Video g??ame and general graphical technology is advancing so fast, that it's tough to keep u??p with it. Now, Nvidia has announced that the latest version of its Deep Learning Super Sampling (or DLSS) is on the way, and it's already going to support some modern titles.

Details can be found on Nvidia's website. The long and the short of it is: DLSS 3.5 is due to rel??ease sometime this fall. It represents the next stage in Team Green's upscaling AI tech, with a recent video from the company explaining just how it's better than previous iterations.

//youtu.be/sGKCrcNsVzo

On top of that, games like Alan Wake 2 and Portal RTX will support version 3.5, as will the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC for Cyberpunk 2077.

One for you graphical purists

The recent video announcing DLSS 3.5 gives an overview of how the people at Nvidia have improved the image upscaling algorithm. Bryan Cat?anzaro, Vice President of Applied Deep Learning Research, says this latest version will feature Ray Reconstruction.

How does it work? Catanzaro gives some insight into how it differs from the ray tracing technology many of us have come to be familiar with. Suffice it to say, most casual gamers probably won't be too concerned with the details. However, side-by-side comparisons showing Cyberpunk with all the iterations of DLSS (including 3.5) do show a difference in quality, especially when it comes to bolder colors in light refle??ctions.

As alway??s, the upcoming Nvidia AI will only ??be compatible with RTX-enabled graphics cards. Bit of a shame that it's not more open source, but no doubt AMD (and possibly Intel) will follow closely with newer and more powerful versions of their own upscaling alternatives.

The post Nvidia announce??s DLSS 3.5, will support Cyberpunk DLC and Alan Wake 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

How will valve react?

Those of you who have been waiting for the new ASUS ROG Ally handheld, the day has finally arrived. Although it was only announced back in April, with many even thinking?? it was a prank, it's nice to see some Steam Deck competition on the market.

With the Ally now out, we can truly see what PC handhelds can offer those looking for gaming on the go. While Valve's Deck device has been the?? front-runner so far, time will tell whether ASUS can make as big an impact.

Where the ROG Ally differs from the Steam Deck is in its potential to be a better machine. For example, while the latter has a Ryzen Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics, the former has the newer Zen 4 processor as well as RDNA 3. The Ally is also said to be lighter. It's also running Windows 11, which will be one of the most immediate differences on the software side, com??pared to the Deck's operating system which runs off the Linux-powered Proton.

[caption id="attachment_386459" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image via ASUS.[/caption]

However, at the m??oment, the Ally only comes in one model, which features 512 GB of storage. By comparison, the Steam Deck has three variants, each with different SSD capacities, though 512 is the maximum out-the-box. Both devices do have Micro SD slots, though, ??for additional storage.

So what about the price? This is where the ASUS ROG Ally falls down ever so slightly. While the Valve machine can set you back around $649, the alternative is paying almost $700 for the ASUS brand. That's not a huge difference, and it is still cheaper than a gaming PC. On top of that, you are getting upd??ated hardware and it being loaded with Windows means the Ally is probably going to be better in terms of game compatibility.

You can find more details on what the ROG offers from the ASUS website. No doubt Valve will have something up its sleeve to arm its latest competitor out the way, so it will be interesting to see what the Half-Life developer comes up with.

The post ASUS ROG Ally now out, offering a Steam De?ck alternative appeared first on Destructoid.

The old Quest 2 is also getting a price cut

Meta has announced a new version of its Quest headset series. The ?Meta Quest 3 is a new virtual reality (and mixed reality) headset arriving this f??all.

The new Quest was announced this morning, ahead of the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase that's airing today at 10 a.m. PT. Much like its predecessor?, the Meta Quest 3 is a wireless VR headset, with a competitive price tag starting at $499 for the 128 GB version.

For upgrades, the Meta Quest 3 is packing a higher resolution display and "pancake optics," as well as a new Snapdragon chip. The internals should, according to Meta, deliver "more than tw??ice" the graphical performance ??compared to the Quest 2.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AKl_cEB26c

The headset's mixed reality, through high-fidelity color Passthrough as well as "machine learning", looks to emphasize that virtual-in-real feeling. Like playing a board game at your table, using the head??set and its genera??ted images. Quest 3's form factor also looks to be a bit slimmer than the previous Quest.

Another quest awaits

Th??at's not all for Quest news today, though. Alongside the Meta Quest 3 announcement, Meta also announced that the Quest 2 headset is seeing a price drop. On June 4, the 128 GB version will drop to $299.99, while the 256 GB will head to $349.99.

While Meta positions this as making VR more affordable for all, it's worth noting that Meta hiked these Quest 2 prices last year. So the Quest 2 128 GB is really just returning to its original p?rice point. The Quest 2 and Quest Pro are also getting a software update in the future, which will see upgrades to GPU and CPU performance.

With all these headsets, Meta certainly is building up a lineup of VR tools. Some reports indicate Apple is getting ready to announce its own headset a??s well, so this announcement does fe?el like a pre-emptive response to that.

Either way, between all this and the PlayStation VR 2 recently hitti??ng shelves, virtual reality really s??eems set to keep rolling on in 2023.

The post Meta Quest 3 VR headset announced for this fall appeared first on Destructoid.

Sticky notes, now on Steam

Valve is te??sting out some new features for its PC storefront and game client Steam, and there's some cool features in there. Alongside some under-the-hood changes, the latest Steam Desktop Client beta adds a handy-dandy Notes app.

The Notes app will let you jot down information about whatever you're currently playing. Via Valve's blog about the feature, the Notes will allow for rich text formatting, multiple notes pe?r game, and can be used offline. They'll also be saved per game and synced across to any other PC??s you log into.

That alone sounds nice, if not all too different from using the Notepad app on your desktop. The aspect that puts it over for me is the ability to pin windows into the overlay, so they can appear in-game. With adjustable opacity levels and hidden UI options, this will let players pin guides, discussions, or Notes while they play. You can even pin the web browser, if you want to play games and watch Family Guy like you're on TikTok.

