Released to the wrong kind of fanfare back in November 2017, EA DICE’s sequel to their rebooted mass-arena warfare series set in the Disney-owned space opera universe courted controversy to near-comical degree before a blaster had even been fired. Overloaded by microtransactions and predatory loot box practices, Star Wars Battlefront II had a bad start. The biggest offence to early players on EA Access was that the franchise’s signature heroes – Luke Skywalker, Darth’s Vader and Maul, Obi Wan, Boba Fett, and so on – were hidden behind paywalls or, as was becoming increasingly commonplace at the time, only obtainable after unfathomably long hours spent accumulating whatever skill points or in-game currency was required to unlock them. Worse still was this over-abundance of loot boxes wasn’t present in the open beta conducted a few weeks earlier in October, so their emergence – as bad as it was – resonated much worse because it felt deceitful.   The comedy element in this pre-release debacle emerged during EA’s robust defence of their choices on a Reddit post; a post which became the most downvoted the website had ever seen and netted the not-yet-released title its first accolade: an unwanted Guinness World Record, for having – you guessed it – the most downvoted post in history.   The heads in EA’s boardroom didn’t take too kindly to this, but instead of doubling down they opted to listen to player concerns and perform a partial U-turn. First by dramatically reducing the cost of the franchise’s heroes then, the day before the game’s official release, by disabling microtransactions. We describe this as a partial U-turn as these microtransactions were re-enabled several months after release, but the only items for purchase were cosmetics, emotes, victory poses, that sort of thing. Certainly not the pay to win practices EA originally planned.   Arguably, these changes weren’t solely the result of player discontent. The loot boxes, in particular, harboured the very serious implication that they presented a form of gambling. So strong was the furore surrounding their inclusion that governments throughout Europe and North America began to investigate; not just their presence in Star Wars Battlefront II but in video games as a whole. After all, children play games and given Star Wars’ fanbase there was undoubtably a substantial player base awaiting Battlefront II’s release that were under eighteen. The comedic element in EA’s initial response is an undertone if anything. The loot box controversy clouding Star Wars Battlefront II grew into a seismic event for the industry. Paying for loot boxes which may or may not contain the items you want was officially declared as gambling, and it simply couldn’t continue to exist.    The industry isn’t cleansed of the practice altogether, of course, but the direction it was heading in 2017 was certainly for the worse. In a way, it’s great that this issue reared its head so prevalently when it did and, arguably, it’s because this was a Star Wars game that the uproar was so strong. After all, this is a beloved franchise with a then forty-year legacy. Its fans are passionate, and they’ll voice their discontent more rabidly than players of EA’s annual sports titles. Despite EA making wholesale changes to Star Wars Battlefront II’s pay to win progression, it’s release was still cloaked in negativity. However, there was a decent game underneath all the furore, and it was only improved upon by EA DICE in the subsequent years following post-release content which steadily emerged until support was abandoned in 2020. Changes to progression which came in March 2018 transformed the game into the one that’s playable today. To answer the question heading this feature, Star Wars Battlefront II is fixed, and it was the change to linear progression which did it. Now, troopers earn in-game skill points via playing not by paying. Completing objectives, blasting opponents, traditional levelling up. Enhancing the capability of the game’s characters are Star Cards, and these became unlockable through experience once they were removed from loot boxes. They govern progression for each of the game’s classes, heroes, AI reinforcements, and vehicles, with skill points being capable of upgrading a Star Card to its next tier or being put towards crafting new ones. This mechanic returned from Battlefront II’s predecessor, of course, but they were adjusted slightly to incorporate abilities and boosts, and they are crucial to gaining an edge during largescale battles. Boost cards enhance your unit’s pre-existing abilities, whereas ability cards unique to each trooper class can be swapped in and out. The latter is a rewarding endeavour for anyone who wishes to pursue a specific class of trooper – stealthier specialists, more destructive heavies, tougher assault troopers, et cetera. If Star Wars Battlefront II is indeed ‘fixed’ then an extra question we land upon now is this: is Star Wars Battlefront II still worth playing some eight years after release and approaching five years since any form of update? Well, if you’re playing on PC annoyingly the answer might be no, as currently hackers have spoiled the experience with game-ruining cheats and reports of harassment