Tag Archives: author_name|Kris Holt

The first Game Pass additions for November include Flight Simulator 2024 and Metal Slug Tactics

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Xbox has revealed the first wave of Game Pass additions for November. While there perhaps isn't anything quite on the mainstream blockbuster level of recent newcomer Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, there's still plenty worth paying attention to.

Arguably the most notable new game to hit the service this month is Flight Simulator 2024. For the first time in the series, you'll be able to exit your aircraft and explore more than two dozen biomes. You can seemingly land anywhere in what's said to be the most detailed recreation of our world in the franchise so far. There are new weather features, including auroras. Meanwhile, you'll be able to undertake various aviation careers, including medevac operations and aerial firefighting. On top of that, you'll be able to compete against other players in races.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on its November 19 release day. You'll be able to play it via PC (if you have a beefy enough rig), Xbox Series X/S and, appropriately enough, the cloud.

In the meantime, you'll be able to check out Metal Slug Tactics on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and the cloud on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass starting November 5. This is a tactical RPG take on the classic run-and-gun series that will hit the service on day one. The game is arriving on Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5 on Tuesday as well.

Also on Tuesday, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play the single-player components of StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection on PC at no extra cost. The multiplayer aspects of both are already free.

Four games are joining the Game Pass Standard tier on November 6: Go Mecha Ball, The Rewinder, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (all on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S) and Harold Halibut (Xbox Series X/S only). The following day, you can hop into Goat Simulator Remastered via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on PC, Xbox Series X/S and the cloud.

Meanwhile, Xbox is removing some other titles from Game Pass on November 15. Those are:

  • Dicey Dungeons (cloud, console and PC)

  • Dungeons 4 (cloud, console and PC)

  • Goat Simulator (PC)

  • Like a Dragon: Ishin! (cloud, console and PC)

  • Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (cloud, console and PC)

  • Persona 5 Tactica (cloud, console and PC)

  • Somerville (cloud, console and PC)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/the-first-game-pass-additions-for-november-include-flight-simulator-2024-and-metal-slug-tactics-155259538.html?src=rss

Apple’s iPad mini 7 is already $100 off ahead of Black Friday

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Tablets are always a hot gadget category during Black Friday sales and one of the models you can save on is the brand-new iPad mini 7. You can already snag a solid discount on this tablet, which Apple released just a couple of weeks ago, at Amazon. It has dropped from $500 to $484, but three out of the four color options also have a clippable coupon that brings the price down to $400. A $100 discount on a new tablet is not too bad at all.

The iPad mini 7 boasts an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, and the base model comes with 128GB of storage. We gave this iPad mini a score of 83 in our review, feeling that it was a necessary update to the previous model from 2021. We reckon it’s the best small tablet around.

The device has solid speakers and it still has Touch ID rather than Face ID. While we feel that the 8.3-inch screen is by and large very nice, it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is a bit disappointing.

The internal upgrades are what really matter here though, as the iPad mini now has enough heft to support Apple Intelligence features. The Apple Pencil Pro works with it too. We found the tablet a great device to kick back with and catch up on reading, play some games and watch videos on. We think it’s very handy for messaging too.

If the 2024 updates don't excite you, there are deals on the iPad mini 6 available now as well. All color options are down to $350, which is $150 off and the lowest price we've seen.

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-ipad-mini-7-is-already-100-off-ahead-of-black-friday-125211529.html?src=rss

Atari 50’s console-war expansion adds 19 more games on November 8

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Atari and developer Digital Eclipse have announced details of the next paid expansion for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, a remarkable collection that's both a compilation of many of the publisher's games and a documentary about its half-century history. This second DLC is called The First Console War and it highlights the rivalry with Mattel’s Intellivision, Atari's first real competitor in the console market.

The bundle includes 19 more games and eight video segments that delve into the rivalry, as well as what eventually led to Mattel making games for Atari systems. Atari and Digital Eclipse say the DLC includes more The First Console War DLC features additional interviews, vintage ads and never-before-seen historical artifacts that help tell the story of the battle between Atari and Mattel. As it happens, it was a war Atari ended up decisively winning, as it bought the Intellivision brand earlier this year.

