Gaming in Washington. Reviews, Walkthroughs, News

Gladiator 2 has got some glowing early praise according to new reports. Ridley Scott’s epic historical sequel recently wrapped filming, and Deadline suggests that studio executives have been "blown away" by what they’ve seen so far.

US space agency NASA has been exploring space and beyond for decades and helping it do that have been quite a few telescopes, satellites and spacecraft up in the sky including the venerable Hubble Space Telescope and the new James Webb Space Telescope, both of which have shed fascinating light on the matter going as far back as almost to the beginning of time - the Big Bang itself. The space agency has contributed to amazing discoveries with its missions over the years. However, space is vast and made up of amazingly complicated structures. That calls for the deployment of more instruments. And now, yet another NASA space telescope is set for launch.

American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis is making his directorial debut with a horror movie starring Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn. 

Smart rings and eyewear are growing in popularity, much like smartwatches. Imagine having all of your calls and notifications right at your fingertips, or tracking your health numbers like calories burnt and heart rate directly from your accessories. While streaming your daily life to social media may not be for everyone, the wearable era is becoming more prevalent in our lives. Enter the world of smart earrings called Thermal Earring, a significant new addition to the wearable technology arsenal.

OpenAI's Sam Altman said the United Arab Emirates could serve as the world's “regulatory sandbox” to test artificial intelligence technologies and later spearhead global rules limiting their use.

How would one describe Jynxzi? Simple, he is the popular Twitch streamer who came out of nowhere to dethrone the platform’s biggest streamers with a huge jump in active subscribers that boosted him well ahead of the competition.

AI model forecasts psychosis via brain scans; Rajasthan teen creates AgRobot to revolutionise farming; California bill proposes mandatory AI model testing; OpenAI's Altman pursues trillions for chip- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

I've long been enamoured with the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, from the Douglas firs and waterfalls of Twin Peaks to the redwoods I once swam beneath on a road trip. Thanks to Pacific Drive's Steam Next Fest demo, I have now also barrelled through the woods and backroads of a spooky alt-history PNW in a banged-up car which is itself a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-esque artifact. I've had my eye on Pacific Drive for a few years and after playing the demo, I am delighted by parts of it but not entirely sold on its roguelikelike survival scavenge-o-rama structure. Hmm! Give it a go and tell me what you think.

Elon Musk's X, the company formerly known as Twitter, is planning to build a new “Trust and Safety center of excellence” in Austin, Texas, to help enforce its content and safety rules. 

US Intelligence pursues the goal of safe AI amid China tech competition; YouTube takes down 1,000 plus AI-generated celebrity scam ads amid deepfake concerns; Indian Publishers push for copyright protection amid rising AI concerns; Shahid Kapoor talks AI's future impact while promoting sci-fi love story- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

Following the end of Overwatch League, Blizzard has unveiled new plans for its competitive Overwatch esports circuit.

 No technology since nuclear fission will shape our collective future quite like artificial intelligence, so it's paramount AI systems are safe, secure, trustworthy and socially responsible. But unlike the atom bomb, this paradigm shift has been almost completely driven by the private tech sector, which has been resistant to regulation, to say the least. Billions are at stake, making the Biden administration's task of setting standards for AI safety a major challenge.

John Boyega is set to star in and executive produce The Book of Eli, a TV prequel series based on the 2010 post-apocalyptic action drama of the same name.

AI to dominate fintech for next five years, WEF study reveals; Blockchain emerges as key tool to tackle bias in AI training; Voice AI startup ElevenLabs attains unicorn status with $1.1 billion valuation in latest funding round; EY survey unveils Gen AI's impact on Indian retail transformation- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

UK Parcel firm disables AI chat after poetic bot critiques customer service; AI flags patients pre-surgery alcohol risks, outperformed diagnosis codes; California community unveils AI tech to prevent School shootings; Mark Zuckerberg's open source AGI sparks concerns among experts- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

NASA, with the help of its advanced space and ground-based telescopes, has recently tracked the asteroid that is set to pass Earth today, January 19. The asteroid, given the designation of Asteroid 2024 AE3 by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), is travelling towards Earth in its orbit at a breakneck speed of 27076 kilometers per hour, which is almost as fast as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)!

