gaming
Sweet, Sweet Victory! Candy Crush® All Stars Tournament Winner Announced
- Jay, 51, from New York, beat millions of Candy Crush Saga® players worldwide to attend the live final where he was crowned Candy Crush All Star 2023, winning $100,000 USD
- A fiercely competitive Candy Crush® All Stars Tournament final in London saw the top three players each win an exclusive championship Ring, designed by celebrity jeweler Icebox
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — In an epic battle of the thumbs, Candy Crush Saga has crowned its ultimate All Stars champion following a live final in London for the biggest prize in casual mobile gaming.
Jay, 51, was named Candy Crush All Star 2023, taking home $100,000 and a specially crafted bling-tastic championship ring from celebrity jeweler, Icebox, after collecting the most purple All Star Candies in an intense, head-to-head battle to win.
Hailing from New York, Jay beat Cole, from Eugene, Oregon, and Fran, from Madrid, Spain, who finished second and third out of the group of ten finalists spanning three continents – winning $50,000 and $30,000 respectively, alongside runner-up championship rings.
Specially designed for the tournament by renowned Atlanta-based jeweler, Icebox – who have made championship rings for some of the biggest names in sports – the three rings, worth over $75,000 in total, are bedazzled with rare gems inspired by the game’s iconic Candies. Dripping in Amethysts, Yellow and Orange Sapphires, Rubies, Blue Topaz and Brown Tourmaline, they are set into a bespoke 14K Gold Candy Drip setting for a color-popping sensation.
Jay, a fibre optics specialist and father of four who’s completed more than 9,000 Candy Crush Saga levels, said: “When I heard I won, it was mind-blowing, that’s all I can say, it was incredible. It’s like I just won the Super Bowl and I got the ring! I thought Cole had me, I really did, he is one cold guy. Meeting the other finalists was amazing, we all have the same thing in common: Candy Crush – it’s a universal language.”
The free-to-enter Candy Crush All Stars tournament, held to mark the 20th anniversary of the game’s developer, King, stretched across two months with quarter and semi-finals held to whittle down the competition to the top 10. To receive an invite to the final, competitors needed to move through the tournament stages by collecting as many purple All Stars Candies as possible.
To celebrate, the finalists, along with a guest of their choice, enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to London and a victory dinner. The once-in-a-lifetime experience also included a week’s stay in a candified room at a luxury London hotel, as well as a ‘behind the candy curtain’ tour of King’s London HQ.
At the live final event, the finalists donned Candy Crush varsity jackets and were welcomed onto a purple carpet where they were cheered on before competing with their fellow Candy Crush All Stars finalists. To win, Jay had to survive elimination in three tense rounds – coming from behind in the semi-final to nab the last qualifying spot – before the final head-to-head.
Todd Green, General Manager of the Candy Crush Franchise at King said: “The sheer quality of play across the tournament stages and especially the live final was just incredible, and we were delighted to crown Jay as our deserving winner and ultimate Candy Crush All Stars champion.
“For many players, Candy Crush Saga represents a colorful and enjoyable way to pass the time, but we have a huge amount of loyal fans who love to invest the time and dedication into becoming a true All Star.”
Candy Crush Saga is available to download and play for free on iOS and Android. To learn more about the mobile game, visit: www.candycrushsaga.com
About King
With a mission of Making the World Playful, King is a leading interactive entertainment company and the creator of the world-famous Candy Crush franchise, as well as other mobile game hits including Farm Heroes Saga. Candy Crush is the top-grossing franchise in U.S. app stores, a position it has held for the last five years, and King’s games are being played by 243 million monthly active users as of Q1 2023. King, a part of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), has game studios in Stockholm, Malmö, London, Barcelona and Berlin and offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Malta. More information can be found at King.com or by following us on LinkedIn, @lifeatking on Instagram, or @king_games on Twitter.
© 2023 King.com Ltd. King, the King crown logo, Candy Crush, the Tiffi character, Candy Crush Saga and related marks are trademarks of King.com Ltd and/or related entities.
All Stars competition T&Cs can be found here: https://candycrush-saga.web.app/pages/all_stars_terms
SOURCE King
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Entertainment
Smart Gaming: How Parents Can Keep Kids Safe Online
Parents can enhance kids’ safety during online gaming by using privacy settings, researching games, enabling age checks, keeping personal information private, and utilizing parental controls and security tools.
Last Updated on January 21, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Smart Gaming: How Parents Can Keep Kids Safe Online
(Family Features) Playing video games can be a fun, social experience. However, online gaming also poses real risks, especially for kids. As a parent, you don’t necessarily need to be a gamer yourself to help keep your children safe when the controller is in their hands.
Consider taking proactive steps like these to create a healthy online gaming environment for kids of all ages.
Check System Privacy Settings
As a first line of defense – before your child even starts gaming – spend some time in the device or console privacy settings. Here you can turn off sharing, disable location tracking, limit microphone and camera access and restrict how other users can interact with your child’s profile. Similarly, many games and platforms include built-in privacy settings that can be tailored to your child’s age and online experience. These settings may allow you to limit who can view your child’s profile or send a friend request, message or voice chat.
Research Games
Because not all games are created equal, look up game ratings through a service such as ESRB before buying or downloading to understand the maturity level of the game and determine if it’s appropriate for your child. To take it a step further, read reviews from other parents or watch gameplay videos to see if you deem not only the content but also the social interaction acceptable.
Use Facial Age Estimation
Online platforms are increasingly looking for ways to keep users safe, and that includes added levels of verification. As part of a multilayered approach to safety, Roblox is the first online gaming platform to require age checks for users of all ages to access chat features, enabling age-appropriate communication and limiting conversations between adults and minors. These secure age checks are designed to be fast, easy and secure using Facial Age Estimation technology directly within the app.
“Our commitment to safety is rooted in delivering the highest level of protection for our users,” said Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer at Roblox. “By building proactive, age-based barriers, we can empower users to create and connect in ways that are both safe and appropriate.”
Once age-checked, users are assigned to one of six age groups: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20 or 21 and older, ensuring conversations are safe and age appropriate. Age checks are optional; however, features like chat will not be accessible unless an age check is completed. Chat is also turned off by default for children under age 9, unless a parent provides consent after an age check.
Keep Personal Information Private
It’s seldom a bad idea to be extra cautious when interacting with strangers online, even if they seem friendly enough while playing the game. Teach children what information not to share, including their full name, address, birthday, school name, phone number, email address, passwords or any photos that may contain any personal information (like a house number or school logo) in the background. Also encourage a screen name and generic avatar for added privacy.
Turn on Parental Controls
Designed to allow parents a supervisory role in their child’s online gaming experience, parental controls on many platforms include the ability to set schedules and limit playtime, restrict access to certain content or social features, require a password for purchases or set a spending limit.
Avoid Clicking Unfamiliar Links
Player profiles and in-game chats may include links to external sites, including those promising rewards or cheat codes. Because they can be used to gain access to personal information, remind your children to ask an adult before clicking any unfamiliar links while gaming so they can be verified as trustworthy.
Employ Privacy and Security Tools
While system or console-specific settings allow parents to set content restrictions, approve downloads, manage friends lists and more, additional layers of security are sometimes necessary. Extra safeguards such as antivirus and internet security software, DNS (domain name system) filtering and two-factor authentication can also be enabled to help keep kids safe online.
For more tools to help parents make informed decisions and support their children’s gaming experience, visit corp.roblox.com/safety.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (father and daughter playing video game)
SOURCE:
Roblox
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Entertainment
Beam Unveils Veo 3.1-Powered AI Platform: Transforming Videos into Playable Games and Interactive Stories
Discover Beam’s new Veo 3.1-powered AI platform, transforming videos into playable mini-games and interactive stories—no coding required. Explore the future of interactive media for creators and storytellers.
