Latest news with #EULA
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Epic Games Files Lawsuit Against Fortnite Cheat Developer
Image via Epic Games Fortnite developer Epic Games has filed a fresh lawsuit targeting a player accused of creating and distributing cheat software that offers unfair in-game advantages. The accused, Ediz Atas - known online as 'Sincey Cheats' and 'Vanta Cheats'—allegedly developed tools that let players see through walls and auto-aim at opponents. Epic claims cheating tools are harming game integrity Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the lawsuit alleges that Atas has been selling these tools since January 2023. The software reportedly bypasses Epic's in-game anti-cheat mechanisms and violates the game's End User License Agreement (EULA). According to Epic, the cheating tools give players an unfair advantage and disrupt the gameplay experience for others. The company says that this has caused genuine players to abandon Fortnite, which in turn affects in-game purchases such as cosmetics, battle passes, and other content that form a major part of Epic's revenue model. Developer accused of posing as Epic employee The complaint goes further to accuse Atas of impersonating an Epic Games employee. The lawsuit claims that he sent emails to YouTube's copyright division, falsely claiming to represent Epic, in an attempt to reverse DMCA takedown notices that were aimed at cheat-related videos. Epic also noted that it has issued tens of thousands of bans to accounts using this software, with over 15,000 bans coming from users in the United States alone. The lawsuit targets not just Atas, but also five unnamed individuals who allegedly helped distribute the cheating software via Discord servers, websites, and Telegram channels. This is not the first time Epic Games has pursued legal action against cheaters. The company has previously taken strong measures against players violating competitive rules, including lifetime bans and public apologies. However, this new lawsuit highlights Epic's growing focus on developers and resellers of cheat software, which the company views as a significant threat to the game's ecosystem. Industry experts see this as part of a broader trend in the gaming world. Developers like Riot Games and Bungie have also filed lawsuits against cheat creators in recent years, sometimes winning multi-million dollar judgments. Despite occasional controversies, Fortnite continues to attract millions of players daily. With the arrival of Chapter 6 Season 3 and new collaborations like Star Wars, Epic seems keen to preserve the competitive integrity of the game—by any legal means necessary. Also Read: What is Supernova Gear in Fortnite and how to unlock It fast
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who really owns your Switch 2? "It's-a-me!" suggests Nintendo
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The hype train barrels forward for the Nintendo Switch 2 as preorders continue to mount with the handheld console rapidly approaching its June 5 launch date. Given the astronomical success of the original Switch, which sold over 120 million units to date following its March 2017 release, expectations are sky-high regarding Nintendo's next-gen offering. However, while fans ponder performance, fantasize about frame rates, and rave over ray tracing, there's another side to the Switch's story: ownership itself. You may have spent 450 (or $499 if you opted for the MarioKart World Bundle) of your hard-earned dollars on a brand-new Switch 2 ahead of its launch, or you may be prepping yourself for a midnight release at your local brick-and-mortar. In your mind, the Switch 2 is already yours. And that might be the problem. According to a recently updated section of Nintendo's End User License Agreement (EULA), Switch 2 ownership might be all in your head. Preorder the Nintendo Switch 2 + MarioKart World Bundle for $499 at Best Buy. This bundle includes: a Nintendo Switch 2 Console, a full game download of Mario Kart World, a light blue Joy-Con 2, a light red Joy-Con 2 (R), a Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter, a USB-C charging cable, a Nintendo Switch 2 Dock, a Joy-Con 2 Grip, 2 x Joy-Con 2 Straps, and an ultra high-speed HDMI cable. Key specs: 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touch screen, HDR support, up to 120 fps, TV dock supports 4K, GameChat, 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD Express Deal Saying Nintendo has always had a tumultuous relationship with issues of piracy, emulation, imitation, and modding is a bit like saying dynamite and sparks find each other slightly disagreeable. This is, after all, the company that attempted to sue a Costa Rican supermarket in January over trademark infringement, got multiple streamers banned for the unforgivable crime of playing a game they legally owned, and struck down the sale of custom-designed JoyCons in honor of popular, deceased YouTuber, Desmond 'Etika' Amofah. (And you can read many more instances here.) When it comes to obsessing over its brand, intellectual property, and the sanctity of its products, nobody does it quite like Nintendo. It has a vice-like grip on everything it produces. And you may find yourself wrestling with that same grip when it comes to the ownership of "your" Switch 2, as updated language in the company's EULA (as spotted by Game File's Stephen Totilo) suggests that