[caption id="attachment_376191" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Valve[/caption]

This functionality seems really excellent, especially for those who don't have dual monitors. There are some games where I already take down paper notes while I play; stuff like Return of the Obra Dinn or Disco Elysium. I doubt I'd do away with that for more complicated games where I'd need some amount of physical note-taking space and freedom. But for quick check-list items, or remembering something like synergies in Vampire Survivors, this feature seems great.

Pumping up the Steam

This Steam?? client beta also includes a refreshed screenshot manager, which has more thumbnail options and managing both online and local screenshots.

With some extra updates under the hood, meant to implement changes faster, it seems like Steam's got some neat features headed down the pipeline. At the very least, my habit of watching YouTube video essays while playing Slay the Spire just got a convenient quality-of-life update.

The post Steam client beta adds a handy new ?Notes app and in??-game overlay appeared first on Destructoid.

The bots are not chatty

Last week, Square Enix announced a remastered version of a classic adventure game, The Portopia Serial Murder Case, that would be a showcase for its AI tech. The tech preview is out now, and well, ??it's not going over well.

For context, The Portopia Serial Murder Case is a classic adventure game from the '80s, authored by Dragon Quest's Yuji Horii. This actually marks its first official release in the west, ?years later, and it's got a new visual style and layout to go with it.

Much like the original Portopia, this new version is also a text-parser adventure. This means you type commands in, or speak them using Speech-to-Text in the new version, to investigate and explore. The 2023 Portopia uses the framing of you (the boss) ordering around Yasu??, a junior detective. He apparently needs a more ha?nds-on approach for murders.

The AI tech preview part of this comes through NLP, or Natural Language Processing. I wrote a bit about this around the announcement of Square Enix's preview, but basically, it means reading and understanding casual language, then issuing the correct response. In essence, it's something that many text adventure games have done for a while, from Zork up through Facade.

This new version would use Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to help the detective understand the player's instructions. Originally, there were even plans to generate natural replies for situations where the system did not have a preordained answer. This was scrapped, though, as Square Enix was concerned about the risk of the AI generatin?g u??nethical replies.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=V79jja9qvto

So, ultimately, it's a remade version of Portopia with more natural language tools under the hood and Speech-to-Text capabili?ty. How's it being received? Not v??ery well.

Talk to me, Yasu

At the time of this writing, the Square Enix AI Tech Preview of The Portopia Serial Murder Case sits at a Very Negative rating on Steam, with only 10% of users leaving positive reviews. Most of them ??found frustration with the actual AI partner, describing situations in which Yasu simply gets stuck in response loops.

Not one to simply read the reviews, I decided to venture into the AI adventure myself. Things started off okay. A few text bubbles gave me some context, and I soon met Yasu, my partner on the case. Our relationship was fine, at first. I asked him a few basic quest??ions, asked after local suspects. In a few cases, I had to revise something I said. But as long as I asked the most straightforward questions, in a very robotic manner, I got some info.

Then we went to the crime scene.

Here, I found myself trapped in loops as I asked very basic questions of Yasu. I can understand some difficulty with questions like "was the murder weapon found at the s??cene," though that should still be pretty answerable. Others, like "did the victim live alone," could not seem to garner any information.

[caption id="attachment_375180" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Taking notes

Here's where I hit another major snag. For one, there is a list of important topics: suspects, locations, and objects?. But there isn't really a "journal" or any other record of what's been said. Pen-and-paper seems like a necessity to remember anything but the most surface-level details.

It also feels like the NLU Visualizer, a tool Square shows in their promo images on Steam, would help with clarifying and narrowing in my inquiries. Problem is, I use a numpad-less, tiny keyboard that does not have the button Square has assigned to it. There's no key rebinding, either. So aside from assigning a specific system shortcut for the rarely-used "Pause" key, I was out of luck. From the sounds of it, it doesn't seem like the NLU would have helped a ton ?anyways.

[caption id="attachment_374799" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Yasu doesn't provide much help either. Every time I shook him like a magic 8-ball, trying to elicit an answer to my inquiries, I'd get frequent "Hmmm" or "We should focus on the task at hand" responses. Putting aside ?a need for oddly specific phrasing in a tech preview meant? to highlight natural language understanding, there's very little guidance to inform you how to better shape your answers.

The Steam community forums has threads aggregating the right phrasings to get certain pieces of info. But at that point, we've circled back around to the original text-parser problem we were trying to address. My attempts at casual language rarely worked, and even specific inquiries about information I knew Yasu had didn't' click if I did??n't ask about them in the right way. Eventually, I found that "ask around" is the best way to? get a push in the right direction. But that's something I only would've learned from other players.

A new case

On top of that, this just isn't a very impressive remaster. I've cited past projects like Famicom Detective Club that have paid a fairly loving tribute to their original works. By comparison, Portopia feels less lively or captivating. The mystery can never be interesting, because I'm too busy trying to solve my phrasing to get overly ??invested in the unfolding ??drama.

Characters don't have a lot of life to them, backgrounds are fine, and its eerily quiet in a way that doesn't feel intentionally creepy. At the very least, this is free. And if you're deadly curious, you can have some fun trying to get Yasu to tell you where he found a knife. As a tech preview, it's still got some wrinkles to iron out. And as a localized version of a classic, it hasn't left a strong impression on many peopl??e.

The post Square Enix’s AI tech preview of Portopia is off to a very rough start appeared first on Destructoid.

The Portopia Serial Murder Case returns with some extra functionality

Square Enix is showcasing some possibilities for AI tech, and it's using an old classic to do so. The Portopia Serial Murder Case is?? getting a PC remaster on April 23 with its AI Tech Preview, with brand-new Natural Language Processi??ng tech.

Artificial intelligence use in games has quickly become a hot-button topic, and for good reason. The rise of systems that generate text, images, or anything else has open a bit of a Pandora's Box in terms of original sourcing, ethics, and specifically for games, how something gets made.

