Gamers Join Climate Fight Through In-Game Activations
Video gamers around the world are increasingly stepping up in the fight against climate change—this time, through the very games they play. According to Sam Barratt, Chief of Youth, Education and Advocacy at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the gaming industry has become a surprising but powerful force for environmental action.
Through creative in-game activations, game developers are embedding climate messages directly into gameplay. These include sustainability-themed missions, eco-friendly challenges, and virtual rewards tied to real-world environmental behavior. By doing so, they are turning entertainment into education—and players into environmental advocates.
This movement is being led by the Playing for the Planet Alliance, a UNEP-backed initiative that unites major gaming companies in their commitment to sustainability. Members of the alliance are not only reducing their carbon footprints but also using their platforms to raise awareness and encourage real-world action. From mobile games promoting tree planting to open-world adventures highlighting biodiversity, the industry is finding inventive ways to make climate issues part of the player experience.
Barratt emphasizes the unique power of video games to reach people. With over three billion gamers globally, the potential to shift attitudes and behavior is massive. “We’re seeing that when climate issues are made part of the story, players respond,” he says. Some games have even inspired clean-up events, climate pledges, and community action.
As climate challenges intensify, the role of unconventional allies like gamers becomes more crucial. Developers and players alike are proving that games can be more than just a pastime—they can be a platform for meaningful change. Through storytelling, creativity, and interactivity, the gaming community is showing that even virtual worlds can have real-world impact.
Truecaller Call Recording on iPhones to End from September 30: How to Save Your Recordings
Truecaller has announced that its call recording feature will no longer be available on iPhones starting September 30, 2025. The decision affects iOS users who have been using the app’s Premium version to record phone calls. Users are now being urged to back up their important recordings before the feature is permanently disabled.
The feature, which launched in 2023, allowed iPhone users to record calls through a three-way call system involving a dedicated recording line. However, due to increasing technical challenges and Apple’s strict privacy policies, Truecaller has decided to discontinue support for this function on iOS. The change will not affect Android users, where native support for call recording remains available.
Truecaller is notifying iPhone users via in-app messages to export or save their existing recordings before the September 30 deadline. After this date, no new calls will be recorded, and access to existing recordings may be limited.
To save recordings, users can follow these steps:
- Open the Truecaller app and go to the Record tab.
- Tap on the gear icon to access Settings.
- Select iCloud Storage to store all recordings securely on iCloud.
- Alternatively, users can swipe left on any call recording, tap the Share icon, and choose to save the file to Files, Email, Google Drive, or another cloud service.
Truecaller will continue to offer other features for iPhone users, including spam detection and live caller ID. However, users who rely on call recording for work, interviews, or legal documentation are encouraged to act now to ensure they do not lose important data.
Reddit Sets Sights on Google, Plans to Become a Full-Fledged Search Engine
Reddit is preparing to take on tech giant Google by transforming itself into a search engine. The social platform, known for its vast network of user-driven communities, is now aiming to be the go-to destination for people searching for answers, insights, and real-world experiences online.
The shift marks a significant evolution in Reddit’s long-term strategy. Instead of acting as a supplemental tool for Google searches, Reddit now wants users to start their search journey directly on its platform. The company is enhancing its internal search features and integrating AI-powered tools to make finding relevant content faster and more intuitive.
Reddit’s leadership believes its strength lies in human-generated content. The platform hosts millions of discussions, personal stories, reviews, and advice from real people—something no algorithm can easily replicate. With this in mind, Reddit is investing heavily in improving its search interface, increasing content visibility, and building smarter AI tools that can summarize threads and surface the most helpful responses.
To support its transition, Reddit is also planning marketing campaigns that encourage users to use Reddit as their first stop for information, not just a comment section linked in a Google result. The company sees a growing desire for authentic, user-driven answers over algorithmic summaries or paid placements.
While Reddit will continue existing partnerships and content licensing agreements, its focus is clearly shifting toward independence. Backed by recent growth in engagement and profitability, the platform sees this as the right time to redefine how people search online.
If successful, Reddit’s move could reshape the way users discover information—offering a more community-driven alternative to traditional search engines, and possibly challenging Google’s dominance in the process.
Gemini 2.5 Deep Think Now Available to Google AI Ultra Subscribers
Google has launched Gemini 2.5 Deep Think, an advanced AI model designed to tackle complex problems with greater depth and accuracy. This powerful upgrade is now accessible exclusively to subscribers of Google’s AI Ultra plan, marking a significant step in enhancing AI capabilities for demanding tasks.
Gemini 2.5 Deep Think excels in fields requiring sophisticated reasoning, such as scientific research, advanced programming, iterative design, and complex mathematics. It employs a technique called parallel thinking, which enables the model to explore multiple problem-solving approaches simultaneously. This results in more thorough and precise answers compared to earlier versions.
Subscribers can access Deep Think through the Gemini app by selecting the Gemini 2.5 Pro model and activating the Deep Think mode. The integration also supports tools like code execution and real-time web search, allowing the AI to provide comprehensive and up-to-date responses tailored to the user’s needs.
Alongside the public release, a select group of expert mathematicians has been given access to an even more powerful version of Gemini 2.5 Deep Think. This variant demonstrated gold-medal level performance at the recent International Mathematical Olympiad, showcasing the model’s advanced problem-solving prowess. The public-facing version prioritizes speed while maintaining strong performance, striking a balance between efficiency and accuracy.
Google continues to emphasize responsible AI development by incorporating safety checks and mitigation strategies to ensure the model’s ethical and secure use. Users can expect a carefully managed experience designed to minimize errors and biases.
With Gemini 2.5 Deep Think, Google aims to provide professionals, researchers, and AI enthusiasts with a cutting-edge tool that pushes the boundaries of artificial intelligence, enabling more complex and nuanced applications across various industries.
Google to Open Play Store for Third-Party App Stores Like Epic Games Store and Aptoide
In a major shift in its app distribution policy, Google is set to allow third-party app stores such as Epic Games Store and Aptoide to operate within the Google Play Store. This move aims to increase competition and provide users and developers with more options in the Android app ecosystem.
Under the new arrangement, third-party app stores will gain access to the Google Play Store’s extensive catalog, enabling them to distribute apps directly to users through Google’s platform. This opens the door for users to discover and download applications from a wider variety of sources while still using familiar Google Play infrastructure.
Developers will also benefit from greater control over how their apps are distributed, with the option to opt out of inclusion in these third-party stores if they choose. This flexibility aims to empower developers to reach users on their own terms and potentially increase revenue opportunities.
One of the most significant changes is the removal of Google’s requirement that all in-app purchases use its proprietary Google Play Billing system. This change allows developers to implement alternative payment methods for transactions, which could reduce fees and make apps more affordable or profitable.
Google’s decision to open up its Play Store to rival app stores comes amid mounting pressure from legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny regarding its dominant position in the Android market. The company is expected to roll out these changes in the coming months, though it may face further appeals or adjustments before full implementation.
If successful, this development could reshape the Android app landscape, offering users more diverse app sources and developers greater freedom in monetization and distribution strategies.
