theverge--2020-06-05--Video game companies only stand for what you make them stand for

On May 25th , the police killed George Floyd , and in every state , protests against police brutality and anti-black racism have been ongoing ever since .
For reasons that risk trivializing a serious moment in history , the brands have also decided to speak up , too , issuing statements of solidarity across social media platforms .
This , for better or worse , is to be expected : we live in the age of the Brand Statement , and brands acknowledging people as more than just potential sales is better than pretending nothing is happening in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are uniquely bad at this .
Most statements made by the makers and publishers of games are boilerplate : companies like Sony , Microsoft , and Nintendo decry racism , affirm the need for inclusion and equality , and often directly address “ the black community.
” A few , like publishers Ubisoft and Activision , even say “ black lives matter ” outright , instead of rephrasing it in corporate-speak .
In a piece for Vice , Gita Jackson writes about how these statements aren ’ t just the bare minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unwilling to confront their complicity and center the conversation on anti-black racism — while also lagging behind companies like luxe exercise bike brand Peloton in both timing and charitable donations .
It ’ s abject cowardice in the service of capitalism , where a white supremacist ’ s dollar is just as good as yours or mine “ Even when companies name the issue , it still doesn ’ t hit right , ” Jackson writes .
“ I am glad that Ubisoft specifically named George Floyd and systemic racism , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry is giving less money to the NAACP than a fancy exercise bike company .
And how can I trust anything they say about anything while they use their license of Tom Clancy ’ s work to make games about DEA agents shooting up drug cartels and American ‘ sleeper cell ’ agents taking back the streets from looters and violent Rikers inmates ?
” Statements of solidarity from corporations are not unreasonable , even if they are from for-profit institutions that benefit from the labor , patronage , and support of oppressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the product of strategy , one for which there is currently no blueprint .
Consider this report from Kotaku ’ s Ethan Gach , who compiled the statements made by prominent gaming companies and followed up to ask what actions were planned to enact meaningful change .
While the best of the gathered statements commit to making donations to charitable organizations , none would give an answer when asked by Gach about further plans for direct action or lasting changes .
While these statements are , quite literally , the least a corporation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalescing around the confrontation of racism and police brutality , it was not that long ago where video game companies could not be bothered to do even that .
We ’ ve been here before , specifically in August 2014 , when Ferguson , Missouri police officer Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown .
From August 10th through August 25th , 2014 , the first wave of protests — and the violent police response to them — swept Ferguson .
These two weeks of protests mainstreamed the Black Lives Matter movement , which formed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman the year before .
During this period , the United States was rocked by live footage of the militarized police response to black protestors , and video game corporations carried on in their own little world .
For video games , it was business as usual : hype for games revealed at E3 two months before ; more marketing hype coming from the annual Gamescom convention in Cologne , Germany ; first looks and detailed reports about upcoming games that are frequently oblivious to the world around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deafness .
Search every one of these corporate Twitter profiles from the duration of the Ferguson protests , and you ’ ll find absolutely nothing .
Every company with a statement out now — Sony , Microsoft , Bungie , Activision Blizzard , Ubisoft , EA , Nintendo — was absolutely silent six years ago .
Instead , corporate accounts from the time promoted upcoming games like Far Cry 4 with darkly ironic blog posts about wanting a “ politically unstable ” setting with “ a history of conflict ” ... a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of producer Alex Hutchinson .
Companies that paid a little bit of attention to the world around them participated in the ice bucket challenge for ALS awareness that had gone viral the previous month , arriving late to the party and offering corny contributions of their own .
And then the marketing campaign for Battlefield Hardline began in earnest that August , a game that took a military first-person shooter and re-skinned it with a coat of cop paint .
Hardline is perhaps the high-water mark of video game cluelessness : a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States is blindingly obvious .
But since video games are so beholden to power fantasy , the only nuance Hardline offers is the option to “ arrest ” “ perps ” ( often by striking them unconscious ) or kill them .
In big-budget video games , the real world is merely source material , a dry list of things that happened somewhere else , some time ago , to somebody else .
Rare is the game interested in what is happening now ; rarer still is the video game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of the world .
When the industry is forced to acknowledge tragedy , it often does so with weak concessions .
In 2017 , the Pulse nightclub shooting , which occurred days before E3 , the biggest trade show of the year , was either ignored or met with moments of silence or short statements of support — right before diving into presentations often full of video game gun violence .
When three people died in a mass shooting during a Jacksonville Madden tournament , the lack of security at gaming events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that loves giving lip-service to its community failed to do its due diligence in a material way .
It is telling that the developers of Call of Duty have only just now pledged to do something about racism in its player base , after years of complaints from its community .
Acknowledging the necessity of action in response to the protests against anti-black racism and police brutality in this country right now means contradicting decades of careful messaging on the part of game publishers and studios designed to do just the opposite .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ service of capitalism , where a white supremacist ’ s dollar is just as good as yours or mine .
The bar set by its competitors seems sufficiently low , and this does not attempt to clear it No corporation should be applauded for making a statement or even a donation .
Actions like these are not a measure of the moral character of billion-dollar companies ; they ’ re another form of negotiation under capitalism .
Every company that has a game it wants you to play is now measuring your tolerance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure where to line-step with the implementation of loot boxes .
The public , lacking the luxury of ignoring the real world around them , does not have to accept these minimal gestures as sufficient .
Is Rockstar Games ’ decision to shut down servers for two hours with no substantial commitment to doing anything else enough for you ?
The bar set by its competitors seems sufficiently low , and this does not attempt to clear it .
Video game companies , an industry uniquely sensitive to the “ passion ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy to listen to a vocal minority .
So they can do some more listening , if they ’ re made to .
Progress is infuriatingly slow and frustratingly incremental .
The wheels of management , governed by wealth and whiteness , do not turn for the sake of black employees or audiences .
It took nearly six years and a second eruption of public indignation over the murder of black people by law enforcement to move to where we are now , where every major company and publication that covers them is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public .
And still , video games lag behind the rest of the world .
Ben & Jerry ’ s , the ice cream brand , was downright speedy in comparison , releasing a forceful , thorough statement on the Tuesday after protests began .
Lego , of all companies , has set one of the strongest examples , donating $ 4 million and suspending advertising of all its police-themed sets .
Video games want to know what you ’ ll settle for .
It ’ s an industry that loves trumpeting its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where a single free-to-play hit can make nearly $ 2 billion in profits , and is frequently positioned as a balm for troubled times .
They should act like the cultural force they claim to be .

On May 25th, the police killed George Floyd, and in every state, protests against police brutality and anti-black racism have been ongoing ever since. For reasons that risk trivializing a serious moment in history, the brands have also decided to speak up, too, issuing statements of solidarity across social media platforms. This, for better or worse, is to be expected: we live in the age of the Brand Statement, and brands acknowledging people as more than just potential sales is better than pretending nothing is happening in the world.
Video game companies, however, are uniquely bad at this. Most statements made by the makers and publishers of games are boilerplate: companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo decry racism, affirm the need for inclusion and equality, and often directly address “the black community.” A few, like publishers Ubisoft and Activision, even say “black lives matter” outright, instead of rephrasing it in corporate-speak.
In a piece for Vice, Gita Jackson writes about how these statements aren’t just the bare minimum. They’re clueless and hollow, unwilling to confront their complicity and center the conversation on anti-black racism — while also lagging behind companies like luxe exercise bike brand Peloton in both timing and charitable donations.
It’s abject cowardice in the service of capitalism, where a white supremacist’s dollar is just as good as yours or mine
“Even when companies name the issue, it still doesn’t hit right,” Jackson writes. “I am glad that Ubisoft specifically named George Floyd and systemic racism, but one of the largest companies in the industry is giving less money to the NAACP than a fancy exercise bike company. And how can I trust anything they say about anything while they use their license of Tom Clancy’s work to make games about DEA agents shooting up drug cartels and American ‘sleeper cell’ agents taking back the streets from looters and violent Rikers inmates?”
Statements of solidarity from corporations are not unreasonable, even if they are from for-profit institutions that benefit from the labor, patronage, and support of oppressed people. But they’re also the product of strategy, one for which there is currently no blueprint. Consider this report from Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, who compiled the statements made by prominent gaming companies and followed up to ask what actions were planned to enact meaningful change. While the best of the gathered statements commit to making donations to charitable organizations, none would give an answer when asked by Gach about further plans for direct action or lasting changes.
While these statements are, quite literally, the least a corporation could do to address the cultural moment coalescing around the confrontation of racism and police brutality, it was not that long ago where video game companies could not be bothered to do even that. We’ve been here before, specifically in August 2014, when Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown.
From August 10th through August 25th, 2014, the first wave of protests — and the violent police response to them — swept Ferguson. These two weeks of protests mainstreamed the Black Lives Matter movement, which formed in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman the year before. During this period, the United States was rocked by live footage of the militarized police response to black protestors, and video game corporations carried on in their own little world. For video games, it was business as usual: hype for games revealed at E3 two months before; more marketing hype coming from the annual Gamescom convention in Cologne, Germany; first looks and detailed reports about upcoming games that are frequently oblivious to the world around them and occasionally astounding in their tone deafness.
Search every one of these corporate Twitter profiles from the duration of the Ferguson protests, and you’ll find absolutely nothing. Every company with a statement out now — Sony, Microsoft, Bungie, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, EA, Nintendo — was absolutely silent six years ago.
Instead, corporate accounts from the time promoted upcoming games like Far Cry 4 with darkly ironic blog posts about wanting a “politically unstable” setting with “a history of conflict” ... a “failed state,” in the words of producer Alex Hutchinson. Companies that paid a little bit of attention to the world around them participated in the ice bucket challenge for ALS awareness that had gone viral the previous month, arriving late to the party and offering corny contributions of their own.
And then the marketing campaign for Battlefield Hardline began in earnest that August, a game that took a military first-person shooter and re-skinned it with a coat of cop paint. Hardline is perhaps the high-water mark of video game cluelessness: a game made possible because the militarization of police in the United States is blindingly obvious. But since video games are so beholden to power fantasy, the only nuance Hardline offers is the option to “arrest” “perps” (often by striking them unconscious) or kill them.
In big-budget video games, the real world is merely source material, a dry list of things that happened somewhere else, some time ago, to somebody else. Rare is the game interested in what is happening now; rarer still is the video game publisher or studio openly concerned with the state of the world. When the industry is forced to acknowledge tragedy, it often does so with weak concessions. In 2017, the Pulse nightclub shooting, which occurred days before E3, the biggest trade show of the year, was either ignored or met with moments of silence or short statements of support — right before diving into presentations often full of video game gun violence. When three people died in a mass shooting during a Jacksonville Madden tournament, the lack of security at gaming events came under scrutiny, as an industry that loves giving lip-service to its community failed to do its due diligence in a material way.
It is telling that the developers of Call of Duty have only just now pledged to do something about racism in its player base, after years of complaints from its community.
Acknowledging the necessity of action in response to the protests against anti-black racism and police brutality in this country right now means contradicting decades of careful messaging on the part of game publishers and studios designed to do just the opposite. It’s abject cowardice in the service of capitalism, where a white supremacist’s dollar is just as good as yours or mine.
The bar set by its competitors seems sufficiently low, and this does not attempt to clear it
No corporation should be applauded for making a statement or even a donation. Actions like these are not a measure of the moral character of billion-dollar companies; they’re another form of negotiation under capitalism. Every company that has a game it wants you to play is now measuring your tolerance for silence or inaction the way they measure where to line-step with the implementation of loot boxes. The public, lacking the luxury of ignoring the real world around them, does not have to accept these minimal gestures as sufficient.
Is Rockstar Games’ decision to shut down servers for two hours with no substantial commitment to doing anything else enough for you? The bar set by its competitors seems sufficiently low, and this does not attempt to clear it. Video game companies, an industry uniquely sensitive to the “passion” of entitled fans, are often more than happy to listen to a vocal minority. So they can do some more listening, if they’re made to.


