Category: Gaming

  • Xbox Game Pass Losing 6 Games in January 2024

    Xbox Game Pass Losing 6 Games in January 2024

    After Microsoft introduced four new titles to the Xbox Game Pass on January 8, gamers will soon need to bid farewell to six games on January 15. Fans of puzzles should definitely check out Escape Academy, Figment, and Those Who Remain before they disappear. For those who enjoy multiplayer shooters, Insurgency: Sandstorm and Exoprimal are worth the time, while builders might want to squeeze in one last play with Common’Hood. Until the games are removed, members can enjoy a 20% discount on all these titles. Below is a brief summary:

    Common’Hood

    Common’Hood is a game centered around construction, allowing players to create and sustain a community within an abandoned factory. It showcases a simple art style along with intricate building mechanics. Players need to gather resources, research new technologies, and craft tools to fulfill the settlers’ requirements. As the game progresses, many activities can be automated with robots, which adds more complexity to the gameplay.

    Escape Academy

    In Escape Academy, players join a distinctive school that focuses on training individuals to master escape rooms. Whether playing solo or in pairs, they tackle twelve cleverly designed escape rooms filled with various challenges. The game also includes competitive modes like treasure hunts and puzzle races. The colorful art style gives a unique charm to the puzzle-solving experience.

    Exoprimal

    Exoprimal is a third-person shooter that places players in advanced combat suits to face waves of dinosaurs, including the particularly perilous Neosaurs. The exosuits come in different roles like Assault, Tank, and Support, allowing for customization to suit various play styles. In the Dinosaur Survival game mode, two teams of five compete against each other to achieve objectives and safeguard humanity from the dinosaurs. Exoprimal features realistic graphics with a futuristic aesthetic.

    Figment

    Figment is a musical action-adventure that unfolds in a lively, hand-painted realm. Players take on the role of Dusty, the former voice of courage, and along with his companion Piper, embark on a quest through a mind haunted by nightmares. The mission involves solving puzzles and combating nightmarish creatures to reclaim lost courage. A notable aspect is the dynamic soundtrack that shifts and evolves based on the players’ actions, adding a unique musical touch to the overall experience.

    Insurgency: Sandstorm

    Insurgency: Sandstorm is a team-based multiplayer shooter that provides thrilling 14v14 battles or cooperative matches where up to eight players face AI opponents. Set in a gritty and realistic war environment with an authentic color palette, the game prioritizes precision and teamwork. Players can tailor their characters using a wide range of weapons and gear, while realistic ballistics and quick time-to-kill mechanics heighten the high-stakes atmosphere.

    Those Who Remain

    Those Who Remain is a psychological horror adventure that takes place in the eerie town of Dormont, where moral choices significantly impact the narrative. Players must navigate two linked dimensions, using light sources to explore, solve puzzles, and survive. The choices made directly affect the protagonist’s fate and mold a story that explores themes of loss, guilt, and the essence of humanity.

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  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows Previews Coming Next Week Despite Delay

    Assassin’s Creed Shadows Previews Coming Next Week Despite Delay

    Ubisoft is moving forward with its plans for the Assassin’s Creed Shadows preview event next week, even though the game has been delayed. Gaming insider Tom Henderson has confirmed that this event will give media and content creators a chance to get an early glimpse of the game. However, the exact date when coverage can be shared is still not known.

    Game Delay Details

    Originally, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was set to release on February 14, 2025, but it has faced several delays, with the latest push moving it to March 20, 2025. Ubisoft explained that they needed more time for development to enhance gameplay and respond to player feedback. Despite this delay, the preview event is still happening as planned.

    Event Logistics

    Henderson pointed out that logistical issues played a role in Ubisoft’s choice to keep the event on schedule. The development team was striving for “maximum polish,” but they also didn’t want to disrupt the showcase that was already arranged. There were early rumors that the embargo for sharing information might be lifted around January 20, but this has not been confirmed yet.

    Community Reactions

    Fans on social media sites like X and Reddit are eager for the preview event to address uncertainties about gameplay and overall quality. This is especially true given the recent emphasis on the two main characters, Yasuke and Naoe, and the newly improved parkour system. With many significant game releases in February, March may be a more strategic time for Assassin’s Creed Shadows to launch, especially since this game is critical for Ubisoft’s future.

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  • Nintendo Switch 2 Design Leaked: 360-Degree Render & 8.4″ Display

    Nintendo Switch 2 Design Leaked: 360-Degree Render & 8.4″ Display

    The Japanese gaming company has been rather quiet regarding its upcoming console, but leaks continue to provide insights. The Nintendo Switch 2 logo has recently surfaced, closely resembling the previous design.

