Tag Archives: provider_name|Engadget

The Morning After: Get ready for Meta Connect

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Meta’s annual VR / AR shindig kicks off a few hours after this newsletter hits your inboxes. As usual, it’ll lay down the direction of travel for the next year of strapping stuff to your face. So, before the awkward stage banter begins, it’s worth reading up on what’s to come. We’ve prepared our usual roundup of all the rumors, scuttlebutt and leaks about what we’ll see.

That includes Orion, a pair of Buddy Holly glasses offering augmented reality in a more user friendly package. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already hinted about its potential, but he added we’ll only see the prototype today. We can also expect a cheaper version of the Quest 3 and some more AI doodads to come to the Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Once you’ve studied up, you can follow our coverage of Meta Connect 2024 live to get a blow-by-blow of the show the minute it happens. Everything kicks off at 1PM ET / 10AM PT, but the color commentary will start long before then.

— Dan Cooper

Caroline Ellison, CEO of Alameda Research and advisor to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, has been sentenced to two years in prison. Ellison pled guilty at the end of 2022 for her role in the FTX fraud and was a key witness in Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial. Ellison will spend a further three years on supervised release once she has left prison. In a statement, the disgraced crypto executive expressed remorse for her conduct.

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Image of not a Drowzee with its own minigun.
Pocketpair

Depending on your loyalties, Palworld is either an exciting spin on the adventure genre or a shameless rip-off of Pokémon, but with guns. Developer Pocketpair is being sued in Japan by Nintendo, who is firmly in the latter camp, but that isn’t yet slowing Palworld’s progress. The title was just surprise-launched for the PS5 in 68 countries, with Japan an obvious exception.

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Image of the Duolingo Piano
Duolingo

I’ve been a fan of cute pianos that teach you how to play for a long while and have reviewed a few for Engadget. Now, Duolingo is getting in on the action, teaming up with baby digital piano makers Loog to produce its own learning piano. It’ll integrate with Duolingo’s app, which has music courses to teach folks how to grasp the basics of playing. And, did I mention that I really want to play with one of these?

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Image of the TikTok Music announcement, saying it will close November 28
TikTok Music

TikTok has announced TikTok Music, the company’s streaming service to rival Spotify and Apple Music, is closing down. The platform announced it’ll cease operations on November 28 and delete all user data and login information soon after. It has advised subscribers to reach out to their payment platforms of choice to get refunds before that date. Don’t worry though, I’m a technology journalist and even I didn’t know TikTok had its own standalone streaming service.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111528327.html?src=rss

X just released its first full transparency report since Elon Musk took over

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X has published its most detailed accounting of its content moderation practices since Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The report, X’s first in more than a year, provides new insight into how X is enforcing its rules as it struggles to hang on to advertisers who have raised concerns about toxicity on the platform.

The report, which details content takedowns and account suspensions from the first half of 2024, shows that suspensions have more than tripled since the last time the company shared data. X suspended just under 5.3 million accounts during the period, compared with 1.6 million suspensions during the first six months of 2022.

In addition to the suspensions, X says it “removed or labeled” more than 10.6 million posts for violating its rules. Violations of the company’s hateful conduct policy accounted for nearly half of that number, with X taking action on 4.9 million such posts. Posts containing abuse and harassment (2.6 million) and violent content (2.2 million) also accounted for a significant percentage of the takedowns and labels.

While these numbers don’t tell a complete story about the state of content on X — the company doesn’t distinguish between posts it removes and those that it labels, for example — it shows that hateful, abusive and violent content are among the biggest issues facing the platform. Those are also the same issues numerous advertisers and civil rights groups have raised concerns about since Musk’s takeover of the company. In the report, X claims that rule-breaking content accounted for less than 1 percent of all posts shared on the platform.

Numbers shared by X.
X

The numbers also suggest there have been significant increases in this type of content since Twitter last shared numbers prior to Musk’s takeover. For example, in the last half of 2021, the last time Twitter shared such data, the company reported it suspended about 1.3 million accounts for terms of service violations and “actioned” about 4.3 million.

