Leak allegedly reveals new ‘Animal Crossing,’ ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’ release dates
A U.K.-based retailer reportedly leaked the release dates for the new Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Nintendo Switch. While the alleged launch dates may be legitimate, gamers are advised to wait for an official announcement from Nintendo on when these exclusives will roll out.
Activision offers ‘Guitar Hero Live’ refunds after obliteration of song library
Activision launched the Guitar Hero Live refund program as support for Guitar Hero TV ended, obliterating the system's song library. Players who want their money back will need to accomplish a claim form and meet certain requirements, including proof of purchase through a receipt or credit card statement.
Google job listings may mean that the Pixel Watch is on the way
A pair of job listings on the Google Careers website may mean that the Pixel Watch is coming soon. One of the listings is for a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearables, but Google's only product in currently in the category is the Pixel Buds, hinting that the Pixel Watch is on the way.
‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ claims throne as fastest-selling Nintendo game ever
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, released on December 7, sold 12.08 million units as of December 31, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo game of all time. The multiplayer brawler is also now ranked third among Nintendo Switch games, behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey.
Xbox Live to expand cross-platform support for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Microsoft is preparing to expand Xbox Live cross-platform support to include the Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. The SDK that will enable the feature will be showcased at the upcoming Game Developers Conference, as Microsoft continues its shift to a strategy of games as a service.
Unannounced Nintendo Switch games in the pipeline for fiscal year 2019
Nintendo is preparing to launch at least one unannounced Nintendo Switch game in its fiscal year 2019, which starts on April 1. The speculated titles by gamers include a new F-Zero game, Pikmin 4, remakes or sequels for the Earthbound series, a new Paper Mario game, and Super Mario Maker 2.
Apple Watch fall detection saves life of ‘bloody and unconscious’ man in Norway
A 67-year-old man was found "bloody and unconscious" on his bathroom floor by Norwegian emergency authorities, who were alerted by the Apple Watch's fall detection feature. The man suffered three fractures on his face, but it may have gone much worse if the Apple Watch did not get help so quickly.
‘Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth’ for Nintendo 3DS arrives to U.S. in June
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth for the Nintendo 3DS will arrive to the US on June 4, several months after its original release in Japan. The game, which will feature characters from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, will also come in a Showtime Premium Edition, but it will not have English voices.
Samsung will start replacing plastic in packaging with sustainable materials
Samsung is switching out plastic components in the packaging of its products for paper and other environmentally friendly materials. The company has set a goal of using 500,000 tons of recycled plastics and collecting 7.5 million tons of discarded products by 2030, since the initiative started in 2009.
Samsung foldable phone will be harder to buy and cost up to $2,500, report says
The Samsung foldable smartphone will be harder to buy due to limited carrier availability, according to unconfirmed claims from a report by Gizmodo U.K, citing a Samsung employee as a source. The device is also rumored to carry a price tag of as high as £2,000, which is equivalent to about $2,500.
Players can see inside ‘Fortnite: Save the World’ loot boxes before buying them
The V-Buck Llamas of Fortnite: Save the World will become X-Ray Llamas once the 7.30 patch is released. Players will be able to see the exact contents of the llama-shaped loot boxes before buying them, and if they do not like the contents, they can simply wait for the daily store refresh.
Xbox boss says Microsoft going ‘big’ at E3 2019 as Sony skips event
Microsoft will apparently have a "fun" and "big" E3 2019, according to Xbox head Phil Spencer. Microsoft is apparently not just committed to the annual video game event despite the absence of Sony, but rather, it is going all-in, with possible announcements of new games and its next-generation console.
Gamers angry as GameStop cancels ‘Kingdom Hearts 3’ PlayStation 4 Pro pre-orders
GameStop cancelled some pre-orders for the limited edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 Pro bundle, as the retailer apparently accepted too many of them. The $400 bundle comes with an intricately designed console and a matching controller, along with a copy of the game and exclusive digital content.
‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ hopes to challenge ‘Fortnite’ with ‘PUBG Lite’
PUBG Lite, the slimmed-down, free-to-play version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, has started beta testing. PUBG Corp. will look to better challenge Fortnite with PUBG Lite, which will be a completely standalone game with its own development team to work on exclusive content, including maps.
Fortnite V-Bucks being used by criminals for money laundering on dark web
Criminals are using Fortnite's V-Bucks for money laundering schemes by using stolen credit card details to purchase the virtual currency, then selling them at discounted rates on the dark web. Epic Games, apparently, is not doing enough to prevent the game from being used for the illegal activity.
