AMD Boss Teases PS5’s “Special Sauce”

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The PlayStation 5 is coming. While it hasn’t been officially announced by Sony as of yet, system architect Mark Cerny recently began talking about it.

One of the first things we learned is that the next-generation console will feature an AMD chip. AMD CEO Lisa Su recently discussed the company’s partnership with Sony, saying the chip will help power the PlayStation 5’s “special sauce.”

“We are so honoured and proud to be part of Sony’s next-generation PlayStation,” Su told Jim Cramer. “This has been a really long-term partnership with them. We love gaming. We think gaming is a really good secular growth market. What we have done with Sony is really architect something for their application, for their special sauce. It’s a great honor for us. We’re really excited about what the next generation PlayStation will do. And happy to be a part of it.”

The AMD chip in the PS5 that has a CPU based on the third-generation Ryzen. It has eight cores of the seven-nanometer Zen 2 microchip. Additionally, the AMD chip in the PS5 enabled 3D audio, a key part of helping players become more immersed, according to Cerny.

AMD is also working with Google on their new streaming service, Stadia, while Su also previously spoke about working with Microsoft on a new console. This may be one of the new Xbox consoles Microsoft has in the works that could be announced at E3 this year.

The PlayStation 5 will have an “appealing” price point for its specs, according to Cerny, but there is no word on specifics as of yet. The console will also support backwards compatibility for PS4 games. Other features include a solid-state drive, and the potential to support 8K resolution. You can read up on all of the technical specs we know so far.

As for a release date, the PlayStation 5 is not launching during Sony’s current fiscal year, which means it will not arrive until after March 2020.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/amd-boss-teases-ps5s-special-sauce/1100-6466609/

Microsoft Provides Examples Of “Acceptable Trash Talk” For Xbox Live

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Microsoft recently updated its “Community Standards for Xbox,” and it is good to see a company as big as Microsoft take a hard line against nasty behaviour online. One section of the document pertains to “acceptable trash talk,” and Microsoft provides some funny-sounding examples.

But before we get to that, Microsoft wants to make clear that hate and harassment have no home on Xbox. “To make Xbox Live a place where everyone can hang out, and to prevent people from feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome, we all need to be stewards,” Microsoft says. “This means more than just not harassing other players–it means embracing them. It means saving those unsavory jokes for people you know will enjoy them. It means taking particular care for others while you play, keeping in mind how they might interpret your content.”

Microsoft said it understands that gaming competition is at the heart of many online experiences, and some multiplayer matches can “get heated.” Some “trash talk” is acceptable on Xbox Live, Microsoft says, but it becomes a problem when it transitions to harassment.

Microsoft officially describes trash talk as: “Any lighthearted banter or bragging that focuses on the game at hand and encourages healthy competition.”

Harassment, meanwhile, is defined by Microsoft as: “Any negative behavior that’s personalized, disruptive, or likely to make someone feel unwelcome or unsafe. To qualify as harassment, the behavior doesn’t have to be drawn-out or persistent. Even a single abusive message could harm someone’s experience. Know when to draw the line, when to back off. Know and respect the other player.”

To make its point clearer, Microsoft provided examples. Here they are, as written by Microsoft (via Kotaku AU):

Acceptable trash talk includes

  • Get destroyed. Can’t believe you thought you were on my level.
  • That was some serious potato aim. Get wrecked.
  • Only reason you went positive was you spent all game camping. Try again, kid.
  • Cheap win. Come at me when you can actually drive without running cars off the road.
  • That sucked. Get good and then come back when your k/d’s over 1.

Going too far looks like

  • Get <sexual threat>. Can’t believe you thought you were on my level.
  • Hey <profanity>, that was some serious potato aim. Get wrecked, trash.
  • Only reason you went positive was you spent all game camping. KYS, kid.
  • Cheap win. Totally expected from a <racial slur>.
  • You suck. Get out of my country–maybe they’ll let you back in when your k/d’s over 1.

In terms of enforcement and consequences, Microsoft says it will temporarily suspend people in many cases. “We know people make mistakes, and we believe lapses in judgment can be significant opportunities for growth,” the company said.

Players who are found to have violated the Xbox Community Stands may face temporary suspension of access to “features that are most closely associated with the problematic behavior.” For example, you may be temporarily restricted from playing games online, sending messages, communicating over voice, or broadcasting gameplay, among other things.

People who repeatedly behave badly may be permanently suspended, with access to all game licenses and other content revoked forever. It sounds like you’d have to be a huge jerk to get banned. “We may permanently suspend a profile or device if we can no longer trust it due to a severe violation, or if our attempts to correct repeated negative behaviors are unsuccessful,” Microsoft says.