I'm starting here because, well, Square Enix has a history with new tech trends. So when I first saw "AI Tech Preview" appended to a re-release of 1983's The Portopia Serial Murder Case, I was skeptical. And I still am. But ??I'm now, at least, a little bit curious too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6r3hEEJs_0

Machine learning

The AI tech Square is using aligns with Natural Language Processing, or NLP. In a very basic sense, think of it as a machine learning to understand language?? in a more conversational setting. Using deep learning and large text data sets, a system could start to understand complex text input, and generate responses.

The Portopia Serial Murder Case includes some of this in the tech preview releasing on April 23. Namely, NLU—Natural Language Understanding—is used to help computers understand natural language. Think of old adventure games that used text input, like Zork. Sometimes, you might have to get specific with your wording or phrasing to d?o the thing you'd want to do.

The goal of Portopia is to smooth some of that out.?? Rather than a direct adventure, you're directing a detective around, conducting the investigation with them. You can see in this screenshot how the NLU interprets various responses, and then presen??ts a response.

[caption id="attachment_374799" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

While that's NLU, NLG—Natural Language Generation—is a different story. This is where the idea of chatbots and the like come in; rather than delivering a set response, this is where the AI generates a reply. On the Steam store page, Square Enix says this feature was omitted from the AI tech preview of The Portopia Serial Murder Case because there was a risk of the AI generating "unethical replies." Which, yeah, that can still happen sometimes. Square says it might reintroduce this function, "as soon as our research succeeds in creating an ?environment in which players can enjoy the experience with peace of mind."

This has been explored before, perhaps most notably in games like 2005's Facade. It's?? interesting to see it incorporated here, to stand in for your standard text ??adventure parser that usually uses a set number of verbs.

Talk to me

Additionally, there's an extra feature added too: Speech-to-Text. This tech, in Portopia, will let players use their own voice rather than the keyboard. It needs a CUDA-capable GPU and a large amount of VRAM for a "satisfactory experience," but it's an interesting addition. It reminds me of the fun, messy times I had with games like Tom Clancy's EndWar. Remember EndWar? What a wild thing.

On top of all that, it's also a full-on remaster of a Sharp X1 game from 1983, authored by Dragon Quest's own Yuji Horii. For comparison, here's the PC-88 version (via MobyGames):

[caption id="attachment_374776" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via MobyGames[/caption]

And here's the new version:

[caption id="attachment_374778" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Granted, this is also the first time Portopia has seen an English release. There's understandably a bit of tension around that, especially seeing it remastered as a tech preview rather than a direct adaptation, like Famicom Detective Club.

So I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, I think the tech is fascinating, and less egregious than I was worried it would be. On the other hand, seeing a classic adventure game get a re-release is a big deal. Having it tied into the tech preview would, for anyone who wanted to experience Portopia in ?its more-intended form, rub them the wrong way. For something that's a notable piece of? Square Enix's history, it makes this all a bit fraught. It will be free to play, so I'll probably check it out either way.

The Square Enix AI tech preview for The Portopia Serial Murder Case goes live on April 23 for PC via Steam.

The post Square Enix is using a classic adven??ture game for an AI? tech preview appeared first on Destructoid.

A new standalone competitor arrives soon

HTC has revealed its ne??w standalone v?irtual reality headset, the Vive XR Elite. It's able to handle both virtual and augmented reality, and comes in at a price tag of $1,099.

Pre-orders went live today on sites like Amazon, where you can check out the specifications for this new headset. HTC's new set looks to compete with the likes of the Meta Quest, an extremely popular headset that's also cut ou?t the cables.

This headset looks aimed to do many of the same things you'd expect out of something like the Meta Quest. It's a standal??one VR headset that can also hook up to a PC for some extra power, and it has adjustable diopter dials for glasses-wearers. The battery allows for up to 2 hours of continuous power but is hot-swappable, and the screen comes in at a combined 3840 x 1920 resolution, with 110 degree field of view and 90 Hz refresh rate.

Quite interestingly, the Vive XR Elite can also fold up into a case and go on-the-go with you, like a pair of sunglasses. It's a neat trick, but?? certainly intriguing for folks who want their VR games?? to travel with them.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LPZr04Xf34

As for other Vive headsets, The Verge reports that the Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 hea?dsets ??will stay on sale, though the Vive Flow will likely be retired near the end of the year.

Expanding reality

This headset looks to compete in the growing market of VR/AR headsets, which is where other?? companies seem to be looking too. The Vive XR Elite looks to pack in some power with its headset, while still keeping things light and portable.

It's an interesting competitor to Meta's options, both for the price-bumped Quest 2 and the pricier Quest Pro. We'll have to s?ee how this new headset fits into the lands??cape later on this year.

The post HTC unveils its new VR headset, the Vive XR Elite appeared first on Destructoid.

A few ideas for the video game fan on your list.

I have a confession to make. I love buying gifts for people. Birthdays, Secret Santa, weddings, you name it, I look forward to the challenge! And the reason is that I used to be an absolutely terrible gift giver. I once gave a grown man a box of tea bags a?nd a USB bracelet that ended up being too small to fit around his wrist.

I'm still embarrassed by?? these gifts, but I've lear?ned my lesson. I've been on my gift-giving game ever since. Now I'm here to help you! You're already moving in the right direction by pinpointing a favorite hobby. Here are 10 gift ideas to get you thinking about the gamer in your life.

1. Gaming Chairs

Gaming can be very hard on the back if you have the wrong chair. Sitting in one position for hours hurts, but gaming chairs are made with this in mind. Many of them come with lumbar support and neck pillows to get the proper spinal curve. Also, they can be adjusted to get the best angle on the screen. There are plenty of ??cha?irs to choose from, and the price range is just as varied.

Secretlab chairs are high quality and the price reflects it. They have great reviews, a few options that take height and weight into consideration, and there are opportunities for designs beyond just black or gray. You can also find chairs with great reviews for half the price though. For example, this Nokaxus gaming chair has great reviews and?? would be a big improvement over a typical swivel chair.

