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Battlefield 6 reveal likely before EA's Q4 report on May 11
EA just announced its Q4 FY2021 earnings results will go live on May 11, 2021, and its likely the Battlefield 6 reveal trailer will go live ahead of time.
EA should reveal the next Battlefield game in the coming weeks. The publisher recently promised the rumored futuristic Battlefield would be revealed during Spring 2021, and the company has a trend of showcasing new Battlefield titles ahead of its Q4 earnings reports in order to wow gamers and investors. EA likes to comment on these big new games and tease new features to gamers while making new promises to stakeholders.
Read Also: Battlefield 6 last-gen reports clarified by leaker
Continue reading: Battlefield 6 reveal likely before EA's Q4 report on May 11 (full post)
Discord no longer wants to sell to Microsoft as it eyes IPO instead
Discord no longer has plans to sell the company to Microsoft or anyone else as it instead focuses on an initial public offering.
Weeks ago, reports indicated Microsoft made an offer to buy out social giant Discord. The acquisition may have cost up to $10 billion, and would've solidified the Xbox ecosystem with a unified cross-platform social network with Discord's unique chat infrastructure. Now those plans have changed.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Discord is now doubling-down on its original IPO plans.
Continue reading: Discord no longer wants to sell to Microsoft as it eyes IPO instead (full post)
Overwatch's Jeff Kaplan leaves Blizzard after 20 years in game dev
Beloved Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan is leaving the studio, the company today announced.
Jeff Kaplan is departing Blizzard after nearly 20 years with the company. This major departure comes two years after Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime left in 2019 to form Dreamhaven, a new game development publishing label with a number of ex-Blizzard developers. There have been rumblings of core Blizzard creatives clashing with directives from Activision-Blizzard, namely the new four-part plan that emphasizes mobile ports, monetization, engagement models, and new games.
Kaplan gave the following statement on his departure: "It was truly the honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to create worlds and heroes for such a passionate audience. I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone at Blizzard who supported our games, our game teams and our players. But I want to say a special thanks to the wonderful game developers that shared in the journey of creation with me."
Continue reading: Overwatch's Jeff Kaplan leaves Blizzard after 20 years in game dev (full post)
Pentagon confirms existence of UFO's in these recently released videos
New videos have surfaced on two websites showing an unidentified flying objects that appear to be a "sphere", or a "metallic blimp".
The videos have surfaced on Mystery Wire and Extraordinary Beliefs, which are websites that are built to document sightings of UFO's. Department of Defense spokeswoman Sue Gough told CBS News, "I can confirm that the referenced photos and videos were taken by Navy personnel".
But then went onto say, "As we have said before, to maintain operations security and to avoid disclosing information that may be useful to potential adversaries, DOD does not discuss publicly the details of either the observations or the examinations of reported incursions into our training ranges or designated airspace, including those incursions initially designated as [Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.]"
Continue reading: Pentagon confirms existence of UFO's in these recently released videos (full post)
Amazon now lists unreleased ASUS TUF Dash F15 laptop with RTX 3050 GPU
ASUS is preparing its new TUF Dash F15 gaming laptop release -- which right now seems imminent -- with NVIDIA's unannounced GeForce RTX 3050 GPU.
The new ASUS TUF Dash F15 gaming laptop has now been listed on Amazon with its 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz display, and GeForce RTX 3050 GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 memory. We are expecting the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU to pack 2048 CUDA cores and GA107 GPU.
4GB of VRAM will be more than enough for 1080p gaming, with 4GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit memory bus more than capable of driving 60FPS in most games especially esports titles like Apex Legends, Overwatch, League of Legends, CS:GO and many others.
Continue reading: Amazon now lists unreleased ASUS TUF Dash F15 laptop with RTX 3050 GPU (full post)
EK-Quantum Vector TUF ready for ASUS TUF Radeon RX 6900/6800 GPUs
If you have managed to find 1 of the 10 (it's a joke) ASUS TUF variant of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT or Radeon RX 6800 series graphics cards -- EK has some water cooling that might be of interest to you.
EK has just introduced its new EK-Quantum Vector TUF water blocks made specifically for the custom ASUS TUF versions of the Radeon RX 6900 and Radeon RX 6800 series GPUs. We have an Open Split-Flow cooling engine design which should provide some of the best cooling for your Big Navi GPU.
