Cost of Oculus Go stand-alone VR headset permanently slashed by $50
The Oculus Go stand-alone virtual reality headset received a permanent $50 price cut, bringing the price tag of the 32GB version to $149 and the 64GB version to $199. There are certain limitations with the Oculus Go compared to the Oculus Quest, but it is still a capable device for basic VR experiences.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore box art hints at Persona 5 collaboration
An eagle-eyed Twitter user spotted what appears to be Persona 5's Joker at the back of the box art for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore. The speculation is that it will be a costume for the RPG's protagonist Itsuki Aoi, which is possible as Joker has already previously appeared in a Nintendo Switch game.
Pokémon GO had its best year ever, earns $894 million in 2019
Pokémon GO earned $894 million in 2019, marking its best year ever as it exceeded the revenue from its 2016 launch year of $832 million. Sensor Tower attributed the mobile game's growth to in-game and real-world events, and significant updates that continue to add new content to the app.
Apex Legends’ Grand Soiree Arcade will feature different game mode every 2 days
The first event for Apex Legends in 2020 is the Grand Soiree Arcade, which will feature a different game mode every two days. The modes, which includes matches where the ring keeps shrinking and a return to the night-time version of King's Canyon, will offer challenges that may be completed for points.
Microsoft Teams will soon add push-to-talk walkie-talkie feature to smartphones
Microsoft Teams will soon add a push-to-talk feature that will provide walkie talkie functionality to smartphones and tablets. The feature will easily broadcast a message to a person or a group of people, while also preventing crosstalk or eavesdropping from outsiders compared to using analog devices.
Microsoft contractors reviewed Skype, Cortana audio with ‘no security measures’
A former Microsoft contractor working in Beijing revealed that there were "no security measures" in place for their work of grading Skype and Cortana recordings. The source said that over two years, he worked on his personal laptop from home, from where he accessed the audio from a Google Chrome app.
Two more Wii U games will reportedly be ported to Nintendo Switch
There are at least two more unannounced Wii U ports in the works for the Nintendo Switch, according to reliable insider Emily Rogers. While the games were unnamed, it may be relatively easy to narrow down the possible titles, especially as most options have already been re-released on the hybrid console.
Valve’s canceled Portal prequel with unique gameplay revealed in documentary
Aperture Camera, Valve's canceled prequel to the Portal series, was revealed in Exposure, a documentary series by LunchHouse Software. While players used the portal gun in Portal and Portal 2 to create portals, Aperture Camera would have required players to use a camera to reposition and resize objects.
Leaked Final Fantasy VII Remake demo reveals story changes, file size, and more
The leaked Final Fantasy VII Remake demo covers the opening sequence of the original RPG, though there are some changes to the story. Dataminers, meanwhile, have unearthed content that is otherwise not found over the course of playing the demo, including renders and the full game's file size.
PlatinumGames co-founder criticizes Nintendo Switch home menu’s poor design
PlatinumGames co-founder Hideki Kamiya criticized the poor design of the Nintendo Switch home menu and its eShop. There is currently no way to sort the games installed in the console and those offered on the digital store, and it remains to be seen if Nintendo will do something about it.
ByteDance hides code in TikTok for feature that makes deepfakes
An Israeli startup discovered code for a deepfake video maker hidden in TikTok and its Chinese sister app Douyin. The feature, which requests users to scan their faces, was seemingly complete and works seamlessly, but it remains unclear if it will be made available to the general public.
Sonos’ Trade-Up Program bricks and junks old devices instead of reselling them
A Twitter user who works at an e-waste recycler called out Sonos' Trade-Up Program as an environmentally unfriendly practice that only seeks to generate new sales. Instead of being able to re-sell old Sonos products, the program effectively bricks the devices, which means that they have to be scrapped.
iPhone XR outsold all other smartphones for four straight quarters since Q4 2018
The iPhone XR has been the top-selling smartphone model in the world from the fourth quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019, according to Counterpoint Research. The iPhone XR was priced at $750 at launch and is even cheaper now to as low as $500 for refurbished versions after the iPhone 11 launch.
Bandai Namco shot down remastered Xenosaga collection, says Tekken 7 producer
Bandai Namco has decided not to proceed with a Xenosaga HD collection, according to Tekken 7 producer Katsuhiro Harada, who in 2014 called on fans to express interest on the project to get it off the ground. The Xenosaga series is comprised of three episodes that were released for the PlayStation 2.
Meet Neon, Samsung’s artificial human (who is nothing like Bixby), at CES 2020
Samsung is set to unveil Neon, the company's new artificial intelligence product, at CES 2020. Neon, developed by the Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Labs, or STAR Labs, is being described as an artificial human, but it is apparently nothing like Samsung's digital assistant Bixby.
Heart doctor sues for patent infringement over lifesaving Apple Watch feature
Dr. Joseph Wiesel, a cardiologist who teaches at the New York University School of Medicine, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Apple Watch. Wiesel alleged that Apple refused to enter negotiations even after he notified the company about his patent on detecting irregular heartbeats in 2017.
Beat Saber becomes first VR-only game on Steam’s Top Sellers list
Beat Saber claimed the title as the first VR-only game on Steam's annual Top Sellers, joining the list's Bronze category. The Platinum category, meanwhile, includes the likes of Destiny 2, Grand Theft Auto V, Monster Hunter: World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Teslasuit evolves with VR glove that lets wearers feel virtual textures
The Teslasuit Glove, which may be used with the Teslasuit or separately, will allow wearers to feel virtual textures while monitoring their biometric data. The glove, which looks to offer an even more immersive virtual reality experience, will be showcased with the Teslasuit at CES 2020.
Blizzards randomly appearing in Fortnite hint at upcoming map changes
Blizzards have started to randomly appear in most of Fortnite's game modes, causing limited visibility amid whistling winds. The snowstorms, which only last for a few minutes but come without warning, may be hinting at upcoming changes to the Fortnite map, similar to last year's Ice King event.
New Messenger users now required to sign up for Facebook too
A Facebook account is now a requirement for people who are signing up for Messenger when a phone number was previously enough. The change was made to simplify the process, according to a spokesperson, but it may also have something to do with the company's plans for its messaging apps.
No subtlety at all with Nintendo Switch rip-off Nanica Smitch
The Nanica Smitch is a hilariously blatant rip-off of the Nintendo Switch that was spotted for sale in Colombia, at a price of just under $50. The device comes with a pair of detachable controllers and may play games on its screen or on a TV, but the similarities between the two consoles end there.
Electric DeLorean pushes the limits of self-driving tech with flawless drifting
A team of Stanford engineers has created an all-electric, self-driving DeLorean that can drift through an obstacle course with extreme precision. Named MARTY after Michael J. Fox's character in Back to the Future, the vehicle showed that autonomous cars are capable of handling extreme situations.
Ubisoft cancels unannounced game, sends 3 years of work down the drain
A Ubisoft programmer revealed in since-deleted tweets that a project he was working on for the past three years was shut down. The details for the unannounced game remain scarce, but its cancellation is likely linked to the studio's ongoing changes since the disappointment of Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
P.T. modder breaks free from endless hallways, steps out to Silent Hill
Prolific modder Lance McDonald figured out a way to escape the endless hallways of P.T. and step outside into the abandoned streets of Silent Hill. The town, a glimpse of which is seen in the game's ending, is much larger than expected, containing apartment blocks, vehicles, trees, and lots of clutter.
Google acquires Typhoon Studios to bolster Stadia game development team
Google acquired independent developer Typhoon Studios, which will be integrated into Stadia Games and Entertainment while it works to release its debut title, Journey to the Savage Planet, in January 2020. Typhoon Studios is the first investment for Google into Stadia since the service launched.