New Messenger users now required to sign up for Facebook too
A Facebook account is now a requirement for people who are signing up for Messenger when a phone number was previously enough. The change was made to simplify the process, according to a spokesperson, but it may also have something to do with the company's plans for its messaging apps.
Google acquires Typhoon Studios to bolster Stadia game development team
Google acquired independent developer Typhoon Studios, which will be integrated into Stadia Games and Entertainment while it works to release its debut title, Journey to the Savage Planet, in January 2020. Typhoon Studios is the first investment for Google into Stadia since the service launched.
P.T. modder breaks free from endless hallways, steps out to Silent Hill
Prolific modder Lance McDonald figured out a way to escape the endless hallways of P.T. and step outside into the abandoned streets of Silent Hill. The town, a glimpse of which is seen in the game's ending, is much larger than expected, containing apartment blocks, vehicles, trees, and lots of clutter.
No subtlety at all with Nintendo Switch rip-off Nanica Smitch
The Nanica Smitch is a hilariously blatant rip-off of the Nintendo Switch that was spotted for sale in Colombia, at a price of just under $50. The device comes with a pair of detachable controllers and may play games on its screen or on a TV, but the similarities between the two consoles end there.
Electric DeLorean pushes the limits of self-driving tech with flawless drifting
A team of Stanford engineers has created an all-electric, self-driving DeLorean that can drift through an obstacle course with extreme precision. Named MARTY after Michael J. Fox's character in Back to the Future, the vehicle showed that autonomous cars are capable of handling extreme situations.
Ubisoft cancels unannounced game, sends 3 years of work down the drain
A Ubisoft programmer revealed in since-deleted tweets that a project he was working on for the past three years was shut down. The details for the unannounced game remain scarce, but its cancellation is likely linked to the studio's ongoing changes since the disappointment of Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
Apple reportedly in talks with MGM, Pac-12 to boost Apple TV+ offerings
Apple is reportedly in talks with MGM and the Pac-12 Conference to boost the offerings of its Apple TV app and Apple TV+ streaming service. A deal with MGM will add the James Bond franchise to Apple TV's library, while a partnership with the Pac-12 will add a live sports component to the service.
Resident Evil 3 remake more action-oriented than original, will not be delayed
The Resident Evil 3 remake will be more action-oriented compared to the 1999 classic, as reflected in the changes to the design of Jill Valentine, the game's producers said in an interview with Famitsu. The producers also promised that the game will not be delayed, as development is almost done.
Apple reportedly working on satellites that will beam data to mobile devices
Apple has reportedly hired a secret team of engineers to work with satellite technology, which will be used to beam data to the company's devices. The project will help Apple reduce its reliance on wireless carriers, as well as help to create new apps with more precise location tracking capabilities.
Batman: The Telltale Series will be rereleased with visual makeover and new DLC
A now-deleted press release revealed that Batman: The Telltale Series will be re-released with a visual makeover and new DLC. The new version, titled The Telltale Batman Shadows Edition, will feature a "noir-style" look, which may be purchased as a standalone DLC for owners of the base game.
Two men behind iStreamItAll, Jetflicks plead guilty to copyright infringement
Two programmers behind illegal streaming services iStreamItAll and Jetflicks pleaded guilty to copyright infringement. One of the defendants claimed that iStreamItAll offered over 118,479 episodes of TV shows and 10,980 movies, which was more than the libraries of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon Prime.
The Outer Worlds journey not yet over as Obsidian promises story DLC in 2020
Obsidian will continue the story of The Outer Worlds through story DLC that will be released next year. The developer did not provide further details, including when it will launch in 2020 and whether it will be a free download, but it is something to look forward to for fans of the space adventure.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare bug lets cheaters attack from under Shoot House map
A bug in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's Shoot House allows cheaters to hide underneath the map, making them invulnerable while they leisurely take down their opponents. It remains unclear if developer Infinity Ward is already aware of the issue, and if it is already working on a patch to fix it.
Forza Horizon 4 joins the battle royale party with 72-player The Eliminator mode
Forza Horizon 4 introduces The Eliminator, a 72-player battle royale mode that comes free with the game's Series 17 update. Players start out with level-1 cars that they can upgrade by acquiring air-drops or winning head-to-head challenges against other racers, all within a shrinking map.
Obsidian fixes Outer Worlds bug that killed people climbing ladders to nowhere
Obsidian released Patch 1.2 for The Outer Worlds, which contained a fix for a bug that killed players' companions by making them climb ladders to their death. Pinpointing the cause of the glitch, however, required massive effort, as detailed by the developer's QA Lead Taylor Swope in a series of tweets.
Gamers played as Norman Reedus in P.T., long before Death Stranding
YouTuber Lance McDonald discovered that the playable character in Silent Hills teaser P.T. is portrayed by Norman Reedus, who is also the main character of Death Stranding. McDonald used a camera hack to peer into an obscured mirror's reflection from another angle, revealing Reedus' face.
