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Bungie Lawsuit Had To Cite Destiny 2 Fan Videos Because In-Game Content No Longer Exists

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 07:39

Bungie hasn't been shy about deleting older content from Destiny 2 (a process it calls "vaulting") in order to make room for new stuff, but it appears this controversial practice had some unintended consequences. As part of a lawsuit filed against them, Bungie had to cite fan videos from YouTube, because the content in question is no longer part of the game.

Per Game File, a sci-fi writer named Matthew Kelsey Martineau filed a lawsuit against Bungie last year, alleging that an enemy faction called the Red Legion was plagiarized from the author's WordPress writing. In its response, Bungie dismissed the claims as baseless, but the company's counsel was forced to cite fan YouTube compilations of cutscenes and gameplay from the vaulted original campaign of Destiny 2 in order to make their case. While the publisher would normally be able to simply submit a copy of the game as an exhibit, that's not possible here for obvious reasons.

"Because (1) Destiny 2's narrative is only available to players in the form of a live-service video game that has changed significantly over time, and (2) physical copies of Destiny 2, and any 2017 version of Destiny 2, are no longer available, the attached videos are the best possible way for the Court to review the accused work," reads the explanation given to the Court in part. In lieu of this, Bungie linked two videos, including a ten hour "complete story of Destiny" compilation from YouTuber My Name is Byf.

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The Sims 4 Update Adds Burglars Back To The Series

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 07:18

EA and Maxis are finally giving The Sims 4 a burglar of its own in a new update that's live on all platforms. The Sims 4's burglar update coincides with the launch of the new Businesses and Hobbies expansion, though you don't have to buy the new pack to get the burglar. It's a free update for the base game with special interactions if you own certain other expansions.

Maxis included a burglar in The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3, but never in The Sims 4 until now. Robin Banks, the new version of the criminal mastermind, behaves in much the same way as the burglar in previous iterations. There's a low chance that Robin will enter your residential or business lot at night, and she can potentially make off with anything inside that isn't attached to the structure, such as windows or lights, or that isn't planted in the ground, like your shrubbery. The update also adds a new lot challenge, Heist Havoc, that increases the likelihood of Robin appearing.

Sims might wake up, catch Robin, and call the police before she makes off with their property, though there's no guarantee the police will arrive before Robin makes her getaway. Maxis said the only sure way to stop a burglar is to install an alarm, which alerts police as soon as Robin enters the premises. Sims who are good with their hands can upgrade their alarm to keep it from breaking as frequently or even modify it to release an electric charge and stun the burglar. If your Sim is more physically inclined, they can also pick a fight with Robin, though they might lose if they aren't in good shape.

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Team Fortress 2 Classic Coming To Steam This Year

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 06:42

Released in 2020, Team Fortress 2 Classic is a mod for Team Fortress 2 that re-imagines the original game's early post-launch era. It was one of the most popular fan mods, and now will officially be released through Steam later this year--and can be wishlisted right now.

In terms of returning features from the mod, there is a new special class, the Civilian, which is inspired by Team Fortress Classic. There are also original weapons like the nailgun, dynamite pack, and tranquilizer gun that are said to be redesigned. And the traditionally two-team game now features four-team support in Arena, King of the Hill, and other modes, with the third and fourth teams taking on the colors of yellow and green.

The mod restores the toon-style character shading of the game's beta, reimplements cut content, removes many later additions to the game’s content and lore, and adds new content along with exclusive new game modes. On the visual side, there are improved textures, models, and mapping features.

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Xbox Boss Says Bringing Games To PS5 Is "Good For Gamers"

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 06:30

Microsoft is shaking things up of late by bringing more of its first-party games to rival platforms like PS5 and Nintendo Switch. This multiplatform release strategy is good for people who like games and helps Microsoft's own studios by extending any given game's reach, according to Head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan.

"I think it's good for gamers, I think it's good for our studios," Duncan said on the official Xbox podcast. "Our studios make amazing games, and we want to give those games the chance to reach the broadest audience possible."

This lines up with what Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said recently when asked about Microsoft's new approach of launching its own games on rival platforms. "It doesn't really benefit people to gatekeep games. Restricting where games can be played is not helping the games themselves," he said.