The DLC includes prototypes and other games that never saw the light of day until now. The full list is as follows:

  • Air Raiders — 2600 M Network

  • Antbear — 2600 M Network (unreleased, based on Stern IP)

  • Armor Ambush — 2600 M Network

  • Astroblast — 2600 M Network

  • Frogs & Flies — 2600 M Network

  • International Soccer — 2600 M Network

  • Dark Cavern — 2600 M Network

  • Star Strike — 2600 M Network

  • Super Challenge Baseball — 2600 M Network

  • Super Challenge Football — 2600 M Network

  • Swordfight — 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)

  • Sea Battle — 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)

  • Tower of Mystery (unreleased prototype, recently rescued)

  • Video Pinball — 2600

  • Basketball — 2600

  • Hardball — Atari 8-bit (XE)

  • Final Legacy (prototype) — 5200

  • Xari Arena — Atari 8—bit 

  • Desert Falcon — 7800

The Last Console War follows a previous DLC called The Wider World of Atari that arrived in September and added another 19 games to the collection. Factoring in the two expansions, Atari 50 will have around 130 games in total.

Those who already have Atari 50 on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 will be able to snap up The Last Console War on November 8. If you have the game on Atari VCS, you'll get the DLC as a free update early next year.

If you're interested in picking up a bundle of the base game and both expansions, you can do just that with Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition. That'll be available on November 8 as well. The physical edition for Switch and PS5 costs $40. A steelbook for the Switch includes Atari 2600 art cards and other goodies and will run you $50.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/atari-50s-console-war-expansion-adds-19-more-games-on-november-8-181033645.html?src=rss

Atari 50’s console-war expansion adds 19 more games on November 8

Posted on by

Atari and developer Digital Eclipse have announced details of the next paid expansion for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, a remarkable collection that's both a compilation of many of the publisher's games and a documentary about its half-century history. This second DLC is called The First Console War and it highlights the rivalry with Mattel’s Intellivision, Atari's first real competitor in the console market.

The bundle includes 19 more games and eight video segments that delve into the rivalry, as well as what eventually led to Mattel making games for Atari systems. Atari and Digital Eclipse say the DLC includes more The First Console War DLC features additional interviews, vintage ads and never-before-seen historical artifacts that help tell the story of the battle between Atari and Mattel. As it happens, it was a war Atari ended up decisively winning, as it bought the Intellivision brand earlier this year.

The DLC includes prototypes and other games that never saw the light of day until now. The full list is as follows:

  • Air Raiders — 2600 M Network

  • Antbear — 2600 M Network (unreleased, based on Stern IP)

  • Armor Ambush — 2600 M Network

  • Astroblast — 2600 M Network

  • Frogs & Flies — 2600 M Network

  • International Soccer — 2600 M Network

  • Dark Cavern — 2600 M Network

  • Star Strike — 2600 M Network

  • Super Challenge Baseball — 2600 M Network

  • Super Challenge Football — 2600 M Network

  • Swordfight — 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)

  • Sea Battle — 2600 M Network (rare, unreleased)

  • Tower of Mystery (unreleased prototype, recently rescued)

  • Video Pinball — 2600

  • Basketball — 2600

  • Hardball — Atari 8-bit (XE)

  • Final Legacy (prototype) — 5200

  • Xari Arena — Atari 8—bit 

  • Desert Falcon — 7800

The Last Console War follows a previous DLC called The Wider World of Atari that arrived in September and added another 19 games to the collection. Factoring in the two expansions, Atari 50 will have around 130 games in total.

Those who already have Atari 50 on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 will be able to snap up The Last Console War on November 8. If you have the game on Atari VCS, you'll get the DLC as a free update early next year.

If you're interested in picking up a bundle of the base game and both expansions, you can do just that with Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition. That'll be available on November 8 as well. The physical edition for Switch and PS5 costs $40. A steelbook for the Switch includes Atari 2600 art cards and other goodies and will run you $50.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/atari-50s-console-war-expansion-adds-19-more-games-on-november-8-181033645.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime ‘free’ games for November include Dishonored and Guardians of the Galaxy

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It's the start of a new month and, as always, Amazon is set to give away a ton of PC games to Prime members. Once again, it's a pretty strong lineup. There's a broad range of offerings from immersive sims and classic platformers to splashy action-adventure titles and chaotic cooking simulators.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (one of our favorite games of 2021), Mafia: Definitive Edition (a 2020 remake of the 2002 original), Dishonored, Elite Dangerous and Super Meat Boy are among the more well-known titles on the list. Overcooked is brilliant fun and, in my opinion, a perfect relationship test. Meanwhile, if the idea of building and running a dinosaur theme park in which the attractions hopefully won't run amok is your thing, Jurassic World Evolution is one on the options.

