Deconstructor of Fun TWIG #357 Royal Match $200M Splurge, Arc Raiders AI Controversy and AI Duolingo's Broken Streak
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Nov 14, 2025 Dive into the latest on legal battles with Epic vs. Google, highlighting the judge's concerns over their settlement. Discover why Duolingo faces challenges with its gamification approach and the implications for learning. Square Enix is restructuring, raising questions about cultural expertise in gaming. Royal Match's staggering $200M ad budget shows the high stakes in casual gaming. Meanwhile, Arc Raiders stirs controversy over its AI-generated voice work, opening debates on ethics and innovation in the modern games industry.
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Judge Rejects Vague Epic–Google Deal
- Judge Donato refused to approve the Epic–Google settlement because key terms were unclear and potentially favored Epic.
- The ruling may leave developers uncertain about fee categories and platform enforcement going forward.
Deal May Cement Google's Control
- Experts argue the settlement mainly benefits Epic and keeps Google control via a new 9–20% service fee.
- That could undercut true direct-to-consumer payment independence for most developers.
Avoid Post‑Purchase Item Classification
- Don't try to split cosmetic versus gameplay items at point of sale because it's practically impossible.
- Build monetization rules that account for when hard currency is actually spent in-game.