artists can rack up amazing numbers on the platform: Earlier this week, BTS member Jung Kook set a Weverse record with 20.2 million real-time views of a 2.5-hour live broadcast in which he spoke to fans during a break from his military duty.
In recent months, Weverse expanded beyond K-pop artists by welcoming such Western, English-language stars as Ariana Grande and The Kid Laroi, hinting at possibilities that have record labels salivating. Goldman Sachs analysts have estimated that improved monetization of superfans — including new digital platforms, greater emphasis on vinyl buyers and higher-priced music subscription plans — could result in $3.3 billion of incremental revenue globally by 2030. Given the potential, it wasn’t surprising to hear both Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl and Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge express their interest in superfan products and experiences earlier this year. In September, UMG CFO Boyd Muir said the company was in “advanced talks” with Spotify about a high-priced superfan tier — something Chinese music streaming company Tencent Music Entertainment already launched with early success.
In the early days of its membership tier, Weverse is still figuring things out. “We are pioneering this field, so we see a lot of unknowns,” says Choi. For example, he says Weverse has heard from many labels that it should bundle the digital membership tier with fan clubs already offered by artists into something like a premium membership tier (of the 162 active artist communities on Weverse, 72 currently offer fan clubs). He adds that Weverse would not make the decision independently but is discussing it with labels. “Combining them together in the future, I think it’ll be stronger than what we offer right now,” says Choi.
The rollout of the membership tier hasn’t been without controversy, though. In October, an article at The Korea Herald quoted an email from Weverse to its partner record labels in which the company said participation in the membership tier is “mandatory for all artist communities hosted on Weverse.” The article also quoted a South Korean lawmaker who called on the country’s Fair Trade Commission to investigate Weverse’s “new forms of monopolistic practices and determine whether unfair treatment is occurring against affiliated companies using the platform.” Weverse says it has not been contacted or investigated by regulators.
Choi pushes back against the assertions in The Korea Herald, saying artists on the platform are not required to offer a subscription tier, in contrast with the email quoted by the newspaper. “That’s not mandatory,” he insists. In a separate statement to Billboard, Weverse said it “aims to roll out digital membership to all communities” but that the decision “is the choice of labels and artists” and, in any event, fans will still be able to use many existing Weverse services for free. Despite Weverse playing an integral role in the marketing and promotion of K-pop artists, Choi argues it doesn’t have enough market power to make such demands: “We are not in a dominant place where we can just present the policy and dictate our policy to the artist or labels however we want.”
Weverse has also received criticism for its revenue-sharing splits with labels, with The Korea Herald additionally citing an anonymous source as saying the company proposed a “disproportionate” share of the revenue ranging from 30% to 60%, leaving the artist and label with anywhere from 40% to 70%. Choi declined to comment on the business arrangements that determine how much subscription revenue Weverse keeps but noted the platform is investing money into the subscription tier to create features valuable to artists and their fans.
The pushback encountered by Weverse foreshadows the challenges platforms and labels will face as superfan platforms proliferate and the stakeholders wrangle over how the money will be shared. Labels and publishers have spent decades trying to get more value from streaming services, and short-form video apps like TikTok necessitated new conversations about how to compensate creators for the value they bring to the platform. As Choi says, “What we’re doing is basically creating a new value by connecting the artist and super fans in the same place.” In the process, HYBE has pioneered a new model that could become standard practice for artists and labels in the music business of the future.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Digital cameras were thought to be dead after the introduction of the first iPhone back in 2007, but new research has found an increasing surge in sales — and it’s all thanks to Gen Z. Young adults aged 18-29 are supposedly the driving force behind the major growth in digital camera sales as the desire for a vintage ’90s aesthetic and Y2K style prevails.
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The average price for a digital camera has since increased to around $620, but that doesn’t mean you have to burn a hole in your wallet to hop on the instant camera trend. There are a number of good digital cameras under $100 that’ll provide better quality photos than what your smartphone and flip phones could ever produce.
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Below, Billboard Shopping breaks down the benefits of owning a digital camera as well as the best digital cameras under $100 to buy online. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, here are some budget cameras to put under the tree.
Are Digital Cameras Still Worth It?
The best digital cameras have evolved with the times to include an expanded list of features and upgraded technology. You’ll not only capture higher-quality photos than with a smartphone (especially in low-light conditions), you’ll also enjoy quicker shutter speeds, an increased amount of storage, and customizability.
Content creators can also use most point-and-shoot cameras as a vlogging camera due to its versatile nature, allowing you to switch from point-and-shoot to a video camera.
Is a Digital Camera Better Than An iPhone?
Apple’s latest iPhone 16 boasts 48 megapixels (the amount of detail a camera’s sensor can capture), which is at the same level of some cheap digital cameras. That doesn’t take into account the $1,000+ price tag attached to the smartphone in addition to not as much storage and a less crisp flash. Digital cameras are also designed with photography being the main use, whereas an iPhone and other smartphones have to be able to switch from a camera, to a phone and web browser.
What Are the Best Digital Cameras Under $100?
When determining the best digital camera under $100 to buy, you’ll want to decide what your main purpose of use will be. Whether you’re capturing memories from your lineup of tours and music festivals or looking for a beginner-friendly design to start a photography hobby, check below for some of the top-rated affordable digital cameras.
editor’s pick
4K Digital Camera for Photography
Amazon’s digital camera can capture 64MP (the most on the list!) as well as 4K resolution videos for the highest-quality content. The built-in anti-shake feature will also help you avoid snapping any blurry photos, while the rechargeable battery ensures you don’t have to stock up on disposable batteries.Amazon reviewers love how easy it is to use and the quality of pictures it takes for its low price, noting that it takes solid pictures, has easy controls and does a great job in different shooting situations. The stabilization is also handy for getting clear shots.
