Schlagwort: events

  • CES 2024: The New Windows PC Gaming Devices Coming from Our Top Partners

    CES 2024: The New Windows PC Gaming Devices Coming from Our Top Partners

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    CES always gives us an exciting look at what’s next for hardware, and with gaming at the forefront of technological innovation, it’s no surprise that CES 2024 has revealed some truly next-generation Windows 11 gaming PCs. Microsoft and our partners are leading the way in combining traditional power with advancements in AI, and this selection of new announcements are a perfect way to future-proof your gaming experience on PC. 

    Every PC on this list is designed to run the latest games – including those on PC Game Pass, which will help you to jump into some of the greatest games on the platform the moment you switch on your new machine. Even better, every single computer listed below comes with at least one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving players access to hundreds of high-quality PC, console and cloud games. 

    Acer 

    Acer announced the new Predator Helios 18 gaming laptop, outfitted with Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs with DLSS 3.5 technology and Nvidia Advanced Optimus, delivering a massive boost in performance features and AI-powered graphic capabilities. It also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Gamers seeking a competitive edge will appreciate the MagKey 3.0 swappable mechanical switch for shorter key travel and response time and lightning-fast network speeds with Wi-Fi 7 compatibility.  

    Video game realms appear as realistic as ever, powered by up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU (MGP up to 175 W) designed with the ultra-efficient Nvidia ADA Lovelace architecture to deliver breakthrough performance and AI-enhanced graphics thanks to DLSS 3.5 technology’s full ray tracing capabilities. Acer’s advanced thermal solutions keep the devices and internals running cool but at full steam, driven by dual 5th Gen AeroBlade fans combined with liquid metal thermal grease on the CPU and vector heat pipes. 

    Asus ROG 

    Asus ROG introduced the new ROG Zephyrus G16 as one of the first Republic of Gaming laptops to feature a Nebula Display with an OLED panel. ROG collaborated with Nvidia and Samsung Display to refine the refresh rate and sync the processes of this panel. This is the first OLED panel supporting G-sync, which means it meets the ROG Nebula standard.  

    Thinner and lighter than ever thanks to a complete redesign, it gives players customizable lighting patterns. It also comes with an Aura Sync keyboard, an extra-large touchpad and 90Wh long-lasting battery life. It’s also bundled with three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Find out more about these and other Asus products announced at CES 2024.  

    Dell 

    Dell’s gaming brand, Alienware, redesigned its popular m16 R2 laptop to prioritize performance, flexibility and portability. Its goal was to create a powerful notebook that could run the most demanding games yet be portable and discreet enough to take from place to place with ease. Now the 16-inch gaming notebook sports a new thermal solution that allows it to be 43% more efficient in its airflow in a footprint that is 15% smaller. Notwithstanding its smaller size, it comes with a larger palm rest and touchpad.  

    Another change with this newer model is Stealth Mode, a hotkey that cloaks the m16 R2, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. This handy feature was inspired by people who found RGB lighting effects to be distracting in public spaces – such as libraries, classrooms and coffee shops. Now a quick tap of the F2 shortcut key turns the keyboard backlighting white, switches off all other AlienFX lighting zones, and shifts performance mode to Quiet to reduce fan noise.  

    The m16 R2 also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving players access to hundreds of high-quality games on PC, console and cloud. 

    When it’s time to game, the laptop’s Intel Core Ultra H Series processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series mobile graphics (up to an RTX 4070) pack enough power to run the latest titles at high frame rates. Competitive gamers can also utilize Nvidia’s DLSS 3.5 AI upscaling technology and Nvidia Reflex latency reduction, which deliver faster frame rates, better image quality and the lowest latency – without demanding more power. 

    HP 

    Gamers who are looking for versatile machines that can handle the rigor of top-tier AAA games, as well as visually demanding creative endeavors, can turn to the Windows 11-powered Omen Transcend 14  and Omen Transcend 16 Gaming Laptop. The 14-inch version comes with up to an IMAX Enhanced Certified 2.8K 120Hz VRR OLED display, up to 11.5 hours of battery life and up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPUs. HP has updated the 16-inch version with up to 4K 240Hz OLED display option as well as up to the latest Intel CPUs.  

    The Omen Transcend 14 is available for pre-order at HP.com for a starting price of $1,599.99. The Omen Transcend 16, which can be purchased with the latest Intel processors and an OLED display, is available for pre-order on HP.com for a starting price of $1,899.99. Both include one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

    Lenovo 

    Lenovo’s Legion series of laptops are made for gaming. Players will find the latest Intel Core 14th Gen i9 14900HX processors on the Lenovo Legion 7i. All Lenovo Legion Series laptops are available with up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics that feature Nvidia’s RTX AI upscaling for faster framerates, AI-powered Max-Q technology to optimize performance and efficiency, supercharging gaming as well as creative and productivity tasks.  

    New for this year is the Lenovo Legion Coldfront: Hyper thermal solution. The fans in the thermal solution spin in opposite directions, pushing hot air out of the rear of the chassis while pulling cold air in from the back middle. The Hyperchamber in the middle, which is hermetically sealed from open air, keeps cold and hot air separate, increasing heat exchange and keeping the laptops’ hardware cooler and the framerates higher. This results in a net increase of up to 25W TDP in Extreme Mode for a max output of 175W TDP on the Lenovo Legion 7i, while keeping the keyboard cooler and more comfortable even under heavy processor loads.  All Lenovo gaming PCs come with three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.   

    MSI 

    MSI introduced its Windows 11 handheld device, Claw. The Intel Core Ultra processors power this portable gaming powerhouse, which also features Intel XeSS technology that significantly enhances FPS, ensuring a smooth and immersive gameplay experience on AAA titles, while providing exceptional battery life. MSI Cooler Boost HyperFlow thermal technology redirects the airflow to cool the internal components, ensuring optimal performance even in the palm of your hand.  

    MSI also debuted an 18-inch gaming laptop family, led by the Titan 18 HX, equipped with Intel 14th Gen Core i9 processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics that are capable of running at total 270W simultaneous combined load. With four sets of expansion memory slots, it can be extended to 128 GB. If that isn’t enough, it includes three M.2 SSD slots, providing a storage capacity of up to 12TB.  The 18-inch family also includes the latest gaming flagship Raider 18 HX and portable Stealth 18 AI Studio. Find out more about these and other devices MSI rolled out at CES 2024. MSI’s gaming devices come with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

    Razer 

    The latest line-up of Razer Blade gaming laptops powered by Microsoft Windows 11 leads off with the new Razer Blade 16, equipped with an Intel Core i9 processor. Tackle the most demanding gaming and creative tasks with 24 Cores and the ability to unlock overclocking through Razer Synapse. Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics and AI-powered DLSS 3 deliver faster framerates and real-time ray tracing.  

    The next generation of Blade 14 is the most portable chassis in the Razer Blade line. Updated with the new AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, this four-pound and .71-inches thin laptop features enhanced Ryzen AI performance to boost AI workloads such as Microsoft Windows Studio effects and Microsoft Copilot in Windows 11. These laptops also come with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Find out more about these and other Razer announcements at CES. 

    Find out more about these and other new gaming PCs from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo that were highlighted this week on the Microsoft CES microsite.   

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox to Present Developer_Direct, Returning on January 18

    Xbox to Present Developer_Direct, Returning on January 18

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    You’re about to get an exciting look at some of the incredible games ahead with Xbox, as we present a new edition of Developer_Direct. On Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, fans will get an inside look at a selection of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass. Shortly after, ZeniMax Online Studios will host The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK to preview 2024’s biggest update.

    Presented by the game creators themselves, Developer_Direct offers an in-depth look at upcoming titles, how they’re being created, and who’s creating them. We’ll visit MachineGames in Sweden to check in on their Indiana Jones game, swing by Obsidian’s Irvine offices to see more from Avowed, head to Oxide Games’ Maryland home to learn about Ara: History Untold, and take a trip to Cambridge, England to see Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II from Ninja Theory. Please note that while this show won’t have updates on games from Activision Blizzard, you can look forward to news from those teams later this year.

    The show will be a celebration of just a selection of our slate of upcoming games from Xbox. It’s also another part of our commitment to consistently bringing Xbox players can’t-miss experiences. 2024 kicked off with a bang for Game Pass members, and you can expect that line-up to include more incredible games from Xbox and our partners as the year goes on.

    Fans should tune in on Xbox channels at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, January 18 to see all the latest on: 

    • Indiana Jones game: MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, will reveal their upcoming Indiana Jones game, an action-adventure that puts players in the leather jacket of the legendary archaeologist. Developer_Direct will showcase more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
    • Avowed: The team at Obsidian will share the first deep dive into the gameplay experience fans can expect in Avowed, their upcoming fantasy action RPG, set in the fantastical, vibrant Living Lands. Learn more about how Obsidian’s expertise in building worlds with deep themes, dynamic gameplay, and thoughtful reactivity come to life in Avowed where players will have agency to make choices to shape every step of their adventure.
    • Ara: History Untold: Hear from the leads at Oxide Games – a studio founded by veterans of the strategy genre and the creators behind classic strategy titles including Civilization V – as they unveil exclusive new gameplay and share more details about the inspiration, key features, and road ahead for their upcoming historical grand strategy game.
    • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II: Ninja Theory take us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to give us some insight on how they are crafting Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The team will speak to the ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.

    Shortly after Developer_Direct has concluded, ZeniMax Online Studios will host The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK, a standalone presentation where the development team will unveil the game’s next major Chapter, including the new zone, storyline, and other major features coming in the game’s biggest update this year.

    Stay tuned to Xbox and Bethesda’s official social channels for more on Developer_Direct, coming on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK.

