Apex Legends was leaked last year, but nobody believed it
Apex Legends, which seemingly came out of nowhere to challenge Fortnite for the Battle Royale throne, was apparently leaked last year on Reddit. Developer Respawn Entertainment was relieved that nobody believed the leak, which was undeniably an image of an early version of the game's King's Canyon map.
Sony officially ends PlayStation Vita production after 7 years of struggle
Sony has officially ended production of the PlayStation Vita, which was a commercial failure despite being an upgrade to the successful PlayStation Portable. The handheld console bids goodbye seven years after its North American launch, though this is not a surprise as there have been signs of its demise.
Tesla app now keeps track of electric vehicle’s repair status
The updated Tesla app will now provide owners with real-time status updates for their electric vehicles under service, and will also alert them once the repairs are done. The move is part of a wider initiative to improve Tesla's service system, in preparation for the arrival of the $35,000 Model 3.
Google Clock now also supports Pandora, YouTube Music as alarm options
Google Clock, through its version 6.1 update, finally added Pandora and YouTube Music as alarm options, following Spotify which has been supported since July. Users will now be able to choose tracks from these services to wake them up in the morning, instead of jarring sounds or annoying jingles.
Fortnite Save the World players suffer from deadly Driftboard glitches
Epic Games recently added Driftboards to Fortnite as a mobility option, and they have become an important tool in Battle Royale mode. Players in the Save the World mode, however, have suffered from various glitches with the Driftboards, as they are sometimes launched across the map while riding them.
9 out of 11 small SUVs do well in tests of pedestrian-detection systems
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested the effectiveness of pedestrian detection systems in 11 small SUVs, and most of them came away with great scores. The technology is seen as an important countermeasure to the growing number of pedestrian fatalities, which reached 5,977 deaths in 2017.
Facebook to shut down Onavo app that harvested user data for market research
Facebook is shutting down Onavo VPN amid the latest privacy scandal that involves the social network, as the app's code was repurposed for the controversial Facebook Research app. Onavo was framed as a way to keep user traffic safe, but it also harvested data that was collected by Facebook.
Fallout countdown video spotted in Amazon placeholder for Bethesda game
Amazon placeholders for a Bethesda game were spotted, and they included a countdown video in the style of Fallout. A new Fallout game may be in the works, but with Fallout 76 just released last year, remasters of older titles in the franchise may be more likely, with a possible announcement at E3 2019.
Twitter reacts to Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime retiring, Doug Bowser taking over
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that he will retire in April, after 13 years leading the company, and he will be replaced by Doug Bowser. Twitter sent messages of gratitude to Fils-Aime, while celebrating the irony of Bowser taking over control of the Nintendo kingdom.
What’s ahead for Anthem? BioWare rolls out 90-day road map
BioWare rolled out the 90-day roadmap for Anthem, covering the first Act named Echoes of Reality. The studio promises new Freeplay events, Legendary missions, and something called the Cataclysm, though a significant number of items in the plan are unnamed to prevent spoilers of the game's lore.
Google’s Project Yeti hardware may be revealed at Game Developers Conference
Google will reportedly unveil its gaming hardware for Project Yeti at the Game Developers Conference in March. The console will be powered by the game streaming technology featured in the recently concluded Project Stream beta test, which allowed users to play Assassin's Creed Odyssey right on Chrome.
Microsoft reportedly planning to unveil next-gen Xbox consoles at E3 2019
Microsoft is reportedly planning to unveil the next-generation Xbox consoles, codenamed Anaconda and Lockhart and collectively known as Project Scarlett, at E3 2019, in which Sony will not be participating. Halo Infinite, which was revealed at E3 2018, will be a launch title for the new consoles.
Shanghai Dragons break 42-match losing streak in Overwatch League
The Shanghai Dragons finally won in the Overwatch League, breaking their infamous 42-match losing steak that is the longest in the history of professional sports. The team went winless at 0-40 in the league's inaugural season, but returned in season two with a revamped roster led by Gamsu.
Over 16,000 Apex Legends cheaters have already been banned by Respawn
Respawn Entertainment revealed that it has already banned over 16,000 cheaters in Apex Legends in less than two weeks since its release. The developer may be working on an in-game feature to report cheaters, which have become so prevalent that streamers are even implementing hacks while live.
