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Google shutting down cloud gaming service Stadia
Google shutting down cloud gaming service Stadia
Agence France-Presse
Published Sep 30, 2022 08:20 AM PHT
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SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Google said it is shutting down Stadia, the cloud video game service it launched three years ago to let people access console-quality play as easily as they do email.
SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Google said it is shutting down Stadia, the cloud video game service it launched three years ago to let people access console-quality play as easily as they do email.
"It hasn't gained the traction with users that we expected so we've made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service," Google vice president Phil Harrison said in a blog post.
"It hasn't gained the traction with users that we expected so we've made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service," Google vice president Phil Harrison said in a blog post.
Google said it will refund purchases of Stadia hardware, such as controllers, as well as game content bought through its online store, and that players will have access to the service through January 18 of next year, he added.
Google said it will refund purchases of Stadia hardware, such as controllers, as well as game content bought through its online store, and that players will have access to the service through January 18 of next year, he added.
"They had a great idea and a bad business model," Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said of Stadia.
"They had a great idea and a bad business model," Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said of Stadia.
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"They tried to offer the service as a subscription without games."
"They tried to offer the service as a subscription without games."
Xbox-maker Microsoft, meanwhile, offered a rival Game Pass service "with a ton of games," making it a more tempting option for players, Pachter said.
Xbox-maker Microsoft, meanwhile, offered a rival Game Pass service "with a ton of games," making it a more tempting option for players, Pachter said.
Game Pass has some 25 million subscribers, while Stadia has fewer than a million, the analyst noted.
Game Pass has some 25 million subscribers, while Stadia has fewer than a million, the analyst noted.
Microsoft is considered the streaming video game heavyweight with its Xbox Game Pass service and large community of players who use its consoles and desktop computers.
Microsoft is considered the streaming video game heavyweight with its Xbox Game Pass service and large community of players who use its consoles and desktop computers.
The Redmond, Washington-based company also has a stable of video game studios.
The Redmond, Washington-based company also has a stable of video game studios.
And while Microsoft makes Xbox video game consoles, it has been leading a shift to letting people play titles on internet-linked devices of their choosing with titles hosted in the cloud.
And while Microsoft makes Xbox video game consoles, it has been leading a shift to letting people play titles on internet-linked devices of their choosing with titles hosted in the cloud.
Microsoft recently announced that the ability to play Xbox games will be built into Samsung smart televisions in its latest cloud gaming move.
Microsoft recently announced that the ability to play Xbox games will be built into Samsung smart televisions in its latest cloud gaming move.
"We're on a quest to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, and bringing the Xbox app to smart TVs is another step in making our vision a reality," Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer said in a post.
"We're on a quest to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, and bringing the Xbox app to smart TVs is another step in making our vision a reality," Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer said in a post.
Microsoft catapulted itself into the big league in one of the world's most lucrative markets early this year by announcing a $69 billion deal to take over video game maker Activision Blizzard -- the biggest acquisition in the sector's history.
Microsoft catapulted itself into the big league in one of the world's most lucrative markets early this year by announcing a $69 billion deal to take over video game maker Activision Blizzard -- the biggest acquisition in the sector's history.
Amazon early this year launched its Luna video game streaming service for the general public in the United States, aiming to expand its multi-pronged empire into the booming gaming industry.
Amazon early this year launched its Luna video game streaming service for the general public in the United States, aiming to expand its multi-pronged empire into the booming gaming industry.
Luna allows players to access games directly online with no need for a console as part of the cloud gaming technology that is seen as a future direction of the industry.
Luna allows players to access games directly online with no need for a console as part of the cloud gaming technology that is seen as a future direction of the industry.
Luna takes on Microsoft and PlayStation-maker Sony as well as Stadia.
Luna takes on Microsoft and PlayStation-maker Sony as well as Stadia.
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Trump tariffs loom large in South Korea's 'steel city'
Trump tariffs loom large in South Korea's 'steel city'
Agence France-Presse
Published Feb 16, 2025 11:50 AM PHT
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US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a MAGA victory rally at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC on January 19, 2025, one day ahead of his inauguration ceremony. Jim Watson, AFP
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POHANG, South Korea — Smoke billows from chimneys as factories churn in South Korea's steelmaking heartland, now under threat from Washington's new tariffs on the port city's largest export.
POHANG, South Korea — Smoke billows from chimneys as factories churn in South Korea's steelmaking heartland, now under threat from Washington's new tariffs on the port city's largest export.
The city of Pohang on South Korea's east coast for decades pumped out the steel that fueled the country's breakneck economic rise.
The city of Pohang on South Korea's east coast for decades pumped out the steel that fueled the country's breakneck economic rise.
South Korea was the fourth largest exporter of the metal to the United States last year, accounting for 13 percent of its total steel imports.
South Korea was the fourth largest exporter of the metal to the United States last year, accounting for 13 percent of its total steel imports.
But the industry has faced intense strain in recent years from foreign competition.
But the industry has faced intense strain in recent years from foreign competition.
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And businesses, officials and workers in the city now fear a planned 25 percent tariff on all steel imports to the United States beginning next month could have devastating impacts — and major knock-on effects on South Korea's economy.
And businesses, officials and workers in the city now fear a planned 25 percent tariff on all steel imports to the United States beginning next month could have devastating impacts — and major knock-on effects on South Korea's economy.
"The steel industry is a vital national industry that serves as a fundamental material for key sectors such as construction, automotive and shipbuilding," Pohang's mayor Lee Kang-deok told AFP.
