The Nintendo Switch single handily revived and revolutionized portable consoles upon its release in 2017. The console was immensely popular and thanks to its ease of use, compatibility and multifunctionality very successful. Somehow Sony was still recovering from its PSVita disaster and had enough of portable consoles making the Steam Deck in 2022 the first real competitor in the space. And even then calling it a competitor is not quite fair either as it has a completely different use case. Anyway, the portable game console market really started to take off with many manufacturers building similar devices. The true original didn’t change much apart from an OLED version released somewhere in between. This is now set to change though!

Lots of fuzz around the release date

According to some leaked sources the new Switch could potentially launch sometime next month (October 2024). Some even say that the mass production of the console is already fully ready and running. Other say it will not happen this year and we can count on a release later in 2025. I personally think that we can expect a release in early 2025. A release this year seems rather unlikely although Nintento could also try to time the Christmas sales. It will remain of course unknown until Nintendo releases an official note.

What changes?

How does it look? What are the changes? These are all questions that we get increasingly more answers to with all of the leaks currently coming through. Regarding the looks there have been some leaked images that could very well be the actual design. Compared to its predecessor the new switch could come with a cleaner more sharp cornered style. The generall layout should stay the same though. According to multiple sources the joycons on the new switch will attach magnetically and feature one extra button each.

Battery life and performance are still unknown although some leaks hinted at the specifiactions of the device. One pictures shows what seems to be a rather small battery compartment in a Switch 2 prototype having some worried the battery life would be lacking behind but we don’t have any confirmed battery size ratings yet.

A leak of the hardware specifications notes the SOC as the model: GMLX30-R-A1 which could hint at another Nvidia Tegra chip in the handheld. This will be paired with 12GB of RAM and apparently 265GB of storage. We will have to wait for more leaks or official information to know for sure though and even then there could be different storage/performance tiers. Furthermore the leaks hint at a dual fan setup to cool the chip.

Switch 2 – the refresh we waited for?

The hard truth is we still don’t know the exact release dates and specs but the leaks hint at a quite promising handheld console that could bring fresh air into the increasingly PC only market. The buffed up cooling and new NVIDIA chip also hint at a big increase in performance although that will be only useful when there are enough good games released that will take advantage of the extra increase.

Whether the Switch 2 will be released next month or in a year, fans can be excited for an interesting release of the successor to one of the most successful handheld consoles of recent years.

From 04.09.2024 until 09.09.2024 (10am PT) the popular game distribution platform Steam is once again blessing all PC gamers with some really nice discounts on space themed games. Lets have a look through some of the most interesting ones from the bunch to help you decide which might be worth your hard earned money.

Universe Sandbox 19.42€ (-33%) – Play around with the Solar System

Searching for a fun physics simulator? Look no further. Universe Sandbox is a full on Sandbox game where you can tweak and change any parameters of the environment and the planets, suns, black holes, comets and more. You can spawn and create any astronomical object that comes to your mind and let them collide and interact with each other. Furthermore you can actually learn quite a few things about orbital mechanics from this game.

SpaceEngine 20.29€ (-30%) – The entire Universe on your Harddrive

SpaceEngine while in some parts similar to Universe Sandbox offers a much more open world approach. You can understand Universe Sandbox as a physics simulation while SpaceEngine doesn’t as such allow collisions and focuses more on the scientifically accurate 3D star map of the known universe. Another aspect that differentiates the two are the graphics. SpaceEngine is incredibly beautiful to look at with much more nuanced texture details.

No Man’s Sky 23.59€ (-60%) – Classic Universe exploration game

To be fair, the above two games are more simulations than games. But no worries, while No Mans Sky plays in a fictional Universe it still offers a vast space to explore. Because the game has a unique engine that generates planets and their ecosystems as you proceed there is effectively no way that you will ever run out of parts of the universe to discover. No Mans Sky is focused on discovery, survival and crafting allowing players to choose their own path through the universe.

