Posts with «region|us» label

Ron DeSantis can't announce he's running for president because Twitter's servers are 'kind of melting'

Ron DeSantis was supposed to take to Twitter Spaces today to officially announce his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Unfortunately, for the governor of Florida, it appears Twitter was not prepared for the influx of people who were waiting to listen to the announcement. Shortly after the Space went live, the call dropped and DeSantis has yet to say he's running to become the president of the United States of America. "We've got so many people here that I think we are kind of melting the servers, which is a good sign," said Republican megadonor and Elon Musk confidant David Sacks said during a moment when the Space briefly returned before dropping again.  

Musk’s decision to personally give DeSantis a platform should put to bed any questions about his politics. Since his takeover of the platform last October, the billionaire has repeatedly engaged with and enabled fringe far-right voices. At the start of December, Twitter reinstated the account of Andrew Anglin, the creator of the white supremacist website The Daily Stormer. Before that, Musk elevated conspiracy theories about the attack on Paul Pelosi. More recently, he has publicly attacked Anthony Fauci and George Soros. In helping DeSantis announce his presidential bid, Musk is aligning himself with a politician who has signed legislation that has restricted access to abortion and banned transition care for minors.

Before today, Twitter, under its previous leadership, had never so directly engaged with a presidential candidate. At most, the platform's user-facing political outreach involved an election hub that pointed people to information on how to vote and livestreams devoted to debates between presidential candidates. Now the company plans to give former Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson a platform.

During Donald Trump's years as president, the public got used to seeing a US leader use Twitter as a personal megaphone. The former president was banned from the website in 2021 in the aftermath of the January 6th US Capitol riot. Last November, Musk appeared to make the decision to reinstate Trump’s account on the results of a Twitter poll. The company reinstated Trump’s account on November 19th, 2022, but even with some attempted public coaxing from Musk, the former president has not tweeted since before his ban.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ron-desantis-cant-announce-hes-running-for-president-because-twitters-servers-are-kind-of-melting-222437047.html?src=rss

New Microsoft Surface Pro X bug causes camera to stop working

Not a great look for the Surface Pro X. The camera for the tablet has reportedly stopped working entirely for some users. It’s unclear at the time of writing what’s causing the issue and how long it will be before an update will be issued to fix it.

The Verge reports that the camera on the Surface Pro X have stopped working starting this week. The publication was able to independently confirm the issue, and claims that this bug affects “everyone”. Dozens of users on Reddit, Twitter (1, 2, 3, 4) and Microsoft’s support forums are also saying that their cameras aren’t working and claim that reinstalling the camera’s drivers won’t fix the problem. We’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

Owners of the tablet say that rolling the device’s date back to May 22nd in system settings makes the camera work again, indicating that this may possibly be an expired certificate issue. And while that may be a functional workaround, rolling back the date on any device causes a whole mountain of issues. This includes authentication on websites, potential calendar and scheduling mayhem and (somewhat ironically) could cause Windows update to not work properly. If you’re okay with that, feel free but proceed at your own risk. We highly suggest that you wait for an official update from Microsoft if you can.

The Surface Pro X, which was originally released in 2019, was a 2-in-1 tablet-laptop fusion device that offered excellent hardware for the time and a comfortable typing experience. Unfortunately, buggy software and limited app compatibility were the device’s ultimate demise, even after Microsoft lowered the price in late 2021. Regardless, we hope that an update comes soon to resolve the issue for Surface Pro X owners.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-microsoft-surface-pro-x-bug-causes-camera-to-stop-working-220001254.html?src=rss

'Ghostrunner 2' will bring together cyberpunk ninjas and motorbikes this year

One of the best surprises of 2020 is about to get a sequel. On Wednesday, Sony revealed Ghostrunner 2 during its latest PlayStation showcase. The company showed a brief trailer highlighting the game's cyberpunk setting. According to the PlayStation Blog, Ghostrunner 2 is set one year after the events of the first game. Players will once again play as Jack, but by the sounds of it, they can expect a vastly more expansive experience this time around. Publisher 505 Games says the game will feature more challenging combat and platformer sections, with levels that allow for more player freedom. You will also get dialogue choices that will allow you to get a better sense of the game's world. Oh, and did I mention you'll get to drive a motorbike in Ghostrunner 2? The game will arrive on PlayStation 5 later this year.       

