AMD stock is on the rise as the company focuses on their key markets. This also includes a partnership with Sony and Microsoft for their gaming consoles.
While there no details surrounding their next generation hardware, rumors point towards Sony working with AMD again for their next console. It won’t be surprising to see Microsoft do the same since they value backward compatibility.
In an interview with Jim Cramer for CNBC’s Mad Money, AMD CEO Lisa Su briefly talked about their partnership with Sony and Microsoft.
Answering a question about the partnership with Microsoft, Lisa Su said that AMD values their partnership with Microsoft and gave an example of working with both Sony and Microsoft on console hardware.
“We’re working with both Sony and Microsoft on consoles and they both have their specific secret sauce that we’re helping them do.”
Recently, Shadow of the Tomb Raider devs shared their expectations for the next generation of consoles. There is also a rumor about PS5 being announced in 2019 and featuring AMD Zen architecture, although it might be far-fetched since there is nothing official confirmed so far.
It will be interesting to see what type of shape the next generation of consoles will take, but as it stands, we don’t really have much to go on. AMD is definitely benefiting from this close race between Sony and Microsoft while Nvidia has partnered with Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch hardware.
The PlayStation Store is down right now. It seems that no other services are affected. Sony has updated the PlayStation Network Service Status page to reflect the issues.
PlayStation Store Down
Currently, players cannot purchase, download, browse or redeem vouchers on the PSN Store. The issue was reported at approximately 3:59pm BST. Sony has not confirmed when the PlayStation Store will be back online.
Though we don’t know why the PlayStation Store isn’t working, there’s speculation that it could be to do with the new FIFA 19 demo. The FIFA 19 demo when live earlier today, and there’s no doubt thousands of gamers will be piling online to download it.
FIFA 19 Demo Error
It appears many users prior to the PSN Store going offline were getting a FIFA 19 demo error. We’re currently unsure if the downtime is related.
Meanwhile, PS4 update 6.00 launched today. There appears to be no major changes other than it feeling much faster to navigate the XMB. It’s rumoured that the patch may be making way for some bigger features to launch later in the year.
We all know what kind of success the GTA games had (and still do, to be honest). These games have been a blast! So we cannot keep but wondering what’s going on. GTA 6 needs to be released already, especially if we are to take a look at the success of the last installment. Rockstar Game has made a huge hit with GTA 5, as the game is now seen as the most profitable products which were ever made, with a revenue of more than $6 billion. The thing is that the game still produces money, as the developers still create new content for their players.
We’ve heard that GTA 5 is going to sell about 100 million copies. It’s still a game that’s so popular, so it’s understandable why the team behind still wants to create content for the players. This might be one of the reasons why we didn’t get GTA 6 – they’re focusing on making this world bigger. We also know that Rockstar has a $500 million budget – money for developing GTA 6. Rumor has it; the company wants to add some VR content for the next game.
As we all know, Rockstar was given about $250 million for the budget to develop the 5th game of the series. However, after all the success and the massive sales, the game studio thinks the budget should double for the next game, as it’s supposed to be fascinating and more awesome than the last one. But the money – $500 million now – seem to cause trouble for the team since it’s a huge amount of money for only one franchise. It’s true, GTA 5 brought billions of dollars to the company, this performance is seen as an irregularity. Mainly because there’s really no guarantee that the next game, GTA 6 will bring as much money as its brother did when it will first make its appearance on the market.
What are the reasons for the delay?
Money might be one reason for the delay. However, there are other factors as well. Another factor that we should mention is the game “Red Dead Redemption 2”, which is going to be released soon by Rockstar, on the 26th of October. If the company decides to release GTA 6 this year or in 2019, we’re not sure how the sales are going to go for both of the games, but one thing’s for sure – they will be both affected.
If they both go on the market at approximatively the same time, people will try both of them. And we know that GTA 6, as well as Red Dead Redemption 2, have vast maps to explore, so competition will form between the two of them, which means a lot of problems for Rockstar.
Another factor might be the fact that Rockstar has a reputation when it comes to releasing games – years after the predecessors made its appearance on the market. This happens because the company just love making games that are immersive when it comes to the narrative and the gameplay as well.
Will we find Vice City in GTA 6?
As per some sources, GTA 6 is going to feature Vice City – the game will take place in the first game-version of South Florida. We’re not sure how credible this thing is, since Vice City is one of the most loved games of the series. This rumor does not say anything about the era in which the game will be set, so we’re not sure what to believe.
When is the game coming out?
We don’t have any official statements from Rockstar just yet with regards to this matter, but many people believe that GTA 6 will come to us between 2020 and 2022. There are some rumors going around the internet which say that the sixth game is already on its way – some people even call it ‘Project Americas’. You’re probably asking yourself why this name – mainly because it’s rumored that players will be able to have the option to go outside the United States, to South America so they can finish some of the missions.
However, we cannot believe all we hear and we cannot be certain of something until we have an official statement from the company itself.
Today, Rockstar has announced that even more new content will be added into Grand Theft Auto 5 Online, which should be coming to the game this week.
Having recently seen the After Hours update, many players were worried that Grand Theft Auto 5 content might start slowing down. Especially with the impending release of Red Dead Redemption 2 next month.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case, with plenty more still in the pipeline according to Rockstar.
This week for instance, players have got a host of new vehicles from Southern San Andreas Super Autos, plus Double Rewards on Business Battles, Nightclub Discounts, Log In Unlocks and plenty more.
The update will likely land early in the morning in UK BST, so look forward to getting your dirty hands on them quite soon. Everything you need to know can be found below.
Keep reading for the full breakdown of info as revealed by Rockstar.
Southern San Andreas Super Autos’ inventory Update
You’ve been casually stealing them ever since you first set foot on the streets of Los Santos. But now you’re a crime lord with more underground garage space than you know what to do with, it’s time you paid your respects: and what better way to show you remember where you came from than calling every one of these classics your own?
