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LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS Forges Ahead with Key Game Developments and Expands Creative Vision

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS, a leading global game developer, at GDC 2025 today is revealing the “Original IP Initiative,” a new strategic focus centered on developing original game titles. As part of this strategic shift, Vice President of LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS and General Manager of LightSpeed LA, Steve C. Martin will unveil strategies from Lightspeed L.A., the studio developing the highly anticipated AAA open-world action game, Last Sentinel, while in parallel legendary game developer and head of LightSpeed Japan Studio, Hideaki Itsuno, will reveal that he has begun leading the early development of a new, unnamed original AAA action game title. Both are projects that mark LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS’ commitment to creating original game titles. 

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS Commits to Development of Original Game IP

Recognizing that innovation drives player engagement, LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is sharpening its approach and announcing its commitment to empowering a network of self-sustained, independently run regional studios that will be focused entirely on developing original, cross platform game titles.

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS, best known for its work with established game title PUBG MOBILE (co-developed with KRAFTON, Inc.), is strategically expanding and building state-of-the-art development facilities around the world to support original game development.

This strategy enables its development studios, which notably includes LightSpeed L.A., the newly established LightSpeed Japan Studio, along with teams across the world, a direct pipeline to LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS’ centralized technical resources. This consists of LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS’ latest R&D breakthroughs, which push the boundaries of graphics and performance to enhance in-game realism, as showcased in workshops during GDC 2025.

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS Sets the Stage for a New Era for Japan Studio

Building on this approach, legendary game director and head of LightSpeed Japan Studio, Hideaki Itsuno, is revealing at GDC 2025 that he’s entering the arena and embarked on the early stages of bringing his own visionary AAA game title to life. Drawing on his extensive experience directing games and building incredible teams at Capcom that drove the remarkable successes of Devil May Cry, the Dragon’s Dogma series, Capcom VS. SNK, and many more iconic game titles, Hideaki is ready to apply the same principles of creative freedom, efficiency, and humility to assemble an outstanding team and create something truly groundbreaking.

“We’re building a creative environment that combines diverse cultural perspectives with cutting-edge technology,” said Hideaki Itsuno, General Manager of LightSpeed Japan Studio. “Our focus is on developing gameplay elements that offer players entirely new experiences – the kind of innovations that make players say I’ve never seen that in a game before.”

Leveraging Global Talent and Nurturing Creative Freedom

Additionally, to foster fresh perspectives in original game development, LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is adopting a model that enables each studio to shape its own culture, advocating for original thinking within teams. Bringing to the table Eastern and Western game philosophies, LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is positioned to encourage regional teams to exchange ideas, blend cultural influences, and unite under a shared vision – creating truly global gaming experiences.

A standout example of this approach is being led by the VP of LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS, Steve C. Martin, known for his commitment to culture-building, and development-based scheduling. Focused on bringing his original AAA open world action title, Last Sentinel, to life, Steve has assembled a world-class, global team. Combing a dream team of talent from prestigious studios like Rockstar Games, Naughty Dog, Obsidian Entertainment, Sony Santa Monica, Meta, and EA Games, LightSpeed L.A. has fostered not only a culture of creative freedom but ensures product efficiency, thanks to Steve’s emphasis on humility and a willingness to embrace constructive feedback.

“Every developer’s true ambition lies in developing original games. The creative freedom of creating your own lore from scratch, building a compelling narratives and characters, and all the ideation and inspiration that explodes from this, this is the dream of ant creative, and that’s why LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is the place to be,” said Steve C. Martin, who brings his extensive experience from Rockstar Games where he contributed to acclaimed titles including Red Dead Redemption I and II and Grand Theft Auto V.”

About LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is a leading global game developer with teams across China, United States, Singapore, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and United Arab Emirates. LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS has created over 50 games across multiple platforms and genres for over 4 billion registered users. It is the co-developer of worldwide hit PUBG MOBILE (co-developed with KRAFTON, Inc.) and the developer of the upcoming AAA open-world game, Last Sentinel.

LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is made up of passionate players who advance the art & science of game development through great stories, great gameplay, and advanced technology. We are focused on bringing next generation experiences to gamers who want to enjoy them anywhere, anytime, across multiple genres and devices.

More information about LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS please visit www.lightspeed-studios.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE LightSpeed Studios

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TacticalPay Launches New GunBroker Payment Gateway for FFLs, Powered by NMI

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TacticalPay now offers FFLs a GunBroker payment gateway built for the firearms industry, that also seamlessly integrates with WordPress, WooCommerce and an extensive catalog of shopping carts and platforms.

HOUSTON, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TacticalPay LLC, a payments and point-of-sale provider for the firearms industry, today announced the TacticalPay Gateway, the company’s own payment gateway for FFLs and firearms businesses. Powered by NMI®, a global leader in embedded payments infrastructure, the TacticalPay Gateway is available now to new and existing TacticalPay merchants.

With TacticalPay POS, TacticalPay Tap and now the TacticalPay Gateway, an FFL can run the counter, the phone, the website and their GunBroker store all on one payments platform, with one support line.

Built for the Firearms Industry

Online sales are a growing share of revenue for gun stores, ranges and firearms retailers, but not every payment provider welcomes them. Some gateways and payment platforms restrict firearms sales outright, and others leave FFLs piecing together a gateway, a processor and a shopping cart from different vendors. The TacticalPay Gateway helps bring those pieces together under one name, on a firearm-friendly merchant account. Onboarding and support are handled by TacticalPay’s in-house team, based in Texas.

Powering Online Sales for FFLs

The TacticalPay Gateway powers e-commerce transactions for FFLs and firearms businesses. It can connect to a merchant’s own website, take phone orders through a virtual terminal, and serve as a payment gateway for GunBroker sales. Integrations with Shopify and more than 125 other shopping carts and platforms are available and easy to set up, along with card-on-file storage, electronic invoicing, recurring billing, 3-D Secure and fraud screening.

Powered by NMI

The TacticalPay Gateway runs on the NMI payment platform, which powers more than $700 billion in annual payment volume and more than 6.5 billion transactions a year for over 1.2 million merchants. The NMI platform lets partners deliver a fully branded payment experience to their own customers. For FFLs, that means a gateway with the scale and reliability of one of the industry’s largest platforms, under a name that understands their business.

“Firearms businesses deserve the same payment technology that every other industry takes for granted, and too often they haven’t had it,” said Rich McIver, Co-Founder & CEO of TacticalPay. “With TacticalPay POS, TacticalPay Tap and now the TacticalPay Gateway, an FFL can run the counter, the phone, the website and their GunBroker store all on one payments platform, with one support line.”

The TacticalPay Gateway is included in TacticalPay’s E-commerce plan and is also available with its retail plans. TacticalPay is exhibiting at SHOT Show 2027 in Las Vegas, January 19–22, and will demonstrate the gateway at Booth 42850.

About TacticalPay

TacticalPay LLC is a payments and point-of-sale provider for firearms businesses, in business since 2015. It offers firearms merchant accounts and credit card processing for gun stores, plus TacticalPay POS, TacticalPay Tap and the TacticalPay Gateway. TacticalPay holds a Better Business Bureau A+ rating and is a regular exhibitor at SHOT Show, the firearms industry’s trade show produced by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Visit https://www.tacticalpay.com/ to learn more.

About the NMI payment platform

NMI is powering the next generation of embedded payments with its modular, white-label payments platform and industry-leading gateway. Processing over $700 billion annually, NMI enables SaaS platforms, ISOs, PayFacs and banks to accept, manage, price and move money, turning payments into a strategic advantage, driving growth, loyalty and new revenue streams. More than 6,000 technology partners trust NMI to deliver seamless, scalable payment experiences across online, in-app, in-store, mobile and unattended environments. Learn more at nmi.com.

