Platform News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

The talented team at SHIFT UP is getting ready to launch their next game. You may know them as the creators of Stellar Blade, a PlayStation 5 title, and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. A new “AAAA urban science-fiction action RPG” for platforms including Android may be in the works, as the studio has lately placed job opportunities on its website.

Stellar Blade's developer is already hiring for its next game, a "cross-platform next-gen project."

Crunchyroll has long been a messy streaming service to share. Since there was no way to make multiple profiles, having multiple users on the same account meant constant shuffling of the Now Watching tab and resetting of the episode order, and it just generally confused the others who also use the account. But all of that should be changing when the platform adds viewing profiles later this month.

Microsoft is making strides in AI technology with the development of an Xbox AI chatbot designed to automate support tasks. The chatbot, described as an "embodied AI character," aims to streamline the support experience for Xbox users by responding to queries and processing refunds.

AI roundup: With the use of AI expanding rapidly, over 200 musicians including the Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish and others have signed an open letter against AI replacing the work of human artists. They urge tech companies to take steps against people stealing or using their artwork, music, writing, etc. In other news, Yahoo acquired Artifact, an AI news platform founded by Instagram co-founders. Check out more about AI news from today, April 3, 2024. 

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.

Sony has revealed that not only is Dave the Diver coming to PS Plus Extra on its release date of 16th April 2024, but so too is the upcoming Metroidvania title Tales of Kenzera: ZAU. Launching under the EA Originals banner, the promising indie platformer is coming out on 23rd April 2024 for PS5, and PS Plus Extra members gain access that very same day.

Friday the 13th the game was one that many people loved, that gives off a lot of the same vibes as Dead by Daylight. However, the game was canceled and shut down back in November 2020, which was due to a licenesing problem with Victor Miller, who is the franchise creator. While the servers were then shut down for a total of 3 years after that, it wasn’t until 2023 that the game was delisted because of the licenses expiring all together according to GameRant.

The original Hollow Knight was first released in 2017 and was immediately recognized as one of the most impressive entries in the Metroidvania genre, indie or not. The immaculate hand-drawn art style made even the dank, drab world full of bugs known as Hollownest a truly endearing place to explore. Combined with the tight platforming controls, light Soulslike elements, satisfying upgrades, and cryptic story, Hollow Knight soared to the top of many critics’ and players’ favorite games lists.

It’s time to brush up on your Simlish if it’s rusty because the long-awaitedThe Sims 5, aka Project Rene, is officially on the way. This has been the longest gap between main entries since the series began, and while we did get tons of expansions for The Sims 4 to hold us over, plus the change to it becoming free to play, we’re more than ready for a new entry. Each time a new game in the franchise comes out, die-hard fans always need to have a bit of skepticism about what features will be there — both new and returning. Again, the last entry eventually got to a great spot, but it certainly wasn’t there at launch. We can’t answer all your questions yet, but here’s everything we know about The Sims 5.

AMD's next-gen Ryzen "Zen 5" CPUs codenamed Granite Ridge have received the first support on ASUS's AM5 motherboards with the AGESA 1.1.7.0 BIOS.

I picked up a Razer Barracuda X gaming headset for the first time back in 2021, and it's had a permanent spot in my roster since then (barring a quick upgrade to the 2022 version). After spending hours tinkering with EQ settings, connections, and profiles and presets for all the best gaming headsets that get released into the wild, I love going back to the simple no-fuss approach taken by the Barracuda. It's comfortable, sounds great, holds its battery well, and can connect to a wide range of platforms - it's also at a record low price right now. 

While indie video games from smaller developers tend to get more attention on platforms like Steam or Nintendo Switch, that isn’t for a lack of trying on Xbox’s part. Since 2013, it has run the ID@Xbox program to help fund and highlight games from independent developers all around the world. While some Xbox fans feel uncertain about the platform’s future because of Microsoft’s multiplatform push, Microsoft reaffirmed its efforts to uplift indie game developers at this year’s Game Developers Conference by highlighting some of its upcoming ID@Xbox titles.

AI roundup: The US and Britain have joined hands to tackle the risks and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The two nations will closely work together to bring AI safety to the upcoming generations of technology. In other news, DeepTech Startup SatSure plans to revamp agricultural finance by leveraging technology such as AI. This will allow industries to improve decision-making. All this, and more in our AI roundup today, April 2.

If you signed up for a Fortnite Crew subscription and want to cancel it, it’s not made entirely clear how to do so in-game.

The latest surprise Steam hit is Content Warning, a Lethal Company-style game that’s enjoying enormous success on Valve’s platform off the back of a ‘free to keep’ promotion that ends soon.

Arguably one of the most eye-catching things to come from the annual minefield that is April Fools' Day was Hollow Knight Silksong's brand new page on the Xbox Store.