    Website: LINK

  • Phil Spencer Celebrates Xbox’s Place in the World of Entertainment at CCXP23 Brazil

    Phil Spencer Celebrates Xbox’s Place in the World of Entertainment at CCXP23 Brazil

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    It was incredible to join our fans in the celebrations at Comic Con Experience (CCXP23) in Brazil last week. Xbox became part of the largest pop culture event in Latin America for the first time ever, alongside big brands from movies, television series and animations, and helping to show fans how gaming is becoming a part of the entertainment industry as a whole. 

    We sit in the middle of a show that is about TV and movies, and yet we see Halo (TV Show), we see Fallout (TV Show), we see things that come from video games now going into movies.

    Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming

    CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, welcomed the fans at FanFest – in a booth spanning over 1,000 square meters – helping to reveal games news and updates, offering a first glimpse at the Fallout TV show, and much more.  

    “One of the things that is really special to me about CCXP this year is that this was the first time, anywhere, where our booth has our Xbox Games Studios games, our Bethesda games and our Activision Blizzard King games—all in one booth”, said Spencer on the main stage of CCXP. 

    Missed some of these moments? Stick around as we recap everything about Xbox’s presence at CCXP23. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6gxeoqMARI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    We welcomed 300 of our passionate fans to CCXP, who were greeted by Phil Spencer, Melina Juergens, our Senua actress from the Hellblade series, and Pablo Schreiber, who gave life to the iconic Master Chief in the Halo TV show – and is coming back for season 2. 

    Fallout

    During his panel at CCXP23, Phil Spencer brought up the fact that Fallout 76 is about to receive its next major expansion – Atlantic City – with the first content, Boardwalk Paradise arriving on December 5. He provided players with a sneak peek of what to expect in this new explorable area with new expeditions and enemy groups, casinos and fresh dangers to overcome. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyXae1rwrlY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Fallout fans were in for a surprise with the premiere of the teaser trailer for the Fallout live-action TV show, produced in partnership with Amazon Prime. Fans were thrilled to see the first glimpse of the post-apocalyptic Wasteland coming to life on the big screen. Fallout premiers on Amazon Prime on April 12, 2024. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQ8i2FpRDk?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    I was blown away (by the Fallout TV Show trailer). I think they have done an awesome job capturing both the brutality of the Fallout universe as well as the humor and kind of melancholy in a special way.

    Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming

    Starfield

    Starfield image

    The epic new RPG from Bethesda Game Studios has been a special game for Xbox in 2023 – and for Phil Spencer. That’s why he was excited to reveal that Starfield now has over 12 million players, taking a place in the top 10 most-played games from Xbox’s studios. 

    Our goal is for Starfield to be a massive hit and for people to continue playing even 12 years later, like Skyrim.

    Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming

    Halo

    Halo Image

    The community has been with us in this journey since launch, and it’s really great to see the state of the game where it is today.

    Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming

    Halo fans were thrilled to receive more updates on Halo Infinite, with Forge Lead Designer, Michael Schorr and Community Director Brian Jarrard sharing further details about the highly anticipated new mode, Firefight: King of the Hill, which arrives as part of a free update on December 5. 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_x0LVnITTg?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Elsewhere at the show, Paramount+ revealed the teaser trailer for season 2 of Halo the Series. Watch it below:

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfiTJ2JNDco?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Minecraft

    Minecraft Image

    Minecraft unveiled the upcoming Jurassic World Adventures DLC, based on the blockbuster movies, much to the delight of the fans present. Brazilian content creator Forever joined Phil Spencer onstage to introduce the Minecraft content and talk about the ever-evolving, community-centric game, saying:

    “I love the Minecraft community that I’ve created and the fact that I can always do something different in the game. Whether I’m playing vanilla or checking out a new content drop, the game is always fresh, always new for me.” 

    Forza Motorsport

    Forza Image

    Forza Motorsport unveiled a special commemorative livery for the fans. The livery can be applied for the Honda NSX car both in Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport. 

    Under a Rock 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SysyZLy5vY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    This beautiful open-world survival craft game is coming to Xbox, and we were able to learn more about its mechanics and the world through a wonderful trailer. 

    Sopa

    Sopa Image

    Inspired by works from Miyazaki, Coco,and The Little Prince, this emotional narrative adventure about the things we pass along warmed our hearts with a thrilling trailer. Made in Colombia, by StudioBando, it was announced during CCXP23 that the game will be released with Game Pass in 2024.  

    Stumble Guys 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3YUyOTh3CA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    With millions of players enjoying Stumble Guys on PC, Xbox players can now join the fun multiplayer knockout battle royale. The beta is already live, and players can race, run, dash and jump through obstacle courses against up to 32 players online. 

    It was incredible to celebrate with our fans at CCXP23, and to take a moment to look back at how they shaped Xbox’s 2023. And, with the new announcements we have made, we want to make sure our fans have something to celebrate well into the future. 

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Partner Preview: See What’s Next From Our Incredible Third-Party Publishing Partners

    Xbox Partner Preview: See What’s Next From Our Incredible Third-Party Publishing Partners

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Please Note: Xbox Partner Preview will not feature any additional news, game reveals, or Game Pass information related to the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard King.

    We are delighted to announce our next broadcast event: Xbox Partner Preview! This new show format will deliver a fresh mix of indie games and familiar favorites from our third-party partners like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Remedy Entertainment, Studio Wildcard, and others with more than 20 minutes of trailers and new gameplay footage.

    This event will be digitally broadcast on Wednesday, October 25, at 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm BST) across our Xbox owned channels, showcasing updates and new looks at games coming to Xbox and Windows as well as new info on some upcoming Game Pass titles from our incredibly talented creative third-party partners from around the world.

    You can expect to see the latest information on in-game activities for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, a launch trailer for Alan Wake 2, the first gameplay for Ark: Survival Ascended, a dive into the social world of Dungeons of Hinterberg, and more!

    Q&A

    What time does Xbox Partner Preview begin? Wednesday, October 25, at 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time / 6pm UK time.

    How do I watch? Xbox Partner Preview will be available to be seen through a variety of outlets, and in over 30 languages, and American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and English Audio Descriptions here:

    Please note the YouTube streams will be in 4K at 60fps, while all other channels will be 1080p / 60fps.

    Is the event available in languages other than English?  We will be providing subtitle support in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maltese, Moldovan, Montenegrin, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese. While we expect to have all languages available with the show’s live broadcast, it is possible that select languages may need to be added in the days following the broadcast if they have not finished translating.

    Aside from going directly to a regional Xbox channel, you can find support for all languages, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Audio Descriptions (AD), at YouTube.com/Xbox. ASL and AD video will be listed separately, but just click the gear icon in the lower righthand corner of our primary stream to choose the language of your choice. Oftentimes YouTube will default to a random language when you join the stream so you may also want to switch over to English if needed.

    Is the show going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, and American Sign Language (ASL) on Xbox’s YouTube channel and the /XboxASL Twitch channel.

    I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As announcements roll out during the broadcast, the Xbox Wire team will be publishing detailed blog posts containing key announcements right here on Xbox Wire (including localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese). A full show recap will go live immediately following the end of Xbox Partner Preview.

    Co-streamer and content creator notes for the Xbox Partner Preview: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create post-show breakdowns of Xbox Partner Preview in the form of Video on Demand (VOD) coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

    Co-streamer and content creator notes for Xbox Partner Preview: Xbox Partner Preview contains no licensed music tracks and is co-streaming friendly! We invite you and your audience to tune in for watch parties, and we can’t wait to see the VOD content you create with the Xbox Partner Preview footage afterwards, too.

    We can’t wait for you to join us on Wednesday, October 25 at 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm BST) for the Xbox Partner Preview! See you soon.

    Website: LINK

  • Happy Tree Friends Is Back With A New Episode, And A Roguelite Shooter

    Happy Tree Friends Is Back With A New Episode, And A Roguelite Shooter

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    In the realm of iconic cultural phenomenon, few have left a mark as indelible as Happy Tree Friends. These lovable yet crooked forest critters have been a source of macabre humor and fascination for fans worldwide. After a six-year hiatus, their return is not just a comeback; it’s a revival eagerly anticipated by legions of fans who have yearned for more mayhem and cuteness. This wacky woodland gang returns in the form of a brand new animated episode, and in a roguelite shoot’em up, The Crackpet Show.

    But why do we, as humans, have this curious affinity for cruelty, even in the cutest of packages? It’s a question that has perplexed scholars and thinkers for ages. Perhaps it’s the stark contrast between the adorable appearance of Happy Tree Friends and the gruesome fates that befall them that keep us hooked. It’s a contrast of sweetness and cruelty that, against all odds, found affection in the hearts of people worldwide.

    Enter The Crackpet Show, a post-apocalyptic world where the worst tendencies of humanity have run rampant, giving rise to a bizarre dystopia unlike any other. In this bleak and chaotic setting, Happy Tree Friends find themselves, and it’s a perfect match. The very essence of this show aligns with the darkest aspects of humanity, making it the ideal stage for our beloved characters to wreak havoc once more.

    The Crackpet Show is not for the faint-hearted; it’s a world where violence and chaos reign supreme. Participants must embrace the mayhem, shooting, smashing, and ripping through hordes of enemies to emerge victorious. Within this nightmarish landscape, colossal bosses lurk, capable of turning your world inside out. It’s a challenging world, but for Happy Tree Friends, it’s a homecoming like no other.

    As fans eagerly await their return, it’s not only the game that has them excited. A brand-new episode is also on the horizon, promising to capture the essence of the classic series while embracing the twisted reality of The Crackpet Show. Happy Tree Friends’ antics and gore-filled escapades will return to the beloved, crazy dimension, leaving fans both delighted and horrified.

    The anticipation for this momentous return has been palpable. Happy Tree Friends fans have longed for more of the dark humor and iconic characters that have become a cultural touchstone. 

    In a world where the line between gore and humor blurs, Happy Tree Friends’ comeback is a testament to the enduring appeal of this iconic cultural phenomenon. The Crackpet Show provides the perfect backdrop for their return, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled. 

