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Epic will shut down its Houseparty video chat app in October
Epic is shutting down Houseparty's video chat app in October to focus on socializing in its game metaverse.
Epic Games Store now offers Itch.io's indie marketplace
The Epic Games Store has added multiple apps, including the indie game shop Itch.io and Brave's browser.
'Fortnite' is getting an Among Us-style mode for the holidays
On the same day that Among Us makes its way to Nintendo Switch, Epic is adding a new limited-time gameplay mode called The Spy Within.
'Fortnite' now offers Houseparty video calls on PC, PS4 and PS5
The company, which offers a social video calling service on macOS, iOS, Android and Chrome, is now integrating with Fortnite. The company has emphasized that the Houseparty service is restricted to people over the age of 13.
Discord adds drop-in, drop-out video chats
Discord's new Server Video feature makes it easier to video chat on the platform.
Houseparty is encouraging people to co-watch videos with friends
Now, it’s taking the chance to expand its services by hosting a 3-day online festival meant to encourage you to co-watch live videos with friends.
Snapchat users can finally post Stories from other apps
Snapchat is finally opening up Stories to outside apps. Nearly a year after it was first previewed, the company is introducing App Stories, a feature that allows third-party apps to post Stories created in the Snapchat app to their services. First announced at the company's Partner Summit event, App Stories is now available in four apps: Triller, Squad, Hily, and Octi. The company says more apps will adopt App Stories over time, though it's not clear how quickly Snap will be ramping up. (And no word yet on when Stories might show up in Houseparty or Tinder -- two early partners that were teased during last year's Partner Summit.)
Houseparty says it wasn't hacked, offers $1 million for 'smear campaign' proof
Popular video-calling app Houseparty is offering a $1 million bounty to anyone that can prove the app has been a victim of reputational sabotage. The announcement, made by the company over Twitter, comes amid swiftly circulating rumors that the app has been hacked -- Houseparty believes these rumors have been circulated as part of a "paid commercial smear campaign," and says there is no evidence to back up claims that the app has been compromised in any way.
Staying social when you’re forced to isolate
As millions of us adapt to new lives in relative isolation, we're being forced to find increasingly creative ways to keep ourselves entertained. Luckily, social distancing doesn't mean we have to be lonely. And hanging out with friends doesn't have to be limited to phone calls and FaceTime. Hosting a remote game night or movie marathon is not only do-able, but easier than you might expect. With the right planning and a bit of creativity, you can have almost as much fun as the real deal.
Fortnite's new 'Party Hub' feature gives mobile players a voice
Fortnite recently united players with updates that everyone hated equally, but today it unveiled an app that will literally bring players together. Party Hub is an all-new cross-platform voice chat app that lets players socialize even when they're not playing the game. It's based on technology from Houseparty, the group video chat app that Epic Games acquired in June.
Facebook may have scrapped talks to buy Houseparty over antitrust concerns
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook yet again, and it's said to be delving into possible antitrust practices. Critics suggest its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp were carried out, in part, to stave off potential competitive threats. With regulators and authorities placing Facebook's business practices under the microscope, it seems it's making changes to avoid further antitrust scrutiny.
Epic acquires social video app Houseparty
Epic, the creator of Fortnite, is acquiring popular video chat app Houseparty. Popular mainly with teens, the three-year old social video app is like a mix of Snapchat and FaceTime. It allows group chats of up to eight users and private conversations, or "side-texts" which disappear after 24 hours.
Facebook is quietly testing its own group video chat app
Facebook has been working on cloning Snapchat's features for awhile now, but that's not the only service the social media giant is looking to duplicate. The Verge reports that Facebook recently showed a Houseparty-style live group video chat app, called Bonfire, to its employees.
Meerkat team confirms it created the mysterious Houseparty app
Those rumors of Meerkat's creators quietly developing a group video chat app, Houseparty, were well-founded. The company (actually called Life on Air) has confirmed to The Verge that it built Houseparty under a pseudonym, Alexander Herzick, for about 10 months. The company even admits to creating fake Facebook and LinkedIn pages to maintain appearances. Meerkat's crew reportedly wanted to both avoid criticism for changing its strategy and to reduce the pressure after becoming a sensation, albeit a short-lived one after Twitter's Periscope invaded its turf.
