Season two of “Welcome to Wrexham,” “Barbie” can be bought for $30 and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon return for season three of “The Morning Show.” (REUTERS)

This Week’s Must-Watch Streams: ‘Barbie,’ Dan & Shay, ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Adarsh V.KSeptember 11, 23Online Gaming, OTT

Coming soon to your device, you can expect a variety of entertainment options including music from Dan & Shay and Vic Mensa, as well as a unique Hulu series called “The Other Black Girl” that takes place in the publishing industry. These offerings span across television, movies, music, and games. Among the deals selected by Associated Press entertainment reporters are a cheery second season of “Welcome to Wrexham,” a $30 “Barbie” and the return of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon for a third season of “The Morning Show.” .” NEW…

Donald Mustard, the Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games, is retiring and leaving the company this month after being an instrumental part of making the popular battle royale shooter Fortnite into what it is today.

Donald Mustard Departs Epic Games After Creating Fortnite

Sanjay PatilSeptember 10, 23epic games

Donald Mustard, creative director of Epic Games, is retiring and leaving the company this month after being a major part of the popular battle royale shooter Fortnite as it is today. “I’ve enjoyed nearly 25 years in the gaming industry working with some of the most talented people ever, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” Mustard said on X (formerly Twitter). Mustard specifically created CHAIR – where he and his team made the Undertow, Shadow Complex and Infinity Blade trilogy. CHAIR was later acquired by Epic Games…

Roblox will also make its app fully available on Meta's Quest mixed reality devices this month after rolling out a test version in July. (REUTERS)

Roblox to Launch on PlayStation and Introduce Artificial Intelligence-Powered World-Building Tools

Adriana MaraisSeptember 10, 23Online Gaming

In October, Roblox, a gaming company, intends to introduce its immersive digital worlds platform on Sony’s PlayStation devices. This move will grant them access to the vast user base of the world’s most popular gaming consoles, which amounts to hundreds of millions of people. Roblox is also making its app fully available for Meta’s Quest mixed devices this month, after releasing a beta version in July. This version was downloaded over a million times in five days, the company said in a blog post. The expansion is part of a…

The next-gen console is expected to arrive in 2024.

Nintendo Expected to Demonstrate Switch 2’s Ray-Tracing and DLSS Features to Developers

Adarsh V.KSeptember 8, 23Gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch

Despite its age, the Nintendo Switch still has a promising lineup of games scheduled for release until 2024, such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Detective Pikachu Returns, and potentially Metroid Prime 4. However, acknowledging the console’s aging status, Nintendo is preparing for the future by showcasing tech demos of its next-generation system to developers during a private event at Gamescom last month. One of the Switch 2 demos was an enhanced version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That’s according to Eurogamer , who note that this…

From iPhone 15 Pro price, and Aditya-L1 selfie to YouTube gaming, know the biggest stories from the world of technology today. (Representative Image) (Unsplash)

Tech Roundup: iPhone 15 Prices Revealed, ISRO Shares Aditya-L1 Photo, YouTube Gaming, and More

Nitin MisraSeptember 8, 23Apple, iPhone 15, ISRO

Today’s tech briefing was filled with exciting developments in the world of technology. A recent online leak has provided potential pricing information for the iPhone 15 series, suggesting that the Pro models may experience a price increase. Additionally, the official X account of ISRO shared a selfie captured by the camera aboard the Aditya-L1 solar mission, currently en route to the Lagrange 1 (L1) point between the Sun and Earth. This milestone allowed the space agency to successfully test the spacecraft’s cameras. Stay tuned for more updates in today’s tech…

In this interview with Danny Tang, CFO and co-founder of VSPO, we discuss the new 'creator economy,' where she sees esports in a decade and the potential role of STEM degrees in the overarching narrative.

VSPO CFO Danny Tang Highlights Generative AI’s Role in Streamlining Gaming Access

Adriana MaraisSeptember 7, 23Esports, Gaming

As investments in eSports and gaming increase, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia, the industry as a whole is changing how things work. In addition to seeing the “creative economy” shaping a new story for the world, we are also witnessing women taking leadership roles, artificial intelligence being used to develop games, and the foundation for the “next sport” of esports. One such player serving esports creators and organizing esports tournaments is VSPO. The Saudi Arabian government has reportedly bought a $265 million stake in the Tencent-backed company. During the…

We spoke to Jamie Ottilie, CEO of Telltale Games, about the anticipated release of The Wolf Among Us 2, the challenges and differences in game development between Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Engine 4, and the burning question surrounding subscription models like Xbox GamePass and Sony's PS Plus.

