Minecraft may be best-selling video game in history with 176 million copies sold
Minecraft has sold more than 176 million copies since it was launched 10 years ago, across all platforms where it is available. The milestone may make it the best-selling video game in history, ahead of Grand Theft Auto V and possibly also Tetris, though it is difficult to make a direct comparison.
Red Dead Online poker missing in some parts of the world due to gambling laws
The massive update for Red Dead Online as it left beta added poker, among many other things, to the online component of Red Dead Redemption 2. Not all players are able to access the card game though, as Rockstar Games said that it restricted the feature in countries where online gambling is prohibited.
Next Apex Legends patch will fix Gibraltar’s sticky shield and hit registration
Respawn is set to roll out a new patch for Apex Legends early this week. The update will look to solve a myriad of issues in the popular Battle Royale shooter, including the removal of Gibraltar's sticky shield, a fix for the Fortified passive ability, and the elimination of incorrect hit registration.
Treyarch takes over 2020 Call of Duty, will make Black Ops 5
Treyarch is taking over development for the 2020 Call of Duty, which will be Black Ops 5, Kotaku reported. Raven was initially leading the project alongside Sledgehammer, but staff of the two studios reportedly got into arguments frequently, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Google recalls Titan Security Key due to hijack risk
Google's Titan Security Key is flawed -- the Bluetooth Low Energy version, that is -- and the company is offering a free replacement. A misconfiguration was discovered in the device, though hackers will find it difficult to exploit as it will require close proximity to their target and exact timing.
Tinder Lite will soon launch to bring the dating game into emerging markets
Tinder Lite, a lightweight version of the dating app, will soon launch in emerging markets where access to data may be limited. The app will look to bring more people into the dating game, as Tinder looks to maintain its growth amid increasing competition from rival apps and Facebook.
Respawn will serve temporary bans to piggy-backing Apex Legends players
Respawn identified piggy-backing players as those who do not participate in matches but stick around to earn experience points. The developer will serve temporary bans to those who exhibit such behavior in the future, but the issue ignited a debate about how players should earn XP in the game.
Tetris 99 Big Block DLC adds offline mode against 98 bots for $10
The Big Block DLC for Tetris 99 is now available at the Nintendo eShop for $10. The add-on brings the previously online-only Battle Royale game offline with CPU Battle mode, which allows players to go up against 98 bots, and Marathon mode, which is the traditional version of the puzzler.
Square Enix says Final Fantasy VII Remake will still feature ‘multiple parts’
Square Enix confirmed that the long-awaited Final Fantasy VII Remake, which finally resurfaced at Sony's latest State of Play, will still be released in multiple parts. It remains unclear what this exactly means, but hopefully it will be explained in further detail at the upcoming E3 2019.
Microsoft unleashes Xbox One X consoles inspired by Godzilla and friends
Microsoft teamed up with Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures to create four exclusive Xbox One X consoles with designs based on Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. No purchases are necessary to join the raffle for the consoles, while waiting for Godzilla's return to the big screen.
Apple reportedly exaggerating iPhone battery life by up to 51%
Which?, an advocacy group based in the United Kingdom, conducted tests to compare the estimated battery lives of smartphones and their actual performance. Apple was discovered to be exaggerating the battery life of all nine iPhone models that were tested, with the iPhone XR being the worst offender.
Apex Legends is getting a flamethrower, remote turret, NPCs, and more
Apex Legends dataminers have discovered files for two new weapons, namely the flamethrower and remote turret, though they may instead be a new character's abilities. A significant number of files related to NPCs have also been uncovered, but it remains unclear how they will be added to the game.
Apex Legends cheaters reportedly being kicked out with permanent hardware bans
Respawn Entertainment has reportedly started issuing permanent hardware bans against Apex Legends cheaters. The studio is raising the bar on how cheating in online multiplayer games should be dealt with, as failing to address the problem results in a ruined experience for legitimate players.
Apex Legends update 1.1.1 fails to fix Caustic, Gibraltar hitbox issues
Respawn Entertainment tried to make Caustic and Gibraltar more playable by fixing their hitbox issue with Apex Legends version 1.1.1. The Fortified passive ability is meant to reduce incoming damage by 10%, but it is not working properly as the supposedly negated damage is going straight to HP.
