Latest news with #LocalThunk
Arabian Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Post
Apple's App Excellence Crowned with Balatro, Neva and Dredge Triumphs
Apple awarded top honours across its six categories at the 2025 Apple Design Awards, celebrating innovation, aesthetics and social impact across apps and games. Standout recipients included Balatro, Neva and DREDGE, which secured wins in key categories and reflect the diversity and creativity of today's digital creators. Balatro, developed by Canadian indie studio LocalThunk, claimed the 'Delight and Fun' game category. This roguelike, poker-infused deck-builder has gained acclaim for its addictive stakes and clever mechanics, combining classic card play with strategic depth. Apple described it as a 'captivatingly innovative card game' that reaffirms the potential of indie titles. Its creator, working solo under a pseudonym, has emphasised the joy in balancing playful randomness with carefully crafted gameplay. In the Interaction category, DREDGE from New Zealand's Black Salt Games attracted praise. It merges slow-burn horror elements with maritime exploration, putting players at the helm of a fishing vessel navigating eerie islands and hidden mysteries. Apple highlighted its 'seamless interactions' across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Nadia Thorne, CEO of Black Salt Games, commended the award as a recognition of the careful adaptation process for mobile controls and atmosphere. ADVERTISEMENT Neva, released by Devolver Digital, secured the Social Impact award. This atmospheric action-adventure tells the tale of a girl and her wolf, journeying through seasonally shifting landscapes and exploring themes of environmental loss, care and connection. Apple noted its 'visually stunning and emotionally resonant' approach, framing it as a contemplative meditation on the bonds humans form with the natural world. Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, Susan Prescott, emphasised at WWDC that these awardees exemplify boundary-pushing creativity, well-crafted design, and meaningful user experiences. The event also recognised excellence across app categories. CapWords, from HappyPlan Tech in China, won Delight and Fun for its intelligent language-learning tool. It transforms everyday images into interactive word stickers, offering immersive multilingual engagement. Productivity and creativity saw innovation rewarded with Play by Rabbit 3 Times, a SwiftUI-based prototyping platform that bridges Mac and iPhone workflows. Inclusivity was honoured with Speechify, which offers extensive language-to-voice conversion for neurodiverse and low-vision users, and Art of Fauna, a wildlife-themed puzzle game combining conservation and accessibility features. Visuals and Graphics awards went to Feather: Draw in 3D by South Korea's Sketchsoft, and Infinity Nikki, a richly animated game from Singapore's Infold Games. Watch Duty, a wildfire monitoring app, earned the Social Impact app award for delivering evacuation data, fire perimeter updates and wind information during California wildfires. Its volunteer-run team continues to rely on community feedback to improve communication effectiveness. ADVERTISEMENT The awards, featuring 36 finalists across six categories, reflect Apple's criteria: technical proficiency, design craft, accessibility, user engagement and social responsibility. Notably, the 'Spatial Computing' category from 2024 was omitted, underscoring a renewed focus on cross-platform usability. Each winner demonstrates a commitment to both form and function. Balatro delivers addictive mechanics; DREDGE provides immersive controls and atmosphere; Neva offers emotional and visual storytelling; apps like Speechify and Watch Duty place real-world needs at their heart. Industry analysts say the Apple Design Awards play a significant role in spotlighting independent developers. Tech site AppleInsider noted the retention of all six core categories this year, marking a notable departure from 2024's emphasis on spatial apps. The awards can boost visibility in the App Store, offering small studios a major platform. Balatro's prior accolades — including Game Developers Choice Awards' top honours and DICE recognitions — align with its Apple accolade. DREDGE's win underscores its mobile design excellence, while Neva's recognition continues the narrative trend toward socially conscious storytelling in games. This year's awardees also highlight Apple's focus on global representation. Winners and finalists span China, South Korea, Austria, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, representing varied genres, languages and development scales. Of special note is Apple's call to developers to integrate accessibility in mainstream gameplay. Winners Speechify, Art of Fauna, and Neva incorporate VoiceOver, haptics, and adjustable modes, affirming the platform's push for inclusive tech. These awards were timed to coincide with WWDC 2025, presenting creators with high visibility and the chance to be featured by Apple. For example, apps like CapWords and Play benefit from showcases in the App Store and WWDC sessions. The unified messaging from Apple and the developers interviewed emphasises a baseline of high-quality experience. Whether crafting elegant UI, refining user engagement, or embedding purpose-driven features, the recognition from Cupertino underscores a shared standard: excellence must be felt by users.
Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Apple confirms 12 standout apps you should try today on iPhone, Mac and iPad
The winners of Apple's latest Design Awards have just been announced with 12 apps you might want to try. Apple's yearly WWDC Developers Conference is less than a week away, and ahead of this global event, the US technology firm has announced the winners of its prestigious Design Awards. These gongs are handed out to developers who create standout applications that set a high bar in design. A total of 12 awards have just been announced, with Apple saying they have recognised one app and one game across six categories: Delight and Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics. The winners have then been chosen from a total of 36 finalists who have all demonstrated outstanding design experiences across apps and games. 'Developers continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, creating apps and games that are not only beautifully designed but also deeply impactful,' said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. 'We're excited to celebrate this incredible group of winners and finalists at WWDC and spotlight the innovation and craftsmanship they bring to each experience.' DELIGHT & FUN App: CapWords Developer: HappyPlan Tech Game: Balatro Developer: LocalThunk INNOVATION Game: PBJ — The Musical Developer: Philipp Stollenmayer INTERACTION App: Taobao Developer: Zhejiang Taobao Network Game: DREDGE Developer: Black Salt Games INCLUSIVITY App: Speechify Developer: Speechify Game: Art of Fauna Developer: Klemens Strasser SOCIAL IMPACT App: Watch Duty Developer: Sherwood Forestry Service Game: Neva Developer: Devolver Digital VISUAL & GRAPHICS App: Feather: Draw in 3D Developer: Sketchsoft Game: Infinity Nikki Developer: Infold Games Along with checking out these games, it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for news from WWDC 25 next week. Things kick off on June 9, and expect plenty of updates to be announced that will change how you use your MacBook, iPad and iPhone.
Metro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
One of the best games of 2024 is free on PS Plus in May
Sony has announced the PS Plus line-up for May, and fans of dinosaurs, Warhammer, and deck builders will be very pleased. While it's usually possible to predict what the biggest games of the year will be at the AAA level, the best thing about indie titles is they can come out of nowhere and steal the conversation entirely. That was definitely the case for Balatro, a poker-themed roguelike deck builder created by solo developer LocalThunk, which went onto sell over 5 million copies and secure a Game Of The Year nomination at The Game Awards. If you haven't yet been ensnared by its addictive qualities, Balatro will be available as one of the free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers in May. The game will be available to both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners from Tuesday, May 6 for anyone who is subscribed to the PlayStation Plus essential tier. While it's perhaps better suited to handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch and mobiles, it's worth taking for a spin on Sony's console if you haven't yet tried it – especially if you have a PlayStation Portal. More Trending Other games about to debut include Ark: Survival Ascended, a revamped version of 2017 dinosaur survival sim, Ark: Survival Evolved, in Unreal Engine 5. The game launched in early access in 2023 to a mixed reception, and based on Steam reviews it hasn't changed much since, but it supports up to 70 players online if you fancy some chaos. The final game on the May line-up is Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, a retro first person shooter which is a fascinating curiosity – even if it does get repetitive after a while. All of these games will be available to claim from May 6 to June 2, 2025. It's worth noting you can just add them to your library during this time and download them later, as long as you have a PlayStation Plus subscription. You still have until May 5 to pick up this month's games, which includes RoboCop: Rogue City, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Titanfall 3 was 'almost finished' before 100 staff were laid off insists leaker MORE: Highest rated game of 2025 is already 20% off on PS5 and Xbox MORE: Seth Rogen coming to Call Of Duty in weed-themed DLC as Star Wars hits Fortnite
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bafta Games Awards 2025: Astro Bot wins top prize
Astro Bot has been named best game at this year's Bafta Games 3D platformer, starring the PlayStation mascot character, won five awards in total at the prestigious ceremony in director Nicolas Doucet dedicated the biggest prize of the night to developers who "had "inspired others to join the industry"."They give us the energy, the passion and the will to become magicians," said the head of Sony-owned studio Team Asobi. It was a good night overall for Sony as its other big 2024 hit, Helldivers 2, picked up two awards for best multiplayer and squad-based shooter was a surprise hit when it was released, and its makers had to race to boost server capacity to meet early demand. Accepting the multiplayer award, Johan Pilestedt, chief creative officer at developer Arrowhead, said players had reached out to him to say Helldivers 2 had reconnected them with gamer friends from 10 to 15 years ago. "That's such an honour," he told the crowd at Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's South Bank. Thank Goodness You're Here! - a comedy cartoon game made by two friends from Yorkshire - won the award for best