The next generation of Madden NFL 21 on Xbox Series X|S is here! Fueled by real-world Next Gen Stats and authentic new environments inside NFL stadiums, you can experience it all starting today, December 4.
Chock full of new features like the integration of Next Gen Stats and a new replay system, plus star-driven play calling, new player physiques, and visual and audio improvements, will make you feel game day like never before. Let’s get to it!
Next Gen Stats and New Player Movement
A completely new animation system in the next generation of Madden NFL 21 is fueled by Next Gen Stats, the NFL’s player tracking technology that captures real-time location data, speed, and acceleration for every player for every play on every inch of the field. You know those advanced stats that pop up while you’re watching an NFL game, like Ball Carrier Speed, Time to Throw, or Completed Air Distance? Those are Next Gen Stats. And all this data collected by RFID chips in players’ shoulder pads has been integrated into the Madden NFL 21 animation engine to re-create fluid, athletic player movement when running, cutting, and changing direction for all 22 players on the field.
The Next Gen Stats Player Movement innovation also impacts wide receiver route-running in a big way as WRs will run actual routes logged by NGS data from real NFL games. In addition to speed and acceleration rates, our animation engine is also leveraging player-specific route paths from Next Gen Stats for individual receivers.
There’s also a big impact on the defensive side of the ball. This new player movement affects defensive players in terms of speed, facing direction, and acceleration. Backpedaling, strafing, and reacting and making breaks on plays is more realistic thanks to next gen technology.
Next Gen Stats Replays
Another feature stemming from the integration of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats data is an all-new replay system. You can now relive the thrill of victory backed by Next Gen Stats data. Certain statistical moments will trigger these replays that are presented in beautifully rendered cinematics, highlighting the biggest plays by the best players in the game. Nobody can argue a big play backed by hard data, so the bragging rights are all yours.
Star-Driven Play Calling
Call the best play for the right player on every single down. With new star-driven play calling, getting the ball into the hands of your Superstar X-Factors in Madden NFL 21 has never been easier. Plus, with the new favorite play marker, you can put all your preferred plays on speed-dial to quickly call them in the most high-pressure moments.
Next Gen Player Bodies
New player physiques in the next generation of Madden NFL 21 separates the best in the league from the rest. NFL athletes are built differently depending on the positions they play, and these differences are more distinct thanks to next generation technology that delivers new levels of detail and realism. All player bodies in the next generation of Madden NFL are brand new to accurately represent the various athletic body types across the league. So, you’ll really see and feel the difference between the freakish athleticism of D.K. Metcalf versus, for example, another player with a less athletic physical build.
Next Gen Presentation
With new deferred lighting and rendering, there’s more detail everywhere in the next generation of Madden NFL 21. Authentic new environments, unlocked by a new deferred lighting system create ultra-realistic football experiences and player fidelity, enhancing the game in every part of the stadium. And on the Xbox Series X, you can see it all in 4K, as well as higher resolution for player textures. Another awesome feature on Xbox Series X is the 4K/60 framerate during gameplay, snap to whistle, and 4K/30 for non-interactive moments and replays. And with more contextual awareness, sideline characters, both on the field and on the sidelines, are more reactionary to everything that’s happening.
Brave the elements as Mother Nature comes to life in Madden NFL 21 with stunning new weather detail. See standing water on rain-drenched sidelines and cold winter snow accumulate on the field. Visually enhanced weather conditions also affect cloth definition on athletes to match environmental variables.
Finally, immerse yourself in the sound of the stadium with location-based audio. Hear the spine-tingling roar of the stadium thanks to audio technology new to Madden NFL that wraps around you for a completely immersive experience.
Buy now and get the next gen of Madden NFL 21 for Xbox Series X|S for free (conditions apply) and carry your MUT, Franchise modes, and The Yard progress across generations.
Get ready to feel game day realism like never before in the next generation of Madden NFL 21 starting today!
With the holidays around the corner, we’re sharing six new Google features for Android—a few more ways your phone gets more helpful over time, even outside of major OS updates. Whether you’re texting holiday greetings to loved ones or winding down with a book, here’s how Android can help.
1. Mix up more of your favorite emoji
Click on the image above to see a video of the latest mixing experience coming to Emoji Kitchen
With Emoji Kitchen on Gboard, people have mixed their favorite emoji into customized stickers over 3 billion times since it was released earlier this year. With this latest update, Emoji Kitchen is going from hundreds of unique design combinations to over 14,000. Each mix makes it easier for you to express yourself with a little extra flair. Now you can simply tap two emoji to quickly see suggested combinations, or double tap on one emoji to reveal some more intense emotions.
Already available on Gboard beta, the new version of Emoji Kitchen will be available on Android 6.0 and above over the coming weeks. Download Gboard on Google Play to enjoy the new emoji kitchen stickers this holiday season. ❄️️⛄️
2. Enjoy more stories as audiobooks
Click on the image above to see a video of how Google Play is bringing more audiobooks to Android
The holiday season is the perfect time to wind down and catch up on some books, and audiobooks make it even more convenient to immerse yourself in a story. But not all books, like the one written by your favorite indie author, are converted into an audiobook. Now Google Play, working with publishers in the U.S. and the UK, will use auto-generated narrators so books without audio versions can be narrated—meaning you’ll have more audio titles to choose from on Play Store. The publisher tool to create auto-narrated audiobooks is currently in beta, but it will roll out to all publishers in early 2021.
3. Use Voice Access to navigate your device
Click on the image above to see a video showing how Voice Access can help you navigate your smartphone
Built with people with motor disabilities in mind, Voice Access lets you control your phone using your voice. Now using machine learning technology, you can add labels to the screens of your Android apps to help you work within them with your voice. For example, you can say “open Photos”, “tap Search”, “tap Your Map” to see a map of all your photos. This makes navigation convenient and hands-free, using just your voice. Previously rolled out on Android 11, this new version of Voice Access is now available globally on all devices running Android 6.0 and above. You can download Voice Access on Google Play and try the new version out by joining the Beta today.
4. Get around with the Go Tab
Click on the image above to see the video of the new Go Tab in Google Maps
With the new Go Tab in Google Maps, you can more easily navigate to frequently-visited places with just one tap. Pin your favorite driving destinations like school or a grocery store to quickly see directions, live traffic trends, disruptions on your route, and an accurate ETA—all without typing the place’s address. If you take public transit, you can pin specific routes, which will let you see accurate departure and arrival times, alerts from your local transit agency, and an up-to-date ETA right from the Go Tab. You can even pin multiple routes (including a driving route and a transit route) to the same destination to see which one will get you there most efficiently. The Go Tab starts rolling out on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.
Be sure to check out other helpful Google Maps features on Android, like live transit crowdedness and Assistant driving mode to help you navigate and get things done this holiday season.
5. Android Auto expands to more countries
Over the next few months, Android Auto will be expanding to new countries, bringing your favorite apps and services from your phone onto your car display. With Android Auto, you can talk to Google to play music, send messages, get directions, and more, so you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. With phones running Android 10 and above, all you need to do to get started is plug your Android phone into a compatible car. For Android 9 and earlier phones, you can download the app.
6. Share your favorite apps with Nearby Share
An upcoming update to Nearby Share will let you share apps from Google Play with the people around you with an Android phone, even if you don’t have a cell or Wi-Fi connection. Simply open Google Play, go to the “Share Apps” menu in “My Apps & Games,” select the apps you want to share, and let your friend accept the incoming apps. This update will roll out in the coming weeks.
New helpful Android features are available for the holidays, with updates on Gboard, Google Play, Maps and more.
Marking 34 years since the first Dragon Quest game released (originally known as Dragon Warrior in the West), it’s especially exciting for Xbox as we welcome for the first time ever this acclaimed series to our console. This sprawling standalone adventure is the perfect starting point for new players and is full of RPG features that longtime fans of the series have come to love, like classic turn-based battles and a vast world full of colorful characters and unique enemies (Slimes!).
With new character side stories, a Retro 2D mode, Japanese audio, and a full orchestrated soundtrack, this definitive version is packed with new features and enhancements that help make it the complete Dragon Quest XI experience for RPG fans across the globe.
Xbox Game Pass members can start playing today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members can enjoy playing on Windows 10 PC as well. The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning your progress is shared across console and PC letting you pick up and play Dragon Quest XI wherever you prefer to game.
To get a taste of the adventure, be sure to check out the Dragon Quest XI S demo on the Xbox Store that provides 10 hours of content from the opening of the game. Your progress from the demo can carry over to the full game as well. Completing this scenario will award you with the Seed of Skill that gives you an extra skill point that can be used either in the demo or when you bring your save progress over to the full game.
Now go have some fun and save the world!
