Roblox Sues YouTuber For Posting ‘False And Misleading Terrorist Threats’
The Roblox Corporation has filed a lawsuit against Roblox content creator Benjamin Robert Simon a.k.a. Ruben Sim for leading a "cybermob" that, among other things, posts "false and misleading terrorist threats."
As reported by Polygon, this lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, November 23 and alleges that Simon "commits and encourages unlawful acts designed to injure Roblox and its users." The Roblox Company is looking to collect $1.6 million in damages and is suing Simon for fraud, breach of contract and four other counts.
Despite Simon being banned for years from Roblox, he has found a way in by "hacking" and using accounts created by other users. He was originally banned for "harassing users and using racist and homophobic slurs, as well as for sexual harassment and uploading photos of Adolf Hitler, Roblox's lawyers said."
Recently, Simon posted "terrorist threats" that "temporarily shut down the Roblox Developers Conference in San Francisco in October." The lawsuit alleges that Simon and his "cybermob" discussed the YouTube headquarters shooting from April 2018 and reportedly said, "wait until [someone] does it to Roblox."
He continued to reportedly post messages suggesting that San Francisco police were "searching for notorious Islamic Extremist" at RDC 2021 and wrote messages like "don't come to RDC tomorrow." As a result of these threats, RDC was "forced into a temporary lockdown while local police and private security conducted a search to secure the facility." Roblox said it cost $50,000 to "investigate and secure RDC after the incident."
This is hardly the first issue Roblox - a company that is now worth more than Ubisoft and Take-Two combined - has had to deal with, as it recently had to stop a number of users who were recreating New Zealand's Christchurch mass shooting from 2019.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Call of Duty: Vanguard Disables Secrets of the Pacific After ‘Widespread Crashes’
Sledgehammer Games has disabled the Secrets of the Pacific event in Call of Duty: Vanguard - which gives players details on Warzone Pacific's new map Caldera - due to "widespread crashing issues."
Secrets of the Pacific is a crossover event between Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone, and it features challenges that reveal more about Caldera and its points of interest when completed. While Warzone doesn't seem to be impacted, Vanguard players have been reporting that it is causing widespread crashing.
Sledgehammer announced that the Secrets of Pacific Event would be disabled while it works to "squash this bug." Despite giving no timetable for its return, it did promise that any progress already earned in the event will not be lost and players will be able to continue where they left off as soon as the problem is resolved.
This event, and many more, are all leading to the launch of Season 1 of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone Pacific's Caldera map on December 8, 2021. Those who own Vanguard will get to try the new map 24 hours early before it is available to all Warzone players on December 9.
Even though Verdansk '84 is going away, Caldera looks to bring a breath of fresh air to Warzone with picturesque beaches and mountains that will give players some new scenery to enjoy while working to be the last one standing.
Alongside Season 1 of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone Pacific's Caldera map, Activision is also gearing up to release Ricochet, its own Anti-Cheat initiative developed specifically for Call of Duty. This new "multi-faceted approach" is designed to combat cheating using kernel-level monitors and will be required to play Call of Duty: Warzone on PC.
For more, check out our review of Call of Duty: Vanguard's campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Kirby Got a Grammy Nomination Too
Much like how he sucks up enemies, you could argue Kirby also sucks at singing. Kirby's singing is usually so bad that all of the on-screen enemies are destroyed when he belts out a piercingly high note with the Mike ability. But now, the Pink Puffball has a shot at winning a Grammy Award, even if the nomination is only indirectly related to Kirby himself.
Under the category for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella on the full list of Grammy nominees, Meta Knight's Revenge (From "Kirby Superstar") is one of the nominated tunes. This Grammy-nominated arrangement was written by Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman, and was performed by The 8-Bit Big Band Featuring Button Masher. It's a phat and funky version of the tune that originally appears in 1996's Kirby Super Star for the Super Nintendo. You can check out the full recording of the arrangement on YouTube.
Video game nominations are a rare occurrence at the Grammys. Back in 2012, Austin Wintory's soundtrack for Journey became the first video game soundtrack to receive a Grammy nomination in the Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media category. The award ended up going to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
As for Kirby, you can check out the source material, Kirby Super Star, on the SNES Nintendo Switch Online service. It's still worth your time, as it ranked #47 on IGN's list of the top 100 SNES games. And his next adventure, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, is coming to Switch early next year. The game is a 3D adventure that takes place in some sort of post-apocalyptic setting, and it looks like a big departure from the series' recent entries.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
NEO: The World Ends With You Fails To Meet Sales Expectations
NEO: The World Ends With You failed to meet sales expectations, according to Square Enix's latest financial briefing, The sequel to the breakout 2007 Nintendo DS game, The World Ends with You, it contributed to Square Enix's overall lower game sales this year than in the same period last year.