    Exciting New Renders

    Thanks to 91mobiles and OnLeaks, we now have detailed images and a 360-degree video of the eagerly awaited Nintendo Switch 2. This much-anticipated console is set to feature a larger display, enhanced controllers, and various design updates, taking the gaming experience to new heights.

    Design Insights

    The leaks reveal a comprehensive look at the new design. On the top side, there’s a power button and volume controls on the right, while the left side houses the game card slot. This suggests that the Switch 2 may offer backward compatibility with existing Switch titles—a dream come true for gamers with extensive libraries.

    Additionally, a 3.5mm headphone jack appears, catering to users who prefer wired headphones. Adjacent to it, a USB Type-C port is likely intended for charging, addressing a frequent complaint about the current Switch design, which can be awkward to charge, particularly in tabletop mode. There’s also an intriguing sensor at the top, possibly serving as an ambient light sensor.

    Improved Features

    The console showcases a sleek bottom design with a central dock featuring guide pins on either side and dual speaker openings. On the reverse side, there’s a robust ‘U’ kickstand, significantly better than the kickstand on the Switch OLED, which was already an upgrade from the original Switch’s flimsy support.

    The Joy-Cons maintain their previous layout, including the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons, D-Pad, and sticks. However, they are now marginally larger and include a new button above the ‘Home’ button on the right Joy-Con. On the back, a new trigger button is placed next to ‘ZL’ and ‘ZR’ for Joy-Con detachment. The close positioning of these buttons might pose challenges during gameplay.

    Larger Display Ahead

    According to OnLeaks, the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a notably larger display measuring 8.4 inches. In comparison, the current Switch OLED has a 7-inch screen, while the standard Switch has a 6.2-inch display. This upgrade is likely to greatly enhance the handheld gaming experience.

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  • Square Enix to Take Legal Action Against Employee Harassment

    Square Enix to Take Legal Action Against Employee Harassment

    Square Enix has put out a new “Group Customer Harassment Policy” aimed at protecting its employees from harassment. This policy allows the company to refuse service or even pursue legal action against individuals who engage in abusive behavior towards their staff.

    Definition of Abusive Behavior

    The policy clearly defines what it considers to be abusive actions. These include “denial of personality, violence, defamation, intimidation, advance notice of wrongdoing, advance notice of obstruction of business, harassment.” It specifically mentions personal attacks that might occur through email, social media, or face-to-face interactions. Furthermore, Square Enix will not tolerate anyone who trespasses on its property or enters its offices without permission.

    Undue Demands and Excessive Requests

    Moreover, the policy outlines what it calls “Undue demand,” which refers to “changes or exchange of product or request for monetary compensation” and “Excessive requests for the provision of products and services exceeding socially accepted norms.” It is particularly noteworthy that the policy addresses situations such as “Unreasonable response or request for an apology” and “Unreasonable and excessive demands for punishment of our employees.”

    A Shield Against Controversy

    This new policy seems to be a protective measure in light of the recent controversies surrounding its games. For instance, there was significant backlash regarding censorship in the HD-2D Remake of Dragon Quest III. Also, fans have accused the company of censoring Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, even four years after its launch. Additionally, issues related to Wuk Lamat in Final Fantasy 14 online have also stirred up discontent among players.

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  • RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Rasterization vs Ray Tracing Performance

    RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Rasterization vs Ray Tracing Performance

    The RTX 4090 stands as the top consumer desktop GPU within the RTX 40 series. With AMD not offering a rival to the RTX 4090, as the RX 7900 XTX is more aligned with the RTX 4080, Nvidia has maintained its dominance in the high-end gaming segment. Looking ahead, Team Green is expected to keep this top spot with the upcoming RTX 5090, especially since AMD has opted out of competing in the premium market with its RDNA 4 architecture.

    Performance Comparison

    Now, the big question is how does the RTX 5090 stack up against the RTX 4090? Nvidia has shared some performance figures for the RTX 5090, but didn’t provide in-depth insights into its raw rasterization or ray tracing performance. Instead, the focus has been on DLSS 4 and its impressive 4x Frame Generation.

    Benchmark Insights

    Fortunately, the RTX 5090 might already be in the hands of some reviewers, leading to the emergence of synthetic benchmark scores. Two notable results indicate that the RTX 5090 outperforms the RTX 4090 in both rasterization and ray tracing tests.

    According to a thread on Chiphell, which is likely to be taken down soon, the RTX 5090 achieved scores exceeding 24,000 in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme test and over 13,500 in the Speed Way benchmark.

    Detailed Score Analysis

    Focusing on the Time Spy Extreme score, the RTX 4090’s results from 3DMark show values ranging from about 22,800 to 23,300. If we take a score of 22,800 for the RTX 4090 and 24,000 for the RTX 5090, it suggests that the Blackwell GPU is around 5.3% faster than its earlier version. Of course, results may vary with different high scores, but for our discussion, we can assume lower figures for both GPUs.

