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Alienware’s Concept Nyx is all about streaming games over your local Wi-Fi

In classic CES fashion, Dell-owned gaming PC company Alienware is showing off a concept device you’ll probably never be able to buy that can power games across multiple screens in your home.

Engadget, which detailed Alienware’s ‘Concept Nyx’ extensively, described it as a Plex server but for video games. In short, Nyx appears to be a powerful gaming PC set up as a server. It handles all the complexities of gaming — rendering the content, connecting to networks, receiving inputs, etc. Then, Nyx streams the visuals over your local Wi-Fi network to whatever display you want to use, be it your TV, monitor or smartphone.

Perhaps the most unique part of Concept Nyx is Alienware’s pitch is that it can play multiple games simultaneously, even on the same screen. This looks really cool on paper (and in Alienware’s promotional material), almost like the couch co-op gaming of the early console era, except everyone on the couch can play their own game.

In practice, the feature doesn’t quite live up to Alienware’s pitch, according to Engadget reporters who went hands-on with Nyx. Engadget says running games simultaneously on a TV caused them to show up in tiny windows rather than cover half the screen like how Alienware shows it in promo materials.

Still, it is Concept Nyx, after all, so some hiccups are to be expected. Alienware representatives also couldn’t share details about what powers Nyx.

Further, since Nyx is a concept, there’s a chance it will never become a product that people can actually buy. Engadget notes that Alienware previously integrated parts of concept devices into new products. I could see future Alienware gaming PCs shipping with a Nyx app that lets you run games and stream them to another screen.

There are already ways to stream games over your local network

Of course, several products already do this. Popular PC game store and launcher Steam has a built-in ‘Remote Play’ feature that lets users launch a game on their computer and stream the visuals to another device (like a laptop with Steam or a smartphone). There’s also Nvidia’s ‘GameStream’ for playing games from your Nvidia-powered PC on an Nvidia Shield TV device.

While there’s a lot of potential with Nyx and other local streaming options, I also have to note that local streaming isn’t that great (at least in my experience). The few times I’ve tried to use Steam Remote Play, I’ve run into countless issues. Whenever I finally got it to work, the actual experience playing games was frustrating due to immense input lag. Others have had better luck than I have, but local streaming still needs some work before it can be a reliable option for most gamers.

Image credit: Dell (via Engadget)

Source: Engadget

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Here are the free games hitting Amazon Prime Gaming in January 2022

Every month, Amazon Prime Gaming offers a selection of games at no additional cost to Prime subscribers.

In January, Prime members can snag the following nine free games:

  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
  • Total War: Warhammer
  • World War Z: Aftermath
  • Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy
  • WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship
  • Abandon Ship
  • Paper Beast – Folded Edition
  • In Other Waters
  • Two Point Hospital

An Amazon Prime Video subscription is priced at $7.99/month or $79.99/year.

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Here’s what’s coming to PlayStation Now in January 2022

PlayStation has revealed the latest batch of games that’s coming to its PlayStation Now streaming service in January.

On January 4th, the following six games will join the PS Now catalogue:

  • Mortal Kombat 11
  • Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
  • Fury Unleashed
  • Unturned
  • Super Time Force Ultra
  • Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition

PlayStation Now is available on PS4, PS5 and PC at a cost of $12.99/month, $34.99/three months or $79.99/12 months.

You can find out what games were available on PS Now last month, here. In other PS Now-related new, recent rumours indicate that PlayStation is working on its own version of Xbox Game Pass. It’s unclear when or if PlayStation will officially merge the two services.

Image credit: PlayStation 

Source: PlayStation Blog

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Amazon is currently offering Razer gaming accessories for up to 50 percent off

Several of Razer’s notable gaming accessories are currently on sale on Amazon’s website, ranging from headsets to gaming mice.

Discounts go so far as to slash 50 percent off some of the gaming accessory maker’s products.