Overkill’s ‘The Walking Dead’ delayed indefinitely for PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Overkill's The Walking Dead for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have been postponed without a new release date, though console players might not be looking forward to it. The cooperative zombie shooter suffered massive delays, then received lukewarm reviews once it launched for the PC through Steam.
Google Maps will now help drivers stay within speed limits, avoid speed traps
Google Maps will now start showing speed limits and speed camera locations, so that drivers will not be flagged for speeding tickets. The new features arrive to the app years after they were introduced in Waze, which Google acquired in 2013 for about $1 billion, with no need to update Google Maps.
Popular Android navigation apps are just Google Maps with ads, researcher says
A malware researcher found that 19 free Android navigation apps on the Google Play Store were nothing more than Google Maps, but with ads. One of the apps asked for a payment to remove the ads, while some were security risks as they asked for access to services that navigation apps do not need.
Windows 10 Mobile is dead: Switch to iOS or Android, Microsoft says
A Microsoft support page detailed the company's plans to end support for Windows 10 Mobile in less than a year, which means that there will no longer be any security updates for the operating system. Users with devices powered by the platform are suggested to switch to iOS or Android devices.
Facebook reportedly developing LOL meme app to try to appeal to teens
Facebook is reportedly developing an app named LOL, which will feature memes in the form of funny videos and GIF-like clips. The app is said to be in testing with a very limited private beta, but sources said that the app is "cringey" as it feels like a futile attempt of an adult trying to be young.
Epic Games graded ‘F’ on customer service by Better Business Bureau
Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, received an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau over complaints against its customer service and issues with exchanges and refunds. Epic Games, which has launched its own online store, said that it has addressed the issues through its own channels.
Lost ‘SimCity’ for NES revealed to the public as Christmas gift
The long lost SimCity for NES emerged at a used video game shop after 27 years since its first and only public appearance at the Winter Consumer Electronic Show of January 1991. The Video Game History Foundation's Frank Cifaldi detailed the discovery in a blog post that was published on Christmas.
Apple AirPods may be used to spy on conversations, but please don’t
Apple added Live Listen to the AirPods through the iOS 12 update last September, to help users who have minor hearing issues. However, a viral tweet is suggesting that the feature may be used to eavesdrop on the conversations of other people, though they will have to leave their iPhone with the intended targets.
Dataminers discover SNES games, more emulators for Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online may soon launch SNES games and more emulators, according to code discovered by data miners in the subscription service. The list of hidden SNES titles include Breath of Fire 2 and Star Fox 2, while the other emulators are speculated to be the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube.
Verizon video game streaming service leaked, currently testing on Nvidia Shield
Verizon is currently testing a video game streaming service that is already running on the Nvidia Shield set-top box and will eventually launch on Android smartphones, according to The Verge. The platform, named Verizon Gaming, may be in development to take advantage of the looming 5G rollout.
Bethesda swings banhammer on ‘Fallout 76’ players visiting secret developer room
Bethesda is banning Fallout 76 players who gain access to the online multiplayer game's secret developer room. The hidden location contains plans for everything, including top-tier weapons and unreleased items, which players acquire and transfer to other accounts before the banhammer comes swinging.
Digital Trends Live – CES 2019 – Day 2
On today’s episode: While we are for sure going to run down all the hottest and most innovative tech announcements of CES 2019, we’re also hosting some amazing guests and panels. From the latest VTOL taxi from Bell Helicopters and the future of urban transportation to the hottest 8K television and rollable OLED screens. We […]
Cyberfishing Smart Rod Sensor transforms normal fishing rods into data recorders
The Cyberfishing Smart Rod Sensor, on display at CES 2019, upgrades normal fishing rods into smarter versions of themselves. The device, which is easily attached through couple of heavy duty rubber bands, will work with a companion app to record data, including fishing hotspots and trophy fish details.
B-Secur HeartKey taps ECG signals to authenticate user identity, monitor health
B-Secur's HeartKey platform uses the heart's unique ECG patterns for various applications, including user authentication and health monitoring. The company teamed up with Analog Devices to create the Advanced Auto Steering Wheel, which will start the car once it confirms the driver's identity.
Overwatch Contenders’ ‘Ellie’ controversy sets back women in esports
Ellie, a female pro player who quit from Overwatch Contenders team Second Wind after being harassed due to her anonymity, turned out to be a male pro player who goes by the name Punisher. The alleged social experiment looked to make a point about women in esports, but it ended up damaging the cause.
Hacker discovers Minus World in ‘The Legend of Zelda’ for NES
YouTuber SKELUX tweaked with the game's code to unlock the Minus World of The Legend of Zelda for the NES, similar to the hidden world in Super Mario Bros. The discovery revealed glitched out but playable levels that included reversed enemy sprites, randomly placed objects, and lots of graveyards.