Monster Hunter Wilds sells 10m units in first month | News-in-briefFastest-selling title in Capcom's history previously passed eight million units three days after launchImage credit: Capcom News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on March 31, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Monster Hunter Wilds sells 10m units in first month

Half of Myst developer Cyan Worlds laid off12 employees have been affected, decision due to firm "weigh[ing] the future health of our studio against the month-to-month realities of game development"Image credit: Cyan Worlds News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on March 31, 2025 Myst developer Cyan Worlds has announced the decision to lay off half of its team.In a statement shared on social media, the Spokane-based developer said the news "was not a surprise to the team," with 12 employees being made redundant as a result of current industry conditions."Industry conditions have forced us into a tricky spot where we are having to weigh the future health of our studio against the month-to-month realities of game development in 2025," the studio said."Throughout the past year, we have been ultra-transparent with the entire Cyan team about the choppy waters we find ourselves in, as well as the dangers ahead. While the news of a layoff was not a surprise to the team, it was (and still is) deeply saddening for all of us."It added: "For now, our number one priority is to secure funding for our next project, and to restabalise the studio. We've been around for a very long time, and have been through tough times before."Cyan Worlds has provided a list of impacted employees, who have consented to have their contact details shared for new opportunities which can be found here.The developer clarified that the layoffs will "not affect or change the timing or delivery of any remaining rewards" relating to its ongoing Kickstarter campaign, which is supporting development of its upcoming title Firmament.

Chris Kerr, News EditorMarch 31, 20252 Min ReadImage via AmazeAmaze founder and artistic director Thorsten S. Wiedemann is temporarily stepping down after violating the event's safe space policy and code of conduct.In a statement posted on the Amaze website, Wiedemann admitted to behaving unprofessionally at Amaze Sheffield in August 2024 by making offensive comments towards members of the production team and engaging in "non sexual-harassment under the influence of alcohol.""Reflecting on my actions, I recognize that I acted inappropriately and will take full responsibility," said Wiedemann. "I yelled at the production and organizing team when the party was shut down, which was completely disrespectful. I was verbally offensive towards a participating DJ and their music, which was uncalled for. I invaded others' personal space, which was inconsiderate and out of line."I deeply regret my behavior throughout the event and understand how it negatively impacted others. This was entirely wrong, and I am committed to learning from this experience to ensure it never happens again and try to repair what got broken."Wiedemann has vacated his position less than two months before Amaze Berlin is scheduled to begin on May 14, 2025.He will be stepping back from all public roles on a temporary basis while he begins therapy to address the "root causes" of his behavior. It's unclear when Wiedemann will return to the fold or in what capacity.Related:Amaze was established over a decade ago to shine a spotlight on arthouse games and other forms of playful media.As noted in the Amaze code of conduct, event organizers say they are "dedicated to providing a harassment-free social experience for everyone. They have also apologized for Wiedemann's "unacceptable" behavior."Our apologies go to all members of the Sheffield production, the performers, DJs, artists, venue workers and visitors who were affected by this. We wish to thank the people who came forward with this information to the A MAZE. / Berlin team and trust us with their concerns," they wrote.A raft of immediate and long-term changes will be implemented in response to Wiedemann's actions, including an organizational restructure designed to decentralize the decision-making process and efforts to make the code of conduct more visible.An updated emergency response structure will also be ushered in to provide a "clearer formal protocol and team structure to respond swiftly to any future incidents."About the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Myst developer Cyan Worlds has laid off half of its workforceMyst developer Cyan Worlds has laid off half of its workforce'Our sincere hope is to continue to be around.'Chris Kerr, News EditorMarch 31, 20251 Min ReadImage via Cyan WorldsMyst and Riven developer Cyan Worlds has laid off 12 employees after struggling to navigate "choppy waters."The studio shared the news on social media and explained the layoffs have impacted roughly half of its team."Industry conditions have forced us into a tricky spot where we are having to weigh the future of our studio against the month-to-month realities of game development in 2025," reads a statement posted by Cyan leadership."Throughout the past year, we have been ultra-transparent with the entire Cyan team about the choppy waters we find ourselves in, as well as the dangers ahead. While the news of a layoff was not a surprise to the team, it was (and is) deeply saddening for all of us."Cyan said it has tried to "pad the landing" for those impacted by offering severance packages but implored other studios with vacancies to consider hiring its former employees.The studio is now focused on securing financing for its next project."We've been around for a very long time and have been through tough times before. Our sincere hope is to continue to be around, and to provide the types of experiences that only Cyan can deliver."Read more about:LayoffsTop StoriesAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created a system for private aircraft owners to request that their registration information including their name and address be kept private. That may impact celebrity private jet trackers, which have used FAA registration information to identify jets belonging to the likes of Elon Musk and Taylor Swift.The new FAA system was mandated by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which gave the organization two years to establish a procedure for aircraft owners and operators to request that any personally identifiable information be made private. The FAA says its also evaluating whether to go one step further and default to keeping such information private. The act became law in May 2024 under the Biden administration.The change will likely make it more difficult to operate celebrity jet trackers, which use FAA registration information to identify private jets owned by celebrities so that their flightpaths can be tracked. Accounts monitoring jet use by Musk, Swift, Mark Zuckerberg, Kim Kardashian, and more have gone viral in the past, though have seen bans on platforms owned by Musk and Zuck. In 2023 Taylor Swift sent a cease-and-desist letter to Jack Sweeney, who operates a number of popular jet trackers.