Media Contact

Andy Hagans, TacticalPay LLC, 1 (888) 281-5830, sales@tacticalpay.com, https://www.tacticalpay.com/

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SOURCE TacticalPay LLC

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Why Singles Over 50 Fear Connecting Online More Than Being Alone

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Building new connections later in life can feel daunting, especially for those who haven’t met someone they’re genuinely interested in for years. After a long time away from meeting new people, some may feel unsure about where to start, whether meaningful connections are still possible, or how to navigate concerns about online safety and the risk of scams.

For DateMyAge, a platform designed for mature singles, understanding these emotional and practical barriers to building relationships online is key to helping people connect with greater confidence. To explore these challenges, DateMyAge surveyed adults over 50 about their experiences, concerns, and attitudes toward forming new connections online.

Key Findings

57% can’t say they’ve met someone new they were genuinely interested in within the past decade.33% have wanted to try building connections online but stopped themselves from signing up.52% don’t know whether their children would approve of them building connections online.15% believe their children would think they are too old to pursue online connections.8% worry their children would see it as disrespectful to their other parent.11% haven’t asked their children or someone younger to set up a profile but would welcome their help.72% say being scammed online scares them more than spending the rest of their lives alone.47% cite fear of being scammed as their biggest barrier to signing up.32% identify privacy concerns as their biggest obstacle to building connections online.

Many Haven’t Met Someone New In Years

More than a third of respondents say it has been over 10 years since they last met someone new they were genuinely interested in, while a further 21% say they honestly can’t remember the last time it happened.

The findings show that many older adults have gone years without experiencing a meaningful romantic connection.

While interest in companionship remains, the path back into meeting new people can feel unfamiliar after long periods away from the relationship world.

Family Support Could Help Singles Over 50 Take The First Step

For singles over 50 who are unsure how to begin building relationships online, adult children could be an important source of support. Yet many aren’t sure how their families would react: 52% don’t know whether their children would approve, while 25% believe their children would be happy for them. Just 15% expect their children to think they’re too old to build relationships online.

Some would welcome practical help, too. While 4% have already asked their children or someone younger to set up a profile for them, another 11% would love that assistance.

The holidays, when families come together, could offer an opportunity to bridge that gap. Helping a parent create a profile, explaining how a platform works, or simply encouraging them to meet new people could make the process feel more approachable. For some, the first step towards a new connection may begin with a conversation at home.

Fear Of Scams Is Bigger Than Fear Of Being Alone

The survey’s most striking finding is that 72% of respondents say being scammed online scares them more than spending the rest of their life alone.

While loneliness is often assumed to be the biggest concern facing singles later in life, the findings point to trust and safety as even greater priorities.

For many older adults, the fear isn’t finding someone online — it’s not knowing whether that person is who they claim to be.

Privacy Concerns Continue To Hold People Back

Nearly one-third of respondents say privacy concerns are the biggest thing stopping them from signing up to meet people online.

Many older adults have spent decades building their personal and financial security. Sharing personal information online can feel like a significant risk, particularly when meeting strangers through digital platforms.

“There are many people who may still have the desire for socialization even in their advanced age, but because of worries about fraud, the prospect of making this first move becomes a challenge. What’s important here is to treat the process of forming relationships online with the same prudence and time investment as any other new relationship.”

— Jaime Bronstein, LCSW, Relationship Expert at DateMyAge

Conclusion

For singles over 50, building new relationships can mean overcoming several hurdles, from concerns about scams to uncertainty about family reactions and the challenge of getting started after years away from meeting new people.

With the right support and a little encouragement, taking that first step can feel more achievable. Sometimes, a new connection begins with something as simple as creating a profile, asking for help, or giving yourself permission to meet someone new.

