Author: Mobile Syrup

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Blizzard confirms Warcraft is coming to mobile this year

While a Warcraft mobile game has been rumoured since as early as 2017, we haven’t gotten any official word yet — until now.

During its Q4 2021 earnings report, Activision Blizzard confirmed that a mobile iteration is indeed coming in 2022.

No other details were provided, such as how the game will play or even what it will be called. Nonetheless, this is significant news, given the popularity of World of Warcraft.

It was also inevitable; in 2020, Activision Blizzard confirmed that all of its franchises would get new mobile entries. Over the past few years, we’ve seen that happen with the likes of Call of Duty Mobile, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! and the upcoming Diablo Immortal. Call of Duty Mobile alone made $1 billion USD (about $1.27 billion CAD) in 2021, per the Q4 earnings report.

It’s worth noting, though, that this news comes via a press release. That’s because the company skipped holding an earnings call. While a specific reason for that wasn’t provided, it’s likely due to a couple of factors.

Firstly, the company has been embroiled in significant controversy since last summer due to a California lawsuit. Following a years-long investigation, Activision Blizzard was accused of fostering a toxic work culture that led to the regular abuse of female employees. CEO Bobby Kotick has also come under fire for reportedly working to cover up these misconduct scandals. And most recently, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion (about $87 billion CAD).

Given these factors, it’s likely that the company didn’t want to respond to any inquiries during an earnings call. Ultimately, the next several months will be significant for Activision Blizzard, especially as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates the acquisition. It remains to be seen whether the deal will even be approved, but assuming it does, Microsoft has said it doesn’t expect it to close until “fiscal year 2023,” which could be up to 18 months from now.

Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apex Legends Mobile soft launch is coming soon, but not in Canada

Apex Legends Mobile is finally entering the pre-registration stage for a soft beta.

Unfortunately, Canadians will have to wait for the full version of the anticipated mobile take on the popular battle royale franchise.

The soft launch will only be available on Android in the following regions according to a recent tweet from Respawn: Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore, Australia and New Zealanl.

The above tweet notes that iOS players will need to “stay tuned” for more information.

Not much is known about the mobile version of Apex Legends beyond the fact that it won’t feature cross-play with the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch iterations of the tile.

Source: Respawn

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Nintendo says it isn’t interested in acquiring other game studios

During a recent investor’s call, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the Japanese gaming giant has no interest in buying other game studios.

“Our brand was built upon products crafted with dedication by our employees, and having a large number of people who don’t possess Nintendo DNA in our group would not be a plus to the company,” said Furukawa, according to Bloomberg.

This isn’t the first time Furukawa has alluded to this strategy. Back in November, Nintendo’s president said that it plans to spend 100 billion yen (about 1.1 billion CAD) on its own developers rather than investing in new studios.

That said, Nintendo does have some history with studio acquisitions. For example, last year the company acquired Vancouver-based Next Level Games, a developer that has worked on Nintendo titles for more than a decade, including, most recently, Luigi’s Mansion 3.

The video game industry has experienced a bit of an arms race lately when it comes to acquisitions. For example, Microsoft recently announced plans to acquire Activision blizzard in a deal valued at $68.7 billion USD (roughly 85.96 billion CAD), and just this week, Sony revealed that it’s purchased Bungie for $3.6 billion USD (roughly $4.6 billion CAD).

Given that Nintendo’s platforms have always been best known for the company’s own iconic franchises, including the Mario and Zelda series, it makes sense that the Japanese gaming plans to continue to stay the course in the increasingly consolidated gaming industry.

Source: Bloomberg 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Tesla to deliver OTA update to fix seatbelt audio cue bug

Nearly all recent Tesla-related news appears to be negative lately.

There are reports regarding the electric vehicles’ ‘Passenger Play’ feature that troubled the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recent issues regarding ‘Phantom Braking,’ and even cars rolling through stop signs.

Now, Tesla is recalling over 817,000 cars in the U.S. due to an issue preventing the seatbelt audio alert from activating, according to the NHTSA. It’s unclear if Tesla vehicles in Canada are also affected, but they likely are.

Models that are part of the recall include 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3 and 2020-2022 Model Y.