    The Crackpet Show: Happy Tree Friends Edition and the new episode premiere today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Chaos and laughter will collide in a way that only Happy Tree Friends can orchestrate, and fans can hardly wait for the mayhem to begin anew.

    The Crackpet Show: Happy Tree Friends Edition
    Xbox Live

    The Crackpet Show: Happy Tree Friends Edition

    Ravenage Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Happy Tree Friends are back! Remember those rebellious days when parents forbade us from watching this cute cartoon, and we had to sneak around? Well, guess what? Now you can embrace the legendary cruelty and humor of the iconic cartoon as you play your favorite characters in The Crackpet Show: Happy Tree Friends Edition! Get ready to unleash chaos, earn fame, and have a blast! Are you ready to get famous? If so, grab your gun and join the most violent TV show in the history of violent TV shows! Participants will have to shoot, smash and rip through hundreds of enemies on their way to victory! Don’t be discouraged by THE GIANT BOSSES that are more than capable of turning your innards outwards – just grab the best perks and weapons along the way. Make your gun spew molten lava all over the floor, turn yourself into a berserker, and let your bullets bounce between enemies! All these things stack, so you have every opportunity to turn your furry warrior into a raging death machine. You’ll still die, though. That’s just how life is, even for those who wield a rail gun. But who cares about death when your audience loves YOU? Unlike real life, here you can make good use of the likes you receive. Use your new-found fame to help upgrade every item and every perk to deal even more damage when you head out again. Oh, don’t worry about getting bored: every episode of the show is randomized so you’ll never have the same run twice in-a-row.
    And, when you are completely done with show business, invite your friends and party-up with co-op mode with up to four players! Play smart and synergize with the team or bash their teeth in when they will try to steal your power-ups: every dirty trick in the book is valid, and every strategy works as long as you are having fun.
    So, are you ready to sign the contract? Rogue-lite Shoot’em-up
    There are tons of enemies, dozens of weapons, lots of perks and items, randomized drop and map layouts, as well as carnivorous bosses for you to test your ability to beat the game with in-game items The most bizarre TV Show
    It’s cute. It’s colorful. It’s everything you love about old-school gore cartoons. This is your only opportunity to make a pink rabbit into a harbinger of death. Do not miss it! Play solo or co-op
    Play the game solo or get your friends to play with you, create elaborate tactics or mess around and try to steal your friend’s items and power-ups. The goal is to have fun and get famous, not to sit down crunching numbers. Though it’s also a thing if you are into it.

    Website: LINK

  • Sarah Bond Interview: The Importance of Japan and Asia to Xbox

    Sarah Bond Interview: The Importance of Japan and Asia to Xbox

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Tokyo Game Show swung its doors open once again from September 21 to 24 this year. During this time, Sarah Bond, Corporate Vice President at Xbox, visited Japan to take part in the country’s biggest annual gaming moment. During the visit, the Xbox Wire Japan team was able to talk to Sarah to hear more on how she perceives the Japanese and Asian Xbox markets, as well as the Xbox community within them – and their importance to Xbox overall. 

    ―――― 

    Xbox Wire Japan: An abundance of titles developed in Japan have been showcased in the Xbox Digital Broadcast for Tokyo Game Show 2023. Out of them all, Hotel Barcelona, the collaboration between Swery and Suda51, definitely caught the eyes of many people in the crowd. Tell us how that piece within the show came to be. 

    Sarah: We have known both Swery-san and Suda-san for a long time, and our team here is very dedicated to working with creators within the Japanese market to make sure they realize their creative vision with Xbox, in any way that they wish. When they shared that they wanted to reveal Hotel Barcelona’s gameplay for the first time as part of the Xbox Digital Broadcast, we were honored to do so. We were happy that Swery-san and Suda-san themselves were also featured in the show, giving them an opportunity to speak to their fans, share their visions, and even highlight the game’s origins. This is something very unique to our approach as Xbox, and how we celebrate games, because we also love to celebrate the creators of the games as well. 

    Xbox Wire Japan: Fans are fascinated that titles like Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Octopath Traveler 2 will soon be a part of Xbox Game Pass. Since last year, there has been an impression that more Japanese games have been making their way onto Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Is this the result of the commitment you and your team have been expressing towards the region? 

    Sarah: Relationships in all businesses, especially in gaming – which is a creative art form – are very important. My team and I, in addition to Phil [Spencer]’s team, have invested a lot of time in building a relationship with creators here in Japan and across Asia. Game Pass enables creators to reach players who may otherwise have not known about the game, or been able to afford to buy every single game out there. I think the Yakuza franchise is an excellent example; now, with so many Yakuza games in Game Pass, someone can jump in and experience all the amazing things about the franchise, and we have it all in one place for people to start playing. Even if they weren’t familiar with the series, it’s easy to experience all of the games when they are together. To reiterate, the relationships we build are very important, but just as important is investing to make sure our partners have an opportunity to grow their franchises, to reach new players, and to extend their engagement in their games, all the while providing a choice in how to play. This is very important and core to what I and my team invest our time in. 

    Xbox Wire Japan: Here’s a question about Tokyo Game Show. In the past, you had E3 in the United States, and gamescom in Germany. Compared to these events, what is the position of Xbox on Tokyo Game Show? 

    Sarah: We really see Tokyo Game Show as a unique moment to celebrate and showcase creators from Japan and across Asia. In the Xbox Digital Broadcast, there were a total of 19 games, including 15 games from Asia. It also showcased the creators of these games themselves, speaking about their vision towards the fans. In many ways, Japan is the source of so much of what makes gaming a beautiful and creative artform today, and Tokyo Game Show gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate the innovative style of games that are built by creators in this region, as well as to show all of what is happening in Japan and across Asia – not just to the fans who reside here, but to fans around the world. 

    Sarah Bond meets fans at the Xbox Digital Broadcast Watch Party

    Xbox Wire Japan: Xbox hosted the “Xbox Digital Broadcast Watch Party” in Shibuya last week. Have you noticed a uniqueness in the Xbox community in Japan? 

    Sarah: What I really appreciate and love about Xbox fans in Japan, who we met with last night and watched the show with, is how they wear Xbox. Many of them were wearing colors, jewelry, and had their hair made to resemble Xbox, and some brought controllers and even consoles for us to sign, as well as t-shirts and hats. There’s so much passion and love, not just for games, but also for the brand and what it represents. 

    Xbox Wire Japan: To go on a tangent, fans have noticed that you host an emoji quiz almost every day online. When do you come up with these? 

    Sarah: I love emojis. But when I first started posting online, people told me that young people don’t use emojis anymore. That’s when I realized that, if I kept using emojis, people may realize that I am a mother in my forties. But you see, I am a mom in my forties, and am quite proud of it; I think it’s cool that I can do what I do while being one. I want every mom in the world to know, or perhaps every woman in the world to know that you could do something like this, and don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not. And that’s when I decided to go all out and use a lot of emojis. Often, in internal emails, which the team can tell you, I now may only reply with emojis. That’s when I started to think “could I communicate just with emojis”?  

    And with this question in mind, when I hopped on a plane, I started making game names out of emojis. I made 50 game and emoji combinations on that flight. The first one that I made was for Clockwork Revolution, and everybody went wild. We eventually decided to do this quiz every day of the week, just like Wordle, so people could wake up in the morning and try and solve the quiz, and to keep going as long as I could. It’s been almost 3 months, and we’ll see how much longer I can continue. There still are a lot of games out there! 

    Xbox Wire Japan: Lastly, would you please share a message to the Xbox fans in Japan? 

    Sarah: First, I want to thank all of the Xbox fans for the support and feedback. I hope that they all enjoy the rest of Tokyo Game Show, and I encourage them to play and enjoy Starfield, but also, to pick up and play Forza Motorsport which is launching October 10. We hope you continue to give us your incredible feedback and support, as we continue to invest in Xbox in Japan and across Asia. We are nothing without our fans, and everything they do for us is invaluable. 

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Digital Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2023: Every Announcement and Game Reveal

    Xbox Digital Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2023: Every Announcement and Game Reveal

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    Xbox is back at Tokyo Game Show, and players were at the center of our just-concluded our Xbox Digital Broadcast. The Showcase featured new gameplay, news, and reveals for Japanese and Japan-inspired games coming to your Xbox console and PC, and appearances from Head of Xbox Phil Spencer and Head of Xbox Creator Experience Sarah Bond.

    “Japan will always have a special place in my heart for pioneering innovative ways to play, from the Game Boy, to PSP, to the Switch”, said Phil Spencer in his opening address, and the show certainly brought that pioneering spirit to the fore. From the gameplay reveal of Hotel Barcelona – a landmark collaboration between game design legends Swery65 and Suda51 – to an announcement of a Day One Game Pass release for Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name, our show included some of Japanese development’s biggest, most important names.

    The broadcast also revealed some of the latest content being built by Japanese creators for Xbox. Square Enix announced Octopath Traveler II on Xbox, and we showed off the latest on upcoming titles like Palworld, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and more. And for racing fans, we were able to show off the new, Japan-set Hakone track and more for the upcoming Forza Motorsport.

    Read on to learn about every single game included in the show:

    Titles from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda

    Forza Motorsport

    Fresh from its hands-on previews, the upcoming Forza Motorsport gave us a closer look at its gorgeous Japanese Hakone track, with beautiful cherry blossom trees masking a tricky turnpike – and driving on that track was one of the cars available in the game, a 2020 Toyota GR Supra. Forza Motorsport will be released for Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Game Pass), Windows PC (with PC Game Pass) and Steam on October 10, with early access players getting access from October 5. Buying the game will also offer you the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray in your garage inside Forza Horizon 5.

    Fallout 76: Atlantic City

    Fallout 76 Image

    Fallout 76 Art Director Jonathan Rush made an appearance to introduce Atlantic City, a brand new location coming to the game on December 5. “Since we announced Atlantic City at the Xbox Showcase last June, we’ve upped the ante with so much great content that we’re splitting it into two releases, said Rush. “Atlantic City has stacked the deck with new content including new locations, new factions, new creatures, new missions, and new rewards. Plus, a flush casino where our Wastelanders can test their luck.” Steam players who already own the game can join the fun early, with Atlantic City available on the Public Test Server from October 3.

