Valve Index VR headset sold out shortly after Half-Life: Alyx reveal
Most packages of the Valve Index have sold out in the U.S. and Canada, a week after Half-Life: Alyx was revealed. The VR exclusive will be free to those who purchase Valve's virtual reality headset by the end of the year, and it is expected to run best on the system due to its finger-tracking technology.
Valve may start working on Half-Life 3 if Half-Life: Alyx succeeds
Half-Life: Alyx may not be what fans of the franchise expected, but if it succeeds, Valve may start working on Half-Life 3. Valve programmer David Speyrer said in an interview that the company will love to "push forward" with the franchise, but it will wait to see how gamers react to the VR exclusive.
Twitter no longer needs phone numbers for two-factor authentication
Twitter improved the security of its two-factor authentication system by no longer requiring the phone numbers of users. The system was launched years ago, but Twitter has just now addressed the flaws that come with linking phone numbers to the feature, such as the vulnerability to SIM hijacking.
Hideo Kojima hints that next project may be a horror video game
Hideo Kojima, with Death Stranding now released, dropped clues that his next video game project may be in the horror genre. In a tweet, Kojima hinted that he is already thinking about how to "make the scariest horror game," following the success of P.T., the playable teaser for the canceled Silent Hills.
Roku devices crashing due to Pokémon Sword and Shield: Here’s a temporary fix
Roku device owners recently started reporting crashes, and apparently, the issue is linked to Pokémon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch. Roku said that it is aware of the issue and is working to roll out a permanent fix, but in the meantime, there is a temporary solution to the problem.
BioWare reportedly in early stages of developing next Mass Effect game
BioWare is reportedly in the "very early development" stage for a new Mass Effect game, which will be the fifth in the franchise after Mass Effect: Andromeda. The next Mass Effect has been teased for a while, most recently at this year's N7 Day celebrations, but it will not be releasing any time soon.
Resident Evil 2 takes home Ultimate Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards
Resident Evil 2 was crowned Ultimate Game of the Year at The 37th Golden Joystick Awards, wherein the winners are determined through public voting. Fortnite, last year's winner of the top award, was named Esports Game of the Year, while the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Yu Suzuki.
Path of Exile developer reveals sequel, new expansion, and mobile version
Grinding Gear Games revealed Path of Exile 2, the Conquerors of Atlas and Metamorph League for Path of Exile, and a mobile version for the title at ExileCon in New Zealand. The sequel is not an entirely new game, as it will function as an upgrade to its predecessor while adding new mechanics.
Magic: The Gathering maker Wizards of the Coast suffers database breach
Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Magic: The Gathering, suffered a database breach involving the accounts of MTG Arena and Magic Online players. The passwords in the database were protected, but as a precaution, affected users are recommended to change their passwords over the next seven days.
You can now feed Sony’s Aibo robot dog with virtual food
Sony rolled out a version 2.5 software update for Aibo, adding the ability to program the robot dog with custom tasks and feed it with virtual food. A web-based API offers access to the Aibo Developer Program for seasoned developers and Aibo Visual Programming for novice programmers.
Spotify starts testing real-time lyrics to enable karaoke experience
Spotify is testing a real-time lyrics feature in its mobile app, but only for users in certain countries. The public release of the feature, which will allow listeners to sing along to songs, is not yet known, but it should come soon as a similar experience just arrived to rival Apple Music.
Xbox Game Pass will soon add Final Fantasy games from VII to XV
Microsoft will add 10 Final Fantasy titles to Xbox Game Pass in 2020, from Final Fantasy VII to Final Fantasy XV. The list does not include the MMOs Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, but the addition of the latter to the subscription service is in the works, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer.
Avoid juice jacking! L.A. warns travelers against public USB charging stations
The District Attorney's Office of Los Angeles County issued a warning against juice jacking, a method in which hackers load malware into public USB charging stations. While the attack is nowhere near epidemic levels, travelers are recommended to consider safer alternatives while on the go.
Tencent wants to make console games with Nintendo characters for U.S., Europe
Tencent, which is said to be looking to further leverage its partnership with Nintendo, reportedly wants to make console games with Nintendo characters. The long-term benefit for Tencent in such a project is the chance to learn from Nintendo how to win over gamers in the U.S. and Europe.
New Apple Mac Pro spotted in DJ Calvin Harris’ studio on Instagram
The Mac Pro 2019 was spotted in an Instagram story by DJ Calvin Harris, which he uploaded to show off his studio and a song that he is working on. Apple has not revealed a specific release date for the powerful new computer, but recent clues suggest that its launch is growing more imminent.
Roku app transforms Apple Watch into wearable remote control with voice commands
The Roku app is now available as a free download for the Apple Watch, enabling basic remote control functions on the wearable device's screen. The app also offers a Channel Launcher, voice search and voice command capabilities, and a way to find the Roku remote control in case it gets lost.
Pokémon fans repel negativity, spread the love with #ThankYouGameFreak
Pokémon fans have made #ThankYouGameFreak go viral through tweets that share their stories on what makes the franchise special. The hashtag was created to support Game Freak, the long-running developer of the video games in the series that has recently been under fire for Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Sony cartridge patent found: PlayStation 5 feature, or PlayStation Vita sequel?
The same Dutch website that spotted patents for the PlayStation 5 development kit's design discovered a patent for a cartridge. Speculations on the purpose of the cartridge are running rampant, including a new feature for the next-generation console and the possibility of the PlayStation Vita 2.
PlayStation CEO wants PlayStation 4 owners to quickly upgrade to PlayStation 5
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said in an interview with Games Industry that Sony wants PlayStation 4 owners to upgrade as quickly as possible to the PlayStation 5. While Ryan did not confirm any specific details, his comments suggest that Sony is planning a massive launch for the next-generation console.
Apple Mail on MacOS flaw leaves supposedly encrypted messages unprotected
A flaw in Apple Mail for recent MacOS releases, found by IT specialist Bob Gendler, leaves supposedly encrypted messages unprotected. Certain database files that Siri uses to make suggestions were discovered to keep the unencrypted versions of the emails, but Apple said that a fix is on the way.
Epic Games permanently bans FaZe Clan’s Jarvis from Fortnite for using aimbots
Epic Games permanently banned FaZe Clan member Jarvis Kaye from Fortnite due to videos where he used aimbots. Some players believe that the punishment was too harsh, especially since the hacks were used in non-competitive matches, but others think that content creators should not get special treatment.
VKLiooon first female crowned Hearthstone Global Champion after dominant run
Xiaomeng "VKLiooon" Li had a dominant run at BlizzCon 2019 to be crowned as the first female Hearthstone Global Champion. Li, who like many other women esports players faced discrimination, persevered through the challenges, culminating in a 3-0 victory in the finals against Brian "bloodyface" Eason.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate earns title of best-selling fighting game in history
It took less than a year for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to sell over 15 million copies, surpassing Street Fighter II as the best-selling fighting game of all time. The brawler ranks second among all Nintendo Switch games, overtaking Super Mario Odyssey but still behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Some Fallout 76 players in Australia will receive their requested refunds
Fallout 76 players in Australia who requested refunds between November 24, 2018, and June 1, 2019, will be able to get them, according to a ruling by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. The launch of the latest entry in the Fallout series was plagued with a variety of issues.
BlizzCon 2019 attendees tried to beat Google’s DeepMind A.I. in StarCraft II
AlphaStar, an A.I. program powered by Google's DeepMind, was at BlizzCon 2019, with the goal of beating any human that tried to go up against it in StarCraft II. AlphaStar is looking to understand the potential and limitations of open-ended learning, which uses learning-based agents to solve tasks in training A.I.
New icon for Microsoft Edge browser revealed in online Easter Egg hunt
The new logo for the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge was the treasure at the end of an online Easter Egg hunt that involved puzzles and a surfing mini-game. The release date of the final version of the internet browser remains unknown, but an announcement may be in store at the Microsoft Ignite conference.
Amazon mistakenly requires third-party stores to get approval for Nintendo goods
Amazon withdrew the requirement for third-party sellers to gain approval for Nintendo products, as the company claims it was an error. It remains unclear, however, if the ruling will return in some form in the future, especially since Amazon has recently faced issues over third-party listings.
Mario Kart Tour multiplayer beta starts in December for Gold Pass subscribers
The Mario Kart Tour multiplayer beta test will start in December, but it will only be available to the game's Gold Pass subscribers. Players who want to be among the first to send blue shells to their friends will have to sign up for the $5-month-plan, which also unlocks the highest racing tier of 200cc.
Pixel 4 face-retouching feature built with help of wedding photographers
The Google Pixel 4 face retouching feature was built with the help of wedding photographers so that the software will not cross certain lines. The feature is turned on by default when taking selfies with the smartphone, which should provide a confidence boost as people will look their best selves.
Persona 5 Scramble will continue Phantom Thieves’ story into summer vacation
Atlus rolled out a new trailer for Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers, which reveals that it will not be a typical Musou-style game. Persona 5 Scramble, which will continue the Persona 5 story into the summer vacation of the Phantom Thieves, is set to launch in Japan on February 2020.