On his private social media account, Oscar nominee Paul Mescal confirmed that production on Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated has finally been completed. This comes after filming was temporarily delayed last year due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. The long-awaited is currently scheduled to make its debut in theaters on November 22, 2024.

Baldur’s Gate 3 was released in early access in October 2020, delighting fans eager to get their hands on the highly anticipated game. For Larian Studios forum user Solfalia, it was exceptionally meaningful: Solfalia wrote that his father got him into gaming, and, in particular, they shared an affinity for Baldur’s Gate 2, Divinity: Original Sin, and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Until Dawn is the next popular video game to get the live-action treatment.

Sometimes, a game has a lot riding against it, and it has to go the extra mile to prove its excellence. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered isn’t in the worst position pre-launch, although it has a steep hill ahead of it to prove why it should exist at all. Staying true to its history, Naughty Dog manages to not disappoint, and delivers a package filled with upgrades and a few surprises. 

AI sparks fears in finance, business, and law; Chinese military trains AI to predict enemy actions on battlefield with ChatGPT-like models; OpenAI's GPT store faces challenge as users exploit platform for 'AI Girlfriends'; Anthropic study reveals alarming deceptive abilities in AI models- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

Greetings, Polygon readers!

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the U.S. House Speaker conferred on risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) amid regulatory challenges; US and Chinese AI companies hold secret talks on AI safety concerns; Pipefy launches AI-driven HR automation with customisable chatbots; Google Cloud unveils generative AI tools to transform retail experiences- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

Microsoft Xbox is kicking off 2024 with a bang. The Washington-based tech giant has announced the first Xbox Developer Direct of 2024 and it is scheduled for January 18. The event will offer die-hard Xbox fans a great opportunity to get an inside look into the games that are currently in development for the Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Game Pass. It will include a highly anticipated look at the upcoming Indiana Jones game trailer, among other offerings. Check out what's planned.

Alphabet's Google went before a federal jury in Boston on Tuesday to argue against a computer scientist's claims that it should pay his company $1.67 billion for infringing patents that allegedly cover the processors used to power artificial intelligence technology in Google products.

It’s easy to think of Denzel Washington as the best actor of his generation, and in conversation with the greatest actors who have ever lived. He already has two Oscars, and has deserved many more. And with the recent release of The Equalizer 3 on Netflix, it’s the perfect time to look back on his body of work and legitimately pose the question: Is he also the greatest action star of his generation?

Huawei Technologies Co.'s newest laptop runs on a chip made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a teardown of the device showed, quashing talk of another Chinese technological breakthrough. The Qingyun L540 notebook contains a 5-nanometer chip made by the Taiwanese company in 2020, around the time US sanctions cut off Huawei's access to the chipmaker, research firm TechInsights found after dismantling the device for Bloomberg News. That counters speculation that Huawei's domestic chipmaking partner, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., may have achieved a major leap in fabrication technique.

Happy new year, Polygon readers! Each week, we round up the most notable new releases to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.

 SpaceX was accused by the US labor board of illegally firing eight employees over an internal letter sharply critical of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.

Starbucks has found itself under hot water after a consumer protection group has made claims that the coffee chain has been profting from an unfair app payment system. The allegations suggest that a staggering $900 million profit has been made over the course of five years.

George Clooney is reuniting with Brad Pitt for upcoming action-thriller Wolfs (the incorrect spelling is intentional) marking their first collaboration since the Ocean's Eleven series and Burn After Reading.

Cutting-edge chip manufacturing machines from Dutch semiconductor giant ASML have been blocked from export to China, according to the firm, amid a report of US pressure in the strategic sector.

Viewers of are wondering are in the series and when each new episode comes out. Baddies East is a reality TV series, featuring OG Baddies like Natalie Nunn and new cast members, as they aim to dominate the East Coast with drama and entertainment.

Chinese tech giant Huawei said Friday it "weathered the storm" of US sanctions as it announced a rise of almost nine percent in revenues in 2023, a year that saw it shock Washington with the release of a high-end smartphone.

Apple Inc. won a ruling temporarily pausing a US International Trade Commission order banning sales of some of its smartwatches in the US while the company seeks a longer stay pending its appeal of the restriction.