British is set in the fictional northern town of Barnsworth, heavily inspired by developers Will Todd and James Carbutt's home town of Barnsley in South quirky title features voice performances from the pair, as well as actor Matt the prize, the two friends said: "We hope this inspires you to tell your own story in your own voice without compromise." The Bafta Games Awards, which launched 21 years ago, have earned a reputation as causing major 2023, Vampire Survivors, a game made by a tiny British team, beat Sony's big-budget blockbuster God of War: Ragnarok to bag the best game had tipped Balatro - the poker-inspired card game made by an anonymous, lone developer known as LocalThunk - to pip Astro Bot to the award this it was Astro Bot's night, with the game winning best animation, audio achievement, family game and game design - as well as best game. Balatro did, however, win best Ben Starr, accepting the award on the developer's behalf, approached the stage in make-up and a jester's hat - an outfit inspired by the game's character the speech, he joked that developer LocalThunk was "really rich now" and urged the audience to "play more independent games... they are the lifeblood of this industry". Legendary composer Yoko Shimomura accepted the Bafta fellowship in recognition of her contribution to best known for her work on the Kingdom Hearts series, from Japanese publisher Square Enix, she recalled how she had "felt like giving up" on her work many times."The fact I am standing here at all is no thanks to my own efforts, but to the people who have supported me," she said in her acceptance speech."I feel if the music I have made has resonated with one person and touched their hearts in one way, it was worth it." Meanwhile, Still Wakes the Deep - a horror game set on a Scottish oil rig in the 1970s - swept the lead and supporting performance categories, and was also named best new intellectual Abubakar Salim, known for performances in Assassin's Creed and HBO's House of the Dragon, gave an emotional speech as he collected the games beyond entertainment award.A keen gamer, he set up his own development company and its debut release, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, was inspired by the grief he felt at the loss of his Saga: Hellblade II, which went into the ceremony with 11 nominations, went home with just one award: technical achievement. Bafta Games Awards 2025 - the winners in full: Animation: Astro BotArtistic achievement: NevaAudio achievement: Astro BotBafta fellowship: Yoko Shimomura (composer)Best game: Astro BotBritish Game: Thank Goodness You're Here!Debut game: BalatroEvolving game: Vampire SurvivorsFamily game: Astro BotGame beyond entertainment: Tales of Kenzera: ZAUGame design: Astro BotMultiplayer: Helldivers 2Music: Helldivers 2Narrative: Metaphor: ReFantazioNew intellectual property: Still Wakes the DeepLeading performance: Alec Newman as Caz in Still Wakes the DeepBest supporting actor: Karen Dunbar as Finlay in Still Wakes the DeepTechnical achievement: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
YouTube thinks Balatro is gambling and has been age-restricting videos
It takes a lot of time and effort to get a game off the ground, especially if you're an indie developer. And it's even harder to get a game recognized, with so many different titles making their debuts each day. So, when something like Balatro comes along, it's important to really cherish the moment. And while it seems like something that just popped up overnight, it was a long time in the making, with developer LocalThunk taking years to fine tune the details to get things right. For many, Balatro was the best game of 2024, and despite tons of success, it's been seeing some uphill battles from some unlikely sources. YouTube is the latest to get Balatro in its net, with PC Gamer reporting that the platform is now age-restricting videos about the game, alleging that it is gambling content. Now, we know that YouTube has tightened its policy with regard to gambling content, but hitting Balatro content with age restrictions seems like a bit of a stretch. Let's be clear, Balatro is an addictive game. But it's addictive in the best kind of way, which only requires that you spend your time, energy, and emotions. The game never asks you to pay anything additional, and the only way that you can beat it is with a lot of luck, playtime, and skill. There are a lot of games out there right now that allow you to pay to win. Or make you pay through the nose with gatcha-style mechanics or loot boxes. And if Balatro utilized these mechanics, it would make sense to restrict content in accordance with YouTube's new policies, but that isn't the case. Of course, many are not happy with what's going on, especially creators that are focused on Balatro for content. And what makes this worse is that it's not clear if something like this will ever change, considering that YouTube isn't very transparent about these kinds of situations. And while we'd like to say that this is kind of a surprise, it isn't the first time something like this has happened. Balatro was hit with an 18 rating by PEGI (Pan-European Game Information), which is Europe's video game content rating system, because it thought that the game featured "teaching or glamorisation of simulated gambling." It took some time, but that was finally amended, with the game receiving a PEGI 12 rating. The path remains unclear for Balatro, but it's tough to see these types of things happen. On a lighter note, the first big update for Balatro is still on track for 2025. So it will be interesting to see what kinds of changes or enhancements will be introduced.