"While NEO: The World Ends With You was well received by users, it has underperformed our initial expectations," Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda said.
Despite releasing multiple new titles this year, including Outriders, Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139, NEO: The World Ends with You, and Life is Strange: True Colors, Square Enix Chief Accounting Officer Atsushi Matsuda said the overall net sales of Square Enix's HD games subsegment were weaker year-over-year. Last year, Square Enix launched major games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Marvel's Avengers.
On the bright side, recurring subscription revenue from Final Fantasy XIV remains strong as its player base grows. Its latest expansion, Endwalker, launches on December 7. Meanwhile, Square Enix plans to release Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch digitally on December 7 and physically on February 22, 2022, as well as the Life is Strange Remastered Collection in February.
In IGN's NEO: The World Ends with You review, Rebekah Valentine wrote, "NEO: The World Ends With You is a sequel that leans heavily on recapturing what made the original so special... Its story satisfies me as someone who had been waiting 14 years for answers to The World Ends With You’s most tantalizing plot threads, but it pays for that resolution by sidelining its new central cast and forgoing a hard-hitting, emotional story of its own."
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey
NEO: The World Ends With You Fails To Meet Sales Expectations
NEO: The World Ends With You failed to meet sales expectations, according to Square Enix's latest financial briefing, The sequel to the breakout 2007 Nintendo DS game, The World Ends with You, it contributed to Square Enix's overall lower game sales this year than in the same period last year.
"While NEO: The World Ends With You was well received by users, it has underperformed our initial expectations," Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda said.
Despite releasing multiple new titles this year, including Outriders, Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139, NEO: The World Ends with You, and Life is Strange: True Colors, Square Enix Chief Accounting Officer Atsushi Matsuda said the overall net sales of Square Enix's HD games subsegment were weaker year-over-year. Last year, Square Enix launched major games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Marvel's Avengers.
On the bright side, recurring subscription revenue from Final Fantasy XIV remains strong as its player base grows. Its latest expansion, Endwalker, launches on December 7. Meanwhile, Square Enix plans to release Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch digitally on December 7 and physically on February 22, 2022, as well as the Life is Strange Remastered Collection in February.
In IGN's NEO: The World Ends with You review, Rebekah Valentine wrote, "NEO: The World Ends With You is a sequel that leans heavily on recapturing what made the original so special... Its story satisfies me as someone who had been waiting 14 years for answers to The World Ends With You’s most tantalizing plot threads, but it pays for that resolution by sidelining its new central cast and forgoing a hard-hitting, emotional story of its own."
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey
J.K. Simmons On J. Jonah Jameson’s Role In Spider-Man: No Way Home
J.K. Simmons' iconic portrayal of antagonistic newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson remains a lasting legacy of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. After appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Simmons is once again set to reprise his role in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Simmons made light of Jameson's receding hairline while talking about his appearance in the upcoming movie.
"You know what, I think it's a slightly different version. Certainly, from the creators of the current iteration of the story, it's a very different character," Simmons said. "To me, it's a slightly different character. It's the same blowhard; the same guy with less hair. Honestly, I kinda wish he had the same hair."
Talking about his approach to Jameson in the MCU, Simmons shed a tiny bit of light on how James will be used in No Way Home. "As is appropriate for that character, he's a little comic relief thing that gets sprinkled lightly into the movie."
It sounds like Spider-Man: No Way Home really is shaping up to be a celebration of all things Spider-Man, as it will bring back a myriad of iconic characters, including Green Goblin and Doc Ock. And what Spidey celebration is complete without Jameson chomping on a cigar and ranting about Spider-Man being Public Enemy Number 1?
Spider-Man: No Way Home release December 17. Go here for our full breakdown of the latest trailer.
J.K. Simmons On J. Jonah Jameson’s Role In Spider-Man: No Way Home
J.K. Simmons' iconic portrayal of antagonistic newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson remains a lasting legacy of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. After appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Simmons is once again set to reprise his role in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Simmons made light of Jameson's receding hairline while talking about his appearance in the upcoming movie.
