Discord's Accidental YouTube Triumph

Discord stumbles into the limelight with an April Fools' prank gone viral, as its loot box announcement video amasses a staggering 1.4 billion views within 24 hours. The unexpected surge in views prompts speculation about the inadvertent creation of an effective view-bot, potentially setting a precedent for imitation and prompting scrutiny from YouTube regarding embedded video views.

The video, initially intended as a harmless prank, circulated incessantly through Discord's in-app toast feature, capturing the attention of unwitting users and catapulting the view count to unprecedented heights. Despite Discord's swift rectification of the issue, the incident underscores the platform's inadvertent foray into record-breaking territory and the unpredictability of internet virality.

Community reactions range from amusement to incredulity, with Discord users acknowledging the mishap with good humor while contemplating the implications of the platform's inadvertent brush with fame. While the accidental record may have been short-lived, it leaves an indelible mark on the annals of internet history, reminding us of the capricious nature of online phenomena.

Nvidia's RTX 5090: Flagship GPU Set to Debut Later This Year

Nvidia's forthcoming RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs are expected to hit the market by the end of 2024, according to Nvidia's board partners.

The RTX 5090 is anticipated to deliver the most significant performance leap in years, surpassing even the previous generation.

Reportedly, Nvidia's board partners foresee a release of the RTX 5090 and 5080 before the year's end, dominating the initial phase of the Blackwell generation.

While Nvidia has historically adhered to a roughly two-year release cycle for its flagship GPUs, leaked roadmaps suggest a potential delay until the first half of 2025 for the RTX 5000 series.

Despite uncertainties, board partners express confidence in raising the average selling price per unit, hinting at a probable increase in pricing compared to predecessors like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090.

Fortnite Fans Outraged by Avatar Skins Pricing

Fortnite players express fury over the pricing strategy of the Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration, deeming the skins excessively priced at 2,000 V-Bucks each.

Criticism floods social media platforms like Reddit, with players accusing Epic Games of neglecting player value and failing to include Style Edits, a feature seen in previous collaborations.

The recent removal of the rarity system in Fortnite's shops also faces backlash, with players alleging that Epic aims to overcharge for lower tier cosmetics by eliminating color indicators.

Epic Games defends its pricing decisions, attributing the changes to simplifying Fortnite's appearance across the Locker, but faces skepticism from the community, which remains unconvinced by the explanation.

CD Projekt Manager Pokes Fun at Ubisoft's "AAAAA" Games

CD Projekt Red responds humorously to Ubisoft's introduction of the "AAAA" tier for games, mocking the concept during a financial Q&A session.

Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, recently added an extra "A" to the traditional "Triple A" label, referring to Skull and Bones as a "AAAA game" during an investor call.

In jest, CD Projekt Red's Karolina Gnaś, responsible for investor relations, quipped that their games will be "AAAAA," playfully referencing Guillemot's statement about Skull and Bones.

While Ubisoft's move seemed serious, defending a $70 price tag for Skull and Bones alongside plans for additional revenue streams, CD Projekt Red's response injects humor into the conversation.

Currently, CD Projekt Red focuses on upcoming projects within both The Witcher and Cyberpunk universes, with no real concern over the number of "A's" their games might garner.

Studio 369 CEO on MetalCore and the Future of Web3 Gaming

In a recent interview, Studio 369's CEO, Matt Candler, delved into MetalCore's genesis and the studio's vision for the future of web3 gaming.

Led by industry veterans, Studio 369 aims to revolutionize traditional gaming by incorporating blockchain technology. MetalCore, their flagship project, seeks to redefine MMOs with its open-world mech shooter concept.

With nearly three decades of expertise, Matt Candler and his team bring a wealth of experience from renowned studios like Activision and Midway Games. MetalCore promises an immersive experience where players vie for dominance in a futuristic landscape.

Studio 369 recently secured a $5 million funding round, backed by prominent investors like BITKRAFT and SpartanGroup. This funding will support MetalCore's development, including innovative features like a dynamic mission system powered by AI.

Collaborating with Immutable X, MetalCore will deploy on the zkEVM mainnet, offering scalability and eliminating gas fees for players. The partnership aims to simplify web3 adoption, making it accessible to all gamers.

MetalCore stands out for its commitment to gameplay excellence, whether players engage with web3 elements or not. Studio 369 envisions a future where gaming prioritizes innovation and community engagement over financial aspects.

As MetalCore gears up for its full launch in 2024, Studio 369 sets new standards for immersive gaming experiences in the web3 era, emphasizing fun and immersion above all else.