Everspace 2 19.99€ (-60%) – Spaceship RPG shooter

Everspace 2 is a single-player space shooter that blends acction with RPG elects like looting, crafting and mining. You are the pilot of a spaceship that battles outlaws while exploring different regions of space. As the story progresses you upgrade you ship and encounter more difficult enemys. Aside from the good gameplay the graphics are also really good. You can read our more in depth test of this game here.

Spaceflight Simulator 5.99€ (-50%) – simple 2D spaceflight physics sim

Spaceflight Simulator is graphically very simple 2D game that allows you to build your own rockets and launch them to the stars. It can be seen as the two dimensional brother of KSP. But don’t underestimate the quite accurate physics engine behind the simple textures. With its Map view this game teaches the basics of orbital dynamics and rocket physics quite well and allows for a simple entry in simulation games. You can read our more detailed review of the game here. Should you struggle with some of the Moon missions check out our guide here.

Bonus: Kerbal Space Program 9.99€ (-70%) – Ultimate Spaceflight Game

Even though KSP is now quite old and already has a successor i still recommend this classic over the new KSP 2 where the development seems to have stopped. KSP is a classic all in one Spaceflight Simulation Game in which you can build your own rocket from a huge selection of rocket parts and steer it through the solar system to the planets. While this game might look childish, it packs quite a punch when it comes to the level of realism and with it the level of complexity to pull off a successful moon landing. Above all it is also heavily modable with a huge community developing mods for it. Check out our detailed guide on how to do this here.

Bodycam is a brand new first-person shooter game that has been released on the 7th June. Since its release it has taken the Steam world by storm with over 16k online players. This ultra-realistic title which runs on Unreal Engine 5 puts players in the perspective of law enforcement officers on a mission. And while the photorealistic graphics of the game are stunning good they are also sparking debates about ethics and the portrayal/interaction with violence.

Blurring lines between real and game world

If you haven’t seen footage of the game let me summarize it like this: sometimes real life has worse graphics. Jokes aside the realism this game provides comes close to the early UE5 Unrecord game teasers we have seen one year ago. And while Unrecord has not been released yet Bodycam is right now available on Steam for everyone to download. Similar to the idea of Unrecord the players navigate tense situations, need to make fast decisions and utilize really good tactics. As the name implies the perspective of the game is from a bodycam, a growing technology in actual law enforcement, situated on the shoulder of a police officer. While this whole experience is incredibly immersive and may early reviews praise the game for it there are also other voices questioning if game can not be too real. The ever old discussions if the violence in video games can be differentiated enough from real life (especially from younger players) rises to new levels when the game increasingly looks like the reality.

Morality and use of Force

The in-game scenarios place players in morally difficult situations. When to use force? How to de-escalate tense encounters? These are complex decisions real police officers face daily. Critics argue that games like Bodycam simplify these ambiguous situations, potentially giving players a wrong perception of police work and the appliance of force. In the end nobody knows if people even want their video games to be so realistic or if a bit of distance to the real life might be desirable…

Round up

Despite the controversial takes on this new game it is safe to say that from a graphics standpoint this truly is the future of photorealistic games. An while the game is currently still more of a playable tech demo of Unreal Engine 5 it shows what is possible with these new technologies. Additionally it should also be noted that this game is made by two very young developers (17 and 20). Big respect to them for creating such a innovative and interesting technology demo. It will be truly fascinating what kind of realism levels UE5 will be able to accomplish.

Get Bodycam here:

This article is not advertisement for Bodycam and neither are these links affiliate links.

This years Computex, a leading tech show in Taipeh (Taiwan), has been dominated by one clear topic: AI. Anyone has now heard of ChatGPT but this simple to use AI chat bot might just be the start. Looking at the offerings from the PC industry one might realize that this wave is going to hit earlier than expected.

