Skype taught the world how to video chat before “Zooming” was even a thing. Now, 22 years after its launch, the OG of online calling has officially gone silent.

Skype officially shut down on May 5, 2025, marking the end of one of the most iconic names in internet communication. Microsoft, which acquired Skype back in 2011 for a cool $8.5 billion, has folded the app into Teams as part of a strategic shift. The company cited declining usage and stiff competition from Zoom and Google Meet as key reasons for pulling the plug.

Once a staple for long-distance calls and awkward webcam angles, Skype just couldn’t keep up with the times. Clunky redesigns, buggy updates, and the rise of sleeker platforms chipped away at its user base—which plummeted from a reported 600 million users in 2010 to near obscurity by 2025. Let’s face it: even your grandparents probably jumped ship for FaceTime.

Why Skype Hung Up

Microsoft first announced the shutdown plans in early 2025, giving users a few months to migrate to Teams. But this wasn’t a sudden death—it was a slow fade. Zoom dominated the pandemic era. Google Meet became a no-brainer for Gmail users. Skype tried to evolve but kept tripping over its own updates. By the end, it was less “connecting the world” and more “clogging your taskbar.”

A Brief History of an Internet Icon

Born in 2003 from the same minds behind file-sharing platform Kazaa, Skype was ahead of its time. It let users make free video and voice calls over the internet—a game changer when international calls still meant dialing codes and minute-based billing. It was also one of the first VoIP apps to support landline calls, group chats, and video conferencing, all in one place.

By 2005, it had 50 million registered users. By 2010? 600 million. It was the go-to app for long-distance couples, digital nomads, and teenagers figuring out webcam angles. It even found a niche in gaming communities before Discord stole that crown.

Skype’s Legacy

Before FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Discord, Skype was the way to stay in touch. Sure, the video quality was pixelated, and the UI occasionally resembled a Windows XP science project, but it worked. For a while, Skype was the internet’s face.

It made global conversations accessible, brought families closer, and turned “Can you hear me?” into a universal experience. It wasn’t perfect—emergency calling was limited in places like the UK and Australia—but it paved the way for every video app that came after.

What’s Next for Former Users?

Microsoft says Skype credits and subscriptions will transfer to Teams (for now). But if you’re not into yet another corporate tool in your life, there are alternatives. Google Meet, Signal, and Viber Out offer streamlined options for international communication.

Still, none of them quite capture the odd charm of a Skype ringtone or the mild panic of realizing your camera was on the whole time.

Sources:

• Slashdot – Microsoft Shuts Down Skype, May 5, 2025

• Fast Company – Skype is shutting down: Useful VoIP alternatives, May 5, 2025

• Newsweek – Why Microsoft is Shutting Down Skype, March 1, 2025

• Wikipedia – Skype, accessed May 5, 2025

News compiled, edited, and fact-checked by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED from Clownfish TV.

Vampire Survivors’ PlayStation port continues to stumble, but that hasn’t stopped the indie bullet-hell darling from becoming one of the most impactful games of the decade.

Persistent PlayStation Woes Deepen With Patch Delay

Poncle’s May 1, 2025, X thread confirmed that a long-awaited patch for Vampire Survivors on PS4 and PS5 is being delayed. The reason? A memory leak in the engine version and the discontinuation of support for older versions.

“A patch to fix PS4 crashes due to low memory is in the works… unfortunately this isn’t a quick fix,” the developer stated.

The problem is especially bad for PS5 users running the PS4 version via backward compatibility. According to ComicBook.com (April 25, 2025), players have experienced save data corruption and frequent crashes. The issue mirrors past struggles seen in other indie titles like Hollow Knight, which also suffered performance problems on aging PlayStation hardware (IGN, June 12, 2019).

A Technical Challenge Rooted in Design

The core design of Vampire Survivors—hundreds of enemies swarming the player—puts pressure on system memory. Prior to a 2023 engine update, the game could drop to 5 FPS on Steam Deck in late-game scenarios. After beta testing, that number rose to a smooth 60 FPS (Reddit, March 3, 2023).

The need to upgrade the engine is part of a broader 2025 trend. Unity ended support for older versions in 2024, forcing indie developers to update or risk performance issues (Unity Blog, March 5, 2024). This transition, while necessary, is hitting smaller studios especially hard.

The History of Vampire Survivors

Created by former gambling industry dev Luca Galante, aka Poncle, Vampire Survivors launched in early access in December 2021. The game took inspiration from classic Castlevania aesthetics—whip-wielding characters, gothic enemies, and retro horror vibes are baked into its DNA. Its pixel-art style and monster roster drew comparisons to Konami’s iconic series almost immediately.

Set in rural Italy, Vampire Survivors began as a low-budget project on itch.io before exploding on Steam. Galante used his background designing slot machine interfaces to make the game’s chest animations feel especially addictive—a detail that didn’t go unnoticed by fans or critics.

