Sony is apparently looking to release more than 25 PlayStation 5 games under its PlayStation Studios brand. And “nearly half” of them will not be sequels or spinoffs, according to Wired’s interview with PlayStation Studio lead (and former Guerrilla Games managing director) Hermen Hulst.
That could theoretically be a lot more games than the four first-party Sony titles we already know about:
Horizon Forbidden West (2021)
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (June 2021)
God of War: Ragnarok (2021)
Gran Turismo 7 (2022)
Twenty-one additional games could be a huge shot in the arm for the PS5, especially considering how slowly exclusives are trickling out; Gran Turismo has already slipped to next year.
Sony also may not be completely on the hook for producing all of the games that are unaccounted for, though. The PlayStation Studios branding is a bit murky. When it was first announced, Eric Lempel, the head of global marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, told GamesIndustry.biz that the branding “doesn’t mean that we outright own the developer, but it just means we brought it up as a first-party. In a lot of cases we don’t own the developer.”
Wired specifically name-drops indie games from outside studios partnered with Sony, including the upcoming Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and a game from Haven Studios. It’s unclear whether those and similar titles will be counted toward the more-than-25 figure. Sony didn’t immediately respond to a request for clarification.
Also, if Haven Studios doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because it was just formed in March when noted industry figure Jade Raymond left Google when it shut down its in-house Stadia development studios. That speaks to the idea that we many not be seeing some of these games for quite a while. Hulst did mention that some of the games would be small, however, likely taking less development time. That, along with the fact that many of the games won’t be part of existing franchises, is exciting for non-AAA aficionados like myself and could help relieve worries that it’ll take a decade for all these games to come out.
And while the games may not all be first-party games, that’s not necessarily a bad thing: Returnal was a PlayStation Studios game made by an outside developer, and it’s an example of an original game that’s received a lot of praise since its release.
It’s also worth noting that these games won’t necessarily be exclusive to the PS5. MLB: The Show 21 is a PlayStation Studios game that’s available on Xbox, and Horizon Zero Dawn has gotten a (somewhat troubled) PC port. Sony has also said it’s interested in bringing more of its games to the PC in the future. There are also, of course, games that will come out for PS4 as well as PS5: we know that Forbidden West will be released on the older PlayStation.
Even with all the caveats, it’s exciting to hear that Sony is working on a slate of games for the PS5, likely far beyond what we’ve already heard about. With Sony’s latest earnings report indicating that it’s sold 7.8 million PS5s, there are a lot of customers who will be looking for experiences that justify the cost of the PS5, and it seems like Sony is trying to make sure it’s got its bases covered.
Gabe Newell, the head of Valve Software, hinted to students in New Zealand that the company might expand its Steam platform, or at least some games, to the console space later this year. The comment is vague at best, but at least it shows that the owner of one of the largest game distribution platforms has not given up its living room gaming plans.
Earlier this week, Gabe Newell spoke to students at Sancta Maria College in Auckland, New Zealand, and was asked whether Steam would be “porting any games on consoles, or [would] it just stay on PC?” The response was imprecise, but we cannot really expect anyone to disclose business plans at an event like this.
“You will get a better idea of that by the end of this year… and it won’t be the answer you expect,” Newell said. “You’ll say, ‘Ah-ha! Now I get what he was talking about.'”
The whole conversation had been recorded by a student who later uploaded it to Reddit, Ars Technica first reported.
Valve’s track record with game consoles in particular and living room gaming in general has been bumpy at best. On the one hand, the company successfully ported its games to consoles from Microsoft and Sony in the past, including the very successful The Orange Box on Xbox 360 and PS3. On the other hand, Valve’s Steam Machines initiatives has failed, just like its console oriented SteamOS. Valve’s Steam Link, which allowed to stream games from a local PC to a TV, has also failed to get popular enough for the company to keep selling the product.
For gamers, getting their Steam libraries on consoles would be a thing of dreams. It’s unclear how Steam would work on those systems, though, as Nintendo, Xbox and Sony all run their own exclusive stores on their platforms. Furthermore, far from all Steam games have versions for consoles, and developing a Windows or Linux emulator for Xbox or PlayStation is one heck of a task. Streaming games to consoles might be a way into the living room for Valve, but controller options may be an obstacle there.
Newell has been living in New Zealand since March 2020, when he was stuck as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Since he doesn’t often do big appearances in the games industry, it makes some sense that a bunch of New Zealand students were the first to hear his thoughts on upcoming announcements.
The Aorus FV43U misses a couple of things as a TV replacement, but for gaming, it has few equals. A huge and accurate color gamut coupled with high contrast, 4K resolution and 144 Hz makes it a great choice for both PC and console gamers.
For
+ Class-leading contrast
+ Huge color gamut
+ Accurate out of the box
+ Excellent HDR
+ Solid gaming performance
Against
– No 24p support
– No Dolby Vision
Features and Specifications
If you’re looking for a jumbo-sized gaming monitor, there are plenty of routes you can take. There are multiple sizes of ultrawide 21:9 screens ranging from 34 to 38 inches diagonal. Then there’s the mega-wide 32:9, 49-inch genre. Or you can stick with flat panels in the 16:9 aspect ratio and go 32 inches or larger. Many simply opt for a TV, opening up the field to extra large displays that can top 80 inches.
If you want to stick with a desktop configuration though, the 43-inch category is a good choice. It’s large but not so big that you can’t sit close. It’s possible to play from 3 or 4 feet away, see the entire screen, and fill your peripheral vision with the image. And the 16:9 aspect ratio that 43-inch monitors come in means plenty of height, something that ultrawide and mega-wide monitors don’t have.
You can typically put a 43-inch gaming monitor on your desktop for around $1,500. That’s more than many 55-inch TVs but a computer monitor delivers a few things, like DisplayPort and high refresh rates, that consumer TVs do not. The Gigabyte Aorus FV43U makes the comparison a little easier, however, as it’s going for $1,000 as of writing.
The FV43U is a 16:9 VA panel competing with the best 4K gaming monitors with a 144 Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync, HDR and a quantum dot backlight that’s specced to reach 1,000 nits brightness. It also delivers decent sound from its built-in speakers, thanks to multiple sound modes. Let’s take a look.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Specs
Panel Type / Backlight
VA / W-LED, edge array
Screen Size & Aspect Ratio
43 inches / 16:9
Max Resolution & Refresh Rate
3840×2160 @ 144 Hz
FreeSync: 48-144 Hz
Native Color Depth & Gamut
10-bit (8-bits+FRC) / DCI-P3
DisplayHDR 1000, HDR10
Response Time (GTG)
1ms
Brightness
1,000 nits
Contrast
4,000:1
Speakers
2x 12w
Video Inputs
1x DisplayPort 1.4 w/DSC
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C
Audio
2x 3.5mm headphone output
USB 3.0
1x up, 2x down
Power Consumption
54.3w, brightness @ 200 nits
Panel Dimensions
38.1 x 25.1 x 9.9 inches
WxHxD w/base
(967 x 638 x 251mm)
Panel Thickness
3.5 inches (88mm)
Bezel Width
Top/sides: 0.4 inch (10mm)
Bottom: 1 inch (25mm)
Weight
33.8 pounds (15.4kg)
Warranty
3 years
By starting with a VA panel, the FV43U is already ahead of many premium gaming monitors that rely on lower contrast IPS technology. Most IPS monitors are specced for around 1,000:1 contrast, while the FV43U boasts 4,000:1 on its sheet and topped that dramatically in our testing with SDR and extremely when it came to HDR. HDR is aided by the monitor’s 1,000-nit backlight enhanced by a quantum dot filter for greater color volume, which our testing will also confirm.
Video processing leaves nothing under the table. The FV43U is one of the few 4K displays that can run at 144 Hz. It manages this over a single DisplayPort cable using Display Stream Compression (DSC). That means it can process 10-bit color, though it uses Frame Rate Control (FRC) to achieve this. FreeSync operates from 48-144 Hz in SDR and HDR modes. G-Sync also works with the same signals as verified by our tests, even though it’s not Nvidia-certified. (You can see how by checking out our How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor tutorial).
Peripheral features include two HDMI 2.1 ports, which support console operation, namely the PS5 and Xbox Series X, with variable refresh rates up to 120 Hz. The monitor’s USB-C port accepts Ultra HD signals up to 144 Hz. This is common among USB-C monitors as USB-C can replicate DisplayPort functions, but you’ll need a graphics card with USB-C, of course. The monitor’s USB-C port also allows for KVM switching (allowing you to control multiple PCs with a single keyboard, monitor and mouse) through additional USB 3.0 ports.
Assembly and Accessories
Two solid metal stand pieces bolt in place on the bottom if you set up on a desktop or entertainment center. Wall mounting is supported by a 200mm lug pattern in back. You’ll have to source your own bolts which should be part of any bracket kit.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Side (Image credit: Gigabyte)
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Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Back (Image credit: Gigabyte)
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Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Top (Image credit: Gigabyte)
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(Image credit: Gigabyte)
From the front, the FV43U looks like any modern television with a narrow bezel around the top and sides and larger bit of molded trim across the bottom. The Aorus logo and a power LED are visible in the center. The stand puts the panel a bit less than 3 inches from the table, so it’s a good height for a desktop if you plan to sit around 4 feet back. The anti-glare layer is more reflective than most smaller screens, so plan placement accordingly if you have windows in your room.
A joystick for controlling the on-screen display (OSD) menu joystick is prominently situated on the panel’s bottom center but the easiest way to control the FV43U is with its tiny remote. It only has a few keys but they’re enough to zip through the OSD, change inputs and control the gaming features.
The back is where you’ll find most of the styling elements. Two slanted shapes are rendered in shiny plastic, along with an Aorus logo in the center. The rest of the finish is matte and features some brushed textures. Angles and straight lines are the order of the day with a generous grill at the top for heat dissipation. Speakers fire from the bottom vents and deliver 12W apiece (more on that in the Hands-on section).
The input panel is on the right side which makes it easily accessible. You get two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C, which also supports 144 Hz and Adaptive-Sync. The HDMIs are limited to 120 Hz but support Adaptive-Sync and 4K resolution, making it fit for console gaming.
OSD Features
The OSD looks just like the menu found in all Aorus monitors but you can make it larger so it can be more legible from across the room.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Gaming sub-menu has everything needed for competitive gameplay. At the top is Aim Stabilizer Sync, which is a backlight strobe for blur reduction. It’s one of the rare implementations that can work in concert with Adaptive-Sync, and it manages to do this without reducing brightness too much out of the box (of course, you can always turn the brightness up).
Black Equalizer makes shadow detail more visible; Super Resolution adds edge enhancement (not in a good way), Display Mode changes the aspect ratio and Overdrive offers four options. Balance is the best one, as it has good blur reduction, no visible ghosting and allows you to toggle Adaptive-Sync on or off.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Picture menu offers an extensive array of image modes (eight, plus three custom memories), along with color temp and gamma presets and something we normally see only on professional screens: selectable color gamuts. You can choose between Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, sRGB or Auto, but in our tests, Auto did not automatically switch the color gamut for different signal types. That means that if we wanted to watch SDR content in the sRGB it’s made in, we had to select the gamut manually.
You also get Local Dimming, which increases contrast significantly. It makes the picture very bright as well, but highlight and shadow detail remain solid, so it is perfectly usable. However, we recommend leaving it off unless your room has a lot of ambient light because you can’t reduce brightness when it’s on. If you prefer a Low Blue Light mode for reading, that feature is in the OSD too.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
A single press of the large button in the center of the remote’s nav pad brings up a quick menu. Pressing left opens the Aorus dashboard, which can display your PC component’s internal temperatures and fan speeds. You’ll need a USB connection for this, but most motherboards will transmit the information to the FV43U.
A right press brings up Game Assist, which offers timers, counters, refresh rate info and aiming points. You also get a single cross in the OSD and can create additional reticles if you download the Aorus desktop app. Additionally, the OSD offers alignment marks in case you plan to set up additional FV43Us in a multi-screen configuration. Now that would be super cool! We’re thinking ultimate desktop flight simulator.
Gigabyte Aorus FV43U Calibration Settings
The FV43U comes set to its Green (yes, that’s the term used in the OSD) picture mode. It has nothing to do with the color green but is fairly accurate out of the box – enough to make our Calibration Not Required list. But if you’re a perfectionist and want to tweak the image, choose the User Define color temp and adjust the RGB sliders. Gamma presets and color gamut options are also available. For the full native gamut, choose Auto or Adobe RGB. Either will deliver just over 100% of DCI-P3 coverage. sRGB is also very accurate, but we found it better to choose the sRGB picture mode rather than the sRGB gamut mode. Below are our recommended calibration settings for SDR on the Gigabyte Aorus FV43U.
Picture Mode
Green
Brightness 200 nits
13
Brightness 120 nits
4
Brightness 100 nits
2 (min. 89 nits)
Contrast
50
Gamma
2.2
Color Space
Auto or Adobe
Color Temp User
Red 100, Green 97, Blue 99
When HDR content is present, there are four additional picture modes available: HDR1000, HLG, Game and Movie. HDR1000 is the most accurate, but locks out all image controls. Game and Movie allow for brightness and contrast adjustments and toggling and local dimming. We’ll explain that in more detail in the HDR tests.
Gaming and Hands-on
A question that should be answered when one considers buying a 43-inch gaming monitor is, will it function as a TV? Since some FV43Us will wind up in living rooms or entertainment centers, it’s important to know whether it can play well with things like disc players or streaming boxes.
There is no internal tuner so technically, the FV43U is not a TV. But its HDMI 2.1 inputs can accept input from any cable or satellite receiver, as well as a 4K disc player or streaming box like Apple TV. We tried a Philips BDP-7501 player and an Apple TV source. SDR and HDR10 signals were supported fine with one omission, 24p. Film cadences are present on any Blu-ray and in many streamed shows and movies from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime (in addition to 50 and 60 Hz). The FV43U converted these streams to 60 Hz, which caused a bit of stuttering here and there. It wasn’t pervasive, but we occasionally saw artifacts. Note that the FV43U, like most computer monitors, doesn’t support Dolby Vision. We’ve only seen a few pro screens that includeDolby Vision.
As a monitor for controlling Windows, the FV43U was a joy to use. With its vast area, we could clearly view four or five documents simultaneously. Sitting about 4 feet back, the pixel structure was invisible, but if we sat closer we were just able to see the dots. Color, meanwhile, was beautifully saturated, great for watching YouTube and browsing the web. If you want perfect accuracy for web browsing, the sRGB mode is available with a few clicks of the remote.
Gaming is also a blast with a screen this big. SDR games like Tomb Raider rendered in vivid hues with deep blacks, bright whites and superb contrast. The large dynamic range and accurate gamma mean that you’ll see all the detail present in the original content. That lends a realism seen on only the very best computer monitors.
HDR games, like Call of Duty: WWII, also showed tremendous depth on the FV43U. We played exclusively in the HDR1000 picture mode because of its very accurate luminance and grayscale tracking. The FV43Us large color gamut was put to good use here. It was readily apparent in skin tones and natural earth shades, like brown and green. That, coupled with nearly 39,000:1 contrast, made surfaces and textures pop with a tactility that we’ve only seen from premium screens like the Acer Predator CG437K or the Asus ROG Swift PG43UQ (both go for $1,500 as of writing). Without a full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight like that Acer Predator X27 and Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ have, the FV43U doesn’t quite make the very top tier of the best HDR monitors. But it comes awfully close to their image quality while delivering a lot more screen area.
The monitor’s two 12W speakers deliver sound that’s better than what you’ll hear from smaller monitors with much more bass and overall presence. Five audio modes help you tailor sound to your preference. If you’d rather use your best gaming headset, there’s a 3.5mm jack and an additional analog output for external systems.
A Twitter user has shared the first photographs of the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit. The 4700S processors are widely thought to be defective chips that didn’t make their way into the Xbox Series X, but AMD has declined to comment on that aspect.
AMD doesn’t officially list the 4700S on its website, so the processor’s specifications are unknown to the public. However, a couple of convincing benchmarks and retailer listings helped us put the pieces together. Based on the Zen 2 microarchitecture, the AMD 4700S wields eight cores and 16 threads with a 8MB L3 cache. We’ve spotted the 4700S operating with a 3.6 GHz base clock and a boost clock that peaks at 4 GHz. The octa-core chip is paired with 16GB of what appears to be GDDR6 memory.
According to a retailer’s listing, the AMD 4700S is slower than the Ryzen 7 4750G (Renoir) in both single-and multi-threaded performance. Although the 4700S loses to the Core i7-9700 in single-threaded performance as well, the AMD chip delivers higher multi-threaded performance.
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The AMD 4700S Desktop Kit resides on a tiny, green motherboard, although we’re uncertain if it conforms to the standard mini-ITX form factor. It draws power from a standard 24-pin connector and 8-pin EPS connector. The motherboard doesn’t offer memory slots of any kind, which seems to confirm our suspicion about the usage of soldered GDDR6 memory chips. It features a custom heatsink and a small cooling fan. Given the size of the heatsink’s backplate, the GDDR6 memory chips may be located at the backside of the motherboard.
Like the typical mini-ITX motherboards on the market, the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit provides a single PCIe 3.0 x16 expansion slot for you to add a discrete graphics card. We suspect that AMD added the slot because the iGPU inside the 4700S is either disabled or defective.
There are a total of eight USB ports on the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit. The black ones are obviously USB 2.0 and the red ones are likely USB 3.0, although we don’t know the exact specification of the latter. The motherboard also provides three 3.5mm audio connectors and one Ethernet port.
We’ve seen the AMD 4700S Desktop Kit selling for around $317.38 at a Finnish retailer. Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to find the kit in the U.S. market to verify its pricing. And since AMD’s keeping a tight lip around the 4700S, we’ll just have to wait until the next clue pops up.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless is what I’d call a logical addition to the famous and mostly fantastic Arctis gaming headset lineup. Looking at their nomenclature, the Arctis 9 Wireless is a natural upgrade of the also wireless Arctis 7, whose first edition I reviewed back in 2017 and still happily use to this day simply because it continues to impress me with its build quality, wearing comfort, and overall performance. But let’s not waste any more time on the Arctis 7—we’re here to talk about the $200/€200 Arctis 9 Wireless.
Depending on where you buy it, the Arctis 9 Wireless costs $30–$50 more than the Arctis 7. For that price hike, you’re getting everything great about the Arctis 7 with the addition of expanded wireless connectivity. Aside from the standard 2.4 GHz RF wireless connection, the Arctis 9 Wireless also offers Bluetooth connectivity. It can be used on its own to connect to mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops), TVs, and other devices which act as Bluetooth sound sources, or simultaneously with the 2.4 GHz connection. Thanks to that, you can have it connected to your PC and phone at the same time, and use it to answer phone calls without stopping what you’re doing or taking off the headset. In case you own a PlayStation, a Bluetooth connection to your phone will allow you to connect to a Discord server through Discord’s mobile app and easily communicate with your friends. Another interesting option is to connect the headset to your Nintendo Switch through a built-in analog 3.5-mm interface to hear the game while utilizing a Bluetooth connection to your phone for voice chat in Switch games that don’t support it natively. You can also use it wirelessly with the Switch because the supplied wireless dongle works perfectly fine as long as the Switch is in docked mode.
Xbox users, fear not—SteelSeries is also making an Xbox-specific version of this headset, simply called the Arctis 9X.
Specifications
40-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
32 Ω impedance
20-20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
Closed-back, over-ear design
2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
3.5-mm wired connectivity (output only)
Retractable bidirectional microphone
Over 20 hours of battery life
Supplied 1.5-meter Micro-USB charging cable
Platform support: PC, macOS, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices
The Xbox has gone through several visual periods during its life span, from an edgy and yet somehow dorky green alien thing, to a modern look that could be described as “I know how to use Excel but I can still have fun.” But like stumbling on a Facebook album from high school, you can still hold on to a bit of the past. As spotted by senior editor Tom Warren, the original Xbox background is now an option for the Xbox Series X / S.
The new (old) styling was added as a new dynamic background as part of Tuesday’s system update, which notably also brought improvements to quick resume. Titled “The Original,” it looks like a higher-resolution version of the glowing green orb that was at the center of the first Xbox’s user interface. Please note: it’s not the interface itself (Microsoft wouldn’t abandon tiles like that), but it is a recognizable part of it.
My experience with the original Xbox is admittedly secondhand. To me, it was the loud box that lived at my friend’s house and let us play Halo: Combat Evolved. But I do think you can get a pretty solid hit of nostalgia just by looking at this background and remembering what used to be. A simpler, more green time, when consoles were consoles and not Metro-inspired (or I guess Fluent Design-inspired) pseudo-Windows machines.
Microsoft and the Xbox team have been through a lot since the 2001 launch of the Xbox — the Xbox One was briefly positioned as a sort of cable box — but there’s some charm missing in the current dashboard and user experience. That charm was exchanged for a mostly better, if more complicated experience overall, but the heart still remembers what the brain forgot.
For a longer trip down memory lane, check out our visual history of the Xbox Dashboard and ponder with me how the Xbox 360’s “Blades” could be crammed on the Series X and S.
Some Destiny 2 players have been able to play with people on other platforms after developer Bungie inadvertently switched the feature on. Bungie previously said that crossplay would be coming in fall 2021 for every platform that the game is available on, including PC, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Google Stadia.
The Verge’s Tom Warren spotted that the crossplay feature went live and was able to load up a game with players on both PC and Stadia.
Bungie community manager Cozmo, however, confirmed that crossplay was not supposed to have launched yet. “We are seeing reports that some players are able to get a sneak peek at Crossplay,” he wrote in a tweet. “This isn’t meant to be live yet and is not representative of the full experience. We will be implementing a fix to remove public access later this week, but in the meantime feel free to partake.”
Bungie just today launched Destiny 2’s latest seasonal update, Season of the Splicer, which brings the usual array of new content and activities. It’s unfortunate that crossplay appears to have been an unintended inclusion — particularly if you’re a Stadia player in need of more people to join your games — but for now it sounds like you’ll be able to check it out a little longer.
Microsoft is introducing a new “Console Purchase Pilot” program that will give selected Xbox Insider members the chance to register to reserve an Xbox Series X or Series S console directly from the company through their existing Xbox One consoles.
The new program is only rolling out in the US for now, and even if you are given the chance to sign up, it doesn’t mean that you’ll actually be selected to buy one of the highly in-demand consoles.
Today we’re introducing the Console Purchase Pilot, allowing US #XboxInsiders on Xbox One to register for a chance to reserve an Xbox Series X|S console. Check the Xbox Insider Hub on Xbox One for details. Limited space is available and not all who register will be selected. pic.twitter.com/MBkQmbSDWc
— Xbox Insider (@xboxinsider) May 11, 2021
Customers will also have to use the Xbox Insider Hub app on an Xbox One console to both sign up for the Console Purchase Pilot and purchase the console itself — you won’t be able to conduct the transaction on a PC, web browser, Xbox 360, or Xbox Series X / S by design.
That means that the program will be intentionally targeted to dedicated Xbox fans who already own an Xbox One console and are looking to upgrade, and it could help cut down on scalpers. Introduced in 2016, the Xbox Insider program lets dedicated Xbox fans give direct feedback to Microsoft and test future software updates and features ahead of broader public rollouts.
And with next-gen consoles expected to be hard to find for months to come — at its last update, Microsoft said to expect the new Xboxes to be tough to buy until at least June — testing out new ways to directly sell consoles to fans could be the best way to make sure that more units don’t end up on the eBay aftermarket.
The Xbox Series X / S’s handy Quick Resume feature, which suspends supported games so that they boot up more quickly when you come back to them later, is getting some nice improvements in the May Xbox update.
Once the update is installed on your console, you’ll be able to see which games are kept in Quick Resume with a new tag, and you’ll also be able to make a group of games in Quick Resume so you have access to all of them in a single spot. Microsoft is also promising that Quick Resume will have “improved reliability and faster load times,” Microsoft’s Jonathan Hildebrandt said in a blog post.
A Quick Resume group.Image: Microsoft
The new update also adds passthrough audio for media apps like Disney Plus and Apple TV, meaning that audio from those apps can be sent directly to a compatible HDMI device. There are also new parental settings that let parents unblock multiplayer mode for individual games and a new dynamic background.
The May update should be rolling out now, and it might already be available for you. While writing this story, I booted up my Series X and it installed.
Microsoft also announced that it will be sunsetting the Xbox One SmartGlass app for PC starting in June. “This means the SmartGlass app will be removed from the Windows Store and there will be no further updates for those who have the app already downloaded to their devices,” Microsoft said.
Phison expects SSD pricing to increase by at least 10% in the coming months due to rising demand driven by Chia cryptocurrency mining coupled with supply constraints. Furthermore, the company expects a currently short supply of SSD controllers to persist through 2022 and 2023.
Phison sells SSDs and other NAND flash-based storage devices powered by its own controllers to branded drive suppliers and PC makers. The company has a vast portfolio of products that use NAND memory from different manufacturers, so it has business relations with foundries (which produce its controllers), NAND makers, component suppliers, and OEMs. Microsoft is one of Phison’s major customers — the company uses a Phison-based SSD in its latest Xbox game consoles.
Unofficial reports say that Phison and other Taiwan-based designers of SSD controllers increased prices of their chips in the first quarter because of high demand amid production capacity constraints at foundries. Phison generated $460 million in revenue in Q1 2021 and earned $60.6 million in profits during the quarter, reports DigiTimes. The company is optimistic about its business in Q2 2021 as the demand for storage is increasing.
KS Pua, chairman of Phison, reportedly said that NAND flash makers were set to increase memory pricing again, by approximately 10% in Q3 2021, because of high demand driven by the growing PC market and the rise of Chia cryptocurrency mining. Higher flash pricing and the higher price for controllers will inevitably make SSDs more expensive in the coming months.
Unfortunately, it is hard to guess how significantly SSD prices might increase. Still, traditionally the prices of entry-level models get substantially higher as they are sold with razor-thin margins, and there is no way for suppliers to keep their prices stable, even at the cost of their own profits. Meanwhile, as Chia farmers prefer higher-end SSDs with better endurance, rapidly growing demand for such drives may also affect their prices.
SSD controller pricing will remain high in 2022 and 2023 due to constraints of production capacities at foundries, according to the chairman of Phison. Companies like TSMC, UMC, GlobalFoundries, and others are expanding their mature node production capacity to help address the shortfall, but the process will take some time.
(Pocket-lint) – Whether your chosen sport is golf, football, basketball or something else entirely, there’s a good chance there’s a simulation out there that you can fire up on your console and enjoy.
With the arrival of a newer generation, some of the latest and greatest sports games are available at an excellent rate on the Xbox One. Since many of the most recent titles were developed for both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, too, there’s a good chance that dual compatibility is offered- a real bonus for those planning to upgrade at a later date.
Let’s round up some of the top sports titles available for the platform below, then, and allow you to create historic comebacks, lift trophies and smite the virtual competition.
Best sports games available for Xbox One
EA Sports
Madden NFL 21
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EA’s latest instalment in the Madden franchise offers a solid step-up in gameplay over recent titles – and that’s not something that can be said every year, believe us.
You’ll have to play on newer consoles to really feel the graphical leap forward, but the new gameplay features – such as revamped tackling and the new ‘skill stick’ – and improvements to Face Of The Franchise are all on show in Madden 21 for Xbox One.
Naturally, Madden Ultimate Team is still the go-to mode for online play, featuring regular live promotions and the chance to build your dream team.
EA Sports
FIFA 21
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EA’s FIFA series is still the king of football sims, with the latest instalment offering some interesting new gameplay features.
In an edition that bridges the gap nicely between the new generation of consoles, attacking play has been overhauled. Agile dribbling, creative runs and positioning personality all help create an absolute goal-fest.
We would prefer a bit more emphasis placed on other games modes besides FIFA Ultimate Team, and perhaps some balance between attacking and defending to be restored, but this is still a worthy update to the franchise.
EA Sports
NHL 21
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Another of EA’s evergreen sports series comes recreates the world of ice hockey, with NHL 21 providing fans with a solid experience – even if some typical flaws remain.
Single-player has received a revamp in the form of the excellent new Be A Pro mode, allowing users to journey from prospect to legend, while online gaming flourishes with upgrades to World of CHEL and Hockey Ultimate Team Rush modes.
It’s just a shame that some legacy issues continue to plague the series, such as ping pong passing and stale offensive play, but it’s still a decent entry – especially if you can pick it up at a discounted rate.
2K Sports
NBA 2K21
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The NBA 2K series is arguably the frontrunner when it comes to offering gamers realistic, immersive and enjoyable gameplay, and the same is still true in the latest go-around.
Some of last year’s most obvious flaws, such as the shooting mechanic, have been repaired. And though the gameplay improvements are more incremental than a complete overhaul, this is more due to strong previous titles than a lack of innovation.
With that said, we’re put off by the MyCareer and MyTeam modes becoming an increasingly dull grind without giving in to microtransactions.
2K Sports
PGA Tour 2K21
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Golf games have been in relatively short supply over the Xbox One’s time, but PGA Tour 2K21 – the first in a rebranded series from 2K – sneaks in before the new generation and gives users an excellent sim.
With more expansive PGA Tour licensing than The Golf Club series, users can explore a career mode alongside the sport’s biggest names, with gems like TPC Sawgrass, Quail Hollow and East Lake Golf Club also featuring.
It’s certainly not the perfect title just yet, with the career mode in need of some consequence and more refined storyline presentation, but it’s a very solid outing with a burgeoning online community, too.
2K Sports
The Golf Club 2019
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Before there was PGA Tour 2K21, the publisher had The Golf Club – with the latest in a trio of releases being this edition.
It’s less refined and aesthetically pleasing than the company’s newer release, but it still holds its own thanks to rewarding mechanics and the familiarity of some real-life courses.
Unfortunately, it also offers up similar jarring commentary and animations that can really break the illusion that you’re out on the course for real.
Sony has already sold 7.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles and aims to sell a further 14.8 million over the next 12 months. However, Bloomberg reports that the tech giant has warned analysts that the console will remain in short supply through 2022.
There is strong demand for the PS5, however the global semiconductor shortage has made it difficult to increase production, so for now the PS5 will be difficult to find in stores. Earlier, Sony had predicted that supply will pick up in the second half of this year, but it no longer believes that. It didn’t set a new estimate for when supply will improve.
“I don’t think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn’t be able to catch up with demand,” Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki reportedly said at a closed-doors briefing.
The is good news, however. Sony believes demand for its console is not driven solely by the pandemic, which has forced consumers to seek entertainment at home. Also, even with a limited supply the PS5 managed to outsell the highly successful PS4 in the initial period of availability.
Rivals Nintendo and Microsoft are also suffering supply issues with their own consoles (Microsoft estimates those will ease up by July). The PlayStation and Xbox use AMD-designed APU’ s that are fabbed at TSMC’s 7 nm foundries, while Nintendo’s Switch has an Nvidia-designed chipset that is also fabbed by TSMC (though at an older 16 nm node).
Mustafa Mahmoud 2 hours ago Console, Featured Tech News, Peripheral, Tech News
When the PS5 was first revealed, one of the most controversial aspects to the console was its colour scheme, which adopted a black and white two-tone look. The DualSense controller shared a similar colour scheme. Some fans liked the look, while others did not. For the latter group, it would seem as though Sony will finally be making alternate colour options for the controller.
According to the Spanish website AreaJugones, and as reported by Eurogamer, Sony will be launching two new DualSense controller colours “very soon” – a red and a grey one. How exactly these controllers will look both in terms of shading and whether they will keep the two-toned look is currently unknown, however alternate colour options is something which fans have been eagerly anticipating.
(Image Source: Colorware)
As mentioned, the black and white two-toned look of both the PS5 and its accessories have proven to be somewhat divisive. With the side plates on the PS5 being swappable, trading that two-tone look for something different is relatively simple.
Until now however, changing the colour of the DualSense required the controller to be fully disassembled, painted and then put back together. As such, if this leak proves to be true, then PS5 owners who are not fans of the black and white look should soon be happy.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the PS5’s colour scheme? What colours do you want to see offered? Does the colour matter to you? Let us know down below.
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Apple wants Xbox testimony pulled from Epic Games trial
Last week, the Epic Games v Apple trial officially kicked off, with days worth of …
Matthew Wilson 3 hours ago Apple, Console, Featured Tech News
Last week, the Epic Games v Apple trial officially kicked off, with days worth of testimonials. Microsoft’s VP for gaming, media and entertainment, Lori Wright, was called up to the stand during the trial, but Apple is now questioning the credibility of the testimony and wants it thrown out.
As reported by The Verge, Apple’s legal team has requested an “adverse credibility finding” regarding Wright and the testimony given on behalf of Microsoft and Xbox. During the trial, Wright claimed that Microsoft has never made a profit from sales of Xbox consoles, but stated that the company does make money on services and subscriptions like Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass and games sold through the Xbox store.
Apple takes issue with this claim that Xbox hardware has never been profitable, particularly since the company’s lawyers can’t verify those claims. Prior to the trial, documents were requested from several parties, ranging from Microsoft to Valve.
As it turns out, Microsoft did not turn over some of the documents requested, which Apple believes would show profit and loss statements for the Xbox division. Apple’s lawyers are also arguing that while Wright says Xbox does not compete with the iPhone or the App Store, no documentation to validate this claim was produced.
Whether or not Wright’s testimony is permissible still remains to be seen, as a judge has not ruled on Apple’s latest filing.
KitGuru Says: The Epic Games v Apple trial has been very interesting to follow. Do you think Microsoft has truly never made a profit selling Xbox consoles?
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Sony may finally be making a black DualSense controller
When the PS5 was first revealed, one of the most controversial aspects to the console …
Days Gone is the latest first-party PlayStation title to make its way to PC. Ahead of its release on the 18th of May, Sony Bend has released an FAQ, answering many PC specific questions, such as the extent of its ultrawide support, which controllers it supports, and more.
On its website, Sony Bend has answered a number of PC specific questions. Sony Bend confirmed that the game will release on PC with all of its post-launch content available from the get go, including the Survival Mode, Challenge Mode and Bike Skins (which includes some franchise crossover skins).
While it was already known that Days Gone would support ultrawide monitors, the studio has revealed that both 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios are supported and will include all cutscenes and UI elements.
Unsurprisingly, the game supports mouse and keyboard, but it will also offer key-rebindings including alternates and menu navigation, as well as simultaneous keyboard/mouse and controller input. Speaking of controllers, support will include nearly all major controllers, including PlayStation, Xbox and even the Switch Pro controller.
Though it comes as no surprise, especially as the game was originally developed for the PS4, Days Gone on PC will neither support ray-tracing nor DLSS. Furthermore, PlayStation players cannot transfer their dave files between platforms, meaning those that got partway through the game on PlayStation will have to start from scratch on PC.
Despite being built for consoles, the PC port appears to be robust, offering a plethora of customisable settings, including FOV (up to 100), foliage draw distance, geometry quality, shadow quality, post-effects, texture streaming and filtering quality, render scaling and more.
Sony Bend appears to have put a lot of work into the PC port. Hopefully its launch goes more smoothly than Horizon Zero Dawn’s. The full FAQ can be found HERE.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Days Gone? Will you pick it up on PC? If you could choose one PlayStation game to come to PC, which one would it be? Let us know down below.
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