Report: 82% of mobile game devs say reward-based UA outperforms traditional channels77% of mobile game makers are already running a reward-based UA campaign, according to new studyImage credit: Almedia Feature by GamesIndustry.biz Staff Contributor Published on Jan. 28, 2025 82% of mobile game developers say reward-based user acquisition outperforms traditional marketing channels.This is according to Almedia's Rewarded Returns report conducted by Atomik Research, which surveyed 502 developers in the US and UK.Reward-based UA strategies see players access games on alternative storefronts, before being recompensed with rewards such as Amazon vouchers for completing specific actions in a game. Those actions may include reaching a certain level, or acquiring in-game items.94% of respondents said they were optimistic about the potential impacts of this UA method, with 77% disclosing that they have already run a reward-based campaign.However, 64% of developers felt that the current UA landscape is challenging, especially in terms of regulations and performing tracking.95% of those that have implemented reward-based campaigns reported a competitive advantage, with 59% planning to increase spending in the space through 2025.Of those yet to deploy a reward-based UA strategy, 36% cited fraud concerns as the primary reason for hesitancy.The report noted this compares to levels of fraud concern around traditional UA methods, while Almedia has observed figures falling.Another challenge framed as "surmountable" was that 48% of developers are concerned that high acquisition costs can outpace player lifetime value.Overall, 59% of those surveyed want to expand reward-based UA efforts this year."Reward-based UA has evolved from a channel once viewed with scepticism into a sophisticated, data-driven approach which delivers exceptional returns for players and advertisers alike," said Almedia founder and CEO Moritz Hollnder."The numbers show this isn't just another US trend, but a competitive advantage which is quickly turning into a non-negotiable part of mobile gaming advertisers' marketing strategies."

Today, 9 minutes agoAsh ParrishBaldurs Gate 3s cross-play patch is now in testingImage: Larian StudiosBefore Larian Studios can launch the final patch for Baldurs Gate 3, the developers need a little audience participation. Starting today, select players on any platform can join the Patch 8 stress test designed to catch all the little bugs before the patch officially goes live.Xbox Insiders have access to the stress test and Xboxs website has detailed instructions for how to log in here. PS5 and PC players who have been selected to participate will receive an email with log in instructions. If youre not an Xbox Insider or you havent signed up on PS5 or PC, theres still time to get access to the stress test by registering here.Read Article >Nov 27, 2024Ash ParrishBaldurs Gate 3 has yet another big patch on the wayImage: Larian StudiosLarian Studios isnt done with big updates for Baldurs Gate 3 just yet. The studio is planning yet another quality-of-life update for the game with Patch 8.Arriving next year, this update will introduce some of the most eagerly awaited features to BG3: cross-play, and photo mode, along with 12 new subclasses, Larian wrote on its Steam Community page.Read Article >Sep 5, 2024Ash ParrishBaldurs Gate 3 patch adds official in-game mod supportImage: Larian StudiosThe long-awaited Patch 7 for Baldurs Gate 3 is now live. The update adds new, gruesome cinematics for some of the games evil endings, new legendary actions for Honor Mode encounters, and official in-game mod support.However, with Patch 7 comes a big ole asterisk from the games maker, Larian Studios. The patch is currently only available for PC, meaning that players will be unable to load cross-platform save files from PC on their console versions. PC / Mac multiplayer is also disabled. Larian says that it intends to launch Patch 7 on consoles and Mac sometime in October, so if you like to hop between desktop and console to play BG3, youll have to wait about a month. The compatibility issues can be avoided by simply declining to update the game on PC, but with all the other Patch 7 improvements, that might prove a difficult choice.Read Article >Jul 16, 2024Ash ParrishLarian Studios teases all the new features coming in the next Baldurs Gate 3 patchImage: Larian StudiosIn a new community update, Larian Studios has shared a brief overview of all the things its working on for the next Baldurs Gate 3 