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The last day of September is quite a busy one, with news surfacing from a string of big rumors and controversies. Streaming giant Twitch just announced it would implement new measures against hate raids, while the ratings board in Korea also reviewed a Grand Theft Auto trilogy, and Genshin Impact developer Mihoyo shared a statement on plans for future anniversary rewards following backlash. If you’ve missed industry news throughout the day, we’ve got a roundup of the biggest stories we’ve covered today.
Twitch Shares Plans To Combat Hate Raids
Marginalized creators have experienced harassment on Twitch since the platform’s beginnings, but bigoted attacks have seen a massive spike this year. Aggressors coordinate bot-fueled attacks on multiple fronts, flooding chatrooms with slurs and spamming new subscriber notices on stream through offensive usernames. Creators on the platform drew attention to the issue through their #DoBetterTwitch social media campaign, advocating for the company to treat the issue with urgency and make the platform safe for its marginalized creators.
Today, Twitch announced it would implement tougher restrictions to verify users through email and phone options to keep chats safer. Creators will be able to change mod requirements for their viewers, and Twitch says it will ban all accounts associated with any emails or phone numbers that face punishment.
The Game Awards Return With In-Person Ceremony
Geoff Keighly’s annual celebration of gaming and industry figures, The Game Awards, will resume on December 9 in its usual in-person format. The affair will be invite-only, and announcements around COVID-19 safety protocols are expected in the coming weeks. Once again, The Game Awards will stream from platforms around the world, and include world premieres of new games, new trailers, and musical performances.
Korean Ratings Board Mentions GTA
Grand Theft Auto’s rumored remastered trilogy just got a little more real. In South Korea, it looks like a collection of GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas came under review for all consoles, mobile, and PC. Rockstar still hasn’t confirmed whether or not the trilogy exists, but rumors have continued for months around a possible 2021 or 2022 launch. While it’s not direct confirmation, the studio has at least confirmed it has remasters of its classics underway for several games.
PlayStation Picks Up Studio Known For Remakes
Bluepoint Games, the studio behind remakes for Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, is officially part of PlayStation’s first-party lineup. Since earlier this summer, whisperings over a possible acquisition of Bluepoint swirled after the brand’s Japanese account accidentally shared a banner advertising the studio as part of its family. PlayStation’s Hermen Hulst confirmed that Bluepoint Games would join Sony after years of remaking some of its iconic first-party titles.
Mihoyo Responds To Genshin Anniversary Controversy
Genshin Impact’s anniversary rewards haven’t gone over well, but the community has since turned complaints of greed into harassment of voice talent and review-bombing unrelated games. Earlier today, Mihoyo responded to TheGamer’s request for comment regarding fan reactions to Genshin Impact’s latest events, and the studio responded, saying it’s “paying close attention”. Games like Fate/Grand Order, which is not made by or affiliated with Mihoyo in any way, have seen a flood of angry Genshin fans leaving one-star reviews.