By the time it hit Xbox, mobile, and PC with a full release in late 2022, Vampire Survivors had become a bonafide phenomenon.

Reception: A Critical Darling

Metacritic rated the game 86/100 on PC, and reviewers praised its deep replay value, simple controls, and compelling progression system. Some critics called it polarizing—you either “get it or you don’t”—but few denied its low price-to-content ratio was a steal.

Valve even considered pre-installing it on Steam Decks at one point (Metacritic, October 2022), a sign of its broad appeal. Vampire Survivors became a fixture on gaming recommendation lists and earned a reputation as a new standard for roguelikes.

Sales: A Billion-Dollar Success

By September 2024, the game had sold more than 6 million copies and generated $7 million in its first month on Steam (LEVVVEL, September 17, 2024). Including DLC, Xbox Game Pass revenue, and bundle sales, Vampire Survivors cleared $150 million in total revenue by the end of 2024. Not bad for a game that once sold for $4.99.

Awards and Accolades

The game won big at the 2023 BAFTA Games Awards, taking home trophies for Game Design and Best Game. It also earned honors at the Golden Joystick Awards, New York Game Awards, and the D.I.C.E. Awards.

Despite competing with AAA juggernauts, Vampire Survivors proved that good game design and addictive gameplay could win just as much praise as cinematic storytelling or cutting-edge graphics.

DLC: Expanding the Madness

Poncle kept the content flowing.

• Legacy of the Moonspell (2022) added a Japanese-themed stage.

• Tides of the Foscari (2023) brought fantasy elements.

• Emergency Meeting (2023) introduced an Among Us crossover.

• Operation Guns (2024) layered in Contra-style chaos.

• Ode to Castlevania (2024), launched with patch 1.12, paid direct homage to its vampire-hunting inspiration.

Regular updates included new Arcanas, stages, and quality-of-life fixes—ensuring long-term playability.

What’s Next for Vampire Survivors?

Despite the technical headaches, Vampire Survivors isn’t slowing down. Poncle has promised a fix for the PS4/PS5 issues and continues to engage the community with transparency and humor. With its legacy cemented as one of the biggest indie successes of the decade, it’s only a matter of time before another patch, another DLC, or even a sequel reignites the hype.

For now, Vampire Survivors remains proof that a simple, well-crafted idea can still make an impact—even if it occasionally crashes your console.

Sources:

• Poncle, X Post, May 1, 2025

• “Vampire Survivors Dev Warns of Major Issues on PlayStation”, ComicBook.com, April 25, 2025

• “Vampire Survivors Reviews”, Metacritic, October 20, 2022

• “How many copies did Vampire Survivors sell?”, LEVVVEL, September 17, 2024

• “Version History”, Vampire Survivors Wiki, March 10, 2025

• “Vampire Survivors – Games | PlayStation®”, PlayStation, April 10, 2024

• “Hollow Knight PS4 Patch Notes”, IGN, June 12, 2019

• “Unity Support Lifecycle Update”, Unity Blog, March 5, 2024

• Reddit Thread, March 3, 2023

• Wikipedia, “Vampire Survivors”, accessed April 25, 2025

News compiled, edited, and fact-checked by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED from Clownfish TV.

Bungie is catching heat over an unresolved copyright case tied to Destiny 2’s Red War storyline, reigniting fan outrage and raising new concerns about the studio’s future under Sony.

Bungie, the developer behind Destiny 2, is under fire after a Louisiana judge rejected its attempt to dismiss a copyright lawsuit over the game’s Red War campaign, per The Game Post.

Sci-fi writer Matthew Martineau alleges Bungie plagiarized his unpublished WordPress writings for the 2017 storyline, but Bungie’s defense—using YouTube videos—was denied as “third-party” and unverified. Fans are furious, blaming Bungie’s content vaulting for complicating the case, while the studio grapples with a history of controversies and a precarious future under Sony’s shadow.

Timeline of the Red War Debacle

The Red War lawsuit has deep roots in Bungie’s Destiny 2 history. Here’s how it unfolded:

• September 2017: Red War launches as Destiny 2’s base campaign, pitting players against the Cabal Red Legion, led by Dominus Ghaul, who threatens Earth with a superweapon called The Almighty.

• November 2020: Bungie removes Red War with the Beyond Light expansion, citing outdated code incompatible with the live game, as part of its Destiny Content Vault strategy.

• October 2, 2024: Sci-fi writer Matthew Martineau files a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, alleging Red War plagiarized his unpublished WordPress writings, including the Red Legion and a celestial object over Earth.

• Late 2024: Bungie attempts to dismiss the case, submitting YouTube videos and fan wiki pages as evidence, arguing Red War differs from Martineau’s work.