theverge--2020-06-05--How to hide faces and scrub metadata when you photograph a protest

While showing up at a protest can demonstrate your opinion to the world , you may not want your face — or the faces of other protesters — to be included , especially when there is the possibility that authorities will collect and use that information ( as they have for tracking movements during COVID-19 social distancing ) .
As a result , many consider it vital to obscure the faces of people in any photos you may post on social media and other online sources .
( For additional information , here ’ s a toolkit produced by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this subject . )
What follows are some strategies for removing facial features from your photos .
Of course , you can open up your images on a desktop or laptop using Photoshop or Preview to blur or scrub , but we ’ re going to assume you aren ’ t carrying around a laptop with you .
So with mobile in mind , you still have some solid options .
What needs to be done When removing faces , you want to use a method that can ’ t be reversed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo , especially using neural networks .
It ’ s not possible to completely reverse the blurring , since it is lossy ( in other words , some data will be permanently lost ) , but a lot can be “ restored.
” So why take the risk ?
Painting over faces , or using mosaic blur techniques , will prevent any possibility of reversing the effect .
You also want to remove any and all metadata from your images .
They can carry GPS location , timestamps , and details about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots of things that can be used to pinpoint where you were and when .
While there are a plethora of apps that will help blur or cover faces and remove metadata for both iOS and Android devices ( some of which I mention below ) , there are ways you can do both without using a third-party app .
First , you can use your built-in photo editor to individually block out faces .
On iOS , open Photos , tap on your photo and select the Edit option ( in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three dots in that same corner to access Markup .
With that , create solid circles or squares to block out faces .
It ’ s not quite as easy using an Android phone .
Android also has a native markup tool — in the Photos app , select the photo , tap on the Edit tool ( second from the left on the bottom ) and choose Markup ( second from the right on the bottom ) .
You can then use the center-bottom Pen tool to scribble over anything you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get rid of the metadata .
When you take a photo on your device , meta is going to be attached automatically .
The easiest way to avoid this is to take screenshots of your photos so that meta and geotagging won ’ t carry over .
Also make sure to view your photo fullscreen , and ensure you don ’ t have any notifications or other identifying features in the screenshot .
The same can be done for video — at least , using an iPhone .
Instead of just using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record while you ’ re making your video , and use that recording instead .
If you have an LG or Samsung Android phone , you may also have a built-in screen recorder — look for it in your Quick Settings shade by swiping down twice from the top .
If it ’ s not there , or if you have a different phone model , you ’ ll have to download a third-party app such as AZ Screen Recorder .
Recently , there have been a plethora of apps that will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iOS and Android devices .
You may find it easier to use one of these .
For example , encrypted messaging app Signal has announced a new face-blurring tool that will be incorporated into the latest Android and iOS versions of the software .
There are also grassroots efforts like Image Scrubber , which you can use in a browser on your device to upload images to blur and scrub , and then to save the anonymous version back to your device .
This is great because it works on all devices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use apps to edit and enhance photos , you might be able to use those to blur as well .
Apps like Glitche ( iOS ) and Glitch Lab ( Android ) let you pixelate over selected areas , and Trigraphy ( iOS ) lets you create mosaic effects .
If you want to take photos now and remove the meta later , you can use the apps mentioned above or photo apps like Halide ( iOS ) and Snapseed ( Android ) .
In the end , the method you choose will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do during or after the fact .
For me , I would take photos , edit them in the phone Photo app , take a screenshot — and then delete the originals .
Because if your device is unlocked and you have the originals sitting there , then you may have done all that work for nothing .

While showing up at a protest can demonstrate your opinion to the world, you may not want your face — or the faces of other protesters — to be included, especially when there is the possibility that authorities will collect and use that information (as they have for tracking movements during COVID-19 social distancing). As a result, many consider it vital to obscure the faces of people in any photos you may post on social media and other online sources. (For additional information, here’s a toolkit produced by the Authority Collective, offering information and advice on this subject.)
What follows are some strategies for removing facial features from your photos. Of course, you can open up your images on a desktop or laptop using Photoshop or Preview to blur or scrub, but we’re going to assume you aren’t carrying around a laptop with you. So with mobile in mind, you still have some solid options.
What needs to be done
When removing faces, you want to use a method that can’t be reversed. It is possible to de-blur a photo, especially using neural networks. It’s not possible to completely reverse the blurring, since it is lossy (in other words, some data will be permanently lost), but a lot can be “restored.” So why take the risk? Painting over faces, or using mosaic blur techniques, will prevent any possibility of reversing the effect.
You also want to remove any and all metadata from your images. They can carry GPS location, timestamps, and details about the type of phone used — basically, lots of things that can be used to pinpoint where you were and when.
Built-in methods
While there are a plethora of apps that will help blur or cover faces and remove metadata for both iOS and Android devices (some of which I mention below), there are ways you can do both without using a third-party app.
First, you can use your built-in photo editor to individually block out faces. On iOS, open Photos, tap on your photo and select the Edit option (in the top right corner). Tap on the three dots in that same corner to access Markup. With that, create solid circles or squares to block out faces.
It’s not quite as easy using an Android phone. Android also has a native markup tool — in the Photos app, select the photo, tap on the Edit tool (second from the left on the bottom) and choose Markup (second from the right on the bottom). You can then use the center-bottom Pen tool to scribble over anything you want to cover.
Hiding faces using the iOS Photo app. Hiding faces using the Android photo app.
You then want to get rid of the metadata. When you take a photo on your device, meta is going to be attached automatically. The easiest way to avoid this is to take screenshots of your photos so that meta and geotagging won’t carry over. Also make sure to view your photo fullscreen, and ensure you don’t have any notifications or other identifying features in the screenshot.
The same can be done for video — at least, using an iPhone. Instead of just using the Camera app, start a screen record while you’re making your video, and use that recording instead.
Related How to record your screen on an iPhone
If you have an LG or Samsung Android phone, you may also have a built-in screen recorder — look for it in your Quick Settings shade by swiping down twice from the top. If it’s not there, or if you have a different phone model, you’ll have to download a third-party app such as AZ Screen Recorder.
Third-party apps that hide faces & remove meta
Recently, there have been a plethora of apps that will help hide faces and remove metadata for both iOS and Android devices. You may find it easier to use one of these.
For example, encrypted messaging app Signal has announced a new face-blurring tool that will be incorporated into the latest Android and iOS versions of the software.
There are also grassroots efforts like Image Scrubber, which you can use in a browser on your device to upload images to blur and scrub, and then to save the anonymous version back to your device. This is great because it works on all devices, mobile and desktop.
If you already use apps to edit and enhance photos, you might be able to use those to blur as well. Apps like Glitche (iOS) and Glitch Lab (Android) let you pixelate over selected areas, and Trigraphy (iOS) lets you create mosaic effects. If you want to take photos now and remove the meta later, you can use the apps mentioned above or photo apps like Halide (iOS) and Snapseed (Android).
In the end, the method you choose will depend on how much work you want to do during or after the fact. For me, I would take photos, edit them in the phone Photo app, take a screenshot — and then delete the originals. Because if your device is unlocked and you have the originals sitting there, then you may have done all that work for nothing.
Related How to secure your phone before attending a protest


theverge--2020-06-05--The Premier League is returning with virtual crowd noise from FIFA games

