All posts tagged: developer

Apple Opens Developer Accounts on bilibili and LinkedIn Before WWDC 2026

Apple Opens Developer Accounts on bilibili and LinkedIn Before WWDC 2026

Published by skeptic

As Apple gears up to connect with developers at the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference in June, it has created new Apple Developer accounts on two new social networks. Apple Developer can be found on bilibili in China and LinkedIn. Apple says that its developer accounts will provide the latest news, announcements, videos, and events for the Worldwide Developers Conference, as well as any upcoming Meet with Apple activities. Bilibili is a popular Chinese video-sharing platform that’s similar to YouTube, so Apple will be sharing video on the site. LinkedIn is a global site that is aimed at professional networking. Apple this month also introduced a new Hello Apple Instagram account, which the company will use to share news, stories, product marketing, and more to highlight how Apple products inspire creativity to help make a difference in everyday lives. Popular Stories iOS 27 Will Reportedly Be Like Mac OS X Snow Leopard In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reiterated that iOS 27 will be similar to 2009’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in …

Apple to Cut App Store Developer Fees in China From March 15

Apple to Cut App Store Developer Fees in China From March 15

Published by skeptic

Apple has announced it is lowering App Store developer fees in China from March 15, with commission rates for standard in-app purchases (IAPs) set to change to 25%, down from 30%. In an update on its Developer blog, Apple also said the commission rate for qualifying IAPs under the App Store Small Business Program and Mini Apps Partner Program (and auto-renewals of IAP subscriptions after the first year) will be 12%, down from the current 15%. Apple said the changes are a result of “discussions with the Chinese regulator,” indicating the move is to avoid regulatory intervention. A report last year revealed that China’s antitrust watchdog, the State Administration for Market Regulation, was investigating Apple’s app fees in the region. A similar change was recently made in Japan, where Apple lowered its commission to 21% on some third-party in-app payments, among other major changes, due to regulatory pressure. In its update today, Apple said that signing the updated terms by March 15 is not required “to receive the benefit of these commission rate changes starting …

Video Game Developer Heart Machine Voluntarily Recognizes Union

Video Game Developer Heart Machine Voluntarily Recognizes Union

Published by Daniella Wilson

The indie video game studio Heart Machine has voluntarily recognized a union formed by staff members. The developer behind 2021’s Solar Ash and 2016’s Hyper Light Drifter agreed to recognize a wall-to-wall union representing all non-managerial employees, the Communications Workers of America announced on Monday. Previously, the union states, a majority of the workers at the studio signaled their interest in joining CWA. Thirteen employees are included in the bargaining unit, including animators, designers, gameplay engineers, environmental artists and a gameplay tools engineer. Heart Machine is based in L.A. and the union will be under the umbrella of Burbank-based CWA Local 9003. “I decided to get involved in organizing my studio because I’ve seen so many peers in the industry stand up to protect the craft we all care so deeply about. Watching that momentum grow made me realize that if we love this work, we have to protect it, especially now,” said gameplay tools engineer Steph Aligbe in a statement. “Our union is proud that our studio chose to voluntarily recognize our union and …

Snap Spectacles Developer Kit: 46° View & 45-Minute Runtime

Snap Spectacles Developer Kit: 46° View & 45-Minute Runtime

Published by skeptic

Snap’s latest AR glasses, available as the Spectacles developer kit, mark a notable advancement in wearable augmented reality. Unlike systems that depend on external devices, these glasses project holograms directly into the user’s surroundings. According to Cas and Chary XR, the hardware still has significant constraints, such as a 46° diagonal field of view and a battery life limited to 45 minutes. These factors underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing technical performance with usability in compact designs. You’ll learn how Snap’s AR glasses use features like instant spatial mapping to streamline interactions without requiring prior environment scanning. The guide also examines the role of Snap OS 2.0 and the Lens system in supporting app functionality and performance. Additionally, you’ll see how specific use cases, such as live translation and interactive gaming, demonstrate the potential of this technology in everyday scenarios. What Sets Snap’s AR Glasses Apart? TL;DR Key Takeaways : Snap’s advanced AR glasses aim to integrate holograms seamlessly into physical surroundings, showcasing significant progress in consumer AR technology despite current hardware limitations like bulky …

Former New York real estate developer Joshua Schuster admits investor fraud and gambling losses scheme

Former New York real estate developer Joshua Schuster admits investor fraud and gambling losses scheme

Published by skeptic

A once-prominent New York City real estate developer has admitted in federal court that he cheated investors who trusted him with their money for luxury property deals to fuel a gambling habit. Joshua Schuster, 42, now living in Boca Raton, Florida, stood before a judge in the Southern District of New York and pleaded guilty to securities fraud. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2026. "Joshua Schuster promised to build real estate across our City. Instead, he stole more than $13 million,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fraud in the real estate market costs all New Yorkers and we will bring fraudsters to justice.”https://t.co/5UDkTMVGxI — US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) February 27, 2026 Prosecutors say the investments were supposed to bankroll high-end real estate projects. Instead, much of the cash went elsewhere. Former New York developer allegedly diverts money to fund gambling According to federal authorities, Schuster did not put investor funds toward the developments he had pitched. Rather than …

