Category: Technology

GOG has made it much easier to install and run game mods, which has long been a sticking point for fans looking to get into fan-made creations. Certain mods will now offer a simple “install” button, so it’ll be ready to play with just a single click. These mods come packed in with the game, so you don’t even have to peck around the internet for hours on end.

The company promises that each mod has been “pre-packed, pre-tested” and will be “ready to go.” There is, however, one major caveat. This feature is only available for a curated selection of mods, so other mods will have to be installed the old-fashioned way.

Luckily, this curated list contains some real gems. These include Heroes of Might and Magic III: Horn of the Abyss and DOOM 3: Phobos. Perhaps the most notable of the bunch is last year’s Fallout: London. This impressive fan-made update of Fallout 4 brings the action to London, giving players access to a brand-new, massive map.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyblivion is missing for now, but GOG says this fan-made remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion that uses the Skyrim engine is coming soon. However, an official remaster of Oblivion came out earlier this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/gog-adds-a-one-click-option-to-install-select-mods-165408239.html?src=rss 

Supermassive’s well-regarded interactive survival horror series, the Dark Pictures Anthology, is ready for its second season. Directive 8020 will be its first entry and was available to play in demo form at SGF 2025, even if it was heavily weighted with cutscenes and context-setting preamble.

The demo kicked off with a meeting between Young and Stafford, marking the anniversary of Young’s father’s death, who was also a long-time friend of Stafford’s – the commander of the space mission that Young is also bound for.

The plot then leaps four years forward, placing us aboard the spaceship Cassiopeia. Oh and it’s somehow overrun by some fungal, sentient alien goop. Worse still, but also a horror staple, the goop is coalescing into almost-perfect copies of the human crew. Trust no-one!

When the hydroponics bay is overrun by an alien substance, two crewmates Cernan and Stafford, have to fight their ET doppelgangers. Finally, I got to play (but only for a few minutes), moving stealthily around the lower deck of the hydroponics bay while my alien copy (now fungal and angry) tried to hunt me down. Fortunately, you’re equipped with a scanner to mark where the aliens were last seen, and after triggering a nearby hydroponic pod to distract, I made my way up the ladder.

This was one of three ways to play this section, handily introducing a new mechanic for The Dark Pictures’ second run: Turning Points. Using this feature, you can rewind to these decision trees, allowing you to replay sections and explore different options or alter the outcome. This is an interesting change for the series. In previous games, while you could rewind to replay entire sections in macro, there was no way to change a single micro decision.

I discussed this with my colleague Jessica Conditt, and we’re both the kind of players to continue with our terrible decisions in games like Directive 8020, the Dark Pictures Anthology, Until Dawn and the rest. Fortunately, then, Directive 8020 will include a hard-boiled Survivor Mode – with no rewinds.

The demo shifted back to a more narrative focus and cutscenes, briefly interrupted by the possibility that one crew member (specifically, the CEO funding the whole operation) might be an alien. Did I pull the trigger? Nope. I’ll have to wait til the October launch to know if that was the right decision to make.

Directive 8020 launches on 2nd October, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/directive-8020-turning-points-explained-hands-on-170049793.html?src=rss 

As part of an overhaul to its operating systems, Apple is making one of the most significant changes ever to its OS branding, the company announced at its WWDC 25 developer’s conference. Starting in 2026, it will shift from the current version numbers (macOS 15, iOS 18, iPadOS 18.5, etc.) to a year-based system across its entire OS lineup. As such, the names will change to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, TVOS 26 and VisionOS 26 and follow that pattern going forward. Future Mac operating systems will still retain their California nature themes like Tahoe (the next version of macOS) and the current Sequoia.

The change is understandable — keeping track of Apple’s latest updates was getting to be a chore for users given the number of unique operating systems. With the addition of the Vision Pro extended reality headset, the company now counts six OS families with four unique numbering schemes. 

Apple’s iPhones will retain the current numbering system, however. Recall that Samsung switched to a year-based Galaxy S phone naming system in 2020 after the Galaxy S10, with the current model being the Galaxy S25. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards (yet) for Apple. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/ios-26-is-official-apple-changes-from-version-numbers-to-years-for-its-os-names-172129166.html?src=rss 

Every year, iOS is one of the star attractions of Apple‘s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. It’s our first official look at new features and other changes that are coming to iPhones in the fall. The 2025 WWDC keynote was no exception, and the most immediate change is to the iOS naming system. 

As was recently reported, Apple operating systems will all be named after years to keep everything aligned. So instead of iOS 19, we’re jumping up to iOS 26. The same goes for iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and so on. The versions will be named for the year after major annual OS updates (so iOS 26 for the version that arrives in fall 2025 etc), but it should still help mitigate some confusion as to which is the current version.

There’s a lot more to this version of iOS than a change to the numbering system, so let’s dig right in.

A major redesign

Beyond the naming system, the biggest change this year is a major visual overhaul across Apple’s operating systems. These responsive, translucent user interfaces are inspired by the look of visionOS, the OS that powers Apple Vision Pro. 