Telltale CEO Jamie Ottilie Declares Premium Mobile Games Unprofitable

Adarsh V.KSeptember 7, 23Gaming

Over the years, story-driven episodic games like The Walking Dead series, “The Wolf Among Us” and even names like the “Life is Strange series” have grown in popularity. This rise is due to their unique approach to storytelling and character development – offering a fresh style of play tailored to players looking for an experience where their choices have a significant impact on the overarching story. Recently, at the Next World Forum organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, Shaurya Sharma of ReturnByte Tech spoke with Jamie Ottilie, CEO of game…

The company launched Aria AI with Opera One a few months ago.

Opera’s Gaming Browser Equipped with Artificial Intelligence ‘Assistant’

Adarsh V.KSeptember 7, 23Browser, Gaming, Opera

Opera has released an updated version of its browser for gamers, incorporating the same generative AI capabilities that were introduced with its One browser. The company initially introduced its Aria AI with the One browser in June, and later extended it to its Android browser. However, the GX browser for gamers did not have AI capabilities until now. With the latest update, GX users now have the option to utilize Aria’s features by enabling “Early Bird” in settings and activating “Aria Extension” and “Aria Command Line”. Additionally, users will need…

YouTube's New Gaming Feature 'Playables' is allowing a select number of users to play games directly on the platform. (Pexels)

YouTube Launches Interactive Gaming Experience ‘Playables’

Febin MathewSeptember 7, 23Google, YouTube

Google-owned YouTube is venturing back into the gaming realm with a new feature called “Playables.” This comes after the discontinuation of its Stadia gaming service in January 2023. “Playables” are games that can be played directly on YouTube, whether using a computer or a mobile device. Google is currently testing this feature with a select group of users, who will find a dedicated section for these games on YouTube’s main page accessible on both computers and phones. The potential expansion of this feature to a wider audience remains uncertain. Nevertheless,…

The developers already shoved all of their big gameplay ideas into the base game.

Nintendo Not Developing Expansion for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Adriana MaraisSeptember 6, 23Gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch

According to certain calculations, it requires approximately 235 hours to fully experience all aspects of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. A few individuals have already accomplished this feat and are craving additional content. However, unlike Breath of the Wild, Nintendo is unlikely to release a significant expansion for this game. “There are no plans for additional content,” Tears of the Kingdom producer Eiji Aonuma told Famitsu. The reason for this, as Automaton points out, is because the developers believe they’ve already pushed all of their major gameplay…

In this interview, we talk to HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Arabia esports Federation about his thoughts on esports painting a new narrative for the ‘creator economy,’ and if India and Saudi Arabia can collaborate in the realm of esports.

Prince Faisal Highlights Potential for India-Saudi Esports Collaboration

Adarsh V.KSeptember 6, 23Esports, Gaming

Esports and gaming in general have become an integral part of the Saudi Arabian government’s drive to diversify the country’s dependence on oil. Now thanks to the growing investment in the industry – events like Gamers8 are possible – where eSports professionals from around the world compete on an international level for several titles for big prize pools. We had the opportunity to interview His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian esports Federation on how this Gamers8 season went, what he thinks about…

Attorneys general and consumers from 37 states alleged that Google held an unfair monopoly on Android devices.

