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AI models are now an established aspect of modern game development. View the full article

Another day, another Nintendo Switch 2 rumor. This one, however, comes from a reliable source. Spotted by Eurogamer, Spanish gaming publication Vandal reports that, according to various accessory manufacturers, that the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature Joy-Con controllers that magnetically connect to the console. If accurate, this would mean both the controllers and the Switch unit itself would undergo a significant change, eschewing the need for that rather awkward rail connection system. If you're unfamiliar with the source, know that Vandal has a proven track record for Nintendo Switch rumors. It was correct on numerous Nintendo Switch OLED features that it also learned from accessory manufacturers before the upgraded console's official unveiling in 2021. So while we must stress that these are not official details, they do come from a source that has been accurate in the past. In addition to this new magnetic connectivity for the Joy-Con controllers, Vandal also mentions that the Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly be larger than the original 2017 console, though not quite as big as a Steam Deck. This lines up with earlier Nintendo Switch 2 rumors, via Bloomberg, that Nintendo's next console could feature an 8-inch LCD display. Lastly, Vandal claims that the excellent Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will be compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. There was no mention of a potential Pro controller successor, nor is it clear as to whether the original Joy-Con controllers will be wirelessly compatible with the new console. Personally, I'm hoping the reports on magnetically-connecting Joy-Con controllers end up accurate. I keep my Nintendo Switch OLED underneath my TV, so it's a pain to remove it from its place whenever I want to slide the Joy-Con controllers out for multiplayer or games that rely on them like Ring Fit Adventure and Nintendo Switch Sports. Furthermore, and this is pure speculation, but it could suggest that Joy-Con controllers for the Switch 2 may be revised and upgraded. The Joy-Con have famously caught flack for their poor build quality and tendency to develop stick drift. These issues could be solved with a sturdier, higher-quality build and the use of Hall effect sticks. Though we won't know for sure until we receive official announcements and details from Nintendo itself. You might also like... 7 things the Nintendo Switch 2 needs to get rightThe Nintendo Switch 2 should bring back one of the 3DS's best featuresGameSir Nova Lite controller review - a cheap controller we can actually recommend View the full article

PS Plus Extra subscribers hoping to download the Fallout 4 free current-gen update have been left disappointed, after finding that the upgraded version hasn't been applied to the subscription service. Instead, those who have downloaded the game from the PS Plus game catalog are stuck with the previous-gen version. As reported by GameSpot, Fallout 4 players took to social media to warn others that the current-gen PS5 update has yet to be applied to the PS Plus Extra download. However, developer Bethesda Game Studios is aware of the problem, and took to X / Twitter to address the issue. We've seen some confusion regarding the free Fallout 4 next-gen update for PlayStation Plus Extra members. The Fallout 4 next-gen update will be available to PlayStation Plus Extra members through the PlayStation Game Catalog. Your patience is appreciated while the teams work on…April 25, 2024 See more "We've seen some confusion regarding the free Fallout 4 next-gen update for PlayStation Plus Extra members," the post begins. "The Fallout 4 next-gen update will be available to PlayStation Plus Extra members through the PlayStation Game Catalog. Your patience is appreciated while the teams work on this." As of now, Bethesda Game Studios hasn't provided a concrete date or time as to when the fix will be implemented, though we imagine it shouldn't be overly long before PS5 players can enjoy the free update. There's potentially worse news, however, for players who downloaded Fallout 4 via PS Plus Essentials (the monthly rotating free game service) or the now-defunct PS Plus Collection – they might not get the update at all. In response to a question in the original post's replies, the official Bethesda Support account posted: "Fallout 4's Next-Gen Update will be available for PS Plus Extra members. We do not have any information regarding PS5 Catalogue or PS Plus Essentials." It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the Fallout 4 free update on other platforms, either. While the game has been successfully patched on Xbox Series X|S and PC, Xbox players are reporting that the update has broken modded saves, and some mods available via the in-game mod menu have stopped working outright. What's more, the PC version doesn't seem to play nice with F4SE (Fallout 4 Script Extender), a mod widely considered to be essential for adding larger-scale creations to the game. It's all a bit of shame given the renewed interest in the game following the massive success of the Fallout TV show on Prime Video. For more on the show, check out our interview with Todd Howard, in which he explains the reasoning behind some of the big changes made to bring the game to a streaming audience. You might also like... Best PS5 games - the best PlayStation games and exclusives available nowNeed more space for Fallout 4? Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5Hi-Fi Rush review - absolutely rocks on PS5 View the full article

