Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 5d

New: Inside Xbox's Game Pass price hike.

Day-one Game Pass releases were long controversial, current and former employees tell me. Here's why (hint: Call of Duty sales) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Xbox’s Game-Pass Hike Shows Cost of Lost ‘Call of Duty’ Sales

Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox division surprised many video game enthusiasts this week when the company announced a 50% price hike, to $30 a month, for the highest level tier in its Game Pass subscription se...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 7d

New: Roblox criticized by advocacy groups for categorizing games about marriage equality and affirmative action into a "sensitive issues" designation that's default restricted for kids under 13. Games with guns remain available www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 8d

Never played a game quite like Consume Me and I am totally obsessed. It's fun, smart, creative and surprising. And I love how it deals with a heavy topic with both humor and thoughtfulness. store.steampowered.com/app/2359120/...

Save 10% on Consume Me on Steam

did you feel stupid, fat, lazy, and ugly in high school? well i did...but at least i made a life-simulation RPG about it!

store.steampowered.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 8d

In neighborhoods near big data centers, electricity costs 267% more every month than it did 5 years ago, a Bloomberg investigation found: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 9d

Scoop: Saudi Arabia is the largest contributor to the $36 billion in equity put in to finance a deal to take Electronic Arts private.

EA will help bridge the country's sports and video-game ambitions as it diversifies away from oil, analysts say. Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Saudi Plans for Video-Game Hub Grow With $55 Billion EA Deal

Saudi Arabia is accelerating plans to transform itself into a hub for gamers with its blockbuster deal to take Electronic Arts Inc. private.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 16d

The DIY spaces where I met my friends, started my career, fell in love and broadened my worldview are long gone. Every day in Brooklyn, I walk by storefronts that have sat empty for 10 years. Good businesses with large customer bases can't make it work. Is there anything to be done or are we cooked?

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 16d

NYC losing BrookLAN and Bluestockings within a week is a travesty. NYC's commercial real estate situation is accelerating us toward a dark future where the internet is the only place young people are exposed to new ideas and communities.

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 20d

Tyler Robinson, accused Charlie Kirk shooter, played:
- 2148 hours of Sea of Thieves
- 399 hours of Helldivers 2
- 126 hours of PowerWash Simulator

His Steam account (confirmed by @bloomberg.com) is under review by law enforcement, per source. Free news link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Suspected Kirk Shooter’s Gaming History Probed by Secret Service

Suspected Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson used Donald Trump’s name as a pseudonym on Valve Corp.’s Steam video-game platform, a fact that’s become part of a profile US law enforcement is building ...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 20d

New: Here is suspected Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson's video game history, which is being investigated by US law enforcement, according to a source and a Bloomberg review. One of his Steam tags is Donald Trump.

Story with Myles Miller: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Suspected Kirk Shooter’s Gaming History Probed by Secret Service

Suspected Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson used Donald Trump’s name as a pseudonym on Valve Corp.’s Steam video-game platform, a fact that’s become part of a profile US law enforcement is building ...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · 21d

Fantastic Ms. Rachel profile by @aishacounts.bsky.social and @felixgillette.bsky.social. The children's YouTube star is advocating for children in Gaza, and amid social-media controversy, says her posts have not shrunk her audience or damaged business relationships: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Why the Queen of Toddler TV Became an Activist for Gaza

Ms. Rachel has enchanted millions of kids with lo-fi, educational videos. Now she’s in her “advocacy era.”

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Sep 5

New: Roblox announced a new TikTok-like app called Moments, capitalizing on the popularity of Roblox content on TikTok and YouTube. Players can capture and view short-form videos of Roblox gameplay. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 28

Today, "Unsafe Online" with Olivia Carville won the Online Journalism Awards' "feature" category and was nominated for a Loeb award. We are so thrilled!! awards.journalists.org/entries/unsa...

