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Clarity Act Gains Bipartisan Support as Senate Weighs Next Steps

by admin September 4, 2025

The debate over U.S. digital asset regulation is gaining momentum as lawmakers push for clearer rules. Representative French Hill revealed that the Clarity Act, aimed at shaping digital asset market structure, received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.

In an interview with Fox Business, Hill said that 78 Democrats backed the bill, alongside strong Republican support. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where discussions continue under the leadership of Senator Tim Scott. Hill urged the Senate to “consider taking up the Clarity Act in their process and simply make improvements to it.”

NEW: Chairman @RepFrenchHill on digital asset market structure legislation:

“The CLARITY Act in the House, which I wrote, got 78 Democrat votes here in the House. … We got such overwhelming support by Democrats and Republicans. … I would hope that the Senate would consider… pic.twitter.com/58gIMZMPIN

— Financial Services GOP (@FinancialCmte) September 3, 2025

Senator Scott is optimistic that between 12 to 18 Democrats might support a framework for the crypto market. Additionally, prominent figures like Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Cynthia Lummis are playing an active role in this effort.

On this matter, Hill said he is hopeful that the bill could be passed in just a few weeks, especially considering the pressing need to effectively regulate digital assets.

Concerns Over Fed’s Role and Stablecoins

As support for crypto legislation continues to grow, worries about its effects on traditional finance remain. During the Kansas City Fed’s Jackson Hole Symposium, Fed Governor Mickey Bowman described digital assets as a “seismic shift” in the understanding of money and value.

He cautioned that if people don’t adapt, blockchain systems might completely sidestep the banking industry. Hill responded to these concerns by highlighting the role banks play in issuing dollar-backed stablecoins. He clarified that these stablecoins would mainly facilitate cross-border trade instead of replacing banks altogether.

“A dollar back payment stable coin is simply a new payment method,” Hill said. These stablecoins, he added, would require issuers to hold assets in banks or U.S. Treasury bills, supporting short-term government debt markets.

CBDC Debate Intensifies

According to him, central banks are looking into government-backed digital currencies, such as the digital euro in Europe. Hill emphasized that the U.S. should lean towards solutions from the private sector, showing the need for consumer choice and financial privacy.

Meanwhile, the House recently passed the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which seeks to block the Federal Reserve from launching a digital dollar. However, competing proposals, including a revision to the National Defense Authorization Act, are still under debate.

The Clarity Act could reshape U.S. crypto regulation by bridging partisan divides. Hence, the coming changes will determine whether Congress sets a clear path for digital assets.

Also Read: Federal Reserve to Host Payments Innovation Conference on Oct. 21

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September 4, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Baby Steps is Bennett Foddy’s next punishing game after Getting Over It

by admin September 1, 2025

After tormenting gamers with the addictively brutal challenge of Getting Over It, Bennett Foddy is taking his next steps – Baby Steps, to be precise. We caught up with the creative trio behind the new project to peel back the layers and find the deeper meaning in it all.

Bennett Foddy is an iconic, arguably infamous name in the industry. The Aussie academic has spent years toiling away on inventive yet devious interactive experiences. Back in 2008, we had QWOP, and in 2017 we got perhaps his most notorious release thus far, Getting Over It.

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Countless hours of engagement later, not just by the millions playing, but by the tens of millions more watching online, Getting Over It became a sensation in internet culture. While there have been a few other titles in between then and now, Foddy’s most ambitious project is now on the cusp of riling up players once more.

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Baby Steps is finally stumbling into our lives on September 23, and with it comes the potential for dozens of hours of Foddy-flavored frustration.

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What is Baby Steps?

On the surface, Baby Steps is a game all about, well, taking baby steps. Sucked through the TV on an innocuous night, our protagonist, Nate, is left stranded in a mysterious world. Given he’s spent the bulk of his precious time on Earth gorging on Cheetos and binging every show known to man, he’s not exactly well-equipped for the circumstance.