patch.Larian has previously announced that patch 7, due out in September, will include the release of official mod support and the introduction of a toolkit that will allow players the ability to create their own mods. According to Larian, the toolkit supports the creation of new items, classes and subclasses, races, and more.Read Article >Jun 3, 2024Ash ParrishBaldurs Gate 3 mod support is coming in SeptemberImage: Larian StudiosIts gonna get pretty funky in Faern with official mod support coming to Baldurs Gate 3. Larian Studios announced that official mod support will roll out in phases, starting today with a closed alpha, before a closed beta test in July, culminating with the official release of Patch 7 in September. According to Larian, the staggered testing phases will give the community ample time to test the new mod tools before making them available across PC and consoles.If you have experience with official mod support in games like Skyrim or Fallout, Larians approach will sound similar. On PC, mods will be tested to ensure terms of service compatibility and overall stability before approval. Those mods will then undergo additional approvals before coming to console. While PC players will have access to the full suite of mod creation tools, and mods can still be made, downloaded, and played without using the official mod browser, console players will only be able to browse and install mods officially approved by Larian.Read Article >Mar 22, 2024Emma RothBaldurs Gate 3 developer is moving on from Dungeons and DragonsImage: Larian StudiosWith the sheer popularity surrounding Baldurs Gate 3, the game is ripe for an expansion but if it ever happens, it wont be made by its developer Larian Studios. During a panel at the Game Developers Conference on Thursday, Larian founder Swen Vincke revealed that the studio plans on moving away from Dungeons & Dragons games, as first reported by IGN.Were not going to make new expansions, which everybody is expecting us to do. Were not going to make Baldurs Gate 4, which everybody is expecting us to do. Were going to move on, Vincke said. He added that Larian is also going to move away from D&D and start a new project.Read Article >Mar 18, 2024Emma RothCross-saves for Baldurs Gate 3 on Xbox are working again.Xbox didnt get Baldurs Gate 3s most recent updates due to a bug that caused the game to crash on the Series X / S. This prevented players from loading cross-saves on platforms with the update.But now, Larian has announced that hotfixes #20, #21, and #22 are coming to Xbox, which should fix any issues with syncing game saves. The latest update also addresses some crashes and issues with Mintharas dialogue.Baldur's Gate 3 - Hotfix #22 Now Live! - Steam News[Steam]Feb 23, 2024Ash ParrishThings are about to get real weird in Faerun.Larian Studios keeps giving the people what they want with each Baldurs Gate 3 update. The most recent patch added a bunch of new kiss animations, some sweet, some very spicy. But theres one ask from the BG3 community that Larians director of publishing says is coming soon: official mod support.With mod support, patches to the game are less likely to break mods and itll be easier overall to make mods for the game. Prime opportunity for some freaky, frightening, or just plain fun additions to the game.Feb 16, 2024Jess WeatherbedBaldurs Gate 3 just dropped its belated Valentines Day gift.As Larian promised, this latest patch is absolutely crammed full of new content and bug fixes for the game. The new companion smooches will hopefully appease fans who were collectively trolled by the studio earlier this week for assuming the patch would arrive on Wednesday.Feb 9, 2024Ash ParrishRoses are red, vampires are fair.The next Baldurs Gate 3 patch improves how you can kiss your favorite bear.Patch 6, arriving next week, will add new camp idle animations and new legendary actions for the games hardcore Honor Mode. But the biggest news; improved kiss animations!Despite the games valiant attempts, kissing in Baldurs Gate is not that much better than drinking was in Mass Effect. Excited to see what the new animations look like, and just in time for Valentines Day too!Jan 17, 2024Jay PetersBaldurs Gate 3 players on Xbox: update your console.Some BG3 players on Xbox have had to deal with lost saves, which is obviously frustrating in a game as massive as Larians hit RPG, but Microsoft says a new system update should fix things. Larian said last week the firmware update was coming.Jan 9, 2024Jay PetersMicrosoft