Methodology

DateMyAge surveyed 1,000 adults over 50 to explore attitudes and behaviors surrounding online relationships, trust, and connection later in life.

pr@sdgroup.ai

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SOURCE DateMyAge

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The Biological Computing Co. Launches World’s First Publicly Available Neuron-Derived AI Video Model

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TBC mischief 1 generates video 5x faster than its base model and is the lowest-priced image-to-video model on two leading AI marketplaces

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Biological Computing Co. (TBC), an applied biological computing company that uses living neurons to improve AI models, today launched TBC mischief 1, an AI video model that generates video 5x faster than its base model. Available on fal and OpenRouter, mischief 1 is the lowest-priced image-to-video model on both marketplaces, enabling video creators and developers to experiment with more ideas, faster and for less.

The launch marks a major step in bringing discoveries from living neurons into commercial AI. mischief 1 is faster and cheaper because of efficiencies TBC discovered in living neurons and applied directly to the model. Just five weeks after announcing its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring the model to enterprise customers, TBC is extending access to creators and developers through fal and OpenRouter.

Built for how creators actually work

At half a cent per second, a five-second clip costs 2.5 cents, and 100 clips cost $2.50. Creators can test more ideas, compare takes and refine their work within the same budget. For developers, lower generation costs make it easier to build video into products that people can afford to use repeatedly.

Wonder Studios, an AI-native creative studio, tested mischief 1 in its own production workflow.

“Great storytelling comes from refining an idea until it’s right, and that’s usually the crunch point for time and budget. mischief 1’s speed and cost-effectiveness meant we could push the work much further within the same time and more cost effectively,” said Justin Hackney, co-founder of Wonder Studios. “That kind of efficiency gives creatives more time for the craft and lets them stay in the flow of an idea. As this approach reaches more advanced models, it could reshape how films and commercials are made, with faster, more efficient generation that finally keeps pace with imagination.”

A new source of AI efficiency

Built on Wan 2.2, a widely used open-weight video model, mischief 1 matches its quality while generating video 5x faster and at a fraction of the cost.

“We said we would take discoveries from living neurons all the way to a product anyone can use, and we did it faster than anyone expected,” said Alex Ksendzovsky, CEO and co-founder of TBC. “Behind this model is a discovery platform that keeps learning. Every experiment adds to our understanding of how neurons compute and gives us new opportunities to improve AI. Video is our first commercial application. We’re already working to bring those discoveries to language and physical AI, with the goal of building more capable models without simply adding more compute.”

TBC’s discovery platform grows living neurons in the lab, measures how they process information and identifies computational principles that can improve AI. Those discoveries become proprietary software that makes existing models more efficient. The neurons stay in the lab. Customers use software that runs on standard AI hardware and adds less than 0.1% to the base model’s parameter count.

TBC is already applying its discovery process to newer open-weight video models, with early results showing greater efficiency gains. Additional applications in language models and physical AI are in development.

“Our first model shows what happens when we learn from biology instead of relying on conventional inference optimization alone,” said Jon Pomeraniec, co-founder and COO of TBC. “mischief 1 is our first commercial proof point. The larger opportunity is to apply these discoveries across models and workloads. We’re building a platform that can change the economics of AI at scale.”

Most efficiency gains in AI today come from a shared set of industry techniques, such as quantization, distillation and caching. TBC’s optimizations come from a different source: direct measurements of living neurons. They are derived from biology, not just inspired by it, which makes them hard to replicate.

Availability

TBC mischief 1 is live on fal at https://fal.ai/models/TBC/mischief-1/image-to-video and OpenRouter at https://openrouter.ai/tbc/mischief-1 starting October 30 to mark Mischief Night. Learn more at tbc.co.

About The Biological Computing Co. (TBC)

The Biological Computing Co (TBC) is an applied biological computing company that uses living neurons to improve AI models. TBC makes intelligence radically more efficient by learning from biology. Discoveries in living neurons improve AI models that run on the silicon customers already use. Customers get better AI without changing their infrastructure. Headquartered in San Francisco, TBC is a fast-growing team of neuroscientists, biologists, AI researchers and engineers redefining how the world computes.

Media Contact:

tbc@hoffman.com

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SOURCE The Biological Computing Co.

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