towards honest players. It’s a shame, as on console Star Wars Battlefront II is still a wonderfully cinematic, chaotic multiplayer experience. Make no mistake, concurrent players are nowhere near the level they’ve been in the past but in 2025 playing Star Wars Battlefront II online is alive and well. Matchmaking can take a few minutes, more so if you opt to select your chosen multiplayer mode instead of choosing quick match, but performance – on PlayStation, at least – is smooth and responsive. Graphically too, for a game that’s eight years old Star Wars Battlefront II still looks sublime, presenting a foray of scenery. It’d be nice to see the game remastered for current-gen hardware but given EA DICE’s decision to stop supporting the title and move onto other things – and to sadly drop production of a third Battlefront title – the past-gen version will have to do. Still looks and plays great, the latter of which is most important. Multiplayer is still the way to go though, as it always was. The game’s single player campaign, following Iden Versio as she commands the elite Imperial special forces unit Inferno Squad, pledges an inverse perspective on the Empire but never truly achieves it during the run-of-the-mill missions. There’re hints that Versio is empathetic – a perspective we’ve never really seen in any Star Wars game – but the interest here is never truly explored. No, EA DICE clearly concentrated much of their effort into online play, it’s numerous modes of which all have something good to offer, and the game’s offline arcade modes. Worth pointing out too is that the game’s cast of heroes are still overpowered. Once you earn enough battle points to take to the field as a lightsabre wielding Jedi or Sith, it’s ultra-satisfying scything through troopers. For anyone else caught in a lightsabre’s proximity, however, it can be devastating. Still, those panicky moments you round a corner and spot Darth Vader stomping towards you are quite amusing. The best moments during Star Wars Battlefront II, too, are when heroes face off against each other. Seeing Luke and Maul going at it through a shower of blaster fire and thermal detonator explosions is ultimate fan fiction material – there’s perhaps no other Star Wars game that can replicate those unique moments.       Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Jane Goodall says she was objectified by male scientists when she first appeared on the cover of National Geographic. Robin L Marshall/Getty Images 2025-05-22T04:30:39Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Jane Goodall, 91, says she was objectified by her male peers early in her career. "Back then, all I wanted was to get back to the chimps. So if my legs were getting me the money, thank you legs," she said. While her experience happened years ago, gender inequality persists in the workplace. Jane Goodall, 91, may be one of the world's leading primatologists now, but there was a time when she wasn't being taken seriously.During an appearance on Tuesday'sCall Her Daddy" podcast, Goodall reflected on the challenges she faced in her decadeslong career.Goodall told podcast host Alex Cooper that her love for animals started when she read "Tarzan of the Apes" as a child."Anyway, I knew there wasn't a Tarzan. But that's when my dream began," Goodall said. "I will grow up, go to Africa, live with wild animals, and write books — no thought of being a scientist."Most people around her thought her dream was unrealistic, except her mother, she said."And everybody said, 'That's ridiculous. I mean, you don't have money. Africa's far away and you're just a girl,'" Goodall said.Years later, Goodall appeared on the cover of National Geographic.She recalled being objectified by others in the scientific community who said that her looks, not her research, earned her the spotlight."Well, some of the jealous male scientists would say, well, you know, she's just got this notoriety and she's getting money from Geographic, and they want her on the cover, and they wouldn't put her on the cover if she didn't have nice legs," Goodall said.If someone had said that today, they'd be sued, she added. "Back then, all I wanted was to get back to the chimps. So if my legs were getting me the money, thank you legs. And if you look at those covers, they were jolly nice legs," Goodall said.The English conservationist acknowledged that things are different now."I did it by accepting that, in a way, they were right. So, thank you for giving me this advantage. It was good to give me that money," Goodall said. "I know that for me it was a long time ago. It was a different era. It wouldn't work today. "While Goodall's experience may have unfolded years ago, gender inequality persists in the workplace.Sexism at work comes in many forms, including wage disparities, stereotypes, and harassment.Several female celebrities have also spoken up about the discrimination they faced in Hollywood.In an interview with Porter magazine in November 2023, Anne Hathaway said she was told her career would "fall off a cliff" after she turned 35.In January 2024, Sofia Vergara told the LA Times that her acting jobs were limited because of her "stupid accent."Kathy Bates told Variety in September that she could have a long acting career only because she "wasn't a beauty queen."A representative for Goodall did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours. Recommended video

