Category: Technology

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 

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 

It’s been a few years since we last heard anything about the Space Invaders movie that is reportedly in the works, but a new report suggests things are inching forward again. According to Deadline, Ben Zazove and Evan Turner (The Out-Laws) are now on board to write the movie for Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema.

A movie adaptation of Taito’s classic arcade game has been brewing for over a decade now, after Warner Bros. bought the rights to spin it into a film back in 2014. It was reported in 2019 that screenwriter Gregg Russo (Mortal Kombat 2021) had been tapped to write the script, but it seems some changes have been made in the years since. There’s no word yet on a release date or how it’ll approach the alien invasion story. Video game adaptations have been having a bit of a moment lately, though, so they may be looking to ride that momentum and actually bring this one to life now. Time will tell.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-space-invaders-movie-is-apparently-still-happening-210851306.html?src=rss 

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 

The astronauts part of SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission are on their way back home. Their Dragon capsule called Endurance is scheduled to splash down at approximately 11:33 AM Eastern time off the coast of California. Endurance undocked from the International Space Station at 6:15PM Eastern on August 8 with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov onboard. They stayed on the ISS for five months and left a week after Crew-11 arrived to take their place. 

While they were on the space station, Crew-10 helped expand our knowledge on the physiological and psychological changes humans undergo on long-duration missions that range from weeks to a year. They also observed how blood flows from the brain to the heart in microgravity, among the other studies and experiments they conducted. 

As NASA notes, this will be its first Commercial Crew mission to splash down into the Pacific Ocean, as previous capsules splashed down off the coast of Florida. NASA will broadcast the crew’s return, with its coverage starting at 10:15AM today, August 9. You can watch Endurance splash down into the ocean on NASA+ or on the YouTube video embedded below. NASA will also hold a teleconference after retrieving the astronauts and will broadcast the event on its website. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/watch-nasas-spacex-crew-10-astronauts-return-to-earth-133004329.html?src=rss 

Welcome to our latest recap of what’s going on in the indie game space. This week, Nintendo held its latest Indie World showcase to spotlight titles that are coming to Switch and Switch 2, as well as some that arrived on the eShop on the day of the presentation.

One of the latter was UFO 50, which featured on many best of 2024 lists after it debuted on PC. Another was Is This Seat Taken?, which is about placing picky people in the right seats. This chill puzzle game from Poti Poti Studio and publisher Wholesome Games Presents arrived on Steam, iOS and Android as well this week. It has a look that reminds me a little of last year’s pretty platformer, Schim.

Looking further ahead, the Indie World revealed the October release date for Ball x Pit, a Breakout-esque roguelite I’m very excited for. In addition, Mina the Hollower, the next game from Shovel Knight studio Yacht Club Games that we already knew was coming to Steam on Halloween, has been confirmed for a Switch and Switch 2 release on the same day.

The showcase also revealed that Neverway, a creepy life-sim RPG from a studio founded by Pedro Medeiros (the pixel artist of Celeste) and Murder Engine creator Isadora Sophia, is coming to Switch and Steam in 2026. Meanwhile, sci-fi RPG Caves of Qud is coming to Switch as a console exclusive later this year. This is a turn-based, sci-fi roguelike RPG from Freehold Games and publisher Kitfox Games that’s rated overwhelmingly positive on Steam after nearly 10,000 player reviews (a quick scan indicates that those who get into Caves of Qud can sink hundreds of hours into it).

Elsewhere, The International Game Developers Association, The International Game Developers Association Foundation and Women in Games International teamed up for an interesting announcement this week. The organizations are collaborating on a project called Port Quest, which is designed to help successful developers bring their games to mobile platforms. Studios who take part can receive assistance from industry veterans, access to workshops and more.

Applications are open now and will close on September 15. Those chosen to participate will be featured in a showcase. However, only games that have earned at least $10,000 per month for the last six months are eligible. The games can’t have previously been made available on mobile devices either.

New releases

A game called Ritual of Raven, from Spellgarden Games and publisher Team17, arrived on Steam and Switch this week. It’s billed as a “cozy, story-based farming sim” but you’re not going to be making your character till the land, plant seeds and carefully nurture crops here. 

Instead, this is more of a deckbuilder, as you’ll collect tarot cards and make use of their magical powers to do the work for you. It seems like an interesting twist on the Stardew Valley formula, especially if you’re into card-based games.

Kimchi: A Stars in the Trash Story is a free, short game from Valhalla Cats that dropped this week on Steam and Itch.io — just in time for International Cat Day. As a kitten named Kimchi, you’ll explore a cat museum and solve puzzles as you learn about the history of cats.

This is a spinoff of Stars in the Trash, a hand-drawn platform adventure with a gorgeous aesthetic that came out late last year. I bought that game months ago but haven’t gotten around to playing it. The arrival of Kimchi is a good reminder for me to do that.

I mentioned this one in a previous edition of this roundup, though I can’t help but highlight it again (not least because I feel the need to switch things up after highlighting a couple of cozy games). Turbo Kid is a delightfully gory Metroidvania that acts as a quasi-sequel to a film of the same name that I utterly adore. It finally landed on Switch this week, alongside an update for a PC update that enhances a lot of the weapons and makes them easier to acquire. Outerminds says the update also brings performance improvements to lower-spec systems.