The PlayStation 5's latest system software update is available to download now, and it adds a fantastic community-driven feature to your console in addition to the usual stability improvements we expect from these firmware updates. As outlined by the official PlayStation support website, Version 24.03-09.20.00 brings Community Game Help to the existing Game Help feature on PS5. Integrated within Game Help, there will now be videos captured by the community to help players through sections of games that support the feature. This will be most of the best PS5 games and no doubt many upcoming games for the console, too. These captures will still be curated and moderated by Sony, so there should be little fear of coming across misleading or offensive footage. Players will then get to apply a rating to these videos as an indication of how useful they are. You also don't require a PS Plus subscription to contribute to the Community Game Help feature, as it's available for every PS5 owner. Community Game Help videos are visible to all, but if you want to contribute videos yourself, you'll need to opt in. As the support page outlines, this is easily done by going to Settings > Captures & Broadcasts > Captures > Auto Captures > Community Game Help. From here, select Participate to have yourself fully opted in. You're able to opt-out from here, too, should you wish. Now, when you pass certain activities in a title that supports Game Help, footage of you doing so will be captured automatically by your PS5. It's then uploaded to Sony's servers and moderated. Furthermore, the captured footage will be deleted from storage once it's been uploaded, so there's no fear of the Community Game Help feature overloading your PS5 SSD. You might also like... Stellar Blade review - Shift Up's first console game is phenomenalPDP Riffmaster review - rock’s back on the menuThe best PS5 headsets - upgrade your audio for less View the full article

We are excited to announce that Amazon GameLift now supports containers for building, deploying, and running game server packages. Amazon GameLift is a fully managed service that allows developers to quickly manage and scale dedicated game servers for multiplayer games. With this preview release, GameLift now supports end-to-end development of containerized workloads, including deployment and scaling on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid configurations. View the full article

I do like a wireless charger but I’ve never been too fussed about checking out MagSafe for iPhones… until now. That’s because gaming brand Elgato has come up with the MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand. Ignore the clunky name that feels like an errant cat has wandered over a keyboard, and focus on the fact that this MagSafe charger stand is styled after a Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP – aka the most stylish handheld games console (sorry, PS Vita fans). And, my oh my do I want one. (Image credit: Elago) This is in spite of the charging stand being basically a hunk of stylized plastic that can't fold shut, does not have a functioning button and does nothing other than hold up a MagSafe-compatible iPhone. Sure it’ll facilitate the StandBy mode brought in by the iPhone 14 series and featured on the iPhone 15 quartet, but it won’t really do a whole lot else. So kill those hopes of getting a Nintendo emulator from the opened up App Store and playing retro Game Boy games on an SP-like device. Maybe some other third-party accessory maker will figure out how to do the latter, but the Elago MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand ain’t the one, chief. However for $25.99 / £29.99 / €24.68 at Amazon (sorry Australians, there’s no availability for you down under), it’s well worth a punt just for the gaming style points. I could certainly see it fitting nicely on a desk alongside a Steam Deck or a docked Nintendo Switch. Just be aware you do need to buy a MagSafe charging kit separately as Elgato simply provides a stand and nothing more. (Image credit: Elago) What's more, the stand holds an iPhone in landscape orientation, making it handy for watching YouTube videos as you do something else, and it could work neatly for video calls. There’s also a cable winder underneath the stand, so you can avoid having another wire slithering out over your desk or bedside table to get cluttered with various other snaking wires. And that’s really about it. If you’re after a feature-rich stand then look elsewhere – our rundown of the best MagSafe accessories is a good place to start – but if you want a MagSafe charger stand that has some cool retro-gaming vibes, then the Elago MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand is worth a look. You might also like Does closing apps on your iPhone save battery life? The surprising answer is no – here's whyYour phone is killing the planet – here are 3 ways to reduce your impactThe iPhone 16 looks likely to ditch physical buttons after all View the full article

