Sunday, 30 November 2025
Saturday, 29 November 2025
The Ayaneo Next II is a hulking gaming handheld with a 9-inch display
Ayaneo may be working on more affordable gaming handhelds lately, but it hasn't forgotten how to do the extravagant designs that the handheld maker is known for. One-upping the bulky Legion Go 2, Ayaneo announced its latest Windows handheld called the Next II.
Ayaneo is continuing the theme for its Next lineup of devices, making these handhelds as big and powerful as possible. The Next II packs a 9.06-inch OLED display with a 2,400 x 1,504 resolution and a variable refresh rate that can be adjusted between 60 and 165 Hz. Ayaneo's latest premium handheld should handle any game you throw at it thanks to an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip and a massive 115 Wh battery. The company didn't reveal any battery life estimates yet, but it's unlikely we'll see all-day usage with these high-end specs.
To match the powerful internal components, Ayaneo equipped the Next II with Hall effect joysticks and triggers to prevent deadzones and stick drift. Borrowing from its previous high-end handheld called the Ayaneo Kun, the Next II also features dual smart touchpads that can be customized with gesture controls and key mapping. The back of the handheld is home to four extra buttons, but you can also set specific controls for four other customizable buttons.
Ayaneo hasn't revealed any pricing details yet, but the Next II might be reserved for those willing to spend closer to $2,000. Don't forget that Ayaneo's previous flagship handheld, the Ayaneo Kun, could be fully kitted out for a $1,700 price tag.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/NQJYDPIfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/NQJYDPI
Friday, 28 November 2025
Thursday, 27 November 2025
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Chip makers warn of a looming shortage in DRAM and SSD
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Tuesday, 25 November 2025
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Saturday, 22 November 2025
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is all about enhancing the game's greatest strengths
Square Enix has been on a tear in recent years remastering and outright remaking many of its landmark role-playing games. Along with Final Fantasy, the developer has given the Dragon Quest series such attention as well, and the next game on deck is a remake of the PlayStation 1's Dragon Quest VII. Commonly regarded by fans as one of the most challenging and lengthy games of the series, the developers building Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined — the second remake of the game following the 3DS release in 2013 — are aiming to reshape DQVII with a striking new visual style and a refocused adventure.
I recently got to spend a couple of hours with Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, seeing its new interpretation of the 2000 classic JRPG and some of the more noteworthy updates to its combat. So far, the remake is making some intriguing choices that not only aim to give the sprawling time-travel plot a better sense of direction but also streamline some of the original's more exhaustive and challenging beats.
The original Dragon Quest VII carried the familiar conceit of earlier entries, focusing on a party of high-fantasy adventurers embarking on an epic adventure filled with dungeons to explore and powerful monsters to fight. But DQVII deviated from the traditional Dragon Quest storyline by focusing on the party's adventures through time. As the Hero and his friends uncover the lost history of their world, they'll step back into previous eras to explore bygone kingdoms and continents that will reveal a larger conspiracy in the present. Along the way, they'll build their bonds of friendship that will stretch across time.
Reimagined does well to capture that sense of adventure that the series does so well. Even as the series has evolved with new entries, it still strikes a balance between old-school, turn-based JRPG gameplay and modern storytelling flair. What's especially novel about the remake of Dragon Quest VII is its sharper, visually expressive 3D art style. Using diorama models and real doll versions of the party as reference material for the look of the game, the new 3D visuals really capture the whimsical and emotive style of the late Akira Toriyama's distinctive art, which has given the series its unique look. But with the move to a new 3D style, Reimagined sets itself apart from the previous games by feeling more like an animated adventure film.
Along with the visual style, the developers also focused on reshaping sections and the overall storytelling of DQVII to offer a more satisfying experience. According to game producer Takeshi Ichikawa, one of the larger goals of remaking Dragon Quest VII was to improve the flow of the game, which ultimately made for a more satisfying sense of adventure.
"The 'reimagined' elements of the narrative allude to improvements in the game's overall framework, which offers a much deeper and more compelling experience," Ichikawa said. "In our effort to streamline the overall story progression and provide a more engaging narrative, we decided to cut subplots that have little or no direct relevance to the main scenario. While some content has been removed, entirely new scenarios have also been introduced. Our goal was to build upon the strengths of the original game while striving to deliver a deeper, more immersive story experience for modern players."
During my hands-on time, I got to explore two separate sections of the game. These focused on the early-game Emberdale dungeon, where townsfolk committed themselves to a volcano ritual to pacify a fire demon within. The other section focused on the Wetlock scenario, which had the party confront a mysterious magic user who whisked away townsfolk to a mysterious tower in a flooded land.
My memories of the original and 3DS remake came back while playing Reimagined, which made it easy to slide back into that dungeon-crawling flow. Much like the original, Reimagined still sticks with traditional turn-based combat, and the new visual style really helps emphasize the sense of impact and tactics at work in battle — more so than in other games in the series. I especially liked how unique each character felt, particularly the wolf-riding bandit Ruff, who is fun to use in battle.
During the Wetlock section, I generally found the challenge to be fair, and I even discovered a good leveling spot fighting golems and Metal Slimes that popped up on occasions. But things can easily kick into high gear when taking on the elite enemies and the end boss of the questline. I had to carefully assess the available skills and employ a range of offensive and defensive abilities to survive. The remake is not so much about removing the sense of challenge from the original, but rather about maintaining it while offering more options to help with battles.
