NVIDIA’s next DGX supercomputer is all about generative AI

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Hiang made a string of announcements during his Computex keynote, including details about the company’s next DGX supercomputer. Given where the industry is clearlyheading, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the DGX GH200 is largely about helping companies develop generative AI models.

The supercomputer uses a new NVLink Switch System to enable 256 GH200 Grace Hopper superchips to act as a single GPU (each of the chips has an Arm-based Grace CPU and an H100 Tensor Core GPU). This, according to NVIDIA, allows the DGX GH200 to deliver 1 exaflop of performance and to have 144 terabytes of shared memory. The company says that's nearly 500 times as much memory as you'd find in a single DGX A100 system.

For comparison, the latest ranking of the Top500 supercomputers lists Frontier at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee as the only known exascale system, having reached a performance of nearly 1.2 exaflops on the Linmark benchmark. That's over twice the peak performance of the second-placed system, Japan's Fugaku.

In effect, NVIDIA claims to have developed a supercomputer that can stand alongside the most powerful known system on the planet (Meta is building one that it claims will be the fastest AI supercomputer in the world once it’s fully built out). NVIDIA says the architecture of the DGX GH200 offers 10 times more bandwidth than the previous generation, "delivering the power of a massive AI supercomputer with the simplicity of programming a single GPU."

Some big names are interested in the DGX GH200. Google Cloud, Meta and Microsoft should be among the first companies to gain access to the supercomputer to test how it can handle generative AI workloads. NVIDIA says DGX GH200 supercomputers should be available by the end of 2023.

The company is also building its own supercomputer, Helios, that combines four DGX GH200 systems. NVIDIA expects Helios to be online by the end of the year.

Huang discussed other generative AI developments during his keynote, including one on the gaming front. NVIDIA Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) for Games is a service developers will be able to tap into in order to create custom AI models for speech, conversation and animation. NVIDIA says ACE for Games can "give non-playable characters conversational skills so they can respond to questions with lifelike personalities that evolve."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nvidias-next-dgx-supercomputer-is-all-about-generative-ai-043053544.html?src=rss

Naughty Dog says its Last of Us multiplayer game needs more time in the oven

One of the most notable omissions from this week's PlayStation Showcase was anything from Naughty Dog. Many (including yours truly) expected the studio to reveal more details about its Last of Us multiplayer game, but we'll need to wait a little longer to learn more about that title.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Naughty Dog said "we're incredibly proud of the job our studio has done thus far, but as development has continued, we've realized what is best for the game is to give it more time." As such, it now seems unlikely that we'll hear much about the game during Summer Game Fest (where Naughty Dog offered a first peek at concept art from the project last year) on June 8th or on June 14th, which is the 10th anniversary of The Last Of Us arriving on PS3. 

In a blog post in January, studio co-president and The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann said the studio would "begin to offer you some details on our ambitious The Last of Us multiplayer game" sometime this year. That suggests the studio wasn't planning to release the title in 2023. In any case, it's probably a good thing that Naughty Dog is taking its time to get things right. The studio won't want to be in a position where it's releasing a game that definitely could have used more time in the oven, as was the case with the buggy debut of The Last of Us Part 1 on PC.

Shortly after Naughty Dog released its statement on Twitter, Bloomberg published a report citing multiple unnamed sources who said the studio is reconsidering the viability of the multiplayer project. The report claims that the project has not been cancelled, but many of the developers working on it have been reassigned to other projects. Currently, a "small group" remains on the project as Naughty Dog evaluates what comes next.

Sony also reportedly asked another of its studies, Bungie, to evaluate the work that Naughty Dog had done on its unnamed Last of Us multiplayer game. Bungie apparently said it had doubts about whether the game could keep players engaged over a long period of time. Given Bungie's success at that with the Destiny franchise, it makes some sense that the studio was called in for an opinion, though it's also fair to say Destiny and The Last of Us are wildly different games. 

On a positive note, Naughty Dog says it has other games (plural) in development, "including a brand new single-player experience." It's been known for a while that the studio had at least one other game in the works, but it's not clear whether this single-player title will continue the main story of The Last of Us. Naughty Dog said it looks forward to "sharing more soon."