Modder creates a playable Fallout-esque RPG within the confines of Microsoft Excel. View the full article

Xbox has revealed that one of its studios - UK-based Rare, developer of Sea of Thieves - has constructed a new sustainability-focused studio. A mass timber building, called 'Barn X', the construction has multiple eco-friendly features and design solutions built into it, all of which combine to reduce the building's predicted energy consumption by 63%. The building is solely electrically powered, using no gas; there's some wizardry with condensated water which saves on usage in things like flushing the toilets; and there are 750 square meters (more than 8,000 square feet) of solar panels on site that will potentially offset 138,000kWh of electricity every year - enough to power more than 438,000 Series X consoles. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox/Rare)Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox/Rare)Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox/Rare)Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox/Rare) Rare’s Studio Head, Craig Duncan, said: “Our new barn is a demonstration of leading-edge sustainability and environmental design, creating a model green workplace. The opportunity to expand our campus by building a state-of-the-art environment for our teams while supporting Microsoft to achieve its sustainability goals has been genuinely rewarding. The new space design promotes collaboration, creativity, and wellbeing, which are essential ingredients for a team to create fun experiences for players everywhere.” Barn X has also received official certification for its environmental and sustainability efforts with the building getting LEED GOLD certification. This is the second-highest rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification and is indicative of Microsoft's aim to go "carbon negative by 2030." This all fits neatly into Microsoft and Xbox's vision of inspiring game developers to create unique and memorable gaming experiences for players; by incorporating sustainability into the very buildings its game makers work in, the intention is that the games that are made will be even better. While the jury is out on that, it's encouraging to see game studios take more sustainable action and tangible eco-friendly and pro-environment moves. You might also like... All the latest rumors and news surrounding Fallout 5The best Xbox Series X games you can play right nowOur original Sea of Thieves review View the full article

The post 12 Amazing Terminal Based Games for Linux Enthusiasts first appeared on Tecmint: Linux Howtos, Tutorials & Guides .When you’re a Linux power user, mastering the command line is essential. Using commands to control the system gives users more power and control over the The post 12 Amazing Terminal Based Games for Linux Enthusiasts first appeared on Tecmint: Linux Howtos, Tutorials & Guides.View the full article

If you want to get into esports gaming, then check out these deals from iBUYPOWER on their RDY prebuilt gaming PCs. View the full article

The Asus TUF VG289Q1A gaming monitor is available at Walmart for one of its lowest prices to date, just $229 instead of its usual rate of around $289. View the full article

To alleviate the frustration with instability issues on motherboards using 13th—and 14th-generation Intel CPUs, Asus is taking the first step by providing a setting on a new beta BIOS that uses Intel settings instead of its own. View the full article

It was a big week for retro gaming fans, as iPhone users are starting to reap the rewards of Apple's recent change to allow retro game emulators on the App Store. This week also saw a new iOS 17.5 beta that will support web-based app distribution in the EU, the debut of the first hotels to allow for direct AirPlay streaming to room TVs, a fresh rumor about the impending iPad Air update, and more details on the sequence of Apple's M4-based Mac updates starting later this year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone A few weeks after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to allow retro game console emulator apps, the popular Nintendo emulator Delta is now available in the App Store. Delta can emulate games released for many older Nintendo consoles, including the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, and all Game Boy models. We published an article explaining key facts about emulators in the App Store and the legality of downloading games. New iOS 17.5 Beta Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps Directly From Websites Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, released this week, large developers in the EU can now distribute apps directly on the web instead of through the App Store or an alternative app marketplace. To be eligible for this new Web Distribution feature, Apple says a developer must meet several requirements, including having an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year. iOS 17's New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out Apple has announced that AirPlay is now available at around 60 hotels operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. At hotels that offer the feature, guests can scan a unique QR code on their room's TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing them to wirelessly stream content from their iPhone or iPad. For example, they could stream Apple TV+ or Netflix shows, listen to music on Apple Music or Spotify, play games on Apple Arcade, or work out with Apple Fitness+. iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months away from being announced, there are already many rumors about the four devices that have been circulating for months. If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max model, and will be considering upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro family, check out our new comparison chart that outlines over 30 rumored new features and changes for the iPhone 16 Pro models, and if you're an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus user, we're tracking over 15 changes expected for the iPhone 16 models. 12.9-Inch iPad Air Now Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display The rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that is expected to be announced in May will be equipped with a mini-LED display like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to info shared this week by Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more. M4 Macs Are Expected to Launch in This Order Starting Later This Year In his Power On newsletter this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlined the order in which he expects Macs with the M4 family of chips to be released. Gurman said the entire Mac lineup will be updated with the M4 chip or higher-end variants, starting with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini between late 2024 and early 2025, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro between the spring and end of 2025. MacRumors Newsletter Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view. So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!Tag: Top Stories This article, "Top Stories: Nintendo Emulators on App Store, Two New iOS 17 Features, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