Twitter keeps your direct messages, even years after you delete them
While Twitter users that delete their accounts or their direct messages on the social network might expect that the data is gone for good, a security researcher has discovered a "functional bug" that allows DMs to be recovered even years after they were deleted.
Apex Legends dataminers discover upcoming characters and weapons
Dataminers have discovered code in Apex Legends that refers to characters named Octane and Wattson, and weapons named the Havoc Rifle and the L-Star EMG. Octane is believed to have a Stim Pack ability, which is likely similar to the Stim ability of Titanfall 2, while Wattson has the Tesla Trap.
Niantic promises to make Pokémon Go less troublesome for homeowners
Niantic is looking to settle the lawsuits filed by angry homeowners who were affected by hordes of Pokémon Go players trespassing on their properties. Niantic promised to resolve complaints within 15 days and maintain a database to avoid poor placements of the PokéStops and gyms, among other things.
‘Apex Legends’ players may soon be able to battle on their own or in teams of 2
Apex Legends, which may have what it takes to challenge Fortnite, currently only allows players to enter battle royale matches in groups of three. That may soon change though, as datamined code allegedly refers to Solo Mode and 2-Man Squads, which will allow players to fight alone or with one partner.
‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ wins Game of the Year in 2018 Steam Awards
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds took home Game of the Year at the 2018 Steam Awards, beating the likes of Monster Hunter: World, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Hitman 2, and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. The other awards handed out include Labor of Love, Better with Friends, and Most Fun with a Machine.
‘Apex Legends’ bug traps players in the Supply Ship for an easy win
A newly discovered Apex Legends bug gives players easy wins by trapping them in the Supply Ship, where they are immune to damage while the circle closes in on their opponents. Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the battle royale shooter, said that a patch to fix the issue is on the way.
Fitbit’s new fitness tracker is its cheapest, but you can’t buy it yourself
The Fitbit Inspire is the company's cheapest wearable device yet, but interested customers will not be able to buy it by themselves. The fitness tracker offers very basic functions and features compared to more advanced products such as the Fitbit Versa, but it may be Fitbit's most important product.
Xiaomi Mi A1, OnePlus 5T emit the most radiation among smartphones, report says
A report by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection compiled the specific absorption rate of smartphones, which represents the the amount of radiofrequency waves emitted. Xiaomi and OnePlus were found to be the worst offenders, taking the top two spots and four spots each in the top 16.
Leak allegedly reveals new ‘Animal Crossing,’ ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’ release dates
A U.K.-based retailer reportedly leaked the release dates for the new Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Nintendo Switch. While the alleged launch dates may be legitimate, gamers are advised to wait for an official announcement from Nintendo on when these exclusives will roll out.
Activision offers ‘Guitar Hero Live’ refunds after obliteration of song library
Activision launched the Guitar Hero Live refund program as support for Guitar Hero TV ended, obliterating the system's song library. Players who want their money back will need to accomplish a claim form and meet certain requirements, including proof of purchase through a receipt or credit card statement.
Google job listings may mean that the Pixel Watch is on the way
A pair of job listings on the Google Careers website may mean that the Pixel Watch is coming soon. One of the listings is for a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearables, but Google's only product in currently in the category is the Pixel Buds, hinting that the Pixel Watch is on the way.
‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ claims throne as fastest-selling Nintendo game ever
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, released on December 7, sold 12.08 million units as of December 31, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo game of all time. The multiplayer brawler is also now ranked third among Nintendo Switch games, behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey.
Xbox Live to expand cross-platform support for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Microsoft is preparing to expand Xbox Live cross-platform support to include the Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. The SDK that will enable the feature will be showcased at the upcoming Game Developers Conference, as Microsoft continues its shift to a strategy of games as a service.
Unannounced Nintendo Switch games in the pipeline for fiscal year 2019
Nintendo is preparing to launch at least one unannounced Nintendo Switch game in its fiscal year 2019, which starts on April 1. The speculated titles by gamers include a new F-Zero game, Pikmin 4, remakes or sequels for the Earthbound series, a new Paper Mario game, and Super Mario Maker 2.