The Atari arcade cabinet game Race Drivin’ was ported to the Atari ST in the summer of 1991, and then ported again to the SNES a year later. It was the sequel to 1989’s Hard Drivin’, and while it boasted numerous improvements over its predecessor — it could model a car with four wheels, as opposed to Hard Drivin’s two — it was still not particularly fast.
The SNES console port ran at a slideshow-y 4 frames per second. And when the Genesis port arrived in 1993, Electronic Gaming Monthly’s January 1994 issue gave the game a capsule review. It reads in full:
This is another so-so entry in the driving scene where the truly innovative titles (Chase H.Q. II and Rock & Roll Racing) tend to stand out, while others like this get lost in the crowd. The scrolling is very choppy.
It received mostly fours and fives (out of 10) from the magazine’s staff. (This in an issue with an editor’s letter about the California attorney general threatening to do something about violence in video games! Night Trap was terrifying at the time!)
Anyway, Race Drivin’ ran at 4 frames per second on the original Atari ST hardware. Software engineer Vitor Vilela thought that wasn’t good enough and decided to do something about it using contemporaneous hardware — the Nintendo SA-1 processor. As Kotaku reports, the results show exactly how much more powerful the SA-1 chip was; Vilela managed to get around 30 frames per second using a conversion they developed specifically for it. Here’s what that looks like in action.
In the description of the video on YouTube, Vilela writes a little about how they managed to get this frankly very impressive feat working. “Just like my other conversions, this one moves the entire memory to the SA-1 side and moves almost the whole processing to the SA-1 CPU side,” they write. “With all optimizations included, the game runs up to 1000% faster compared with original.”
All the code Vilela wrote for this hack is available on Github, along with the source code for the other hacks they’ve pulled off. It’s a shame that EGM couldn’t have gotten its hands on this version of the game — it looks like something ported directly from an alternate future.
With two-way charging, the Ioniq 5 could supply power for a full range of electrical devices
Hyundai unveiled the all-new Ioniq 5, an electric midsize SUV with nearly 300 miles of range and a two-way charging feature that is sure to make this a popular EV for outdoor activities.
The Ioniq 5, which will go on sale in the first half of 2021, is the first vehicle to be built on Hyundai’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that the automaker says will serve as the basis for an entire family of planned EVs. Hyundai and its sister company aim to sell 1 million EVs in 2025 in a bid to capture 10 percent of the global EV market.
The Ioniq 5 looks like a promising start to that effort. The sharp-edged crossover SUV takes some of its design cues from the automaker’s 45 concept vehicle first unveiled in 2019, which was an homage to the 1974 Pony Coupe, Hyundai’s first mass-produced car and first export.
In lieu of a traditional grille, the front of the car features Hyundai’s first clamshell hood and a front bumper with a distinctive V-shape that incorporates a set of unique daytime running lights. These small, pixel-like clusters also appear at the rear of the vehicle.
But Hyundai packed the interior with a number of really interesting surprises. The center console can slide back as much as 140 millimeters, allowing either driver or passenger to enter and exit through whichever door they choose. This “universal island,” as Hyundai is branding it, could prove useful in especially tight parking situations. The movable console also provides access to the vehicle’s integrated 15-watt wireless phone charger, in addition to tons of extra storage space.
Most of the Ioniq 5’s interior touch points — seats, headliner, door trim, floor, and armrest — use eco-friendly materials, such as recycled PET bottles, plant-based yarns, and natural wool yarns, eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts, and bio paint with plant extracts. But unlike other EVs like the Polestar 2, Hyundai doesn’t go so far as to claim that its interior is 100 percent vegan.
That said, it may be comfortable enough to take a nap (but not while driving, obviously). The driver and passenger seats recline enough to offer a “weightless” feeling, Hyundai claims. The design theme is “living space,” which is meant to emphasize the roomy interior where you can kick up your feet and relax.
The Ioniq 5 comes in standard and long-range configurations, with either 58 kilowatt-hours or 77.4 kilowatt-hours of respective battery capacity. Hyundai estimates that the driving range will fall between 470-480 kilometers, or just under 300 miles, based on the European Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Hyundai has yet to certify its range estimates, but it’s helpful to remember that WLTP estimates are typically more optimistic than the EPA, so expect that number to be less when the Ioniq 5 reaches the states.
Still, this represents a serious improvement over Hyundai’s previous EV offerings. The Ioniq 5’s range is up nearly 20 percent from the Kona EV, for example, which previously had the longest range among Hyundai’s EV lineup.
EV ownership is often defined by how much time you need to spend charging the battery, and by that measure the Ioniq 5 sounds like it could be a winner. Hyundai says the EV supports up to 350kW DC fast charging and is capable of getting up to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes.
The Ioniq 5 supports both 400-volt and 800-volt charging. In fact, Hyundai’s E-GMP platform offers 800V charging as standard, along with 400V charging, without the need for additional adapters. Hyundai says this multi-charging system is a “world’s first patented technology that operates the motor and inverter to boost 400 V to 800 V for stable charging compatibility.”
But that charging capability flows both ways — literally. The Ioniq 5 boasts a two-way charging feature that Hyundai calls “vehicle-to-load,” which can supply up to 3.6kW of power. There are two charging ports, one located under the second-row seats and the other at the charging port on the exterior. Using a converter, customers can charge a range of electrical devices, including electric bicycles, scooters, or camping equipment. The outside port provides power even when the vehicle is turned off.
(A commercial for the EV features actors using the Ioniq 5 to power a convection oven, treadmill, and half a dozen speakers, all while camping.)
This two-way charging feature is not unique to Hyundai, but it is rare for a passenger vehicle. The Ford F-150 Powerboost, a hybrid version of its full-size truck, can provide as much as 7.2kW of power through a built-in generator. But 3.6kW is a decent amount of output. To be sure, the Ioniq 5 doesn’t generate its own energy, so any power drawn from its battery will ultimately come off the vehicle’s range.
If you’re wondering how the Ioniq 5’s price compares to other electric crossover SUVs, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID 4, or Tesla Model Y… well, so are we. Hyundai didn’t release any price information for the EV, unfortunately, though we expect it to be in the $30,000-$40,000 range, before tax incentives.