Below are some of Amazon’s best deals on Racer products:

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships and publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

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Epic Games Store offering Tomb Raider trilogy for free

Square Enix is offering its acclaimed modern Tomb Raider trilogy for free on the Epic Games Store (EGS).

This means that until January 6th, EGS users can claim Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition, (regularly $23.99 CAD), Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (regularly $34.99) and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (regularly $53.99) for free. Altogether, that’s $112.97 worth of games and their add-on content.

If you haven’t played it, the trilogy chronicles Lara Croft’s rise from an inexperienced explorer to the iconic Tomb Raider. 2013’s Tomb Raider and 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider were developed by San Francisco-based Crystal Dynamics, although 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider was primarily made by Canada’s own Eidos Montreal.

Notably, that’s also the most recent game in the series, with Crystal Dynamics moving onto Marvel’s Avengers and Eidos Montreal both assisting development on that game and releasing one of its own, the well-received Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

It’s unclear when another Tomb Raider may come out, even as this year celebrates the series’ 25th anniversary. For now, though, you can get the most recent games for free on EGS.

Image credit: Square Enix

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Here are 10 standout 2021 Canadian-made games

The Canadian video game industry is massive — we’re talking, “third-largest producer of games in the entire world” massive.

With that in mind, there are scores of new games that are released every year that were made here at home. 2021, in particular, had quite a few standout ones from both the AAA and indie space.

Keep on reading to learn more about just a handful of them.

The Big Con

The Big Con

Developer: Mighty Yell (Toronto, Ontario)
Publisher: Skybound Games
Genre: Adventure
Platform: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

It’s not every day a game gets recognized by Tribeca, the world-renowned film festival co-founded by Robert De Niro, but Toronto-based Mighty Yell was the little indie that did just that. The Big Con is particularly notable, too, as it’s a game that’s completely devoid of any combat. Instead, you assume the role of a sarcastic teenager who travels across America to steal enough money to help save her mum’s business from nasty loan sharks. From its delightful ’90s setting, charming Doug-esque art style and witty writing, The Big Con is a uniquely delightful game that’s absolutely worth your time.

Read more on The Big Con in our review.

Boyfriend Dungeon

Boyfriend Dungeon

Developer/Publisher: KitFox Games (Montreal, Quebec)
Genre: Action-RPG, dating sim
Platform:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and Mac

What other game do you know that mixes dungeon crawling with a dating sim? In Boyfriend Dungeon, you fight your way through isometric locations with the help of a human partner who can transform into a sentient weapon. Outside of combat, the game features visual novel-style conversations to let you date characters of your choice. It’s through this novel approach that Boyfriend Dungeon has really found its audience — it features a refreshingly gender-diverse cast to romance, but it also doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of dating, particularly when it comes to stalkers. There’s nothing quite like it.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Developer: Greg Lobanov (Vancouver, B.C.)
Publisher:
Finji
Genre: Adventure
Platform:
 PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, PC

At first glance, Chicory: A Colorful Tale‘s cute, doodle-esque art style might suggest a light and fluffy experience, but the game is anything but. To be sure, there’s a lot of earnest joy to be found with its simple-yet-deep painting mechanics. Pretty much everything in the world can be painted over and manipulated, offering a wonderful sense of creativity to the moment-to-moment gameplay. But beneath that, Chicory tells a surprisingly affecting story about mental health — specifically, the darker depths of self-doubt and the importance of self-care.

Chivalry 2

Chivalry 2

Developer: Torn Banner Studios (Toronto, Ontario)
Genre: Multiplayer slasher
Publisher:
Tripwire Interactive
Platform:
PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, PC

Chivalry 2 is the epitome of a fun multiplayer experience. Without a single-player campaign, the game instead focuses on engaging player-vs-player melee combat. On top of medieval weapons like swords, battle axes and sledgehammers, you can use amusingly unorthodox weapons like severed limbs, chairs, a rolling pin and even bread. A variety of game modes are also supported, including Team Deathmatch, Free-For-All and more objective-based options. All the while, the game retains a lovable Monty Python-esque sense of humour, which is just icing on this thrilling multiplayer cake.

