Tag Archives: author_name|Kris Holt

Lego Horizon Adventures hits PS5, PC and Switch on November 14

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Lego Horizon Adventures is one of a very few first-party games that Sony is releasing this year, and now we have a release date, thanks to the State of Play the company aired on Tuesday. The kid-friendly spin on the Horizon series is coming to PlayStation 5, PC and Switch on November 14.

The soonish release date isn’t a huge shock, since the game was already lined up for a holiday 2024 slot. However, Sony jumped the gun by accidentally revealing the arrival date on the PlayStation website’s a few weeks back. Whoops!

We had the chance to try out Lego Horizon Adventures at Summer Game Fest in June and came away with positive impressions. It's generally faithful to the combat of the mainline Horizon games, with Aloy sneaking around for optimal angles from which to attack enemies and using her Focus to find weak spots on giant dinosaur-like machines. However, that's aligned with the kind of offbeat humor you'll find in many other Lego games rather than the broadly stoic seriousness of Horizon Forbidden West. Local and online co-op will also be available for the first time in a Horizon game.

This is a chance for Sony to bring the series to a whole new audience. Until now, the Horizon series has only been available on PlayStation consoles and PC (and PS VR2 in the case of Horizon Call of the Mountain). This could also be a bit of a test run for Sony to see if some of its older games might find new digs, and many more players, on Nintendo systems.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/lego-horizon-adventures-hits-ps5-pc-and-switch-on-november-14-223756234.html?src=rss

Warner Bros. Discovery teams up with Google to generate captions using AI

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Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has agreed a deal with Google Cloud to use the latter's Vertex AI to generate captions for programming across a variety of platforms. WBD claims that its Caption AI system can significantly reduce production time and costs while improving the accuracy of captions for US-based viewers.

The tech will be used for unscripted programming at the outset, which could include news, sports and reality TV across the likes of Max, CNN and Discovery+. WBD claims the system can reduce the time it takes to create captions by up to 80 percent and captioning costs by up to 50 percent. There will still be a level of human review for quality assurance, and the company claims this approach will help refine and train Caption AI's workflow to improve it over time.

However, captioning requires a lot of skill, especially for live TV where transcribers have to keep up with what's being said as accurately as possible. Unscripted programming also tends to include a lot of overlapping chatter and it's unclear just how effective AI will be at transcribing that accurately. However you slice it though, relying more on AI-generated transcriptions will mean less work for people in the space.

It'll be interesting to see whether WBD expands this tech to subtitles for scripted programming. Subtitling (something I admittedly used to do for a living) is a skilled art. Among other things, it involves accurately capturing sound effects, music cues and non-verbal utterances; properly explaining idioms for localization purposes; and making sure subtitles are timed properly. There's a ton of nuance involved, and it would be difficult for AI to get it right.

It's hardly surprising that WBD is looking at Caption AI as a way to save money. The company has been aggressively cutting costs (and trying to bolster its revenue) since it formed in 2022 with the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/warner-bros-discovery-teams-up-with-google-to-generate-captions-using-ai-161345238.html?src=rss

Behaviour Interactive snaps up Darkest Dungeon developer Red Hook Studios

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It’s been a topsy turvy year for Dead by Daylight maker Behaviour Interactive, which has released two spin-offs, laid off dozens of workers and shut down a studio that was working on another offshoot of its tentpole project. Now, Behaviour is bringing another developer into the fold, as it has bought Darkest Dungeon developer Red Hook Studios.

The Vancouver-based outfit will continue to operate as a “fully independent studio,” albeit under Behaviour’s umbrella. Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, but Red Hook likely won’t have come cheap — nearly seven million copies of the Darkest Dungeon games have been sold to date. Behaviour has also kept on Red Hook’s entire 29-strong staff.

"Earlier this year, we established an ambitious goal for our future as a publisher — to make Behaviour synonymous with horror, and surround Dead by Daylight with a library of similarly exceptional horror games,” Behaviour CEO and co-founder Rémi Racine told GamesIndustry.biz in a statement. “Our acquisition of Red Hook is another emphatic step towards this objective, with more to come."