One of the larger innovations to Reimagined combat is the Moonlighting system, which allows each party member to equip two vocations at once. The original game allowed each character to only have one vocation at a time, and switching classes reset your level. This created a lot of busywork in the original game, so with this new two-class approach, it cuts down on grinding significantly and keeps you feeling empowered. But on a more strategic level, it also adds a lot more utility and variety to each character's loadout. It also does well to make a party with more diverse skills, which adds a lot more charm to the group.
There's so much thought put into the top-down rework of the original game for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, and I found the changes to be a very charming and personable approach to remaking it. Even back in 2000, the original game was a very ambitious take on the series. Not just being the first 3D entry, but also in how it actually utilized many of the different locations and characters from across the sprawling story in a more meaningful way. The original is still a great entry in the series, but it's one that feels a bit tough to revisit. That makes the developer's intent on streamlining and refocusing to feel quite appropriate, and I quite dug the changes I saw during my hands-on time.
So far, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined looks to maintain the ambition and scope of the original, but hone it into a more focused and satisfying JRPG. It adds a seriously impressive visual style that brings it to life. According to the remake's producer, Reimagined and its new approach to remaking Dragon Quest is about adding a new sense of energy to the series, and it's so far doing just that.
"We believe that existing fans will find the game satisfying. At the same time, since this title has been reimagined from the ground up as a modern release, we're also excited for many new players to enjoy it as their first Dragon Quest experience," Ichikawa said.
Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined will be released on February 5, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2.
from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/UiYrmG7
Running an 1930s newspaper, foreseeing martial arts fights and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. A whole bunch of intriguing games have arrived over the last week or so, and we got some tasty details on some upcoming projects, including one called Drywall Eating Simulator (trust me on this one).
But first, an update on a game that's been around since 2004 and had completely flown below my radar until now. That’s despite it reaching more than 80,000 daily unique players and having more than 4 million players overall. You can seemingly do pretty much whatever you want in Torn, including studying to become a doctor, opening a hair salon or buying a home (it's truly a fantasy world). However, this is a place where crime is rife. The team behind the text-based online RPG this week revealed some fascinating stats to mark the 21st anniversary.
For instance, 1,204 people who joined the fray in 2004 are still active, including at least one who has been there since the first day. Since Torn City was established 21 years ago, more than 3.6 billion criminal offenses have been committed and yet its justice system has only doled out just under 52 million prison sentences. Since August alone, more than 4.4 million buildings have been burned. Players have committed more than 410 million assaults against each other, 12 percent of which targeted the groin.
Torn sounds super fascinating! I love that it's been running for so long and still thriving. More than 31,000 players have subscribed to support the game and keep it running, though it’s free to play. The developers have updates planned for next year and beyond. I'm looking forward to checking it out at some point and maybe roleplaying as a goody-two-shoes flower shop owner.
New releases
From publisher Twin Sails Interactive and the four-strong team at Sparrow Night comes News Tower, which arrived fully formed this week after nearly two years in early access. This is a management sim that tasks you with running your own newspaper in 1930s New York.
Starting in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash and mobsters smashing up the newsroom, you'll try to turn around a struggling publication that you inherit from your family. You'll construct offices and set up printing presses; hire and manage reporters and other staff; assemble your weekly newspaper; and deal with various groups that are jostling for power and trying to influence your coverage.
I thought last year's Times and Galaxy, which casts you in the role of a robot journalist, was mostly lovely, but it missed the mark on the actual newsgathering side of the equation. I’ve found no such issues with News Tower so far. I love that a story can change when you assign different reporters to each step (say, one focused on crime vs. one focused on politics). They'll find distinct angles, which could help you sell more copies of the paper or draw readers away from rivals when you land an exclusive.
I'm only a little ways into News Tower, but as someone who started out their career at a newspaper, this is like catnip to me. I expect to spend quite a bit of time with this game. News Tower 1.0 is out now on Steam. It usually costs $25, though there's a 20 percent discount until December 2.
Forestrike is a 2D martial arts roguelite from Skeleton Crew. You can practice combat encounters as many times as you like, but you only have one proper shot to take out multiple opponents in each battle. It sounds a little like Katana Zero in that regard. Succeed, and you'll move forward. Lose, and it's the end of your run. If you manage to win without relying on this foresight feature, you'll achieve an "ultimate victory."
On each run, you'll choose your path and learn new techniques. Forestrike, which is published by Devolver Digital, seems interesting since it's a blend of puzzle game and action roguelite — you'll need to figure out a way to succeed in each battle and then pull that off successfully on your actual attempt. The game is out now on Steam for $10. It's coming to Nintendo Switch soon.
Here's a puzzle game of a different flavor. In Umami, from Mimmox and co-publisher Nexting, the aim is to create dioramas of cakes and food towers using virtual wooden blocks. You have a reference guide to work from if you choose, or you can just try to figure out for yourself how all the pieces fit together.
It's a lovely, relaxing experience with some laid-back beats. Umami is out now on Steam. It's usually priced at $14, though there's a 15 percent discount until December 1.
A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is a game from Azimuth Studios in the vein of rage-inducing precision platformers like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy and Only Up. The aim is to guide a person who is trapped in a pinball to the goal using a single button that controls the flippers.