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Stars Reach Looks To Fill The Star Wars Galaxies-Sized Hole In The MMO Space

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 06:03

Stars Reach, a new sci-fi MMO seeking funding on Kickstarter, has blown past its initial funding goal of $200,000 in less than an hour of being live.

No doubt the pedigree behind Stars Reach is part of the reason for that. The game is coming from studio Playable Worlds, led by Raph Koster, one of the lead creators of MMO classics like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies.

Stars Reach is putting a heavy emphasis on its sandbox nature, giving players the freedom to shape its galaxy how they see fit. That means it's up to players to terraform planets, build settlements, form trade empires, genetically engineer alien creatures, or wipe entire planets off the map. The game's universe is procedurally generated, and players will have the ability to shape it to their liking.

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Dark Souls 3 Seamless Co-Op Mod Lets You And Your Friends Fight To The End

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 06:03

Fires fade, but From Software's Dark Souls 3 remains popular among the franchise's fans nearly a decade after it was originally released. And while Dark Souls 3 does include co-op, it's limited in scope in the base game. That's why a modder going by Yui has been working on a Dark Souls 3 seamless co-op mod, which is now out in its alpha form.

The Dark Souls 3 seamless co-op mod can be found on Nexus Mods, but Yuri warns, "If you are looking for a bug free experience, you won't find it in this version." What you will find is the ability to play through the entire game with your friends without having to deal with the restrictions that were placed in Dark Souls 3's original release.

In this mod, the session won't be ended when a player dies. Instead, they will respawn in the same world at the last bonfire where they rested. Additionally, players are no longer banished back to their own worlds once bosses or areas have been dealt with. The mod will also bring the players' worlds together by allowing progression from online sessions to count in all players' worlds, and by syncing up NPC dialogue scenes. Up to six players can take part in a joint campaign, and they can play all the way to the end of the game together.

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New Wonder Woman Game Canceled, Multiple Studios Closed

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 06:00

Warner Bros. Games is making some dramatic changes, as the company is closing Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB San Diego. Warner Bros. Games is also cancelling the new Wonder Woman game at Monolith Productions as part of this shakeup.

Warner Bros. Games confirmed this following a breaking news report from Jason Schreier of Bloomberg.

Monolith Productions was founded in 1994 and was more recently known for licensed games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. The studio also created the F.E.A.R. and Condemned franchises. Warner Bros. acquired the company in 2004.

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Marvel Multiverse Tabletop RPG Will Soon Have Spider-Verse And Avengers Campaigns

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 05:54
Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Amazon

The Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game is getting two big expansions this year, including the long-awaited Spider-Verse Expansion on March 18, followed by the Avengers Expansion on September 16. Both supplements will add tons of new rules, character-building options, and storyline ideas based on these iconic Marvel heroes to tabletop RPG, and fans eager to add some web-slinging and heroic team-ups to their tabletop sessions can preorder both hardcover books now at Amazon.

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Spider-Verse Expansion $46.59 (was $50) | Releases March 18

The Spider-Verse Expansion was announced when Marvel Multiverse first launched in 2023 and was originally slated for a Summer 2024 launch, but was delayed until 2025. This 256-page hardcover book is packed with information on the Spider-Man mythos and a bunch of new gameplay rules--including guidance for creating your own alternate-reality Spider-heroes or Venom-like Symbiotes to play at the table--plus stats and equipment for existing Spider-Man characters you can incorporate into your campaigns like Madame Web, Spider-Ham, Carnage, and more. Preorders are discounted to $46.49 (was $50) at Amazon.

Preorder at Amazon Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: The Avengers Expansion $47.49 (was $50) | Releases September 16

A few months after the Spider-Verse Expansion, Marvel Multiverse is getting The Avengers Expasnion on September 16, and preorders are available for $47.49 (was $50). This expansion will add pre-made characters based on heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. It will also add new gameplay systems based around creating your own special weapons like Thor's Hammer and Captain America's Shield, as well as building your own super-hero team headquarters.

Preorder at Amazon

The Spider-Verse and Avengers Expansions require the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook, which is currently on sale for $32.72 (was $60) at Amazon. The Core Rulebook is all you need to get started with the game, as it guides you through the process of creating your character and planning your own storylines for others to play through. That said, if you want to expand the core experience, you can pick up the X-Men Expansion that launched last year for just $29 (was $50). The X-Men Expansion adds a bunch of X-Men-themed rules and character-building options for creating your own custom mutant and provides information on the X-Men universe to use in your game sessions.