Unsafe Online - Online Journalism Awards

awards.journalists.org

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

Respected game devs left established studios to take a more nimble approach at startups. But today, the market is saturated and funding is tough. Dreamhaven isn't alone. Greg Street's Fantastic Pixel Castle may lose its NetEase funding, we report. Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Blizzard Co-Founder’s Game Startup Struggles Amid Industry Glut

Mike Morhaime, a co-founder of video-game giant Blizzard Entertainment, sent a letter to staff at his new company Dreamhaven this week that he wished he didn’t have to write.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

New: Blizzard cofounder's Dreamhaven is struggling in today's challenged games market per an internal letter. Its 2 new games sold below expectations. Dreamhaven now seeks funding

It's not alone. Some of the most promising new studios are hitting roadblocks. Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Blizzard Co-Founder’s Game Startup Struggles Amid Industry Glut

Mike Morhaime, a co-founder of video-game giant Blizzard Entertainment, sent a letter to staff at his new company Dreamhaven this week that he wished he didn’t have to write.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

I reached out to 440 moderators for this. It's a uniquely hard demographic to report on - one that's critical to the infrastructure of culture. Many live in job deserts and are afraid to speak out. Thankfully a lot of them did over concerns the AI they're training will replace them.

Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

New: AI is replacing human moderators. The moderators say it is really bad at the job.

TikTok, Roblox, Meta and X say they'll rely more on AI to keep their sites safe. A dozen frontline moderators say the AI isn't ready, and even makes their jobs harder. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

Timely news the same day we published our AI moderation feature: TikTok will cut hundreds of moderators across the UK while it invests in moderation technologies including AI. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

AI Is Replacing Online Moderators, But It's Bad at the Job

Kevin decided on a career in content moderation after his YouTube recommendations took a bewildering swerve. In 2021, videos appeared on his feed depicting violent attacks by Boko Haram, a Nigerian mi...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 22

New: AI is replacing human moderators. The moderators say it is really bad at the job.

TikTok, Roblox, Meta and X say they'll rely more on AI to keep their sites safe. A dozen frontline moderators say the AI isn't ready, and even makes their jobs harder. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 18

Supervive is really fun

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 15

Scoop: The SEC concluded an investigation involving Roblox back in May. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Roblox Case at SEC Concluded in May, Agency Document Shows

The US Securities and Exchange Commission concluded a case involving the online video-game platform Roblox Corp. in May, according to a document seen by Bloomberg News.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Aug 15

New: There's a reckoning on Roblox. The company is facing at least 7 new child safety suits over the last 2 weeks -- including one from Louisiana's Attorney General. Shares fell 11% today. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Roblox Shares Fall After Louisiana Attorney General Files Suit

Roblox Corp. shares fell as much as 11% Friday after the company, which operates an online video-game service popular with children, was accused in two lawsuits of failing to sufficiently protect youn...

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Jul 23

New: It took Magic: The Gathering 6 months to earn $200 million from its Lord of the Rings set. Final Fantasy achieved that in a single day. The card game's record-breaking success for Hasbro is helping stave off tariff pressure. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Hasbro Revenue Beats Estimates With ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Surge

Hasbro Inc. is raising its full-year outlook after a record quarter for its Magic: The Gathering card game. The company also reported revenue and earnings that beat analysts’ expectations.

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Jul 11

New: Teens are selling Roblox games for 7 figures or more in a now-thriving secondary market. One earned $3 million for Blue Lock Rivals: a game he made in just months: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Jul 3

Today, 1/5 Americans gets their news from influencers. Most are conservative and that gap could grow. Lawyers are telling them not to broadcast certain positions. Hasan Piker says “It’s a threatening environment they want to cultivate to stop people from exercising their First Amendment rights.”

Influencers Urged to Steer Clear of Hot Topics During US Immigration Crackdown

Lawyers are advising content creators that weighing in on political topics can come with serious risks

www.bloomberg.com

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Cecilia D'Anastasio @cecianasta.bsky.social · Jul 3

New: Influencers are being advised not to speak on Palestine and the LA ICE raids to avoid unwanted scrutiny from authorities. Immigration lawyers are also advising influencers to delete old posts, regardless of their citizenship status: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Influencers Urged to Steer Clear of Hot Topics During US Immigration Crackdown

Lawyers are advising content creators that weighing in on political topics can come with serious risks

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Cecilia D'Anastasio

Isaiah D. Colbert @shineyezehuhh.bsky.social · Jul 2

Congrats on your freedom, Kotaku crew!
www.axios.com/2025/07/02/k...

Kotaku sells to Gizmodo owner Keleops

The Root is now the only media brand left at G/O Media.

www.axios.com

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