Head to Southern San Andreas Super Autos and take delivery of these fine automobiles today:
Benefactor Serrano
Karin BeeJay XL
Fathom FQ 2
Emperor Habanero
Log in Unlocks
Log in to GTA Online any time through September 17th and unlock the Gefängnis T-Shirt to complete your nightclub ensemble.
Plus, add some flair to your airborne command unit by logging in to unlock the Sessanta Nove Multi-Color Livery for the Mammoth Avenger during the same period.
Double GTA$ and RP Bonuses
The arena based bloodsport that is Trading Places (Remix) continues to pay out double rewards this week – suit up as the heavily armored Juggernaut or morph into the wild-eyed Beast as you reap 2X GTA$ & RP through September 17th.
Use your Super Jump ability to quickly vault obstacles and spring an attack from above or behind.
As any established entrepreneur will tell you, Business Battles are a great way to resupply your various enterprises on the cheap – and stomp out a few rival CEOs along the way. This week only, the amount of all contested goods in Business Battles is being doubled to help keep your warehouses fully stocked and your profits on the rise.
Nightclub owners also see a 2X Popularity Boost for spreading the good word and completing Nightclub Management Missions, while underground arms dealers gain a 25% Speed Boost onGunrunning Research & Manufacturing.
Nightclub Discounts and Savings on Vehicles/Gear
Turn a previous tenant’s financial woes to your advantage this week courtesy of Maze Bank Foreclosures, who are offering a 25% discount on Nightclubs, Add-Ons & Renovations, as well as40% off all Bunkers:
Nightclubs – 25% off
Nightclubs Add-Ons & Renovations – 25% off
Bunkers – 40% off
Whether you’re looking to take to the skies with the Imponte Deluxo or leave competitors in the dust with the Pegassi Tezeract, a variety of high-end and unique vehicles are on sale at a substantial discount this week:
Imponte Deluxo – 25% off (Buy It Now & Trade Prices)
Festival Bus – 30% off (Buy It Now & Trade Prices)
Pegassi Tezeract – 30% off
Lampadati Viseris – 30% off
Canis Kamacho – 30% off
Ocelot Pariah – 35% off
Ubermacht SC-1 – 35% off
Grotti Turismo R – 40% off
HVY Barrage – 35% off (Buy It Now & Trade Prices)
And give yourself an edge on the battlefield with discounts on Mk II Weapon Upgrades, Body Armor and more:
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is literally the ultimate package when it comes to the Smash Bros. fighting series, adding in new characters to the roster, while also bringing back every single fighter that’s been in each and every past entry. Nintendo has shown off new fighters such as King K. Rool, Ridley, and Simon Belmont, with more coming as the game inches closer to its release this holiday season on the Nintendo Switch.
When it comes to the question about whether or not Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be coming out on the PS4, it’s safe to say that it will definitely not release on Sony’s console. The Super Smash Bros. series is a first-party franchise for Nintendo, with most of their mascot characters making an appearance, which means that a release on any other console besides the Nintendo Switch would be unimaginable. This would be a similar situation if Sony were to release an Uncharted title or The Last of Us Part II on a Nintendo console –it’s pure madness. If Nintendo were to leave the console business, then there would be a chance that their games would appear on a Sony platform, but with the strong sales of the Switch, this most likely won’t be happening anytime soon.
If anything were to change regarding Super Smash Bros. Ultimate coming to PS4, then we will make sure to update this guide accordingly as soon as we hear anything.
For now, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be released on the Nintendo Switch exclusively on Dec 7, 2018. If you’re as excited for the game as us, then be sure to keep checking back here at Twinfinite for everything Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Once the game releases, we will have tons of guides and wiki’s for you to check out that will give you all of the info you need.
Whenever Rockstar updates GTA Online heads swivel and the inevitable question returns – when is GTA 6 coming out?
Unfortunately Rockstar has barely hinted about a new Grand Theft Auto game, and the majority of leaks have been rumours at best, guess work, or just straight up lies at worst. A cottage industry creating GTA 6 YouTube videos has sprung up, but these are no more legit than your friend whose uncle works at Rockstar and has played the alpha. Dude, no one has played the game. .
There is hope that it exists in some form though. Back in March 2016 we reported that GTA 6 was in production. This was before Rockstar said it was concentrating so heavily on GTA Online though, so schedules will have no doubt changed. But GTA 5 has shipped 85 million copies. Of course GTA 6 is going to be in production in some form.
More recently, a big leak came from The Know citing an inside source, that suggests GTA 6 returns to Vice City, features a female lead and could be out as late as 2022.
GTA 6 release date – when is GTA 6 out? Rockstar recently took the very rare step of dismissing a rumour that GTA 6 would be released in 2019. Some modders had hacked GTA Online to show a pop-up that advertised the next Grand Theft Auto game would be coming out in 2019. That’s bollocks, obviously, and the rumour was soon shot down.
Look, we’ll be brutally honest with you. GTA 6 doesn’t have an official release date yet, and even when it does, Rockstar has a history of delays. GTA 5 was held back, and the PC version was also delayed a couple of times. The next big game from Rockstar is Red Dead Redemption 2, and that’s already been delayed. So when GTA 6 does eventually get its first release date, don’t put money on it.
The most recent rumours from The Know suggest a long wait for GTA 6. If it’s still 3-4 years away, expect GTA 6 to be released around 2022.
GTA 6 map – where is the next GTA game set? Everyone has their own idea of where the next GTA 6 map should be. And it’s not just fans of the series – this real estate company recreated their own map of Portland complete with pins pointing out knocking shops and tattoo parlours for a few clicks. Aside from London, GTA games aren’t set in real-world locations although each of their maps are based on largely populated cities. Liberty City was based on New York, while Los Santos incorporates LA and the surrounding county. Expect a map for GTA 6 to have bigger size goals then, and to suck up familiar parts of the United States.
Rumours from The Know are pointing to Vice City as the locations for GTA 6, as well as suggesting there will be travel outside of the US to South America to continue missions there. If so, it would mark a big change to move outside of the United States, but could provide a complete alternative environment to a sprawling cosmopolitan city.