Siri helped save a teenager after his vehicle crashed into icy river
Apple's digital assistant Siri helped save 18-year old Gael Salcedo, who found himself in a freezing river after losing control of his Jeep. The teenager could not locate his phone after the accident so he asked Siri to call 911, sending firefighters to the scene to carry out the rescue.
Google Maps working on feature that shows well-lit streets?
Code spotted in a Google Maps beta revealed a new feature named the Lighting Layer, which will show the streets that have good lighting. No screenshots of the feature were available, and it is unclear when and where it will roll out, but it will soon provide the app with an additional tool for travelers.
Snapchat Cameo will edit people’s faces into GIFs for harmless deepfakes
Snapchat is testing a new feature that will allow users to insert their selfies into a selection of premade GIFs to create customized content. The feature, named Snapchat Cameos, is a harmless application of deepfake technology, which has drawn criticism for its potential misuse.
Apple’s Activation Lock sends iPhones to the scrap heap instead of refurbishers
Apple's Activation Lock is a security feature that deters thieves, but it also prevents iPhones from being refurbished and returned to circulation. If iPhone owners do not go through the proper process of deactivating the feature before letting go of their devices, they are effectively giving away bricks.
Bethesda halts new content development for The Elder Scrolls: Legends
Bethesda will no longer release new expansions and additional content for The Elder Scrolls: Legends, nearly three years after it was launched. The developer will continue to support the collectible card game through monthly reward cards and in-game events, but active development has been halted.
Riot Games to expand League of Legends universe with help of other developers
Riot Games has launched Riot Forge, a publishing label that will work with other developers to create more games based on the lore of the massively popular MOBA League of Legends. Riot Forge is secretive on its current partners, but one project will be announced at The Game Awards 2019 on December 12.
Apple admits iPhone 11s are sharing user location data — but not collecting it
Security reporter Brian Krebs raised concerns that the iPhone 11 line of devices keep sharing location data, even when the feature is deactivated for each app and service in the smartphones. Apple finally gave a clearer explanation on what is happening and says it involves new technology.
Magic Leap in trouble? Report says only 6,000 AR headsets sold in first 6 months
Magic Leap is reportedly in trouble. After raising $2.6 billion, its $2,295 Magic Leap One Creator Edition AR headset sold only 6,000 units in its first six months, according to The Information. A spokesperson for the startup disputed the report, but did not provide a clearer picture on the company's status.
Valve Index VR headset sold out shortly after Half-Life: Alyx reveal
Most packages of the Valve Index have sold out in the U.S. and Canada, a week after Half-Life: Alyx was revealed. The VR exclusive will be free to those who purchase Valve's virtual reality headset by the end of the year, and it is expected to run best on the system due to its finger-tracking technology.
Valve may start working on Half-Life 3 if Half-Life: Alyx succeeds
Half-Life: Alyx may not be what fans of the franchise expected, but if it succeeds, Valve may start working on Half-Life 3. Valve programmer David Speyrer said in an interview that the company will love to "push forward" with the franchise, but it will wait to see how gamers react to the VR exclusive.
Apex Legends Season 3’s new weapon is too strong, Charge Rifle nerf in the works
The Charge Rifle, which was added to Apex Legends in Season 3, is apparently too powerful, pushing Respawn to plan a nerf for the Energy-powered sniper rifle. The weapon fires two different lasers that deal massive damage, but Twitch streamer Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek argued that it is very situational.
Twitter no longer needs phone numbers for two-factor authentication
Twitter improved the security of its two-factor authentication system by no longer requiring the phone numbers of users. The system was launched years ago, but Twitter has just now addressed the flaws that come with linking phone numbers to the feature, such as the vulnerability to SIM hijacking.
Hideo Kojima hints that next project may be a horror video game
Hideo Kojima, with Death Stranding now released, dropped clues that his next video game project may be in the horror genre. In a tweet, Kojima hinted that he is already thinking about how to "make the scariest horror game," following the success of P.T., the playable teaser for the canceled Silent Hills.
Roku devices crashing due to Pokémon Sword and Shield: Here’s a temporary fix
Roku device owners recently started reporting crashes, and apparently, the issue is linked to Pokémon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch. Roku said that it is aware of the issue and is working to roll out a permanent fix, but in the meantime, there is a temporary solution to the problem.
BioWare reportedly in early stages of developing next Mass Effect game
BioWare is reportedly in the "very early development" stage for a new Mass Effect game, which will be the fifth in the franchise after Mass Effect: Andromeda. The next Mass Effect has been teased for a while, most recently at this year's N7 Day celebrations, but it will not be releasing any time soon.
Resident Evil 2 takes home Ultimate Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards
Resident Evil 2 was crowned Ultimate Game of the Year at The 37th Golden Joystick Awards, wherein the winners are determined through public voting. Fortnite, last year's winner of the top award, was named Esports Game of the Year, while the Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Yu Suzuki.