You can claim Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (via the Epic Games Store) and Mafia: Definitive Edition (via GOG) today. Here's what else you can snap up and when, along with the launcher you can play each game on:

  • Dishonored - Definitive Edition (GOG)

  • Duck Paradox (GOG)

  • Close To The Sun (GOG)

  • Disney•Pixar Cars (Amazon Games App)

  • Bang Bang Racing (Amazon Games App)

  • Snakebird Complete (Epic Games Store)

  • Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)

  • Chasm: The Rift (GOG)

  • House of Golf 2 (Epic Games Store)

  • Tomb Raider: Anniversary (GOG)

  • Blade of Darkness (GOG)

  • Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (Amazon Games App)

  • Overcooked: Gourmet Edition (GOG)

  • Gloomy Tales: One-Way Ticket Collector's Edition (Legacy Games)

  • Super Meat Boy (Epic Games Store)

  • Moonscars (GOG)

  • Riot - Civil Unrest (GOG)

  • Elite Dangerous (Epic Games Store)

  • Sir Whoopass - Immortal Death (GOG)

  • Jurassic World Evolution (Epic Games Store)

  • Mystery Case Files: The Dalimar Legacy Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)

  • Shogun Showdown (GOG)

You still have time to grab some of October's Prime Gaming freebies, such as A Plague Tale: Innocence and Death's Door. Meanwhile, the latest batch of games that you can stream on Luna's Prime Gaming channel in eligible countries include Jackbox Party Pack 7, Saints Row: The Third - Remastered, Moving Out, Endling - Extinction is Forever and Infinite Minigolf, alongside mainstays including Fortnite and XDefiant.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amazon-prime-free-games-for-november-include-dishonored-and-guardians-of-the-galaxy-170021817.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime ‘free’ games for November include Dishonored and Guardians of the Galaxy

Posted on by

It's the start of a new month and, as always, Amazon is set to give away a ton of PC games to Prime members. Once again, it's a pretty strong lineup. There's a broad range of offerings from immersive sims and classic platformers to splashy action-adventure titles and chaotic cooking simulators.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (one of our favorite games of 2021), Mafia: Definitive Edition (a 2020 remake of the 2002 original), Dishonored, Elite Dangerous and Super Meat Boy are among the more well-known titles on the list. Overcooked is brilliant fun and, in my opinion, a perfect relationship test. Meanwhile, if the idea of building and running a dinosaur theme park in which the attractions hopefully won't run amok is your thing, Jurassic World Evolution is one on the options.

You can claim Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (via the Epic Games Store) and Mafia: Definitive Edition (via GOG) today. Here's what else you can snap up and when, along with the launcher you can play each game on:

  • Dishonored - Definitive Edition (GOG)

  • Duck Paradox (GOG)

  • Close To The Sun (GOG)

  • Disney•Pixar Cars (Amazon Games App)

  • Bang Bang Racing (Amazon Games App)

  • Snakebird Complete (Epic Games Store)

  • Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)

  • Chasm: The Rift (GOG)

  • House of Golf 2 (Epic Games Store)

  • Tomb Raider: Anniversary (GOG)

  • Blade of Darkness (GOG)

  • Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (Amazon Games App)

  • Overcooked: Gourmet Edition (GOG)

  • Gloomy Tales: One-Way Ticket Collector's Edition (Legacy Games)

  • Super Meat Boy (Epic Games Store)

  • Moonscars (GOG)

  • Riot - Civil Unrest (GOG)

  • Elite Dangerous (Epic Games Store)

  • Sir Whoopass - Immortal Death (GOG)

  • Jurassic World Evolution (Epic Games Store)

  • Mystery Case Files: The Dalimar Legacy Collector's Edition (Amazon Games App)

  • Shogun Showdown (GOG)

You still have time to grab some of October's Prime Gaming freebies, such as A Plague Tale: Innocence and Death's Door. Meanwhile, the latest batch of games that you can stream on Luna's Prime Gaming channel in eligible countries include Jackbox Party Pack 7, Saints Row: The Third - Remastered, Moving Out, Endling - Extinction is Forever and Infinite Minigolf, alongside mainstays including Fortnite and XDefiant.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amazon-prime-free-games-for-november-include-dishonored-and-guardians-of-the-galaxy-170021817.html?src=rss

Apple is buying the developer of one of the iPhone’s best photo-editing apps

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Apple is set to buy a notable developer of photo-editing apps. The company is acquiring Pixelmator, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.

While it seems likely that Apple will eventually bake some of Pixelmator's tech into its own Camera and Photos apps, the latter said "there will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS and Photomator apps at this time." However, it promised there will be "exciting updates" in the future.

Pixelmator said in a statement that it has taken inspiration from Apple since the very beginning of its 17-year existence and that it has similarly focused on "design, ease of use and performance." After the deal closes and it joins Apple, Pixelmator expects to "have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world."