Far Cry 6

Far Cry 6 Resolver gun

Developer: Ubisoft Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Open-world first-person shooter
Platform: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, PC, Google Stadia

If you’re not over the tried-and-true Far Cry formula, Far Cry 6 is the perfect kind of gaming comfort food. As with previous entries in the series, Far Cry 6 puts you in a beautiful location (the Cuba-inspired Yara), gives you a slew of fun new weapons to use and offers some great drop-in, drop-out co-op functionality. But Far Cry 6 is most surprising for its storytelling. While there’s certainly a disconnect at times between the earnest revolutionary story and zany open-world shenanigans, you’ll come to meet the best cast of characters in a Far Cry game to date. Protagonist Dani Rojas is extremely likable, while Giancarlo Esposito’s scene-stealing Antón Castillo breaks a long-running series trend of underused charismatic villains.

Read more on Far Cry 6 in our review.

Inscryption

Inscryption

Developer: Daniel Mullins (Vancouver, B.C.)
Publisher:
Devolver Digital
Genre: Adventure, strategy
Platform:
PC

Inscryption is a tricky one to talk about, as most who’ve played it would agree that you’re best going in knowing very little. What you should know, though, is that it mixes card games, roguelikes, escape room-style puzzles and psychological horror. It’s a game that makes full use of the medium’s uniquely interactive elements to create an experience that really couldn’t work in a film, TV series or novel.

JETT: The Far Shore

JETT: The Far Shore

Developer/Publisher: Superbrothers (Quebec, Canada), Pine Scented Software (Tokyo, Japan)
Genre: Open-world adventure
Platform: PlayStation 4/5, PC

In JETT: The Far Shore, you assume the role of scout Mei, who must explore an ocean planet to find out whether it’s suitable for human habitation. Piloting the titular jetts to fly around foreign vistas is thrilling, especially when enhanced by the PS5’s DualSense controller rumble. With its open-world setting, you’re free to just lay back and casually explore the geographically-diverse planet. But it’s the slow discovery of the world and larger narrative — filled with both heartfelt moments and bouts of existential dread — that prove to be JETT‘s most memorable qualities.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy

Developer: Eidos Montreal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Action-adventure
Platform: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC

There was a lot of apprehension going into Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. After all, Square Enix’s last Marvel game, 2020’s Marvel’s Avengers, was a disappointment to many. Thankfully, Square Enix-owned Eidos Montreal’s Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is so much better. Doing away with the controversial “live service” model, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy offers a purely single-player, microtransaction-free experience. Drawing more from the comics than the movies, Eidos’ Guardians of the Galaxy uses the long-form storytelling potential of games to fully flesh out Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot. It’s a surprisingly emotional story with so much heart — not to mention some decent team-up command-focused third-person shooter combat thrown in for good measure.

For more on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, read our review.

Moonglow Bay

Moonglow Bay

Developer: Bunnyhug Games (a U.K.-based team led by Canadian creative director Zach Soares, plus some other international Canadian developers)
Publisher: Coatsink
Genre: RPG, fishing sim
Platform: Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S (including Xbox Game Pass), PC

If the idea of a wholesome, relaxing fishing experience with a charming voxel-based artstyle in a fictional Eastern Canadian town in the ’80s appeals to you, then Moonglow Bay might be exactly what the angler ordered. After your partner’s passing, you find yourself struggling to fulfill their final wish by keeping a business afloat. In addition to 100-plus species of fish to catch, Moonglow Bay lets you explore the eponymous seaside town to meet NPCs, take on new quests and stock up on supplies. But you’ll also guide your character through processing their grief alongside their daughter in a thoroughly heartfelt story. There’s even drop-in/drop-out co-op so you can catch some fish (and feels) with a friend.

For more on Moonglow Bay, read our interview with Bunnyhug.