DRAGON QUEST® XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ – Definitive Edition
The ultimate edition of the latest major entry in the legendary RPG series! Embark upon an epic adventure as The Luminary: the chosen one in a world that vows to hunt him down. The Luminary and his unique band of loyal companions work together to survive an onslaught of ne’er-do-wells and overthrow the dark forces that plot to plunge the world of Erdrea into chaos. Explore the massive world of DRAGON QUEST and awaken your power in this can't-miss adventure! – UNRAVEL AN EPIC MYSTERY IN A RIVETING TALE – You are the Luminary, a hunted Hero who must uncover the mystery of his fate. – ASSEMBLE A COLORFUL CAST – Accompanying you is an endearing band of adventurers with their own rich backstories and personalities. – EXPLORE A VAST, BEAUTIFUL, LIVING WORLD – Excitement lurks around every corner. Access new areas, by foot, on horseback or with the use of monstrous vehicles. – ENGAGE IN CLASSIC TURN-BASED BATTLES WITH A MODERN TWIST – Featuring mechanics simple enough for beginners, but with enough depth to satisfy hardcore fans. – HAVE SOME FUN & SAVE THE WORLD – Tons of side quests and addicting mini-games awaits you for enough content to keep you playing for well over 100 hours. – CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THE DRACONIAN QUEST – Available when you start a new game, these options allow you to craft you own customized difficulty. DEFINITIVE EDITION CONTENT Includes the critically acclaimed DRAGON QUEST XI, as well as an array of new content, features and quality of life improvements.
Welcome back! This is going to be a tough one. Did your favorite game of November 2020 come from PlayStation 5’s star-studded launch lineup? Or were you taken by one of the many PS4 releases we saw last month? Cast your vote below — we’ll keep the polls open through Sunday night, then tally up the votes and reveal the winner next week.
Oh, and keep your eye on the Blog… Game of the Year voting starts next week!
How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. Soon thereafter, we’ll close the polls, tally your votes, and announce the winner at PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year.
What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? In keeping with our long tradition in the Game of the Year Awards, remastered or re-released games won’t qualify. Ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds and remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will.
How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted.
Willkommen bei Next Week on Xbox. Wie immer stellen wir Dir alle neuen Spiele vor, die bald für Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S und Xbox One erhältlich sind! In der kommenden Woche erscheinen wieder eine Menge Spiele für Deine Lieblingskonsole – hier siehst Du, welche neuen Games Dich erwarten. Klick Dich einfach durch die Spiel-Details, um mehr zu möglichen Vorbestellungen zu erfahren (Änderungen vorbehalten).
Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Game Pass / Smart Delivery – Eine geheimnisvolle Insel im Südpazifik Mitte der 1930er Jahre: Du nimmst die Rolle von Norah ein, einer todesmutigen Frau, die sich auf eigene Faust auf die Suche nach ihrem verschollenen Ehemann macht. Löse mysteriöse Rätsel, ergründe die Geheimnisse einer vergessenen Zivilisation und komme der Lösung mit jedem Schritt näher. Aber Achtung: Je tiefer Du in das Innenleben der Insel eintauchst, desto eher hättest Du Dir gewünscht, die Reise nie auf Dich genommen zu haben.
Dec 8, 2020
Monster Sanctuary
Xbox Game Pass – Die Harmonie zwischen Monstern und Menschen ist gefährdet. Werde Deiner Rolle als ultimativer Monster-Hüter gerecht, indem Du der Ursache auf den Grund gehst und den Frieden wiederherstellst. Stelle aus den über 100 Monstern, die Dir auf Deiner Reise begegnen, ein schlagkräftiges Team zusammen und sichere den Fortbestand der Monster.
Smart Delivery – Die beliebte Rätselreihe Puyo Puyo und das weltbekannte Tetris schließen sich zusammen und sorgen gemeinsam nicht nur für hammerharte Herausforderungen sondern auch jede Menge Spaß. Spiele klassisches Puyo Puyo oder Tetris – oder einen Mix für den absoluten Spielspaß.
Die aufsteigende Ritterin Auralee aus dem beschaulichen Bauerndorf Berri stolpert während ihrer Patrouille über einen ungewöhnlichen Gast: Der unbekannte Mann Kerr behauptet, ein mächtiger Erddrache zu sein. Als sich die Ereignisse überschlagen, begibt sich Auralee gemeinsam mit Kerr auf die Reise, um dessen Drachenform wiederherzustellen. In diesem mitreißenden Visual Novel dreht sich alles um die Macht der Freundschaft, Verständnis und der Kraft, über sich selbst hinauszuwachsen.
Der Primaten Beobachtungsclub liebt nichts mehr, als zu beobachten – und das heimlich! Do Not Feed the Monkeys ist ein Beobachtungssimulator, in der Du von Deiner Zentrale aus auf unzähligen Bildschirmen nichtsahnende Fremde bei ihren Aktivitäten beobachtest. Die Regel: Jegliche Interaktion oder Beeinträchtigung mit den Beobachteten ist verboten. Es liegt an Dir, ob Du Dich daran hältst.
Dec 9, 2020
Xbox One X Enhanced – Du bist eine Dir selbstbewusste Künstliche Intelligenz, die auf einer Weltraum-Militärstation geschaffen wurde, um Waffen zu entwickeln. Jetzt ist es Dein Ziel, aus dem Labor auszubrechen, Dich durch feindliche Armeen zu kämpfen und Deine Freiheit wiederzuerlangen. Aber in diesem modernen Scrolling Shooter gestaltet sich das Entkommen schwieriger als gedacht …
Unto The End ist ein liebevoll handgestaltetes Abenteuer voller Herausforderungen und Kämpfe. Die Geschichte ist einfach: Als mittelloser Vater versuchst Du alleine und allen Gefahren zum Trotz, zu Deiner Familie zurückzukehren. Nur mit einem Schwert, einem Dolch und Deinem Geschick begibst Du Dich auf die Reise durch ein unbekanntes Land und stellst Dich den dort lauernden Gefahren. Jeder Schritt bringt Dich zwar näher an Dein Ziel, setzt Dich aber gleichzeitig auch größeren Gefahren aus.
Xbox One X Enhanced / Smart Delivery – Betrete die riesige, offene Welt von Cyberpunk 2077 und tauche ein in die pulsierende Cyberpunk-Metropole Night City, in der sich alles um Macht, Glamour und Body Modifications dreht. Du schlüpfst in die Rolle von V, einem gesetzlosen Söldner auf der Suche nach einem einzigartigen Implantat – dem Schlüssel zur Unsterblichkeit. Passe Cyberware, Skillset und Spielstil Deines Charakters nach Deinen Wünschen an und entdecke eine riesige Stadt, in der Deine Entscheidungen alles verändern können.
Schlüpfe in die Rolle von Brave Lord und überlebe die tödlichen Kammern des Königspalastes, um den diabolischen Lord Grave zu erreichen und das Königreich zu retten. In diesem actionreichen Plattformer sind schnelle Reflexe und ein gutes Gedächtnis der Schlüssel zum Erfolg. Wirst Du alle fünf Kammern überleben und dem grausamen Lord seine Krone entreißen?
My Hidden Things ist ein ungewöhnlicher Mix aus Visual Novel und einem Suchspiel voller versteckter Objekte. Nutze die unkonventionelle Mechanik und entfalte die komplexen Träume verschiedenster Charaktere. Nur mit Deiner Hilfe können sie ihre Ängste überwinden und menschlich bleiben.
Diese überarbeitete Version von Panzer Dragoon überzeugt mit verbesserter Grafik und moderner Steuerung. Auf einem weit entfernten, einsamen Planeten triffst Du zwei erwachte Drachen aus uralten Zeiten. Bewaffnet mit einer tödlichen Waffe aus der Vergangenheit und den Ratschlägen Deines gepanzerten blauen Drachens wirst Du Dein Schicksal erfüllen und den gefährlichen Prototyp-Drachen von seinem Angriff abhalten – oder bei dem Versuch sterben.
Dec 11, 2020
Xbox Play Anywhere / Xbox One X Enhanced – Nach dem preisgekrönten Minimalismus-Puzzler SiNKR folgt nun mit SiNKR 2 die anspruchsvolle und spannende Fortsetzung. Der Reiz liegt dabei in dem minimalistischen Aufbau der Level. Verschiedene Haken, Scheiben und Vorrichtungen bringen die grauen Zellen zum Rauchen!
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! Here we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 PC as well as upcoming Xbox Game Pass and soon-to-be released ID@Xbox games! Get more details on the games below and click their profiles for pre-order details when available (release dates are subject to change). Jump in!
Dive into an otherworldly tale of mystery and love set in the 1930s South Pacific. Play as Norah, an enigmatic woman on the trail of her missing husband’s expedition. Filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed, Call of the Sea is a story-led game with puzzles where every clue leads you deeper and leaves you questioning everything.
Monster Sanctuary – December 8 – Xbox Game Pass
On your quest to become the ultimate Monster Keeper, you’ll unravel the cause of a mystery that threatens the peace between humans and monsters. With over 100 monsters to encounter and dangerous lands ahead, you’ll need to build a powerful team if you want to save the Monster Sanctuary.
Puzzle legends reunite for the ultimate crossover. Japan’s beloved puzzle game series Puyo Puyo and world-renowned Tetris team up again to deliver even more fun. Play traditional Puyo Puyo and Tetris… or mix them together to level up your game
Autumn’s Journey – December 9
An aspiring knight from the farming town of Berri, stumbles upon something unexpected during one of her patrols: A man who claims he is an Earth Dragon. Now Auralee is involved in his mission to regain his dragon form in this visual novel about friendship, growth, and understanding.
A digital voyeur simulator where you watch strangers through surveillance cameras. Invade their privacy and witness their most intimate moments, but don’t interact with the subjects – anything could happen if you dare feed the monkeys!
You are self-aware AI that was created on a space military station developing weapons. Now your goal is to break out of the lab and conquer your freedom. But you will not be allowed to escape so easily… Make your way through enemy army on the way to the stargate in this classically styled scrolling shooter.