might finally have a fix for issues with Baldurs Gate 3 saves.Larian Studios says that Microsoft will release an Xbox firmware update on January 16th that fixes the save bug on Xbox. That said, Larian hasnt been able to verify the fix, so we might have to wait and see if it actually works.Jan 2, 2024Jay PetersYoull be shocked by Steams 2023 Game of the Year.Just kidding, its Baldurs Gate 3. The full list of winners for the 2023 Steam Awards is out now, and most of them are on sale until Thursday as part of Steams Winter Sale.Image: ValveDec 21, 2023Ash ParrishBaldurs Gate 3 is the gift that keeps on giving.In celebration of this years game of the year finally arriving on Xbox, Larian Studios is giving fans a little treat. Because we deserve.Larian, in collaboration with Mashed animation, writer Emily Gera, and the principal Baldurs Gate 3 voice cast, created this fantastic animated featurette about the Tadfools getting together to celebrate the holidays.Dec 15, 2023Ash ParrishGet that bag (of holding).Now that Baldurs Gate 3 is finally available on Xbox, the natural follow up question is when will the undisputed game of the year arrive on Game Pass? But in an interview with IGN, Larian CEO Swen Vincke said, essentially, never.Oh, we always said from the get-go, it wasnt going to be on Game Pass, Vincke said to IGN. We made a big game, so I think theres a fair price to be paid for that, and I think that that is okay.Baldur's Gate 3 'Isn't Going to be on Game Pass', Insists Larian Boss - IGN[IGN]Dec 11, 2023Jay PetersBaldurs Gate 3 Xbox players, update your game and your Xbox.Larian Studios has released an update with stability fixes and is encouraging users to update their Xbox consoles to help address issues with saves disappearing after a crash.The Game Awards game of the year came out on Xbox on Thursday.Nov 30, 2023Ash ParrishWell thats awkward.The latest Baldurs Gate 3 patch has given me the chance to make my bear boyfriend Halsin very very uncomfortable.Minthara, one of Act Is goblin camp leaders, is a much desired companion. Problem is, you have to commit a lot of murder and risk Halsin leaving your group (yknow because of all the murder) to recruit her. While some players have found interesting ways to get around this, Patch 5 now seems to let you simply knock her out during her fight and recruit her later in Act II.Baldurs Gate 3 Patch Now Lets You Recruit Minthara Without Mass Murder[Kotaku]Nov 30, 2023Ash ParrishThe latest Baldurs Gate 3 patch introduces a new epilogue and lets you wear slutty crab armorImage: Larian StudiosChristmas miracles are rare, they are beautiful, and with Patch 5 of Baldurs Gate 3 out now, they have come early. Patch 5 is a massive update that adds new difficulty modes, patches a notorious slowdown bug, lets you wear armor that gives the Wavemothers Robe a run for its money, and gives the adventurers of Faern what theyve been clamoring for: a big-ass party with all their friends.I could jump right into the biggest changes coming with Patch 5, but with one specific quality-of-life update, the addition of new game modes or new epilogue scenes feels inconsequential in comparison.Read Article >Nov 2, 2023Jess WeatherbedBaldurs Gate 3 improves color-blindness support and, uh, hygiene.Larian just released another massive patch for Baldurs Gate 3, adding new visual settings for color-blind players and appearance customization for hirelings upon recruitment.Theres also loads of bug fixes and fun gameplay updates for example, soaps and sponges can now be used to clean up party members. Maybe NPCs will stop commenting on how bad you smell after a quick wash.Oct 6, 2023Jess WeatherbedThe latest Baldurs Gate 3 hotpatch has freed the nipples.BG3s new patch lets you customize the appearance of hirelings so they match your dream (or nightmarish) aesthetic, and fixes some broken character positions and animations in dialog cinematics.It also stops your characters from being forced back into their undies when you have nudity enabled, allowing degenerates to enjoy the spicy romance scenes buck-naked once again (its me, Im the degenerate).Oct 3, 2023Jess WeatherbedBaldurs Gate 3s latest hotfix makes its most regal feline bald again.The new update reverts His Majesty to his nude glory, restores Raphaels former hair color and horns, and stops your companions from dumping their bags on you when dismissed.Some bugs and crashes that appeared after the recent patch, have also been fixed, though more notable issues including those affecting cutscene