Former Bungie developers are speaking out about the problems Bungie is facing internally, and all signs point to leadership and structural issues following Sony's acquisition of Bungie, and a human resources department, or at least, a single member of that department, covering up internal issues of harassment for personal gain on their exit from the studio. Internal issues at Bungie, unfortunately, aren't anything new, but this latest slew of details comes from Destin Legarie, who published a video on his YouTube channel after speaking to former Bungie developers. Many of the comments are quite damning, and paint the picture of a Bungie that is not the same studio it once was when every first-person shooter fan on the planet couldn't wait to see what they would do next. No direct names were mentioned in the video as to who the former Bungie employees were calling out, everything was kept in more general terms with just the word 'leadership' being used to represent Bungie's top brass. All of this came about after Bungie was caught using artwork and/or art assets from another artist without their permission or crediting them for the fourth time in recent years. "Everything happening to Bungie is because of greed," a former Bungie developer told Legarie. Another quote went further, saying "Bungie's problem stem from a lack of player empathy, disconnected leadership, and a corporate-first culture." Another quote reads "Internal language shifted from 'studio,' 'games,' and 'players,' to 'company,' 'product,' and 'customers,' during the Sony acquisition," highlighting how the studio has seemingly shifted its viewpoint that making good games for players to enjoy is no longer the ultimate goal, and is instead making games that make as much money as possible. There have been negative stories about internal problems at the Destiny 2 developer for the past couple of years, and morale certainly can't be helped by the layoffs the studio has suffered. All of leadership might be part of the problem, which is what seems to be the speculation in this video, but as Legarie points out, the buck has to stop somewhere, and in the case of Bungie, that's with chief executive officer Pete Parsons. It's extremely unfortunate that the studio behind Halo and Destiny, two of the biggest shooter franchises in video game history, is facing all of this, and could see its end due to its allegedly greedy and inconsiderate leaders who have lost the plot, and the fact that if not for the studio making games that people wanted to play in the first place, none of them would be where they are. Deal of the Day

Ubisoft CEO to be summoned to court in Ubisoft harassment trial Yves Guillemot and HR director Marie Derain will be summoned to highlight the alleged "systemic nature of harassment" at Ubisoft News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on May 21, 2025 Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot and human resources director Marie Derain will be summoned to court to testify in the trial of three former Ubisoft executives accused of sexist and racist behaviors. As reported by the union Solidaires Informatique via VGC, Guillemot and Derain have been called in the trial of Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux, all of whom have been accused of sexual harassment. After delays pertaining to errors by the prosecution, the trial is set to begin on June 2, 2025. Former chief creative officer Serge Hascoët and ex-VP of editorial and creative services Tommy François both left the publisher in summer 2020, following allegations of widespread abuse, harassment, and discrimination within Ubisoft, including claims against the two executives. In all, five former executives from Ubisoft were arrested by French police in 2023 following a year-long investigation into sexual assault and harassment within the company. "Beyond the personal responsibility of these three executives, this trial will highlight Ubisoft's responsibility in setting up a system aimed at keeping harassers in place while silencing their victims," the union said (as translated by machine). "As Mr. Beckers indicated during the March hearing, 'this case is broader and involves many more people, both on the side of the victims and the defendants.' It is not a question of a few individual actions, but of a well-oiled mechanism of insularity, work organization, and management that allowed this violence to continue within the company for years. One of the defendants' lawyers himself said: 'Ubisoft is the ghost of the case.'" The statement said Guillemot and Derain had been summoned to highlight the "systemic nature of harassment" at Ubisoft. Last week, Ubisoft released its financial results for the full 2024-25 fiscal year, reporting a "solid balance sheet" and "very strong praise" for Assassin's Creed Shadows - which delivered the second-highest Day One sales in franchise history after Valhalla - despite hefty drops in revenue, net bookings, digital net bookings, and back-catalog net bookings across the year.

