Microsoft has revealed the first wave of Game Pass additions for June, and they include two titles that suddenly joined the lineup today. Octopath Traveler and its sequel are now available on the service across cloud, console and PC.
When Octopath Traveler 2debuted last year, Xbox was the only major platform it was missing from. Square Enix said last September that the HD-2D RPG would come to Xbox consoles in "early 2024." For what it's worth, the original game took nearly three years to hit Xbox after its 2018 debut on Nintendo Switch — and it only just arrived on PS4 and PS5.
Elsewhere, the Dead Space-esque The Callisto Protocol (from Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield and his team at Striking Distance Studios) arrives on Game Pass on cloud, console and PC on June 13. Still Wakes The Deep, a narrative horror game from The Chinese Room will join the lineup in all three formats on June 18.
Other titles hitting Game Pass in the early part of June are Cthulhu-inspired tabletop RPG Depersonalization (coming to PC Game Pass) and WWI first-person shooter Isonzo (cloud, console and PC). Both will arrive on June 13.
Several games are leaving Game Pass this month as well. Bramble: The Mountain King, High on Life,Rune Factory 4 Special,Spacelines from the Far Out and The Bookwalker are all departing on June 15.
We're about to learn about several more titles that are bound for Game Pass in the coming months and years too. Microsoft will reveal more details about its upcoming slate at the Xbox Games Showcase, which takes place on June 9 as part of Summer Game Fest. We could, for instance, hear about Microsoft's plans for rolling out more Activision Blizzard games on the subscription service.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/both-octopath-traveler-games-are-now-on-xbox-game-pass-150222800.html?src=rss
It emerged recently that Humane was trying to sell itself for as much as $1 billion after its confuddling, expensive and ultimately pretty useless AI Pin flopped. A New York Times report that dropped on Thursday shed a little more light on the company's sales figures and, like the wearable AI assistant itself, the details are not good.
By early April, around the time that many devastating reviews of the AI Pin were published, Humane is said to have received around 10,000 orders for the device. That's a far cry from the 100,000 it was hoping to ship this year, and about 9,000 more than I thought it might get. It's hard to think it picked up many more orders beyond those initial 10,000 after critics slaughtered the AI Pin.
At a price of $700 (plus a mandatory $24 per month for 4G service), that puts Humane's initial revenue at a maximum of about $7.24 million, not accounting for canceled orders. And yet Humane wants a buyer for north of $1 billion after taking a swing and missing so hard it practically knocked out the umpire.
HP is reportedly one of the companies that Humane was in talks with over a potential sale, with discussions starting only a week or so after the reviews came out. Any buyer that does take the opportunity to snap up Humane's business and tech might be picking up somewhat of a poisoned chalice. Not least because the company this week urged its marks customers to stop using the AI Pin's charging case over a possible “fire safety risk.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/humane-is-said-to-be-seeking-a-1-billion-buyout-after-only-10000-orders-of-its-terrible-ai-pin-134147878.html?src=rss
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are solid earbuds that are a more budget-friendly version of the flagship Pixel Buds. That’s even more true when you consider that the Pixel Buds A-Series are on sale at the minute. You can snap up a pair for $79, which is $20 off the usual price. While that’s not a record low price for the earbuds, it’s still a good deal and the best offer we’ve seen on them so far this year.
We gave the Pixel Buds A-Series a score of 84 in our review after being surprised that Google retained most of the features of the original Pixel Buds. We feel they are comfortable to wear and they deliver solid sound quality.
There are some odd quirks, such as the lack of onboard volume controls. Instead, Google suggests users the audio levels via Google Assistant (you can always change the volume manually on your connected device too). That said, there are some deep Assistant integrations here. You can activate the voice assistant hands-free and use Google Translate. You can receive a bevy of useful notifications through your earbuds too.
