Square Enix halts sales of 'Final Fantasy XIV' because of overwhelming demand

Square Enix

Square Enix is suspending the sales and delivery of Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition and Complete Edition for reasons that might be unusual. The company can't keep up with the demand for the game, with players finding themselves waiting for hours to get into a server and play the game. This decision covers both the physical and digital versions of the game and will be enforced in the coming weeks. It's a gradual process since they need to coordinate with retail partners, both the physical and digital stores.

In announcing this move, Square Enix said it needed to suspend the sales because the "dense concentration of play hours... far exceed [its] server capacity, especially during the peak times." The developer didn't add more Worlds or servers before Endwalker's release to accommodate all players.

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Apple releases 'Ted Lasso' animated Christmas short

Apple wants to get you into the Christmas spirit with a new animated short featuring characters from its hit series Ted Lasso. The actors on the series all voice their well-loved characters. The four-minute, thirty-six-second clip is called "The Missing Christmas Mustache," which basically explains the story's premise. Ted has somehow lost his mustache, and now his friends are helping him find it.

Source: MacRumors

Apple closes 3 stores in North America amid COVID-19 surge

Photo by Amir Hosseini on Unsplash

Apple stores in the US and Canada have been temporarily shuttered because of increasing COVID-19 exposure and outbreak among employees. Shops in Ottawa (Rideau Centre), Annapolis (Annapolis Mall), and Miami (Brickell City Centre) will remain closed until either December 18 or 19. It is unclear how many staff contracted the virus. Apple reiterated in a statement to Bloomberg that it "regularly monitor[s]" the pandemic conditions and has a "comprehensive" store safety initiative that includes daily health checks, paid sick leave, masks, and extra cleaning. The employees will be tested before they can return to work.

As Engadget noted, the closures remind us of the ongoing risks that retail staff at many stores are exposed to. They can't exactly avoid sick customers. And while stores can help minimize risks, they can't completely avoid it given the rising infection rates.

Huawei P50 Pocket foldable spotted in a fashion editorial ahead of launch

Harper's Bazaar China

We already know or assume that Huawei is releasing its first flip foldable similar to the Samsung Galaxy Flip series. But now, we actually get visual confirmation of the Huawei P50 Pocket in a fashion editorial published by Harper's Bazaar China. 

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