PUBG Mobile Cheat Makers Ordered To Pay $10 Million After Losing Lawsuit

A court case pitting Krafton Inc. and Tencent Games–developer and publisher of PUBG Mobile, respectively–against a hacking group accused of distributing cheaters for the game has ended with Krafton and Tencent victorious.

Federal courts in both the United States and Germany ruled in favor of the two companies, ordering the hacking group to pay around $10 million in damages and restitution to the firms. The group was found to be creating and distributing hacks and cheats to other users, giving the recipients unfair advantages in the game.

Krafton and Tencent’s restitution will be put toward stronger anti-cheat measures in the future.

“Millions of players worldwide enjoy PUBG Mobile and we will ensure a level playing field for everyone,” Rick Li, producer on PUBG Mobile, said in the official release. “Sadly, the actions of hacker groups undermine the fairness of the game. These judgments send a clear message that we will not tolerate cheating.”

The hacker group has also been ordered to provide details on how they were able to exploit the game for the cheats, as well as any collaborators in their efforts.

Tencent and Krafton have announced they will invest the received funds in further anti-cheat technology, including the recently released “device ban feature” which can ban specific devices from logging into PUBG Mobile or creating new accounts. The decision is the latest in a legal war being waged against online cheat distributors, with Activision Blizzard recently suing another site over Call of Duty Warzone cheats.

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CES 2022: ASRock Unveils Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC Motherboards

At CES 2022, ASRock has announced two premium and limited edition Z690 motherboards. The ASRock Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC motherboards both boast impressive specifications, including a custom monoblock cooling both the processor and power delivery, 10 GbE, 2 GbE, and Wi-Fi 6E networking, as well as dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, eight SATA ports, and three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots.

In 2019, ASRock debuted its highly premium yet expensive Aqua series through the ASRock X570 Aqua, which we reviewed. We also reviewed the ASRock Z490 Aqua, and our overall thoughts were that the Aqua was extremely ‘cool’ in both performance and aesthetics. Fast forward to 2022, and ASRock has launched two new Aqua series motherboards for Intel’s Alder Lake, one for conventional users and one designed for extreme overclockers looking to maximize both compute and memory performance under sub-zero cooling.


The ASRock Z690 Aqua E-ATX motherboard

The ASRock Z690 Aqua has a ‘wave’ of features, including a large custom monoblock designed to cool both the processor and large advertised 19+1 phase power delivery using the latest premium 105 A power stages. It also includes stainless steel plating across the 12-layer E-ATX sized PCB, with plenty of integrated RGB lighting for users to host their own epic water-cooled discotheque. The ASRock Z690 Aqua also includes an OLED display, which can display many different forms of information from voltages, frequency and can be configured within the BIOS.

Dominating the lower portion of the board are two full-length PCIe 5.0 slots that can operate at x16 or x8/x8, one full-length PCIe 4.0 x4, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, with three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots that all include M.2 heatsink coverage. For SATA, there are eight ports in total, with four coming from the chipset with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, while an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller powers the other four. As does most premium Z690 motherboards, the Z690 Aqua can support up to DDR5-6400 memory, with a combined capacity of 128 GB across four slots.


The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC E-ATX motherboard with two DDR5 memory slots and overclockers toolkit

The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC shares the same core feature set but has two memory slots with support for DDR5 memory. As many ‘OC’ branded boards do, this is to enhance memory performance when overclocking. ASRock also states that it includes an external clock generator to boost OC potential, as well as the exact premium 19+1 phase power delivery as the ‘regular’ Z690 Aqua. It also includes an overclocker’s toolkit next to the memory slots for on-the-fly overclocking. However, both models have a power and rest button, with a two-digit LED debugger.


The ASRock Z690 Aqua rear panel (the Z690 Aqua OC drops two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports for a PS/2 port)

On the rear panel, the ASRock Z690 Aqua includes two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with two DisplayPort 1.4 video inputs, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC has the same layout, except it drops two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports for a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port. Both models feature a Marvel Aquantial AQC113CS 10 GbE and Killer E3100 2.5 GbE controller pairing, as well as a Killer AX1675 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi. For users planning to use integrated graphics, there’s a single HDMI 2.1 video output, as well as five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec and ESS Sabre 9128 DAC. Finishing off the rear panel is a clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback button pairing.