    When considering the 3DMark Speed Way test, which evaluates ray tracing, the RTX 5090’s reported score of 13,500+ positions it 8% ahead of the best RTX 4090 recorded in the 3DMark database. Again, since the RTX 4090 has scores that fall between about 11,430 and 12,489, the performance difference in favor of the RTX 5090 could be significantly larger if we base it on the lower RTX 4090 scores. For example, using the 11,430 Speed Way score for the RTX 4090, the RTX 5090’s performance is 18% superior.

    Conclusion

    Thus, it seems reasonable to conclude that the RTX 5090 could deliver nearly a 20% improvement in ray tracing capabilities compared to the RTX 4090.

    In summary, if the rasterization performance of the RTX 5090 is indeed less than 10% faster than the RTX 4090 as noted earlier, this raises questions about the $400 price hike. Such a slight improvement in rasterization might also clarify Nvidia’s strong emphasis on DLSS 4 during the RTX 50 launch.

    Nonetheless, we should hold off on forming any conclusions until we see third-party reviews for the RTX 5090. Until then, take any performance speculations regarding the RTX 5090 with a hefty dose of skepticism.

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  • Radeon RX 9070, RX 9070 XT Review Date Leak: AMD vs RTX 50 Series

    Radeon RX 9070, RX 9070 XT Review Date Leak: AMD vs RTX 50 Series

    AMD caught many off guard by not showcasing the upcoming RDNA 4 desktop GPUs during CES 2025. Enthusiasts are now left guessing about the specifications, performance, and pricing of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT. Fortunately, it seems that the complete announcement for RDNA 4 is nearing, and we won’t have to wait long to see these graphics cards perform.

    Upcoming Announcement

    A source from Moore’s Law Is Dead claims to have been contacted by AMD about the full reveal of the RX 9070 and 9070 XT, which is supposedly set for “on or around January 15th.” Furthermore, a rumor on Chiphell indicates that the review embargo for the RX 9070/XT is expected to lift on January 22. If this information is accurate, there would be a one-week gap between the official reveal and the reviews, leading to potential sales starting before the end of the month.

    Strategic Timing

    It’s possible that AMD chose not to unveil the RX 9070 cards at CES 2025 to assess the RTX 50 series from Nvidia. With knowledge of Nvidia’s strategy, AMD could be planning to launch the RX 9070 XT just before Nvidia’s February release at a reportedly lower price, which could diminish Nvidia’s impact.

    Performance Expectations

    Recent leaks suggest that the RX 9070’s performance is similar to that of the RX 7900 XT, while the RX 9070 XT is said to sit between the RTX 4080 Super and RX 7900 XTX. The anticipated price for the RX 9070 XT is between $479 and $550, positioning it as a potential price/performance leader, especially since AMD appears to have enhanced ray tracing capabilities as well.

    On top of that, since the RX 9070 is expected to be cheaper than the RX 9070 XT, there’s a chance we could see an impressive sub-$500 GPU featuring 16 GB of RAM.
    impressive sub-$500 GPU featuring 16 GB of RAM

    Competitive Landscape

    Regardless of the final specs, it’s evident that if the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT deliver the reported performance, Nvidia’s mid-range RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti are likely to face tough competition. This situation excites many, as a significant number of gamers tend to look for mid-range GPUs. Thus, intense competition between AMD and Nvidia in this area could lead to better options for gamers.

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  • Capture Ghostly Photos and Discover Ancient Secrets in New Horror Game

    Capture Ghostly Photos and Discover Ancient Secrets in New Horror Game

    Amenti is a concept taken from Egyptian mythology that signifies the realm of the dead. It acted as a limbo – a space between existence and oblivion, where spirits faced challenges and confronted their deepest fears.

    Exploring the Tomb

    DarkPhobia Games, recognized for their title Graveyard Shift, delves into these themes in Amenti. In this game, you assume the role of a photographer who ventures into the newly unearthed tomb of Pharaoh Rudamon. Unfortunately, when you enter the tomb, you awaken an ancient curse.

    Gameplay Mechanics

    The gameplay resembles other horror/walking simulator genres, sprinkled with some adventure aspects. Interestingly, you are not just a photographer; you’re also a historian tasked with uncovering ancient relics and navigating your environment to survive.

    Unique Features

    The game showcases a distinct camera feature that lets you capture images of spectral figures. As noted on the Steam page – “Initially, you may only catch terrifying hints in your pictures, but as you move forward, the horror will unfold before your eyes.”

    Amenti was crafted by a duo using Unreal Engine 5, and the graphics they’ve achieved are quite impressive. It currently boasts a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. Some negative feedback highlights issues with the User Interface (UI) and bugs.

