games

Google and Epic Games propose a historic agreement that is an earthquake for the Play Store

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The long and costly legal war between Epic Games and Googlewhich began in 2020, is about to end. Both companies have jointly submitted an agreement proposal and a modified court order which, if approved, not only resolves all its disputes, but also redraws the rules of the Android app store for the coming years. Chronology. To understand why Google has agreed, you have to rewind. After a long trial, a jury ruled in favor of Epic in 2023, declaring that Google’s Play Store operated as an illegal monopoly. Based on that verdict, Judge Donato issued a harsh court order a year later. This forced Google to open its ecosystem and included allowing third-party stores within the Play Store itself. In addition, it prohibited Google from tying its billing system to the store, and allowing developers to link to external payments. Braking attempt. Google immediately appealed, warning that the changes would harm the “security and privacy” of users. On October 18, 2024, the judge granted the Mountain View giant a temporary suspension while the appeal was being resolved. It was just a momentary respite. Surrender. After losing appeals, the US Supreme Court rejected Google’s latest request for a suspension. This reactivated the original court ordergiving the company an imminent deadline that ended on October 22. It had to start dismantling its control over the Android software store. Image by Official GDC on Flickr New agreement. Faced with the obligation to comply with a sentence that it hated, Google has negotiated a lesser evil. This new agreement, which was presented yesterday, replaces the original order with agreed rules that will be in force until June 30, 2032. Tim Sweeney himself, CEO of Epic, rated it X as an “impressive” and “comprehensive solution.” These were the words of Sameer Samat, the president of Android, who also reacted to the news: Together with Epic Games, we have proposed changes for Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, reducing fees, and encouraging greater competition, all while ensuring user safety. If approved, this would resolve our disputes. We hope to continue discussing the issue with the judge on Thursday. The agreement details a new maximum commission structure. Google will not be able to charge more than 20% for in-game purchases that offer advantages (such as loot boxes or improvements). For everything else, the maximum commission will be 9%. On the other hand, the developers they win the right to display their own payment systems with Play Billing. Additionally, they will be able to show different (i.e. cheaper) prices if the user chooses the alternative payment. However, the Big Tech will continue to charge your “service fee”– Even if a developer uses its payment platform, Google reserves the right to charge the service fee (the 20% or 9% mentioned). According to media such as The Vergea Google spokesperson clarified that the developer saves the billing fee (cost of processing the payment), but not the service fee. Global impact. Although the court order is limited to the US, this change to the Android operating system will have a global impact. This opens the door for third-party stores—such as the one that Epic announced with Telefónica— can be installed without any friction. Without forgetting that this pact also prohibits Google (for three years) from making payments to manufacturers or operators to pre-install competing stores or to not place them in specific places on the device. What’s coming now. The agreement is not final: it must be approved by the judge. Both parties have a hearing scheduled for this Thursday, November 6, to discuss the proposal. We’ll see how it ends, but it seems that the final agreement will not be very different from this one. Cover image | Composition with images of Sergey Galyonkin for Flickr and Xataka Android In Xataka | Google has put AI summaries where there used to be links to news. And the media is bleeding

What it is, what games you have access to, and how to get more titles

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We are going to tell you everything you need to know about Amazon Luna free for Amazon Prime users. The online store has changed the strategy with its cloud gaming platform, and allows users who have a Prime subscription to access its basic version. Let’s start by briefly reminding you what it is Amazon Moonand then we will tell you which version of the platform you can access and what different versions you have. Then we will tell you how to get more games, and how to start playing and where you can do it from. What is Amazon Luna Amazon Luna is a streaming video game platform. This means that they are games that you will not play locally by installing them on your computer, but rather you will connect through the Internet to the servers of this service to play them remotely. The advantage of this service, which is a competitor to others such as NVIDIA GeForce Now either Xbox Game Pass the thing is you don’t need a powerful computer nor modern for current games, since you don’t have to install anything. When it comes to playing, the operation is as follows. The video games you play They are installed on Amazon serversand you connect to them through this platform. You will need a controller connected to the computer or device you are going to play on, in addition to having a good Internet connection. In addition, Luna has its own controller that also connects directly to the servers, although on the computer you can use a keyboard and mouse. The good thing about the controller is that when it connects to Luna and not to your device, when you press the button it goes directly to the servers of this platform without first going through the device, which makes the response time shorter. Amazon includes Luna within the services of its Prime subscription. This means that If you pay for Amazon Prime you can use Luna and many of the games included. Not all, because you will only have access to those in your basic subscription. You can play Luna on multiple devices. You can do it on any computer with a browser, on Android with its own app, iOS and iPad with a browser, Fire TV devices and some Samsung and LG televisions. The way to use Amazon Luna is simple. You simply enter the file of a game that you like in its catalog and you click on the play button to start it in the browser or device, using the controls you have linked. What games do you have access to? Amazon Luna has two versions, the standard and the premium. Your Prime subscription gives you access to the standard version, which has fewer games. The catalog is limited, although there are some big name gamesfrom popular ones like Fortnite to recent ones like Hogwarts Legacy or the latest Indiana Jones game. You also have access to the GameNight group gameswith which you can play with other people on the same television by sharing a link, and accessing titles with cooperative mode. How to get more games on Luna In addition to the games that are included in the Prime subscription, you can also pay 10 euros per month for the premium subscriptionwhich has a larger catalog of games. You will also be able to link your accounts from other services such as GOG, EA, Electronic Arts or Ubisoft. This will not allow you to play all the games purchased on them, but it will allow you to play some of them. Furthermore, there are also a game storealthough its operation is complex. In some cases you will buy them directly from Luna, but in other cases You buy them through the linked services store. For example, from Luna you can buy a compatible GOG game to play streaming. In these cases, if you buy a game from another platform through the Luna store, you will also buy it on this platform. Come on, then you can also use it independently. Finally, Amazon has long allowed you claim free gamesand this has now somehow been linked to Luna with the web luna.amazon.es/claims. In it, from time to time they offer you free paid games, both for Luna and for third-party stores. In Xataka Basics | Amazon Luna, analysis: Amazon’s cloud play is pure potential. You just need to exploit it

Watching the next two Real Madrid games on Movistar Plus+ costs 9.99 euros per month. Without permanence and whatever operator you are

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Of all the reasons there are to get a streaming platform, its catalog will always be one of the most relevant. They all have movies, series and documentaries, with sport perhaps being one of the most differentiating things right now. Few offer us football and even less, games as important as the next two that Real Madrid is going to play. You can see both on Movistar Plus+: a platform that costs 9.99 euros per month. Monthly subscription to Movistar Plus+ The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The next Real Madrid matches on Movistar Plus+ If we were thinking about giving Movistar Plus+ a chance, now is a great time to do it. Its price is quite attractive, but we must keep in mind that we can hire it, regardless of which operator we are. Besides, It does not have any type of permanenceso we can subscribe, watch these two games and their catalog for a month and, if we are not convinced, unsubscribe. Let’s talk about Real Madrid games. These days we will be able to see two of the matches of Xabi Alonso’s team: one from LaLiga and another from the Champions. The first of them will face Getafe de Bordalás, today at 9:00 p.m. The other one that we can see is a classic in Europe: it is against Juventus at the Bernabéu on October 22, also at 9:00 p.m. Do you want more Madrid games? You will also have the one against Liverpool on November 4 on Movistar Plus+. As we have already anticipated a little above, Movistar Plus+ also has its own catalog of very interesting films and series. We have one of the best examples of this with ‘The Center‘, a series that the platform premiered very recently and which revolves around the National Intelligence Center (or CNI). Of course, we also have other notable releases this month such as ‘Brilliant Minds’ or ‘Mix Tape’, which will arrive on October 25. Beyond sport and its catalog, there are also other things about Movistar Plus+ that we should add. It is a platform that pWe can share with whoever we wantregardless of whether we are not in the same house. In addition, it supports downloading content to view it offline, ideal if we plan to travel. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Movistar Plus+ In Xataka | Movistar Plus+ for non-Movistar customers: what it is, how much it costs, channels, additional services and how to contract it In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price: which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs

MercurySteam was the ambassador of Spanish video games. Until a sales failure turned the offices into hell

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For years, they were a key reference in the history of video games in Spain. MercurySteam achieved something unusual: programming high-budget games from such beloved classic franchises as ‘Castlevania’ and Metroid from its country of origin. Its international expansion ambitions shone from the studio’s first steps, but have been overshadowed in recent years by complaints from former studio employees who denounce a suffocating work environment and a policy of crunches to meet deadlines. We review the history of MercurySteam from its glorious first steps to the latest revelations about its work dynamics, and that says our colleague Blissy in 3DJuegos. Twenty-something years of ambition. MercurySteam was born in 2002 in San Sebastián de los Reyes, formed by several former members of Rebel Act Studios, creators of an absolutely foundational game in the history of Spanish soft music: ‘Blade: The Edge of Darkness‘, precursor of the soulslike very advanced technology for its time. Determined to demonstrate that our country could compete in the international video game league, they started with a couple of modest but notable titles: ‘American McGee presents: Scrapland’ and ‘Clive Barker’s Jericho’. The Castlevania phenomenon. The real turning point for MercurySteam came with ‘Castlevania: Lords of Shadow’ in 2010, a 3D reformulation of the classic Konami franchise that was born as a stand-alone game and was later adapted to fit into the legendary vampire slayer saga. It was produced with the help of Hideo Kojima and for months its affiliation to the saga was hidden so as not to damage sales of other installments in development. After considerable commercial and sales success, the studio completed the trilogy with ‘Mirror of Fate’ (2013) and ‘Lords of Shadow 2’ (2014), establishing itself as a triple-A developer. A parenthesis. After Castlevania, the studio went through a transition phase. In 2017 they released the ambitious ‘Raiders of the Broken Planet’ (later renamed ‘Spacelords’), a shooter cooperative free-to-play with which they entered the model games as a service. The result was a more discreet success than their previous works, and MercurySteam had to consider a new twist in their plans. This would arrive with a twist similar to that of ‘Castlevania’: revitalize a classic franchise. In 2015 it was learned that MercurySteam had been working on a ‘Metroid’ prototype for Wii U and 3DS. It was not a job in vain: it ended up crystallizing in ‘Metroid: Samus Returns’ (2017) for 3DS, a very well-received remake of the classic ‘Metroid II’. This collaboration with Nintendo progressed into a completely original game, the brilliant ‘Metroid Dread‘ (2021), one of the best games in the Switch catalog, and which marked the long-awaited return of the saga to the 2D perspective after almost two decades. Since then, there have been changes in the studio: the Nordisk Games group acquired 40% of the studiowhich allowed the team to continue growing and tackle new projects. And they have even released a new video game this year, ‘Blades of Fire‘, a third-person RPG that was received with indifference by critics and did not meet sales expectations. It was this puncture that started, since January 2025, a series of measures that have turned MercurySteam, according to former employees interviewed by 3DJuegos, into an example of bad professional practices. In fact, the crisis started somewhat earlier: Already in 2020 MercurySteam had problems. Culture contrary to teleworking, offices with conditioning problems (for example, with very little lighting), poor internal communication, chaotic production and uncredited developers. Everything got radically worse in January 2025, when the company implemented the DIJ (Irregular Distribution of the Day) in some departments, allowing one hour of extra work per day (9 hours, maximum 45 per week), justified by “production needs.” In May, the month of the game’s release, several departments saw their working hours increased to 10 hours a day in total, a change that was managed in a highly criticized manner by employees. Among other problems, communication was always verbal, never in writing; Human Resources presented these hours as mandatory; there was constant appeal to the emotional and the “team spirit”; Teleworking and vacations were banned; and names were taken of those who rejected the measures. On May 8, two workers are fired just before the end of their trial period, one for refusing to work overtime (due to his partner’s risky pregnancy) and another for asking for written explanations. It would only be the beginning: after the failure of ‘Blades of Fire’, fires 18 workers in three days. One of them, a worker on mental health leave who suffered harassment from her boss while on leave, is fired when she returns. Although he thought about suing, he ended up withdrawing the lawsuit out of fear after threats from the company. In September, MercurySteam begins a phase of control and censorship of its employees, where all non-work communication channels are eliminated, “random audits” are announced, rest areas are eliminated, common spaces are reduced, and clocking turnstiles are installed in the kitchen. An entire policy of terror that continues until September 29, when makes the complaint public describing all these facts. Apart from a suspicious maneuver (an anonymous statement, supposedly from workers, but none of those interviewed by 3DJuegos know where it comes from), MercurySteam has implemented the 9 hours of the DIJ intermittently and tries to wash its image with job offers that They paint a much more positive atmosphere. But the worst thing is that there is a “sad and overwhelming” atmosphere in the company because, as one of the witnesses says, “the best thing Mercury had was the atmosphere… they are destroying the only good thing about the company.” A sad parenthesis for a company that was a leader in the sector and is going through a major image crisis due to something as essential as not knowing how to manage a crisis. In Xataka | There are authentic Spanish guerrilla studios programming games for NES: ‘Malasombra’ is the latest example

A player has an insane record, 40,000 games purchased on Steam. That there is a badge to reward him is what is disturbing

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Neither collecting neither gambling addiction: This is pure and simple accumulation. But with a clear objective: to obtain the badge that recognizes the possession of no less than 40,000 games in Steam. An achievement that has already been recognized by databases like SteamDB and that undoubtedly leaves anyone breathless who thinks that the store’s seasonal sales get a little out of hand. We are nothing more than insects contemplating a giant. Sonix the Collector. The milestone has been reached by the user Sonix (SonixLegend), who has become the first person to have more than 40,000 games in his library. The badge is “Game Collector: 40,000+” (the highest of this type that can be achieved) and, according to SteamDB, Sonix reached 40,029 games on September 23, 2025. It now has 40,366. In addition, it adds 22,136 DLCs and the thing does not end here, since it maintains a wish list with 26,936 titles. More data? His favorite game is ‘Alien Swarm’, a semi-unknown free-to-play multiplayer shooter from 2010 to which he has dedicated a whopping 551 hours. A paste. Steam estimates the value of the Sonix collection at $250,041 based on the lowest prices available, but the current total cost would exceed $612,072. And since this includes both purchased titles and free games and promo codes, it is impossible to calculate the true value of what has been purchased. Sonix is ​​based in Shanghai, and has been active on Steam for fifteen years. Your profile shows a level of 303, which is equivalent to activity well above average. Other beasts. The Sonix brand is closely followed by other compulsive buyers. Ian Brandon Anderson is close to achieving the coveted badge, with 39,786 games and is closely followed by a third user, ikun, with 36,888. Interestingly, the three largest collectors achieved new records for the number of games purchased on the same day. We don’t know if it specifically means anything, except that Steam continues to be in enviable health, and that this form of compulsive collecting is not an isolated eccentricity of Sonix: at this moment there are almost 20 users with more than 30,000 games, and the top 50 are all above 22,000. Collecting is not what it used to be. Without a doubt, digital collecting has very different nuances than that of accumulators of physical material: the capacity to store digital material, for example, is practically unlimited. And the constant flow of very substantial discounts in stores like Steam itself makes it possible for collections to multiply at a very notable speed. Or put another way: without realizing it, your Steam library has hundreds, perhaps thousands of items? You have to make a very consistent effort to reach those extremes in physical video game collecting. Playing is another story. Of course, playing all these games is impossible, and we enter into issues that have little to do with the enjoyment of what was purchased: reaching the figure of 40,000 games purchased regardless of what they are or, in the case of physical collecting, buying catalogs of consoles that in a high percentage are made up of low quality games, but that must be had due to completism. There are already studies that define this completism as a form of behavior that has little to do with the acquisition of something we like for our enjoyment and, in these cases, talk about addiction It is not completely left out of the equation. Header | Erik Mclean in Unsplash