The HyperX Alloy Rise is customizable, well-built, and wired. It’s expensive but with its 8kHz polling rate, fast switches, and easy programmability, it offers solid performance for the money. View the full article

Google Cloud's Immersive Stream for XR is a powerful cloud-based solution for rendering and streaming high-quality XR experiences. And now it’s getting even better with its integration of Unreal Engine 5.3. This latest upgrade unlocks a wealth of new features that empower developers to push the boundaries of immersive experiences. New features in Unreal Engine 5.3 will significantly improve development with Immersive Stream for XR. Some of the new features include: Improved Lumen and Nanite capabilities deliver better visual results for hyper-realistic lighting and stunningly detailed environments with enhanced performance. The new Material Layering System simplifies creating complex, layered materials. World Partition streamlines the management and streaming of massive open worlds. Smoother frame rates, faster load times, and greater efficiency allow for more ambitious projects. Immersive Stream for XR + Unreal 5.3 Demos In addition to the Unreal 5.3 updates, we’ve also upgraded the Immersive Stream for XR template project with optimized blueprints, simplified logic, easier-to-use events for mode switching, and new demos. Best of all, you can now directly integrate template files into your existing Unreal projects, streamlining the creation process for developers and allowing them to craft Immersive Stream for XR experiences in both 3D and AR modes. Upgrading to the latest version of Unreal Engine together with the simplified template project allows customers to align and streamline their workflows on the latest version of Unreal Engine with minimal integration effort. "The upgrade to UE 5.3 has revolutionized Rotor Studios' production process, particularly through advanced Nanite improvements that extend to landscapes and foliage, enhancing detail and performance, all while being seamlessly integrated with Google's cutting-edge streaming technology. This update not only streamlines our asset workflow but also dramatically enriches the visual fidelity of our projects, setting a new standard for realism in our industry." - Peter Shand, Head of Realtime, Rotor Studios "KDDI continues to innovate with Google Cloud in creating new customer experiences using Immersive Stream for XR and is excited about the updates and features in Unreal 5.3. Our goal is to solve for the Japan market but aim to scale our solutions to global markets." - Katsuhiro Kozuki, General Manager of Advanced Technology Strategy Department, KDDI Corporation If you're ready to create cutting-edge XR experiences, Immersive Stream for XR with Unreal Engine 5.3 is the platform for you. Visit the Google Cloud website for more information and to start your own XR development journey today. View the full article

It's been confirmed that Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is to be the first PC port to receive PlayStation trophy support. This version of the game, coming to PC on May 16, is the full package. That means it'll include the excellent Iki Island expansion and the cooperative multiplayer Legends mode. The news comes via an official PlayStation Blog post written by Julian Huijbregts, online community specialist at Nixxes Software, the team responsible for the port. The post confirms trophy support alongside multiplayer crossplay for the game's Legends mode and an entirely new PlayStation overlay for PC players. Starting with the trophy support, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC will have the same trophies as its console version counterpart. Furthermore, if you've connected your PlayStation Network account, any and all trophies you've previously unlocked will carry over to the PC version, so there's no need to grab them twice. And fear not, achievements on Steam and Epic Games Store are supported, too. It will also be the first PC port to receive an all-new PlayStation overlay, accessible by pressing Shift+F1 on your keyboard. The overlay contains all your PlayStation Network information and stats including trophies, friends list, profile settings and supports voice chat. It seems it'll be entirely unintrusive too, built into the game rather than requiring a separate downloadable client. Ghost of Tsushima is the first of presumably many PlayStation PC ports to receive this new overlay. We imagine it'll come to existing ports like Horizon Forbidden West and Returnal at some point, alongside any additional ports yet to be announced (we'd still love a Gran Turismo 7 port, Sony). You might also like... PC Gaming Show returns in June, featuring "over 50 games"PlayStation Portal restock tracker - the latest tips on where to check for stockRise of the Ronin review: twin blade, almost twin identity View the full article