Make a mistake, and you can erase a great deal of progress. A press release indicated that a playthrough will take between 10 and 30 hours, which is a huge range.
I'll never find out myself how accurate that estimated playtime is, because the demo did, in fact, make me mad and not want to play the full game, though I appreciate what the devs are going for. A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is out now on Steam for $10, but a 15 percent discount until November 25 brings the price down to $8.50.
I really like that I've been able to keep up with this little tradition of including a dog game in this roundup every week. Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury is a followup to Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, a 2022 animated movie I haven't seen that's apparently a "loose remake of Blazing Saddles." Color me intrigued!
This is an action-adventure game with platforming and tower defense aspects. It casts you in the role of Hank, a "dog samurai in a world full of cats." It looks quite charming, though it does remind me that I really do need to go back and get the platinum trophy in Ghost of Yōtei. Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury — from developers Fishing Cactus and ZEROlife Games, and publisher Maximum Entertainment — is out now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. There's a two-player co-op mode available on all platforms, except for Switch.
Upcoming
Erosion is a neat-looking twin-stick action roguelike from Plot Twist (The Last Case of Benedict Fox) and publisher Lyrical Games. Every time you die, time advances by a decade and the post-apocalyptic Wild West setting shifts accordingly, with the decisions you make influencing the future.
In this open-world shooter, you'll delve into dungeons filled with enemies and bosses as you try to rescue your kidnapped daughter. Avoid death often enough, and you might just find your offspring before she reaches old age. There are more than 100 skills and modifiers to unlock and dozens of weapons available to help you assemble an effective build. The environments are destructible too.
I really like the voxel art here, including the way the characters bob up and down. Erosion is set to arrive in spring 2026 in early access on Steam, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud and the Xbox PC app. It'll be available on Game Pass.
Speaking of Xbox, one of my favorite games of last year is coming to Microsoft's consoles. The comedy adventure Thank Goodness You’re Here! is slated to hit Xbox Series X/S on December 9. The delightfully rude and funny game from Coal Supper and Panic is already out on PC, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
We're far from done with the silliness this week. If you haven't quite had your fill of obstacle-laden walking sims for this year after Baby Steps, might I direct your attention toward Ultimate Grandma Simulator?
You'll help Granny navigate a dozen levels as she searches for her missing grandson. You'll need to evade everything from wrecking balls to zombies, and parry projectiles like frisbees and bombs. A serious game this is not. If you collect hidden golden coins, you'll unlock some of Granny's memories too. Circo, PlumPointTwo and publisher We Don't Have A Studio are set to bring Ultimate Grandma Simulator to Steam on December 2.
I must admit, the title of Drywall Eating Simulator caught my attention and not in a good way. But after reading more about it and watching the trailer, I'm intrigued by this game from Peripheral Playbox.
According to the Steam page, it's a "physics-based 3D adventure carefully constructed to simulate the delights of late capitalist life." After engaging in mindnumbing small talk and dealing with the infuriating stressors of everyday life, what better way to unwind than by munching on some drywall? Just don't tell anyone about your cravings.
This game has a very odd and yet somehow deeply relatable concept. Definitely something to chew on. It's coming to Steam on December 10.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/VEzonR3from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/VEzonR3
Friday, 21 November 2025
Subpostmaster was told no jury would believe Post Office had ‘dodgy computer’
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Thursday, 20 November 2025
Finland uses tax reform to attract foreign tech investment
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Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Meta asks the Oversight Board to weigh in (a little) on Community Notes ahead of expansion
When Meta announced last year that it was ditching third-party fact checkers in favor of an X-style Community Notes system, the company was careful to note that it would only implement the changes within the United States to start. Now, nearly a year later, the social media company is getting ready to expand the crowd-sourced fact checks to more countries, and is asking the Oversight Board for advice on a potential rollout.
The company has requested that board weigh in on "factors we should consider when deciding which countries, if any, to omit from the international roll out" of Community Notes. Notably, Meta isn't asking the Oversight Board to advise on the merits of replacing traditional fact-checking organizations. Instead, the company wants guidance on how to approach country-specific challenges and whether there should be any carveouts.
"We respectfully ask the Board to focus its examination on the country-level factors relevant to omitting countries from the international roll-out, and not on topics such as general product design or the operation of the Community Notes algorithm," the company wrote in its request shared by the board.
Up to now, Meta has been experimenting with Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram and Threads in the United States only. People who want to be able to author notes still need to be approved, but the company allows anyone to rate notes. However, it seems that the feature so far hasn't gained as much traction for Meta as it has on X. In September, the company said that just 6 percent of the more than 15,000 notes that had been contributed had actually been published.
In a statement from the Oversight Board, the group said it would consider issues like whether a crowd-sourced fact checking system would make sense in countries with "low levels of freedom of expression" or without a free press, as well as places with "low levels of digital literacy." It also said it was hoping to hear public comments from researchers who have studied different approaches to countering misinformation.
Unlike with a typical case from the Oversight Board, which deals with specific content moderation decisions, Meta has no obligation to implement any of the group's recommendations. But, the company has previously chosen to follow its suggestions in previous policy advisory opinions, including its decision to roll back COVID-19 misinformation rules following a recommendation from the board.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/ks4oujOfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/ks4oujO
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Roblox begins asking tens of millions of children to verify their age with a selfie
Roblox is starting to roll out the mandatory age checks that will require all of its users to submit an ID or scan their face in order to access the platform's chat features. The updated policy, which the company announced earlier this year, will be enforced first in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands and will expand to all other markets by early next year.