Barely able to control his limbs, because of course, it’s up to us to help poor old Nate navigate the confusing lands and figure out what’s really going on.

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That’s right, we control his limbs, making each and every step a challenge in its own right. Simply walking in a straight line may prove more difficult here for Nate than for an actual baby. He’s let it get that bad.

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Devolver DigitalNate isn’t quite the Nathan Drake build, to put it nicely.

That’s really the full scope of things here. You won’t find a map pointing Nate in any which direction, and there certainly won’t be any waypoints or objective markers to push you forward. There’s a vast open world chock-full of characters to meet, obstacles to climb, and hats to collect.

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As Foddy himself described to us, he begins by “sayings it’s a hiking game. But where normally, you walk in a video game by just pressing a button to go forward, in this case, the gameplay is that you are responsible for doing the actual hiking part yourself.”

What the developers say about it

Designing a game with streamers in mind

With Getting Over It, Bennett Foddy had some notion it might click in the ‘gaming entertainment’ realm, but even he couldn’t imagine just how much of a cultural impact the game had.

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This time around, he’s been able to build a game from the ground up with the notion of streamers and content creators in mind. What might this look like on Twitch? How will it captivate audiences on YouTube?

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While not necessarily a fundamental principle in the game’s design, “We do think about it,” Foddy told us. “It’s certainly something in our minds. ‘How will this particular beat work for spectators?’ You have to think about that stuff now.”

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Bennett FoddyWe’re all familiar with this visual.

“Even just the experience of being able to relay a story that happened to you in a game, those moments are things viewers latch onto in streams,” co-developer Maxi Boch chimed in. “The possibility of telling your own story in the game is something we’re always pushing for.”

Improv comedy in a game

While the gameplay itself inherently leads to all sorts of chaoticically hilarious moments, the dev team actively strived to make Baby Steps a laugh-out-loud game by improvising much of its dialogue.

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Not only is this a considerable leap forward in terms of visual fidelity and scope with its open world design, but it’s the first game from Foddy with a real cast of characters. He told us it was necessary as to mock the average AAA release, and that’s also why full scripts were never written.

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Devolver DigitalBeautiful cinematography here. Why is that not a category at The Game Awards yet?

“We’re doing all the voices ourselves, and it is all improvised,” Gabe Cuzzillo said. “We have loose ideas for what the scenes are, then we’ll do 10 takes and edit something together from that. It’s all very quick.

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“We can have a whole cutscene done in a day, that’s kind of the way we did it.”

How big is the game?

Speaking of the scope, Baby Steps is no small step in that regard. In fact, veering off the main path could take you down a 10-hour detour, if you allow it.

So just how big is the game if you were to see and do it all? “Too big,” according to Cuzzillo. “You shouldn’t do that. Maybe 100 hours.”

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“Yeah, if you were really to see everything, you’d be doing some very hard stuff,” Foddy added. “But we’re trying to let people have enough options to dial in the intensity for themselves. You can have a pretty chill one or explore every inch. It would be pretty spicy to see everything.”

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Are the devs any good at their own game?

Frustrating players is one thing, but how exactly is a game like this balanced in the first place? When you need a certain degree of challenge, the devs themselves must be pretty skilled, right? Well, amusingly so, that’s not always the case.

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“We have to prove that it’s possible… with the help of cheats and stuff,” Foddy said with a laugh.

“It’s Getting Over It design rules,” Boch chimed in. “You can always cheat back to where you were, and then if you can get to the next place from there, it’s doable.”

“Even just playing the demo, there’s already players who are 10 times better than us,” Foddy said.

Devolver DigitalI’m here to see the Baby Steps speedruns a few weeks after launch.

Biggest tips

So, after years of working on the game, what would those responsible recommend for players getting a little too agitated? Their advice is simple.

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“I think you should cherish whatever you happen to see,” Cuzzillo said. Don’t try too hard on any one thing.”