Unlike Tesla or General Motors, Hyundai is still eligible for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which should help the automaker move a lot of units. Customers will also be looking for a range certification from the EPA and more details about partnerships with EV charging station operators before making their decision.
For the first time in, well, forever, customers will have a range of options when it comes to shopping for midsize electric SUVs. And the Ioniq 5 is already looking like it will be a strong contender.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 (alongside the Xbox Series X and S) has been nearly impossible to buy since its launch back in November. Those shortages will likely continue for a bit longer, according to Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. But stock should pick up in the second half of the year, he says.
The news comes from a series of interviews with Ryan from The Washington Post and the Financial Times, where the PlayStation boss reflected on the past several months since the PS5’s launch and the road ahead for the next-generation console.
“Demand was greater than we anticipated,” Ryan said, explaining the ongoing stock issues for the console. “That, along with the complexities of the supply chain issues, resulted in a slightly lower supply than we initially anticipated.”
Things will eventually improve, although it may take some time. “It will get better every month throughout 2021,” Ryan commented to the Financial Times. “The pace of the improvement in the supply chain will gather throughout the course of the year, so by the time we get to the second half of [2021], you’re going to be seeing really decent numbers indeed.”
That said, Ryan wouldn’t promise that there would be enough stock for everyone who wants a console to get one this holiday season. The high demand for PS5s, combined with the ongoing global semiconductor shortage and the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing most console sales through bot-infested online portals, means Sony is still facing serious constraints in how many people will actually be able to buy a PS5. “There are very few magic wands that can be waved,” notes Ryan.
Still, Sony is already seeing encouraging numbers in the breakdown of customers who have been able to buy a PS5. According to Ryan, 1 in 4 PS5 owners didn’t own a PlayStation 4 console, and half of all PS5 owners are new to PSN. (Sony’s online account system that the company has used since the PlayStation 3.)
Sony isn’t the only one hoping that next-generation console supplies will pick up in the second half of the year either. Mike Spencer, Microsoft’s head of investor relations, recently revealed that the new Xbox consoles will likely see supply constraints through at least June in an interview with The New York Times.
Sony is bringing back its Twisted Metal franchise, but this time it’s going to be a TV show, not a video game. According to Variety, the show is moving ahead in its production, with the writers of Deadpool and actor Will Arnett signed on as executive producers.
The Twisted Metal games center mainly around getting in a heavily armored car and blowing other drivers up. The series, which the head of PlayStation Productions calls “one of the most beloved franchises from PlayStation,” started on the original PS1 and got releases on the PS2 and PS3 as well (though my personal favorite was the PSP version, which I sunk hours upon hours into). The series went dormant during the years of the PlayStation 4, however, with no signs of a console comeback any time soon.
The show’s plot synopsis reads like a cross between Mad Max and Death Race, with a car thief and vague protagonist having to fight down highways to deliver a package. It’s also rumored to include Needles Kane, the terrifying clown whose face or ice cream truck (named Sweet Tooth) grace the cover of pretty much every game in the series. If you’ve been bummed that Twisted Metal: Apocalypse never saw the light of day, maybe this TV show will scratch that itch.
While the idea for the series seemingly came from Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the Deadpool movies, the actual writing was done by Cobra Kai’s Michael Jonathan Smith. It seems like the show will be going for a comedic (but probably not lighthearted) tone, with Sony Pictures’ Glenn Adilman, the company’s executive vice president of comedy development, calling the script “action-packed [and] brilliantly funny.”
The return to the property comes after a long drought: the first Twisted Metal game came out in 1995, and the most recent one was released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3. It’s a bit strange that Sony is making a television show about a franchise that hasn’t seen a release in almost a decade — especially since one of the flagship PS5 games is Destruction AllStars, which has the same theme of vehicular violence. That’s not to say that AllStars should’ve been a Twisted Metal game, just that it might be a bit awkward if the Twisted Metal show and Destruction AllStars were stopped at a red light next to each other.
It’s unclear when the show will come out, but it probably won’t be any time soon — it seems like it’s just now cleared to start production. It’s also worth noting that Sony has tried to make a Twisted Metal movie before, which was announced in 2012. In 2017, the man who was supposed to have directed it said that it fell apart because Sony didn’t want to spend the amount of money needed to make it feel like, well, Twisted Metal. Hopefully the show will get the budget, otherwise fans may wish they had heeded the lesson Twisted Metal games always end on: be careful what you wish for.
If and when the show starts hitting screens, it’ll likely be part of Sony’s first wave of PlayStation-based film and television content, including the upcoming The Last Of Us HBO show starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, and the Uncharted movie staring Tom Holland and Antonio Banderas.
Last November, Microsoft debuted two next-gen consoles — the Xbox Series X and the more affordable Xbox Series S. If you are looking for the more affordable next-gen Xbox, Best Buy has the console in stock right now.
The Xbox Series S variant costs $299, is smaller, and is less powerful than the $500 Series X. One other important thing to note is the Xbox Series S is a digital-only console, meaning it lacks a disc drive to play physical games.
Xbox Series S
$299
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The Xbox Series S costs $299.99. Compared to the Series X, it’s far smaller, less powerful, and it has half the amount of SSD storage built in. It also lacks a disc drive.
$299
at Best Buy
If you plan to buy this console, you may want to consider picking up a few accessories that will help you get the most out of your new gadget, most notably an additional controller if you are playing a game with a local co-op with a friend or family member.
As far as storage goes, both consoles have rather limited storage. If you plan to download some older games that do not take full advantage of the next-gen hardware and don’t want to deplete your limited SSD storage, you can grab an external hard drive. You can buy a 4TB external hard drive from Seagate for $100, and it includes two months of Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like digital video game subscription service for Xbox consoles. Or you can buy three months of Xbox Game Pass if you don’t have any games you’re interested in buying yet.
Of course, you can also upgrade your SSD as well, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Seagate is the only one with an SSD expansion card compatible with both consoles. Additionally, the SSD expansion card only comes in 1TB, and it is very expensive, costing $220.