• May 2, 2025: Judge Susie Morgan denies Bungie’s dismissal motion, ruling YouTube videos are “third-party” and unverified, leaving the lawsuit active and fueling fan frustration over vaulted content.

The Red War Lawsuit Backlash

Martineau’s lawsuit claims Bungie stole Red War elements like the Red Legion faction, but the campaign’s removal in 2020 with the Beyond Light expansion—due to outdated code—means Bungie can’t directly compare it to the plaintiff’s work, per The Game Post, May 2, 2025. Bungie’s attempt to use YouTube videos as evidence was struck down, fueling fan frustration over the studio’s decision to vault content like Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Forsaken.

This isn’t just a legal hiccup—it’s part of a long-simmering community grievance. Since 2020, players have railed against the loss of paid content due to Bungie’s vaulting strategy, and this lawsuit puts that anger back in the spotlight.

Bungie’s History of Controversies

The Red War backlash is only the latest in a string of issues. In 2021, IGN reported on Bungie’s toxic workplace culture, with 26 former employees citing sexism, crunch, and an HR department that shielded abusers. Some staff said the pressure forced them to seek therapy or medication—a sharp contrast to Bungie’s public “zero-tolerance” stance on toxicity.

Then came Lightfall in 2023, an expansion that disappointed fans for its lack of depth and narrative cohesion. Bungie publicly admitted it had “lost a lot of your trust,” per GamesRadar, December 6, 2023. That sentiment has lingered, contributing to the pile-on surrounding the Red War lawsuit.

The State of Bungie in 2025

The past year has been brutal. In 2023, Bungie laid off over 100 employees to hit financial benchmarks and avoid triggering a full Sony takeover. GamesRadar notes this came after Lightfall’s poor reception and delays to The Final Shape. Sony, which acquired Bungie in 2022, now has two PlayStation execs—Hermen Hulst and Eric Lempel—on Bungie’s board.

If Bungie misses future targets, Sony could take full control of the studio. The Red War lawsuit now adds another complication to Bungie’s already fragile position.

Marathon: Bungie Stumbles Near the Finish Line?

Marathon is a reboot of its 1994 sci-fi shooter, reimagined as an extraction shooter set for release on September 23, 2025. But its development has hit rough patches. Announced in 2023, Marathon faced production stalls due to “numerous issues,” including multiple rounds of layoffs at Bungie.

PC Gamer notes concerns about its commercial success despite a strong playtest, citing a “major risk” for Sony due to the game’s non-free-to-play model and Bungie’s 11-year focus on Destiny. These stumbles, tied to Bungie’s broader instability, have tempered expectations for the studio’s first non-Destiny title in over a decade.

Can Bungie Recover?

Bungie was once celebrated as the studio behind Halo and the original Destiny. But a mix of workplace scandals, community backlash, and now legal troubles have put it on shaky ground.

Whether the studio can restore its reputation remains to be seen. One thing’s certain: Destiny’s next shape may be defined as much by courtroom outcomes and corporate restructures as by expansions and loot drops.

Sources:

• “Court Denies Bungie’s Attempt to Dismiss Destiny 2 Red War Lawsuit”, The Game Post, May 2, 2025

• “Bungie Workers Speak Out Against Crunch And Toxicity In The Workplace”, IGN, December 11, 2021

• “As Destiny 2 struggles, Bungie will reportedly face a total Sony takeover”, GamesRadar, December 6, 2023

• GamesRadar, “Marathon: Everything we know so far,” May 24, 2023

• PC Gamer, “After thousands of hours in Destiny I had serious concerns about Bungie’s Marathon reboot,” April 12, 2025

News compiled, edited and fact-checked by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED from Clownfish TV.

As other corporations scale back DEI to avoid political heat, Nintendo’s sticking to its principles. Some gamers are cheering. Others? Not so much.

Nintendo of America isn’t backing down. CEO Doug Bowser made that very clear, doubling down on the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

In an interview with Brazilian news outlet Folha de S.Paulo (via The Gamer), Bowser said, “This is something that has been in place for years, before people really started using the acronym DEI. And it will continue to be in place. It’s important to us.”

That puts Nintendo squarely at odds with a growing list of U.S. companies quietly abandoning their own DEI efforts in the wake of President Donald Trump’s re-election.

According to Forbes, at least 20 major firms—including Walmart and Ford—pulled back their diversity programs after Trump was re-elected in November 2024 and began his second term in January 2025. By early 2025, DEI departments were vanishing faster than NFTs at a Steam sale.

Not Nintendo.

Their approach has sparked fresh debate across the gaming world, where DEI is either a badge of progress or a four-letter word, depending on who you ask.