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“Take some breaks,” Boch suggested. “Gameplay skills cement really well with some sleep.”

“Brush your teeth every day,” Bennett stressed. And floss!”

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September 1, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Neolithic Dawn steps into early access on SteamVR on September 4th

by admin August 30, 2025

Time to head way, way back. 10,000 B.C. specifically. Neolithic Dawn has done well on Meta Quest, and now is shifting it’s adventure onto PCVR. You’ll be able to check it out on September 4th, see more details below.

London, UK, 28th August 2025 – After a successful Early Access launch on Meta Quest, Neolithic Dawn is preparing for its next big adventure, stepping onto SteamVR for PCVR players. The exciting VR survival game from indie team Neolithic will begin its new journey on September 4th 2025.

Whisking players back to 10,000 BC North America, step into the shoes of a hunter-gatherer and tame this wilderness as the epic story unfolds. After being discovered by a tribe as a baby, the player’s journey will be long and fraught with danger as they rediscover their homeland and learn of their destiny. This will be an adventure across time, as Neolithic Dawn features multi-generational permadeath. Death does not mean the end, only a new beginning as players become their descendants, returning decades later. In doing so, experiencing generational changes to the landscape, passing on skills and seeing the world evolve.

The SteamVR edition will include all the features and improvements of the Meta Quest version. Additionally, PCVR players will be able to enjoy a richly detailed world with enhanced graphics. Improved textures, draw distance, weather effects, and more create a prehistoric ecosystem just waiting to be explored.

“The team is excited to finally unveil the Steam version of Neolithic Dawn for PCVR players, who have been a core part of our community since day one,“ said James Bellian, CEO & Founder of Neolithic. “We pushed the rendering limits of the Quest to bring this dynamic world to life, and have done the same on PC for the best visual experience possible.”

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Neolithic Dawn news and info!

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August 30, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Pete Parsons leaves Bungie, Justin Truman steps in as CEO

by admin August 23, 2025

Pete Parsons has announced his departure from Bungie after being CEO for nearly a decade.

Parsons shared the news in a blog post, adding that Bungie’s chief development officer Justin Truman will step into his role.

“This journey has been the honour of a lifetime,” wrote Parsons. “I am deeply proud of the worlds we’ve built together and most of all I am privileged by the opportunity to work alongside the incredible minds at Bungie.”

“When I was asked to lead Bungie in 2015, my goal was to grow us into a studio capable of creating and sustaining iconic, generation-spanning entertainment.”

Parsons detailed what Bungie has accomplished during his tenure, including the launch of Destiny 2, its exit from Activision in 2019, and Sony acquiring the studio for $3.6 billion in 2022.

He initially joined Bungie in 2002 as an executive producer and studio manager, working on Halo 2 and Halo 3. Parsons took over Bungie in 2016 following the departure of former CEO Harold Ryan.

Speaking of Truman, Parsons said he has “full confidence” that he is the “right person to lead Bungie forward”.

“I have worked alongside Justin for many years,” said Parsons. “His passion for our games, our team, and our players is unmatched.

“As a leader in engineering, production, and design – and most recently as the general manager for Destiny 2 and our chief development officer – he has been instrumental in bringing some of the most memorable moments in Bungie’s history to life.”

Image credit: Bungie

In a statement from Truman, he reflected on what Bungie has gotten right, and what it’s gotten wrong.

“When we’re at our best, we create [these] worlds alongside you, our player community, and build something that matters,” he wrote.

“I’ve also been part of these efforts at Bungie when we’ve maybe not been at our best. When we’ve stumbled and realised through listening to our community that we had missed the mark.”

He continued: “I know I’ve personally learned a lot over the years, as have all of us here, from those conversations. I am committed to supporting and working alongside every member of the team here as we continue pouring our hearts and souls into these worlds.

“We are hard at work right now doing that – both with Marathon and Destiny. We’re currently heads down, but we’ll have more to show you in both of these worlds later this year.”