Sony giving away PlayStation Move for block parties, along with completely wild freebies
Looking for a free PlayStation Move setup and a bunch of useless schwag? Too bad you didn't sign up for Sony's Ultimate Block Party. In the vein of the hilarious Windows 7 and TiVo promo giveaways of yesteryear, PlayStation's thrown a virtual bash that actually requires a modicum of interaction to properly enjoy this time. As this isn't a retail Move package, there's no traditional unboxing to be had, but soon-to-be-host Phil does show off a demo disk (with eight titles and uproarious setup guide) that we pray will be included in the final kit. Other than that, the promo box includes your standard array of party supplies -- PlayStation Move cocktail napkins, Sports Champions mini-frisbees, plastic soda can handles, and the gift that keeps on giving: a bag of Kevin Butler button badges. Because real boxers don't do Tupperware. Spot all the goodies at our source link.
Windows 7 party pack fittingly arrives on party-filled Cayman Islands
Well, would you look at that? With the launch of Microsoft's next operating system merely 21 days away (give or take a few hours based on time zone), the Redmond giant seems to be proactively sending out Win7 Launch Party packs already. The first "unboxing" we've seen comes to us from a most unusual spot, one that Microsoft wasn't actually equipped to ship to when the program first started. After a stern email or two sent over several bodies of water and through countless Stimulus-inspired road construction hang-ups, the bundle you see laid out above landed in the beautiful Cayman Islands. Within was a Steve Ballmer Signature Edition of Win7 (so, we're up to seven versions now?), a pack of Win7 playing cards, a poster, some napkins (to wipe the drool from your friends' faces after they experience Aero Shake for the first time) and even a puzzle. So, should we book a flight to Grand Cayman, Little Cayman or Cayman Brac? This is one shindig we definitely won't miss.[Thanks, Jared]
Video: Windows 7 launch party parody is bleeping genius
So by now you all know about Microsoft's painful, cringe-inducing Windows 7 party idea, and the accompanying goodie packs. What you might not have known is that Redmond also put together a 'Hosting Your Party' instructional video that blends all the worst parts of infomercials and cooking programs into one giant melange of awkward acting. Well, Cabel Sasser -- founder of Mac software maker Panic Inc -- has remixed said video, and the result is nothing short of a triumph. Journey past the break to see what we mean. [Via Mashable]
Microsoft handing out Windows 7 Launch Party host confirmations
"Congratulations." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Get Windows 7 Ultimate for free... by throwing a party
Dying to throw a party where everyone goes home alone? Microsoft's got you covered. Redmond's looking for Windows 7 fans to throw launch parties from October 22-29, and if you're chosen, you'll get a free "Signature Edition" of Windows 7 Ultimate, free party favors, and a chance to win a PC valued at $750. Sure, you'll have to suck up your pride and invite your friends to a party with a theme like "setting up with ease" or "family friendly fun," but if you're willing to throw a party where everyone is apparently supposed to sit around a laptop and then go out and buy something, well, we're guessing you don't have too much pride to begin with.[Thanks, Kevin]
DJ Mouse eliminates 'the science of mixing music' with a jog wheel
Looking for a way to liven up those house parties of yours? Winamp playlist feeling a little passe? iTunes "Genius" feature not really so smart? A company called DJ-Tech has got the answer, and it's the DJ Mouse. What separates an input device for turntablists from one for the unwashed masses, you ask? Is it the "high-definition jog wheel," the one that integrates with the Deckadance software to "let you spin platters intuitively?" Why, yes, it is! But it's also so much more. Don't forget the Scratch button, without which there would be no "direct scratch mode." As the ad says, you too can "become a DJ in one minute, without the science of mixing music." Available for $79 -- but make sure you don't go anywhere before you peep the truly amazing commercial after the break. And take that, Grandmaster Flash! [Via OhGizmo!]
