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Nintendo Switch sold 2.3 million consoles in first month
Nintendo has confirmed its new Switch console-hybrid system has sold 906,000 units in the United States, culminating an estimated sales earnings of $271.8 million and smashing new sales milestones. But what about total global Switch sales? Analysts predict the Switch has not only met Nintendo's original target, but exceeded it by 300,000 units.
Before the Switch launched, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima affirmed the company expects to sell at least 2 million consoles across the globe in March alone. According to Ace Research Institute analyst Hideki Yasuda, total worldwide Switch sales should be around 2.3 million units sold. If this data is accurate, Nintendo exceeded its target by 15%, or 300,000 Switch consoles.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch sold 2.3 million consoles in first month (full post)
Tesla Model 3 final production unveil planned for July
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla plans to unveil the final production version of the Model 3 in July.
The company unveiled the prototype version of the $35,000 electric car last year, and although it didn't show the final design of the car, Tesla got more than 400,000 reservations in a couple of months.
The final version should answer the remaining questions about the car.
Continue reading: Tesla Model 3 final production unveil planned for July (full post)
HTC introduces One X10 with 4,000 mAh battery
HTC has announced the latest member of its mid-range One X family - the HTC One X10.
The device comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display and is powered by MediaTek's Helio P10 chipset. The phone has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2TB with a microSD card.
The HTC One X10 has a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP front shooter. Other features include a 4,000 mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor.
Continue reading: HTC introduces One X10 with 4,000 mAh battery (full post)
Nintendo Switch earns $271.8 million in U.S. alone
Nintendo's new Switch console-handheld hybrid system has smashes even more sales records, and the Japanese console-maker now recognizes the Switch as the fastest-selling console in Nintendo's history.
Nintendo has confirmed that its new transforming console sold and impressive 906,000 units in the United States in March. This data means Nintendo has earned $271.8 million on Switch consoles from the U.S. alone in a one-month period! These sales figures propel the Switch as the best-selling console for launch month sales in the United States, and total global sales are predicted to be well north of Nintendo's original 2 million Switch sales target.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild also saw record-smashing sales across both Wii U and the Switch, and is now recognized as the fastest-selling Zelda game of all time in a one-month period in the United States, with a total of 1.3 million copies sold. Interestingly enough, Nintendo sold more copies of Breath of the Wild's Switch port than it sold actual Nintendo Switch consoles! This means the Switch's attach rate exceeds 100%, which is a massive feat to say the least.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch earns $271.8 million in U.S. alone (full post)
Uncharted dev: Horizon Zero Dawn 'is the bar now'
Guerrilla Games built one of the best-looking PS4 games with Horizon Zero Dawn, with the graphics earning the praise of The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog.
Naughty Dog's Creative Director, Neil Druckmann, said that Horizon Zero Dawn has set a new bar for graphics on the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Druckmann said it wasn't just the visuals in Horizon Zero Dawn, but the open-world that Guerrilla created, and he hopes to beat the visuals in Naughty Dog's upcoming The Last of Us Part II.
Druckmann said: "The graphics are staggering. I don't even think of it as graphics because I'm in the woods. I'm in this overgrown environment, and I'm like, "How are they getting so much foliage, such density in an open-world game. You better believe I'm going to my team, and I'm saying like, "Okay. This is the bar now. It's awesome. We're super excited for you guys, we know how hard you worked on this game".
Continue reading: Uncharted dev: Horizon Zero Dawn 'is the bar now' (full post)
GALAX announces its single-slot GeForce GTX 1070 Katana
We have been teased by the GALAX GeForce GTX 1070 single-slot graphics card, but now GALAX has officially announced its GeForce GTX 1070 Katana graphics card.
GALAX has one of the most interesting GTX 10 series cards made with the new Katana design, with the company claiming that the GTX 1070 Katana has a full copper heat sink and vapor chamber cooling, all cooled by the blower-style fan.
GALAX used its new RazorX cooling technology, which is able to cool down the 16nm FinFET GPU and its 8GB of GDDR5 RAM.
Continue reading: GALAX announces its single-slot GeForce GTX 1070 Katana (full post)
Nintendo, make a Switch JoyCon with a full D-pad
Hey Nintendo...it's time to release a JoyCon with a full D-pad.
I really like my Nintendo Switch console, but I've recognized a glaring problem with its left JoyCon controller: the split D-pad. I absolutely understand the reason why the D-pad is split (so you can detach the controllers, hand one to a friend, and play games with anyone on-the-go), but it's time to sell a JoyCon variant with a full D-pad. The lack of a simple D-pad restricts what kinds of games that not only show up on the Nintendo Switch, but those that can be played comfortably in handheld mode.
But right now, Nintendo can get away with its JoyCon sticks; even the four NeoGeo fighting games typically use analog-stick style gamepads, unlike traditional fighting games that use D-pads, so it's not a problem.
Continue reading: Nintendo, make a Switch JoyCon with a full D-pad (full post)
Halo 3 might be coming to PC
AMD might've accidentally confirmed one of Microsoft's biggest E3 reveals: Halo 3 on PC.