The English Premier league is set to restart in the coming weeks , and Sky Sports is working with EA Sports ’ FIFA division to create simulated chants and crowd noises designed for specific teams .
The goal is to replicate “ the vibrant atmosphere of Premier League clashes , ” according to a press release .
While some sports leagues are beginning to pick up seasons suddenly paused by the global coronavirus pandemic , safety precautions means teams play in empty stadiums .
Sky Sports viewers can choose to watch the channel either with the added sound effect or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constant background cheering is a bizarre experience .
Anecdotally , I watched a recent soccer game out of the German Bundesliga league that was played in an empty stadium , and found myself distracted by the quietness of the match .
In another match , which saw Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus play , fans were able to Zoom in .
They were projected around the stadium as the teams played .
Sky is working on bringing other innovative experiences to viewers as well .
On the Sky Sports website and inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matches with friends in a video room and interact , ” according to the press release .
This will allow fans to “ influence the crowd noise they hear on screen.
” “ With live sport on hold for over two months , we ’ ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we broadcast in new ways to bring fans together , even if they can ’ t meet up to watch the match , ” Rob Webster , Sky Sports managing director , said .
“ We want Sky Sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the best possible viewing experience — even if they can ’ t be in the stadiums or watch with their family and friends.
” Sky Sports will show 64 matches in total , with 39 exclusive to subscribers and an extra 25 airing on Sky ’ s free-to-air channel , Pick .
Games are provisionally scheduled to resume on June 17th with Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United , and Manchester City going up against Arsenal .
Considering we ’ re still in the midst of a global pandemic , however , @ @ @ @ @

The English Premier league is set to restart in the coming weeks, and Sky Sports is working with EA Sports’ FIFA division to create simulated chants and crowd noises designed for specific teams.
The goal is to replicate “the vibrant atmosphere of Premier League clashes,” according to a press release. While some sports leagues are beginning to pick up seasons suddenly paused by the global coronavirus pandemic, safety precautions means teams play in empty stadiums. Sky Sports viewers can choose to watch the channel either with the added sound effect or without.
Watching live sports without the constant background cheering is a bizarre experience. Anecdotally, I watched a recent soccer game out of the German Bundesliga league that was played in an empty stadium, and found myself distracted by the quietness of the match. In another match, which saw Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus play, fans were able to Zoom in. They were projected around the stadium as the teams played.
Sky is working on bringing other innovative experiences to viewers as well. On the Sky Sports website and inside the app, fans can watch “select matches with friends in a video room and interact,” according to the press release. This will allow fans to “influence the crowd noise they hear on screen.”
“With live sport on hold for over two months, we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we broadcast in new ways to bring fans together, even if they can’t meet up to watch the match,” Rob Webster, Sky Sports managing director, said. “We want Sky Sports viewers to still feel it all and have the best possible viewing experience — even if they can’t be in the stadiums or watch with their family and friends.”


theverge--2020-06-05--Big tech companies are responding to George Floyd in a way they never did for Michael Brown

Big tech companies are responding to George Floyd in a way they never did for Michael Brown Share All sharing options for : Big tech companies are responding to George Floyd in a way they never did for Michael Brown In the days since the death of George Floyd , technology ’ s biggest companies and their leaders have made public statements expressing solidarity with Black communities .
The communications — which , really , are press releases — condemn racism and call for unity .
Some at least name George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , and Ahmaud Arbery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” outright .
More meaningfully , many companies have committed donations to causes fighting racial injustice in the millions of dollars .
So some of the wealthiest businesses in the world are showing up in a moment when the national attention has turned to racial injustice .
But surely , they must have shown up before ?
It hasn ’ t even been six years since the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown spurred the protests in Ferguson , Missouri .
Many of those companies ’ CEOs found time to publicly participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money for ALS , so surely they spared a moment to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter in 2014 , right ?
Let ’ s compare the corporate response today with what was said six years ago .
We researched responses to the events of 2014 through online searches , checking company newsrooms , and sweeping social media accounts : “ We believe Black lives matter , ” reads a blog post published on June 3rd .
Amazon committed to donating “ a total of $ 10 million to organizations that are working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of Black and African Americans.
” Amazon ’ s Black Employee Network will also be given a grant to “ fund local organizations that support education and racial equality initiatives in communities across the country where our employees live and work.
” Here is Amazon ’ s tweet committing to solidarity with the Black community .
On Instagram , Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos encouraged his followers to read a Medium essay by Shenequa Golding .
Hours this article was first published , Bezos said that Black lives matter in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram .
We could not find public responses from Amazon regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests .
Apple CEO Tim Cook published an open letter , “ Speaking up on racism , ” on Apple ’ s website on June 4th .
In the letter , Cook made a number of commitments : Cook shared a similar version of this letter to Apple employees on May 31st , where he committed Apple to matching all employee donations made for the month of June .
Cook has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Cook shared a tweet from Pope Francis on the day of Michael Brown ’ s death .
We could not find other public responses from Apple regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests .
In fact , here ’ s what the Apple newsroom looks like during those dates : Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg committed to giving “ additional $ 10 million to groups working on racial justice ” in a Facebook post on May 31st .
He also noted that his philanthropic arm , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 million annually for “ several years ” to organizations fighting racial injustice .
Hours after this article was first published , Zuckerberg pledged his support to the Black Lives Matter movement as part of a note published to his personal Facebook page .
“ To members of our Black community : I stand with you .
Your lives matter .
Black lives matter , ” he said .
In a December town hall Q & A , Zuckerberg was asked about social media ’ s role in helping strengthen communities in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of excessive police force .
He shared his response publicly in a video .
“ I believe we do two things : give everyone a voice and provide greater diversity of perspectives , ” Zuckerberg said in his post accompanying the video .
We could not find other public responses from Facebook regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests .
Google CEO Sundar Pichai published an email sent to Google employees on June 3rd , titled “ Standing with the Black community , ” where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitments : “ We ’ ll work closely with our Black community to develop initiatives and product ideas that support long-term solutions—and we ’ ll keep you updated , ” Pichai added .
“ As part of this effort , we welcome your ideas on how to use our products and technology to improve access and opportunity.
” Pichai also tweeted Google ’ s solidarity with the Black community .
We could not find public responses from Google regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests .
Microsoft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks to employees about the protests in Minneapolis were published on LinkedIn .
As part of those remarks , Nadella discussed Microsoft ’ s Criminal Justice Reform Initiative , which was formally launched in 2019 .
“ This initiative invests in partnerships and programs working to drive reforms , focusing on policing , ” Merisa Heu-Weller , director of the initiative , said in a March 3rd blog post .
“ While we recognize that disparities exist throughout the system , we believe that by focusing on policing , and building positive relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help keep people out of the system and reduce the disparities within it.
” Heu-Weller also said that “ teams across Microsoft have partnered with organizations across the United States working on criminal justice improvements ” since 2014 .
Nadella tweeted his support for the Black and African American community on June 1st .
He has also retweeted many statements from Black Microsoft employees shared on Microsoft ’ s official Twitter account .
We could not find public responses from Microsoft regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grants to benefit Black and Brown communities , support ex-offenders , and more .
Dorsey first began making # startsmall grants in April after moving $ 1 billion of his Square equity to an LLC to be used to fund COVID-19 relief .
All of the grants made so far are tracked here .
Dorsey ’ s Twitter thread with his most recent grants begins here : Twitter ’ s @ TwitterTogether account posted a Twitter thread about how people can practice allyship .
Dorsey went to Ferguson , Missouri shortly after Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , and tweeted extensively while there .
At the time , he was Twitter ’ s executive chairman , not its CEO .
We could not find other public responses from Twitter regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests .
These companies may not have shown up in 2014 , but given the very low bar , the fact that they have in 2020 is an encouraging sign of progress .
Still , a statement of solidarity and a few donations should be just the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then there is the ongoing work of being anti-racist .
Amazon , Apple , Facebook , Google , Microsoft , and Twitter—these companies are proud of being some of the most powerful institutions in the world , and often tout that they are making the world a better place .
If they commit to their pledges of “ pushing progress forward ” and taking on “ the fight against systemic racism and injustice , ” that effort could really help the Black community — or at the very least , amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a press release .
Update June 5th , 8:00PM ET : Since the original publication of this article , Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have publicly pledged support for the Black Lives Matter movement , which we have added .