GTA 6 news Who’s always got the GTA news for you? We have. We’ve got an extensive library of all things GTA 5, GTA Online and GTA 6 speculation. Bookmark this page because if anything important breaks, we’ll be on it like a tramp on chips.
GTA 6 characters – can we expect Franklin, Trevor or Michael to return? We’re pretty certain the stories of GTA 5’s protagonists are over, as they never did make it into the promised GTA 5 single-player story DLC. But when GTA 6 does surface you should expect a few familiar faces, names, companies and locations to crop up. There’s history here; Lazlow Jones has been knocking around GTA games since GTA 3, Ken Rosenburg has represented Tommy from Vice City and CJ from San Andreas, and CJ, Sweet and Ryder all make a fleeting appearance in GTA 5.
GTA 6 could be the first in the series to focus heavily on a female lead, according to those rumours from The Know. We would expect multiple protagonists again, as we saw with GTA 5, and a major female character should liven up the Grand Theft Auto formula.
GTA 6 cars – what cars will be in GTA 6? The list of vehicles in GTA 5 and GTA Online is extensive, to say the least. If it exists in real-life then you can bet your ass Rockstar will recreate something similar for a GTA game. That goes for cars from proper manufacturers, military vehicles and fiction – like this Batmobile inspired Vigilante.
Do you like developing awesome tools to make Twitch better for everyone? Wait, let us rephrase…
Do you like developing awesome tools to make Twitch better for everyone while a big clock ticks down to 0:00 like you’re in an action movie? If you’re up for a fun and rewarding challenge, you should join us Saturday, October 27 for our 24-hour TwitchCon Hackathon.
Here’s how it works: Partnered streamers will approach us with ideas for new and useful extensions. Our expert staff will vet their ideas, and then teams of up to four hackers (that’s you!) will race to create prototypes of those extensions by the end of the Hackathon.
The TwitchCon Hackathon will begin Saturday morning, with the list of hackable extension concepts being revealed. Each team will pick one streamer’s project to work on from the list. After the opening session, hacking begins! Food will be provided; sleep will be optional. 24 hours later we’ll demo the projects. Entries will be judged based on functionality, design, and other criteria, and prizes will be awarded for top extensions. Winners will receive trophies, blog recognition, and a featured extension slot.
Want to learn about Twitch Extensions before you join the TwitchCon Hackathon 2018? Request a ticket for Developer Day on Thursday, October 25 for a deep dive into the technologies that power Extensions.
All participants will have TwitchCon access on Saturday and Sunday (but not Friday) and will receive exclusive TwitchCon Hackathon 2018 swag. Check out the full event rules and the FAQ below. When you’re ready to hack, register here!
Event rules:
All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Teams must be no more than four members and can be formed before or at the start of the event.
Each participant may only work on one project.
A project may not have any code dedicated to it until hacking begins on the Saturday of the event. Setting up your development environment with SDKs in advance is fine (and recommended).
Projects must be Twitch extensions and must be built as close to the chosen extension concept as possible.
Projects must be submitted by the time hacking ends on the Sunday of the event. After that, presentation materials may be worked on but no more design/development can be done on the submission.
Submissions will be judged on creativity, utility, presentation, and that special “Twitch” factor.
FAQ
What is a hackathon? Think “hack” in the sloppy-creation sense of “hacking” a project together. Think “marathon” in the sense of “you’ll be doing it nonstop for a while”. A hackathon is a software development contest that gives you 24 hours to create a project following certain restrictions. They are spaces for passion, innovation, and they are great opportunities to learn new technologies and meet other builders.
Who can participate? This hackathon is open to anyone who is at least 18 years of age.
What should I bring? All of your work gear, and maybe a few items to make your stay more comfortable. We recommend a laptop, charger, headphones, light sweater, and hygiene products to stay fresh.
Can I hack with a team? Yes! You will be hacking alongside a team of 4 other members. Team creation is informal, so feel free to build an alliance beforehand or at the event, however all team members must apply and be selected to participate individually. We will hold a team-building session at the beginning of the event for anyone who is still LFG.
Can I submit a project I’ve worked on in the past? Out of fairness to other participants, all submissions must have no work dedicated to them before hacking begins.
Where can I read the full rules? The complete rules are right here.
Hearthstone Global Games (HGG) is heating up and the top 16 countries and regions in the world have been decided. On the road to the playoffs at BlizzCon®, join the community in celebrating the journey with HGG Cheer — a new program that lets you Cheer with Bits for your favorite teams on Twitch using custom Cheermotes — all while unlocking sweet loot along the way.
Every Cheer from Sept. 17 through Nov. 4 on /playhearthstone brings you and the entire community closer to unlocking Cheering goals, which include in-game items like card packs and a card back, and exclusive Twitch emotes. Even better: a portion of the revenue from Bits you Cheer goes directly to the team you’re supporting.
Right below the video player on /playhearthstone, you can track team-specific and global community Cheering progress; check out your individual goals, and see leaderboards that highlight each team’s biggest superfan. HGG teams will not only feel the love from your Cheers, they’ll get to see themselves represented on Twitch and within Hearthstone on unlockable team-branded items!
Cheer for your favorite teams on /playhearthstone (or any of the international channels) during HGG events by clicking on the Bits gem at the bottom of chat, selecting the team’s logo, adding the number of Bits and a custom message to cheer them on.
Once Cheering goals are reached, items will be automatically deposited in your Hearthstone account as long as you have your account linked with your Twitch account.
Support your team in the Hearthstone Global Games beginning on September 17 and follow them as they chase the trophy at BlizzCon. For more details on the HGG Schedule, click here. Follow the Hearthstone channel to be notified when events go live.
FAQ
Q. How much revenue does a team receive when Bits are Cheered for them?
A. For each Bit Cheered for a team, that team and Blizzard (as the tournament organizer) receive the same amount of revenue share.