Alienware’s AW2725DF is a 27-inch flat QHD OLED that will appeal to hardcore gamers. It has a 360 Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400, wide gamut color, and is one of the fastest monitors I’ve ever tested. View the full article

There’s always been tons of merchandise to match the popularity of the Fallout series, and this lovely custom gaming PC is easily one of the best. The chassis for the NZXT H6 Flow PC is based on the iconic Vault-Tec aesthetics of the game series, with the blue paint covered in old rust stains and the bright yellow highlights complementing it. The inside also features the same design as well as the series mascot Pip-Boy, which can be seen through the glass side panel. One of the main fans even has the Nuka Cola emblem on its center, another nice touch. (Image credit: NZXT / POPeART_) Not only is this an incredibly well-designed desktop – from PC manufacturer NZXT and renowned hardware artist POPeART_ – but it packs some serious punch in terms of specs. It sports some of the best processors and best graphics cards with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, an AMD Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics card, 32GB RAM, and 2TB of storage. More than enough to handle the best PC games at the highest settings. Unfortunately, you can’t purchase this PC anywhere, as it’s only available through a UK-based Bethesda giveaway which runs until April 26, 2024. If you wish to enter for yourself, you’ll need to be a legal resident of the UK, follow the official Bethesda UK Twitter / X account, and quote retweet the competition information. You might also like Fallout 76 review: our first steps in the wastelandPrime Video's Fallout series is getting high scoresFallout 4 is getting a major update - perfect for when you finish the show View the full article

Modifying the original Xbox console, kernel, and Halo 2 game files enables Halo 2 to be enjoyed at up to 720p (playable) or 1080i (screens/recordings only) on its mostly-original hardware. View the full article

