What’s new in the emoji world? A lime, mushroom, phoenix, and more

Unicode

Do you know what a lime, a mushroom, a phoenix, nodding heads, and a broken chain have in common? They are some of the new emojis that Unicode, the global messaging standard, has approved. The 15.1 update will bring 118 new emojis, many of them variations of existing ones with different skin tones or orientations. Some of the new emojis are more inclusive and diverse, including people walking, running, kneeling, using wheelchairs or white canes in different directions; and four new gender-neutral family units.

But don’t get too excited yet. The new emojis are not available on your keyboard right now. They were approved on Sept. 12, but they will take some time to be released. Emojipedia predicts that they could be ready by late 2023 or early 2024. And they might look slightly different depending on your smartphone brand.

Source | Via

OtterBox launches new Figura cases with watercolour designs for iPhone 15

OtterBox

OtterBox is known for its durable and protective iPhone cases, but now the brand has added some artistic flair to its lineup. The new OtterBox Figura series for iPhone 15 features colourful designs inspired by watercolour painting, with a soft-touch and flexible material that supports MagSafe.

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Meta launches 'Super Rumble,' a cross-platform game for the metaverse

Meta

Meta is making Horizon Worlds more accessible by bringing it to the web and mobile devices. The company has launched Super Rumble, a first-person shooter game developed by its in-house studio Ouro Interactive, for a limited number of mobile users. The game is available through the Meta Quest app on Android and will soon be on iOS devices as well. Desktop users can also play the game on Horizon’s official website.

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Ascendant Studios lays off nearly half of its staff after 'Immortals of Aveum' flops

Ascendant Studios

Ascendant Studios, the developer behind Immortals of Aveum, a first-person shooter with magic elements, has announced that it is cutting almost half its staff. The layoffs come just weeks after the game’s launch. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CEO Bret Robbins said that the company had to make this “painfully difficult, but necessary” decision that would affect around 45 percent of its workers (about 40 people). He added that Ascendant would provide severance packages and job placement assistance to those who were let go. The remaining employees will keep working on the game for now.

Immortals of Aveum is the debut title from Ascendant, an independent studio that boasts veteran developers in its ranks. However, the game faced stiff competition from other major releases. Publisher EA did not choose an optimal launch window either.

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