In the days since the death of George Floyd, technology’s biggest companies and their leaders have made public statements expressing solidarity with Black communities. The communications — which, really, are press releases — condemn racism and call for unity. Some at least name George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Some have said “Black Lives Matter” outright.
More meaningfully, many companies have committed donations to causes fighting racial injustice in the millions of dollars.
So some of the wealthiest businesses in the world are showing up in a moment when the national attention has turned to racial injustice. But surely, they must have shown up before? It hasn’t even been six years since the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown spurred the protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Many of those companies’ CEOs found time to publicly participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money for ALS, so surely they spared a moment to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter in 2014, right?
Let’s compare the corporate response today with what was said six years ago. We researched responses to the events of 2014 through online searches, checking company newsrooms, and sweeping social media accounts.
We’ve updated this story with new commitments from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter.
Amazon
2020
“We believe Black lives matter,” reads a blog post published on June 3rd. Amazon committed to donating “a total of $10 million to organizations that are working to bring about social justice and improve the lives of Black and African Americans.” Amazon’s Black Employee Network will also be given a grant to “fund local organizations that support education and racial equality initiatives in communities across the country where our employees live and work.”
On June 9th, Amazon updated the post to say it would match employee donations of up to $10,000 per employee to the 12 organizations listed in the blog.
Here is Amazon’s tweet committing to solidarity with the Black community.
On Instagram, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos encouraged his followers to read a Medium essay by Shenequa Golding. Hours this article was first published, Bezos said that Black lives matter in response to an angry customer email he posted on Instagram.
2014
We could not find public responses from Amazon regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests.
Apple
2020
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the $100 million Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative on June 11th. “The initiative will challenge the systemic barriers to opportunity and dignity that exists for communities of color and particular for the black community,” Cook said in a video.
Cook also published an open letter, “Speaking up on racism,” on Apple’s website on June 4th. In the letter, Cook made a number of commitments:
We commit to continuing our work to bring critical resources and technology to underserved school systems. We commit to continuing to fight the forces of environmental injustice — like climate change — which disproportionately harm Black communities and other communities of color. We commit to looking inward and pushing progress forward on inclusion and diversity, so that every great idea can be heard. And we’re donating to organizations including the Equal Justice Initiative, which challenge racial injustice and mass incarceration.
Cook shared a similar version of this letter to Apple employees on May 31st, where he committed Apple to matching all employee donations made for the month of June.
Cook has also tweeted twice about Minneapolis:
2014
CEO Tim Cook shared a tweet from Pope Francis on the day of Michael Brown’s death.
We could not find other public responses from Apple regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests. In fact, here’s what the Apple newsroom looks like during those dates:
Facebook
2020
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg committed to giving “additional $10 million to groups working on racial justice” in a Facebook post on May 31st. He also noted that his philanthropic arm, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has invested $40 million annually for “several years” to organizations fighting racial injustice.
Hours after this article was first published, Zuckerberg pledged his support to the Black Lives Matter movement as part of a note published to his personal Facebook page. “To members of our Black community: I stand with you. Your lives matter. Black lives matter,” he said.
2014
In a December town hall Q&A, Zuckerberg was asked about social media’s role in helping strengthen communities in the wake of Ferguson and other protests against the use of excessive police force. He shared his response publicly in a video. “I believe we do two things: give everyone a voice and provide greater diversity of perspectives,” Zuckerberg said in his post accompanying the video.
We could not find other public responses from Facebook regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests.
Google
2020
Google CEO Sundar Pichai published an email sent to Google employees on June 3rd, titled “Standing with the Black community,” where he made the following “initial” commitments:
We’ll be giving $12 million in funding to organizations working to address racial inequities. Our first grants of $1 million each will go to our long-term partners at the Center for Policing Equity and the Equal Justice Initiative. And we’ll be providing technical support through our Google.org Fellows program. This builds on the $32 million we have donated to racial justice over the past five years. We’ll also offer $25 million in Ad Grants to help organizations fighting racial injustice provide critical information. As a result of last week’s internal giving campaign, I‘m pleased to share that you all have contributed an additional $2.5 million in donations that we’re matching. This represents the largest Googler giving campaign in our company’s history, with both the largest amount raised by employees and the broadest participation.
“We’ll work closely with our Black community to develop initiatives and product ideas that support long-term solutions—and we’ll keep you updated,” Pichai added. “As part of this effort, we welcome your ideas on how to use our products and technology to improve access and opportunity.”
Google-owned YouTube will launch a $100 million fund “dedicated to amplifying and developing the voices of Black creators and artists and their stories,” the video service announced on June 11th.
Pichai also tweeted Google’s solidarity with the Black community.
2014
We could not find public responses from Google regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests.
Microsoft
2020
Shortly after we published this story on June 5th, Microsoft pledged to donate $250,000 each to the Black Lives Matter Foundation, Equal Justice Initiative, Innocence Project, The Leadership Conference, Minnesota Freedom Fund, and NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s May 28th remarks to employees about the protests in Minneapolis were published on LinkedIn. As part of those remarks, Nadella discussed Microsoft’s Criminal Justice Reform Initiative, which was formally launched in 2019.
“This initiative invests in partnerships and programs working to drive reforms, focusing on policing,” Merisa Heu-Weller, director of the initiative, said in a March 3rd blog post. “While we recognize that disparities exist throughout the system, we believe that by focusing on policing, and building positive relationships between police and communities, we can help keep people out of the system and reduce the disparities within it.”
Heu-Weller also said that “teams across Microsoft have partnered with organizations across the United States working on criminal justice improvements” since 2014.
Nadella tweeted his support for the Black and African American community on June 1st. He has also retweeted many statements from Black Microsoft employees shared on Microsoft’s official Twitter account.
2014
We could not find public responses from Microsoft regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests.
Twitter
2020
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey called for “police policy reform now” in a June 1st tweet.
Dorsey also tweeted #startsmall grants to benefit Black and Brown communities, support ex-offenders, and more. Dorsey first began making #startsmall grants in April after moving $1 billion of his Square equity to an LLC to be used to fund COVID-19 relief. All of the grants made so far are tracked here.
Dorsey’s Twitter thread with his most recent grants begins here:
Twitter’s @TwitterTogether account posted a Twitter thread about how people can practice allyship.
On June 12th, Twitter shared more information about donations and contributions it would be making toward fighting racial injustice, including a $250,000 grant split between the Equal Justice Initiative and the National Association of Black Journalists and a $1 million fund to match employee donations. The tweet thread spelling out Twitter’s actions starts here.
2014
Dorsey went to Ferguson, Missouri shortly after Michael Brown’s death to participate in protests, and tweeted extensively while there. At the time, he was Twitter’s executive chairman, not its CEO.
We could not find other public responses from Twitter regarding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown or the Ferguson protests.
These companies may not have shown up in 2014, but given the very low bar, the fact that they have in 2020 is an encouraging sign of progress. Still, a statement of solidarity and a few donations should be just the beginning. There is the acknowledgment of racism, and then there is the ongoing work of being anti-racist.
Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter—these companies are proud of being some of the most powerful institutions in the world, and often tout that they are making the world a better place. If they commit to their pledges of “pushing progress forward” and taking on “the fight against systemic racism and injustice,” that effort could really help the Black community — or at the very least, amount to more than just promises and platitudes in a press release.


theverge--2020-06-05--Yelp is adding a new tool to easily search for black-owned businesses

Yelp is launching a new tool to allow businesses on the platform to identify themselves as black-owned , CEO Jeremy @ @ @ @ @ post Thursday .
Customers will be able to search the Yelp app for black-owned businesses @ @ @ @ @ Over the last week , Yelp says it saw a huge increase in the searches @ @ @ @ @ companies across various industries .
The company also said that it is donating $ 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund .
Yelp will also double its match of donations @ @ @ @ @ to select organizations that are either black-led or black-serving , including Black Futures Lab and @ @ @ @ @ June .
Yelp will also provide additional paid mental health days and organize ongoing virtual @ @ @ @ @ employees .
“ Yelp is committed to supporting our Black colleagues , standing against racism @ @ @ @ @ , and laying the groundwork for change that is long overdue , ” Stoppelman wrote @

Yelp is launching a new tool to allow businesses on the platform to identify themselves as black-owned, CEO Jeremy Stoppelman announced in a blog post Thursday. Customers will be able to search the Yelp app for black-owned businesses they want to support. Over the last week, Yelp says it saw a huge increase in the searches on the app for black-owned companies across various industries.
The company also said that it is donating $500,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Yelp will also double its match of donations from employees who contribute money to select organizations that are either black-led or black-serving, including Black Futures Lab and Know Your Rights Camp through June.


