On Tuesday morning, news broke out via social media that, on the 14th anniversary of the original 2011 Dead Island game, publishers Deep Silver and developers Dambuster Studios have confirmed the development of a new installment in the series, which appears to be Dead Island 3.
As a tech-loving individual, I’m eagerly anticipating the gradual implementation of the “back-to-office” policy at Microsoft, but it’s important to note that this change won’t impact all employees equally. There will be phases, and certain exemptions are in place for specific team members.
The patent numbered 12,409,387, issued today, pertains to the seamless transition of rideable items in games, but it appears that Pocketpair has already circumvented this aspect in Palworld, so its acquisition doesn’t pose a significant threat at this moment.
However, as GamesFray reveals in their comprehensive analysis of the situation, Patent No. 12,403,39, granted on September 2, is a more pressing issue, not just for Palworld, but potentially for many other games too. This patent (No. ‘397) primarily focuses on the core mechanics of calling upon a character to engage in combat with another. This sounds reminiscent of Pokémon, but it also includes elements that are common in numerous other games.
Unlike most patents, which often encounter challenges or rejections during their approval process, this one sailed through the U.S. Patent Office without any objections. It was filed in March 2023 and granted only last week.
Over the past few years, Xbox has been gradually increasing its participation in the Tokyo Game Show. Starting from a local event in 2021 focusing primarily on Japan-centric updates, it escalated to a 2024 showcase with major announcements for Xbox Game Pass. Traditionally, Xbox tends to reserve new game unveilings for events like The Game Awards and Xbox Games Showcases. However, this year may deviate from that pattern.
According to my colleague Zachary Boddy’s report, Xbox is planning to debut Forza Horizon 6 at Tokyo Game Show 2025, marking the next installment in the Playground Games-led spinoff series that has essentially overshadowed mainline Forza Motorsport. The choice of location for this reveal isn’t accidental; Forza Horizon 6 is finally making its way to Japan, a long-desired destination that players have been eagerly anticipating for a decade.
With Forza Horizon 6 set to steal the show, we can also expect updates on Japanese games coming to Xbox, possibly including a release date for the previously announced Final Fantasy 7 Remake port.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has confirmed that 2026 will see the release of several new Xbox titles, including a new Forza, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and what is believed to be a return of a classic title, likely Halo.
Forza Horizon 5, first launched on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2021, quickly gained massive popularity, surpassing 20 million players within its first year. That number has since doubled in the years that followed. Earlier this year, the game found a resurgence when it was ported to PlayStation 5, becoming one of the system’s top-selling titles for 2021 and strengthening Microsoft’s growing multiplatform initiatives.
The recent reorganization occurs at a time when Intel acknowledged that their Arrow Lake processors didn’t meet expectations. Now, everyone is eagerly awaiting the Nova Lake architecture, as Intel aims for it to reestablish its competitive edge against AMD in this growing rivalry, which is increasingly captivating both users and the industry.
Microsoft once focused solely on Xbox consoles for its gaming platform, but that era is past. Now, Microsoft is diligently working to extend Xbox’s presence to compatible PC hardware, like the Xbox Ally. Additionally, Microsoft has been making Xbox games available on PC through Xbox Play Anywhere. However, an innovative way to attract new users might be through cloud-based gaming solutions.
When a globally recognized pioneer in technology deems nuclear energy crucial for their carbon-neutral future, it sends a potent message to financial markets, lawmakers, and influential figures across industries worldwide. This collaboration aims to expedite the widespread implementation of nuclear power at the necessary pace to achieve both climate targets and the expanding energy requirements from data centers.
The company advised its customers to anticipate longer response times due to traffic being redirected via different routes (according to Tom’s Hardware). This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate nature of digital infrastructure, especially considering our increasing reliance on cloud services and artificial intelligence, which heavily depend on such connections.
As a tech-savvy individual, I’ve got some news about my beloved Plex, the go-to home media software for many of us. Unfortunately, they’ve announced a security incident that has potentially impacted some user accounts’ information.
For quite some time now, Nova Launcher has been renowned as one of the top-tier Android launchers. Its extensive customization options and exceptional performance set it apart amidst the competitive landscape of launchers. Recently, the app seems to have slowed down a bit, but its influence is indisputable – many features you see in modern launchers today were originally pioneered by Nova Launcher.