This is the fourth studio Behaviour has snapped up in the past two years, following SockMonkey Studios, Codeglue and Fly Studio. It also opened a new studio in the UK last year and forged partnerships with third-party developers such as Supermassive, which made the recently released The Casting of Frank Stone.

However, things haven’t been entirely plain sailing for the publisher. It fired around 140 workers this year across two rounds of layoffs amid restructuring efforts.

Last week, Behaviour canceled Project T, a co-op shooter set in the DbD universe. It also closed the studio that was working on the game, Seattle-based Midwinter Entertainment, two years after buying it. All Midwinter workers were offered roles at Behaviour’s studios in Canada.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/behaviour-interactive-snaps-up-darkest-dungeon-developer-red-hook-studios-142036727.html?src=rss

Prime Day deals include three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited for new users

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Amazon is hoping to get more people hooked on Music Unlimited with a pre-Prime Day offer. Those who haven't tried the service before can get three months of access for free. The offer is even better for Prime members who haven't checked out the music-streaming platform. They can use it for four months at no extra cost. Music Unlimited typically costs $11 per month without Prime and $10 per month for Prime members.

The company isn't leaving existing subscribers entirely out in the cold. Those with an individual Amazon Music Unlimited plan can upgrade to the Family Plan at no extra cost for two months.

Amazon Music Unlimited includes more than 100 million songs, many of which are available in high definition and/or spatial audio. The service also includes ad-free versions of many popular podcasts.

While it may not be the first music streaming service that springs to mind for most folks, Amazon Music Unlimited may be worth checking out. The HD music selection is particularly notable, since Spotify has yet to offer that feature.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-deals-include-three-free-months-of-amazon-music-unlimited-for-new-users-184228736.html?src=rss

Sony’s next State of Play stream is set for September 24

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With the Tokyo Game Show taking place this week, major publishers have lined up showcases for the coming days. Sony is getting the jump on its rivals as it will run its next State of Play on September 24 at 6PM ET.

The company plans to shine the spotlight on more than 20 PS5 and PS VR2 games during the stream, which is set to run for over 30 minutes. You'll be able to watch the showcase on YouTube and Twitch in English or Japanese.

It seems very likely that we'll get a release date for Horizon Lego Adventures, the final first-party game that Sony currently has on its slate for the rest of the year. We'll surely get another look at the Until Dawn and Silent Hill 2 remakes before they arrive in early October too. There's also chatter that there are remasters of Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone on the way, so Sony might spill the beans on those. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Marvel's Wolverine are among the other upcoming titles that could make an appearance.

Here's hoping for a major surprise or two. Hardware news seems unlikely given that the PS5 Pro is coming soon. However, it's a good opportunity for Sony to remind everyone about those dope PS1-style 30th anniversary editions of the PS5 consoles and controllers. (For what it's worth, Sony may reveal the prices of those at the State of Play.)

Meanwhile, let's not forget that September 26 is The Last of Us Day. If we don't hear anything about that franchise at the State of Play, Sony will certainly have something to say about it then. A release date for the PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is possible, though we should at least get an update on season two of the HBO adaptation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-next-state-of-play-stream-is-set-for-september-24-171708006.html?src=rss

How to watch Meta Connect 2024

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It's Meta's turn to step up to the plate and host a developer conference. This year's Meta Connect takes place on September 25 and 26. While the bulk of the event will focus on how developers can get the most out of Meta's products, most of the actual news is likely to come from the opening keynote and developer keynote, which run back to back on September 25 starting at 1PM ET.

You'll be able to watch the keynote live on Facebook on the Meta for Developers page. There's also the option to drink in the keynote in Horizon Worlds, in "a virtual experience inspired by the Meta campus in Menlo Park." Meta has also shared the keynote on its YouTube channel in previous years, but only after Connect is over, so it's unlikely to livestream the event there.

The Connect keynote will feature Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussing advancements in mixed reality, AI and wearables. The company is also promising a look at new products and features. Those may well include a pair of augmented reality glasses codenamed Orion that executives have been teasing for quite some time.