Nintendo will be retaining its hold on the console, long after you've made your purchase. The updated agreement offers the usual legalese language to indicate Nintendo's disapproval of piracy, tampering, and modding of its console. As well as efforts to exploit Nintendo Account Services in any way. While the language is stricter, and clamps down tighter than before on any potential meddling, it's the end of the paragraph that should prick the ears of those interested in picking up a Switch 2 for themselves. It reads: "You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part." Roughly translated: break the rules, and we're well within our rights to not just ban you from using Nintendo's online services, but we can also break your Switch 2 at will. Permanently. The Switch 2 may end up being Nintendo's biggest hardware launch to date, but the question of what it really means to own the handheld console may loom over that parade like a dark cloud. Yes, technically, this rule should only impact those ne'er-do-wells that hope to interfere with the Switch 2 in ways that the vast majority of owners won't. But if they've bought it, if they "own" it, do they not have the right to do with it as they see fit? It's a wider point than Nintendo preventing piracy, or the use of emulators and homebrew on its platform. In a time where we're routinely told that we don't actually own any of our games by various publishers, is the next step on that path being told that the hardware in our hands? Is just a very expensive lease that's only upheld on the grounds of you being a good boy/girl? If you're looking to hop aboard that Switch 2 hype train, just remember: toe the line, or Nintendo may remind you who has final say over what ownership of the upcoming console looks like. Spoiler: "It's-not-a-you!" The Switch 2 might not stay at its launch price. Nintendo explains why. The Nintendo Switch 2 has an Xbox-shaped problem, and we just got our first look at it Switch 2 is almost here, but a recent Switch update caused problems—here's how Nintendo responded
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why is Borderlands 2 being review bombed?
(Image via Gearbox Software) Borderlands 2 is a beloved classic game, but now, it's facing a sudden wave of negative reviews on Steam. The players are just furious about the newly enforced legal terms of service. It has sparked a massive review bombing campaign over corporate and privacy overreach. But what exactly is this change that's creating such backlash and has turned the recent reception of the game upside down? Here is all you need to know about it. Borderlands 2 players show discontent over Take-Two Interactive EULA The player's uproar stems from the recently updated End User License Agreement (EULA) implemented across all Borderlands games, by Take-Two Interactive, the game's publisher. As per players' claims, the new terms grant Take-Two excessive access to the player's systems, including the data collection—hardware details, IP addresses, and even the browsing history. Many fans have argued that these changes completely resemble spyware, and they fear it can grant the publisher root-level access to their systems, disguised under the name of anti-cheat measures. They have raised alarms about the privacy violations. Some players even fear that this new agreement can be used to ban mods, which have been a key part of the game's longevity. It's been stated by Take-Two Interactive that the measures are for anti-cheat and security. But the fans question the decision. After all, for a 13-year-old game title that's been focused on co-op and single-player and not competitive play, what can lead to such invasive tracking action? This backlash further intensified when the viral YouTube video highlighted changes and led to the massive review-bombing campaign all across the Borderlands series. Borderlands 2 Steam reviews, which were once quite overwhelmingly positive, have now dipped down to Mixed. It's all due to the flooding of negative feedback from players. Fans mixed reactions, and developer responses to Borderlands series backlash Not all agree that the change is as drastic as they seem to be. EULA has included the broad language regarding data collection since always and Take-Two Interaction has not introduced any anti-cheat software. Borderlands players suspect that the backlash stemmed from the misinformation with the viral YouTube video that exaggerated the risk. Yet, the damage is already done, and the recent Steam reviews of Borderlands 2 seem to have plummeted to mostly negative, with some angry players labeling the game spyware and even demanding reversals. Gearbox CEO, Randy Pitchford, has addressed the player's concerns and stated that no spyware has been added to the game. He further clarified that EULA is the decision made at the publisher level, and it doesn't impact the gameplay or the software's integrity. Despite the reassurances offered, it didn't seem to have calmed the story. Many players are still skeptical about the decision and intention of Take-Two Interactive. Also, the timing of the change coincides with Borderlands 2, which is offered for free on Steam. It has amplified the outcry as the players feel the giveaway is just a tactic to push new terms onto the users on the unsuspecting side. For now, this controversy continues, and the players are demanding transparency amidst the tightened control. Whether or not Take-Two Interactive will revise the policies or if this backlash will impact Borderlands 4, an upcoming title, remains to be seen.