Meanwhile, the Pixel Buds Pro are also on sale. They can be all yours for $140, which is $60 off the list price. Features like active noise cancellation, punchy and deep bass, wireless charging and sturdy touch controls helped the Pixel Buds Pro earn a score of 87 in our review.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-buds-a-series-are-on-sale-for-79-right-now-153229465.html?src=rss
For the second time this year, Behaviour Interactive has announced a round of layoffs. The Dead by Daylightmaker says it will dismiss as many as 95 employees, 70 of whom are based in its home city of Montreal. The company also has studios in Toronto, Seattle, the UK and the Netherlands. It previously shed 45 jobs in January.
Behaviour said in a press release that its ranks had grown from 575 to 1,300 over the last five years, buoyed by the success of Dead by Daylight and its service business (it works "alongside the industry’s global leaders to develop hundreds of high-quality titles"). The company says neither the service business nor DbD development will be affected by the layoffs.
It notes that the high level of competition in the gaming space has led it to narrow its focus on its core strengths, with the restructuring process leading to the layoffs. The company will concentrate on horror games and working with its development partners. It also claims it will "explore the possibilities of location-based entertainment," without detailing what that means.
This is the second blow for Montreal's gaming sector in as many days. On Monday, Just Cause creator Avalanche closed studios in the city and New York, laying off 50 people as a result. Avalanche had only opened the Montreal office in October after buying Monster Closet Games.
The gaming industry at large is in a state of turmoil. The estimated number of video game layoffs so far this year sits at 10,300, which is already nearing the 2023 total of around 10,500.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dead-by-daylight-maker-behaviour-announces-its-second-round-of-layoffs-this-year-170725177.html?src=rss
E3 might be dead and buried but there's still a ton of gaming news to look forward to in the coming days as Summer Game Fest 2024 is standing in the old expo's stead. SGF has gradually taken on more importance over the last few years as an umbrella for all the various game showcases that take place each June.
From June 7 until June 10, a string of SGF events will highlight dozens of games. The big announcements will all be livestreamed for you to watch at home but there's also an in-person component to SGF. Engadget will have boots on the ground to bring you some extra insight as well as our impressions of many of the games featured throughout the event.
For those of you who'll be enjoying the festivities from afar, here's the lowdown on how to watch Summer Game Fest 2024 and what to expect.
Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule:
How to watch Summer Game Fest Live - June 7, 5pm ET
We've seen some major announcements at the two-hour tentpole SGF showcase over the last few years, but it seems the 2024 edition will be more muted. SGF organizer and host Geoff Keighley has tried to temper expectations by saying that most of what's shown this year will be new info on previously announced games.
He has confirmed that Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance and Metaphor: Refantazio(a fantasy JRPG from the team behind Persona) will get some time in the spotlight. Also on deck are the release date for free co-op shooter The First Descendant, a peek at 3D fighter Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and a look at the Among Us animated series.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kingdom Hearts IV, The Wolf Among Us 2and Ken Levine's definitely-not-BioShock followup to BioShock Judaswill not be featured. There will be some fresh reveals, though maybe try to keep your hype levels in check for this one. "There definitely are things that are being announced but this is not a show that has a lot of like 'coming in 2026' or '2027', or teasers for games that are years and years out," Keighley said.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: Moderate.
Day of the Devs - June 7, 7PM ET
How to watch: YouTube (the same stream as SGF Live above) and Twitch
Day of the Devs is a reliably great showcase of upcoming indie games. The team always manages to assemble a collection of diverse and intriguing titles. Last year's Game Awards edition, for instance, included peeks at Open Roads, Crow Country and Mars After Midnight, all of which we've enjoyed so far this year. I inevitably end up adding at least four or five games from Day of the Devs to my Steam wishlist, so it's a must watch.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: Team Cherry is an indie studio, but nope.
Devolver Direct - June 7, 8PM ET
How to watch: YouTube (the same stream as SGF Live above) and Twitch
Devolver Digital's annual helping of chaos is once again upon us. The publisher's reliably kooky Direct stream will include details on at least a few games. Here's hoping we get release dates for The Plucky Squire and Skate Story, the latter which has been at the top of my to-play list for a couple of years. Both titles are supposed to be arriving in 2024, so now would be a great time for an update. Keep your fingers crossed for details on man-baby walking simulator Baby Stepsamid the "exciting new reveals" Devolver has planned.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: Highly unlikely.
