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☆ 3 reasons why Wall Street is playing Roblox again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Many adults heard the phrase “Robux” for the first time last holiday season when the virtual currency of gaming platform Roblox landed on the top of most wish lists. And it will have to prove to Wall Street there’s more growth up ahead. In its fourth quarter of 2023, Roblox revenue was $750 million, up 30% year-over-year – but had a net loss of $323.7 million. Like Fortnite, Roblox is also moving ahead with a“payout to creators” business model. “It’s clear that [Roblox] intends to go after younger gamers in 2024 and 2025,” Ward said.

Persons: ”, Roblox, Matilda Beinat, Lindsey Nicholson, UCG, David Baszucki, Ralph Lauren, Mike Proulx, Forrester, “, ” Proulx, Michael Nagle, ” Beinat, Lewis Ward, ” Ward, Ward Organizations: CNN, Investors, ABI Research, “, Gaming Center, Costco, Brookhaven RP, Nike, Walmart, New York Stock Exchange, Bloomberg, Getty, Apple’s, IDC, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars Locations: Asia, Roblox, New York, Fortnite

☆ Star Wars was the first Lego license — 25 years later, it's stronger than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Star Wars Lego models are seen at the Bricks & Figs museum in Krakow, Poland, on April 15, 2023. A design director at the Denmark-based Lego company, he has spent the past 25 years creating Lego Star Wars sets. Now, Lego Star Wars has become a blueprint for the company's other brand deals — think Harry Potter, Batman and Marvel's Avengers. The Lego Star Wars collaboration came at a time of financial turmoil for Lego. Lego Icons, Lego Technic, Lego City and Lego Harry Potter also performed well.

Persons: Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, Frederiksen, Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Jill Wilfert, Wilfert, It's, Paul Southern, Shirlaine Forrest, " Frederiksen, we're, Southern, We've Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Star, CNBC, Disney, Epic Games, Lego Star, Lego, Force, Manchester Central, Imperial, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Company, Lego Star Wars, Warner Bros, Games Locations: Krakow, Poland, Denmark, Lego, Manchester, England

☆ Airbnb’s Icons allow you to drift off in the ‘Up’ house or rest in Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ mansion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —If you have ever wanted to dream in the balloon-lifted “Up” house, party with Kevin Hart or jam with Doja Cat, Airbnb has just the thing. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.”Here are some of the entertainment-focused Icons announced so far:An actual photo of the Airbnb house recreated to look like the home in the Disney/Pixar movie "Up" -- both the interior and exterior. Ryan LowryDrift off in the “Up”house - “Sleep inside one of Disney and Pixar’s most iconic homes – and yes, it floats. You’ll enjoy an unforgettable living room performance from the Grammy-winning artist, including her favorite songs and tracks from her latest album.”"Purple Rain" House - AirBnb Icons Eric OgdenStay in Prince’s “Purple Rain” house - “Prince purchased the Minneapolis, Minnesota home featured in the legendary film ‘Purple Rain,’ but it’s never been available to the public until now. Explore the home and go crazy for rare and special tracks from Prince’s world in an exclusive studio session.

Persons: Kevin Hart, Airbnb, Brian Chesky, we’ve, Ryan Lowry, ”, You’ll, Kevin, Doja, Eric Ogden, “ Prince, it’s, Khaby, Holly Andres Step, Marvel, you’re, Joy, Janhvi Kapoor Organizations: CNN, Wednesday, Disney Locations: Abiquiu , New Mexico, Minneapolis , Minnesota, Milan, Italy, Westchester , New York, Paris

☆ ‘This is a unique time’: ARK Invest’s chief futurist tackles tech innovation from AI to robotics
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Meredith Mutter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ARK Invest's chief futurist lists five groups that should give tech investors an edge. "We believe that this is a unique time in technological economic history," he told CNBC's "ETF Edge" this week. Winton collaborates with ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood to maintain the ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX), which allows investors to buy into the private technology space. "That's a real challenge a lot of public market investors don't have that long-term view," Winton added. The ARK Venture Fund is down more than 7% so far this year.

Persons: ARK, Brett Winton, CNBC's, Winton, Cathie Wood Organizations: ARK, ARK Venture, Epic, Therapeutics

☆ Josh Charles says he didn’t even tell his kids about his Taylor Swift music video cameo
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Actor Josh Charles had one job: To keep a big secret about the world’s biggest pop star from his kids. “I didn’t even tell my kids until the other day!”The post included a current photo of Charles with his “Dead Poets” co-star Ethan Hawke, who also appeared in the music video, and a second throwback photo of the two actors. Like we were 17 all over again.”In the music video, Hawke and Charles appear as researchers examining Swift, who is seen strapped to a gurney with an electrical contraption attached to her head. Hawke wrote on his Instagram page on Saturday that it was “quite an honor” to be involved in the music video. Swift released “The Tortured Poets Department,” a 31-track surprise double album on Friday.