Both the ASRock Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC will be limited to just 500 units each with its own unique production number. ASRock hasn’t informed us of the expected availability or pricing, but we expect it to come with an eye-watering price tag.

Source: ASRock

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CES 2022: MSI Releases Four MAG B660M Mortar Motherboards

Intel’s Alder Lake 12th generation desktop processors support DDR5 and DDR4 memory types. While users have the option to use either, Intel’s 600 series motherboards can support one or the other, not both at the same time. Well, MSI is giving users a choice with its latest MAG series B660M Mortar motherboards, which are available with support for either DDR5 or DDR4 memory and with or without a Wi-Fi 6 CNVi. 

The MSI B660M Mortar motherboards are available in two different configurations, with or without Wi-Fi capabilities and support for DDR5 or DDR4 memory. This includes two different color schemes to allow users to distinguish between each model. The variations with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi feature silver heatsinks on a black PCB, while the non-Wi-Fi enabled models come with an all-black theme.


The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI with support for DDR5 memory

Outside of memory support and whether it comes with Wi-Fi or not, all four of the MSI MAG B660 Mortar motherboards are all micro-ATX in size and feature the same controller set, input and output, and expansion slot support. This includes one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4, and one smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For storage, there’s two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, as well as six SATA ports in total. Four SATA ports are powered by the chipset with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, while an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller drives the other two.

Focusing on memory support, MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI and B660M Mortar include support for DDR5-6200 memory, with a maximum combined capacity of up to 128 GB across four slots. In comparison, the two DDR4 compatible versions can support up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory.


The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 rear panel

The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI and B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 feature an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, while the others come with an empty Key M.2 slot should users wish to add their own at a later date. Everything else across the four B660M Mortar models is the same, including one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports, with a single Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller providing a decent level of networking capabilities. Also featured on the rear panel are five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec, as well as a DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 video output pairing.

At the time of writing, we haven’t found any of the MSI MAG B660M Mortar models available at US retailers, although they are in stock and currently available to purchase at UK retailers. The Wi-Fi models are likely to cost between $10-20 more depending on the retailer of choice, but MSI hasn’t provided us with any MSRP pricing at this time. At UK retailer Ebuyer, the MSI MAG B660M Mortar DDR5 model now costs £200, with the MSI MAG B660M Mortar DDR4 model costing £190.

Source: MSI

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Awesome Games Done Quick 2022: How To Watch AGDQ And Schedule

Awesome Games Done Quick, better known as AGDQ, is back this week for another round of speedrunning video games in order to raise money for a great cause. This year, AGDQ takes place from January 9-16, and as with the past few events, it will be entirely online due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn’t mean there will be any fewer games, however, nor will there be fewer opportunities to win prizes as everyone works together to support the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Here’s how you can watch all of AGDQ 2022 and the biggest streams to look out for.

How to watch AGDQ 2022

Unlike some other gaming streams, AGDQ is not streamed–at least not officially–on YouTube. Highlights are posted there after the fact, but the main Awesome Games Done Quick show will be streamed on the organization’s Twitch page. We’ve embedded that page above to make it easier, so you can come back right here when it begins and watch the whole thing. It’s just one stream at a time, so there’s no need to jump back and forth to make sure you aren’t missing your favorite game.

AGDQ 2022 schedule highlights

AGDQ 2022 will run from January 9 to January 16, kicking off with a pre-show at 8:30 AM PT / 11:30 AM ET and a PS5 speedrun of Nioh 2. It’s ending with a Metal Gear Solid run on a PlayStation TV, of all systems. Below, we’ve broken the event down by day and have highlighted some of the most exciting runs. You can see every run and a list of runners and hosts on the official website. And you won’t want to miss that Sekiro run on January 15… it’s being done blindfolded.

January 9

Deathloop: 1:39 PM PT / 4:39 PM ETMega Man 2: 2:41 PM PT / 5:41 PM ETDeath’s Door: 3:52 PM PT / 6:52 PM ET

January 10

Gunstar Heroes: 4:27 AM PT / 7:27 AM ETPsychonauts 2: 12:55 PM PT / 3:55 PM ETOri and the Blind Forest: 4:01 PM PT / 7:01 PM ET

January 11

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: 2:18 PM PT / 5:18 PM ETReturnal: 5:10 PM PT / 8:10 PM ETDead Rising: 6:41 PM PT / 9:41 PM ET