Apple updated its App Review Guidelines this month to allow "retro game console emulator apps" on the App Store for the iPhone and other devices. Below, we outline everything to know about these emulators and available options so far. This information is up to date as of April 2024, but Apple's policies could change over time. What is Allowed Apple told us that emulators that can load games (ROMs) are permitted on the App Store, so long as the apps are emulating "retro console games" only. Apple would not tell us which consoles it classifies as retro, but developer Riley Testut's popular emulator Delta is now available on the App Store, and it can emulate games for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64, and Nintendo DS. There is also a Commodore 64 emulator on the App Store called Emu64 XL. We have not come across any other fully-functioning emulators on the App Store released after the rule change, but more will likely be available in the future. Apple recently removed an emulator called iGBA from the App Store for ripping off Testut's code for Delta and its predecessor GBA4iOS, while the developer of NES emulator Bimmy decided to remove the app from the App Store to avoid the risk of legal action from Nintendo. Legality While a U.S. court ruled that emulators are legal, downloading copyrighted ROMs is typically against the law in the country. On its customer support website in the U.S., Nintendo says that downloading pirated copies of its games is illegal:Pirate copies of game files are often referred to as "ROMs". The uploading and downloading of pirate copies of Nintendo games is illegal.Nintendo recently sued the developers of Nintendo Switch emulator Yuzu for "facilitating piracy at a colossal scale," leading to a reported $2.4 million settlement. Nintendo has yet to comment on the availability of emulators in the App Store, but Delta and its predecessor GBA4iOS have been available on the iPhone outside of the App Store for over a decade now without being shut down. Nintendo did issue a DMCA takedown notice against the GBA4iOS website in 2014, but the emulators have continued to remain available. For those who want to abide by the letter of the law, it is generally legal to download and play "homebrew" games available in the public domain.Tags: App Store, Emulator This article, "What to Know About Apple Allowing Game Emulators in the App Store" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Speed and reliability in game development are necessary to ensure deadlines are hit, costs are kept in check, and audiences are satisfied with the end result. DevOps is a production powerhouse in this context, blending development and operations to slash wait times and boost quality. To prove this, here are some ways to apply the fundamentals of this to a game development context. Game Updates Handled via Continuous Deployment Continuous Deployment (CD) takes the code from CI and ushers it into production, often automating the release of game updates. This means that improvements and new features can seamlessly make their way into gamers’ hands with minimal downtime. Pivotal points of impact include: Automated Testing: Every change goes through a rigorous testing process, ensuring updates don’t break the game. Streamlined Rollouts: CD allows for incremental updates, reducing the scale and impact of potential issues. Player Retention: 83% of web users may play games regularly, but there were also 14,000 titles added to Steam alone in 2023, which suggests that the amount of competition for customers is vast. Fresh content updates keep existing players coming back for more, rather than leaving them to look elsewhere for their interactive entertainment. In short, with the help of CD, DevOps can both accelerate the pace at which games evolve and also heighten the satisfaction players derive from ever-fresh experiences. It’s about keeping the thrill alive, one update at a time. Game Add-Ons to Boost Excitement Further Downloadable content (DLC) is nothing new, but it’s increasingly embraced as a monetization model for games of all kinds – and today 24% of developers implement this in some form for their projects. In fact, according to Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report, DLC makes up 13% of all gaming revenue generated on PC. For titles like Counter-Strike 2, integrating DevOps ensures that players stay invested through a sustained pipeline of new items, which is the lifeblood of both engagement and monetization strategies. Here are a few insights into the hows and whys: A Dynamic Ecosystem: DevOps practices influence not just game mechanics but also the vibrant market for in-game add-ons. By leveraging Continuous Delivery pipelines, developers can introduce new cases and skins without disrupting gameplay. Impactful Enhancements: Frequent Updates: With a DevOps approach, players can expect regular drops of fresh content, such as unlocking CS2 case drops. Quality Assurance: Each addition is tested to ensure compatibility and performance before release. Market Responsiveness: Rapid deployment cycles allow for quick adjustments based on player feedback or market trends. What we’re seeing here is the expectation from the player base not only of speed, but seamlessness. It’s not unusual for add-ons to arrive in major titles daily, or even multiple times a day, 365 days a year – so developers need to be prepared for this eventuality as part of their overarching workflows and cycles. Infrastructure Automation to Catalyze Creativity Gone are the days of manually setting up game environments. DevOps introduces infrastructure as code (IaC), transforming the way virtual worlds are built and maintained with automated scripts. The advantages are many and varied, and cover aspects such as: Scalability: IaC supports swift adjustments to server loads, essential when player numbers spike during new releases or events. Consistency: Automated environments reduce human error and ensure uniformity across development, testing, and production stages. Cost Efficiency: With cloud-based solutions, resources can be optimized on-demand, avoiding unnecessary expenditure. A recent study by MarketsandMarkets predicted that the global IaC market size is expected to grow to $2.3 billion by 2027, representing an annual expansion of 24%. This leap underscores IaC’s importance in not just gaming but all tech-savvy industries seeking robustness and agility. For gamers, this translates into uninterrupted access to expansive, richly detailed worlds that are as resilient as they are enthralling. Velocity in Versioning, or the Art of Fast Development Cycles Fast development cycles mean rapid iteration, constant feedback incorporation, and quicker time-to-market for new features. Factors at play when DevOps is applied to the gaming industry include: Agile Sprints: Small, focused bursts of development activity enable quick turnarounds on game features and bug fixes – especially if specific agile models are adopted. Cross-functional Collaboration: Tight-knit work between developers, QA testers, and IT operations minimizes bottlenecks. Automated Deployment: Through orchestrated workflows, the path from code commit to live update is streamlined. It’s true that high-performing IT organizations deploy significantly faster and more frequently than their peers, with lead times that are a fraction of the average. In gaming terms, this means players get not only what they want but what they didn’t know they needed with astonishing speed. The Bottom Line The primary point to take with you is that DevOps practices are being applied to game development in all sorts of ways, and that this tie-in should be good for both the professionals at the coalface of creating games, and the players who can enjoy the end product. The post How Do DevOps Practices Influence the Gaming Industry? 3 Practical Applications of DevOps and How Fast Development Cycles Work appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

