Category News

During Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live hosted by Geoff Keighley, Pearl Abyss showed off the first gameplay footage for Crimson Desert since 2020. This new trailer aims to show the massive scope of this single-player open world RPG set in Pywell, featuring a mercenary who takes on jobs as he battles mythical creatures. It highlights a healthy amount of action with smooth combat, parkour and environmental climbing, horseback battles, and even some katana duels in tall grass fields that give off Ghost of Tsushima vibes.

The game’s world looks vast with its untamed natural regions, bustling cities, and all sorts of NPCs to interact with. It’s a world of cutthroat danger that the mercenary loner must survive in, and the trailer is chock full of action to show that.

In addition to hand-to-hand fights and grappling, the gameplay trailer also shows a variety of weapons such as swords and bows, crossbows and katanas. The trailer also shows the Mercenary battling monsters and other NPCs on foot, on horseback, and by air in hot-air balloons.

Aside from combat, the trailer also showcases fishing, petting cats and dogs, stealing horse cars, rescuing citizens, flying on a hot air balloon, and even scaling walls as the character jumps off floating islands that seem to be inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

As for the combat, the trailer demonstrates both close-ranged attacks with swords and ranged fights with crossbows and katanas in tall grass fields. There are some incredibly large enemies that the player must climb in order to defeat, giving off Shadow of the Colossus vibes. And then there’s the aforementioned horseback battles against crowds of enemy soldiers, as well as a couple of epic boss fights in city streets.

It’s a lot of stuff to pack into a three-and-a-half minute trailer, but the video shows off just about everything you’ll want from this high-octane action RPG. It’s an amalgam of Assassin’s Creed and Devil May Cry with fluid combat, a world that’s over-the-top in a very video game sort of way, and even a bit of horse drifting that seems to be inspired by racing sims such as Forza Horizon or the 2022 indie racer Knightfall: A Daring Journey.

Crimson Desert is due to release in 2024 on PC and PlayStation 5, as well as the Xbox One X and PS4 Series X. For more information, check out the official website.

If you’re interested in other upcoming video games, Granblue Fantasy: Relink was also showcased during Gamescom and will launch in 2024 on PS5, PS4, PC, and Xbox One. The Victorian-themed survival title will include a story mode, multiplayer, and more. It will be available on Steam Early Access and in physical release on February 22, 2024. You can watch the trailer for that here. And don’t forget about the 2024 zombie survival shooter The Darkened Sea that recently unveiled a first look trailer at Gamescom. For more on upcoming releases, read our Gamescom schedule guide.

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is a great console with an impressive library of exclusive games that only it offers. It also happens to be one of the most exciting times in recent years to be a PlayStation owner, with new games hitting shelves on a regular basis. The 2023 lineup looks strong with plenty of must-play titles that should keep you busy and having fun for a long time to come.

The first big name to hit the PS5 is a remake of System Shock, which will make its way to the platform this year with improved graphics and performance. This is a must-play for anyone who loved the original and wants to see what the new generation can do with this beloved franchise.

Another high-profile release is a sequel to 2015’s twin stick shooter Helldivers. This upcoming next-gen sci-fi action game takes place 250 years after the first and is set to put you in charge of protecting Super Earth from ongoing threats. The trailer from the Future Games Show this month shows off some stunning graphics and a high-octane mix of shooter action, but it’s what we don’t know that is really exciting about this title.

In a surprise announcement at the February 2023 State of Play, Larian Studios revealed that Baldur’s Gate 3 would be making its way to PS5. After being in early access for a while on PC, this will be the first time the classic RPG has been released on a PlayStation console. It’s sure to look stunning on the new console and be a great way to test out its impressive 4K visuals and DualSense controller capabilities.

If you’re looking for something with a more open-world feel, Horizon Forbidden West is another must-play. This engrossing Western adventure is one of the most satisfying experiences on the PS5 so far, with an incredible level of depth and engaging gameplay. The world is full of top-tier character and creature design, a captivating open world to explore, and a gripping narrative at its core.

For racing fans, Motorfest is another upcoming title that’s looking to showcase the power of the PlayStation 5. This deluxe update to the popular arcade racer will take you on a fast-paced trip across an amazing scaled-down version of Hawaii in some of the fastest cars ever built. You’ll be able to tear around this beautiful island alone or with friends in online multiplayer, and you’ll get to take advantage of the PS5’s impressive HDR graphics and optional 4K display modes.

In addition to these blockbuster releases, there are several other exciting games coming to the PS5. For example, Astro’s Playroom is a free-to-play title that was designed to showcase the graphical and audio capabilities of the console. This delightful experience celebrates the many eras of PlayStation and is a must-play for any PS5 owner. With its solid platforming, environmental puzzles, and a set of adorably whimsical collectibles to find, this is an excellent reason to pick up the latest PS5.

