‘Apex Legends’ bug traps players in the Supply Ship for an easy win
A newly discovered Apex Legends bug gives players easy wins by trapping them in the Supply Ship, where they are immune to damage while the circle closes in on their opponents. Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the battle royale shooter, said that a patch to fix the issue is on the way.
Fitbit’s new fitness tracker is its cheapest, but you can’t buy it yourself
The Fitbit Inspire is the company's cheapest wearable device yet, but interested customers will not be able to buy it by themselves. The fitness tracker offers very basic functions and features compared to more advanced products such as the Fitbit Versa, but it may be Fitbit's most important product.
Xiaomi Mi A1, OnePlus 5T emit the most radiation among smartphones, report says
A report by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection compiled the specific absorption rate of smartphones, which represents the the amount of radiofrequency waves emitted. Xiaomi and OnePlus were found to be the worst offenders, taking the top two spots and four spots each in the top 16.
Leak allegedly reveals new ‘Animal Crossing,’ ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’ release dates
A U.K.-based retailer reportedly leaked the release dates for the new Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Nintendo Switch. While the alleged launch dates may be legitimate, gamers are advised to wait for an official announcement from Nintendo on when these exclusives will roll out.
Activision offers ‘Guitar Hero Live’ refunds after obliteration of song library
Activision launched the Guitar Hero Live refund program as support for Guitar Hero TV ended, obliterating the system's song library. Players who want their money back will need to accomplish a claim form and meet certain requirements, including proof of purchase through a receipt or credit card statement.
Google job listings may mean that the Pixel Watch is on the way
A pair of job listings on the Google Careers website may mean that the Pixel Watch is coming soon. One of the listings is for a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearables, but Google's only product in currently in the category is the Pixel Buds, hinting that the Pixel Watch is on the way.
‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ claims throne as fastest-selling Nintendo game ever
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch, released on December 7, sold 12.08 million units as of December 31, making it the fastest-selling Nintendo game of all time. The multiplayer brawler is also now ranked third among Nintendo Switch games, behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey.
Xbox Live to expand cross-platform support for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Microsoft is preparing to expand Xbox Live cross-platform support to include the Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. The SDK that will enable the feature will be showcased at the upcoming Game Developers Conference, as Microsoft continues its shift to a strategy of games as a service.
Unannounced Nintendo Switch games in the pipeline for fiscal year 2019
Nintendo is preparing to launch at least one unannounced Nintendo Switch game in its fiscal year 2019, which starts on April 1. The speculated titles by gamers include a new F-Zero game, Pikmin 4, remakes or sequels for the Earthbound series, a new Paper Mario game, and Super Mario Maker 2.
Apple Watch fall detection saves life of ‘bloody and unconscious’ man in Norway
A 67-year-old man was found "bloody and unconscious" on his bathroom floor by Norwegian emergency authorities, who were alerted by the Apple Watch's fall detection feature. The man suffered three fractures on his face, but it may have gone much worse if the Apple Watch did not get help so quickly.
‘Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth’ for Nintendo 3DS arrives to U.S. in June
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth for the Nintendo 3DS will arrive to the US on June 4, several months after its original release in Japan. The game, which will feature characters from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, will also come in a Showtime Premium Edition, but it will not have English voices.
‘Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers’ to launch July 2 with Gunbreakers and Viera
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers will launch on July 2 with several new classes, including the gunblade-wielding Gunbreaker, and the Viera as a new race. The MMORPG's third expansion will also introduce nine new dungeons and a feature that will allow solo players to take on missions that require groups.
Samsung will start replacing plastic in packaging with sustainable materials
Samsung is switching out plastic components in the packaging of its products for paper and other environmentally friendly materials. The company has set a goal of using 500,000 tons of recycled plastics and collecting 7.5 million tons of discarded products by 2030, since the initiative started in 2009.
Players can see inside ‘Fortnite: Save the World’ loot boxes before buying them
The V-Buck Llamas of Fortnite: Save the World will become X-Ray Llamas once the 7.30 patch is released. Players will be able to see the exact contents of the llama-shaped loot boxes before buying them, and if they do not like the contents, they can simply wait for the daily store refresh.
‘Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation Collection’ may be coming to Nintendo Switch
Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Collection for the Nintendo Switch was apparently leaked by listings on several Czech online stores. The compilation is rumored to include Assassin's Creed III and Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, which were originally released on various platforms in October 2012.
Don’t expect a Nintendo Switch successor or price cut, Nintendo’s president says
Gamers who are holding out from buying the Nintendo Switch in anticipation of a successor or price cut should buy the console now. Nintendo's President, Shuntaro Furukawa, debunked the rumors, even while reiterating the company's Nintendo Switch sales goal of 20 million units within its current fiscal year.
Xbox boss says Microsoft going ‘big’ at E3 2019 as Sony skips event
Microsoft will apparently have a "fun" and "big" E3 2019, according to Xbox head Phil Spencer. Microsoft is apparently not just committed to the annual video game event despite the absence of Sony, but rather, it is going all-in, with possible announcements of new games and its next-generation console.
‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ hopes to challenge ‘Fortnite’ with ‘PUBG Lite’
PUBG Lite, the slimmed-down, free-to-play version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, has started beta testing. PUBG Corp. will look to better challenge Fortnite with PUBG Lite, which will be a completely standalone game with its own development team to work on exclusive content, including maps.
Gamers angry as GameStop cancels ‘Kingdom Hearts 3’ PlayStation 4 Pro pre-orders
GameStop cancelled some pre-orders for the limited edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 Pro bundle, as the retailer apparently accepted too many of them. The $400 bundle comes with an intricately designed console and a matching controller, along with a copy of the game and exclusive digital content.
Overkill’s ‘The Walking Dead’ delayed indefinitely for PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Overkill's The Walking Dead for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have been postponed without a new release date, though console players might not be looking forward to it. The cooperative zombie shooter suffered massive delays, then received lukewarm reviews once it launched for the PC through Steam.
Goodbye, Machinima: YouTube gaming channel pulls the plug after 13 years
Machinima, a YouTube gaming channel that was launched in 2006, has suddenly shut down, with all of its videos set to private. There was no public announcement regarding the move by Otter Media, so the #RIPMachinima hashtag is now making the rounds in social media to reminisce about the channel's content.
Google Maps will now help drivers stay within speed limits, avoid speed traps
Google Maps will now start showing speed limits and speed camera locations, so that drivers will not be flagged for speeding tickets. The new features arrive to the app years after they were introduced in Waze, which Google acquired in 2013 for about $1 billion, with no need to update Google Maps.
Popular Android navigation apps are just Google Maps with ads, researcher says
A malware researcher found that 19 free Android navigation apps on the Google Play Store were nothing more than Google Maps, but with ads. One of the apps asked for a payment to remove the ads, while some were security risks as they asked for access to services that navigation apps do not need.
Facebook reportedly developing LOL meme app to try to appeal to teens
Facebook is reportedly developing an app named LOL, which will feature memes in the form of funny videos and GIF-like clips. The app is said to be in testing with a very limited private beta, but sources said that the app is "cringey" as it feels like a futile attempt of an adult trying to be young.
Windows 10 Mobile is dead: Switch to iOS or Android, Microsoft says
A Microsoft support page detailed the company's plans to end support for Windows 10 Mobile in less than a year, which means that there will no longer be any security updates for the operating system. Users with devices powered by the platform are suggested to switch to iOS or Android devices.