Persons: Josh Charles, Taylor Swift, Fortnite, ”, ” Charles, “, Charles, Ethan Hawke, Hawke, Swift, gurney, Robin Williams Organizations: CNN, Society, Poets Department, Spotify Locations: ”

☆ Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, worth more than $60M, hopes to send ‘positive message’ to struggling industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Boasting the largest prize pool in esports history, this year’s inaugural 2024 Esports World Cup (EWC) could prove to be a pivotal moment for the industry. Clubs will be able to choose which games they participate in before the best performing team across the various championships will be crowned the ultimate Esports World Cup champion for the very first time. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, hopes this new competition in Saudi Arabia can be a game changer. “Setting the record for largest esports prize pool is a remarkable achievement, but what I’m most proud of is the positive message this sends to the wider esports and gaming community,” Reichert said in a statement. In 2023, Saudi launched ‘The National Gaming and Esports Strategy’ (NGES) which hopes to make the country the center of the competitive gaming world by 2030.

Persons: Ralf Reichert, ” Reichert, Saudi Arabia –, “, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ” Organizations: CNN, Apex, EA Sports FC, of, League, Riot, New York Times, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Saudi, National Gaming, Saudi’s, New Global Sport Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Gen Z's Dream of Becoming Influencers Is Getting Harder Thanks to AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Clem De Pressigny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Advancements in AI tech have given birth to an industry of AI influencers, and major companies are beginning to show interest in their far more cost-effective approach to marketing. AdvertisementMiquela's success didn't spark a virtual-influencer revolution, but that was largely because of cost — human influencers were still cheaper. She sees AI influencers being used to provide a deep level of information, support, and guidance on brands and products. Do AI influencers really stand a chance at building trust with an audience? A study in the European Journal of Marketing found that consumers were just as likely to follow an AI influencer as a human influencer but that they didn't trust the AI influencer as much.

Persons: Zers, Gen Z, influencers, wannabes, — they're, Nikita Baklanov, Julia Broome, Baklanov, Broome, she'd, it's, Miquela Sousa, Lil Miquela, Instagram Miquela, Calvin Klein, Imma, HypeAuditor, Euronews, who's, Jenny Dearing, Dearing, ChatGPT, chatbot, Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Haidt Organizations: Stanford, UGC, Prada, Companies, Meta, Instagram, AIs, Oxford, Advertising, Air, European, Marketing, Air Canada, Google, Alpha Locations: strategize, TikTok, Antarctica, Air Canada

☆ A new startup from 2 Twitch alums is trying to get Gen Z to watch TV
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Entertainment companies face a generation problem, with Gen Z shunning TV shows and movies over social video and livestreams. A new startup is pitching a solution by bringing TV to Gen Z where and how they already watch, rather than trying to train them in a new habit. The company, Gaggl TV, licenses TV shows and distributes them to creators to watch with their followers on social platforms. In a deal with Fremantle, Gaggl got the rights to old TV shows like '70s-era "The Price is Right: The Barker Era" and is distributing them to five Twitch streamers. "TV companies just put stuff on Twitch and don't realize it's the creators people are coming to see," Harris said.

Persons: Gen, Gaggl, Khleo Thomas, Peter Park, Bridget Case, Richard Karn, Megan Fraher, Fraher, Adam Harris, James Duffield, Greg Miall, Harris, Gen Z's, Twitch, Bob Ross, he's Organizations: Business, Fremantle, Amazon, Greece's, Paramount, Gaggl Locations: Fremantle, livestreaming

☆ Bob Iger has one really, really important thing left to do
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Bob Iger seems to have convinced investors that he's really turning Disney around. But he won't get a final grade until he does the one thing he's been very bad at — finding a successor. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementOK, Bob Iger.

Persons: Bob Iger, —, Nelson Peltz, what's Organizations: Service, Partners, Disney, Epic

☆ Disney's fight with Nelson Peltz will come to a head tomorrow. Here's where things stand.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A vote for the Disney's slate of board members will show support for Iger's performance as CEO since he returned to lead the company in November 2022. AdvertisementIt's the culmination of months of tussling between Disney and Peltz, who has been waging war against Disney's board since January last year. "When I sold Lucasfilm just over a decade ago, I was delighted to become a Disney shareholder because of my long-time admiration for its iconic brand and Bob Iger's leadership." And proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Service recommended shareholders vote for Peltz, though not Rasulo. Advertisement"We wish the very best to Bob, this management team, and the board," Peltz said on CNBC at the time.