2. Backbone

The Backbone is a great gift for the multi-tasking gamer. While it isn't a console itself, it enables ??your phone to become your on-the-go gaming device. The Backbone uses your phone's? power instead of batteries, and it doesn't store any games. Instead, players access their cloud library on Steam, PlayStation, or Game Pass to pick up where they left off.

Because you need strong service for uninterrupted gaming, it may not be the best for the daily commute. But when you need to walk away from your console or computer, it's a great way to get back in the game. You can read Destructoid's Backbone tech review for more information on this nifty device!

3. Beyond the Console

While the person on your list may have all of the games ??and consoles they need, helping them invest in quality gaming peripherals can be a fantastic gift. Gaming peripherals are things like headsets, keyboards, and mousepads. In this case, you really do get what you pay for. So even if your gamer already has a mouse and keyboard, they may?? not have the good stuff.

The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is ergonomically built, fast, precise, and easily connected to multiple devices. It also has a reputation for lasting a long time. Mouse speed and precision are really important while PC gaming, so a good mouse is well a??ppreciated.

Similarly, the keyboard can get worn out quickly with key combos and hours and hours of use. There are a ton of choices for gaming keyboards, but it will all depend on your budget. The Razer Turret wireless keyboard and mouse combo is pretty cool with the retractable, magnetic mouse pad, but you can also try out the Razer Huntsman V2 Optical keyboard. Just read reviews and look specifically for gaming keyboards. Th??ey are usually built to be quieter and more resistant to being worn out.

4. Steam Deck

On the higher end of gaming gifts, the Steam Deck is a very generous gift. The handheld conso??le just became readily available to purchase in 2022, but the reviews have been positive. Having a Steam Deck is like having a Nintendo Switch, but bigger and with pretty much your entire Steam library on the go. There are three price tiers based on storage space, with the cheapest being $399 at the time of writing. It's great for gamers with hectic schedules.

5. Games (But the easy way)

If you know what games are on your friend or family member's wishlist, then buying a $60 game makes sense. But instead of taking a gamble, buy the gift of games the easy way: gift cards. Steam frequently has huge sales on games. Instead of buying a specific title that your recipient may already have, the Steam gift card can be saved to take a?dvantage of sales, dumping a bunch of games into the cart for great prices. You can find physical cards at Best Buy, Target, and more, but you can also purchase digital gift cards to send directly through Steam.

A Game Pass subscription is ??another great way to gift multiple games. Game Pass is a cloud-based subscription service for Xbox console and PC gamers. You can buy a Game Pass gift card from places like Best Buy, Target, and GameStop for a certain number of months. During that time, players will have unlimited access to the game catalog and even opportunities to play new games the day they are released.

6. LEGO

LEGO is not just for kids. It's more popular than ever, and there's really a lot to choose from. Video game characters, like Pikachu, are fun for any age. This Bowser LEGO set is perfect for Super Mario fans. There are even LEGO sets that aren't based on any particular characters, but just the act of gaming. This Nintendo Entertainment System Building Kit is perfect for those lifelong gamers looking to be a little nostalgic. It'??s hard to go wrong here because, if nothing else, it's just a fun activity.

7. Christmas Sweaters

The "ugly" Christmas sweater has come roaring back, but it really isn't ugly anymore. Holiday sweaters have now become a way to be funny or showcase your nerdy interests at Christmas parties. So treat your favorite gaming?? nerd to a cool sweater that they can wear every December!

This Halo-themed sweater is the perfect amount of too much. It says "Happy Halo-days," and boy, do I  love a good pun. On the other hand, this Skyrim sweater from Jamestees is so pretty, I would probably wear it a??ll winter.

8. Cookbooks

For gamers with an interest in cooking, entertainment cookbooks are a fun gift idea. The recipes are usually accompanied by stunning pictures of all the food you may or may not end up making. The dishes will usually tie into the game in some way, so some of them can be pretty funny. For example, the Fallout Cookbook will guide you through "radiation-free" deviled eggs and the "Desert Salad" from Fallout: Las Vegas.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the God of War Cookbook. This collection of recipe??s and game art is as serious and detailed as the game. The recipes are divided by the nine realms with a bonus "in-between realm" for various spice mixtures. Even if you never end up making any of it, it's still lovely to look at.

9. Artwork and Artbooks

In the same theme of choosing aesthetic over utilitarian gifts, artwork and art books are fantastic. Try to find out what games they like the aesthetic for the most and then searching on sites like Etsy or Redbubble. These two sites in particular usually have nice wall art pieces.  For example, these Elden Ring canvas pieces on Etsy would look really nice above the couch.

In a similar vein are art books. These tomes are generally full of beautiful illustrations and behind the scenes info. They make beautiful additions to bookshelves or make a great coffee table book. You can find an art book for most popular games online and at bookstores. The Final Fantasy Ultimate Archive has multiple volumes. And The Legend of Zelda: Breath of ??the Wild: Creating a Champion has hundreds of pages of designs, interviews, historical info, and even sketches from Takumi?? Wada!

10. Around the House

Subtly adding video game references to your everyday life is so satisfying. I love making adulting nerdy. When you start going down the internet rabbit hole, you will start seeing little things that are useful around the house but 100% gamer-approved. Like this Zelda key holder on Etsy carved out of wood! You can attach yo??ur keys to the rings and not only have a place to store your keys but also have a cute keychain when you're on the go.

Coffee mugs and bar glasses are another solid way to bring the games to daily life. It's also really easy to find video game-themed mugs and glasses. Etsy will have some of the more unique items, like this hefty Witcher medallion mug. But you can find plenty of cheaper options on??line or in stores like Target.

Of course, these suggestions here are just that. Suggestions. So use them as a jumping-off point or as a quick grab guide. But whatever you end up giving, it's always the thought that counts. If you pay attention to the people you love and make a personal link between them and the gifts, odds are y?ou?? will make them happy this holiday season.

Related: The 15 best gifts for Dungeons & Dragons fans on The Mary Sue

The post 10 great gifts for every game??r this holiday season appeared first on Destructoid.