The company also detailed a new "age-based chat" system, which will limit users' ability to interact with people outside of their age group. After verifying or estimating a user's age, Roblox will assign them to an age group ranging from 9 years and younger to 21 years and older (there are six total age groups). Teens and children will then be limited from connecting with people that aren't in or close to their estimated age group in in-game chats.
Unlike most social media apps which have a minimum age of 13, Roblox permits much younger children to use its platform. Since most children and many teens don't have IDs, the company uses "age estimation" tech provided by identity company Persona. The checks, which use video selfies, are conducted within Roblox's app and the company says that images of users' faces are immediately deleted after completing the process.
Roblox didn't provide details on how accurate its age estimation features are, but the company's Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, said that it was "pretty accurate" at guessing the approximate age of most of its users. "What we find is that the algorithms between that 5 and 25 years old [range] are typically pretty accurate within one or two years of their age," he said during a briefing with reporters.
All Roblox users can now voluntarily submit to a face scan or provide an ID to the company to ensure their access to its chat features isn't interrupted. The company says it will be enforcing age checks for all users by January and that people in the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand will need to comply beginning in early December. Next year, the company also plans to put age restrictions around users' ability to access links to outside social media sites and to participate in Roblox Studio.
Roblox has repeatedly come under fire for alleged safety lapses even as it's released a flurry of child safety updates in recent years. The company is facing lawsuits from Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky amid accusations that it hasn't done enough to prevent adults from targeting teens and children on its service.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/k0osgWBfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/k0osgWB
Tech scaleups and startups lack women at the top
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Viewing business through a sustainability lens
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Monday, 17 November 2025
Getting started with agentic AI
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Sunday, 16 November 2025
The Mac Pro could be the latest addition to Apple's product purgatory
The wait for a new Mac Pro may take a lot longer, according to the latest Power On newsletter. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the Mac Pro has an uncertain future within Apple's desktop strategy and isn't likely to see a refresh in 2026.
According to Gurman, Apple is no longer working on the M4 Ultra chip, which was meant to be offered in a refreshed Mac Pro. Instead, Apple is planning for the M5 Ultra to be its "high-end desktop chip," which will only be available on the Mac Studio so far, according to Gurman.
Despite earning a solid reputation amongst creatives looking for a Mac desktop, the Mac Pro has fallen out of favor even after sporadic refreshes between 2013 and 2023. Apple experimented with some risky redesigns, including the "trash can" style, but the current Mac Pro model returns to a modern cheese grater look while also upgrading to Apple silicon with the M2 Ultra chip. However, Apple customers seeking the most powerful desktop options might be more likely to opt for the latest Mac Studio with the M4 Ultra. Gurman also reported that Apple is internally shifting towards the Mac Studio as the focus of Apple's professional desktop offerings.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/VJCGzKlfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/VJCGzKl
Saturday, 15 November 2025
Old-school platforming, Metroidvania horror and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As ever, it's been a busy week of new games arriving and details of upcoming releases emerging. Before we get to some of those though, the nominees for the second annual Indie Game Awards were announced this week.
There's a nice mix of big hitters and smaller, but equally worthy titles among the Game of the Year contenders. Those are:
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Absolum - Dotemu, Guard Crush Games and Supamonks
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and Roger - TearyHand Studio
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Blue Prince - Dogubomb
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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector - Jump Over the Age
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive
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Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P and Ken "coda" Snyder
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Hades II - Supergiant Games
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Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry
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Keep Driving - YCJY Games
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Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Pocket Trap
Consume Me and and Roger are two I've been meaning to check out for a while. I'm also yet to hop into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is arguably the frontrunner here — it's looking like the favorite for top honors at The Game Awards next month as well.
There are a whole bunch of worthy contenders in other categories, from hits like Discounty and the charmingly bittersweet Time Flies, to solo-developed projects like Spilled! and Vile: Exhumed. The supremely addictive Ball x Pit picked up a nod, but it's going against the tremendous Öoo (and Absolum, Hades II and Silksong) in the gameplay design category. It's neat to see Playdate game Taria & Como earn recognition too.
The Indie Game Awards ceremony takes place on December 18 at 6:30PM ET. You can watch it on YouTube and Twitch.
New releases
The new release I'm most looking forward to trying when I have a chance is Windswept, a precision platformer that's inspired by similar games from the '90s like Donkey Kong Country. Marbles the duck and Checkers the turtle each have unique movement abilities, and you'll need to swap between the pair to best navigate environments. You'll be trying to help them get back home after a storm whisked them away.
There are lots of secrets to discover across the 40-plus levels, animal buddies to ride and much more. I grew up with games like this one from WeatherFell and publisher Top Hat Studios, which looks completely up my alley. Windswept is out now on Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S for $20.
The Devolver Digital-published Possessor(s) is something a little different from Hyper Light Drifter studio Heart Machine. This is a horror-inflected Metroidvania and the developers drew inspiration from platform fighters for the combat. Here, high school student Luca forms an alliance with a demon in need of a host following "an interdimensional catastrophe." They team up to stay alive and discover what led to the disaster.