A new era of the PC: AI PCs

The future of the PC will be an ultimate AI PC that acts a copilot to everything you do on it. This at least is the vision of the coming year that many tech companies believe in. Acer for example unveiled their latest laptops boasting built-in AI capabilities. These AI PCs promise to revolutionize how we work by anticipating user needs and learning from past behavior to improve work flow, efficiency and our interactions with PCs. AI assistants could manage background tasks, adjust settings for better battery life or even predict what files you’ll need next.

Combine this with features like Microsofts Recall and we are getting increasingly close to the future of the personal computer that is so personal it might as well be a human inside you device.

Powering this AI future

Chipmakers like Intel and AMD are also unveiling next-generation processors specifically designed for AI applications. After Qualcomm Snapdragon took on the PC world the non-ARM manufacturers now need to compete with the new Player. These new processors come with significant performance boosts and maybe even more important improved power efficiency gains. Apart from the CPU and GPU performance the NPU, the neural processing unit, is getting increasing attention. These processors are optimized for AI models and act as AI accelerators for locally running models rather than cloud computing.

Back to the Real World

The AI hype is undeniable and with an increasingly inflating AI bubble the question remains how many of all these buzz words are actually here to stay and revolutionize the way we interact with devices and the world. The theoretical possibilities are seemingly endless.

Computex 2024 paints a clear picture: AI is no longer science fiction and here to stay to fundamentally the importance of technology and our interaction with it. In the end, time will show how much of this enormous AI wave is going to reach the shore.

Looking at this website it is not going to be a surprise when i tell you that we like the neon design of Retrowave/Synthwave themed elements. Should you think the same then i have great news for you! A new update to the popular racing game Forza Horizon 5 now brings a classical and flashy stereotypical element of the Retrowave design to the Forza Highway.

New Cars

On 17th May Playground games released the specially designed highway part together with six new cars in a Forza Horizon 5 Update. Two of these are available through the newly started series. With 80 points you get the Hyundai N Vision, a Korean hydrogen/electric powered sports car that takes generally design elements from the original DeLorean DMC12. It fits perfectly into a retrowave 80s themed release. For double the points you can get the DeLoreain DMC itself through the Forza Horizon Playlist challenges.

Apart from these two you can also get the new Lamborghini Countach, a classic 80s car rebooted to today design standards, the BMW M635, the Lotus Esprit Turbo and the Citroen BX 4TC.

New location

The area around the street racing festival has been modified with neon lights on everything to look like the neo futuristic synth utopias you can find on many digital art pieces. Driving through the light tunnel installed on the highway looks great and is real fun. Thanks to Forzas amazing lighting and ray tracing engines this whole installation looks awesome at night and blends well with Forzas rather realistic graphics approach.

To enjoy all the neon the night cycles are also longer. You also get the classical retrowave sun in form of a drone show above the highway. Furthermore the radio stations have also been updated and now sync fitting music to the neon lighting while you drive through them. All in all a very well made and fun experience that blasts you back into the past.

The popular company behind the big video game distribution platform Steam is apparently very far into the development of a new game. Valve is known for taking their time to perfect a game has not yet made a statement or announcement regarding the existence of it. As its often the case, the first information came trickling in via leaks of testing video game footage.

Deadlock trademark application

While there have been some early rumors about a game called Neon Prime the US Patent and Trademark office now has a recent application for the name Deadlock to be registered as a trademark for Valve. The earlier application has now been discarded making it quite sure for the game to have the name “Deadlock”. As there has been no statement though we can only wait till the official release.

Leaks over Leaks

While there have been rumors for many weeks the most substantial leak comes in the form of real gameplay footage from two weeks ago. Probably from a closed beta tester, the video shows Deadlocks tutorial/training mode with many different heroes and playable characters in action.

What kind of game is it?

Judging from the leaks, Deadlock appears to be a combination of a hero shooter similar to overwatch combined with other elements from classical Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games. A blending of genres is something that Valve is well known for. The success of the Portal games came from its unique combination of puzzle, “shooter” and story all in one.

Overall it seems like Deadlock is a fast-paced, strategic shooter with unique characters and potentially many different elements mashed together in one fun game.