Q. How do I Cheer for a team?
A. Click on the Bits gem at the bottom of the chat window, select the team’s logo, add the number of Bits you want to use and a custom message to cheer them on.
Q. Can I use the regular Cheer command (e.g. cheer100) during HGG?
A. No, regular Cheers won’t work on the PlayHearthstone channel during HGG. You can Cheer for any or all of the teams competing in HGG using the team-themed Cheermotes.
Q. I forgot to link my Battle.net account before Cheering…Can I still get the items?
A. Yes! First, go ahead and link your Blizzard account to your Twitch account. Then, return to the PlayHearthstone channel. You’ll see that a “Redeem All” button has appeared. Hit that button to claim your items! Going forward, the items will be deposited directly into your account.
As most gamers will tell you, the original PlayStation system (which debuted in 1995) was a revolutionary step forward for the video game world. It took graphics, gameplay, and storytelling to a whole new level. Even the design of the system itself was influential. Recently, however, a brilliant product designer reimagined that classic design for the 21st century.
Mingyu Kim (in partnership with practical product design company PDF HAUS) has completely redesigned the PS1 system with a fresh, modern day look. His design is not only visually stunning, it’s also practical. In other words, this thing could actually work… if it were real that is. So let’s hope Sony takes a hint and hires this guy to create an official version of this thing. Take a look at his beautiful design below.
Whenever Rockstar updates GTA Online heads swivel and the inevitable question returns – when is GTA 6 coming out?
Unfortunately Rockstar has barely hinted about a new Grand Theft Auto game, and the majority of leaks have been rumours at best, guess work, or just straight up lies at worst. A cottage industry creating GTA 6 YouTube videos has sprung up, but these are no more legit than your friend whose uncle works at Rockstar and has played the alpha. Dude, no one has played the game. .
There is hope that it exists in some form though. Back in March 2016 we reported that GTA 6 was in production. This was before Rockstar said it was concentrating so heavily on GTA Online though, so schedules will have no doubt changed. But GTA 5 has shipped 85 million copies. Of course GTA 6 is going to be in production in some form.
More recently, a big leak came from The Know citing an inside source, that suggests GTA 6 returns to Vice City, features a female lead and could be out as late as 2022.
GTA 6 release date – when is GTA 6 out? Rockstar recently took the very rare step of dismissing a rumour that GTA 6 would be released in 2019. Some modders had hacked GTA Online to show a pop-up that advertised the next Grand Theft Auto game would be coming out in 2019. That’s bollocks, obviously, and the rumour was soon shot down.
Look, we’ll be brutally honest with you. GTA 6 doesn’t have an official release date yet, and even when it does, Rockstar has a history of delays. GTA 5 was held back, and the PC version was also delayed a couple of times. The next big game from Rockstar is Red Dead Redemption 2, and that’s already been delayed. So when GTA 6 does eventually get its first release date, don’t put money on it.
The most recent rumours from The Know suggest a long wait for GTA 6. If it’s still 3-4 years away, expect GTA 6 to be released around 2022.
GTA 6 map – where is the next GTA game set? Everyone has their own idea of where the next GTA 6 map should be. And it’s not just fans of the series – this real estate company recreated their own map of Portland complete with pins pointing out knocking shops and tattoo parlours for a few clicks. Aside from London, GTA games aren’t set in real-world locations although each of their maps are based on largely populated cities. Liberty City was based on New York, while Los Santos incorporates LA and the surrounding county. Expect a map for GTA 6 to have bigger size goals then, and to suck up familiar parts of the United States.
Rumours from The Know are pointing to Vice City as the locations for GTA 6, as well as suggesting there will be travel outside of the US to South America to continue missions there. If so, it would mark a big change to move outside of the United States, but could provide a complete alternative environment to a sprawling cosmopolitan city.
GTA 6 news Who’s always got the GTA news for you? We have. We’ve got an extensive library of all things GTA 5, GTA Online and GTA 6 speculation. Bookmark this page because if anything important breaks, we’ll be on it like a tramp on chips.
GTA 6 characters – can we expect Franklin, Trevor or Michael to return? We’re pretty certain the stories of GTA 5’s protagonists are over, as they never did make it into the promised GTA 5 single-player story DLC. But when GTA 6 does surface you should expect a few familiar faces, names, companies and locations to crop up. There’s history here; Lazlow Jones has been knocking around GTA games since GTA 3, Ken Rosenburg has represented Tommy from Vice City and CJ from San Andreas, and CJ, Sweet and Ryder all make a fleeting appearance in GTA 5.
GTA 6 could be the first in the series to focus heavily on a female lead, according to those rumours from The Know. We would expect multiple protagonists again, as we saw with GTA 5, and a major female character should liven up the Grand Theft Auto formula.
GTA 6 cars – what cars will be in GTA 6? The list of vehicles in GTA 5 and GTA Online is extensive, to say the least. If it exists in real-life then you can bet your ass Rockstar will recreate something similar for a GTA game. That goes for cars from proper manufacturers, military vehicles and fiction – like this Batmobile inspired Vigilante.
Capcom’s Mega Man 11, the next entry in the company’s classic franchise, is already gaining a lot of traction. To capitalize on the attention and strike while the iron is hot, a Mega Man 11 demo has been released for the PlayStation 4. People can immediately download it from the PlayStation Store and begin playing.
In this Mega Man 11 demo, players are given a chance to jump into Block Man’s stage. This is a full level, which means you even fight Block Man himself at the end. The demo doesn’t last very long, so you may finish it relatively quickly, but it does offer multiple difficulty options. Plus, you get an opportunity to test some of the cool, new additions to the Mega Man formula.
Specifically, one of those additions is the much touted Double Gear system. Hailed by Capcom as Mega Man’s most powerful upgrades yet, it allows people to swap to the Speed Gear to make Mega Man faster and the world slower or the Power Gear to make special weapons stronger and fire double Charge Shots.