We hope you’re hungry for more Bugsnax, because we’re headed back to Snaktooth Island with a new card game currently being funded through Kickstarter. Based on the adorable, poignant, and occasionally horrifying game from Young Horses, the card game will have players taking on the role of their favorite Grumpuses in an attempt to capture and eat the elusive anthropomorphic appetizers.

Discord is planning to roll out its new sponsored advertising this week, it’s claimed.

It appears that Gmail and Microsoft 365 accounts are in danger because of a newly discovered phishing kit that could put your accounts in a lot of danger. Now, most of our accounts are protected by two-factor authentication, and for the most part, it is one of the safest ways to prevent anything wrong from happening to your account. However, Tycoon 2FA, which is a new adversary in the middle, is now a threat to both of the aforementioned accounts.

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.

In the bustling realm of social media, where trends come and go like the tides, X, under the helm of Elon Musk, stands as a prominent hub for various viral phenomena. Lately, one such trend titled"Click Here" has been making waves on the platform for over a week now. But what exactly is it all about, and how does one engage with it?

Apple's iMessage platform is one of the most widely used messaging apps on the iPhone, and the company brings new features to the mix almost every year. It appears that the iMessage app on the iPhone houses a feature that has remained hidden among most users. It basically allows users to place emojis on top of each other to create a sticker that they can share with their friends and family. If you are not familiar, check out how the hidden feature works on your iPhone running iOS 17.

AMD has listed two new APUs on its website, the Ryzen 5 7235H, & 7235HS, based on the Zen 3+ core architecture codenamed Rembrandt.

The Stardew Valley community might be alive and kicking thanks to the recent 1.6 update, but fans are still excited for the shiny new game coming from its maker, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone. The next game from the developer, Haunted Chocolatier, is in the works, and it already looks like it will capture plenty of the charms of Stardew Valley.

Google's Podcasts app, boasting over 500 million downloads globally, is set to cease operations for users in the United States on April 2. Despite its large user base, only a small fraction of U.S. podcast listeners, around 4%, utilize the platform. This imminent shutdown has prompted concerns among users who now need to transfer their podcast subscription data to alternative services. However, this migration process can be complex and may expose users to potential security risks such as scams and credential theft.

The latest leaks suggest that AMD's upcoming Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 CPUs could offer a staggering 40% performance improvement over the current Ryzen 7000 processors. This revelation comes amid intense anticipation for the next generation of desktop processors slated for release in late 2024.

Nine Sols, the highly anticipated new title from Detention dev Red Candle, will launch on 29th May – but only on PC for now. The side-scrolling action game, which is heavily inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, has been in development for quite some time, and blew past its crowdfunding targets a few years ago.

April's PS Plus Essential games have been officially announced, and as per usual, we're looking at three titles spread across PS5 and PS4. At a glance, however, we're tempted to say that this is one of the weaker months in recent memory.

There’s an argument that the novelty of Sony’s delayed single player PC ports has worn off, but Horizon Forbidden West is bucking that trend. The open world sequel, converted by Nixxes, has opened to a respectable peak of 35,168 concurrent users on Steam, making it the sixth biggest PS Studios launch on the platform to date – just a hair behind The Last of Us: Part 1. There’s a good chance it’ll overtake the Naughty Dog remake later in the weekend.

How do you answer the Sphinx's riddles in Dragon's Dogma 2? A side quest called A Game of Wits will see you face off against a legendary creature known as the Sphinx in, well, a game of wits. She'll task you with answering a number of riddles, most of which require thinking outside of the box. Answering these riddles correctly will net you a bunch of rare items as rewards.

Kaitlyn Siragusa, better known by her online moniker Amouranth, has been banned from Twitch yet again. While the development marks her ninth Twitch ban to date, this particular suspension could either be permanent or lead to her leaving the platform for good regardless, with Amouranth already suggesting as much.

Vladimir Putin has signed off on a plan to create Russia's own consoles and Steam-like platform. This is one of nine instructions that are supposed to promote the socio-economic development of the region of Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave located between Lithuania and Poland. The region is a Special Economic Zone where manufacturers can enjoy tax breaks; moreover, a silicon production facility was recently established there.

Asymmetrical multiplayer games have come into their own over the past few years, with titles like Among Us, Dead by Daylight, and Left 4 Dead pulling in legions of players. Instead of giving two teams a similar set of abilities, asymmetrical games are purposefully lopsided — one team might be larger but have less firepower, while the other team might be comprised of a single, powerful player.

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.

It’s only March and 2024 is already full of bold, big-budget games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2. But one of my favorite games of 2024 isn’t available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or even Nintendo Switch. It’s Mars After Midnight, a game from Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn developer Lucas Pope. The only place you can play it? On the Playdate, Panic’s quirky little 1-bit handheld with a crank.