January 12

The Typing of the Dead: 2:59 AM PT / 5:59 AM ETHalo 5: Guardians: 4:55 PM PT / 7:55 PM ETDiddy Kong Racing: 7:02 PM PT / 10:02 PM ET

January 13

Half-Life 2: 8:01 AM PT / 11:01 AM ETResident Evil Village: 5:23 PM PT / 8:23 PM ET

January 14

It Takes Two: 9:57 PM ET (January 13) / 12:57 AM ETDark Souls: 9:42 AM PT / 12:42 PM ETHades: 6:33 PM PT / 9:33 PM ET

January 15

EarthBound: 8:59 AM PT / 11:59 AM ETHalo: Combat Evolved: 11:24 AM PT / 2:24 PM ETSekiro: Shadows Die Twice: 2:54 PM PT / 5:54 PM ETRead MoreGameSpot – Game News

CES 2022: ASUS Announces Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition

During CES 2022, ASUS unveiled its Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition notebook. Built around the Zenbook 14 OLED series of compact yet high-performance laptops, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition takes things to the next level. Some of its features include a 3.5″ OLED ZenVision screen on the top panel, support for up to an Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H processor, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as a 2800 x 1800 OLED HDR display.

Designed and built around the premise that it’s usable in orbit, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is US Space Systems Command certified (SMC-S-016A), as well as US Department of Defence (MIL-STD 810H) certified. ASUS states that this includes rigorous testing, including low and high-temperature testing, and at Attitude, high humidity, and drop testing; we don’t advise users to try doing any of these for obvious reasons.

The chassis comes in a unique Zero-G titanium finish, a slimline 15.9 mm depth, and weighs around 2.87 lbs. In terms of battery life, the Space Edition comes with a 63 Wh lithium polymer battery, while the screen is a 14″ OLED touchscreen display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and includes a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The panel is also Pantone validated, with HDR 500 validation, and up to 550 nits of brightness. Integrated into the lid is an ASUS ZenVision 3.5″ OLED display which supports 256 x 64 resolution with 150 nits of brightness.

Looking at the finer specifications, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition supports up to an Intel Core i9-12900H (Alder Lake Mobile) processor, with Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics. The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition can also support up to 1 TB of PCIe 4.0 x4 storage, with up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and comes with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity included as standard. Along the top bezel of the screen is an integrated webcam, while the precision trackpad also doubles up as a Numpad.

Touching on some of the advertised features, ASUS uses its dual-fan IceCool thermal technology with two fans featuring 87 fan blades, four heat pipes (two 6 mm and two 8 mm), and support for up to 45 W TDP when in performance mode. On the IO, ASUS includes a MicroSD card reader, an HDMI 2.0 video output, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, a single 3.5 mm audio combo jack, and a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-A port.

ASUS has informed us that the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition will be available sometime in Q2 2022.

Source: ASUS

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Dragon Age’s Thedas Just Stands For “The Dragon Age Setting”

Some stories from inside game development are fun little anecdotes about weird bugs or hidden Easter eggs. Every once in a while, one surfaces that for whatever reason completely blows our collective minds, and this Dragon Age story is definitely one of them: It seems Thedas, the Dragon Age setting, actually stands for “The Dragon Age Setting,” or “TheDAS.”

The fact first resurfaced via a tweet from Sam Sharma, a director for Bungie working on Destiny 2: “Ever since I’ve learned that Thedas stands for The Dragon Age Setting I’ve never been the same.”

As reactions poured in over that observation–from those learning about it for the first time to others who knew and relished in others finding out–lead writer and creator of Dragon Age David Gaider quoted the Tweet with some observations of his own, confirming that the name Thedas was indeed an abbreviation, and originally meant to be temporary.

I still remember the meeting where we (reluctantly) decided to keep the “TheDAS” temp name because nothing else “sounded right”. We’d had the internal temp name for years, by that point. Definitely a lesson learned about what temp names should be (and not be). https://t.co/u5xztKIyRp

— David Gaider (@davidgaider) January 6, 2022

In the corresponding thread Gaider goes on to explain why the world was given a temporary name to begin with, citing a creative difference with his then boss. “It’s because (as I recall) James Ohlen had a name he wanted to use which… I didn’t really like,” Gaider wrote. “But he was my boss at the time, so I couldn’t very well just tell him no and name it something else.”

