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Samsung foldable smartphone patents show interesting new designs
Samsung might have delayed its first foldable smartphone until September, with the re-release of the Galaxy Fold but that doesn't mean the South Korean giant is not forging ahead with more foldable smartphones.
In a bunch of newly-surfaced patents we see a new foldable smartphone with a 'sliding mechanism' shown off by Samsung, which the great folks at LetsGoDigital turning them into color renderings. These renderings give us a bet ter look at what to expect, with that sliding mechanism looking like it could be a real game changer for foldable smartphones.
It seems you will be able to adjust your display height in multiple stages, depending on the task at (or is that in) your hand. You can have it in half like a clam shell, down a little lower if you're listening to music and want to use the rear-speaker (this is a kick ass idea on its own).
Continue reading: Samsung foldable smartphone patents show interesting new designs (full post)
Google DeepMind co-founder OUT over 'controversy' over his AI projects
Google DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman has been placed on leave abruptly from the secretative AI-focused division of Google, with the reason being controversy "over some of the projects he led".
WTF was Suleyman working on for him to be placed on leave, from DeepMind of all places?
Suleyman, until he was ejected from the company, was working on the "applied" division of DeepMind. This division looked for practicval uses for DeepMind's research into health, energy, and other industries. Suleyman was a big public face for DeepMind, with a DeepMind spokeswoman explaining: "Mustafa is taking time out right now after 10 hectic years".
Continue reading: Google DeepMind co-founder OUT over 'controversy' over his AI projects (full post)
Valve teams with Perfect World for 'Steam China' for Chinese gamers
Valve has just kicked the door down in China, teaming with Perfect World on developing Steam China -- yes, Steam... in China. It's quite self-explanatory. Check out the crazy Steam China Press Demo video below:
Steam China being co-developed with Perfect World gets around some of these Chinese censorship, as the platform has been created from scratch with Chinese consumers in mind. The games on Steam China will be localized, the content servers for downloading games will be based in China, with the entire application complying with all Chinese laws.
Chinese law dictates which games can be sold, hosted, and played in the country -- with Steam China launching with a very limited amount of titles when it launches. Just 40 games are expected, with some of them including Two Point Hospital, Dead Cells, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV, and FTL.
Continue reading: Valve teams with Perfect World for 'Steam China' for Chinese gamers (full post)
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su says CrossFire is 'not a significant focus'
AMD has had a super-successful year this year with the launch of its next-gen Zen 2 architecture and it powering the next wave of CPUs from the company in the form of the Ryzen 3000 series and just-released EPYC 'Rome' server CPUs with up to 64C/128T.
Not only that but the company has pushed out the new Navi-based GPU with the Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards, with all of the new Zen 2-based CPUs and Navi-based GPUs made on the 7nm node. One of the things absent from the new RX 5700 series cards is multi-GPU support, something that Vega could do with CrossFire, but Navi can't.
In a recent chat with the press at the Hot Chips press conference, AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su replied to a question regarding the future of multi-GPU technology. She said: "To be honest, the software is going faster than the hardware, I would say that CrossFire isn't a significant focus".
Continue reading: AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su says CrossFire is 'not a significant focus' (full post)
Yes, the V-shaped PlayStation 5 dev kit is real says game developer
It was just yesterday that we reported on the V-shaped PlayStation 5 developer kit that was teased through a patent, and now game developer Matthew Stott has confirmed it.
Stott said in a tweet linking to the V-shaped PS5 that "it's a dev kit we have some in the office", referencing the new PlayStation 5. Stott says he has some in the office, meaning if he has a few that bigger developers would have the same if not many more.
Just how many PS5 developer kits are in the wild right now? I wonder if Sony will force him to take his tweet down, but the internet being the internet means it's here forever. It looks like the V-shaped PS5 is indeed real, let's hope that style continues through to the final design, because I think it looks rad.
Continue reading: Yes, the V-shaped PlayStation 5 dev kit is real says game developer (full post)
Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer won't be forced into the game
Unlike every other publisher and big developer out there, CD Projekt RED won't try to force online multiplayer in Cyberpunk 2077. It'll only be included if it fits, and only if it doesn't negatively effect singleplayer.
Most games these days are built around live services, online multiplayer, and engagement. But Cyberpunk 2077 is built from the ground up as a wholly singleplayer experience, and CDPR isn't about to jeopardize that by jamming in a MP component if it doesn't mesh well. Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer has been in the works for years now, but there's a chance it could get scrapped.
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, CDPR dev Marthe Jonkers said multiplayer will only be included if it's absolutely perfect. "If you add multiplayer functions it has to be right. Immersion is super important for us and we have to make sure everything fits together. The single-player experience, it all fits together. We're not just going to slap some feature in and that'll be it."