X previously published an abbreviated report in a 383-word blog post last April, which shared some stats on content takedowns, but offered almost no details on government requests for information or post removals. The new report is a significant improvement on that front. It says that X received 18,737 government requests for information, with the majority of the requests coming from within the EU and a reported disclosure rate of 53 percent. X also received 72,703 requests from governments to remove content from its platform. The company says it took action in just over 70 percent of cases. Japan accounted for the vast majority of those requests (46,648), followed by Turkey (9,364).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-just-released-its-first-full-transparency-report-since-elon-musk-took-over-110038194.html?src=rss

X just released its first full transparency report since Elon Musk took over

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X has published its most detailed accounting of its content moderation practices since Elon Musk’s takeover of the company. The report, X’s first in more than a year, provides new insight into how X is enforcing its rules as it struggles to hang on to advertisers who have raised concerns about toxicity on the platform.

The report, which details content takedowns and account suspensions from the first half of 2024, shows that suspensions have more than tripled since the last time the company shared data. X suspended just under 5.3 million accounts during the period, compared with 1.6 million suspensions during the first six months of 2022.

In addition to the suspensions, X says it “removed or labeled” more than 10.6 million posts for violating its rules. Violations of the company’s hateful conduct policy accounted for nearly half of that number, with X taking action on 4.9 million such posts. Posts containing abuse and harassment (2.6 million) and violent content (2.2 million) also accounted for a significant percentage of the takedowns and labels.

While these numbers don’t tell a complete story about the state of content on X — the company doesn’t distinguish between posts it removes and those that it labels, for example — it shows that hateful, abusive and violent content are among the biggest issues facing the platform. Those are also the same issues numerous advertisers and civil rights groups have raised concerns about since Musk’s takeover of the company. In the report, X claims that rule-breaking content accounted for less than 1 percent of all posts shared on the platform.

Numbers shared by X.
X

The numbers also suggest there have been significant increases in this type of content since Twitter last shared numbers prior to Musk’s takeover. For example, in the last half of 2021, the last time Twitter shared such data, the company reported it suspended about 1.3 million accounts for terms of service violations and “actioned” about 4.3 million.

X previously published an abbreviated report in a 383-word blog post last April, which shared some stats on content takedowns, but offered almost no details on government requests for information or post removals. The new report is a significant improvement on that front. It says that X received 18,737 government requests for information, with the majority of the requests coming from within the EU and a reported disclosure rate of 53 percent. X also received 72,703 requests from governments to remove content from its platform. The company says it took action in just over 70 percent of cases. Japan accounted for the vast majority of those requests (46,648), followed by Turkey (9,364).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-just-released-its-first-full-transparency-report-since-elon-musk-took-over-110038194.html?src=rss

Palworld suddenly arrives on PS5

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There have been murmurings for some time that Pocketpair was planning to bring Palworld, one of the biggest games of the year, to PlayStation 5. However, it was a bit of a surprise to find out during Sony's State of Play stream that the action-adventure game is available for the console today.

Palworld (which is often described as "Pokémon with guns") landed on Xbox and PC in Early Access in January and was an immediate hit, selling over a million copies in just eight hours. Within a month, it had reached more than 25 million players. According to Microsoft, it had the biggest ever debut for a third-party title on Game Pass. 

However, it quickly emerged that The Pokémon Company was investigating Palworld. Fast forward eight months, and the company and Nintendo filed suit against Pocketpair in Japan. In a post on X, the developer said that the PS5 version of the game is now available in 68 countries and regions around the world, but Japan isn't one of them. The release date for the country has yet to be decided. 

"This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights," Nintendo said after filing the suit last week. Pocketpair's CEO said the game "cleared legal reviews" and the studio said it would "begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement."

So it's not exactly ideal timing for Palworld to land on PS5. But hey, if you're willing to buy a game that could potentially be forced to shut down in a few months or years due to a lawsuit, you can now do that on your PlayStation.