We're also expecting to see a less-expensive version of the Quest 3, dubbed the Quest 3S. Leaks suggest that this could sell for $300, which is significantly less than the $500 Quest 3. The Quest 3S could make it easier for Meta to finally ditch the Quest 2, which debuted in 2020 and is significantly less powerful than the Quest 3.

Elsewhere, Meta may announce an update for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses at Connect. Meta and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica recently renewed their partnership, so there's more to come from that pact, either now or in the future.

In addition, there will likely be lots of talk about AI in the developer keynote starting at 2PM ET. It's likely that we'll learn more about how it's being used across Meta's headsets and smart glasses. As a result, the open-source Llama large language model is expected to be a topic of discussion.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-watch-meta-connect-2024-163643686.html?src=rss

The Google Pixel 8a falls to a new record low of $379 for Prime Day

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Google's A-series Pixel phones are a great option for those looking to upgrade without spending a ton of money. Now thanks to Prime Day deals, you can get the Pixel 8a for the best price we've seen. It's down to $379, which is $120 off its usual price.

The Pixel 8a is our pick for the best midrange smartphone you can buy right now. We gave it a score of 90 in our review in May. It has some excellent hardware for a phone in this price range, including terrific cameras, a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and great battery life (it lasted for 20 and a half hours on our video rundown test).

What’s more, the Pixel 8a runs on the Tensor G3, which is the same chipset found in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. As such, it can run the same AI features as the flagship handsets, including Magic Eraser and other camera trickery, web article summaries and narration via Google Assistant, wallpaper generation and faster Face Unlock.

Elsewhere, features like IP67 dust and water resistance are very welcome. On the downside, the bezels are a little thicker than some may like. Qi wireless charging is slow too at a rate of 7.5W. Still, those are minor quibbles for an otherwise great midrange phone.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-8a-falls-to-a-new-record-low-of-379-for-prime-day-144717301.html?src=rss

Twitch will do a better job of telling rulebreakers why their accounts were suspended

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TwitchCon San Diego is taking place this weekend and, as always, the platform had some news to share during the opening ceremony. For one thing, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy said the service will offer streamers and viewers who break the rules more clarity over why their accounts were suspended.

Soon, Twitch will share any chat excerpt that led to a suspension with the user in question via email and the appeals portal. Eventually, this will expand to clips, so streamers can see how they were deemed to have broken the rules on a livestream or VOD. "We want to give you this information so that you can see what you did, what policies were violated, and if you feel our decision was incorrect, you can appeal," Twitch wrote in a blog post.

The service is also aware that permanent strikes on an account can pose a problem for long-time streamers who may eventually get banned for a smaller slip up. To that end, Twitch is bringing in a strike expiration policy starting in early 2025. "Low-severity strikes will no longer put streamers’ livelihoods at risk, but we’ll still enforce the rules for major violations," Twitch said. "Plus, we’re adding more transparency by showing you exactly what led to a strike."

On the broadcasting front, viewers of streamers who are using Twitch's Enhanced Broadcasting feature will be able to watch streams in 2K starting early next year. This option will be available in select regions at first, with Twitch planning to expand it elsewhere throughout 2025. Also of note, Clancy said that "we're working on 4K."

Also coming in 2025 is the option for those using Enhanced Broadcasting to stream vertical and landscape video at the same time. The idea here is to offer viewers an optimal experience depending on which device they're using to watch streams.

Elsewhere, Twitch is planning some improvements to navigation in its overhauled mobile app, such as letting you access your Followed channels with a single swipe and prioritizing audio from the picture-in-picture player. Streamers will have access to a feature called Clip Carousel, which will highlight the best clips from their latest stream and make them easy to share on desktop and mobile. The platform says it'll be easier for viewers to create clips on mobile devices too.

In addition, Twitch will roll out a shared chat option in the Stream Together feature next week, allowing up to six creators who are streaming together to combine their chats. Streamers' mods will be able to moderate all of the messages in a shared chat and time out or ban anyone who crosses a line. Creators who hop on a Stream Together session can also turn off Shared Chat for their own community.