(Pocket-lint) – If you’ve got a medium-to-large size telly and want some extra audio grunt then there are plenty of soundbar or soundbase options to choose from. Many are complex and expensive though.
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam, on the other hand, takes a simple approach: it’s an all-in-one box solution – so no fuss with separates or a subwoofer – complete with Dolby Atmos pseudo surround enhancement via MultiBeam technology. It’s reasonably priced, too.
If that kind of all-in-one neatness is exactly what you’re looking for then just how well does the JBL Bar 5 deliver upon its audio-enhancement potential – and can the Dolby Atmos mode truly deliver additional dimensionality from such a speaker arrangement?
Design & Setup
Ports: HDMI In, HDMI Out (HDCP 2.3 compliant, eARC & 4K HDR passthrough), Ethernet, Optical
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast, Amazon Alexa / Google Assistant
Controls: Included physical remote, four-button top-of-‘bar panel
Dimensions: 705 x 100 x 58mm / Weight: 2.8kgs
Much of the JBL Bar 5.0’s appeal is that it’s an all-in-one solution. Pull the ‘bar out of the packaging, plug it in using the included fig-8 power cable and then you’ve got various options on how to plug-in your A/V devices.
With both an HDMI input and HDMI output, supporting eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), you can use a single cable solution from ‘bar to TV and it’ll deliver your other audio sources with ease.
Our setup, for example, has a PlayStation 5 plugged into the TV’s HDMI 1 (as it’s 4K/HDR compliant), the JBL Bar 5.0 plugged into the TV’s HDMI 2 (as it’s the eARC appointed slot; thus our BT TV box is plugged into the soundbar’s HDMI In to passthrough to the telly via its HDMI Out), with Nintendo Switch and Chromecast sitting in the TV’s HDMI 3 and 4 (as neither of those sources/ports can handle 4K).
The JBL Bar 5.0 supports HDCP 2.3, which is the latest High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection protocol – i.e. the method that permits it to pass protected content signals from a variety of sources. That’ll ensure no issue with your Blu-ray player, games console, streaming box, PVR, and so forth. Whatever you plug in, it’s going to work, and it’ll auto-switch to the correct source too.
All those cables connected and the JBL Bar 5.0 sits tidily atop our A/V cabinet setup. The ‘bar measures just shy of 60mm tall, making it a near perfect fit under the stand of our 55-inch Panasonic 4K FZ800 OLED TV. It’s 700mm long, so leaves a spare 260mm either side of the telly in this setup. It’s not a massively long soundbar compared to some out there, which is just the kind of scope we want – nothing too dominating or distracting.
Visually the JBL’s build is pretty straightforward: a black enclosure with rounded edges that’s covered entirely by a mesh to the front; up top there’s the same black finish, which isn’t too glossy and therefore saves from TV panel reflections, complete with a built-in four-button control section. We like our soundbars unobtrusive, so this does just the job.
Source is reflected by the small panel hidden behind the mesh to the front left – it’s not an especially large panel, as it has to scroll to display the full information, but as it’s LED based when it’s off it’s well and truly off. Again, that means no unwanted light pollution (we have our PlayStation 5 to take care of that job, sigh) or reflection.
In addition to that up-top control section – for volume up/down, source, on/off – there’s also a bundled remote control in the box. It’s a simple remote, which takes 2x AAA batteries (also included) and, frankly, you’ll never really need to use it once you’ve set things up as you like – because your standard remote controls will take over control of volume, settings and source.
What you will need this controller for, however, is adjusting the bass level – there’s five levels to select from – and for calibration. However, neither of these are obvious to access: one is a three-second hold of the ‘TV’ button; the other a five-second hold of the ‘HDMI’ button. Not even the manual explains how to do this (unless the shop-worthy products have an updated quick-start manual).
We found the bass level was actually a little too ripe and therefore pushed it down one notch (to 2/5) for best overall balance. Calibration – which sends out signals to measure your setup position and soundwave reflection from nearby surfaces – is also an essential to match the best sound profile to your physical setup. As there’s no on-screen menu system, however, it wouldn’t be able to randomly do this upon first activation as a proper setup is required first.
As we don’t have the TV on in the day, our first use of the JBL Bar 5.0 was as a speaker. It has Bluetooth, Chromecast, AirPlay and plays nice with all kinds of sources, so we’ve been typing away listening to our favourite tunes. And this ‘bar is really musical in its delivery – able to deliver a chunky sound that, if you were in the market for a living room speaker, might entirely change your mind. Just buy the soundbar and you’ve got the double benefit – plus it’s Multi-Room Music compatible if you have other speakers.
The JBL Bar 5.0 has, as the name helps define, five main speakers housed within. It’s the “.0” that tells you there’s no separate subwoofer, otherwise it would be a “.1” for the separate bass channel. There are, however, four bass radiators (or “woofers” if you prefer) to pump out ample low-end – which is why there’s a mesh to the top of the soundbar, to release the air.
It’s important to note that the mesh up top has nothing to do with upward-firing speakers, because this ‘bar doesn’t have any. The 5.0 arrangement covers centre, left, right, surround left, surround right – helping to push sound out across a wide soundstage. It does this amply, but lacks a certain amount of verticality – which is perhaps its most noticeable detriment when, as is our case, paired with a 55-inch telly. There’s just a certain lack of height.
However, the Dolby Atmos mode does enhance audio. Don’t think of it as insta-surround when you click it on, not if your source is basic stereo (as so often from TV) anyway. It will add roundness, building up greater impact from bass and giving a stronger sense of placement to audio.
Feed the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam a decent source, however, and you’ll really begin to believe in what Dolby Atmos can do – even from just the five speaker arrangement. Watching Lupin on Netflix and the rain scenes took on a whole other life, pushing around the room and really enhancing the sense of immersion.
That can sometimes go a little awry – far left/right speakers can ping off sounds that reflect a bit too abruptly – but, in general, if you’ve got a 48/50-inch TV it’ll bring real rich enhancement. No, it’s not true surround, it couldn’t be in this arrangement, but it’s decent nonetheless – as it the whole point of MultiBeam technology and why, of course, it’s featured proudly in the product’s full name.