Ming - stock.adobe.com Opinion UK Fraud Bill targets benefit claimants for mass surveillance The UK government’s proposed Fraud Bill will disproportionately place millions of benefit claimants under constant surveillance, creating a two-tier system where people are automatically suspected of wrongdoing for seeking welfare By Anna Dent Published: 21 May 2025 Earlier this month the House of Lords had its first debate on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.  The Bill aims to reduce government losses to benefit fraud and error, and would give the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) unprecedented powers of investigation to routinely and covertly check benefit claimants' bank accounts, the right to enter private homes, and to seize drivers' licenses or money from bank accounts. Expert organisations including Justice, the Public Law Project and Big Brother Watch warn that although the aim of the Bill is hugely important, the proposed powers are disproportionate and represent a breach of human rights. As Baroness Finn remarked in the Lords, "support for the goal must not mean silence about the means." The Bill promises an expanded regime of digital surveillance for people in receipt of Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, and State Pension Credit. This includes the introduction of an 'Eligibility Verification Measure' (EVM) which would enable DWP to direct banks to check millions of bank accounts for as yet unspecified indicators of benefit fraud and error.  DWP already has similar powers but crucially can only use them where it has 'reasonable grounds' to suspect fraud is taking place, which is the standard threshold for many comparable state powers. This Bill would completely remove that threshold, and enable intrusive surveillance without any justification. Details on exactly how the EVM will be used are sparse, but it could theoretically result in every single claimant’s bank account being checked, with no suspicion or indication of any fraud, error or over-payment needed.  Accounts flagged through these checks would then be passed to a member of DWP staff for further investigation, but what this will involve is still unclear. A code of practice to accompany the Bill is still unpublished, so we don't actually know what sequence of events would play out. Will individuals be informed when they are being investigated? Will their benefits be suspended during an investigation? Will their claim be assessed by other fraud algorithms? In some circumstances, the Department could automatically take money from the bank accounts of people no longer on benefits if they are deemed to have committed fraud or been accidentally overpaid. Banks will be prevented from informing their customers that this recovery process is happening, so the first that a customer might know is when money disappears from their account.  The finance industry has expressed concern about tensions between the obligations the Bill would create and financial institutions' consumer obligations, the risks of financial harm to vulnerable customers, and the lack of robust safeguards for the transfer of banking data. Others are concerned about the potential for miscarriages of justice which many will be unable to effectively challenge: the benefits covered by the Bill are only available to people on a low income, who are unlikely to have the means to engage in legal action. These powers would apply to both fraud and error, including over-payments caused by the Department's own mistakes. Overpayments can be caused by myriad mistakes on the part of DWP or claimant, or both, and the complexity of making claims is well known. But under the Bill, fraud and error will be treated the same, with the same digital surveillance deployed and the same powers to seize money and other assets. Universal Credit already appears to be particularly prone to mistakes and over-payments. Rather than punishing people after the fact, it would be better for DWP to work out why it is particularly vulnerable, do more to help people avoid mistakes, and reduce the rate at which their own mistakes cause over-payments. Treating all claimants like intentional fraudsters stigmatises people on benefits, and risks people who need financial support disengaging from the benefit system. Rather than focus on professional criminals who are actively defrauding the Department, the bill scoops everyone up and places them all under suspicion. It creates a two-tier system in which benefit claimants would be subject to an invasion of privacy not applied to the rest of the population: millions of people who have done nothing wrong will be laid open to mass surveillance. DWP officers would be given police-like powers of entry to private premises and seizure of private property. This is an extraordinary expansion of very serious powers targeted at one section of society. It fundamentally undermines basic rights to privacy and to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.  Whether the ends justify these heavy-handed means is doubtful. The Department's own impact assessment estimates that just 2% of social security fraud and error over-payments will be clawed back through the use of these powers over 10 years: a disproportionate invasion of privacy for little benefit. The finance industry also warns that the organised gangs who carry out large-scale benefit fraud using sophisticated methods to avoid detection will easily find ways to work around the new powers.  