Update, Sept. 25, 2024, 3:13AM ET: Added information that Palworld for the PS5 is not yet available in Japan.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/palworld-suddenly-arrives-on-ps5-224601245.html?src=rss

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered arrives October 31 on PS5 and PC

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Jan-Bart van Beek, Guerilla Games' art and animation director, has officially announced that a remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is arriving on October 31. The game will feature over 10 hours of re-recorded audio, mocap, as well as improved character models, animation, lighting and textures that he said will bring it "to the same visual fidelity" as Horizon Forbidden West. That means it has been upgraded for the PlayStation 5 and compatible PCs, and it even supports the PS5 Pro, which will be available on November 7. 

In his announcement, van Beek explained that seven years is a long time when it comes to computer graphics and that a lot of technological improvements have become available since the game's original release. Nixxes, a Dutch video game developer, worked on the remaster, which will also feature improved audio and Atmos rendering that will make it more immersive. The remastered version will come with The Frozen Wilds expansion and all its additional lands, machines and skills, as well. Those who get the PC version can also expect support for ultra-wide resolutions and for performance-enhancing technologies, such as NVIDIA's DLSS 3 AI-based rendering accelerator. 

The original game's accessibility features, like its remappable controls and haptic cues, have been carried over to this version. In addition, there's a new optional accessibility feature that can notify players of interactable elements with sound and haptic feedback. 

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will be available for purchase for $50, but those who already own the original game and the complete edition version can upgrade for $10, whether they're buying on the PS5 or on the PC via Steam or the Epic Games Store. The $10 upgrade will even be available to players who added the game to their libraries from one of Sony's Play at Home program giveaways during the pandemic lockdowns. Fans upgrading with a PS4 game disc will have to insert it into their console every time they play, though, so they cannot access the upgrade offer if they have the disc-free version of PS5. Pre-orders for both PC and PS5 will open on October 3.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-arrives-october-31-on-ps5-and-pc-052407167.html?src=rss

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered arrives October 31 on PS5 and PC

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Jan-Bart van Beek, Guerilla Games' art and animation director, has officially announced that a remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is arriving on October 31. The game will feature over 10 hours of re-recorded audio, mocap, as well as improved character models, animation, lighting and textures that he said will bring it "to the same visual fidelity" as Horizon Forbidden West. That means it has been upgraded for the PlayStation 5 and compatible PCs, and it even supports the PS5 Pro, which will be available on November 7. 

In his announcement, van Beek explained that seven years is a long time when it comes to computer graphics and that a lot of technological improvements have become available since the game's original release. Nixxes, a Dutch video game developer, worked on the remaster, which will also feature improved audio and Atmos rendering that will make it more immersive. The remastered version will come with The Frozen Wilds expansion and all its additional lands, machines and skills, as well. Those who get the PC version can also expect support for ultra-wide resolutions and for performance-enhancing technologies, such as NVIDIA's DLSS 3 AI-based rendering accelerator. 

The original game's accessibility features, like its remappable controls and haptic cues, have been carried over to this version. In addition, there's a new optional accessibility feature that can notify players of interactable elements with sound and haptic feedback. 

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will be available for purchase for $50, but those who already own the original game and the complete edition version can upgrade for $10, whether they're buying on the PS5 or on the PC via Steam or the Epic Games Store. The $10 upgrade will even be available to players who added the game to their libraries from one of Sony's Play at Home program giveaways during the pandemic lockdowns. Fans upgrading with a PS4 game disc will have to insert it into their console every time they play, though, so they cannot access the upgrade offer if they have the disc-free version of PS5.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/horizon-zero-dawn-remastered-arrives-october-31-on-ps5-and-pc-052407167.html?src=rss

Ghost of Yōtei is a Tsushima sequel coming to PS5 in 2025

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The 2020 PlayStation hit Ghost of Tsushima is getting a sequel featuring a new protagonist, era and landscape. Ghost of Yōtei is heading to PlayStation 5 in 2025.

Ghost of Yōtei stars a new Ghost, Atsu, who's journeying through the lands at the base of Mount Yōtei in Ezo — modern-day Hokkaido — in 1603. This means the sequel is set 300 years after the events of Tsushima, which focused on the Mongol invasion of that region. In 1603, Yōtei was not under Japanese rule, and the debut trailer shows vast, untouched grasslands, snowy forests and sun-drenched ridges dotted with wildflowers, a strong breeze blowing through each scene. There's a distinct cowboy twang to the music in the trailer, particularly as Atsu interacts with wild horses. She also meets a wolf, which is neat.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sucker Punch noted that Yōtei wasn't home to organized samurai clans like those in Tsushima, and said this formed the basis of the sequel's new, original story.