Persons: —, Bob Iger, Nelson Peltz's Trian, that's, Peltz, Jay Rasulo —, Maria Elena Lagomasino, Michael Froman, Gen, Alpha, Jason Schloetzer, BlackRock, Rowe Price, Iger, Roy Disney's, Laurene Powell Jobs, George Lucas, Lucas, Bob Iger's, Donald Duck's, Ludwig Von Drake, Schloetzer, Trian, That's, Neuberger Berman, Ike Perlmutter, he'd Organizations: Service, Disney, Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners, Business, Century Fox, Epic Games, Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, Vanguard, Street Journal, ValueAct Capital, Walt, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, New York Times, California Public Employees, CNBC, Netflix, ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Financial

☆ Opinion: 25 years later, ‘The Matrix’ is less sci-fi than tech reality
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Opinion Rizwan Virk | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

In 2003, Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom imagined a “technologically mature” civilization could easily create a simulated world. With simulated worlds far outnumbering the “real” world, the likelihood that we are in a simulation would be significantly higher than not. Remember, the simulations would be so good that you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a physical and a simulated world. Either the signals are being beamed directly into your brain, or we are simply AI characters inside the simulation. Already, millions of humans are chatting with AI characters, and millions of dollars are pouring into making AI characters more realistic.

Persons: Virk, X, CNN — It’s, ”, Lana, Lilly Wachowski, Philip K, Dick, Tessa, Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves, Nick Bostrom, Elon Musk, Smith, Hugo Weaving, Carrie Ann, Moss, Musk, OpenAI, it’s, Reeves ’ Organizations: Labs, MIT, Physics, Eastern, Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures, Center for Science, CNN, Apple, Trinity Locations: zenentrepreneur.com, Oxford, Silicon, Silicon Valley

☆ Here are the biggest first-quarter stock winners, and what analysts think they’ll do from here
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nvidia stock has soared more than 80% in 2024, as the company continues to benefit from investor excitement over AI. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia stock. Analysts remain exceedingly bullish on the key AI play, with 88% of those surveyed by FactSet maintaining a buy rating. Moving forward, analysts forecast Micron stock to climb a further 7.3%. MU YTD mountain Micron Technology stock.

Persons: Blackwell, Bob Iger Organizations: Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Nvidia, Micron Technology, CNBC Pro, Micron, MU, Super, Computer, Disney, Epic Games

☆ Why the $183 billion video game industry can't quit microtransactions
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Christian Nunley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The video game industry cannot quit microtransactions. In fact, two of the largest video game companies in the United States — Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive — now make the overwhelming majority of their money from live-service games, subscriptions and in-game purchases, according to their recent earnings reports. Game publishers must provide updates throughout certain game life cycles to retain player attention, which is where the term "live service" comes from. Gamer backlash from the early attempts at in-game purchases caused the video game industry to shift its approach to these subscriptions and bundling purchasable content. Watch the video above to learn more about microtransactions, the backlash involved, and where the industry goes from here.

Persons: Mat Piscatella Organizations: Electronic, Gamers, Electronic Arts, Epic, Apple Locations: United States, Europe

☆ How your iPhone could get better if Apple loses its big legal battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

More smartwatch optionsA Google Pixel Watch and the iPhone don't play as nicely together as an Apple Watch and the iPhone. GoogleIf the Apple Watch isn't your cup of tea, a court loss for the company could make using an alternative watch with the iPhone more seamless. Prosecutors said the Apple Watch depends too much on the iPhone while other smartwatches aren't nearly as compatible with the iOS system. iOS users might have been overcharged for music streaming subscriptions due to the fees placed on app developers by Apple, regulators said. "This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets," Apple told BI in a statement.

Persons: —, Apple's, you'll, Apple, Jonathan Kanter, Kanter, Riley Testut, Jamie Court, you've, they've, Testut Organizations: Apple, DOJ, Service, US Department of Justice, CNBC, EU's, EU, Epic, Consumer, LA Times, Watch, Apple Watch, Google, Prosecutors, European Commission Locations: EU

☆ Virtual-reality concerts could redefine the live-music experience — but it'll take more time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Ngozi Nwanji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

VR concerts have emerged as a creative outlet for artists such as Travis Scott and Teflon Sega. The enigmatic singer Teflon Sega, who performs as a virtual-reality avatar, also worked with Wave to put on a virtual concert in 2022. Why artists and fans are interested in VR concertsThe appeal of VR concerts lies heavily in their experimental nature. Sarah Malkin, the director of metaverse entertainment content at Meta, told BI that the virtual concerts served both creative and strategic purposes. Over three months, the artist's VR concert was available to watch at select theaters in different cities.