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There are some minor issues though. The passthrough is rather slow, so it takes a number of seconds for source and signal to kick in. We’ve had rare issues with lip-sync too, which is likely a software issue – eARC carries a mandatory lip-sync provision, so it shouldn’t be an issue – which has been easily fixed with the usual “turn it off, turn it on” solution.
The other point, of course, is that the Bar 5.0 isn’t future expandable. You can’t add a subwoofer later, as this system isn’t designed for that. You can’t add other separates for true rear/vertical enhancement either. Which is perhaps less criticism than simply pointing it out: after all, JBL also makes the Bar 5.1, which comes with a subwoofer, and therefore has all its bases covered (there’s the Bar 9.1 if you want to go all-out too).
So while the 50Hz low-end quota of the JBL Bar 5.0 is decent for low-end punch, it can’t distribute this with quite the cinema-going movie-tastic guttural slap of a separate sub. Those pitch-down “wommmms” won’t quite make your furniture vibrate anyway. But they will certainly be a lot tastier than baseline TV audio, that’s for sure.
Verdict
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a neat all-in-one soundbar solution that delivers sonic grunt, well-balanced musicality, and can passthrough all the necessaries – 4K HDR via eARC (albeit slowly on start-up) – to play nice with any up-to-date A/V setup and add roundness to your TV’s audio.
No, there’s no separates or subwoofer, but that’s half the point of this solution (other options exist within the range to cater if you’d rather splash out). And while it’s not fully, truly surround sound, feed this ‘bar a decent source – namely Dolby Atmos from Netflix – and it does a convincing job of adding extra wideness and immersion to your viewing experience.
If you’re looking to enhance your TV’s audio prospects and don’t own a super-massive screen, this unobtrusive single box solution does a sterling job for an affordable price – with only a few minor hiccups along the way.
Also consider
Polk Signa S3
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This affordable and effective solution is not only cheaper than the JBL, it comes complete with a separate subwoofer too. It’s not as smart when it comes to pseudo surround though – as there’s no Dolby Atmos certification (but there is Dolby Digital 5.1).
Read our review
Yamaha SR-B20A
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If you want to go cheaper still, then Yamaha’s all-in-one solution – which has the option for a sub to be added later – is a sturdily built box that delivers sturdy audio to boot.
The Philips 558M1RY represents a price breakthrough in the jumbo gaming monitor category. Though it leaves out HDMI 2.1, it brings everything else to the gaming table with 120 Hz, adaptive sync and accurate DCI-P3 and sRGB color. Add in killer HDR and you have a winner for a relatively low price.
For
Good contrast
Color accurate
Bright
Perfect Adaptive-Sync at 120 Hz
Unbeatable audio quality
Against
No HDMI 2.1
No streaming apps
Features and Specifications
Go big or go home. Size matters. The bigger, the better. Whatever your favorite cliché, games are more fun when you play on a big screen. That’s part of the reason the PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X and console gaming in general is so popular. It’s not just cost; consoles also make it easier to play on the large TV in the living room, rather than the desk-sized screen sitting in the home office.
But PCs have a huge performance advantage over consoles. You’re not going to hit 144 fps on a console, and you’re definitely not going to find a DisplayPort on a console or TV. For those committed to high-performance and speed in one of the best 4K gaming monitors, the question is how much are you willing to spend on a jumbo monitor?
If around $1,500 is within your budget, the Philips Momentum 558M1RY may be for you. It’s a 55-inch VA monitor specced for up to 1,000 nits brightness, HDR, AMD FreeSync and a 120 Hz refresh rate. If that’s not enough, the 558M1RY includes a high-quality soundbar from Bowers & Wilkins. Yes, that B&W. That’s a premium package at a premium price.
Philips Momentum 558M1RY Specs
Panel Type / Backlight
VA / W-LED, edge array
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio
54.5 inches / 16:9
Max Resolution & Refresh Rate
3840×2160 @ 120 Hz
FreeSync: 48-120 Hz
Native Color Depth & Gamut
10-bit / DCI-P3
DisplayHDR 1000, HDR10
Response Time (GTG)
4ms
Max Brightness
SDR: 750 nits
HDR: 1,200 nits
Contrast
4,000:1
Speakers
B&W 40-watt Ported Soundbar: 2x tweeters, 2x mid, 1x sub
Video Inputs
1x DisplayPort 1.4
3x HDMI 2.0
Audio
3.5mm headphone output
USB 3.2
1x up, 4x down
Power Consumption
53.5w, brightness @ 200 nits
Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base
48.5 x 32.8 x 12.1 inches (1232 x 833 x 307mm)
Panel Thickness
4 inches (102mm)
Bezel Width
Top/sides: 0.4 inch (10mm)
Bottom: 0.9 inch (22mm)
Weight
58.3 pounds (26.5kg)
Warranty
4 years
We’ve looked at a few jumbo monitors in the past, like the HP Omen X 65 Emperium and the Alienware 55 OLED panel. Both perform admirably but cost a fortune. In terms of jumbo gaming monitors, Philips’ 558M1RY is the least expensive we’ve seen yet.
There’s no question around whether or not the 558M1RY is a TV. There’s no tuner and no smart TV apps. But despite Philips advertising the monitor as offering “new-level console gaming,” there is no HDMI 2.1 to support the new PS5 and Xbox consoles’ fastest frame rates. If you use the monitor with a console you’ll be limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate, unless you drop down to 1440p resolution, where you can reach 120 Hz. For 4K at 120 Hz, you have to use the DisplayPort connection, which, of course, is only found on PCs.
A VA panel promises high native contrast, there’s an extended color gamut and an LED edge-array backlight that Philips promises is good for 750 nits brightness with SDR content and a whopping 1,200 nits with HDR, which surpasses VESA’s highest HDR certification, DisplayHDR 1000, which requires 1,000 nits. The 558M1RY certainly has the tools to produce a stunning 4K image.
Gamers will enjoy the 558M1RY’s seamless AMD FreeSync Premium Pro implementation. Compared to standard FreeSync and FreeSync Premium, FreeSync Premium Pro adds HDR support and low latency in HDR mode. We also got Nvidia G-Sync to run on the scree,n even though it’s not G-Sync Compatible-certified. (To learn how, see our How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor tutorial). We verified that both kinds of Adaptive-Sync work over a 48-120 Hz range with or without HDR through DisplayPort 1.4.
Assembly and Accessories on Philips Momentum 558M1RY
You’ll need a friend to help you unbox the Philips Momentum 558M1RY because it arrives fully assembled with stand and soundbar already fixed in place. The package weighs around 65 pounds in total. As with a desktop monitor, you get an IEC power cord plus HDMI, DisplayPort and USB cables. A tiny remote is also included which makes menu navigation a lot easier. If you plan to wall mount, there’s a 200mm VESA pattern in back with four large bolts included in the box.
Philips Momentum 558M1RY Product 360
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It’s hard to appreciate the scale of the Philips Momentum 558M1RY from the photos, because it’s styled just like a standard PC monitor. The first clue that this is an extreme display is the soundbar firmly attached to the panel. These B&W speakers are covered with a burlap-like wool-blend fabric in dark gray. Meanwhile, the base and upright are very solid and stable and offer a tilt adjustment like a desktop display. The generally low-key design makes sense, considering that this will likely sit in a living or family room for all to see. There are no gaming cues in sight — until you activate the 558M1RY’s colorful lighting effect.
The 558M1RY features what Philips calls Ambiglow, a lighting feature across the sides and top of the panel’s backside. It can glow a single color with adjustable brightness or you can set it change according to what’s currently on the screen. That effect adds an interesting motion element you won’t find on any other gaming monitor. It works particularly well if you have a neutral-colored wall behind the screen.
From a side view, the 558M1RY looks chunky with angles and straight lines making up the 558M1RY’s shape. In back, you can see a heat vent across the top and a tiny Philips logo. The small dots around the perimeter are the Ambiglow LEDs. On the soundbar, you can see a port on one side that extends the bass lower.
Perfect for a living room, the 558M1RY even comes with a 6-inch-long wand-shaped remote that easily controls all monitor functions. You get a power toggle, plus mute, input and menu up top. After the four-way nav pad is picture mode and return. Two rockers at the bottom adjust brightness and volume.
The input panel is up under the upright and fairly hard to reach. You get three HDMI 2.0 inputs and a single DisplayPort 1.4. USB is version 3.2 and includes one upstream and four downstream ports. Two of them can charge or power devices when the 558M1RY is off.
OSD Features on Philips Momentum 558M1RY
With 12 logically arranged submenus, the on-screen display (OSD) is exactly like the one found in all the Philips monitors we’ve reviewed. You can access it with a joystick on the back-right side of the panel or the handy remote control.
First up is Ambiglow, the LED lighting effect. You can set any color to a steady state and adjust its brightness with a slider, or choose a random rotation of colors. The coolest feature is image match, where the colors change with the onscreen content. It sounds gimmicky, but in practice, it added an interesting dimension to both gameplay and video.
A Game Setting menu offers aiming crosshairs, a low input lag mode, which can be left on all the time, and a three-level overdrive. The speediest overdrive settings, Fastest, works well at reducing motion blur without leaving ghosting artifacts.
Most of the image controls are in the Picture menu, where you get brightness and contrast, along with sharpness and color saturation. At the top, SmartImage offers 7 different picture modes, which are task-specific. One of the modes focuses on improved screen uniformity. It delivered but reduced contrast in the process. Our sample didn’t need that feature though.
There are also five gamma presets in the Picture menu.
The Color menu offers color temp adjustments by Kelvin value or with RGB sliders. The Philips Momentum 558M1RY measures well out of the box and doesn’t need calibration, but there are slight gains available with a few adjustments. Here also is the sRGB mode, which effectively renders that gamut with decent gamma and grayscale tracking. Color purists will be happy to have this feature available.
Philips Momentum 558M1RY Calibration Settings
The 558M1RY has a native DCI-P3 color gamut that it uses for all content unless you engage the sRGB mode in the Color menu. Since sRGB mode can’t be calibrated, we calibrated the 558M1RY via the User Define color temp and left SmartImage off. With slight changes to the RGB sliders and a switch in gamma from 2.2 to 2.4, we achieved excellent results.
You’ll notice in the table below that we could only turn the backlight down to 105 nits minimum. That’s a bit bright for gaming in a completely dark room, but you can get some relief by turning on Ambiglow and setting it to a dim white.
Here are the calibration settings we used for SDR mode on the 558M1RY:
Picture Mode
Smart Image Off
Brightness 200 nits
54
Brightness 120 nits
12
Minimum
105 nits
Contrast
50
Gamma
2.4
Color Temp User
Red 99, Green 99, Blue 99
When an HDR signal is applied, you get five additional presets. For the brightest presentation, choose DisplayHDR 1000. For the best HDR image, choose Personal.
Gaming and Hands-on with Philips Momentum 558M1RY
Using a 55-inch monitor for workday tasks is a bit unusual, but if you sit around 6 feet away, it works. The Philips Momentum 558M1RY’s stand raises the screen a bit less than 5 inches from the desktop, so to put your viewpoint in the center, you’ll have to raise your chair or use a lower than typical piece of furniture. Unlike a TV, the Philips’ stand has a tilt function of 10 degrees, so there is some flexibility there. The soundbar moves with the panel so its sound is always focused on the user.
With font scaling set to 300%, Windows apps were easy to use from up to 10 feet away. Small text was easily readable, so if you want to sit on the couch and browse the web, the 558M1RY can oblige. Contrast is superb with a nearly 5,000:1 contrast ratio available in SDR mode. We used the extended color gamut for most productivity apps, except Photoshop, where we switched to the sRGB mode.
Movie watching is a pleasure with such a large screen. You can sit close and have a very immersive experience, both visually and sonically. The impact of good audio cannot be overstated either. In the AV world, the most commonly given — and most commonly ignored — advice is to spend twice as much on audio as video. This is hard to do because we all want the largest possible display. But when sound is as good as the B&W soundbar included with the 558M1RY, you’re getting a huge value-add.
With two tweeters, two 10W midranges and a 20W woofer for bass, the Philips Momentum 558M1RY has some of the best built-in sound we’ve ever heard. The full frequency spectrum is represented and only the very deepest bass, below 80 Hz, is a little weak.
For gaming and movies, the soundbar is a huge asset. Not only is the audio crystal clear, but also the sound stage is much wider than the bar’s physical size. Higher partials, like female voices and finely detailed ambient effects, came through in perfect balance with no trace of sibilance or harshness.
Of course, the Philips Momentum 558M1RY is at heart a gaming monitor, and for that, it excels. SDR games, like Tomb Raider, look fantastic when running at 120 frames per second (fps) at 4K resolution with max detail. We paired the monitor with a system running a GeForce RTX 3090. One of the best graphics cards, it has no trouble keeping frame rates high. We also tested the monitor with a Radeon RX 5700 XT-equipped machine. In either case, we got Adaptive-Sync to run perfectly. And in general, response and input lag were low enough not to call attention to themselves.
Contrast was particularly impressive in the dark areas of the game environment where blacks were true and shadow detail was rich. The depth afforded by a quality VA panel like this makes the suspension of disbelief far more palpable.
Color also stood out, thanks to an accurate gamut. We played Tomb Raider in sRGB mode, where it looked great, and with the full DCI-P3 gamut engaged, where it looked even better. Though purists like us prefer to use the mastered color spec whenever possible, there’s no denying the impact of a little more saturation.
Switching to HDR in Windows worked seamlessly, and thanks to the availability of the contrast slider in the HDR Personal mode, we were able to dial down the extreme brightness to make the desktop less fatiguing to look at. With the HDR title Call of Duty: WWII, however, we enjoyed 750-nit highlights that made the picture really pop. It never looked too bright, even in daylight outdoor scenes.
Video processing was also perfect with HDR engaged. 120 Hz and Adaptive-Sync worked flawlessly on both AMD and Nvidia platforms with HDR content.
Dinosaur Planet is an unreleased Nintendo 64 game by Rare that ultimately evolved into Star Fox Adventures for GameCube. But thanks to the preservationists at Forest of Illusion, it’s now possible to play that unfinished, original title. A build of the game from December 1st, 2000 — well into its development cycle — was retrieved from a disc purchased from a private collector.
Screenshots of the game feature Fox McCloud; as noted by Eurogamer, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto was reportedly influential in pushing the developers to shift the game into a Star Fox title. Digital Foundry’s John Linneman uploaded 20 minutes of gameplay, and here you can also see Fox replacing one of the original game’s intended protagonists, Sabre.
Forest of Illusion notes that “the game will currently not run 100 percent perfectly on any emulator. Expect many graphical issues with shadows and lighting, and some slowdown. It should however, work perfectly fine with flashcarts.” Flashcarts allow for games to run on original N64 console hardware
The influence of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is evident, but it’s very interesting to get a look at the moody atmosphere that Rare was working on before Dinosaur Planet became Star Fox Adventures on the GameCube. Forest of Illusion also uploaded the game to the Internet Archive.
February is proving to be a month of gems for Rare’s fans; earlier in February, the canceled Xbox 360 remake of GoldenEye 007 was leaked onto the web. Much like Dinosaur Planet, it’s very playable despite being unfinished.
Blizzcon happened a little later than usual due to the pandemic, but the first virtual version of Blizzard’s games convention still had some interesting news and trailers. The opening keynote covered most of the big franchises, like World of Warcraft and Diablo, along with some more obscure classics. (Though Overwatch was curiously absent.)
If you missed the event, you can catch up on all of the biggest news right here.
Blizzard Arcade Collection
The first announcement was one of the most unexpected: three of Blizzard’s more obscure games are being bundled into a new package called the Blizzard Arcade Collection. Lost Vikings, Rock & Roll Racing, and Blackthorne have all been ported to modern platforms, including PC, Xbox One, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch. And they include some handy features, like save states and a virtual museum. The best part? The collection is out now.
Diablo IV
Diablo IV is still some ways away — Blizzard has already said it won’t be launching this year — but we at least got a glimpse of what to expect thanks to a new trailer that unveiled the rogue class.
Diablo II Resurrected
If you prefer an older-style of demonic dungeon crawling, Blizzard also officially unveiled Diablo II Resurrected, an HD remaster of the nearly two decade-old game. It’s coming out this year for both PC and console, with versions for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S. It’ll even include cross-progression between console and PC.
World of Warcraft
For World of Warcraft Classic players, Blizzard revealed that the game’s next big adventure will be the “Burning Crusade.” There’s no word on when exactly it’ll launch, but Blizzard says “the Dark Portal reopens 2021.” For the main game, there’s also a new chapter for the Shadowlands expansion on the way, called “Chains of Domination.”
Diablo II is getting a big overhaul in a new remaster. After a few leaks, Blizzard officially announced Diablo II Resurrected at its online-only edition of Blizzcon 2021. The new version of the game — which first launched back in 2000 — will launch this year on PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S, with cross-progression between PC and console. The HD remaster will include both the base game and its expansion, Lord of Destruction.
The announcement comes at a surprisingly busy time for the long running action-RPG series. In addition to the remaster of Diablo II, Blizzard is also working on a mobile spinoff called Diablo Immortal and the next full-fledged title, Diablo IV.
If Diablo II is too modern for your tastes, the original game is still available on GOG.com.
Think Raspberry Pi, and we instantly think of Raspberry Pi OS, a branch of Debian Linux tweaked to run on the board. But the recently-released Raspberry Pi Pico eschews the traditional Raspberry Pi setup in favor of an Arm-based microcontroller. This has not deterred David Given, who has ported a Unix-like operating system to the $4 board.
A Raspberry Pi Pico running Fuzix will not be replacing your Raspberry Pi any time soon, but it is amazing to see this Unix-like OS running on such low-power hardware. Given’s port of Fuzix is based upon Alan Cox’s original project, which can run on hardware almost 40 years old. Fuzix provides us with a proper Unix filesystem, support for SD cards via the SPI interface, a full set of Fuzix binaries, and all of this is available via a serial console to UART0.