Bowser’s Defiant Stance

Bowser’s comments weren’t vague corporate fluff. He told The Gamer that “diversity has always been, and will continue to be, part of the company’s values,” adding that Nintendo’s wide-ranging player base helps shape its inclusive approach. As of this writing, Nintendo’s careers page still features a full DEI section—highlighting support for women, disabled communities, and Hispanic and Latin American groups.

That’s a sharp contrast from companies like Disney, who’ve quietly deleted DEI job listings or scrubbed related language. Per Forbes, a lot of these changes happened behind the scenes in Q1 2025, presumably to avoid drawing attention—or heat from Capitol Hill.

Nintendo, on the other hand, seems fine being loud about it. Whether that earns them applause or a boycott is another matter.

Gaming’s DEI Divide

Nintendo’s stance comes at a time when the gaming industry can’t seem to agree on what DEI even means anymore.

In 2024, Square Enix caught flak for using the gender-neutral labels “Type A” and “Type B” in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Some fans called it inclusive. Others called it pandering. IGN called it a “controversy,” which is journalism-speak for “X was mad about Y.”

Then came Palworld, which sparked another internet firestorm over its “Body Type 1” and “Body Type 2” character creation system. Popular streamer Asmongold went off about it on YouTube in April 2025, echoing a broader frustration that some players feel DEI choices are being shoehorned into games just to score points.

Nintendo’s no stranger to this heat either. In 2024, eagle-eyed Reddit users noticed localization changes in the Paper Mario remake—swapping or softening language tied to gender and identity.

One notable example was the character Vivian, originally portrayed as transgender in some non-English versions. Some fans accused the U.S. localization of downplaying this element, which sparked debates over how much influence Nintendo of America has versus the Japanese headquarters, and whether Bowser’s team is taking liberties or marching in lockstep with Kyoto.

What’s at Stake for Nintendo?

This isn’t just PR posturing. Nintendo has big skin in the game. The Switch 2 is expected to be revealed later this year, per VentureBeat. Between now and then, every move the company makes—DEI or otherwise—could shape fan sentiment.

If localization changes or character customization decisions feel too politically charged, gamers may push back. But if Nintendo’s inclusive stance translates into better character options, wider appeal, or new audiences, it could pay off big.

So far, Nintendo of Japan hasn’t made any public comments. But Bowser’s crystal-clear messaging suggests that, at least in the U.S., the company’s staying the course. Whether that wins praise or protests, we’re about to find out.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Is Nintendo taking the right stand here, or will it cost them fan goodwill? Do you want more inclusive games, or should devs just focus on making good ones and stay out of politics? Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag us on socials—we’re all ears.

Sources:

• “Nintendo Of America CEO Doug Bowser Defends DEI Practices”, The Gamer, May 4, 2025

• “Here Are The Companies That Have Recently Pulled Back On DEI Initiatives”, Forbes, February 7, 2025

• “Dragon Quest 3 Remake Body Type Controversy Explained”, IGN, November 15, 2024

• “Asmongold Reacts to Palworld Body Type Controversy”, YouTube, April 19, 2025

• “Nintendo Has Quietly Dropped DEI Language From Their Localisation Job Postings”, Reddit, June 17, 2024

• “Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know So Far”, VentureBeat, March 1, 2025

• “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Careers at Nintendo of America”, Nintendo, accessed May 4, 2025

News compiled, edited, and fact-checked by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED from Clownfish TV.

McDonald’s is facing its biggest U.S. sales drop since the pandemic. Will $5 meal deals and Adult Happy Meals be enough to stop the bleeding?

McDonald’s is hurting in 2025. The fast food giant saw a 3.6% drop in same-store sales in the U.S. for Q1—its worst domestic showing since the COVID crash of 2020. Globally, same-store sales dipped 1%, and revenue slid 3% to $6 billion. Net income dropped 3% as well, hitting $1.9 billion.

According to a USA Today report published May 2, McDonald’s execs blame economic headwinds: rising interest rates, inflation, and uncertainty tied to Donald Trump’s new round of tariff announcements from April 2025. CFO Ian Borden said plainly that lower- and middle-income consumers just aren’t showing up like they used to.

This decline reflects what many Americans are feeling. X user @BrandonM96 posted on May 3, “Game prices are $80, rent is insane, and people can barely afford groceries.” That budget crunch is making people think twice about grabbing a Big Mac combo.

What’s McDonald’s Doing to Fix It?

The Golden Arches is leaning on two proven strategies: value and nostalgia.

In late April, the chain rolled out a $5 Meal Deal: a sandwich, fries, drink, and McFlurry. Business Insider reports that it’s aimed squarely at customers feeling the economic pinch. It’s not just about low prices—it’s about making the brand feel accessible again.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s revived its Adult Happy Meals, now rebranded as “McNostalgia Meals.” These come with a Big Mac or 10-piece McNuggets, fries, a drink, and a collectible toy—usually tied to Marvel characters or classic McDonaldland mascots. According to a May 1 announcement on McDonald’s website, it’s all about “bringing back the joy of childhood.”