A team of modders is on the brink of making GTA 5 playable on Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android devices, following a leak of the game's source code in December 2023. This breakthrough has unleashed a wave of possibilities in the modding community, with fans eagerly anticipating the prospect of enjoying the iconic title on new platforms.

Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-S Desktop CPUs and Lunar Lake-MX Mobility CPUs have been spotted in the latest shipping manifesto leak.

AMD's Zen 5 CPU core architecture might be shaping up to be a huge upgrade over the existing Zen 4 core as per a new rumor.

Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-S Desktop CPUs and Lunar Lake-MX Mobility CPUs have been spotted in the latest shipping manifesto leak.

BLUETTI, a renowned provider of energy storage solutions, has announced the expansion of its Solar+ program to three additional states in the United States. Building upon its successful launch in Texas last year, BLUETTI now extends its reach to California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. This initiative aims to offer homeowners a hassle-free approach to achieving energy independence and reducing utility bills through comprehensive solar and battery home power solutions.

Apple may be about to introduce topographic maps to its Apple Maps app across various platforms, including iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. This information comes from a recent analysis of code by MacRumors, suggesting that the tech giant is preparing to enhance its navigation offerings.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI said on Thursday it will launch an enhanced version of its chatbot Grok.

While it's no secret that Mana has been spun-off a ton, it's shocking to realise that it's taken 15 years for someone to envision another mainline entry. For those of you unfamiliar with the era of parachute pants and 1993's Secret of Mana, it is fondly remembered as a legendary must-own for the SNES—an impressive feat given that system was teeming with JRPG GOATs.

With the rise of all-digital consoles, more and more people are doing a majority of their game shopping on digital storefronts. For PlayStation 5 owners, whether you have a disk drive or not, you more than likely have at least a couple of games purchased from the PlayStation Store. The convenience of simply downloading a game and not having to worry about the disk is great, but you also can catch some amazing deals. The biggest sales events come seasonally, and the current Spring Sale is offering deep discounts of up to 90% on some of the biggest games on the platform. If you’ve been waiting to pick up one of the great games you missed earlier this year or in years past, now might be the best time to snag it for cheap!

Look, it’s been a busy time for video game enthusiasts. Rather than easing out of a busy holiday season, the first three months of 2024 have been filled with enormous, high-profile RPGs that can eat up an upwards of 60 hours each. I’m tired. You’re tired. Don’t you just want to play something short and sweet at this point?

Sega Europe is going through some major restructuring, and as a result, it is laying off about 240 developers and letting Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment spin off as an independent company.

To describe a game as being a non-stop grind from start to finish would be considered a negative in almost any other context, but not in the case of Pepper Grinder. This energetic platforming adventure straps a high-powered drill to your hand and throttles you forward through a series of terrain-churning 2D paths littered with enemies to pummel and challenging platform sections to navigate at speed. It’s lively, fluid, and frequently frantic, and folds in some fun diversions that help each stage stand out, even though a surprisingly short list of levels means that Pepper Grinder is here for a good time rather than a long time.

LinkedIn, the professional networking platform, is following the trend set by other popular apps like Instagram and Snapchat by experimenting with a TikTok-like short-form video feed. This new feature, spotted by Austin Null, a strategy director at McKinney, introduces a vertical feed of short videos accessible through a dedicated "Video" tab in the app's navigation bar. Users can swipe through the videos, engage with them by liking, commenting, or sharing, and explore professional content in a more dynamic format.

Back in 2018, Retro Games Ltd. released THEC64 Mini, a plug-and-play console and computer modeled on one of the best-selling computers of all time, the Commodore 64. That was followed in 2019 by a full-sized THEC64 and THEVIC20, complete with working keyboards, as well as THEA500 Mini in 2022, which miniaturized the popular Commodore Amiga 500. Now, nostalgic Atari 8-bit computer fans get to join in on the fun with THE400 Mini.

The world of Dragon's Dogma 2 is an exciting and unpredictable place to explore, however, there are a few ways it can be improved. That's where mods come in.

Former President Donald Trump launched his social media platform, Truth Social, in early 2022, after he was banned from major sites such as Facebook and the platform formerly known as Twitter following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Apple’s App Store is said to have a guardian in the form of former Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, who, despite transitioning from his senior executive role to an ‘Apple Fellow,’ an honorary position, holds tremendous influence in the firm. According to the latest profile shared by The Wall Street Journal, Schiller is said to be working 80 hours a week, becoming a shield for the App Store, and standing vigil to guard it at all times from external threats such as antitrust watchdogs and other entities.

Activision has fully pulled back the curtain on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3, including first looks at the return of fan-favorite maps, new weapons, and more.

