Tag Archives: game consoles

Nintendo will show off ‘Donkey Kong Country’ theme park expansion at live event today

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Nintendo is set to show off the Donkey Kong Country expansion of its Super Nintendo World theme park today (Monday, November 11) at 5PM ET, the company revealed in a post on X. That means the new Universal Studios Japan area might finally open soon, after being delayed from the previously announced launch window of Spring 2024. 

The new park attraction featuring Mario's barrel-throwing nemesis was first revealed in 2021. The centerpiece is a ride called Mine Cart Madness, named after the best level in the 1994 SNES game Donkey Kong Country. After being blasted out of a barrel cannon, you'll take a mine cart ride through the jungle that includes a "leap across a collapsed track" as Nintendo showed in a render earlier this year.  

The direct livestream appears to be focused on Donkey Kong world alone, and Nintendo specifically pointed out that "no game information will be featured" — so don't expect any news on the next-gen Switch 2 console either. 

Donkey Kong Country will expand the park size by up to 70 percent, Nintendo said when it was announced. Current attractions at the Japan park are the Mario Kart: Kuppa's Challenge rollercoaster and Yoshi Adventure. Nintendo recently announced that it would open a Super Nintendo World attraction at Universal Studios Orlando on May 22nd, 2025 with the same attractions as the park in Osaka. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-will-show-off-donkey-kong-country-theme-park-expansion-at-live-event-today-130015655.html?src=rss

Sony is discontinuing its free PS5 PlayStation Camera adapter for PS VR

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Sony will soon stop offering the free adapter that allows gamers to connect the PlayStation Camera to their PS5. The camera (which was released for the PS4) is required to use the original PlayStation VR on the company's current console, as the headset has a light-based tracking method. The PS5's own HD camera accessory isn't compatible with PS VR.

"As of November 26, 2024, or until supplies last, the PlayStation Camera adapter will no longer be available," Sony says on a support page. In the meantime, you may be able to request an adapter via a form. Alternatively, as Wario64 points out, you may have to call Sony support at 1-800-345-7669. You'll need the serial number from the PS VR's processing unit to claim an adapter.

If you miss out on grabbing the accessory from Sony, there are third-party options available. Still, this one's free and it's the official Sony adapter. 

As a reminder, PS VR games do not run on PS VR2, in part because the headsets use different tracking methods. Some games have been ported to the latest headset, as well as other VR platforms. However, many are still only available on the original PS VR, including several first-party titles. So if you want to play the likes of Astro Bot Rescue Mission or Everybody's Golf VR via your PS5, you'll need a PS Camera adapter.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-discontinuing-its-free-ps5-playstation-camera-adapter-for-ps-vr-171350519.html?src=rss

Sony has sold 65 million PS5s

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Just after launching the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony revealed that it has sold 65.5 million PlayStation 5s as of the end of Q2 2024. While sales of the console dropped 1.1 million units from the same period last year (and are down 2 million units total in 2024), this was more than offset by game sales of 77.7 million units, up 14.9 percent from Q2 2023. Sony's monthly active PlayStation Network users remained at 116 million despite a big price bump late last year.

The net result? Revenue climbed by 9 percent and operating profit rose by a stellar 73 percent to 445.1 billion yen ($2.91 billion). Given those profits and the fact that the company has a new, more expensive (and probably more profitable) console ready for Christmas, Sony was bullish on the rest of its year, boosting its revenue forecast slightly.

A big part of Sony's game sales story is the success of the action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, which reportedly sold 20 million units in Q2 (including the PC version). Another high performer was the first party Astro Bot title, showing the power of hit games to sway sales. 

Sony still has two quarters left in its fiscal year, which ends March 31. Upcoming first party titles expected prior to that include Assassin's Creed Shadow and Monster Hunter Wilds, both set for February 2025. However, Sony's fiscal 2025 starting in April could be a blockbuster with highly anticipated games like Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Grand Theft Auto VI arriving later next year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-sold-65-million-ps5s-140019860.html?src=rss

Sony has sold 65 million PS5s

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Just after launching the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony revealed that it has sold 65.5 million PlayStation 5s as of the end of Q2 2024. While sales of the console dropped 1.1 million units from the same period last year (and are down 2 million units total in 2024), this was more than offset by game sales of 77.7 million units, up 14.9 percent from Q2 2023. Sony's monthly active PlayStation Network users remained at 116 million despite a big price bump late last year.

The net result? Revenue climbed by 9 percent and operating profit rose by a stellar 73 percent to 445.1 billion yen ($2.91 billion). Given those profits and the fact that the company has a new, more expensive (and probably more profitable) console ready for Christmas, Sony was bullish on the rest of its year, boosting its revenue forecast slightly.