This could well be the biggest showcase of the week in terms of major game announcements. It’s the first time that Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard have all been part of one of these events.
Microsoft has quite a few games and major updates on its 2024 slate. We’ll likely get details and or release dates on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Starfield and Diablo IVexpansions and the next season of Overwatch 2. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse of Arkane Lyon's Blade game too. Expect to hear about more titles that are on the way to Game Pass, and possibly additional first-party games making the leap over to PlayStation and Switch.
For many, the main event will take place after the main showcase as we’ll learn all about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The next installment of the series is likely set during the Gulf War. It’s the first Call of Duty title that will be available on Game Pass on its release day. It marks a major risk for Microsoft in foregoing sales of boxed copies of the game in favor of a boost in subscriber numbers.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: Medium to high. The last we heard much about the game was at this showcase in 2022.
Ubisoft Forward - June 10, 3PM ET
How to watch: YouTube (with English subtitles, audio description and American Sign Language options) and Twitch
XDefiantwill get the same treatment. We'll probably hear about what's next for some of Ubisoft's other ongoing games, such as Rainbow Six: Siege and Skull and Bones, and perhaps some future plans for The Division. Ubisoft Forward will have a preshow and a postshow, so there's lots ahead from the company.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: Unless [shudders] Ubisoft suddenly buys Team Cherry, nil.
The house that Mario built has assured the world that there will be a Nintendo Direct sometime in June, but it has yet to announce the particulars. One thing that will not be a factor in this showcase is the successor to the Nintendo Switch. While the company has pledged to announce its next flagship system by next March, it will not be doing so here.
Chances of a Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance: High, especially if Xbox doesn't feature it.
And that's not all, folks. There are several other showcases taking place over the coming days. Atlus is hosting a YouTube stream dedicated to Metaphor: ReFantazio on Friday at 9PM ET. Saturday in particular has a bunch to check out, including the Future of Play Direct, Wholesome Direct (both of which feature family-friendly games), the Latin American Games Showcase and a Women-Led Games stream. These will run throughout the day, starting at 11AM ET. On Sunday, the PC Gaming Show will follow the Call of Duty Direct at 4PM ET.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/summer-game-fest-2024-what-to-expect-and-how-to-watch-games-revealed-live-165058094.html?src=rss
Heads up for those of you who are clinging onto a second- or third-gen Apple TV box: you'll need to upgrade soon if you want to keep watching Netflix through your set-top box. Netflix is ending support for those devices on July 31.
According to Apple Insider, Netflix is informing customers of the change by email. It didn't fully explain why it's ending support for the two boxes — each of which debuted over a decade ago — other than to say it’s doing so to "maintain the best possible Netflix experience." In fairness, that’s tough to do on old hardware that won’t be able to support newer codecs.
In a broad sense, it’s a pity to see major services abandoning older hardware, especially since that will increase the chances of those products becoming waste and ending up in landfill. That said, there often comes a point where maintaining support for a dwindling user base of aging devices no longer makes sense.
As luck would have it, though, the latest version of the Apple TV 4K is on sale. The 64GB version has dropped to $90, which is $40 off and the lowest price we’ve seen for it to date.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-might-need-to-upgrade-your-apple-tv-box-to-keep-watching-netflix-151458362.html?src=rss
Smart TVs are the default option for the largest display in the home (unless you have a projector, that is). Their operating systems can be hit or miss, but thankfully there are other options available in the form of dedicated streaming devices. For those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV 4K is perhaps the best option of the bunch. The third-gen version is currently on sale at Verizon, where the 64GB model has dropped by $40 to $90. That's the best price we've seen for this variant to date.
The third-gen Apple TV 4K is our pick for the best premium streaming device and we gave it a score of 94 in our review. It's very fast as it runs on an A15 Bionic chip — the same hardware that powers the iPhone 14. It takes barely any time at all to load or switch between apps. With the help of the Siri remote's touch-sensitive directional pad, you can quickly skip to a certain point of an episode or movie. The box (which has a smaller, fan-less design than previous generations) also delivers great picture quality and it has 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.
