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Take a guessCourt documents reveal just how much more expensive Call of Duty games are to make compared to even PlayStation's biggest exclusivesIt's fair to say that everyone knows Call of Duty games cost a lot of money to make, but I don't think most of us could guess just how much money is spent on developing each title. News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Of the many high-budget games that get released every year, Call of Duty titles remain among the most mysterious in terms of what goes into their production. While Take-Two and Sony Interactive Entertainment may drop some budget figures here and there about their top-selling, most lucrative franchises, Activision never brings up the topic.The annualised shooter, it turns out, is a lot more expensive to develop than many of the games we usually think of when we think expensive video game, and we now have, for the first time, an idea of just how much money it took to develop a few of the most recent Call of Duty games.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As revealed in Stephen Totilos Game File newsletter, Activision recently disclosed some figures about the budgets, as well as sales, of a couple of its most recent Call of Duty titles. The details were part of court filings made by the publisher in a case filed against it regarding a 2022 elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.In the documents, Call of Duty creative boss Patrick Kelly revealed that the budgets for Call of Duty games released between 2015 and 2020 reached upwards of $700 million per title. More specifically, the executive said that 2015s Black Ops 3 cost over $450 million to develop, and took three years to make. The game ended up selling 43 million copies.The 2019 Modern Warfare reboot was also cited as having sold 41 million units on a budget of more than $640 million. Finally, 2020s Black Ops Cold War was the most expensive, costing Activision over $700 million and selling the least, at 30 million copies. All games were made by hundreds of developers at several studios. Black Ops Cold War is the most expensive of the three games cited.The lawsuit, which was filed in May last year [paywall], also involves Instagram. It blames Call of Duty, along with the social media platform - in part - for the content that influenced the perpetrator of the mass shooting. The three Call of Duty titles referenced were said to be the shooters most-played games.As Totilo points out, these are the highest budgets reported by a major video game publisher. Theyre also well beyond the already high costs of some of the most expensive games ever made, such as The Last of Us Part 2, which Sony revealed in court documents that it cost over $220 million to make.

HelldirectingHelldivers 2 is getting a film adaptation, and here's hoping it's not just a shot-for-shot Starship Troopers retread with Chris Pratt's face plastered over a Bile TitanGame that draws lots of inspiration from a movie is now getting a movie about said game. It's the circle of life.Image credit: Arrowhead/ Sony News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Helldivers 2 is getting a movie adaptation, Sony has confirmed during its CES 2025 press conference. What'll it be like? Well, as of right now the company isn't saying, but hopefully the answer isn't just a straight-up copy-and-paste of one of the game's inspirations, but with a few big name actors peppered in there.That inspiration is Starship Troopers, which did the whole soldiers with slightly Fascist vibes fighting for control of the galaxy thing pretty well back in 1997, giving this Helldivers movie a slightly more complex job in terms of setting itself apart as something we've not seen before.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "Looking ahead as to what might come next, I'm excited to announce we are working with Sony Pictures on developing a film adaptation of our amazingly popular PlayStation game Helldivers 2," head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizilbash said on stage.That was it in terms of the details for now, leaving us all to ruminate on what could be coming while we keep on blasting the Illuminate to bits and/or play Crazy Taxi with our FRVs. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Unsurpringly, players have quickly taken to Reddit to have a bit of a laugh about the whole thing - the current top post on r/helldivers is a fantasy casting of Chris Pratt as a Bile Titan. Yep, Chrissy. You've done an ok voice for Mario, now get ready to play a Terminid that gets killed by (scrolls down thread) Tom Holland and Timothee Chalamet as the bugdivers.That same thread includes ideas like Adam Sandler as John Helldiver, Anya Taylor-Joy as Eagle-1, and Danny Devito as the voice of every single Automaton. It started as a joke, but some folks in the thread do seem to have come around to the idea of this all-star meme cast, which would also include tyhe likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as a Democracy Officer and Jack Black as a hellbomb.Meanwhile some folks reckon the Helldivers movie should just be YouTuber Nadya Play's edit of the Penguins of Madagascar into the game. To be fair, Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private are the ideal four man squad. Plus, the movie will probably have an 18 rating anyway, so a bit of this won't be too scandalous.What do you want to see from this Helldivers movie? Let us know below!