Nearly three years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the false election conspiracy theories that drove the violent attack remain prevalent on social media and cable news: suitcases filled with ballots, late-night ballot dumps, dead people voting.

 More than two decades after J.K. Rowling introduced the world to a universe of magical creatures, forbidden forests and a teenage wizard, Harry Potter is finding renewed relevance in a very different body of literature: AI research. A growing number of researchers are using the best-selling Harry Potter books to experiment with generative artificial intelligence technology, citing the series' enduring influence in popular culture and the wide range of language data and complex wordplay within its pages.  Reviewing a list of studies and academic papers referencing Harry Potter offers a snapshot into cutting-edge AI research — and some of the thorniest questions facing the technology. 

Blue Origin LLC's space tourism rocket voyaged to space and back for the first time in 15 months, potentially marking the resumption of regular flights for the Jeff Bezos-founded company following an in-flight failure last year. 

Wordle was a lockdown phenomenon: one of those games that, merits aside, simply landed at the right time. I've kicked the habit now but like pretty much everyone else I had a Wordle phase with the family WhatsApp group and, yes, when I'm nearly out of chances I have gone running to my six-letter friend Google. Wordle's enormous popularity was such that, in January 2022, the New York Times purchased the game from creator Josh Wardle for a sum «in the low seven figures.»

Gareth Edwards’ latest movie The Creator has set its streaming release date. 

Regardless of who you are and what you do in life, there will be times when your confidence is shaken. It can happen at the most random of times, or it could be something that happens immediately as you try and make something. Given the grand pressures that the video game world has, it’s unsurprising that many teams behind hit titles have had issues with their confidence as they’ve made their titles. But what might surprise you is that Sam Lake of Ready noted that it was a movie that helped Alan Wake 2 become what it was meant to be.

Disney and Marvel Studios have parted ways with, as the former Kang the Conqueror actor will no longer be reprising his role after being found guilty of assault and harassment. The actor’s ousting from the franchise leaves the future of the MCU in question, with many wondering if Kang will be recast or if a new villain will be introduced. This has caused many actors’ names to be thrown into the conversation, as fans speculate if the likes of John Boyega, Damson Idris, or another actor will now join the MCU in Majors’ wake.

Alan Wake 2 certainly isn't afraid to be weird, whether it's letting you change the layout of a level at the press of a button, or suddenly turning into a full-blown musical. Making a game so wilfully out there must be a nerve-wracking experience, however, as you've got no idea whether your kooky ideas are going to land with the audience. Yet according to Alan Wake 2's creative director Sam Lake, Remedy's belief in the game was boosted during development by a film that is equally weird and brilliant.

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Pakistan's Imran Khan speaks from prison through AI in virtual rally amid election concerns; France leads global shift with AI-powered surveillance ahead of 2024 olympics; Biden's stealthy AI strategy sparks clash with Elon Musk and OpenAI over transparency; Accenture unveils Gen AI studio in Bengaluru - this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

This Week in Business is our weekly recap column, a collection of stats and quotes from recent stories presented with a dash of opinion (sometimes more than a dash) and intended to shed light on various trends. Check every Friday for a new entry.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is officially dead. A statement on the official website simply reads: «After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.»

SEGA says it hopes to display an “edginess and rebellious mindset” when it revives five classic franchises in the near-future. The legendary Japanese publisher confirmed at The Game Awards that it’s working on new versions of Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage – an effort enabled by the ongoing success and growth of the Yakuza, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Persona franchises.

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RIP E3. The writing has been on the wall for what was once the biggest date on the gaming calendar for a while, but today it was officially announced by the Entertainment Software Association via the Washington Post that “after more than two decades of hosting an event that has served as a central showcase for the U.S. and global video game industry,” E3 is dead. Permanently. No extra lives.

E3, what was once the biggest video game expo, is officially dead. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) confirmed the news on Twitter, thanking the fans and developers who attended and supported the in-person show for over two decades. Its closure was only a matter of time, slyly signalled in March, when the 2023 edition got cancelled due to a lack of interest from several publishers including the big three — PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo — all of which pulled out. Add to that pandemic-era disruption which caused global lockdowns, competitors such as Summer Game Fest, and the general audience preferring to catch up on game reveals from the comfort of their homes, eventually leading to its demise.

