Stephen TotiloVerified account

@stephentotilo

Co-author of the Axios Gaming newsletter (sign up for it here: ). Former editor-in-chief. he/him

Brooklyn, NY
axios.com
Joined April 2009
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Feb 12

    It’s rare for a mainstream outlet to commit to gaming coverage, which is one of the reasons I’m excited to join . We're doing it! Our new gaming newsletter launches this spring. It’ll be some time before it starts, but you can sign up for it now:

    118 replies 78 retweets 1,236 likes
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  2. 18 hours ago

    Epic-Apple trial watchers may recall Apple being pretty ornery about Xbox exec Lori Wright even being able to testify. They tried to disqualify her testimony and sowed doubt about consoles being sold at a loss. Judge says she found Wright credible about Xbox selling at loss

    3 replies 2 retweets 24 likes
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  3. 18 hours ago

    Glad this was asked, because, in fact, the ruling does discuss this, mostly to say insufficient evidence was presented to indicate if this is a serious problem. Seems positive reviews for Xbox Cloud Gaming as a we app on iOS further dissuaded her about a problem here

    3 replies 1 retweet 12 likes
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  4. 18 hours ago

    Had a few tangles as I made the thread today, but hopefully it all now lines up nicely for everyone!

    18 likes
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  5. 18 hours ago

    And, finally, Apple says that Epic breached its contract when it changed Fortnite to allow people to buy in-app purchases directly from Epic. And that it is entitled to relief. The court agrees:

    2 replies 2 retweets 13 likes
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  6. 18 hours ago

    Thus, the one thing Apple lost on today and now is ordered to change

    2 replies 3 retweets 13 likes
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  7. 19 hours ago

    Threaded this wrong. Thread continues here and in the many follow-up tweets below it.

    Judge says Epic failed to make case that Apple is negligent in curating app store. "Epic spent considerable time arguing that numerous apps were, in fact, porn. Upon further review, while salacious, the proffer was devoid of merit and merely emphasized the lack of evidence..."
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    21 likes
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  8. 20 hours ago

    Nauseating. And hopefully people see this even though the news was dumped on a Friday evening.

    2 retweets 27 likes
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  9. 22 hours ago

    I'd also asked if his character would remain in the game. They confirmed he would (as I think everyone expected). He's a playable Specialist.

    29 likes
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  10. 22 hours ago

    Regarding Michael K Williams in Battlefield 2042 and a possible in-game tribute, EA says: "we are working with his team to respectfully plan his representation in game going forward. For now, we want to give room for people to grieve and celebrate his amazing talent and career"

    2 replies 5 retweets 71 likes
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  11. Sep 10

    The best people on Twitter are the people who like your tweets, then like them again after you delete the one with the typo and put a new one out there.

    3 replies 17 retweets 429 likes
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  12. Retweeted
    Sep 10

    I asked Bioware (and EA) if they are involved in the STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC remake announced yesterday and just received this response. So I guess that's a no?

    271 replies 265 retweets 4,649 likes
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  13. Retweeted
    Sep 10

    So I think one of the weird things 'emotionally' about today's Epic/Apple ruling is that it very well might have big ramifications etc etc, but that there's no dramatic "Fortnite moment" that a lot of Epic's narrative about it to players focused on

    2 replies 3 retweets 18 likes
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  14. Sep 10

    But people who just want to play Fortnite on iOS still can't, as Epic had made clear they don't want to come back until they can offer in-app purchases the way they want, in the app

    Fortnite will return to the iOS App Store when and where Epic can offer in-app payment in fair competition with Apple in-app payment, passing along the savings to consumers.
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    2 replies 7 retweets 42 likes
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  15. Sep 10

    Both sides can spin this as win. Apple can point to ruling that Epic breached its contract and owes Apple money. Epic can say judge cited troubling behaviors and show devs reaping benefits of some increased amount of directly-purchased micro-transactions

    2 replies 7 retweets 47 likes
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  16. Sep 10

    Thoughts on Epic-Apple: - Epic got little that it wanted. Apple doesn't have to open App store to other stores, nor let people make purchases directly from devs in-app - But if part against Apple holds, apps going forward will be telling you/linking to ways to get stuff cheaper

    2 replies 37 retweets 222 likes
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  17. Sep 10

    "Apple contractually enforces silence, in the form of anti-steering provisions, and gains a competitive advantage..It hides information for consumer choice which is not easily remedied with money damages. The injury...can best be remedied by invalidating the offending provisions"

    1 reply 1 retweet 17 likes
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  18. Sep 10

    About Apple's anti-steering policies: "although Epic Games has not proven a present antitrust violation, the anti-steering provisions 'threaten[] an incipient violation of an antitrust law' by preventing informed choice among users of the iOS platform."

    1 reply 2 retweets 19 likes
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  19. Sep 10

    To be clear, the judge acknowledges that some of Apple's app store policies have anti-competitive effects, but cites Apple's justifications (security, protection from malware, for example) and says Epic failed to suggest valid, effective alternatives

    1 reply 1 retweet 20 likes
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  20. Sep 10

    Odd bit here about the Steam Deck. Judge had already distinguished Switch from being in the same mobile market as iOS and Android but here seems to cite Valve as getting into mobile (and portable) market.

    1 reply 1 retweet 15 likes
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  21. Sep 10

    But acknowledges the presence of only two major players (Apple and Android) can indicate problematic conditions. Says evidence is "undeveloped and mixed," citing flux in gaming and mobile gaming markets. (Bear in mind she's focused on power over mobile gaming transactions)

    1 reply 1 retweet 14 likes
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