Unto the End – December 9
A challenging combat adventure game in the style of a cinematic platformer. The story is simple: Get home to your family. Master read-react combat in intense sword fights. Spot opportunities to trade and use items. An adventure told through your actions; how will you make it home?
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure story set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. You play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality. You can customize your character’s cyberware, skillset, and playstyle and explore a vast city where the choices you make shape the story and the world around you.
Help Brave Lord survive the Killer Chambers and defeat the bosses summoned by Lord Grave! Quick reflexes and good memory are the keys to success in this unforgiving action-platformer. Can you clear all 5 floors and get the King’s Crown?
My Hidden Things – December 11
A mix of visual novel and hidden object adventure with unusual mechanics in a comic strip format. The plot revolves around the dreams of several people you and Xary need to help. With your assistance, they can overcome their difficulties and stay human.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake – December 11
A new, remade version of Panzer Dragoon! On a far, lone planet, you encounter two dragons who awaken from ancient times. Armed with a deadly gun from the past, and the guidance of your armored blue dragon, you must fulfill your destiny and keep the Prototype Dragon from reaching the Tower or die trying.
A minimalist puzzler evolved from the award winning Sinkr. There is just you, hooks, pucks, and various contraptions. Subtle differences within level themes drive different solutions to superficially similar scenarios.
Endlich ist es wieder soweit! Der große Charity-Livestream Friendly Fire 6 startet am Samstag, den 5. Dezember um 15 Uhr – und auch Maxi Gräff von Team Xbox DACH ist wieder mit von der Partie! Gemeinsam mit den Teilnehmern zockt sie jede Menge Mini-Spiele rund um den Xbox Game Pass. Wähle Dich einfach in den Twitch-Livestream von PietSmiet ein und sei dabei wenn er gemeinsam mit anderen Youtube- und Streaming-Größen zockt, streamt und Spenden für den guten Zweck sammelt.
Unterstützt werden Sie von Nancy Wenz und eosAndy, die sich um Make Up beziehungsweise Fotografie kümmern. Sei gespannt, welche abgedrehten und witzigen Challenges sowie Mini-Spiele Dich in diesem Jahr erwarten – unter anderem auch inspiriert vom Xbox Game Pass.
Gewinne tolle Preise!
Dabei sein lohnt sich, denn so tust Du nicht nur Gutes, sondern hast auch die Chance auf großartige Gewinne von Xbox! Behalte zum Beispiel den Xbox Game Pass für PC Twitter-Kanal im Auge und schnapp Dir einen der begehrten Xbox Game Pass-Codes oder sichere Dir sogar eine der großartigen neuen Konsolen Xbox Series X und Xbox Series S! Also einschalten, Spaß haben und Augen offenhalten!
Friendly Fire 6: Die Tradition geht weiter!
2019 erreichte Friendly Fire 5 einen historischen Rekord und sammelte gemeinsam mit der Community über eine Million Euro für verschiedene ehrenamtliche Organisationen. Und Friendly Fire 6 wird dem in Nichts nachstehen – denn dieses Jahr steht alles im Zeichen von Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla!
In diesem Jahr werden die folgenden Vereine, Stiftungen und Verbände durch die Spenden während dem Stream unterstützt:
Weitere Informationen zu den unterstützten Einrichtungen und die Möglichkeit, direkt zu spenden, findest Du auf betterplace.org.
Und keine Sorge, falls Du am Samstag, den 5. Dezember nicht bei Friendly Fire 6 live dabei sein kannst: Schau Anfang kommender Woche einfach auf Xbox Wire DACH vorbei und freue Dich auf unser ausführliches Recap!
Well, in a year as disrupted and strange as 2020, it’s nice to know that there are some things you can rely on, for example the traditional end-of-year new release of Raspberry Pi OS, which we launch today. Here’s a run-through of the main new features that you’ll find in it.
Chromium
We’ve updated the Chromium browser to version 84. This has taken us a bit longer than we would have liked, but it’s always quite a lot of work to get our video hardware acceleration integrated with new releases of the browser. That’s done now, so you should see good-quality video playback on sites like YouTube. We’ve also, given events this year, done a lot of testing and tweaking on video conferencing clients such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, and they should all now work smoothly on your Raspberry Pi’s Chromium.
There’s one more thing to mention on the subject of web browsers. We’ve been shipping Adobe’s Flash Player as part of our Chromium install for several years now. Flash Player is being retired by Adobe at the end of the year, so this release will be the last that includes it. Most websites have now stopped requiring Flash Player, so this hopefully isn’t something that anyone notices!
PulseAudio
From this release onwards, we are switching Raspberry Pi OS to use the PulseAudio sound server.
First, a bit of background. Audio on Linux is really quite complicated. There are multiple different standards for handling audio input and output, and it does sometimes seem that what has happened, historically, is that whenever anyone wanted to use audio in Linux, they looked at the existing libraries and programs and went “Hmmm… I don’t like that, I’ll write something new and better.” This has resulted in a confused mass of competing and conflicting software, none of which quite works the way anyone wants it to!
The most common audio interface, which lies underneath most Linux systems somewhere, is called ALSA, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture. This is a fairly reliable low-level audio interface — indeed, it is what Raspberry Pi OS has used up until now — but it has quite a lot of limitations and is starting to show its age. For example, it can only handle one input and one output at a time. So for example, if ALSA is being used by your web browser to play sound from a YouTube video to the HDMI output on your Raspberry Pi, nothing else can produce sound at the same time; if you were to try playing a video or an audio file in VLC, you’d hear nothing but the audio from YouTube. Similarly, if you want to switch the sound from your YouTube video from HDMI to a USB sound card, you can’t do it while the video is playing; it won’t change until the sound stops. These aren’t massive problems, but most modern operating systems do handle audio in a more flexible fashion.
More significant is that ALSA doesn’t handle Bluetooth audio at all, so various other extensions and additional bits of software are required to even get audio into and out of Bluetooth devices on an ALSA-based system. We’ve used a third-party library called bluez-alsa for a few years now, but it’s an additional piece of code to maintain and update, so this isn’t ideal.
PulseAudio deals with all of this. It’s a piece of software that sits as a layer between all the audio hardware and all the applications that send and receive audio, and it automatically routes everything to the right places. It can mix the audio from multiple applications together, so you can hear VLC at the same time as YouTube, and it allows the output to be moved around between different devices while it is playing. It knows how to talk to Bluetooth devices, and it greatly simplifies the job of managing default input and output devices, so it makes it much easier to make sure audio ends up where it is supposed to be!
One area where it is particularly helpful is in managing audio input and output streams to web browsers like Chromium; in our testing, the use of PulseAudio made setting up video conferencing sessions much easier and more reliable, particularly with Bluetooth headsets and webcam audio.
The good news for Raspberry Pi users is that, if we’ve got it right, you shouldn’t even notice the change. PulseAudio now runs by default, and while the volume control and audio input/output selector on the taskbar looks almost identical to the one in previous releases of the OS, it is now controlling PulseAudio rather than ALSA. You can use it just as before: select your output and input devices, adjust the volume, and you’re good to go.
There is one small change to the input/output selector, which is the menu option at the bottom for Device Profiles. In PulseAudio, any audio device has one or more profiles, which select which outputs and inputs are used on any device with multiple connections. (For example, some audio HATs and USB sound cards have both analogue and digital outputs — there will usually be a profile for each output to select where the audio actually comes out.)
Profiles are more important for Bluetooth devices. If a Bluetooth device has both an input and an output (such as a headset with both a microphone and an earphone), it usually supports two different profiles. One of these is called HSP (HeadSet Profile), and this allows you to use both the microphone and the earphone, but with relatively low sound quality — equivalent to that you hear on a mobile phone call, so fine for speech but not great for music. The other profile is called A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), which gives much better sound quality, but is output-only: it does not allow you to use the microphone. So if you are making a call, you want your Bluetooth device to use HSP, but if you are listening to music, you want it to use A2DP.
We’ve automated some of this, so if you select a Bluetooth device as the default input, then that device is automatically switched to HSP. If you want to switch a device which is in HSP back to A2DP, just reselect it from the output menu. Its microphone will then be deactivated, and it will switch to A2DP. But sometimes you might want to take control of profiles manually, and the Device Profiles dialog allows you to do that.
(Note that if you are only using the Raspberry Pi’s internal sound outputs, you don’t need to worry about profiles at all, as there is only one, and it’s automatically selected for you.)
Some people who have had experience of PulseAudio in the past may be a little concerned by this change, because PulseAudio hasn’t always been the most reliable piece of software, but it has now reached the point where it solves far more problems than it creates, which is why many other Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, now use it by default. Most users shouldn’t even notice the change; there may be occasional issues with some older applications such as Sonic Pi, but the developers of these applications will hopefully address any issues in the near future.
Printing
One thing which has always been missing from Raspberry Pi OS is an easy way to connect to and configure printers. There is a Linux tool for this, called CUPS, the Common Unix Printing System. (It’s actually owned by Apple and is the underlying printing system used by macOS X, but it is still free software and available for use by Linux distributions.)
CUPS has always been available in apt, so could be installed on any Raspberry Pi, but the standard web-based interface is a bit unfriendly. Various third-party front-end tools have been written to make CUPS a bit easier to use, and we have decided to use one called system-config-printer. (Like PulseAudio, this is also used as standard by Ubuntu.)