Along with these expansions, there are also two official pre-made campaign modules available for the game. The Cataclysm of Kang includes a collection of six linked adventures designed for characters between Rank 1 and Rank 6, and pits players against the notorious villain Kang. You can pick it up for $22.12 (was $50). For something smaller, there's the Deadpool Role-Plays the Marvel Universe standalone one-shot adventure that's available for $9.29 (was $10).

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Hearthstone Into The Emerald Dream Card Reveal: Hamuul Runetotem Imbues Druids With Power

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 05:00

The next Hearthstone expansion is Into the Emerald Dream, exploring the magical spirit realm specialized by Druids. As you might expect, this is a very Druid-focused expansion, and for the first time each class will get its own cards that use the Druid's "Choose One" keyword, alongside a number of other new mechanics. Naturally, Druids will get their own special tools, as we can exclusively reveal the new class legendary minion Hamuul Runetotem and several of his support cards.

Hamuul Runetotem himself uses the new keyword Imbue, which will be available to Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, and Shaman. This keyword gives you a new Hero Power, which then upgrades as you play more Imbue cards. Some already-revealed Imbue cards take effect as Battlecry or Deathrattle effects, but Hamuul's takes effect as soon as the game starts, if you built your deck with only Nature spells. Then, it repeats the Imbue effect again for every two spells you cast during the game. It's a big, powerful effect as a trade-off for limiting your spell selection.

Gallery The Hamuul Runetotem Druid Legendary, in Standard and Signature variants

Druid's upgraded Hero Power summons a 1/1 Plant Golem, but keep in mind, it will be upgrading each time you play two Nature spells, to a 2/2 Plant Golem, and then 3/3 and so on. That means your Plant Golems will get bigger and stronger, letting you summon an endless stream of big minions.

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Metal Gear Solid Delta PC Requirements Revealed, And You'll Need A Lot Of Free Storage Space

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 04:20

Ahead of its release on August 28, the PC requirements for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater have gone live on Steam. It's not the most exhaustive list of minimum and recommended PC requirements--especially this far out from its launch--but it does give a good indicator of what you'll need to run the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake.

On the GPU side, the minimum recommendation here is an RTX 2060 Nvidia graphics card, with no mention of an AMD equivalent yet, and it's recommended that you have an RTX 3080 GPU. Early looks at Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater have shown off a very lush environment for players to sneak through, and with the game being developed in Unreal Engine 5, you're naturally going to need a lot of storage capacity for the game's install files.

Konami recommends 100GB of storage capacity, and while an SSD isn't mandatory, it is recommended. Beyond that, the CPU and RAM requirements seem quite reasonable, although the PC requirements are subject to change before the game arrives. We also don't know yet what these requirements are targeting in terms of resolution and frame rates.

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Tony Hawk 3+4 Remaster Is Seemingly All But Confirmed

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 04:11

The hints about the impending return of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater after a five-year hiatus started appearing earlier this month with the release of a new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 map. Shortly thereafter, the official site for THPS began counting down to March 4. While Activision and Tony Hawk himself are likely waiting for that day--which conspicuously happens to be 3/4-- to make their announcement, a rating has been issued for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, a remastered edition of two earlier games in the franchise.

Via Gematsu, the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore has approved a rating for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. A launch date wasn't disclosed, but the game is listed as a 2025 release.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 was originally released in 2001, and it was followed by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 in 2002. This double remaster follows Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, which was released in 2020. There haven't been any new console games in the series since Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 in 2015. The official X account for the franchise has dropped a new teaser message that reads, "Loading... new parks 3/4/25."

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Star Wars Boss Is Reportedly Retiring This Year, Which Could Be A Major Shakeup

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 04:09

There might be a great disturbance in the Force, as a new report claims that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will retire later this year. The executive has overseen the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.

Puck reported that Kennedy has let Disney and friends know about her plans to step down from Lucasfilm. However, while Variety corroborated Puck, the trade publication added that one of its sources said nothing has been finalized as of yet. Kennedy was in charge of bringing Star Wars back to the silver screen with the sequel trilogy, which started with The Force Awakens in 2015 and ended with The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. She also expanded the franchise with non-Skywalker Saga films like Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story--let alone the multiple Disney+ shows.

