UX Design Intern - Project L

EU probes video game firms over virtual currencies. Published: 11:58 AM ET Key takeaways by Insider Paper * EU consumer authorities are investigating nine game firms, including Ubisoft, Riot Games, Mojang and Supercell, over in-game virtual currency practices. * Authorities will probe possible breaches of EU consumer law: price transparency, clear pre-purchase information, no forced transactions, and 14-day withdrawal rights. * EU says industry must protect players, especially children, and will enforce rules alongside new measures like the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act. European consumer authorities are investigating nine video game companies, including France's Ubisoft, over concerns that their in-game virtual currencies might be violating users' rights, the EU said on Wednesday. The bloc is coordinating the investigations by the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, which brings together the competent authorities of the EU's 27 states. The network launched talks with the companies last year, but the EU executive said the approach "did not bring satisfactory results". The European consumer authorities later identified several games that needed further study, including Candy Crush Saga, Minecraft and Clash of Clans. The EU said that alongside Ubisoft, the other companies involved in the probe included Minecraft developer Mojang, US giant Riot Games, and Supercell, which makes Clash of Clans. Authorities will now probe whether there are any breaches of EU consumer law. The bloc's guidelines on in-game virtual currencies say games must show the real-world price of any required in-game items and currencies. Games also must show clear information before any purchase, and companies must not force players into unwanted transactions. Gamers should also be told they can withdraw from contracts within 14 days, including for unused virtual currency, the EU said. "The industry must ensure that its games do not expose players - especially children - to harmful or unfair practices," EU consumer protection chief Michael McGrath said. "The game must be fair, and the rules must be respected." He added in a statement: "National authorities, with the support of the Commission, will make sure they are enforced." The EU has also ramped up efforts to protect children online, announcing earlier this month rules that will force companies to make video games and social media platforms safe before minors use them. The EU is also expected to unveil consumer protection rules known as the Digital Fairness Act that will cover the video game sector. TAGGED: EU Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.

Take the stage: Riot Games reveals New Legends and mechanics for Riftbound: Radiance. Radiance brings three new mechanics, the TCG's first neutral unit, and a simultaneous English, French, and Simplified Chinese release on October 23, 2026. * Riot Games revealed new Legends and mechanics for Riftbound: Radiance, the final 2026 set for the Riftbound: League of Legends Trading Card Game (TCG). * Radiance celebrates brilliance and creativity across Runeterra, with new mechanics that reward players for finding creative solutions and making big plays. The set features nine new Legends, including the newly revealed K'Sante, Pride of Nazumah. * The set introduces three new keywords, Deploy, Show Off, and Disarm, along with Equipment Units, Bomb tokens, and Neeko, the first neutral domain champion unit in Riftbound. * Radiance brings Riftbound's second Ultimate Rare, musically inspired Alt Art Runes, along with new Overnumbers and Special Alt Art cards. Date: September 25, 2026 * Radiance is a set about performance: playing at your best under the brightest lights with everything on the line. Riftbound's fifth set rewards ingenuity, with new mechanics built around creative solutions to the challenges players face. Riot Games revealed the set's new Legends and mechanics in the latest developer update and during a developer panel at the Los Angeles Regional Qualifier. * New keywords reward players for creativity, embracing brilliance, and making big plays when it matters most: * Deploy gives gear the ability to be played directly to a battlefield, including ones you don't control, and grants an effect there until an opponent holds that battlefield. Ziggs, Hexplosive Expert, deploys Bomb tokens that, when killed, damage enemy units and set off every other Bomb in a chain reaction. * Show Off enables an additional effect when you reveal a qualifying card from your hand while you play a card. It makes an early splash at the cost of telegraphing a powerful card. That's the price of fame. * Disarm reduces the Might of an enemy unit on the same battlefield when a unit with Disarm attacks. Multiple instances stack, and Kai'Sa, Rebel pairs Disarm with giving your spells Reaction during a showdown. * New Legends bring new talents to the Rift. * Orianna, Lady of Clockwork animates gear into Units, overrunning opponents with an army of machines, epic treasures, and even Gold tokens. * Ekko, The Boy Who Shattered Time bends the timeline to play expensive units early, at the cost of losing them at the end of the turn. * Introducing Riftbound's first neutral domain Champion Unit: Neeko. She can be played in any deck regardless of its domains. * Collectors have plenty to celebrate. The nine new Legends appear as Overnumbered variants, alongside Heartsteel Overnumbers and Special Alt Art cards that follow Vendetta's Crystal Rose treatment. The set's Ultimate Rare, the second in Riftbound history, appears in fewer than 0.025% of packs. * New to the product lineup is the Collector's Binder, offering Riftbound players and collectors alike a fresh way to store and display their favorite cards. * Pre-Rift events run October 16-22 at local game stores. Pre-Rift Kits include five Radiance boosters and a seeded Pre-Rift pack for each of the nine new Legends, and players who attend can pick up a Heimerdinger, Academy Instructor promo card while supplies last. * Previews run September 25 through October 9, and Radiance releases October 23 in English, French, and Simplified Chinese, the first set to launch in all three languages at once. Summoner Skirmish events begin November 9 and December 14. Assets: Riftbound press kit is available here. Boilerplates: Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game is Riot Games' physical trading card game (TCG), bringing the deep lore and iconic champions of Runeterra into a strategic, competitive format. Designed for TCG players of all familiarity levels, Riftbound blends approachable mechanics with rich deck-building complexity, offering fresh ways to engage with the League of Legends universe. Riftbound is supported by a robust global Organized Play ecosystem, from weekly local store events to Regional Qualifiers and championship-level competition. Follow @playriftbound on socials and visit riftbound.leagueoflegends.com for updates and more. Riot Games Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, which has gone on to be one of the most-played PC games in the world. In the years that followed, Riot released VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Riot's titles have led to the creation of some of the most-watched and widely recognized esports in the world, culminating in events like the League of Legends World Championship and VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), which are watched by millions of fans each year. Riot has also expanded its IP through multimedia projects across music, comic books, board games, and Arcane, its Emmy-winning animated series. UVS Games is a leading publisher of tabletop games, dedicated to bringing iconic franchises to life through innovative gameplay and immersive storytelling. Known for the long-running CCG UniVersus, UVS Games blends fan-favorite properties with strategic mechanics, creating engaging experiences for both casual players and competitive enthusiasts in the tabletop gaming community. View as Markdown | Plain text for AI & developer tools

