Qualcomm revealed its latest mobile platform for more affordable smartphones and devices called the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. Compared to its predecessor, the new Snapdragon chips have overall improved performance, support for more detailed displays and a feature that allows for better video quality in low-light situations.

We were able to test the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with smartphones like the Nothing 3a and 3a Pro, but this next-gen chipset represents a seven percent improvement with both the Qualcomm Adreno GPU and Kryo CPU. The Gen 4 specs also show higher peak CPU speeds of up to 2.7 GHz, compared to the previous generation's 2.5 GHz. On top of the overall performance boost, Qualcomm added support for WFHD+ displays that have a 2,900 x 1,300 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. For better video in dark scenarios, Qualcomm infused the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 with the Low Light Vision feature, which was previously reserved for the company's more expensive chips.

Beyond these upgrades, the fourth-generation Snapdragon 7s chips keep the AI-powered ability to take 200-megapixel photos, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4+ Technology that can recharge a device from zero to 50 percent in five minutes and support for real-time translation and transcription with multiple languages. It's a minor upgrade from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 that was announced last August and Qualcomm hasn't announced any phone makers who plan to use this chip yet. However, we could see the latest chip being used by companies like Honor and Vivo, who previously used Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/qualcomms-latest-snapdragon-chips-offer-slight-power-up-for-budget-smartphones-130017850.html?src=rss

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© Qualcomm

The first-ever World Humanoid Robot Games have come to a close with some new world records, but don't expect them to beat humans in a 100-meter dash any time soon. The three-day robotics event in Beijing, China that saw humanoid robots compete in everything from boxing to cleaning concluded this weekend. According to the World Humanoid Robot Games, more than 280 teams from 16 countries, including the US, Germany, Brazil and the host country, entered their robots into the event.

A majority of the teams came from universities, but several teams came from established robotics companies like Unitree and Fournier Intelligence. Hundreds of robots competed in traditional sporting events like running, soccer and table tennis, along with events for more practical tasks, like cleaning or sorting medicine. Unitree snagged gold medals in four categories, including the 1,500-meter, 400-meter, 100-meter, and 4x100-meter dash events. According to Unitree, the fastest speed achieved by one of its robots during the event was 4.78 m/s, which is roughly 10 mph.

In the 100-meter sprint, Unitree boasted a 33.71-second time, but that's nowhere near the world record holder Usain Bolt's time of 9.58 seconds, which was achieved in 2009. Instead, most teams took this event as an opportunity to showcase the abilities of their designs, while also stress-testing their robots in a competitive environment. We're still a long way from widespread adoption of these humanoid bots though, especially if they can't avoid running into each other.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chinas-inaugural-robot-olympics-delivers-impressive-feats-and-disastrous-falls-221450458.html?src=rss

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© Unitree / X

Anthropic's latest feature for two of its Claude AI models could be the beginning of the end for the AI jailbreaking community. The company announced in a post on its website that the Claude Opus 4 and 4.1 models now have the power to end a conversation with users. According to Anthropic, this feature will only be used in "rare, extreme cases of persistently harmful or abusive user interactions."

To clarify, Anthropic said those two Claude models could exit harmful conversations, like "requests from users for sexual content involving minors and attempts to solicit information that would enable large-scale violence or acts of terror." With Claude Opus 4 and 4.1, these models will only end a conversation "as a last resort when multiple attempts at redirection have failed and hope of a productive interaction has been exhausted," according to Anthropic. However, Anthropic claims most users won't experience Claude cutting a conversation short, even when talking about highly controversial topics, since this feature will be reserved for "extreme edge cases."

Anthropic

In the scenarios where Claude ends a chat, users can no longer send any new messages in that conversation, but can start a new one immediately. Anthropic added that if a conversation is ended, it won't affect other chats and users can even go back and edit or retry previous messages to steer towards a different conversational route.

For Anthropic, this move is part of its research program that studies the idea of AI welfare. While the idea of anthropomorphizing AI models remains an ongoing debate, the company said the ability to exit a "potentially distressing interaction" was a low-cost way to manage risks for AI welfare. Anthropic is still experimenting with this feature and encourages its users to provide feedback when they encounter such a scenario.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropics-claude-ai-now-has-the-ability-to-end-distressing-conversations-201427401.html?src=rss

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© Anthropic

Following a wave of lawsuits alleging that Roblox doesn't provide a safe environment for its underage users, the gaming platform made a series of sweeping updates to its policies. To address recent concerns, Roblox published a post on its website detailing these major changes, including restricting all unrated experiences, which is what Roblox calls its user-generated games, to the developer or those actively working with them. Roblox said this change will roll out in the coming months, representing a big shift from its previous policy that allowed users 13 or older to access unrated experiences.

To further prevent any inappropriate behavior, any "social hangout" experiences that depict private spaces, like bedrooms or bathrooms, will be limited to ID-verified users who are 17 or older. Roblox will also restrict social hangout games that mostly take place in those previously-mentioned private spaces or adult-only places, like bars or clubs, to users who are at least 17 and have been ID-verified. To assist with the new rules, Roblox will roll out a new tool that automatically detects "violative scenes," or more simply, user activity that goes against the rules. According to Roblox's new policies, a server that hits enough violations will automatically get taken down and will have to work with the Roblox team to adjust the experience and get it back online.

These policy changes come after several lawsuits were filed against Roblox that claim the game doesn't protect its younger users. In response to the lawsuit filed by Louisiana's attorney general, Roblox wrote in a separate post that it works to block any efforts at exploitative behavior and constantly enhances its moderation approaches.

"Any assertion that Roblox would intentionally put our users at risk of exploitation is simply untrue," the company statement read. "No system is perfect and bad actors adapt to evade detection, including efforts to take users to other platforms, where safety standards and moderation practices may differ.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/roblox-cracks-down-on-its-user-created-content-following-multiple-child-safety-lawsuits-193452150.html?src=rss

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© Roblox

It may have been decades since you last heard the crunching screeches of connecting with dial-up Internet, but AOL said it will discontinue its dial-up service on September 30, officially marking the end of an era in Internet history. As first spotted by PC Gamer, AOL made the surprising announcement in a post buried in its AOL Help pages. Along with the dial-up service, AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser will also be discontinued by the end of September.

It may come as a shock to most that AOL still runs its dial-up Internet service, but some thousands of users still rely on this outdated method as an affordable way to access the Internet in more rural areas. However, these user numbers in the "low thousands" are a far cry from AOL's heyday, which reportedly saw tens of millions of subscribers, most likely thanks to the stacks of free trial CDs people would find in their mailboxes. Nowadays, dial-up Internet fails to compete against the likes of much faster broadband options, which include cable, fiber and satellite alternatives.

Even though AOL's dial-up service eventually lost relevancy, it stuck around for 34 years before meeting the same fate as other '90s tech icons like Blockbuster, Discmans and AOL Instant Messenger. Now, the only time you'll really hear that iconic America Online serenade is through recreations on social media.

AOL is part of the company that owns Engadget. No one outside of Engadget’s editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/aols-dial-up-internet-still-exists-but-not-for-much-longer-193004233.html?src=rss

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© RetroHead92 / YouTube

A Siri that does way more than just setting a timer or writing down a reminder may still be nearly a year away. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release an overhauled version of Siri in the spring, which will be enhanced by the new App Intents feature. Gurman reported that the upgraded Siri will handle more complex tasks within apps, like commenting on an Instagram post, adding an item to your cart in a shopping app or editing a specific photo and sending it afterwards.

After a disappointing delay, Apple is playing catch-up to deliver on previous claims of an improved Siri. According to Gurman, the company is testing App Intents with its own apps, but also third-party apps, including AllTrails, Amazon, Facebook, Threads, Temu, Uber, WhatsApp and YouTube. For apps that handle more sensitive info, like banking apps, Gurman said that Apple may look into certain restrictions or completely avoid these apps for App Intents.

Apple gave us the first glimpse of this smarter Siri during WWDC 2024, where Apple Intelligence was the focus of the annual conference. However, the company delayed the release for the updated Siri in March, explaining that "it's going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features" and adding that the upgrades be rolled out "in the coming year." Apple even got sued for false advertising after releasing a TV ad featuring Bella Ramsey that showed off Siri's new capabilities that weren't available to the public following the release of the iPhone 16.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-updated-siri-that-interacts-with-apps-reportedly-wont-be-here-until-next-spring-183000378.html?src=rss

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© Apple

A post on Ubisoft's news page reportedly announced that FX is working on a TV show adaptation of the Far Cry franchise. The page has since been taken down and entering the website redirects to Ubisoft's landing page for company news. However, several Redditors have been circulating what they saw in the press release.

According to the alleged Ubisoft post, the Far Cry franchise adaptation will be an "anthology drama" where "each season will be set in a new world with a different cast of characters following the video game franchise's signature standalone storytelling format." The series is reportedly being co-created by Rob Mac, known for creating and starring in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Noah Hawley, who created Fargo and Legion for FX. The leaked release supposedly detailed that Hawley will serve as the showrunner for the series, while also filling the role of executive producer along with Mac. Several production studios have reportedly joined the project, including Ubisoft Film & Television, which is working on other video game adaptations for the Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell franchises.

While FX hasn't confirmed anything officially, the leaked cast and crew could be a sign of the next big hit in the world of video games adapted into TV. The recent success of Fallout and The Last of Us indicates a healthy appetite from viewers and Hawley's previous experience could be an appropriate fit for the Far Cry franchise's raw, but darkly comedic style.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ubisoft-may-have-prematurely-revealed-fxs-tv-adaptation-of-far-cry-162918984.html?src=rss

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© Ubisoft

DJI's obstacle avoidance system could be just as useful on land as it is in the air. DJI, known for its dominance in the drone market, has entered the smart home world with a range of robot vacuums called ROMO. Beyond its drones, gimbals and action cameras, the Chinese company previously branched out into other product categories, including portable power stations and e-bikes.

For those wondering why DJI settled on robot vacuums as its next venture, it makes sense considering the company's "omnidirectional obstacle sensing" found in its drones. The same system that helps DJI drones avoid crashes when capturing cinematic footage easily translates into a robot vacuum that can navigate a home without running into furniture. Along with obstacle detection that can measure down to millimeters, DJI built its ROMO models with two flexible cleaning arms, an extremely high 25,000 Pa suction and a base station that the vacuum will automatically dock and clean itself in.

To make it more efficient, DJI packed in machine learning algorithms that help the ROMO vacuums figure out the best route for cleaning. The onboard intelligence can even detect if an area is especially dirty and spend more time there. To make it less of a nuisance, the ROMO uses a noise reduction system while vacuuming and you can control it hands-free with voice commands.

DJI

DJI is offering the ROMO in three models: the entry-level ROMO S that starts at around $650, the midrange ROMO A with a transparent vacuum design that goes for around $750 and the top-of-the-line ROMO P that has both a transparent vacuum and base station for at least $950. DJI is releasing the ROMO to China first, but says overseas availability is coming later this year. While robot vacuums don't pose as much of a security risk as drones, DJI is currently trying to figure out how to avoid a ban in the US when the National Defense Authorization Act goes into effect at the end of this year. Unless DJI is audited and cleared by one of the US' national security agencies by then, any new DJI drones would be blocked from being imported or sold in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/dji-repurposed-its-drones-obstacle-detection-tech-for-robot-vacuums-191136030.html?src=rss

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© DJI

Following the rollout of OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model earlier this week, a certain user base was adamantly calling for the return of the previous GPT-4o model. Outspoken users complained about the writing quality of the updated model, with some even going so far as to grieve the loss of GPT-4o, which some said they considered a friend and confidant.

In the latest OpenAI update that labels GPT-5 as the "smartest, fastest, most useful model yet," the company removed the option to choose which model to use and defaults to GPT-5 instead. With the new model, GPT-5 uses a "real-time router" that switches between a more efficient model for basic questions and a deeper reasoning alternative for more complex demands. 

The initial rollout ran into some issues that made GPT-5 seem "way dumber," according to OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, who also opened up a Reddit AMA to offer more insight into the changes. On Reddit, Altman responded to a question by saying GPT-5's writing quality is better than previous models, but asked users if this felt true. In response, several Redditors voiced their opinion that the GPT-5 felt "sterile" and "much worse" and answered "briefly and dryly." In response to the initial outcry, Altman posted on X that OpenAI would let Plus subscribers choose between using GPT-5 or GPT-4o.

"We for sure underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them, even if GPT-5 performs better in most ways," Altman said on X.

The return of GPT-4o was celebrated, but there's still no guarantee that OpenAI will keep its older model around indefinitely. In the same X post, Altman said that OpenAI "will watch usage as we think about how long to offer legacy models for." In the meantime, OpenAI is focusing on finishing the GPT-5 rollout and making changes that will "make it warmer." However, for users who have grown attached to GPT-4o as more than just an AI chatbot, this could be the beginning of the end.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-brings-gpt-4o-after-users-melt-down-over-the-new-model-172523159.html?src=rss

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© OpenAI

We're nearly five years out from the release of the original PlayStation 5 and rumors of Sony's next-gen console are starting to bubble up to the surface. In a YouTube video from Moore's Law is Dead, the leaker shares extensive information about the PlayStation 6's possible specs, starting price and release timing. It's always important to take these early leaks with a large grain of salt and Moore's Law is Dead even adds a disclaimer in the video that the info was sourced from a leaked AMD presentation to Sony back in 2023, adding that some of these specs may have changed by now.

While Sony hasn't confirmed anything, the leaks show the company may be prioritizing lower power output and keeping costs in line with previous generations for the upcoming PS6. The video claims the next-gen console will have three times the rasterization, or 3D rendering, performance compared to the base PS5 and roughly two times what's offered by the PS5 Pro. The YouTuber explained that the PS6 is rumored to have PS4 and PS5 backwards compatibility, while potentially releasing with a price tag of $499. That price point could be an indication that Sony wants to tap into the same success the PS4 had, which was partly thanks to its lower price compared to the competition at the time.

Along with the PS6, Sony is reportedly also working on a handheld that will complement the console. According to the leaked info, the PS6 handheld will get a microSD slot, an M.2 SSD slot, a touchscreen, haptic vibration and dual mics. The PS6 handheld rumors detail specs that should beat out the ROG Xbox Ally X and a USB-C port that could offer video out capabilities. According to the leak, the PS6 handheld could have a price range between $400 and $500. For the PS6 and the PS6 handheld, the leaker claims that Sony will start manufacturing both in mid-2027, with a potential release date window between fall 2027 and early 2028.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/leak-claims-the-ps6-could-have-triple-the-performance-as-the-ps5-for-the-same-price-203801615.html?src=rss

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© Sony

BioShock fans will have to wait even longer to find out if we're going to Rapture, Columbia or a brand new city since the next game in the franchise may be headed back to the drawing board. According to a report from Bloomberg, the latest BioShock game that's being developed by Cloud Chamber failed a review with executives at 2K Games. Bloomberg's sources explained that the execs wanted improvement with the game's narrative, which "will be revamped in the coming months."

2K Games said in a statement to Bloomberg that it currently has a "good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one." As the fourth installment in the hit BioShock franchise, it has to follow up on the success of BioShock Infinite, which was released in 2013 and earned several awards for overall design, gameplay, story and original soundtrack. The latest development hitch also comes along with some major changes in the game studio's leadership. According to Bloomberg, Cloud Chamber's studio head, Kelley Gilmore, left the role, while the studio's creative director, Hogarth de la Plante, was shifted to a publishing position.

While the title isn't confirmed, the game believed to be BioShock 4 was announced in 2019 along with the creation of the Cloud Chamber studio. We still don't have a game six years later and the studio responsible may be at risk of layoffs, as the latest Bloomberg report mentioned a recent all-hands meeting where Cloud Chamber developers were told the company "needs to become more agile and efficient."

The fourth BioShock isn't the only game in the series that seems to be stuck in development hell. According to Bloomberg, the remake of the original BioShock was reportedly shelved earlier this year by 2K Games. The breakout hit that threw players into the unique setting of Rapture came out in 2007 and has since been remastered in 2016 as part of BioShock: The Collection. The remaster was made to support 1080p resolution and higher frame rates, but fans have been waiting for a complete remake that portrays the dystopian underwater city with more modern graphics.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bioshock-4-hits-a-major-development-snag-and-a-remake-of-the-original-gets-put-on-ice-182523192.html?src=rss

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© 2K Games

Apple has fallen far behind in the competitive market of AI-powered chatbots, but it may have a plan for an in-house option that aligns with the company's "not first, but best" philosophy. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple created a team called "Answers, Knowledge and Information" earlier this year that's tasked with developing a "stripped-down rival to ChatGPT."

Forming this team represents a major change in direction from Apple's earlier stance on artificial intelligence when the company partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to infuse Siri with ChatGPT instead of developing its own AI chatbot. Now, Gurman reported that this new Apple team will instead develop in-house AI services for a "new ChatGPT-like search experience" that can crawl the web to respond to questions. These new capabilities could be a standalone app, as well as support AI capabilities for Apple's Siri, Spotlight and Safari, according to Gurman's sources. The team is reportedly led by Robby Walker, who previously oversaw Siri, and has been advertising job openings that mention wanting experience with search algorithms and engine development.

Beyond the Answers, Knowledge and Information team, Apple has experienced some growing pains when it comes to artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, the company said it would delay the release of the new-and-improved Siri, adding only that it would roll out "in the coming year." However, Apple is aware of the need to accelerate its Apple Intelligence program to stay competitive. In the latest third-quarter earnings call, the company's CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is open to acquisitions to fast-track its AI roadmap.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-reportedly-has-a-stripped-down-ai-chatbot-to-compete-with-chatgpt-in-the-works-164345473.html?src=rss

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© Apple

OpenAI has achieved "gold medal-level performance" at the International Math Olympiad, notching another important milestone for AI's fast-paced growth. Alexander Wei, a research scientist at OpenAI working on LLMs and reasoning, posted on X that an experimental research model delivered on this "longstanding grand challenge in AI."

According to Wei, an unreleased model from OpenAI was able to solve five out of six problems at one of the world's longest-standing and prestigious math competitions, earning 35 out of 42 points total. The International Math Olympiad (IMO) sees countries send up to six students to solve extremely difficult algebra and pre-calculus problems. These exercises are seemingly simple but usually require some creativity to score the highest marks on each problem. For this year's competition, only 67 of the 630 total contestants received gold medals, or roughly 10 percent.

AI is often tasked with tackling complex datasets and repetitive actions, but it usually falls short when it comes to solving problems that require more creativity or complex decision-making. However, with the latest IMO competition, OpenAI says its model was able to handle complicated math problems with human-like reasoning.

"By doing so, we've obtained a model that can craft intricate, watertight arguments at the level of human mathematicians," Wei wrote on X. Wei and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, both added that the company doesn't expect to release anything with this level of math capability for several months. That means the upcoming GPT-5 will likely be an improvement from its predecessor, but it won't feature that same impressive capability to compete in the IMO.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-experimental-model-achieved-gold-at-the-international-math-olympiad-182719801.html?src=rss

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© Alexander Wei / X

Looks like we can skip the drum roll for the next Battlefield title reveal. Seen in a leak of Electronic Arts' upcoming first-person shooter, the company is shipping promotional materials to content creators for Battlefield 6. The name drop may not be all that surprising, but the highly anticipated title could be a turning point for EA that follows up on Battlefield 2042, which was released in 2021 and currently sits at a Mixed review rating on Steam.

In the since-deleted post, gaming YouTuber DooM49 revealed a promotional crate labeled Battlefield 6 that was reportedly sent to him by EA. The mysterious package was secured by straps that could hint at potential game modes, with words like "conquest," "breakthrough" and "rush" wrapped around the box. Another Battlefield content creator, rivaLxfactor, shared more details about the rumored EA event, corroborating the info from DooM49. As seen in the post on X, EA will reportedly hold a three-day event to reveal Battlefield 6, starting on July 29. The event will also reportedly feature interviews with the game's developers and show off some content with invited guests. The leaks also point to EA potentially launching the open beta for Battlefield 6 after the event.

EA hasn't confirmed the leaks, nor announced an official reveal event yet. However, EA previously detailed in its fourth quarter financial results that it would reveal the new Battlefield game in the summer. After the official reveal, the company plans to launch the next Battlefield title before April 2026, according to EA's roadmap.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/eas-big-reveal-for-its-next-battlefield-game-may-already-be-spoiled-164344846.html?src=rss

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© Electronic Arts

Just a day after the xAI team issued a comprehensive apology and explanation about why its chatbot was spreading antisemitic rhetoric, Tesla updated its software for its cars to include the supposedly fixed Grok. According to Tesla, all new vehicles delivered on or after July 12 will have Grok available in-car. There's no additional subscription cost, but Tesla is limiting Grok's availability to models in the US for now.

For older models to run Grok, it requires a Tesla with an AMD processor, the latest software update of 2025.26, and either a stable Wi-Fi connection or Tesla's $9.99 Premium Connectivity subscription. It's worth noting that Grok will simply be an AI chatbot you can ask questions to, but won't be able to interface with the car itself. In other words, Grok can't help you set up directions to your destination, lower the music's volume or control the car's temperature. Instead, it can offer excruciatingly cringe-inducing responses under its "Unhinged" personality, as seen in an X post from Tesla.

While Tesla has incorporated the chatbot into its newly delivered cars, the company still faces safety concerns with its Full Self-Driving system, which uses mostly cameras and AI. Tesla added that Grok may become available to more of its vehicles with over-the-air software updates in the future, but noted that "Grok availability is subject to change or end at any time." Like when Grok went "MechaHitler" only a few days ago and had to be disabled.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/great-grok-is-in-cars-now-too-202153874.html?src=rss

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© Tesla

Another weeklong round-the-clock spree of speedrunning video games has come to a close, with Summer Games Done Quick raising $2,436,614 for Doctors Without Borders. Held in Minneapolis, the event saw 37,776 donations, with the highest contribution being a solo $61,200 donation.

This year, 2,600 in-person attendees got to experience a hectic relay race pitting two teams of four against each other to complete a Super Mario Maker 2 level and a full playthrough of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat in less than an hour while using one of the most unique controllers ever made, the DK Bongos. The crowd is just as important during these speedruns, and that proved true with a particularly electric crowd during the AEW Fight Night Forever run that finished in around 40 minutes.

If you didn't happen to catch it live, GamesDoneQuick's Twitch channel has every run archived so you can relive the fun. The organization's next event, Flame Fatales, will feature an all-women and femmes speedrunning showcase from September 7 to 14. After that, GamesDoneQuick will launch its brand new Games Done Queer event from October 31 to November 2.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/summer-games-done-quick-2025-raises-24-million-for-doctors-without-borders-182314037.html?src=rss

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© Games Done Quick

The Need for Speed franchise could be making its last laps — at least for the time being. Matthew Everingham, a photographer who frequently contributed to car culture website Speedhunters, said in social media posts that Electronic Arts has "shelved Need for Speed" and is "quietly parking" the series. Speedhunters, which was funded by EA and was last updated in April of this year, will also reportedly cease operations for now.

EA hasn't released an official statement on the fate of the Need for Speed franchise, but several internal decisions point to an uncertain future. Earlier this month, the publisher announced that it would shut down online servers for the cult classic Need for Speed Rivals on October 7. Before that, the developer behind Need for Speed, Criterion Games, shifted most of its employees to focus on the Battlefield franchise, leaving only a "core group" to continue working on the racing series in 2023. However, Battlefield head Vince Zampella told EuroGamer earlier this year that the rest of that Need for Speed team would be "joining their colleagues working on Battlefield."

The longstanding franchise dates back to 1994 when the first title, The Need for Speed, was released on the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles. Since then, the series pumped out more than 20 games, with the most recent being Need for Speed Unbound. Released in December 2022, the latest title in the franchise is currently sitting at a Mixed rating with more than 40,000 reviews on Steam.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ea-is-reportedly-hitting-the-brakes-on-the-need-for-speed-franchise-164807626.html?src=rss

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© Need for Speed

You might have to be extra careful who you buy your used Nintendo Switch game cards from if you don't want to get mistakenly banned. A Nintendo Switch 2 owner posted on Reddit that they got banned after downloading patches for a few Switch game cards that were bought off Facebook Marketplace.

Reddit user dmanthey said they inserted each game into their Switch 2 to patch, but found out that their online services were restricted the day after. The Switch 2 user contacted Nintendo support and discovered they were banned, but provided proof of purchase and was unbanned shortly after. The Redditor said the "whole process was painless and fluid," but this reactionary banning protocol may be an alarming precedent for anyone looking to save a few dollars by buying used games. 

To understand why this happened, it's important to note that Nintendo attaches unique codes to its Switch game cartridges to prevent piracy. However, bad actors can copy games onto a third-party device, like the MIG Flash, and then resell the physical game card. Once Nintendo detects two instances of its unique code being online at the same time, it will ban any accounts using it. Anyone pirating Nintendo's software understands this is a potential consequence, but it would come as an annoying surprise to oblivious second-hand buyers. After proving they bought the Switch games, Redditor dmanthey said they were told the cartridges were fine and even able to be resold.

This anti-piracy policy isn't new — Nintendo has long had a reputation for fiercely combating any type of piracy – but it has become relevant again thanks to the recently released Switch 2, which offers backwards compatibility with original Switch titles. The company even recently amended its user agreement to allow itself the power to brick a Nintendo Switch that's caught running pirated games or mods.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-reportedly-bans-switch-2-user-playing-preowned-game-cards-192452163.html?src=rss

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© Nintendo

If you can't get your hands on the latest Nintendo Switch 2, you might be able to keep the FOMO at bay in the meantime with a clever mod for your Switch Lite. Retro Remake's co-founder, Taki Udon, posted a video showing off a working version of the SUPER5 OLED Touch HDMI mod. As the lengthy name suggests, this third-party mod adds an OLED display, a glass touchscreen and HDMI output to the Switch Lite.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is barely a month old so it's too early to expect any news on a Switch Lite successor. However, the Retro Remake's mod adds some crucial upgrades to Nintendo's handheld that was released in 2019 and gives us some idea of what a next-gen version could look like. Notably, it's a no-solder mod that mostly only requires connecting cables and can output 1080p HDMI video to a larger screen than the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch LCD touchscreen.

Retro Remake previously offered a SUPER5 OLED Touch mod, which lacked the HDMI feature. Adding the extra feature proved to be a serious challenge, according to the company's co-founder, who said the project took "18 months of R&D, just as many failed revisions, and more than $200K in costs."

"I can't describe how soul-crushing it was to go through so many failed revisions," Taki Udon wrote on X. "After the third failure, I was hopeful every subsequent version would be successful, but they weren't."

Testing is still underway for the SUPER5 OLED Touch HDMI upgrade kit, but the latest post shows that the Switch Lite mod playing Mario Kart on a larger display. Retro Remake's HDMI upgrade kits start at $90, but are currently sold out on its website. According to an email sent out to preorder customers, the company is unsure of when it will ship these kits out.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/this-hdmi-mod-lets-you-play-nintendo-switch-lite-on-a-big-screen-164625907.html?src=rss

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© Taki II / YouTube

A petition to preserve video game access recently achieved an important milestone of one million signatures, but it has two more challenges to overcome before reaching the final level. The "Stop Killing Games" movement reached a million votes earlier this month, meaning the European Union will have to consider adopting legislation addressing this issue. However, the petition first has to deal with the threat of potentially fake signatures and the resistance from major game studios and publishers.

The Stop Killing Games initiative, created by Ross Scott, aims to pass new laws to ensure that video games still run even when developer support ends. The petition was a direct response to when Ubisoft delisted The Crew from online stores, shut down the game's servers in 2024, and revoked licenses from players who bought the game. Scott and other critics felt Ubisoft's actions set a dangerous precedent for gamers who may lose access to their purchased games at a developer's whim.

Even though there are enough signatures to move to the next step, Scott explained in a YouTube video that many of these may have been incorrectly filled out, while others could have been falsely submitted. The movement's founder said, "This is not a change.org petition, this is a government process," adding that "spoofing signatures on it is a crime." To ensure enough legitimate signatures are collected, Scott said that there needs to be at least 10 percent more to cover the potentially invalid ones. As of July 6, the petition has earned more than 1.2 million signatures.

Beyond the signatures, a European advocacy group that includes major gaming studios and publishers like Electronic Arts, Microsoft and Nintendo released a statement opposing the movement.

"Private servers are not always a viable alternative option for players as the protections we put in place to secure players’ data, remove illegal content, and combat unsafe community content would not exist and would leave rights holders liable," the statement read. "In addition, many titles are designed from the ground-up to be online-only; in effect, these proposals would curtail developer choice by making these video games prohibitively expensive to create."

In a longer report, the Video Games Europe group said that this initiative would "raise the costs and risks of developing such games," create a "chilling effect on game design" and "act as a disincentive to making such games available in Europe."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-stop-killing-games-initiative-has-hit-a-major-milestone-but-the-fights-just-begun-190431644.html?src=rss

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