Microsoft Was Going to Release a Game Streaming Dongle, But Now It’s Starting From Scratch
Microsoft is putting a lot of energy into promoting its Game Pass subscription services. While it’s not included in the base subscription, Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly xCloud) could be its big play for the future, but that future might be a little further off than we thought. Microsoft confirms it was working on a streaming dongle code-named Keystone, but it has decided to scrap that project and start over.
Microsoft’s Game Pass offerings are a bit convoluted, spanning both PC and Xbox with platform-specific subscriptions and an all-in sub that adds cloud gaming. That $15 per month Ultimate plan lets you download a selection of titles on your local gaming hardware (PC or Xbox), but you can also stream a subset of games to a browser, mobile device, Xbox, or PC. The addition of a streaming dongle a la the Chromecast to expand compatibility seems like an easy win, but Microsoft isn’t so sure.
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Sony: We Are Going to Build So Very Many PlayStations 5s
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After more than a year and a half, it’s still almost impossible to purchase a new game console for retail price. Sure, there’s supply if you don’t mind a 50-75 percent markup, but everyone should mind that. Thankfully, Sony might be riding to the rescue soon. The PlayStation 5 maker promises it’s going to ramp up production to unprecedented levels. We’ll believe it when we see it, but it’s still encouraging to hear.
In a briefing with investors, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan pledged to increase supply of the consoles. It’s easy to see why investors would want that assurance. Sony only sold two million consoles in the first quarter of 2022, a significant decline from the previous quarter, but demand has not slumped. Sony says it can sell 80,000 PS5s in just 82 minutes, whereas it would have taken nine days to move than many PS4s at the 18-month mark. By not having more units, Sony is leaving a ton of money on the table.
Until Sony can boost production numbers, gamers may continue playing on older hardware. At this point in the PS4 era, there were just 36 million PS3 players. Currently, there are 84 million still using the PS4, and that number won’t sink much until you can swing by your local retailer (or Amazon listing) and buy the PS5 for the real price.
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'Obi-Wan Kenobi': When is Episode 3 Available on Disney Plus?
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Obi-Wan Kenobi's release schedule has been shifting like the sands of Tatooine. But the show is now streaming, and the good news is if you enjoyed episodes 1 and 2, then episode 3 follows more quickly than usual.
Thankfully, Ewan McGregor's return to the Star Wars galaxy was worth the wait. CNET's Richard Trenholm called it "assured, pacey and ... most importantly, character-driven." Once you've watched the first two episodes, check out our in-depth (and very spoiler-y) recap of episode 1 and 2, including character arcs, Easter eggs and a nifty Star Wars cameo.
Episodes 1 and 2 premiered together on a Friday, but the rest of the series, starting with episode 3, are released each Wednesday.
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Pay-To-Win Mechanics Are Turning Fans Against Diablo Immortal
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Diablo Immortal was announced amid jeering and furious memes, but the game enjoyed a positive vibe when it was finally released last week. However, as more gamers plow through the story, they’re finding it harder to avoid the dreaded microtransactions. The tide is predictably turning online.
Diablo Immortal has loot box mechanics, but they’re dressed up in a way that you won’t realize what they are at first. The game features rifts, which are like mini-dungeons where you can find legendary gems to enhance your gear. However, to increase the chances of legendary drops in the rift, you have to apply legendary crests. You only get a few of those for free, so you have to buy more with cash to continue boosting your stats.
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Rumors of Nvidia RTX 4000 Delays Are Getting Louder
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Many gamers spent the early phases of the pandemic trying and failing to get their hands on a decent video card, but the spike in crypto prices and intensifying component shortage made that almost impossible. Anyone who gave up and decided to wait for the next generation of GPUs is gearing up for another retail struggle as Nvidia’s RTX 4000 (Ada Lovelace) cards are on the horizon, but they might have to wait a little longer. The expected summer release date may not be happening after all.
Previously, all signs pointed to the first cards based on the new 5nm architecture debuting in midsummer, but the latest report from VideoCardz suggests that won’t happen. The new timeline may be shifted later, and you’ll have to wait longer to get the more affordable (and thus more popular) cards in the RTX 4000 lineup.
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'Gran Turismo' Movie Release Date Confirmed, and it's Based On a True Story
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Sony has confirmed a release date and plot details for a Gran Turismo movie, revealing it'll be based on real-life adventures of a player of the popular racing game.
The flick will be directed by District 9 helmer Neill Blomkamp and will be released on Aug. 11, 2023.
The Gran Turismo series of racing games began in 1997, and don't really have a plot or characters that can be adapted. So the movie draws on a true story described by Sony as "the ultimate wish fulfilment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver".
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Overwatch 2 Won’t Have Loot Boxes
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Blizzard’s Overwatch has proven to be one of the most consistently popular team-based shooters of recent years, and fans have finally gotten a good look at the sequel. The Overwatch 2 reveal event included numerous tidbits, perhaps none more exciting than confirmation that Overwatch 2 will not have loot boxes. However, it’s still going to be a free-to-play game.
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'Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith' Reveals Rey's Parents in Spectacular Style
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Spoiler-free book review: Author Adam Christopher sends Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian on an incredible adventure, giving us the Star Wars novel we've been craving since 2015.
Star Wars suddenly mattered again; the excitement was glorious and the storytelling possibilities seemed endless. The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker (the second and third movies in the sequel trilogy) answered some of the mysteries with varying degrees of success, but didn't dive quite as deeply as many fans would've liked.
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'Doctor Strange 2': Everything to Remember Before Watching
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The latest Marvel juggernaut is almost live on Disney Plus, but you might want to do a tad of prep before diving in. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, aka Doctor Strange 2, passed half a billion at the box office after a week. It references previous Marvel movies (the original 2016 Doctor Strange came out six years ago!) and the Disney Plus TV shows, so hopefully you're well versed on what came before.
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EVGA Ends Its Purchasing Queue For Most RTX 30-Series GPUs
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It’s over. It’s finally over! No, not the EVGA queue, although that is mostly ending as well. We’re talking about the multi-year GPU shortage. It seems to be officially over, or at least very close to being a distant memory. The proof is EVGA’s queue system for 30-series GPUs has finally ended, for now. It was the company’s reaction to the GPU shortage, where you sign up then wait to get notified when your requested GPU becomes available. The reason behind it ending is simple: GPUs are now in stock, so it’s unnecessary. The company will continue to use the queue for “in-demand” products, for the near future. As far as we can tell that only applies to some of its RTX 3090 and 3090 Ti cards.
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