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown

Developer/Publisher: Falling Squirrel (St. Catharines, Ontario)
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PC

Perhaps the most innovative entry on this list, The Vale: Shadow of the Crown was developed in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to be accessible even to those with vision loss. That’s because it leverages 3D Spatial Audio and controller haptic feedback to create a new kind of action-RPG experience. The story follows the blind sister of a warden whose caravan gets attacked, forcing her to navigate a dangerous world to return to the castle. Smart uses of audio cues and vocal performances help guide you through combat and visiting towns, ensuring that those with any level of vision can play and enjoy.

For more on the importance of accessibility in gaming, read our interview with Canada’s own Steve “The Blind Gamer” Saylor, an accessibility advocate and content creator who’s consulted on games like The Last of Us Part II.


Of course, there are so many Canadian games that come out every year, especially from indies, that it’s impossible to cover them all. Some others that we didn’t get to:

Some other relevant reading: check out our interview with Jayson Hilchie, the president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, on the organization’s recent study examining the Canadian gaming industry’s rapid growth.

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Steam’s Winter Sale is available until January 5

Steam’s Winter Sale is on now.

Now through January 5th at 1pm ET, you’ll be able to save money on top games for PC including Deathloop, Battlefield 2042, and Hades.

Here are some of the notable games on sale below:

There are a lot more games on sale, you can check them out here.

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Remedy’s Control is now free on the Epic Game Store

For today only, Remedy Entertainment’s Control is free on the Epic Game Store as a part of an ongoing holiday promotion.

Control, which was first released in 2019 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One was met with a positive reception from critics and players alike. Remedy went on to support the game by releasing it on Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, and next-gen consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Additionally, Control was also brought to the Epic Game Store.

Epic Games has been holding an ongoing promotion over the past 10 days. Each day, players can log into their Epic Game Store account and redeem the free game of the day. Control follows Arkane Studios’ Prey (2017), which was available on Christmas Day. The other games that have been available as a part of this promotion include Vampyr, Second Extinction, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and Shenmue 3.

As with Prey (2017) and the others, players will only have 24 hours to redeem Control before it is unavailable. The game will then be accessible in perpetuity as long as the Epic Games account remains active.

On Twitter, Nibel pointed out that the Epic Game Store promotion will indeed continue past Boxing Day. A ‘Mystery Game’ is listed as being available tomorrow. However, it remains unknown what the game will be.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

If you have an active Epic Games account, it’s always worth redeeming any free game offered. Even if you don’t intend on playing it right away. Control offers a unique world to explore and some incredibly enticing pieces of DLC.

Fans of Remedy’s iconic Alan Wake would be wise to try Control’s AWE expansion, which offers crossover content with the titular character. Especially after Remedy announced the development of Alan Wake 2, there’s no better time to get reacquainted with the character.

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These are the Boxing Day gaming deals you don’t want to miss

When I was a kid, there was nothing more exciting than getting a new game for Christmas. As an adult, I tend to buy my own video games and accessories, so what I look forward to the most is a great deal on the items I want. These Boxing Day deals at Best Buy are exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

Personally, I’ve got my eye on an Xbox controller to play on my PC. So maybe wait a few minutes before buying the last one of those …

Check out the list of deals below, or view the full sale on Best Buy’s site:

Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch) for $54.99 (save $25)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for $54.99 (save $25)

Pikmin 3 Deluxe (Switch) for $54.99 (save $25)

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Switch) for $34.99 (save $15)

Ring Fit Adventure (Switch) for $79.99 (save $20)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) for $19.99 (save $20)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One) for $19.99 (save $20)

Grand Theft Auto V Premium Online Edition (PS4) for $14.99 (save $5)

Grand Theft Auto V Premium Online Edition (Xbox One) for $14.99 (save $5)

SanDisk 128GB 100MB/s microSDXC Memory Card for Nintendo Switch for $24.99 (save $25)

Xbox Wireless Controller for $59.99 (save $15)

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition TKL Backlit Mechanical Linear Optical Switch Gaming Keyboard for $99.99 (save $48)