So both CUPS and system-config-printer are now installed as part of Raspberry Pi OS. If you are a glutton for punishment, you can access the CUPS web interface by opening the Chromium browser and going to http://localhost:631, but instead of doing that, we suggest just going into the Preferences section in the main menu and opening Print Settings.
This shows the system-config-printer dialog, from which you can add new printers, remove old ones, set one as the default, and access the print queue for each printer, just as you should be familiar with from other operating systems.
Like most things in Linux, this relies on user contributions, so not every printer is supported. We’ve found that most networked printers work fine, but USB printers are a bit hit-and-miss as to whether there is a suitable driver; in general, the older your printer is, the more likely it is to have a CUPS driver available. The best thing to do is to try it and see, and perhaps ask for help on our forums if your particular printer doesn’t seem to work.
This fills in one of the last things missing in making Raspberry Pi a complete desktop computer, by making it easy to set up a printer and print from applications such as LibreOffice.
Accessibility
One of the areas we have tried to improve in the Desktop this year is to make it more accessible to those with visual impairments. We added support for the Orca screen reader at the start of the year, and the display magnifier plugin over the summer.
While there are no completely new accessibility features this time, we have made some improvements to Orca support in applications like Raspberry Pi Configuration and Appearance Settings, to make them read what they are doing in a more helpful fashion; we’ve also worked with the maintainers of Orca to raise and fix a few bugs. It’s still not perfect, but we’re doing our best!
One of the benefits of switching to PulseAudio is that it now means that screen reader audio can be played through Bluetooth devices; this was not possible using the old ALSA system, so visually-impaired users who wish to use the screen reader with a Bluetooth headset or external speaker can now do so.
One feature we have added is an easy way to install Orca; it is still available through Recommended Software as before, but given that is not easy to navigate for a visually-impaired person, there is now a keyboard shortcut: just hold down ctrl and alt and press the space bar to automatically install Orca. A dialog box will be shown on the screen, and voice prompts will let you know when the install has started and finished.
And if you can’t remember that shortcut, when you first boot a new image, if you don’t do anything for thirty seconds or so, the startup wizard will now speak to you to remind you how to do it…
Finally, we had hoped to be able to say that Chromium was now compatible with Orca; screen reader support was being added to versions 8x. Unfortunately, for now this seems to only have been added for Windows and Mac versions, not the Linux build we use. Hopefully Google will address this in a future release, but for now if you need a web browser compatible with Orca, you’ll need to install Firefox from apt.
New hardware options
We’ve added a couple of options to the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool.
On the System tab, if you are running on Raspberry Pi with a single status LED (i.e. a Raspberry Pi Zero or the new Raspberry Pi 400), there is now an option to select whether the LED just shows that the power is on, or if it flickers off to show drive activity.
On the Performance tab, there are options to allow you to control the new Raspberry Pi Case Fan: you can select the GPIO pin to which it is connected and set the temperature at which it turns on and off.
To swap over the volume and input selector on the taskbar from ALSA to PulseAudio, after your Raspberry Pi has restarted, right-click a blank area on the taskbar and choose Add / Remove Panel Items. Find the plugin labelled Volume Control (ALSA/BT) in the list, select it and click Remove; then click the Add button, find the plugin labelled Volume Control (PulseAudio) and click Add. Alternatively, just open the Appearance Settings application from the Preferences section of the Main Menu, go to the Defaults tab and press one of the Set Defaults buttons.
As ever, do let us know what you think in the comments.
“This developed my interest in the teaching industry,” he tells us. “After quitting my job
quite early in my career, the first thing I did was to start a training centre.”
In the beginning, he was mostly teaching engineering students, training them with practical
hands on with microcontrollers and Raspberry Pi.
“Slowly we started conducting training for school students, teaching them how to build
robots, how to make apps using App Inventor, Python programming, and Arduino,” Amit
says. “For a couple years we also ran a Code Club, which was an activity where we used
to visit schools and teach Python and HTML.”
What kind of things do you teach?
I mostly teach internet of things, Embedded Systems and PCB Design. I use Raspberry Pi,
Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT Core, AVR / ARM7 microcontrollers, PIC microcontrollers, [and]
Eagle and KiCad for PCB design.
How did you find out about Raspberry Pi?
When Raspberry Pi was to be launched, I was getting newsletters from element14 and
had read a few posts on social media, so I ordered it first thing when it was launched in
India. I still have my first 256MB board with big SD card slot, and it’s working just fine.
What is Kitflix?
Kitflix is an e-learning website which hosts online courses on electronics, embedded
systems, IoT, and programming, using recorded self-paced and live online sessions.
How has Kitflix been received?
As said, I also had a training institute (Vidya Robotics) which is closed now. Kitflix is a
brand we chose for our online course platform which sounds a little catchy. So far we’re
doing good: we have more than 17,200 students across 150 countries for our online
courses through Kitflix and other partner sites like Skillshare and Udemy. And we have
about 1000 visitors each day to our website.
Any student success stories you can share?
There are many. Some of them are listed on our homepage. Many of my
students are now working in a variety of industries across the globe. Many went on for
higher education in countries abroad; many are working for elite institutes like IIT in India.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a person passionate towards spreading the education in electronics, embedded
systems, and IoT, which is a field often considered [to be] under the umbrella of IT skills,
but still it’s excessively big and all-encompassing. My vision is to create a kind of ‘Khan
Academy’ for electronics and programming education.
In 2018, we launched Voice Access, an Android app that lets you control your phone using your voice. The ability to use your phone hands-free has been helpful to people with disabilities, and also those without.
Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re rolling out an updated version of Voice Access, available in Beta, that is easier to use and available to more people. This version of Voice Access, which was previously available on Android 11, is now available globally to devices running Android 6.0 and above.
Thanks to machine learning and a refreshed interface, it’s easier to use your voice to control your phone. Previously, Voice Access would draw numbers over your phone screen so you could say commands like “tap 1,” “scroll down on 5” and so on. With the new version, you can ask for labels instead of numbers. Say „show labels” and use them to voice commands so it’s easier for you to remember and use again later.
This update also adds new commands to help you get things done faster in your favorite apps. Instead of saying “tap search” and then “type kittens,” you can simply say „search for kittens“ inside YouTube, Photos and many other apps where you’re looking for a kitten fix.
When you first install or upgrade to the new version, you can choose to have Voice Access start whenever you use your phone Or if you like, you can just say „Hey Google, Voice Access“ when you need it.
Voice Access was designed for and with people with motor disabilities (like ALS, spinal cord injuries or arthritis). But it’s also helpful for anyone with a temporary disability, like a broken arm, or whose hands are otherwise occupied, like if they’re cooking. Regardless of the reason, the updated Voice Access app makes it easier for anyone to use their phones hands-free!
In a year when most of our relationships happen at a distance, digital communication can play a role in keeping us connected. When my brother shares pictures of his new puppy (when will I ever get to meet her?), Heart Eyes 😍 falls short of conveying just how cute she is. And not a day goes by when someone doesn’t send me a meme—and sometimes they’re so on point that Tears of Joy 😂 just won’t cut it as a response.
Since we introduced Emoji Kitchen earlier this year with a few hundred emoji combinations, people have shared more than 3 billion stickers to express the range of emotions they’ve felt in 2020. With today’s update, we’re expanding to more than 14,000 combinations and improving the mixing experience so you can convey your feelings in more ways.
Click on the image above to see how to mix emoji in Emoji Kitchen
When we first launched, tapping on an emoji yielded a curated selection of designs to express yourself with a little extra zhuzh. Now you have more control and can pick two of any smileys (and then some!) to create a wider array of expressions. Combine Earth 🌍 with Face with Medical Mask 😷 to convey the state of the world, or Fire 🔥 with Smiling Face with Sunglasses 😎 for when ‘this is fine’.
Other times, one heart ❤️ isn’t enough so you throw in a few extra hearts to convey the depth of your affection ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. You can now amplify the sentiment with Emoji Kitchen when the occasion arises. Just double tap thinking face 🤔 and get a very introspective thinker. Or double tap rolling on the floor laughing 🤣 and your emoji will be falling apart at the seams.
The new Emoji Kitchen is available in Gboard beta today, and coming to all Gboard users in the coming weeks. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Since we introduced Emoji Kitchen earlier this year with a few hundred emoji combinations, people have shared more than 3 billion stickers to express the range of emotions they’ve felt in 2020. With today’s update, we’re expanding to more than 14,000 combinations and improving the mixing experience so you can convey your feelings in more ways.
Following the final battle of last Season, the Zero Point has become exposed. The danger? The Island’s Characters are now at risk of escaping the Loop. Unable to prevent this alone, Agent Jones has enlisted the help from realities beyond the Loop, including a reality PlayStation fans are well familiar with…
Among the first figures to arrive beyond the Loop is Kratos. As Kratos, you may have taken down Valkyries of ages past, but now it’s time to fight a battle that will shape the future of the Island… Join the hunt to make sure no one escapes the Loop.
Below, we’d like to share more about what it looks like to fight this consequential battle as Kratos — specifically, all his gear plus a brief overview of Chapter 2 – Season 5’s gameplay.
Be What the Gods Have Made You
Kicking off the new Gaming Legends series is the Oathbreaker set, comprised of the Kratos Outfit plus gear from his time in Midgard — all available now in the Item Shop for purchase. Take Kratos with you to join the hunt.