Setting up the Apple TV 4K is a cinch if you have an iPhone, but you don't need to have other Apple products to get a lot out of the device (even if the Apple TV app does skew toward Apple TV+ content). Those who are embedded in the Apple ecosystem though will likely appreciate being able to use Apple Fitness+ and Apple Arcade on a big screen.
A recently spotted filing indicated that Sony was building an adapter to make the PS VR2 work with PCs. At the time, there were no details about how connectivity would work (the PS VR2 natively uses a single USB-C cable) but Sony has cleared that up. The adapter will connect to a DisplayPort 1.4-compatible port though you'll need to supply your own DisplayPort cable. The adapter also has a USB connection and HDMI output in case you want to capture your gameplay or share what you're seeing with others in the room.
You'll need a PC that's up to scratch too. The system will need to have at least 8GB of memory and an Intel Core i5-7600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 processor with Zen 2 or later architecture. As for your CPU, Sony recommends at least an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT, though you should get away with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 5500XT at minimum. Your PC will also need to support at least Bluetooth 4.0 or later.
If your system checks all those boxes, then you'll be able to play the likes of Half-Life: Alyx on a PS VR2. The adapter will give users access to thousands of Steam VR games through the headset, orders of magnitude more than are available for the PS VR2 through a PlayStation 5.
Sony notes that some PS VR2 features aren't available when playing on PC, such as headset feedback, eye tracking, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback (except for a more generic rumble). Disappointingly, there won't be HDR support. However, you will be able to enjoy 4K visuals, a 110-degree field of view, finger touch detection, and see-through view are all supported, along with foveated rendering (sans eye tracking) and 3D audio if a game supports it.
We do think the PS VR2 is a great headset for VR gaming and gave it a score of 84 in our review, though we had some reservations, largely due to its price. The headset typically costs $550, but it's $100 off until June 12 as part of Sony's Days of Play sale. A bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain will run you an extra $50.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-ps-vr2-adaptor-for-pc-will-arrive-on-august-7-with-a-60-price-tag-155751937.html?src=rss
If you're on the hunt for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 deal, now is a good time to take the plunge — and not only because the wearable can be used as a dive watch. The device has dropped by $85 to $714 at Amazon. That's a discount of 11 percent, fact fans. The deal only applies to one certain variant, which has a titanium case and green/grey Trail Loop band, and only in a small/medium size (the larger option is $740). Still, that's a record low price for this particular option.
This is our pick for the best Apple Watch for adventurers. As noted, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be used in the water, where it measures the temperature, dive duration and gauge up to 40 meters of depth. On terra firma, dual-frequency GPS support means that you should see more accurate pace calculations and route tracking than with other Apple wearables. When you're out in the wild, you can set waypoints in the Compass app to help you find your way back to your starting point, while an onboard siren could help others find you if you need help.
Meanwhile, you can set up the action button to carry out more or less any function you want when you push it. The battery should run for around 36 hours before it needs to be recharged and the low-power mode can help extend that timeframe. As with the Apple Watch Series 9, the S9 SiP (system in package) supports on-device Siri processing and the double tap function for hands-free use.
If you're on the hunt for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 deal, now is a good time to take the plunge — and not only because the wearable can be used as a dive watch. The device has dropped by $85 to $714 at Amazon. That's a discount of 11 percent, fact fans. The deal only applies to one certain variant, which has a titanium case and green/grey Trail Loop band, and only in a small/medium size (the larger option is $740). Still, that's a record low price for this particular option.
This is our pick for the best Apple Watch for adventurers. As noted, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be used in the water, where it measures the temperature, dive duration and gauge up to 40 meters of depth. On terra firma, dual-frequency GPS support means that you should see more accurate pace calculations and route tracking than with other Apple wearables. When you're out in the wild, you can set waypoints in the Compass app to help you find your way back to your starting point, while an onboard siren could help others find you if you need help.
Meanwhile, you can set up the action button to carry out more or less any function you want when you push it. The battery should run for around 36 hours before it needs to be recharged and the low-power mode can help extend that timeframe. As with the Apple Watch Series 9, the S9 SiP (system in package) supports on-device Siri processing and the double tap function for hands-free use.