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ghostrunner-2-will-bring-together-cyberpunk-ninjas-and-motorbikes-this-year-213153418.html?src=rss

First look at 'Spider-Man 2' gameplay shows Spidey in the Venom suit

At the end of Sony's PlayStation Showcase today, the company gave us our first extended look at Spider-Man 2, including a fair bit of gameplay showing off both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Perhaps most significant, though, Parker is wearing the iconic black Venom suit — for those less familiar with Spider-Man lore, the Venom suit gives Parker a ton of wild additional powers. But, it's also an alien symbiote that quite possibly could be affecting Peter's best judgement. How he ends up with the suit remains a mystery, but I wager it'll be a big part of the new game.

The preview also showed an extended action sequence where gameplay seamlessly flips between controlling Parker and Morales. A lot of the gameplay feels familiar, particularly in the hand-to-hand fighting area, but the new suit clearly offers a ton of new moves, while a wild chase through Queens gives a good sense of the kind of action we can expect outside taking down hordes of bad guys. We also got to see a new trick for Miles, as he now has a sort of "wingsuit" glider that lets him float over extended distance. This trick wasn't part of the Spider-Man: Miles Morales game from 2020 where we first got to control the younger Spidey. 

It also looks like the game's map will be bigger than ever before — the first game covered most of Manhattan, but from this preview we've also seen Queens, and a huge portion of the chase sequence took place on the water, as well. The original Spider-Man already put together a convincing and massive version of New York City, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this one expands on it. We'll get the chance this fall, though there's still no official release date. Insomniac Games did say they hoped to share a final date "soon." 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/first-look-at-spider-man-2-gameplay-shows-spidey-in-the-venom-suit-212740681.html?src=rss

Bungie revives 'Marathon' as a multiplayer shooter

What do you think Bungie would do for its first non-Destiny game in over a decade? A return to the franchise that helped make it a gaming giant, of course. The developer has unveiledMarathon, a follow-up to the classic first-person shooter series for Macs. This isn't a sequel or remake, mind you. Instead, it's a multiplayer "extraction shooter" that has mercenary Runners exploring a lost colony.

While there's no single-player component, game director Chris Barrett says this will still "feel" like a Bungie game between the mechanics and rich universe. Player actions will also influence the plot — you might find an artifact that unlocks an area for all players. There are persistent zones and seasons, although we wouldn't expect a repeat of similar elements in Destiny.

Marathon is in development for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While there isn't much more to share at this point, Bungie says the next update will be "much closer to launch" and include gameplay. It's safe to say there's a lot riding on this title. It's proof that Bungie isn't content to iterate on Destiny forever, and will show what the company can do with a multiplayer-only experience. And for old-time fans, this is a chance to return to a beloved franchise 27 years later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bungie-revives-marathon-as-a-multiplayer-shooter-212630605.html?src=rss

'Project Q' is a dedicated PS5 streaming device due later this year

It's not a handheld console, but Sony is preparing to release a device that will allow PlayStation 5 users to stream their favorite games to a portable display. Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan shared the existence of "Project Q" on Wednesday during the company's PlayStation Showcase. He said the device would allow PlayStation gamers to stream any PS5 game, excluding PlayStation VR2 titles, over WiFi and the company's Remote Play protocol. The device features an 8-inch "HD display" and "all the buttons and features" found on a DualSense controller. Ryan did not say how much the device would cost but promised Sony would share more information about Project Q soon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/project-q-is-a-dedicated-ps5-streaming-device-due-later-this-year-211814445.html?src=rss

The 'Resident Evil 4' remake will support PS VR2

At some point in the not-too-distant future, you'll be able to experience the Resident Evil 4 remake in virtual reality. Capcom revealed during today's PlayStation Showcase that PS VR2 support is on the way. The VR mode will be a free update for the PS5 version of Resident Evil 4, though Capcom didn't say when it will be available. One thing the company has confirmed: you'll be able to wield Leon's knife more freely.