This is the first game that Sucker Punch has built from the ground-up for PS5.

"We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future," Sucker Punch communications manager Andrew Goldfarb said. "Our new setting also gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ghost-of-yotei-is-a-tsushima-sequel-coming-to-ps5-in-2025-231306124.html?src=rss

Ghost of Yōtei is a Tsushima sequel coming to PS5 in 2025

Posted on by

The 2020 PlayStation hit Ghost of Tsushima is getting a sequel featuring a new protagonist, era and landscape. Ghost of Yōtei is heading to PlayStation 5 in 2025.

Ghost of Yōtei stars a new Ghost, Atsu, who's journeying through the lands at the base of Mount Yōtei in Ezo — modern-day Hokkaido — in 1603. This means the sequel is set 300 years after the events of Tsushima, which focused on the Mongol invasion of that region. In 1603, Yōtei was not under Japanese rule, and the debut trailer shows vast, untouched grasslands, snowy forests and sun-drenched ridges dotted with wildflowers, a strong breeze blowing through each scene. There's a distinct cowboy twang to the music in the trailer, particularly as Atsu interacts with wild horses. She also meets a wolf, which is neat.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sucker Punch noted that Yōtei wasn't home to organized samurai clans like those in Tsushima, and said this formed the basis of the sequel's new, original story.

This is the first game that Sucker Punch has built from the ground-up for PS5.

"We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future," Sucker Punch communications manager Andrew Goldfarb said. "Our new setting also gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ghost-of-yotei-is-a-tsushima-sequel-coming-to-ps5-in-2025-231306124.html?src=rss

Palworld suddenly arrives on PS5

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There have been murmurings for some time that Pocketpair was planning to bring Palworld, one of the biggest games of the year, to PlayStation 5. However, it was a bit of a surprise to find out during Sony's State of Play stream that the action-adventure game is available for the console today.

Palworld (which is often described as "Pokémon with guns") landed on Xbox and PC in Early Access in January and was an immediate hit, selling over a million copies in just eight hours. Within a month, it had reached more than 25 million players. According to Microsoft, it had the biggest ever debut for a third-party title on Game Pass. 

However, it quickly emerged that The Pokémon Company was investigating Palworld. Fast forward eight months, and the company and Nintendo filed suit against Pocketpair in Japan. In a post on X, the developer said that the PS5 version of the game is now available in 68 countries and regions around the world, but Japan isn't one of them. The release date for the country has yet to be decided. 

"This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights," Nintendo said after filing the suit last week. Pocketpair's CEO said the game "cleared legal reviews" and the studio said it would "begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement."

So it's not exactly ideal timing for Palworld to land on PS5. But hey, if you're willing to buy a game that could potentially be forced to shut down in a few months or years due to a lawsuit, you can now do that on your PlayStation.

Update, Sept. 25, 2024, 3:13AM ET: Added information that Palworld for the PS5 is not yet available in Japan.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/palworld-suddenly-arrives-on-ps5-224601245.html?src=rss

Astro Bot is getting a free update that adds speedrunning levels

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Charming 3D platformer Astro Bot just released earlier this month and the game is already getting a content update. Later this fall, the game is adding a free add-on of five levels designed specifically for speedrunning. The news kicked off Sony's September State of Play showcase. Check out the teaser above for all the cuteness to come.

Inside the new levels, Team Asobi is also adding ten new robot pals to be rescued. These include bots designed after the futuristic armies of Helldivers II and Eve from Stellar Blade. The bots are a fun wink and nod to the PlayStation fandom, with familiar franchise stars alongside deeper cuts from the console's history.

Basically, if you haven't already gotten on the Astro Bot hype train, now is the time.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-is-getting-a-free-update-that-adds-speedrunning-levels-224234066.html?src=rss