Nintendo has confirmed that "after careful consideration" the company won't be attending this year's Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany. Reports originally came from German outlet Games Wirtschaft, in which a Nintendo representative told the site that the Japanese publisher will be skipping Gamescom 2024. Now, a Nintendo spokesperson has also confirmed to Eurogamer that the company won't be in attendance, stating: "Gamescom is a great event, and each year we evaluate whether Nintendo should participate or not. After careful consideration from all perspectives, we’ve made the decision not to be present at Gamescom 2024. Players will have opportunities to try out Nintendo Switch games at other events throughout the year." While Nintendo has almost always had a presence at Europe's largest gaming event, its absence from Gamescom this year makes a degree of sense. For one, first party support on the Nintendo Switch appears to be drying up, with few notable 2024 releases beyond the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake and Endless Ocean Luminous. Furthermore, rumors thus far largely indicate that the company's next hardware - tentatively being referred to as Nintendo Switch 2 - is likely to arrive next year. In all likelihood, this means we probably won't be getting an official announcement on the console before or during Gamescom 2024. This likely also rules out Summer Game Fest. Nintendo not attending Gamescom 2024 does represent something of a sea change, then. With few upcoming games left for the Switch's first-party catalog, it's likely the Kyoto-based company is instead shifting focus to its next big piece of hardware and - at the very least - its own future launch line-up. You might also like... Best GBA games - essential GameBoy Advance titles you need to playThe Nintendo Switch 2 should bring back one of the 3DS's best featuresThis cheap official PS5 accessory changed my life View the full article

The iBuyPower Y60 Gaming Desktop uses a top-notch case that’s sure to wow, and comes with better cooling and more RAM than the competition. View the full article

The Tuxedo Sirius 16 Gen2 is an AMD Linux gaming laptop that comes with the Kubuntu-based Tuxedo OS, Ubuntu LTS, Kubuntu LTS, or Ubuntu Budgie LTS. View the full article

Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company's App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut's open-source GBA4iOS app, which has long been distributed outside the App Store. The emulator rose towards the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend, but users on social media complained that the app was a blatant ripoff overlaid with ads. "So apparently Apple approved a knock-off of GBA4iOS," said Testut, in a Threads post on Saturday. "I did not give anyone permission to do this, yet it's now sitting at the top of the charts (despite being filled with ads + tracking)." He quipped that he was "so glad App Review exists to protect consumers from scams and rip-offs like this." It is unclear if Apple removed iGBA because it felt the app ripped off GBA4iOS. We have asked Apple for clarification about the app's removal, and we will update this article if we receive any additional information about the decision. iGBA lets iPhone users play Game Boy games by loading free ROMs downloaded from the web. ROMs can be found online for a wide variety of games, including those from the popular Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda franchises. The emulator can still be used by those who installed it on their iPhones before it was removed from the App Store. On its customer support website in the U.S., Nintendo says downloading pirated copies of its games is illegal. It is unclear if Nintendo sent a complaint to Apple about iGBA, and whether that may have been a factor in the app's removal. An excerpt from section 5.2 of the App Review Guidelines, related to intellectual property:Make sure your app only includes content that you created or that you have a license to use. Your app may be removed if you've stepped over the line and used content without permission. Of course, this also means someone else's app may be removed if they've "borrowed" from your work.iGBA appeared in the App Store just over a week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit "retro game console emulators," but it is inevitably not yet certain what Apple will allow exactly following the app's prompt removal. As for Testut, he went on to create another Nintendo game emulator called Delta, which is distributed outside of the App Store. Delta will also be available through Testut's alternative app marketplace AltStore on iPhones in the EU. It is not clear if he plans to make Delta available in the App Store following the rule change.Tags: App Store, Emulator This article, "Apple Removes Game Boy Emulator iGBA From App Store Due to Spam and Copyright Violations" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article