There's low hydraulic flow restriction which means you can use weaker water pumps or use low-speed settings and still keep your RDNA 2-powered GPU nice and cool. EK is using a block that was CNC-machined out of nickel-plated electrolytic copper, with a CNC-machined glass-like cast, or durable black POM acetal.
Continue reading: EK-Quantum Vector TUF ready for ASUS TUF Radeon RX 6900/6800 GPUs (full post)
Call of Duty: Warzone will soon support NVIDIA's kick ass DLSS tech
Call of Duty: Warzone is set to get a big injection of performance through NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) support coming into the battle royale extravaganza on April 22.
NVIDIA sent out a newsletters teasing DLSS support dropping into Call of Duty: Warzone, after teasing that DLSS would be coming to Warzone sometime this year all the way back in January 2021. NVIDIA was silent about DLSS in Warzone between then and now, but it seems we're now on the precipice.
April 22 is when Call of Duty: Warzone's new Season 3 update is meant to drop, which would be the perfect time for NVIDIA to provide DLSS support to the game. If you've forgotten about how much performance DLSS can provide in a game -- and more specifically Call of Duty -- we're looking at up to 85% performance uplift at 4K in COD: Black Ops at 4K (article below, video above).
Continue reading: Call of Duty: Warzone will soon support NVIDIA's kick ass DLSS tech (full post)
VESA: hey Samsung, Acer - DisplayHDR 2000 isn't a thing right now
We've been hearing a fair amount of news about next-gen PC gaming displays with DislpayHDR 2000 certification -- except, well, now the standards body behind DisplayHDR (VESA) has come out clarifying WTF is going on.
VESA said in a statement that the two new super-ultrawide 5K monitors from Acer and Samsung do not have DisplayHDR 2000 certification -- and that's because the standard itself doesn't exist (yet). Samsung's new 2021 Odyssey G9 monitor and Acer's new confusingly-named EI491CRG9 both have "DisplayHDR 2000 certification" except they don't, says VESA.
VESA clarifies that these monitors simply cannot offer DisplayHDR 2000 because it doesn't exist, and that the highest tier of DisplayHDR certification right now is DisplayHDR 1400. VESA says, with a real stern Dad Voice: "Until the displayhdr.org website displays DisplayHDR 2000, any such logo usage should be assumed to be unapproved and deceptive".
Continue reading: VESA: hey Samsung, Acer - DisplayHDR 2000 isn't a thing right now (full post)
F1 2021 announced: ray tracing support included on the PC
F1 2021 isn't too far away now with Codemasters and EA announcing the game and dropping an announce trailer just days ago -- but now we know F1 2021 will have ray tracing support.
We don't know how the ray tracing implementation will work, but we should expect shadows and/or reflections -- with Codemasters adding NVIDIA's DLSS technology to F1 2020 last year. The new game will have a bunch of new features including a new story mode called "Braking Point".
Braking Point "immerses players into the glamorous world of F1" with an off-track lifestyle and even role playing parts included in F1 2021 -- an interesting path for a driving game. There are 3 new circuits: Portimao, Imola, and the all-new Jeddah Street Circuit.
Continue reading: F1 2021 announced: ray tracing support included on the PC (full post)
Apex Legends mobile detailed by EA, coming first to APAC regions
EA reveals new info on Apex Legends' mobile version, but it won't be available in Western markets any time soon.
Apex Legends is coming to mobile in 2021 with testing kicking off first in APAC regions like India and the Philippines. Respawn plans to roll out multiple testing phases across the globe throughout the year, first on Android and then on iOS.
EA says the mobile version will be optimized for touchscreen controls, and will also feature its own battle passes and separate unique unlockables that aren't available on PC or consoles. Apex Legends mobile will be free-to-play with cosmetic microtransactions, and EA expects the game to deliver significant results out of the gate and help drive over $1 billion in yearly revenues for Apex.
Continue reading: Apex Legends mobile detailed by EA, coming first to APAC regions (full post)
Konami renews Metal Gear Rising, Castlevnania trademarks
Konami has renewed its trademark for Metal Gear Rising and the Castlevania franchise, Gematsu reports.