“This condition is limited to circumstances where the chime was interrupted in the preceding drive cycle and the seat belt was not buckled subsequent to that interruption (e.g., the driver exited the vehicle in the preceding drive cycle while the chime was active and later returned to the vehicle, creating a new drive cycle),” reads the safety recall report.

Tesla told the NHTSA that it was unaware of any crashes or injuries due to the issue, as of January 31st.

All models facing the issue will receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to fix the issue.

Via: Reuters

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Nintendo’s Switch has now outsold the Wii

Take that headline in.

The Switch, Nintendo’s home console-portable hybrid system, has managed to outsell the Wii, a system that was a bonafide cultural phenomenon in the mid-2000s.

According to the Japanese gaming giant’s latest earnings report, the Switch’s lifetime sales now sit at 103.54 million units compared to the Wii’s 101.63 million. This also means that the Switch is now Nintendo’s top-selling home console of all time, though it still lags behind the DS line at 154 million and the Game Boy at 118 million.

Though many expected Nintendo to release a mid-generation update to the Switch earlier this year given the system is approaching the five-year anniversary of its release, the fabled more powerful console has yet to materialize. Instead, the company released the Switch OLED model, a minor update to the Switch that features an OLED display.

Switch sales currently break down as follows: the standard Switch sold 11.79 million, the Switch OLED model sold 3.99 million and the Switch Lite sold 3.17 million. In total, all Switch models sold 18.95 million units.

In its earnings report, Nintendo states that it expects to ship 23 million Switches for the fiscal year, down from its 24 million projected in November and its earlier prediction of 25.5 million. Regarding individual game sales, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl sold 13.97 million units, Mario Party Superstars sold 5.43 million units, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD sold 3.85 million, and Metroid Dread sold 2.74 million copies.

Looking to the future, Pokémon Legends: Arceus just released last week and Kirby and the Forgotten Land launches in March.

Source: Nintendo 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here are Nvidia’s GeForce Now additions for February

Nvidia has announced the 30 new games it will be adding to its GeForce Now cloud streaming service over the course of February.

Check out games releasing this week below and scroll further to check titles releasing later in February:

Released or releasing this week

  • Life is Strange Remastered (New release on Steam, Feb. 1)
  • Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered (New release on Steam, Feb. 1)
  • Dying Light 2 Stay Human (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Feb. 4)
  • Warm Snow (Steam)

Releasing later in February

  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood (New release on Steam Feb. 7)
  • Sifu (New release on Epic Games Store, Feb. 8)
  • Diplomacy is Not an Option (New release on Steam, Feb. 9)
  • SpellMaster: The Saga (New release on Steam, Feb. 16)
  • Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition (New release on Steam, Feb. 22)
  • SCP: Pandemic (New release on Steam, Feb. 22)
  • Martha is Dead (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Feb. 24)
  • Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation (Steam)
  • AWAY: The Survival Series (Epic Games Store)
  • Citadel: Forged With Fire (Steam)
  • Escape Simulator (Steam)
  • Galactic Civilizations III (Steam)
  • Haven (Steam)
  • Labyrinthine Dreams (Steam)
  • March of Empires (Steam)
  • Modern Combat 5 (Steam)
  • Parkasaurus (Steam)
  • People Playground (Steam)
  • Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Steam)
  • Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (Steam)
  • Train Valley 2 (Steam)
  • TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children (Steam)
  • Truberbrook (Steam and Epic Games Store)
  • Two Worlds Epic Edition (Steam)
  • Valley (Steam)
  • The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (Epic Games Store)

Nvidia’s cloud gaming service offers two membership options. The first is the free route that will give you standard access to the platform with a one-hour gaming limit per session. Once the hour passes, you can queue again to get another hour of free gaming in, although you may have to wait a while.

Nvidia also offers a paid membership option that gives you priority access to gaming servers without any session length limit. This subscription will cost you $12.99/month or $64.99 for six months.

Learn more about Nvidia GeForce and its subscription options here.

Image credit: Nvidia

Source: Nvidia

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Check out Amazon’s updated daily deals

Amazon Canada’s updated Daily Deals discount several headphones, speakers, wearables and PC accessories along with a bunch of TVs and networking products.