Continue reading: Cyberpunk 2077's multiplayer won't be forced into the game (full post)
That new Battletoads game looks pretty bad
Gamescom 2019 - The return of TMNT knock-offs Battletoads caused lots of excitement at E3 2019, especially after the huge years-long silence at Microsoft. But maybe this one should've died off.
Battletoads is coming back this year, but it's not the same hard-as-nails beat-em-up platformer mashup from your NES childhood. It's something different, something that looks like a cheap imitation, a nostalgic cash grab the world might be better off without. It's a 3-player beat-em-up that stars Rash, Pimple and Zitz, sporting a kind of drawn animation that reminds me of Stick It To the Man. Overall the visuals are just too busy and the enemies blend way too easily with the backgrounds.
The new Gamescom 2019 trailer shows brings up some significant worries. The hit detection looks atrocious, and the enemies are just...it's like they've already quit before the game started. The punches and attacks are delayed and combat itself just looks very, very off. It looks like you fight the game itself more than you fight enemies.
Continue reading: That new Battletoads game looks pretty bad (full post)
AAA Xbox games coming to PS4, Switch makes no sense
Microsoft shuts down rumors of its biggest AAA games coming to competing platforms like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4.
It really shouldn't have to be said. I mean...there's no way mainline Halo or Gears of War games will come to the PS4 or Nintendo Switch. It should be obvious. Yes, the traditional console wars are breaking down as Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft embrace cross-play, but they're not all about to start trading games libraries. There's a reason console exclusives exist, and a reason the Xbox platform is now consoles and PC. But then again, there's also a reason Microsoft's selling games like Ori on the Nintendo Switch.
A Microsoft rep clarifies things to GamesIndustry.biz: "We have no plans to further expand our exclusive first party games to other consoles. We continue to believe deeply in cross play and progression of games with the right flexibility for developers to insure a fair and fun experience."
Continue reading: AAA Xbox games coming to PS4, Switch makes no sense (full post)
PS4 exclusives may come to the Epic Games Store, Sony open to PC ports
Unlike Microsoft, Sony doesn't have a forward-thinking plan that blends consoles and Windows 10 PCs together. Now Sony wants to expand onto other platforms like PC, and it could bring its biggest blockbusters to desktop storefronts like the Epic Games Store.
Okay, there's a lot to unpack here. First let's start with the stepping stones. PS4 games are already technically on PC, but not natively. You can only play them through Sony's PlayStation Now streaming service. This could change as Sony shifts towards a more open ecosystem, and the seeds have already been planted. First there was PS4 game streaming to PC, then cross-play between consoles (and likely soon PC) , and now Sony's even making TV shows and possibly films based around its PlayStation IPs. These steps show Sony is experimenting with new ways to engage and sell its games, and PC is a logical pathway to more revenues.
This leads us to the next step: expanding games outside of the PlayStation Store. It's all about exposure and revenue. Sony probably won't bring all its heavy-hitters to PC because that'd undercut PS5 sales, but at the same time, the PS5's selling points speak for themselves. The system is a true next-gen console that'll hit 8K, 120FPS perf in some games, sports ray-tracing, a high-end Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU, and a super-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD for insane loading times.
Continue reading: PS4 exclusives may come to the Epic Games Store, Sony open to PC ports (full post)
Halo 6 microtransactions should be cosmetic-only weapon & armor skins
Like all major first-party games from Microsoft, Halo: Infinite aka Halo 6 will be monetized with microtransactions. Now that lootboxes are reviled and the REQ Pack system isn't returning, there's really one option: cosmetics.
We've known for a while that Halo: Infinite would have microtransactions. Microsoft's own business model, which puts services and monetization first above all else, pretty much gave it away. Halo has always been a live game built around engagement, repeated play, and unlockables, all prime territory for mTX. Now through job listings, 343 Industries themselves have inadvertently confirmed microtransactions will be in Halo 6.
343 Industries is hiring a Live Design Lead to guide Halo 6's live component. According to the job listing, the Lead will:
Continue reading: Halo 6 microtransactions should be cosmetic-only weapon & armor skins (full post)
No Man's Sky physical re-release includes Beyond expansion and all DLC
Hello Games confirms No Man's Sky will be re-released in retail stores as a $59.99 game of the year-style bundle.
Before its massive new Beyond update dropped, No Man's Sky was pretty cheap. You could get a copy for around $20 off of Amazon, or $30 digitally. Now the space sim is getting re-released in a "remastered" format on PS4, complete with all seven expansions right on the disc. It's a way to re-monetize the massive work Hello Games put into those free updates, and it might be something we should support (No Man's Sky is basically a live game without microtransactions. That's huge.)
