TechCapsules

Konami president says AI won’t change game dev much and people will…

Konami president Hideki Hayakawa told investors in the company’s latest earnings report that artificial intelligence will not fundamentally reshape the video‑game market. Citing a translation of the Japanese filing, Hayakawa said AI might improve production efficiency but will not lower entry barriers, which he believes have already been reduced by modern game engines and user‑generated content platforms. He emphasized that the core drivers of entertaining and innovative games remain human creators. The comments contrast with the broader industry buzz, where many studios are experimenting with AI‑generated art, voice lines and code‑assistance tools. Konami’s stance, captured by Dengeki and rendered by Automaton, signals a cautious view of AI’s role in future game development.

💡 Hayakawa’s dismissal of AI as a game‑changing force underscores a rare executive confidence in human creativity over automation, challenging the prevailing narrative of rapid AI adoption in gaming.

Apple poaches longtime Meta executive to lead global litigation

Apple has hired Scott Tucker, a former Meta vice president and deputy general counsel for litigation, as its new vice president of litigation and services. Tucker, who joined Meta in 2021 after a senior legal role at Morgan Stanley, will oversee Apple’s patent disputes and manage issues tied

Hideo Kojima is still posting cryptic photos with Sony despite breaking up…

Hideo Kojima posted a photo of himself in a Sony‑branded lounge on Twitter, showing he still visits the company despite recently moving his projects to Microsoft. The image, taken on October 16, features Kojima in black attire with a large LED Sony logo behind him, indicating a cordial relationship. Kojima’s shift followed Sony’s decision not to publish Physint, after the project missed deadlines, prompting him to secure a new deal with Xbox that includes Bill Skarsgård in the lead role. The post suggests Kojima keeps options open while maintaining ties with Sony.

💡 The image signals that industry alliances can persist even after high‑profile contract changes, underscoring the fluid nature of developer‑publisher relationships. It also hints at potential future collaborations that could shape the next generation of Kojima Productions titles.

Last chance to save up to $200 on your TechCrunch Founder Summit…

TechCrunch’s Founder Summit in Boston on November 4 offers founders and investors a chance to discuss fundraising, hiring, product-market fit, and AI integration. The event features roundtables, breakout sessions, and 1:1 networking, with speakers such as Kent Bennett (Bessemer Venture Partners), Lior Divo (7AI), and Vineet Edupuganti (Cogent Security). Passes are discounted by up to $200 until October 16, after which the savings expire. The summit aims to help participants refine strategies and make decisive business moves.

💡 The discounted passes lower the barrier for early‑stage founders to access high‑value networking and mentorship, potentially accelerating their growth trajectories.

When it came to Cal AI’s viral success, a small army of…

Zach Yadegari, a 19‑year‑old high‑school graduate, founded Cal AI in 2024. The calorie‑tracking app achieved viral growth by paying a network of micro‑influencers, generating over $30 million in revenue within two years. At TechCrunch Disrupt, Yadegari explained the linear conversion model and negotiated fixed payouts for specific reach thresholds. The company was acquired by MyFitnessPal in March for an undisclosed sum. Yadegari also launched Persona, an AI assistant startup that raised $10 million and plans a hardware ecosystem.

💡 The case shows how targeted influencer campaigns can rapidly scale a tech startup, redefining traditional marketing budgets and accelerating acquisition interest.

‘I Just Sort of Disconnect’ — Jeff Kaplan is Avoiding Overwatch at…

Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan, long‑time public face of Blizzard’s hero shooter, says he has completely cut himself off from any online discussion of the game. In a GameSpot interview, Kaplan revealed he stopped playing Overwatch in April 2021 and deliberately avoids subreddits, YouTube videos, and algorithmic recommendations to protect his mental health. He likens the separation to his earlier “clinical” break from World of Warcraft, noting that leaving WoW was emotionally harder because the title defined his identity as a developer. Kaplan now runs his own studio, developing an open‑world action‑survival title called The Legend of California, and stresses that Overwatch belongs to its current players and developers. He also warned critics of games they never play to keep quiet.

💡 Kaplan’s self‑imposed exile underscores how deeply personal brand association can affect creators, prompting a rare public acknowledgment of the psychological toll of flagship IP stewardship.