Minecraft ended virtual reality support today
Removing entire platforms isn't a choice game devs make lightly. Especially when Minecraft 's player base still numbers in the hundreds of millions at any given time, it seems unlikely that Mojang would take away virtual and mixed reality unless it wouldn't cause a serious disruption for its many fans. There are still plenty of critically received games that make VR ownership worthwhile ( Beat Saber , anyone?), but a title as major as Minecraft abandoning the hardware isn't a great look.

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Engadget
2 hours ago
- Engadget
Google DeepMind's Genie 3 can dynamically alter the state of its simulated worlds
At start of December, Google DeepMind released Genie 2. The Genie family of AI systems are what are known as world models. They're capable of generating images as the user — either a human or, more likely, an automated AI agent — moves through the world the software is simulating. The resulting video of the model in action may look like a video game, but DeepMind has always positioned Genie 2 as a way to train other AI systems to be better at what they're designed to accomplish. With its new Genie 3 model, which the lab announced on Tuesday, DeepMind believes it has made an even better system for training AI agents. At first glance, the jump between Genie 2 and 3 isn't as dramatic as the one the model made last year. With Genie 2, DeepMind's system became capable of generating 3D worlds, and could accurately reconstruct part of the environment even after the user or an AI agent left it to explore other parts of the generated scene. Environmental consistency was often a weakness of prior world models. For instance, Decart's Oasis system had trouble remembering the layout of the Minecraft levels it would generate. By comparison, the enhancements offered by Genie 3 seem more modest, but in a press briefing Google held ahead of today's official announcement, Shlomi Fruchter, research director at DeepMind, and Jack Parker-Holder, research scientist at DeepMind, argued they represent important stepping stones in the road toward artificial general intelligence. So what exactly does Genie 3 do better? To start, it outputs footage at 720p, instead of 360p like its predecessor. It's also capable of sustaining a "consistent" simulation for longer. Genie 2 had a theoretical limit of up to 60 seconds, but in practice the model would often start to hallucinate much earlier. By contrast, DeepMind says Genie 3 is capable of running for several minutes before it starts producing artifacts. Also new to the model is a capability DeepMind calls "promptable world events." Genie 2 was interactive insofar as the user or an AI agent was able to input movement commands and the model would respond after it had a few moments to generate the next frame. Genie 3 does this work in real-time. Moreover, it's possible to tweak the simulation with text prompts that instruct Genie to alter the state of the world it's generating. In a demo DeepMind showed, the model was told to insert a herd of deer into a scene of a person skiing down a mountain. The deer didn't move in the most realistic manner, but this is the killer feature of Genie 3, says DeepMind. As mentioned before, the lab primarily envisions the model as a tool for training and evaluating AI agents. DeepMind says Genie 3 could be used to teach AI systems to tackle "what if" scenarios that aren't covered by their pre-training. "There are a lot of things that have to happen before a model can be deployed in the real world, but we do see it as a way to more efficiently train models and increase their reliability," said Fruchter, pointing to, for example, a scenario where Genie 3 could be used to teach a self-driving car how to safely avoid a pedestrian that walks in front of it. Despite the improvements DeepMind has made to Genie, the lab acknowledges there's much work to be done. For instance, the model can't generate real-world locations with perfect accuracy, and it struggles with text rendering. Moreover, for Genie to be truly useful, DeepMind believes the model needs to be able to sustain a simulated world for hours, not minutes. Still, the lab feels Genie is ready to make a real-world impact. "We already at the point where you wouldn't use [Genie] as your sole training environment, but you can certainly finds things you wouldn't want agents to do because if they act unsafe in some settings, even if those settings aren't perfect, it's still good to know," said Parker-Holder. "You can already see where this is going. It will get increasingly useful as the models get better." For the time being, Genie 3 isn't available to the general public. However, DeepMind says it's working to make the model available to additional testers.


Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Bedrock Data MCP Server Now Generally Available for Governing Agentic Workflows
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As part of Bedrock's growing strategic partnership ecosystem, the company also announced an integration with Panther, the security monitoring platform for the cloud, demonstrating how the MCP Server's capabilities can enrich real-time signals with data risk context to improve fidelity and prioritization of alerts, reduce false positives, and improve the security operations centers' (SOC) response to incidents. 'The MCP Server, built on Bedrock's Metadata Lake, gives enterprises a way to govern how AI agents and operators access data – enabling safe, controlled deployment of agents across their environments,' said Pranava Adduri, CTO and co-founder of Bedrock Data. The Enterprise Standard for AI Agent Governance The GA of the Bedrock Data MCP Server enables agentic workflows to incorporate data context from Bedrock's Metadata Lake, including classifications, lineage, entitlements, business taxonomy and more, providing agents with governance context needed to handle sensitive data correctly. It allows self-governing policy enforcement and governance controls throughout the agent lifecycle, from initial authorization through ongoing execution, to automatically adapt to evolving data classifications, location changes and policy updates. For example, if an organization prohibits agents from using customer data, by introducing context from the Metadata Lake on the data being handled, agents can now be aware of sensitive data and refuse to process it according to company policy. This approach delivers more efficient agentic infrastructure by eliminating the need for additional governance agents. 'MCP servers are rapidly gaining popularity for enabling communication between generative AI applications and the data they utilize. The integrity and availability of the models these MCP servers support rely on proper classification and governance of sensitive data,' said Krista Case, research director of cybersecurity at The Futurum Group. 'Additionally, the ability to harness metadata for context-aware alert prioritization and threat intelligence will be needed in order to thwart data breaches. Bedrock Data's new MCP Server offering represents an operational solution squarely addressing this emerging and increasingly critical requirement.' Bedrock Data and Panther Collaboration Transforms Security Response With Context-Aware AI With the Bedrock MCP Server, enterprises can integrate into other MCP clients to integrate data risk context into their workflows such as Splunk (SIEM), Vanta (compliance), Wiz (CNAPP) and Okta (identity), enhancing the security and governance of their entire AI ecosystem. The integration with Panther is the newest addition to Bedrock's growing security and data partner ecosystem. 'Through our partnership with Panther, we're demonstrating how AI-powered security tools can dramatically improve response times and alert prioritization while maintaining proper governance controls and data context,' continued Adduri. 'It puts data, the crown-jewel of digital enterprise, at the center of the security process.' Powered by their respective MCP Servers, the Bedrock and Panther integration improves SOC team effectiveness by enabling AI tools used in triage to leverage contextual alert prioritization and reduce false positives. Each Panther alert is enriched with Bedrock's data context, including sensitivity classifications, storage locations, identity risk profiles and regulatory mappings, helping security teams respond with greater precision and speed. The partnership delivers key capabilities beyond traditional webhook integrations, including: AI-driven investigation agents: Security teams can leverage Claude, Rewind and other AI assistants to enable enriched security context without leaving their interface, dramatically reducing mean time to investigate (MTTI). They can ask questions like 'Does this alert involve regulated PII?' or 'Does this identity have access to production customer data?' directly within their AI interface. Data-aware alert correlation: Bedrock enriches Panther alerts with real-time sensitivity, access and usage context, allowing correlation rules to factor in actual data risk, not just event volume or signature matches. Improved signal-to-noise: Alerts are prioritized based on what matters most: whether sensitive or regulated data was involved, and whether high-risk identities accessed it. This reduces false positives and surfaces the alerts that deserve immediate attention. Faster root cause analysis: Analysts can quickly determine what data was at risk, how it moved and who accessed it, without pivoting between systems. This accelerates investigations and shortens containment time. AI-enabled investigation workflows: Through Bedrock's Copilot and metadata API, analysts and AI assistants can ask structured questions like 'Did this identity access PHI this week?' directly within their workflow, improving investigation quality and speed. 'The collaboration with Bedrock represents a fundamental shift in detection and response,' said Jack Naglieri, founder and CTO of Panther. 'By utilizing AI agents to reach into Panther's analysis capabilities and Bedrock's data context, security teams can make informed decisions in half the time. A natural language interface also opens these strong capabilities to everyone in the security team. When every alert comes with built-in understanding of data sensitivity, regulatory impact and blast radius, analysts can make confident decisions in seconds rather than hours.' Examples of how customers can implement the Bedrock-Panther integration to improve their security operations include: RDS without KMS: Panther flags an unencrypted RDS instance and Bedrock identifies it as holding production customer PII. This prioritizes a sensitive RDS instance for remediation over others, such as test/QA instances that don't hold sensitive data. IAM user without MFA: Panther detects privilege escalation and Bedrock shows the user has broad privileges to access regulated HR data. It's not just a misconfiguration; it's a data exposure risk. Suspicious privilege escalation: Panther flags an unexpected change in access rights. Bedrock adds visibility into what data the account accessed after the change, including whether any of it was sensitive. What used to be a vague alert becomes a focused, actionable response based on real data exposure. Availability The MCP Server is available on GitHub or as a self-hosted offering. Learn how your team can get started with the MCP Server and the Bedrock-Panther integration today. Additional Resources About Bedrock Data Bedrock Data equips enterprises to secure and manage all of their data with confidence. Powered by patented Metadata Lake technology and AI-driven classification, the Bedrock platform provides continuous visibility into data location, sensitivity, business context, access and usage across SaaS, PaaS, IaaS and agentic AI workflows. By autonomously discovering, classifying and contextualizing all enterprise data, Bedrock Data empowers security, governance and data teams to tackle security, roll out AI technologies with confidence and manage their data at multi-petabyte scale and minimal infrastructure cost. Bedrock Data's open, API-first architecture, built on its Metadata Lake, powers its built-in MCP Server to deliver real-time metadata context to agentic AI workflows, driving accurate, governed AI decisions. This metadata context also enriches tools like SIEM, DLP, CNAPP and cloud platforms to amplify visibility, risk insights and response precision across the enterprise. Trusted by leading enterprises worldwide in financial services, healthcare, biotech and other industries, Bedrock Data is headquartered in Silicon Valley, backed by Greylock Partners, and led by experts in cloud infrastructure, generative AI, cybersecurity and large-scale data management. Learn more at About Panther Panther is the security monitoring platform for the cloud. Unlike 'next-gen' SIEMs that rely on historical detections, rigid query languages, and closed ecosystems, Panther enables flexible monitoring in production environments with streaming data analysis, programmable workflows, and seamless cloud integration – empowering teams to optimize costs and control, accelerate incident response, and achieve cross-system visibility at scale.