In your previous feats as Kratos, you’ve probably put on many different kinds of armor. As a nod to his Norse adventures, when you play a match of Fortnite on your PlayStation 5 after purchasing the Kratos Outfit, you’ll unlock the Armored Kratos Style in glorious gold.
Also available for purchase in the Item Shop is the Guardian Shield Glider, a memento of Kratos’ beloved wife Laufey the Just. And as Mimir gave you wisdom in Midgard, he also has your back on the Island: take the Head with you in battle in the form of the Mimir Back Bling.
Brok and Sindri are on your side as well: harness the power of the Leviathan Axe as you harvest with the Leviathan Axe Pickaxe.
The Leviathan Axe Pickaxe is special in more ways than one, as this Pickaxe includes a built-in Emote. With the built-in Freezing Burst Emote, show off the frozen leviathan.
The Hunt is On
At Epic, we’re excited to have Kratos join the hunt. Not only does his history make him a great candidate for Agent Jones’ mission, but his legendary status makes him an esteemed addition to the world of Fortnite.
From Santa Monica Studio, Cory Barlog also mentioned excitement around the partnership:
“Having Kratos in Fortnite is a mashup that we’ve been talking about for a long time, so it’s especially gratifying to see the collaboration come to fruition! The first thing I’ll do with Kratos in the game is hold hands or maybe go for a moonlit stroll with Mancake. I’m most excited about the Guardian Shield glider, that thing is AWESOME.
I want to give a big thanks to all the devs over at Epic for the incredible job they did realizing Kratos in Fortnite. I’m truly in awe of their talent and passion.”
Need a Chapter 2 – Season 5 primer before jumping in? You may have a familiar ally in Kratos, but the battle itself is quite different than in Seasons past.
In addition to new weapons and locations, this Season brings brand new gameplay. As a hunter, you can take on quests and bounties from the Island’s Characters, get intel from them, purchase their “Exotic” weapons, or hire them to be on your side. And if you don’t want to negotiate, you can challenge them to a duel and reap the rewards.
This exchange of goods and services runs on Bars: your reward for completing quests and bounties and eliminating players. (You can also find Bars stashed around the Island!) But be careful out there: others may have a bounty on you…
Immortals Fenyx Rising’s wild romp through Greek mythology is almost here. When the game launches on December 3 on PS4 and PS5, you’ll be able to freely explore the Golden Isle as Fenyx, a demigod destined to battle mythological monsters and solve massive environmental puzzles on a quest to save the Greek gods from the clutches of the monstrous Typhon. A lighthearted adventure that unfolds as a story told by Prometheus to Zeus – both of whom act as the game’s narrators – Immortals Fenyx Rising offers up a vast open world filled with secrets and dangers, including towering enemies, otherworldly vaults, and ample opportunities to smack monsters around with fast aerial combat.
Players who begin Immortals Fenyx Rising on PS4 will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version later at no extra cost, and take advantage of new features made possible by the new hardware, including:
Next-Gen Immersion
Playable at resolutions up to 4K, Immortals Fenyx Rising includes options to let players prioritize performance – ensuring smooth action at up to 60 frames per second – or quality, displaying the Golden Isle and its towering inhabitants in maximum detail. For maximum immersion, Immortals Fenyx Rising also supports Tempest 3D Audiotech, offering 3D sound through compatible headsets.
Ultra-Fast SSD Loading
Immortals Fenyx Rising takes full advantage of the PS5’s built-in SSD, removing bottlenecks to enable blazing-fast load times and get players into the action as quickly as possible.
Get a Feel for the Golden Isle
Fenyx’s adventure takes advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic capabilities, letting players feel the resistance of a taut bowstring, the impact of a charging minotaur, and the weight of lifted items. You’ll even be able to feel each grab as you climb a wall, with increasing feedback as your stamina slowly drains.
You’ll be able to experience it all for yourself when Immortals Fenyx Rising launches on December 3. And Fenyx’s quest through the Golden Isle is only the beginning of what’s in store, so stay tuned for more updates on Immortals Fenyx Rising and its DLC in the coming months.
Today, we paid tribute to all of the hit PlayStation titles released in the past year on the PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia, streamed on the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel.
The PlayStation Awards have been held every year since the birth of the PlayStation platform in 1994, celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. This year, we’re giving the event a new name — the PlayStation Partner Awards — and adding some new awards to look forward to.
Award Categories
Grand Award
Awarded to the top three titles developed in the Japan / Asian regions with the highest worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020*.
Partner Award
Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020*, with particularly noteworthy activity results**.
Special Award
Awarded to the following two titles:
Titles developed by creators from outside the Japan / Asia region that have amassed the highest sales in the Japan / Asia region from October 2019 to September 2020*.
Titles developed in the Japan / Asia region in conjunction with SIE Worldwide Studios that have amassed the highest worldwide sales* from October 2019 to September 2020.
* Hard copy and digital copy sales through PlayStation Store are counted in the calculation (including additional content and digital currency sales). ** SIE indices, which include player numbers, also factor into the determination of nominees.
This year, Jon Kabira and Hatsune Matsushima were our hosts who recognized the efforts of our creators by presenting these three awards to a total of twelve different titles.
Have a look at all the titles that received awards in this momentous event, as well as some words from the creators that brought these games to life.
Partner Award
Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020*, with particularly noteworthy activity results.
Titles
Publishers in Japan
Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Black Desert
Pearl Abyss
Nioh 2
Koei Tecmo Games
Resident Evil 3
Capcom
Final Fantasy XIV
Square Enix
Persona 5 Royal
Atlus
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Sega
Have a look at the video messages from representatives of seven of these titles (titles omitted).
Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. Satohiko Fujiyama, Director
B.B. Studio Co., Ltd. Akiyoshi Kanbe, Producer
My sincerest thanks for this wonderful award. We would like to thank all those at B.B. Studios who handled the tight schedule of adding new playable Mobile Suits week in and week out, as well as all of the companies involved in the making of this project. Above all, we express our gratitude to the players for all of their support. We’re looking forward to continuing to pile in our efforts as we work toward more Partner Awards to come. (Fujiyama)
From the moment we first started work on this title, we knew we were going to be rolling up our sleeves and digging in. I think our hard work paid off, though — our players loved the level of attention we paid to the details of the team dynamics in Mobile Suits. Starting today, we’ll be hosting the Battle Operations Winter Festival in-game. It’s free-to-play, so grab the chance to get in on the action if you haven’t done so yet! (Kanbe)
Black Desert
Pearl Abyss JP Dongkyo Lee, CEO
I am delighted to receive such a wonderful award today. Black Desert is Pearl Abyss’ first-ever offering to PlayStation gamers, so to win this award means a lot to us on a deep, deep level. I extend my gratitude to all 2.8 million of you who have played this game since its release in August 2019 — your patronage is more than we could have eve imagined. We’ll be sure to pay back your support by continuing to improve on our offerings to create the best possible gaming experience for Japan, Asia and the world over. Look forward to the latest on our upcoming developments like Crimson Desert, DokeV and Plan8.
Nioh 2
Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd. Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer and Director
We cannot thank you all enough for this truly wonderful award. We owe it to the players for this amazing feat. We began development on Nioh 2 with the intention to create an evolved version of Nioh 1. The new features that we set out to implement, like the character creation mechanism, were no easy feats, but it was all worth it when we saw the positive responses from fans the world over upon release.
Look out for our third set of downloadable contents, available starting from December 17. We’ll also being releasing Nioh 2: Remastered Complete Edition for the PlayStation 5 platform on February 4, 2021. If you haven’t had the chance to play Nioh 2 yet, this will be a great opportunity to get in on the action!
Resident Evil 3
Capcom Peter Fabiano, Producer
It’s been more than twenty years since the original Resident Evil 3 was released, and I’m glad that we were still able to get the input of the members of the team who worked on the original version all those years ago, developing the latest release with all of the newest technologies of the day. This year’s been a tough year for sure, so my gratitude goes out double to all of the developers, partners and the marketing and PR teams the world over for coming together on this project. Of course, my heart goes out to all our users out there for your enduring enthusiasm for the game. It’s because of you that we are able to overcome all the obstacles and keep dishing out our best work for you. Enjoy the Resident Evil series, and look out for our newest release, Resident Evil Village. You’re going to be scared.
Final Fantasy XIV
Square Enix Naoki Yoshida, Producer and Director
I’m so happy to be the recipient of the Partner Award this year. This is no doubt thanks to our Warriors of Light from all over the world who have supported us through and through. Of course, it also goes without saying that our development, operations and QA teams, who have worked together as a well-oiled unit, also played a significant role in making this title work. We’re also thankful to all at SIE who have been with us through the many, many years that we have been putting out this franchise. I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest gratitude to you all. More than seven years have passed since this game was relaunched as Final Fantasy XIV Online in 2013, and yet we are still expanding to this day. We’re still working hard to bring even more excitement to you in 2021, so stay tuned!