As with Heart Machine's other games, it looks very pretty, but reviews for Possessor(s) — which is out on PS5 and PC — have been fairly mixed so far. Things haven't exactly been going great for Heart Machine overall. The studio last month laid off staff and ended development of Hyper Light Breaker, which remains in early access.
As with its earlier game Before Your Eyes, Nice Dream says its latest project, Goodnight Universe, is best played with a camera. There's the option to interact with the game using your eye movement and facial expressions. That makes a lot of sense for Goodnight Universe, which casts you in the role of a six-month-old baby with psychic powers. Little Isaac just wants familial love, but a shadowy tech corporation is looking to take custody of him.
Skybound Games is the publisher of Goodnight Universe, which is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam for $20. A Switch version is coming on December 18, and an update that will bring camera support to the Switch 2 edition is on the way.
Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution is a turn-based strategy game that affords you the chance to shift the outcome of the French Revolution. An opportunity to revolutionize the revolution, as it were. You can defend, depose or even reform the monarchy.
As the title suggests, you'll have mechs at your disposal in battle — to that end, this reminds me a bit of the clockpunk soulslike Steelrising, which was also set during the French Revolution. Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution, from Studio Imugi and co-publisher 2P Games, left early access on Steam this week. It costs $20.
Upcoming
I'm very happy to continue this little run of including a dog game in this roundup every week with something new on the beautifully titled Barkour. As part of Steam Animal Fest (which runs until Monday and includes a sale on games like Tunic and Hello Kitty Island Adventure), Varsav Game Studios unleashed a new trailer and an updated Steam demo.
Here, you play as Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., a special agent with gadgets galore and plenty of bite to go with the bark. On missions, you can play the stealthy way, fight your enemies head on or carry out barkour parkour runs. Varsav Game Studios is hoping to release Barkour in 2026.
Next up, we have release dates for a pair of cafe sims, starting with Tailside. As a furry cafe owner, you'll be looking to perfect the art of coffee making so you can serve delicious concoctions to your patrons. You can even create foam art on lattes for an extra-special touch.
In this game from solo developer Coffee Beans Dev, you can customize your cafe to your liking. There are no timers to worry about, so you can play at your own pace. Tailside is coming to Steam on January 21. A demo is available now.
As revealed during the State of Play Japan showcase this week, the latest entry in the Coffee Talk series is bound for Steam, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on March 5. Chorus Worldwide Games and Toge Productions' Coffee Talk Tokyo places you in the role of a barista who hears out their clientele.
The drinks you make (which you can enhance with sprinkle stencils for latte art) help shape your conversations with customers and have a bearing on the branching storylines. Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk Episode 2 composer Andrew “AJ” Jeremy returned to craft another lo-fi soundtrack for the latest installment.
A release window for InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories was confirmed during the State of Play Tokyo stream as well. It's coming to Steam and consoles, including PS5, in April. There's a Steam demo available now.
From Nagai Industries, this simulator puts you in the role of a college student and employee of a small-town Japanese convenience store (a konbini) in the early 1990s. You'll decide which products to sell, and order and restock goods. More importantly, you'll have to deliver exceptional customer service. That involves having conversations with customers, which will sometimes end up having an impact on their lives. It seems quite lovely.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/qnDsy1ifrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/qnDsy1i
Friday, 14 November 2025
The Morning After: Valve revives the Steam Machine
Valve has announced a raft of new hardware, including a new VR headset, Steam Machine and Controller. The devices are all designed to usher in a new era of PC gaming, with Valve’s usual focus on the player. Steam Frame is a slender VR headset that connects wirelessly to your PC and has a built-in battery to rid you of those pesky cables. That focus on freedom extends to the Frame operating as a standalone device, like the Meta Quest.
At the same time, the company has revived its long-loved (but not massively successful) Steam Machine. This new model has semi-custom AMD silicon capable of running 4K games at 60 frames per second. Valve says it’s roughly six times as powerful as its portable unit, the Steam Deck. Rounding out the list is the controller, which looks like a Steam Deck with the screen cut out. But it’s not as if that’s a bad thing, especially as it’s got TMR sensors which, while using a different underlying technology, promise the same benefits as a Hall Effect stick.
As someone on the not particularly game-y end of the spectrum, I use announcements like this as an exercise to see how excited I would be. To that end, I’m curious how much Valve will charge for this gear when it makes its debut early next year. On one hand, the performance promises laid out here are fairly substantial but, on the other, this is also a company that sells the base model Steam Deck for less than a Switch 2.
That said, I would certainly get off the couch if there was a new Half-Life game in the works, and that seems plausible here. Nathan Ingraham is certainly getting his little hopes up that the revival of the Steam Machine might see Valve revive something else too.
— Dan Cooper
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The news you might have missed
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The next macOS update can turn your screen into a ring light
It’s a brilliant idea. -
Analogue’s 4K remake of the N64 will, at long last, ship on November 18
Anyone up for some four-player GoldenEye? -
Sony made an official 240Hz PlayStation monitor with a built-in DualSense charging hook
It’s part of Sony’s push into PC gaming. -
OnePlus 15 review: A great phone, if photography isn’t a priority
You can’t get it in the US just yet, however. -
Apple will bring MLS games to its normal TV subscription
Is Apple about to quietly replace ESPN?