"We're super excited to tell you that a physical version of No Man's Sky: Beyond will be available to buy on North America on September 10, and in Europe on 11th September," Sean Murray said in a recent PlayStation Blog post. "It seems only fitting that we should bundle up all of these three years of updates, re-master the game and re-issue it on a shiny new disc."
Continue reading: No Man's Sky physical re-release includes Beyond expansion and all DLC (full post)
Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 coming to PS4 at 1080p 60FPS
Gamescom 2019 - SEGA's most popular and profitable franchise will continue its westward expansion with a new three-game remaster collection on Sony's mega-popular PS4.
SEGA makes good on its promise for more re-releases by bringing Yakuzas 3, 4 and 5 overseas to the PlayStation 4. All three games--Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza 5--have been upgraded from 720p 30FPS to 1080p 60FPS for enhanced performance on modern hardware, complete with cut content and mini-games not found in the previous North American and European PS3 releases.
It's a timed-released compilation where every game has a staggered launch, meaning you won't be able to play all three games right away when you buy the collection. The $59.99 collection includes all three games, but they're only accessible during different times. Yakuza 3 is available now, but Yakuza 4 is playable on October 29, and Yakuza 5 can't be played until February 2020.
Continue reading: Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 coming to PS4 at 1080p 60FPS (full post)
Modern Warfare supports mouse and keyboard on consoles
Modern Warfare will support mouse and keyboard play on PS4 and Xbox One for enhanced competitive edges.
Consoles have always technically supported mouse and keyboard controls, but it's up to the developers to use them in-game. Early examples include Final Fantasy XIV on PS4. But Modern Warfare will leverage this to a different degree on consoles, this time allowing tighter aiming and control thanks to enhanced KB&M precision. Modern Warfare dev Joe Cecot confirmed the news while talking about cross-play and balancing console controller play against high DPI mouse users on PC.
Cecot says console gamers can choose whether they want to play against other controller users or keyboard-and-mouse users on PC. Controller players can also choose to play against KB&M on consoles, too. Keyboard and mouse controls will be fully supported in all of Modern Warfare's multiplayer and singleplayer modes, including the small 2v2 Gunfight to the huge 100-player Ground War gametype. The aim is to avoid the tremendous competitive advantage that high sensitivity mice offer for aiming in FPS games.
Continue reading: Modern Warfare supports mouse and keyboard on consoles (full post)
Oddworld: Soulstorm on PC releases exclusively on the Epic Games Store
The Oddworld community is patiently waiting for the next release in the series, Oddworld: Soulstorm. A recent announcement has revealed where fans will be able to access their game once its released.
In a recent post to the official Oddworld Twitter account, the series creator, Lorne Lanning addressed the entire Oddworld community, saying "Oddworld: Soulstorm will be coming to PC via the Epic Games Store." Lanning addressed why they decided to go to the Epic Games Store rather than Steam, saying that the decision was purely a financial one.
Here is the direct quote "Soulstorm is our most ambitious game ever and we are committed to creating a great game that meets the highest level of quality. But to create the version of Soulstorm we want, and you deserve, we needed additional financial assistance." The console release of the title will be released simultaneously with the PC version sometime during 2020.
Continue reading: Oddworld: Soulstorm on PC releases exclusively on the Epic Games Store (full post)
The Joker director hints at sequel 'I would do anything with Joaquin'
For most comic book fans, seeing a comic book character hit the big screen is a massive deal. Even if the movie that they are seeing isn't based off the comic books at all.
The upcoming Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix is one of these movies, and according to the director Todd Phillips, a sequel isn't that far out of the picture. Phillips spoke to Total Film magazine and said in response to a sequel that "One thing I will tell you: I would do anything with Joaquin, any day of the week."
He continued and said: "There's nobody like him. If he was willing to do it, and if people show up to this movie, and Warners came to us and said, 'You know what? If you guys could think of something...' Well, I have a feeling that he and I could think of something pretty cool." This is quite promising, as leading actor and director synergy is a great foundation for a movie to perform well, and it seems that Phillips and Phoenix have captured this. The Joker will be arriving in cinemas around the world on October 4th.
Continue reading: The Joker director hints at sequel 'I would do anything with Joaquin' (full post)
GameStop lays off 120 staff members, 14% off total staff eliminated
It wasn't too long ago that GameStop laid off more than 50 field leaders in their effort to reboot their entire franchise, now the company is at it again with the elimination hammer.