One of Sonys best-ever PlayStation ads is a 21-second video titled, Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video. Its a step-by-step guide about how to lend your PS4 games to your friends. It has one step: one person hands another person a game box.The ad succinctly clowns on Microsofts original and convoluted game sharing policy for the Xbox One, which let users ditch discs in exchange for daily DRM checks. The idea was so hated that Microsoft walked it back just over a week after the release of Sonys ad and months before the console came out. The lesson was simple dont mess with peoples discs.But more than a decade later, its not hard to imagine a future where Sonys own ad doesnt apply anymore. Physical game sales in 2024 were less than half what they were as recently as 2021, and the market has been in decline since 2008, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella tells The Verge. There has been a long trend of declining sales in physical games, Piscatella says. And now theres declining distribution with retailers pulling back space, with companies making fewer physical games overall, and with the entire shift towards digital distribution.The writing has been on the wall since 2020, when Microsoft and Sony introduced their (at the time) next-generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles with versions that didnt have a place to put your discs. Ultimately, they were responding to the emerging trend of people buying fewer physical games for consoles. Can you even remember the last time you bought a physical game for PC?The primary reason for the shift to digital is because of connectivity: about 99 percent of consoles are connected to the internet, Piscatella says. (Players werent quite as online a decade ago.) And once people got used to digital, more and more often people would choose convenience over the practical positives of physical.Just look at this graph from Piscatella showing plummeting physical sales. The outlook is grim.Microsoft hasnt been particularly secretive about its interest in a heavily digital future. The latest Xbox generation launched with the all-digital Series S, and it added an all-digital Series X option last year. Microsofts This is an Xbox campaign positions basically every device with a screen as a potential console. The companys Xbox Game Pass subscription is essentially a rental service for digital titles. And physical editions of Avowed, one of Microsofts biggest Xbox games of the year, only have a code for the game in the box.Of course, Microsoft is best known as a software company, so perhaps its not too surprising that it might want to bank its video game future entirely on digital games. And while I still think it will be a shame if the next Halo isnt available on a disc, it doesnt seem unreasonable to expect that Xbox could drop discs entirely by the end of the decade.Sony will probably take a little bit longer to make the all-digital jump. The company is certainly signaling it wants to move in that direction, perhaps most strongly by shipping the premium $699 PS5 Pro without a disc drive. But it continues to sell drives separately for the Pro and for the slim PS5. And the company would simply face pushback on a different scale than Microsoft: there are far more PS4s and PS5s out there than Xboxes, and that means a lot more people who have bought a lot more physical games who may want ways to play them for the foreseeable future. Piscatella also points out that some major mass-market games like EA Sports College Football and Call of Duty have a pretty big physical presence that console makers may not want to jeopardize.Nintendo is where we see the argument for physical games though maybe not discs sticking around. The just-announced Switch 2 has a cartridge slot and is backward-compatible with Switch 1 games. The consoles first generation lasted from 2017 until sometime this year, so if the Switch 2s lifecycle also lasts eight years, physical media will be relevant for Nintendo well into the 2030s.The company may have reason to stick with cartridges for even longer. Piscatella says that Nintendo platforms are still heavier physical than other platforms because its audience, especially families, expects the format; its a lot easier for kids in a family to share a game when they can just pass the cart to each other, as Sony adeptly showed in its ad. That advantage wont last forever, though. Just last week, Nintendo announced a virtual game card lending system that lets family members share digital games.Consumers on PlayStation and Xbox are speaking with their dollarsIts yet another sign that physical media is waning, even in its strongholds. At this point, the consumers on PlayStation and Xbox are speaking with their dollars that digital-first is a fine way to go, Piscatella says.Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox did not respond to requests for comment on their future plans for physical media.While physical media sales are on the decline, New York University games professor Joost van Dreunen points out that the sales of physical video game accessories have been skyrocketing. The PC games market may be mostly digital on Steam, but sales of things like custom controllers, screens, chairs, and headphones are a huge category, he says.He believes that accessories and what he calls the personalization of the physical experience of games and interactivity will grow, which we can see manifested all the way to theme parks. (van Dreunen points out that Nintendo is particularly good at this: think Amiibo, the Alarmo clock, and theme parks filled with Nintendo goodies.)Both van Dreunen and Piscatella ultimately made the comparison of video games to vinyl records, which is kind of like on the extreme niche, but doing ok, Piscatella says. Theres a key difference between vinyl and video games, of course with a vinyl record, you can play it on a turntable, but a physical cart of Super Mario Odyssey can only slot into a Nintendo Switch. Its more about the enthusiast crowd focusing on physical media.Maybe that will be enough to keep physical formats around into the future. But the next time Sony makes a guide on how to share PlayStation games, I doubt it will be a crisp 21 seconds.See More:

LLMs have shown impressive capabilities in reasoning tasks like Chain-of-Thought (CoT), enhancing accuracy and interpretability in complex problem-solving. While researchers are extending these capabilities to multi-modal domains, videos present unique challenges due to their temporal dimension. Unlike static images, videos require understanding dynamic interactions over time. Current visual CoT methods excel with static inputs but struggle with video content because they cannot explicitly localize or revisit specific moments in sequences. Humans overcome these challenges by breaking down complex problems, identifying and revisiting key moments, and synthesizing observations into coherent answers. This approach highlights the need for AI systems to manage multiple reasoning abilities.Recent video understanding advances have improved tasks like captioning and question answering, but models often lack visual-grounded correspondence and interpretability, especially for long-form videos. Video Temporal Grounding addresses this by requiring precise localization. Large Multimodal Models trained with supervised instruction-tuning struggle with complex reasoning tasks. Two major approaches have emerged to address these limitations: agent-based interfaces and pure text-based reasoning paradigms exemplified by CoT processes. Moreover, Inference-time searching techniques are valuable in domains like robotics, games, and navigation by allowing models to iteratively refine outputs without changing underlying weights.Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Show Lab, National University of Singapore, have proposed VideoMind, a video-language agent designed for temporal-grounded video understanding. VideoMind introduces two key innovations to address the challenges of video reasoning. First, it identifies essential capabilities for video temporal reasoning and implements a role-based agentic workflow with specialized components: a planner, a grounder, a verifier, and an answerer. Second, it proposes a Chain-of-LoRA strategy that enables seamless role-switching through lightweight LoRA adaptors, avoiding the overhead of multiple models while balancing efficiency and flexibility. Experiments across 14 public benchmarks show state-of-the-art performance in diverse video understanding tasks.VideoMind builds upon the Qwen2-VL, combining an LLM backbone with a ViT-based visual encoder capable of handling dynamic resolution inputs. Its core innovation is its Chain-of-LoRA strategy, which dynamically activates role-specific LoRA adapters during inference via self-calling. Moreover, it contains four specialized components: (a) Planner, which coordinates all other roles and determines which function to call next based on query, (b) Grounder, which localizes relevant moments by identifying start and end timestamps based on text queries (c) Verifier, which provides binary (Yes/No) responses to validate temporal intervals and (d) Answerer, which generates responses based on either cropped video segments identified by the Grounder or the entire video when direct answering is more appropriate.In grounding metrics, VideoMinds lightweight 2B model outperforms most compared models, including InternVL2-78B and Claude-3.5-Sonnet, with only GPT-4o showing superior results. However, the 7B version of VideoMind surpasses even GPT-4o, achieving competitive overall performance. On the NExT-GQA benchmark, the 2B model matches state-of-the-art 7B models across both agent-based and end-to-end approaches, comparing favorably with text-rich, agent-based solutions like LLoVi, LangRepo, and SeViLA. VideoMind shows exceptional zero-shot capabilities, outperforming all LLM-based temporal grounding methods and achieving competitive results compared to fine-tuned temporal grounding experts. Moreover, VideoMind excels in general video QA tasks across Video-MME (Long), MLVU, and LVBench, showing effective localization of cue segments before answering questions.In this paper, researchers introduced VideoMind, a significant advancement in temporal grounded video reasoning. It addresses the complex challenges of video understanding through agentic workflow, combining a Planner, Grounder, Verifier, Answerer, and an efficient Chain-of-LoRA strategy for role-switching. Experiments across three key domains, grounded video question-answering, video temporal grounding, and general video question-answering, confirm VideoMinds effectiveness for long-form video reasoning tasks where it provides precise, evidence-based answers. This work establishes a foundation for future developments in multimodal video agents and reasoning capabilities, opening new pathways for more complex video understanding systems.Check outthe Paper and Project Page.