This year's iPhone 16 lineup will get some notable improvements in design and how users use the device, as the company aims to integrate generative AI technology with the release of iOS 18 later this year. Apple is keen to increase the screen size of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max this year, while the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will house the same display as the current models. A prominent analyst is now claiming that the iPhone 17 Plus will come with a smaller display size that will sit between the screen size of the 'Pro' models.
Xbox showcases four indie games backed by ID@Xbox
02.04.2024 - 16:01 / eurogamer.net
Microsoft recently held a virtual press showcase to flaunt four intriguing indie games coming to Xbox (and in several cases, other platforms too) in the near future, including Still Wakes the Deep, the long-awaited next project from Everybody's Gone to the Rapture developer The Chinese Room.
It was a little unclear whether the showcase would ultimately be made public — apparently not! — but hopefully this short list can still serve as an aide-mémoire for some interesting titles due in the near-ish future.
First up was Nightscape from Mezan Studios, a side-scrolling 2.5D platformer coming «soon» to PC, PlayStation, Xbox. You play as reluctant hero Layla, aided by cute animal sidekick Goat Kid, in a tale inspired by ancient Arabic astronomy.
Nightscape. | Image credit: MicrosoftWhat if the stars fell to Earth, rendering the night sky completely dark? Layla's progress through levels with simple environmental puzzles is meant to show her adventuring to return the heavens to life. I liked seeing Goat Kid nudge Layla across water, on top of a floating branch she'd shot down using her bow and arrow. There are also more godly powers inspired by the constellations you've returned, such as the Arabian variation of Orion which grants Layla wind powers to manipulate her environement.
Next was Botany Manor from Balloon Studios, due to launch on PC, PlayStation, Switch and Xbox, including on Game Pass upon its arrival on 9th April. This cosy puzzle game tasks you with filling a log book of rare plants, grown within the grounds of a stately home in Victorian Somerset.
Botany Manor Release Date | Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC | Whitethorn Winter Botany Manor, coming to Game Pass this month.You must deduce clues to grow different species, uncover potting tips, and in the section of gameplay I saw, fertilise one plant species by feeding it the correct variety of cider apples. Yum! Botany Manor creative director Laure de Mey said the game's setting was inspired by Croft Manor in Tomb Raider games, and the desire to linger longer in there, solving puzzles.
We got a look at Jump Ship from Keepsake Games next, an upcoming mission-based co-op space adventure for solo or up to four players. It's an ambitious-looking project, with spaceship piloting sections and on-planet exploration, and first-person combat against drones and space pirates.
Jump Ship. | Image credit: MicrosoftKeepsake Games describe Jump Ship as «if Sea of Thieves and FTL had a baby». I liked the variety of things on offer, from deep space dogfighting to on-foot fire extinguishing on your ship.
Lastly, we got a look at Still Wakes the Deep, the narrative horror game from The Chinese Room, due to launch for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox on 18th June.
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