Konami's recent trademark renewals don't necessarily mean new games are on the way. Companies like Konami renew trademarks for existing games all the time, especially if they're still collecting royalties on said projects. Metal Gear Rising released a long time ago but is still active on various storefronts like Steam and the Microsoft Store. Re-securing the trademark is important for Konami's business.
The Castlevania renewal is a no-brainer. Netflix is busy on Castlevania season 3, and Konami recently released a collection of classic Castlevania retro games.
Continue reading: Konami renews Metal Gear Rising, Castlevnania trademarks (full post)
Xbox's new breakthrough paves the way for mainstream cloud gaming
Microsoft makes a big breakthrough that will help game streaming push towards mainstream adoption.
Xbox cloud game streaming is coming soon to browsers across PC and mobile, Microsoft today announced. Invites to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will start rolling out tomorrow, and users can test out 100 Xbox games across Edge, Chrome, or Safari browsers.
This new feature will technically allow Project xCloud game streaming on iOS devices via the Safari browser and avoid Apple's stringent App Store policies. Users can hook up Bluetooth controllers to their phones and jump in, or wired USB controllers on their PC. Microsoft says more than 50 games have been re-tooled with touch controls for mobiles.
Continue reading: Xbox's new breakthrough paves the way for mainstream cloud gaming (full post)
Jim Ryan: PS3, Vita stores to stay online for foreseeable future
After tons of pushback from fans, Sony has reversed its initial decision and will now keep the PS3 and PS Vita storefronts open for an indefinite amount of time.
Vita means life, and the handheld's legacy will live on. PlayStation boss Jim Ryan today confirmed that the PS3 and PS Vita stores won't be taken offline as planned.
Instead, both online stores will remain open and operational for "the foreseeable future," allowing gamers to purchase games, DLC, and other content directly from each console-based interface.
Continue reading: Jim Ryan: PS3, Vita stores to stay online for foreseeable future (full post)
IO Interactive's new IP is a dream come true for its oldest developers
Hitman dev IO Interactive is making a new interesting IP that will be different from anything else it's ever worked on, and is a passion project for its oldest developers.
After going indie, IO Interactive has hit the ground running and is tackling some ambitious plans. It just opened a third studio, it's self-publishing its own games, and developing multiple projects like a new game based on the 007 franchise and a new IP. Now we actually know a fair bit about this new wholly-owned intellectual property.
We first heard about IO's new IP in 2017, and recent job listings confirm it'll be a multiplayer game with a "new concept" built in the studio's proprietary Glacier Engine. Now IO CEO Hakan Abrak teases more details about the IP, saying it's something that the studio's core veterans have always wanted to make.
Continue reading: IO Interactive's new IP is a dream come true for its oldest developers (full post)
Doom running on a holographic display lets you peek around corners
Twitter user Jan Kaiser shows us a glimpse of the future with Doom running on a nifty holographic display.
Doom runs on a lot of things; fridges, toasters, smartwatches, pregnancy tests--you name it, if it has a screen it can probably run Doom. The same is true for holographic displays like the Looking Glass Portrait, which runs the 3D version of Doom. This the kind of thing that gamers 40 years from now will be playing on.
Digital security expert Jan Kaiser hooked up a Looking Class Portrait display, booted up Doom, and proceeded to blow our minds. Not only does Doom have more depth, but gamers can turn the screen or move slightly to the left and right to peek around corners. This kind of tech has massive implications for the future of gaming, but it's not exactly cheap or readily available; the screen itself costs $249 for the smaller 7.9-inch portrait model.
Continue reading: Doom running on a holographic display lets you peek around corners (full post)
The first batch of DecaMove controllers go on sale today
Megadodo Games just hit a significant milestone in the development of its DecaGear lineup of VR hardware. The company is still working on perfecting theDecaGear 1 headset, but it's preparing to take orders for the first run of DecaMove locomotion controllers.
Last year, Megadodo Games came out of nowhere and announced an advanced VR headset and locomotion controller. The company quickly started taking pre-orders for the hardware that it planned to ship early this year. Development of the hardware is taking a bit longer than expected, but the DecaMove controller is almost ready to go.
