Monthly Writing Update

Here’s What I Wrote in March 2023

A brief introduction and links to my stories published last month

Dear Readers,

In this post, I’d like to share stories I published in March 2023.

In addition to my editorial and administrative duties running two publications, I wrote about multiple topics like video games, social media, and technology news. I also wrote about more informative topics, such as movies, virtual reality, and hacking schemes in video games.

As my stories received very few views, I thought creating a monthly collection for my new readers who might discover some helpful stories from my writing portfolio would be helpful.

So far this month, only one story went viral, bringing over 18K views, but most views were from internal sources. It only earned $1.99. I don’t understand why Medium members cannot see it, but external readers can.

Here’s the link to the viral story if you want to read it.

I wish Medium would find a way to monetize our external views as I mentioned before, in a story and a YouTube video.

I hope you find some valuable stories from this collection. Thank you for taking the time to check, and I look forward to your feedback on relevant stories.

Here’s Why Gamers Love These Smartphones.

If you are a gamer and into smartphones, this story might be helpful. Even though my friends use consoles or PCs for gaming, they occasionally use their smartphones for gaming as well. I am also fond of them as they give me the freedom to play on the go whenever I want to avoid carrying around a laptop or a portable console.

ChatGPT Has Reportedly Been Banned in Italy

As mentioned in a previous article, AI-generated content raised alarm bells in technology communities. They are believed to poison social networks. You may check this article titled Tech Giants Are Begging AI Developers to Slow Down. In this story, I’d like to highlight an interesting and important development in Italy mentioned in various news sources and social media. I am unsurprised as this new tool disrupts society, as we have yet to prepare for it fully. People have mixed thoughts and feelings about it.

2 Major Community Complaints Are Finally Being Addressed in Overwatch 2

In this post, I will speak about Blizzard addressing the two most significant complaints that many Overwatch players have.

Here’s Why Tech Giants Are Begging AI Developers to Slow Down.

The signatories argue that AI systems with human-competitive intelligence pose profound risks to society and humanity.

They suggest that the tech industry should pause for thought before developing anything more powerful than GPT-4. Governments should institute a moratorium if the industry does not enact this voluntarily.

Kick Is a New Streaming Platform Which Boasts Its Creator-Friendly Policies.

In this crowded space, Kick has emerged as a new player, marketing itself as a creator-friendly platform with favorable policies.

The site promises a 95–5 subscriber revenue split, a 100% split on Kicks, its regular donation service, and same-day payouts. It also boasts an innovative, exclusive creator program, clear terms of service, and rules around ethical gambling.

You Will Soon Be Able to Play Dungeons & Dragons in Minecraft

Minecraft fans rejoice as the popular sandbox game is about to get a major update to bring Dungeons & Dragons to life.

Recently announced during the D&D Direct live stream on Tuesday, the upcoming DLC pack will feature a range of new content that includes themed tilesets, locations, enemies, and a ten-hour narrative adventure set in the Forgotten Realms.

It’s Almost Time for CS:GO’s Last eSports Major

Valve’s announcement of Counter-Strike 2 has marked a new chapter in the history of one of the most iconic shooter games of all time.

However, it also signifies the end of an era as Valve declared that the upcoming Paris Major 2023 would be the last Major Championship event played on that game version.

Tech Giants Are Begging AI Developers to Slow Down

According to various sources on social media, recently, an open letter signed by more than 1,100 leading figures in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the CEO of Stability AI, Emad Mostaque, was published by the Future of Life Institute.

Another DC Villain May Have Been Confirmed for the Second Joker Movie

Joker: Folie à Deux is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 psychological thriller, Joker.

The images, taken from the same shoot that provided the first glimpse of the protagonist’s love interest, appear to confirm the involvement of another prominent Batman villain in the upcoming project.

Lighthouse Games Is a New Game Studio by the Former Forza Horizon Studio Head

Gavin Raeburn, the former founder and studio head of Playground Games, the developer behind the Forza Horizon franchise, has announced the formation of a new AAA studio called Lighthouse Games.