Intel has disclosed the compute performance that you would need to run Microsoft's Copilot locally on Windows-based AI PCs.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has suggested that Microsoft would be willing to open up their console platform to third party storefronts. Could with see the likes of itch.io and Epic Games Store on Xbox in future?

Xbox head Phil Spencer has said that he wants to see more digital retailers on the console, such as the Epic Games Store and Itch.io.

NVIDIA continues to push the AI envelope with its strong TensorRT-LLM suite, boosting the H200 GPUs to new heights in the latest MLPerf v4.0 results.

ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley, has said that he's "eager" to get back to work on Haunted Chocolatier now that Stardew Valley's 1.6 update has been released.

The newest pictures of Intel's next-gen Lunar Lake-MX CPU powering thin & light platforms have been leaked by Igor's Lab.

AMD's Zen platform is reportedly vulnerable to Rowhammer attacks, as revealed in new research by ETH Zurich, affecting the usability of DRAM.

If you missed out on last week's pre-order deal for Princess Peach Showtime! from QVC, you’re in luck. For a limited time, you can save $10 on the new Nintendo Switch platformer at Woot, discounting its usual $60 price to $49.99.

Greetings, Adventurers!

The much-awaited Snapdragon X Elite CPU platform has been demoed running Baldur's Gate 3 at 30 FPS as a demonstration of its gaming GPU performance.

The Crew Motorfest is coming to Steam soon.

"Xbox is in real trouble as a hardware manufacturer," GamesIndustry.biz head Chris Dring said. "That's the thing that came out of [the Game Developer Conference] for me."

SEGA is said to be working on a Sonic Heroes Remake within Unreal Engine 5.

With the motto “You can be anything,” Barbie dolls became an intrinsic part of childhood for multiple generations. Now the Super Mario franchise is taking a page from Barbie’s playbook and giving Princess Peach her own dress-up adventure.

The festival of Holi brought amazing smartphone offers that buyers took advantage of to grab their favourite gadgets at a low price. But if you missed the chance, then there's still an opportunity for you. Flipkart's Month-end Mobile Fest, which kicked off on March 23, is still going strong, offering massive discounts and other offers on a wide range of smartphones including iPhones. So, if an iPhone is on your purchasing radar, then you can check out exciting deals on two iPhones - iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. Both these smartphones launched last year as part of the iPhone 14 lineup and are still great options to consider.

Inspector Rishi OTT release: Looking for a thrilling horror and crime drama series that can keep you hooked for hours? Then a new Tamil web series named Inspector Rishi is all set to make its OTT debut soon. The month of March has been exciting in terms of exciting OTT releases. Now as we get ready to enter April, we are expecting more such web series and movies to stream online. Inspector Rishi is one such spine-chilling tale that you can binge-watch in one go as the suspense and horror will keep you glued to your device. Know more about the Tamil web series here.

While Microsoft has tried to put a happy face on things, the future of Xbox – at least Xbox as a distinct brand with its own hardware and exclusives – has never been more in question. Last month Microsoft tried to calm worries with an Xbox Business Update, in which they revealed several older, smaller-scale games were going multiplatform, but that others, like Starfield, aren’t for now. Furthermore, they vowed to continue working on new hardware which will, apparently, deliver the “largest technical leap ever” (how they plan to deliver on that boast, I don’t know).

AMD is planning to refresh its Ryzen 5000XT CPUs based on the huge popularity of the AM4 platform with faster Zen 3 chips.

Producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida has hinted that Final Fantasy XVI could be coming to other platforms after the PC version is released. The game was first released for PlayStation 5 back in June 2023 and is coming to PC at some point in the future.

Back in January, the indie horror game The Night is Grey released after a grueling seven-year development process that just barely survived the dedication to frame-by-frame character animation, and despite positive reviews, it's still struggling to find an audience at the time of publication.

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is getting its first patch since release soon, adding the option to start a new game even if save data already exists. 

The executive team of Bidstack have bought back the in-game advertising platform from investors and shareholders.

Stardew Valley's Eric Barone says he's "eager" to get back to working on Haunted Chocolatier, but is focused on the farming game's 1.6 update for now. 

About a month ago, the Game Developers Conference 2024 schedule unveiled a new technology called Microsoft DirectSR. As one could easily guess from its name (Direct SuperResolution), it's an attempt to make the implementation of upscalers easier, and it was built in collaboration with all of the main CPU and GPU vendors (NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel).

About a month ago, the Game Developers Conference 2024 schedule unveiled a new technology called Microsoft DirectSR. As one could easily guess from its name (Direct SuperResolution), it's an attempt to make the implementation of upscalers easier, and it was built in collaboration with all of the main CPU and GPU vendors (NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel).