Kong CEO @sonicaghi reveals token traffic through its gateways is growing 140x year over year, approaching 1 quadrillion tokens: "The number of tokens is growing exponentially. For the subset that we see, we are running about 500 trillion tokens, going to a quadrillion soon, because it’s growing 140x year over year." "The cost per token is going down, and inference will still be exploding. We’re gonna live in this enterprise world that is more multi-model, cheaper tokens, cheaper levels of intelligence." "The next pieces are, how do we secure it? How do we govern it? How do we cost control it?" @kong

Konami’s president just pushed back on the idea that generative AI will reshape game development. Hideki Hayakawa said the technology won’t bring significant change to the market. Entry barriers already dropped with modern engines and UGC, and even if AI improves efficiency, “the most important factors in producing entertaining and innovative video games are people and creators.” He specifically called out the “chemical reaction” that happens when developers from different backgrounds work together. He doesn’t believe that can be easily replaced. It’s a notably grounded take from a major publisher while a lot of the industry is racing the other direction.

Konami is dropping a massive emergency ban list for Yu-Gi-Oh! The new list will have 34 newly Forbidden cards and 8 Limited cards, revealed during YCS Houston. The move comes as the current meta has become extremely fast and repetitive, with powerful “Pile” decks able to build huge boards from very few cards.

Konami president Hideki Hayakawa doesn’t think AI is going to completely change the video game industry. He says AI could make development faster and more efficient, but people are still the most important part of creating good games. “The most important factors in producing entertaining and innovative video games are people and creators.” Hayakawa also believes that having devs with different backgrounds and ideas is what helps create something new. “That kind of chemical reaction is not something that can be easily replaced.” Konami is interested in using AI, but Hayakawa doesn’t see it replacing the creativity and ideas that come from human devs

Konami’s 40th anniversary trailer just flashed Lament of Innocence, Curse of Darkness, and Lords of Shadow next to Belmont’s Curse. That’s 1:22. Those three still aren’t on modern consoles. All 3D. PS2, PS2, MercurySteam 2010. N64 and Lords of Shadow 2 didn’t show up. Anniversary, Advance, and Dominus already covered the 2D stuff. Original Castlevania is free on mobile for a limited time. Belmont’s Curse hits next month.

Kon Knueppel averages the most threes per game in NBA history by a player playing under 32 MPG. Buddy Hield averages the most threes per game in NBA history by a player playing under 28 MPG. Teaming up.