Release date

The release date rumor kitchen is already cooking heavily and while there are many different opinions on when the new game could be released the upcoming summer game fest on 7th June is often one of the top guesses. With the recent leak of video game footage and whole sequences of game play it is very likely that the game is already in a bigger testing phase and therefore closer to the launch than one might think. The summer game fest in 4 days would be the perfect opportunity to announce the game to the public.

Early NPCs: Simple and Predictable

In the early days of gaming, NPCs were basic and predictable. They followed pre written scripts, offering very limited interaction and often repeating the same lines or actions. These NPCs served their purpose in driving the narrative, story or providing challenges, but their lack of complexity and therefore reality would always remind you that this in fact is nothing more than a computer simply repeating what it has been sad to do.

The AI Revolution

Advancements in AI have already significantly changed how NPCs are designed and how they interact with players. Even more modern AI techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, enable NPCs to exhibit more complex behaviors, react to player actions in real-time, and to participate in more meaningful interactions.

AI Techniques in NPC Development

Machine Learning

Machine learning allows NPCs to learn from player behavior and adapt over time. For example, in complex strategy games, NPC opponents can analyze a player’s tactics and adjust their strategies to provide a more challenging and unpredictable experience. This dynamic adaptability makes games far more engaging and was earlier solved by simply randomizing behavior or for example simply playing different voice lines.

Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing (NLP) has the potential to revolutionize how NPCs communicate with players. Advanced NLP models would enable NPCs to understand and respond to natural language queries, making conversations with them feel more organic and less scripted. Games like “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” have used NLP to create mods where NPCs can understand and respond to player voice commands, adding a new layer of immersion. It is sad that GTA 6 could also feature a similar system.

Human-Like Behaviors in NPCs

Emotional Intelligence

One of the key aspects of making NPCs more human-like is emotional intelligence. AI algorithms can simulate emotions, allowing NPCs to express a range of feelings. These emotional responses can be triggered by player actions or in game events, creating deeper connections and making interactions more impactful.

Social Interactions

AI enables NPCs to engage in complex social interactions. They can form relationships, hold grudges, build alliances, and even gossip about the player or other NPCs. This level of social complexity adds depth to the game world, making it feel more alive and responsive to the player’s presence.

Immersion and Engagement

Human-like NPCs enhance immersion by making the game world feel more authentic. When NPCs react realistically to the player’s actions and display believable emotions, players are more likely to become emotionally invested in the game. This added engagement can lead to more memorable and impactful gaming experiences but doesn’t come without worries.

The advancements also raise ethical and moral questions. As NPCs become more human-like, developers must consider the implications of player interactions with these characters. Combine this with a VR headset and we are dangerously close to a story coming straight from a dystopian movie where the line between real human and AI NPC becomes increasingly blurred.

Conclusion

The role of AI in gaming, particularly in the development of human like NPCs, represents a significant leap forward in creating immersive and engaging game worlds. By using advanced AI techniques, developers can craft NPCs that not only enhance gameplay but also enrich the player’s emotional and social experience which would take the term video game to a whole other level. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect NPCs to become even more sophisticated. Looking at the recent GPT4-o demo from OpenAi it is easy to imagine how good an AI this capable could deal with a player interaction.

With PC hardware prices reaching normal levels again after the brutal chip shortage from 2 years ago it didn’t quite make sense to buy a state of the art Sony console, namely the PS5. Even Linus Tech Tips recently showed that there is, at least for the tech savvy people, a cheaper and (depending on the use case) a more performant way: building a PC!

But as everyone knows the market does evolve quite fast in the consumer electronics world and it is absolutely no surprise that Sony is already coming up with a follow up.

When is this new console going to be released?

In regular Sony fashion the PS5 should get a follow up after 3 to 4 years. Looking back at the PS4 which was released in November 2013 and its successor, the PS4 Pro which was released in 2016, it is now time due for the PS5.

Several leaks point to a release of the Pro version in late 2024. With Sonys tradition of releases around the month November you can expect the 5 Pro to follow this pattern.

