Is this it for the Nintendo 3DS? No new first-party games in the works
No new first-party games are in the works for the Nintendo 3DS, which hints that the handheld console is nearing the end of its rope after eight years in the market. With the success of the Nintendo Switch and the company's push into mobile gaming, the days of the Nintendo 3DS were already numbered.
Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is freezing some Nintendo Switch units
There have been reports that Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is causing Nintendo Switch units to freeze when players try his Final Smash. However, even with the glitch, players may still try out the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, amid rumors that Persona 5 will soon arrive to the console.
Apex Legends update 1.1.1 fails to fix Caustic, Gibraltar hitbox issues
Respawn Entertainment tried to make Caustic and Gibraltar more playable by fixing their hitbox issue with Apex Legends version 1.1.1. The Fortified passive ability is meant to reduce incoming damage by 10%, but it is not working properly as the supposedly negated damage is going straight to HP.
Epic Games bans more than 1,000 cheaters in 1st week of Fortnite World Cup
Epic Games has already banned more than 1,000 cheaters in the Fortnite World Cup, including one player who was caught using cheat software. The developer is taking the fight against cheating seriously, especially as players are competing for a $1 million prize pool in every week of the qualifiers.
Sony will censor offensive PlayStation Network IDs with temporary usernames
Offensive PlayStation Network IDs reported by players and checked by moderators will be replaced with temporarily placeholders until the owner chooses a new username. Previously, Sony instantly banned the PSN accounts associated with IDs that violated the online network's terms of service.
Pepsi, StartRocket team up to launch satellites for energy drink ad in night sky
Pepsi will be the first client of StartRocket, which will be working with the beverage company to launch an energy drink advertisement into the night sky using miniature satellites. The Russian startup is looking to send its system into orbit in 2021, as it is still raising funds to support the venture.
MPAA: DVD, Blu-ray sales nearly halved in 5 years as viewers shift to streaming
The annual Theatrical Home Entertainment Market Environment Report by the Motion Picture Association of America confirmed that viewers are switching from physical media to streaming services. While DVD and Blu-ray sales are falling, subscriptions to services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are growing.
Apple Arcade reportedly supported by investments of more than $500 million
Apple Arcade, Apple's upcoming video game subscription service with an unknown price, will reportedly be supported by investments worth more than $500 million. Apple is also said to be offering incentives to developers if they decide to release their games as mobile exclusives for Apple Arcade.
Xbox One S All Digital Edition design, price reportedly revealed by leak
The design and price of the Xbox One S All Digital Edition have reportedly been leaked by German Blog WinFuture. Microsoft is said to be planning to open pre-orders for the discless version of the console this month, start deliveries in May, and then unveil the next-generation Xbox consoles in June.
Final Fantasy XV director working on The Pegasus Dream Tour, a Paralympics RPG
JP Games, the studio created by Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata, is working on The Pegasus Dream Project, the first official video game of the Paralympics. Details on the sports RPG remain scarce, but it will launch with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics on multiple platforms, including smartphones.
Apple adds Confirm Subscription prompt on iOS to prevent accidental sign-ups
Apple added a Confirm Subscription prompt that will appear during the process of signing up for in-app subscriptions. This will help prevent accidental sign-ups for iOS device owners, and will also protect them against shady apps that try to trick users into confirming in-app subscriptions.
Hackers broke into Outlook.com using worker’s credentials, Microsoft says
Microsoft's web-based email services, including Outlook.com accounts and MSN and Hotmail addresses, were the target of a security beach. Using a customer support agent's credentials, hackers were possibly able to access email addresses and subject lines, but fortunately not their content.
New Oculus Touch controllers may have secret messages hidden inside them
Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell revealed that new Oculus Touch controllers will be released to customers with secret messages accidentally hidden inside them. While this has no effect on the performance of the input devices, Mitchell apologized for the mistake and vowed that it will not happen again.
Samsung Galaxy S10 fingerprint sensor bamboozled by 3D-printed fingerprint
The Samsung Galaxy S10 ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which is embedded into the smartphone's display and supposedly highly secure, was tricked by a 3D-printed fingerprint. The process utilized a picture of the owner's fingerprint on a wine glass, image editing software, and a very accurate 3D printer.
Sunlight may shut down Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driving tech
The Cadillac Super Cruise driver-assist system is plagued by the issue of suddenly disengaging when sunlight blinds an infrared camera mounted on top of the steering wheel column. General Motors will need to fix the issue soon, as the technology will be rolled out to all Cadillac models in 2020.
