Author: Tim Rogers

Last night, during the Xbox business update blog and podcast, Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond, and head of Xbox game studios Matt Booty discussed the state of play for Xbox. They teased new hardware, confirmed cross-platform rumors, but avoided chat about the Xbox mobile app store. Fortunately, The Verge addressed the topic with Spencer after the event. Is Microsoft planning its own Xbox-branded alternative app store? According to Spencer, there are regulatory and building barriers to consider, but there is excitement for an alternative storefront on mobile devices that can offer better economics and benefits for…

Skins and in-game cosmetics have been a staple of free-to-play multiplayer games for many years. Games like Fortnite popularized the concept of a battle pass, and VALORANT followed suit to increase revenue. While some games are pay-to-win, VALORANT is not, as weapon skins only provide aesthetic features. But what if a player wants to refund a skin in VALORANT in 2024? Let’s explore the process of obtaining a refund for a skin in VALORANT. Image Credits: Riot Games How to refund a skin in VALORANT in 2024? Riot Games regularly introduces new and captivating skins to the game, prompting players…

Dota 2, the successor to the original DotA, was primarily developed for an online gameplay experience. Operating through Steam, it requires an internet connection to connect to Valve’s servers. However, it is still possible to play Dota 2 in offline mode. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to enjoy the game offline, whether you want to play against bots or organize LAN matches with friends. Image Credits: Valve Launching Dota 2 in Offline Mode To play Dota 2 in offline mode, you need to launch the game without an internet connection. This can be achieved by starting the game…

Nigeria’s Maliyo Games has formed a partnership with Disney to create a new mobile game inspired by the Iwájú comic animated series. The official game named Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef will coincide with the launch of the animated series on February 28th. The game is being developed by Maliyo Games, which boasts a diverse team from multiple African countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Disney has also joined forces with Kugali Media to co-produce the animation. The futuristic Nigeria-based mobile game will be released on the same day as the series premiere. Hugo Obi, CEO, and founder of…

Anker Looking for a portable projector? The Anker Nebula Capsule is currently available at a discounted price of $240 from Amazon, down from its original price of $300. This represents a 20% discount, but act fast as there is no telling how long this offer will last. Reasons to Consider the Anker Nebula Capsule Portable Projector The Anker Nebula Capsule is surprisingly compact, with a size comparable to a soda can, yet it is capable of projecting images between 40 inches and 100 inches. This makes it perfect for enjoying your favorite movies and shows on the go, as well…

“Helldivers 2 is one of the most entertaining co-op games you can get on PS5.” Pros Intense combat Stratagem system It’s a blast with friends Solid live-service progression systems Cons Lack of story content Matchmaking issues Failing to extract and losing 40 minutes worth of samples and medals collected during a mission. Sacrificing myself to a swarm of Terminid bugs and an orbital strike so I could destroy stockpiled ammunition. Laughing as I watched a teammate slowly walk into the range of a Hellbomb I’d activated as it exploded. Those are the kind of moments that define Helldivers 2, a…

Open source AI-powered voice assistants such as Rhasspy, Mycroft and Jasper have aimed to provide privacy-preserving, offline experiences without compromising functionality. However, the development has been slow due to the inherent challenges of creating an assistant and the extensive R&D and infrastructure of tech giants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa. The German nonprofit, Large-scale Artificial Intelligence Open Network (LAION), has taken on the ambitious initiative of building a fully open voice assistant, named BUD-E, that can run on consumer hardware. This new project aims to leverage emerging GenAI technologies and large language models (LLMs) to create a natural and…

NurPhoto / Getty Images T-Mobile’s 5G network has set new records and achieved unprecedented speeds thanks to the latest technologies and approaches. T-Mobile’s newest 5G record Mavenir T-Mobile has introduced a new technique, uplink transmit (UL Tx) switching, which has enabled it to achieve speeds of 345Mbps on its 5G standalone network. Joe Maring / Digital Trends T-Mobile’s achievement is a testament to its relentless pursuit of innovation and commitment to delivering an even better network experience to its customers. The fastest speeds at the best range T-Mobile T-Mobile’s accomplishment is significant as it has achieved unprecedented speeds using midband…

Are you looking to showcase your brand in front of the gaming industry’s top leaders? Learn more about GamesBeat Summit sponsorship opportunities here.  Baldur’s Gate 3 took Game of the Year at the prestigious Dice Awards, the academy-voted game event in Las Vegas today. Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3, already a recipient of numerous accolades, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards, was honored with the top prize at the 27th annual Dice Awards. Elsewhere at the event, Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was also a big winner, claiming six awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Character for Miles Morales.…

OpTic Gaming, alongside other parties, has recently filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, seeking a substantial $680 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that since the inception of the Call of Duty League in 2020, Activision has maintained an anticompetitive monopoly over the Call of Duty esports scene. The filing claims that Activision exerts unlawful control over organizations in the space, wielding influence over almost every aspect of their operations. Of note is Activision’s exorbitant entry fee of $27.5 million to join the Call of Duty League, a far cry from the more open structure under the COD World League.…