the five best board games to play with someone in October

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Although we often focus on the cell phones, watches, headphones and other devices When Amazon launches its campaigns, there are also many offers on other topics further away from technology. That is why today we wanted to bring together a series of board games to encourage entertainment during the month of Octoberespecially in the run-up to Halloween. Of course, all games are on sale at the Prime Deal Party. Zombie Burrito by 20.49 eurosa game in which players throw themselves into burritos. Marvel Zombies by 84.69 eurosa game that brings together some of Marvel’s most memorable characters, whether or not they have become zombies. Nightmare before Christmas by 28.89 eurosa game in which we can embody our favorite character from the movie. Zombie Kittens by 14.99 eurosa zombie version of the iconic card game. Alien: the fate of Nostromo by 34.99 eurosa cooperative game in which we must survive the stalking of the xenomorph. Zombie Burrito There are games that offer a more active proposal when it comes to facing other players and here Throw Throw Burrito has a lot to say. Your version Zombie burritowhich on Amazon has a price of 20.49 eurosvaries in mechanics, but always with the goal in mind of using the burritos to compete against other players. The objective is to form teams, collect cards in each round and If it’s time for battle… let’s throw the donkey. This version is completely themed, so we can find variations in its cards with respect to the original game. There are antidote cards, survivor cards, zombie cards and, of course, battle cards. The idea is to form teams between zombies and survivors. It is a game for three to six players in which the fun lies in the card that allows the donkey to be used. They are made of foam and are very soft, but I recommend that you clear the table and, above all, that don’t play next to a television. For what may happen. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Marvel Zombies After the first season of ‘What would happen if…?‘ on Disney+, a game arrived that adapted both one of its episodes and the comics themselves. ‘Marvel Zombies‘ is a series that has just been released, so it is a good time to delve into the board game which now has a price of 84.69 eurosespecially during the month of October and especially on Halloween. Marvel Zombies It is a game that is based on Zombicide and its objective is not exactly to kill zombies, but to kill humans. In this version we have to face both SHIELD and the superheroes who are still human. Yes, we really are the zombies. The more missions and objectives we complete, the more points we will receive. But the more points we have, the more they will try to hunt us down. It is a game for one to six players and some of Marvel’s most iconic characters appear. There are also many expansions, which gives more dynamism to each game if we decide to opt for them. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Nightmare before Christmas Whether it’s Halloween or Christmas, it’s always good to see ‘Nightmare before Christmas‘. The film directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton has its own board game and now has a price on Amazon of 28.89 euros. It is a game with games for two to six players in which we must take charge of our favorite character. Each of them has their own deck of cards and the goal is to get all the party tokens we can. Nightmare before Christmas The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Zombie Kittens Exploding Kittens It has so many editions that it is difficult to keep track of them. And how could it be otherwise, it also has a zombie version for 14.99 euros. Zombie Kittens It leads us to play games in which if we get the Exploding Kitten card, we die, but we don’t lose. We can rise from the dead with the Zombie Kitten card to take revenge. The last player left alive wins, but it is not easy at all. It includes many action cards, games can be played with two to five players and can be enjoyed with or without other expansions. Exploding Kittens | Zombie Kittens | Card Game for Cat and Explosion Lovers| From 7 Years | From 2 to 5 Players | 15 Minutes per Game | Spanish The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Alien: the fate of Nostromo Alien is such a long-running saga that it is not surprising that it has its own board game. Under the name of Alien: the fate of the Nostromothis game that has a price of 34.99 euros takes us on a tour of the iconic ship of ‘Alien, the eighth passenger‘, the first film released in 1979. It is a cooperative strategy game in which we must solve missions, collect objects and make tools to survive while avoiding the xenomorph. Each game can be played by one to five players. Alien: the fate of Nostromo The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Exploding Kittens, CMON, Mixlore, Ravensburger In Xataka | The 41 Best Board Games: From ‘Catan’ to ‘Gloomhaven’ In Xataka | These are the board games that are never missing in my suitcase when I go on vacation with my partner