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our85k+ ML SubReddit. Sajjad AnsariSajjad Ansari is a final year undergraduate from IIT Kharagpur. As a Tech enthusiast, he delves into the practical applications of AI with a focus on understanding the impact of AI technologies and their real-world implications. He aims to articulate complex AI concepts in a clear and accessible manner.Sajjad Ansarihttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/PilotANN: A Hybrid CPU-GPU System For Graph-based ANNSSajjad Ansarihttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/This AI Paper Propose the UI-R1 Framework that Extends Rule-based Reinforcement Learning to GUI Action Prediction TasksSajjad Ansarihttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/TokenBridge: Bridging The Gap Between Continuous and Discrete Token Representations In Visual GenerationSajjad Ansarihttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sajjadansari/TokenSet: A Dynamic Set-Based Framework for Semantic-Aware Visual Representation

German startup Isar Aerospace launched its Spectrum rocket from Andya Spaceport in Norway today, marking the first-ever vertical orbital rocket launch in Western Europe.Spectrum blasted off at 12:30 PM CEST (11:30 BST) but lost control at about 25 seconds into the flight. A video from the launch shows the rocket wobble, pitch over, and then plummet back to the ground, where it collided with the ocean, causing a large explosion. The launchpad remains intact and no one was injured, Isar said.Despite a quick and abrupt end to Spectrums inaugural flight, Isars CEO and co-founder Daniel Metzler hailed the launch as a great success.Check It OutWe had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight,and even got to validate our flight termination system, Metzler said. With this result, we feel confident to approach our second flight.Spectrums first flight carried no payload. Isar Aerospace said the aim of the launch was to collect as much data and experience as possible.The 28-meter(91-foot) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to propel small and medium-sized satellites into orbit.The company expects to produce as many as 40 rockets per year from its new factory, which is currently under construction outside its headquarters in Munich. Spectrum launch vehicles 2 and 3 are already in production, Isar said.Spectrums inaugural flight marks the first-ever vertical orbital rocket launch in continental Europe outside Russia. Virgin Orbit attempted an orbital launch from the UK in 2023, butthe plan failed. Europes other rockets, Ariane 6 and Vega C, launch from Europes main spaceport in French Guiana, South America.Isar Aerospace is the first private space company to use Andya Spaceport, which officially openedin 2023. The spaceport, located close to the Arctic Circle, offers easy access to polar and sun-synchronous orbits ideal for Earth observationand spy satellites.Isar Aerospace signed a deal in February with the Norwegian Space Agency to launch its Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) program satellites until 2028. The company looks to launch up to 15 missions per year from Andya, at a cost of around 10mn per flight.Opening up orbital launches from Western Europe promises to simplify logistics for European satellite operators by eliminating the need to ship payloads overseas. Access to smaller, cheaper launch vehicles that can place a single satellite in orbit could also offer a more flexible, fast, and precise alternative to ride-sharing.Then there are the geopolitical considerations. Launching from continental Europe would reduce reliance on foreign launch providers like SpaceX, enhancing sovereign access to space amid growing geopolitical tensions.Metzler touched on that point in a statement last week: In todays geopolitical climate, our first test flight is about much more than a rocket launch.Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Technical University Munich, Isar Aerospace has secured 400mn to date, making it Europes most well-funded private space company.While Andya is Europes first continental spaceport, others are underway, the most advanced being the SaxaVord spaceport in the Shetland Islands off Scotland.Rocket Factory Augsburg, a rival to Isar, was meant to launch from the site last year. However, the startup suffered a major setback after its rocket exploded during a static-fire test, pushing back its inaugural flight to later this year. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Apple has been fined $162M by Frances competition regulator for the way App Tracking Transparency is implemented, stating that this is an abuse of the companys powers.This bizarre ruling follows a complaint by a group of trade associations representing advertisers who are no longer able to access user data to serve personalized ads App Tracking TransparencyApple offers a way for advertisers to track the apps we use in order to target personalized advertising. Personalized ads are far more valuable than generic ads, so developers who offer ad-supported apps will make more ad revenue if they collect this user data.Back in 2021, Apple started requiring apps to ask user permission to collect this data through a new feature called App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Apps must now display a popup asking to allow tracking, and unsurprisingly a lot of