Category: Technology

The long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is coming on December 4 to both the original Switch and the recently-released Switch 2, as announced during today’s Nintendo Direct livestream. The Switch 2 is getting a dedicated version with upscaled graphics and some other bells and whistles, just like the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

We already knew the next Metroid would drop sometime in 2025, but it’s nice to have an actual release date. We got a nifty trailer for the first-person adventure earlier this year that showed off new power-ups for protagonist Samus Aran. The game looks very fun and certainly seems to capture the spirit of its predecessors.

The plot involves Samus exploring a large planet and battling malevolent alien creatures which more than likely include the titular Metroids. This is a first-person game, unlike the relatively recent Metroid Dread, with an emphasis on scanning the environment, shooting enemies and solving puzzles. She has a cool-looking motorbike this time around, with an Amiibo figure to match. The trailer also shows off some wide-open sections to explore.

The first Metroid Prime was released all the way back in 2002 for the Nintendo Gamecube. The fourth entry has experienced a rocky development cycle, with Nintendo scrapping the project entirely in 2019 to start over from scratch.

The Metroid series dates back to 1986 with the NES original. The franchise represents one half of the popular Metroidvania genre, which is buzzy right now thanks to the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. A price has not yet been announced.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/metroid-prime-4-will-be-released-on-december-4-for-switch-1-and-2-134718933.html?src=rss 

Donkey Kong Bananza, probably my favorite game of the year, is getting a paid expansion today called DK Island & Emerald Rush. As the title implies, you’ll get to explore the island where Donkey Kong hails from and visit a whole host of his friends while you’re at it. Naturally, there is more to explore and find there, but there’s also a whole new set of challenges once you’ve finished the main game story. That’s the titular Emerald Rush. 

The timed missions involve you running around the island smashing as much green ore as you can get. As you go, smashing fossils you find unlocks various perks, which in turn help you amass more emeralds. Some of those perks act as multipliers on how much emerald you collect; others do things like make more treasure chests (that are naturally loaded with emeralds) appear. In somewhat roguelike fashion, your perks and skill reset after every run — but the location of things like fossils and Banandium Gems stay the same. So as you learn the levels, you’ll be able to further maximize your collection. 

Emerald Rush mode isn’t limited to the new DK Island layer, either — it’ll be integrated into other layers in the main game. As with everything else in Donkey Kong Bananza, it looks like a pretty delightful time. The DLC is set to go live today, but it’s not up in the Nintendo eShop yet so its price remains a mystery.

If you haven’t played the main game yet, Nintendo also released a demo that you can try later today, as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/donkey-kong-bananza-is-getting-a-dlc-expansion-today-140016430.html?src=rss 

Nintendo had a truly wild surprise up its sleeve for Switch Online + Expansion Pack during its Direct event on Friday. The company is bringing back the Virtual Boy as a physical device into which you can slot your Switch or Switch 2. A plastic replica of the mid-90s tabletop system will soon be available for Switch Online members to buy. The company will sell a cardboard version of the accessory too. No need to rub your eyes in disbelief (but if history is any indication, you might have to for relief after using this thing).

You’ll need either accessory to play Virtual Boy games, which will start hitting Switch Online + Expansion Pack on February 17. Mario’s Tennis (a pack-in game for the original system), Galactic Pinball, Teleroboxer, Space Invaders and Tetris are among the 14 stereoscopic 3D Virtual Boy games that Nintendo will bring to the subscription service over time. 

That means most of the Virtual Boy games that were ever released are coming to Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Nintendo only released 22 of them, since the Virtual Boy never took off. The company ended production of the device and stopped making games for it in 1996, only a year after the Virtual Boy hit shelves. Here’s hoping the latest version of the accessory doesn’t give players too many headaches.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-is-bringing-back-the-virtual-boy-as-a-switch-and-switch-2-accessory-140037508.html?src=rss 

In one of the most unexpected announcements of today’s Nintendo Direct, Game Freak revealed Pokémon Pokopia, a game that is clearly inspired by the Animal Crossing series. When Pokopia is released sometime next year, you’ll assume the role of a Ditto determined to make a comfortable home for their friends. This Ditto has assumed the form of a human, and as they meet new Pokémon, they’ll learn abilities they can use to transform their community. In turn, this work will lead to more Pokémon coming to live in your home. The game features a beautiful tilt-shift art style that is reminiscent of Pokémon’s third generation of games that debuted on the Game Boy Advance. 

No word yet on an exact release date, but the game will be a Switch 2 exclusive. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/pokemon-pokopia-looks-like-animal-crossing-for-pokemon-fans-and-im-here-for-it-141239467.html?src=rss 

This week, managing editor Cherlynn Low and senior reporter Karissa Bell are joined by The Verge’s Allison Johnson to talk all about the new iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17. We also answered some questions from Threads and talk about our hopes and dreams from the next Apple event. Also, Devindra and Ben chat about some recent news, including a truly awful AI podcasting company.