That's a whole lot of virtual reality

Meta has unveiled the latest i?n its line of virtual reality Quest headsets today. It arrives with both a lot of tech, and a hefty price tag to match.

The Meta Quest Pro VR headset is a new form factor and set of hardware tools from the company formerly k??nown as Facebook. Its got 12 GB of RAM, a Snapdragon XR2+ processor, 256 GB of storage, and 10 advanced VR/MR (virtual reality?/mixed reality) sensors. Each controller has three cameras and a Snapdragon 662 processor, with haptic feedback and precision pinch.

Matching the hardware inside the headset and its extras is the price tag. The Quest Pro will go for $1,499 on the Meta site.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv4GWoCB4Zo

The Meta Quest Pro headset also comes with a charging dock, relate?d cables, stylus tips, a cable clip, and more. And much like its predecessor in the Quest line of headsets, this is a wireless VR headset.

The wide world of Meta VR

That price point is certainly something worth noting. In terms of how it feels, The Verge got some hands-on time with it and reports it has shorter battery life, and weighs a li??ttle more than the Quest 2, though it's apparently better balanced and comparable to a Quest 2 with the Elite Strap.

What caught my eye was the presentation aroun??d it. With expression tracking and an emphasis on mixed reality, it certainly seems like more of a push towards Meta's metaverse.

Today's news also coincided with announcements that apps like Microsoft Teams and Windows 365 are getting Meta integrations for both the Pro and Quest 2. Users will also be able to join Teams meetings from inside a Meta Horizon Workroom, a collaborative VR workspace. Xbox cloud gaming is also coming to the Meta Quest headsets, too.

Speak??ing to The Verge and other reporters at that hands-on demo, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes the Pro as a device "for enthusiasts, the prosumer, the sort of people who are trying to get work done."

Which is good if you're looking to add more VR meetings to the workplace, I guess. But the high price point, alongside the recent price hike of the Quest 2, doesn't have me optimistic about a future for folks who just want to play Resident Evil 4 in VR.

The Meta Quest Pro launches on October 25.

The post Meta unveils $1,499 Quest Pro VR headset appeared first on Destructoid.

Stay away from the boundary

Sony's upcoming PS VR2 headset will feature some useful features for those who like to av??oid bumping into things. Today, the company is spotlighting some user experience features that seem pretty handy for headset owners.

A big upgrade is th??at, as part of the PS VR2's camera set-up, Sony is incorporating a see-through camera. This is a handy tool for say, finding where you set your controllers down without taking the headset off. Or just double-checking to make sure your play area is clear.

This view can be accessed through the card in the co?ntrol center, though it can't be recorded. It's a handy feature that other headsets like the Meta Quest have, and that's not the only similar functionality.

The play area for the PS VR2 can also be customized, using the PS VR2 controllers and cameras. Basically, you can establish a custom play area in y??our living room or gaming space, to fit the layout. ??Maybe you have a funky-shaped couch, or a little outcropping on one side.

Now, you won't be bumping into them anymore! Or at least, you'll get a warning indicating you're about to. Agai??n, much like the Quest, a boundary will appear and warn you when you're veering too close to the edges.

A new kind of audience

Today's PlayStation blog also confirms that users can film themselves while playing, assuming they have a PS5 HD Camera connected to the console. Virtual reality content being made ??all the easier to share with friends.

PS VR2's VR Mode and Cinematic Mode were also detailed. VR content is displayed in a 4000 x 2040 HDR format (2000 x 2040 per eye) with 90Hz/120Hz f??rame rate.

Cinematic Mode, meanwhile, all?ows PS VR2 users to view the PlayStation 5 UI and non-VR games or media on a virtual cinema screen. This will be shown in 1920x1080 HDR, with 24/60??Hz and 120Hz frame rate.

No release date has been set yet for the PS VR2, though the blog closes by saying a la?unch date and additional games coming to the pla?tform are coming soon.

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Breath of the Wild 2 on Switch Pro? I'll believe it when I see it

With as tight-lipped as Nintendo has been, we're desperate out here for some news, any news, on highly anticipated releases like Breath of the Wild 2 and the elusive, possibly fictional Switch Pro. The Legend of Zelda sequel is back in the news, not because any new information about it has been released, but instead because there has been some conversation about the ga??me looking so good, it had to be running on a second-generation Switch console.

At least that's what some tech experts were saying on a recent episode of Digital Foundry Weekly. As originally reported by GamesRadar, the tech show's hosts Richard Leadbetter, John Linneman, and Alex Battaglia analyzed the newest trailer for the game, and considered different graphical features like volumetric clouds and anti-aliasing, and how difficult they can be even on the current-gen consoles like the Xbo?x Series X.

Their conclusion is that it's possible Breath of the Wild 2 could indeed be running on the unreleased, and even unannou??nced Switch Pro, which is indeed a different thing entirely from the Switch OLED that came out in October of last year.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jWKSrgY8w0

Of course, they also pointed out that Nintendo might just be beefing up the f?ootage to make it look better for the trailers, and that the actual gameplay will be a little more toned down so that it can run on the cu??rrent Switch hardware. This practice has been in place in the industry for years now, so it wouldn't entirely surprise me if that were the case.

We've also seen this exact conversation before �a few years ago, early trailers for Monster Hunter Rise got the same treatment, ??to the poi?nt that Capcom had to make a statement saying their game was indeed running on a normal Switch.

Here's my take: these speculative conversations about games ??and console releases can be pretty hit or miss, but even if theories can get a little intense sometimes, I think it's a really fun part of the industry. Sometimes hype can be fun just for the fun of it.

I may be questioning whether there really is a Switch Pro in our immediate future, but it sure can be interesting to?? think about. And ??if the game really just does look that good, we'll be in for a treat when it finally comes out.

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When gameplay intersects with prequel memes

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is out this week, and players are discovering all kinds of cool and interest??ing things they can do in it. And, as it turns out, one piece of tech is resurfacing some prequel feelings.