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  • OneXPlayer G1: AMD Ryzen & Intel Ultra 7 Mini PC from $899

    OneXPlayer G1: AMD Ryzen & Intel Ultra 7 Mini PC from $899

    The OneXPlayer G1 is set to debut on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo tomorrow. As is typical for them, One-Netbook has shared important information such as pricing and memory options in advance. To summarize, the OneXPlayer G1 is positioned as One-Netbook’s answer to the Win Mini, which GPD is gearing up to update with a 2025 version.

    Specifications

    Previously, One-Netbook hinted that the new model would feature an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU, similar to what’s found in the OneXPlayer X1 Pro and in some recent gaming laptops like the Asus TUF Gaming A14 (currently priced at $1,499 on Amazon). However, it has now been revealed that the OneXPlayer G1 will kick off with the older Ryzen 7 8840U, which powers several existing OneXPlayer models.

    New Variants

    Interestingly, One-Netbook has also introduced a Core Ultra 7 255H variant that is based on Intel’s latest Arrow Lake-H architecture. For context, this Core Ultra 7 255H features 6 Performance cores, 8 Efficient cores, and 2 Lower Power Efficient Cores, along with a new Arc 140T iGPU that could be as much as 60% faster compared to the Arc 140V.

    Pricing Details

    Despite this, versions with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 will be priced $100 higher than their Core Ultra 7 255H equivalents. The OneXPlayer G1 will be open for backing on Indiegogo starting at 17:00 UTC tomorrow, and customers who order before this time on January 13 will receive a free case with their purchase. At launch, One-Netbook will offer the OneXPlayer G1 at the following price points:

    Source: Link

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  • MSI Claw Rumors: AMD Ryzen Z2 Upgrades Coming Soon

    MSI Claw Rumors: AMD Ryzen Z2 Upgrades Coming Soon

    MSI is presenting updated versions of its Claw gaming handhelds at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week, along with various other new gadgets. To give some context, the company first launched the Claw 8 AI+ A2VM in the US at the end of November, right alongside the smaller Claw 7 AI+ A2VM (currently priced at $799.99 on Amazon). However, a worldwide release is planned for later this quarter.

    New Developments in Handheld Gaming

    Both versions came out less than a year after MSI introduced the Claw 7 A1M. However, speculation about an AMD Ryzen update has already started circulating online. Specifically, there are whispers that MSI might be working on handhelds based on the Ryzen Z2. Yet, it’s still uncertain whether this includes the more robust Ryzen Z2 Extreme that AMD announced this week.

    Unclear Specifications and Models

    Furthermore, there are no specifics available on whether this update will be limited to a certain Claw model or if it will be available for both the 7-inch and 8-inch versions of MSI’s offerings. Additionally, there is no information yet regarding the release date for this anticipated AMD Ryzen Z2 upgrade.

    Trustworthy Sources and Caution

    The rumor appears to have come from CodeCommando, known for accurately leaking details about future AMD and MSI products. Still, it’s wise to remain somewhat skeptical for the moment, especially since MSI has historically committed to using Intel processors in its gaming handheld lineup.

    Source: Link

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  • HDMI 2.2 Release: Should You Be Concerned About It?

    HDMI 2.2 Release: Should You Be Concerned About It?

    At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the HDMI Forum introduced HDMI 2.2, the newest version of the widely used video and audio standard. It promises to be twice as fast as the previous version and improves the synchronization of audio and video. On the surface, HDMI 2.2 appears to offer significant advantages. But what does this mean for regular consumers? Let’s explore further.

    Doubling the Bandwidth

    To begin with, the standout feature of HDMI 2.2 is its increased bandwidth. It jumps from 48 Gbit/s in HDMI 2.1 to an impressive 96 Gbit/s. To put this in perspective, HDMI 2.1 already allows for 4K resolution at 144 frames per second (fps), which is more than sufficient for most gamers and movie enthusiasts.

    Now with HDMI 2.2, users can expect support for 8K resolution at 240 fps and 4K at an astonishing 480 fps. Additionally, while it’s technically feasible to support even 12K and 16K resolutions, these features seem more geared towards future marketing than anything immediately useful.

    Enhanced Applications

    The HDMI Forum states that this increased bandwidth will lead to enhancements in data-heavy applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), plus commercial uses such as large illuminated signage, medical imaging, and machine vision. These improvements could have significant impacts on various industries, making HDMI 2.2 a noteworthy advancement.

    In conclusion, while HDMI 2.2 brings exciting upgrades in speed and capability, it remains to see how much of an effect it will have on everyday consumers and their devices. The potential is certainly there, but practicality may take time to catch up.

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