In case you missed it, Capcom has regularly shared details about the new Mega Man 11 Robot Masters. As these deadly bosses are defeated, Mega Man will be acquire even more abilities, such as the Pile Diver power.
Keen on Mega Man 11? Well, grab the demo as soon as you can, the grab when the game when it hit the markets on on October 2, 2018.
Sony’s new overall CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, recently made controversial comments about cross-play, and now an Xbox executive has responded. Xbox engineering lead Mike Ybarra said on Twitter that Sony “still isn’t listening to gamers” about the cross-play situation.
“[Sony still] isn’t listening to gamers,” Ybarra said. “All games should be cross-play and progression with the right input flexibility and gamer options.”
After someone pointed out to Ybarra said Sony’s PS4 has been outselling the Xbox One for a long time, Ybarra himself pointed out that Microsoft operates in the console and Windows PC space which expands its gaming footprint significantly. He also suggested that Sony is doing a disservice to its users by not supporting cross-play.
“We run Windows and Console,” Ybarra said. “Larger gaming audience who wants to play together. Gaming is diverse, if you only serve to bring joy to part of an audience then you are behind in many, many ways.”
Going back with what Yoshida said, he spoke at the IFA conference in Berlin recently and suggested that Sony doesn’t allow cross-play because PS4 is the “best place to play.”
“On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief,” Yoshida said, according to The Independent.
Yoshida pointed out that Sony supports cross-play between PS4 and PC, and that going forward the company will “decide based on what is the best user experience.”
He added that he believes competition with Xbox and Nintendo is “always good.” Yoshida became Sony’s CEO earlier this year after longtime CEO Kazuo Hirai stepped down.
Going back to Ybarra and Xbox, someone asked for Ybarra to explain why Microsoft requires a paid Xbox Live Gold membership for some free-to-play games and betas while Sony does not. He did not respond.
Games like Rocket League, Fortnite, and Minecraft support cross-play between Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, but not PlayStation 4. Sony said a while back that it’s confident it will find a solution about cross-play that satisfies gamers and meets businesses considerations at the same time. As of yet, Sony has yet to say anything more.
Fortnite Battle Royale is currently the most popular video game, and it is also the game that is crying to connect all gaming systems together. Even though a few other games have tried to have cross-play functionality enabled, this is the first time that a huge game wants it. However, it may not happen anytime soon.
Epic Games has enabled cross-play functionality for Fortnite Battle Royale on every system. However, there are still some restrictions, and they mostly come from Sony. For example, PlayStation 4 players can only play with PC and mobile players, but they cannot play with their Xbox One or Nintendo Switch players.
The reason for this is simple: PlayStation 4 is much successful than Xbox One. Sony’s gaming console has sold two times more units than its main competitor and it currently holds a 60 percent market share. The Japanese company is aware of this, which is why cross-play functionality will probably never be enabled between these two consoles.
“On cross-platform, our way of thinking is always that PlayStation is the best place to play. Fortnite, I believe, partnered with PlayStation 4 is the best experience for users, that’s our belief,” Sony chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida said. He also added that Sony has opened cross-platform play with PC and some other platforms.
In short, this means that Sony has no plans on enabling the cross-play functionality between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
In 2011, it was Microsoft who was opposed to cross-platform functionality between PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now, it is Sony who refuses to enable this. It is easy to conclude that cross-play between PlayStation and Xbox will not be possible if one console sells many more units than its rival.
We can only hope that PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett will be even in terms of sales. This could possibly bring the two consoles together and allow console gamers from all around the world to play with and against each other, no matter what platform they use.
While the PS5 release date remains something of a mystery, more and more development studios are weighing in with what they want to see from Sony’s next-gen console.
Wishlists include more physics-based events, faster processors and better connectivity between different platforms.
In a recent chat with Express Online, Shadow of the Tomb Raider narrative director Jason Dozois and lead game designer Heath Smith revealed what they want from the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett.
And the general consensus is for anything that would make Tomb Raider games look even better than they already do.
“More memory, more rendering, being able to see a further distance,” Dozois revealed. “Seeing vistas and thinking, ‘I can actually go there’, and it’s all connected.”
The sentiment was echoed by Smith, who said that future Tomb Raider games would benefit from bigger worlds and greater draw distances.
“The more alive everything feels and the draw distance, because Tomb Raider is famous for its vistas, so the further you can have life in a vista, the more alive it feels,” he added.
And if recent PS5 release date reports are anything to go by, Dozois and Smith might not have to wait very long to find out what the next PlayStation is capable of.
Japanese analyst firm Ace Economic Research Institute believes that the PS5 could launch as early as 2019.
A potential 2019 release date could, however, be derailed by manufacturing shortages.
As DualShockers points out, monolithic ceramic capacitors are especially problematic due to their increased use in cars.
Either way, there’s a good possibility we’ll find out more about the PS5 at one of next year’s big gaming events.
Partners and Affiliates do so much to build amazing communities on Twitch, and a huge part of growing those audiences is getting subscribers who consistently watch, chat, spam emotes, make Clips, and more.
With Gifted Subs and Community Gifting, we gave viewers the power to help out their favorite streamers by inviting new friends to the party. This SUBtember, we’re making it easier than ever to keep the Sub train going with a great month-long deal: continue a gifted subscription for 80% off!
This deal applies to Tier 1 subscriptions, meaning you can turn any Tier of your gifted Sub into a recurring Tier 1 Sub for just $1 (final price may vary by region, see FAQ below). And yes, streamers will still get the full amount from the Sub. To take advantage of this 80% off promotion, you need to have an active gifted subscription during 9/10–9/30 and commit to a paid subscription during this time.
If you’ve already set up your gift subscription to renew between 9/10 and 9/30, you can still take advantage of SUBTember pricing. To obtain the promotional price, you’ll need to cancel the Sub continuation at your subscriptions management page and then choose to continue the gift sub again between 9/10 and 9/30 .