Similar to other games, children in Lego Star Wars cannot take friendly fire damage. This makes obvious sense, as one wouldn't want to actually harm the younglings, Anakin. But still being able to hit them means there'??s a—possibly unintended—side-effect: they can be juggled.

Twitter user RedOrbFragment showed off some seemingly infinite air juggle tech on the younglings. Not only do they make good test dummies for combos, because they're not as fragile as some of the actual enemies in Lego Star Wars, but they can also be looped. In the video, Red Orb shows how Qu??i-Gon Jinn could, theoretically, take flight by repeatedly air-juggling the youngling.

//twitte?r.com/RedOrbFragment/status/1511507554425208833

Needless to say, I am looking forward to whether this tech makes?? the eventual Games Done Quick run.

Lightning, er, lightsaber loops

Players have been discovering a lot of interesting tech in Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, as it turns out. Our own Chris Carter noted in his review that the combo system's punched up a bit. ??And it does seem li??ke there's some fun to be had putting together combos.

Another Lego Star Wars player, on Twitter as Aidan_Core, has been posting some pretty fun and interesting videos. There are air combos, jump cancels, and more to find here, it seems. I heartily recommend watching the version I posted below, which lays Devil May Cry 5's "Devil Trigger" over the action.?? It'll brighten up your W??ednesday.

//twitter.com/??AliveGhost____/status/1511517736907771907

So yes, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga might have some fun tech to pick apart. I do feel a b??it sorry for the younglings, though.

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Returning to their Croft

The next entry in the Tomb Raider series is on the way, and it'll be built in Epic's engine. Crystal Dynamics confirms that it's working on the next Tomb Raider in Unreal Engine 5.

The news arrived during today's State of Unreal presentation, where Epic launched UE5 to the public. The engine is now available to use, alongside some extra tools like the Lyra Starter Game and a city sample from The Matrix Awakens Unreal demo from late last year.

//twitter.com/tombraider/st??atus/1511368712279904258

Legacy of the Tomb Raider

No details were announced yet on where this journey will go or how it links in to previous Tomb Raider games. Crystal Dynamics helmed the first two reboot games, starting with 2013's Tomb Raider and then Rise of the Tomb Raider. Eidos-Montréal, meanwhile, took up 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Things have been quiet for Lara since then, as Crystal Dynamics went to work on Marvel's Avengers and Eidos-Montréal went to Guardians of the Galaxy. Now, it looks like CD is back on the Tomb Raider franchise, ??and I'm interested to see where t??hey take the character from here.

It'll be some added work, as Crystal Dynamics is also collaborating on the Perfect Dark reboot with The ??Initiative. That's another project we've yet to see much of, outside of the initial a??nnouncement. It's unclear when we'll see either Joanna Dark or Lara Croft back on the screen again.

With all that, I'm happy to see Tomb Raider games back in development. I was a fan of reboot trilogy, and would definitely like to see where Crystal Dynamics could go. The Matrix demo was pretty impressive too, and Tomb Raider games have usually been good show?pieces for tech and visua?ls.

The new Tomb Raider is also now one of several projects in development on Unreal, including the next Witcher game from CD Projekt Red. Today, Epic confirmed over 85 studios are working on UE5, including those two and The Coalition. Seems like Unreal is off to a running start wit??h the new engine.

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Here's the hardware you'll need to experience the Final Fantasy origin story

The latest Final Fantasy spinoff goes live next week. Ahead of that, Square Enix has released the PC requirements for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

On the minimum side, an AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i7-6700 with 8 GB of RAM will be needed ?to run it. Players will also need at least a Radeon RX 470 or GTX 1060 6GB for graphics card power.

Recommended settings, to get 1080p and ??60 frames per second, will need to get a little more powerful than that. For CPU, ??an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i7-8700 sets the Recommended floor, alongside 16 GB of RAM. And for graphics cards, it's either the RX 5700 XT or GTX 1660 Super.

Either way, Stranger of Paradise will also need 80 GB of drive space. Best to clear that out now?, ahead of time.

//twitter.com/fforigin/status/1501256684722962432

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an Epic Games Store exclusive at launch, as it looks like no Steam launch is planned for the time being. The Final Fantasy VII Remake also had its first entry arrive on just Epic in December, so this does seem like a trend. The Pixel Remaster series has been r??olling out on Steam though, so if you're not an Epic fan, there's s?till some hope for alternative options somewhere down the road.

This latest spinoff, Stranger of Paradise, is a bit of an odd one. It comes by way of Team Ninja, makers of the Nioh series. And rather than standard R?PG, this one is taking on a bit more of an action approach,? as well as a very... different tone than you'd usually expect.

Different is good, in my opinion, so Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is absolutely on my rada?r. The new spinoff will launch for PlaySt??ation, Xbox, and PC on March 18.

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Patches are on the way to help fix some early Elden Ring woes

Elden Ring is out, and it's already become the most popular game in town. Players have been noting some issu??es though, es?pecially with performance on PC. Publisher Bandai Namco has apologized for those, and is outlining the fixes on the way.

In a new update, Bandai Namco addresses the performance issues players are seeing in Elden Ring. There's already been a launch patch, addressing a fe??w concerns. But Bandai Namco says that it's "currently experiencing some issue??s that are preventing the game from playing properly under some conditions." The publisher apologizes and asks for patience as it works on several items.

T?hose items include several PC fixes, like mouse sensitivity and issues with Easy Anti-Cheat on Steam. As far as performance on PC goes, Bandai Namco addresses performance-related issues and says it is "constantly working" to improve the game so it can be played on different PCs. The publisher also recommends updating your graphics card drivers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqiC88f9ogU

A PlayStation 5 problem is also preventing saves from being made correctly if the console unexpectedly turns off. While the PS5 save issue is being worked on, Bandai Namco suggests that until it's addressed, you s??hould regularly exit the game.

The Elden Ring publisher is also working on "??a fe??w other" bug fixes and performance improvements.

