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HBO to Pay a $250,000 ‘Bug Bounty’ to Hackers

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Several news outlets are reporting a leaked email from HBO that discusses ransom terms for information that was hacked from their servers. The initial breach on July 31st saw hackers take 1.5TB of information supposedly including scripts, episode descriptions, and marketing material, specifically targeting Game of Thrones. Certain individuals also had their emails stolen.

The email from a senior vice president of HBO, dated July 27, shows the network offered to make a ‘bug bounty payment’ of $250,000. ‘Bug bounty’ is essentially a term for paying hackers to expose and demonstrate security problems in companies’ cyber-security.

According to Variety and the Guardian, the email read ‘you have the advantage of having surprised us. In the spirit of professional cooperation, we are asking you to extend your deadline for one week’. Negotiation seemingly continued, with the introduction of monetary ‘good faith, saying ‘as a show of good faith on our side, we are willing to commit to making a bug bounty payment of $250,000 to you as soon as we can establish the necessary account and acquire Bitcoin’.

Offering a ‘bug bounty’ is an interesting development, as it raises the question of whether HBO will, in fact, pay the ‘six months salary’ ransom request made by the hacker previously; an amount that would total between $6 million and $7.5 million. This may result in a dangerous precedent being set, encouraging more people to hack big companies like HBO with the possibility for millions of (or hundreds of thousands at least) dollars to be coerced.

However, it’s worth noting at this point that the authenticity of the email is sketchy, as there is no way of knowing if it has been altered or even fabricated. Some outlets report the email was sent from the same account used to leak stolen data previously, therefore reliable enough to release at this time.

British resident and sucker for over-analysis. Games are the future of Literature and I'll gladly argue that fact for hours.

Gaming

Battle Pass for Crash Team Rumble is not necessary to unlock new characters; the upcoming closed beta

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The competitive multiplayer spinoff of Crash Team Rumble, which will be available on both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, will debut on June 20. A closed beta for the game will be held in the coming weeks, and the good news that character unlocks won’t be dependent on Battle Pass progress was just revealed.

Publisher Activision made its intentions very clear in a lengthy blog post, writing, “New heroes and powers will be unlocked through in-game challenges rather than being connected to the Battle Pass because we want every player to have a balanced experience while enjoying the N. Sane fun that Crash Team Rumble has to offer.” “For those who wish to get a WUMP on the season’s newest looks, Battle Passes will solely reward cosmetic goods; however, cosmetics will still be earnable through participation in seasonal events.”

Those who preorder the platformer/battle royale mix can take part in a limited beta between April 20 and 24. For those who want to jump right in, online matches against other players and practice matches versus AI bots will be offered.

How does Crash Team Rumble strike you? Will you participate in the closed beta test?

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Gaming

Indie Not on PlayStation Wins BAFTA Game of the Year, Beating PS5, PS4’s Greatest Hits

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God of War Ragnarok and Elden Ring were both beaten out for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for Best Game by a tiny little independent title called Vampire Survivors, which isn’t even accessible on PlayStation systems. Do you really believe that?

Putting all lightheartedness aside, Vampire Survivors was something of a phenomenon in 2022, and you would have to be living under a rock (or live offline) to have missed it. It burst into prominence and eventually became a favorite among industry insiders. A fiendishly addictive fundamental gameplay loop hides beneath a deceptively simple exterior, earning developer Luca Galante, aka Poncle, this year’s BAFTA for Game Design as well as another honor.

There hasn’t been any news of the mega-hit coming to PlayStation as of yet, so there’s probably some sort of exclusivity agreement in place or anything else blocking it. Perhaps one day we will be granted access to it, but until then, console yourself with one of the numerous high-end games on our preferred platform, such as The Last of Us, which won Best Game back in 2014.

In slightly related news, Shuhei Yoshida, a PlayStation legend, received a BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the organization.

What do you think about the Vampire Survivors’ victory—do you believe it was well-deserved or totally absurd?

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On May 17, Crusader Kings 3: Royal Court Expansion will be available on consoles

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While we felt Crusader Kings 3: Console Edition was fantastic when it was launched on the PS5 last year, we were only able to play the base game. We are incredibly grateful that the great Royal Court extension will be coming to consoles. This is a regal proclamation that we could not be more delighted to make.

It’s pretty difficult to switch back after you’ve experienced the conveniences and enhancements that Royal Court offers to the well-stocked table, as anyone who has played Crusader Kings 3 on PC knows. It’s not just for show; players will be able to use trophies and priceless pieces of art to adorn their throne room, which adds a minor RPG system to an already magnificently complex adventure.

If you haven’t already and like the basic Crusader King’s experience, we highly encourage you to give Royal Court a try. This expansion is the ideal reason to jump back in for another round of backroom maneuvering. Are you going to create your own royal court?

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