Last Updated on December 13, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Play and Create
Interactive Shorts
Beam Unveils Veo 3.1-Powered AI Platform: Transforming Videos into Playable Games and Interactive Stories
Video, Reimagined: From Passive Watching to Active Playing
How It Works: No-Code Creation, Limitless Possibilities
- AI-Generated Media: Instantly create video, images, and music using cutting-edge AI tools.
- Drag-and-Drop Grid Editor: Arrange scenes, add branching choices, and build interactive storylines—all visually, right in your browser.
- Instant Publishing: Share your playable mini-games and interactive shorts to the web with a single click.
Free Early Access for Creators
The Future of Interactive Media
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gaming
Dragon Shield Partners with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast for Official MAGIC: THE GATHERING Accessories
Dragon Shield has partnered with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to create premium MAGIC: THE GATHERING accessories featuring iconic game art. Launching with the Legendary and Landfall Series, these sleeves blend durability with visual storytelling, marking a significant evolution for both brands.
Premium TCG accessory maker brings iconic Magic imagery to protective sleeves and gaming gear
Dragon Shield, the go-to name in trading card game protection, just leveled up. The Denmark-based company announced a major licensing deal with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to produce official MAGIC: THE GATHERING accessories, bringing decades of iconic game art to their premium product line.
For Magic players who’ve trusted Dragon Shield sleeves to protect their valuable cards, this collaboration means something special: official artwork featuring the legendary creatures and landscapes that define the game’s rich history.
Two New Series Honor Magic’s Legacy
The partnership launches with two distinct product lines that tap into what makes Magic legendary:
The Legendary Series kicks off with The Ur-Dragon, one of Magic’s most beloved legendary creatures. These Dual Matte Art sleeves celebrate the powerful characters that have captivated players since the game’s inception. It’s a fitting tribute to the timeless imagination that keeps millions shuffling up each week.
The Landfall Series takes inspiration from Magic’s foundation—literally. The debut features all five Tarkir: Dragonstorm fetch lands in their showcase forms. For players who know that lands aren’t just mana sources but works of art in their own right, this series delivers both beauty and gameplay significance.
When and Where to Get Them
Magic fans attending MagicCon: Atlanta will get first access to these new products, including an exclusive “Dracogenesis” sleeve featuring artwork from the Tarkir Dragonstorm set—chosen specifically to symbolize this new partnership.
Worldwide retail availability is set for late 2025, giving players everywhere the chance to sleeve up with official Magic artwork.
What the Partnership Means
“Working with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast marks an exciting new chapter for Dragon Shield,” said Kevin Isaacson, Dragon Shield’s CEO. “MAGIC: THE GATHERING has inspired players for decades, and this collaboration allows us to bring our passion for quality and design to a game and community we deeply admire.”
Rebecca Shepard, Vice President of Franchise for MAGIC: THE GATHERING at Wizards of the Coast, emphasized the natural fit: “Dragon Shield is a trusted name among fans, and this collaboration ensures players can protect the game they love with accessories that celebrate the stories, legends, and artistry that make MAGIC legendary.”
Why This Matters for Players
Dragon Shield has built its reputation on durability and design—sleeves that actually last through countless shuffles and gameplay sessions. Now that quality meets official Magic artwork, from the most iconic legendary creatures to the lands that fuel every strategy.
Whether you’re protecting a Commander deck built around The Ur-Dragon or keeping your fetch lands pristine, these new accessories blend practical protection with the visual storytelling that makes Magic more than just a card game.
For the millions of Magic players worldwide, this partnership represents something simple but significant: the accessories that protect your cards can now reflect the game’s legendary status.
Learn more at dragonshield.com or follow the latest updates on Instagram.
What’s your take on the new Dragon Shield × Magic collaboration? Will you be picking up The Ur-Dragon sleeves or waiting for the Landfall Series? The blend of premium protection and iconic Magic art seems like a natural evolution for both brands.
SOURCE Dragon Shield
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