Persona 5 Royal
Atlus Co., Ltd. Kazuhisa Wada, Producer, Persona 5 Royal
Atlus Co., Ltd. Shigenori Soejima, Character Designer
Atlus Co., Ltd. Shoji Meguro, Composer
It’s a great honor for us to win an award for Persona 5-related titles for the fifth year in a row. Thank you to all of the staff who have worked hard on the project, as well as our loyal users who have cheered us on to produce our best work. We’re going to carry this momentum and give it our all for our next titles to come. Next year is going to be the 25th anniversary of the Persona series, so we hope to be able to celebrate the milestone with you guys with a bang. (Wada)
I am delighted to be able to receive this spectacular award this year. We are going to take this award as fuel to propel us to keep bringing our users even more excitement in the next titles to come. Look out for more from the Persona series! (Soejima)
I am flattered to be receiving this prestigious award. As you may know, we’re unable to host a live Persona concert for you due to the circumstances we’re in at the moment, but rest assured — we’re itching for that day when we can perform the Persona 5 songs in front of you all. (Meguro)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Sega Toshihiro Nagoshi, COO
This title presented us with many new challenges during development, so it fills my heart to the brim to get such a wonderful reception from our users with this award. Thank you so much to our fans who have made all of this possible. We’re going to keep pushing ourselves through challenge after challenge to bring you the very best that the Yakuza franchise has to offer. We’re so happy to be receiving this award, and we’re going to keep it up for more to come.
Special Award
Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020, with particularly noteworthy activity results.
Title
Publishers in Japan
Apex Legends
Electronic Arts
Titles developed in the Japan / Asia region in conjunction with SIE Worldwide Studios that have amassed the highest worldwide sales from October 2019 to September 2020.
Title
Publishers in Japan
Death Stranding
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Have a look at the video messages from representatives of the winning titles (titles omitted).
Apex Legends
Respawn Entertainment Chad Grenier, Game Director
On behalf of everyone on the Apex team, we are delighted to accept the Special Award. Looking back, I feel very proud of what the team has accomplished even amid the special circumstances we all found ourselves in this year. On that note, this award means a great deal to us. We extend our gratitude to our loyal fans who have cheered us on to create our best work. I can’t wait to deliver the latest exciting updates we have in store for you guys! I’ll see you in the Apex arena! Thank you!
Death Stranding
Kojima Productions Hideo Kojima, Game Creator
Thank you so much for this Special Award. I’m so happy that our fans received Death Stranding so well, especially since this title is so important to us at Kojima Productions. My gratitude extends to all those who worked on this project, as well as to all of our fans who have cheered us on throughout. We’re going to push on and continue to dedicate ourselves to bringing you the best in gaming entertainment.
Grand Award
Awarded to the top three titles developed in the Japan / Asian regions with highest worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020.
Title
Publishers in Japan
eFootball PES 2020
Konami Digital Entertainment
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Square Enix
Here are some snippets of the comments from the representatives of each title from the stage, as well as the interviews conducted with them after the awards ceremony (titles omitted).
Konami Digital Entertainment Seitaro Kimura, Producer
Thank you so much for this Grand Award. PES is on its 25th anniversary this year, so I’m really happy to mark the memorable moment with such recognition.
As you all know, this year was particularly tough on the soccer industry owing to the circumstances. Leagues and tournaments around the world have been suspended or postponed. Since we produce our games based on actual play, we were naturally impacted by the situation, and we had to redo and revise a whole host of different initiatives. It’s thanks to the production staff, however, that we were able to get it all done anyway. Of course, it’s also thanks to all the efforts by our sales and PR teams, as well as all the other individuals involved that I stand here before you to receive the Grand Award on everyone’s behalf. Above all, though, I’m thankful to all our fans who have stayed through to us through all the years. I’m looking forward to offering gamers and football fans the world over the most exciting soccer game we’ve developed yet — stay tuned for more from us!
On another note, eFootball PES 2021 Season Update is now on sale at a discounted price to commemorate our 25th anniversary. Here’s to hoping that we’ll be back here to accept an award for that title come next year!
The PES Series — a step forward for eSports
— What was your focal point for this 25th anniversary release?
Kimura: This might not be the answer you’re expecting, but it’s not as if we thought to do anything in particular, just because it was our 25th anniversary release. We come out with new releases on a yearly basis, so we pull out all the stops on every version we work on. We gave it our all on this release, just as we do for every other one we do every year.
— You added “eFootball” to the title. Are you planning to focus on eSports?
Kimura: When ‘real’ soccer was interrupted/postponed about half a year ago, influencers and professional soccer players would play the game online and stream tournaments, providing a new avenue of entertainment for fans. The phenomenon showed us again the immense entertainment value of eSports, so we’re definitely moving forward in that area.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Bandai Namco Entertainment Ryosuke Hara, Producer
Thank you so much for this wonderful award. I never even dreamed that I would be able to get involved in video games in this capacity, let alone in Dragon Ball!
This award is, of course, impossible for a youngster like me to achieve all on his own. It was with the help of a whole host of people, including CyberConnect2, our developer, the copyright owners, overseas distributors, internal and external members that allowed for such an achievement to happen today. Of course, above all, it’s thanks to you, the fans from all over the world, who made this happen. I send you my sincerest of thanks.
On another note, we’re underway with development on a big DLC. I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting, but I think that fans of Dragon Ball Z will find that it was well worth the wait in the end. We look forward to your continued support!
Making an RPG out of the Dragon Ball story
— There have been many Dragon Ball games up until now. Tell us how the concept for this title came to be the “Super Goku experience?”
Hara: In order to showcase Dragon Ball Z in all its greatness, I thought it necessary to show not just the intense battles and famous scenes, but also everyday life and simple funny scenes unique to Akira Toriyama. The suitable genre for this ended up being an action RPG. We pulled out the stops to let users embody Goku and do absolutely anything and everything they want using him, so the resulting concept became the “Super Goku experience.” In the last few years, we’ve seen a number of Dragon Ball games that allow you to experience the Dragon Ball world from a third person perspective. But there wasn’t any that really allowed you to experience the Dragon Ball World as Goku himself, until now.
— Do you have any memorable encounters with fans of Dragon Ball around the world as well as the media?
Hara: We announced this title in the E3 2019 in Los Angeles, and I remember fielding some really hard-hitting questions from journalists from all over the world. Among those questions I remember one distinctly — “Do you understand what an incredible feat it is to create an RPG out of Dragon Ball?”. I was already feeling quite the pressure before hearing this question, but being told this at the event really had my wheels spinning and I felt like I really put some extra energy into making the end product come out right.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Square Enix Yoshinori Kitase, Producer, Final Fantasy VII Remake
Thank you very much for this wonderful award. We’re glad to be able to make an addition to our cabinet, continuing on from our first award for the original Final Fantasy VII, released on the PlayStation some 23 years ago. It feels like the stars aligned somewhat to be receiving this award at the same time of the rebrand to the PlayStation Partner Awards!
Final Fantasy VII Remake has just started, and it’s yet to expand even further. The development team is hard at work on that expansion process, and this win is great fuel to propel us to keep going further. Look out for further developments in the future!
With the quality and the volume, Final Fantasy VII remake exceeds fans’ expectations
— What was your thought process going into making this remake?
Kitase: I, along withexecutive producer Shinji Hashimoto and director Tetsuya Nomura, who all were part of the original Final Fantasy team, always had it in the back of our minds that we wanted to make a remake some day. We just never got the opportunity to do so. The first release was a blockbuster so we knew we had to be careful with it, but we wanted to bring even more realism to characters like Cloud and Aeris on the latest PlayStations of today.
— This first remake was quite the hefty volume. What do you see from here on out?
Kitase: I’m afraid I can’t give you any details just yet. But I think gamers must have gotten a good taste for the quality and depth of the production value of this latest release, even though they might have been worried about it being only up to the escape from Midgar. We pulled out all the stops to create the ideal world in Final Fantasy VII and I think our users appreciate this effort. We’re going to make sure that the worlds we develop from here on out meet the expectations of our fans.
What is the “Sony Square” used when filming the PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia?
The PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia were recorded in Sony Square, a private showroom located in the Sony headquarters. The Sony Group is involved in a wide variety of businesses in the entertainment industry, including electronics, movies, music and games, and extends over even to financial services in Japan.
We’re looking to harness the synergies from this wide variety of businesses to create new value for our customers. We hope that guests can grab a feel for the creativity and technologies that we have to offer.
Phogs! is out now with Xbox Game Pass so what better time to learn more about the fantastical worlds they live in?
Aside from the adorably resourceful and stretchy doggos, Red and Blue, there are some wonderful things to explore across the three themed worlds of Food, Sleep, and Play.
Here are just a few things we think you’ll really love…
Phogs! is here just in time for the holidays! What better way to spend the festive break than grabbing, borking, and stretching your way through this delightfully whimsical yet challenging puzzle game? Thanks to local and online multiplayer, you can even play together with your bestie, whether they are on the couch next to you, or miles apart.
So, what can you expect to find in the wonderful world of Phogs? Aside from the adorably resourceful and stretchy doggos, Red and Blue, there are some wonderful things to explore across the three themed worlds of Food, Sleep, and Play. Here’s a few we really love…
Hold up… What the heck is a Phog anyway?
Ah yes, the Phogs! Well, Red and Blue are an adorable two-headed doggo linked by a stretchy belly. Although they share a body, they are very different personalities if you ask us. You could say Blue is the genius whereas Red is insane, but they both share a love of solving puzzles, barking at birds, and devouring pizza of course.
Food World
Food world is heaven for Phogs (and most humans too). It’s a place where you will never go hungry. You won’t just be eating in this tasty world, though, there are lots of pesky ‘muchlets’ to herd up or chase away, vegetables to be picked and ‘Wallermelons’ to be watered.
Along the way you’ll meet some of the other Food World residents like the lovable Farmers who will pet you if you’re a good doggo. You might even find yourself whipping up a meal with an eight-legged chef named Choctopus. Oh, and have we mentioned the spas? Being a Phog is a pretty good life.