This is not a massive surprise given that several other Resident Evil games have VR support (Resident Evil Village can be played on PS VR2) and the RE4 remake is one of the most widely acclaimed games of the year so far. Still, if you've been looking for a reason to revisit Resident Evil 4 — or perhaps to pick up a PS VR2 headset in the first place — the news may be music to your ears.

Elsewhere, Sony showed off more PS VR2 games during the stream, including Arizona Sunshine 2. The zombie-splattering sequel will arrive later this year. Synapse, an action shooter from nDreams Studio, will hit PS VR2 on July 4th.

Meanwhile, those who have been waiting for Beat Saber to land on PS VR2 won't have to wait much longer. The rhythm game is coming to the platform today, along with a new pack of Queen songs. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-resident-evil-4-remake-will-support-ps-vr2-211538618.html?src=rss

'Alan Wake II' will drop on October 17th for Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC

Alan Wake II, the sequel to Remedy Entertainment's 2010 cult hit, is scheduled to come out on October 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 and PC. There are two playable protagonists in Alan Wake II: Wake himself and FBI agent Saga Anderson. The sequel is a single-player psychological horror experience, just like the original.

In the new game, Anderson is investigating a rash of ritualistic murders plaguing the small town of Bright Falls in the Pacific Northwest. She connects the incidents to the disappearance of horror writer Alan Wake (who vanished 13 years ago, appropriately), and things get spooky very quickly from there. Meanwhile, Wake is trapped in the Dark Place, attempting to write his way out of a hellish, surreal prison. Wake's world is full of shifting spaces and looping realities, while Bright Falls is a picturesque canvas ripe for hidden horrors.

"After certain events have transpired, fans can play Wake and Anderson’s respective stories in any order they choose," a Remedy Entertainment spokesperson said on the PlayStation Blog. "Their journeys echo and foreshadow each other, in this intense atmospheric story, taking players on two separate dark and disturbing paths."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-ii-will-drop-on-october-17th-for-xbox-series-x-ps5-and-pc-210405566.html?src=rss

Assassin's Creed Mirage will arrive on October 12

If you've been waiting for a game that takes the Assassin's Creed franchise back to its roots, you won't have to wait long: The May PlayStation Showcase just revealed that Assassin's Creed Mirage will release on October 12.

Set two decades before Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Mirage will put players in the robes of Basim Ibn in the city of Baghdad, 861 CE, and will have a stronger focus on stealth mechanics and parkour-based movement than its predecessor. That makes it look a lot like older games in the series from the trailers we've seen so far, but it hasn't completely abandoned Valhalla's innovations: Basim's pet eagle can scout ahead to spot threats and targets, just like the bird companions in the previous game.

Naturally, the PlayStation Showcase highlighted the game's release for PS4 and PS5 consoles, but Assassin's Creed Mirage will also be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna and PC when it launches later this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/assassins-creed-mirage-will-arrive-on-october-12-205552847.html?src=rss

'Sword of the Sea' is a fantasy surfing adventure from the creators of 'Abzû'

Most board sports games revolve around racking up high scores, but Giant Squid is trying something decidedly different. The Abzû and The Pathless developer has unveiledSword of the Sea, a fantasy action adventure about much more than showing off. You play a resurrected Wraith who has to revive a wasted world while navigating with a "Hoversword" that serves as a combo skateboard, snowboard and surfboard. Naturally, giant monsters (leviathans) stand in your way.

The exact mechanics aren't yet clear. However, Giant Squid promises the "speed and flow" of a skateboard game combined with the exploration the creators are known for. It should be at once "meditative" and exciting, the studio claims, and the visuals back that up — Sword of the Sea is as much about soaking in the visuals as it is shredding ramps.

There's no release date for Sword of the Sea, but it should be available for both PC (via Steam) and PS5. If nothing else, the setting is a refreshing break from the usual competition arenas of the extreme sports genre. You're saving the planet, not focusing on bragging rights.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sword-of-the-sea-is-a-fantasy-surfing-adventure-from-the-creators-of-abzu-205315085.html?src=rss