Right now, there is no support for flash memory, evident in the requirement of an SD card. Given says that the code for this is complete, but a bad file system will crash the dhara FTL library and that the onboard flash is too small even for the 32MB system image.
Given provides a readme full of installation instructions, which are written for experienced Unix / Linux users to follow. The easiest way to get started is to download the Fuzix binaries and format an SD card as per the readme instructions. Then flash the UF2 file to your Pico, connect up an SD card reader via the SPI interface, connect to UART0 and start using Fuzix on a $4 microcontroller.
(Pocket-lint) – The mobile gaming community continues to grow, with hot new titles hitting download stores and an ever-expanding fanbase of dedicated players. Manufacturers have noticed this, too, creating handsets specifically tailored for players.
Best smartphones: The top mobile phones available to buy today
It’s not a brand new concept, but with a number of brands now into the production of their second- or third-generation devices, we run down what’s out there in the gaming phone market that’s worth considering, alongside which special features might make it worth buying one device over another.
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel
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The best gaming phone out there right now is Lenovo’s absolute beast, which has more than enough power to get you superb performance in even the most taxing of mobile adventures.
You get a massive display and also really impressive sound quality (which many competitors cannot boast), with a 144Hz refresh rate to make sure your gameplay is smooth and frictionless.
It’s a little unwieldy for normal use, but that’s true of most of these phones, and with 5G on board it’s ready for a few years’ use.
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel review: A god among gaming phones?
Nubia RedMagic 5S
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Nubia has made a few absolutely tiny changes to the RedMagic 5G and the 5S is the result, a small iteration on an already really impressive phone.
That means you’ve still got a great 144Hz display to game on, with brilliant smoothness, and a superb processor from Qualcomm at its heart to keep things moving, the SD865.
Battery life is solid for the category, while extra built-in buttons are great for added control. It’s a real contender, and is priced sensibly too.
RedMagic 5S review: Gaming great, but an everyday average
Black Shark 3
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This phone manages a seriously impressive feat by bringing superb responsiveness and gaming performance to the table alongside really reasonable pricing.
It’s practically mid-range cost-wise, but you’ll find that it creams through any mobile game out there right now. Plus, you get 5G connectivity to make sure that you can stream and play online at the best speeds.
Use Black Shark’s additional physical controller clip-ons to really upgrade your gaming on the go.
Black Shark 3: The big boss of gaming?
Asus ROG Phone 3
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Perhaps the most outward looking ‘gaming phone’ aesthetic of them all comes from Asus. It’s so powerful that it can feel a bit like a mini console that’s a veritable gaming feast.
On the downside its design makes it about as far from a day-to-day handset as you could want, with overall thickness and limited battery life when you’re actually using it to game notching it down a few pegs. However, with a higher refresh-rate than many there’s clear appeal.
Razer Phone 2
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Razer is no stranger to gaming, as one of the most fluent gaming laptop makers on the market. It’s a company especially well-known for producing hardcore spec machines without the all-out exoticness of some rivals. The Razer Phone 2 follows that same mantra: it’s a subtle-looking handset that’s super powerful, but its brick-like looks won’t appeal to all.
The main spec that really sells it beyond its competition is its screen’s 120Hz refresh rate (most devices are half of this, at 60Hz). This is royalty in the gaming sphere, allowing for sync with faster frame-rate games, delivering silky smooth motion in everything it does. No, not all games can output at such a refresh nor high frame-rate, but a handful of titles can, giving the Razer a unique selling point beyond any of its competitors.
Unlike the Black Shark 3 (see above), however, there’s no adept add-on controller system and the physical proportions of this device as a day-to-day product let it down when you’re not in gaming mode.
Razer Phone 2 review: Gaming glory brings its share of compromise
Writing by Mike Lowe. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.
Caviar unveils retail price of unique PS5 Golden Rock console and introduces two additional luxury Limited Edition versions of a black Sony PlayStation 5.
At the end of December last year, Caviar announced a special PS5 Limited Edition game console, called the Golden Rock – with a whopping 20 kilos of 18-karat gold. A sales price was not yet announced at the time, but the Russian manufacturer has now set the price. For $ 499,000 USD you can get this luxury console.
In addition, Caviar also introduced two black PlayStation 5 models with a significantly friendlier price tag. A modern and sturdy carbon edition and a more classic leather version.
Sony PS5 Golden Rock by Caviar
Gold connoisseurs will know that the cost of 20 kilos of gold is already three times the retail price of the PS5 Golden Rock console. Caviar has therefore decided to reduce the amount of gold to 4.5 kilograms – this makes the console more affordable, without compromising on the design.
Since its announcement a month and a half ago, Caviar has received more than 1,300 requests for this luxury PS5. Among those who showed interest was famed US basketball player LeBron James. The company also received an order from a well-known Russian businessman and an equally famous American IT businessman, whose names have not been disclosed.
Although the price of almost half a million dollars is of course not feasible for all 1000+ candidates, the high demand has made Caviar to decide it will manufacture not one, but 9 Limited Edition consoles. The first test sample is currently being made in a Russian gold atelier. It will take about 4 months to produce this unique PlayStation 5.
PlayStation 5 Black Carbon
Many PlayStation fans are looking forward to the moment when Sony will release a PS5 Black edition, as the renewed two-tone design is not appreciated by everyone. Caviar cleverly responds to this demand by releasing two luxurious black PlayStation 5 consoles.
The Carbon model is an exclusive and sturdy console of which 99 copies will be produced. With a retail price of $ 5,830 USD, this is the cheapest option that Caviar offers. Sustainable carbon from the automotive industry has been used to manufacture this game console. Caviar’s logo is made of 24-karat gold.
Caviar supplies two matching DualSense controllers as standard, which have also been given a cool Carbon make-over.
PS5 Black Alligator Limited Edition
Do you think the Carbon model is too modern? Caviar has also released a more classic model with black alligator leather. The name inscription on this console is also encased in 24 carat gold. The gamepad has been given a matching look and, thanks to the soft leather, will offer an extra nice grip.