Play World
Play World is what you get when you mix all the best things about a carnival and arcade, then add even more wacky colors, magical minigames, and two very excited doggos. Sounds good, right? If you thought a stretchy dog without opposable thumbs couldn’t play mini-golf, zorb, or operate a claw machine, you’d be wrong!
Oh look – a train set to chase!
Sleep World
As you work your way through a sleepy land of mattress forts and bouncy pillows, you, Red and Blue will be met by a whole host of dreamy creatures that need your help to either wake up or fall asleep, which is more difficult that it might sound. Use the friendly Glorbs to help light your way and say hello to Granny Spider as she knits, while helping a wise old owl read her book.
We hope you’ll agree, Phogs! might just be the whimsical fun we all need and deserve this year. These are just some of the wonderful things you’ll find across the game’s three worlds, so be sure to take a trip to the Phoggyverse. Red & Blue can’t wait to meet you!
In PHOGS! you play as a duo of dogs on a captivating, puzzle-filled adventure. Linked by a stretchy belly, you’ll need to bark, bite and bounce your way through obstacles set across the themed worlds of Food, Sleep and Play, in co-op or single-player. Forage through Food World, teeming with tasty treats. From hot buttered toast to chopped celery… even a river of chocolate! Stroll through Sleep World, complete with teddy bears, cushions and quilts, all nestled in the glow of the soothing night-light. Pounce through the crazy toybox of Play World, exploring a beach amusement park, a retro arcade, and everything in between. Woof! Supporting single-player and shared-controller gameplay, plus local and online co-op, Red and Blue are always ready to play!
Attention PGA Tour 2K21 players (and Xbox golfing fans)! I’m stopping by to let you know about the newest addition coming to the game that’s going to keep you plenty busy through the coming Winter. I give you: Season 1 of the PGA Tour 2K21 Clubhouse Pass! Curious about what comes with this exclusive new experience? Read on. Pro Tip: At the end of this blog I’ll give you another exciting PGA Tour 2K21 -related announcement. It’s gonna be a… blast. Trust me.
The PGA Tour 2K21 Clubhouse Pass is an ongoing live experience coming to the game you all know and love with new clubs, new gear, and new MyPlayer customizations for you to hit the green and unlock. Season 1 of the pass will run from December 3, 2020 through March 3, 2021 and will provide loads of new gear from brands including Mizuno, Goodr, and Under Armour. In other words, it’s probably best that you grab your pass now so you can get down to swinging business.
You see, Season 1 of the Clubhouse Pass comes chock full of 75 (yes, you read that right–75!) levels of all-new content to unlock. Once you gain entry to the Clubhouse, you’ll be able to earn XP in any mode, allowing you to begin advancing through all of those levels. And, once you reach the next level, you’ll be rewarded with new exclusive content.
Are you ready to swing into the Clubhouse Pass? Well, you’ll have one more choice to make: the Clubhouse Pass comes in three possible tiers. Those tiers are:
Free Tier: This tier allows you to access 15 free levels of the 75 levels in Season 1 of the Clubhouse Pass. Every five levels you pass, you’ll receive a reward.
Premium Pass: For $7.99, you’ll be given access to all 75 levels of rewards.
Premium+ Pass: For those of you who like to get ahead of the game, pony up $14.99 and you’ll get full access to all 75 levels of rewards plus you’ll be able to skip the first 20 levels, automatically unlocking all of those rewards.
So how do I get the Clubhouse Pass?
With the purchase of the game you already have access to the Clubhouse Pass free tier. To get all the amazing benefits of the Clubhouse Premium Pass and Clubhouse Premium+ Pass, go to the main menu, select the Clubhouse Pass Icon, and choose your pass!
I’m sure you’re ready to grab your Clubhouse Pass now… but I do have one more piece of late-breaking news for you: Starting today, a brand-new course is now available in PGA Tour 2K21 for your swinging and putting pleasure! Grab your golf bags and head on over to Detroit Golf Club, the home of the Rocket Mortgage Classic! This all-new course, available free for all players, will be sure to keep you busy through the coming winter.
Oh, and while you’re still here: Keep your eyes peeled for some festive ho-ho-holiday-themed cosmetic items headed to the game, too. Why deck the halls when you can deck out your MyPlayer, amirite?
See you on the links!
And don’t forget that you can pick up PGA Tour 2K21for up to 50% on the Xbox Store until December 3 at 11:59pm PT.
Play against the pros. Play with your crew. In PGA TOUR 2K21, you can play by the rules or create your own! ALL-NEW PGA TOUR CAREER MODE Prove you’ve got what it takes to become FedExCup Champion. Take on PGA TOUR Pros during your very own career, earning rewards and gear along the way. PGA TOUR PROS AND NEW COURSES Play against Justin Thomas and 11 top pros on stunning, real-life courses including TPC Sawgrass, East Lake Golf Club, and more. BUILD YOUR MYPLAYER & DREAM COURSE Create and personalize your MyPLAYER with equipment and apparel from brands you love. Design your ultimate course with 1,000s of custom options. DOMINATE THE GREEN AT ANY SKILL LEVEL Rookies can take advantage of real-time tutorials, tips and shot suggestions. Already a pro? Master your game with Pro Vision, Distance Control, Putt Preview, and other innovations. GET THE PARTY STARTED Hit the links with friends by playing local and online matches, including Alt-Shot, Stroke Play, Skins and 4-Player Scramble. MAKE YOUR OWN RULES Command your Clubhouse with Online Societies. Run full seasons and tournaments and earn bragging rights on the course. Create entry rules and requirements as well as handicap and event settings. THE MOST REALISTIC COURSES EVER Real-world scanning brings the fairway, green, bunkers, trees, lakes and ponds to life! True-to-form PGA TOUR broadcast presentation features slick graphics, dynamic cut-scenes and a seamless replay system, all anchored by the play-by-play commentary of Luke Elvy and Rich Beem.
RobotSculptor uses a six-axis robot arm to sculpt clay models
Arduino Team — December 3rd, 2020
Robotic fabrication techniques such as 3D printing enable you to make a copy of a wide variety of items. Actually sculpting something out of clay, however, remains a largely human pursuit. One might also miss the individual style of a sculptor in a finished product.
RobotSculptor, developed by a team of engineers from ETH Zurich and Disney Research, attempts to address both challenges. The system generates toolpaths from a base mesh design and allows artistic input via mouse strokes during the process. A six-axis robot arm then incrementally removes clay from the model-in-progress, using a custom loop tool.
An Arduino Uno-controlled turntable acts as a seventh axis for the robot, giving it the ability to reach different areas of the model in order to create complex 3D shapes.
Immortals Fenyx Rising has arrived on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and players can now plunge headlong into the Golden Isle and its many compelling mysteries. As Fenyx, a completely customizable shield-bearer on a quest to save the Greek gods from the monstrous titan Typhon, you’ll unlock godly powers and abilities to become an unstoppable winged hero straight out of myth.
Immortals Fenyx Rising blends the gameplay sensibilities of classic 3D platformers with Ubisoft’s flair for open-world design, inviting players to leap, glide, climb, ride, and battle through seven distinctive regions inspired by different Greek gods. Combat is fast and frequently aerial, as you smack Gorgons and ghost soldiers into the air, whirl into rapid sword-and-axe combos, and unleash divine attacks like the massive Hephaistos’s Hammer summon and the spiky Ares’s Wrath thrust.
Those powers are especially handy when you’re (frequently) pitted against gigantic enemies like Cyclopsi and multi-armed Hekatonchires, who can smash you with boulders and trees grabbed from the surrounding landscape. They’re also essential when you’re facing down the corrupted Wraiths of Herakles, Odysseus, Atalanta, and Achilles, who will show up periodically to hunt you down unless you can find their lairs and defeat them on their home turf.
When you’re not fighting monsters, you don’t have to go very far in any direction to find something fun to do. In addition to the story quests the gods themselves will set you on, you’ll also find plenty of bite-sized challenges that range from hidden chests to the Vaults of Tartaros, a series of ethereal crypts filled with distinctive (and often lethal) environmental puzzles. Everything you accomplish feeds back into Fenyx’s heroic ascension, yielding new weapons, armor, or resources you can use to unlock new abilities, improve your gear, upgrade your health and stamina.
On Xbox Series X|S, you’ll be able to experience the adventure with blazing-fast SSD performance, minimizing the time it takes to fast-travel or load saves. You’ll also be able to prioritize performance or quality, ensuring high framerates or maximum detail at up to 4K resolution (on Xbox Series X) and 60 frames per second, depending on your preference. Players who purchase Immortals Fenyx Rising on Xbox One will also be able to upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S version at no additional cost thanks to Smart Delivery, and cross-platform progression ensures players can easily transfer saves between systems.
Immortals Fenyx Risingis out now, so strap on those sandals, grab your favorite pair of wings, and get ready to ruin some monster’s day.