Razer Huntsman Mini Mechanical Clicky Optical Gaming Keyboard for $119.99 (save $40)

Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap with Battery for $124.99 (save $15)

Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap for $54.99 (save $15)

Oculus Quest 2 Carrying Case for $54.99 (save $15)

Razer Kraken X for Console Gaming Headset for PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch for $39.99 (save $20)

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset for $199.99 (save $50)

Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed 16000 DPI Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse for $49.99 (save $10)

HyperX Cloud II Over-Ear Gaming Headset for $84.99 (save $24)

Razer Kraken X for Console Gaming Headset for PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch for $39.99 (save $30)

Razer Cynosa Chroma V2 Backlit Membrane Gaming Keyboard for $49.99 (save $10)

Razer Ornata Chroma V2 Backlit Mecha-Membrane Gaming Keyboard for $79.99 (save $20)

Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset with Microphone for $49.99 (save $10)

Razer BlackShark V2 Gaming Headset with Microphone & USB Sound Card for $99.99 (save $40)

PowerA Fusion Pro Wired Controller for Xbox One for $77.99 (save $42)

Razer DeathAdder V2 20000 DPI Optical Gaming Mouse for $49.99 (save $20)

Razer Basilisk V2 20000 DPI Optical Gaming Mouse for $44.99 (save $25)

ASUS ROG Strix G15DK Gaming PC for $1,899.99 (save $100)

Razer Viper Ultimate 20000 DPI Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse with Dock for $99.99 (save $66)

Seagate Game Drive 2TB Portable External Hard Drive for PlayStation 4 for $89.99 (save $20)

Seagate 4TB 2.5-inch Portable External Hard Drive for PlayStation 4 for $129.99 (save $10)

Razer Viper Ultimate 20000 DPI Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse for $79.99 (save $50)

Corsair K70 Rapidfire RGB MK.2 Backlit Low Profile Mechanical Cherry MX Speed Gaming Keyboard for $149.99 (save $90)

Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Backlit Mechanical Cherry MX Red Gaming Keyboard for $159.99 (save $56)

Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless Gaming Headset with Microphone for $99.99 (save $30)

Razer BlackWidow V3 Backlit Mechanical Green Switch Gaming Keyboard for $99.99 (save $33)

Razer Kraken Kitty Edition Wireless Gaming Headset for $99.99 (save $40)

Razer Iskur X Ergonomic Faux Leather Gaming Chair for $399.99 (save $250)

Photo source: Best Buy

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Tesla to disable Passenger Play feature while driving

Tesla has agreed to disable its Passenger Play feature while its vehicle is in use and in motion. The feature has faced obvious criticisms as it enabled the ability to play games when the car was being used.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched an investigation. It appeared to have encouraged Tesla to react and make meaningful changes to the way the feature would operate. Through a software update, Passenger Play will no longer be enabled when the vehicle is in motion, NHTSA confirmed to The New York Times, via BBC.

“Passenger Play will now be locked and unusable when the vehicle is in motion,” NHTSA said to The New York Times. Tesla has not made an official statement on the matter.

The NHTSA investigation began after Tesla owner Vince Patton filed a complaint when he discovered he could play games while driving. The US safety body felt as though Passenger Play “may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash”. All four Tesla models (S, X, Y, and 3) were probed as a part of the investigation.

The feature is fully integrated into Tesla’s touchscreen and OS. Initially, the Tesla Passenger Play was available when the car was not in motion. However, in December 2020, Tesla changed that and allowed users to play games when the vehicle was being driven. Tesla intended for it to be used by the passenger. However, nothing stopped the driver from accessing the games at their leisure as well.

Over the past year, this feature began to cause worry as it could unintentionally encourage distractions while the driver is controlling a Tesla.

Tesla’s electric vehicles offer more than 20 games to play when parked and three that were enabled when the car was in motion. The three games are Solitaire, Sky Force Reloaded, and Battle of Polytopia: Moonrise.

Source: BBC