    The Elder Scrolls Online

    Elder Scrolls Online Image

    ZeniMax Online Studios is excited to share that The Elder Scrolls Online will launch in Japan on Xbox consoles, along with full localization in Japanese on November 15, 2023. During the segment, ESO Creative Director Rich Lambert also highlighted the new content recently released in the Necrom Chapter, which console players will be able to play locally this November.

    Games from Our Partners

    Ace Attorney

    Ace Attorney Image

    The Ace Attorney series is one of the most beloved visual novel series of all time, and the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is now coming to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on September 26. And that’s not all! Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy – comprising three more games featuring a new protagonist – will also arrive for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC in early 2024.

    Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi

    Altheia Image

    This new action-adventure odyssey was created by two brothers, and showed off never-before-seen gameplay. We got a good look at its characters – the warrior Lili and mysterious monk Sadi – puzzles, and combat, all set within mysterious and dangerous ruined temples inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Hosoda. Both combat and puzzling are created with the two characters in mind, asking you to use both of their powers’ to proceed. Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is coming soon for Xbox and Windows PC.

    Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

    Eiyuden Chronicle Image

    This spiritual successor to the beloved Suikoden series will arrive on Xbox consoles (with Xbox Game Pass) on April 23, 2024 – and pre-orders are now live. A new trailer gave us a look at its incredible mix of pixel art and 3D visuals, multi-hero turn-based combat, and a story told on a truly epic scale.

    Exoprimal

    Exoprimal Image

    Capcom’s madcap dinosaur-slaying online multiplayer game gave us a taste of what’s to come in Season 2. A new trailer showed off the new Ocean Platform map, the new ‘Escape’ final mission, new Drone and Edge Strike rigs, some truly outlandish new costumes, and more. We also got a look at the game’s much-anticipated crossover with Street Fighter 6, with Exosuit skins and animations based on Ryu, Guile, and Chun-Li. Exoprimal Season 2 will arrive on October 18.

    Hotel Barcelona

    Hotel Barcelona Image

    Hotel Barcelona is the long-awaited collaboration between game design legends Swery65 and Suda51, and our Xbox Digital Broadcast brought us a never-before-seen gameplay trailer from the self-styled “2.5D slasher film parodic action” game. Drawing influences from across horror’s history, you’ll be pitted against everything from alien entities to AI-enhanced sharks, all while stuck in an endless time loop filled with serial killers – and only your deceased past selves to help you.

    Both Swery and Suda appeared in the show to discuss the game. Swery discussed the game’s unusual beginnings – with Suda asking him to announce a collaboration on the fly, with no prior discussion – and his inspirations from Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’.  Suda explained that he and Swery worked on the initial concept together – “Then, all of a sudden, Swery completed tons of work on the development, and Hotel Barcelona materialized. Most of the time, when someone does lip service like that, the project never materializes… But Swery made this project a reality in order to deliver something to the fans.”

    Make sure to watch the show to learn much more about this truly unique collaboration! Hotel Barcelona comes to Xbox Series X|S in 2024.

    Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai

    Infinity Strash Image

    Infinity Strash is a new Dragon Quest adventure inspired by the popular manga and anime series, and we saw a new story trailer that introduced many of its characters. Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai comes to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on September 28.

    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Like a Dragon: Ishin!

    Like a Dragon Image

    Head of Ryu Ga Gotoku, Masayoshi Yokoyama made a special appearance with some exciting news – Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Like a Dragon: Ishin! will be joining Xbox Game Pass, with the former joining on its day of release. 

    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name tells the story of the once legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu, a man who faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Under the codename “Joryu”, Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat that sets the stage for the next instalment of the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, launching January 26, 2024. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will come to Xbox Game Pass on release day, November 9.

    Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a Samurai epic that launched on Xbox earlier this year. Take up the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and explore feudal Japan to find your father’s killer, clear yourself of a framed murder, and restore your honor. It will arrive for Xbox Game Pass this year.

    Mineko’s Night Market

    Mineko's Night Market Image

    This adorable social simulation is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC (with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) on October 26. New gameplay showed off how the game will allow you to scavenge for materials, craft them, and sell them at your market stall – all while building relationships with the characters around you.

    My Lovely Empress

    My Lovely Empress Image

    The third in the My Lovely series (following My Lovely Daughter and My Lovely Wife), My Lovely Empress is a new outing for small Indonesian studio, GameChanger Studio. Each game in the series is a management sim that explores the darker impulses in human relationships, and this new entry pushes that to a new level of scale. Playing as the emperor of the Crimson Kingdom, you’ll need to balance the needs of your subjects with your more personal quest to either resurrect your own deceased empress, or a new relationship with the leaders of neighboring kingdoms. My Lovely Empress will come to Xbox consoles and Windows PC in 2024.

    Octopath Traveler II

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E-BqssreVQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Xbox’s Sarah Bond appeared on stage to help introduce the upcoming Xbox release of Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler II. Sarah revealed that, in the last five years, Xbox has more than doubled the number of Japanese games released on our platforms, and introduced a special message from Square Enix Vice President of Creative Business Unit II, Yu Miyake. Miyake announced that its beautiful HD-2D RPG, Octopath Traveler II will arrive on Xbox platforms in early 2024. 

    Palworld

    Palworld Image

    This monster-collecting RPG got a new gameplay trailer during the show, showing off new monsters, character customization, multiplayer, base building, crafting, weapons, faction leaders, and more in its gorgeous 3D world. Palworld will arrive for Xbox and Windows in 2024.

    Party Animals

    Party Animals Ori Image

    Party Animals, the raucous co-op-competitive brawler from Recreate Games announced a partnership with the Ori series (Ori and The Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps), which will bring playable versions of both Ori and their adoptive mother Naru to the game.

    Persona 3 Reload

    Persona 3 Reload Image

    Ahead of this epic remake’s release on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC (with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) on February 2, 2024, producer Ryota Niitsuma introduced the game and revealed a brand-new skill that is original to Persona 3 Reload. Theurgy is a flashy, ultimate attack that Niitsuma calls “a trump card for your battles” – meaning there is plenty that’s new and exciting for past players and newcomers alike.

    Persona 5 Tactica

    Persona 5 Tactica Image

    The upcoming turn-based tactical take on the critically acclaimed Persona 5 showed off new gameplay, and revealed its new Quest system. Producer Atsushi Nomura explained that Quests are special stages – set aside from the main story – that come with unique clear conditions, but offer sizeable rewards. Taking on a Quest might mean having to beat an enemy in a single turn, or puzzle-style levels involving manoeuvring bombs around a stage – but in return you can earn entirely new personas to use, or high-level skills. Persona 5 Tactica will be released for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC (with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) on November 17, 2023.

    PUBG Battlegrounds

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLtsfTJhtNA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    In a new trailer, we got a tease of some curious developments to PUBG Battlegrounds’ Erangel map coming this October. The trailer promises more dynamic and mysterious gameplay – and we got a quick look at a hidden, subterranean doorway opening before the teaser ended. Make sure to stay tuned for more details.

    Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – Conqueror of Jiangdong

    Wo Long DLC Image

    Arriving on September 27, Conqueror of Jiangdong is the second of three DLC expansions coming to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. A new trailer teased its action-packed storyline, and also gave us a glimpse of new weapon types, enemies, and bosses. We also learned that a crossover with Lies of P will bring 2 new weapons to Wo Long on September 27 as well.

    Website: LINK

  • Let’s connect at The Things Conference 2023

    Let’s connect at The Things Conference 2023

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    It’s time to catch up on all things LoRaWAN® and low-power IoT! Our team is looking forward to returning to The Things Conference this year, joining all LoRa® key players in Amsterdam on September 21st-22nd. Our experts will be showcasing new products and applications relevant to the technology that is putting the “smart” in smart cities, smart agriculture, smart logistics, and more.

    Indeed, with IoT’s huge growth potential in both B2B and B2C applications, LoRaWAN® is stepping up as one of the technologies of the future. Already established as the low-power connectivity choice, according to The Things Network it is reaping the benefits of innovations that increase efficiency even further – and is poised to support ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals with reduced energy consumption and secure data transmission.

    LoRaWAN® novice, or expert? We’ve got you covered

    Whether you are just realizing the potential of LoRaWAN® or have been a fan of it since day one (like us!), we’ll have something for you to discover at our booth at The Things Conference:

    • Looking for an entry-level option? The Arduino MKR WAN 1310 offers you the renowned versatility of the practical and cost-effective MKR family and adds LoRa® connectivity to projects requiring low power.
    • Ready to take it up a notch? The solution for advanced applications requiring sturdy computational power is to boost Arduino Pro’s Portenta H7 module (in any of its three variants) with the capability to run embedded computer vision applications, connect wirelessly via LoRa® to the Arduino Cloud (or third-party infrastructure), and activate systems upon the detection of sound events. How? With the Portenta Vision Shield LoRa®, of course!
    • Feel the need for high performance? Pair the Portenta Max Carrier with a Portenta X8 module to add LoRa® connectivity to your project, transforming your robust SOM into a single-board computer or reference design enabling edge AI for industrial, building automation and robotics applications.
    • Need deep indoor coverage or want to add reliable connectivity to your outdoor system? The WisGate Edge Lite 2 and WisGate Edge Pro are your ready-to-use, industrial-grade gateways for LoRaWAN® connectivity powered by RAKwireless™.

    The Arduino ecosystem has something for everyone, and might just have everything you need for your next LoRaWAN® idea. Contact us or come by the booth to find out more.

    Don’t miss the demos! 