Check out all the deals below:

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation): $149.99 (regularly $159.98)

Up to 26 percent off on TP-Link range extenders

Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls), Dolby Vision: $54.99 (regularly $69.99)

Up to 34 percent off on select Asus products

Samsung 65-inch Q60T 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart QLED TV (QN65Q60TAFXZC) [Canada Version]: $998 (regularly $1,298)

Up to 27 percent off on Corsair PC components

USB C to HDMI Adapter 4K Cable: $14.44 (regularly $16.99)

Up to 17 percent off on TP-Link Ethernet network switch

Facebook Portal Smart Video Calling 10-inch Touch Screen Display with Alexa Black: $99 (regularly $249)

Up to 20 percent off on Bose Personal Portable Speakers

JETech Case for iPad 10.2-Inch (2021/2020/2019 Model, 9/8/7 Generation): $16.99 (regularly $19.99)

Up to 20 percent off on Tile Bluetooth Trackers

Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds: $129.99 (regularly $239.99)

Up to 31 percent off on JBL speakers and sound bars

Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam 1080p Camera for HD Video Streaming: $99.99 (regularly $129.99)

Up to 29 percent off on Razer products

Huawei Fit Smartwatch: $98 (regularly $168)

Up to 28 percent off on Office and School supplies

Anker Portable Charger, PowerCore Essential 20000mAh Power Bank: $51.99 (regularly $64.99)

Up to 23 percent off on Jabra earbuds

TP-Link Tapo Smart Cam Pan Tilt Home WiFi Camera: $44.99 (regularly $49.99)

Up to 36 percent off on computer accessories

Anker USB C Charger, 20W: $19.54 (regularly $22.99)

Save on JBL Tune headphones

Logitech HD Portable 1080p Webcam C615 with Autofocus: $49.99 (regularly $89.99)

JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Deep Bass: $189.98 (regularly $239.98)

Kobo Nia 6-inch eReader: $109.98 (regularly $129.98)

Lexar 64GB USB Stick: $14.44 (regularly $17.99)

Samsung Galaxy A52 128GB Aura Black: $559.99 (regularly $659.99)

Skullcandy Sesh True Wireless Earbuds, Black (S2TDW-M003): $69.99

Amazon eero 6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system with built-in Zigbee smart home hub (1 eero 6 router + 2 eero 6 extenders): $279 (regularly $399)

Swivel Laptop Stand, Lamicall Laptop Riser – [360-Rotating]: $42.49 (regularly $49.99)

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition RGB CPU Air Cooler: $54.99

Toshiba 50-inch 4K UHD HDR LED Smart TV (50C350KC) – Fire TV Edition – 2021: $549.99 (regularly $629.99)



Go to Amazon deal store

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Image credit: Amazon
Source: Amazon
Categories
Mobile Syrup

Government releases ‘What We Heard’ report on online harms proposal

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 10, 2018: Canada Wordmark, the official logo of the Canadian government, on an administrative building next to a Canadian flag waiving

The government of Canada released its What We Heard: The Government’s proposed approach to address harmful content online report detailing responses to the proposed regulation of online harms.

The report highlights that the majority of respondents agree with the government about regulating online harm, but also raised numerous concerns about the complexity of the issues, unintended consequences, and more.

What We Heard draws from consultation with Canadians, social media platforms, stakeholders, industry, academia, civil society, and others from July 28th to September 25th, 2021. Notably, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) claimed the Liberal government hadn’t consulted with it back in October, which is concerning given the online harm regulations’ potential to undermine Canadian privacy rights.

In the report, the government said that respondents were “largely supportive” of some proposed elements, including:

  • A framework that would apply to all major platforms;
  • The exclusion of private and encrypted communications and telecommunications services;
  • Accessible and easy-to-use flagging mechanisms and clear appeal processes for users;
  • The need for platform transparency and accountability requirements;
  • The creation of new regulatory machinery to administer and enforce the regime;
  • Ensuring that the regulatory scheme protects Canadians from real-world violence emanating from the online space; and
  • The need for appropriate enforcement tools to address platform non-compliance.

The report also outlined several areas where respondents expressed concern, including:

  • Apart from major platforms, what other types of online services would be regulated and what the threshold for inclusion would be;
  • What content moderation obligations, if any, would be placed on platforms to reduce the spread of harmful content online, including the 24-hour removal provision and the obligation for platforms to proactively monitor their services for harmful content;
  • The independence and oversight of new regulatory bodies;
  • What types of content would be captured by the regime and how that content would be defined in relation to existing criminal law;
  • The proposed compliance and enforcement tools, including the blocking power; and
  • Mandatory reporting of content to law enforcement and national security agencies or preservation obligations.