Ready to support your favorite streams and keep access to all those custom badges and emotes? Below are the two ways to continue your subscription, and please note that this promotion is only available if you sign-up on a desktop web browser.
Visit the Streamer’s channel and click “Continue” on the top of the video player
2. Visit your subscriptions management page and click on the “Gift Subscriptions” tab. Then find the streamer’s panel and click “Continue.”
Got more questions? We’ve got answers.
Q: I had a gift sub that was set to expire before 9/10 and I renewed it at the regular Tier 1 price. Can I retroactively get the promotional price?
No, your subscription renewal must fall between 9/10 and 9/30 in order to get the promotional price.
Q: If my gift sub expired before 9/10, can I get the promotional price?
No, your subscription renewal must fall between 9/10 and 9/30 in order to get the promotional price.
Q: What exactly do I need to do to take advantage of this promotion?
Visit either the Streamer’s channel, or your Subscriptions Management Page. Click “Continue”, select a Tier 1 sub at the discounted price and complete your checkout.
Q: What is the discount if I continue my gifted sub as a Tier 1?
Tier 1 is discounted at a whopping 80% off, which is just $1 before taxes and fees. Your final price may vary based on region.
Q: Is there a limit to how many times I can do this?
As long as you have an active gift sub to a channel, you can take advantage of this! The discounted price only applies to the first month of the Tier 1 paid sub. After the first month, it will return to the normal price.
Q: What channels does this apply to?
Any Partner and Affiliate channel as long as they offer a recurring subscription.
Q: Does this apply to all Tiers of subscription?
The discount only applies to Tier 1 paid subscriptions. If you currently have a gifted subscription at Tier 2 or 3, you can continue to a paid subscription at the same Tier for the regular price or continue at Tier 1 for the discounted price.
Q: How long will the paid subscription be discounted for?
Only the first month of the gift-to-paid subscription will be discounted. After one month, the subscription will return to normal price.
Q: When am I charged for the paid subscription?
Your paid subscription will start when your gifted subscription ends.
Q: What about tax and VAT?
The discount is on the base price of the subscription before any taxes/VAT are applied.
Q: When exactly is this happening?
Starting 12:00PM PDT September 10th and ending 11:59PM PDT September 30th
Q: Does this work on the Android or iOS Twitch Apps?
No, to take advantage of this discounted price you’ll have to visit twitch.tv/subscriptions or the streamer’s channel in a desktop web browser.
Q: If I receive a gift sub to a channel I’ve never subbed to before, and after the gifted month I decide to continue the sub, does my tenure start at month one or month two?
Your tenure would continue as month two, because gifted subs count toward sub tenure. Don’t forget to share your resub notification in the channel.
Q: I want to buy a multi-month bundle (i.e. 3 months or 6 months). Do these qualify for the promotion?
The 3 and 6 month Subscription bundles do not qualify for this promotion.
Q: I committed to continue my subscription already, will I also get the promotional price?
If you previously committed to renew your subscription between 9/10 and 9/30 you will need to cancel your continuation at your subscriptions management page and continue the gift sub again to obtain the promotional price. For more details, please check the email associated with your Twitch account.
Q: My gift sub continuation will hit in October, will I still get the promotional price?
You must commit to renew between 9/10 and 9/30 to qualify for the promotion price. If you already committed to a renewal date past 10/1 prior to the promotion start date, you will need to cancel your continuation at your subscriptions management page and continue the gift sub again to obtain the promotional price.
Few entertainment franchises have achieved global success in the same way Pokémon has. Last week, Twitch and The Pokémon Company International kicked off Pokémon: The Series extravaganza featuring 16 movies and 900+ episodes to be live-streamed in several different marathons spanning into 2019. This will be the single longest programmatic viewing event to stream on Twitch.
Another aspect we’re particularly excited about is the Pokémon Badge Collector Extension. This super-slick and engaging, interactive overlay allows viewers to virtually collect Pokémon badgeswhile they watch.
To activate the Extension, viewers click on the Poké Ball overlay and start collecting Pokémon badges. That’s not all, though; the Extension is feature packed including:
Achievements — track lifetime stats, such as points and total badges collected over the course of the entire marathon
Inventory — review and search through all the Pokémon you’ve caught
Leaderboard — see how you rank with friends and other Pokémon fans who are also watching and playing along
Bonuses — complete individual and global community goals to earn special bonuses and rewards
Review and search through all the Pokémon you’ve caught!
Complete individual and global community goals to earn special bonuses and rewards.
We caught up with the creative folks over at Stink Studios to learn more about what went into building such a unique and innovative Extension for Twitch.
TwitchDev: Why are you excited about this program and Extension?
Stink Studios: Twitch is the only major live streaming platform that offers a way for developers to create interactive applications that exist over the content. Plus, anyone can build an Extension and distribute it to broadcasters, truly democratizing this platform’s feature.
Here at Stink Studios, we’ve contextualized this as a sort-of augmented reality: an Extension acts as that heads-up display to live content. There is a lot of talk about the merging of technology and content; Twitch Extensions do this.
TwitchDev: Is this the first Extension you’ve built for Twitch? If yes, where did you start?
Stink Studios: This is our first Extension that we’ve built for Twitch. When building for a new platform, the very first place we start is the documentation. Fortunately, Twitch Extensions has written pretty thorough information to get developers started, but leaves it pretty open-ended so developers can customize their codebase to suit their needs. The next step we did was to do a general audit of the landscape, combing through pre-existing Extensions and searching Github for publicly available codebases. Finally, we prototyped typical network relation strategies — 1:1, 1:N, N:N, and N:1 — within the Twitch Developer Rig since these patterns would be the foundation to our extension.
TwitchDev: Can you briefly describe your development process, including how you came up with the idea, how long it took, what you did to test or troubleshoot, etc.?
Stink Studios: Here at Stink Studios, creative and technical teams work closely together to come up with new concepts for clients. We iterated a lot of ideas together in what we call a “grab-bag deck.” One idea that stuck out was collecting badges throughout a stream’s duration. In particular, how can we reward viewers for active watching? Twitch told us that they think Pokémon would be a great content partner for this concept, and we did another round where we tied the technical concept with the content.