    The Things Conference will also be a great opportunity to see some of our products in action. You’ll have the chance to explore our solution to control pests in vineyards with the most effectiveness and the least use of chemicals or labor, for example. Computer vision and LoRa® connectivity combine in a smart trap based on a MKR WAN 1310, which attracts bugs and records their number and type in real-time, allowing for remote monitoring and therefore more cost-effective interventions.

    Our experts at The Things Conference will also be happy to show you how Portenta X8 and Portenta Max Carrier can join forces to deploy a secure, industrial-grade Linux computer capable of interacting with equipment/machinery or integrating within an existing smart kiosk: a system ready to collect data from onsite controllers, process them thanks to supported industrial protocols, and finally send useful information to your Cloud or ERP system, acting as a multi-protocol gateway via Wi-Fi, NB/IoT, LTE Cat.M1 or – you guessed it – LoRa®.

    People make The Things Conference special

    We are proud to have two special events included in the program this year.

    On Friday, September 22nd, our Application Engineering Lead, Sebastian Romero, will return to Amsterdam with a keynote showing how IoT-capable hardware can be retrofitted to integrate smart remote management, using Arduino components and LoRaWAN®. Interested in present opportunities, but also curious about the future of IoT from Arduino’s perspective? Then make sure to attend the fireside chat with our CEO Fabio Violante on Thursday, September 21st at 10:30am CEST, to find out how the company’s philosophy will continue to leverage the latest technological evolutions to best serve innovators like you.

    Let’s get social! 

    We’ll be happy to see you at the booth: come say hi, ask questions and get to know Arduino better. While approaching the venue, keep an eye on the ground and look for our street graffiti – be sure to take photos and tag us on social media: we’ll repost to share highlights with the millions in our community!

    The post Let’s connect at The Things Conference 2023 appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Meet Arduino Pro at PACK EXPO 2023 in Las Vegas

    Meet Arduino Pro at PACK EXPO 2023 in Las Vegas

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The Arduino PRO team will be exhibiting in Las Vegas next week at PACK EXPO 2023, the largest event for the packaging industry. From Monday, September 11th through to the 13th, meet our team at the Arduino PRO booth #7592 in the upper south hall. 

    This is the first year for Arduino PRO at PACK EXPO. The event is expected to bring over 26,000 attendees and 2,300 exhibitors from the packaging industry. Our industrial automation controllers, the Portenta Machine Controller (PMC) and Opta PLC have been particularly popular in the packaging industry. Ever since the launch of PMC, customers have recommended the expo, and we are excited to have this opportunity to exhibit. 

    The complete Arduino PRO product line will be featured on display, including the certified PMC and Opta PLC industrial controllers, the Portenta family of System-on-Modules, and the Nicla family of sensor boards. In addition, APS Engineering will be at the booth displaying their commercial inkjet fluid controller powered by the Portent Machine Controller. 

    The Arduino team will be joined by our newest system integrator partner, Dojo Five, who specializes in industrial firmware development. Throughout the event, our team of sales and solution architects are available live at the booth to walk through our solutions and discuss specific application architecture. Combined with the embedded software expertise of Dojo Five, attendees have the unique opportunity of a full end-to-end project consulting session live on the event floor.   

    The Arduino PRO team looks forward to meeting existing and potential new customers in Las Vegas – championing open source, accessibility, and flexibility in industrial-grade solutions at PACK EXPO.

    If you want to contact the team, please contact the team through this event form. 

    The post Meet Arduino Pro at PACK EXPO 2023 in Las Vegas appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • You have 3 ways to meet Massimo Banzi in the UK!

    You have 3 ways to meet Massimo Banzi in the UK!

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Massimo Banzi and the Arduino Pro team will be crossing the Channel soon for a short tour of Southern England, touching base with long-time partners and meeting many new Arduino fans! 

    On July 11th at 4PM BST, Massimo has been invited to give a Tech Talk at Arm’s headquarters in Cambridge, as part of the company’s ongoing series where “leading experts cover topics across the industry, including artificial intelligence, automotive, consumer technology, infrastructure, and IoT.” Register now to attend the talk remotely, anywhere in the world.

    Fancy a pint and a fireside chat? Come and meet us in London at the Cittie of Yorke, July 12th at 6PM in Holborn. You can learn about Arduino’s latest products and future vision, straight from the co-founder himself. The event is free and no registration is required, but admission will be regulated depending on the venue’s capacity – get there early to save your seat!

    Finally, on July 13th we are excited to announce Arduino Pro will debut with a booth at Hardware Pioneers Max. Come visit us at the Business Design Center in London, booth #48, to chat with our experts. Not sure where to begin? Our demos make great conversation starters! At the show, look for these:

    • An industrial-grade computer built with a Portenta X8 and Max Carrier. The X8’s hybrid combination of microprocessor and microcontroller yields unprecedented flexibility to simultaneously run Linux apps and perform real-time tasks. Pair that with the Max Carrier and an 8″ screen and you have a secure and powerful computer to deploy advanced AI algorithms and ML on the edge. The Portenta X8 can also act as a multi-protocol gateway: data from onsite sensors and controllers (e.g. temperature, operation time, warning codes) are collected and processed thanks to the module’s supported industrial protocols, then sent to the Cloud or ERP system via Wi-Fi, LoRa®, NB/IoT or LTE Cat.M1.
    • A vibration-based condition monitoring system to detect anomalies with Nicla Sense ME. Developed in collaboration with SensiML, this solution makes great use of Nicla’s self-learning AI smart sensor – with integrated accelerometer and gyroscope – to measure vibrations generated by a computer fan. With the intelligence of a trained ML model, the system monitors the fan’s conditions and can determine whether it is on or off, if there are any shocks, and even if the airflow is simply sub-optimal.
    • A solution to monitor vineyard pests, thanks to Nicla Vision and MKR WAN 1310. Smart farming leverages machine vision and valuable data on pest behavior, seasonality, and population size to optimize manual interventions against the dangerous Popillia japonica. Insects are attracted by pheromones inside the trap, where a low-power sensing solution leverages an ML model trained, tested and deployed with Edge Impulse to recognize and count insects, sending real-time data via LoRa® connectivity to the Cloud for remote monitoring.

    And don’t miss Massimo’s talk, “Everything you think you know about Arduino is WRONG” at 4PM (see the event agenda). It’s your chance to find out how the brand that made tech accessible for the first generation of makers is now evolving to support a new generation of innovators.

    We can’t wait to see you there!

    The post You have 3 ways to meet Massimo Banzi in the UK! appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Meet Arduino Pro at tinyML EMEA Innovation Forum 2023

    Meet Arduino Pro at tinyML EMEA Innovation Forum 2023

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    On June 26th-28th, the Arduino Pro team will be in Amsterdam for the tinyML EMEA Innovation Forum – one of the year’s major events for the world where AI models meet agile, low-power devices.

    This is an exciting time for companies like Arduino and anyone interested in accelerating the adoption of tiny machine learning: technologies, products, and ideas are converging into a worldwide phenomenon with incredible potential – and countless applications already.

    At the summit, our team will indeed present a selection of demos that leverage tinyML to create useful solutions in a variety of industries and contexts. For example, we will present:

    • A fan anomaly detection system based on the Nicla Sense ME. In this solution developed with SensiML, the Nicla module leverages its integrated accelerometer to constantly measure the vibrations generated by a computer fan. Thanks to a trained model, condition monitoring turns into anomaly detection – the system is able to determine whether the fan is on or off, notify users of any shocks, and even alert them if its super precise and efficient sensor detects sub-optimal airflow.
    • A vineyard pest monitoring system with the Nicla Vision and MKR WAN 1310. Machine vision works at the service of smart agriculture in this solution: even in the most remote field, a pheromone is used to attract insects inside a case lined with glue traps. The goal is not to capture all the insects, but to use a Nicla Vision module to take a snapshot of the captured bugs, recognize the ones that pose a real threat, and send updated data on how many specimens were found. New-generation farmers can thus schedule interventions against pests as soon as needed, before the insects get out of control and cause damage to the crops. Leveraging LoRa® connectivity, this application is both low-power and high-efficiency.
    • An energy monitoring-based anomaly detection solution for DC motors, with the Opta. This application developed with Edge Impulse leverages an Opta WiFi microPLC to easily implement industrial-level, real-time monitoring and fault detection – great to enable predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and overall costs. A Hall effect current sensor is attached in series with the supply line of the DC motor to acquire real-time data, which is then analyzed using ML algorithms to identify patterns and trends that might indicate faulty operation. The DC motor is expected to be in one of two statuses – ON or OFF – but different conditions can be simulated with the potentiometer. When unexpected electric consumption is shown, the Opta WiFi detects the anomaly and turns on a warning LED.

    The Arduino Pro team is looking forward to meeting customers and partners in Amsterdam – championing open source, accessibility, and flexibility in industrial-grade solutions at the tinyML EMEA Innovation Forum!

    The post Meet Arduino Pro at tinyML EMEA Innovation Forum 2023 appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Join us at Sensors Converge in Santa Clara

    Join us at Sensors Converge in Santa Clara

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    We’ll be in California at the Santa Clara Convention Center June 20nd-22th for Sensors Converge, where the building blocks of IoT converge. As North America’s largest electronics event for design engineers, Sensors Converge brings together all the industrial components for innovative end to end commercial solutions design. Arduino will be there to give our take on open technology for industrial-grade applications at the speed of innovation.

    At Arduino’s booth #1346, our experts will be on hand to showcase the Pro line of products with a few notable demonstrations. Our own Guneet Bedi to keynote on the innovation open environments offer to businesses, in addition to two other talks on agtech and the CHIPS Act. We look forward to sharing our business solutions for digital transformation with Arduino’s ease of use and open-source philosophy. We invite you to stop by the booth during the show or join us for one of our networking receptions.

    The full schedule of Arduino events at Sensors Converge (all times PT):

    Tuesday, June 20th

    • VIP conference reception sponsored by Arduino, 4-6pm, Hyatt Regency Rooftop.