It was reported over the weekend that Apple’s new user interface design language would be built around a concept called Liquid Glass, and that turned out to be dead on. There is a larger focus on factors like light and transparency here. 

App icons and buttons have new looks, while toolbars and tab bars will have a see-through appearance. Apple is also making use of pop-out menus that’ll offer quick access to certain options — that reminds me a bit of the “peek and pop” 3D Touch functions Apple introduced to the iPhone a decade ago). Widgets aren’t going anywhere, though they’re getting a new look to match the rest of the design updates.

It’s been over a decade since the last major change to the look of user interfaces on Apple devices (not counting the new UI for the Apple Vision Pro). With iOS 7, which debuted in 2013, Apple jettisoned its skeuomorphic design language for a flatter, more simplified look.

Core app updates

Apple is giving several core apps notable updates in iOS 26. In the Phone app, it’s pulling together your recent calls and voicemails into a single tab, with your favorite contacts above those. You’ll be able to see Apple Intelligence summaries of voicemail transcripts. 

A call screening tool can automatically answer calls from unknown numbers as well. You’ll be able to see on your iPhone screen who is calling and why, so you can decide whether to answer. 

On FaceTime calls, you’ll see that Apple has moved the major controls to the bottom right of the screen for easier access. Safari will have a more transparent address bar in the updated OS. 

As for the Camera app, Apple is looking to simplify that a bit after adding several features like slow-motion video and panoramic photos over the last several years. You’ll switch between still photo and video options with a swipe. Tabs are blessedly coming back to the Photos app too.

In Messages, you’ll have the ability to set a background image and create polls (much as you can in other messaging apps). The backgrounds will be the same for everyone in the chat, as they are in the likes of Messenger. It’ll be possible to send and receive Apple Cash payments in group chats, which will also be getting typing indicators. 

Also, on-device spam detection for Messages is in the pipeline. That’s a very welcome update, though if Apple handles all of that for me, I’ll kinda miss replying to scammers with a carefully crafted insult before immediately blocking and reporting them.

AI features

Apple Intelligence hasn’t exactly been a huge success for the company so far, but there are AI-powered features that seem genuinely useful coming to iOS 26. Apple is integrating translation tools more deeply into the operating system, so you may not have to switch over to Translate (or, perhaps more likely, Google Translate) as often.

The most impactful aspect of that will be live translation for phone calls, FaceTime and Messages, powered by on-device models. That could be a massive deal for many iPhone users. Live translation for lyrics in Apple Music is cool — I might finally be able to sing a proper version of the Babymetal verse in “Ratatata.”

Since WWDC is an event that’s largely for developers, news that they’ll be able to tap into on-device Foundation Models for their apps could be a boon. Among other things, they’ll be able to integrate live translation into their apps. 

There are minor updates elsewhere, such as to Genmoji (you’ll have the option to combine two existing emoji). The upgraded Siri Apple has been talking about for a while is still in the works, and we’ll hear more about that later this year.

This story is developing; refresh for updates…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-reveals-comprehensive-redesign-for-ios-26-at-wwdc-2025-171650751.html?src=rss 

Apple had a lot to say about iOS 26 at WWDC 2025. Translation will be a hallmark of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to the iPhone operating system next year. During this year’s annual showcase at Cupertino, the team revealed that it is adding live translation of calls and texts, with integration into the Messages, Phone and FaceTime apps.

The translations are spoken aloud and also appear written out in the original language. Leslie Ikemoto noted that live translations will also be available even when communicating with a non-Apple smartphone. 

Apple added some translation features to Siri all the way back in iOS 11, then launched its own dedicated Translate app as part of iOS 14. Those capabilities will now be more thoroughly baked into the iPhones’ operating system as part of the Apple Intelligence suite.

This story is developing, please refresh for updates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-introduces-ai-powered-live-translation-tools-at-wwdc-2025-173605234.html?src=rss 

Apple is rolling out a new, dedicated gaming app, called Games, that will come pre-installed on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices. It’s basically a spit-shined, updated version of Game Center, a service that Apple has let languish since its rollout roughly 15 years ago. The new app will behave more like a modern gaming hub, a la Xbox or GOG Galaxy. It’ll include a space for leaderboards, matchmaking, recommendations and launching games — plus a direct pipeline to Apple Arcade, of course. You can see what your friends are playing and challenge them to specific feats in certain games.

Apple’s gaming push in recent years includes mobile and Mac support for AAA experiences like Resident Evil Village, the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes, Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. At Summer Game Fest 2025 over the weekend, IO Interactive announced that its Hitman trilogy, Hitman World of Assassination, is heading to iPhone, iPad and Mac this summer.

Also on the video game front, Apple is still battling Epic Games in court over claims of anti-competitive behavior, but they’re mainly just closing out appeals now that Fortnite is live on the App Store and third-party payments are enabled on Apple’s storefront. Xbox recently threw its support behind Epic Games, filing an amicus brief accusing Apple of unfairly blocking the Xbox mobile store in late May.

Also also in game land, last month Apple acquired its first video game studio, the two-person team RAC7, which makes Sneaky Sasquatch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-unveils-a-dedicated-games-app-at-wwdc-2025-174028901.html?src=rss