Walmart
photography pick
Kodak PixPro FZ45-SL Digital Camera
$30.59
$109.99
72% off
Whether you’re shooting photos of your tropical vacation or family picutres, Wednkoly’s affordable digital camera makes it possible to capture professional-grade photos with 44 MP. Included is a 32 GB SD card to store your picutres on, face recognition, smile detection and continuous shooting for a more flexible shooting experience.One reviewer described it as a “very impressive little camera for the price,” commenting on how “at this price point, this camera is the best option out there.”
Amazon
beginner-friendly pick
Lecran Digital Camera
If you’re new to photography, Lecran’s cheap digital camera simplifies the process without sacrificing quality. It’s capable of capturing 44 MP and uses motion detection and face detection while setting up your shot. The anti-shake feature helps prevent blurry photos, while the self-timer allows you to take group pictures to make sure everyone is in the photo. The digital camera has “exceeded expectations” for one Amazon shopper who said “the image quality is superb with sharp details and vibrant colors. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced photographers.” This is a bestseller too, with more than 9,000 units sold in the last month alone.
Amazon
vlogging pick
Brewene 4K Digital Camera
$74.99
$99.99
25% off
Vloggers will appreciate the 48MP and 4K resolution of the Brewene digital camera paired with its 16X zoom abilities and built-in microphone. It’s also designed with a hot shoe mount, a rotatable LCD screen (great for self-tapes) and and CMOS image sensor that’ll precisely focus on your subjects. Amazon reviewers called the digital camera a “little gem for budding creatives” complimenting how “navigating through the settings was intuitive and the autofocus feature works like a charm making everything look professional.”
Amazon
travel pick
Camkory Digital Camera
$49.99
$69.99
29% off
Camkory’s compact digital camera will help keep you from feeling weighed down during your travels since it only weighs 9.13 ounces. Its slim design makes it easy to slip inside your backpack or fanny pack while and when it’s time to take pictures, you can enjoy 44MP quality.Reviewers can’t get enough of its portability with one verified Amazon reviewer saying, “the photo quality was impressive, showcasing the camera’s capabilities in diverse settings.”
Amazon
action pick
AKASO Brave 4 Pro Action Camera
$89.99
$139.99
36% off
Make sure to capture all your concert antics with an affordable action digital camera like the AKASO Brave 4 Pro. The outer shell is waterproof for any underwater or rain-filled shots while the electronic image stabilization (EIS) 2.0 uses a six-axis gyroscope that’ll detect positions and motion changes for more focused, straight shots.Reviewers enjoy the quality of photos and videos for the price point with one person saying “I wanted a camera with two screens, that was easy to use and has a good battery life — and this has all that. So far, the battery has lasted on a two-hour ride and I can take the spare if I go longer.”
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best podcast equipment, portable recording booths and studio headphones.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Technology has become an integral part of our day-to-day life, whether it’s to make plans with friends or to direct you […]
Merlin, which oversees digital licensing for the independent sector, has outlined its position on the use of music in training artificial intelligence in a new memo.
Like many organizations in the music industry, Merlin supports “AI products that aid human creativity, or provide new opportunities for artists to create and collaborate in developing new original works,” wrote the organization in a mission statement shared with Billboard. But it strongly opposes “any product, regardless of its purpose, that has been trained on Merlin members’ music without permission.”
Sony Music and Warner Music Group, among others, made similar announcements earlier this year, warning AI companies not to harvest their data for training purposes. But Merlin’s statement on Friday suggests that its members are even more vulnerable than the major labels.
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“These are not multinational corporations,” Merlin notes. “They are often small businesses operating in support of artists who shape contemporary culture around the world, and who are trying to earn a living in an increasingly challenging environment. Unlicensed use of these artists’ work creates a genuine and imminent threat to artists’ livelihoods and the livelihoods of those who work to support them.”
Like Merlin, most — if not all — music industry rightsholders believe that AI companies should license their music if they want to use those catalogs of recordings to develop song generation technology. Statements from a number of AI companies, however, indicate that they aren’t interested in paying. They often argue that training their models fall under “fair use,” the U.S. legal doctrine that allows for the unlicensed use of copyrighted works in certain situations.
But Merlin hit back against this argument on Friday: “Taking someone else’s creative work — without permission, without compensation, and with the specific purpose of using that work to create new works that are substitutional for the original — is inherently not fair use,” the statement reads.
“AI companies and their investors would, we assume, look to copyright and other IP law to protect against any unauthorized uses of their technology,” Merlin continued. But ironically, “AI companies are rightly protective over their models and proprietary software, yet some seem to view other people’s intellectual property as ‘free data’ to feed their algorithm.”
Read Merlin’s full memo below.
Merlin is the independents’ digital licensing partner. Merlin’s primary function is to enable innovative and properly-compensated uses of its members’ music. This is clearly demonstrated by the partnerships Merlin has in place with so many of the world’s leading digital services.
All of our partnerships have one thing in common: our partners value music. While our partnerships have evolved over the years, they respect the human artistry involved in creating music and the financial investment needed to nurture, distribute and market it. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) does nothing to change that.