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Topics

Cherlynn, Karissa, and a special guest break down the iPhone 17 news from Apple headquarters – 1:04

Notes from the iPhone Air hands on – 14:59

Once again, a big Apple event with no mention of Apple Intelligence – 40:27

Animated movie Critterz will use OpenAI’s tech to try to make a CGI movie on a shoestring budget – 59:24

Inception Point AI wants to use virtual hosts to make 5,000 new podcast episodes a week – 1:04:26

David Zaslav thinks HBO Max should be more expensive, because of course he does – 1:23:27

Working on – 1:25:41

Pop culture picks – 1:28:29

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low
Guests: Karissa Bell and Allison Johnson
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-a-deeper-dive-into-the-iphone-17-and-iphone-air-124536155.html?src=rss 

Apple’s iPhone Air launch may be delayed in China due to regulations around its eSIM-only nature, the South China Morning Post announced. Apple’s mainland China site now states that “release information [will] be updated later,” where previously it said that pre-orders would start at 8PM on September 19. The Beijing branch of China Telecom has also pulled a post from the RedNote social media platform announcing that it would launch its eSIM service this month. All other iPhone models (the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max) will launch as scheduled next Friday.

Due to its slim 5.6 mm thickness, Apple decided to make the iPhone Air its first model with no physical SIM card option. However, it has always sold iPhones in China with SIM card support that allows customers to easily link their identity to a cellular phone. Because an eSIM is built in, though, customers who want an iPhone Air must appear in person at a retail store to get it approved. Apple notes that “all other iPhone models, including those purchased outside of China mainland, are unable to install an eSIM profile from carriers in China mainland.”

China Unicom was supposed to support eSIM at launch to start with, according to a cached Apple support document, with China Telecom and China Mobile following later. However, the same document now states that eSIM support for the iPhone Air is still “pending regulatory approval.” A representative from China Telecom said that approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology would arrive “very soon,” according to the SCMP. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-air-orders-in-china-may-be-delayed-due-to-esim-issue-130048242.html?src=rss 

Nintendo just dropped a trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the immensely popular The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This is good timing, given that tomorrow is officially the mustached plumber’s 40th birthday. It hits theaters on April TK, 2026.

We’ve known this movie was coming for a while now, and even had an approximate release date. Now we have a trailer and it’s a doozy. Shared during today’s Nintendo Direct livestream event, the footage shows several deep-cut characters and locations from throughout the Mushroom Kingdom (and beyond.)

This is a teaser trailer, however, so we still don’t know too much about the plot. We do know that many of the first film’s actors are returning for the sequel, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach.

The sequel is something of a no-brainer, given that the first film was a cultural juggernaut. It’s the most financially successful video game adaptation of all time and the third highest-grossing animated film ever. All told, it banked around $1.36 billion at the box office.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-will-be-marios-next-crack-at-the-big-screen-130840015.html?src=rss 

Apple’s Awe Dropping event started with dramatic health testimonials from Apple Watch users, then revealed a key new feature for the new Watch Series 11: hypertension alerts. The function had yet to receive FDA approval at the time, but that has now been granted, according to Bloomberg. As a result, it will reportedly be available to users in 150 countries when the Watch 11 and Ultra Watch 3 ship starting on September 19. 

Hypertension alerts can help detect hypertension (high blood pressure), a potentially dangerous condition that affects over a billion people. The feature relies on the Watch’s optical heart sensor, but now uses new machine learning algorithm that also draws from a study involving more than 100,000 participants to look for high blood pressure. It works in the background a month-long period to seek patterns associated with hypertension. Unlike devices that measure your specific blood pressure, it only tells users that there may be a danger. 

Last year, Apple received the FDA’s nod for its over-the-counter Hearing Aid function that transforms the second-gen AirPods Pro into OTC hearing aids for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Another recently approved feature is sleep apnea detection. However, the company is currently facing a lawsuit over the Apple Watch’s redesigned blood oxygen monitoring feature.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-receives-fda-approval-for-hypertension-alerts-120046036.html?src=rss 

Microsoft is no longer in trouble with the European Commission, at least when it comes to Teams. The commission has accepted the changes and commitments the company made in response to its concerns related to Microsoft’s bundling of its Teams collaboration platform with its other apps. This particular antitrust saga started years ago when Slack filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft, claiming that it illegally bundled its work chat competitor with the popular Office suite. The commission opened a formal investigation into the matter in 2023 and found in 2024 that Microsoft did indeed violate antitrust laws. 

“Microsoft may have granted Teams a distribution advantage by not giving customers the choice whether or not to acquire access to Teams when they subscribe to their SaaS productivity applications,” the commission said at the time. “This advantage may have been further exacerbated by interoperability limitations between Teams’ competitors and Microsoft’s offerings.” The company was facing a fine equivalent to 10 percent of its annual worldwide turnover. 

Even before the commission published its preliminary finding, Microsoft already unbundled Teams from Office 365 and Microsoft 365 productivity suites across the European Union. However, the commission found the changes it implemented “insufficient to address its concerns.” So Microsoft made several commitments to avoid a fine, including offering customers in Europe versions of its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites without Teams. Those versions are sold at an “appreciably lower price.” The company also committed not to offer discount rates on Teams or on suites with Teams included. Microsoft gave Teams’ competitors “effective interoperability” with some of its products and services, as well, and allowed them to embed Office apps in their own products. In addition, it allowed customers in Europe to extract their Teams messaging data for use in competing services.

The commission tested those commitments between May and June this year. In response to the commission’s test results, Microsoft further increased the price difference between the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites with Teams and those without by 50 percent. The company also has to display suites options without Teams if it advertises its suites options with the messaging app. “The commitments offered by Microsoft will remain in force for seven years, except for the commitments related to interoperability and data portability which will remain in force for ten years,” the commission wrote. A trustee will be monitoring Microsoft’s implementation and will be making sure it remains true to its commitments within that timeframe. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/microsoft-escapes-eu-antitrust-fine-after-unbundling-teams-123052522.html?src=rss