theverge--2020-06-05--Instacart tweaks tipping system after tip-baiting outcry

Instacart is adjusting how it handles customer tips following the announcement last week of a congressional inquiry into the practice of tip-baiting , in which Instacart allows customers to promise big tips for shoppers only for those customers to later rescind the tip after the order is dropped off .
Instacart now says it will shorten the window a customer can alter their tip from three days down to 24 hours .
It ’ s also now requiring customers leave feedback for removing tips and pledging to deactivate any customer who “ consistently and egregiously engages in this type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.25 percent of orders had a tip adjusted after 24 hours , ” and that , “ less than 0.5 percent of orders have tips removed after delivery.
” Instacart is also expanding its in-app cash-out feature to include tips , so shoppers can now receive the extra earned money from an order 24 hours after a completed order .
Instacart , like many other on-demand apps , has long had a controversial and at times exploitative approach to tipping .
The company was accused in 2019 of tip stealing by counting customer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment minimum .
It has since changed that policy to ensure more transparent allocation of tips .
Instacart users were baiting shoppers during a pandemic with big tips and then rescinding them But amid the pandemic , a new customer-side behavior on the Insatacart platform , tip-baiting , began posing serious risks to Instacart shoppers .
Many Instacart shoppers began relying on the company as their only source of income during COVID-19-induced lockdowns and putting their health at risk to venture into grocery stores and delivery food to customers .
Some Instacart users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure efficient service , only to reduce the tip amount to zero after receiving the order .
A recent Verge investigation into the human cost of Instacart ’ s rapidly expanding role during COVID-19 found that tip-baiting was a central complaint of many workers , some of whom said Instacart was making it difficult to receive promised sick pay .
( Instacart this week expanded its sick pay policy as part of an agreement with Washington , DC Attorney General Karl Racine . )
A group of senators led by Sen. Brian Schatz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential investigation into Instacart ’ s tipping system in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission .
“ Congress intentionally provided broad authority ... so that the FTC could address new and emerging market practices that may constitute unfair and deceptive practices , ” the senators wrote .
“ Particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique risks that online delivery shoppers are taking , we believe the tipping policy at Instacart and other similar companies deserve scrutiny .
”

Instacart is adjusting how it handles customer tips following the announcement last week of a congressional inquiry into the practice of tip-baiting, in which Instacart allows customers to promise big tips for shoppers only for those customers to later rescind the tip after the order is dropped off.
Instacart now says it will shorten the window a customer can alter their tip from three days down to 24 hours. It’s also now requiring customers leave feedback for removing tips and pledging to deactivate any customer who “consistently and egregiously engages in this type of behavior.” The company claims “only 0.25 percent of orders had a tip adjusted after 24 hours,” and that, “less than 0.5 percent of orders have tips removed after delivery.” Instacart is also expanding its in-app cash-out feature to include tips, so shoppers can now receive the extra earned money from an order 24 hours after a completed order.
Instacart, like many other on-demand apps, has long had a controversial and at times exploitative approach to tipping. The company was accused in 2019 of tip stealing by counting customer tips toward a shopper’s guarantee payment minimum. It has since changed that policy to ensure more transparent allocation of tips.
Instacart users were baiting shoppers during a pandemic with big tips and then rescinding them
But amid the pandemic, a new customer-side behavior on the Insatacart platform, tip-baiting, began posing serious risks to Instacart shoppers. Many Instacart shoppers began relying on the company as their only source of income during COVID-19-induced lockdowns and putting their health at risk to venture into grocery stores and delivery food to customers. Some Instacart users discovered they could promise large tips to ensure efficient service, only to reduce the tip amount to zero after receiving the order.
A recent Verge investigation into the human cost of Instacart’s rapidly expanding role during COVID-19 found that tip-baiting was a central complaint of many workers, some of whom said Instacart was making it difficult to receive promised sick pay. (Instacart this week expanded its sick pay policy as part of an agreement with Washington, DC Attorney General Karl Racine.) A group of senators led by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) last week called for a potential investigation into Instacart’s tipping system in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission.


theverge--2020-06-05--Nio’s future depends more on the Chinese government than ever

Chinese EV startup Nio announced its first-quarter results last week and , by most accounts , the Tencent-backed company appears to have weathered the impact of COVID-19 .
That argument was further bolstered on Thursday when Nio released strong May delivery figures .
But Nio also recently finalized a crucially-timed $ 1 billion bailout from a local government in China , and the price the company had to pay to survive is becoming increasingly apparent .
Now Nio — which is billed as an independent startup with ambitions to sell cars in Europe and the US , and even has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silicon Valley — is more anchored to the whims of the Chinese government than before .
And owners of Nio shares that trade on the New York Stock Exchange have had an extra layer of abstraction placed between them and the company ’ s most valuable assets .
The cost of the bailout The major deal Nio inked was with the city of Hefei , the capital of Anhui province .
Announced in February and finalized in April , it involves a group of state-owned or state-adjacent construction , economic development , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a subsidiary in China created by Nio called , simply , “ Nio China.
” Nio has committed its “ core assets ” to this new China-only subsidiary In return , Nio had to commit its “ core businesses and assets in China , including vehicle research and development , supply chain , sales and services and Nio Power ” ( that last part being its home charging and battery swap business ) into this new subsidiary .
Nio also has to invest around $ 600 million of its own money into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building a new headquarters specifically for the new subsidiary in Hefei .
On top of all of that , the Hefei investor group now owns 24 percent of Nio China .
The other 76 percent belongs to Nio Inc. , the holding company at the very top of the EV startup ’ s corporate structure .
Nio Inc. is what trades on the NYSE , and so the company made sure to tell its shareholders on the recent earnings call that they will own the controlling stake of Nio China “ for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because companies like Nio are ostensibly independent from the government in China , at least when compared to outright state-owned enterprises .
Yes , they benefit from government subsidies and aggressive electric vehicle policies , but it ’ s not like Beijing is calling the day-to-day shots .
But that case will be slightly harder to make following this deal , because the Hefei investor group was granted “ voting rights with respect to various significant corporate matters ” like changes to Nio China ’ s corporate structure , and its “ core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which , according to Nio , “ may significantly limit our ability to make certain major corporate decisions with regard to ” the new subsidiary .
And if Nio doesn ’ t hit certain sales benchmarks or take the Nio China subsidiary public on its own within five years , the Hefei investors can cash in their shares at an 8.5 percent premium .
What ’ s more , if that happens and Nio is unable to pay them back , the Hefei investors can force Nio to sell its own stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] e may lose control , ” the company warned investors in a recent filing .
Nio didn ’ t have much of a choice but to make this bargain , says Michael Dunne , head of ZoZo Go , an automotive consulting group focused on the Chinese market .
“ At a certain point there comes a day of reckoning where [ Chinese companies ] are just hungry for cash , and they look around and say , ‘ what are our alternatives here ?
’ And the final backstop is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China wants to lead the world in electric vehicles , and they have the wherewithal to provide Nio with the cash lifeline to allow it to proceed with its dream.
” Still , it has some skeptics worried .
One investor who is short Nio ’ s stock ( meaning he ’ s essentially betting the share price will go down ) has called it an “ asset strip , ” and that those concessions the company made in return for Hefei ’ s investment put shareholders at risk .
Dunne disagrees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a place where they were vulnerable and they had to lose control of some elements.
” “ Anything is possible in China ” “ Do I think it ’ s some kind of a play ?
I don ’ t .
I think it ’ s a short term improvisation to stay alive , with the hope they can improve performance and reassert control of the venture both inside and outside of China , ” he says .
But , he adds , “ anything is possible in China .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also owned by Chinese shareholders , including the state enterprise or the government , all bets are off.
” The money came at a particularly crucial time for Nio , as the startup was barreling toward financial catastrophe .
Not only has Nio burned through more than $ 6 billion since its founding in 2014 , but it stumbled repeatedly in 2019 .
Despite it being Nio ’ s first full year of sales , and the company launching a second , more affordable electric SUV , it ultimately delivered half the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company ’ s progress was tripped up by a number of things : a battery recall , the Chinese government ’ s reduction of subsidies on expensive electric vehicles , a pre-pandemic slowdown in China ’ s economy , and — by Nio ’ s own admission — five straight years of unchecked growth .
Nio went through multiple rounds of layoffs , delayed a new vehicle , and canceled plans to build its own factory as a result .
The company also sold its Formula E electric racing team for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been previously reported , according to a recent filing .
To staunch the bleeding , Nio spent the better part of the last year trying to scare up new funding .
That search did not go so well .
A proposed $ 1.45 billion deal with the economic development agency in Beijing never materialized .
Instead , Nio wound up taking a $ 200 million loan from its founder and Tencent in September 2019 , and then took on another $ 435 million worth of debt in early 2020 to fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal with Hefei .
Then , of course , the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
Nio ’ s sales briefly flatlined , as did pretty much every other automaker ’ s .
The company went from delivering 8,224 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 3,838 cars in the first quarter of 2020 — putting Nio roughly in line with where it was at in the first quarter of 2019 ( 3,989 cars delivered ) when it had just one model for sale .
Nio ’ s first quarter numbers emphasize how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just $ 177.3 million of revenue on the 3,838 cars it sold in the first quarter , and $ 193.8 million in total revenue for the quarter .
The company ultimately posted a $ 238.9 million loss , and finished the quarter with just $ 338.6 million of cash in the bank , which the company said once again “ is not adequate to provide the required working capital and liquidity for continuous operation in the foreseeable future ” — marking the second consecutive quarter that Nio had to issue such a warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 billion total since 2014 But amidst a recovering new car market in China , Nio delivered 3,436 vehicles in May — nearly as many as it shipped across the entire first quarter .
Braced by the optimism around the Hefei investment , analysts at JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have upgraded their ratings of the company ’ s stock .
CEO William Li has said he feels confident Nio has enough funding to move forward , and it looks like things are trending back up .
If Nio builds on this momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its ambitions to become a global brand , Dunne says .
He ’ s also not concerned those plans would be inhibited by the fact that the local government is now directly involved .
“ The Hefei government would be absolutely 100 percent in support of that direction , to go global , and compete globally , in part because the brand value goes up if it ’ s not a China-only play , ” he says .
The central government in Beijing is also calling for more exports of Chinese vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bode well for Nio long term .
Success at that scale could be a boon to Hefei , a place that was already humming with automaker activity , and one that has only seen its status improve since the ink dried on the deal with Nio .
Just last week , Volkswagen announced it ’ s pouring more than $ 2 billion into state-owned automaker JAC Motors and battery maker Guoxuan High-Tech , two companies located in the capital city of the Anhui province .
JAC Motors just so happens to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though Dunne thinks the move will only further bolster each company ’ s prospects .
“ Anhui province , enjoying apparent powerful godfathers in Beijing , looks hell-bent on establishing itself as a core production hub in China ’ s EV industry , ” he says .