The Role of Writers’ Voice in Writing

I am inspired to write this post from two angles. One is Illumination now has a publication called the Lampshade of Illumination which allows content generated by AI tools partially or fully.

Bad News for Windows 7 and 8 Gamers

Valve, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, announced that if you are still using Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 on your PC, then you won’t be able to run Steam on your computer starting from January 1, 2024.

The $1 Trial for Xbox Game Pass Is, Unfortunately, Gone

Microsoft has announced that it is discontinuing its popular $1 Game Pass Ultimate trial that gave players access to over 100 games in the PC and Xbox Game Pass libraries for a month.

2 Major Community Complaints Are Finally Being Addressed in Overwatch 2

In this post, I will speak about Blizzard addressing the two most significant complaints that many Overwatch players have.

Overwatch 2, the popular hero shooter game, has faced several issues and complaints from the community since its release less than a year ago. Blizzard, the game developer, has been introducing periodic adjustments to fix these problems.

Dark and Darker Has Been Removed From Steam Due to Legal Complications

While reviewing gaming news in my feed and chatting in gaming communities, I noticed that Dark and Darker, an upcoming fantasy extraction game, has been taken down from the Steam platform due to a cease and desist letter and DMCA claim filed by publisher Nexon.

Project Sirius Has Seemingly Been Written-Off and Rebooted by CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt has announced that it is writing off expenses related to the development of Project Sirius, one of its three Witcher games currently in development, and is rebooting the project.

It’s Almost Time for CS:GO’s Last eSports Major

Valve’s announcement of Counter-Strike 2 has marked a new chapter in the history of one of the most iconic shooter games of all time.

However, it also signifies the end of an era as Valve declared that the upcoming Paris Major 2023 would be the last Major Championship event played on that game version.

Check Out Unreal Engine 5’s Latest Interesting Tools

Epic Games has just announced some new procedural tools for Unreal Engine 5.2, the next version of the popular game engine.

These tools will enable game developers to create game worlds using a small set of hand-crafted models while Unreal Engine 5 procedurally generates the rest of the environment. This feature was demonstrated during Epic’s State of Unreal event, where it received a round of applause.

MindsEye Is an Upcoming Action-Adventure Game by Former GTA Producer

MindsEye is a high-octane, AAA, story-driven action-adventure game set in a world of futuristic corporations, conspiracy theories, and sinister new technologies.

Here’s Why Almost Everyone Is Excited For Counter-Strike 2

Valve has recently announced the release of Counter-Strike 2, which is the next step for one of the most popular and greatest competitive first-person shooter (FPS) games in history.

Even Major Game Developers Are Using AI Tools.

According to a recent video presentation, Ubisoft has created an AI tool called Ghostwriter to help narrative designers write barks for NPCs in their games. Barks are lines spoken by non-playable characters after a trigger occurs, such as a change in the environment or character interaction, that help bring the game world to life.

Here’s Some News About the Release Date of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The Marvel universe is gearing up to welcome back two of its most beloved heroes, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, as they swing back into action in the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 video game.

Crash Team Rumble Will Have an Open Beta in April, Before Its Official Release in June

Activision has announced their highly anticipated 4v4 multiplayer game, Crash Team Rumble. It will launch on June 20th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. The game is set to feature cross-platform play, allowing players to compete against each other across different consoles.

PUBG’s Roadmap Showcases a Bunch of New Content Planned for the Future

PUBG Studios, the developers of the popular battle royale game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), have recently released a roadmap detailing what players can expect from the game in the near future and beyond. Here’s a list of notable changes planned for the future.

The Xbox Mobile Store Is Reportedly Releasing Next Year

According to Phil Spencer, the head of gaming at Microsoft, the company’s mobile games store may launch as early as next year.

This is due to the new Digital Markets Act, a legislation that requires Apple and Google to allow users on their platforms to access apps from sources other than the App Store and Google Play Store.

My Tributes to Illumination’s 3rd Anniversary

Today is Illumination’s 3rd anniversary. This unique publication is now three years old, supporting over 19,500 writers on Medium.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz had a vision on 19 March 2020 when the Covid pandemic reared its ugly head. He announced a publication called ILLUMINATION, inviting around 100 writers to join his mission.

“High on Life” Is Reportedly Getting A New Update/DLC

The popular comedy game, High on Life appears to be getting a horror-themed update or DLC.

While the game has already received updates in the past, which added fixes and new graphics options for players, this new tease implies that the upcoming content will be tonally different from the rest of the game and will offer something new to players.

Petey Is a ChatGPT-Style Chatbot for Your Apple Watch

If you’re an Apple Watch user wishing Siri was more helpful, you might be interested in trying out Petey.

Petey is a new app for the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra that brings a ChatGPT-style chatbot to your wrist. For just $4.99, you can add Petey to your watch and have access to a wide range of features and capabilities.

The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Is Enhancing Mid-Range Android Phones

In this post, I share my findings and thoughts about The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2. Regarding the latest Android phones, there’s a common thread running through the spec sheets of the top models: many of them are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

The Quinfall Is an Upcoming MMORPG That Looks Very Promising

With new games popping up all the time, it’s easy to get excited about the potential of upcoming titles, with many gamers hoping to find the next great MMORPG.

There is a new game on the horizon that aims to redefine the MMORPG genre and take it to new heights. That game is The Quinfall, a brand new Steam MMORPG developed and published by Vawraek Technology Inc.

Reportedly, Sony Is Currently Developing the PlayStation 5 Pro

The documents are part of Sony’s defense against the acquisition. While the actual release date was redacted, other details in the document revealed the timeline.

This news is likely to be met with mixed reactions from gamers who have just managed to get their hands on a PS5. Since its release, the PS5 has been notoriously difficult to purchase, with every restock announcement quickly resulting in the consoles selling out in minutes.

Fuse Games Is a New Game Studio With Former Need for Speed Developers

A new AAA game studio has emerged from the collaboration of former Criterion developers who worked on Need for Speed Unbound.

Named Fuse Games, it is based in Guildford, UK, with former Electronic Arts VP and Criterion Games General Manager Matt Webster leading the team as the studio’s General Manager.

Porche Has Revealed Five Upcoming Electric Cars

Porsche has revealed its ambitious plan to launch five new electric cars in the coming years, including an all-new flagship SUV and a battery-powered version of the Cayenne. The German carmaker announced its annual press conference in Stuttgart on Monday.

We Already Have News on the PlayStation 6, Four Years Ahead of Time

The PS5 has received high praise from gamers due to its impressive graphics and extensive library of top titles.

However, recent reports suggest the potential launch window for the PS5’s successor, the PS6, may have been leaked. This information comes from documents released by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a branch of the UK government that regulates competition.

You Can Now Access Minecraft 1.20 Features Without Loading Up A Snapshot

In previous game versions, players had to juggle between different snapshot builds if they wanted to test the new sniffer, cherry blossom biome, and archeology features.

However, with the recent update, players can activate these features by toggling the game experiments feature. The “create new world menu” has also been changed, allowing players to turn on the 1.20 features for a fresh save file.

How Online Video Games Are Hacked And Why These Methods Are Unethical

Hacking in the context of online gaming refers to using unauthorized methods to gain an unfair advantage over other players.

This can include using software tools, known as hacks or cheats, to manipulate the game’s mechanics and gain advantages such as increased speed, aimbots, wallhacks, and other abilities that are not normally available to the player.

“The Last of Us 3” May Not Be Coming As Soon As Fans Expected

The Last of Us is a very popular video game series as well as a recently popular TV series. Many fans, including myself, have played the games and enjoyed the series hoping that there is more to come in The Last of Us series.

But unfortunately, it seems the developers of the popular games have already decided to head in a different direction for the time being.

Many Players Have Been Suspected of Cheating in the Recent Dota 2 eSports Event.

In recent news, it has been reported that 46 players have been banned from participating in Dota 2 Esports events.

