ByteDance Unveils New AI Voice Assistant for ZTE Smartphones 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
Apple Leads Singles’ Day Smartphone Sales as iPhone 17 Demand Surges 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
Australia Releases New National AI Plan, Opts for Existing Laws to Manage Risks 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Baidu Cuts Jobs as AI Competition and Ad Revenue Slump Intensify 
Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman 
Quantum Systems Projects Revenue Surge as It Eyes IPO or Private Sale 
This month is going to be huge for fans of first-person shooter games, especially those who have been waiting for the release of “Battlefield 2042.” EA Play and Xbox Game Pass subscribers have an advantage, though, as EA confirmed they are getting an exclusive 10-hour free trial days before the game’s launch.
“Battlefield 2042” was originally scheduled to launch on Oct. 22, but it was later delayed and is now slated to go live on Nov. 19 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. However, fans who are subscribed to EA Play, EA Play Pro, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will have access to the game several days early, even if they did not pre-order the game.
EA Play, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members are getting a 10-hour free trial. They can use this offer starting Nov. 12. The inclusion of the vanilla Game Pass tiers, available for console or PC, is quite interesting because EA Play has only been offered to the Ultimate plan. Meanwhile, EA Play Pro members are getting an even better deal. They will be able to access the full game on the same date.
Early access is often an exclusive offer to fans who pre-order higher-priced editions of a game, and the same applies to “Battlefield 2042.” Fans are also getting access to the full game on Nov. 12 if they get the game’s Gold Edition and Ultimate Edition that cost $89.99 and $109.99 on PC, respectively. Both pre-order editions are priced $10 more for cross-gen copies on PlayStation and Xbox.
Meanwhile, EA recently released a new trailer showcasing the reimagined maps included in the Battlefield Portal, which will launch alongside “Battlefield 2042.” The Portal will feature maps from classic “Battlefield” titles, including “Battlefield 1942,” “Battlefield: Bad Company 2,” and “Battlefield 3.”
Battlefield Portal practically allows players to mix and match maps, weapons, and vehicles released in the said games. That means players will be able to use modern weapons in maps set in earlier war periods. Because Portal is developed with the same tech used for “Battlefield 2042,” the classic maps can also accommodate 128 players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