From there, we created UX documentation about how the Extension works, such as user flows and game mechanics, which flowed into creative designs that gave the Extension a look and feel that is consistent with both the Twitch and Pokémon universes. These first two phases (UX and design with technical R&D) took about four weeks.
Finally, we went into our coding process, where we began to actually build the Extension from the ground up. Since this was a new platform for us, we had to vet out how the Extension works across different screen sizes, as well as how to handle about 100,000 concurrent users within this context. Then, we created an overall backend systems architecture and split out the visual components to be built out on the front end. We divided and conquered over about six quick sprints, which took us about five weeks to build. However, now that we have a lot of the infrastructure encapsulated as reusable components, we can have the foundation to build any future extensions efficiently.
TwitchDev: Describe the tech behind this Extension? Any hurdles you had to overcome?
Stink Studios: For the front end of this project, we used React and Redux since they are battle-tested and production-ready libraries that have a lot of community support. We sometimes use Vue on other projects, but since the Twitch Developer Rig is already built with React for the front end, so we decided to align with that.
For the back end of this project, we used a serverless architecture, built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Serverless architecture is a relatively new backend paradigm, where the server only exists when data is transmitted to it, rather than having a box that is “always-on.” In particular, we used AWS API Gateway and Lambda to both handle our users and their badge collections, which are stored on an Aurora database. In order to alleviate stress on the database when a lot of users collected a badge simultaneously, we needed a way to slow down all the requests. To accommodate this, we used AWS’s SQS as a virtual conveyor belt. Interestingly enough, SQS is actually one of the oldest services on AWS. In combination with all of the relatively new services we have used, it served as a good contrast in our architecture.
Finally, to be incredibly reactive to viewers, we leaned into optimistic updates with eventual consistency model. That is to say, viewers would immediately see their badge and stat updates after a collection without having to wait for the server to return any information. Once the server processed all the information in bulk, it would validate their collection and tell the front end, which would either retain the collection or rollback the change. Using these principles allows for viewers to have immediate gratification without sacrificing the verification of their actions.
TwitchDev: The Extension initially had some outages due to significantly higher usage than expected, can you describe how you optimized and scaled to keep up with demand?
Stink Studios: This outage affected primarily our Users API. In particular, viewers entering the stream were not able to access the Extension. If you were in the stream before the outage occurred, you could actually keep collecting Pokémon badges. Our primary issue was bottlenecks with the database. We made a lot of optimizations to our AWS Lambda functions to pool and reuse database connections, but ultimately, pivoted away from using a serverless architecture to a more typical server-based setup on AWS Elastic Beanstalk. Fortunately, we were using a framework that made the transition relatively painless. Although our Collect API is still a serverless microservice, it makes more sense for our Users API to use a more typical pattern for accessing and writing user information. Most of the time, the tried-and-true solutions work the best!
Twitch Prime and Ubisoft are teaming up to bring Twitch Prime members exclusive items in Rainbow 6 Siege starting September 6th through December 31st.
At the beginning of the promotion Twitch Prime members will receive eight Twitch Prime packs containing exclusive items for Hibana, Finka, Ela or Bandit. In the following months, Twitch Prime members will receive an additional four Twitch Prime packs in the months of October and November, all of which are guaranteed to exclude any duplicates! Make sure you collect all 16 packs to complete all 4 skins!
Not only that, but no matter when you take part in the promotion, you will also receive a legendary Chibi Charm as well.
We have a ton of awesome stuff coming your way for you and your operators, so get in and get your skins and get into the action!
What is Twitch Prime?
Twitch Prime is a new premium experience on Twitch that is included with Amazon Prime. Benefits include monthly in-game loot, a channel subscription every 30 days AND all the benefits of being a prime member. See all the Twitch Prime benefits here.
Check out the full list of Amazon Prime benefits in: US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Spain. You can try it for free for 30 days right here, and when you do, you get all the Twitch Prime benefits instantly just by linking your Twitch account to your Amazon account.
Prime Now One and two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items from Amazon and local stores. Check out Prime Now.
Every month, Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscribers get several free games, which they can continue to play as long as they stay subscribed to the services. You can claim your free games directly from their respective consoles, but to make sure you don’t forget them, it’s easier to grab the freebies as soon as you learn they’re available each month—even if you’re out of the house. Here’s how.
PlayStation Plus
Claiming your free PlayStation Plus games is actually easier on your phone than it is on the console, as you’ll have the opportunity to grab free PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 games in addition to the free PlayStation 4 games.
First, download the PlayStation App on your mobile device and sign into your PlayStation Network account. Next, hit the PlayStation symbol at the bottom of the screen and select “PS Store” from the menu that appears.
You should see an option labeled “PlayStation Plus” at this point. Select this, then select “Free Games,” and you’ll be presented with all the free PlayStation Plus games currently available. Just add them all to your cart and checkout to claim them.
The process is nearly identical on a web browser. Just go to the PlayStation Store website and you’ll spot the PlayStation Plus option on the left side of the page. “Free Games” will be listed on the next page, and you can quickly add them to your cart this way.
You can also set your newly acquired games to install on your console while you’re away—assuming you’ve left your console in “rest mode” rather than powering it down completely. Hit the profile icon to the right of the shopping cart and select “download list.” Pick the game you want to download and just select “Download to your PS4.”
Xbox Games With Gold
Claiming your free games through Xbox Games With Gold is a little bit different than it is on PlayStation Plus. If all you’re interested in are the Xbox One games, the process takes only a few seconds. Open the Xbox App on your mobile device, hit the menu icon in the top-left corner, and select “Microsoft Store.”
Scroll once to the right to find your free games. Select the Xbox One game you wish to claim. Once you’ve grabbed it, you can select “Install on Xbox One” to start the download process, assuming your console is in “Instant On” mode instead of being turned completely off. You also need to make sure the “Keep my games & app up to date” box is checked in your console’s system settings.
