Retro Handheld Scrutiny, a Disney AI Bid and VMware Costs

An industry group seeks scrutiny of Anbernic handhelds, Disney offers to license Character.AI technology, and Topgolf describes a costly change in its VMware arrangements. Three technology stories from October 13 reports.

Games industry group seeks scrutiny of Anbernic handhelds

Ars Technica reports that the Entertainment Software Association has asked the US Trade Representative to add Anbernic to its Notorious Markets list. The group says the company's handhelds are routinely offered with unauthorized game copies on memory cards. The report also notes that Anbernic does not appear to include such cards when selling directly through its own website.

Disney offers $20 million for a Character.AI technology license

Ars Technica reports that Disney has offered $20 million for a nonexclusive, perpetual license to certain Character Technologies intellectual property during bankruptcy proceedings. Character Technologies disclosed the offer in a press release without identifying the specific assets in detail. The report describes an offer to license technology used by Character.AI, rather than a completed purchase of the chatbot company.

Topgolf reports savings after moving away from VMware

According to Ars Technica, Topgolf moved 12,000 virtual machines from VMware to VergeIO's VergeOS after facing a projected 400 percent increase in VMware costs under Broadcom. The report says the sports entertainment company has saved more than $11 million so far. Topgolf operates over 100 locations featuring interactive golf games, shot tracking and digital analytics.

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