Don't try to play Destiny 2 on your brand new Steam Deck — you won't like the outcome. As Reddit users and GamesRadar have noticed, Bungie has warned it will not only kick out players who try to run the game from a Steam Deck or other SteamOS devices, but ban those players who try to circumvent that restriction. PC players have to use an active copy of Windows, Bungie said.

Bungie didn't initially say why it forbids Steam Deck use. We've asked the company for comment. It shouldn't have anything to do with Sony's plans to acquire Bungie, however. The studio is still independent, and CEO Pete Parsons maintained that game development would continue for multiple platforms.

The decision might instead revolve around code integrity. Bungie added BattlEye anti-cheat technology to Destiny 2 in 2021, starting with the recently-ended Season of the Lost. While BattlEye worked with Valve to add support in Proton (the code that lets Windows-based Steam play on the Steam Deck and SteamOS), that doesn't mean Bungie was satisfied with the trustworthiness of that anti-cheating implementation. Reddit user floatingatoll speculated that Linux's open system boot approach still left opportunities for cheaters.

Whatever the reasoning, the news won't be heartening if you're a Destiny 2 fan. You'll either have to install Windows on your Steam Deck (not a realistic option at present) or buy an alternative like the Aya Neo or GPD Win 3 if you insist on fighting the Darkness from a handheld PC. Still, this isn't a complete shock. Valve made clear that not every game will run on the Steam Deck, and D2 just happens to be one of the more prominent examples.

The Ukranian government wants gaming giants to join a tech industry crackdown on Russia following its Ukraine invasion. As Polygonobserved, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on Microsoft, Sony and other gaming companies to "temporarily block" all Russian and Belarusian player accounts. He also asked eSports organizers to halt participation from Russian and Belarussian competitors, and to cancel any events planned for either country.

These moves would motivate Russians to resist the "disgraceful military aggression" in Ukraine, Fedorov argued. He believed technology could be the "best answer" to Russia's military hardware.

We've asked Microsoft and Sony for comment. Some game developers have already shown support for Ukraine. Cyberpunk 2077 creator CD Projekt Red, for instance, donated the equivalent of $232,000 to humanitarian efforts in the country.

It's not clear if Microsoft or Sony will take action. Russia isn't the largest market for either company (Sony's PS4 has mostly thrived in Europe and North America), but banning the country even briefly would still represent a significant move — that's many players who'd be kicked offline. Microsoft has already banned Russian state media, though, and they'd be joining companies like Apple that have halted at least some business. There may be pressure on the PlayStation and Xbox teams to act, even if they don't go as far as Ukraine might like.

Roku is joining the ranks of tech companies dropping state-backed Russian media following that country's invasion of Ukraine. The company has confirmed to Politico that it's pulling the RT channel from its worldwide platform after initially removing it in Europe, where the European Union banned the media outlet along with another state-supported news agency, Sputnik.

In a statement, Roku said it was making a principled stand and rejected suggestions this might amount to censorship. The US Constiution's First Amendment lets private companies practice "sound, moral judgment" regarding the content they offer, according to Roku. It believed the US had to remain "fully united" for democracy and against misinformation.

RT and Sputnik are both understood to take direction from the Russian government and promote its agenda, including its justifications for invading Ukraine. RT had to register with the US as a foreign agency in 2017 following Justice Department attention.

The effort follows crackdowns on RT and Sputnik from Apple, Google, Meta and others. TV providers like DirecTV have also pulled relevant channels. These tech firms want to both show solidarity with Ukraine and demonstrate a quick response to misinformation campaigns, and it won't be surprising if others follow suit.

Ford is determined to compete against electric vehicle rivals like Tesla and Rivian, and it's willing to reorganize the company to improve its chances. The brand is splitting its car manufacturing business into separate EV-only and internal combustion engine (ICE) divisions to help it fight both "new EV competitors" and conventional challengers. The electric unit, Model e, is meant to speed up large-scale development of EVs while producing connected vehicle technology for all of Ford. Effectively, the badge hopes to edge closer to the fast-moving, tech-driven cultures of its EV-only competitors.

The ICE division, Ford Blue, will concentrate on "relentlessly attacking" costs, improving quality and streamlining operations to help turn a profit. Blue will supply hardware-focused engineering and manufacturing to the rest of the company.

Company chief Jim Farley will serve as president of Model e. Apple and Tesla veteran Doug Field, who joined Ford in September 2021, will lead the unit's development as its Chief EV and Digital Systems Officer.

The split, part of a larger Ford+ strategy, isn't a complete surprise. Ford EVs like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning have seen strong early demand, but Tesla still dominates the US electric market with deliveries of over 1 million cars last year. The move theoretically helps Ford catch up to or surpass Tesla while keeping ICE cars viable — at least, until ICE is phased out.

This approach also mirrors EV-focused strategy changes at some of Ford's mainstream competitors. GM already plans to become EV-only by 2035, while Stellantis unveiled a "Dare Forward" plan that will see EVs lead sales in Europe and the US by 2030. Even Hyundai was rumored to have stopped developing new combustion engines, although it denied the claim. Electric cars are taking priority across the industry, and Ford doesn't want to risk being left behind.

Apple is doing more in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine beyond cutting off services. As BuzzFeed News' John Paczkowski notes, the tech firm has halted "all product sales" in Russia. Visit the company's Russian online store and every product is listed as unavailable. In a statement, Apple made clear this was in response to the invasion — the iPhone maker "stand[s] with all of the people" hurt by the incursion, and is joining those "calling for peace."