You can read the full Community Standards For Xbox document here.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-provides-examples-of-acceptable-trash-ta/1100-6466608/

Harry Potter Wizards Unite, The Pokemon Go-Like Mobile Game, Is Out Now In Australia

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Following its release in New Zealand, Pokemon Go developer Niantic’s newest game, Harry Potter Wizards Unite, is available now in Australia and New Zealand for everyone. It’s just a beta at this stage, so you should expect some bugs and missing features, but it provides a really good look at what to expect from what could become the next big mobile game.

GameSpot explored downtown Sydney, Australia today with Wizards Unite. We joined a House (Gryffindor, of course), built a wand, and fought monsters in the augmented reality game. You can check out around 15 minutes of new gameplay footage in the video embedded above.

There is no word as of yet regarding when Wizards Unite will release in the United States or other parts of the world. It’s typical for big mobile games to have their “soft” launch in Australia and New Zealand as a test of sorts before a wider release around the world.

Wizards Unite is a free-to-play game supported by microtransactions. You can spend money to buy Gold, which can be spent on numerous different time-savers and more. For more on the game’s microtransactions, check out GameSpot’s breakdown here.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was originally scheduled to launch in 2018 before being delayed into this year. You can read more about the title in our hands-on impressions, and Android users can pre-register for it on Google Play. There is no word as of yet regarding when the final game will be available around the world.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/harry-potter-wizards-unite-the-pokemon-go-like-mob/1100-6466607/

New Xbox Streaming Service Reaches Major Milestone

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One of the most exciting and ambitious Xbox projects in the works is xCloud, which is Microsoft’s game-streaming service. It’s now reached a major development milestone.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer said on Twitter that the team working on xCloud recently completed the “takehome release” for xCloud. That’s a big deal because it means people at Microsoft are now able to test the service at home in a real environment as opposed to a studio lab.

Spencer added that xCloud remains on track to become available for more people through public trials later in 2019; that’s always been the plan.

According to Microsoft insider Brad Sams, Microsoft may plan to show off xCloud in a home environment during E3 2019 in June. The takehome release suggests that could happen.

xCloud is the working title of the streaming service. Microsoft is promising “console-quality gaming on any device” with xCloud, and we’ve already seen Forza Horizon 4 running on the service.

xCloud will go up against other similar streaming services like Google Stadia. Microsoft’s Mike Nichols recently said that Google lacks compelling content to make the service attractive.

Cloud-based gaming is a fairly new and complex technology; be sure to check out our detailed explainer on everything you need to know about cloud gaming.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-streaming-service-reaches-major-milestone/1100-6466606/

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’s Microtransaction Pricing Revealed

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Pokemon Go developer Niantic’s AR game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is out now in Australia and New Zealand, at least in beta form. Major mobile titles often release in the ANZ region before coming to the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world, so this

Wizards Unite is available for free on iiOS and Android. Because it is a beta, the game lacks some features, while the overall appearance and design is subject to change. Additionally, some languages that will be supported in the final release are unavailable now.

Players who get into the beta should also expect to run into some technical hiccups due to its unfinished state. Niantic said it hopes players communicate their feedback so the studio can make the game better for everyone when it’s available worldwide.

Wizards Unite’s beta already released in New Zealand in March. You may be able to change your country in the App Store and Google Play, but this doesn’t always work.

Like Pokemon Go and other free-to-play titles, Wizards Unite is supported by microtransactions. Players can purchase “Gold” from Gringott’s Bank in the game at multiple levels. The bundles range from 80 Gold ($1.50 AUD) to 10,000 Gold ($160 AUD). In addition, you can buy Anti-Calamity ($8 AUD) and Advanced Anti-Calamity Kits ($31 AUD). These kits come with allotments of Gold, potions, spell energy, and keys. Outside of the bundles, you can spend Gold on a huge variety of things, including Dark Detectors (reveals special items), Runestones (for Wizarding Challenges), Healing potions (restores stamina), and so much more.

Given that Wizards Unite remains in beta, pricing could change.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was originally scheduled to launch in 2018 before being delayed into this year. You can read more about the title in our hands-on impressions, and Android users can pre-register for it on Google Play. There is no word as of yet regarding when the final game will be available around the world.

While you may have to wait a while longer to play Wizards Unite, the other new Harry Potter mobile game, Hogwarts Mystery, is available around the world right now.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/harry-potter-wizards-unites-microtransaction-prici/1100-6466605/

Borderlands 3 gameplay revealed in new trailer and livestream footage

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Borderlands 3 gameplay revealed in new trailer and livestream footage

Check out gameplay in the latest shooter-looter.

source /news/8448-borderlands-3-gameplay-revealed-in-new-trailer-and-livestream-footage

Xbox One Deals: Star Wars Games Up To 75% Off For May The 4th (US, UK, AU)

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The unofficial annual holiday known as Star Wars Day is coming up this weekend on May 4, but Microsoft is kicking off its deals early with a “May the 4th be with you” sale on several Star Wars titles. The deals are available in the United States, UK, and Australia, and you can grab these games at a discount through the weekend. Here’s what’s available:

Star Wars Battlefront‘s Ultimate edition, which includes the Deluxe edition and a season pass with new content, is only $5, a full 75% off; meanwhile, Star Wars Battlefront II is 70% off–you can grab it for just $7.50 right now. If you want to grab both, just get the Star Wars Battlefront Hoth bundle, which comes with both games (including all Ultimate edition bonuses) plus Hoth appearances for Luke, Han, and Leia in Battlefront II. The bundle is selling for just under $10 (67% off).

