Developer tools for in-game transactions were available in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) in a preview state since November, letting creators charge V-Bucks for digital items in their unpublished Fortnite Creative modes and games, or "islands." Epic Games has just flipped the switch, allowing for these islands to be published. The implementation of these developer tools for monetization in Fortnite Creative has raised complaints and worries, with players comparing this development to Roblox's revenue model.
Two leading anti-immigration influencers are generating considerable personal income by selling merchandise, memberships and seeking donations to fund and grow their nationalist ideologies, according to a new report. Compiled by the Hope and Courage Collective (HCC), which monitors the far-right and disinformation in Ireland, it is due to be published this week. It has profiled two men it describes as among "the agitators and vloggers fuelling Ireland's far-right" while simultaneously "creating a business model" to turn a profit.
The firm behind the top platforms aims to keep singletons swiping and spending money on paid features for a constant stream of revenue, the documentary alleges. Lee Mackinnon, media and technology researcher at the University of the Arts London, says dating apps leave users in a 'constant state of hunger'. '[There's] this kind of reward system where you're getting positive feedback through likes, hits, swipes, so you just continue to go online,' she said.
Bill Peebles, who heads Sora at OpenAI, said free users will have six video generations a day. "Our gpus are melting," he explained. Unlike previous limits, Peebles did not say the measures were temporary, but noted users "can purchase additional gens as needed," part of a broader push to monetize the platform. Limits for ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers are unchanged, though not specified.
is testing ads in its new AI shopping agent, Sparky. The effort could lead to the monetization of chat experiences, which are expected to transform the way people shop. The world's largest retailer has quietly been exploring new ad formats with some advertisers, according to people familiar with the matter. One ad type dubbed "Sponsored Prompt," is a new type of ad that has been tested in Sparky, the AI shopping assistant the company added to its mobile app in June, the people said.
It takes a certain kind of advertiser to want to promote its brand alongside a headline like "RFK Jr. Greets Trick-Or-Treaters With Big Bowl Of Ape Glands." That's a real headline on The Onion, by the way. It's no surprise, then, that the satirical news site has to get creative with its marketing and monetization, CMO Leila Brillson told AdExchanger. Unlike other well-known publishers, name recognition doesn't automatically make The Onion a desirable advertising partner. Or, rather, it depends.
Beehiiv may be known for the tools it provides journalists and experts who want to create independent newsletters, but the company is moving quickly into other businesses that executives believe will keep its creators from wanting to go anywhere else. Beehiiv on Thursday unveiled a new suite of tools that will help its creators build websites; sell products and services that range from eBooks to coaching; and host podcasts, among other activities.
Podcasting has exploded in popularity, and the good news? Starting your own show is easier than ever. You don't need expensive equipment or technical know-how-just a strong topic bank, solid branding, and growth strategy. The next step is choosing the right platform. Luckily, there are several free options that support your podcasting career from the ground up. Here's a breakdown of five top platforms you can use without spending a dime.
Snap SNAP reported third-quarter revenue of $1.507 billion, up 10% year over year, due to strength in international markets. Adjusted EBITDA margin came in at 12%, up 200 basis points from a year ago, due to cost efficiencies and a greater mix of high-margin products like Sponsored Snaps and Spotlight. Why it matters: Despite persisting weakness in North American markets, advertising revenue from international markets continues to grow, driven by improved direct advertising monetization and increased demand from small and mid-sized businesses.
With TikTok's fate up in the air, Meta has launched an aggressive campaign to attract TikTok creators with substantial cash bonuses and new tools designed to enhance content creation and distribution. Whether the effort will pan out remains unclear. Amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future in the United States, Meta is seizing the opportunity to lure creators away from the embattled ByteDance-owned app.
One new feature, reply approvals, will allow you to decide which replies from other users will appear on your posts - before anyone else can see them. While Threads, like other social networks, already offers tools that let you limit replies to people you follow, your followers, or people you mention, the new feature allows you to keep your replies open to all without the negative consequences of having discussions derailed.
Take Hudl, which started out in 2006 as a platform to help players and coaches (of all levels, not just high school) review game footage for training purposes. Over time, the Nebraska-based company has expanded into public-facing content, like livestreamed games and highlight reels and even hardware in the form of a line of smart cameras that automatically track movement. All the school has to do is put the camera somewhere facing the field and turn it on.
The company has opened a waitlist for what it's calling the " handle marketplace," where it will sell abandoned and inactive usernames. But there's a slight catch: To make a bid for one, you'll likely need to be a Premium+ or Premium Business subscriber to the site. Some handles will be effectively free, included in the cost of the subscription. But for "rare" handles, X is warning users the price tag could be steep. "Rare handles," the company wrote in an FAQ about the marketplace, "may be priced anywhere from $2,500 to over seven figures, depending on demand and uniqueness." It's unclear if usernames X took away from active users (including @music and @sports) will be included in the sale.
It's no secret that generative AI has been an amazing weapon for spammers, but the scale of some of these operations may make you wince. A new piece from The Telegraph explores the bizarre new world of AI-generated podcasts - and specifically, a single podcast network called "Quiet Please" that has dreams of online domination. It boasts nearly one hundred separate podcast series, with over 10 million downloads since September 2023.
Problem: If your pricing is tied to human users, but AI is doing the work, you're leaving money on the table (or worse, annoying customers with irrelevant seat counts). Reality: Customers don't care about seats. They care about results. Manny's take: "Don't sell software. Own outcomes." If your product helps a customer resolve 1,000 support tickets a month, why charge for seats? Charge for resolved tickets.
TapNation, the mobile game publisher behind Thief Puzzle and , has partnered with ad quality leader AppHarbr to elevate player experiences and maximise ad performance. With real-time ad quality controls, TapNation prevents disruptive creatives from ever reaching players, eliminating unskippable ads and preserving seamless gameplay. While ads fuel revenue and enable progression through rewarded play, poor ad quality creates friction from intrusive creatives and aggressive templates to app crashes. This leads to complaints, churn, and negative reviews that undermine long-term growth.
There's the saying, "good artists copy, great ones steal." And then there's whatever Ananta is doing. The upcoming open-world RPG from NetEase developer Naked Rain is going viral again thanks to new footage from Tokyo Game Show 2025. While it might look like the latest round of Genshin Impact-inspired mobile anime slop, the developer has confirmed it won't be relying on exploitative gambling mechanics to earn its keep. It will, however, be ripping off Spider-Man in every way it can.
