At least this was communicated beforehand, and it took like ten seconds to opt out, but something this obtrusive should’ve been an opt-in, not an opt-out. Maybe this new auto system will be better, but more finesse around placement won’t offset the (justifiable) viewer frustration at a spike in ads.

If your YT viewing experience gets noticeably worse in May, this might be why--new, "optimized ad opportunities".

I place midroll ads manually every 25-30ish minutes, at natural breaks, because if I let YT do it automatically they try to do a midroll every eight minutes. I like money, but blegh.

oh no

if you're a maxxinista looking for a better time might i suggest Zone of Interest

I looked it up to see if there was context to add, and the line immediately preceding the one the cardinals are quoting (Ephesians 6) is, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Look how we lead into this beat. Someone at Ubi had fun with this:

So on the way out of the Vatican with Mario in AC: Brotherhood, you'll pass some cardinals in prayer. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The more I learn about Cesare Borgia the more I think AC: Brotherhood gives us the least interesting interpretation of him. He's constantly described as brilliant, this book describes his lifestyle as "blatantly secular", and then there's this little romp when he was supposed to be a hostage:

oh man, just how i remember it