That Horizon Zero Dawn Netflix series might have been canned, but don't worry, Sony has another trick up its sleeve: a film adaptation. Read more

Image: Nintendo Life / AcerIn case the 'Switch 2' wasn't quite enough, 2025 is promising to be absolutely rife with new PC and Android-based gaming handhelds. It's the Big Thing at the moment, and manufacturers are understandably eager to get a foothold over their competitors in terms of power, approachability, and in Acer's case at least size.Yes, Acer has revealed what might be one of the largest gaming handhelds we've ever seen with the Nitro Blaze 11. With a screen clocking in at 10.95 inches, it's a powerful beast with a hefty price tag to boot, costing users a minimum of $1,099.99 when it launches in Q2 2025.It's got some pretty sizeable specs to go along with the monstrous screen too. You're getting an AMD Ryzen 8040HS processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 2TB of storage, with a pair of detachable controllers, hall-effect joysticks, a built-in kickstand, and two back buttons.If an 10.95-inch screen is a bit too big for you, Acer is also launching the Nitro Blaze 8, a smaller version qith an 8.8-inch screen, though this variant lacks the detachable controllers and built-in kickstand.With the upcoming 'Switch 2' said to boast an 8-inch screen, it's safe to say that Nintendo's planned successor will be considerably more portable than some of the ridiculous PC handhelds making their way to market. An official reveal is right around the corner too, with Nintendo promising an announcement before the end of March.Images: AcerIt's remarkable to consider that none of these devices would likely exist without the Nintendo Switch. We take detachable controllers for grated these days, but without Nintendo paving the way (again!), the PC handheld market probably wouldn't be enjoying its current bout of prosperity.What do you make of Acer's new 'handheld'? Do you think the size is acceptable, or is a bit too beefy for you? Let us know with a comment.

In BriefPosted:1:12 AM PST January 7, 2025Image Credits:GrubhubJust Eat Takeaway completes Grubhub sale to Wonder for a modest $650MAfter looking for a buyer for more than two years, Just Eat Takeaway.com has finally closed the menu on Grubhub. On Tuesday, the Dutch food delivery giant said it completed the sale of the U.S. business to Wonder, the food startup founded and led by e-commerce veteran Marc Lore. The deal has an enterprise value of $650 million, but Grubhub is coming laden with $500 million of debt. Adding in other M&A fees, Just Eat Takeaway will be walking away with a mere $50 million, a small fraction of the $7.3 billion valuation that Grubhub had when Just Eat Takeaway gobbled it up in an all-share deal in 2020.The sale, which was first announced in November 2024, underscores the ongoing downsizing or right-sizing? in the industry to focus more on profitability after years of overinvestment and unrealistic growth targets. Just Eat Takeaway says it will turn its focus towards investment in countries in which it has the greatest competitive advantage.In the case of Wonder, Lore is somewhat of a legend in the world of e-commerce, previously founding and selling companies to Amazon and Walmart. Wonder has raised around $1.7 billion and has ambitions to go public in the coming years at a $40 billion valuation, Lore has said, but that will mean that the business has to grow considerably beyond what it is today. Grubhub gives it a national footprint albeit one that has been operating with heavy debt for some time. The challenge will be whether Wonder manages to finally turn that around.Topics

Microsoft plans to invest $3 billion to expand its artificial intelligence and cloud Azure services in India, turning to the worlds most populous nation to fuel its revenue growth engine.The firm, which has been operating in India for more than two decades, will also train an additional 10 million people in the country with AI, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said at an event in Bengaluru Tuesday. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly, said Nadella. The diffusion rate of AI in India is exciting.India is a key overseas market for American tech giants that have poured tens of billions of dollars in building and scaling their operations in the South Asian market over the past two decades as they work to court businesses serving hundreds of millions of users.The competition has intensified among hyperscalers in recent quarters as Microsoft aggressively broadens its offerings with new AI capabilities. E-commerce group Amazon said in 2023 that it planned to invest $12.7 billion in its India business by 2030.Microsoft, among the top cloud and AI providers in India, operates three datacenter regions in India and plans to make its fourth ready to go live next year, the company said. The $3 billion investment will be deployed to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to serve Indias AI startups and research community.India has also cemented its place on the global map as one of the worlds largest and fastest growing developer markets. More than 17 million of them in India use Microsofts Github. A number of tech executives, including Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief Lisa Su, have visited India in recent months, in part to court developers.Microsoft also said it has signed an AI memorandum of understanding with SaaSBoomi, a community for B2B startups in India. As part of the collaboration, the two will seek to promote entrepreneurship in smaller Indian cities and towns and also help attract an additional $1.5 billion in VC funding for Indian AI and SaaS startups. Microsoft is already seeing many of its clients in the South Asian market use its newest technologies to bring efficiencies to their businesses, Nadella said. Some of its clients in India include Infosys, Air India, Meesho, Tech Mahindra, Federal Bank, Apollo, MakeMyTrip, HCL Tech, Manipal, Icertis, and InMobi. IT firm Persistent is using Microsoft 365 Copilots Contract Assist to reduce negotiation time by 70%, Nadella said.

Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech), a leader in 3D construction printing based in Ireland and the UK, has successfully completed Europes first social housing project utilizing 3D printing technology compliant with the ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 standard. The project, located in Grange Close, Ireland, was built using COBOD Internationals BOD2 3D construction printer and achieved completion in just 132 daysa 35% reduction compared to traditional construction methods that typically require over 200 days.The BOD2 3D Construction Printer. Photo via COBOD International.The project featured load-bearing double cavity walls, each 10 centimeters thick, printed without reinforcement in accordance with EN206 and Eurocode 6 standards for unreinforced masonry construction. This method not only ensured structural integrity but also demonstrated significant advancements in sustainable building practices. The superstructure was completed in an impressive 12 days, highlighting the efficiency of additive manufacturing in accelerating construction timelines.Justin Kinsella, Director of HTL.tech, emphasized the significance of this achievement: HTL.tech is extremely proud to be the first company in Europe to build a structure that complies with the rigorous new I.S. EN ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 additive manufacturing standard. The COBOD BOD2 3D printer was crucial in this accomplishment, enabling us to complete the Grange Close Social Housing Scheme 35% faster than traditional methods.First Social Housing Project compliant with ISO 52939:2023 in Ireland was completed 35% faster than with conventional methods. Photo via COBOD International.Recognition and Technological AdvancementsThe National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) honored HTL.tech with the Standards Innovation Award for their integration of international standards into 3D construction printing processes. Geraldine Larkin, CEO of NSAI, stated, This honour recognises HTL.techs exceptional integration of standards into their 3D house construction printing processes. Their innovative efforts are positioning Ireland as a leader in this field and demonstrating how standards can drive cutting-edge advancements.Since the projects completion, HTL.tech has further enhanced their printing capabilities by upgrading the BOD2 printers concrete hose to a 65 mm variant, increasing volumetric output by 40% and reducing future printing times from 12 to just 9 days. Henrik Lund-Nielsen, General Manager and Founder of COBOD International, commended HTL.techs progress: This award is a testament not only to HTL.techs professionalism but also to the potential of 3D construction printing in increasing execution speed, reducing labor costs, and producing high-quality structures in line with international standards.Days spent on completion of the 3D printed social housing project compared to conventional methods. Photo via COBOD International.Advancements in 3D Printing Construction TechnologyThis project builds on recent advancements within the 3D construction printing industry. In 2024, COBOD International introduced the BOD3, a third-generation 3D construction printer designed for large-scale, low-rise projects. The BOD3 has been deployed by Modula Tiga Dimensi in Indonesia, Power2Build in Angola, and Abaad 3D in Bahrain. These deployments have demonstrated the printers capacity to accelerate construction timelines, allowing continuous construction processes on large sites.Additionally, researchers at the SEAM Research Center developed SEAM technology, focusing on Screw Extrusion Additive Manufacturing for construction. The Epic3D portal printer produces large-format plastic components, such as facade elements, using granulate-based materials. SEAM technology is being applied in facade manufacturing, with collaborations between Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) and Wirth & Co. GmbH to produce components that meet fire safety, UV, and weather resistance standards.The SEAM Research Center: Epic3D (bottom left), METROM P1410 (center), and SEAMHex. Photo via Fraunhofer IWU.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured image shows The First Social Housing Project compliant with ISO 52939:2023 in Ireland. Photo via COBOD International.

UK-based metal AM materials producer Metalysis has bolstered its capabilities by acquiring a 40 kW Tekna spheroidiser, aka Teksphero-40.Designed for the production of spherical powders, Teknas system caters to niche markets with high-value applications and supports the development of new alloys on a smaller scale. This step aligns with Metalysis strategy to scale up production of refractory alloys, such as tantalum and high-entropy alloys, while preparing to serve the high-temperature niobium market with materials like niobium C103 and FS85.Nitesh Shah, CEO of Metalysis, said, By controlling our spheroidisation processes, were not only reducing lead times and mitigating global supply chain risks, but also reinforcing our sustainable footprint. This is a pivotal moment for Metalysis as we strengthen our position in the critical materials supply chain now able to provide spheroidised powders in-house.The 40 kW Tekna spheroidiser, aka Teksphero-40. Photo via Metalysis.Improving powder processing with spheroidisationWith its patented Fray, Farthing and Chen (FFC) Cambridge process, Metalysis enables reduced metal oxides in the solid-state, bypassing traditional melting techniques.This novel approach delivers angular powders with specialized properties, meeting the demands of industries such as aerospace, clean energy, hypersonics, semiconductors, capacitors, and space exploration. Incorporating the spheroidiser, as per Metalysis, would enable the company to expand its portfolio by producing spherical powders, which retain the unique attributes required by global customers.Teknas Teksphero-40 spheroidiser enhances powder flowability, minimizes internal porosity, and achieves higher packing density. It also creates less friable powder and increases material purity, making it indispensable for applications like additive manufacturing, metal injection molding, spark plasma sintering, and hot isostatic pressing.Versatility is another key advantage, with the unit supporting a wide range of precursors, including dry powders, ceramics, reactive gases, and suspensions. Powder sizes of up to 500 m and feed rates of 510 kg/h ensure compatibility with both research and production-scale operations.Ease of use and safety features also define the Teksphero-40. A touch-screen interface with data logging simplifies operation, while easy-to-clean components support efficient batch processing. Technicians can become fully operational after minimal training, enabling quick adoption of the system.Compact dimensions measuring 4.6m in length, 3.8m in width, and 2.9m in height ensure seamless integration into standard facilities, requiring minimal utilities. Safety measures, including interlocks with alarms, EM shielding, and secure powder handling options, underline its suitability for high-demand industrial environments.Sustainability remains central to Metalysis operations. The FFC Cambridge process, combined with spheroidisation, allows precise tailoring of particle sizes while minimizing waste.Unlike conventional atomization methods, this approach generates negligible scrap powder and consumes less energy. Vertical integration of spheroidisation further reduces global supply chain risks and eliminates the need for long-distance material transport, contributing to a significantly smaller environmental footprint.Titanium parts and powder produced by Metalysis. Photo via Metalysis Metal powder production in 3D printingAway from Metalysis, other entities brought forward their unique offerings for streamlined high-quality metal powder production.For instance, Warsaw-based 3D printing service bureau 3D Lab introduced the ATO Suite at Formnext 2024, targeting improved control over metal powder production. Designed for efficiency and sustainability, the suite facilitates high-quality spherical metal powder production from diverse feedstocks, supporting advanced applications such as additive manufacturing.Its modular components, including the ATO Lab Plus and ATO Noble, address workflows from feedstock preparation to powder refinement. Having integrated ultrasonic atomization and induction melting technologies, the suite enhances particle size control, flowability, and material recovery. These features cater to industries requiring precise powder specifications while emphasizing waste reduction and closed-loop manufacturing processes.Back in 2022, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers developed an abrasion-based method for producing metal powders for use in 3D printing. Offering an alternative to atomization, the widely used but resource-intensive technique, their approach addressed challenges like low material yield, high costs, and restricted metal compatibility.By refining metal grinding processes, the team created steel powders that matched the quality of atomized counterparts while significantly reducing production costs. With scalable potential, the method opened opportunities for advanced applications in aerospace and biomedical manufacturing, making metal powders more affordable and accessible for high-performance industries.Who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?All the news fromFormnext 2024.To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook.While youre here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays.Featured image shows the 40 kW Tekna spheroidiser, aka Teksphero-40. Photo via Metalysis.

Belfast-based medical technology firm Axial3D has raised $18.2 million in an investment round. The company will use the new capital to scale its AI-powered 3D medical imaging technology, accelerating its mission to increase the accessibility of patient-specific healthcare.Axial3Ds patented cloud-based AI platform converts patient scans (like CT and MRI) into detailed, 3D printable files. The resulting 3D printed models can be used for personalized surgical planning, custom implants, prosthetics, medical device testing, training, and patient education.The recent funding round features continued support from the companys first-round investors Techstart, Innovation Ulster Limited, and US and Northern Irish business Angels. Follow-on investment came from Clarendon, while three new investors, Whiterock, Innovate UK, and 57 Stars, also provided capital. The latter became Axial3Ds largest shareholder with a $10 million investment.Bernie McGuire, Managing Director and IC Member of 57 Stars, believes Axial3Ds pioneering technology has already shown incredible potential in the Medtech space. He added that he is excited to support their ongoing technology application expansion and look forward to seeing the impact their innovations will make in advancing personalized healthcare. This financing represents the latest allocation of 57 Stars Northern Ireland investment program, which has committed over $50 million to date.3D printed heart models. Photo via Axial3D.Axial3D enhances personalized healthcareFounded in 2014, Axial3D offers software and services for the production of personalized 3D printed anatomical models, valuable tools that allow medical professionals to better prepare for surgical procedures.Last year, Axial3D partnered with GE HealthCare to enable radiation-free visualizations and the production of 3D printed patient-specific anatomical models. This partnership combinedGE HealthCares MRI-based bone imaging technology with Axial3Ds FDA-cleared imaging segmentation platform to create personalized medical devices. The companies sought to reduce upfront investment requirements, improve surgical planning, and cut time in the operating room.Axial3D also works directly with hospitals to optimize patient-specific 3D printing. The company previously worked with Newcastles Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospitals to enhance surgical procedures. The medical team transmitted CT and MRI data to Axial3Ds Belfast HQ, where it was segmented to produce 3D models of the patients anatomy. These models were then 3D printed using Formlabs Form 3B Desktop SLA printers, and shipped to the hospital within 48 hours to support surgical planning, simulations, and patient education. This process reportedly allowed the hospital to save over 120 minutes in the operating theater, translating to 8,000 in medical costs.In 2019, the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, introduced Axial3Ds axial3Dassure platform to its in-house medical 3D printing facility. According to Axial3D, this integration helped cut production times and maximize 3D printing efficiency. The company also integrated its orthopedic auto-segmentation software module to expedite the processing of digital 3D printing files.Our market-fundamental patented technology platform empowers medical device companies, medical imaging companies, and hospitals to standardize the use of incredibly precise, patient-specific 3D data that transforms their offerings for patients, explained Axial3D CEO Roger Johnston. Our AI technology has the power to impact millions of patients globally across patient-specific applications in robotics, planning, and patient-specific device workflows.Neil McCabe, Director of Whiterock, commented that Axial3Ds technology addresses a critical need in healthcareenabling scalability in personalized care. He added that Whiterock, a fund manager based in Northern Ireland, is proud to join this journey, supporting a company that is paving the way for more accessible and precise surgical solutions worldwide.Axial3Ds AI-powered medical imaging technology has attracted substantial financial backing over recent years. In 2022, the firm raised $15 million in a funding round which included a $10 million investment from leading 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys. The two companies partnered to offer patient-specific 3D printing solutions for hospitals and medical device manufacturers. Three years earlier, Axial3D closed a $3 million funding round to grow its medical 3D printing software and services in the US healthcare sector.An anatomical model of a spine 3D printed by axial3D. Photo via axial3D3D printing enhances patient-specific healthcareThe use of additive manufacturing is growing for the production of realistic, patient-specific medical models. Last year, digital services company Ricoh USA launched the RCOH 3D for Healthcare Innovation Studio.This point-of-care 3D printing facility, based at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist medical center, provides clinicians with the platforms needed to design and fabricate FDA-approved 3D printed anatomic models. These patient-specific devices can be used for surgical planning and patient eductaion. The on-site additive manufacturing capabilities reportedly reduce operating times, lower medical costs, improve diagnostic support, and alleviate FDA-compliance concerns. According to Ricoh, 3D printed anatomical models have unlocked operating time savings of 62 minutes and a 7.8% reduction in operative time.Elsewhere, US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for Total Ankle, its 3D printed pre-surgical planning and instrument set. These devices can be personalized to meet specific patient needs, guaranteeing accurate implant alignment and sizing for ankle replacement surgery. Total Ankle reportedly saved time in the operating theater, allowing surgeons to perform fewer steps than with standard instruments.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?All the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on X, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows an Axial3D 3D printed model. Photo via Axial3D.