Play board games

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Ask any devotee of the games in their many forms (table, of role …) If the circumstances in which it is played are important, and will surely tell you Que not. The company matters, comfort imports, but once that is resolved, the worlds to which the players move with their imagination are the ones that matter and in which hours and hours will spend. But … what if the environment where you are also given as much importance as to mount Cruises around the games? What is a playful cruise. A Thematic holiday experience that combines a traditional cruise trip with an intense programming of activities dedicated to board games, role, wargames and geek culture in general. Unlike a simple event aboard a conventional cruise, the ship becomes a large floating convention where travelers play, compete and even attend talks and workshops, and participate in parties and thematic activities. How it started. Cruises of this type have their origin in the United States, with pioneer events such as the Tower Cruise says and the Congress of Gamerswhich since the mid -2010 popularized this new way to enjoy the games. From there, the phenomenon began to expand regionally with local versions. In Latin America, Brazil had its KRIATIVES ON BOARDwhich in its third edition in April 2025 congregated more than 400 participants, with the presence of international designers. How could it be otherwise, this Brazilian variant brought to the extreme the mixture of recreational days with more conventional costume parties and celebrations. At European level, the proposals have also been multiplied: Boardgame Cruise Island Tourfor example, he was born in the United Kingdom, but has already been organized as a franchise in countries such as Iceland, Germany or the Netherlands. Find your cruise. No amateur typology runs out of their corresponding cruise, because these proposals are diversified in a very funny way, although the most common are the “generalists”: gigantic floating playbins with hundreds of titles of all kinds. This is the case of those mentioned, says Tower Cruise or Boardgame Cruise, but also of Bgg@be either Meeples at itmeeting place for families and groups of fans who also seek a more traditional cruise experience. But from there the thing diversifies: there are cruises specialized in Wargames and miniatures, oriented to a more specific audience, such as ‘Warhammer40k’ fans and other miniature games. Also, of course, there are For role playerswhere live games are organized, continuous narrative campaigns and role -playing talks. The variations are infinite: Comic with The Cruise, Gacuon (with a cosplay accent) and Saltcon Cruise (for board games) are other possibilities. The analog returns. The reason for the proliferation of these cruise ships is clear, and connects with the proliferation of conventions as the recent Comic-with Malaga: fans increasingly value the social component of their hobbies, and therefore Hobbies like cosplay They become forms of collective expression. Cruises are only another way of socializing, and organizers They are very attentive to the tastes that are shaping pop culture. Where there are fans, there are money, and cruise companies are perfectly aware. Header | Photos of Fox & Hyde in Unspash – Peter Hansen in Unspash In Xataka | “Lobster plague”: in the crusade of European cities against cruise ships, Cannes is now the spearhead