Persons: Travis Scott, —, Justin Bieber, John Legend, Calvin Harris, Victoria Monét, Jack Harlow, Jorja Smith, Sarah Malkin, AmazeVR, Megan Thee, Steve Lee, Malkin, Cat's, Jason Diamond, Diamond, Lee, There's, Amy Dorsey Organizations: Sega, Companies, Meta, Service, Business, Forbes, Wave, Meta Quest, VR, Sony Music, Diamond Bros, Detroit, Arris Composites, Apple Vision, Food and Drug Administration, Dorsey Pictures Locations: AmazeVR

☆ Lego revenue ticks higher in 2023, despite trade-downs and China pullback
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Lego company grew sales 2% last year, even as the global toy industry saw sales slip 7%, according to data from Circana. The pandemic-era gains that fueled exponential toy industry sales growth waned in 2023 as consumers cut discretionary spending amid rising inflationary costs and increased credit card debt. Meanwhile Denmark-based Lego posted resilient sales, with revenue reaching 65.9 billion Danish krone, or about $9.65 billion, it said Tuesday. The company saw sales jump 27% in 2021 and 17% in 2022. The toymaker's top-performing brands last year included Lego Icons, Lego Technic, Lego City, Lego Harry Potter and Lego Star Wars.

Persons: Niels Christiansen, Harry Potter, Christiansen, Lego, We're Organizations: CNBC, Lego, Lego Star, Epic Games Locations: Denmark, Lego City, China

☆ Apple reverses decision to ban Epic Games from having its own app store
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Epic Games will be allowed to have its own app store on IOS in Europe. Apple reversed its decision not to allow the Epic Games Store following the passage of the Digital Markets Act in the EU. Epic, which makes Fortnite, has been battling Apple and Google over in-app purchases for years. AdvertisementApple is backing down after saying it would not allow Epic Games to have its own app store on IOS in Europe. Epic Games, which makes Fortnite, has been battling Google and Apple to get around their hold on in-app purchases on their platforms in recent years.

Persons: —, Apple Organizations: IOS, Apple, Digital, Google, Service, Epic Games, European Union, CNN, Epic, Business Locations: Europe

☆ Apple backs down against ‘Fortnite"-maker Epic Games amid EU investigation threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Apple relenting means Epic will be able to bring “Fortnite” back to iPhones in Europe, Epic said in a blog post. “Apple has told us and committed to the European Commission that they will reinstate our developer account. Apple said it reached the decision “following conversations with Epic” in which Epic committed to following Apple’s new EU-focused policies. “Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program,” Apple said in a statement. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney wrote back to Apple promising to abide by its terms, but Apple rescinded the developer account anyway.

Persons: “, Fortnite, Fortnite ”, Apple, ” Apple, Thierry Breton, Tim Sweeney, ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, European Union, European Commission, Markets, Apple Developer, EU Locations: Europe, iPhones, pushback

Apple has reversed course under regulatory pressure and cleared the way for a nettlesome adversary, video game maker Epic Games, to set up an alternative store for iPhone apps in Europe. Apple attributed the change of heart to reassurances from Epic that it won't violate its requirements for getting access to iPhone owners. Epic had brazenly broke the rules in the U.S. in 2020 to trigger an antitrust lawsuit alleging Apple's App Store is a monopoly. Apple had rejected Epic's attempt to set up an account that would have allowed it to set up an alternative store for downloading iPhone apps — something that Apple has held exclusive control over for more than 15 years. Apple is demanding more than $73 million from Epic to cover its fees in the U.S. antitrust case over the App Store.

Persons: brazenly, Apple, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney Organizations: Apple, Epic, Epic Games, European Commission Locations: Europe, U.S, Sweden

☆ Apple reverses course, approves Epic Games for app store in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apple has approved Epic Games' developer account in Sweden, which will allow the company to offer a competing app store on iPhones in Europe under a new antitrust regulation, the Digital Markets Act. Still, according to emails provided by Epic Games, a lawyer for Apple rejected Sweeney's statement and blocked Epic's European account. An Apple spokesperson confirmed that Epic Games' account had been restored after Epic told Apple it will follow its platform policies. Epic Games said it would use the account to publish Fortnite for iPhones in Europe as well as its own Epic Games store. The conflict between Epic Games and Apple goes back to 2020, when Epic Games updated the shooter game Fortnite to bypass Apple's 30% cut of App Store sales.