“I am committed to supporting and working alongside the team as we continue pouring our hearts and souls into these worlds”

Justin Truman

During Parson’s tenure as Bungie CEO, an IGN report detailed claims of sexism, racism, and systemic discrimination at the developer experienced by current and former employees.

“I am not here to refute or to challenge the experiences being shared by people who have graced our studio with their time and talent,” said Parsons.

“Our actions or, in some cases, inactions, caused these people pain. I apologise personally and on behalf of everyone at Bungie who I know feel a deep sense of empathy and sadness reading through these accounts.”

Parsons also oversaw waves of layoffs, including the loss of 17% of Bungie’s headcount last July.

At the time, he cited Bungie’s “rapid expansion” during an “economic slowdown” and a “sharp downturn in the games industry” as prevailing factors.

“We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running into the red,” he said.

This June, Bungie announced the delay of its upcoming title Marathon which was initially due to launch on September 23, 2025.

Following Sony’s latest financials, the firm’s chief financial officer Lin Tao confirmed that Sony expects Marathon to launch “within this fiscal year”.

“Based on the progress, in the autumn time frame, we believe we can communicate when we will be launching [Marathon],” said Tao during an earnings call. “We believe this launch will happen.”

Looking at Bungie overall, Sony said the developer is becoming less of an independent subsidiary, and is instead merging more into PlayStation Studios.

“At the time of the acquisition, we were offering a very independent environment,” Tao added. “However, thereafter, we have gone through structural reform.”

“This type of independence is getting lighter. Bungie is shifting into a role which is becoming more part of PlayStation Studios. In the long term, the direction is for [Bungie] to become part of PlayStation Studios.”

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August 23, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Bungie CEO Pete Parsons steps down, following years of criticism, layoffs, and that infamous classic car collection

by admin August 22, 2025

Bungie CEO Pete Parsons has stepped down from his position after over two decades at the studio.

Parsons has been much-criticised by fans and employees alike in recent years, in particular following multiple rounds of layoffs at the studio. In a public statement, Parsons said he’s “decided to pass the torch” – an ironic use of words when Bungie has seemingly been up in flames.

Parsons will be succeeded as CEO by Justin Truman, who’s spent 15 years at Bungie across both Destiny games and, more recently, forthcoming live-service shooter Marathon.

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate | Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube

“I am deeply proud of the worlds we’ve built together and the millions of players who call them home – and most of all I am privileged by the opportunity to work alongside the incredible minds at Bungie,” wrote Parsons in his statement.

“When I was asked to lead Bungie in 2015, my goal was to grow us into a studio capable of creating and sustaining iconic, generation-spanning entertainment. We’ve been through so much together: we launched a bold new chapter for Destiny, built an enviable, independent live-ops organisation capable of creating and publishing its own games, and joined the incredible family at Sony Interactive Entertainment.”

Parsons also leaves hundreds of layoffs and negative player sentiment in his wake, not to mention an infamous penchant for classic cars.

Even before Bungie’s acquisition by Sony, reports emerged in 2021 of workplace toxicity and “overt sexism” at the studio, for which Parsons apologised. “I am not here to refute or to challenge the experiences we’re seeing shared today by people who have graced our studio with their time and talent,” he said at the time. “Our actions or, in some cases, inactions, caused these people pain. I apologise personally and on behalf of everyone at Bungie who I know feels a deep sense of empathy and sadness reading through these accounts.”

Then in February 2022, Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6bn, ostensibly to assist with its live-service ambitions. Though the acquisition was met with criticism by some – the FTC, for instance, opened an investigation – others were more positive.

In 2024, for instance, Bungie’s former chief in-house lawyer Don McGowan said Sony was “inflicting some discipline” on the studio to “run the game like a business”. “To be clear: I’m not talking about the layoffs, I’m talking about forcing them to get their heads out of their asses and focus on things like: implementing a method of new player acquisition; not just doing fan service for the fans in the Bungie C-suite; and running the game like a business,” said McGowan.