“I know the fans really want Last of Us Part 3. I hear about it all of the time and all I can say is that we’re already into our next project, so the decision has already been made," Druckmann toldKinda Funny in March. "I can’t say what it is, but that’s the process we went through, that there was a lot of consideration of different things, and we picked the thing we were most excited for.”

Update, May 26th 2023, 4:20PM ET: This story has been updated to include details about a report just published by Bloomberg on the future of the multiplayer game.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/naughty-dog-says-its-last-of-us-multiplayer-game-needs-more-time-in-the-oven-200315565.html?src=rss

How to watch the Summer Games Done Quick 2023 speedrun marathon

It's once again time to watch skilled gamers rip through their favorite titles as quickly as possible in the name of a good cause. Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) is back with another week-long charity speedrun marathon. The event starts at 1PM ET on Sunday, May 28th and it will end in the early hours of June 4th. You'll be able to watch all the action as it happens on the Games Done Quick (GDQ) Twitch channel, which is embedded below. If you miss a run you're interested in, you'll be able to catch up later on the GDQ YouTube channel.

The action kicks off with the debut of Sonic Frontiers at SGDQ and the event will wrap up with a co-op run of Super Metroid (here's hoping the runners save the animals). There will be many, many runs in between, including half a dozen The Legend of Zelda titles. The heavy focus on Zelda probably shouldn't come as a surprise given that Tears of the Kingdom has taken over the gaming world over the last few weeks.

You'll be able to marvel at a runner beating Breath of the Wild in just a couple of hours while wearing a blindfold and another conquering Elden Ring as quickly as possible without using any glitches. I'm particularly looking forward to the Super Mario Maker 2 relay race. Those are always a blast at GDQ events. I'm also intrigued by runs of Ring Fit Adventure, Choo-Choo Charles,Hi-Fi Rush and one of my all-time favorite games, The Curse of Monkey Island. You can check out the full schedule on the GDQ website.

SGDQ will stream live from Minneapolis with an audience in attendance. GDQ events are so much better with a live crowd reacting to astonishing feats of video game prowess. Organizers will be hoping to raise millions more dollars for Doctors Without Borders after bringing in over $3 million during SGDQ 2022. They'll be aiming to beat the record for a GDQ event, which was set during Awesome Games Done Quick 2022. Over $3.4 million was raised for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. You'll be able to donate via the GDQ website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-the-summer-games-done-quick-2023-speedrun-marathon-162028988.html?src=rss

YouTube will allow unlimited simultaneous streams for NFL Sunday Ticket

Folks who subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube next season may not have to worry about missing out on too much of the action. Initially, YouTube planned to limit the number of simultaneous streams to two per subscriber, despite there often being many more NFL games than that on a given regular season Sunday. Being limited to two streams seemingly wasn't going to be enough for many fans. As such, YouTube is lifting the limit to offer unlimited simultaneous streams.

"We heard your feedback that 2 concurrent streams just wasn’t enough for NFL Sunday Ticket, so we’re updating our product functionality to include unlimited streams at home for NFL Sunday Ticket," the YouTube TV team wrote on Reddit. "You and your household can also access 2 additional streams on the go."

As 9to5 Google points out, YouTube TV uses certain signals, such as your network and specified home location, to determine a user's "home" location. That, and the on-the-go restriction, are likely in place to help YouTube minimize account sharing.

Google announced late last year that it secured the exclusive rights to Sunday Ticket for residential users starting in the 2023 season. DirecTV is still the Sunday Ticket provider for commercial use, such as in bars and restaurants.

An NFL Sunday Ticket package for the 2023 season costs $249 for YouTube TV subscribers who sign up before June 6th. It'll cost more for non-YouTube TV subscribers, those who wait until after June 6th and folks who want access to NFL RedZone.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-will-allow-unlimited-simultaneous-streams-for-nfl-sunday-ticket-142049241.html?src=rss

YouTube Stories are going away on June 26th

YouTube creators can wave goodbye to Stories, as the service is killing off its version of the feature. Starting on June 26th, it'll no longer be possible to create a new YouTube Story. Any Stories you post before that date will vanish seven days after they're uploaded.