Upcoming

A foraging adventure called Out and About was supposed to debut this week, but it’s been pushed back by a few days as Yaldi Games unfortunately didn’t check the Early Access box in Steam’s publishing tools. As such, the studio has had to delay the game’s arrival until this Monday. That’s a bit of a pity for a developer that’s releasing its first-ever game, but Yaldi’s transparency here is quite endearing.

In any case, Out and About will see you gathering fungi and wild plants to help you cook delectable dishes and put together herbal remedies. You’ll also be helping to rebuild your community following a powerful storm. The game features real-life plants, so you might learn how to identify flora when you’re out and about in the real world and perhaps do some actual foraging of your own.

Rogue Labyrinth looks absolutely gorgeous, with a look that reminds me of my favorite game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In this story-driven action title from Tea Witch Games and publisher indie.io, you’ll seemingly be able to turn anything into a projectile (including deflected enemy attacks) by whacking it with your smacking stick. 

You’ll play as a nomad named Iris who returns home only to find that the place where you grew up has been converted into a labyrinth that hosts a reality show. The labyrinth is home to randomized biomes that feature monsters and allies alike. Rogue Labyrinth is coming to Steam on September 1. A demo, which I might just check out this weekend, is available now.

Atari revealed this week that Adventure of Samsara — a spiritual successor to Atari 2600 title Adventure from 1980 — is set to arrive on September 4. It’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam and GOG.

In this pixel art Metroidvania from developer Ilex Games, you’ll attempt to restore balance to the multiverse. To do that, you’ll need to explore a series of connected biomes and take down tough bosses. Of course, you’ll gain abilities and upgrades while you’re on your journey, because that’s how Metroidvanias work.

I think my favorite thing about Autumn with the Shiba Inu is that it’s a sequel to a battle royale mystery visual novel called A Summer with the Shiba Inu, so I have two of these games to check out. This is a mystery visual novel from Quill Game Studios that puts you in the paws of Quei-Li, a freelance hacker tasked with uncovering information in a corruption case.

There are multiple endings here, which should encourage replayability, and I appreciate the lovely doggo illustrations by artist Alicia García Ochoa in the trailer. Autumn with the Shiba Inu is coming to Steam on August 14, and a trailer is available now.

Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop is a point-and-click adventure in the vein of those LucasArts games from the ’80s and ’90s. In this project from Arik Games and Edo Brenes, you play as a dude who just wants to drink a pilsner when all that can be found are craft beers and gross IPAs (I can’t stand IPAs, sorry). Since a master brewer has banned pilsners, you’ll have to make your own by acquiring the right ingredients and gear, then entering a brewing contest.

This is a sequel to 2020’s Dude, Where Is My Beer? and I love the Star Wars pun in the sequel’s title. There’s no release window for Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop as yet, but there’s a demo up on Steam now.

Let’s wrap things up for this week with a game that’s “inspired by analog horror, outsider art and the liminal landscapes of David Lynch and Andrei Tarkovsky.” Concierge is a surrealist, non-linear game in which you’ll use a camcorder to help uncover clues and solve puzzles and trials that might require some outside-the-box thinking. This project from two-person Brazilian duo Kodino Artes and publisher Digital Tribe Games looks pretty compelling to me. Concierge is coming to Steam on September 15.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-magical-farming-sim-cat-museum-exploration-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-120042340.html?src=rss 

The dream of Chromebooks that double as gaming laptops appears to be on its last legs. 9to5Google reports that Google is ending support for Steam for Chromebooks starting January 1, 2026. Porting the application launcher was part of an extended push from the company to make Chromebooks a place to play games. Companies like ASUS and Acer announced and released gaming Chromebooks, but the idea never seemed to catch on.

Google’s plan to retire Steam for Chromebooks was discovered when 9to5Google tried to install the launcher on a new laptop. “The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026,” a new notice reads when you download Steam. “After this date, games installed as part of the Beta will no longer be available to play on your device. We appreciate your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which will inform the future of Chromebook gaming.”

Engadget has contacted Google and Valve for confirmation that Steam for Chromebooks is being discontinued. We’ll update this article if we hear back.

Reports that Steam would eventually be available on ChromeOS started as far back as 2020. The joint effort to port the launcher to Chromebooks was a surprise announcement at GDC 2022. Google released a Steam alpha that March, which ultimately worked better than expected. A beta version of the app came a few months later in November, adding support for several new Chromebooks. The app has existed in beta since then, without any major updates from Google or Valve.

One reason Google could be giving up is that the number of games that can actually run on Chromebooks is limited, thanks to the underpowered CPUs and integrated graphics that most ChromeOS devices use. Valve’s Proton compatibility software — which helps Windows games run on the Linux-based Steam Deck — is technically available for Chromebooks, but it can’t make up for a lack of processing power.

Without Steam, using either NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming is the best option for running modern console and PC games on your Chromebook. ChromeOS can also runs Android apps, but then you have to be comfortable playing what you can get from the Play Store.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-for-chromebooks-is-reportedly-being-discontinued-194020340.html?src=rss