Apple is sending out emails to users letting them know that the company’s My Photo Stream will shut down on July 26. The company is replacing the service with iCloud Photos, which provides a full-featured cloud-based photo syncing service.

My Photo Stream was a free service that allowed iPhone and iPad owners to view images taken on one device on other devices. The images were streamed to other iPhones, iPads or Macs, and didn’t use any of the user’s iCloud storage space. The photos were available for 30 days, and then they were automatically deleted from the My Photo Stream. Apple has replaced the service with iCloud Photos, which is a better solution for people who want to share images across all their Apple devices.

The new iCloud Photos will sync all the files that have been captured by the camera on any device, and the backed-up files can be accessed from any iOS or OS X device. Users can also download the original versions of all their images from iCloud Photos to any of their devices. Apple is offering 5GB of free iCloud storage with the service, but most will need to pay for at least the 50GB iCloud tier to get enough room to store all their photos and videos.

There are several ways to save any of the photos stored in a person’s My Photo Stream, which will be removed from iCloud Photos. The first step is to ensure that the iCloud Photos service is turned on on all of the devices where the pictures are stored. Next, users need to ensure that the My Photo Stream album on each device is set to keep the latest version of any uploaded files. This can be done by touching the image or video and selecting ‘Save Image’ (iPhone/iPad) or Command-clicking the image or video in the My Photo Stream album on a Mac, and then dragging it to the Library album in iCloud Photos.

If users aren’t sure whether or not they need to download the original versions of any iCloud Photos images, they can go to the Apple website and check their iCloud storage details. If they have a lot of images that they need to save, they can opt for the 99 cents a month iCloud+ offering or the $2.99 iCloud storage option for 200GB.

Once users have iCloud Photos set up on all their Apple devices, they can start sharing images and videos by using the Files app, AirDrop or email. They can also save any of the photos or videos in the My Photo Stream album on each device, and then move them to the Library on iCloud Photos to keep them in the long run. If a person wants to access any of these photos on their computer, they can just drag the files from the My Photo Stream folder in the iCloud Photos app into the Library folder on their Windows PC.

The Nintendo Switch has had an incredible run since its launch. The hybrid console has carved out a unique niche in the gaming world thanks to its quirky design, diverse game library, and uncharacteristically strong third-party support. It’s no surprise that the Switch is poised to become Nintendo’s best-selling console ever, with over seven million units already sold as of this writing. And 2023 is a big year for the Nintendo Switch, with new games and major sequels arriving across multiple genres. From a 2D Super Mario RPG to a cozy life sim that offers multiplayer, we’ve rounded up the upcoming Switch releases you can’t miss this year.

While the majority of these titles have 100% confirmed release dates, a few are still in the early stages of development and could end up with slightly different release windows or even skip the Switch entirely to land on Nintendo’s next-gen console. We’ve categorized these games as either launching in 2023 or possibly releasing in the second half of the year.

Taking advantage of the Switch’s touchscreen, Super Mario Party will give players the opportunity to team up with friends as they take on classic Mario levels in a brand-new way. You’ll be able to choose between Mario, Bowser, Princess Peach, or two original characters named Mallow and Geno as you team up to take on the Smithy Gang.

This 2D Mario RPG gets a graphics upgrade from the SNES and lets you control Mari, Bowser, Princess Peach, and Mallow as you take on The Smithy Gang and rescue the Star Road. With a surprisingly robust gameplay system that includes everything from reality-bending flowers to elephant power-ups, this is one of the most anticipated SNES-era titles to hit the Switch.

Though it’s been out on other platforms, the Switch version of Hogwarts Legacy is a bit later than the others, as developers work to optimize for the console’s lower power output. Despite this delay, fans can still look forward to carve out their own unique story at Hogwarts and figure out what’s behind the goblin uprising.

The Switch is no stranger to ports from other consoles, and this month brings us a port of the Wii U’s Kirby Return To Dreamland Deluxe. This upgraded remake of the original game allows you to play as Kirby, Bandana Dee, Meta Knight, and King Dedede in this silly platformer where they fight to get a friend back home.

In 2023, the Switch gets another new first-party title in the form of a new Super Mario RPG. A spiritual successor to the original Super Mario RPG, this new entry sees you controlling a team of heroes as you battle enemies and conquer dungeons. It features a deep and expansive fantasy world, turn-based combat, and plenty of character customization options.

Shockbyte is a leading Minecraft server hosting provider offering optimized solutions for gamers. Their robust infrastructure, user-friendly control panel, and excellent customer support help users easily create a customized gaming experience. They offer a variety of plans that fit different budgets and gaming needs. In addition, Shockbyte’s global data centers and DDoS protection measures ensure high performance and uptime.