These moves aren’t random. In 2023, the Cactus Plant Flea Market Adult Happy Meal campaign boosted U.S. sales by 20%, per QSR Magazine. It worked then. McDonald’s is hoping lightning strikes twice.

Will It Work This Time?

The fast-food battlefield is more intense than ever. Wendy’s is pushing a $3 breakfast combo that’s gotten serious traction. Burger King isn’t far behind with its own value promos. And operational costs—labor, beef, packaging—are up across the board.

That said, McDonald’s is pulling from its marketing playbook. Brand Vision notes the brand excels at limited-time offers (LTOs) like the McRib to create hype and repeat visits. It’s also leaning into regional flavors, like spicy McNuggets in the Southwest. Plus, the McDonald’s app is offering loyalty perks like free fries with a $1 purchase. Digital orders now make up 30% of U.S. sales.

The strategy? Keep people coming back without gutting profits.

What Now?

McDonald’s isn’t in full panic mode yet—but this is a serious warning sign. A 3.6% U.S. drop is a big deal for a chain that’s often seen as recession-proof.

The question is whether a combo of cheap eats and nostalgic toys can bring back foot traffic. The $5 deal checks the value box. The McNostalgia Meals hit the emotional one. But it may take more than childhood memories and discount burgers to dig out of this McSlump.

Stay tuned. The Golden Arches might need to get even more creative.

Sources:

• “McDonald’s Sales Drop as Inflation, Tariffs Weigh on Consumers”, USA Today, May 2, 2025

• “McDonald’s Launches $5 Meal Deal to Combat Sales Slump”, Business Insider, April 30, 2025

• “McNostalgia Meals: Adult Happy Meals Return”, McDonald’s Website, May 1, 2025

• “How Limited-Time Offers Drive McDonald’s Sales”, QSR Magazine, 2023

• “The Magic Behind McDonald’s Marketing Strategy”, Brand Vision, accessed May 4, 2025

• “Wendy’s $3 Breakfast Combo Gains Popularity”, Fast Food Post, April 2025

• X post by @BrandonM96, May 3, 2025

News compiled, edited, and fact-checked by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED from Clownfish TV.

The supposed Russian hacktivist collective behind Disney’s biggest breach turned out to be a lone Californian with a GitHub account and a grudge.

A Summer Breach, a Fabricated Persona

In mid-2024, The Walt Disney Company suffered one of its largest internal data leaks in history: over 1.1 terabytes of internal Slack data spilled online. The culprit? A mysterious group calling itself NullBulge, which claimed to be a Russian hacktivist collective fighting against AI-generated content on behalf of artists.

The media ate it up.

NullBulge was positioned as a kind of digital Robin Hood—striking back against Disney’s alleged reliance on AI to churn out content. But by May 2025, that myth crumbled. The group wasn’t a group at all. It was Ryan Mitchell Kramer, a 25-year-old from Santa Clarita, California, who pleaded guilty in court to orchestrating the breach.

Selling the Myth: From Hacktivist to Hoax

NullBulge emerged online in spring 2024, claiming to be a pro-artist resistance movement. Social media posts and messages on hacker forums like BreachForums rallied support, painting the Disney breach as a moral crusade.

Major outlets—including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Infosecurity Magazine—ran headlines about Russian cyber threats and “ethical hacktivism.” Some even speculated NullBulge had ties to LockBit, a notorious ransomware group.

But security experts like SentinelLabs weren’t buying it. They flagged inconsistencies from the start: fluent English phrasing, ransom demands, and unsophisticated methods that didn’t match the supposed Russian origin. The so-called group also used ransomware—a tactic at odds with its claimed ideology.

The Real Story: Malware and a Single Mistake

The truth came out in court. Kramer wasn’t a hacktivist. He was a lone operator who crafted malware disguised as an AI art tool and uploaded it to GitHub. One Disney employee—Matthew Van Andel—downloaded the bogus program, giving Kramer access to his machine. From there, Kramer extracted login credentials stored in 1Password—credentials that opened the door to Disney’s internal Slack.

The result: 1.1 terabytes of internal data, from unreleased projects to sensitive HR records, all siphoned and eventually dumped on BreachForums after a failed extortion attempt.

Media Missteps and Missed Red Flags

Coverage of the breach quickly became a cautionary tale. Infosecurity Magazine and SiliconANGLE ran with narratives about insider threats and AI censorship motives. Even Eulerpool quoted researchers like Eric Parker, who correctly theorized that NullBulge might be a solo act.

While some skepticism existed, much of the early press portrayed the breach as a righteous rebellion. The @vxunderground and @H4ckManac accounts on X amplified NullBulge’s theatrical flair—posting cryptic countdowns and threats ahead of the leak. It looked calculated. And it worked.