Also on its way through the legislative process is the Data Use and Access Bill, which proposes to reduce the requirement for human oversight of automated decisions within government. If both Bills pass into law as currently drafted, there is a potential future in which the human-in-the-loop safeguards relating to digital bank surveillance are no longer legally required. This leaves the door open to hugely consequential decisions being made entirely by automated systems. We know that existing DWP fraud algorithms generate bias; the introduction of more automation and digital surveillance and the potential for less human oversight should trouble us all.  Increasing the number of people that are flagged for investigation via these new powers could put thousands more through the difficult process of fraud investigation. DWP’s own figures show that three-quarters of people whose benefit claims are flagged as suspicious actually have no fraud or error related to their claim at all. Ten million people receive the benefits that will be covered by the new powers: if even 1% of claimants are wrongly investigated many thousands of people will be affected.  As well as the immediate impact of these disproportionate powers, politicians need to be aware of the precedents they are setting, and how the legislation could be used by other administrations in future. Eliminating the need for the government to justify wholesale digital surveillance removes a basic protection against state over-reach. Only the state pension is explicitly excluded from the powers in the Bill: a government with an even more single-minded obsession with efficiency and fraud could roll out the bank surveillance to many, many other people. What will affect a minority now could become the norm for the majority. Anna Dent is an independent researcher and policy consultant, working on the digital welfare state and human-centred technology Read more about digital surveillance UK government outlines plan to surveil migrants with eVisa data: Electronic visa data and biometric technologies will be used by the UK’s immigration enforcement authorities to surveil migrants living in the country and to ‘tighten control of the border’, attracting strong criticism from migrant support groups. AI surveillance towers place migrants in ‘even greater jeopardy’: The use of autonomous surveillance towers throughout the English coast forces migrants into increasingly dangerous routes and contributes to their criminalisation. Invasive tracking ‘endemic’ on sensitive support websites: Websites set up by police, charities and universities to help people get support for sensitive issues like addiction and sexual harassment are deploying tracking technologies that harvest information without proper consent. In The Current Issue: UK critical systems at risk from ‘digital divide’ created by AI threats UK at risk of Russian cyber and physical attacks as Ukraine seeks peace deal Standard Chartered grounds AI ambitions in data governance Download Current Issue Microsoft entices developers to build more Windows AI apps – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog Red Hat launches llm-d community & project – Open Source Insider View All Blogs

Machine Learning Engineering Manager – MarketplaceRobloxSan Mateo, CA, United States2 hours agoApplyEvery day, tens of millions of people come to Roblox to explore, create, play, learn, and connect with friends in 3D immersive digital experiences– all created by our global community of developers and creators.At Roblox, we’re building the tools and platform that empower our community to bring any experience that they can imagine to life. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together, from anywhere in the world, and on any device. We’re on a mission to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and looking for amazing talent to help us get there.A career at Roblox means you’ll be working to shape the future of human interaction, solving unique technical challenges at scale, and helping to create safer, more civil shared experiences for everyone.Machine Learning Engineering Manager – MarketplaceAt Roblox, our Marketplace Search & Recommendation team powers the discovery of avatar content across the platform—from bodies, clothing, and accessories to fully styled outfits—spanning the Roblox app and immersive in-experience surfaces. We’re reimagining how discovery and personalization can unlock creativity and economic opportunity for millions of users and creators.We’re looking for a Machine Learning Engineering Manager to lead a team of exceptional ML engineers tackling core challenges across ranking, retrieval, and multimodal content understanding. This includes everything from advancing deep learning models for search and recommendation, to developing systems that understand the textual and visual semantics of avatar content and drive long-term value for the Roblox economy.You Will::Define and drive the technical roadmap for ML across Search, Recommendation, and Content Understanding.Lead the development of scalable, production-ready ML systems—from raw data to model deployment.Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and data science to build intelligent discovery experiences.Recruit, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of ML engineers.Establish engineering best practices to ensure system reliability, extensibility, and performance.You Have:Leadership Experience: 3+ years managing ML engineers or scientists; 5+ years building ML systems at scale in search, recommender systems, or ads.Strong Technical Foundation: Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, or a related field—or equivalent hands-on experience.Depth in ML: Proven track record shipping deep learning models across ranking, retrieval, NLP, computer vision, or multimodal pipelines. Experience using transformer architectures and LLMs in production systems is a strong plus.End-to-End Execution: You’ve built ML systems from data ingestion to serving in production.Strategic Thinking: You’re comfortable balancing near-term impact with long-term innovation.Team-first Mindset: A collaborative leader who thrives on mentoring and enabling others to succeed.For roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA: The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits.Annual Salary Range$289,460 — $338,270 USDRoles that are based in our San Mateo, CA Headquarters are in-office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with optional in-office on Monday and Friday (unless otherwise noted).Roblox provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Roblox also provides reasonable accommodations for all candidates during the interview process. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Are teenagers at risk of harm from smartphones? Experts disagreeDrazen Zigic/Getty Images An attempt to reach a scientific consensus on the potential harms posed by smartphones and social media use in young people has descended into an argument among researchers. This failed consensus suggests it will be difficult for policy-makers to lean on existing evidence when deciding how to regulate such technologies. Valerio Capraro at the University of Milan-Bicocca in Italy and more than 100 colleagues, drawn from 11 different disciplines, have published a “consensus statement” on the potential negative effects of smartphone use on adolescents. “We’ve been following the discussion about the debate, and we thought that maybe we could try to find a common ground between different viewpoints,” says Capraro. Advertisement The researchers analysed 26 detailed claims about the use of smartphones’ impact on teenagers’ mental health, such as that heavy use of phones can cause sleep deprivation or behavioural addiction. These claims were drawn from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt at New York University, a book that has been influential in the debate over smartphones, but also heavily criticised by some researchers. Haidt himself is also a co-author of the statement. Each researcher then individually rated whether they agreed with each claim, as well as the strength of evidence supporting the claims. There was broad agreement on several critical points; 99 per cent agreed that adolescent mental health had declined notably in the US, with similar trends in other Western nations. And 98 per cent concurred that heavy smartphone use correlates strongly with sleep disturbances. More than 94 per cent of experts surveyed agreed that young girls encountered particular issues, including unduly comparing themselves to peers, feeling the need to look perfect and being exposed to online sexual harassment. However, the experts also agreed in similarly high proportions that the evidence for these claims is only correlational, not causal. More rigorous research, including longitudinal studies tracking smartphone users over time, would be needed to prove a correlation, many agreed. Overall, while more than 90 per cent agreed something was wrong with young people, only 52 per cent supported policy actions like age restrictions and phone bans in schools. The latest science news delivered to your inbox, every day. Sign up to newsletter Despite that caveat, the researchers suggest that shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction by policy-makers. “Obtaining high-quality causal evidence of the effectiveness of policy decisions often takes years, whereas policymakers often have to make decisions in rapidly changing environments with limited data,” they wrote. But researchers who weren’t involved with the consensus statement have disputed its findings, and it has also drawn criticism on social media. For example, Pete Etchells at Bath Spa University, UK, points out that only around 120 of the 288 invited experts from across various disciplines took part in the process. He suggests that those who believe smartphones have a negative impact on adolescents would be more likely to opt in to a survey like this – thus skewing the outcomes. “I’d like to see them account for potential expert biases in their dataset,” he says. “I don’t think they do this.” Etchells, who has also written a book on the subject, wonders how those 288 initially invited experts were selected: “I know I wasn’t contacted about this at any point.” Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics also disagrees with the researchers selected to form a consensus. “The long list is meant to provide a sense of balance, but it mainly lists those on one side of the argument. If science is not balanced, it is nothing,” she says. Capraro defends the diversity of the panel, saying that “thousands of people are working on these topics around the world”, and that “it’s not feasible to contact them all”. Questions of who took part aside, Livingstone also takes issue with the claims examined. “The problem is that it’s a biased set of questions. They don’t ask, ‘is there also evidence [that] social media can improve mental health or friendships or a sense of belonging?’ There is also evidence for those,” she says. Capraro says the aim of the research was to “represent as many viewpoints as possible” on a “very hotly debated topic”. Reference:PsyArXiv DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/b94dy_v1 Topics:

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has published its new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for 2025 to 2027, outlining a plan that seeks to improve access to the profession and raise standards around workplace culture and conduct. The strategy sets out four headline goals. The first two are focused on ARB’s regulatory remit: becoming a more inclusive organisation and increasing access to the register for underrepresented groups. The other two seek to support sector-wide change through collaboration, aiming to create more inclusive workplace cultures and end discrimination and sexual harassment in the profession. According to ARB, the architects register does not yet reflect the diversity of the society it is meant to serve. The new EDI strategy was developed with support from Purpose Union, a consultancy specialising in social impact. The process included a review of ARB’s legal remit, as well as its internal policies and procedures, and an analysis of best practice from other organisations. Purpose Union also held detailed consultations with key stakeholders, including the RIBA. The strategy is further informed by ARB-commissioned research into professional culture and misconduct in architecture, carried out by Thinks Insight & Strategy. Source: ARBAlan Kershaw, chair of the ARB board ARB chair Alan Kershaw said: “This strategy is a bold step toward building a profession that truly reflects the diversity of our society, and a profession where talent and ability, not background or circumstance, determine success.” He added that ARB was already acting on a number of the commitments set out in the document. One of the first steps in the plan is a new research project to find out whether ARB’s recent changes to architectural education are helping more people enter the profession. The education changes removed the need to follow the traditional three-part qualification route and are intended to make it easier for people to qualify through different types of courses and career paths. Other planned steps include more data collection on student demographics and attrition, a new survey of registered architects, and the development of an online resource hub to support those experiencing discrimination. ARB also intends to strengthen guidance through its Code of Conduct and convene a senior leaders’ taskforce to promote greater diversity in decision-making roles. While some goals fall within ARB’s direct powers, the regulator acknowledges that others require broader collaboration across the sector. The strategy states that progress will depend on engagement from architectural practices, educational institutions and professional bodies such as RIBA. Implementation of the strategy is set to begin in 2025. ARB said it does not expect all goals to be achieved within three years, but described the plan as a long-term commitment to reducing barriers to entry and progression across the profession.

Head of CreativeAspyr MediaAustin, Texas, United States42 minutes agoApply**Please note that all positions posted for Aspyr Media, Inc. are in-person/in-office only; remote positions are not available.**Aspyr Media, Inc. is an independent, full-service developer and publisher for the industry's leading games. Over the last 25 years, Aspyr has helped nearly 200 games reach their next level across all platforms and beyond expectations.Founded in 1996, Aspyr Media, Inc. got its start in Austin, TX by bringing the biggest PC gaming franchises such as Call of Duty, Sid Meier’s Civilization and Star Wars to Mac. Today, Aspyr is a video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games. We find the world's best games and connect them to new audiences, on all platforms.Responsibilities:The Head of Creative is responsible for leading the vision, quality, and execution of all creative elements across Aspyr’s portfolio. This includes ownership of game design, art direction, narrative, and player experience. As the senior creative leader, this role ensures that every product reflects a strong, cohesive vision that resonates with players and supports Aspyr’s business objectives. The Head of Creative will collaborate closely with executive leadership, product, production, and development teams, as well as external licensors and partners.Essential Functions:Define and champion the creative vision for Aspyr’s games, ensuring alignment with company strategy, market expectations, and player engagement goalsLead multidisciplinary creative teams including game design, narrative, and visual development, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovationEstablish and uphold creative standards and processes that ensure consistency, quality, and clarity of vision across all titlesPartner with Product, Production, and Engineering leaders to balance creative ambition with schedule, budget, and resource constraintsGuide concept development, IP pitch materials, and greenlight presentations with strong storytelling and visual impactWork directly with external licensors to maintain brand integrity and push creative boundaries within existing IP frameworksEnsure