animations and a certain blacksmith havent been addressed.Sep 27, 2023Ash ParrishLook how they massacred my boy.Somewhere, someones in front of an i-device thinking aloud: I wanna play Baldurs Gate 3.App Store developer Initial Link appears and answers, We have Baldurs Gate 3 at home, and shows them Nevermore: Idle Immortal RPG... an idle RPG gacha game complete with a harrowing App Store icon that features a yassified Astarion!From what I can tell this game has absolutely nothing to do with Baldurs Gate, fortunately people of the Apple persuasion need not despair as Baldurs Gate 3 just released on Mac last week.1/2Yassified Astarion is unfortunately real and he can hurt you. Initial LinkSep 27, 2023Jess WeatherbedThe latest hotfix for Baldurs Gate 3 resolves some game-crashing bugs.Some updates have been rolled out to fix a handful of crashing and save game issues related to corrupted item files and multiplayer sessions.Developer Larian said its also preparing additional hotfixes based on player feedback following its recent patch, which includes addressing the stack of shared items you receive when dismissing companions. Still no word if they plan to shave the cat again though .Baldur's Gate 3 - Hotfix #7 Now Live! - Steam News[steam]Sep 26, 2023Adi RobertsonBaldurs Gate 3s best boss-melting weapon is the cursed body of a dead child.My favorite testament to the open-endedness of Baldurs Gate 3 so far: this short, lightly spoiler-y guide to beating one of the games hardest bosses using the status effect of a minor side quest NPC. (If this hasnt been patched yet... it likely will be soon.)Sep 22, 2023Ash ParrishRoll for initiative.The phenomenal cast of Baldurs Gate 3 is now live on Twitch playing a Dungeons and Dragons one shot as their characters. I dont typically watch D&D actual plays, (sorry Critical Role fans) but I will be present and seated for this because I love all my murder hobo companions and I cant get enough of them.

Mythic Quests ability to spin some of the gaming industrys ugliest aspects into genuinely funny comedy was what made it such a surprising delight when it first hit Apple TV Plus back in 2020. Even when it was joking about chaotic streamers or Nazi server takeovers, you could feel the respect Mythic Quests creative team has for video games as an art form. And by keeping its focus on the lives of people who actually dream up and build games, the series put itself in a position to tell poignant stories about the costs that come with chasing ones dreams.Mythic Quests new fourth season still gets in its fair share of solid digs at gaming culture. But the show feels like even more of a character-driven narrative thats trying to show you how every member of the MQ crew is evolving as they move deeper into their careers. Mythic Quest has always had a knack for switching up its relationships and power dynamics just enough to keep its office drama element feeling fresh yet familiar. This time around, though, the shuffling is all in service of giving everyone at Mythic Quest HQ a new (but not necessarily healthier) work-life balance.While an unhealthy amount of dysfunction has always been part of Ian Grimms (Rob McElhenney) creative process, Mythic Quests fourth season finds him trying to be a better colleague and friend to all of the people who have helped bring his ideas to life. Its still a little hard for Ian to remember that Poppy Lis (Charlotte Nicdao) return to Mythic Quest Studios with him hinged on his respecting her personal boundaries and acknowledging her as an equal in their professional relationship. Ian also cant stand how much time Poppy wants to spend with her new artist boyfriend Storm (Chase Yi). But everyone working on Mythic Quest (the fictional game) can feel how, after years of blowing up at one another, Poppy and Ian are in a new headspace where they can genuinely appreciate how they make each other stronger. With Mythic Quest gearing up to launch a new Playpen update giving players the ability to create their own in-game content, executive producer David Hornsby (David Brittlesbee) and monetization head Rachel Meyee (Ashly Burch) are all too happy to have Ian and Poppy onboard cooking up ideas to make the feature shine. As the creator of Cozy Galaxy, the most popular game on the Playpen platform, former-tester-turned-developer Dana Bryant (Imani Hakim) cant help feeling ticked at the way shes being cut out of all the revenue Mythic Quest is raking in. But to money shark Brad Bakshi (Danny Pudi) and cutthroat assistant Jo (Jessie Ennis), Danas feelings about working at Mythic Quest Studios are a sign that its time for them to reconsider whose team they want to play for.Like previous seasons, Mythic Quests new episodes use the fictional in-show game to dunk on uglier aspects of the real-world gaming industry with a specificity that makes it feel like the writers room has been keeping up with the news. Playpens popularity is a financial boon to the Mythic Quest team because of how it presents an opportunity to roll out more in-game currencies. It also raises serious questions about whether platforms like Playpen are built with the intention of capitalizing on child labor.Those questions become even thornier as players start coming up with ways to bring sex into their Playpen creations. But even though this season of Mythic Quest gets its dunks in on the larger gaming industry, the show spends more time focusing on the growing pains that come when interpersonal relationships start to change for the better.You can see it most clearly in Ian and Poppys arc this season as the two turn to AI assistants to help work through their complicated feelings about one another, but its also highlighted in some of the seasons episodes one of which is an excellent Clue riff that take you outside of the Mythic Quest office. We see more of what David gets up to in his free time and how the evolution of Dana and Rachels careers has brought new tensions into their romance. And with so many of his colleagues (who are really his only friends) pairing off, this season underscores how Ians prickliness with other people stems from the fact that he doesnt have anyone to come home to.Though digging deeper into everyones personal lives and easing up on the workplace shenanigans doesnt quite move Mythic Quest into straight dramatic territory, it does make this season feel like youre meant to appreciate how far these characters (and a few other surprise cameos) have come since we first met them. This seasons video game jokes arent quite as scathing as some viewers might like, but they reinforce how Mythic Quest (the game) has become something much more than another fantasy MMORPG for both its players and creators just as Apple seems intent on growing the show in similar ways.Mythic Quest also stars Naomi Ekperigin, Andrew Friedman, and Michael Naughton. Season 4 hits Apple TV Plus on January 29th.See More:

Fab February 2025 Free Asset Giveaway / News / January 28, 2025 / Assets, Free, UnrealEvery other Tuesday we get anUnreal EngineFab marketplace giveaway and this Tuesday is no exception. You can get three free game development assets during the next two weeks, all of the assets work in Unreal natively (there are no Unity specific assets this week). If you are using a different game engine or tool we have guides below that instruct you on how to export from Unreal Engine to other engines such as Godot, Blender or Unity for example.This Months free assets include:You can see all of these assets in action in thevideobelow.If you are interested in getting these assets into other game engines, check out our various guides available here:

Most of the first teaser for the FX series Alien: Earth feels pretty familiar to anyone who has seen an Alien movie before. Set to the sounds of the warning klaxon used so effectively in the trailer for the 1978 original, we watch a facehugger scramble through a ship, with internal designs not dissimilar to the USCSS Nostromo. However, in the final seconds of the teaser, we see that the ship is crashing and we see where it will land: Earth.The impact of that reveal is certainly lessened by the fact that the show is called Alien: Earth. However, that shouldnt distract from the fact that the entire concept is pretty radical. After all, no movie has yet brought the Xenomorphs to Earth, despite numerous teases. Furthermore, the series comes from Noah Hawley, the showrunner of highly idiosyncratic shows Legion and Fargo, both of which took surprising artistic license with well-known properties.Given these bold facts, some fans might be feeling a little concerned about Alien: Earth and the direction it could take. That said, they may find some comfort in the official synopsis of the series that accompanies the trailer. When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planets greatest threat in FXs highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley, reads the description.Theres a lot of well-worn stuff in that description. Weve got a small group, a surprising accident, and