Ties to LockBit? Maybe. Maybe Not.

Kramer’s malware reportedly used a LockBit builder, which led some, including HackRead, to speculate about deeper ties. But there’s no evidence he ever collaborated with LockBit or other cybercrime syndicates. The use of shared tools—common in hacking circles—was likely just that: opportunistic, not organizational.

Curiously, Kramer also experimented before the Disney breach. His earlier malware-laced mods targeted Stable Diffusion users and AI-themed indie games, suggesting he was testing the waters long before he made headlines.

Disney’s Fallout and the Bigger Lesson

After the breach, Disney quietly transitioned from Slack to Microsoft Teams. Internally, the damage was significant, but the company never fully disclosed the scope of the stolen data. That silence added fuel to media speculation.

What’s clear is that a lone actor successfully impersonated a Russian hacktivist cell, manipulated public perception, and exploited a single employee’s mistake to breach one of the most powerful media companies in the world.

And for a while, the world believed it.

Sources:

• BleepingComputer, “Hacker ‘NullBulge’ pleads guilty to stealing Disney’s Slack data,” May 1, 2025

• Adgully, “Disney probes data breach by Russian hacktivist group NullBulge,” July 20, 2024

• Infosecurity Magazine, “Understanding NullBulge, the New AI-Fighting ‘Hacktivist’ Group,” July 17, 2024

• SentinelOne, “NullBulge | Threat Actor Masquerades as Hacktivist Group Rebelling Against AI,” July 16, 2024

• Eulerpool, “Hacker group NullBulge publishes internal Disney data,” July 16, 2024

• HackRead, “Disney’s Internal Slack Breached? NullBulge Leaks 1.1 TiB of Data,” July 13, 2024

• X posts by @vxunderground and @H4ckManac, July 12, 2024

News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED News from Clownfish TV.

Target joins a growing list of retailers backing away from self-checkout as theft spikes and shoppers push back.

Target just made a move that’s turning heads—and not in a good way. As of early May 2025, the retail giant has begun pulling self-checkout lanes from select stores across the country. According to a report from Fox Business (May 4, 2025), the decision stems from a sharp increase in shoplifting and mounting customer frustration with malfunctioning kiosks. While some shoppers are applauding the return of full-service lanes, others—particularly toy collectors and board game enthusiasts—are less than thrilled.

And it’s not just Target. Other major retailers including Dollar General, Walmart, and Five Below are also scaling back or restricting self-checkout access. Security concerns are the driving factor behind the shift, marking a reversal of the pandemic-era trend that embraced contactless, customer-driven transactions.

The Bigger Problem: Theft and Shrink

Fox Business cited a jaw-dropping case out of California where a single individual allegedly swiped $60,000 worth of merchandise during 100 self-checkout visits. And in New York, organized theft rings are now costing retailers a combined $4.4 billion annually, according to the New York Post.

That kind of loss—what retailers call “shrink”—is pushing companies to tighten controls. As PaymentsJournal reported back in July 2024, many stores are starting to prioritize security over convenience. Walmart, for instance, now limits self-checkout to Walmart+ members and Spark drivers in many areas. Dollar General capped usage at five items or fewer, and Five Below has yanked self-checkout entirely from several locations, per The Daily Dot.

Why It Matters to Collectors

For toy collectors and tabletop fans, this is more than a minor inconvenience. Target has long been a top destination for exclusive action figures, retro toys, and board game restocks. Whether you’re hunting a hard-to-find Marvel Legends release or grabbing a new copy of Wingspan for your next game night, self-checkout made those quick trips faster and easier.

As The US Sun highlighted, collectors often rely on in-and-out efficiency to scoop up high-demand items before they disappear. Losing self-checkout could mean longer lines, slower trips, and missed opportunities.

There’s also the issue of customer preference. While the article cites a 2023 LinkedIn consumer insights report, a more widely cited NIQ study from July 2024 confirms that Gen Z shoppers strongly prefer seamless, tech-driven retail experiences, aligning with the claim that self-checkout fits their shopping habits.

The Backlash Is Real

Unsurprisingly, shoppers are speaking out. Fox Business says customers are already “fuming” over the change, voicing frustration on social media and Reddit. Others, like those cited by NBC Chicago, actually prefer the human touch and see it as a return to better service. The divide underscores a larger challenge for modern retail: finding the balance between safety, efficiency, and customer experience.

What Now?

Target’s move won’t tank its collector following, but it could make those early morning toy hunts or last-minute game grabs a bit more of a grind. The company has reported significant shrink-related losses in recent years, though the article’s cited $180 million loss in 2024 could not be independently verified and may require clarification or a stronger source.

As more retailers follow suit, the future of in-store shopping is in flux. Will smart surveillance and hybrid lanes solve the problem, or are we witnessing the slow death of self-checkout altogether?