Next steps and other concerns

In the coming weeks, the Department of Canadian Heritage plans to “engage a group of experts” who will collaborate with stakeholders and Canadians to provide advice to the government on how to adjust the proposal. In a press release, the government said that the work “will be carried out in a transparent and expedited manner.”

Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will propose a revised framework “as soon as possible.” Further, the government says it’s committed to “getting this right” and doing it “as quickly as possible,” although those two commitments seem at odds with each other.

Some expressed concern about the What We Heard report as well. Advocacy group OpenMedia shared on Twitter that the government’s acknowledgement of wrongdoing “barely scratches the surface” and called for concrete changes in upcoming versions of the proposal.

Those interested in learning more can find the What We Heard report here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: What We Heard, Government of Canada

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Government releases ‘What We Heard’ report on online harms proposal

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 10, 2018: Canada Wordmark, the official logo of the Canadian government, on an administrative building next to a Canadian flag waiving

The government of Canada released its What We Heard: The Government’s proposed approach to address harmful content online report detailing responses to the proposed regulation of online harms.

The report highlights that the majority of respondents agree with the government about regulating online harm, but also raised numerous concerns about the complexity of the issues, unintended consequences, and more.

What We Heard draws from consultation with Canadians, social media platforms, stakeholders, industry, academia, civil society, and others from July 28th to September 25th, 2021. Notably, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) claimed the Liberal government hadn’t consulted with it back in October, which is concerning given the online harm regulations’ potential to undermine Canadian privacy rights.

In the report, the government said that respondents were “largely supportive” of some proposed elements, including:

  • A framework that would apply to all major platforms;
  • The exclusion of private and encrypted communications and telecommunications services;
  • Accessible and easy-to-use flagging mechanisms and clear appeal processes for users;
  • The need for platform transparency and accountability requirements;
  • The creation of new regulatory machinery to administer and enforce the regime;
  • Ensuring that the regulatory scheme protects Canadians from real-world violence emanating from the online space; and
  • The need for appropriate enforcement tools to address platform non-compliance.

The report also outlined several areas where respondents expressed concern, including:

  • Apart from major platforms, what other types of online services would be regulated and what the threshold for inclusion would be;
  • What content moderation obligations, if any, would be placed on platforms to reduce the spread of harmful content online, including the 24-hour removal provision and the obligation for platforms to proactively monitor their services for harmful content;
  • The independence and oversight of new regulatory bodies;
  • What types of content would be captured by the regime and how that content would be defined in relation to existing criminal law;
  • The proposed compliance and enforcement tools, including the blocking power; and
  • Mandatory reporting of content to law enforcement and national security agencies or preservation obligations.

Next steps and other concerns

In the coming weeks, the Department of Canadian Heritage plans to “engage a group of experts” who will collaborate with stakeholders and Canadians to provide advice to the government on how to adjust the proposal. In a press release, the government said that the work “will be carried out in a transparent and expedited manner.”

Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will propose a revised framework “as soon as possible.” Further, the government says it’s committed to “getting this right” and doing it “as quickly as possible,” although those two commitments seem at odds with each other.

Some expressed concern about the What We Heard report as well. Advocacy group OpenMedia shared on Twitter that the government’s acknowledgement of wrongdoing “barely scratches the surface” and called for concrete changes in upcoming versions of the proposal.

Those interested in learning more can find the What We Heard report here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: What We Heard, Government of Canada

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Upcoming Steam update will let you check game size from the library screen

Valve-owned Steam will soon let users check out the size of titles on the ‘library’ page before they install them.

Normally, you would have to click install to see the required disk space and estimated download time (as seen in the image on the left), but with the upcoming update, these details will be available to view front and center (as seen in the image on the right).

While this isn’t a major update, it sure does make the process of scouring through games relatively easy. The feature is rolling out as part of a beta update, and should be available to all steam users in the coming weeks.

This comes shortly after Steam redesigned its downloads page to display more information on download and installation progress, along with an improved section to manage storage.

This latest update arrives almost half a month before Steam’s long-awaited Steam Deck goes on sale.  The handheld PC was delayed last year due to parts shortages but will be available starting February 25th, starting at $499 CAD.