The bans resulted from an investigation following allegations of cheating in January’s Chinese regional Winter Tour of the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC).

Check Out Audi’s E-Tron E-Bike

In this post, I introduce Audi’s newest e-bike to give you an idea.

Audi, a renowned luxury car brand, has recently released a limited edition electric mountain bike in collaboration with Fantic. The bike, priced at £8,499, is powered by a 250-watt Brose motor that delivers up to 90nm of torque.

In Celebration of the Upcoming Mario Movie, Super Mario Run Gets a New Event

Nintendo has announced exciting news for fans of Super Mario Run, the popular mobile game. As part of the marketing campaign for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo allows players to access more game levels for free.

While Super Mario Run is technically a free-to-play game, most levels are locked behind a $10 paywall, which can discourage some players.

Check Out Vivo’s New Foldable Phone

OPPO’s Find N2 Flip has gained steam and is now our third choice for the best folding phone. And now, another contender is coming from the same stable.

OPPO’s sister brand, Vivo, is set to launch its first clamshell-style Android phone, the Vivo X Flip. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the phone is due to launch very soon, and if the rumored specs are accurate, it could be another interesting rival to Samsung’s Flip.

The Nothing Ear (2) Is Coming Out Soon

Recently, there have been rumors about the next-generation Nothing Phone (2), with talks of a more premium handset entering the fray.

However, before the launch of the Nothing Phone (2), the company announced the launch date for the Nothing Ear (2) earphones.

Here’s Why I Write About Virtual Reality and Why It Matters for Gamers and Others.

In this post, first, I mention why I write a lot about virtual reality. Then, beyond gaming, I will talk about different aspects and benefits of virtual reality to give you an idea if you are new to this exciting technology.

Teasers for the Boys Season 4 Were Recently Posted

Amazon Prime’s highly acclaimed superhero series, The Boys, is finally getting a fourth season. Unfortunately, there’s no official release date yet, but some exciting teasers suggest it won’t be too much longer.

According to a report on CBR.com, the Season 4 finale has already been filmed, and creator Eric Kripke has posted an image online that hints at what’s in store.

50 Cent’s Recent Vice City Tease Was Not Related to the Game.

Recently, a teaser by rapper and actor Curtis (50 Cent) Jackson has sparked speculation about his involvement in the next Grand Theft Auto (GTA) game.

The teaser, which was cryptic, was actually for a new TV series titled Vice City, being developed by Paramount+ in collaboration with Jackson’s G-Unit Film & TV division. While it is unrelated to the GTA franchise, the series’ plot sounds like it could be part of a GTA game.

You’ll Never Guess Who Call of Duty Is Collaborating With a New Operator Skin.

The famous video game franchise Call of Duty has announced a new addition to their collection of operator skins for Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2, and it’s none other than the notorious villain from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder.

Discord Is Finally Available on the PlayStation 5

The PS5’s highly anticipated 7.0 update has started rolling out to users, with Discord support being the flagship feature. Previously tested in beta, the integration of Discord into PS5 consoles enables players to engage in voice chats across different hardware platforms and use Share Screen functionality.

Check Out These Leaks Regarding the iPhone 15

Recently, videos were shared on Chinese websites, which were then posted on Twitter, showing what appears to be the front glass for the Pro and possibly the Pro Max models.

These videos indicate that the thinner bezels are exclusive to the Pro model, as the glass for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus seems to be the same as the current models’ glass.

Samsung Might Be Developing AR Glasses.

Last month’s Galaxy Unpacked event proved to be a feast for Samsung enthusiasts. The event showcased new products, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 laptop range.

However, the show’s highlight was the announcement of a new XR project being developed by Samsung, Qualcomm, and Google.

Here’s Some Recent Information Regarding Dark and Darker’s Monetization

Dark and Darker, a popular demo version released during the Next Fest event on Steam last month, has garnered a lot of attention from players.

However, the developers at Ironmace are still grappling with the challenge of monetizing the game.