Fortnite will roll out Reboot Vans, much like Apex Legends’ Respawn Beacons
Epic Games will soon roll out Reboot Vans to Fortnite, to give squads a chance to bring back their fallen teammates. They will work very similarly to the Respawn Beacons of Apex Legends, and will be the second feature that Epic Games will copy from Respawn Entertainment's hero-based Battle Royale shooter.
Apex Legends accidentally rolls out early exit penalty with version 1.1 patch
Respawn Entertainment accidentally added penalties for players leaving early in Apex Legends matches. The feature, which was mistakenly rolled out with version 1.1, forced players to wait for 5 minutes after leaving early three times, including returning to the lobby when their banner had not yet expired.
Over 16,000 Apex Legends cheaters have already been banned by Respawn
Respawn Entertainment revealed that it has already banned over 16,000 cheaters in Apex Legends in less than two weeks since its release. The developer may be working on an in-game feature to report cheaters, which have become so prevalent that streamers are even implementing hacks while live.
Oculus Quest taunts some customers after arriving more than two weeks early
The Oculus Quest has arrived early for some customers who pre-ordered the standalone virtual reality headset. The device, which is not supposed to ship out until May 21, is taunting the people who now have it in their hands but cannot use it due to limitations with the Oculus mobile app.
World Video Game Hall of Fame class of 2019 includes Solitaire, Mortal Kombat
The World Video Game Hall of Fame class of 2019 immortalizes four inductees that have significantly affected the video game industry. The inductees are Colossal Cave Adventure, Microsoft's Solitaire, the original Mortal Kombat, and Super Mario Kart, which will all be on permanent display at The Strong.
Google accidentally reveals Nest Hub Max with 10-inch screen, built-in camera
The Google Store accidentally revealed the Nest Hub Max, which will come with a 10-inch screen, stereo speakers, and a built-in camera. The new smart display will apparently build upon the features of the Google Home Hub, which was released late last year with a 7-inch screen and no camera.
Android Q beta will roll out to more smartphones than Android Pie beta
The Android Q beta will involve more smartphones compared to the Android Pie beta last year, which included seven devices beyond Google's Pixel. The development is due to Project Treble, which makes it easier, faster, and less costly for manufacturers to update devices to the latest Android version.
Nintendo Switch 8.0.0 update adds boost mode to make loading times faster
The Nintendo Switch 8.0.0 update added several new features to the console, including a newly discovered boost mode that makes games load faster. The hidden feature overclocks the Nintendo Switch CPU to 1.75GHz in certain situations, which is a significant improvement from its normal speed of only 1GHz.
Kingdom Hearts III ReMIND DLC promises more story and boss fights
Kingdom Hearts III director Tetsuya Nomura took the stage at a concert in Tokyo to announce an upcoming DLC for the game. Titled ReMIND, the DLC will feature an additional scenario of the same title, which will be accompanied by two episodes and boss fights, plus a new Keyblade and form for Sora.
AT&T claims title as first U.S. carrier to hit 2Gbps on 5G network
AT&T became the first U.S. carrier to reach speeds of 2Gbps on its commercial 5G network, achieving the milestone using a mobile hotspot. AT&T continues to lead the charge in 5G development, though it came under fire for a marketing scheme that could cause potential confusion about the technology.
Mortal Kombat 11 players to receive in-game currency as Towers of Time mea culpa
NetherRealm Studios acknowledged the extreme difficulty of Mortal Kombat 11's Towers of Time, and the inadequate rewards that the game mode offers. The developer is in the process of rolling out fixes and changes, and has also offered players in-game currency as part of its apology for the issue.
Nintendo opens registrations for Mario Kart Tour closed beta on Android
Mario Kart Tour, finally arriving this summer to mobile devices, opened registrations for players who would be interested in joining the game's closed beta. Only Android device owners will be able to sign up for the program and be the first to peek into the long-delayed and secretive project.
Is this it for the Nintendo 3DS? No new first-party games in the works
No new first-party games are in the works for the Nintendo 3DS, which hints that the handheld console is nearing the end of its rope after eight years in the market. With the success of the Nintendo Switch and the company's push into mobile gaming, the days of the Nintendo 3DS were already numbered.
Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is freezing some Nintendo Switch units
There have been reports that Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is causing Nintendo Switch units to freeze when players try his Final Smash. However, even with the glitch, players may still try out the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, amid rumors that Persona 5 will soon arrive to the console.