The DecaMove clips to your hips and gives you an additional level of movement fidelity in first-person games. The DecaMove tracks your hip orientation and separates your head and hands from your movement direction for a more natural feeling experience. Megadodo sent out Blogger Editions of the DecaMove last month, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Continue reading: The first batch of DecaMove controllers go on sale today (full post)
The rumored Quest 2 successor is not happening this year
Facebook Reality Labs' top brass shot down the rumours that predict an Oculus Quest 3 or Quest Pro headset is coming this year. Quest 2 will be on the market for "a long while."
Andrew Bosworth, VP Facebook Reality Labs, and John Carmack, Consulting CTO at Oculus, answered several community questions on Twitter Spaces. The discussion also touched on some rumours concerning upcoming hardware.
Bosworth recently teased that a Quest Pro may be in the works during an Instagram-based ask-me-anything event. It turns out his comments were more of a tease than you may have expected. Quest Pro seems to be a real thing, but we won't see it this year. UploadVR posted a partial transcript of the call which highlights a few key details from the discussion.
Continue reading: The rumored Quest 2 successor is not happening this year (full post)
Intel Core i9-11900K pre-binned: 5.1GHz all-core OC costs you $879
Intel's new 11th Gen Core CPUs are now floating out into the wild with the folks at Silicon Lottery offering some pre-binned Rocket Lake-S processors for your OC and gaming pleasure.
It all starts with the pre-binned Core i5-11600K offering 4.8GHz all-core boost for $250, while 4.9GHz costs you $260, and then 5GHz costs $340. Next up we have the higher-end and flagship Rocket Lake-S chip with Intel's new Core i9-11900K at 4.9GHz offered by Silicon Lottery for $620, 5GHz costs you $700 while 5.1GHz bumps up to $880.
Silicon Lottery is only offering the 6-core Intel Core i5-11600K and 8-core Core i9-11900K, with no factory pre-binned Core i7-11700K on offer at all.
Continue reading: Intel Core i9-11900K pre-binned: 5.1GHz all-core OC costs you $879 (full post)
AMD Van Gogh APUs: Zen 2 CPU + RDNA 2 GPU for ultra-low power laptops
AMD is currently preparing its next-gen Van Gogh line of APUs for ultra-low power notebooks, with new leaks teasing that we are to expect a quad-core APU powered by the Zen 2 architecture as well as an RDNA 2-based GPU.
The news is coming from Moore's Law is Dead, with Tom reporting that AMD's next-gen Van Gogh APUs will be made on the 7nm node by TSMC and will feature a monolithic design packing a CPU, GPU, and I/O IPs -- all ready for ultra-low power notebooks and ready for 2021.
AMD's new Van Gogh APUs will not only have Zen 2 CPU cores and RDNA 2 GPU cores, but it'll also pack LPDDR6 memory which offers more bandwidth -- great for gaming and content creation on-the-cheap (and inside of ultra-low power notebooks of the future). AMD is using the FF3 socket for its new Van Gogh APUs which is an compact low power socket, something that AMD will use to fight against Intel's new Tiger Lake-U processors.
Continue reading: AMD Van Gogh APUs: Zen 2 CPU + RDNA 2 GPU for ultra-low power laptops (full post)
HDD and SSD crypto mining frenzy begins, could see shortages like GPUs
If you were pissed off about the worldwide GPU shortage was bad, then we might be in for some trying times when it comes to HDDs and SSDs as Chinese crypto miners are buying them up in bulk to mine cryptocurrency on them.
Chia is the cryptocurrency that the Chinese miners are digging into right now, which doesn't use a CPU, GPU, or ASIC -- it uses your hard drive or SSD. Chia uses a proof of space and time model, versus the proof of work model that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are mined through.
Chia was created by BitTorrent creator Bram Cohen, with the idea behind Chia being that HDDs and SSDs use less power -- so mining on them is much cheaper (as the HDD and SSDs are cheaper than CPUs and GPUs for the most part, and they use far, far less power and output even less heat).
Continue reading: HDD and SSD crypto mining frenzy begins, could see shortages like GPUs (full post)






















