CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will be backwards compatibile on PlayStation 5. The PlayStation 4 version “will work on PS5 on launch day,” the studio said. It previously noted that Cyberpunk 2077 would support Microsoft’s Smart Delivery system, meaning the Xbox One version will work on Xbox Series X from the jump.
A later upgrade to Cyberpunk 2077, taking full advantage of the next-gen hardware, will be available for free.
Whether you buy it for PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll get a free upgrade to a version optimized for PS5 or Xbox Series X that takes “full advantage of the next-gen hardware.” You might have to wait quite some time to see a virtual Keanu Reeves in all his next-gen glory, though. On an investor call Thursday, CD Projekt Red couldn’t say for sure whether it’d be able to roll out the update in 2021.
Tesla doesn’t just make cars. The company also engineers, manufactures and installs solar panels — both the traditional kind and modules that look like ordinary roof tiles. And while the latter seems like it could be a path to more mainstream adoption of renewable energy, the former is still the go-to solution for the solar industry. Tesla has updated its panels to be about 10 percent more efficient, and has also lowered its prices. Given that the sizes and designs of the panels are still exactly the same, that’s a pretty impressive improvement.
According to Electrek, Tesla rated its medium-sized panel at 7.56 kW before the update, but it’s now listed as 8.16 kW. The price has also dropped from $19,500 (before federal incentives) to $16,000. That bump in efficiency, combined with an over 17 percent price drop, could convince a decent amount of homeowners to make the jump to solar power.
Google is testing an added augmented reality layer in Street View that could be a godsend for those who have trouble picturing where they on a map. The feature, first spotted by a 9to5Google reader, adds interactive pins to Street View. They replicate some of the same icons you see when using the app’s main overhead view. For instance, an orange one denotes a restaurant, while a blue icon signifies a more general business.
9to5Google
Hovering your mouse over an icon displays a floating box that lists the name of the location, as well as a short description. You’ll also see the place’s review rating, and get a sense of how much it costs to visit, eat or shop there. Clicking on the pins, meanwhile, will cause the Google Maps sidebar to appear where you can see a more comprehensive listing. What some people are likely to appreciate about this functionality is that you don’t have to switch out of Street View to get more information about a business.
Trover Saves the Universe — the bonkers adventure game from the bafflingly creative mind of Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland — has finally arrived on Oculus Quest. Already available on pretty much every other platform, the sweary psychedelic adventure from Roiland’s fledging studio Squanch Games has been a massive hit with players since its launch last year.
The premise is predictably Roiland-eqsue: defeat the evil Glorkon who has stolen your dogs, shoved them into his eye holes and is draining their life force in a bid to destroy the universe. You’re accompanied by faithful familiar Trover, who’s the fella doing most of the heavy lifting during your quest – you’re tasked with controlling his actions remotely. It’s like playing a game inside a game, which is particularly well-suited to VR. Unlike other titles that involve running around jabbing at things, the game’s mechanics separate you from the immediate action just enough to avoid the stomach-churning motion sickness that often accompanies VR gaming.
Sony’s robotic Aibo pup continues to learn new tricks. Thanks to a new software update, the android companion will now predict when you come home and sit patiently at the front door. Or that’s the idea, anyway. According to Sony’s website, you’ll first need to assign a meeting place — the entrance to your front home — by saying a phrase like “this is where you should go.” Aibo should then lower its head and ‘sniff’ the ground to indicate that it’s storing the location. If the process is successful, a door icon should appear on the map located inside the companion app.
From that point onwards, Aibo will theoretically walk up and say hello every time you open the front door and say “I’m home.” With time, the adorable robot should learn when you tend to come home and start waiting at the door in preparation, just like a flesh-and-bone canine would.
“The scientific literature suggests that as an open-air mode that allows for social distancing, micromobility carries a much lower baseline risk of transmission than other shared modes,” the company writes. Lime compared shared bikes and scooters with taxi and ride-hailing services for the white paper, showing how going for the latter will put you at a higher risk of infection based on current studies.
Lime
Despite having a lower risk of infection, Lime admits that shared scooter and bike operators can further mitigate risks by cleaning their vehicles thoroughly and more frequently. It also suggests educating riders and encouraging them to use alcohol, as well as having employees use PPE when needed.
Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 last week, sharing with the world the console’s design, specs, games and accessories. One question remains in everyone’s mind: How much will it cost? Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham to discuss this device’s eye-catching appearance, size and speculate how much it will cost. Nate also tells us why The Last Of Us II is a heartbreaking game worth the emotional investment. Then, our hosts take a look at the latest developments in major tech companies’ facial recognition systems, as well as Twitter’s new voice message format.
Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to let us know on our form or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
Augmented-reality headset maker Magic Leap made a fairly serious accusation last year, when it claimed that former employee Chi Xu had used “stolen” company secrets to set up his own business, Nreal. The Beijing-based Nreal made waves at CES in 2019 with its $499 mixed reality glasses, which Magic Leap said were “strikingly similar” to the Magic Leap One device. Now though, a federal judge has thrown out the case.
Following Nreal’s motion to dismiss Magic Leap’s original lawsuit, the United States District Court of Northern California ruled that Magic Leap didn’t adequately allege that Xu exploited proprietary information to build his own mixed-reality glasses. In other words, Magic Leap failed to make any viable claims.
Now that the EA Play online event has come and gone, I can say I’ve actually seen Star Wars: Squadrons in action. While I’m still a little skeptical about whether most people can handle that kind of movement in virtual reality, everything EA showed in its teaser made jumping into an X-Wing this fall seem very appealing.
EA
Of course, the truly notable reveals were probably peeks at next-gen sports games, another co-op mission from the creator of A Way Out and, last but not least, word that Skate will return. Is it returning as a new game or a remake? We don’t know, but it’s back. And Lost in Random is… different from anything we’ve seen this side of A Nightmare Before Christmas.
— Richard
Thrustmaster unveils official Airbus gear ahead of ‘Flight Simulator’ release
The new TCA line includes replica Airbus controls.
Thrustmaster
Microsoft’s remade Flight Simulator is almost here, so it’s time to get that PC cockpit ready. Thrustmaster is willing to oblige. It’s unveiled “licensed by Airbus” gear that’s perfect for proper plane geeks. The new brand, TCA or Thrustmaster Civil Aviation, includes a modular sidestick, dual thrust lever throttle with add-on modules, an Officer bundle pack and a new metal desk clamp. That said, no pedals.
The flagship product is the TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition, a PC joystick and ergonomic replica of the Airbus sidestick. The modular design includes 12 remappable buttons. The built-in throttle axis includes a thrust reverser function, a unique feature of real aircraft and users can rotate the handle to control the rudder. The sidestick will cost $69.99 and be available beginning June 25th. Continue reading.
What to expect from Apple’s online-only WWDC 2020
New hardware? Loaded iOS updates? A new future for Macs?
Engadget
It all happens next Monday, and for Apple, regardless of its online-only status, this year’s WWDC keynote could be a big one. Alongside major updates to iOS on your iPhone (new ways to organize your apps? Widgets on your home screen, finally?), rumors suggest the company is ready to announce its shift to ARM chips. This would be Apple’s first major architecture switch since early 2006 when it officially moved away from its long-running PowerPC chips to Intel’s popular multi-core CPUs. We’ve got everything else we’re expecting to see, right here.
It all begins with a live-streamed keynote starting at 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET on Monday, June 22nd. We’ll be reporting everything of note — so join us then! Continue reading.
EA gives a quick peek at next-gen ‘FIFA 21’ and ‘Madden 21’
More life-like movement and richer weather detail, to start.
EA
During EA Play, we got a brief look at what to expect from EA Sports titles on next-gen consoles. Both FIFA 21 and Madden NFL 21 will take advantage of haptic feedback on the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller as well as lightning-fast load times on that console and Xbox Series X.
EA suggests you should expect more life-like player movements, rich weather detail and the “most authentic character behaviors ever seen in sports video games.” Before then, EA also announced that FIFA 21 will be coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on October 9th — ahead of all those new consoles. If you buy FIFA 21 on PS4 or Xbox One, you can claim a free upgrade for the equivalent next-generation console later. Continue reading.
The app — known in Japan as COCOA (COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application) — uses Bluetooth to collect data when it comes into one-meter contact of another device for more than 15 minutes. If a person subsequently tells the app they have tested positive for COVID-19, it will scan two weeks’ worth of contact data and inform anyone who had been in close proximity to the patient. It doesn’t store any personal information like locations or phone numbers, in accordance with Apple and Google’s tracking platform.
Japan’s delay in launching the app has left some concerned about its effectiveness. According to the University of Oxford, this type of app needs to be used by 60 percent of the population to be useful. In countries that adopted contact-tracing apps early on, such as Singapore and Iceland, that figure stands at around just 40 percent. Integrating the technology with existing apps is also a no-go, due to Apple and Google’s stipulations. As Nikkei reports, “A concrete plan for disseminating the app has yet to take shape,” a spokesperson for Japan’s health ministry said.