Army uses modified Microsoft HoloLens 2 for ‘real-life game of Call of Duty’
The U.S. Army gave CNBC an exclusive look at its modified Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset. The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), shows the location of allies and opponents on a map, offers thermal imaging capabilities, and helps soldiers aim by displaying their weapon's reticle.
Fallout 76 players upset again over Bethesda’s broken no pay-to-win promise
Bethesda is again facing backlash from Fallout 76 players due to the upcoming addition of Basic Repair Kits on the Atomic Shop. The issue is not the Repair Kits themselves, but rather the decision to sell the items for Atoms, which is the in-game currency that may be purchased with real-world money.
Apex Legends accidentally rolls out early exit penalty with version 1.1 patch
Respawn Entertainment accidentally added penalties for players leaving early in Apex Legends matches. The feature, which was mistakenly rolled out with version 1.1, forced players to wait for 5 minutes after leaving early three times, including returning to the lobby when their banner had not yet expired.
Android TV home screen starts showing unwanted advertisements
Google started a pilot program to display a row of sponsored content on the Android TV home screen. A Reddit user discovered a way to remove the unwanted ads but at the cost of disabling automatic updates, while Sony suggested a different method for its smart TVs powered by the platform.
Netflix for iOS suddenly stops working with Apple AirPlay after 6 years
Netflix for iOS suddenly no longer supports Apple's AirPlay, preventing iPhone and iPad owners from instantly playing the content on their TVs. The feature had been available since 2013, but it has been removed due to technical limitations, according to a document on the official Netflix website.
Fortnite will roll out Reboot Vans, much like Apex Legends’ Respawn Beacons
Epic Games will soon roll out Reboot Vans to Fortnite, to give squads a chance to bring back their fallen teammates. They will work very similarly to the Respawn Beacons of Apex Legends, and will be the second feature that Epic Games will copy from Respawn Entertainment's hero-based Battle Royale shooter.
How to change your Google Home voice to John Legend
After anxiously waiting to hear the smooth voice of John Legend coming through our Google Assistant-compatible devices, the time has finally come. Here are the steps to change the voice on your Google Home or Google Assistant device to John Legend. But, the Legend voice might not be what you expect.
Best Buy allegedly leaks what Joker will look like in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Best Buy's weekly ad has allegedly leaked what Joker from Persona 5 will look like in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as its first DLC fighter. The leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts is expected to be added to the Nintendo Switch exclusive this April, and speculation is ongoing as to the exact date.
Atari VCS production-ready design unveiled after another delay
The team behind the Atari VCS unveiled the production-ready design of the retro console, with changes from the original design including the removal of the SD card port and fewer assembly components. The device was recently revealed to have gained a processor upgrade, but at the cost of another delay.
Skyrim Grandma will appear in The Elder Scrolls 6 through photogrammetry
Bethesda will use photogrammetry technology to add the likeness of Shirley Curry, known as Skyrim Grandma, to The Elder Scrolls 6. It will likely be a long while before fans see Curry's character in action though, as the studio's director Todd Howard said that the game will not even be in this year's E3.
Google accidentally reveals Nest Hub Max with 10-inch screen, built-in camera
The Google Store accidentally revealed the Nest Hub Max, which will come with a 10-inch screen, stereo speakers, and a built-in camera. The new smart display will apparently build upon the features of the Google Home Hub, which was released late last year with a 7-inch screen and no camera.
Driveclub servers to shut down in 2020: No more multiplayer races, season passes
Sony will shut down the Driveclub servers on March 31, 2020, giving players just one more year to enjoy the racing game's online features. Only the single player and offline modes will remain, which is not ideal for an inherently social game that places a heavy focus on interaction between players.
Valve to fix ‘deep-rooted issues’ with Artifact instead of releasing updates
Valve admitted that there are "deep-rooted issues" in Artifact, and that it will focus on fixing the problems instead of rolling out updates for the digital card game. It remains to be seen, however, if the changes will revive interest in Artifact, which has seen its player count rapidly decline.
Sega Genesis Mini release date and price revealed, along with first 10 of 40 games
The Sega Genesis Mini will finally roll out in September with an $80 price tag, following the retro console trend started by Nintendo and Sony. The device, 55 percent the size of the original console, will come with a pair of wired controllers. The first 10 of its 40 pre-loaded games have been revealed.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild bug lets Link ignore temperature effects
A newly discovered bug in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild allows players to max out both hearts and stamina. The glitch also disables temperature effects such as the heat of Death Mountain and the cold of Hebra, which means that players may be able to complete the game with Link just in his boxers.