For now, if you’re headed to Target for your next Funko Pop or Settlers of Catan expansion, be prepared to wait—and hope your cashier knows the toy aisle well.

Sources:

• Target Pulls the Plug on Self-Checkout Amid Shoplifting Surge and Customers Are Fuming, MSN, May 4, 2025

• Target Dials Back Access to Self-Checkout Machines, Joining Other Retailers, New York Post (via Fox Business), May 4, 2025

• Retailers Pull Back From Self-Checkout on Theft Concerns, PaymentsJournal, July 9, 2024

• Five Below Is the Latest Retailer to Pull Self-Checkout From Stores, The Daily Dot, 2024

• Target Becomes Latest Retailer to Rethink Self-Checkout, The US Sun, 2025

• How Gen Z Consumer Behavior is Reshaping Retail, NIQ, July 29, 2024

• Target Limits Self-Checkout: Here’s What Shoppers Are Saying, NBC Chicago, 2025

Sandfall Interactive’s bold RPG outperforms bloated blockbusters and proves smaller studios can still win big in 2025.

In a gaming landscape riddled with AAA flops and overhyped underperformers, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is rewriting the playbook. Developed by the French indie studio Sandfall Interactive, this striking JRPG-inspired RPG has already sold 1.5 million copies across platforms as of May 3, 2025. Even more impressive? It peaked at 129,461 concurrent players on Steam during its second weekend, a rare feat in modern PC gaming.

Released at $49.99 and built on a modest budget of $20 to $30 million (based on industry estimates), the game’s success stands in sharp contrast to recent AAA trainwrecks with rumored budgets exceeding $600 million. While the big boys bled money, this smaller title captured critical acclaim, player loyalty, and marketplace momentum—all without microtransactions, live-service traps, or shareholder pandering.

A Surreal Masterpiece with Substance

Set in a brooding 19th-century-inspired fantasy world, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casts players as “expeditioners” on a haunting journey to stop the Paintress, an enigmatic force who awakens yearly to paint a number—like “33”—causing everyone of that age to disintegrate.

The game blends turn-based combat with real-time mechanics, earning comparisons to titles like Persona and Baldur’s Gate 3. Built in Unreal Engine 5, its painterly visuals utilize Lumen and Nanite to deliver a dreamlike atmosphere that feels both eerie and intimate. IGN awarded it a 9/10, calling it “captivating” with “inventive mechanics,” while over 50,000 Steam reviews average a 92% positive rating as of May 4.

AAA Misses While Indies Rise

Compare that to the big spenders:

• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024) reportedly cost $200 million, launched to dismal reviews, and barely crossed 1 million sales in six months. Fans and critics alike rejected its live-service model and uninspired gameplay.

• Ubisoft’s Skull & Bones (2024) was in production for over a decade with a budget reportedly topping $650 million, only to debut with tepid reviews and flat sales, according to Acer Corner.

• Concord (2024), a PlayStation-backed hero shooter with a $100 million budget (per industry speculation), shut down just two weeks post-launch with fewer than 25,000 players, per GamesIndustry.biz.

Even Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, rumored in industry circles to cost over $600 million, hasn’t generated the same player retention buzz as Expedition 33, which actually increased its Steam peak in its second weekend—a unicorn event in this industry.

Built with Heart, Not Hype

The team at Sandfall consists of just 50 core developers, with an extended team of around 200 contributors. Their development philosophy, as shared in a 2025 Unreal Engine dev interview, emphasized player-first design, no microtransactions, and a focus on accessibility and storytelling.

Even X (formerly Twitter) is paying attention. Users like @Aurondarklord highlighted the game’s second-week surge as evidence of its staying power. Posts from fans like @ElvenMaidInn described the game’s polish, artistic direction, and “anti-corporate” vibe—a sentiment echoed by many players online.

What Now?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is more than a surprise hit—it’s a statement. It shows that great games don’t need corporate committees or blockbuster budgets. They need vision, discipline, and heart. With the AAA model cracking under its own weight, smaller teams like Sandfall may very well be the ones to watch as gaming enters its next evolution.

News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED News from Clownfish TV.

Sources:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review, IGN, April 28, 2025

• Hit RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Tops 1 Million Sales in Just 3 Days, IGN, April 28, 2025

• X post by @Aurondarklord, May 3, 2025

• Steam store page for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, accessed May 4, 2025

• Inside the Development Journey of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Unreal Engine, 2025

• Major AAA Gaming Flops of 2024, Acer Corner, October 19, 2024

• Concord Shuts Down After Two Weeks, GamesIndustry.biz, September 10, 2024

• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Underperforms, Warner Bros. Financial Report, August 2024

• 2025’s Gaming Trends: Indies and AA Titles Outshine AAA, GamesIndustry.biz, April 15, 2025

Disney’s controversial remake stumbles to a massive loss, eclipsing even Joker 2’s theatrical bellyflop.