Merlin and its members have always embraced and adapted to technological change, while ensuring that the value of human creativity is respected. Artistic expression is a fundamental part of what makes us human. The ability to create, appreciate, and enjoy art, in all its forms, is foundational to the human experience. Music, in particular, brings people together, evokes emotions, and helps us express thoughts and feelings.
Merlin recognises the enormous power of AI and its benefits to the creative community and society as a whole; but, if AI is left unregulated, the impact on the creative industries and, by extension, global culture will be devastating.
Merlin believes that, when developed and implemented responsibly, AI technologies can be additive to the creative landscape. AI products that aid human creativity, or provide new opportunities for artists to create and collaborate in developing new original works, are products that Merlin supports. Merlin and its members are ready to partner with AI companies that want to be on the right side of history – those that are willing properly to compensate Merlin members for use of their repertoire and to include appropriate guardrails to protect Merlin members’ rights.
However, Merlin cannot support any product, regardless of its purpose, that has been trained on Merlin members’ music without permission.
Merlin’s members, and the independent labels they represent, number in the thousands. These are not multinational corporations. They are often small businesses operating in support of artists who shape contemporary culture around the world, and who are trying to earn a living in an increasingly challenging environment. Unlicensed use of these artists’ work creates a genuine and imminent threat to artists’ livelihoods and the livelihoods of those who work to support them.
It has been suggested that training of AI models on artists’ work without permission should somehow be considered “fair use”. We believe it is the exact opposite of fair, both morally and legally.
The legal test for fair use involves four criteria, relating to the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyright work, the amount used, and the effect upon the market or value of the copyright work. Unlicensed commercial AI models fail on all four. Any AI company that trains its models by scraping the internet for copyright-protected sound recordings is making unauthorized reproductions of entire copyright works. Invariably, these copies are used for commercial purposes, and the AI-generated sound recordings resulting from the models pose a significant threat to the market for Merlin artists’ copyrighted sound recordings by creating directly competitive digital music files. There is much talk about these uses being fair merely because the outputs are “transformative”, but even transformative uses need to take into account the impact on the original works, and the extent to which they are substitutional for the original. In the case of AI-generated music, the substitutional impact is obvious.
Taking someone else’s creative work – without permission, without compensation, and with the specific purpose of using that work to create new works that are substitutional for the original – is inherently not fair use.
In seeking to license their music, Merlin members and their artists are not leveraging their copyrights to gain an unfair advantage. They are doing their best to earn a living and to protect rights in their expressive works. This is no different to how AI companies and their investors would, we assume, look to copyright and other IP law to protect against any unauthorized uses of their technology. AI companies are rightly protective over their models and proprietary software, yet some seem to view other people’s intellectual property as “free data” to feed their algorithm.
It is Merlin’s position, and that of its members, that any and all uses of Merlin member repertoire for training, development or implementation of AI models and related purposes requires explicit written authorization from Merlin or the applicable Merlin member. Merlin’s policy is clearly displayed on its website at https://merlinnetwork.org/policy-on-ai/.
If you are a responsible AI company that seeks to use independent music to train a model, or to offer a product or service that is additive to the music ecosystem and has intrinsic creative benefit to music creators, please contact us at ResponsibleAI@merlinnetwork.org.
The Game Awards 2024 wasn’t just about celebrating the year in video games and handing out trophies. It also has become the night when we can expect to have our minds blown by some big announcements, and this year, Geoff Keighly came with the fire. On a night when PlayStation’s least popular mascot, Astro Bot, secured a Game of The Year win thanks to Team Asobi’s fantastic platformer and Balatro, an Indie poker roguelike, continued to captivate gamers, Keighly made sure that his annual awards show delivered the goods regarding game announcements.In what was easily the best Game Awards show in a long time, numerous beloved franchises returned, and other massive announcements from your favorite video game studios.So, let’s jump into them.It’s been nearly two decades since the last installment in the popular Onimusha franchise, but our patience is finally being rewarded when the game arrives in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.Based on the trailer, the legendary Oni Gauntlet, the mystical tool that helps the heroes in the Onimusha games take on the demons, can be seen on a yet-to-be-revealed lone samurai who is tasked to save the world like those who rocked the gauntlet before him.Onimusha: Way of the Sword takes place in Kyoto during the early Edo period. In this time of relative peace for Japan, Malice has befallen the ancient city. Twisted into an eerie and unsettling place, Kyoto has been infested by the demonic Genma. In the debut trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a lone samurai armed with the Oni Gauntlet engages in fierce, blood-soaked sword fights with these hellish creatures from another world.Consider us hyped; 2026 can’t come soon enough. Below, you can watch the trailer for the reveal of Onimusha: Way of the Sword.One of the many pleasant surprises on the night came from SEGA. The iconic 3D fighting game franchise Virtua Fighter is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and what better way to do this than with a new game, Virtua Fighter Project?The brief teaser shows a mystery fighter wearing a fedora before he is eventually seen fighting Sarah Bryant, a longtime character from the franchise. SEGA released no other details about the game. A VF Direct shared more information about the game and the announcement of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown Version 2.0, a free update that will only be available for 5 days.Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. was also announced and will finally bring the fighting game to Steam. It’s currently in open beta if you’re eager to take this one for a spin.Also announced on the heels of the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 The Movie’s release Sonic Racing: Crossworlds was announced. The brief teaser of Shadow The Hedgehog in his vehicle before he pulled off. According to a press release, the game “features a distinct racing mechanic that promises to transport Sonic racing fans into a new dimension.”Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, creators of the Like a Dragon franchise, is still hard at work and teased a “brand-new concept, Project Century.” The team behind Blasphemous is bringing us a brand new chapter in the iconic Ninja Gaiden franchise called Ragebound. DOTEMU, the Paris-based publisher doing the lord’s work bringing back all the fire side scroller beat ’em up games, is also attached to this latest game.Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is described as a brand new sidescrolling adventure in the franchise that will dive into the untold chapter of the Ninja Gaiden saga. It features old-school gameplay with a brand-new polish, displayed in spectacular pixel art.Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father’s will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu’s absence.Naughty Dog is taking its act to outer space for its brand new franchise, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Naughty Dog Head Neil Druckmann revealed the game is currently in development for the PlayStation 5 console and that the studio has been working on the game since 2020.While not revealing everything about the game’s plot, Druckmann gave a brief description:Intergalactic stars our newest protagonist, Jordan A. Mun (Tati Gabrielle), a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit. Druckmann also revealed that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will score the game’s soundtrack. The game developer did not provide information on the release window.There were plenty of other big announcements during The Game Awards 2024; you can see the rest in the gallery below.