Even Realities G2 first look: This year’s best-looking new smart glasses still need work
The new innovations aren’t hitting the spot.
I was a massive fan of Even Realities’ original smart glasses and was excited to see what Sam Rutherford thought of their successor. Sadly, he was testing the specs with a beta version of the new software and found them lacking in several important ways. He’s urging folks to hold off buying these until the gaps in the software have all been filled in.
Framework Laptop 16 (2025 upgrade) review: The RTX 5070 is the star
What a shame the fan noise is so bad.
For years, the world has clamored for a modular, upgradeable gaming laptop offering the same longevity as a desktop. Now, Framework has achieved where so many have failed, selling an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 for its two-year-old Laptop 16. I reviewed the new GPU (and CPU), and I’m blown away by it — quite literally, thanks to the cooling issues that mean the fans are running at full speed whenever you put it under heavy load.
Apple introduces a new Digital ID feature to make boarding flights easier
But don’t leave your passport at home just yet.
Apple is rolling out a Digital ID to its wallet that will, at some point in the near future, be legally accepted at TSA checkpoints. It’s coming to more than 250 US airports and can eventually be used as your ID for domestic flights. But, you know, probably worth reading all of the details before you declare your paper passport a thing of the past.
DJI Neo 2 review: The best budget drone is now even better
$250 gets you a lot of gear, including LiDAR.
DJI’s Neo was good but not great — short battery life, noisy propellers and a lack of object avoidance all dulled its shine. Now, the company’s successor has addressed all of those issues, leading our Steve Dent to call it “the best personal drone on the market.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/sTCmIZnfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/sTCmIZn
Thursday, 13 November 2025
Withings has received FDA clearance for medical 'multiscope' BeamO
Withings announced that its multi-function medical device BeamO has received clearance from the FDA. BeamO contains sensors to perform an electrocardiogram, a stethoscope and a thermometer. The company claims all three tests can be completed in less than a minute. It is now available for purchase and will retail for $250.
The company unveiled BeamO at CES 2024. It's being positioned as a tool for telehealth, with a companion app that can send results to medical professionals. Withings is also offering a Cardio Check-Up service as part of its health subscription, where results from BeamO can be reviewed remotely by cardiologists who will deliver a cardiac health assessment to the device owner within 24 hours.
Withings is the name behind several intriguing (and occasionally strange) home health and smart tech items, including a smartwatch, a highly futuristic bathroom scale and a toilet-mounted computer for urine analysis.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/XdruMesfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/XdruMes
Post Office contract with Fujitsu has option to extend into 2028
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Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Gartner Symposium 2025: VMware NSX migration tips
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Monday, 10 November 2025
UK’s ‘deregulatory’ AI approach won’t protect human rights
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Sunday, 9 November 2025
Apple is reportedly working on more satellite features for iPhone
Your iPhone may soon be able to do more than call for emergency help and send messages via satellite, according to the latest Power On newsletter. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to expand on satellite features available on iPhones.
Apple introduced the ability to send and receive texts with the Messages via Satellite feature last year, but is reportedly looking to enhance this with the option to send photos too. Beyond texting, Apple wants to enable 5G NTN support on its iPhones, which allows cell towers to get a coverage boost by tapping into satellites, according to Gurman. For anyone who needs directions in a remote area without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, Apple reportedly has plans to introduce satellite connectivity to Apple Maps.
Along with these upgrades, Gurman reported that Apple is looking into "natural usage" improvements where users won't have to point their iPhones towards the sky to connect to a satellite network. Instead, an iPhone could stay connected even when there's no clear view of the sky, like in indoor environments. On the developer side of things, Gurman said that Apple is also working on an API that allows app makers to add satellite connections.
There's no timeline for when these rumored satellite features will go live, but Apple previously waited a couple of years between introducing Emergency SOS via Satellite in 2022 and Messages via Satellite with the release of iOS 18.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/ptmJo3dfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/ptmJo3d
How to stretch the clock on your lock screen in iOS 26
Apple has continued its trend of giving users more creative freedom over how their iPhones look and feel, and one of the most striking new customization options in iOS 26 is the ability to stretch the clock on your lock screen. The feature, part of Apple’s refreshed design language for iPhone software, allows the time to expand across more of the screen, giving it a bold, modern appearance. Whether you prefer the minimalist look of small numerals or the dramatic impact of an oversized clock, iOS 26 makes it easy to adjust your lock screen style to suit your taste.
This new resizing option is officially referred to as “adaptive time,” and it transforms what used to be a static lock-screen element into something that feels more fluid and responsive. By dragging a simple on-screen handle, you can expand or shrink the size of the time display, creating a distinctive visual effect that gives your lock screen a fresh new personality.
How to stretch your lock-screen clock
To access the stretch option, start by waking your iPhone and remaining on the lock screen. Instead of unlocking the device, press and hold anywhere on the display to enter customization mode. This brings up a carousel of your saved lock screens, allowing you to edit the one that’s currently active. Tap “Customize,” then choose the “Lock Screen” option to enter the editor.
Once the editing screen appears, tap directly on the clock. This will bring up the familiar font and color panel introduced in earlier versions of iOS. To make the stretch feature available, the first font option (the default and leftmost style) must be selected. It should also be set to use the Arabic Western script. After confirming these settings, tap the clock again to close the font panel.