Technical and performance issues aside, Elden Ring has had a glowing reception from players. Our own review and others have lauded its open-world approach to the Souls formula. Anecdotally, I've experienced some of?? these stutters and performance issues myself on PC, even with updated drivers. That hasn't really stopped me from venturing across The Lands Between to find glory, fame, adventure, and new ways to shoot fire out of my hands.

Bandai Namco's worki?ng on it, though no window's been specified for when th?ese fixes will arrive.

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A new job, specially made for the Steam Deck

A new Valve game is coming out soon. Aperture Desk Job is a simulator game, taking place in the world of Portal and made for the?? Steam Deck, launching on March 1.

According to the Steam page, Aperture Desk Job is a playable short. Set in the universe of Portal,? you take on an entry-level gig at the infamous Aperture Science. And things, obviously, don't go quite so smooth on your first day.

Rather than a walking simulator, Aperture Desk Job will be more about sitting still behind things. Most importantly, it is made for Steam Deck; the ex??perience should still be playable on PC as well, but you will need a controller for it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVDFJRM6F9k

To be clear, this is not Portal 3. Valve even emphasizes this in their About This Game section. It is, however, in the expanded universe of Portal. It is, however, free. And ??it arrives on Marc?h 1, so it's not all that far off.

The Steam Deck, meanwhile, has finally started rolling out. Orders for those who got in earliest for the Steam Deck should be opening up for final confirmation today. Mo??re ?batches are expected to roll out as the year goes on, too.

Early reviews of the Steam Deck are also pouring in, and the results are mixed. Some really seem to be finding use for it, while others are less enthused about its launch state. I particularly liked PC Gamer's note about how well it works for emulation purposes.

I was already sold on it when I saw that critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV could run on it. But e?ven if you're not picking up a handheld PC of your own, at least there's a new Valve experience on the way too.

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Service is back up after widespread outages

[Update: Discord has updated its status, saying everyone's connection should be fully restored. Our original story follows.]

Popular social app Discord is having some trouble right now. The company is currently in?vestigating a widespread Discord outage, as the service has been spotty over the course of the day.

Users have been reporting issues seeing messages and notifications today. A short while ago, Discord said it is "currently investigating a widespread API outage and are working to resolve this ASAP." You can head to the Discord status page for up-to-date information.

//twitter.com/discord/status/1486427589879103489

The Verge reports that Discord is currently limiting people logging in to manage traffic load. Users still logged in still seem to be ?able to use the service. A client-side message says Discord has identified the issue, but are dealing with a secondary issue on one of its database clusters.

Discord has served as a popular hub for social gatherings, communities, and fandoms, especially in the gaming space. Over the years, I've personally used it for everything from keeping tabs on niche corners of the internet to organizing hangouts d?uring the pandemic. Suffice to say, the outage has shown how widely noticeable Discord's absence has been.

Anecdotally, I've been having trouble sending messages this morning, as well as logging onto my mobile client. And while I ran a quick?? test call ?with some friends to determine whether Discord is truly down, it now feels like we are the last call standing.

We'll update this post as Discor??d addresses the issues.

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Valve is thinking ahead about how users will probably handle the Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is expected to start rolling out in February, and Valve is thinking ahead. Given that players of current handheld systems have picked up ??some habits, Valve introduced Dynamic Cloud Sync today. Hopefully, it should make carrying save data across systems pretty seamless, if developers implement it.

Steam already supports cl??oud saves, but this update seems targeted at the way Steam Deck u??sers will probably handle their new platform.

"We anticipate that users will frequently suspend their Steam Deck without exiting the game, as? is common with other handheld ??gaming devices," Valve says in a new blog post.

With Dynamic Cloud Sync, the progress should carry over when they move from one device to another?. Suspend in one place, open in another. Dynamic Cloud Sync will automatically upload all modified save data to the cloud prior to entering sleep mode. Then, when opened on another platform, be it Steam Deck or other device, Steam will download the data and be ready to roll. It should also grab any cloud save data when the Steam Deck wakes up.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWgZhMtlWo

The feature is free for developers to use, but they must manually tick it on in Steamworks and use some new APIs. Valve details the steps needed to implement it on their site here.

For PC to PC use, I can see some possible ways this could help, though I rarely suspend programs on my PC. On the Steam Deck though??? I've definitely got in a habit of putting my Switch to sleep and docking it with games still open.

Since I'm thinking about picking up a Steam Deck, it's good to know I won't lose any XCOM or Baldur's Gate 3 saves when I hit suspend and drop it in the dock. Steam Decks should start rolling out in February.

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Is it a glitch, or a portent?

Over the past weekend, a small selection of PS3 games appeared, complete with price, on the PS5 version of the PlayStation Network. The appearance of these PS3 titles, as spotted by Jordan Middler for VGC, has sparked hopes in fans that backward compatibili?ty could be headed to Sony's shiny new console.

Currently, PS5 users are unable to actually purchase any of the games in question �including titles in the Dead or Alive and Prince of Persia franchises �but while these games are available on the PlayStation Now service, they should not be appeared as priced, purchasable titles within PSN. Dead or Alive 5, in fact, shouldn't even be available as part of the European PlayStation Now service.

Of course, glitches gonna glitch, and this could simply be a coding error providing false listings. After all, there is testimony of similar store slip-ups happening before. Regardless, it's difficult not to find this intriguing, given not only PlayStation architect Mark Cerny's recent backward compatibility patent, but also the rumor that Sony is getting set to launch its own Xbox Game Pass-style subscription service. We're unlikely to hear official confirmation either way. So, for now, this is something of a wait-and-see situati??on. Whether this is smoke or fire, clearly PlayStation has the concept on its desk either way.

Would be great to have that huge PS3 catalog back in action though... Let's go, WWE All-Stars.

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Project Sophia looks like something Tony Stark would cook up

Razer has made a name for themselves as one of the most reliable sources of gaming accessories out there. On top of their consistency, however, they have also been known to make some pretty experimental products over the years, from triple-screened laptops to LED air-purifying masks. For a brand that has such a hold on the peripherals market, I have to respect that they are always looking to innovate, even though some of their ventures can miss the mark. Now they've introd?uced us to yet another ??ambitious idea: a smart desk.

