Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation 5 launch title: launches Nov 20, 2020

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 8:17 PM CST

The latest rumor on Sony's launch date for the PlayStation 5 is November 20, 2020 and priced at $499 -- but what games will launch with the PS5? According to the latest rumor we will see Gran Turismo 7 as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 on November 20, 2020.

Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation 5 launch title: launches Nov 20, 2020

The new rumor comes from Twitter user PSERebus, who reported the November 20, 2020 launch date for the PS5 -- the same day Gran Turismo 7 launches. All the tweet said was: "Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) will publish Gran Turismo 7 on November 20, 2020 for the PlayStation 5 (PS5)".

Back in April 2019 we heard that Gran Turismo 7 would be work on the next-gen PlayStation VR 2.0 headset, something that should launch with the next-gen PlayStation 5 console. This would be another huge win for Sony, getting a next-gen Gran Turismo from Polyphony Digital for its next-gen PS5 and PSVR 2.0 products in November 2020.

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Solar energy breakthrough: fossil fuels replaced with AI & sunlight

You might not have heard about Heliogen before, but you will soon if their new technology continues breaking barriers -- the Bill Gates-backed energy startup has successfully concentrated solar energy at "breakthrough" temperatures breaching 1000C (1832F), making it hot enough that it could replace fossil fuels in industrial tasks like producing cement and steel.

Solar energy breakthrough: fossil fuels replaced with AI & sunlight

Heliogen is tapping AI in the form of computer vision to precisely align a bunch of mirrors to reflect sunlight on a single target, therefore concentrating all of the sun's energy into one point. Until now, this wasn't exactly possible and it's what Heliogen has done differently - and successfully.

At their commercial facility in Lancaster, California, Heliogen experienced what is just our first taste at the realms of replacing fossil fuels by using carbon-free, ultra-high temperature heat from the sun, transforming that sunlight into fuels. Before now, commercial concentration of sunlight have only reached 565C (1049F) -- but Heliogen's work here saw them hit 1000C (1832F). These temperatures are normally only reached by burning fossil fuels, making this a big breakthrough.

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Frostbite was a big roadblock for BioWare, was 'very hard to manage'

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 6:12 PM CST

DICE's Frostbite engine is like an unwieldy weapon. In the right hands it's tremendously powerful, but for the most part it's heavy and hard to control. The engine is great for shooters, but not so much for the kind of RPGs BioWare likes to make. Now ex-BioWare boss Aaryn Flynn talks about how Frostbite both enabled and inhibited the studio during Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda's development.

Frostbite was a big roadblock for BioWare, was 'very hard to manage'

In 2010, BioWare made the decision to switch from its internal Eclipse games engine over to EA's new standardized Frostbite from DICE. Frostbite was complex, potent, and had lots of potential, but it was a thorn in BioWare's side from the start. The engine is extremely powerful and can create some incredible atmospheric effects and physics systems wrapped in high-fidelity graphics. But there was so, so much that was missing from it: Frostbite wasn't built for RPGs, and BioWare had to create a lot of its UI, camera, and basic RPG systems from scratch. With how much work and iteration BioWare had to do on the new engine, it's a miracle that Dragon Age: Inquisition even shipped at all.

Now in a recent talk at Reboot Develop Red, Aaryn Flynn shares what it was like to use Frostbite to make games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda.

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Destiny 2 all-in-one collection coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 5:09 PM CST

Destiny 2: The Collection has been rated by PEGI for consoles and PC, indicating an incoming release.

Destiny 2 all-in-one collection coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC

Right now Destiny 2 isn't sold as a complete package anywhere except for Stadia. To get everything Destiny 2 has to offer, you need to buy Forsaken at $20 and then Shadowkeep at $35. It's a bit confusing for new players who jump into Destiny 2's free-to-play New Light version and want to continue their progress, only finding out a good portion of the game is locked.

Now Bungie wants to remedy that with a GOTY-styled collection that gives buyers access to everything. The Destiny 2 collection comes with the base game, Curse of Osiris, Warmind, Forsaken, Shadowkeep, and the annual season pass. No pricing has been confirmed yet, but expect to see it for at least $49.99 (maybe full-price at $59.99).

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Diablo IV may have a paragon system, but it might not be infinite

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 4:18 PM CST

Diablo IV is meant to be the penultimate Diablo game, complete with Diablo III mechanics, Diablo II's style, and never-ending gameplay. Endgame progression is a huge part of that and now Blizzard discusses what could happen with their macabre sequel.

Diablo IV may have a paragon system, but it might not be infinite

In a recent development update, Blizzard strongly hints Diablo IV will have a paragon-like system that allows gamers to keep progressing well after they hit the level 40 cap. "We haven't decided whether the character leveling and experience system should be finite or infinite. We've been discussing the pros and cons of both," Diablo IV lead systems designer David Kim said.