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Paramount+ is turning a year old, and the service is marking the occasion by offering some steep discounts to new subscribers. Sign up between now and March 7th with the code BIRTHDAY and you can try the ad-supported Essential plan at $1 per month for three months, or the ad-free Premium plan (with local CBS news) for $2 per month over the same period. Just remember that you'll jump to the normal $5 Essential or $10 Premium rates after the three months are over.

The timing is more than a little convenient. The Halo TV series reaches Paramount+ on March 24th, and Star Trek: Picard season two debuts March 3rd. There's a good chance you can watch at least some of these shows before you have to decide on a full-price subscription. Paramount+ is clearly hoping you'll stick around for future seasons, other shows and live sports, but the promo might be worthwhile even if you use it as an extended trial.

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Tango Gameworks and Bethesda think they have a way to draw you into Ghostwire: Tokyo's universe before you even start playing: give away the prequel story. The two have released a free visual novel for PS4 and PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude, that sets the stage for the supernatural action adventure. The novel follows detective KK as he investigates strange events half a year before the main game.

The title has a purposefully "relaxed atmosphere" compared to the game, Scenario Writer Takahiro Kaji said. This is more about showing another side of KK before you see him in the game. You are encouraged to play through more than once, though, as it promises to reveal more sides of KK's team and Tokyo.

The PC version of Prelude will be available on March 8th, or just over two weeks before Ghostwire: Tokyo itself launches on March 25th. Yes, this novel ultimately a bid to sell more copies of the game, but it might be appreciated if you want more backstory for games than a simple text prologue or video trailer.

Stellantis isn't just leaning on a Chrysler concept to define its EV future. As part of a new "Dare Forward 2030" strategic plan, the automaker has unveiled the first all-electric Jeep SUV. The company didn't provide specifications or even a name, but the Jeep EV launches in early 2023 and appears to be relatively compact like the Compass. Autoblognotes Jeep might be using the STLA Small platform that supports up to an 82kWh battery and 300 miles of range.

More is coming in 2024. You'll find a more off-road oriented model and a "lifestyle family" SUV in 2024. Jeep won't be alone, either, as Ram will release an electric ProMaster van in 2023 and 1500 pickup truck (shown at middle) the following year.

Stellantis

The cautious rollout leaves Stellantis behind Ford, GM and other incumbent brands that already have multiple EVs either on the road or coming this year. That's not including electric-only badges like Tesla or Rivian. To date, the company has focused on either converted cars like the Fiat 500e or its 4xe plug-in hybrids.

The new machines and Stellantis' new plan might help with that, though. Under Dare Forward, the brand hopes to sell five million EVs in 2030. That's enough to completely replace its European passenger car sales, and half of all passenger cars and trucks in the US. There will be over 25 EVs aimed at American buyers. It's just a matter of whether or not the brand can make up for lost time, particularly with rivals like GM already planning to eliminate combustion passenger vehicle sales.

Instagram's fierce competition with TikTok is bearing more fruit. The social network is matching its rival by introducing automatic captions (which TikTok has had since last April) to videos in your feed. They'll be enabled by default for creators, too. Auto-generated captions will initially be available in "select" languages, but Instagram hopes to expand them to more languages and countries.

The AI behind the captions won't be flawless. Instagram expects the quality to "continue to improve" as the AI learns, however.

The addition should improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, who'll have more choices for spoken-word video. Producers won't have to manually add captions themselves. However, Instagram also noted that this should help people who simply prefer to watch video with the sound off. You won't have to toggle the volume (and startle others in the process) just to understand what someone is saying.

In that regard, automatic captions might change your Instagram habits. You might be more likely to watch a video right away instead of scrolling past or saving it for later. That's good news for Instagram's viewing stats, of course, but it could also help aspiring social media stars build their audiences.

It took a year and a half, but Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service finally exists as more than an early access project. Amazon has formally launched Luna in the mainland US for Android, iOS, Chrome OS, macOS and Windows. The core Luna+ service with over 100 games will normally cost $10 per month, with the kid-friendly Family Channel and Ubisoft+ Channels available for a respective $6 and $18 per month. Amazon hopes to reel in newcomers by dropping the monthly fees of Luna+ and the Family channel to $6 and $3 for anyone who signs up during March. Existing users just have to maintain their subscriptions to lock in that pricing.

The official debut comes alongside some new channels. A Prime Gaming channel, as the name implies, gives Amazon Prime members a free, rotating mix of games. The March selection will include titles like Devil May Cry 5 and Flashback. Pay $5 per month for the Retro Channel and you'll get Capcom and SNK classics like Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting and Metal Slug 3, while a similar outlay for the Jackbox Games Channel provides access to all eight Jackbox Party Pack titles.

Luna's latest update also makes it simpler to stream gameplay from a Fire TV device, Mac or Windows PC on Twitch. You'll need a webcam and mic if you want to interact with viewers, but this might be an option if you're determined to broadcast and don't have a brawny-enough computer to play demanding locally-stored games.

Amazon's challenge, as with comparable services like Microsoft's Game Pass Ultimate, is to convince players that subscription-based game streaming is a good supplement or even replacement for conventional PC and console gaming experiences. You'll have the convenience of playing on seemingly every device you own, but you'll also be limited by what you can play and the quality of your internet connection. Amazon's main advantage is its ubiquity — it can make sure people are aware Luna exists, whether they're watching on Twitch or buying a Fire TV gadget for the living room.