Sipher Odyssey has launched its Open Beta, introducing a plethora of new features, game modes, and improvements to the game.

The update brings a new region, Zendor, with 30 brand new sectors to explore, each with unique conditions to pass and rewards to earn. The game also introduces a new social feature, Guilds, which allows players to collaborate, compete, and socialize with each other.

The update also brings new game modes, including AI Hunt, Expedition, and Arena, each with its own set of challenges and rewards. Players can now trade items with each other through the in-game marketplace, and the game features a new currency system, with three new types of currencies: Glory Badges, Guild Medals, and Scrap. The game's audio design has also been enhanced, with new sound effects, voiceovers, and music tracks.

In terms of gameplay, the update introduces new vessel abilities, augments, and gear sets, including the Quintessence, Bastet, Bright Air, and Electromagnetic Force gear sets. The game's combat system has been rebalanced, with new elemental damage and resistance mechanics, and the game features a new augment system, which allows players to reroll unfavorable augments or secondary stats.

The update also includes quality-of-life changes, such as the ability to sweep sectors that have already been completed, and balancing adjustments to enhance fairness and enjoyment in high-level bracket Arena PvP battles. The game's changelog is extensive, with many bug fixes, improvements, and new features added to the game.

Players are encouraged to report any bugs or issues they encounter, as the game is still in Open Beta. Despite some known issues, the update is a significant step forward for Sipher Odyssey, and players can expect a more immersive and engaging gaming experience.

Apple iOS 18.2 Public Beta Arrives with New AI Features

Apple has released the public beta of iOS 18.2, which includes new AI-powered features such as an AI emoji generator app called Genmoji, an Image Playground AI image app, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and visual search using the iPhone 16 cameras. These features were previously only available to developers, but are now accessible to public beta users.

The AI features and tools in iOS 18.2 are collectively known as Apple Intelligence, which promises users a smarter Siri, writing and proofreading assistance across apps, and image generation capabilities. Third-party developers will also be able to take advantage of Apple Intelligence features in their apps, which could ultimately prove to be the most useful offering.

Some of the new features include Image Playground, a standalone image-generation app, and Genmoji, which allows users to create custom emojis. Siri has also been integrated with ChatGPT, giving Apple's virtual assistant an expanded set of capabilities, including the ability to write text, answer questions, and create images.

However, some features will require users to join a waitlist for access, due to AI safety concerns and the need for Apple to safely scale the features to its users. The waitlist is currently in place for some image-creation features, and it is unclear how long users will have to wait before gaining access.

What Trump’s Victory Could Mean for AI Regulation

The election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States could have significant implications for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to dismantle the AI policy framework established by his predecessor, Joe Biden, which includes an executive order that addresses various aspects of AI development and deployment.

Trump's approach to AI regulation is unclear, but he has promised to support AI development that is rooted in free speech and human flourishing. Some Republicans have suggested that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) should focus on AI's physical safety risks, but it is unclear whether this will lead to new restrictions on AI development.

The fate of the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI), which was established by the Biden administration to study risks in AI systems, is also uncertain. While some experts believe that Trump may not repeal the Biden AI executive order, others predict that the new administration will adopt a light-touch regulatory approach that relies on existing laws rather than creating new ones.

Experts warn that the lack of federal regulation could have significant consequences, including enabling more authoritarian and oppressive uses of AI across the globe. Additionally, Trump's protectionist policies, including tariffs on tech imports, could squeeze the capital needed to fund AI research and development.

Prime Video Adds AI Recaps of What You’re Watching

Amazon's Prime Video is introducing a new feature called X-Ray Recaps, which uses generative AI to create text summaries of TV shows. This feature can summarize full seasons, single episodes, or even specific parts of episodes, making it easier for viewers to catch up on a show.

X-Ray Recaps will be accessible from the detail page of a show or while watching a show through the X-Ray feature. The tool analyzes video segments, subtitles, and dialogue to generate detailed descriptions of key events, places, times, and conversations. Amazon has also implemented "guardrails" to prevent spoilers and keep summaries concise.

The feature is currently in beta and will be available on Fire TV devices, with support for additional devices by the end of the year. Initially, X-Ray Recaps will work with all Amazon MGM Studios Original series, providing a convenient way for viewers to quickly get up to speed on their favorite shows.

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard Opens as BioWare’s Best Steam Launch with 70k Concurrent Players

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has achieved a significant milestone as BioWare's best Steam launch, with 70,414 concurrent players at the time of writing. This surpasses the studio's previous Steam records, including Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which had 59,817 players. The game's success is also notable as it is EA's biggest single-player Steam launch, beating out Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's 67,855 players.

The game's Steam numbers are impressive, especially considering that it was marketed as a game native to the platform, with no requirement for an Origin login. This approach seems to have paid off, as the game has received positive reviews and has been heavily marketed by BioWare since its reveal over the summer.

The success of Dragon Age: The Veilguard on Steam is part of a larger trend of publishers returning to the platform. In recent months, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, and Blizzard have all brought their games to Steam, including Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Call of Duty titles, Overwatch 2, and Diablo IV. This shift towards Steam suggests that the platform remains a key player in the PC gaming market.