For quite some time, Pixelmator's apps have been a popular alternative to the likes of Photoshop within the Apple ecosystem. Its tools are available on Mac, iPhone, iPad and even Vision Pro.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-buying-the-developer-of-one-of-the-iphones-best-photo-editing-apps-165853866.html?src=rss

Apple is buying the developer of one of the iPhone’s best photo-editing apps

Posted on by

Apple is set to buy a notable developer of photo-editing apps. The company is acquiring Pixelmator, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.

While it seems likely that Apple will eventually bake some of Pixelmator's tech into its own Camera and Photos apps, the latter said "there will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS and Photomator apps at this time." However, it promised there will be "exciting updates" in the future.

Pixelmator said in a statement that it has taken inspiration from Apple since the very beginning of its 17-year existence and that it has similarly focused on "design, ease of use and performance." After the deal closes and it joins Apple, Pixelmator expects to "have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world."

For quite some time, Pixelmator's apps have been a popular alternative to the likes of Photoshop within the Apple ecosystem. Its tools are available on Mac, iPhone, iPad and even Vision Pro.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-buying-the-developer-of-one-of-the-iphones-best-photo-editing-apps-165853866.html?src=rss

iRobot’s entry-level Roomba vacuum and mop combo hits a new record low

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We're racing toward the giving time of year and what better way to treat a loved one (or even yourself) than with the gift of time and convenience. Robot mops and vacuums can all but wipe out the time you spend on a chore that often has to be taken care of. An entry-level Roomba has dropped to a price that may make that proposition even more enticing for newcomers to the robot-cleaner world.

The Y011 Roomba Combo Robot Vacuum and Mop from iRobot has dropped to $160. That’s 42 percent off the regular price of $275 and a new record low.

This unit doesn’t have some of the funkier features of pricier models, such as self-emptying or advanced object detection. But it should do a solid job of keeping your floors clean.

The Y011 cleans your space in neat rows, vacuuming and mopping in one pass. It has a low-profile design to help it slink under beds and sofas, while an edge-sweeping brush helps it pick up debris from corners and edges. The Roomba uses sensors to move around furniture and avoid tumbling down stairs. If there's a particularly dirty spot that needs extra attention, the spot cleaning feature enables the device to spin in place and keep cleaning that area for up to two minutes. On top of that, you can start an ad-hoc cleaning using Alexa or Google Assistant.

According to iRobot, this model will run for up to 120 minutes on a single charge and automatically return to its charging station when it needs more juice. The washable microfiber mop pad can be reused up to 30 times. 

Meanwhile, an entry-level vacuum-only Roomba has dropped to $140, down from $250. That’s a decent deal as well, but plunking down an extra $20 for iRobot to take care of mopping as well may be a more compelling option.

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/deals/irobots-entry-level-roomba-vacuum-and-mop-combo-hits-a-new-record-low-151054307.html?src=rss

iRobot’s entry-level Roomba vacuum and mop combo hits a new record low

Posted on by

We're racing toward the giving time of year and what better way to treat a loved one (or even yourself) than with the gift of time and convenience. Robot mops and vacuums can all but wipe out the time you spend on a chore that often has to be taken care of. An entry-level Roomba has dropped to a price that may make that proposition even more enticing for newcomers to the robot-cleaner world.

The Y011 Roomba Combo Robot Vacuum and Mop from iRobot has dropped to $160. That’s 42 percent off the regular price of $275 and a new record low.

This unit doesn’t have some of the funkier features of pricier models, such as self-emptying or advanced object detection. But it should do a solid job of keeping your floors clean.

The Y011 cleans your space in neat rows, vacuuming and mopping in one pass. It has a low-profile design to help it slink under beds and sofas, while an edge-sweeping brush helps it pick up debris from corners and edges. The Roomba uses sensors to move around furniture and avoid tumbling down stairs. If there's a particularly dirty spot that needs extra attention, the spot cleaning feature enables the device to spin in place and keep cleaning that area for up to two minutes. On top of that, you can start an ad-hoc cleaning using Alexa or Google Assistant.

According to iRobot, this model will run for up to 120 minutes on a single charge and automatically return to its charging station when it needs more juice. The washable microfiber mop pad can be reused up to 30 times. 

Meanwhile, an entry-level vacuum-only Roomba has dropped to $140, down from $250. That’s a decent deal as well, but plunking down an extra $20 for iRobot to take care of mopping as well may be a more compelling option.

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/deals/irobots-entry-level-roomba-vacuum-and-mop-combo-hits-a-new-record-low-151054307.html?src=rss