Chinese EV startup Nio announced its first-quarter results last week and, by most accounts, the Tencent-backed company appears to have weathered the impact of COVID-19. That argument was further bolstered on Thursday when Nio released strong May delivery figures. But Nio also recently finalized a crucially-timed $1 billion bailout from a local government in China, and the price the company had to pay to survive is becoming increasingly apparent.
Now Nio — which is billed as an independent startup with ambitions to sell cars in Europe and the US, and even has offices in London, Munich, and Silicon Valley — is more anchored to the whims of the Chinese government than before. And owners of Nio shares that trade on the New York Stock Exchange have had an extra layer of abstraction placed between them and the company’s most valuable assets.
The cost of the bailout
The major deal Nio inked was with the city of Hefei, the capital of Anhui province. Announced in February and finalized in April, it involves a group of state-owned or state-adjacent construction, economic development, and investment companies pumping about $1 billion into a subsidiary in China created by Nio called, simply, “Nio China.”
Nio has committed its “core assets” to this new China-only subsidiary
In return, Nio had to commit its “core businesses and assets in China, including vehicle research and development, supply chain, sales and services and Nio Power” (that last part being its home charging and battery swap business) into this new subsidiary. Nio also has to invest around $600 million of its own money into Nio China, and has committed to building a new headquarters specifically for the new subsidiary in Hefei.
On top of all of that, the Hefei investor group now owns 24 percent of Nio China. The other 76 percent belongs to Nio Inc., the holding company at the very top of the EV startup’s corporate structure. Nio Inc. is what trades on the NYSE, and so the company made sure to tell its shareholders on the recent earnings call that they will own the controlling stake of Nio China “for the long term.”
That reassurance is important because companies like Nio are ostensibly independent from the government in China, at least when compared to outright state-owned enterprises. Yes, they benefit from government subsidies and aggressive electric vehicle policies, but it’s not like Beijing is calling the day-to-day shots.
But that case will be slightly harder to make following this deal, because the Hefei investor group was granted “voting rights with respect to various significant corporate matters” like changes to Nio China’s corporate structure, and its “core business and ... articles of association,” which, according to Nio, “may significantly limit our ability to make certain major corporate decisions with regard to” the new subsidiary. And if Nio doesn’t hit certain sales benchmarks or take the Nio China subsidiary public on its own within five years, the Hefei investors can cash in their shares at an 8.5 percent premium.
What’s more, if that happens and Nio is unable to pay them back, the Hefei investors can force Nio to sell its own stake in Nio China. “[w]e may lose control,” the company warned investors in a recent filing.
“we may lose control”
After this story was published, a spokesperson for Nio told The Verge they believe it will have no problem hitting the sales goals, which require the company to ship at least 20,000 vehicles per year — a pace the company is already ahead of for 2020. They also said the language about Nio selling its stake in the event of a default is standard for deals of this kind, and that the investor group has benchmarks of its own that it must hit.
Nio didn’t have much of a choice but to make this bargain, says Michael Dunne, head of ZoZo Go, an automotive consulting group focused on the Chinese market.
“At a certain point there comes a day of reckoning where [Chinese companies] are just hungry for cash, and they look around and say, ‘what are our alternatives here?’ And the final backstop is the government,” Dunne says. “China wants to lead the world in electric vehicles, and they have the wherewithal to provide Nio with the cash lifeline to allow it to proceed with its dream.”
Still, it has some skeptics worried. One investor who is short Nio’s stock (meaning he’s essentially betting the share price will go down) has called it an “asset strip,” and that those concessions the company made in return for Hefei’s investment put shareholders at risk.
Dunne disagrees, though he admits Nio was “caught in a place where they were vulnerable and they had to lose control of some elements.”
“Anything is possible in China”
“Do I think it’s some kind of a play? I don’t. I think it’s a short term improvisation to stay alive, with the hope they can improve performance and reassert control of the venture both inside and outside of China,” he says.
But, he adds, “anything is possible in China. When the company you’re investing in is also owned by Chinese shareholders, including the state enterprise or the government, all bets are off.”
Nio’s brush with death
The money came at a particularly crucial time for Nio, as the startup was barreling toward financial catastrophe.
Not only has Nio burned through more than $6 billion since its founding in 2014, but it stumbled repeatedly in 2019. Despite it being Nio’s first full year of sales, and the company launching a second, more affordable electric SUV, it ultimately delivered half the total number of cars it promised last year.
The company’s progress was tripped up by a number of things: a battery recall, the Chinese government’s reduction of subsidies on expensive electric vehicles, a pre-pandemic slowdown in China’s economy, and — by Nio’s own admission — five straight years of unchecked growth.
Nio needed funding after a really rocky 2019
Nio went through multiple rounds of layoffs, delayed a new vehicle, and canceled plans to build its own factory as a result. The company also sold its Formula E electric racing team for $15 million, a figure that has not been previously reported, according to a recent filing.
To staunch the bleeding, Nio spent the better part of the last year trying to scare up new funding. That search did not go so well. A proposed $1.45 billion deal with the economic development agency in Beijing never materialized. Instead, Nio wound up taking a $200 million loan from its founder and Tencent in September 2019, and then took on another $435 million worth of debt in early 2020 to fund its operations, before ultimately lining up the deal with Hefei.
Then, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Nio’s sales briefly flatlined, as did pretty much every other automaker’s. The company went from delivering 8,224 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 3,838 cars in the first quarter of 2020 — putting Nio roughly in line with where it was at in the first quarter of 2019 (3,989 cars delivered) when it had just one model for sale.
Nio’s first quarter numbers emphasize how existential things got. The startup generated just $177.3 million of revenue on the 3,838 cars it sold in the first quarter, and $193.8 million in total revenue for the quarter. The company ultimately posted a $238.9 million loss, and finished the quarter with just $338.6 million of cash in the bank, which the company said once again “is not adequate to provide the required working capital and liquidity for continuous operation in the foreseeable future” — marking the second consecutive quarter that Nio had to issue such a warning.
Nio has lost more than $6 billion total since 2014
But amidst a recovering new car market in China, Nio delivered 3,436 vehicles in May — nearly as many as it shipped across the entire first quarter. Braced by the optimism around the Hefei investment, analysts at JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have upgraded their ratings of the company’s stock. CEO William Li has said he feels confident Nio has enough funding to move forward, and it looks like things are trending back up.
If Nio builds on this momentum, the company can still follow through on its ambitions to become a global brand, Dunne says. He’s also not concerned those plans would be inhibited by the fact that the local government is now directly involved.
“The Hefei government would be absolutely 100 percent in support of that direction, to go global, and compete globally, in part because the brand value goes up if it’s not a China-only play,” he says. The central government in Beijing is also calling for more exports of Chinese vehicles, according to Dunne, which would bode well for Nio long term.
Success at that scale could be a boon to Hefei, a place that was already humming with automaker activity, and one that has only seen its status improve since the ink dried on the deal with Nio. Just last week, Volkswagen announced it’s pouring more than $2 billion into state-owned automaker JAC Motors and battery maker Guoxuan High-Tech, two companies located in the capital city of the Anhui province.
JAC Motors just so happens to be the company that makes Nio’s cars, though Dunne thinks the move will only further bolster each company’s prospects. “Anhui province, enjoying apparent powerful godfathers in Beijing, looks hell-bent on establishing itself as a core production hub in China’s EV industry,” he says.


theverge--2020-06-05--Jeff Bezos corrects angry ‘all lives matter’ customer email

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos issued a public pledge of support to the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday .
The chief executive did so in reply to a customer email criticizing his company ’ s response to the death of George Floyd and ongoing protests around the country against racism and systemic police brutality .
Bezos posted his reply publicly on Instagram .
Right now , Amazon.com has a prominent “ Black Lives Matter ” banner at the top of the page that links to a blog post describing actions the company is taking to support black communities and racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the banner , saying “ it is quite disturbing to get on the AMAZON website and see ‘ BLACK LIVES MATTER.
’ ” The customer later said that “ ALL LIVES MATTER , ” a common right-wing refrain used to criticize the Black Lives Matter movement .
“ ‘ Black lives matter ’ doesn ’ t mean other lives don ’ t matter .
Black lives matter speaks to racism and the disproportionate risk that Black people face in our law enforcement and justice system , ” Bezos said in part of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s full email and Bezos ’ response on Bezos ’ Instagram post .
Mark Zuckerberg also stated “ black lives matter ” in an email sent to employees that he posted publicly Friday evening .
“ To members of our Black community : I stand with you .
Your lives matter .
Black lives matter , ” said Zuckerberg .

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos issued a public pledge of support to the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday. The chief executive did so in reply to a customer email criticizing his company’s response to the death of George Floyd and ongoing protests around the country against racism and systemic police brutality. Bezos posted his reply publicly on Instagram.
Right now, Amazon.com has a prominent “Black Lives Matter” banner at the top of the page that links to a blog post describing actions the company is taking to support black communities and racial justice. The customer took issue with the banner, saying “it is quite disturbing to get on the AMAZON website and see ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER.’” The customer later said that “ALL LIVES MATTER,” a common right-wing refrain used to criticize the Black Lives Matter movement.
“‘Black lives matter’ doesn’t mean other lives don’t matter. Black lives matter speaks to racism and the disproportionate risk that Black people face in our law enforcement and justice system,” Bezos said in part of his reply.
You can read the customer’s full email and Bezos’ response on Bezos’ Instagram post.


theverge--2020-06-06--Scientists funded by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative urge Facebook CEO to curb misinformation

More than 140 scientists who receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday urging him to better enforce the social media platform ’ s policies against incendiary language , The Washington Post reported .
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ( CZI ) is the philanthropic organization founded by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan in 2015 , which focuses on using technology to solve social challenges , including criminal justice reform .
It is a separate entity from Facebook .
The scientists said in the letter that allowing President Trump to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incendiary statements ” was not only a violation of Facebook ’ s policies but “ directly antithetical ” to CZI ’ s goal of building a “ more inclusive , just and healthy future for everyone.
” “ We were disconcerted to see that Facebook has not followed their own policies in regards to President Trump , ” the letter states .
“ For example , his statement ‘ when the looting starts , the shooting starts ’ is a clear statement of inciting violence.
” The scientists who signed the letter include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Nobel laureate , among others .
Zuckerberg said on May 29th that Facebook would not take any action against Trump ’ s “ looting ” post , even after Twitter flagged a similar post for “ glorifying violence.
” Zuckerberg acknowledged that people were “ upset ” by the decision , “ but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies.
” That decision prompted Facebook employees to stage a virtual walkout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that Facebook would “ review ” its policies on speech that promotes violence .
A spokesperson for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative reiterated in an email to The Verge that CZI is separate from Facebook , with separate offices , and a separate mission .
“ We are grateful for our staff , partners and grantees in this work and we respect their right to voice their opinions , including on Facebook policies , ” the spokesperson said .
Facebook did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday .

More than 140 scientists who receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday urging him to better enforce the social media platform’s policies against incendiary language, The Washington Post reported. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is the philanthropic organization founded by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan in 2015, which focuses on using technology to solve social challenges, including criminal justice reform. It is a separate entity from Facebook.
The scientists said in the letter that allowing President Trump to use Facebook “to spread both misinformation and incendiary statements” was not only a violation of Facebook’s policies but “directly antithetical” to CZI’s goal of building a “more inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone.”
“We were disconcerted to see that Facebook has not followed their own policies in regards to President Trump,” the letter states. “For example, his statement ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’ is a clear statement of inciting violence.”
The scientists who signed the letter include professors from Stanford, Harvard, and a Nobel laureate, among others.
Zuckerberg said on May 29th that Facebook would not take any action against Trump’s “looting” post, even after Twitter flagged a similar post for “glorifying violence.” Zuckerberg acknowledged that people were “upset” by the decision, “but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies.”
That decision prompted Facebook employees to stage a virtual walkout in protest, and Zuckerberg said late Friday that Facebook would “review” its policies on speech that promotes violence.
A spokesperson for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative reiterated in an email to The Verge that CZI is separate from Facebook, with separate offices, and a separate mission. “We are grateful for our staff, partners and grantees in this work and we respect their right to voice their opinions, including on Facebook policies,” the spokesperson said.
Facebook did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday.


theverge--2020-06-06--Apple reportedly will offer monthly payment plans for iPads and Macs on Apple Card

Apple will allow customers to buy products including iPads , Macs , and AirPods , via monthly installment payments on @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Payments will be managed through the Apple Card section in the iPhone Wallet @ @ @ @ @ ’ monthly Apple Card bills , according to Bloomberg .
For iPads , Macs , @ @ @ @ @ keyboards , and the Mac XDR Display monitor , a 12-month , interest-free payment plan @ @ @ @ @ for AirPods , HomePod , and Apple TV , the plans will be six months @ @ @ @ @ , Apple rolled out a 24-month , interest-free payment plan for iPhones purchased with an @ @ @ @ @ 3 percent cash back .
Apple launched the Apple Card last August in partnership with @ @ @ @ @ a digital card connected to the Apple Wallet app and a physical card made of @ @ @ @ @ immediately reply to a request for comment Saturday .

Apple will allow customers to buy products including iPads, Macs, and AirPods, via monthly installment payments on the Apple Card, Bloomberg reported. Payments will be managed through the Apple Card section in the iPhone Wallet app and added to customers’ monthly Apple Card bills, according to Bloomberg.
For iPads, Macs, the Apple Pencil, iPad keyboards, and the Mac XDR Display monitor, a 12-month, interest-free payment plan will be available, and for AirPods, HomePod, and Apple TV, the plans will be six months interest free.
Last year, Apple rolled out a 24-month, interest-free payment plan for iPhones purchased with an Apple Card, and gives 3 percent cash back.
Apple launched the Apple Card last August in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Users get a digital card connected to the Apple Wallet app and a physical card made of titanium.


theverge--2020-06-06--Destiny 2’s first Fortnite-style live event was slow and underwhelming, but it’s a solid start

Destiny 2 ’ s first ever Fortnite-style live event just wrapped earlier today , and it was unfortunately not quite what some players were expecting .
Instead of something monumental and game-changing for a key part of the game world , it was more of a slow burn alternative to a standard video game cutscene .
And instead of delivering a strong narrative pay off on a season ’ s worth of otherwise dull and repetitive activity , the Almighty event ended without any meaningful change in direction or surprising new development .
For the last three months , developer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Destiny world ’ s artificial intelligence supercomputer Rasputin and a large planet-destroying ship called the Almighty .
All of this past season ’ s activities have revolved around communicating with the AI character , a largely mysterious fixture in Destiny lore before this season , and doing a series of rehashed game modes and resource collecting in service of an eventual showdown between Rasputin and the Almighty .
Over the last month , players were asked to participate in a mind-numbing number of public event activities to unlock an old Destiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the promise of more to come at season ’ s end .
Some players expected the Almighty to actually crash into the game ’ s Tower social hub .
Others expected a cutscene or perhaps some form of real-time space battle that would destroy or in some substantial way change the Tower .
What we actually got was a severely understated form of the latter in which the image of the Almighty changed in excruciatingly slow fashion with new animations and , eventually , a brief scene of its destruction and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt a bit slapdash and underwhelming .
The event got off to a bumpy start when , at the scheduled 1PM ET start time , nothing appeared to happen .
The delay , whether intentional or not , lasted for more than 20 minutes , but it did give players ample time to load into the Tower and to join in with any other collaborative antics other players were engaging in .
In my instance , a row of well-decorated Guardians laid down holographic staffs as if to make a last line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pass ” emote , a reference to Gandalf ’ s legendary line when facing down the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings .
Eventually , players began noticing subtle changes in the sky in the form of large clusters of laser beams arcing toward the Almighty .
The process appeared to be dynamic , so the lasers grew closer over time , but at a painfully so pace that made it hard to track minute-by-minute movement .
The lasers made contact at around 1:50PM ET , nearly a full hour after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unclear if there actually was an initial real at first or if Bungie purposefully designed it to be as slow-moving as it actually was . )
As we approached nearly the 90-minute mark after the event first started , the ship began to explode in apparent slow motion .
But that ’ s when the one exciting portion of the event kicked in , as the Almighty began crashing toward the surface of the Earth and bits of debris began flying off .
This was the only actual dynamic part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a series of subtle screenshot changes to in-game sky .
It ultimately ended with an exciting crash landing and a shock wave , and now the Almighty ’ s landing site appears to be a permanent fixture of the background of the Tower .
If players end up inspecting some of the crash debris ( after re-zoning in ) , Bungie is awarding an emblem .
Still , that the conclusion , which lasted under 10 minutes , required 90 minutes of build up and resulted in just an emblem and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have inadvertently cultivated .
We ’ ve never seen Bungie try something this ambitious with Destiny 2 before , and the end result was certainly exciting when you consider what could come next .
The closest the studio has come is with 2018 ’ s Forsaken expansion , in which the game ’ s new location , the Dreaming City , underwent a transformation after the very first raid team bested The Last Wish activity .
But it was not at the scale of the Almighty event , and this is Bungie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a months-long narrative culminating in some form of shared experience for the player base .
Fortnite , although it ’ s best known for being a wildly popular battle royale game , has emerged over the last few years as an industry leader in what can only be described as live , simultaneous events .
These are in-game events that happen in real time and are experienced only once by every single player who happens to log in and be present for the show .
Fortnite isn ’ t the first of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online games ( MMOs ) and online sims like Second Life have been experimenting in this department for years .
But Fortnite features undeniably the most impressive and technically challenging versions of these events in all of gaming .
Bungie ’ s approach was nowhere near as sophisticated as industry leader Epic ’ s Starting with an in-game rocket launch back in 2018 and growing steadily more ambitious every few months with more complex and ever-evolving events like last fall ’ s black hole stunt , developer Epic has proven it has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even just five years ago considered almost impossible .
More recently , Epic held a stunning Travis Scott show that projected the rapper as a superhuman skyscraper-sized hologram for more than 12 million players and , last summer , concluded a multi-month storyline with a mecha-monster showdown , Pacific Rim-style .
Part of what makes Fortnite ’ s events so fun and feel so unprecedented is that they are so intricately built over time .
Epic , through whatever technical achievements it ’ s built under the hood of its battle royale game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it pulls these events off ) , is able to change its map in subtle ways almost every day , adding clues to find and expanding teasers of larger events all without having to take down its server for maintenance .
Some of its most successful feats have included a live event that then kicks players right into an all-new , changed game map , no update required .
Bungie ’ s approach is nowhere near that sophisticated , at least not yet .
But the developer is trying something new and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ample notes from watching Fortnite .
The Almighty grew ever-closer in the sky over the past season , and players logging into the Tower on Saturday morning noticed all the non-playable characters having shifted their positions to get a clear look at the ship ’ s descent .
These changes were minor and it will be interesting to see if Bungie can step up its game for future live events , if it does indeed try them again .
Regardless of the overall quality in this Almighty event , experiments like these represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 living up to the series ’ original promise of a shared , living , and ever-changing world .
They help the game better straddle the line between shooter and MMO , even if it ’ s taken quite a few years and nearly two full games to get there .