If the wallpaper supports the feature, a small circular drag handle will appear in the lower-right corner of the clock. Touch and hold this handle, then drag it downward to stretch the clock. The digits will expand in real time as you move your finger. When you’re happy with the size, release the handle. To save your changes, tap “Done” in the top-right corner of the screen. Exiting customization mode will reveal your new, enlarged clock on the lock screen.
If the stretch feature doesn’t appear, the issue is usually related to the font or wallpaper. Some wallpapers, particularly those with subjects that fill the upper portion of the frame, limit how much the clock can expand. If the image leaves little open space, iOS hides the handle to prevent the time from overlapping key parts of the photo. Switching to a simpler or more spacious wallpaper usually resolves this.
Understanding the stretched clock feature
In previous versions of iOS, the lock-screen clock was fixed in place. Regardless of the wallpaper used, its size and position remained the same. iOS 26 changes that by introducing a resize handle that appears on the bottom-right corner of the clock once the screen is in edit mode. When this handle is dragged downward, the digits expand, allowing the time to stretch dramatically toward the center of the screen. The feature works in both directions, meaning the clock can also be shrunk back to its previous size if the stretched look is too much for you.
The stretched clock effect works best with the new Liquid Glass interface design Apple introduced in iOS 26. This approach blends the clock’s font with the background, creating a subtle depth effect where the time appears to hover over the wallpaper. However, the resizing tool is not available on every setup. It only works when specific conditions are met, including the use of the default clock font and the standard Arabic Western script. If any other font or script is selected, the stretch handle will not appear.
Troubleshooting and limitations
The stretch function in iOS 26 is a visual adjustment, not a full-scale redesign of the lock screen, and there are a few limitations to be aware of. It works only with the default clock font, and changing the typeface or script will remove the resize option entirely. Users who rely on different numeral styles or custom fonts won’t see the handle appear. Similarly, widgets can interfere with resizing if they occupy too much space beneath the clock. Removing them temporarily can make it easier to adjust the clock size.
Some users have reported that the stretch handle disappears after software updates or when certain Focus modes are active. However, restarting your iPhone or disabling those modes typically restores it. As this is a relatively new feature, Apple may still be refining how it behaves across different iPhone models and lock-screen setups.
The visual impact of the stretched clock depends largely on your wallpaper. Minimal backgrounds with clean space at the top allow the time to expand without cluttering the screen. Complex or busy images tend to reduce the effect, as the clock will automatically adjust its transparency and positioning to stay readable. The stretched design looks particularly polished on wallpapers that match Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic, where colors subtly blend through the numerals for a semi-transparent glow.
Making the most of your stretched clock
While the stretch feature is primarily cosmetic, it contributes to the broader trend of personalization across iOS. Apple’s lock-screen customization tools now include options for widgets, depth-aware wallpapers, color filters and dynamic animations, giving users more control than ever over their device’s appearance. The stretched clock fits naturally into this toolkit, offering an easy way to change the entire mood of your lock screen in seconds.
For users who prefer a bold, modern design, the larger clock size provides immediate impact and better visibility. Those who favor a more minimalist layout can keep it subtle by dragging the handle upward to restore the smaller, classic look. Whatever your preference, the process is reversible and quick, meaning you can experiment freely without losing your original layout.
Apple’s focus with iOS 26 is clearly on personalization and polish. The stretched clock may seem like a small detail, but it captures the overall philosophy behind this update, blending design flexibility with simple, intuitive gestures. With just a few taps and a short drag, your iPhone’s lock screen can transform into something uniquely yours, whether that’s a subtle enhancement or a bold statement across the display.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/5qt1MzEfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/5qt1MzE
Saturday, 8 November 2025
Halo Infinite will get its last major content update on November 18
The next major update for Halo Infinite will also be its last. Halo Studios, which is part of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios, has announced that it’s rolling out Operation: Infinite on November 18. It’s going to be the last major update for the first-person shooter, because the whole team will now be focusing on the “multiple Halo titles” under development.
Xbox previously announced that it’s releasing Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the first game in the franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved, sometime in 2026. It will be available for the Xbox, PC and PS5. According to unverified reports, Halo Studios is also working on a new multiplayer live service project similar to Fortnite.
Operation: Infinite will double the earning rate for Career Rank and Spartan Points. The final free Operation Pass will have no expiration date and will unlock three new armor sets. Upgrading to the 100-tier Premium Pass will give players the chance to unlock “five more unique armor sets, six weapon models and over 30 exclusive Spartan customizations.” The last major update will also add a new asymmetrical map for select Ranked modes.
While Operation: Infinite is the game’s last major update, Halo Infinite will still have a rotating selection of daily and weekly challenges, as well as a new slate of Ranked Seasons for those who want to keep playing it.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/ZQl6KAkfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/ZQl6KAk
Ports-a-plenty, a zen garden creator and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. This week saw the arrival of some fairly high-profile ports, a relaxing garden creation game and much more. I've even managed to tear myself away from Football Manager 26 for long enough to tell you about some of them.
Barely a week goes by without a fun theme event taking place on Steam and one that runs until November 10 is also going down on the Nintendo eShop. The Metroidvania Fusion Festival is a celebration of — what else? — the broad spectrum of Metroidvania games. It features 245 projects, including upcoming games and demos, and a sale with discounts of up to 90 percent.
