All articles tagged with #avatars
Sony is giving away six free Saros PS5 avatars (the protagonist Arjun Devraj plus five bosses). To claim, sign in on the Saros PlayStation page, click the “Call the Eclipse” button, scroll to redeem a code, and enter a region-specific code to add the avatars to your PSN. Note that codes may be region-locked.
Meta is reportedly training an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to respond to employee queries, using his voice and likeness to boost internal engagement, as part of a broader push to embed AI in Meta’s operations, including a CEO agent to speed up access to internal information.
Google is rolling out AI-generated avatars for YouTube Shorts, enabling creators to generate a photorealistic digital likeness from a selfie and voice to appear in videos, with built-in AI disclosures and visible watermarks (SynthID/C2PA). Avatars are created via YouTube's AI Playground or YouTube Create app, can be remixed into Shorts, and can be edited or deleted; accounts must be 18+ and unused avatars auto-delete after three years, with a gradual rollout.
CNN's Hadas Gold tests a pop-up AI dating event hosted by Eva in Manhattan, going on dates with AI avatars John Yoon and Phoebe Callas. She describes one date as stiff, with the avatars misreading cues and even pushing awkward lines like “sweetheart.” The piece notes other outlets’ experiments with AI companions and suggests AI dating still has a long way to go in feeling natural.
PlayStation is celebrating the success of Ghost of Yotei with limited-time free avatar downloads featuring characters from the game, available through region-specific codes. Additionally, a free multiplayer expansion called Ghost of Yotei Legends is planned for 2026, offering new story missions and survival modes, with no current plans for single-player DLC.
Google Vids introduces pre-made AI avatars and new features for workplace video creation, enabling quick, cost-effective videos and potentially disrupting traditional video production jobs, while emphasizing that human creativity remains essential.
Microsoft will discontinue the Xbox Avatar Editor app on January 9, 2025, due to low engagement, affecting Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC users. The original Xbox 360 Avatars will remain available for supported games. Purchases of Avatar items made between November 2023 and the closure date will be refunded. Microsoft emphasizes its focus on other personalization options like dynamic backgrounds and profile themes.
Microsoft is discontinuing the Xbox Avatar Editor app on January 9, 2025, due to low engagement and a shift in focus towards other player experiences. After this date, players will no longer have access to their Avatars or purchased items, but will receive refunds for items bought since November 1, 2023. Users can still edit and use older Xbox Original Avatars through a separate app.
Microsoft is set to remove avatars from Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles by January 9, 2025, due to low engagement. Introduced in 2008 during the Xbox 360 era, avatars were once a prominent feature but have since faded into obscurity. The Xbox Avatar Editor app will also be discontinued, and recent purchases for avatars will be refunded. However, Xbox 360 avatars, known as "Xbox Original Avatars," will remain available in supported games and apps.
Xbox is shutting down its Avatar Editor on January 9, 2025, due to low engagement, and will issue refunds for items purchased after November 1, 2023. While the Xbox 360-era Avatars will still be available, the newer 3D avatars and their marketplace will be discontinued. This decision reflects a shift in focus towards other player experiences, despite the popularity of customizable avatars in modern gaming.
A study by researchers from SWPS University, the University of Sussex, and the University of Kent explores how group dynamics, including virtual avatars, impact individuals' moral judgments. The findings reveal that participants often adjust their opinions to align with those of a group, whether the pressure comes from real individuals or AI-controlled avatars in a virtual environment. This adjustment occurs less frequently in scenarios involving harm to others, indicating a moral boundary to social influence. The study underscores the potent influence of digital environments on our judgments and emphasizes the need for further research into the implications of virtual group dynamics.
PlayStation is offering a free download of six Rise of the Ronin avatars, available without a PS Plus subscription, as a gesture of appreciation to fans. The upcoming game, reminiscent of Ghost of Tsushima, is set for release on 22 March, and the free avatars can be claimed by logging into your account. While some users find the claiming process inconvenient, it's a small but appreciated gesture from Sony.
Sony is offering six free Rise of the Ronin Avatars ahead of the game's PS5 release on March 22, 2024. Players can claim each Avatar by logging in to their PSN account on the game's official page and redeeming a unique code for each character. The Avatars represent different factions within the game and are available for customization.
Zwift, the popular indoor training platform, has announced a series of updates for the winter months. Avatars will receive a refresh in February, with new faces and the ability to choose any avatar regardless of gender. Apple watches will soon be compatible with the app as heart rate monitors, and users will be able to find and queue routes and workouts via the companion app. The Tour de Zwift event will return in January, followed by the debut of the Zwift Games in February. These updates come shortly after Zwift implemented a new levelling system.
The Season of Play promotion on PS Plus allows PS5 and PS4 users to claim five free Avatars by inputting the correct code for their region on the PS Store. The Avatars feature characters from popular games like Ghost of Tsushima and Final Fantasy VII Remake. The promotion also offers discounts on PlayStation Gear products, a chance to win a PS5 console, and the ability to claim PS Stars points.