What is going to change?

Judging of leaks from Sonys developer portal the PS5 Pro is expected to offer more than triple the performance of its predecesor. In numbers this means that instead of a raw GPU power of 10,23 Teraflops the new RDNA-3-GPU should put out 18 Teraflops. The theoretical maximum of Dual Issue RDNA 3 should be even above 36 Teraflops.

This is achieved by equipping the AMD manufactured chip with more than 30 separate work group processors rather than the 18 from the PS5. Moreover it also features a slightly higher frequency of 2,35 GHz compared to 2,23 GHz.

All in all it is expected to perform 45% better than the normal PS5.

What are the benefits of the performance improvements?

Since many games rely on upscaling to run smoothly on the current console, the PS5 Pro could help further satisfy this hunger for power. In a dynamic and so rapidly changing market it is also always a good idea as a manufacturer to future proof your hardware. In the best case the power improvements will bring some games closer to rendering at 4k 60fps. There are also rumors of a special AI upscaling technology that Sony is working on to deliver an unparalleled smooth gaming experience.

Really a PC Killer?

With a beefy upgrade to its performance the question if the PS5 Pro could be a PC Killer is now only dependent on its price point. Looking at the PS5 the minimum you can expect is around 499$ or 550 Euro. We will see what Sony comes up with but if the prices stay at a PS5 level the PS5 Pro could once again retake the price to performance crown from the PC!

Counter-Strike fans, are you ready for some big news? There is a strong possibility that Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), the long-awaited sequel to the legendary first-person shooter, will be released tomorrow, on September 27, 2023. This is not a joke. There is some solid evidence that supports this theory, and we are here to share it with you. In this blog post, we will tell you why we think CS2 is coming next week, and what you can expect from the game.

Update 20.45 UTC: CS2 just got released. Restart your Steam client and update CSGO to play!

Update 20.15 UTC: All CSGO servers as well as the matchmaking server infrastructure is currently down. It is likely that Valve updates these currently. Due to this, the current ESL Pro League Match also needs to play on local servers resulting in no weapon skins and no M4A1 for CT.

Update 18.50 UTC: We still have no confirmation but with the recent activity on the CS2 X account and a few speculations based on the past launches of Valve games, CS2 or a Open beta of it could be released around 21.00 UTC!

What points to a CS2 release tomorrow?

Posts on X/Twitter

There are multiple small signs showing that a release on 27.09.2023 is very likely. The main reason coming from the original source itself is a cryptic post from the CS2 account on the platform X (formerly Twitter):

What are you doing next Wednesday?

— CS2 (@CounterStrike) September 20, 2023

With this post, Valve the company behind the Counter Strike genre, is probably teasing something quite big for coming Wednesday and lets be honest what else than the official release of the follow up to one of the most well known E-Sport titles could it be. They also shared a video of the CS:GO logo being painted over by the CS2 logo.

Update 18.45 UTC: Valve also updated the banner on their CS2 X account. It now displays “Dawn of a new Day” implying that something big is going to change today!

Twitch Update

But that’s not all. There are other clues that point to the same conclusion. For example, Twitch has removed CSGO from its library of games and replaced it with a new category called Counter-Strike. This category includes both CSGO and the CS2 limited test, which is a beta version of CS2 that some players have access to. Twitch also shared a video on X showing the same logo transition as Valve’s tweet. This suggests that Twitch is preparing for the launch of CS2 and that CSGO will be replaced by CS2 soon.

Data miners

Another piece of evidence comes from data miners who have found more codes related to CSGO hidden inside the latest Dota 2 update. Dota 2 is another game by Valve that uses the Source 2 engine, which is the same engine that CS2 will use. The data miners found codes that refer to maps, weapons, skins, and gameplay mechanics of CS2. These codes indicate that Valve is testing some features of CS2 in Dota 2.

In the end all these clues point to the same direction: Counter-Strike 2 is coming on September 27, 2023.

What can we expect from Counter-Strike 2?