I've grabbed a few demos to check out this weekend, including Key Fairy (a pacifist bullet-hell game that sees you grappling and dancing your way around enemies), Echo Weaver (a time-loop puzzler that I've mentioned before) and 2D platformer Little Ghost, in which you explore a mixed media world as a cute specter.
In terms of deals, Blasphemous is 75 percent off, Blasphemous II is half off, 2D action game Gunbrella (which I've had on my wishlist for years) is 65 percent off and body horror delight Carrion is 22 percent off. I can wholeheartedly recommend Turbo Kid, a quasi-sequel to one of my favorite films of the same name. That's 35 percent off in this sale.
Elsewhere this week, I read a solid profile of developer Lente Cuenen in the The New York Times. Cuenen is the developer of Spilled!, a relaxing waterway cleanup game I've been meaning to check out for a while. The piece is an intriguing look into the life of Cuenen, who makes games about boats while living on her boat in the Netherlands.
New releases
A couple of notable indies made the leap onto Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 this week, including 1000xResist. This narrative-driven sci-fi adventure from Sunset Visitor and publisher Fellow Traveller Games earned widespread acclaim when it debuted on Steam and Nintendo Switch last year, particularly for its storytelling, visuals and how it explores various themes. It won a Peabody Award too.
I have yet to dive into 1000xResist, even though it's been on my PC and Steam Deck for months. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players now have the chance to jump in as well. What's more, 1000xResist is on Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
A little over a year after releasing the full version of the Satisfactory on PC, Coffee Stain Studios and Coffee Stain Publishing have brought the multi-million-selling factory builder to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can play solo or with friends as you construct factories on an alien planet. You'll explore the planet to find resources and maybe even engage in a little combat.
In general, both critics and players have rated Satisfactory highly. Some might say it’s more than satisfactory.
Pools was one of my favorite games of last year. It's a disquieting walking simulator, an eerie journey through a liminal space. I could almost smell the chlorine as I explored the mazy swimming pool-inspired environments. It's more eerie than downright scary. Developer Tensori brought the experience to iPhone, iPad and Mac this week. The iPad version also works on Apple Vision Pro.
To that end, a virtual reality version of Pools is coming to PS VR2 on November 25. You'll be able to check it out in flatscreen on PS5 on the same day.
Thrasher is the latest title from Brian Gibson, the artist and composer of the intense rhythm game Thumper (and also the bassist for the noise rock band Lightning Bolt). The arcade action game debuted on Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro last year. It made the leap to Steam (and SteamVR) this week, so you can now play it on a flatscreen for the first time.
Thrasher is a very trippy-looking game from developer Puddle and publisher Creature Label. It seems like quite the wild ride and it was named Apple's Vision Pro game of the year for 2024. For what it’s worth. the team behind Thrasher says that the game runs at 90 fps on Steam Deck.
Here's a completely different change of pace. Dream Garden is all about creating a relaxing garden space for yourself. You can use hills, rivers, ponds and pebbles to shape the landscape, then add decorations. With the rake tool, you can trace patterns in the sand.
There are no limits or timers in this Japanese-inspired game from the duo at Campfire Studio. Dream Garden is out now on Steam.
The Falconeer first took flight five years ago — it was an Xbox Series X/S launch title, fact fans. A new edition for Steam called The Falconeer: Revolution Remaster is a complete rework, as solo developer Tomas Sala rebuilt the game from the ground up. It features new tech, overhauled and expanded environments, gameplay upgrades and all of the previous DLC.
I'm glad to hear that Sala has improved the flight mechanics. I found it a bit tough to get to grips with the aerial combat when I played The Falconeer back in 2020, but I enjoyed it otherwise.
The remastered version (which looks much grander in scope than the original game) is available as a free upgrade for existing owners on Steam. Everyone else can hop in for free until 1PM ET on November 10. While the remaster is now the default option, you'll still be able to access the original version of The Falconeer via a dedicated Steam branch, Hooray for game preservation!
Upcoming
It wouldn't be an edition of our weekly indie roundup without a dog game, would it? You can play Sheepherds! solo, but Ultimo Disco primarily designed it as a party game for couch co-op or online multiplayer.
It is, as the name suggests, a sheepherding game in which you'll corral flocks of sheep to shear their wool. You can earn cosmetic items and outfits for your pooch, and bump up the difficulty with optional challenges if you like. Sheepherds! is coming to Steam on November 17.
We're big fans of the Playdate around these parts and it's always fun to learn about new games that are coming to the wonderful little handheld. Panic held a showcase this week to shine a spotlight on some upcoming games, as well as others included in the fall sale that runs until November 13.
Fauna is Cadin Batrack's follow up to Playdate comics The Botanist and To Dust. It's choose-your-own-adventure visual novel with a branching narrative, this time set in a near future in which large language models have advanced to the point where humans can talk to animals. The animals use their newfound communication skills to seek equal rights. Fauna seems pretty interesting! It's coming to Playdate soon.
Zachary Snyder's Diora is a puzzle adventure that tasks you with discovering a "mysterious force that is manipulating structures and the people around them." At first glance, it reminds me a bit of Fez and the Monument Valley series. Diora will hit Playdate on December 16.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/4eFytimfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/4eFytim