people say no.Advertisers and developers complainedBoth advertisers and developers of free ad-funded apps complained loudly at the impact of ATT, as it was estimated that it would cost social media companies alone tens of billions of dollars.Complaints were made in a number of countries some arguing that it was unfair because Apple exempts its own apps (which are in reality subject to even tighter controls), others saying the loss of revenue forced developers to raise prices to compensate.It appeared last month that a complaint by advertisers in France was likely to be upheld, and Bloomberg reports that this has indeed turned out to be the case.Frances antitrust regulator fined Apple 150 million ($162 million) after a lengthy probe into how the technology company asks to collect iOS users data and the impact on advertisers.The reason? The popup was apparently too complicated.The Autorit de la Concurrence said on Monday [that] forcing these apps to display multiple pop-ups [was] making their use excessively complex []The regulator said that Apples ATT framework was neither necessary nor proportionate in a text of its decision. It said the framework in itself was not problematic, however, the way it was implemented is abusive within the meaning of competition law.9to5Macs TakeAlthough expected, the decision is still inexplicable. ATT involves precisely one popup asking a simple yes/no question. Additionally, Apple lets users switch on a toggle (shown above) to block apps from even asking the question.Its especially odd given that ATT is a privacy feature, and Europe has the strongest privacy laws in the world. The EU has also previously vindicated Apples introduction of ATT.Whats more, the regulator hasnt even stated what action it would like Apple to take!Apple said it is disappointed with the decision and that the regulator hasnt asked for specific changes to the ATT framework, in an emailed statement.The relatively substantial fine risks putting France into conflict with the US, after Trump described fines by European regulators as overseas extortion.Highlighted accessoriesImage: 9to5Mac collage of images from Apple and Pawel CzerwinskionUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

A new report says that SpaceX is trying to block Apples expansion plans for iPhone satellite messaging by pressuring the FCC to intervene. Elon Musks close relationship with both the White House and the FCC chair could give SpaceX a substantial advantage in an ongoing battle between the two companies for radio spectrum Apples satellite messaging servicesApples Emergency SOS via satellite service first launched for the iPhone 14 back in 2022, and is now a standard feature in subsequent iPhones. It enables messages to be sent to 911 in parts of the country where no mobile coverage is available.The service has been credited with saving lives on multiple occasions since it launched.iPhone satellite comms has twice had functionality boosted since then. In 2023, roadside assistance was added for those experiencing car trouble in remote areas. The following year, Apple added Messages via satellite, to let iPhone users contact family and friends when no mobile service is available this can be especially valuable when natural disasters like severe storms take out mobile masts.Apples satellite connectivity is provided through a partnership with Globalstar, and Apple last year provided the company with more than a billion dollars to expand the service.SpaceX trying to block expansionAs usage increases, Apple needs more bandwidth for the service, and Globalstar applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to use more radio frequencies.The Wall Street Journal reports that SpaceX has asked the FCC to delay this because it is competing for use of the same frequencies for its Starlink satellite broadband service.Apple is clashing with Elon Musk in its push to eliminate cellphone dead spots with satellite technology []To build capacity, the companies are competing for valuable spectrum rightsairwaves to carry their signalswhich are in limited supply. Apples outer-space investments have drawn Musks ire, people familiar with the matter said. SpaceX has pushed federal regulators to stall an Apple-funded satellite expansion effort []SpaceX recently asked the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss a Globalstar application seeking permission to use certain spectrum for the new network of Apple-financed satellites, documents show. It called the airwaves it uses to carry Apple users emergency signals an underused resource.The two companies have had discussions about giving iPhones direct access to Starlink connectivity, but so far Apple has stuck with Globalstar though it has allowed access to T-Mobiles satellite cellphone service, which uses Starlink.Musks close relationships concernApple will likely be worried about Musks close relationship with Trump, including his own office in the White House, with the potential that creates for influencing federal regulators like the FCC.In this case, however, there is even more cause for concern. Trump appointed a new FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, who is a close ally of Musk and has in the past attacked the agency for not giving SpaceX what it wanted.Additionally, Globalstar relies on SpaceX to launch its satellites, giving Musk another potential weapon.Highlighted accessoriesPhoto: NASAAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel