Football Manager 25 is finally on its way, with Sports Interactive confirming the news and announcing a release date. The game will arrive for PC, Mac, Xbox and PS5 on November 26, just in time for some Thanksgiving gameplay. At the same time, FM25 Mobile is launching exclusively on Netflix, while FM25 Touch should come to Nintendo Switch on December 3.
FM25 comes with two big updates: a switch to the Unity engine (everywhere except mobile) and women's football (or soccer, depending on where you're reading this from) arriving into the same world as the men's teams. Sega-owned SI first announced the development of women's games in 2021, claiming it would take a while to do in order to provide the same depth as the men's ones. Last year, it confirmed women's teams would be in FM25.
In a statement, Sports Interactive Studio Director Miles Jacobson said, "The world gets to see two of our multi-year projects come to fruition: the switch to the Unity engine and the introduction of Women's Football. It gives us a real sense of achievement to begin sharing our hard work with you and we're really looking forward to showing you more of the game in the weeks before the game's release."
Right now, anyone who pre-orders FM25 for PC or Mac from a SEGA-approved digital retailer will get 10 percent off. SI will announce pre-orders for Xbox and PS5 editions later.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/football-manager-25-is-out-on-november-26-140032348.html?src=rss
Walkabout Mini Golf has been filled with players ever since it launched around the same time as the Meta Quest 2. Now the multiplayer mini-golf game is making the jump to iOS devices.
The developer Mighty Coconut is currently beta testing its mobile mini-golf game Walkabout Mini Golf: Pocket Editionand plans to release a full version on the App Store on October 10.
The Pocket version may be on mobile devices but the miniature version of the mini-golf game isn’t straying away from its virtual interface. The iOS Walkabout game can be played in two different modes: “Touch-to-Putt” mode in which you use the touch screen to tap and drag your shot and “Swing-to-Putt” mode in which you hold your iPhone like a putter and take your swing the same way you would in the VR version.
Walkabout Mini Golf is one of the most popular multiplayer VR games for the Meta Quest series. The virtual mini-golf game has an extensive series of stylized courses including some based on movies, TV shows and games like Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, the puzzle game Myst and the animated clay characters Wallace & Gromit. Mighty Coconut also designed a golf course with the immersive art company Meow Wolf and a series of courses based on the works of Jules Verne.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/vr-hit-walkabout-mini-golf-is-getting-a-mobile-edition-214918605.html?src=rss
Fujifilm’s original GFX100S was a popular alternative to the GFX100, as it offered the same picture quality in a slimmer body at a much lower price. It did have some flaws, though, most notably its autofocus that didn’t always keep up with the subject. In a similar vein, the company recently released the $5,000 GFX100S II as a smaller and cheaper alternative to the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It looks much the same as before, but has an updated sensor, processor, autofocus and more.
Both cameras are clearly aimed at pros, but is the GFX100 II worth the extra $2,500, or is the S model fine for most?
Body
At 1.9 pounds, the GFX100S II weighs an ounce less than its predecessor and its body's design and controls are nearly the same. As before, it comes with a mode dial and focus selector switch, dual control dials, drive select buttons and a quick menu. On top is a small, always-on display that shows settings, simulated mode dials and a histogram. That way, you can see all your key settings when shooting at hip level.
It feels a lot more like a mirrorless than a classic medium format camera. It handles well, but after spending time with both models, I prefer the GFX100 II’s larger body and extra controls, even though it's five ounces heavier.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The rear 3.2-inch, 2.36-million-dot-display is unchanged, tilting up, down and to the right, but it doesn't flip out. However, Fujifilm boosted the viewfinder’s resolution to 5.76 million dots, so it’s noticeably sharper than the last model’s 3.69-million-dot EVF.
The GFX100S II includes dual SD UHS-II card slots but lacks a high-speed CFexpress port like the GFX100 II. Though it uses the same battery as before, it can now shoot 540 photos on a charge, up from 530. Other features include USB-C, mic and headphone ports, along with a micro HDMI connection. A new feature is USB-SSD connectivity that allows for faster burst shooting and ProRes video capture.
Performance
Steve Dent for Engadget
The GFX100S II does shoot faster than its predecessor at up to 7 fps compared to 5 fps in mechanical shutter mode. Without a fast CFexpress card, though, you can only capture about 30 compressed RAW frames before the buffer fills. There’s also a slight image quality penalty as the camera downshifts from 16- to 14-bit RAW images when shooting bursts. Fortunately, most of the frames are likely to be sharp thanks to some big autofocus improvements. Even with the faster burst speeds, I noticed a large boost in the percentage of sharp photos when shooting quick moving subjects.
The AF improvements don’t end there. AI face and eye tracking is smarter and more accurate, meaning your subject's eye and not their eyelash is more likely to be in focus — something that’s critical with 100 megapixels of resolution. Fujifilm also introduced new subject tracking modes for animals, birds, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes and trains.
In-body stabilization also gets an upgrade, with eight stops in shake reduction compared to six before. That allows you to capture dimly lit scenes or blur movement at shutter speeds as low as a half second, without the need for a tripod. As with the previous model, rolling shutter distortion is a real problem with this camera in electronic mode, so neither you nor your subject can move much when using it. Otherwise, you’ll get some nasty skewing that will ruin your photo.
Image quality
For pro photographers who can afford it, the GFX100S II offers unmatched image quality. The 100-megapixel sensor delivers pin-sharp photos and 16-bit RAW pixel depth that delivers 14 stops of dynamic range, beating most other mirrorless cameras. That means you can shoot in very dark, bright or contrasty conditions and retain detail in all parts of the photo.
Fujifilm’s color science is ideal for portrait work, with accurate and pleasing skin tones. The level of detail means prints can be blown up to very large sizes, nearly 40 x 30 inches at 300 pixels per inch (PPI). The resolution and precision color rendering also makes it ideal for landscape photography, art archival work and more.
The outstanding RAW quality lets photographers perform detailed post-production work without hurting image quality, even on shots not exposed correctly. In low-light, you’ll start to see a fair amount of noise above ISO 8000 or so. However, a lot of that grain disappears when you shrink those 100-megapixel images down to a more reasonable size.
Nathanael Charpentier for Engadget
At the same time, JPEG images are outstanding straight out of the camera. Like other Fuji models, the GFX100S II comes with an array of film simulations, from the new Reala Ace to Velvia, Acros and others. Most pro photographers like to tweak their images, but many may shoot both RAW and JPEG with film simulations so they can show their clients something right away and make detailed adjustments later on.
Video
Unlike the more expensive GFX100 II, video is a weak point with this camera. Resolution is limited to 4K 10-bit, and while there’s no cropping, there’s considerable pixel binning that reduces sharpness. You can capture 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes video at up to 30fps, though that entails hooking up an SSD drive. There aren’t really any slo-mo modes, as both 4K and 1080p recording are limited to 60fps.
While video lacks the sharpness seen on other mirrorless cameras like the Sony A1, color rendering is excellent. You can also improve dynamic range by shooting in Fujifilm’s FLog or FLog2 modes and applying a LUT later on in post.
Rolling shutter in video mode is reduced compared to photos because of the pixel binning, but you still need to be careful not to move the camera too much to avoid excessive wobble and skewing. The in-body stabilization is only effective for handheld shooting without much movement. If you try to walk while vlogging, you’ll see some severe jolts. All told, I’d say the Fujifilm GFX100S II is mostly a photo camera, with video available for emergency use only.
Wrap-up
Steve Dent for Engadget
The $5,000 Fujifilm GFX100S II gives professionals outstanding picture quality at a significantly reduced price over the $7,500 flagship GFX100 II. It even goes beyond what buyers might expect by offering fairly quick burst shooting with autofocus that’s much more reliable than on the original GFX100S. Video isn’t a strong point, but that won’t be important for its target market.
The GFX100S II is also the cheapest camera in the mainstream medium format space, with its primary competition being either the GFX100 II or Hasselblad’s $8,200 X2D100C. I’d highly recommend it for portraits and other types of shooting where detail is key. However, burst speeds and autofocus still aren’t quite good enough in fast moving scenarios.
Those who need more speed and reliability for things like weddings or live events would be better off with high-resolution full-frame models like the $3,700 Nikon Z8, $6,500 Sony A1 or Canon’s new $4,300 EOS R5 II.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-gfx100s-ii-review-outstanding-performance-at-a-reduced-price-153020497.html?src=rss
In a surprise 30-minute event today that could have been an email, Samsung unveiled new additions to its portfolio of devices this year, including the Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy Watch FE LTE. The highlight of today's news has to be the new Galaxy Tab S10 tablets, though, since they've long been regarded as the best premium Android tablets around. The Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra start at $1,000 and $1,200 respectively (the same price as the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max) and are available for pre-order today before they retail on October 3.
With the Tab S10 series, Samsung proclaims it has brought its Galaxy AI to the category, thus making AI available for all. Features introduced on its flagship S24 phones earlier this year like Circle to Search and Sketch to Image are now supported on the tablets, and those that worked with the S Pen on the S24 Ultra, like Handwriting Assist and Note Assist, are here too. I spent some time with the new hardware and, though it's too early to tell if these updates work well, I can still say these are probably going to remain the best Android tablets around.
When I picked up a Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung's event today, I once again marveled at how thin and light it was, despite having already experienced the same feelings with all of Samsung's previous tablets. To recap, the Tab S10 Ultra has a 14.6-inch screen, while the Tab S10+ comes in at 12.4 inches. Both these AMOLED panels have anti-reflective finishes, and the devices are rated IP68 for durability, despite being so satisfyingly slim. They feel like blades you could potentially use to slice very soft sponge cakes with.
I was able to pick up a Tab S10 Ultra with very little effort or muscle strain, and though it's usually difficult to maneuver such a wide screen, the fact that I could easily wield it with one hand made things easier.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
There's not much that's changed compared to the Galaxy Tab S9, other than that the S10 series uses MediaTek's Dimensity 9300+ processors, instead of Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips. I'm not convinced that these chips have the power or energy efficiency to multitask or execute AI tasks efficiently, but that's not something I can determine at a hands-on event.
Samsung's AMOLED panels remain vibrant and bright, providing excellent media consumption experiences. It was hard to gauge how effective the anti-reflective treatment was under the harsh lights set up for the event, but for the most part I found things easy to see.
And though I didn't linger too long on any of the Galaxy AI features on the Tab S10 series, I can tell you I've had fun playing with the very same tools on the S24 flagships we've reviewed throughout the year. Whether it's the S24 Ultra with an S Pen or the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, Samsung's slate of hardware this year have all received the Galaxy AI suite of writing and photo editing tools. We've already had time to ruminate how useful any of these things really are in the real world, and in general our impressions have been a resounding "meh."
I have been impressed with how Sketch to Image has been able to transform crappy drawings of animals into realistic looking beasts in photos, and Circle to Search is a Google tool that makes it easier to look up items by drawing a ring around them. Many of the other Galaxy AI features, like most generative AI tools today, are only moderately helpful.
We'll need to spend more time with the Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10+, Galaxy S24 FE and even the Galaxy Watch FE LTE to determine if they're worth spending your money on. But for now, I have to admit that it's nice to see Samsung roll out all its Galaxy AI features across its lineup, resulting in a sense of cohesion and parity even in its lower cost offerings. Apple Intelligence, meanwhile, will require an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, and won't work if you only have an iPhone 15. It's clear we're deep into the generative AI age, and will not be able to avoid them much longer, especially now that they're getting more prevalent across the Android ecosystem.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/galaxy-tab-s10-ultra-hands-on-ai-arrives-on-samsungs-premium-android-tablet-171105485.html?src=rss
StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are coming to PC Game Pass, as announced by Xbox at Tokyo Game Show. Both titles will be available on November 5 to anyone with a PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
The multiplayer components of both games are already free-to-play on PCs, but this will allow people to experience the single-player campaigns. Starcraft II: Campaign Collection, for instance, includes over 70 missions pulled from all of the various DLC, like Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm, among others.
StarCraft: Remasteredadds some modern goodies to the original game, like 4K visuals, enhanced audio and newly-designed leaderboards. This update has been floating around since 2017, but Game Pass availability should introduce the iconic 1998 real-time strategy (RTS) title to a new audience.
Despite getting a bit long in the tooth, both games still have active multiplayer communities. This also holds true in the world of professional competitive gaming. Many credit StarCraft II, which released back in 2010, with assisting in the rise of live streaming.
This isn’t the only Blizzard-centric news to come out of Tokyo Game Show. Overwatch 2 is getting (probably very expensive) skins based on the anime My Hero Academia. This promotion goes from October 17 to 30.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/starcraft-remastered-and-starcraft-ii-are-coming-to-pc-game-pass-170133814.html?src=rss
If you're a fan of getting flagship-quality features at more affordable prices, Samsung's FE series is meant for you. Today, the company revealed its two latest entries: the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE. Both devices pack in tools from the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Watch, including things like AI-powered photo editing, fitness tracking and more. Additionally, they'll both be available next week, so you won't have to wait long to buy them.
Galaxy S24 FE
Like previous FE devices, the Galaxy S24 FE offers many of the attractive features from the regular S24 at a more affordable price. Starting at $650, the phone packs a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Inside, a Exynos 2400e processor and 8GB RAM run Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Of course, there a number of AI-powered features here, including Circle to Search, Interpreter, Live Translate, Composer and Note Assist. Knox security in onboard once more, as is a 4,700 mAh battery and IP68-rated design.
Cameras are always a big deal on phones and the S24 FE is no exception. The device runs Samsung AI-driven ProVisual Engine to improve low-light performance, zoomed image quality and Super High Dynamic Range (HDR) color optimization. There are also AI features like Generative Edit, Portrait Stuiod, Edit Suggestions and Instant Slow-mo. Stills and video are captured by a 50MP wide and 12MP ultra wide cameras. There's also an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Around front, a 10MP sensor snaps your selfies.
Samsung also says the S24 FE is well-suited for gaming. Thanks to the Exynos processor, the phone offers ray tracing and the 120Hz display has a Vision Booster tool so color and contrast remain "clear and comfortable" outdoors. There's also a larger vapor chamber compared to the S23 FE, which improves overall cooling performance.
The Galaxy S24 FE will be available on October 3 in blue, graphite, gray and mint color options in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage configurations. Pre-orders start today.
Galaxy Watch FE LTE
Samsung already debuted a Galaxy Watch FE this summer, but now the company is back with an LTE version. Starting at $250, this model allows you to call, text and more when you're away from your phone. You'll get a a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display along with fitness and sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring and more — all powered by Wear OS. It's basically a Galaxy Watch 7 with LTE, as my colleague Cherlynn Low describes it.
The Galaxy Watch FE LTE will be available on October 3. Pre-orders start today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-debuts-the-galaxy-s24-fe-and-galaxy-watch-fe-lte-163530908.html?src=rss
Samsung is once again expanding its tablet lineup, and this time, the company is doing so with AI at the forefront. Today, Samsung revealed the Galaxy Tab S10 series, two models that it says are "built with AI enhancements available right out of the box." The 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10+ both pack anti-reflective Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, a quad speaker setup with AI Dialogue Boost and a robust IP68 durability rating. Both tablets will be available next month.
Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
Powered by Android 14, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra's Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 2960 x 1848 resolution. A MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor and either 12GB or 16GB RAM runs the AI tools and other features, which include Circle to Search, Handwriting Assist, Note Assist and Sketch to Image — all done with the included S Pen. The stylus also enables Air Command with AI so that you'll get access to powerful features without having to toggle through a menu. The Tab S10 Ultra can act as a "home AI hub" for all of your SmartThings devices, providing a 3D Map View and Insight Messages to assist with on-going monitoring.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is equipped with 13MP and 8MP ultra wide rear cameras and 12MP and 12MP ultra wide front-facing cameras. It has Wi-Fi 7, 5G and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and a 11,200 mAh battery. With one click, you can situate the tablet as a second screen and Samsung Knox security is available as well. In addition to the S Pen, the optional accessories include two keyboard covers, a smart book cover and an outdoor cover.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver starting at $1,200 for the 256GB model. 512GB and 1TB options will also be on the menu. If you need even more space, a MicroSD slot offers up to 1.5TB. Pre-orders start today.