The Consumer Electronics Show is where Razer shows off their prototypes, and lucky for us, CES 2022 is taking place this week from January 5-7. This time around, the brand presented their newest endeavor, a prototype dubbed Project Sophia. So far all we have is a 3D render of it, as well as a short video clip, but it's certainly enough to pique m??y interest. Razer is calling it a "gaming desk concept," whatever that means, and it honestly looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

[caption id="attachment_303178" align="alignnone" width="900"] _{[Image Source: lowyat.net]}[/caption]It basically looks like a sleek desk with a huge screen attached to it, but where it really gets ?interesting is on the desktop itself �it's modular, meaning pieces can be changed out. Razer says that there are thirteen different pieces that can be swapped in and out, and include everything from secondary screens to audio mixing units to pen tablets.

The prototype is said to need an Intel Processor and Nvidia GPU to operate, which are magnetically attached to the bottom of the desk. There are even more add-ons, too, like cameras and microphones, wireless charging pads, and even a cup warmer. ??By the sound of it, you'd never have to leave your desk. I'm not sure if that's a good thin?g or a bad thing.

Razer's sm?art desk seems like it would be an expensive toy of which I personally wouldn'??t be able to justify the price, but I imagine it would be a multi-tasker's dream, and could cut down on the number of different devices one would need to buy, given they're all built-in.

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Make your PlayStation feel a bit more personalized

Official means of customizing the look of your PlayStation 5 are expanding soon. Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a ne?w line of DualSense controllers, offering more options for those who want new colors. But there? are also some official Sony console covers on the way, to make it all match just right.

On the controller side, three new colors of DualSense will launch globally in January 2022. These are Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. Alongside the Midnight Black and Cosmic Red DualSense, it certainly seems like they're going for a s??pace theme with PlaySta?tion 5's visual variants.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFDhXXMVcBo

And to match the many cosmic colors of PlayStation 5's DualSense, Sony is also releasing some official PS5 covers. These are all based on the five DualSense colors mentioned above,?? so you can match the colors together or mix them up.

To attach covers, you'll just need to remove the base white cover and click the new ones into place. All the console covers will be available for both the disc drive and drive-less? Digital Edition of the PlayStation 5.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgr2OZiS8xQ

The PS5 covers will have a staggered global release according to the PlayStation blog. Midnight Black and Cosmic Red will arrive at participating retailers in Jan. 2022 in the US, UK, Canada, and other select territories. Nova Pink, Galactic Purple, a??nd Starlight Blue will also come to the same areas sometime in the first half of 2022.

PlayStation Direct will also be selling some of the products, even early depending on your location. So if you want to scoop one up, it's worth checking out the Direct site.

I'm not sure if I'll dip into any of these new covers, but I do have a Midnight Black DualSense and like it a fair bit. If you're looking for a new DualSense, because maybe playing Tales of Arise followed by Deathloop annihilated your triggers, then at least there are a few more options available to make your gaming space mo??re cosmically colorful.

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Colorful comic adventure jets off October 26

Square Enix has released the PC specs for its incoming comic book epic Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy revealing, amon??gst other tech facts, that PC players will need to find a meaty 150GB of free HDD space for the install.

[Update: In the "last stages of optimizing the final game," the file size will now be "approximately 80 GB at launch," according to Eidos Montreal.]

The weighty file size exceeds that of many other AAA PC titles, though is thankfully still smaller than that of Activision's Call of Duty series �which currently weighs in at around 240GB. Still, for a linear, single-player adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy's space requirements are pretty eyebrow-raising, especially when huge titles such as IO Interactive's Hitman have actually managed to reduce their footprint. Essentially, this is just the ??way of gaming in the new age. Hopefully, in time, developers will find better?? compression techniques �as titles are only set to grow in size in the coming years.

You can check out the full Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy PC specs below, ahead of its October 26 lau?nch. I have it on good authority that both the? PlayStation and Xbox editions of the game have a smaller install size.

Minimum

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64 bit Build 1803
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 / Intel Core i5-4460
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 570
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 150 GB available space

Recommended

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64 bit Build 1803
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 / Intel® Core i7-4790
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super / AMD Radeon RX 590
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 150 GB available space

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PS4 games are feeling more like they should on PS5

While there have been some new games making use of the DualSense's haptics and triggers, plenty of backward-compatible PlayStation 4 games also use their own controller feedback. Today, The Last of Us Part II co-game director Kurt Margenau detailed just why those are feeling be?tter lately.

"As many of you are jumping back into TLOU2 on PS5, you may notice the haptics feel better," Margenau says. (The Last of Us Part II recently got a performance update for the PS5.) "This is actually thanks to a firmware upda??te to the DualSense controller back in April."

As many of you are jumping back into TLOU2 on PS5, you may notice the haptics feel better. This is actually thanks to a firmware update to the DualSense controller back in April. THREAD: pic.twitter.com/zle0XQwDw6

— Kurt Margenau (@kurtmargenau) May 21, 2021

Margenau goes on to say that a few months ago, he was ab??le to send some feedback to the DualSense team, in order to improve "certain timing, intensity, and 'texture' of haptics when in backwards compatibility (BC) mode." This was intended to bring the feel closer to what Naughty Dog created for the original DualShock 4.

The difference, as Margenau details, is inside the controller; the DualShock 4 has two different-sized rotating weights inside it, and the DualSense has two weights that move forward and backward, and can express frequency and amplitude at high fidelity with low latency. The firmware in the DualSense has to receive "old" signals, and then emulate the resulting feeling in the controller using a differe??nt m??echanical method.

This means accounting for timing differences and emulating inherent variations and the "'rumbly' feeling" that comes with a rotating motor, and it's all done inside the controller, without the game code changing. The DualSense's internal haptics have already been impressive thus far in games like Astro's Playroom. This in-controller implementation to make PS4 game feedback feel right? Pretty m?ind-boggling work from the DualSense team and Margenau to make it happen.

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