A big part of Sony's game sales story is the success of the action RPG Black Myth: Wukong, which reportedly sold 20 million units in Q2 (including the PC version). Another high performer was the first party Astro Bot title, showing the power of hit games to sway sales. 

Sony still has two quarters left in its fiscal year, which ends March 31. Upcoming first party titles expected prior to that include Assassin's Creed Shadow and Monster Hunter Wilds, both set for February 2025. However, Sony's fiscal 2025 starting in April could be a blockbuster with highly anticipated games like Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Grand Theft Auto VI arriving later next year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-sold-65-million-ps5s-140019860.html?src=rss

Death Stranding unexpectedly hits Xbox Series X/S

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Xbox Series X/S owners (and Amazon Luna+ subscribers) can now spend dozens of hours scratching their head while playing Death Stranding. Hideo Kojima’s baffling walking sim has just hit those platforms without prior notice on its fifth anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is 50 percent off on Xbox, PC, iPhone, iPad and Mac. The discount isn’t available on PlayStation, where the game debuted all the way back in 2019 (Sony is the publisher on PlayStation, while 505 Games handled duties on other platforms). The base game is on the PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers.

Amazon Prime members will also be able to stream the Director’s Cut edition on Luna at no extra cost throughout December. You can keep going on Luna+ in the new year.

In Death Stranding, you play as Sam Porter Bridges, a courier of sorts who aims to reconnect America’s remaining survivors after a cataclysmic event that blurs the plane of existence between the living and the dead. Oh, and Bridges carries around an unborn fetus in a bottle that can detect creatures from the land of the dead. It’s all very strange and still one of the most memorable gaming experiences of the last decade.

Alongside the surprise Xbox (and Luna+ release) and anniversary discount, developer Kojima Productions had some other news about the franchise. It now fully owns the Death Stranding intellectual property. Sony, which financed the original game, previously held a stake and owned the trademark.

A sequel to Death Stranding is in the works. It’ll be a Sony-published PS5 exclusive at the outset and it’s slated to arrive next year (it’s a fairly safe bet that we may see more at The Game Awards next month). A Death Stranding movie is also on the way, while Kojima Productions is working on other games, including Xbox horror title OD and an action-espionage game for PlayStation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/death-stranding-unexpectedly-hits-xbox-series-xs-153652927.html?src=rss

Death Stranding unexpectedly hits Xbox Series X/S

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Xbox Series X/S owners (and Amazon Luna+ subscribers) can now spend dozens of hours scratching their head while playing Death Stranding. Hideo Kojima’s baffling walking sim has just hit those platforms without prior notice on its fifth anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is 50 percent off on Xbox, PC, iPhone, iPad and Mac. The discount isn’t available on PlayStation, where the game debuted all the way back in 2019 (Sony is the publisher on PlayStation, while 505 Games handled duties on other platforms). The base game is on the PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers.

Amazon Prime members will also be able to stream the Director’s Cut edition on Luna at no extra cost throughout December. You can keep going on Luna+ in the new year.

In Death Stranding, you play as Sam Porter Bridges, a courier of sorts who aims to reconnect America’s remaining survivors after a cataclysmic event that blurs the plane of existence between the living and the dead. Oh, and Bridges carries around an unborn fetus in a bottle that can detect creatures from the land of the dead. It’s all very strange and still one of the most memorable gaming experiences of the last decade.

Alongside the surprise Xbox (and Luna+ release) and anniversary discount, developer Kojima Productions had some other news about the franchise. It now fully owns the Death Stranding intellectual property. Sony, which financed the original game, previously held a stake and owned the trademark.

A sequel to Death Stranding is in the works. It’ll be a Sony-published PS5 exclusive at the outset and it’s slated to arrive next year (it’s a fairly safe bet that we may see more at The Game Awards next month). A Death Stranding movie is also on the way, while Kojima Productions is working on other games, including Xbox horror title OD and an action-espionage game for PlayStation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/death-stranding-unexpectedly-hits-xbox-series-xs-153652927.html?src=rss

PlayStation 5 faceplates aren’t compatible with the PS5 Pro

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Here’s a spot of bad news for those looking to upgrade to the forthcoming PS5 Pro. The console isn’t compatible with pre-existing PlayStation 5 faceplates, as reported by IGN and confirmed by Sony.

This is not entirely unexpected, given that the PS5 Pro is slightly thinner when compared to the original PS5. A Reddit user named Zrorro tried out some Cobalt blue plates on the PS5 Pro and concluded that the top plates don’t match because “while they're physically the same size, the teeth that connect to the system are [in] slightly different places. So you can't connect the top part.”