"The steel industry is a vital national industry that serves as a fundamental material for key sectors such as construction, automotive and shipbuilding," Pohang's mayor Lee Kang-deok told AFP.
"If the steel industry collapses, the entire South Korean economy will be destabilized," Lee warned.
"If the steel industry collapses, the entire South Korean economy will be destabilized," Lee warned.
"If we fail to respond effectively to President Trump's tariff measures, our country's economy could face an even greater shock, leading to an irreversible situation."
"If we fail to respond effectively to President Trump's tariff measures, our country's economy could face an even greater shock, leading to an irreversible situation."
'Steel city'
Lying around 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Pohang has carved out a rare place as a key industrial hub in a country beset by deepening regional inequality — and where most resources are tightly concentrated in the capital.
Lying around 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Pohang has carved out a rare place as a key industrial hub in a country beset by deepening regional inequality — and where most resources are tightly concentrated in the capital.
It is home to the nation's top steelmaker, POSCO, a major force in South Korea's industrialisation and development as an export powerhouse, alongside giants like Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel.
It is home to the nation's top steelmaker, POSCO, a major force in South Korea's industrialisation and development as an export powerhouse, alongside giants like Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel.
"Pohang has long been a symbolic steel city that has supported South Korea for decades, serving as a backbone for the country's development," said Bang Sung-jun, a former Hyundai Steel worker and an official at the Korean Metal Workers' Union's Pohang branch.
"Pohang has long been a symbolic steel city that has supported South Korea for decades, serving as a backbone for the country's development," said Bang Sung-jun, a former Hyundai Steel worker and an official at the Korean Metal Workers' Union's Pohang branch.
"The steel industry has provided quality jobs and sustained the local economy," he told AFP, while acknowledging the pollution produced and the often dangerous conditions for workers in the industry.
"The steel industry has provided quality jobs and sustained the local economy," he told AFP, while acknowledging the pollution produced and the often dangerous conditions for workers in the industry.
How those workers respond to the current crisis, he added, "will determine whether the city of Pohang can sustain its steel industry, putting its very survival at stake".
How those workers respond to the current crisis, he added, "will determine whether the city of Pohang can sustain its steel industry, putting its very survival at stake".
'Significant' impact
South Korea's steel industry has faced intense pressure in recent years as it grapples with oversupply — particularly from China — and a decrease in global demand.
South Korea's steel industry has faced intense pressure in recent years as it grapples with oversupply — particularly from China — and a decrease in global demand.
The US tariffs are likely to intensify those challenges, and analysts warn that should cheap Chinese steel barred from the US market begin to flood regions like Southeast Asia and Europe, South Korean steel producers will face deepening price competition.
The US tariffs are likely to intensify those challenges, and analysts warn that should cheap Chinese steel barred from the US market begin to flood regions like Southeast Asia and Europe, South Korean steel producers will face deepening price competition.
"Trump's protectionism certainly will affect South Korea's long-suffering steel industry, already squeezed by low-price exports from China and unfavourable Japanese yen exchange rate," Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korea studies at the University of Oslo, told AFP.
"Trump's protectionism certainly will affect South Korea's long-suffering steel industry, already squeezed by low-price exports from China and unfavourable Japanese yen exchange rate," Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korea studies at the University of Oslo, told AFP.
"The impact will be significant," he said.
"The impact will be significant," he said.
Some suggest the tariffs could offer opportunities for South Korean firms to find new export markets.
Some suggest the tariffs could offer opportunities for South Korean firms to find new export markets.
But for workers in Pohang, where several mills have already shut down, job security and the threat of further layoffs overshadow any potential benefits.
But for workers in Pohang, where several mills have already shut down, job security and the threat of further layoffs overshadow any potential benefits.
AFP reporters visited a factory owned by Hyundai Steel which closed late last year. It did not appear to be operating and was guarded by a handful of staff at the time of the visit.
AFP reporters visited a factory owned by Hyundai Steel which closed late last year. It did not appear to be operating and was guarded by a handful of staff at the time of the visit.
Journalists saw signs hung by unionized workers criticizing the management and demanding an apology, and through an open door, what looked like debris piled up inside.
Journalists saw signs hung by unionized workers criticizing the management and demanding an apology, and through an open door, what looked like debris piled up inside.
"For us workers, it has always been a crisis without any opportunities," said Bang, the unionist.
"For us workers, it has always been a crisis without any opportunities," said Bang, the unionist.
Worker Lee Woo-man, who has worked as a subcontractor for POSCO for two decades, told AFP that 20 of his colleagues have lost their jobs in the past year.
Worker Lee Woo-man, who has worked as a subcontractor for POSCO for two decades, told AFP that 20 of his colleagues have lost their jobs in the past year.
He expected employment in the city to "decrease even more" over the next four years and believes Trump's tariffs will speed up the decline of the city, which he said has lost the vibrancy it had when he was young.
He expected employment in the city to "decrease even more" over the next four years and believes Trump's tariffs will speed up the decline of the city, which he said has lost the vibrancy it had when he was young.
Lee said he grew up watching the smoke rise from the chimneys of massive mills, thinking to himself: "POSCO is feeding Pohang".
Lee said he grew up watching the smoke rise from the chimneys of massive mills, thinking to himself: "POSCO is feeding Pohang".
But now that view makes him worry.
But now that view makes him worry.
"I don't know when this will all fall apart."
"I don't know when this will all fall apart."
© Agence France-Presse
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