Tag Archives: epic games

SAG-AFTRA and Video Game Employers Reach a Tentative Agreement on Interactive Media Contract. National Board to Review

Posted on by
SAG-Aftra Interactive Media Agreement

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the signatory video game companies, which include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. have reached a tentative agreement on terms for the Interactive Media Contract, subject to review and approval by the National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks. Specific details of the agreement will be released with the ratification materials.

It is expected the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with employers soon. Until such agreement is reached, however, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike against these employers.

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said:

Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike. Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers’ livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains. Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh and Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated:

Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game.

SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against video game employers since July 26, 2024. Prior to that, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization in September 2023 with a 98.32% yes vote.

FTC Sends Refund Payments to Consumers Impacted by Epic Games’ Unlawful Billing Practices in Fortnite

Posted on by
FTC logo

The Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $72 million to consumers who were tricked by Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite, into making unwanted purchases. 

As part of a settlement first announced in December 2022, the FTC obtained an order requiring Epic Games to pay $245 million to resolve allegations that the game maker used design tactics known as dark patterns to trick players into making unwanted purchases, let children rack up unauthorized charges without any parental involvement, and blocked some users who disputed unauthorized charges from accessing their purchased content. The FTC alleged that Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players of all ages to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button. For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item.

The FTC is sending its first round of payments in this matter and will distribute additional money at a later date. Today, the FTC is sending 629,344 total payments, about half of which are PayPal payments and the other half are checks.Consumers selected their payment method when they completed their claim form. Recipients should redeem their PayPal payment within 30 days and cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. The average payment is about $114.

Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at 1-833-915-0880 or by email at admin@fortniterefund.com, or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

Eligible consumers can still submit a claim online. The claim form is available at www.ftc.gov/fortnite.

Around the Tubes

Posted on by
Thundercats #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

The Atlantic – The Magic of Raina is Real – Yes, yes it is.

ICv2 – IDW Shows Quarterly Profit – Some mixed news.

Kotaku – Disney Will Develop A ‘New Persistent Universe’ With Epic Games – This is going to be huge.

Kotaku – Spider-Man 2’s New Game+ Mode And More Coming Next Month – Cool.

Kotaku – Suicide Squad’s Main Villain Accidentally Leaked The Next Playable Character – Doh.

Reviews

Comicbook – Batman #142
Comicbook – The One Hand #1
Comicbook – Thundercats #1
Comicbook – Ultimate Black Panther #1

FTC Extends the Deadline for Fortnite Players to Request Refunds for Unwanted Items

Posted on by

The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it has extended the deadline for Fortnite gamers and their parents or guardians to submit a claim for compensation from the agency’s 2023 settlement with Epic Games over allegations that the video game maker used dark patterns and other deceptive practices to trick players into making unwanted purchases. The new deadline is February 29, 2024.

Epic has agreed to pay $245 million, which the FTC will use to pay claims, as part of the settlement. In September and October, the FTC notified more than 37 million people by email that they may be eligible for compensation. The original deadline to submit a claim was January 17, 2024.

The online claim form is available at www.ftc.gov/Fortnite. Those submitting a claim do not need to submit receipts or other documentation at this time, and their Fortnite account will not be affected by their claim. Consumers who have questions about the claims process can contact the administrator by phone at 1-833-915-0880 or by email at admin@fortniterefund.com.

Jury finds Google has an illegal monopoly in its app store in Epic win

Posted on by
Epic Win

It’s been a fight going on for three years, but we finally have a bit of an answer as to who wins in the Epic Games vs. Apple and Google. Epic has won the first round. The jury has made a decision in Epic v. Google and found that Google turned the Google Play app store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly.

The jury answered yes to every question and came to the conclusion that Google has monopoly power when it comes to the Android app distribution market and in-app billing. Also Google made anticompetitive moves in those markets. And, Epic was injured by that. Basically, up and down when it comes to this Google was doing shady and illegal things.

It’s a big turn as Epic’s fight with Apple didn’t go as well when the judge decided the fight had nothing to do with apps.

There’s still a bit to go as it’s unclear what Epic has won, Judge James Donato must decide on that. Epic didn’t sue for money and instead has been pushing to allow developers freedom of their own app stores and billing systems on Android.

There’s a near guarantee Google will appeal the case. The result has massive implications for any app that has a built in store/market as well as how apps are distributed for instance digital comic distribution platforms/readers/stores.

Around the Tubes

Posted on by
War for Earth-3 #1

It’s a new week and we have a lot coming at you! To start, what geeky things did you all do this weekend? Sound off as we kick things off with some news and reviews from around the web you might have missed.

ComicBook – Earnings Report Reveals Manga’s Majority Over U.S. Graphic Novel Sales – Should be an interesting time to come as the industry shifts in multiple ways.

The Mary Sue – Disney Will Not Stop Funding Anti-LGBTQ+ Politicians, Wants Us To Focus on Their ‘Inspiring Content’ – This is not surprising.

Kotaku – Everybody’s A Little Sus On Why Epic Games Bought Bandcamp – Yes, yes we are.

Reviews

That Hashtag Show – Cowboy Bebop #2
The Beat – Enter the Blue
That Hashtag Show – Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation
AIPT – War for Earth-3 #1

Batman and Fortnite Return with Foundation!

Posted on by

DC and Epic Games are teaming up again to combine the worlds of Fortnite and the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. Batman/Fortnite: Foundation #1 arrives at participating comic shops on Tuesday, October 26. 