You can’t claim the free Xbox 360 games from the Xbox App for some reason. Instead, you’re going to have to use a web browser. Head over to the Xbox website and select the “Games” tab at the top of the page.
Scroll down until you see “Games With Gold,” and select it to jump to a page that lists all the currently available free games. Click on the Xbox 360 game you couldn’t claim on the app, and look for the “all downloads” list on the next page. The first option should let you claim the game for free. Click it—you might have to do this a few times—and you’ll be able to confirm your “purchase.”
The era of the Playstation 2 is over. Sony has confirmed that the PS2 has been officially retired after 18 years of service.
The news comes from IT Media who revealed that Sony Japan had given PlayStation 2 owners until the 31st August to fill in the necessary online forms to get their venerable old consoles fixed one last time before the service was terminated permanently.
Those who did not register by the August 31st deadline were still able to physically send their consoles to the PlayStation Clinic service center in Japan. Any PlayStation 2’s that arrive after September 7th will not be repaired.
Now, that time period has ended, and Sony has cut ties with the console – in terms of keeping it alive. While backwards-compatible versions of the PlayStation 3 are still available in the wild (but no longer actively produced), players will have to go to their local console wizard to fix any hardware issues with their PS2.
The PlayStation 2 was released in March 2000 in Japan and October 2000 in North America. It is considered the best-selling video game console of all time. Sony sold over 155 million units and over 3,000 PlayStation 2 game titles were made available.
Some of its best-selling titles included Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Final Fantasy X, God of War, and Kingdom Hearts.
The PlayStation 3 was launched in 2006, but the PS2 continued to be an incredibly popular console. The PlayStation 2 was officially discontinued in 2013.
Many users have taken to Twitter and Facebook to give tributes to Sony, both for making the PS2 in the first place and indeed for keeping it alive for so ruddy long.
So with Sony Japan finally pulling the plug on this remarkable piece of tech, we urge you to listen to this glorious piece of intro music, one last time:
Sony has been splashing the cash on the marketing for Marvel’s Spider-Man, with everything from murals popping up across the world to a fully decked out subway train in New York City. However, this next example may be the best yet in showing the platform holder’s confidence in, and dedication to, Insomniac’s PS4 exclusive.
This image, which comes courtesy of SIEA’s Social Media Manager Justin Massongill, shows the American HQ of PlayStation all webbed up with an awesome advertisement. Sony clearly knows it has a big seller on its hands, and is going to all lengths to keep Spider-Man on people’s minds. We’re expecting this to be a huge hit when it launches in just a few short days.
Are you hyped up for Marvel’s Spider-Man? Get your Spidey senses tingling in the comments below.
Released in 2006, the PlayStation 3 managed to survive almost four years into the PlayStation 4’s generation. Eleven years is an impressive lifespan for a console, but still no match for the PlayStation 2’s achievement of thirteen – hardly surprising for the best-selling console of all time.
Sony’s third console sold 80 million units during its lifetime, just shy of the Xbox 360’s total tally. This is no mean feat considering the huge advantage Microsoft’s system had in releasing a year earlier and being cheaper. Sony also lost several key exclusivity deals with series such as Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy, making the PlayStation 3 much less of a requirement than its predecessor.
However, slimmer and cheaper models coupled with critically acclaimed titles released towards the end of the generation meant the console finished on a high, and is now fondly remembered as one of the greats amongst fans.
The Last of Us, the Uncharted trilogy, and God of War III are just some of the exclusives which turned the PS3 from a relative failure to a success.
With over 50 million PlayStation 4 units sold since its 2013 launch, it looks certain that Sony’s latest system will eclipse the PlayStation 3’s sales figures.
Did you own a PlayStation 3? How do you remember it? Let us know in the comments section below.
Calling all heroes of Overwatch — Blizzard Entertainment is excited to announce that we’re partnering with Twitch and Amazon to bring you a Golden Loot Box* for Overwatch! From September 4 — October 8, Overwatch players who link their Amazon Prime account to their Twitch account can claim a Golden Loot Box that contains at least one legendary item!
Of course, you’ll also enjoy all the benefits that come with Prime, from monthly channel subscriptions to support your favorite streamers, fast, free delivery on over 100 million items, streaming movies and TV shows, and more.
Must own Overwatch to claim. Loot Boxes do not include seasonal event items. Contents of Loot Boxes are random. Each Blizzard account may only claim one code per promotional item.
Step 1: If you don’t already have a Twitch account, create one here. Step 2: Log in to your Twitch account. Step 3: If you don’t already have a Blizzard account, create onehere. Step 4: Navigate to the Twitch Connections pagein the Settings menu. Step 5: Locate the Blizzard Battle.net section and chose your gameplay region. Step 6: Log in to the Blizzard account you wish to link and click Log in to Blizzard.
(Console Only) Link Your Console and Blizzard Accounts:
Before linking your Twitch and Blizzard accounts, check to see that you’re not logged into any other Blizzard accounts at the same time in the same browser, as this could cause complications. For the best results, complete the process in “private browsing” or “incognito” mode.
How to Claim Your TWITCH PRIME REWARDS Offer Redemption Instructions
Claim Your Twitch Prime Offer:
Step 1: Visit the Overwatch Twitch Prime Rewards page. Step 2:Log in to your Twitch account and authorize. Step 3: Click to claim your loot on Blizzard Account Step 4: Success! You are ready to claim your items in the game.
Claim Your Rewards In-Game:
Step 5: Launch Overwatch on PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One. Step 6: Click on the Loot Boxes menu option. Step 7: Locate your loot boxes and open them to see what you unlocked!
Once you claim an Overwatch reward, all future rewards in the campaign will be automatically applied to the same Blizzard account as long as you remain an active Twitch Prime member and cannot be transferred. Be sure that your preferred Blizzard account is connected to your Twitch account at the time of enrolling!
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