The tremendous hole that the Olympic Games have left to Paris

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When they ended The Olympics of Paris last year there was something that did not end: the National Debateextensible to many other games in other planet enclaves, about its true legacy. For critics with the event, the Supreme Audit Institution of France has just given them all the world’s gasoline, one in the form of a devastating economic report. The real weight of the games. As we said, the Courtes Cours has reviewed Uploaded the public cost of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, encrypting the contribution of the State and the territorial collectivities In 6,650 million eurosthat is, about 700 million more than expected in June. In its report presented to Parliament, the Rue Cambon institution details that the updated figures include both the expenditure on the organization, that amounted to 3,020 million (With a very high weight of security), such as infrastructure destined, which reached 3,630 million, first incorporating the disbursements of local authorities and works to guarantee the use of SENA, estimated at 331 million. In spite of certain cost overrun surplus of 75.7 millionwhich avoided resorting to the state guarantee. Comparison with other editions. The Cour holds that Paris games were almost Twice less Regarding costs for public coffers that, for example, those of London 2012, although it alerts on the security chapter, whose infrapreting was remarkable: compared to the 200 million calculated in the candidacy dose, the real expense amounted to 1,440 million. This deviation, far superior to that provided for in the 2024 Finance Law, constitutes the main reason for concern indicated by the magistrates. “Modest” impact. He Report Introduce This time an evaluation of the public income associated with the event, which total 293.6 million euros coming from fiscal collection, the special transportation of transport and advertising sales of France Télévisions. However, these figures must be corrected by Fiscal exemptions (57 million, as in the case of Omega sponsor) and for the so -called “eviction” effect on sectors such as tourism. Cour concludes that the impact on the economy was limited: just 0.07 % of GDP In 2024, compared to 0.25 % estimated by INSE for the third quarter of that year. Beyond the short term, it insists that it is premature to assess the effects in the medium and long term. Debate and criticism. Le Monde told that the Methodology of the Cour has generated friction with the Olympic responsible. The Cojop reproaches that The report It has included expenses that do not consider directly linked to games, such as subway prolongations, burial of electric lines or cost overruns of the renewal of the Grand Palais, as well as the construction of schools. Also questions that they were not taken into account The amortization nor the proportionality in the use of shared infrastructure. According to Tony Estuet, president of the Organizing Committee, the real public cost did not exceed 2.5 billionso he denounces problems of rigor and a systematic bias against the project. The debate about the legacy. One of the central points of the controversy is the tangible inheritance of Paris 2024. While the Government defends that investment in transport, housing and the Decontamination of SENA They represent lasting improvements, social groups denounce phenomena of gentrification, eviction and a “social makeup” that benefits the international image of France more than its most vulnerable citizens. The Cour too He raised doubts on the true capacity of these investments to transform urban life in the Parisian region. A historical ballast. The debate on Paris 2024 is inserted in a long tradition of games that end up being financial watchmaking bombs For host cities. From Montreal 1976, which took three decades to pay A monumental debtuntil Athens 2004, often cited as one of the factors that They worsened the crisis Greek financial, Olympic venues have experienced chronic cost overruns. The reason? The committees They usually inflate calculations Return of investment in the candidacy phase, presenting optimistic projections that rarely materialize. The case of London 2012 showed that even when the games are presented as “reasonable”, the budget weight It ends up duplicating The initial forecasts. The COI crisis. Plus: The International Olympic Committee has been going through a Crisis of legitimacy and headquarters. Less and fewer cities are willing to assume the associated financial and political risks: Los Angeles 2028 was awarded without competition After the withdrawal of other candidacies, and the last winter edition in Beijing 2022 had to be held In artificial facilities In full desert, an example of the anomalies facing the organization. Cortina-Milán 2026 too It has been questioned by APPROVESlogistics improvisations and political tensions between regions and central government. In this context, Paris 2024 reflects both the symbolic greatness and the structural fragility of an increasingly difficult Olympic model to sustain. Success with doubts. If you want, immediately, Paris 2024 has been considered an organizational and sports triumph, projecting that image of France as a country capable of hosting a global first -order event. In fact, both Cour and Cojop They have seen In Paris’s experience, a model to consider the Olympic Games of Winter of 2030 In the French Alps, to which They will be allocated Six of your seven recommendations. However, the debate about its true financial and social legacy is far from closing. French experience feedsIn addition, an argument that crosses borders about the future of games: if they will continue to be an aspiration for cities or simply a risk that most will prefer to avoid. Image | Public domain, WHOISJOHNGALT In Xataka | The Paris Games should be those of the Olympic Break Dance premiere. They ended up being the “kangaroo dance” In Xataka | Winning a gold in countries like South Korea is better than the lottery. There are athletes who don’t have to think about money anymore

Saudi Arabia is not buying EA for video games. He is buying cultural influence in hundreds of millions of homes