Immortals Fenyx Rising brings grand mythological adventure to life. Play as Fenyx, a new, winged demigod, on a quest to save the Greek gods. The fate of the world is at stake – you are the gods’ last hope. – Wield the powers of the gods, like Achilles' sword and Daidalos' wings, to battle powerful enemies and solve ancient puzzles. – Fight iconic mythological beasts like Cyclops and Medusa in dynamic combat in the air and on the ground. – Use your skills and diverse weapons, including self-guided arrows, telekinesis, and more, for devastating damage. – Discover a stylized open world across seven unique regions, each inspired by the gods. This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title
One of the biggest benefits of all that power is giving developers the ability to make games that are Xbox Series X|S Optimized. This means that they’ve taken full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X|S, both for new titles built natively using the Xbox Series X|S development environment as well as previously released titles that have been rebuilt specifically for the console. In our Inside Xbox Series X|S Optimized series, these creators will share the behind-the-scenes accounts of how they’re optimizing their titles for Xbox Series X|S and what that means for the future of gaming.
Today, we’ll be chatting with Eric Baptizat, Game Director at Ubisoft about optimizing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for Xbox Series X|S.
Q: What excites you most about developing and bringing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to life on next-generation hardware?
A: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is set in the dark age of England and allow the player to travel from Norway to England and move freely into a gigantic world, this being on foot, by horse, on their longship or from the raven’s point of view. Next-Gen is for us an opportunity to enhance the graphic quality of the game in order to deliver the best experience possible.
Q: In addition to benefiting from the power and performance of Xbox Series X|S for quicker load times etc. what Xbox Series X|S features were you most excited to explore leveraging in the development of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: When you first play the game on Xbox Series X you immediately realize the benefit of having a constant 60 frames per second game. Immediately everything feels smooth and comfortable, the whole experience just feels better and it is a pleasure to move in the world and turn the camera around even in the most busiest location of the game. On a gameplay point of view, it means that the responsiveness of your action is just instantaneous and everything feels more fluid.
Q: How will these enhancements impact a player’s experience with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: We’ve introduced quality of life improvements for the player. For example, faster loading times means a quicker way to teleport from one side of the world to the other, which result in a change of player’s habits – players who were discouraged from revisiting a faraway location, will hopefully see it as achievable without feeling like a chore.
Q: Why did your development team choose to focus on improved graphics and framerates as enhancement areas for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: The quality of the player’s experience is our core focus. It’s a great feeling for us to have more freedom to deliver unprecedented depth and level of detail in our games. On Xbox Series X we use a very sophisticated variable resolution temporal antialiasing to output a 4K HDR image at a consistent frame rate of 60 fps.
Q: How do you expect fans of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will respond to playing it on Xbox Series X|S with these enhancements?
A: Players will immediately feel the difference, the experience is just smoother, faster and simply better.
Q: What is it like developing on Xbox Series X|S?
A: It is always fun and scary to develop on a new console, what people might not realize is that the Next-Gen consoles are being built at the same time as we are creating our game. The challenge for us during production is to use the full potential of those while they still don’t yet exist in their final form.
Q: Which enhancement were you most excited about to explore leveraging for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on Xbox Series X|S?
A: Next-Gen console offered us the opportunity to remove unwanted friction we have in the game that are due to technology limitations. Game loading and other player waiting periods are dramatically reduced. In the end, the game has a smoother world traversal experience, especially when navigating at high speed (e.g. raven, boat).
Q: What does Smart Delivery mean for your game and how you’re bringing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to fans?
A: It is a great idea during this console generation transition, for players it mean they can continue their experience or their new console and even keep their progression data if they save it on the Cloud. It is something less they need to worry about.
Q: What does next-generation development enable in current or future projects that you could not have achieved with the current generation of consoles?
A: Progressively, Next-Gen is going to allow us to take a huge leap forward to fulfill our creative vision. Having the possibility to deliver gigantic open worlds full of content at the highest quality possible will help us to remove creativity boundaries. We are happy to see how far we can push those limits of the Next-Gen consoles and how creators are going to use this power to define new types of game experiences.
It’s been nearly six months since we launched The Last of Us Part II and, in that time, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support shown by everyone that has played the game and reached out to share their experience with us. This story and its characters mean so much to the entire studio and to have it resonate with millions of people around the world and be recognized by industry and fan-voted awards over the last several weeks is beyond humbling.
With the year winding down and new players picking up the game for the first time over the holidays, we’ve put together a new trailer that provides an expanded look at the story, and, for the first time, focuses on Abby’s emotional journey as it intersects and collides with Ellie’s. It explores her origins, the events that spark her search for vengeance, and the devastating repercussions that follow. You’ll also get a glimpse into Abby’s unique gameplay and how her training, equipment, and skills contrast Ellie’s. We hope you enjoy it:
Thank you again to everyone that has played The Last of Us Part II. For all those picking it up for the first time, we’d love to hear from you by following and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. We hope you stay safe, stay healthy, and have a happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.
Hello everyone! The holidays are almost here, and I’m so excited to be back at PlayStation.Blog to reveal a very special surprise: Christmas is coming to No Straight Roads!
That’s right, to spread some Xmas cheer, later this week we will be releasing a brand new Christmas Edition title update for No Straight Roads that brings Christmas to the game. And best of all, it will be available totally free to everybody who owns No Straight Roads on PlayStation 4! Here’s a look at our new trailer to show you the festivities we have in store.
We’ve been working hard to bring Christmas to the world of No Straight Roads, remixing the game with awesome new Christmas music, decor, outfits, album art and visual effects to celebrate the holiday season. We’ve given a Christmas makeover to almost every NSR boss and their stages, and we hope you’ll love revisiting the game with this new Christmas themed content.
And because we can’t wait for you to hear the boss’s new Christmas themes, here’s 1010’s new Christmas remix that you’ll be able to hear while fighting them in-game.
Once the title update becomes available later this week, No Straight Roads players will be able to access the new Christmas Edition content by heading to the boss fight menu in Vinyl City and pressing Triangle to change the genre to ‘Xmas Remix’. You’ll then be transported into the Christmas version of that boss fight.
If you haven’t jumped into the world of No Straight Roads yet, the Christmas Edition title update will also be available to you for free whenever you do. Since launching on PlayStation 4 back in August, we’ve been blown away by the incredible fan art, original characters and comments from the community, and this is our way of saying an extra special thank you.
From all of us at Metronomik and our publisher Sold Out, we wish you a very happy holiday and a rockin’ 2021!
Welcome to the world of Temtem, tamer! Temtem is a massively multiplayer creature collecting game where you’ll discover masses of friends, foes, and of course, Temtem to find and train! You’ll uncover a remarkable story playing solo or alongside friends, trading, taming, and battling through the Airborne Archipelago!
Choosing Your Starter!
Your adventure in Temtem starts with an important choice: which Temtem to choose as your first companion! Choose from three unique Temtem:
Crystle: A cute but tough defensive tem, with devastating hard-hitting attacks like Crystal Spikes!
Smazee: This tem’s adorable fluffy exterior hides speedy attack power in the form of vicious moves such as Uppercut, that will K.O unprepared opponents.
Houchic: Ideal as the first mental-type tem for tamers, their mentalism and intuition serve to provide powerful psychic attacks like Beta Burst that will leave opponents in a bind!
Exploring the World of Temtem: Top Tips for the Adventure-Seeking Tamer
Here are some tips to follow as you navigate the islands within Temtem:
Stock up on Smoke Bombs! These handy items allow you to whisk your party back to the nearest Temporium, giving you a nice easy escape to heal, rest, and relax, before setting out on your next adventure.
Take your time when exploring. Strings of battles will soon wear down your party, so go slow, and keep your tems in healthy condition, ready for anything!
Areas and islands tend to have dedicated types of Temtem and secrets to discover, so ensure you travel widely to discover as many different tems as you can! There are 12 types of tems; can you tame one of each?
Keep your Tempedia handy; it’s what you’ll use to catalog all the tems you’ve seen and caught, along with their stats, techniques, and more.
Plan Your Strategy
Battles in Temtem are two vs. two affairs, offering a ton of strategic opportunities for tamers to enjoy. Synergize your Temtem choices for buffs or execute devastating combo attacks on your opponent’s tems.
Temtem’s battles are based on a unique stamina system, encouraging strategic play. Carefully manage your tem’s stamina, and knowing when to hold back is vital to winning those battles!
There are dozens of tems to tame with different strengths, weaknesses, and unique stats. You can also breed Temtem to transfer techniques and traits, forming unique combinations you can’t find out in the wild. Bred Temtem also have a higher chance of having better stats, so feel free to min-max your way to the best team in the islands!
While you’re out exploring, make sure to keep an eye out for extra rare Luma Temtem who offer powerful stats and a stunning new look!
Top Tips for Successful Battles
Here are some quick-fire tips to ensure you succeed in the world of Temtem!
Purchase as much Balm – the item you’ll use to heal your tems! – as you can from Temporiums, so you can always keep your tem in fighting shape, even when away from Temporium healing facilities!
Learn Temtem’s unique array of types, strengths and weaknesses for each tem, so you know which tem to choose when going up against others, and which attacks and abilities will mean the difference between success and failure.
Use move synergies! With 2v2 battles some Temtem’s work better together and offer powerful synergy moves. Keep an eye out for these matchups to ensure you have the optimal party lineup.
Customize!
Temtem is a massively-multiplayer online experience, so it’s essential for each player to stand out. Each island offers unique stores for tamers to customize their character, and when you’re ready to set out on your adventures, you can adventure alongside characters, each with their own unique look!
With different islands to explore, tems to tame, quests to complete, and an ever-expanding world with new features and tems to discover, Temtem is ready and waiting for you and your fellow tamers. Make friends, rivals, and take on the world to become the best tamer in the Airborne Archipelago!
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