‘Skate’ developer Full Circle announces layoffs ahead of new game release

‘Skate’ developer Full Circle announces layoffs ahead of new game release

Published by skeptic

Full Circle, the gaming studio behind the new iteration of Skate, has recently announced a restructuring involving layoffs at its headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. Founded in 2021 as a subsidiary of Electronic Arts, Full Circle is just the latest in a series of AAA gaming studios to be hit by layoffs, with Ubisoft Toronto laying off 40 employees last week.  SEE ALSO: ‘Mario Tennis Fever’ takes Mario sports back to arcade basics in the best way In their public-facing announcement, entitled “skate.’s Next Chapter,” the company lamented that the people affected by layoffs “are talented colleagues and friends who helped build the foundation of skate,” while shouting out the “tens of millions” of people who have explored the Early Access version of skate. released last September. “To our departing teammates: thank you. skate. exists because of your hard work and dedication to the craft.” The original Skate games were released in the late 2000s for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and marketed as more realistic skateboarding games compared to the rival Tony Hawk’s …

India disrupts access to popular developer platform Supabase with blocking order

India disrupts access to popular developer platform Supabase with blocking order

Published by skeptic

Supabase, a popular developer database platform, is facing disruptions in India — one of its key markets — has been blocked in India, TechCrunch has learned. New Delhi ordered internet providers to block its website, resulting in patchy access across networks. The blocking order was issued on February 24 under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, according to a source familiar with the matter. The provision empowers the government to restrict public access to online content. The Indian government did not publicly cite a reason for the move, and it was not immediately clear whether the action was linked to a cybersecurity concern, copyright complaint, or another issue. It was also unclear how long the restrictions would remain in place. Access to Supabase has been inconsistent in India over the past several days, with the San Francisco-based company acknowledging the issue in posts on social media starting Wednesday. While the restrictions were first reported by Supabase on Reliance Industries’ JioFiber network, users have since flagged similar problems across multiple internet providers and telecom networks. …

When is the Xbox Developer Direct? UK time and how to watch

When is the Xbox Developer Direct? UK time and how to watch

Published by Daniella Wilson

The big day is here, and in short order, we’ll get a glimpse of what’s been cooking at team Microsoft, and so, we’ve got all you need to know about when the Xbox Developer Direct is and what to expect. Not only that, but we’ll also touch on when to watch the Xbox Developer Direct in the UK, and mercifully, it’s at a humane time, unlike awards shows taking place in the US. We’re also expected something unexpected, but more on that later… But what with the news of Xbox consoles not selling well and Game Pass price increases, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about, but despite hardware and wallet woes, first-party games from Xbox are usually great, such as The Outer Worlds 2 and Doom: The Dark Ages and can be played day-one on Game Pass. Though if you have just picked up a new Xbox Ally (sans the X moniker), you might struggle to play some of the games on show. But, as for when and where to watch …

Indie Developer Deleting Entire Game From Steam Due to Shame From Having Used AI

Indie Developer Deleting Entire Game From Steam Due to Shame From Having Used AI

Published by José Betancourt

Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Getty Images An indie game developer experienced a moment of profound moral clarity, and is now deleting his partially-AI-made game from the digital storefront Steam. The game, dubbed “Hardest,” is a free-to-play “rock-paper-scissors” roguelike card game released last July to mixed-to-negative reviews (of which there are barely thirty total.) Some users called it “soulless” and disparaged it for using AI art. Now the developer, Eero “Rakuel” Laine, appears to agree with those haters. On January 10, Laine posted a surprise update to the Hardest page announcing that he would be deleting the game by the end of January, sounding penitent for his mortal sin of indulging in an AI shortcut. “I made this game during the summer in [a] couple months and thought to use AI because in university there is so much brainwashing on students and all the tools are given for free,” he explained. “But I have realized [that] AI is not actually free, and it has a major effect on the economy and environment.”  “Some …

Merkur Group has acquired a ‘significant stake’ in ETG developer Spintec

Merkur Group has acquired a ‘significant stake’ in ETG developer Spintec

Published by skeptic

Merkur Group has expanded its partnership with electronic table game developer Spintec to acquire a “significant stake” in the company. After initially investing back in 2019, Merkur Group has now acquired what it describes as “a significant stake” in Slovenia-based developer and of electronic table games (ETGs) Spintec d.o.o. “Spintec is a highly innovative and successful ETG specialist, distinguished above all by outstanding quality and a strong global footprint,” said Dominik Raasch, Management Board Member, Merkur Games in a press statement. “This investment is a real asset for the Merkur Group and an important driver of our international growth strategy.” The goal of Merkur’s continued investment The investment partnership so far has combined Spintec’s technology in gaming and Merkur’s distribution via its international network, having recently expanded its foothold in the US. Having highlighted those elements in the announcement, it seems that Merkur plans to take Spintec’s ETGs further around the world via this expanded investment. “Our collaboration creates valuable synergies that enable us to bring these high-quality ETG solutions to a significantly broader audience,” …