Geek Girl Authority
7 hours ago
- Geek Girl Authority
What Experienced Minecraft Players Look for in Premium Accounts
Minecraft has grown from a simple block-building game into a massive world of endless creativity, competition, and adventure. With millions of players worldwide, having a premium Minecraft account has become more than just a way to access the game—it's a way to stand out. But not all premium accounts are created equal. For players who have been around for a while, buying just any account doesn't cut it. Experienced players know what makes an account worth the investment. That's why many of them rely on trusted platforms like U7BUY to explore premium options that meet their standards for security, features, and reliability. So, what exactly do these seasoned players look for when shopping for a premium Minecraft account? Let's break it down. 1. Full Access and Account Security One of the most important things experienced players look for is full access to the account. This means being able to change the email, password, and even the skin linked to the account. Full access gives players complete control, helping them protect their account from future risks. If an account doesn't offer this kind of access, it could be tied to the original owner, which is a red flag for most serious players. 2. Clean Ban History A premium account should have a clean ban history, especially when it comes to large multiplayer servers like Hypixel or Mineplex. If an account has been banned from these servers, it can limit how much you can enjoy the game. Bans usually happen when a player breaks the server's rules—this can include cheating, using unauthorized mods, griefing other players, spamming in chat, or violating community guidelines. Some bans are temporary, while others are permanent. Experienced players avoid banned accounts because these restrictions can't always be reversed, and they take away from the freedom and fun of multiplayer gaming. Experienced players usually check this before making a purchase. A clean account allows them to jump into multiplayer games without worrying about restrictions or reputation issues. 3. Unique or Rare Features Some accounts come with rare features that make them more valuable. These might include old Minecon capes, legacy usernames, or rare in-game achievements. These details don't just offer bragging rights—they show that an account has a bit of history. Experienced players often seek out accounts with these features to stand out from the crowd and personalize their gameplay. 4. Unlinked or Fresh Microsoft Migration Since 2021, all Minecraft accounts must be linked to a Microsoft account. For buyers, this means making sure the account has either been migrated correctly or is fresh and ready to be linked. An unlinked or properly migrated account ensures smooth login and access to important features. Accounts that are already linked may not be transferable, which can cause problems down the road. 5. Trustworthy Source and Transparent History Where the account comes from matters just as much as what's in it. Experienced players know that sketchy sellers or unofficial marketplaces often lead to headaches. They prefer buying from platforms that offer clear account descriptions, refund options, and good customer support. This gives them peace of mind that they're getting exactly what they paid for, with no hidden surprises. 6. Play History and Customization Many experienced players want an account with a clean play history—meaning no weird mods, cheats, or suspicious activity. They want a blank canvas to make the account their own. Customization is also key. Being able to use skins, mods, and launchers without issues helps create a better gaming experience. This is especially important for players who stream or play competitively. Image by Chickenonline on Pixabay 7. Price vs. Value – Not Just the Cheapest Option While a low price may be tempting, experienced players understand that cheap accounts often come with risks—such as being shared or stolen. They're willing to pay more for an account that offers long-term value. That means better features, full ownership, and solid security. For them, it's not about spending less—it's about getting more for what they spend. 8. Minecraft as a Learning and Creative Platform Beyond gameplay and competition, Minecraft is widely recognized as a tool for learning, creativity, and problem-solving. Many experienced players use premium accounts not just for fun, but to explore more advanced aspects of the game such as redstone engineering, complex builds, and even coding with command blocks or mods. Studies from universities and educational institutions have found that Minecraft can help improve spatial reasoning, mathematics, collaboration, and digital literacy. In fact, Minecraft: Education Edition is used in classrooms around the world to teach science, history, and even sustainable design. This highlights how the game goes far beyond traditional play—it's a platform for skill-building. Players with premium accounts often get more out of these opportunities. They can join advanced servers, access exclusive tools, and participate in modded environments that encourage creativity and experimentation. Whether building detailed cities, simulating real-world systems, or working on group projects, premium accounts provide the flexibility needed to push boundaries. In this way, premium Minecraft accounts offer more than entertainment—they serve as gateways to learning and self-expression. For experienced players, that added depth is part of what makes a high-quality account worth every penny. Conclusion Buying a premium Minecraft account isn't just about getting into the game—it's about getting the most out of it. Experienced players know the difference between a basic login and an account that offers real value. They look for full access, a clean history, rare features, and trusted sellers to make sure their investment is safe and worthwhile. If you're thinking about purchasing a Minecraft account, take a tip from the pros—do your research, and choose carefully. If you're thinking about purchasing a Minecraft account, take a tip from the pros—do your research, and choose carefully. After all, the right premium account isn't just a purchase—it's the start of your next big Minecraft adventure.