This 48-page one-shot also releases day and date in nine international territories: Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, and Spain. Each physical copy of the comic includes a bonus code to download a special Batman Who Laughs player Outfit and exclusive Batman Who Laughs-themed Fortnite Loading Screen. The Batman Who Laughs Outfit will also be available for purchase in the in-game Fortnite Item Shop on the book’s release date. 

Batman/Fortnite: Foundation #1 follows the successful and critically acclaimed Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point series where, upon arriving on the Fortnite Island, an amnesiac Batman battles unknown enemies and must use all his detective skills to solve the mystery of the Zero Point to find his way home.

Batman/Fortnite: Foundation #1 is co-written by Epic Games Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard, Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point writer Christos Gage and acclaimed Batman and Dark Nights Metal/Dark Nights Death Metal writer Scott Snyder. Art is provided by Joshua Hixson (pencils and inks), Roman Stevens (colors) and AndWorld Design (letters). Snyder’s longtime collaborator, artist Greg Capullo, teams up with Jonathan Glapion, and Matt Hollingsworth for the main cover, with variant covers provided by Alex Garner, plus a premium variant cover by Epic Games CCO Donald Mustard (check local stores for availability). 

Returning to Gotham City after the events of Zero Point, Batman is faced with a new mystery and a new arrival. The Foundation, an enigmatic figure from Fortnite Island, emerges from the depths of Gotham Harbor, and the Dark Knight wants to investigate what he is doing in his city. 

In collaboration with DC and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, clothing designer Extra Butter NY and Epic Games is offering an awesome selection of DC x Fortnite t-shirts and hoodies featuring the sinister Batman Who Laughs. A must for any DC or Fortnite fan, these items are available worldwide. 

Court Rules Against Apple in Fortnite Lawsuit. Will In-App Purchases Return to comiXology?

Posted on by
Fortnite

In a decision that is sure to be appealed, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of Epic Games in its lawsuit against Apple. The lawsuit was over Apple’s requirement that they get 30% of the revenue from purchases made within apps on their site. The fight began over Epic’s game Fortnite, a massive revenue generator.

In 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from the iOS store after Epic offered a discount on V-Bucks purchased outside of the App store. The move was in response to Apple collected 30% of profits made from purchases on Apple devices. Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple in August 2020 as well as an awareness campaign #FreeFortnite.

Here’s the key part of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers’ decision:

The Court, having considered the evidence presented at the bench trial in this matter and consistent with its findings of fact and conclusions of law, HEREBY ORDERS as follows:

1. Apple Inc. and its officers, agents, servants, employees, and any person in active concert or participation with them (“Apple”), are hereby permanently restrained and enjoined from prohibiting developers from (i) including in their apps and their metadata buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms, in addition to In-App Purchasing and (ii) communicating with customers through points of contact obtained voluntarily from customers through account registration within the app.

The Judge felt that while it isn’t an issue of monopoly, Apple’s requirement is anticompetitive.

In 2022, Apple can no longer require purchaes in games or apps on Apple devices to go through Apples’ App Store. That opens up developers to have their own marketplaces. The injuction takes place December 9 unless a higher court intervenes. Epic also filed a similar lawsuit against Google in July 2021 which will be interesting to see how that plays out.

In recent days Apple had already loosen restrictions when it came to purchases due to a class-action lawsuit as well as an antitrust investigation in Japan.

Why is this relevant to comiXology and comic fans?

In 2014, comiXology announced they were changing their purchasing process where digital comics would have to be bought through the comiXology website. It was speculated that Apple’s cut of the purchases was the reason for the change.

Now, will we see a shift by comiXology back to easier purchasing on Apple devices after this latest decision? There’s some key signs to watch for that might be in the works but with the court decision still having a chance for appeal, don’t expect changes any time soon.

Get a First Look at Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #2

Posted on by

Batman has acquired many aliases in his crime fighting career, including “The Dark Knight,” and “Caped Crusader.” But he’s also celebrated as “The World’s Greatest Detective,” and those skills will be put to the test if he wants to break out of an ongoing 22-minute time loop as Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point continues with issue #2, on sale May 4.

Batman is trapped on a mysterious Island–unable to speak, his memory gone – fighting to survive against the deadliest warriors of countless worlds. But how will the World’s Greatest Detective escape this trap when time itself resets every twenty-two minutes? And if getting reintroduced to Harley Quinn over and over isn’t enough, will the presence of a familiar feline fatale–help or hinder his efforts to escape, especially when they don’t remember each other? In another life, they were enemies, friends, partners…but here on the Island, can they do anything but battle to the death?

Based on a story concept by series consultant and Epic Games Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard, this six-issue Limited Series is written by Christos Gage, featuring pencils by Reilly Brown, with inks by Nelson Faro DeCastro, and colors by John Kalisz. The main cover for issue #2 is by Mikel Janín, with a card stock variant cover by Kenneth Rocafort, plus a premium cover by Mustard (check your local comic book store for availability). 

Each 32-page issue is priced at $4.99, with the card stock variant priced at 5.99. Each print issue includes a redeemable code for a bonus digital cosmetic in Fortnite inspired by the comic; issue #2 includes a code for Batman Zero Wing Glider. U.S. subscribers to the DC Universe Infinite digital service will receive the series and bonus codes for free as part of their subscription. Issue #1 arrives in stores and digitally on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 and will feature a bonus code to unlock the Harley Quinn Rebirth Outfit which can be used in the game.

Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #2
« Older Entries