1. The Witcher 4
No Gods, Only Monsters
The Witcher IV is an upcoming single-player open-world RPG from CD PROJEKT RED, the creators of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The beginning of a new saga, and a follow-up to one of the most acclaimed RPGs of all time, Ciri takes center stage as the protagonist, embarking on her own journey to become a professional monster slayer.
2. The Outer Wilds 2
In true Obsidian Entertainment fashion, you carve your path through Arcadia, a colony teeming with factions, intrigue, and chaos. It’s also home of skip drive technology and where the fate of the entire colony – and the galaxy – rests. As a daring, undeniably good-looking, and questionably competent Earth Directorate agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the entire galaxy. Talk about stakes (not to be confused with raptidon steaks, those are very different)! The choice of how to deal with the rifts is up to you. “Your worlds, your way,” as we say at Obsidian.
Are the rifts the only thing threatening Arcadia? Of course not! That would be too easy. A factional war between the “benevolent rulers” known as the Protectorate, a rebellious scientific religious order, and a corporate mega power has the colony torn apart. Each is trying to close or control the rifts for their own good/monetarily profitable needs. Church, state, and capitalism! Who will win?! Well, that’s really up to you. This is your game. We’ve said the choices were yours the whole time. See that Obsidian motto above? Yeah, you get it.
Wishlist the game today on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows PC, and Steam, and stay tuned for more updates on The Outer Worlds 2 — we can’t wait to share what’s next with you. The galaxy is yours to explore; the only question is, how will you shape it?
The Outer Worlds 2 will be released in 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It will also be available on day one with Game Pass.
3. Den of Wolves
Swedish game developer 10 Chambers premiered the first gameplay trailer for their upcoming game Den of Wolves during The Game Awards 2024. The game is led by Creative Director Ulf Andersson, creator of the critically acclaimed heist games Payday: THE HEIST and PAYDAY 2. The trailer opened with a sweeping shot of Midway City’s corporate-dominated skyline, where massive skyscrapers bearing the logos of powerful corporations pierce the clouds, setting the stage for this ambitious new cooperative heist game. Then it jumps right into gameplay heisting.
4. Splitgate 2
1047 Games unveiled a new trailer and a fresh look at its portal-jumping first person shooter, Splitgate 2, during The Game Awards and teased a new game mode tonight in an eye-popping new trailer. Keeping with its fast and frenetic pace from the game’s popular alpha earlier this year, Splitgate 2 heads to full launch in 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. OG Aces and would-be glory seekers who missed their opportunity to go hands-on with the game and join their favorite faction last summer won’t have to wait long either; another Splitgate 2 alpha is on the way early next year. Wishlist Splitgate 2: https://www.splitgate.com/.
5. One Move Away
Playstack and Ramage Games revealed One Move Away, a unique first-person narrative-driven puzzle game that turns the act of packing into a heartfelt journey. Launching in 2025 for PC and consoles, One Move Away explores life’s pivotal moments through the lens of moving, both physically and emotionally.
Moving isn’t just a task, it’s an experience. One Move Away celebrates your personal style, whether you carefully stack every box or cram items in and hope for the best. Every packed car boot is a puzzle, but how you solve it is entirely up to you.
As you progress through three interwoven storylines, you’ll feel the thrill of a leap into the unknown and the quiet ache of returning to a familiar place that no longer feels the same.
Through over 20 handcrafted levels, One Move Away delivers cozy gameplay with emotional depth.
Coming 2025
One Move Away is set to release in 2025 on PC and consoles. Whether you’re drawn to thoughtful puzzles or resonant storytelling, this cozy adventure promises to stay with you long after you pack the final box.
6. Mecha BREAK
Amazing Seasun Games just released the latest trailer for Mecha BREAK during tonight’s The Game Awards livestream, revealing a Spring 2025 release window and new features coming to the game’s large PvPvE extraction game mode. Mecha BREAK will release on PC and Xbox with three ways to play: 6v6 Battlefield, 3v3 Arena, and the tactical co-op PvPvE mode, with more exciting updates to come.
Mecha BREAK’s unique mech-centric gameplay will feature these three distinct game modes at launch, along with additional out-of-combat explorable areas and gameplay mechanics coming in the future. The new PvPvE extraction game mode will be showcased in upcoming beta tests, taking place on a massive map with rewards earned by defeating NPCs and capturing strongholds. Additionally, players are able to team up with other squads to challenge giant boss mechs for even higher-tier rewards, introducing tactical competition between different squad groups.