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An Arab sovereign background has just closed the greatest leverage purchase operation in history: 55,000 million dollars per electronic arts. Paying a 25% premium (in the normal fork), apparently without haggling (definitely abnormal). Closing the operation in record time. And nobody lifts an eyebrow. Because it is supposed to be “only video games.” But they are not “only video games”: It is the FC 26 Entering every week in the living room of 150 million homes, especially for its younger members. Is THE SIMS Teaching what a family, a career, an aspirational life is. Is Madden Nfl and Battlefield occupying Sunday afternoons and the nights during the Week of Medio Planet. Saudi Arabia has not bought a study but a more powerful cultural distribution channel than any television networkquieter than any advertising campaign, more effective than any Hollywood study. Let’s think about the concrete: In EA Sports FC, every year it is decided which goals to include, what flags appear in the stadiums, what social messages are integrated into the game, what role is granted to women’s football, what attire the fans carry. In the PREMs, it is defined what kind of relationships are possible and which are not, what professional careers are glamorized and which ones lose value, what constitutes “success” in simulated life. In Battlefield, it is chosen what historical conflicts represent, how it is portrayed to the Middle East, what factions are “the good”. These are not technical details. They are editorial decisions that mold the worldview of millions of players They spend hundreds of hours a year in these worlds. And when a company stops quoting in the stock market, those decisions are no longer publicly justified: There are no shareholders asking why certain flags of certain markets were eliminated. Do not explain why references to alcohol, to the game, to sex or certain lifestyles disappear in subsequent updates. There are no analysts questioning why certain conflicts are represented in a certain way. There are no quarterly reports that explain narrative changes. Only gradual, imperceptible adjustments, which normalize certain visions of the world. The Saudi fund has not gone for studies indie experimental or for niche games with political messages. Has gone for the more franchises mainstreamsafe and massive on the planet. The least questionable possible. He Soft Power more invisible that exists: entertainment so normalized that nobody wonders who is behind. He simply plays. And then there is the detail that goes unnoticed: they pay 25% premium on the closing price without blinking. They close in a few months when operations thus usually lengthened years. A traditional investment fund would have dribble each percentage point. I would have asked for more DUE Diligence. He would have negotiated to the last dollar. The Saudi PIF pays the premium and accelerates the closure. Because When your goal is not to maximize the return of the invested but maximize strategic influence, speed matters more than the price. Close before someone realizes what you are really buying. Microsoft has been consolidating the purchase of Blizzard Activision for two years. This goes quickly. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son -in -law, is in this operation, according to the Financial Timesand not by chance. Its background, Affinity Partners, He received 2,000 million from the Saudi Pif after leaving the White House. Now returns the favor: its presence converts a foreign purchase into an operation “led by Americans”, which reduces the scrutiny of the Foreign Investment Committee (CFIUS). While he appears as a consortium architect, the White House will see partners and not threats. It can be replicated that this is only economic diversification, petrodollars looking for return in entertainment. If so, why not buy Netflix, Disney or Spotify? Why specifically the sector where you can shake what millions of teenagers do for thousands of hours a year without appearing propaganda? The amazing thing is not that this happens. Soccer has accustomed us to Saudi laundering. The hallucinating thing is that almost nobody questions it. The best way to exercise power and influence is that it simply seems fun. LOOT Boxes And seasonal passes while nobody wonders who decides what to normalize in those worlds. And when you take out a stock market company (what will happen with EA), you eliminate the quarterly transparency obligation, you no longer have to account for western scrutiny shareholders and you can make subtle adjustments that no one will detect until it is too late. Nothing scandalous. Only small changes in narratives, representations, progression systems that, multiplied by 500 million players for years, move entire cultural needles. That is the perfect conquest. In Xataka | This game has been scheduled by only one person, and there is already talk of him as one of the great Shooters of the year Outstanding image | Xataka

Free PS4 and PS5 games in October 2025 for PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium

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Let’s tell you what are The games that Sony will give you without additional cost in October 2025 If you have subscription to PlayStation Plus. These are 3 new titles that will be available From October For all subscribers of any of the versions of this service, and those that you can play when you want without additional cost while maintaining your subscription. PlayStation 5 It is retrocompatible with the PS4, which means that you can play in it all the games of the previous generation. In the list of games we will put you Games with official prices of the official Sony website, which can sometimes be different from those that you will find in the stores, but that serve as a reference to see the value of the games you get. Free games for PS4 and PS5 Alan Wake 2 (PS5), valued at 59.99 euros. The second part of this magnificent game in which you will have to solve a series of murders, exploring two worlds with two different characters. You have the analysis in Lifextraand the file in 3DJUGOS. Cocoon (PS4, PS5), valued at 24.99 euros. Another game of mysteries, in this case cosmic mysteries solving various puzzles. A great title of the mind that brought us limbo or inside. You have the analysis in Lifextraand the file in 3DJUGOS. Goat Simulator 3 (PS4, PS5), valued at 29.99 euros. Third part of this authentic madness with which you can go with the goat in the most literal way. A realistic sandbox where you can do all kinds of adventures. You have the file in 3DJUGOS. In Xataka Basics | How to format and restore your PlayStation 5 to your factory values

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