"We have a couple reasons for having a different experience system in addition to a level cap. A level cap gives us the ability to grant players a sense of completion. But for players who want to go deeper into the game, a second experience system allows us to capture the fun of achieving those really difficult endgame goals and ranks."

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Saint's Row V: Reveal in 2020, next-gen launch likely, release by 2021

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 3:07 PM CST

We already knew Saints Row V was in development, but now Deep Silver confirms the game will be shown off in 2020.

Saint's Row V: Reveal in 2020, next-gen launch likely, release by 2021

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Koch Media boss Klemens Kundratitz confirmed Saints Row V will be unveiled in 2020, possibly at E3 2020.

"Saints Row is very close to our hearts, and we'll talk about it next year. For the time being, we just wanted to get the word out that it's coming and it's going to be great."

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Project Scarlett may cost $499 with 4x Xbox One X performance

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 1:50 PM CST

Microsoft's beefy Project Scarlett console may match the PS5's rumored $499 price tag.

Project Scarlett may cost $499 with 4x Xbox One X performance

Project Scarlett is shaping up to be a beast of a console. Microsoft says Scarlett will deliver 4x the performance of the Xbox One X's 6TFLOPs of compute power, and even 40x more performance than current Xbox systems, all thanks to its boosted internal Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU specs. It may even deliver 4K 120FPS gaming, complete with adaptive sync support. Typically this kind of tech leap is accompanied by a steep price tag, but new reports say Scarlett could cost as cheap as $499 when it ships in 2020.

The info comes from Twitter user PSErebus, whose track record includes accurately predicting The Last of Us Part II's original February 2020 release date (which has been delayed). Nothing has been confirmed by either Microsoft or Sony, so this is speculation at best.

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Stadia is a data hog, can consume 119MB per minute

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 8:34 AM CST

Stadia's a hog that rampantly consumes data. This really isn't a surprise, though, and signs were all there from the beginning. We originally reported Google's new game-streaming service is set to demolish data caps in no time flat, and that the service's launch lineup includes some of the worst games to stream across any kind of data-restricted environment. But now we have actual incremental data usage consumption to illustrate Stadia's voracious appetite.

Stadia is a data hog, can consume 119MB per minute

According to VentureBeat, Google Stadia can consume over 100MB per minute when streaming games in 1080p 60FPS. After 13 minutes of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 1080p 60FPS, the outlet says Stadia had used 1.55GB of data. And honestly in an intensely grindy, slow-burn game like Red Dead Redemption 2, 13 minutes accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Obviously how much data you use depends totally on the resolution you stream at. Stadia's resolution settings can be changed on-the-fly only in the mobile app, and the service allows three settings: 720p 60FPS, 1080p 60FPS, and 4K 60FPS (which is only available on Chromecast Ultra streaming to your TV, not on PC or mobile).

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Xbox to get lots more RPGs, Microsoft promises

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 6:30 AM CST

Now that it owns some of the best RPG-makers in the industry, Microsoft is in a unique position to kick off an RPG renaissance. Apparently that's exactly what they plan to do.

Xbox to get lots more RPGs, Microsoft promises

Microsoft knows it needs more first-party games. This goes double for RPGs. The company's aggressive acquisition spree will bear fruit in this regard, especially now that Obsidian Entertainment and inXile now hail under the Xbox flag. Microsoft now pledges to double-down on RPG development for the Xbox family of consoles in an attempt to recapture those olden Xbox and Xbox 360 days of yore.

In a recent interview with Xbox On, Microsoft's gaming leader Phil Spencer assures fans that more RPGs are on the way. He also teases some big surprises for the XO event in 2020.

Continue reading: Xbox to get lots more RPGs, Microsoft promises (full post)

Detroit: Become Human on PC: new engine, 4K support and December debut

Jak Connor | Gaming | Nov 20, 2019 5:09 AM CST

The developers behind Detroit: Become Human have announced that their critically acclaimed title will be arriving on PC next month.

Detroit: Become Human on PC: new engine, 4K support and December debut

Quantic Dream, the developers behind other well-known titles such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls have said that their previously PlayStation-exclusive titles would be making their way over to PC. Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls have already made the transition, and now its time for Detroit: Become Human to as well.

PC gamers might be worried about the port being rushed and not delivered correctly. Well, I can put your worries aside for you, as we have confirmation by Quantic Dream co-founder that this is no sloppy port. According to Quantic Dream co-founder David Cage, "Porting the game to PC has been a tremendous challenge, as we wanted players to get the original experience without any compromise. So we entirely redesigned the interface and developed a new engine to offer 4K resolution and high quality rendering on a wide range of PCs."

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