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steam users are review bombing the Borderlands games following Take-Two's new user agreement: "I don't feel comfortable with the terms of service"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ahead of Borderlands 4, fans of the action RPG series from Gearbox Software are rallying online to share their thoughts on Take-Two Interactive's new terms of service. As pointed out by a player in a recent Reddit thread, the Borderlands games are currently facing a review bomb of sorts on Steam. The debacle boils down to Take-Two's recently updated user agreement, which is outlined on the holding company's website. "People are review bombing the entire Borderlands series because of EULA changes that can apparently gain root-level access to your machine under the guise of 'anti-cheat' software." The poster continues, explaining how fans are upset at the prospect of Take-Two collecting "personal info like accounts, passwords, telephone numbers, etc." One look at the Steam pages for each of the three main Borderlands entries serves as proof that players are indeed upset about the new terms of service. Under the first game's recent reviews, which have dropped to "Mixed," people share their concerns about the user agreement. People are review-bombing the Borderlands games because Gearbox/2K made EULA changes? from r/borderlands3 "I don't feel comfortable with the terms of service," writes one such fan. Another simply calls the game "spyware" following the integration of Take-Two's new terms of service. The page for Borderlands 2 also shows "Mixed" reviews, with players highlighting their worries over the user agreement and how they're afraid it affects their privacy online: "This collects usernames and passwords, IP locations and browser history data." Recent Borderlands 3 reviews don't look much better, either. One fan exclaims that "recent EULA changes seem insane," while others describe how now "mods are a bannable offense" and any "display of cheats/exploits is bannable" despite the game being largely single-player/co-op rather than an online experience where anti-cheat measures make sense. Elsewhere, people cite the legal implications of Take-Two's new user agreement. Not everyone is convinced the changes spell the end of Borderlands as fans know and love it, however. As seen on the Reddit post covering the review bombing, some think players are "overreacting" currently: "People are overreacting for sure. The EULA is hardly any different than the one before it all the way back in 2018." Just as the games' reviews are now "Mixed" on Steam, then, so are the community's opinions on the terms of service. Borderlands 3 player beats every last bit of the FPS at the highest difficulty, without getting downed a single time: "The most tense run I've done"
The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
Nintendo warns it might brick Switch consoles with pirated games
Violating any of these terms could put a console at risk of being 'bricked', or permanently disabled. — Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash In an update to its End User License Agreement (EULA), Nintendo now says it may render a console completely unusable if it detects pirated games or unauthorised software modifications. First spotted by online gaming news outlet Game File, it was found that the Japanese gaming giant has made a significant change to its EULA, now stating that failure to comply with Nintendo's restrictions "may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part". Nintendo Account Services is a catch-all term, referring to video games and add-on content. The updated restrictions state that gamers are not allowed to "publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services". They also cannot "bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software." Alongside those restrictions, users are prohibited from installing unauthorised version of Nintendo software, meaning pirated or unlicensed, and using Nintendo Account Services beyond Nintendo's intended or documented use without permission, unless allowed by law. Violating any of these terms could put a console at risk of being "bricked", or permanently disabled. The agreement previously only stated that users are "not allowed to lease, rent, sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble all or any portion of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo's written consent, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law". The updated EULA is also not specific to any one console, meaning it could be applied retroactively to existing devices as well as future releases, which is particularly relevant with the upcoming Switch 2 launch next month. The company has historically taken a strong stance against piracy, most recently winning a case against a Japanese Switch modder who sold modified consoles with pirated software. The modder was subsequently fined 500,000 yen (around RM14,668) and sentenced to two years of suspended jail time. Separately, Nintendo says it "may collect, monitor and record audio and video of your chat sessions with other users to provide a safe and secure environment for certain of our services", which is likely tied to the new Voice Chat feature included with the Switch 2.