One area that Kennedy seemed to stay hands-off was video games. For instance, her official description on the Lucasfilm website as president doesn't note any involvement in games released over the past decade-plus (though her name does appear in credits, such as in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). Shortly after Kennedy became Lucasfilm president, Disney and EA announced a Star Wars partnership in 2013 for console games. That agreement led to the creation of 2015's Star Wars Battlefront and 2017's Star Wars Battlefront II, with Disney calling EA a "good" partner in 2019. The two Battlefront games combined to sell 33 million copies as of late 2019. Additionally, in 2014 before those games were released, Lucasfilm stated that all games would be considered official Star Wars canon going forward.

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8BitDo's New Ultimate 2 Controller Sounds Very Impressive, And It's Available Now

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 04:06
See at Amazon

8BitDo has unveiled the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller for PC and Android, and the new pro-style gamepad is already ready to ship. The Ultimate 2 costs $60 and is available in three colors: white, black, or purple. Orders placed on launch day (February 25) can arrive as soon as tomorrow with Amazon Prime. 8BitDo's Ultimate 2 is a sequel to its flagship Ultimate Controller and the manufacturer's most feature-rich controller yet.

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Controller at Amazon:

While we haven't tested the Ultimate 2 yet, the original is our top pick in our best PC controllers list, so we're looking forward to trying the updated version of what was already a fantastic controller.

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Rise Of The Golden Idol DLC Release Date May Be Hidden In Plain Sight

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 04:00

Following its launch back in October, The Rise of the Golden Idol is set to add some additional chapters to its tale of murder and mystery in the first expansion, called The Sins of New Wells. Developer Color Gray has teased a March release window for the upcoming DLC, but it seems the actual release date might have also been slyly revealed.

In the style of the game, a teaser post on The Rise of the Golden Idol's Steam page had shed some slightly redacted light on what players can expect from The Sins of New Wells. The post confirms the expansion will contain four new cases, a new character named Cliff Savea, and more of the dangerous magic from the fictional world of Lemuria.

A new case file lands on your desk from the Police Commissioner. You take a sip of your rapidly cooling coffee, and pick it up. ☕
It looks like you might need to dig around in the post to fill in the blanks.https://t.co/TUVXkvGbrs

— The RISE of the Golden Idol (@ColorGray7) February 25, 2025

However, the final lines of the post directs readers to "find more clues" on the game's official BlueSky and X profiles, which feature a series of cryptic posts dating back to February 6. While the posts reveal a few more names, scenes, and items, it seems like eagle-eyed fans may be able to sus out The Sins of New Wells's exact release date from all of the information provided. One of the most recent posts includes both "March" and "4," which may indicate an imminent launch date.

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The Callisto Protocol Dev Cuts More Jobs In Gaming's Latest Layoffs

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 03:31

Striking Distance Studios, the Krafton-owned game studio that made 2022's The Callisto Protocol and 2024's Redacted, has undergone a new round of layoffs. This follows on from a previous round of cuts in 2023.

In a statement to GameSpot, Striking Distance confirmed that it has "reduced the size of its team" in an effort to "remain agile." The statement also stressed that the cuts were part of a drive to establish a "sustainable environment" at the studio for the "current stage of development on future projects."

Striking Distance does not have any upcoming games that have been announced, but the statement confirmed that the team "remains operational" and that the layoffs "will not impact any planned ongoing support."

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Retro Publisher Admits SNES And Genesis Re-Releases Contain "Uncredited" Fan Translations

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 03:22

Retro-Bit Publishing, a company that specializes in re-releasing mostly Japan-exclusive 8- and 16-bit games on modern consoles, was recently accused of using existing fan translations in their ports without credit. The company confirmed that the charges are indeed true, and that it plans to "offer a means of resolution" to the translators whose work went uncredited.

The four games in question are Shockman Zero, Assault Suits Valken, Gley Lancer, and Majyuo: King of Demons. These claims were first made by translator Krokodyl on their blog, who cited identical dialogue in several of the games, as well as custom fonts created by fan translators. The most damning piece of evidence is in Gley Lancer, where the fan translator MIJET added their own name to the Japanese version of the game's credits, which you can find in Retro-Bit's version, clearly indicating that someone else's work was used. As Krokodyl notes in the blog post, Retro-Bit stated in a public Q&A that it did not "utilize any existing script or work" for these re-releases.