The latest additions to PvPvE include swappable weapon pickups and weaponized gliders, enabling players to dynamically enhance their mech’s capabilities, like healing, sniping, and laying down suppressive fire, to give them a tactical edge. Strategic planning is key in Mecha BREAK, so effective communication with teammates is essential to leading them to victory. Prepare for adrenaline-pumping battles, lightning-fast maneuvers, and explosive firepower.
In post-release updates, Mecha BREAK will receive a walkable space station complete with a hangar, a tactical command center, private living quarters, a shooting range, and more explorable spaces. Amazing Seasun Games have previously shared some early looks at the walkable station areas and teased plans for an ambitious new game mode that allows players to exit their mech’s cockpit to engage enemies. This is part of a long-term development plan for Mecha BREAK, a hybrid of the best aspects of mech combat with infantry combat.
Mecha BREAK is coming to PC and Xbox in 2025. Keep an eye out for the next round of beta testing soon. In the meantime, wishlist Mecha BREAK on Steam and Xbox today.
7. Screamer
Milestone, one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers globally, unveiled a teaser trailer announcing the return of Screamer, the 1995 title that pushed the boundaries of racing games, set a new benchmark in the genre, and brought the excitement of virtual races from arcades into players’ homes.
Embracing the trailblazing spirit of the original, Milestone has reimagined its most iconic IP, combining over 30 years of expertise in racing games to craft a brand-new experience with standout fighting mechanics destined to leave a lasting impact on the genre, just as the original did in the ’90s.
This brand-new Screamer seamlessly blends high-octane arcade action with revolutionary gameplay dynamics and a deep storyline enriched by interwoven character arcs. Drawing inspiration from anime and manga from the ’80s and ’90s, the game’s narrative and visual framework will be its beating heart and soul. The game features contributions from industry-leading partners, including animated cutscenes created in collaboration with Polygon Pictures—one of the oldest and most renowned Japanese animation studios—and the acclaimed American actor Troy Baker, one of gaming’s most recognizable voices.
Combining plot themes of human will, revenge, love, and greed with classic sci-fi imagery, Screamer immerses players in the clash between personal desires and external forces that seek to control them. This journey unfolds through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters involved in a street racing tournament organized by a mysterious figure.
Scheduled for release in 2026, Screamer will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
8. Borderlands 4
Today, 2K and Gearbox Software released the first look at Borderlands® 4 showcasing new details from one of the most highly anticipated games coming in 2025. Revealed at The Game Awards, a new trailer introduces The Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. A world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing mayhem across Kairos, the most dangerous planet discovered so far in the Borderlands universe.
Borderlands 4 is the most ambitious Borderlands to date, lovingly hand-crafted by the development studio that first forged the looter shooter genre. The title evolves the series’ gameplay and storytelling in new ways while delivering on the quintessential Borderlands experience fans know and love, including:
Intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons on an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.
The deepest and most diverse Vault Hunter skill trees of any Borderlands title yet, giving players an unprecedented level of expression through their builds. Paired with the most expansive loot chase yet, players will have all the tools they need to seek out and perfect the build that best matches their style.
Players will be able to seamlessly travel between zones and become immersed in a more dynamic world featuring events and discoverable side missions that encourage and reward exploration.
New traversal mechanics add to the exploration for loot and add new dimensions to combat. A vehicle that can be summoned almost anywhere will have players racing across the beautiful vistas of Kairos in style.
Fight solo or in co-op with up to three other players in this immense sci-fi adventure, packed with free-form combat and exploration, pulse-pounding boss fights, infinitely varied loot drops, and an eclectic cast of unforgettable characters new and old.
Borderlands 4 will launch in 2025 on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It is available to wishlist now.
9. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – “Rediscover Hope” Opening Cinematic
2K and Firaxis Games debuted today the in-game opening cinematic to Sid Meier’s Civilization VII at The Game Awards 2024. During the show, in-person attendees were treated to an epic live orchestral performance accompanying the cinematic, featuring music specially composed by GRAMMY® award-winning composer Christopher Tin.
Voiced-over by Civilization VII-narrator Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars” franchise), the opening cinematic takes viewers on a journey through the Ages. As a lone farmer uncovers a buried and rusted saber, we see its history unfold. The saber passes from one generation to the next, across different cultures and regions of the world, illuminating a central theme of the game – that history is built in layers.
In addition to the opening cinematic, the main theme for Civilization VII, “Live Gloriously,” was also revealed. Composer Christopher Tin shares: “With ‘Live Gloriously,’ I wanted to capture universal themes of hope, heroism and mortality that have resonated across history. You’ll hear words from The Iliad, Beowulf, Popol Vuh and Ramayana, delivering a beautiful sense of gravity and emotion that embodies the story of humanity.”
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII launches on February 11, 2025 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Mac and Linux via Steam.
10. Kyora
Publisher Chucklefish and studio Pugstorm announce that they are working together on a new title, KYORA. Shared in a 1 minute teaser at the Game Awards, KYORA is a 2D sandbox adventure for 1-8 players, where every pixel can be shaped, mined, built or destroyed.
From the creators of the multi-award-winning mining sandbox, Core Keeper, comes an all-new mystical multiplayer adventure…
Cross into a realm of ruins, where every pixel is a tool to create something new. Mine precious resources, craft physics-altering wands, take on powerful bosses, and build your base by terraforming the world around you.