YouTube first said in late 2017 that it was testing the format (funnily enough, YouTube Stories were originally called "reels"). The platform changed the name and it started rolling out the feature more broadly the following year.

We've seen many social platforms incorporate a Story feature over the last several years after Snapchat popularized the format, most notably Instagram. As with Twitter and LinkedIn, though, YouTube is ditching its take on the feature.

In truth, YouTube probably doesn't need both Stories and its TikTok-style Shorts, which aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The service also noted creators can use Community posts to share quick updates with their audiences. YouTube said that, among creators who use "posts and Stories, posts on average drive many times more comments and likes compared to Stories."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-stories-are-going-away-on-june-26th-170034464.html?src=rss

The second-gen Apple Pencil is once again on sale for $85

The second-gen Apple Pencil is one of the best iPad accessories around, especially for those who do creative work or like to write out notes on their tablet. Best of all, it’s once again on sale. You can pick up the latest Apple Pencil now for $85. That matches a record low and it's $44 off the regular price.

The stylus has a double-tap feature that enables you to quickly switch between tools. Low latency is useful as well, especially if you're trying to quickly sketch out an idea. Other functions include tilt capabilities and pressure sensitivity. If you have the latest M2-powered iPad Pro, you'll also be able to take advantage of a Hover feature. This allows you to hold the Pencil just above the screen and see a preview of what will happen before you actually make changes to your design or document by touching the display with the stylus.

Being able to attach the Apple Pencil to the side of your tablet magnetically is both a neat touch and a convenient way to charge it — you won't have to futz around with yet another charging cable. Most importantly, before you buy the peripheral, make sure it’s actually compatible with your iPad.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-second-gen-apple-pencil-is-once-again-on-sale-for-85-142554325.html?src=rss

‘Lego 2K Drive’ lets you build your dream race car, brick by brick

It took just a few minutes for Lego 2K Drive to sink its hooks into me. The second I left the road, my sports coupe converted into an off-road buggy. Just before hitting some water, the vehicle's Lego bricks swiftly contorted themselves into a speedboat. Those satisfying transformations are something you'll see a ton of as you explore multiple open areas and compete in races that play out across ever-changing terrain.

This arcade racer is the first Lego game from Visual Concepts, a developer that has otherwise focused on NBA and WWE games over the last few years. The studio hasn't hit the same heights of humor and wit as TT's Lego games (to be fair, Visual Concepts doesn't have nine movies worth of iconic Star Wars movies to riff on), but 2K Drive is still packed with surprises and clever ideas.

It's a fun blend of Forza Horizon 5 and Mario Kart. Zooming through the open areas can be a blast and losing bricks from your vehicle when you take damage is a neat touch (smashing breakable objects will restore your health and increase your boost meter). So, it's a shame that the actual races can get pretty frustrating.

Visual Concepts has tuned races to make them feel as close and exciting as possible, for better and worse. No matter your vehicle loadout, every other competitor in the race storms ahead of you as soon as the light goes green. At first, finding a way to overtake your race-specific rival and other Lego drivers to win is thrilling, but the game quickly shows its hand. You can never build up too much of a lead. If you spin off the track at a tight corner, enemies will kindly slow down a little for you. The rubberbanding works both ways, but it makes races ultimately feel overly contrived. More than once, I was on the verge of victory only for an opponent to storm past me at the last second.

There are some Mario Kart-style powerups you can grab during races and in the open world. On the surface, the powerups seem to add another dimension to races, though any enemy car I destroyed was quickly back in the thick of the action. They can work against you too. In one race, I was about to take the checkered flag when an enemy launched a spider web to obscure my vision and slow me down.

Winning races is essential to progress through the story, and it's annoying that there's no quick restart option when you aren't victorious. You have to go back to the open world before you can try a race again.

Those quibbles aside, the game is plenty enjoyable. There's a ton to do after beating the campaign, even if you don't care about online races. There are dozens upon dozens of challenges, side missions and collectibles to discover. You might find yourself smashing alien robots to protect some towers or scooting around a small town to pick up residents and protect them from skeleton attackers. There are fetch quests galore too. The story missions and challenges can become too much of a grind — you have to reach a certain experience level to unlock some races — but there was just enough variety to keep a smile on my face.

