Cheating At Monopoly Is Now Officially Over Thanks To Monopoly Voice Banking

Hasbro has recently announced the release of their new voice-activated, "AI-powered" version of the classic game Monopoly. But this might not be good news for those who love to cheat at the game - you won't be able to.

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What's the Deal with the New Voice-Activated Monopoly?

If you haven't heard, Hasbro has recently made shockwaves in the Monopoly-loving community with their announcement of a new voice-activated version of Monopoly. Featuring an all-new AI-powered voice activated Top Hat, it is set to abolish any possibility of cheating the bank.

Not only that, but some other changes to the classic game have been announced. Railroads can no longer be bought (rather they act as a kind of "fast-travel" square, some properties spaces have been removed, and now the game is for four players only. 

Unless you've played any of the variety of computer game version's of Monopoly, you will also be rewarded with hearing Mr. Monopoly's voice for the first time. What a privilege!

"Sacrilege" we hear you cry, but Hasbro promises that the changes have been made to speed up the game. Called "Monopoly Voice Banking", the game lacks any form of physical money.

"Monopoly Voice Banking doesn't come with any Monopoly money for you to hold onto," said Business Insider. "Instead, Mr. Monopoly himself keeps track of all of the money and properties you acquire. If you're trying to sneak some extra cash from the bank, that's a no go here. You should stick to the Cheater's Edition of Monopoly."

Of course, this isn't the first "cashless" version of the game but it is the first to have a voice-activated controller. 

Jen Boswinkel, senior director of global brand strategy and marketing for Monopoly, told Business Insider that: "Voice activated and voice recognition products are now part of our everyday lives and we're excited to bring Monopoly into this ever-growing trend and give fans a new way to experience the classic game,"

How will the voice-activated version of Monopoly Work?

The voice-activated element of the new version of Monopoly will consist of a central top-hat. The top of the hat has a series of buttons that correspond to each player's character.

Players press their corresponding button, wait to its ready and say one of a series of set commands on their reference card.

The actions you can say include the following, according to Business Insider):

* "Train ride"— ride the railroad to a destination determined by Mr. Monopoly.
* Buy [say property name]— allows you to purchase a property you may land on.
* Balance— Mr. Monopoly will tell you how much money you have.
* Auction Off [property name]— allows you to auction a property you don't want to buy
* Pass Go— Mr. Monopoly will add $200 Monopoly dollars to your balance.

You can also ask "Who is winning?".

According to some who've tested the game, it takes a little getting used to but is certainly smoother and quicker to play than "classic" versions of the game. 

Sounds good, how do I get a copy of my own?

If this sounds like its "up your street" (pun intended), you can get your very own copy starting from the first of July 2019. It should cost in the region of $29.99 and is recommended for players 8 years old and above. 

But please remember the new version is only designed for between 2 and 4 players. 

However, if you are a "stick in the mud" for the classic game, you might want to skip this version...