Hacking in general largely has a negative connotation. Whether it’s shown in a TV show or experienced first hand, hacking is generally illegal and intended to harm the victim and/or benefit the hacker. A convention called the CanSecWest security conference in Vancouver hosted a Pwn2Own hacking event where hackers were encouraged to demonstrate vulnerabilities in software and hardware in exchange for a cash reward. At the event, Samuel Groß and Niklas Baumstark used a number of logic bugs to compromise Apple’s Safari browser and grab root access on a MacBook Pro. The success was topped off by a flashy message on the computer’s touch bar, reading: “pwned by niklasb and saelo”.
This may seem weird. After all, why would manufacturers pay someone to hack them? In reality, these sort of discoveries alert the companies to issues they might have otherwise overlooked and allows them to patch out the issues. The effort was labeled as a “partial success” (don’t ask me why!) and the team received a pretty significant sum of $28,000. Another team at the event obtained root access through a chain of 6 different bugs and netted $35,000.
So called “White Hat” hackers are an interesting phenomenon, using their security knowledge and experience to discover exploits in computers and alert the proper entities before they can be used to harm users. It’s nice that these sort of individuals are being rewarded, and perhaps the financial compensation will encourage more nefarious hackers to turn to the light side. The fact that these hacks focused on the MacBook Pro is important, as Apple has a reputation as a “less hackable” manufacturer. If hacks targeting macOS become more commonplace, Apple computers might no longer be regarded as the safer option.
Despite Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, The Elder Scrolls 6 was not confirmed as an Xbox exclusive a few months ago. This happened because Xbox executive Phil Spencer indicated that target platforms hadn’t been selected yet, but it always felt like he was talking about the game being years away rather than the RPG being on PlayStation.
If you’re still holding out, Microsoft plans to release The Elder Scrolls 6 just on Xbox and PC. Documents from the company’s FTC lawsuit were recently released. In the document, Bethesda’s announced titles (both as a publisher and developer) are listed, and The Elder Scrolls 6 is listed for Xbox, PC, and nothing else.
We expected this, but The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced before Microsoft acquired its developer. The Elder Scrolls is a beloved franchise that’s been on various platforms for generations, so this isn’t Starfield.
However, the game isn’t due until 2026 at the earliest, according to the paper, and who knows what the gaming landscape will be like then.
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer’s mid-2020 dystopian email suggests the business was interested in buying Warner Bros Interactive and Bethesda. Even more alarming, the CEO calls buying Nintendo a “career moment” and “good for both companies” — and there are even rumors that Microsoft was interested in Valve.
While Spencer warns that acquiring Nintendo would be “hostile action” but “playing the long game”, the unprecedented corporate convergence is shockingly casual. He added: “Nintendo is taking a long time to realize their future is off their hardware. A long time… He even ended the chat with a smiling emoji to make it look more evil.
Spencer claims that Warner Bros Interactive was “gettable” when Microsoft was rumored to acquire it. He adds that “we wouldn’t own any of the IP which hurts long-term flexibility”. Because most Warner Bros Interactive developers work on franchises like Batman, Harry Potter, and others, the studios are worth little without the brands.
The email is over three years old, but it reveals Microsoft’s blasé approach to acquisitions and its goals. While its eventual acquisition of Activision Blizzard may have changed its plans, this leaked exchange suggests that Microsoft will not stop until it has absorbed as much of the industry as possible, even targeting Nintendo.
Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor director Stig Asmussen is leaving Respawn Entertainment for unknown reasons. Asmussen had planned a trilogy for Cal Kestis, but it appears another author will need to write it.
Bloomberg reports that an EA spokesperson said: “Stig Asmussen has left Respawn to pursue other adventures, and we wish him the best. Veteran Respawn leaders will lead Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.”
This move is surprising, but Asmussen leaves on a high note. Jedi: Survivor is a great game despite its performance issues, which is rare for a Star Wars game. We’ll see where Asmussen goes, but we’re excited.
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