Caviar will produce 99 copies of this PS5 Limited Edition. The retail price of this console is set at $ 8,140 USD.
For the first time in over a year, Nintendo hosted a full-fledged Direct presentation. The latest presentation was focused mostly on games slated to hit Nintendo’s hybrid gaming console, the Switch, sometime during the first half of 2021, though there were a few announcements for games that will hit later than that.
The nearly hour-long event included a slew of titles slated to hit the Switch before the year is half over, including ports for indie games such as Fall Guys and Outer Wilds and new installments in franchises like No More Heroes and Splatoon. Here are the biggest news announcements and trailers from today’s Nintendo Direct.
Splatoon 3 inks its way onto Nintendo Switch in 2022
The third installment in the Splatoon franchise is slated to launch in 2022. Not much is known about the game, aside from a new desert locale, but game appears to feature the same paint-shooting action from previous entries.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD slashes onto Nintendo Switch July 16th
Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, a re-release of the 2011 Wii U exclusive. The game will launch alongside a new pair of Zelda-themed Joy-Cons. Nintendo also said it would share more information about the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild later this year.
Mario Golf Super Rush is the latest installment in the Mario Golf Series and it arrives June 25th
Mario Golf Super Rush is the first Mario Golf title for Nintendo’s hybrid console. The game will feature motion controls, new modes, and a story campaign.
First look at the SuperMario-themed items coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Several Mario-themed items and furniture will be purchasable via the Nook Shop in Animal Crossing: New Horizons beginning March 1st. Nintendo also confirmed that a free update will arrive on February 25th.
Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout is getting ported to Nintendo Switch
Mediatonic’s goofy platformer battle royale title Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout will receive a Nintendo Switch port. No release date was announced, but the game is targeting a summer launch window.
Pyra and Mythra from Xenoblade Chronicles are joining the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster
Both characters are set to be playable beginning in March, but Nintendo promises to share more details closer to release. The pair will count as a single character, making them both the fourth DLC character available in the second Fighters Pass for Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is getting an expansion pass
The expansion pass will include two “waves” of content, with the first one launching this June and the other coming sometime in November. It costs $20 and preorders are now available.
Indie darling Outer Wilds is coming to Switch
The 2019 action-adventure game by Mobius Digital will arrive on the Switch sometime this summer, according to Nintendo.
Famicom Detective Club is coming to North America on May 14th
Two old-school murder-mystery games are getting the remake treatment for the Nintendo Switch and will be localized in English. The two detective games originally released on the Famicom Disk System in the late ‘80s and task players with solving mysteries. Both games will receive modern graphics, gameplay, and voice acting, yet retain the same mysteries that were found in the originals.
No More Heroes 3 will launch on August 27th
The third title in the No More Heroes Trilogy will arrive in late August exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
Monster Hunter Rise launches March 26th
The latest trailer for Monster Hunter Rise focuses on new story details and the monsters you’ll encounter in the game. A Monster Hunter-themed Nintendo Switch will also release the same day as the console.
Stubbs the Zombie is getting a remaster for modern consoles
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is a third-person action game where players take control of a zombie and devour brains and wreak havoc in a city. Asypr Media, who previously remastered Star Wars Episode 1: Racer to modern consoles, is developing the game.
Neon White is a first-person action platformer developed by the creator of Donut County
Donut County creator Ben Esposito is working on a new project. Neon White will task players with killing demons in Heaven. Based on the art style and first trailer, the new game is a far cry from Esposito’s previous work.
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville Complete Edition launches March 19th on Switch
Originally released back in 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition is a third-person shooter and includes all characters and content from previous versions of the game.
Project Triangle Strategy is a brand new tactical RPG by Square Enix
The game has a similar art design to the 2019 RPG Octopath Traveler. Not much is known of the game yet, but according to today’s direct, the game will launch in 2022.
Star Wars Hunters is a competitive free to play online shooter from the makers of FarmVille
Zynga, the studio best known for developing games like FarmVille and Words with Friends, is making a new Star Wars shooter. The game will be squad-based and is set between the events of Star Wars Episode VI and Episode VII.
Knockout City is a new online-based dodgeball game from the creators of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Knockout City is the latest project from Velan Studios, the same developer that worked on the mixed-reality racer Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. The game releases on May 21st on Switch and other platforms.
World’s End Club arrives on Nintendo Switch May 28th
From the creators of Danganropa and Zero Escape, World End’s Club is currently being developed by Too Kyo Games in partnership with Grounding Inc. The first part of the game was previously released on Apple Arcade.
Hades is getting a physical release on March 19th
One of 2020’s most popular games will receive a physical release on the Nintendo Switch on March 19th. In addition to a cartridge, a physical copy will also include a book containing game art and a download code of the soundtrack.
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a remastered compilation of Team Ninja’s most notable titles
The package will include Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. It launches on the Nintendo Switch on June 10th and it includes all post-launch downloadable content previously released for these games at no additional cost.
If you ever wanted a zombie game where you played as the undead instead of fending off against it, you’ll have another chance soon. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is being rereleased on March 16th for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One and will be playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S via backwards compatibility.
Aspyr Media, the company that originally published Stubbs the Zombie, is handling the port. The studio recently worked on porting Star Wars Episode I: Racer to modern consoles, so it’s safe to say this remaster is in good hands.
Originally released in 2005 on the Xbox, Stubbs the Zombie has players control the titular character with the main goal of wreaking havoc and devouring human brains. It’s a third-person action title developed by the now-defunct Wideload Games. The game also came to Windows and Mac OS X roughly a month after its original release date, with a release on Steam coming nearly two years later, which was later removed from the platform.
The announcement is good news for fans who played the 2005 original. In recent years, Stubbs the Zombie has become one of the rarest games to own on the original Xbox. Microsoft made the game available digitally for the Xbox 360 in 2008 as an Xbox Originals title, but the company pulled it from the Xbox Live Marketplace in late 2012. With no other ways to play the game in nearly a decade, your only option was to own an original Xbox console and a physical copy, which is pretty pricey.
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