Known for their friendly and knowledgeable staff, Shockbyte’s customer support team is available around-the-clock to assist with any issues or inquiries. They can be contacted via live chat, support tickets, and community forums. Live chat allows for immediate real-time assistance, while support tickets and community forums provide a structured and organized method for users to communicate their requests. Shockbyte’s comprehensive knowledge base provides users with helpful articles and tutorials that can help them troubleshoot common problems and learn how to maximize their gaming experience.

When selecting a Minecraft host, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your community and expected player count. Shockbyte offers a variety of Minecraft hosting packages to suit varying requirements, ranging from small to large communities. In addition, their affordable pricing makes them a popular choice among gamers. Some of the features that make Shockbyte a top-rated Minecraft host include automatic backups, scalable servers, and 24/7 customer support.

While many hosting providers offer Minecraft servers, few have the expertise to provide a reliable gaming experience. Shockbyte’s specialized expertise and extensive support resources enable them to deliver high performance and uptime with minimal lag and disruptions. Additionally, their affordable prices make them a great option for gamers who are looking to create a Minecraft server without breaking the bank.

Shockbyte’s high-performance servers feature powerful hardware and advanced network architecture. They utilize solid-state drives, high-end processors, and ample RAM to ensure fast loading times and responsive gameplay. Their global data centers and DDoS protection measures further enhance performance by reducing lag and ensuring high uptime.

In addition to their exemplary customer service, Shockbyte also offers an extensive knowledge base and extensive game guides that can help gamers troubleshoot and optimize their server’s performance. They also provide detailed information on how to install mods and plugins, monitor game logs, and manage resource usage. This extensive support library is an invaluable resource for gamers who are new to the platform and need a little extra guidance with their setup.

While it’s important to assess a host’s customer support, it is also essential to look at their reputation and user reviews. The reliability of Shockbyte’s services is reflected in the positive feedback and reputation they have built up within the community. Their dedicated technical support team is always on-hand to assist with any questions or issues, allowing players to focus on enjoying the game. Their knowledgebase and community forums provide a wealth of information to help gamers navigate the platform, regardless of their level of experience.

The AMD Ryzen 7000 Pro CPU takes aim at Apple?s M2 Pro but fails to impress

The AMD Ryzen 7000 Pro CPU has just been launched, and in order to show off the capabilities of this new processor, AMD took it to big names within the industry. They pitted the processor against an Apple M2 Pro and an Intel i7-1370P, and compared them across various areas including performance, battery life, and more. While the result did prove to be impressive for this new processor, it did not meet some of the needs that experts had within their testing.

This processor is the latest chip from AMD that is based on the Zen 4 architecture, which has seen a significant improvement over previous generations in both single and multi-threaded tasks, whilst also offering a more power-efficient platform than its competitors. The CPUs have been split into two different ranges, with the Phoenix range designed for mobile devices such as laptops and tablet computers, and the Raphel range aimed at desktop PCs.

The processors within the Phoenix range have been trimmed down, with the core counts being cut and clock speeds reduced, which should help to keep the processors cooler and more energy-conservative. This should mean that the chips will find their way into lightweight, productivity-oriented laptops and tablets. The laptops that will feature these processors are expected to come from the major manufacturers, such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo, as well as a selection of challenger brands like Acer, ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte.

These processors are the same as other Pro-range products from AMD, and as such they will be available with integrated Radeon RDNA 3 graphics and support for the AI instructions that are based on the AVX512 standard. The chips are also supported by a suite of tools that can be used to optimize and monitor performance, which should help to make this the perfect choice for professionals on the move who need a laptop that can handle a variety of different workloads.

AMD also announced the Ryzen 7000 Pro desktop processors, which will be available to build into high-performance desktop systems from the start of September. The processors are divided into HS and U models, with the HS versions offering “leadership performance” and the U variants with “uncompromised capability.” The processors will be available with either 8 or 16 CPU cores and have a TDP of 35-54W.

The desktop variants will be compatible with all existing AM5 motherboards and will support dual-channel DDR5 memory up to 64GB. The chips will also be compatible with AMD’s EXPO overclocking software, which should make it easier for both complete beginners and veteran overclockers to increase the frequency of their CPUs. The Ryzen 7000 series will support PCIe 5.0, which should mean that PC builders will be able to add faster SSDs and video cards to their builds without needing to upgrade the motherboards. AMD will be releasing X670 and X670E motherboards to accompany the launch of these new processors.

In the face of massive technological shifts, including cloud, AI, security and hybrid work, Cisco customers need a partner they can trust. That’s why Cisco’s long history of transformation and guiding customers through tech inflection points provides a distinct advantage.

The company has been able to deliver security solutions that span on-premises, multiple clouds and edge security experiences. And it has been able to help customers navigate the complexities of the evolving threat landscape, even with massive data center investments.