Last but not least, Twitch will expand its Unity Guilds and Creator Clubs. The idea behind both is to help streamers forge connections, learn from each other and grow with the help of Twitch staff. Over the last year, Twitch has opened up the Black Guild, Women’s Guild and Hispanic and Latin Guild, and it just announced a Pride Guild for the LGBTQIA+ community. All four guilds will expand to accept members from around the world next year.

Creator Clubs are a newer thing that Twitch debuted last month for the DJ and IRL categories. Twitch says that engagement has been higher than expected. Four more Creator Clubs are coming soon for the Artists/Makers, Music, VTubers and Coworking/Coding categories.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/twitch-will-do-a-better-job-of-telling-rulebreakers-why-their-accounts-were-suspended-191502111.html?src=rss

Here’s what a TV show based on Untitled Goose Game could have been like

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Cast your mind back to 2019, when many people were captivated by the idea of terrorizing a quaint English village as a loud, annoying goose. Untitled Goose Game was an absolute delight, but it was fairly short and left me wanting more. In another universe, a TV adaptation would have happened already. While that didn't quite pan out here, we do have a funny proof-of-concept to enjoy.

House House, the game's developer, released a "proof-of-concept for a hypothetical Untitled Goose Programme" on its YouTube channel on Friday. The studio created the short with Playdate maker and Untitled Goose Game publisher Panic and animation house Chromosphere Studio. It's a great four-minute clip that's well worth your time. It shows a goose bullying a journalist and groundskeeper during a TV interview. The art style is lovely, the Wallace and Gromit-esque humor is on point and the goose is just as much of a jerk as the one in the game.

Sadly, House House says that the show didn't gain traction and those involved put the idea on the shelf. But at least we get this very amusing video out of it. If nothing else, it reminded me that I need to play the Panic-published Thank Goodness You're Here, which seems similarly silly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/heres-what-a-tv-show-based-on-untitled-goose-game-could-have-been-like-165116660.html?src=rss

The next Like A Dragon game recasts a series regular as an amnesiac pirate

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Update October 17, 1:17PM ET: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has dropped a new gameplay trailer that shows some naval combat in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It shows off some melee action too, with Majima summoning sharks and large monkeys to help him in battle. You'll be able to try this ridiculous action earlier than expected, as the release date has moved up a week from February 28 to February 21.

Our original story follows below:

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio simply cannot stop pumping out Like A Dragon (aka Yakuza) games. The studio and publisher Sega have revealed that the next entry will hit PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Steam on February 21, just 13 months after Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth debuted. The latest spinoff has a typically kooky twist that’s not exactly kept secret by its title: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

A seven-minute announcement trailer shown at the studio's RGG Summit features Goro Majima, a regular of the series, explaining what's been going on with him recently. About six months earlier, Majima washed up on an island near Hawaii with no memory of how he got there, only to be helped out by a child with a pet tiger cub. It didn't take long until Majima ran afoul of some pirates and swiftly became a pirate captain himself.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes place a year after the events of Infinite Wealth and Ichiban Kasuga's exploits in that game. You'll assemble your crew, upgrade your ship, engage enemy vessels and discover hidden islands. Majima will have two fighting styles that you can switch between on the fly. Opt for the Mad Dog option to vex enemies with "speed, agility and flair," and then switch to Sea Dog to dual wield short swords and "pirate tools," according to a press release. However you slice it, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii already looks way more fun than the 45 minutes I spent playing Skull and Bones.

While February 21 isn't too far away in the grand scheme of things, there are plenty of other Like A Dragon-related things to help keep you occupied in the meantime. Like A Dragon: Yakuza, a live-action TV show based on the series, will debut on Prime Video on October 24. The franchise is also debuting on Nintendo Switch the same day with a port of Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-next-like-a-dragon-game-recasts-a-series-regular-as-an-amnesiac-pirate-142935001.html?src=rss