Imaginary Ones Partners With Animoca Brands

Imaginary Ones, a web3 entertainment company, has teamed up with Animoca Brands to enhance its token economics and launch an inventive airdrop campaign. The partnership follows an earlier investment by Animoca Brands into Imaginary Ones, marking a significant step in the evolution of blockchain technology in mainstream industries.

Imaginary Ones, Led by co-founders Clement Chia and David Lee, has expanded from NFT collections into a diverse entertainment universe that merges fashion, gaming, and digital content. Their success includes selling over $10 million worth of NFTs in minutes and partnering with Hugo Boss to release exclusive digital art pieces.

The collaboration with Animoca Brands aims to optimize Imaginary Ones' market capabilities and bridge the gap between web2 and web3 industries. By combining their expertise, both companies seek to create immersive gaming experiences and drive mass adoption of blockchain technology.

Imaginary Ones' recent ventures include the launch of Bubble Rangers, an intergalactic racer game that has garnered over 250,000 downloads within months. Their commitment to accessible gameplay and strategic partnerships demonstrates their vision for revolutionizing entertainment in the digital age.

With upcoming developments in native cryptocurrency tokens and partnerships with industry leaders, Imaginary Ones is at the forefront of shaping the future of web3 entertainment. Follow their social media channels for the latest updates and offerings.

Ubisoft Web3 Game Champions Tactics Exclusive

Ubisoft's foray into web3 gaming with Champions Tactics: Grimora Chronicles has stirred anticipation. Despite recent delays in its NFT collection's launch, the game promises innovation in blockchain gaming. While official updates on delays have been minimal, glimpses of its potential have emerged through in-game screenshots, showcasing detailed UI and character attributes.

Gameplay teasers reveal squads of four characters per player account, each represented as an NFT. Collaborations with Animoca Brands, Immutable, and The Sandbox hint at expansive integration plans. Ubisoft aims to balance NFT ownership with free-to-play accessibility, offering in-game characters to holders of The Warlords collection.

Partnering with Helika, a gaming infrastructure provider, Ubisoft seeks to enhance its web3 gaming exploration. Helika's analytics, user acquisition, and game management infrastructure aim to support Ubisoft's journey into web3 gaming. This partnership follows Helika's recent $8 million Series A funding round, signifying industry recognition and support for their innovative solutions.

Nicolas Pouard, Ubisoft's VP of Strategic Innovation Lab, emphasized Helika's understanding of the gaming space, highlighting their role in tailoring experiences to player preferences. As Ubisoft navigates the complexities of web3 gaming, collaborations with industry leaders like Helika signal a concerted effort to deliver immersive and engaging experiences to players worldwide.

Xterio and AltLayer Collaborate to Launch Gaming-Oriented Blockchain

Xterio and AltLayer have joined forces to introduce a game-focused restaked rollup, aiming to elevate web3 gaming experiences and drive wider adoption within the gaming community.

Xterio, a prominent web3 gaming publisher, and platform, has raised over $80 million in ecosystem funding, boasting five AAA games and partnerships with 45+ gaming entities. Led by industry veterans Michael Tong and Jeremy Horn, Xterio is committed to integrating web3 technology into gaming, aiming to onboard billions of gamers globally.

AltLayer, recognized for its innovative rollup solutions, introduces 'restaked rollups,' enhancing security, decentralization, and interoperability. The collaboration with AltLayer marks a significant step towards achieving Xterio's mission, introducing the Xterio chain as a Layer 2 solution on Ethereum.

Managed by AltLayer, the Xterio chain leverages the OP Stack framework and EigenDA for the Data Availability layer, promising faster finality and economic security. Notable integration includes MACH, an Actively Validated Services (AVS) offering, ensuring enhanced security and efficiency.

With a focus on web3 and AI-powered games, the Xterio chain aims to build an on-chain ecosystem around AAA titles, supported by the native $XTER token. IPs in development include Overworld and Age of Dino, offering compelling gaming experiences within the Xterio ecosystem.

Overworld, an anime-inspired action RPG, raised $10 million in a seed funding round. It integrates NFTs and digital ownership within the game, emphasizing a fantastic gaming experience over digital ownership alone. Age of Dino, a dinosaur-themed game by GamePhilos, raised $8 million in a Seed Round, promising real-time battles and in-game trading opportunities.

Yaoqi Jia, CEO of AltLayer, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the potential for enhanced game mechanics and economics. Michael Tong, CEO of Xterio, emphasized the platform's commitment to advancing web3 gaming technology, leveraging the ETH ecosystem to address user concerns and emerge as a frontrunner in high-quality web3 gaming.