Mass Effect TV Show Blasting Off to Prime Video

BioWare's Mass Effect series is being adapted into a live-action TV show, with Prime Video as the platform. The show will be executive produced by Mike Gamble, the franchise's executive director, and Avi Arad, who has credits including Morbius and the upcoming Zelda movie. Dan Casey, writer of F9: The Fast Saga and 10 Cloverfield Lane, will also write and executive produce the series.

The plot details of the show are currently unknown, but this is not the first attempt to adapt Mass Effect into a film or TV series. Legendary Pictures attempted to make a Mass Effect film in the 2010s, but it never came to fruition. In 2021, it was reported that Amazon was looking to develop a show, but no information was made public until now.

The Mass Effect series has been relatively quiet since the release of Mass Effect Andromeda in 2017. However, BioWare has been refocusing on the franchise, releasing remastered versions of the first three games in 2021. The studio has also been teasing the next Mass Effect game, which is currently in development, and has reaffirmed its commitment to the franchise on N7 Day, an annual celebration of the series.

Rainbow Six Mobile Returns in Three “Phases” Towards Global Launch

Rainbow Six Mobile is returning to soft launch after a seven-month hiatus, with Ubisoft sharing its plans for three phases in a roadmap to full release. The game's soft launch will kick off Phase 1, a technical test period where the development team will gather feedback from players and monitor the game's performance.

During Phase 1, the team will focus on data collection, gathering feedback from players and the community, and monitoring the speed and effectiveness of the development team in responding to crashes and other potential issues. Once this test proves successful, the soft launch will move to Phase 2, or the engagement test, where the team will judge how much players enjoy engaging with the new features added to increase the player base and reduce the need for bots.

The final phase, Phase 3, will mark the commissioning to global launch, where discovered bugs will be dealt with, final balancing will occur, and data centers will be deployed worldwide. The development team expressed their appreciation for the community's patience and feedback, acknowledging that it's been a long time waiting for the game's continuation.

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Bitcoin Reaches New All-Time Highs Following Election, Fed Rate Cuts, and ETF Inflows

The Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates has given a boost to Bitcoin, which is already surging in recent days, setting multiple all-time high price points following Donald Trump's election win. The interest rate cut, combined with Trump's pro-crypto policies, has created a supportive macro environment for Bitcoin, according to crypto research strategist Matt Mena. Bitcoin has hit an all-time high, rising to $74.5k and then $76.5k+, beating its previous March all-time high.

Meanwhile, BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), has set a new record for its largest single daily inflow, pulling in a total of $1.12 billion on Thursday. The fund has emerged as a dominant force among its rivals, with a net asset value of $34.2 billion, bolstered by Bitcoin's heightened value. Investor interest in the world's largest crypto is at an all-time high, driving record-setting heights for the asset. The ETF's record-breaking inflows are expected to continue, with one analyst predicting sustained inflows through to next week.

The surge in Bitcoin's price and the record-breaking inflows into BlackRock's ETF are attributed to the combination of monetary easing, political certainty, and robust US data, creating a "goldilocks scenario" for investors. The ETFs are accumulating Bitcoin faster than it can be created, which is expected to tip into a broad-based crypto rally.

OpenSea Teases New and Improved Platform

NFT marketplace OpenSea is set to launch a new and improved platform in December. According to OpenSea co-founder and CEO Devin Finzer, the new platform was built from the ground up and is expected to bring significant changes to the NFT market.

The announcement has generated significant hype, with some speculating that the new platform may include features such as account abstraction, NFT shared ownership, and memecoin trading and minting. Additionally, there is speculation that the platform may include a token airdrop, although this is considered unlikely due to the platform's US-based location.

The launch of the new platform comes at a time when OpenSea is looking to revitalize its business after a significant decline in trading volume and revenue. The platform saw peak trading volume hit $5 billion in January 2022, but since then, the NFT bubble has burst, sending volumes and revenue plummeting. In October, monthly volume was just $46 million, down 99% from its all-time high.

The announcement also comes after OpenSea received a Wells notice from the US Securities and Exchange Commission in September, warning that it could launch an enforcement action alleging trading of unregistered securities. Finzer has argued that the SEC's actions would stifle innovation and impact hundreds of thousands of digital artists and creators.

Paxos Works with Kraken, Galaxy Digital, Robinhood, and More, to Launch Global Dollar Network

A consortium of crypto and traditional finance companies, including Robinhood, Galaxy Digital, Kraken, and Paxos, has launched the Global Dollar Network to accelerate stablecoin adoption worldwide. The network is designed to support the global adoption of Paxos' USDG stablecoin, which is pegged to the United States dollar. USDG is currently available on the Ethereum blockchain but will be made available on other chains as regulations evolve.

The USDG stablecoin is backed 1:1 with the US dollar in dollar deposits, short-duration US government securities, and other cash equivalents, ensuring users can redeem their tokens for fiat. The stablecoin's US dollar backings will be reserved and managed by Singapore's largest banking institution, DBS Bank. Qualified entities, including custodians, exchanges, and fintech firms, will be able to join the Global Dollar Network by way of invitation.

The launch of USDG and the Global Dollar Network comes in a market dominated by two major stablecoin issuers, Tether and Circle. The USDG stablecoin and its Global Dollar Network aim to bring mainstream participants into the ecosystem and accelerate new stablecoin use cases. According to Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi, the lack of competition in the regulated stablecoin market has prevented the industry from reaching its full potential, and USDG is designed to upend this dynamic with a more equitable model.

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