Gaider also revealed that Thedas isn’t the only temporary name that became part of established Dragon Age lore: “This lesson was one I used for the Qunari, actually. When I first named them, everyone was weird about it,” he explained. “‘Sounds like canary!’. With Thedas in mind, I said ‘let’s keep Qunari as a temp name and come back to it in 6 months or so.'” We did, and voila. Qunari stuck.”

There are countless examples of development stories like this, including the time a bee nearly ruined Skyrim’s intro or how Halo Infinite was meant to have a Breath of the Wild-esque open world at one point. Though in this case, now that we know what Thedas really means, we won’t be able to hear it the same way again.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

CES 2022: GIGABYTE Revamps Aorus 17 Gaming Laptop With 12th Gen Intel & RTX 30 Series

GIGABYTE has unveiled its latest 17-inch gaming laptop, the Aorus 17 YE5. Updated for 2022 with the latest Intel 12th generation mobile processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics, the Aorus 17 YE5 boasts a new 360 Hz 1080p display, with support for the latest DDR5 memory, as well as incorporating thinner bezels for a sleeker yet powerful gaming solution for gamers on the go.

With Intel announcing its latest Alder Lake-H series of mobile processors, many vendors have announced its latest gaming laptop ranges during CES 2022. One of these is the GIGABYTE Aorus 17 YE5, with an Intel Core i7-12700H 12-core (6P + 8E cores) processor, as well as boasting NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 3080 Ti mobile graphics with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, a boost clock of up 1395 MHz, and a maximum graphics power output of 130 W. GIGABYTE also lists space for two DDR5-4800 16 GB memory sticks and room for two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, but the full configuration is likely to be region-specific.

Updated for 2022 with a host of new design characteristics and features, the GIGABYTE Aorus 17 YE5 includes a 17.3-inch IPS display with an anti-glare coating, 72% NTSC color gamut, and a blisteringly fast 360 Hz refresh rate at 1920 x 1080p resolutions. Due to thinner bezels around the screen, GIGABYTE claims a 90% screen-to-body ratio, with a 13% smaller footprint over last year’s model, and also manages to fit an HD webcam on the top bezel. The Aorus 17 YE5 has dimensions of 398 x 254 x 270 mm (WxDxH) with a weight of 2.7 KG and includes a 99 Wh lithium polymer battery and 240 W adapter for charging. GIGABYTE also claims that this is the world’s first Microsoft Azure AI notebook.

Looking at IO support, GIGABYTE includes a single Thunderbolt 4 Type-C and two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports. There is a mini-DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 video output pairing for external displays, with an unspecified Ethernet port and a single 3.5 mm audio jack. The Aorus 17 YE5 also includes an Intel AX211 Wi-Fi 6E interface that features support for BT 5.2 devices.

At the time of writing, GIGABYTE hasn’t specified when the Aorus 17 YE5 will be available to purchase or how much it might cost.

Source: GIGABYTE

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Apex Legends’ Rampage And Sentinel Removed From Game While Respawn Fixes Infinite Charge Exploit

Respawn has temporarily disabled both the Rampage LMG and Sentinel sniper rifle in Apex Legends following fan feedback that an exploit in the battle royale was making both weapons unfairly overpowered. The legendary MIL-SPEC Bangalore skin has also been disabled, following repeated issues where the cosmetic was causing the game to crash.

The exploit in question for both the Rampage and Sentinel involves how both weapons can be uniquely charged, the former with thermite grenades and the latter with shield cells. A charged Rampage will fire more quickly, while a charged Sentinel will deal immense amounts of damage. The discovered exploit allowed players to keep both weapons charged indefinitely, creating a cheap way to decimate enemies throughout an entire match.

We’ve just pushed out a @Playapex update temporarily disabling the Rampage and Sentinel weapons in all modes due to an exploit.

The update also disables the MIL-SPEC Bangalore skin. It is, however, still purchasable from the store and will be present once fixed and re-enabled.

— Respawn (@Respawn) January 6, 2022

The infinite charge exploit was actually first discovered last year, and Respawn implemented a hotfix patch to fix the issue in December. However, the exploit has reared its head again in recent weeks, as players found a new workaround for exploiting the Rampage and Sentinel.

On January 4, Respawn producer Josh Medina tweeted that the team had returned from holiday vacation, and were starting to work on a fix for the exploit. Apex Legends live balance designer John Larson also tweeted about the exploit, hinting that those who used it might be getting an account ban in the near future.