After some speculation, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has confirmed that it is officially cancelling E3 after nearly three decades of the iconic LA video game expo.

Almost three decades after first debuting at the Los Angeles Convention Centre, the Entertainment Software Association has announced it's finally laying gaming convention E3 to rest.

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"After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories." So says the official E3 website this afternoon, as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) confirm that E3 is officially dead.

US video games trade association The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is officially abandoning the long-running E3 event.

E3 had been on life support over the past few years, but the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is finally retiring the long-running expo for good.

After over two decades, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3, is coming to an end. 

By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.

The popular gaming expo known as E3 has been officially retired after occurring almost annually for nearly 30 years. E3, an abbreviation for Electronic Entertainment Expo, has been happening since 1995, offering a space for developers and publishers to showcase their upcoming games and hardware to members of the industry, from shareholders to journalists, for instance.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), once held every summer as the games industry’s biggest convention, is officially dead, the Entertainment Software Association confirmed.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (better known as E3) is canceled indefinitely. “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye,” event organizer the Entertainment Software Association wrote on its website. “Thanks for the memories. GGWP.”

E3 now officially belongs to the past as the Entertainment Software Association has announced the end of the long running event.

Though E3 was once the biggest stage of the games industry, recent years have seen its popularity eroding at an alarming rate. The last couple of years have seen its organizing body, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), trying and failing to get the show off the ground, and it turns out those failures have had a lasting impact.

The Entertainment Software Association has announced that its long-running Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is officially dead, as reported by The Washington Post. The last in-person E3 conference happened in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic and other complications prevented it from coming back in full form since. Despite struggles, the ESA attempted to bring E3 back in various ways. 

It's official: E3 is dead. After several failed attempts to bring the industry event back, organisers admit that it's ending for good, making 2019 the last time E3 was held in person.

E3, the games industry’s former flagship annual event, is officially dead, organiser the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has said.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is officially no more.

After 23 years, E3 is officially no more. 

Epic Games has won the antitrust lawsuit it filed against Google after a jury determined the Google Play marketplace is an illegal monopoly.

The original creators of Jet Set Radio are involved with the series' new games announced last week.

A federal court jury is poised begin its deliberations in an antitrust trial focused on whether Google's efforts to profit from its app store for Android smartphones have been illegally gouging consumers and stifling innovation.

Sega has discussed its plans to revive five of its classic franchises.

Last night, Sega announced new entries in the Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage series all at once, and it seems that the company is making a conscious attempt at returning to the rebellious energy it hasn't really displayed since the Dreamcast era. Frankly, it's about time.

Once again, Naughty Dog is dusting off one of its gems for the current console generation. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, launching Jan. 19 for PlayStation 5, is currently available to pre-order and will come packaged with a host of upgrades. While its list of improvements isn’t as extensive as what we got with The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog is clearly taking steps to capitalize with the PlayStation 5 hardware.

Apple's AirTags have helped countless users locate their belongings since their debut. Last month, Washington. D.C. police advised users to get an AirTag last month to prevent car theft. Now, the police want users to buy the AirTags for their Canada Goose jackets amid rising theft concerns. Canada Goose jackets are expensive and have become a prominent target among thieves as the weather gets colder in Washington, D.C.

When was the last time you read a news story about Bungie and Destiny 2 that was genuinely positive about the game? If you only get your gaming news here at Push Square, it would be last week: the new armour set themed around The Witcher 3 looked pretty cool. It was then pointed out you could actually buy the RPG's Game of the Year Edition for less than the cost of just one of the three armour sets on offer.

Flashback fans curb your enthusiasm, because Microid's 2023 Flashback 2's not even a 2D cinematic platform game. This PS5 pseudo 3D adventure doesn't have any of the subgenre's gameplay traits that Push Square noted when reviewing a title like Another World. It also doesn't continue in the tradition of great sci-fi themed video games, so this buggy, slowdown ridden mess will be a shock to the system for Flashback fans, which breaks their Conrad B. heart.

Naughty Dog has released a new The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered trailer showcasing the game's No Return roguelike survival mode.