But Cisco’s security business still faces a number of challenges, according to Kerravala. Kerravala says it needs to improve the integration of its security products, making them more user-friendly and easier to use. It also needs to focus on broader market opportunities, such as the security-as-a-service opportunity and unified observability.

At Cisco Live, the company is expected to introduce new offerings to address these concerns. In particular, it is likely to expand its Integrated Security Platform (ISP), which brings together threat and risk-based vulnerability management and security policy management. The company is also expanding its portfolio to include generative AI-powered security and hybrid workspace capabilities.

These innovations build upon Cisco’s strong base in networking and its ability to provide the foundation for hybrid work. Cisco’s deep partnerships with other companies, including Salesforce and Adobe, help to create secure and seamless experiences across the digital workplace.

As part of this effort, the company has acquired a number of innovative technology companies. For example, it has bought Kenna Security, which helps IT and security teams collaborate to reduce risks. It has also acquired Armorblox Inc., which uses artificial intelligence to reduce email attacks. And it has invested in a number of start-ups, such as Graphix, which makes high-performance solid state memory systems.

Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s executive vice president of cloud and security, has been instrumental in driving these initiatives. She has built a world class team of engineers, enabling the company to deliver a broad portfolio of cloud-delivered security and performance solutions. And she has helped transform the way Cisco delivers its subscription services to its customers, with a vision of helping them overcome business and technical challenges so they can succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Despite the challenges, Patel believes that the industry has made great progress in the past year and is continuing to make headway in the fight against threats. She is looking forward to seeing continued momentum at Cisco Live and in the coming months.

Fed up of being nagged to upgrade to Windows 11? We’ve got bad news.

Last year, Microsoft reworked its flagship OS with a revamped design and new features. It was a major update, even if some of the changes were polarizing. The software giant hasn’t stopped asking users to upgrade, and if you don’t want to keep getting those notifications, the solution is simple: just disable them.

That might not be the most permanent fix, though. The problem with disabling those reminders is that it will also turn off your access to the latest updates and patches. Without those, your computer won’t be secure, so you could end up exposing yourself to some pretty serious risks.

In a worst-case scenario, an attack like this could expose your personal information to hackers and other unscrupulous actors. That’s why it’s important to do whatever you can to keep your PC up-to-date.

If you haven’t already, you should start by taking a look at your system requirements to see if you can run Windows 11. It’s not as restrictive as you might think, but it does require an Intel 8th-gen or later CPU, a motherboard that supports UEFI secure boot and TPM 2.0, and 4GB of RAM.

You might be able to get away with running Windows 11 on a computer that doesn’t meet those specs, but you’ll probably run into some compatibility issues that can make the experience a little bit more frustrating than it needs to be. If you have a lot of specialized tools, hardware or applications that you use for work or play, you might be better off waiting to upgrade until it’s been proven that they will run on the latest version of the OS.

Ultimately, it all comes down to how you use your PC. If you have a relatively modern PC, it’s probably worth upgrading to Windows 11 so that you can enjoy its new features and improved performance. However, if you’re using an older PC that has a specific set of applications or features that you depend on, it might be more worthwhile to wait for the next major update, which is likely to be a major overhaul of Windows that’s more in line with the current design principles of iOS and Android.

Mark Hachman is PCWorld’s senior editor, and he focuses on Microsoft news and chip technology, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK and ReadWrite. He lives in Seattle, WA. Follow him on Twitter @MarkHachmanPCWorld. 2022 PCWorld Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Terms of Use. PCWorld is an independent, non-advertising reprint publisher of tech news and advice for consumers. Founded in 1995, PCWorld is the leading provider of technology reviews and comparisons for desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices. Our expert editorial team is comprised of real journalists who write about the products and services that matter to our readers. For more, visit our About Us page.

Apple recently announced that it is developing the latest version of its popular operating system, ios 17. As the anticipation for this update builds, news about it has been making rounds and rumors have started to surface.

In this article, we will discuss the latest news and rumors as well as everything we know so far about ios 17. The first major change that users will notice in ios 17 is the redesigned home screen layout which features several newly designed widgets including music widgets and interactive weather snapshots along with a new 3d touch feature that provides access to more information with just a single press of your finger.

Additionally, apple has also added a «dark mode» to the os which changes colors depending on what apps you are using and can be adjusted for different times of day or night. In terms of performance enhancements, apple has stated that ios 17 will boast significant improvements in device speed, battery life, and overall user experience.

The company also claims that built-in apps like safari and mail will see noticeable performance boosts thanks to various optimizations being made in the background. One major feature expected in ios 17 is support for 5g network speeds.

This feature was previously slated for 2020 but could potentially arrive as early as this year if apple meets all its goals on schedule.