Destiny 2’s first ever Fortnite-style live event just wrapped earlier today, and it was unfortunately not quite what some players were expecting. Instead of something monumental and game-changing for a key part of the game world, it was more of a slow burn alternative to a standard video game cutscene. And instead of delivering a strong narrative pay off on a season’s worth of otherwise dull and repetitive activity, the Almighty event ended without any meaningful change in direction or surprising new development.
For the last three months, developer Bungie has been building up a clash between the Destiny world’s artificial intelligence supercomputer Rasputin and a large planet-destroying ship called the Almighty. All of this past season’s activities have revolved around communicating with the AI character, a largely mysterious fixture in Destiny lore before this season, and doing a series of rehashed game modes and resource collecting in service of an eventual showdown between Rasputin and the Almighty. Over the last month, players were asked to participate in a mind-numbing number of public event activities to unlock an old Destiny 1 weapon and a brief story mission, with the promise of more to come at season’s end.
Some players expected the Almighty to actually crash into the game’s Tower social hub. Others expected a cutscene or perhaps some form of real-time space battle that would destroy or in some substantial way change the Tower. What we actually got was a severely understated form of the latter in which the image of the Almighty changed in excruciatingly slow fashion with new animations and, eventually, a brief scene of its destruction and crash landing. Yet the whole execution felt a bit slapdash and underwhelming.
The event got off to a bumpy start when, at the scheduled 1PM ET start time, nothing appeared to happen. The delay, whether intentional or not, lasted for more than 20 minutes, but it did give players ample time to load into the Tower and to join in with any other collaborative antics other players were engaging in.
In my instance, a row of well-decorated Guardians laid down holographic staffs as if to make a last line of defense by using the “None Shall Pass” emote, a reference to Gandalf’s legendary line when facing down the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings.
Eventually, players began noticing subtle changes in the sky in the form of large clusters of laser beams arcing toward the Almighty. The process appeared to be dynamic, so the lasers grew closer over time, but at a painfully so pace that made it hard to track minute-by-minute movement.
The lasers made contact at around 1:50PM ET, nearly a full hour after the event supposedly first launched. (It’s unclear if there actually was an initial real at first or if Bungie purposefully designed it to be as slow-moving as it actually was.)
Screenshot by Tom Warren / The Verge
As we approached nearly the 90-minute mark after the event first started, the ship began to explode in apparent slow motion. But that’s when the one exciting portion of the event kicked in, as the Almighty began crashing toward the surface of the Earth and bits of debris began flying off. This was the only actual dynamic part of the experience, as everything else felt like a series of subtle screenshot changes to in-game sky.
It ultimately ended with an exciting crash landing and a shock wave, and now the Almighty’s landing site appears to be a permanent fixture of the background of the Tower. If players end up inspecting some of the crash debris (after re-zoning in), Bungie is awarding an emblem.
Screenshot by Nick Statt / The Verge
Still, that the conclusion, which lasted under 10 minutes, required 90 minutes of build up and resulted in just an emblem and not much more illustrates the mismatched expectations Bungie may have inadvertently cultivated.
We’ve never seen Bungie try something this ambitious with Destiny 2 before, and the end result was certainly exciting when you consider what could come next. The closest the studio has come is with 2018’s Forsaken expansion, in which the game’s new location, the Dreaming City, underwent a transformation after the very first raid team bested The Last Wish activity. But it was not at the scale of the Almighty event, and this is Bungie’s first real attempt at building a months-long narrative culminating in some form of shared experience for the player base.
Fortnite, although it’s best known for being a wildly popular battle royale game, has emerged over the last few years as an industry leader in what can only be described as live, simultaneous events. These are in-game events that happen in real time and are experienced only once by every single player who happens to log in and be present for the show. Fortnite isn’t the first of its kind to do this; massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) and online sims like Second Life have been experimenting in this department for years. But Fortnite features undeniably the most impressive and technically challenging versions of these events in all of gaming.
Bungie’s approach was nowhere near as sophisticated as industry leader Epic’s
Starting with an in-game rocket launch back in 2018 and growing steadily more ambitious every few months with more complex and ever-evolving events like last fall’s black hole stunt, developer Epic has proven it has the technical chops to do what video games even just five years ago considered almost impossible. More recently, Epic held a stunning Travis Scott show that projected the rapper as a superhuman skyscraper-sized hologram for more than 12 million players and, last summer, concluded a multi-month storyline with a mecha-monster showdown, Pacific Rim-style.
Part of what makes Fortnite’s events so fun and feel so unprecedented is that they are so intricately built over time. Epic, through whatever technical achievements it’s built under the hood of its battle royale game (the developer has never shared how it pulls these events off), is able to change its map in subtle ways almost every day, adding clues to find and expanding teasers of larger events all without having to take down its server for maintenance. Some of its most successful feats have included a live event that then kicks players right into an all-new, changed game map, no update required.
Bungie’s approach is nowhere near that sophisticated, at least not yet. But the developer is trying something new and it’s clear the studio has taken ample notes from watching Fortnite. The Almighty grew ever-closer in the sky over the past season, and players logging into the Tower on Saturday morning noticed all the non-playable characters having shifted their positions to get a clear look at the ship’s descent. These changes were minor and it will be interesting to see if Bungie can step up its game for future live events, if it does indeed try them again.


theverge--2020-06-06--Neopets is launching open beta for a new mobile site

The beloved online game Neopets is launching an open beta for a new mobile site , the company announced on Twitter Friday .
“ The Neopets Mobile Beta has arrived !
Now you can explore the breathtaking land of Neopia from the palm of your hand !
” the very excited company tweeted .
In a video posted to Twitter , Neopets brand manager Stephanie Lord thanked fans for their support over the past 20 years , and encouraged fans to test the site .
“ While this is an open beta , we ’ re in the very early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all your feedback to help guide the product moving forward.
” Neopets has been slowly fading over the past several years , but has maintained a cult following , especially among young women who credit the site with helping them learn to code .
Its creators sold the site to entertainment behemoth Viacom in 2005 , which later sold it to JumpStart , a company that makes educational games for younger children .
The mobile beta isn ’ t Neopets ’ first venture into mobile .
Its Legends and Letters game , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Neopets lore , a puzzle game mechanic , and battles , ” launched last year .
The game revived Neopets characters from the early 2000s , but was met with mixed reviews .
We ’ ve reached out to JumpStart for more details about the Neopets revival and will update when we hear back .
To check out the beta just log into the Neopets site from a mobile browser .

The beloved online game Neopets is launching an open beta for a new mobile site, the company announced on Twitter Friday. “The Neopets Mobile Beta has arrived! Now you can explore the breathtaking land of Neopia from the palm of your hand!” the very excited company tweeted.
In a video posted to Twitter, Neopets brand manager Stephanie Lord thanked fans for their support over the past 20 years, and encouraged fans to test the site. “While this is an open beta, we’re in the very early stages of development and looking forward to all your feedback to help guide the product moving forward.”
Neopets has been slowly fading over the past several years, but has maintained a cult following, especially among young women who credit the site with helping them learn to code. Its creators sold the site to entertainment behemoth Viacom in 2005, which later sold it to JumpStart, a company that makes educational games for younger children.
The mobile beta isn’t Neopets’ first venture into mobile. Its Legends and Letters game, which its CEO described as a combination of “Neopets lore, a puzzle game mechanic, and battles,” launched last year. The game revived Neopets characters from the early 2000s, but was met with mixed reviews.