player-centric thinking is embedded in design, art, and narrative decisions throughout the game lifecycleAttract, develop, and retain top creative talent across disciplinesRepresent Aspyr’s creative philosophy and vision in internal leadership discussions and external partner communicationsPreferred Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Game Design, Fine Arts, Creative Writing, or a related field12 + years of experience in creative leadership roles in the video game industryProven track record as a Creative Director, Art Director, Narrative Director, or similar senior role on shipped titlesDeep expertise in at least one core creative discipline (game design, art, or narrative) with working knowledge across othersDemonstrated ability to lead cross-functional creative teams and build cohesive, player-focused experiencesExperience working with licensed IPs and navigating approvals with major licensorsStrong presentation and communication skills with the ability to inspire teams and influence stakeholdersExperience shipping titles across multiple platforms including console and PCComfortable working in both hands-on and high-level strategic capacitiesPassion for storytelling, visual worldbuilding, and immersive gameplay experiencesAspyr is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Aspyr are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Aspyr will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Aspyr encourages applicants of all ages. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

TikTok is in an exceptionally tough spot these days. Despite everyone you know using it for hours on end, the video-sharing app is currently facing legislation that would force its ban in the U.S pending a potential sale, and prospective buyers are lining up. One of these potential buyers is reportedly Bobby Kotick, the former boss of Activision Blizzard, according to the Wall Street Journal.Suggested ReadingWhy This Under-the-Radar AAA Title Is More Than Just A Far Cry Clone Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingWhy This Under-the-Radar AAA Title Is More Than Just A Far Cry Clone Share SubtitlesOffEnglishTikTok has been scrutinized for years by U.S. lawmakers who have argued that its China-based parent company ByteDance may share data it collects with the Chinese government, or that the app could serve as a propaganda delivery tool. Despite tensions ramping up some time ago, leading many to believe that the app would be banned in the U.S., matters had seemingly cooled until a bill was pushed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week, ratcheting up the pressure on ByteDance. The bill is expected to be reviewed and approved by the House of Representatives this week before being sent to the Senate, and President Joe Biden has already claimed he would sign off on a ban if the bill made it through legislation.The bill requires that ByteDance “divest itself” of TikTok or see the app banned in the U.S., which has led to renewed interest from potential buyers, including Kotick. Kotick, according to WSJ’s sources, has floated the idea of a buy to ByteDance’s co-founder and is reportedly looking for partners, which could include Sam Altman of OpenAI. According to the Wall Street Journal, “OpenAI could use TikTok to help train its AI models if a partner such as Kotick could raise the capital for such an acquisition.” TikTok’s sale has been estimated to be in the range of “hundreds of billions of dollars.”Kotick departed from Activision Blizzard late last year after completing the publisher’s $68 billion sale to Microsoft. Kotick’s tenure at Activision Blizzard spanned decades and came under fire in 2021, when the state of California filed a now-dismissed lawsuit following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. Ultimately, California’s Civil Rights Department withdrew all allegations and claims relating to harassment and settled with Activision Blizzard in December 2023 for $54 million to resolve unsubstantiated pay and promotions claims.The court-approved settlement included a statement that provided that: “[N]o court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard; that Activision Blizzard senior executives ignored, condoned, or tolerated a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination; or that Activision Blizzard’s Board of Directors including its Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kotick, acted improperly with regard to the handling of any instances of workplace misconduct.”In addition, the settlement noted that a former chair of the EEOC had conducted a review of the company’s policies, practices and certain complaint data and reported that there was no widespread harassment at the company. The company itself publicly released its Transparency Report, which further asserted that there was never been widespread or systemic harassment or gender pay inequity at Activision Blizzard. Kotick departed with a golden parachute estimated to be worth around $15 million.Updated: 04/01/2024, 2:00 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include details of the CRD settlement, that Activision Blizzard denied any wrongdoing, and the settlement confirms CRD could not substantiate those claims. Updated: 05/17/2025, 12:10 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include additional language from the CRD settlement, and to include that as part of the settlement, the CRD withdrew the claims related to harassment from its complaint..