GameStop has made some significant job cuts this time round, firing employee's from a range of different divisions throughout the company. GameStop wrote a statement saying "As part of the previously announced GameStop Reboot initiative to transform our business for the future and improve our financial performance, we can confirm a workforce reduction was implemented impacting more than 120 corporate staff positions, representing approximately 14% of our total associate base at our company headquarters as well as at some other offices."
Not only did staff members for the corporate side of the company get fired but also several members of the Game Informer journalist branch. Some of the names you have probably heard of before: managing editor Matt Bertz, senior editor Imran Khan, senior associate editor Kyle Hilliard, senior associate editor Jeff Marchiafava, associate editor Suriel Vazquez, associate editor Elise Favis, and associate editor Javy Gwaltney have been fired.
Continue reading: GameStop lays off 120 staff members, 14% off total staff eliminated (full post)
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord sticks a landing on Steam, March 2020
Gamescom 2019 - Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord developers, TaleWorlds Entertainment have announced that their sequel title to the Mount & Blade franchise will be arriving on Steam in March of next year.
During their Gamescom 2019 presentation, TaleWorlds Entertainment announced that Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord would be arriving on Steam Early Access sometime during March of 2020. This is great news considering the extremely long development time the title endured, so hopefully the game arrives polished and ready for play. With that being said, do note that the title is coming to Steam Early Access which technically means it won't be completed when its playable.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord will be building upon the already fantastic battle system that was present in the previous game, Mount & Blade: Warband. Players will be able to establish secret criminal empires in cities, charge into the thick of battle on horse back, mount siege weaponry and conduct long-lasting sieges and much more. Players will also be introduced to the new bartering system that will give players flexibility when presented with a multitude of different choices. Currently there is no price attached to the title, but if you want more information check out the official Steam Store listing for it here.
Continue reading: Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord sticks a landing on Steam, March 2020 (full post)
The One Punch Man game forces players to stall until Saitama arrives
Gamescom 2019 - Bandai Namco has shined a new light on their One Punch Man game 'A Hero Nobody Knows' and how combat will involved within the games story.
If you already know One Punch Man, you would understand that building a game purely around the premise of a character being able to one-shot any foe they encounter would be difficult. How do you overcome this problem without taking the key part of One Punch Man's greatness away? Introduce a mechanic that forces players to stall out fights until the hero arrives.
Bandai Namco will be rewarding players who achieve perfect blocks and combos with shaved off Saitama arrival time. Players will fight a range of different characters and they will also be able to enjoy the likes of 3v3 fights if they so choose to. Other characters that have been revealed are: Terrible Tornado, Silverfang, and Atomic Samurai. One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows currently doesn't have a solid release date stuck to it yet, but we do know its headed to the Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Continue reading: The One Punch Man game forces players to stall until Saitama arrives (full post)
World's first real-world quantum network built with brand new protocol
A team of researchers have made a break-through discovery in quantum internet networking, announcing they have developed the first quantum internet protocol.
To understand the achievement that has been made here you must first understand current internet protocols. In classical computing and everyday use of the internet, a collection of software layers which are reffered to as a network stack enables devices to communicate with eachother, an example of this is HTTP. Professor Stephanie Wehner from the research team QuTech describes this by saying "All of us use classical link layer protocols in everyday life. One example is Wi-Fi, which allows an unreliable radio signal-suffering from interruptions and interference-to be used to transmit data reliably between compatible devices."
Quantum networking uses the same premise as traditional computing, but is still very different. Due to the differences between classical computing and quantum, the team developed a new "quantum network stack" that is the "world's first link-layer protocol". Since a quantum network uses quantum bits, or qubits to transfer information, a new network protocol had to be developed due to quantum bits not retaining data reliably. This newly developed protocol overcomes those hurdles that quantum level software development was encountering.
Continue reading: World's first real-world quantum network built with brand new protocol (full post)
Astronomers teach an AI to find cosmic collisions and ancient galaxies
While it might seem that seeing a cosmic level collision such as a galaxy hitting head-on with another galaxy would be hard to miss, astronomers have found and easier way to minimize missing such an event.
Astronomers have trouble defining which galaxies were a result of a past collision and which are just super-bright distant galaxies from the early universe. To assist with this task, astronomers have created an AI system that has been fed 1 million fake Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope images to help differentiate between galatic collisions and blurry super-bright star forming galaxies.
While the AI was being fed this data, astronomers already knew which ones where which, despite all images looking extremely similar at first glance. From this process astronomers managed to train the AI program to correctly differentiate between the two desired outcomes. The astronomers do say that for the system to be more accurate they must input more data from all different types/aged galaxies, this will enable wider range of detection for the AI to work with.
Continue reading: Astronomers teach an AI to find cosmic collisions and ancient galaxies (full post)






