Explore KYORA
Journey into the unexpected, in a procedurally-generated open world. Carve into the earth or sculpt toward the sky in search of magical materials. Craft matter-manipulating wands, upgrade your gear, and take on the powerful bosses in control of each biome: the Heralds.
Manipulate Every PixelLet loose your sandbox creativity with pixel-by-pixel terraforming. Build bridges to new areas, sculpt and customise your dream base with terrapixel materials, or even use your terraforming powers mid-battle to construct platforms and cover.
Craft, Build & Upgrade
The world of KYORA is filled with secrets. The further you venture, the more dangers await. To survive KYORA’S forest-cloaked ruins and cross its blistering desert sands, you’ll need to use each biome’s resources to your advantage. Gather materials, forge powerful weapons and armour, plant seeds and cook up recipes to help you traverse the wilds.
Team Up With Friends
It’s dangerous to go alone! Bring your buddies with you to combine skills, creating fun synergies between wand abilities, in up to 8-player online co-op gameplay.
KYORA will be coming to early access on Steam.
11. Rematch
Rematch is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC next year. Set in vibrant virtual reality arenas, the gameplay flows with no fouls and no offsides, and the action never stops. Players control only one player on the team in an immersive third person perspective, swapping roles as the situation evolves: from striker to defender, down to a uniquely designed goalkeeper position featuring specific abilities. Each match is an intense showdown, in which players need both split-second reactions and tactical teamplay to prevail.
Built entirely for online multiplayer, Rematch emphasizes precise and reactive gameplay, balanced for a fair competitive experience. Players can expect a level playing field where skill is the deciding factor: from mastering the aim and shoot mechanics, to timing a powerful volley kick, all the way to reading the game dynamics and making the perfect pass.
In addition to its competitive 5v5 game mode, the title will offer quickplay game modes, along with fresh seasonal content planned post-launch, including new game modes and unique cosmetic options that allow each player to customize their character with style.
Wishlisting is available now on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Visit www.playrematch.com to register for Beta invites, and follow @PlayRematch on Twitter/Bluesky/Instagram for more information.
12. Solasta
Indie studio Tactical Adventures unveiled Solasta II, the ambitious sequel to their beloved tabletop-inspired RPG. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Solasta II is set to launch in Early Access on PC in 2025, with a free playable demo due for release early next year. Tactical Adventures are excited to work with the community once again to refine and shape Solasta II into the ultimate TTRPG experience.
Decades after the events of Solasta: Crown of the Magister (2021), Solasta II transports players to the vibrant high-fantasy realm of Neokos—a land of breathtaking beauty teetering on the edge of ruin at the hands of Shadwyn, an all-powerful being brought to life by Amelia Tyler (Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades II). As her endless tide of corruption spreads across the continent, a band of valiant adventurers rises to the challenge. While navigating towering landscapes to contending with political factions vying for power and fighting fearsome foes, players must make wise decisions to end an ancient feud before it engulfs the lands in bloodshed and strife.
Mathieu Girard, Creative Director, shared, “Our team of 35 combines deep expertise with a passion for crafting immersive and challenging gaming experiences. With our first game, we started as a Kickstarter success story, building on the SRD 5.1 ruleset to create a tactical RPG that has resonated with over 1.5 million players. Now, with Solasta II, we’re taking all that even further – pushing the system with fresh takes on tactical depth, fun and accessibility. Players will explore Neokos, a new continent brimming with magic, colossal landscapes and discover unprecedented lore, while facing the growing force of Shadwyn, a charismatic villain driven by a relentless desire to reclaim her lost power.
This project is powered by ambition, respect for our players and a shared belief in the strength of what we’re building together. We can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it and tell us what they think!”
Players will roll the dice with the D20 system, create their party and embark on a quest filled with strategy, magic and intrigue. With Solasta II, Tactical Adventures aims to deliver a truly immersive experience featuring deep tactical combat and a wealth of exciting features.
Key Features Include:
Complete Party Management and Customization – Create and develop your own party of four adventurers, all fully voiced and each fully customizable with unique skills and abilities.
1-4 Player Online Co-op – Team up with others online to strategize and share tactical triumphs.
Turn-Based Tactical Combat – Master tactical combat, utilizing the full depth of the D&D 5E ruleset for immersive, strategic battles.
Unreal Engine 5 – Experience cutting-edge visuals and immersive environments.
Console Optimization – Designed for seamless play with console pads delivering an experience on par with mouse and keyboard.
Solasta II is in development for PC and available to wishlist now with Early Access coming in 2025. Fans can look forward to a playable demo soon and stay up to date with the latest news by signing up for the newsletter at www.solasta-game.com. They can also speak directly with Tactical Adventures through the official Discord.
13. Double Dragon Revive
Arc System Works America, Inc. announced the opening of digital pre-orders for the Standard and Deluxe editions of Double Dragon Revive, the upcoming new title for the hit fighting video game series. The game will arrive on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on October 23, 2025.
Double Dragon Revive brings a modern belt-scroll action masterpiece from Arc System Works. Players will see Billy and Jimmy Lee return as they take on a variety of powerful foes from their past through action-packed thrills and combat. The series’ newest title will feature the same intuitive gameplay fans expect, including refined controls that leverage the technical capabilities and advanced power of today’s platforms. Updated stages are also featured throughout the game, where players will find themselves picking up scattered weapons in the middle of combat, adapting their skills, and creating new opportunities to gain an upperhand as they battle.
