Welcome to Sheppard Mullin’s Weekly Web Wrap-Up: Top news in the social media, gaming, and virtual goods and currencies industries curated by the Social Media & Games Team. Here are some of the stories that we’ve been reading:
Game On – Highlights from Game Development Conference 2016
Unveiled at GDC this week: Xbox Live’s new e-sports tournament platform, the Razer Core Graphics Card, VR-compatible launch games, and the big winners at the Game Developer’s Choice Awards (here’s looking at you Witcher 3). All the highlights and trends coming out of the world’s largest game-development industry event are just a click away.
Virtual Reality is Coming At You From Every Angle This 2016
Sony announced at GDC this week that PlayStation VR will arrive this October for $399, compatible with 36 million VR-ready PS4s in living rooms across the world. PSVR joins other VR-headsets like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear, and HTC Vive Pre rolling out this year, making 2016 the year VR becomes reality.
Bitcoin Interest Continues to Accrue
On the heels of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs’ acknowledgment of bitcoin’s potential to benefit consumer welfare and economic development, Latin America continues to break records in bitcoin adoption. In the face of devaluing local currencies, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina turn to bitcoin as a solution for many of the problems caused by inflation and subsequent capital controls.
Apple and the FBI – The Filings are In
Apple and the FBI head to court next week in federal court to determine whether the government can force Apple to decrypt the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. This week, Apple filed its response to the FBI’s brief, the last word before the March 22 hearing. Apple argues that the government misunderstands encryption technology and misinterprets the All Writs act for a result the Constitution forbids.