"After our discussion internally we as Retro-Bit concluded that the final work submitted contained, to a lesser or higher degree, uncredited work," Retro-Bit wrote in a statement to Time Extension. "...This was an irresponsible oversight on our end and we take full accountability for this outcome and not verifying the submitted translation. To amend this situation, we will set out to reach those whose work was not recognized to offer a means of resolution."

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Fable Delayed To 2026

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 03:06

Microsoft and Playground Games have announced that the new Fable game has been delayed to 2026. This update from the head of Xbox Games Studios, Craig Duncan, on the official Xbox podcast.

This story is still developing...

Switch 2 Could Launch In June For $400, Ex-Nintendo Sales Lead Predicts

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 02:50

Up until the moment the Nintendo Switch 2 is actually in players' hands, it's going to be a hotbed for speculation and rumors. Nintendo itself is expected to stay quiet until the planned Nintendo Direct in April before shedding any further light on its next-gen system. But one of Nintendo's ex-employees isn't bound by his former company's restrictions, and he's sharing his insight into Switch 2's pricing and its potential release window.

The Kit & Krysta podcast recently welcomed a former Nintendo sales lead named Sean to the show. Although Sean did not disclose his last name during his appearance, he did stress that all of the "leaks" from retailers about Switch 2's price and release date are simply estimates or guesses. He noted that retailers rarely know when something is coming from Nintendo more than a week before the official announcement. However, Sean suggested the the rumored $400 price for Switch 2 may not be off base.

"I can't imagine it being too much more than $400… maybe $450 is the highest I can imagine," related Sean. He also suggested that Switch 2 may not include an OLED screen just to keep the price point down, but he didn't rule out a future Switch 2 model incorporating an OLED screen just as the first Switch did.

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Wizards Of The Coast Apparently Cancels Game Led By Dragon Age Veteran

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 02:36

Wizards of the Coast has seemingly canceled its AAA game project at the Skeleton Key studio. Very little is known about the game, but it was mostly likely in the horror genre as the studio describes itself as creating "thought-provoking moments of suspense and horror guiding players to have fun and face their fears."

Skeleton Key's audio director said he was laid off due to the game's cancelation. It's unclear how many other developers were impacted or if Skeleton Key will continue operations. GameSpot has reached out to Wizards of the Coast for comment.

In 2022, former BioWare veteran Christian Dailey joined Skeleton Key as its vice president and head of studio. He was best known for working on the Dragon Age franchise. He became executive producer of Dragon Age: The Veilguard after Mark Darrah left BioWare in 2020, but then handed off the role to Gary McKay after leaving to join Skeleton Key.

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Lego's New Jurassic Park T-Rex Skeleton Kit Is 3 Feet Long

Game News - Wed, 02/26/2025 - 02:25

Lego is no stranger to the world of Jurassic Park, but the next licensed set from the company is easily the biggest--and most impressive--entry to date. Aimed at adult collectors, the $250 Lego Jurassic Park T-Rex skeleton features 3,145 pieces that can be used to craft the internal framework of the tyrant lizard. Members of Lego's free Lego Insiders rewards program can preorder it first from the Lego Store starting March 12, while everyone else can grab this set starting March 15.

Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex (3,145 pieces) $250 | Releases March 15

The set centers on a three-foot long T-Rex skeleton replica based on the one seen in the original Jurassic Park film. It also comes with mini-figures of Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, as well as an information plaque with interesting facts about the Cretaceous-era lizard king.

Preorder at The Lego Store

There is some articulation, but due to the complex nature of this build, it is designed to be a showpiece for your collection, rather than a playset for younger bulders. The good news is that kids can jump into other Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sets, like the Baby Bumpy Anklyosaurus and Dinosaur Missions kits, while anyone looking to celebrate the first film can grab the Visitor Center: T-Rex attack set for a cool afternoon build. A few new kits also launched this year, like the Dinosaur Fossils: Triceratops Skull and the Little Eatie T. Rex figure.

Check out the list below for even more Jurassic Park and Jurassic World Lego sets. Note that a few sets are labeled as "retiring soon," meaning Lego will no longer make more copies once they're sold out. You might still be able to purchase retired sets from third-party sellers, but they're harder to find and usually sell at a big markup, so it's best to grab the sets now if you're interested.

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