    Wednesday, June 21st

    • Keynote address “Open Source as the Future of Innovation: An Unconventional and Powerful Approach for Commercial Success,” with featured speaker Guneet Bedi (SVP and GM of the Americas), 2:40-3pm, Main Stage.
    • Agriculture track session “How an Open Ecosystem Promotes Smart Agriculture, Connected Irrigation, and Sustainable Natural Resource Use,” technical session from Allan Gagnon (Solutions Architect), 4:10-4:30pm, Grand Ballroom F.
    • Expo floor reception sponsored by Arduino, 4:30-6pm, Expo Floor.

    Thursday, June 22nd

    • “Opportunities, Challenges and Collaboration: Government Policy Impact on the Semiconductor and Tech Industries,” panel featuring Guneet Bedi (SVP and GM of the Americas), 11:30am-12:10pm, Main Stage.

    Arduino will feature its Arduino Pro ecosystem, designed for industrial and commercial environments. With a robust end-to-end ecosystem of system modules, intelligent sensors, ready-to-deploy open PLCs and cloud services, Pro ensures optimal performance and longevity, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking dependable solutions. The company will be showcasing its Portenta, Nicla, and Opta products along with several demonstrations:

    To learn more at Sensors Converge about how Arduino PRO is helping companies transform through rapid IoT deployment, schedule a visit to our booth.

    The post Join us at Sensors Converge in Santa Clara appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • PlayStation Studios Extra Life Game Day Livestream Event, Saturday November 5

    PlayStation Studios Extra Life Game Day Livestream Event, Saturday November 5

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Mark your calendars! PlayStation Studios is set to host an all-day livestream event on Saturday, November 5th for Extra Life Game Day to raise money for a great cause! Join Bend Studio, Guerrilla, Insomniac Games, and San Diego Studio for a day full of fun, laughter, and some friendly competition to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

    PlayStation Studios Extra Life Game Day Livestream Event, Saturday November 5

    PlayStation Studios will play a variety of games during the livestream from new releases to PlayStation classics and will be asking you, our incredible fans, to help us meet our donation goal of $10,000. And guess what? To thank you for all your support, you will have the chance to receive some awesome PlayStation merchandise in a special giveaway during the livestream, including a DualSense™ Wireless Controller, PS5 HD Camera, and more!* (See official rules here)

    Donate or find out more on the Tiltify Cause Page for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.** “Extra Life Game Day is a way for all of us to come together to spend a day playing the games we love and to raise money for a cause we believe in,” says Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. All donations go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services across the U.S. and Canada.

    Now, get ready for a full day of games, good vibes, and fun times!

    Check out the livestream schedule below! You can tune into each studio’s Twitch channel or catch them throughout the day on the official PlayStation Twitch channel. The livestream event kicks off at 9AM PT!

    PlayStation Studios Extra Life Game Day Schedule

    Saturday, November 5
    Schedule subject to change

    STUDIO   TIME (PT)
    Guerrilla 9:00AM – 1:00PM
    San Diego Studio 10:00AM – 3:00PM
    Insomniac Games 10:30AM – 7:00PM
    Bend Studio 10:30AM – 9:00PM
    PlayStation Studios 12:00PM – 1:00 PM

    About CMN Hospitals 

    More than 10 million kids enter a children’s hospital across North America every year. To provide the best care for kids, children’s hospitals rely on donations and community support, as Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has helped fill those funding gaps by raising more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through Miracle Balloon icon campaigns. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

    Learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local children’s hospital: cmnhospitals.org.

    *No purchase necessary. Only open to US residents, 18+. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes end 11/05/22. See full rules: (See official rules here)
    **Any personal info you provide through Tiltify is subject to Tiltify’s privacy policy.

    Website: LINK

  • Ready for SPS – with a new product unveil!

    Ready for SPS – with a new product unveil!

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Are we going to see you in Nuremberg? SPS – smart production solutions, the smart and digital automation fair, is the perfect opportunity to get to know Arduino Pro’s growing catalog of industrial-grade hardware and software solutions. Meet the experts at Booth 5-129 to ask us anything and check out live demos showing our components in action: from best-sellers to recent releases, we look forward to presenting all the features and benefits you can leverage to become the innovator in your industry and scale up your projects with us.

    “Our ecosystem is designed to accelerate innovation by dramatically lowering the access barriers and avoiding any gap along the way from prototype to series. We grow it with flexibility and modularity in mind, so professional users can reduce complexity and time to market, while increasing ROI with secure IoT and AI applications that their own internal teams can develop and implement from beginning to end, avoiding vendor lock-in.” – Adriano Chinello, Arduino Pro Business Unit Leader

    Need an extra nudge to join us? We’ll be unveiling an entirely new product in line with the fair’s “Bringing Automation to Life” theme, dedicated to all the developers focused on industrial applications that are already part of our community… and the many more we hope to inspire!

    To be the first to hear more about Arduino Pro’s new launch during the event, view our exhibitor page and visit us at SPS in Nuremberg, Booth 5-129 at NürnbergMesse, from November 8th to 10th.

    Categories:ArduinoEvents

    You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
    You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    Website: LINK

  • Six of the wildest games we played at DreamsCom ‘22 

    Six of the wildest games we played at DreamsCom ‘22 

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    DreamsCom ‘22 – our giant community-first games expo, made entirely in Dreams, by the way – has now wrapped up for another year. It’s been a blast checking out all of our player-made booths on the virtual show floor, and interviewing Dreams developers live on our Twitch channel. So much good stuff! Who knew? (Us. We knew. Now you do, too!)

    No worries if you missed out, though, because the show floor is still playable in Dreams! Go check it out*, poke around, maybe discover some secrets… We won’t spoil too much, but suffice it to say there are some pretty cool surprises for those of you that hunt down every hidden treasure.

    And guess what? All these amazing creations that featured at DreamsCom ‘22 are still playable in Dreams today, too. We’ve selected just a few highlights from this year’s lineup – check them out below. (If you’d like to see them in action, you can catch up with our VODs over on Twitch, and even hear the creators themselves talking about their games!)

    Protoland
    By Paulo-Lameiras

    Dreams’ prince of pixels returns – this time, in 3D. Yes, the creator of Impy-winning side-scrolling shmup Solar Blast has turned their hand to the third dimension, and the results are mesmerising. Against an uncanny backdrop – a skyful of stony repeating cloud textures, a nostalgia-inducing field of flat green – we cycle through the weapon wheel, firing shots at drones. Things get even more unreal when we discover we have the ability to freeze time. We slow everything to a crawl in areas where we find ourselves suddenly surrounded so we can aim shots better, calculate platforming routes quicker. It’s clear from these two taster levels that Paulo’s understanding of level design is translating across dimensions well – as diligent secret hunters looking to get the most out of this demo will discover.

    Strain
    By Orksom

    A concept so good it needs no set-dressing: in this puzzle-platforming demo, you’re physically linked to a corpse. Your goal is to navigate a mysterious seaside bunker, all while carrying this dead weight (apologies, old bean, but the truth hurts). Still, they’re not totally useless: the gas mask that links you to the body is perhaps your first clue that your stamina meter is linked to it, so you’re in this for the long haul together. Thanks to some weighty animation and physics, the process of learning to cleverly navigate obstacles and threats while picking up and putting down your floppy sidekick is curiously arresting.

    Community Garden Showcase
    By Nephrendil

    Gardens are meaningful places. In a garden, growth is everything, small victories are celebrated, and communities gather to share knowledge – even to sustain themselves. Asset artist Nephrendil has a deep understanding of this, and it’s a joy to behold; they’ve been running community asset jams to populate the Dreamiverse with a huge variety of low-thermo (read: easy on scene memory limits) flora that anyone can use in their own creations. All entries are presented in interactive showcases that display what’s possible when a community nurtures something together. As Season One comes to a close, leaving behind the fruits of everyone’s labour in full bloom, we’re looking forward to seeing what springs from this next.

    Battlepigz
    By FlashMedallion

    They say war never changes, but Battlepigz begs to differ. We’d say a squad of elite sow behind enemy lines, meched up to the nines, is a pretty different kind of conflict. This real-time tactical shooter delivers on its concept in this generous demo, too; there’s an expertly crafted and presented tutorial, and three full levels out of the 40 promised across the five campaigns in the full release. Anyone familiar with shmup classics such as Cannon Fodder will feel right at home in this porcine platoon – and there’s real tactical depth here, with a variety of ways to delegate your forces and hone your approach to each mission.

    Spiders Have 4 Legs
    By Pierogi-boi and Phreakerz

    Looking like it’s crawled straight out of the indie bestsellers category – that creepy, drippy 2D painted art style is to die for – is this QWOP-esque, movement-based challenge. You control the titular quadruped by hovering your cursor over its legs, then manually dragging each one into the next position. Simple, right? Until you see the fiercely competitive Race scoreboards, that is, and realise there are innumerate ways of optimising your gyroscope-powered skittering to beat your friends’ times.

    Liminal
    By Rammstein53452 and matizzle1

    If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the course of the past year, it’s that the CoMmunity absolutely loves liminality. Endless staircases, empty corridors, odd-looking offices… (Okay, that last one’s not liminal, it’s just Mm Towers on any given Tuesday.) So here’s a concentrated dose of just that. Rammstein53452 and matizzle1 have taken a novel approach to this demo for their forthcoming psychological survival-horror shooter; this is a pleasingly rangey highlights reel. Expect everything from apocalyptic orange skies framed in gigantic walls of glass and concrete tunnels, to humanoid shapes wrapped in plastic and awful encounters with faces that loom out of the darkness. With pinpoint audio design and spot-on pacing, this is a good omen (or, perhaps a very bad one?) for the planned September release.

    *Internet connection required for online play.

    Website: LINK

  • What we learnt from the CSTA 2022 Annual Conference

    What we learnt from the CSTA 2022 Annual Conference

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    From experience, being connected to a community of fellow computing educators is really important, especially given that some members of the community may be the only computing educator in their school, district, or country. These professional connections enable educators to share and learn from each other, develop their practice, and importantly reduce any feelings of isolation.

