Google is currently facing significant (and seemingly fabricated) challenges, as a Russian fine against the company has skyrocketed to an astonishing $2.5 decillion over the past few years. For those keeping track, that's $2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 when fully written out with all 33 zeroes, and when converted, 2 undecillion Russian Rubles. The reason behind this astronomical penalty? Google's decision to block pro-Kremlin propaganda channels on YouTube, its video-hosting platform.
According to RCB (via PC Gamer), Russia initially imposed a fine of 100,000 Rubles four years ago after media outlets Tsargrad and RIA FAN successfully sued over YouTube's channel restrictions. Under Russian state law, the fine doubled every week it remained unpaid. These channels were part of the Patriot Media Group, which was led by former Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who tragically died last year in a mysterious mid-air explosion following his brief rebellion against the Russian military leadership.
This initial fine has now ballooned into an amount that is virtually impossible for even Google to pay, despite its net assets exceeding $300 billion as of June 2024. The company would likely need to sell several trillion YouTube Premium subscriptions to gather enough cash, but it's highly improbable that it will ever do so, nor is it likely to pay any portion of the fine. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Google ceased advertising in the country, and its Russian subsidiary subsequently declared bankruptcy.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine had profound implications for several games in development, but for one of the most severely affected, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornorbyl, the end is finally in sight after a tumultuous development period. Set once again in the Exclusion Zone surrounding the Chornobyl power plant, the game is slated for release on PC and Xbox Series X|S on November 20.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
