Technologies

Epic Games Settles With Samsung. That’s a Big Deal for Fortnite Players and Gamers More Broadly

While Epic’s legal battles with Apple and Google continue, the beef with Samsung over app blocking has been put to rest.

Epic Games says it’s reached a settlement with Samsung after suing both Samsung and Google last year over antitrust issues. The action is likely a turning point for players of Fortnite and other games.

Epic didn’t disclose the terms of the settlement, but the original suit focused on Samsung blocking the installation of apps on its mobile devices, making it more difficult for users to install Epic Games titles, such as the popular Fortnite. At the time, Epic said it took 21 steps to install a game because of Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature.

In an email to CNET, Epic Games pointed to CEO and founder Tim Sweeney’s post on X, which says: «We’re dismissing our court case against Samsung following the parties’ discussions. We are grateful that Samsung will address Epic’s concerns.»

Even though the terms weren’t disclosed, consider it another win for Epic in its ongoing legal challenges, says one game industry expert.

«This settlement and the broader momentum around developer rights signal a monumental shift in mobile game monetization, one that’s long overdue,» says Chris Hewish, chief strategy officer at Xsolla, a finance company for game developers. «For over a decade, developers have been confined to restrictive ecosystems that limit their ability to build relationships with players, offer value, and retain revenue. Now, that era is ending.»

Samsung didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Epic’s legal battles against Apple and Google are ongoing.

The Federal Trade Commission recently extended a deadline for players to claim money in a $245 million settlement involving Fortnite. That deadline is now July 9.

What it means for Fortnite fans and other Epic Games players

In its suits against Apple, Google and Samsung, Epic Games has repeatedly claimed that restrictions from those companies have been anticompetitive because they have required the company to adhere to rules for the Apple App Store and Google Play storefronts.

In addition to having to give a cut of sales from app purchases to Apple and Google, Epic has been restricted from giving users access to its own storefront, Epic Games Store. The company argues that consumers should be able to access games like Fortnite and Fall Guys without having to download them from the App Store or Google Play.

In response, Epic Games made Fortnite unavailable to play on iOS devices, but has since relented.

Those companies, meanwhile, argue that their app stores are more secure and protect consumers from security or privacy threats from third-party app ecosystems.

Hewish, a veteran of game companies including Activision, says the changes to app stores and to the way platforms are managed mark a significant shift, making the landscape «more open and equitable» for those in the business of making mobile games.

«The ability to drive players from in-game experiences to branded web shops means higher revenue margins, stronger customer relationships and more predictable monetization strategies.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 23 #599

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 599.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might be Halloween-themed, as the answers are all rather dangerous. Some of them are a bit tough to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Please don’t eat me!

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Remember Mr. Yuk?

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

POND, NOON, NODE, BALE, SOCK, LOVE, LOCK, MOCK, LEER, REEL, GLOVE, DAIS, LEAN, LEAD, REEL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

AZALEA, HEMLOCK, FOXGLOVE, OLEANDER, BELLADONNA

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is POISONOUS. To find it, look for the P that is the first letter on the far left of the top row, and wind down and across.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 23, #395

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 395.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has one of those crazy purple categories, where you wonder if anyone saw the connection, or if people just put that grouping together because only those four words were left. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Fan noise.

Green group hint: Strategies for hoops.

Blue group hint: Minor league.

Purple group hint: Look for a connection to hoops.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Sounds from the crowd.

Green group: Basketball offenses.

Blue group: Triple-A baseball teams.

Purple group: Ends with a basketball stat.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is sounds from the crowd. The four answers are boo, cheer, clap and whistle.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is basketball offenses. The four answers are motion, pick and roll, Princeton and triangle.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is triple-A baseball teams. The four answers are Aces, Jumbo Shrimp, Sounds and Storm Chasers.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ends with a basketball stat. The four answers are afoul, bassist, counterpoint and sunblock.

Technologies

Amazon’s Delivery Drivers Will Soon Wear AI Smart Glasses to Work

The goal is to streamline the delivery process while keeping drivers safe.

Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is developing new AI-powered smart glasses to simplify the delivery experience for its drivers. CNET smart glasses expert Scott Stein mentioned this wearable rollout last month, and now the plan is in its final testing stages.

The goal is to simplify package delivery by reducing the need for drivers to look at their phones, the label on the package they’re delivering and their surroundings to find the correct address.

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A heads-up display will activate as soon as the driver parks, pointing out potential hazards and tasks that must be completed. From there, drivers can locate and scan packages, follow turn-by-turn directions and snap a photograph to prove delivery completion without needing to take out their phone.

The company is testing the glasses in select North American markets.

Watch: See our Instagram post with a video showing the glasses

A representative for Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

To fight battery drain, the glasses pair with a controller attached to the employee’s delivery vest, allowing them to replace depleted batteries and access operational controls. The glasses will support an employee’s eyeglass prescription. An emergency button will be within reach to ensure the driver’s safety.

Amazon is already planning future versions of the glasses, which will feature «real-time defect detection,» notifying the driver if a package was delivered to the incorrect address. They plan to add features to the glasses to detect if pets are in the yard and adjust to low light.