OpenAI lawsuit 🤖, Azure outage ☁️, Japan payments 💳, Flax 1.11 🛠️
Engines & Workflows 🛠️
Flax Engine 1.11: Faster Loads, Custom Shaders, Better Tools
Flax Engine 1.11 arrives with custom shading models, smarter decal layers, and big GPU particle speedups. A new memory profiler and Tracy GPU integration (D3D11/12, Vulkan) unlock clearer CPU/GPU performance timelines. Expanded multi-threading and time-sliced async scene loading (30% frame budget) smooth gameplay, with sample gains from 47 to 75 FPS. Editor QoL boosts include better Visject tools, prefab diff “Apply All,” UI resolution previews, and new shortcuts.
From Spline to Stadium: PCG Workflows for Massive Venues in Unreal
Build massive arenas fast with Unreal’s PCG in this hands-on session. Generate seats, structures, and lights from a single spline, keep spacing clean with resampling, and boost performance via instancing and GPU execution. Add interactivity with Instance Actors Interop, populate crowds, and run line-of-sight analyses. Finish with data assets, Remote Control, and DMX-driven lighting for esports-ready, modular venue design.
Industry News & Ops 📰
Judge Lets GRRM-Led Copyright Suit Against OpenAI Move Forward
A US judge ruled that authors, including George R.R. Martin, can proceed with their copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, saying a jury could find ChatGPT’s outputs “substantially similar” to original works. The court cited AI-made summaries and outlines that echo plots, characters, and themes. For gamedevs using generative AI in narrative or worldbuilding, this raises urgent IP and workflow considerations.
DNS Snag Triggers Azure Disruption; Xbox Back, Full Fix by Oct 30
Microsoft has largely resolved an Azure outage—sparked by an Azure Front Door config change—that hit Microsoft 365, Xbox, and Minecraft, plus companies like Starbucks and Capital One. Availability is back above 98%, with full restoration expected by Oct 30. Xbox services have recovered, though some players needed to restart consoles. The disruption ties to DNS issues, echoing last week’s AWS outage.
Markets & Design Insights 💡
Japan Opens Mobile Payments: What Game Studios Must Do Next
Starting December 18, 2025, Japan’s mobile ecosystem opens up: alternative app stores and payment rails become mandatory, and self‑preferencing is banned. Game publishers can cut fees toward sub‑10%, boost conversions via local methods, and build loyalty with first‑party data. The piece stresses compliance‑by‑design partners, fraud controls, and UX optimization. EnJoyPay offers a practical roadmap and upcoming webinars for regional expansion.
Indie Survival Guide: Hooks, Scope, and Story-First Design
DigiTales’ Julian Colbus shares hard-won tactics for making narrative and detective games that sell: build the hook first, make “detective” readable at a glance, and choose elegance over features. He explains why mid-size teams struggle, how smaller, focused releases win, and why indies should rarely do direct sequels. Expect actionable advice on trailer moments, demos that filter buyers, Steam cross-promo, and why survival horror’s disempowerment and scarcity create reliable hooks.