However, a year after the acquisition, Bungie laid off 100 employees – approximately eight percent of its 1200-strong workforce – after management warned staff revenue for the year was significantly below expectations. Many employees were left anxious about the future of the company, amid claims senior management met employees’ sadness at the layoffs with “indifference or even outright flippancy or hostility”.

Parsons followed the news with a statement on social media, calling it a “sad day at Bungie”. The statement was heavily criticised as tone deaf and a “slap in the face to anyone impacted by the layoffs”.

A year later, Bungie laid off a further 220 staff, representing roughly 17 percent of the studio’s workforce. Between both rounds, Bungie laid off around a quarter of its workforce in nine months, with the company reportedly overstating its financial prospects to Sony.

Current and former Bungie employees called that second round of layoffs “inexcusable”, amid calls for Parsons to resign. “Pete is a joke,” said former global social media lead Griffin Bennet (who was laid off in the previous cuts), while former Destiny 2 community manager Liana Ruppert wrote, “Step down, Pete.”

Parsons also faced criticism from staff for spending millions of dollars on classic cars since the studio was acquired by Sony, and bragging about his lavish collection ahead of job losses. The CEO’s public profile on Bring a Trailer revealed he’d appeared to spend $2,414,550 on vehicles.

Marathon | Reveal Cinematic ShortWatch on YouTube

Fans shared a similar sentiment against Parsons. Noted Destiny content creator MyNameIsByf (AKA Lore Daddy) posted on X: “Leadership needs to be changed. Their decisions have consistently led to disaster for everyone who has actually been making the games we play. They’ve been reckless with the studio, its employees, and its franchises. The problem is clear. Bad leadership. It needs to change.”

Now, Parsons is out, leaving Truman in charge. “I have worked alongside Justin for many years,” he wrote. “His passion for our games, our team, and our players is unmatched.”

Truman himself added to the statement with refreshing honesty, admitting previous mistakes made during Destiny 2’s launch. “I’ve also been part of these efforts at Bungie when we’ve maybe not been at our best,” he wrote. “When we’ve stumbled and realised through listening to our community that we had missed the mark. I know I’ve personally learned a lot over the years, as have all of us here, from those conversations.”

He continued: “I am committed to supporting and working alongside every member of the team here as we continue pouring our hearts and souls into these worlds. Worlds that we love, and that we hope have been worth your time and your passion. Because ultimately those worlds only exist, and thrive, with you in them.”

Bungie continues to work on Destiny 2, while its next release will be Marathon. While Marathon gameplay was finally shown back in April, in June Bungie delayed the game indefinitely in response to “passionate” fan feedback. Ahead of the decision, Bungie staff morale was said to be in “free fall” as it grappled with the fallout over Marathon assets stolen from other artists.

While such endemic toxicity and poor management cannot, of course, be pinpointed to one person, Bungie is clearly at a critical point in its history. Let’s hope this shift in CEO will boost morale at the studio ahead of Marathon’s eventual release – and whatever is next for Bungie.

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August 22, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Longtime Bungie head Pete Parsons steps down

by admin August 22, 2025

Bungie CEO Pete Parsons has announced that he’s leaving the company one decade after taking on the role. In an update on Thursday, Parsons wrote that he has “decided to pass the torch” to longtime Bungie developer Justin Truman.

Parsons has worked at Bungie for over 20 years and led the studio through the launch of Destiny 2 in 2017, along with the release of its major expansion pack, The Final Shape.

“We’ve been through so much together: we launched a bold new chapter for Destiny, built an enviable, independent live ops organization capable of creating and publishing its own games, and joined the incredible family at Sony Interactive Entertainment,” Parsons writes.

Truman joined Bungie in 2010 and became chief development officer in 2022. He says the team is “currently heads down” on both Marathon and Destiny, adding that “we’ll have more to show you in both of these worlds later this year.”

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August 22, 2025 0 comments