Galaxy Tab S10+
The spec sheet for the Tab S10+ is almost identical to the Tab S10 Ultra, but there are some key difference. The smaller, 12.4-inch display offers a resolution of 2800 x 1752, but maintains the 120Hz refresh rate. The camera array is also the same on the rear, but the front only carries a 12MP ultra wide sensor. Both storage configurations of the Tab S10+ have 12GB of RAM and this smaller tablet has a smaller 10,090 mAh battery.
The Galaxy Tab S10+ will be available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver starting at $999 for the 256GB model. A 512GB option will also be available and the MicroSD slot is here as well (up to 1.5TB). Pre-orders start today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/samsungs-galaxy-tab-s10-ultra-and-galaxy-tab-s10-are-tablets-built-for-ai-162633747.html?src=rss
Blumhouse, the horror production company behind such big cinematic hits as Get Out, M3GAN and the Insidious films, has extended its creepy tentacles to scary shows and movies to scary video games.
Fear the Spotlight is Blumhouse Games’ first entry into gaming with the help of the indie developer Cozy Game Pals. The horror game will get a full release on October 22 and there’s a demo currently available for PCs on Steam.
Fear the Spotlight is a third-person horror adventure game that takes place in a high school after hours. Two curious teens Vivian and Amy sneak into Sunnyside High, a school with a dark, mysterious history, in the dead of night to perform a séance. A deadly creature with a bright, glowing gaze rises and starts roaming the halls of the school. The spotlight monster separates the girls and it’s up to Vivian to unravel the school’s mystery, find Amy and make it through the darkness alive.
The game uses PS1 style, polygonal graphics, which just adds to the game’s creepy aesthetic like some of those early horror classics including Nightmare Creatures and the first Silent Hill game. There’s just something about a square-ish head that sends a shiver down my spine. It’s one of many reasons I’m not looking forward to the new Minecraft movie.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/blumhouse-games-fear-the-spotlight-set-for-release-on-october-22-194907647.html?src=rss
Blumhouse, the horror production company behind such big cinematic hits as Get Out, M3GAN and the Insidious films, has extended its creepy tentacles to scary shows and movies to scary video games.
Fear the Spotlight is Blumhouse Games’ first entry into gaming with the help of the indie developer Cozy Game Pals. The horror game will get a full release on October 22 and there’s a demo currently available for PCs on Steam.
Fear the Spotlight is a third-person horror adventure game that takes place in a high school after hours. Two curious teens Vivian and Amy sneak into Sunnyside High, a school with a dark, mysterious history, in the dead of night to perform a séance. A deadly creature with a bright, glowing gaze rises and starts roaming the halls of the school. The spotlight monster separates the girls and it’s up to Vivian to unravel the school’s mystery, find Amy and make it through the darkness alive.
The game uses PS1 style, polygonal graphics, which just adds to the game’s creepy aesthetic like some of those early horror classics including Nightmare Creatures and the first Silent Hill game. There’s just something about a square-ish head that sends a shiver down my spine. It’s one of many reasons I’m not looking forward to the new Minecraft movie.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/blumhouse-games-fear-the-spotlight-set-for-release-on-october-22-194907647.html?src=rss
iRobot's Roomba Combo Essential bundle is available for $280 right now via QVC. This is a discount of $170 for a combo pack that includes the Roomba Combo 2 robovac and the self-emptying base. The vacuum typically costs $280 all by its lonesome, so this basically gets you a free base. However, the vacuum is available for just $200 right now via Amazon without the base.
This is certainly a budget-friendly entry in the company’s lineup of robot vacuums, but it gets the job done. The company says this model outperforms the Roomba 600 Series, with 20 times more suction power. It’s also a vacuum/mop hybrid, so it can handle all aspects of floor cleaning.
It accesses the same smart navigation algorithm as other iRobot vacuums, which allows it to move freely around the space without bumping into things or falling down stairs. The battery life is also on point, allowing for around two hours of use per charge. Of course, it’ll return to the charging base on its own when the battery gets low.
It also integrates with the company’s proprietary app, which lets people customize a whole host of settings and dictate cleaning schedules. The only major downside of this vacuum is that it doesn’t typically come with a self-emptying base, but this bundle does. It holds up to 60 days of debris, so that’s two glorious months of laying on the couch without having to do a dang thing.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/irobots-roomba-combo-essential-with-self-emptying-base-is-170-off-right-now-184650126.html?src=rss