"You know what, I think it's a slightly different version. Certainly, from the creators of the current iteration of the story, it's a very different character," Simmons said. "To me, it's a slightly different character. It's the same blowhard; the same guy with less hair. Honestly, I kinda wish he had the same hair."
Talking about his approach to Jameson in the MCU, Simmons shed a tiny bit of light on how James will be used in No Way Home. "As is appropriate for that character, he's a little comic relief thing that gets sprinkled lightly into the movie."
It sounds like Spider-Man: No Way Home really is shaping up to be a celebration of all things Spider-Man, as it will bring back a myriad of iconic characters, including Green Goblin and Doc Ock. And what Spidey celebration is complete without Jameson chomping on a cigar and ranting about Spider-Man being Public Enemy Number 1?
Spider-Man: No Way Home release December 17. Go here for our full breakdown of the latest trailer.
New The Batman Synopsis Reveals New Year Two Details
A new synopsis for The Batman has been released and leans into the Year Two aspect of the story, plus new details about characters like James Gordon.
Matt Reeves previously revealed that The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, will be a Year Two story. So while Pattinson’s Batman isn’t just starting out, he’s not quite the veteran yet, either.
This is seen in how James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner. This is is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy where Gordon (Gary Oldman) began as a lieutenant before moving up the ranks to the commissioner as the trilogy progressed.
Check the new synopsis below:
“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of the criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.”
The expanded synopsis also offers new details on the criminal underworld Batman needs to face, including the high-profile victims of a new serial killer.
“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravtiz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka The Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and brings justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
The hallmarks of a Batman story are all here. Corrupt city bureaucracy, numerous criminal organizations and villains jockeying for power, and Batman. But we haven’t seen a Riddler on-screen since Jim Carrey’s take of the character in Batman Forever.
WB released a new synopsis fairly recently that focused on Batman, describing him as no better than a “serial killer.” But dealing with another serial killer, Batman will probably look like a saint to the people of Gotham.
Check out our full coverage of The Batman here ahead of its 2022 release.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
New The Batman Synopsis Reveals New Year Two Details
A new synopsis for The Batman has been released and leans into the Year Two aspect of the story, plus new details about characters like James Gordon.
Matt Reeves previously revealed that The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, will be a Year Two story. So while Pattinson’s Batman isn’t just starting out, he’s not quite the veteran yet, either.
This is seen in how James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner. This is is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy where Gordon (Gary Oldman) began as a lieutenant before moving up the ranks to the commissioner as the trilogy progressed.
Check the new synopsis below:
“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of the criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.”
The expanded synopsis also offers new details on the criminal underworld Batman needs to face, including the high-profile victims of a new serial killer.
“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravtiz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka The Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and brings justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”
The hallmarks of a Batman story are all here. Corrupt city bureaucracy, numerous criminal organizations and villains jockeying for power, and Batman. But we haven’t seen a Riddler on-screen since Jim Carrey’s take of the character in Batman Forever.
WB released a new synopsis fairly recently that focused on Batman, describing him as no better than a “serial killer.” But dealing with another serial killer, Batman will probably look like a saint to the people of Gotham.
Check out our full coverage of The Batman here ahead of its 2022 release.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch Gets December Release Date
We already knew that Square Enix was planning to release Life is Strange: True Colors on Nintendo Switch. Today, we finally know that the Switch version will be released on December 7.
As noted in a new tweet, the Switch port will arrive digitally via the Nintendo eShop on December 7. Those looking to pick up a physical cartridge will have to wait until February 25, 2022.
We are pleased to announce that #LifeIsStrange #TrueColors will be available on the #NintendoSwitch eShop on December 7 2021 and for physical purchase on February 25 2022.
— Life is Strange (@LifeIsStrange) November 24, 2021
Available to pre-order now: https://t.co/ieuQ0ZUoKA pic.twitter.com/tRqi8PDl6d
Life is Strange: True Colors was originally released on September 10 on all major platforms, but ahead of its release, developer Deck Nine games confirmed that the Switch version would not release alongside the other versions.
We reviewed Life is Strange: True Colors last September on IGN, which we gave a 9, noting that the latest entry was also the best in the series. The game also recieved a prequel DLC set one year before the events of the base game called Wavelengths, which released on September 30.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