Fans can pre-order now on the Arc System Works site for the platform of their choice! And for those taking advantage of digital pre-orders for the Double Dragon Revive Standard or Deluxe edition, they will also receive an exclusive bonus game – Double Dragon Dodge Ball!
Get ready for a brawl!
14. Untitled Project by Fumito Ueda of GenDesign
15. ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN
NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to bring a new gaming experience.
RISE TOGETHER Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
Launches on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC Digital in 2025.
BECOME A HERO Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair. While individually powerful, their skills grow even more formidable when united as a team.
TAKE ON THE NIGHT Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!
16. TEKKEN 8 – Clive Rosfield Gameplay Trailer
Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI is getting fired up for a fight in #TEKKEN8!
17. Shadow Labyrinth
Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN.
As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet amidst relics of wars past, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will. To survive you will discover many secrets, consume your enemies, and grow from prey to the apex predator as you embrace your true purpose.
18. Dispatch
Dispatch will be coming to PC and Console in 2025. Wishlist Now! https://store.steampowered.com/app/25…
Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. Manage a dysfunctional team of misfit heroes and strategize who to send to emergencies around the city, all while balancing office politics, personal relationships, and your own quest to become a hero.
Developed by AdHoc Studio.
19. Helldivers 2 – Omens of Tyranny
The time has come, Helldivers. The War has changed.
These are dark times for freedom loving citizens everywhere. Our galaxy grows cold from the embrace of old enemies returning and darkens with the threat of new horrors emerging.
We must now stand together in Super Earth’s light and oppose these sinister tidings. These Omens of Tyranny.
20. Midnight Murder Club – Crossplay Beta Trailer
Midnight Murder Club is a six-player shooter-in-the-dark set in a sprawling, pitch-black mansion, where the only light you ever see comes from a flashlight piercing the darkness or gunfire piercing your heart. Turning your flashlight on lets you see which of the 30+ elaborately decorated rooms you’re currently in, but it also gives away your position to enemies who might be hiding close by. It’s the ultimate game of flashlight tag.
We have a crossplay beta that you can download and play right now*, and we’re excited to share that we’ll be launching the game in Early Access on PS5 and Steam in February 2025. Put on your mask, grab your flashlight and revolver, and quietly step into the shadows of Wormwood Manor for some tense and hilarious fun with your friends.
21. Turok: Origins
22. The Last of Us Part II Remastered – Announcement Trailer | PC Games
Play Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II Remastered, coming to PC for the first time on April 3, 2025. Bringing with it all the improvements and new modes from the PlayStation 5 version, like the roguelike survival mode No Return, Guitar Free Play, commentary, and more, Part II Remastered will allow players to experience Ellie and Abby’s acclaimed journeys, optimized and enhanced for PC.
23. Thick As Thieves – Announcement Trailer
Thick As Thieves is coming to PlayStation 5. A PvPvE multiplayer stealth game set in a 1910s metropolis filled with magic and intrigue. Hide, sneak, and steal your way through the ranks as you match your cunning against rival thieves in an immersive living world of stories and shadows. A new take on stealth from Warren Spector.
24. Mafia: The Old Country – The Initiation Trailer
MAFIA: THE OLD COUNTRY coming Summer 2025.
25. [Game of Thrones: Kingsroad]
Get ready to immerse yourself into the world of Game of Thrones like never before. Explore the vast lands of Westeros in a brand new action-adventure RPG, coming 2025!
26. Split Fiction
Jump into mind-blowing moments and experience the many worlds of Split Fiction™, a boundary-pushing co-op adventure from the studio behind It Takes Two. Master a variety of abilities and overcome diverse challenges while jumping between sci-fi and fantasy worlds!
Invite a friend to play online for free with Friend’s Pass*! As long as one of you owns the game, both of you can play.
27. STEEL HUNTERS
STEEL HUNTERS is a Free-to-Play, PvPvE shooter with futuristic mech battles. Fight to collect rare loot on an abandoned Earth, and use combat tactics to turn rivals into scrap. Choose your Hunter and playstyle to battle 5 other duo teams. Only one can extract from the Hunting Grounds.
28. Dying Light: The Beast
We just dropped a thrilling first look at Dying Light: The Beast, the upcoming standalone adventure you don’t want to miss! What was that thing in the woods? WISHLIST NOW to be the first to find out! https://go.dyinglight.com/TheBeast
Dying Light: The Beast is a thrilling standalone zombie adventure set in a tightly-crafted rural region. Play as Kyle Crane, a legendary hero who breaks free after years of brutal experiments. Now, he must realize there’s more at stake than just revenge.
29. Squid Game
The game never stops. Think you have what it takes to survive? Squid Game: Unleashed will be available to everyone to play on December 17, whether you’re a Netflix member or not. Squid Game Season 2 arrives on December 26, only on Netflix.
30. The First Berserker: Khazan
The First Berserker: Khazan launches March 27, 2025, on PC (Steam), PlayStation, and Xbox! Watch the Russo Brothers-supervised hardcore action trailer now ⚔ PRE-ORDER NOW: https://khazan.nexon.com/
The First Berserker: Khazan is a hardcore action RPG based on DNF (Dungeon & Fighter) Universe that will be available on PC Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. As Khazan, the great general of the Pell Los Empire who overcame death, players will unveil the incidents that led to his downfall and seek vengeance on his enemies. The First Berserker: Khazan launches on March 27, 2025. Free demo available starting January 16!
31. Steel Paws
Here we go again.