    It was great to see the return of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Annual Conference to an in-person event this year, and I was really excited to be able to attend.

    A teacher attending Picademy laughs as she works through an activity

    Our small Raspberry Pi Foundation team headed to Chicago for four and a half days of meetups, professional development, and conversations with educators from all across the US and around the world. Over the week our team ran workshops, delivered a keynote talk, gave away copies of Hello World magazine, and signed up many new subscribers. You too can subscribe to Hello World magazine for free at helloworld.cc/subscribe.

    Hello World CSTA team
    Hello World CSTA stand

    We spoke to so many educators about all parts of the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s work, with a particular focus on the Hello World magazine and podcast, and of course The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy. In collaboration with CSTA, we were really proud to be able to provide all attendees with their own physical copy of this very special edition. 

    An educator's picture of The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy on Twitter.

    It was genuinely exciting to see how pleased attendees were to receive their copy of The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy. So many came to talk to us about how they’d used the digital copy already and their plans for using the book for training and development initiatives in their schools and districts. We gave away every last spare copy we had to teachers who wanted to share the book with their colleagues who couldn’t attend.

    An educator with their copy of The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy.

    Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to the conference, The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy is available as a free PDF, which due to its Creative Commons licence you are welcome to print for yourself.

    Another goal for us at CSTA was to support and encourage new authors to the magazine in order to ensure that Hello World continues to be the magazine for computing educators, by computing educators. Anyone can propose an article idea for Hello World by completing this form. We’re confident that every computing educator out there has at least one story to tell, lessons or learnings to share, or perhaps a cautionary tale of something that failed.

    We’ll review any and all ideas and will support you to craft your idea into a finished article. This is exactly what we began to do at the conference with our workshop for writers led by Gemma Coleman, our fantastic Hello World Editor. We’re really excited to see these ideas flourish into full-blown articles over the coming weeks and months.

    CSTA workshop with Gemma from Hello World
    People listening to the Hello World workshop

    Our week culminated in a keynote talk delivered by Sue, Jane, and James, exploring how we developed our 12 pedagogy principles that underpin The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy, as well as much of the content we create at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. These principles are designed to describe a set of approaches that educators can add to their toolkit, giving them a shared language and the agency to select when and how they employ each approach. This was something we explored with teachers in our final breakout session where teachers applied these principles to describe a lesson or activity of their own.

    The work from someone who attended the CSTA Hello World workshop
    People enjoying the workshop

    We found the experience extremely valuable and relished the opportunity to talk about teaching and learning with educators and share our work. We are incredibly grateful to the entire CSTA team for organising a fantastic conference and inviting us to participate.

    Discover more with Hello World — for free

    Cover of issue 19 of Hello World magazine.

    Subscribe now to get each new Hello World straight to your digital inbox, for free! And if you’re based in the UK and do paid or unpaid work in education, you can subscribe for free print issues.

    Website: LINK

  • We’ll see you at CSTA 2022 Annual Conference

    We’ll see you at CSTA 2022 Annual Conference

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Connecting face to face with educators around the world is a key part of our mission at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and it’s something that we’ve sorely missed doing over the last two years. We’re therefore thrilled to be joining over 1000 computing educators in the USA at the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Annual Conference in Chicago in July.

    Gemma Coleman
    Kevin Johnson
    James Robinson

    You will find us at booth 521 in the expo hall throughout the conference, as well as running four sessions. Gemma, Kevin, James, Sue, and Jane are team members representing Hello World magazine, the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre, and our other free programmes and education initiatives. We thank the team at CSTA for involving us in what we know will be an amazing conference.

    Sue Sentance
    Jane Waite.
    Jane Waite

    Talk to us about computer science pedagogy

    Developing and sharing effective computing pedagogy is our theme for CSTA 2022. We’ll be talking to you about our 12 pedagogy principles, laid out in The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy, available to download for free.

    Cover of The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy.

    An exciting piece of news is that everyone attending CSTA 2022 will find a free print copy of the Big Book in their conference goodie bag!

    We’re really looking forward to sharing and discussing the book and all our work with US educators, and to seeing some familiar faces. We’re also hoping to interview lots of old and new friends about your approaches to teaching computing and computer science for future Hello World podcast episodes.

    Your sessions with us

    Our team will also be running a number of sessions where you can join us to learn, discuss, and prepare lesson plans.

    Semantic Waves and Wavy Lessons: Connecting Theory to Practical Activities and Back Again

    Thursday 14 July, 9am–12pm: Pre-conference workshop (booking required) with James Robinson and Jane Waite

    If you enjoy explaining concepts using unplugged activities, analogy, or storytelling, then this practical pre-conference session is for you. In the session, we’ll introduce the idea of semantic waves, a learning theory that supports learners in building knowledge of new concepts through careful consideration of vocabulary and contexts. Across the world, this approach has been successfully used to teach topics ranging from ballet to chemistry — and now computing.

    Three computer science educators discuss something at a screen.

    You’ll learn how this theory can be applied to deliver powerful explanations that connect abstract ideas and concrete experiences. By taking part in the session, you’ll gain a solid understanding of semantic wave theory, see it in practice in some freely available lesson plans, and apply it to your own planning.

    Write for a Global Computing Community with Hello World Magazine

    Friday 15 July, 1–2pm: Workshop with Gemma Coleman

    Do you enjoy sharing your teaching ideas, successes, and challenges with others? Do you want to connect with a global community of over 30,000 computing educators? Have you always wanted to be a published author? Then come along to this workshop session.

    Issues of Hello World magazine arranged to form a number five.
    Hello World has been going strong for five years — find out how you can become one of its authors.

    Every single computing or CS teacher out there has at least one lesson to share, idea to voice, or story to tell. In the session, you’ll discuss what makes a good article with Gemma Coleman, Hello World’s Editor, and you’ll learn top tips for how to communicate your ideas in writing. Gemma will also guide you through writing a plan for your very own article. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to write an article, doing this is a powerful way to reflect on your teaching practice.

    Developing a Toolkit for Teaching Computer Science in School

    Saturday 16 July, 4–5pm: Keynote talk by Sue Sentance

    To teach any subject requires good teaching skills, knowledge about the subject being taught, and specific knowledge that a teacher gains about how to teach a particular topic, to their particular students, in a particular context. Teaching computer science is no different, and it’s a challenge for teachers to develop a go-to set of pedagogical strategies for such a new subject, especially for elements of the subject matter that they are just getting to grips with themselves.

    12 principles of computing pedagogy: lead with concepts; structure lessons; make concrete; unplug, unpack, repack; work together; read and explore code first; foster program comprehension; model everything; challenge misconceptions; create projects; get hands-on; add variety.

    In this keynote talk, our Chief Learning Officer Sue Sentance will focus on some of the 12 pedagogy principles that we developed to support the teaching of computer science. We created this set of principles together with other teachers and researchers to help us and everyone in computing and computer science education reflect on how we teach our learners. Sue will share how we arrived at the principles, and she’ll use classroom examples to illustrate how you can apply them in practice.

    Exploring the Hello World Big Book of Computing Pedagogy

    Sunday 17 July, 9–10am: Workshop with Sue Sentance

    The set of 12 pedagogy principles we’ve developed for teaching computing are presented in our Hello World Big Book of Computing Pedagogy. The book includes summaries, teachers’ perspectives, and lesson plans for each of the 12 principles.

    A tweet praising The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy.

    All CSTA attendees will get their own print copy of the Big Book, and in this practical session, we will use the book to explore together how you can use the 12 principles in the planning and delivery of your lessons. The session will be very hands-on, so bring along something you know you want or need to teach.

    See you at CSTA in July

    CSTA is now just a month away, and we can’t wait to meet old friends, make new connections, and learn from each other! Come find us at booth 521 or at our sessions to meet the team, discover Hello World magazine and the Hello World podcast, and find out more about our educational work. We hope to see you soon.

    Website: LINK

  • State of Play next Thursday, brings new game reveals, sneak peeks, and updates

    State of Play next Thursday, brings new game reveals, sneak peeks, and updates

    Reading Time: < 1 minute
    State of Play next Thursday, brings new game reveals, sneak peeks, and updates

    It’s been more than two months since our last State of Play – who’s ready for a new one? Tune in live next Thursday, June 2 for nearly 30 minutes of announcements and updates from the world of PlayStation.

    We’ll have some exciting reveals from our third-party partners, plus a sneak peek at several games in development for PlayStation VR2. Watch over at Twitch or on YouTube starting 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 12:00am CET.

    See you next week!

    Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

    Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

    Website: LINK

  • Announcing the MLB The Show 22 Summer Circuit

    Announcing the MLB The Show 22 Summer Circuit

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    The competitive MLB The Show 22 esports season begins with the Summer Circuit.

    With an updated format, a new platform to play on, and additional chances to win, there are more reasons than ever to test your skills and show off your Diamond Dynasty squad. The Summer Circuit gives eligible players* a shot to win millions of StubsTM, a share of the $25,000 prize pool, autographed Shohei Ohtani items, and more.

    Sign up today and play ball!

    Summer Circuit

    The competitive cross-platform MLB The Show 22 Summer Circuit is available to those 13+ in the U.S. and Canada, across all PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. This year, the Summer Circuit has four open qualifiers. The top 16 players who qualify from each qualifier will later compete in the Grand Finals for $25,000 in total cash prizing and more.

    Those who don’t place in the top 16 on their first entry can try again in any of the remaining Qualifiers.

    Announcing the MLB The Show 22 Summer Circuit

    Schedule:

    • Qualifier 1: May 21-22
    • Qualifier 2: May 28-29
    • Qualifier 3: June 4-5
    • Qualifier 4: June 11-12
    • Finals: June 18-19

    Sign up now for the Summer Circuit

    On Day One of each Summer Circuit Qualifier, all players will compete in an open ladder format. Competitors can queue up at any time within an eight-hour window, but must complete six three-inning games for their score to count. Each win earns a player a point and each loss loses a player a point. The top 64 players (plus ties) will move on to Day Two.