Sony confirmed the story, telling IGN that "PS5 console covers are not compatible with PS5 Pro." However, it’s not all bad news. The company is currently working on faceplates specifically for the expensive new console. It’s also highly likely that third-party accessory makers will come to the rescue sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to make do with a plain-looking PS5 Pro. The console costs $700, so you probably won’t even have the money for any accessories immediately after making that purchase. The PS5 Pro will be available on November 7.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-5-faceplates-arent-compatible-with-the-ps5-pro-163046554.html?src=rss

PlayStation 5 faceplates aren’t compatible with the PS5 Pro

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Here’s a spot of bad news for those looking to upgrade to the forthcoming PS5 Pro. The console isn’t compatible with pre-existing PlayStation 5 faceplates, as reported by IGN and confirmed by Sony.

This is not entirely unexpected, given that the PS5 Pro is slightly thinner when compared to the original PS5. A Reddit user named Zrorro tried out some Cobalt blue plates on the PS5 Pro and concluded that the top plates don’t match because “while they're physically the same size, the teeth that connect to the system are [in] slightly different places. So you can't connect the top part.”

Sony confirmed the story, telling IGN that "PS5 console covers are not compatible with PS5 Pro." However, it’s not all bad news. The company is currently working on faceplates specifically for the expensive new console. It’s also highly likely that third-party accessory makers will come to the rescue sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to make do with a plain-looking PS5 Pro. The console costs $700, so you probably won’t even have the money for any accessories immediately after making that purchase. The PS5 Pro will be available on November 7.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-5-faceplates-arent-compatible-with-the-ps5-pro-163046554.html?src=rss

Xbox Insiders can now test the Windows Xbox App’s redesigned home screen

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If you’re an Xbox Insider, you can now test a new home screen when using the Windows Xbox app. In a blog post published yesterday, Microsoft showcased the redesigned interface, which unites the Game Pass and Microsoft Store experiences. Users can now find their games in one place and avoid tab-hopping. This new home tab will appear for anyone with either a Game Pass subscription or a game purchased from the Microsoft Store.

Becoming an Xbox Insider is easy, as you only have to download and install the Xbox Insider Hub and test features in development. After you become a beta tester, enroll in the “PC Gaming Preview” to gain access to the new home screen.

The new menu now shows featured content and discounted games, all in a single tab. It can even curate titles based on your preferences.

The “jump back in” feature tested in May is part of the new home screen experience as of yesterday. This feature allows Compact Mode users to jump back into gameplay when not currently playing any game. It shows the nine most recent titles you’ve played, and jumping back in takes very little time at all. You can see it as a shortcut feature.

Compact Mode, as the name suggests, shrinks the interface down by replacing tabs with icons. If you own a Windows handheld console, it already has Compact Mode enabled when you launch the Xbox app.

Since becoming an Xbox Insider takes no time at all, you can easily see if you’re eligible for the preview. Microsoft is encouraging testers to provide feedback and report problems.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/xbox-insiders-can-now-test-the-windows-xbox-apps-redesigned-home-screen-163021760.html?src=rss

You’ll get another chance to pre-order the retro-themed PS5 on Tuesday

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You’re about to get another shot if you missed Sony’s brief pre-order window for its 30th anniversary PS5 console. The retro-themed hardware sold out in a flash on its initial September 26 pre-order period, leaving fans fuming at Sony’s predictably frustrating order process. An alert on Sony’s product page (via Kotaku) says the second go-round will happen on Tuesday, October 29, at noon ET.

The limited-edition consoles and accessories have a throwback skin reminiscent of the OG PlayStation, which launched in Japan in 1994. That includes a sleek gray color scheme that gives the old-school Playstation logo room to really pop.

A closeup of the top of the 30th Anniversary PS5 console.
Sony

The message (“Please check back on October 29th from 9 AM PDT”) only appears on the 30th Anniversary product pages for the $500 PS5 Slim Bundle and $80 DualSense controller. Unfortunately, no such message appears on the throwback PS5 Pro bundle or PlayStation Portal product pages.

Assuming only the Slim bundle is available, this will be your second (and perhaps last) chance to get the cheaper of the two consoles. It includes the digital (no disc drive!) PS5 Slim, a standard DualSense controller (also themed for the occasion), a retro cable connector housing, PlayStation-shaped cable ties and a vertical stand. Oh, and there are some extra goodies like a sticker, poster and PlayStation paperclip, which we can only imagine will be sold for three figures on eBay after the bundle arrives on November 21.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/youll-get-another-chance-to-pre-order-the-retro-themed-ps5-on-tuesday-202504921.html?src=rss