In the meantime, Respawn has decided to just remove the Rampage and Sentinel from ground loot, preventing anyone from being able to use the exploit. The two firearms are disabled in all modes, so you can’t use the Rampage or Sentinel in Trios, Duos, Ranked, or Arenas.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Days Gone Sold 9 Million Copies But That’s Only Part Of The Story, Director Says

In response to the news that Ghost of Tsushima sold more than 8 million copies, the director of the PlayStation exclusive Days Gone revealed a sales number for the 2019 game.

Jeff Ross, who directed Days Gone and has subsequently left the studio, said on Twitter that when he left Sony, Days Gone had sold 8 million copies on console alone. The game has subsequently sold more on PlayStation consoles, plus a further 1 million+ on Steam, Ross said.

Ross went on to claim that local studio management “always made us feel like it was a big disappointment.” Ross said the press coverage–but not review scores–was a factor. “The press didn’t help our case,” Ross said.

Ross went on to say that Sony management had more faith in Death Stranding than Days Gone. The developer also spoke about the game’s development, saying, “Development was a long slog, but we were a small team learning how to make our first open world game. All things considered, it’s amazing we finished at all.”

At the time I left Sony, Days Gone had been out for a year and a half (and a month), and sold over 8 million copies. It’s since gone on to sell more, and then a million+ on Steam. Local studio management always made us feel like it was a big disappointment. #daysgone #PlayStation https://t.co/KMZr2pGe9r

— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) January 5, 2022

Ross left Bend Studio in December 2020. There are apparently no plans for a sequel, despite the huge sales, with Bend Studio now focusing on a new IP.

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CES 2022: ZOTAC Unveils ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C mini-PC with Tiger Lake and Ampere

ZOTAC, one of the major players in the SFF PC market, has two different mini-PC families equipped with discrete GPUs. The larger (~5L) one is equipped with desktop-class GPUs, while the compact version (sub-3L) comes with laptop-class GPUs. At the 2022 CES, the company is updating the latter lineup with Tiger Lake and Ampere.

The new barebones system comes in ZOTAC’s regular 2.65-liter ZBOX MAGNUS EN chassis, which is just 62.2 mm (2.45 inches) tall. The ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C barebones is based on Intel’s octa-core Core i7-11800H processor (8C/16T, 2.30 GHz – 4.60 GHz, 45 W) accompanied by NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3080 notebook GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a rated operating power of 150W. The system can be equipped with up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and comes with two M.2 slots (one of which supports both PCIe and SATA SSDs). A slot is also available for a 2.5″ SATA drive. The CPU and GPU are not user-upgradeable.

On the connectivity front, the system includes a Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5 WLAN card complemented by a dual external antennae, two RJ-45 ports (2.5G + 1G), five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (four in the rear, one in front), a Thunderbolt 4 port in the front, a SD card reader in the front, separate audio jacks for speakers and microphones in the front, and four display outputs in the rear (two HDMI and two DisplayPort).

ZOTAC ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C
CPU
Intel Core i7-11800H
8C/16T
2.3 GHz – 4.6 GHz
24 MB
45 W
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Notebook-class / 150W)
Memory
2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM slots
up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory
Storage
M.2
M.2 2230/42/80 slot for PCIe x4/SATA SSD
M.2 2230/42/80 slot for PCIe x4 SSD
DFF
1 × 2.5″ SSD/HDD
Card Reader
SD
Wireless
Killer 1650 802.11ax Wi-Fi + BT 5
Ethernet
1 × Gigabit Ethernet with RJ45
1 × 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet with RJ45
Display Outputs
2 × DisplayPort 1.4
2 × HDMI 2.0b
1 × USB-C (Thunderbolt 4)
Audio
3.5 mm audio-in
3.5 mm audio-out
USB
5 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
1 x USB4 Type-C
Thunderbolt 4
Yes (on USB4 Type-C port)
PSU
External
OS
Barebones Model (No OS)
Windows 11 Home pre-installed on W4B / W5B models
Additional Details
Link

In addition to the barebones version, ZOTAC is also planning to release EN173080C-W4B with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. This model comes with a 512GB M.2 SSD, a 1TB 2.5″ SATA HDD, and a single 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM stick.

The system is already listed on ZOTAC’s website, so it is reasonable to expect it to become available shortly. As for pricing, while Zotac has not announced anything at this time.

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