Screenshot of the vehicle building mode in Lego 2K Drive.
Visual Concepts/2K

The most exciting aspect of Lego 2K Drive for many players will be the vehicle builder. You can use virtual Lego bricks to build pretty much anything you want, including replicas of pre-made cars you unlock or even toy vehicles you've built in real life. The one car I made is a monstrosity, but at least it works, unlike many of the janky vehicles I've seen in Tears of the Kingdom clips.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the game nudges you in the direction of microtransactions for the pre-made cars. You'll slowly earn currency, but it'll take you quite a while to unlock vehicles from the shop for free. After playing for seven hours, I still didn't have enough Brickbux for a car. As it happens, you can pay real cash to unlock cars and drivers faster, as well as more types of bricks for your custom builds.

Lego 2K Drive is almost a great game. Most of the right pieces are in place and younger players may get more of a kick out of it than more experienced gamers. Hopefully, Visual Concepts can tweak the race AI and other minor flaws to make it really sing. In the meantime, I'll still be hunting for rainbow bricks in Big Butte County.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lego-2k-drive-lets-you-build-your-dream-race-car-brick-by-brick-113038327.html?src=rss

The ‘Resident Evil 4’ remake will support PS VR2

At some point in the not-too-distant future, you'll be able to experience the Resident Evil 4 remake in virtual reality. Capcom revealed during today's PlayStation Showcase that PS VR2 support is on the way. The VR mode will be a free update for the PS5 version of Resident Evil 4, though Capcom didn't say when it will be available. One thing the company has confirmed: you'll be able to wield Leon's knife more freely.

This is not a massive surprise given that several other Resident Evil games have VR support (Resident Evil Village can be played on PS VR2) and the RE4 remake is one of the most widely acclaimed games of the year so far. Still, if you've been looking for a reason to revisit Resident Evil 4 — or perhaps to pick up a PS VR2 headset in the first place — the news may be music to your ears.

Elsewhere, Sony showed off more PS VR2 games during the stream, including Arizona Sunshine 2. The zombie-splattering sequel will arrive later this year. Synapse, an action shooter from nDreams Studio, will hit PS VR2 on July 4th.

Meanwhile, those who have been waiting for Beat Saber to land on PS VR2 won't have to wait much longer. The rhythm game is coming to the platform today, along with a new pack of Queen songs. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-resident-evil-4-remake-will-support-ps-vr2-211538618.html?src=rss

‘Neva’ is the next gorgeous-looking game from ‘Gris’ developer Nomada Studio

Gris developer Nomada Studio revealed its next game during today's PlayStation Showcase. It's called Neva and it's scheduled to hit the PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2024.

The game tells the story of a young woman who forges a bond with a wolf cub that grows and matures over time. The pair will help each other on a journey through a decaying world. Neva features platforming, puzzles and combat, along with handcrafted cinematics, "haunting music" and a minimalist user interface. Based on the trailer and Nomada's track record, it should be a feast for the eyes too. 

In the meantime, you can check out Gris (one of the most visually arresting games of the last few years) on a number of platforms, including Apple Arcade.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/neva-is-the-next-gorgeous-looking-game-from-gris-developer-nomada-studio-204716357.html?src=rss

‘Helldivers 2’ is coming to PS5 and PC later this year

The PlayStation 5's 2023 release slate is taking shape, and one of the upcoming titles is a sequel to 2015's Helldivers. It emerged during today's PlayStation Showcase that Arrowhead Game Studios is working on Helldivers 2. The follow up is slated to arrive on PS5 and PC later this year.

A reveal trailer evoked both the irreverent tone of Starship Troopers and the desolate landscapes of Death Stranding while tossing in a whole bunch of aliens. Arrowhead has switched from the original game's top-down perspective to third-person, over-the-shoulder gameplay. You'll have access to overpowered weapons to help you take down hordes of enemies, according to the PlayStation Blog. You'll need to be careful around your squad, though, as friendly fire will be active.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/helldivers-2-is-coming-to-ps5-and-pc-later-this-year-202722294.html?src=rss