Persons: Tim Sweeney, Apple, Phil Schiller, Sweeney, Schiller, — Organizations: Epic Games, Apple, Games, Digital, Epic, Apple App, European Commission, Markets, Apple Developer, CNBC Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Sweden, iPhones, Europe, U.S, California

The overhaul rolling out Thursday only in the Europe represents the biggest changes to the iPhone's App Store since Apple introduced the concept in 2008. Among other things, people in Europe can download iPhone apps from stores that aren't operated by Apple and are getting alternative ways to pay for in-app transactions. That came during testimony in a May 2021 trial resulting in a U.S. judge ruling that the App Store isn't a monopoly. In that decision, the judge required Apple to begin allowing links to outside payment options inside iPhone apps in the U.S. Apple still doesn't permit alternative iPhone app stores in the U.S. or more than 100 other countries outside the EU.

Persons: Apple, Tim Sweeney, Steve Jobs, Epic's Sweeney, ” Apple Organizations: Apple, Union, Digital Markets, Spotify, Epic, European Commission, U.S, Regulators, Google, Facebook, Apple Watch, Supreme, EU Locations: Europe, Apple’s, Sweden, U.S, It's

☆ Sweeping EU rules for tech giants take effect today. Here’s what’s changing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. Tech pushes backBut some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.

Persons: Meta’s, Apple, Bing, Elon Musk’s, “ Fortnite, ”, Agustin Reyna, “, Apple’s, ” Apple, Reyna, ” BEUC, Tim Sweeney, Meta —, Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA, Friedlaender, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Washington CNN, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, Spotify, Netflix, Digital Markets, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, YouTube, Epic, Consumer, Tech, Games, CNN, Computer, Communications Industry Association Locations: United States, Europe

☆ Epic Games says Apple retaliated over lawsuits by banning company's developer account
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Apple has rejected Epic Games' application for a developer account it would use to launch an app store for iPhones in Europe, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said Wednesday. The relationship between Apple and Epic Games has been confrontational since Epic sued Apple in 2020 over whether Fortnite could evade Apple's App Store rules and bypass its 30% cut of game sales. The spat highlights global regulatory threats to Apple's App Store sales, a profitable division for Apple reported under its services business. Sweeney said Wednesday that Epic planned to introduce a new app store in Europe to distribute Fortnite and other games. Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO:WATCH: Epic Games lawsuit

Persons: Apple, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney, Phil Schiller, Schiller Organizations: Games, Apple, Apple App, Epic Games, Digital Markets, Spotify, Epic, Sweden, CNBC Locations: iPhones, Europe, California, Sweden

☆ You may lose access to your Netflix account if you’re paying through Apple
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Netflix wants its customers to stop paying for its streaming subscription through Apple’s App Store. Members billed through Apple may soon be prompted to change their payment plan, a new addition to Netflix’s help site reads. Netflix stopped accepting Apple payments for new and rejoining customers in 2018, but Netflix’s policy change means existing customers who had been grandfathered into paying through Apple will now have to make the switch. Previously, Apple had prohibited many iOS apps from skirting the 30% charge by accepting payments outside of Apple’s proprietary payment system. Apple’s in-app purchase fees have been the subject of ire from app developers for years.

Persons: Apple, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Apple, Spotify, Epic Games Locations: United States, Canada

As video game worlds get more expansive, some game studios are experimenting with AI tools to give voice to a potentially unlimited number of characters and conversations. Some fear that AI voices could replace all but the most famous human actors if big studios have their way. SAG-AFTRA has already made a deal with one AI voice company, Replica Studios, announced last month at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas. It sets terms that also allow performers to opt out of having their voices used in perpetuity. We’re not replacing actors.”It was Replica Studios that first reached out to Magee about a voice-over audio clip he had created demonstrating a Scottish accent.

Persons: Andy Magee, Magee, aren't, ”, they've, Joe Biden, Anthony Bourdain —, —, Sarah Elmaleh, “ We’ve, Elmaleh, ” Elmaleh, AFTRA, Fran Drescher, Shreyas Nivas, Nivas, “, Zeke Alton, hasn't, Alton, ” Alton Organizations: Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, Studios, CES Locations: Scottish, Northern Ireland, British, U.S, Fortnite, Las Vegas, Vancouver , British Columbia

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