US Antitrust Investigation of Google’s Play Store Dominance Concludes with Tentative Settlement

Adriana MaraisSeptember 6, 23Alphabet, Android, epic games, Google, Play Store

Google has reached a preliminary agreement with a group of attorneys general who filed a lawsuit in 2021 accusing the company of abusing its control over Android app distribution through the Google Play store. The officials alleged that Google was using its monopoly power to unlawfully maintain its dominance, citing that 90 percent of app sales occurred through Google Play. Bloomberg has reported that the case has been referred to a judge who, if satisfied, can approve the settlement and dismiss the ongoing legal battle. This is a strategic move…

It launches initially in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Xbox’s System for Reporting Abusive Voice Chat to be Implemented This Week

Febin MathewSeptember 6, 23Gaming, Microsoft, xbox, Xbox series x

Microsoft is preparing to introduce a new feature on Xbox consoles that allows users to report abusive voice content. Initially announced in July, this feature enables gamers to submit any inappropriate comments they encounter while playing multiplayer games. The system records a 60-second clip that is saved on the console, and users have a 24-hour window to file a report. This feature will be included in the September update for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, but it will initially be available only in select English-language markets, including the US,…

Publisher Annapurna is making the flick.

Animated Movie Adaptation of Cyberpunk Adventure Game Stray Announced

Sanjay PatilSeptember 6, 23Animation, Gaming

Annapurna, the publisher behind the successful animated film Nimona, is now working on an animated movie adaptation of the popular cat-themed adventure game Stray. The film is currently in active development, with the creative team yet to be revealed. Robert Baird, the head of Annapurna Animation, expressed his excitement, stating that it will be the most hopeful and inspiring movie ever made. Baird defines “silverpunk” as a narrative concept that holds optimism against tyranny as resistance. This almost describes the emotional atmosphere of the game, so Annapurna is on the…

This is likely a good move, given how busy October is for gaming.

Reboot of Alone in the Dark Pushed Back to January 2021

Nitin MisraSeptember 5, 23Gaming

The highly anticipated reboot of the renowned survival horror franchise Alone in the Dark has encountered a delay in its release date. Originally scheduled for October, the game will now be launched in January. However, this delay is not due to any need for further improvements or refinements. Rather, it is a strategic decision aimed at ensuring the game finds its audience amidst the multitude of gaming releases expected in the busy month of October. The new release date is January 16, with publisher THQ Nordic noting that the game’s…

The PC version now supports DLSS.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Patch Enhances Console Performance with 60 FPS

Febin MathewSeptember 5, 23EA, Gaming

A major update is being released by Respawn and EA for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, addressing the game’s performance problems since its launch. Consoles can now enjoy a smooth gameplay experience with a “solid 60 fps” in performance mode. Furthermore, patch seven brings stability enhancements to the PC version, which had faced numerous performance complaints. According to the game’s patches, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users can look forward to a “completely reworked” performance mode for a “significantly” better experience. According to the changelog, patch 7 disables Ray Tracing in…

Pikmin Finder is a laid back game where you can get the creatures to find you treasures.

Nintendo Launches Browser-Based Pikmin Game for Mobile Devices

Febin MathewSeptember 5, 23Gaming, Nintendo

Nintendo and Niantic have collaborated to create a new mobile game called Pikmin Finder, which is more suitable for casual gaming rather than intense gameplay. The game has been released in conjunction with the Nintendo Live event in Seattle. It can be accessed through any mobile browser, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android device. We have tested it on various browsers, such as Chrome and Opera, and can confirm that it functions properly as long as you grant it access to your camera. Like Pikmin Bloom, the game places…

The long-awaited sequel has a turbulent history, but it should finally arrive next year.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Gets New Developer After Stepping Out of the Dark

Febin MathewSeptember 5, 23Gaming, Paradox Interactive

After a tumultuous journey through development, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has finally emerged, following Paradox Interactive’s separation from Hardsuit Labs and the subsequent indefinite delay. The publisher has enlisted The Chinese Room, known for their work on Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, to take over the sequel to the beloved 2004 RPG. Fans can now expect Bloodlines 2 to be released in the autumn of 2024. The Chinese Room has kept some of the original concepts and discarded others to reshape Bloodlines 2 in its…

Two paid expansions are in development too.

Square Enix Confirms Release of Final Fantasy XVI on PC

Febin MathewSeptember 5, 23Gaming, PlayStation

Square Enix has officially announced that Final Fantasy XVI will no longer be exclusive to PlayStation 5, as they are currently developing a PC port. This news may not come as a surprise, as the game’s initial trailer in 2020 had mentioned a PC version, although Square Enix had retracted that information later on. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), producer Naoki Yoshida said that his team is currently working on a PC version of the game. Yoshida also stated that Square Enix plans to expand the game.…