According to AllGamesDelta, AMD briefly showed an image from Halo 3 at its Ryzen 5 event in Korea. We've found this exact image on Google, and it's indeed Halo 3...however it appears to be a wallpaper mock-up and possibly not an official image.
Tesla Semi electric truck to be unveiled in September
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed today that the company intends to unveil their first electric semi truck in September this year.
Musk added that the upcoming vehicle will be "seriously next level." He also congratulated the entire team for doing an amazing job.
Last year, Musk said that Tesla Semi will reduce the cost of cargo transport and increase the safety. Other companies are also working on delivering a zero-emission cargo truck to the market. One of them is Mercedes-Benz, but their vehicle isn't expected to reach full production until 2020.
Continue reading: Tesla Semi electric truck to be unveiled in September (full post)
AMD: Fallout 4 VR is an industry changer
AMD and Bethesda Softworks recently teamed up in a "long-term strategic partnership to rapidly advance game technology development, fuel new PC game experiences, and reshape the gaming landscape," meaning AMD is privy on some of the "big and crazy projects" Bethesda is working on, including Fallout 4 VR. From what AMD has seen so far, Fallout 4 VR is a total game-changer.
A few weeks ago I predicted that Fallout 4 VR would be the "killer app" that virtual reality so desperately needs; that must-have game that sells VR headsets the way Halo Combat Evolved sold original Xboxs back in 2001. According to AMD corporate vice president Roy Taylor, Fallout 4 VR is to virtual reality what Super Mario Bros. 3 is to NES, or Sonic the Hedgehog is to SEGA Genesis.
"[Fallout 4 VR] is a ground-breaking VR title. It will change the way we think about VR. It will be an industry changer," Taylor told MCVUK at this year's VR World Congress.
Continue reading: AMD: Fallout 4 VR is an industry changer (full post)
Yakuza Kiwami drops August 29, hits 1080p 60FPS on PS4
SEGA's highly anticipated Yakuza Kiwami HD remake will release in the west on August 29, 2017 exclusively on Sony's PlayStation 4 console.
Yakuza Kiwami is a built-from-scratch remake of the first Yakuza game that launched on PS2 some 12 years ago. SEGA has painstakingly upgraded the old-school original to modern day graphics and performance on PS4, and Yakuza Kiwami features all new HD assets, exclusive Japanese voice over audio re-recorded by the original game's cast, and a massive overhaul to in-game performance to hit 1080p 60FPS on PS4.
SEGA will release digital and physical versions of Yakuza Kiwami for $29.99, and a limited run of pre-orders will be upgraded to a special SteelBook case with commemorative artwork. Check below for the full press release straight from SEGA.
Continue reading: Yakuza Kiwami drops August 29, hits 1080p 60FPS on PS4 (full post)
NASA announces that Saturn's moon could support life
After more than 12 years studying Saturn, its rings, and moons, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has entered the final year of its epic voyage. The conclusion of the historic scientific odyssey is planned for September 2017. Cassini already sent some impressive images of Saturn's atmosphere and shown us detailed images of Saturn's rings.
However, Cassini's most important discovery reveals much more. NASA has announced that a form of chemical energy that life can feed on appears to exist on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The paper from researchers with the Cassini mission, published in the journal Science, indicates hydrogen gas, which could potentially provide a chemical energy source for life, is pouring into the subsurface ocean of Enceladus from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor.
The presence of ample hydrogen means that microbes if they exist there, could use it to obtain energy by combining the hydrogen with carbon dioxide dissolved in the water.
Continue reading: NASA announces that Saturn's moon could support life (full post)
Project Scorpio will be revealed at E3 2017
In a not-so-surprising move, Microsoft officially confirms that its new 4K-ready Project Scorpio console will be unveiled at E3 2017.
We've suspected for a while that Project Scorpio would be showcased at E3 2017, and Microsoft has hinted it left and right, but it's still great to get an actual confirmation. Xbox division head Phil Spencer declares that Microsoft will showcase Project Scorpio's finalized console form, price point, and an array of native 4K HDR games during the company's E3 2017 media briefing on Sunday, June 11 starting at 2PM PST/ 5PM EST.
"I'm proud of the progress made with Project Scorpio and what it will mean for the creators who fuel the passion of gamers around the world," Spencer writes on an Xbox Wire post. "On behalf of everyone at Team Xbox, thank you for your continued passion and support. We're excited to unveil Project Scorpio and the amazing game experiences it powers at E3 this June."
Continue reading: Project Scorpio will be revealed at E3 2017 (full post)
Nintendo kills NES Mini console
Nintendo today confirmed that it won't be making any more NES Mini consoles in 2017, and once the system is sold out, retailers won't get any new shipments.
The NES Classic Edition (aka NES Mini) first hit store shelves November 11, 2016, and Nintendo has officially ceased yearly production of the limited edition console after just six months of availability. I have to wonder if Nintendo made this decision due to the rampant piracy surrounding the console, as gamers have successfully hacked their mini NES consoles to fully expand a massive library of games that weren't originally on the system.
"Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year," a Nintendo rep told Polygon. "We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product."
Continue reading: Nintendo kills NES Mini console (full post)
New Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania footage revealed
Nintendo and Sega showcase new Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania footage in yesterday's Nintendo Direct.
The Sonic Forces footage showed some interesting tidbits, revealing two different timelines: a dystopian modern world on the verge of destruction by Eggman's monstrous robots, and the stylish and colorful classic world we know and love. The Modern Sonic portions of the game are action-based 3D sequences, whereas the Classic Sonic section heralds to the old-school platformer we grew up with on the Sega Genesis. Both Modern and Classic Sonics will team up to fight Eggman in the Modern world.
Also...who is that "mysterious new ally"? Many speculate it could be Bubsy...but it surely couldn't be. Right?
Continue reading: New Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania footage revealed (full post)
Prepare to Dine: Dark Souls publisher teases new game
Bandai Namco today teased a brand new project, showing a cryptic animated teaser clip and an altered version of a slogan we all know and love.
The clip itself is an "original animation inspired by a new title in development at Bandai Namco Entertainment," and isn't an actual cinematic sequence from the game itself. Based on the slogan "Prepare to Dine," it's possible that From Software has something to do with the game. Perhaps this is an early teaser for the hugely anticipated Bloodborne 2? The game has a very interesting post-apocalyptic modern setting, so if it is a From Software game, it'll be interesting to see them mix modern tech with their distinct fantasy lore.
"BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. invites players to whet their appetite and #PrepareToDine with a quick taste of an upcoming title set for an official announcement on April 20, 2017," a Bandai Namco PR rep told us.
Continue reading: Prepare to Dine: Dark Souls publisher teases new game (full post)
Refunds are coming to Xbox LIVE and Windows Store
Refunds are a hot topic in the console realm, and Microsoft has taken the preemptive strike against Sony by offering refunds on digital Xbox One and Windows 10 PC games and/or apps.
The refund system isn't live just yet, and is only available to members of Xbox's preview program. The refunds themselves are self-service, meaning you can apply for a refund right from the Xbox One or Windows 10 dashboard.
Like Valve's refund policy, there's rules: "Games and apps are eligible for self-service refunds within 14 days of purchase if you have less than 2 hours of play time across all accounts," reads the official stipulations. DLC, season passes, and add-on content can't be refunded.
Continue reading: Refunds are coming to Xbox LIVE and Windows Store (full post)
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 leaked: Huge screen and 6GB of RAM?
Xiaomi is set to unveil the Mi 6 and Mi 6 Plus on April 19th, and there are rumors that the company might also show the Mi Max 2.
According to the leaks, the Mi Max 2 will be a quite big phone. It is expected that the device will come with a 6.44-inch display and a huge 5,000 mAh battery.
The Mi Max 2 should be powered by a Snapdragon 626, and it will come with 6GB of RAM.
Continue reading: Xiaomi Mi Max 2 leaked: Huge screen and 6GB of RAM? (full post)
Leaked HTC One X10 poster suggest a big battery
HTC unveiled their latest smartphones earlier this year, the U Play and U Ultra, but there is more to come. While we are still waiting for this year's flagship, rumored to be named the HTC U, the Taiwanese company might unveil the One X10.
Evan Blass, a trust-worthy leaker, posted an official poster of HTC's One X10. The image reveals the design of the phone but also gives us a hint of what to expect. The slogan says "Big style meets bigger battery." Although we don't know any numbers yet, it is clear what the company is focusing on.
Earlier rumors have suggested that the One X10 will come with a 5.5-inch 1080 display, Helio P10 processor, and 3GB of RAM.
Continue reading: Leaked HTC One X10 poster suggest a big battery (full post)
AMD Ryzen 5 1600X hits 5.9GHz, breaks 6C/12T OC record
I've been testing the new Ryzen 5 1600X extensively over the last week or so, and have come to really love what AMD has achieved with it - offering 6C/12T of CPU performance for $249.
But now the 6C/12T processor has been overclocked to 5.9GHz on LN2 by overclocker der8auer. He used the ASUS ROG Crosshair IV Hero X370 motherboard with a BIOS from February 8, alongside G.Skill Trident Z DDR4 RAM, a Samsung SSD, and Windows 7.
With most of these huge overclocks under LN2, it's with one core enabled - leaving the other 3 (and the four Hyper-Threading cores) disabled. AMD's new Ryzen 5 1600X has its full 6C/12T enabled, with all of them running at 5.9GHz der8auer broke all of the records for Cinebench, Geekbench, and GPUPi. AMD's Ryzen 5 1600X @ 5.9GHz beats out the Intel Core i7-5820K from the 6-threaded awards it used to have.
Continue reading: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X hits 5.9GHz, breaks 6C/12T OC record (full post)






















