Month: September 2020

With next-gen consoles on the way, and PS5 preorders coming and going like hotcakes, one question you might be asking yourself after securing your PS5 or Xbox Series X preorder is whether you need to shell out for a new TV. The PS5 and Xbox Series X both support 4K and 120Hz. There aren’t many TVs that feature both a 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, and if you’re reading this article, yours likely doesn’t either.

The simple answer is that a 120Hz-capable TV is not required, but there are some noticeable benefits. Here’s what you need to know about upgrading your TV for next-gen and the best TVs to buy for the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

What’s HDMI 2.1?

If you want a 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR, you’re going to need a TV with an HDMI 2.1 port. This ensures that your TV can accept the speeds afforded by HDMI 2.1 cables–48Gbps–which are what the PS5 and Xbox Series X utilize to transfer video and audio signals to your television. HDMI 2.1 is still relatively new to consumer displays, with only a select few TVs supporting it and no PC monitors currently available on the market that support it–though Asus has announced HDMI 2.1 monitors that should release in the near future.

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Back in June, Nintendo released a small, free fitness game on the Switch eShop called Jump Rope Challenge. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, however, your time to do so is quickly running out, as the game will only be available until the end of the month.

As the company previously announced, Jump Rope Challenge is being removed from the eShop on September 30. It’s unclear if it will be offered again in the future, so if you’re interested in grabbing it, you should do so before that date.

Nintendo says Jump Rope Challenge was “created by a small group of Nintendo developers while working from home in Japan as a simple game to add some quick and fun movement into their daily lives.” The game uses Switch’s Joy-Con controllers to mimic jump rope handles and tracks how many times you’ve virtually jumped rope each day.

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It’s only a few weeks until the PS5 releases and if you want to outfit your console the right way, you’re going to want to check out the best PlayStation 5 accessories. While you’re eagerly waiting for your preorder to arrive on its November 12th release date, now is the perfect time to pick some extra controllers, spare storage, and other peripherals.

We’ve rounded up a few essentials like controllers and gaming headsets. We’ve also outlined you might find a few things you didn’t realize you would need like a media remote or racing wheel. Here are some great and essential PS5 accessories to help start gaming on your next-generation console on the right foot.

TL;DR – These are the Best PS5 Accessories:

• DualSense PS5 Controller
• Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
• DualSense Controller Charging Station
• WD Black P10 Game Drive 5TB
• PS5 Media Remote
• Logitech G923
• PS5 HD Camera

DualSense PS5 Controller

Best PS5 Controller

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While you won’t be able to play PlayStation 5 games with all the DualShock 4 and other PS4 controllers you’ve been collecting over the years, the DualSense sounds like one of the coolest peripherals to come out in recent years with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Easily its most significant feature is its adaptive triggers that will add resistance to the L2 and R2 buttons. Games like the upcoming Deathloop are already thinking of cool ways of implementing this feature like locking up the triggers when your gun jams.

Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset

Best PS5 Gaming Headset

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Sony has promised the PS5 will deliver 3D audio for enhanced surround sound to make games more realistic. While that sounds great for those of us who have multichannel speaker systems, others using just their television speakers probably won’t be able to get the same effect. If you’re not ready to throw down the money for multiple speakers or a fancy soundbar and AV receiver, the PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset might be just what you need.

The PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is an official PlayStation headset designed specifically to deliver 3D Audio from the PS5. The headset comes with connects to Sony’s console with a wireless USB adapter so you’ll also be able to use this headset with your computer. You can also expect to get up to 12 hours of wireless play and it comes with integrated rechargeable batteries.

PS5 DualSense Controller Charging Station

Best PS5 Controller Charger

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If you’re tired of plugging in controllers to recharge them, definitely think about getting the PS5 DualSense Controller Charging Station. This charging dock lets you just set the controller in place instead of having to fiddle around with USB C-cables.

This is an even more crucial accessory if you ended up picking a second, third, or even fourth DualSense controller. Another bonus of this charging station is it’s a great way of showing off your controllers.

WD Black P10 Game Drive 5TB

Best PS5 External Hard Drive

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The PS5 comes with a hearty amount of storage, but you should definitely games will balloon in size as 4K gaming truly becomes the standard in the coming year. As such we’ve picked out the WD Black P10 5TB Game Drive as the best external hard drive to pair with your new Sony console

It comes packing 5TB of storage space, so you shouldn’t run out of room for games any time soon. The USB 3.0 connection and 140MB/s read speed will pale in comparison to the internal SSD and custom controller Sony has developed, so it’s probably best to leave RPGs, indie games, and other less demanding games on your external drive.

PS5 Media Remote

Best PS5 Remote Control

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Most modern consoles double as streaming devices so why not get a PS5 Media Controller when you’re using the PS5 to stream or play your Blu-Ray discs.

Sure you could use a DualSense controller to get the same job done, but you’ll have to keep referring to the on-screen button guide to know whether hitting the cross button pauses or plays. Meanwhile, on the PS5 Media Remote is clearly labeled and you’ve got customizable shortcut keys to launch your favorite apps like Netflix and Disney+.

Logitech G923

Best PS5 Racing Wheel

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Gran Turismo 7 is easily one of the most anticipated games for next-gen and if you want to play it right on the PS5 you’re going to need a racing wheel for it. The Logitech G923 is one of the newest racing wheels to come to market and it’s a solid option with great ergonomics and 900-degrees of rotation.

Although it only offers an okay amount of force feedback compared to belt-driven and direct drive wheels, it also costs half as much as more complex racing wheels at $400. If you’re looking for that bit of extra realism and precision this is the best racing wheel to get for the PS5 right now.

PS5 HD Camera

Best PS5 Camera

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The PS5 is shaping up to be a solid console for streaming and recording gameplay, but if you want to record yourself and take your content to the next level you’re going to want the PS5 HD Camera. While this peripheral might just look like a more compact version of the PS4’s Camera V2, this one was made primarily for broadcasting yourself.

Firstly it captures video at 1080p with a pair of wide-angle lenses to capture a wide range of shots. It also comes with built-in background removal tools so you can easily add yourself to your gameplay videos without having to buy and set up a giant green screen.

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Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

With any new gaming peripheral there’s inevitably someone who finds a way to use it outside of its intended purpose. This time, someone has found a way to use the recently released LEGO Super Mario figurine as an actual controller for the original Super Mario Bros.

As spotted by The Verge, Twitter user r1ckp has coded the LEGO Super Mario figurine to be recognized as a controller input for Super Mario Bros. including the ability to run forwards and backwards, jump, and shoot fireballs.

Wrote some code to use the #legosupermario to play #SuperMario pic.twitter.com/LOuECESPgT

— Rick (@r1ckp) September 2, 2020

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While this may seem like magic at first, the LEGO Super Mario figure actually contains quite a bit of tech to make this work. Inside the simple figurine is an accelerometer for measuring relative movement and speed, a gyroscope that allows it to monitor the orientation of the device, a camera sensor on the bottom for reading different colors, and Bluetooth for connectivity.

The self-proclaimed “hardware hacker” said it took him “about 4 hours” to code the figurine to work with the emulator, which he is running on a Linux virtual machine on his Mac. The most difficult part for him was figuring out how to get his computer to interpret the Bluetooth signals from the device and turn them into controller inputs.

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In the video we can see him tilt LEGO Super Mario forwards and backwards to run in both directions and simulate a jumping motion to make Mario jump in-game. Additionally, a subsequent video showcases how Mario enters pipes simply by placing him over the LEGO green pipe, as well as shooting fireballs by hovering LEGO Super Mario over a small red LEGO platform.

While this method surely doesn’t offer the most precise way to play through the original Super Mario Bros., it sure is novel seeing it in action. Hearing LEGO Super Mario yell “Wahoo!” when he jumps adds a certain level of flare.

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That’s not the only trick LEGO Super Mario has, though. If placed on top of the TV included with the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System set it will play sounds and music from the original Super Mario Bros. as the on-screen Mario runs along the course and jumps on enemies.

For more LEGO Super Mario be sure to check out our hands-on analysis of the various sets as well as where you can purchase them for yourself. You can also watch as we build the LEGO NES set, which includes a replica NES, controller, and retro TV.

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Matthew Adler is a Features, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

 

JRPG Octopath Traveler is receiving a mobile prequel, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, and the game will be released in Japan on October 28. Octopath Traveler’s Twitter posted the announcement and also shared a new trailer. In honor of the game already reaching 500,000 pre-registrations, Square Enix also released a battle theme song for the antagonist Arguste.

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent‘s development was announced back in March 2019, and the dev team confirmed that the mobile game will retain Octopath Traveler’s signature “HD-2D” look. According to a translation by Dualshockers, Champions of the Continent will be more like a single-player RPG, rather than a social game. As for plot revealed so far, the game follows characters as they confront and defeat three antagonists whose “endless ambition plunged the continent into darkness.” The three enemies are the one who holds wealth, “The Witch of Greed” Helminia, the one who holds power, “The Hero” Titus, and the one who holds glory, “The Playwright” Arguste.

In his Octopath Traveler review, Peter Brown said the game “thrives on its character progression and the temptations of high-level challenges and rewards. The promise of new jobs, exciting boss fights, and powerful gear will inspire you to poke around every corner, and there are no shortage of discoveries to strive for. And all the while, you’re treated to one of the most interesting and effective re-imaginings of a retro aesthetic around. Octopath will likely be a divisive game due to its fractured storytelling, but it’s one worth playing despite its lesser qualities. Its high points are simply too good to ignore.”

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It’s no secret that securing a preorder for the PlayStation 5 has been tough, especially after retailers began offering them right after Sony’s showcase earlier this week. But it seems even if you have managed to lock down an order, you might not get a console on release day.

That’s the case over at Amazon, which has begun emailing customers about potential delays for PS5 orders that might result in shipping after the November 12 launch. The email cites the incredible demand for the console as the reason for delays and says that updates will be communicated to affected customers.

“We’re contacting you about your order of PlayStation 5 Console to let you know in advance that you may not receive this item on the day it is released due to high demand. We’ll make every effort to get the item to you as soon as possible once released.”

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CD Projekt Red’s Night City Wire series has given us some very comprehensive looks at the many details and facets of the main setting of Cyberpunk 2077. During their recent stream, the developers at CD Projekt Red unveiled a fully explorable website that focuses on Night City, which you can check out right now. Similar a real-world website for any major city, the official Night City website is way more blunt and candid about the current state of things, offering us some surprising details about life in the big, expansive locale–even if most of them are somewhat terrifying. It’s a cool bit of worldbuilding, and if you’re interested in Cyberpunk 2077, it’s a fun read to understand just how crazy the game’s setting is.

One of the more imaginative things about cyberpunk fiction is that it examines our present-day through an extrapolated lens, allowing us to look at our current issues in a different light. This site works well as a satire of capitalism and corporate greed, putting in similar territory to the satirical look at America in Paul Verhoeven’s Robocop, but it also does a lot to show what’s in store for players in the game once it releases on November 19. Here’s a quick look at some of the most interesting and bizarre details from Night City’s official website.

A Brief History Of Night City

One of the first features you’ll see on the site is a quick rundown on the history of Night City. Located on the west coast in Central and Northern California, Night City was first established by billionaire industrialist Richard Night. He would not live long enough to see the completion of the city, but his vision would continue on. In the year 2077, Night City is a massive city-state with its own government, law enforcement, currency, and communities that inhabit it. Violence, corruption, and capitalism are the norm in Night City, and 2077 looks to be the roughest year the place has seen yet. The mayor of Night City in 2077, Lucius Rhyne, even shared his thoughts on the state of things.

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Last month, DC presented Fandome which gave fans its first look at the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel, simply called The Suicide Squad, directed by James Gunn. Kinnaman is only one of four returning from the original cast, alongside Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

In an interview with THR, during doing press for his upcoming thriller, The Secrets We Keep, Kinnaman talked about the script for the film how he thought it was the funniest thing he’s ever worked on.

“[The Suicide Squad] is going to be insane,” Kinnaman said. “The script is so funny. Every page of that script was funny, and every page made me laugh.” He also went onto praise Gunn as a director and how he seems him as somebody who “commands that genre.”

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In 1989, writer and illustrator Kentaro Miura took readers on a decades-long journey revolving around the mercenary Guts in a fantasy world as he hunts down his enemy Griffith. Guts is primarily known for the gigantic sword he carries around, which is bigger than he is. Now, after originally ending in 2018, it looks like Berserk is coming.

Manga Mogura discovered that there is a big reveal coming for the franchise on October 9, 2020. And the tagline for this announcement is “The New Beginning.” Check out the tweet below, which links to the Young Animal site, the Japanese manga that publishes Berserk.

The site also features some familiar images, including Guts and his trademark sword. It’s been a few years since there’s been anything new from Berserk, with Volume 40 publishing in Japan in September 2018 with the English translation coming a year afterward.

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A new update for No Man’s Sky will arrive next week on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Titled Origins, developer Hello Games said the patch notes will be revealed when the update drops.

The studio hasn’t specified what’s coming to No Man’s Sky when the Origins update releases. Hello Games did call the update “the beginning of something new, as No Man’s Sky continues to grow and evolve.” Hello Games was quick to reiterate that Origins isn’t the largest update.

Whatever is on the way to No Man’s Sky next week, Hello Games assured that the team has worked hard to “deliver in difficult circumstances.”

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