If you enjoy the Lego games, pick up Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens while it’s marked down this week. The standard edition is available for 50% off at just $10, while the Deluxe edition is also half off at $15 for the base game and all season pass content. In this local co-op game, you can play as all the characters from The Force Awakens, including Rey, Finn, Han Solo, Kylo Ren, and even BB-8. The game also includes brand-new story content set in the time between Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

This deal dropped early, but expect more May the 4th deals to drop as Saturday draws closer. Stay tuned–we’ll keep you updated on all the best Star Wars savings.

Shop these Xbox One Star Wars Day deals:

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-deals-star-wars-games-up-to-75-off-for-ma/1100-6466603/

Rocket League Developer To Be Acquired By Epic Games

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Rocket League developer Psyonix has announced that it is “joining the Epic Games family,” with an acquisition expected to close in late May or early June. In a FAQ, the studio sought to reassure current Rocket League fans that nothing will change about their day-to-day enjoyment of the popular game.

In the short term, it says, nothing about the game will change. It is still moving forward with its update roadmap and plans to continue “for as long as you’ll have us.” In the long-term, Psyonix says it does plan to bring the game to the Epic Games store, and to use the leverage granted by this acquisition to “grow the game in ways we couldn’t do on our own before.”

Part of that could mean changes to esports, which Rocket League has become known for. Psyonix says this “increases our potential reach and resources.” It also hints that it could start to explain future esports plans next month, at its Rocket League Championship Series set to run June 21-23.

Finally, Psyonix says it’s “the same team we’ve always been,” suggesting that layoffs or other staff rearrangement isn’t being planned for the immediate future.

Rocket League has been a mainstay since launch, even helping push for cross-platform support. It has sustained its success partially on loot boxes, the practice of which recently came under scrutiny. As a result Psyonix had to pull the transactions from a couple of countries.

Meanwhile, Epic Games has been making aggressive moves recently. On top of the mega-success of Fortnite, it has been challenging Steam with its own Epic Games Store, including offering regularly rotating free games. The rapid success of Steam has reportedly led to a crunch culture, at the studio, however, which Epic has conceded in part.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rocket-league-developer-to-be-acquired-by-epic-gam/1100-6466602/

How Borderlands 3 Takes Inspiration From Titanfall 2 And Apex Legends

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It’s been over four years since Gearbox Software last released a Borderlands title and, in that time, the first-person shooter genre has changed in many ways. Similarly, what players expect from a shooter has evolved. For Borderlands 3, Gearbox Software seems to have kept the changing times in mind, as it has showcased a number of gameplay mechanics that draw inspiration from the likes of Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends, among other shooters.

One of the notable gameplay additions made for Borderlands 3 is the ability to slide while sprinting and also climb up ledges so that elevated surfaces become reachable. Numerous games have used similar mechanics, but it’s perhaps most closely linked to Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall, Titanfall 2, and Apex Legends.

Based on our experiences with Borderlands 3, we noticed that these traversal abilities look and behave a lot like they do in Titanfall 2. However, since you don’t get the little extra jump jet boosts, they are perhaps more comparable to Apex Legends, Respawn’s battle royale title.

The need to make Borderlands 3 feel like a modern shooter was something that Gearbox paid special consideration to, and director Paul Sage cites Titanfall 2 as one of the game’s inspirations.

“We’ve got to hit that mark of making this feel this good, making it feel like a modern shooter,” Sage told GameSpot. And so even though it seems really simple when you’re talking about, ‘Hey, how fast can I move my controller?’ Or, ‘How much … will it actually just kind of slow down when I’m moving across a target?’ All of those things take time to really tune and get right to make it feel like a modern shooter. So there are definitely things that I would say are inspiration from like all shooters.

“One of my favorite games from, what was it three years ago, is Titanfall 2. Dude, I love that game. And I thought the shooting was just fantastic. And so, yeah, I think there’s inspiration we take from all the games we’re fans of, because we’re all gamers and I think that’s true of the entire industry. I hope it is.”

Borderlands 3’s release date has been confirmed as September 13, 2019. It will be available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. On the PC, it will be distributed through the Epic Games Store and remain exclusive to Epic’s storefront until April 2020. This decision proved to be quite controversial with fans and, in response, many began review bombing previous Borderlands games on Steam.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-borderlands-3-takes-inspiration-from-titanfall/1100-6466585/