a larger threat. That could apply to every mainline Alien movie and even Prometheus. However, there is one aspect that refers to just one Alien movie, arguably the most popular: tactical soldiers.That phrase brings to mind the space marines in Aliens, the early masterpiece by James Cameron. In an elegant bit of storytelling that modern action directors are still trying to emulate, Cameron quickly introduces each of the marines and establishes their arrogance, giving them distinct personalities. The move allows us to care for the marines as their mission goes sideways, enhancing the suspense of the movie.Its not clear yet how Hawley plans to use the tactical soldiers in Alien: Earth. Early discussions about the show have emphasized non-military characters, such as Sydney Chandlers Wendy, who appears to be a grown woman despite her child-like mind, and Timothy Olyphant as the synthetic Kirsh, one of many androids in the Alien franchise.Furthermore, earlier reports established that Alien: Earth takes place approximately 30 years before the original Alien. That means were nearly a full century before Aliens. While Cameron drew on his feelings about the Vietnam War to create his space marines, and therefore allowed them to feel very similar to soldiers we know today, this timeline means that theyll have to be somewhat different.Which, of course, sounds like the approach Hawleys taking for Alien: Earth. Give us just enough familiarity to feel comfortable and just enough difference to make us scared. At least on Earth, everyone can hear you scream.Alien: Earth comes to the Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in the U.K. later this year.

A brand new run of teatime quiz show Pointless is soon to begin in the UK. Series 33 will start airing on Wednesday February 5 at 17:15 on BBC One not that youd necessarily know it, seeing as the current series only ends the day before. (Pointless is as eternal and ever-flowing as the waves, interrupted only by acts of God and Wimbledon).Since co-host Richard Osman left the weekday show in 2022, Alexander Armstrong has been joined by a rotating cast of celebrity pointless friends. In total, 26 celebrities were announced, 22 of which have completed their initial hosting stints. They were: Sally Lindsay, Stephen Mangan, Lauren Laverne, Konnie Huq, Alex Brooker, Ed Gamble, Rose Matafeo, Ria Lina, Lucy Porter, Gyles Brandreth, Nish Kumar, Andi Oliver, Sally Phillips, Vick Hope, Anita Rani, Hugh Dennis, Gabby Logan, Josh Widdicombe, Desiree Burch, Chris Ramsey, Gok Wan and Rob Rinder.Comedian and presenter Ellie Taylor co-hosted nine of the previous Pointless series, and will finish off her residency with the first two episodes of the new run airing on Wednesday February 5 and Thursday February 6.After Ellie Taylor, the new guest host will be DJ, actor, presenter and comedian Liza Tarbuck (pictured above), who begins her presenting stretch on Friday February 7 and is expected to continue for the 10 shows after that, which should take her up to Friday February 21. BBC Radio 2 DJ Tarbuck is a well-loved household name whos appeared on Taskmaster and countless other comedy formats, as well as acting recently in Upstart Crow, Brassic and yonks ago, in Skins and Watching, to name just a few.Following on from Liza Tarbuck will be one of either Mel Giedroyc or Phil Wang, both of whom were announced as joining the show back in January 2024. Giedroyc is a well-loved face known for presenting the BBC Great British Bake Off series along with her former double act and Light Lunch partner Sue Perkins, as well as solo jobs on Eurovision, Children in Need, Handmade: Britains Best Woodworker and many more. She was recently revealed as the vocals behind Teeth on ITV talent show The Masked Singer.Phil Wang is a stand-up comedian and actor familiar from his time on Taskmaster (the outfit was unforgettable) as well as a great many panel shows including multiple appearances on BBC Ones Have I Got News For You. He also appeared in 2023s musical film Wonka as well as showing up in recent US series Life & Beth, and The Three Body Problem.If Tarbuck, Giedroyc and Wang each co-host the usual 11 episodes each, that leaves 20 or so episodes so-far unaccounted for. There might be a new cast announcement, or the episodes might be divvied up between the names above (after all, Stephen Mangan and Konnie Huq each did 15 instead of the usual 11). If there will be a returnee, any preference on who it is?Pointless airs Monday to Friday at 17:15 on BBC One.

Spanish tech star TravelPerk has raised a whopping $200mn and sealed the acquisition of expenses platform Yokoy.The investment values TravelPerk at $2.7bn almost double last years $1.4bn valuation. The business travel giant said the funds would fuel further product development and expansion into the US. European VC firm Atomico led the Series E investment.Alongside the cash injection, TravelPerk announced the purchase of Yokoy, a Swiss startup thats become a market leader in expense management. TravelPerk will now integrate Yokoy into one automated platform for travel and expenses.Customers dont have to compromise anymore, said JC Taunay-Bucalo, TravelPerks president and COO. Now, they can have the best travel management product built on the worlds largest inventory, and the expense management product that works best for their business, combined for the best-integrated experience there is.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The announcements come amid renewed hopes for the travel industry. Global tourism rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2024, while business travel was tracking to surpass the peak it hit before the pandemic.Funding is now flowing back into travel tech startups. Last year, they enjoyed a record-breaking year of investments.The news also brings together two members of TNWs extended family. TravelPerk is an alumni of TNWs TECH5 a competition for European scaleups. The contest returns to TNW Conference on June 19 and 20. Applications are open until February 28.Yokoy, meanwhile, is a member of TNWs community of fast-growing tech companies. In 2022, the startup opened a new European base in TNW City, Amsterdam.Announcing the move, Yokoy pointed to the attractions of the local fintech scene.Our move into the market is not about just setting up a satellite sales office in a new location we see Amsterdam as a crucial hub for growing our European operations, Lars Mangelsdorf, the companys co-founder and chief customer officer, said at the time.The Dutch market is advanced when it comes to fintech adoption, and it felt like a natural next move to bring our spend management solution to businesses in the region. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Swedish startup Adsorbi has secured 1mn to ramp up production of a cellulose-based material that sucks up pollutants from the air.Mets Spring, the venture arm of the Finnish forestry giant, led the funding round alongside Chalmers Ventures and Jovitech Invest.We are planning to launch the pilot plant in June and we will be equipped to meet our customer demands while maintaining consistent quality, Hanna Johansson, CEO of Adsorbi, told TNW via email. The facility will have an expected capacity of 100 tonnes per year.Johansson co-founded Adsorbi in 2022 alongside Christian Lfvendahl, Romain Bordes, and Kinga Grenda. The team spun out the company from materials research at the ChalmersUniversity of Technology in Gothenburg.Limited tickets available - Book NowBordes and Grenda, the chief researchers, originally wanted to develop new ways to protect works of art from harmful pollution. But in the process, they discovered a way to turn cellulose from Swedens abundant forests into an air purification material with wide-ranging applications.Adsorbis material can be used wherever gaseous air pollutants are a problem, from air filters to products that remove odours. Continuing the teams initial objective, the startup also works with museums to protect artefacts and artworks.The substance which looks like little, white pieces of sponge promises a better, greener alternative to activated carbon, the current market standard. Adsorbi claims its product lasts longer, doesnt release any hazardous organic compounds back into the air, and is water and fire-resistant. Plus, the material has half the carbon footprint of activated carbon, the startup said. Handily, the substance also changes colour to indicate when it needs to be replaced. Adsorbis material can be used in air filters, products that remove odours, and in museums to protect works of art. Credit: AdsorbiAir pollutant control is needed in many markets, and were ready to offer a commercial solution that ensures the air we breathe is clean without extensive use of fossil-based materials, said Johansson.Air pollution is something we usually associate with the outdoors. However, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the American Lung Association.Adsorbis patented material is designed to capture nitrogen oxides like nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) major contributors to air pollution as well as acids and aldehydes. The latter is commonly found in cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning products, odourant dispensers, and grooming aids.Last September, Adsorbi launched eco-friendly shoe deodoriser inserts in partnership with footwear giant Icebug and odour reducer Smellwell. The company said it is also working with multinational air filtration companies on several other products, including air fresheners and sustainable art conservation products. 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.Also tagged with

Apples Calendar app has been on the iPhone since the start, and rarely gets changed. But in the last few months, Calendar has been the subject of some compelling upgrades. And now, iOS 18.3 adds a feature that provides another reason to use the app.Calendar got several rare upgrades in iOS 18Apples strategy with the Calendar app has always been a bit perplexing to me. The company knows that lots of iPhone users have been drawn away by alternative apps like Google Calendar, and even indie offerings like Fantastical.Yet the company has mostly left Calendar unchanged for years. Despite worthy competition, Apple has shown little interest in making its own app better.But thats started to change.iOS 18 came with some of the biggest Calendar changes I can remember seeing.And honestly, theyre not that bigbut for Calendar, they are.One of the most significant upgrades was the integration of Reminders into the app. You can now create, edit, and view all your reminders from inside Calendar.Its a great addition, albeit limitedId love to enable only certain Reminders lists, but currently its all or none.Beyond that major new feature, iOS 18 also brought:a refreshed design with several typography and UI improvementsand a new Month view that shows your event detailsOverall, for an app that seldom gets any attention from Apple, iOS 18s updates have been a very welcome surprise.And just this week, a small iOS 18.3 addition provides yet another reason to use the built-in Calendar app.iOS 18.3 provides a small addition for Calendar app usersIf you own an iPhone 16 model featuring Camera Control, iOS 18.3 provides a new advantage for Apples Calendar app.Long-pressing Camera Control opens visual intelligence, a recent addition that turns your iPhones camera into an AI-infused tool.With visual intelligence you can get information about whatever your camera sees, and in some cases even take action on it.iOS 18.3 adds a nice feature addition for Calendar users.Use visual intelligence to point your iPhone at a flyer, poster, or some other sign containing a calendar date, and iOS 18.3 will offer to add that event to the Calendar app.Its a quick, easy way to bring real-world info into your digital calendar.iOS lets you change default apps in a variety of categories, but calendar isnt one of them.Which means the new visual intelligence feature will only work with Apples Calendar app.Its a relatively small addition, but also yet another new reason to stick with the built-in Calendar.Do you use Apples Calendar app? What do you think of the recent changes? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 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

Five days ago, Spotify disputed a report that Apple Music pays artists more than double compared to Spotifys average rates. In completely unrelated news, Spotify has published a blog post announcing record payouts to the music industry in 2024.Maybe its a coincidence, and it took four weeks to crunch the numbers! Anyway, Spotify says it paid out $10 billion to the music industry last year, nearly matching global recorded music revenue from a decade ago:In 2014, the music industry reached a low point when global recorded music revenues hit $13 billion. Spotifys annual contribution at the time was around $1 billion, with around 15 million paying subscribers.In 2024, Spotify alone paid out a record $10 billion to the music industry totaling nearly $60 billion since our founding.For a lot of people, those numbers might go in one ear and out the other. And theyd perhaps ask why Spotify keeps shouting about it.The rest of the blog post, written by Spotify Music Business VP David Kaefer, explains how Spotify generates revenue that funds the music industry. The three legs of the stool include making Spotify a stickier service, converting ad-supported listeners to paid subscribers, and monetizing new markets with compelling local prices.Another positive data point for Spotify? Providing a living for smaller artists:Case in point, we estimate that, in 2014, around 10,000 artists generated at least $10,000 per year on Spotify. Today,well over10,000 artists generate over$100,000 per yearfrom Spotify alone. Thats a beautiful thing.My takeaway is this: greater transparency in how artistsnot just the music industry as a wholeare paid is welcome. Still, its clear that Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services are responsible for creating great products that make paying more convenient than pirating.Top iPhone accessoriesAdd 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