We already did a first look review of the CS2 beta on here but lets summarize the most important features shortly:

• Source 2 engine: CS2 will use Valve’s latest game engine, Source 2, which offers better graphics, performance, physics, sound, and modding capabilities.
• Sub-tick updates: CS2 will introduce a new technology called sub-tick updates, which will make the game more responsive and accurate. Sub-tick updates will let servers know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a grenade is thrown.
• Smoke grenades: CS2 will overhaul smoke grenades with volumetric smoke technology, which will create realistic and dynamic smoke effects. Smoke grenades will also have different properties depending on their type and location.
• Maps: CS2 will feature revamped maps that will take advantage of Source 2’s capabilities. Some maps will be unchanged or slightly tweaked (such as Dust II), some maps will be upgraded or overhauled (such as Overpass or Mirage), and some maps will be entirely new (such as Inferno or Cache).
• Furthermore Audio and UI will get a reworked and refreshed look.

How can I play CS2?

After the release Counter Strike 2 will be available on the Steam store. The same as CSGO it is expected to be free and available to everyone. However, it should be noted that with better graphics quality comes the need for a more powerful graphics card.

Conclusion

Counter-Strike 2 is the most exciting thing to happen to the Valve game lineup in years. It is a massive upgrade that will bring new life and innovation to the classic shooter. It is also a game that fans have been waiting for a long time, and it might be closer than we think. Based on the evidence that we have gathered, we believe that Counter-Strike 2 will be released on September 27, 2023. We can’t wait to see what Valve has in store for us with this game!

Get the original CSGO:

Assassins Creed 2 was first released in 2009 and is available for older consoles and PC. There is also a mobile adaptation of the game but today I’ll share my first experiences with the steam version of the game. So far I’ve progressed around 2 hours in the game and completed the first parts of the main quests and some side quests.

In Assassins Creed 2 (AC 2) you’re continuing the story that was started in Assassins Creed, the predecessor of this game. You’re playing as Desmond Miles who is recruited and trained through the Animus 2.0, a machine that let’s the user experience past memories. Desmond is experiencing the story of Ezio Auditore, a assassins from florence during the renaissance era.

The story is all about the conspiracy against Ezio’s father and his brother who where killed because they were betrayed by a friend. Ezio is trained to be an assassins and tasked to eliminate everyone who was involved. Another important part of the story is preventing the templars to find the apple of Eden, a piece of Eden which is a powerful artifact.

Things I enjoyed during my playtime

The parkour element in AC 2 has a better flow than in later games such as AC: Syndicate. It is also more of a essential part of the experience other than for instance in AC: Origins where the map is way widely spread and you’ll have to rely on horses to get from point A to point B. Because Assassins Creed 2 is taking place in a ancient city you can basically get everywhere without touching the small streets by taking the route over the rooftops.

The fighting system is pretty simple (at least so far) and involves simple attacking with your fists, blocking attacks or dashing and using the hidden blade that is unlocked later in the game. Sometimes it feels frustrating because the enemies can block lots of hits while in other situations you can eliminate them with 2 hits.

Parts of the game that can be improved

The controls are annoying to configure as the default controller buttons don’t match the buttons shown on the screen and you’ll have to reconfigure them. While playing with keyboard and mouse you’ll still get buttons displayed that relate to controller buttons and its hard to remember which button is which key on the keyboard at first.

The game appearance is, as expected, not very good compared to todays standards but it’s not really noticeable during the fighting and parkour parts of the game and more during the cutscenes. Similar to my critic on AC: Syndicate the menus feel aged and a bit to decorated and animated in my opinion.

The game language is automatically set to your system’s language which is quite annoying. On the other hand you’re able to choose which language you want the audio dialogue in for cutscenes.

If you’re interested in Assassins Creed games check out all of our articles about the series here.

Get Assassins Creed 2 here

I would recommend buying this game either in the Ezio Collection which includes the first 3 parts of the game or on sale on steam for around 3€. The game sure is fun but not worth the 10€ anymore.