Month: January 2022

Rainbow Six Extraction review – Call of Duty’s zombie mode crossed with XCOM’s alien invaders

PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One Xbox Series X/S; UbisoftThis tense co-operative shooter is thoroughly entertaining, as much for the ideas it borrows as the ideas it comes up with Sometimes a video game can be thoroughly entertaining, not for any new ideas it brings to the table, but for the way in which it combines …

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Google’s ‘dragonscale’ solar-powered roof signals growing demand for sustainable workspaces

Tightening regulations and a growing eco-conscious workforce are major factors in heralding green office campuses Around 40 miles south of San Francisco, three futuristic structures rise from the earth. With sloping roofs clad in thousands of overlapping tiles, the buildings could be mistaken for the world’s most architecturally advanced circus tent. They are, in fact, …

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Boris Johnson’s faster broadband promise is being broken, say MPs

UK ‘little nearer to closing great digital divide’ between cities and rural areas, says committee Boris Johnson’s promise to “level up” the nation by providing next-generation-speed broadband to most homes by 2025 is under threat as rural dwellers are left behind in the internet revolution, according to a report by parliament’s spending watchdog. The report …

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Microsoft’s Activision plan shows gaming will be at heart of metaverse

Activision Blizzard deal would help Xbox compete against PlayStation – but will regulators play along? Microsoft’s planned takeover of Activision Blizzard puts the tech company at the centre of two big issues facing the sector: the metaverse and Washington’s determination to rein in big tech. The metaverse is where the physical and digital worlds come …

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Microsoft to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard for nearly $70bn

Tech giant acquires publisher of games including World of Warcraft and Candy Crush Microsoft is to pay almost $70bn to buy Activision Blizzard, the publisher of mega franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush, in the biggest ever takeover in the tech and gaming sectors. Microsoft said that the $68.7bn (£50.6bn) …

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Treasury plans crackdown on ‘misleading’ cryptocurrency ads

Move to change law would see assets subject to the same FCA rules as shares and insurance The government has unveiled plans to crack down on misleading cryptocurrency ads by making them subject to the same regulations as marketing for other financial products such as shares and insurance. The Treasury has responded to rising concern …

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Three things with Nazeem Hussain: ‘please don’t make this sound sexual’

In our weekly interview about objects, the comedian shares his love of massage guns, and a sad childhood story of loss Read more Three Things interviews here Nazeem Hussain will bring a new standup comedy show to the Adelaide Fringe festival in February – just don’t ask him to tell you what it’s about. “I’m …

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Israeli citizens targeted by police using Pegasus spyware, report claims

Investigation alleges Israeli police carried out phone intercepts without court supervision or monitoring of how data was used The Israeli police allegedly conducted warrantless phone intercepts of Israeli citizens, including politicians and activists, using the NSO group’s controversial Pegasus spyware, according to an investigation by the Israeli business media site Calcalist. Among those described as …

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Why the pure, uncomplicated Wordle is what viral games are all about

In this week’s newsletter: when every game tries to collect our data and monetise our attention, it’s no wonder the world responded positively to one that’s simple, fun and free Don’t get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Welcome to Pushing Buttons, the Guardian’s gaming newsletter. If you’d like to receive it …

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‘Who’s to say it’s not real?’ Street artist Kaws on creating Fortnite’s first exhibition

The New Yorker has made a virtual art show to take place within the smash-hit game – and a real-life one at London’s Serpentine with a touch of augmented reality. Can it get young gamers into galleries? For Brian Donnelly – known as Kaws since his graffiti beginnings in 1990s New York – art has …

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