On Dec. 9, the technology activist group Fight for the Future announced that 300 musicians signed an open letter denouncing the lawsuit that labels filed against the Internet Archive for copying and offering free streams of old recordings under its “Great 78” project. The letter essentially says that labels need to focus less on profit and more on supporting creators, by raising streaming service royalty rates — and partnering with “valuable cultural stewards” like the Internet Archive.
This is exactly and entirely backward. Labels have to focus on making money — they’re companies, duh — and they are always trying to raise streaming royalties in a way that would help them, as well as artists. It would help if streaming services raised prices, which they would have an easier time doing if less unlicensed music was available for free on both for-profit pirate sites and services like the Internet Archive. And one of the worst possible groups to offer advice on such matters is Fight for the Future, which has consistently opposed the kind of copyright protection that lets creators control the availability of their work.
Most people think of the Internet Archive, if they think of it at all, as the nonprofit organization that runs the Wayback Machine, which maintains a searchable archive of past and present Internet sites. But it also preserves and makes available other media — sometimes in ways that push the boundaries of copyright. After the label lawsuit against the Internet Archive was shifted to alternative dispute resolution in late July, an appeals court affirmed book publishers’ victory in their lawsuit against the organization for making electronic copies of books available without a license under the self-styled concept of “controlled digital lending.” On Dec. 4, the deadline passed for the Internet Archive to file a cert petition with the Supreme Court, making that decision final.
Trending on Billboard
It sometimes seems that part of the purpose of the Internet Archive, which was founded in 1996 by technology activist Brewster Kahle, is to push the boundaries of copyright. In 2006, Kahle sued the government for changing the copyright system from opt-in to opt-out. (His side lost in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.) Later, the Internet Archive began buying and scanning books and distributing digital files of the contents on a temporary basis, according to how many copies of the volume the organization owned. (The digital copies became unusable after a certain amount of time.) During the pandemic, it launched a “National Emergency Library” and announced it would begin lending out more digital copies than the number of physical copies of books it owned. Two months later, three major publishers and one other sued, arguing that this controlled digital lending — a theoretical model that’s not recognized in U.S. law — infringed copyright.
The Internet Archive argued that it was a library and that its digital lending qualified as “transformative use,” an aspect of the fair use exception to copyright law that in some cases allows copyrighted works to be used for a different purpose. (The thumbnail images seen in search engine results qualify as a transformative use, for example, since they are used to help users find the images themselves.) The copyright exceptions for libraries and archives are very specific, though, and it’s hard to imagine how borrowed digital copies of books are so different from the digital books that have become an increasingly important part of the publishing business. The Second Circuit Appeals Court treated the dispute as a straight fair use case — it barely mentioned the National Emergency Library — and ruled for the publishers.
“Fair use is an important part of the law, and no one would disagree,” says Maria Pallante, president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, the trade group that handled the lawsuit. “But this this was a gross distortion of fair use — they wanted to normalize that it’s OK to reproduce millions of works.”
The label lawsuit — Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Concord sued under the auspices of the RIAA — could end up being just as straightforward. (Kahle is also personally named in the lawsuit, along with other entities.) The Great 78 Project makes 400,000 recordings digitized from 78 rpm records available to stream online. The idea is to “make this less commonly available music accessible to researchers,” according to the project’s web site.
The reality, the labels’ lawsuit alleges, is that among the recordings available are Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” and Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” all of which have considerable commercial life on streaming services. “The Internet Archive’s ‘Great 78’ project is a smokescreen for industrial-scale copyright infringement of some of the most iconic recordings ever made,” RIAA chief legal officer Ken Doroshow said in a statement. The Internet Archive did not respond to a request for comment.
The Internet Archive seems to be appealing both of these cases to magazines, making the case that the $621 million RIAA lawsuit threatens “the web’s collective memory” (Wired) and the “soul of the Internet” (Rolling Stone). Maybe. But neither book publishers nor labels object to the Internet Archive’s actual archive of the actual Internet. In both pieces, Kahle positions himself as a librarian and a preservationist, never mind that “White Christmas” doesn’t need preserving and that the Music Modernization Act has a provision that allows libraries to offer certain unavailable pre-1972 recordings if they follow a process. (The labels’ complaint says the organization didn’t do this; Kahle told Rolling Stone that “we talked to people, it wasn’t a problem.”) The fact that some of the recordings are scratchy, which Kahle and his allies make much of, is legally beside the point.
It’s reasonable to hope that the labels don’t put the Internet Archive out of business, because the Wayback Machine is so valuable. But it’s also reasonable to wonder why Kahle let the Internet Archive take such big legal risks in the first place. If the Wayback Machine is so important, why distribute books and music in a way that could be found to infringe copyright, with the enormous statutory damages that come with that? Unless, of course, that’s actually part of the organization’s work in the first place.
Some of these issues can get pretty abstract, but the way they’re settled could have serious consequences in the years to come. If one wanted to assemble a collection of scanned books in order to train an artificial intelligence, one might go about it in exactly the way Kahle did. Same goes for old recordings. Indeed, artificial intelligence companies are already arguing that mass copying of media doesn’t infringe copyright because it qualifies as “transformative,” and thus as fair use. There is no evidence that the Internet Archive copied books and recordings for this reason, but it’s certainly possible that the organization might have wanted to set precedents to make it easier for AI companies to argue that they use copyrighted work for training purposes compensating rightsholders.
The letter from Fight for the Future points out that “the music industry cannot survive without musicians.” But there’s a chance that the kind of large-scale copying of music that it’s convincing musicians to defend could represent a first step toward the technology business doing exactly that.