HEARTSTEEL expands Live My Life comeback with limited vinyl and Skateboard USB. Riot Games has expanded HEARTSTEEL's return with two new pieces of music-focused merchandise. A limited-edition "Live My Life" 7-inch vinyl and a Skateboard USB are now available through the Riot Games Music store, adding physical collectibles to the virtual group's latest comeback campaign. The release follows HEARTSTEEL's new single "Live My Life," which marked the group's first new track since its 2023 debut with "PARANOIA." Riot has also launched a broader merchandise collection tied to the song and the group's latest era. Limited Live My Life Vinyl goes on sale. The main collectible is a 7-inch "Live My Life" vinyl released under Riot Games. The record uses a sky-blue pressing and runs at 45 RPM. Side A contains the standard version of "Live My Life," while Side B includes the instrumental version of the track. The vinyl includes: * Limited-edition sky-blue 7-inch pressing * "Live My Life" on Side A * Instrumental version on Side B * Maximum of four copies per customer Riot's music store lists the European price at €16.99. The official product page currently gives November 2026 as the estimated shipping period. The product is presented as a collectible tied directly to HEARTSTEEL rather than a wider League of Legends soundtrack release. Skateboard USB adds another music collectible. Riot is also selling a HEARTSTEEL Skateboard USB for €22.99. The product expands the "Live My Life" merchandise line beyond conventional apparel and physical music formats. Its miniature skateboard presentation fits the visual identity Riot is using around the group's latest campaign. The two products position HEARTSTEEL's comeback as a broader music and merchandise release rather than simply a new League of Legends song. That strategy is consistent with Riot's previous approach to its virtual music projects, which frequently combine in-game content, music videos, character branding and physical merchandise. | Product | Price | Format | | Live My Life Vinyl | €16.99 | 7-inch vinyl | | Skateboard USB | €22.99 | USB collectible | Both products are available through Riot Games' dedicated music storefront. HEARTSTEEL returns after PARANOIA. "Live My Life" represents HEARTSTEEL's first major music release since "PARANOIA," which introduced the group in 2023. The returning vocal lineup includes Anderson .Paak as K'Sante, BAEKHYUN as Ezreal, Connor Price as Sett and Nic D as Kayn. Riot describes the new track as focusing on individuality and living freely on your own terms. The wider HEARTSTEEL lineup also includes Aphelios and Yone as part of the group's League of Legends identity. The comeback has been supported through several releases: * An official "Live My Life" music video * New apparel and accessories * The limited vinyl and Skateboard USB * Additional HEARTSTEEL-focused merchandise Riot released the official music video on September 18 before expanding the campaign with merchandise during the following week. Riot builds a larger HEARTSTEEL merchandise range. The new vinyl and USB are only part of the current rollout. Riot has also introduced several clothing and accessory products under the "Live My Life" branding. These include a HEARTSTEEL Sherpa jacket, a basketball jersey, a City Slices hoodie and a necklace inspired by Ezreal. The City Slices hoodie comes with a set of customizable patches, while other products focus more directly on individual characters or the visual style associated with the group. This gives Riot multiple ways to target HEARTSTEEL fans. Some items are designed primarily as fashion products, while the vinyl and USB lean more heavily toward collectors interested in the music side of the project. Music remains a major part of Riot's League strategy. Virtual music projects have become an established part of League of Legends' wider entertainment strategy. Riot has previously used groups including K/DA, True Damage and Pentakill to connect League characters with music genres and audiences outside the game itself. HEARTSTEEL follows the same broader model but places greater emphasis on a modern boy-band identity. Physical merchandise further extends that approach. Instead of limiting a song's lifespan to streaming platforms and an accompanying music video, collectibles give fans another way to engage with the group after the initial release. The launch of a dedicated vinyl is particularly notable because it positions "Live My Life" as a standalone music product rather than simply promotional material for League of Legends. Assessment. The new HEARTSTEEL merchandise shows that Riot is continuing to treat its virtual music projects as independent entertainment brands. The vinyl and Skateboard USB are relatively small additions compared with a major in-game update, but they demonstrate how Riot can extend a music release across several different product categories. For collectors, the limited vinyl is likely to be the more traditional option, while the Skateboard USB offers a less conventional piece of merchandise tied to the group's visual identity. What remains unclear is how far Riot intends to take HEARTSTEEL's current comeback. More music beyond "Live My Life" has not been confirmed through the current store listings. For now, the physical releases strengthen the group's return and give Riot another way to connect League of Legends, music and merchandise outside the game itself. John Parker