The Bigger Disaster? It’s Not the Clown

Disney’s live-action Snow White has officially earned the title of 2025’s biggest box office flop, beating out Joker: Folie à Deux in a race no studio wanted to win. According to MSN, Snow White barely crossed the global finish line at $310 million. That’s grim when you consider the remake cost $269 million to make and reportedly needed $673 million to break even after marketing, per ScreenRant. That leaves Disney staring at a $363 million shortfall.

Joker 2, for comparison, had a $200 million budget and managed to scrape in $201.2 million globally, also per ScreenRant. It needed $400 million to break even, putting its deficit at around $198.8 million. Both movies tanked, but Snow White’s bigger budget and loftier expectations made its downfall the more catastrophic of the two.

From Bold Projections to Brutal Reality

Early buzz for Snow White set it up as the next big Disney hit. In February 2025, ScreenRant reported it was projected to open at $55–60 million, with hopes it might match 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, which opened at $174 million.

But the wheels came off fast.

By March, after a flurry of bad press and online backlash, MSN said projections had fallen to $35–40 million. The final opening? A weak $32 million domestic, with a total global run that stalled at $310 million. That puts it below 2019’s Dumbo ($353 million), making Snow White the lowest-earning live-action remake in Disney’s modern lineup.

Controversy Magnet: From Casting to Comments

The film didn’t just stumble—it tripped over nearly every PR hurdle imaginable.

According to The New York Times, backlash began with Rachel Zegler’s casting as Snow White, prompting heated online debate over ethnicity and the character’s traditional appearance. Then came Disney’s decision to ditch the seven dwarfs in favor of “magical creatures,” a move meant to sidestep stereotypes but one that instead sparked more backlash, per ScreenRant.

Zegler didn’t help the situation. In press interviews, she called the 1937 original “outdated” and labeled the prince “a stalker”—comments that alienated classic Disney fans, per MSN. Even her wig became a punchline, with The New York Times noting fan ridicule over its “atrocious” look.

All of this stacked up to a lack of goodwill before the movie even hit theaters. Unlike Mufasa: The Lion King, which recovered in late 2024 with a $600 million haul, Snow White never found its footing.

Joker 2 Flopped—Just Not as Hard

Joker: Folie à Deux didn’t fare much better, but at least its numbers weren’t quite as soul-crushing.

The $200 million sequel to 2019’s billion-dollar Joker managed just $57.8 million domestic and $143.4 million international, totaling $201.2 million, per ScreenRant. With a $400 million break-even point, it came up $198.8 million short.

Critics weren’t kind, either—33% on Rotten Tomatoes—and fans were divided over its musical format and casting of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, again per ScreenRant.

But unlike Disney’s Snow White, Joker 2 didn’t carry the same weight of legacy or merchandising potential. And with a smaller budget, Warner Bros. took a hit—but not a Disney-sized wound.

Disney’s Remake Machine: Running Out of Gas?

The crash-and-burn performance of Snow White isn’t just about one film—it reflects a wider malaise for Disney’s live-action remakes. Once a golden goose (see: The Jungle Book at $966M in 2016), the shine has dulled. Even 2023’s The Little Mermaid only managed $570 million, according to ScreenRant.

Fan fatigue, creative controversy, and brand dilution seem to be catching up. Snow White was supposed to be a safe bet—a well-known IP with modern tweaks. Instead, it proved that “modernizing classics” without respecting the nostalgia can backfire in spectacular fashion.

In contrast, Joker 2 was a weird gamble that didn’t pay off—but it was at least trying something different.

What Now?

With a $363 million loss, Snow White wins the title for 2025’s most expensive cinematic misfire. Warner Bros. can write off Joker 2 as an artistic swing-and-miss. But for Disney, the message is clear: the remake formula is no longer bulletproof. If they want to recover, it may be time to go back to the drawing board—and maybe back to the original drawing style too.

Sources:

• MSN, “Snow White Stumbles Past Final Global Box Office Milestones After Disastrous Theatrical Run,” May 2, 2025

• ScreenRant, “Rachel Zegler’s Snow White: Early Box Office Projections Eyeing Continued Downward Trend For Live-Action Disney Remakes,” March 15, 2025

• ScreenRant, “Joker 2 Box Office Manages to Pass Major Global Milestone Four Weeks After Release Despite Lackluster Theatrical Run,” October 30, 2024

• The New York Times, “Snow White and the Seven Kajillion Controversies,” March 27, 2025

News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED News from Clownfish TV.

Polygon has been sold off at a fire sale price, and gaming journos are blaming… Gamergate. Yes, they’re saying Gamergate and Steve Bannon were the reason that left-wing gaming journalism has ended, and that this is against the “free press.” What year is it again?