A Brand New Agent Is Coming to Valorant

Riot Games has introduced a new playable agent for its multiplayer first-person shooter game, Valorant. Named Gekko, he is the 22nd character to be added to the roster of agents.

What sets Gekko apart from the other agents is his unique ability to summon a group of creatures to hunt down his enemies. His appearance and abilities are heavily inspired by skater/punk culture, reflected in his style of clothes and skateboarding.

Alien Fans Have A Lot To Look Forward To

Last year, news broke that a new Alien movie was in the works. However, this one would not be a prequel, unlike the previous installments.

Fede Álvarez, the director behind 2013’s Evil Dead and 2016’s Don’t Breathe, will be at the helm of the new film. Meanwhile, Ridley Scott, the director of the original Alien, would serve as an executive producer.

Google’s Next Smartphone May Be Getting a Huge Upgrade — Viral Story

Even though it was only recently that Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro launched, speculation is already rife about their successors.

These devices have quickly gained a reputation as two of the best Android phones currently available, mainly due to their AI integration, particularly in the camera.

50 Cent May Have Just Hinted at a Rockstar Games Collaboration for GTA 6

On March 1st, 2023, 50 Cent took to his social media to post an image of GTA: Vice City on Instagram with the caption, “I will explain this later.”

This sent fans into a frenzy of speculation about what it could mean. The next day, the rapper posted the same image and message on Twitter, reigniting the conversation.

Here Are Some Interesting News Regarding Overwatch 2’s Upcoming Collaboration Event

On March 7, Overwatch is entering the world of IP collaborations with a collection of skins inspired by the popular anime series One Punch Man. According to Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 Season 3 blog post, the One Punch Man collaboration will feature “a collection of cosmetics from the beloved anime.”

“Trails nd Tales” Is the Official Name of Minecraft Update 1.20

Mojang, the creator of the popular survival game Minecraft, has finally revealed the name of its highly-anticipated 1.20 update. Dubbed Trails and Tales, the upcoming update is said to follow Minecraft tradition by theming its content around the name.

There Have Been Rumors of an Updated CS:GO Version Releasing in the Near Future

Rumors have been circulating for quite some time that Valve, the American video game developer and publisher, is working on a new version of its popular first-person shooter game, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), using the latest game engine.

Diablo 4 Is Getting an Open and Closed Beta Before Its Release

Blizzard Entertainment has recently announced that Diablo IV will be released in June 2023 and will be available on both PC and consoles.

However, before the official launch, an open beta will be held to allow players to test the game and decide if it’s something they want to invest their time and money in.

Check Out Xiaomi’s Latest Fast Charging Technology

Xiaomi, another leading smartphone manufacturer, has announced a 300W HyperCharge feature. This feature can complete the same 0–100% charge in just five minutes, which is an even more remarkable feat.

With this feature, you can charge a completely dead phone in less time than it takes to boil a kettle. This is a significant development for smartphones, and it shows just how far charging technology has come in recent years.

Check out Honor’s Latest Foldable Phone

At Mobile World Congress 2023, Honor showcased its Magic VS, a new Android competitor that promises to be a game-changer in the foldable phone market. The device features lots of storage and a slightly lower price point than its key competitor, making it a more appealing option for those looking to upgrade.

Elden Ring’s First Expansion, “Shadow of the Erdtree,” Has Officially Been Announced

Bandai Namco and FromSoftware recently announced that Elden Ring’s first expansion, called Shadow of the Erdtree, is currently in development.

While not much is known about this expansion, a piece of concept art has been released featuring a character riding Torrent, the in-game steed, through a field filled with illusions of gravestones.

Thank you for your valuable time.

About Me

I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium. I also created a new website to share my content for free and promote stories of writers contributing to my publications on Medium. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

I own two publications on Medium. One for video gamers and another for YouTubers and Podcasters. I also support Illumination Integrated Publications as a volunteer editor and participate in collaborative activities in the Slack Workspace. Writer applications for my publications can be sent via this weblink. Please add your Medium ID.

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