    On Day Two, the top 64 players (plus ties) will compete in a single-elimination bracket playing  nine-inning games. Every player who reaches Day 2 will receive at least 11,000 MLB The Show Stubs.

    Open Qualifier Prizes:

    • 1st Place: 1,050,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 2nd Place: 600,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 3rd – 4th Place: 300,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 5th – 8th Place: 150,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 9th – 16th Place: 67,500 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 17th – 32nd Place: 24,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 33rd – 64th Place: 11,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • Every player who finishes the minimum number of games (6) will receive 11,000 Stubs, win or lose.

    The Grand Finals will take place from June 18-19. Day One will feature a single-elimination bracket format with the top 64 players from the four Open Qualifiers.

    On Day Two, watch the final four competitors play on the San Diego Studio Twitch channel with 1st place taking home $15,000!

    Grand Finals Prizes:

    • 1st Place: $15,000 USD
    • 2nd Place: $5,000 USD
    • 3rd Place: $3,000 USD
    • 4th Place: $2,000 USD
    • 5th – 8th Place: 150,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 9th – 16th Place: 67,500 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 17th – 32nd Place: 24,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs
    • 33rd – 64th Place: 11,000 MLB The Show 22 Stubs

    The top 3 players will also win a signed Shohei Ohtani jersey and baseball set, a gift voucher to the MLB Shop, and an authentic baseball used in the MLB 2022 Home Run Derby.

    Baseball Is Back!

    Head over to Battlefy to register, see the full schedules, and view all the prizes you can win during the Summer Circuit.

    Additionally, make sure to check out the Competition Center, the home of all PlayStation competitive gaming content, and TheShow.com for more details on the game and tips to help you dominate the diamond Summer events.

    Tournament Tips

    When warming up for the competition, be sure you’re practicing hitting and pitching on the Legend difficulty set for your tournament. Once you start doing that, you’re on your way to a better game day:

    • Supercharged is the newest boost in MLB The Show 22. If a real-life player has a fantastic game, there’s a chance his card may go Supercharged in MLB The Show 22***, increasing his stats exponentially for 48 hours! Supercharged players can add the edge your team needs to make it to the top.
    • Hand eye coordination is key in tournaments. In the upgraded “Practice Mode” you can not only head to batting practice, but also now you can practice fielding and base running, allowing for even more preparation.
    • Ranked Seasons can be a great practice environment for playing competitively with your Diamond Dynasty squad***. Plus, as you climb the leaderboard you’ll unlock more rewards to use.

    FRIENDLIES – There are plenty of people trying to play friendly matches** during the week to prepare for the tournaments. Join the MLB The Show Official Discord or the Battlefy Tournament Support Discord and find some friends to play practice games with.

    Ready To Show What You Can Do?

    Sign up now and don’t miss the first circuit of the season!

    *MLB The Show 22 Summer Circuit – Access to MLB The Show 22 game and corresponding console, system account, and online multiplayer subscription required. Must be 13+ and resident of the US, D.C., or Canada. Begins May 10 – Ends May 21. Void where prohibited. See full rules: https://mlbthe.show/Summer22Rules
    **Online multiplayer features require internet connection and console-specific online multiplayer subscription.
    ***Internet connection required to play Diamond Dynasty mode.

    Website: LINK

  • New PS4 Tournaments feature iconic fighting, FPS, and sports games

    New PS4 Tournaments feature iconic fighting, FPS, and sports games

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    As we look back at the past year, we’re grateful for the growth of our competitive gaming community and excited for what lies ahead. Over the next two months, we will offer a collection of new competitive programs for PlayStation Tournaments featuring new opportunities to watch, learn, and play. 

    A Look Back at PS4 Tournaments in 2021

    Last year was our most eventful and competition-filled year so far. PlayStation players walked away with more than $5 million in prizes across more than 8,000 tournaments. We also saw more than 500,000 participants  take home a prize from our competitions — a number that we’re aiming to beat in 2022. 

    We were excited to recently introduce Flash Round tournaments. These are fast-paced competitions with no brackets or eliminations. With each round lasting no longer than a single match, players can compete in multiple Flash Rounds to rack up as many wins as possible and secure larger prizes at the end of the tournament. You can sign up for Flash Rounds in FIFA 22 or NBA 2K22 either on the Competition Center or on a PS4 console*.

    Upcoming Programs On PS4

    Across our upcoming competitions, players can expect less waiting between playtime, new formats, expanded prize pools, and more chances to win prizes — including PlayStation-themed avatars and PS4 themes just for participating. Here’s a look at some new and upcoming programs arriving on PlayStation Tournaments, with many more to come. 

    Sign up for PlayStation Tournaments at compete.playstation.com or head over to the Events tab on PS4. 

    • Apex Legends Master Circuit: Our Apex Legends Master Circuit is an epic eight-week competition offering players a chance to win a share of $10,000 in cash prizes and a PS5 console. The Circuit ends with a massive Final, which you can reach by winning points in weekly Qualifiers or joining bi-weekly two-day mini-tournaments called Slay Days. The top players and teams across the Qualifiers and Slay Days will get a chance to face off in the finals for the grand prize. 

    Season 1 will take place in North America and Europe from May 16 to July 15**. 

    • Rainbow Six Siege Open Series: You can sign up for the Rainbow Six Siege: Open Series for a chance to become a champion. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other competitors and keep improving your game. We’re updating the series with a player-friendly upgrade that includes bigger prize pools, more opportunity to win prizes, and a quicker experience. 

    The new Rainbow Six Siege Open Series updates are now live and tournaments are available every month across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Australia & New Zealand, and the Middle East.

    **See full rules

    • FIFA 22 PlayStation Plus Challenges: FIFA 22 is now available to download during the month of May for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Pick your team, head to the pitch, and take on new rivals. Download the game and compete in PlayStation Plus Challenges to win fresh prizes all month. To learn more and sign up, head to compete.playstation.com or check out the events tab on your PS4.

    These tournaments will be available from May 2 to May 31 for PlayStation Plus subscribers across North America, Europe, and Latin America***.

    • FGC Fight Nights: The Fighting Game Community is always ready to show their skills and win big. That’s why we’ve introduced “Fight Nights.” These tournaments feature even more chances to win prizes and make a name for yourself in live PlayStation broadcasts. Currently featured titles include Guilty Gear -Strive-, Mortal Kombat 11, Soul Calibur VI, Tekken 7, and Under Night In-Birth.

    This month’s Fight Nights start May 4th and are available every month onward****.

    • Call of Duty: Vanguard: Open Series: Call of Duty always delivers intense action and competition. We’re mixing up our Open Series tournaments with new monthly modes rotating between Search & Destroy, Hardpoint, and Control. Each of these formats will come with bigger cash prize pools giving players more to take home each month. 

    Updates go live May 2nd and tournaments will be available every week onward in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. May features Hardpoint mode.

    **See full rules

    • Madden Summer Scrimmage: Just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean you can’t sharpen your skills and compete. This is an epic tournament where winners will represent and play as their favorite NFL team in weekly club tournaments for a shot at cash prizes, PS5 consoles, and more. 

    Available now only in North America until July 30.

    ***See full rules

    *Active PS Plus membership required for PlayStation Tournaments: Flash Rounds. Eligible country and age requirement varies per title. See full rules by title.
    FIFA 22: full rules
    NBA 2K22: full rules

    **Access to PS4, game title, and active PS Plus membership required. Must be 18+ and a member of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. 

    ***Access to PS4, game title, and active PS Plus membership required. Must be 16+ and a member of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. 

    ****Active PS Plus membership required for PlayStation Tournaments: FGC Fight Nights. Eligible country and age requirement varies per title. See full rules by title.
    BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle: full rules
    Guilty Gear -Strive-: full rules
    Mortal Kombat 11: full rules
    Soul Calibur VI: full rules
    Tekken 7: full rules
    Under Night In-Birth: full rules

    Website: LINK

  • Live the Unwritten in Thursday’s Hogwarts Legacy State of Play

    Live the Unwritten in Thursday’s Hogwarts Legacy State of Play

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Avalanche Software and Warner Bros. Games are happy to partner with PlayStation to bring you a special edition of State of Play entirely dedicated to Hogwarts Legacy. The broadcast will begin this Thursday, March 17 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 10 PM CET.

    Since we first revealed Hogwarts Legacy, the trailer has been viewed over 28 million times on the PlayStation YouTube channel. We promised to share more this year, and we’re finally ready to deliver on that promise.

    The show will run for about 20 minutes, featuring over 14 minutes of Hogwarts Legacy gameplay captured on PS5, and concluding with some insight from a few members of the team at Avalanche Software who are bringing the Wizarding World to life.

    Join us Thursday for this Hogwarts Legacy State of Play on Twitch or YouTube at 2 PM PT. Don’t forget to head back here to the PlayStation.Blog afterward for a special post that will add a little more context to what we’re about to show you.

    This is an incredible moment that we’ve been building towards for a long time. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on.

    Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

    Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

    Website: LINK

  • State of Play returns this Wednesday 

    State of Play returns this Wednesday 

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    A new State of Play is upon us! Join us this Wednesday March 9 at 2 PM Pacific / 5 PM Eastern / 11:00 PM CET for new reveals and eye-catching updates for PS5 and PS4 titles. Note: We won’t have any updates on PlayStation VR2 titles or hardware in this broadcast.

    The show is clocking in around 20 minutes, give or take, with a special focus on highlighting great games coming from some of our beloved Japanese publishers, though we’ll have a few updates from other developers located around the world, too.

    You can of course watch our broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube. See you Wednesday!

    Regarding Co-streaming and Video-On-Demand (VOD)

    Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.

    Website: LINK