Profile: 1110e570...
The best puzzle games for 2024
Puzzle games come in a range of styles, from mindless relaxation machines to hardcore logical quagmires, and we have a little bit of everything in this list. From classics like Threes! and Braid to new-school entries like Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and Escape Academy, there’s always a puzzle game to play between meetings, during a slow Sunday afternoon or with a group of friends on the couch. Here we’ve compiled some of the best puzzle games to activate your brain in new ways or unwind after a long day.
Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-puzzle-games-120011342.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-puzzle-games-120011342.html?src=rss
Engadget Podcast: Pixel 9 Pro Fold review with MrMobile + IFA 2024
After plenty of testing, we've got some final thoughts on Google's latest foldable. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Michael Fisher (AKA YouTube's MrMobile) to discuss the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and why it feels like a far more mature device than the previous Pixel Fold. Also, we dive into some of the biggest news from IFA 2024, like Intel's Core Ultra 200V chips and Acer's crazy Project DualPlay laptop concept with a built-in gamepad.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
Topics
Cherlynn and MrMobile review the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – 1:14
IFA News: Intel’s promising Core Ultra 200V chips, Acer’s controller-embedded laptop, and a trio of interesting devices from Honor – 38:25
Brazil blocks X entirely in an escalation of a legal fight with Elon Musk – 49:59
Former OpenAI exec Ilya Sutskever raises $1B for new AI startup – 52:49
U.S. DOJ charges Russia Today employees over Kremlin-linked influencer campaign – 54:17
reMarkable Paper Pro 3, now in glorious color – 55:19
Sony’s pulls the plug on its big swing team shooter Concord 2 weeks after launch – 56:59
Pop culture picks – 58:42
Subscribe!
iTunes
Spotify
Pocket Casts
Stitcher
Google Podcasts
Livestream
Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low
Guest: Michael Fisher
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-pixel-9-pro-fold-review-with-mrmobile--ifa-2024-113042321.html?src=rss
The Morning After: Did Sony just reveal the PS5 Pro design?
Sony shared a first glimpse of its plans to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, and it seems PS5 Pro is coming to the party. Its decorative logo includes an image of the rumored upgrade to the current-gen PS5 console. Zoom between the S of the PlayStation logo and the 3, to reveal a different rectangle to the PS5s that appears elsewhere. The main change appears to be a differently proportioned console — if this is the Pro, it’ll be shorter than the OG PS5 — and have more stripes across the body, making it look a lot like the PS5 Pro rendering leaked in late August. How much, though? And how much more powerful?
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Prime Video's much-needed overhaul
Adobe’s Photoshop can now generate AI images via prompts like Dall-E or Midjourney
Fujifilm GFX 100 II: The king of medium-format mirrorless cameras
You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
DJI Neo hands-on
A powerful and lightweight $200 drone.
Engadget
DJI’s much-leaked $200 drone is for content creators and casual users alike. It’s tiny and easy to use thanks to novice-friendly propeller guards, palm takeoff and voice control. It has a suite of powerful features, like ActiveTrack, Quick Shots, FPV controller support, smartphone control and the ability to record yourself with the DJI Mic 2. The Neo’s 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery is incredibly light but supports up to 17 minutes of fly time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world. It’s reasonably priced too.
Continue reading.
Astro Bot PS5 review
One of the best games Sony has ever made.
Sony
Sony might have finally made a cute in-house official PlayStation mascot. It may have found its Mario. However, Astro Bot is not just for kids. It feels purpose-built for video game fans. According to Engadget’s Jessica Conditt, it’s a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and an excellent introduction to the language of games.
Continue reading.
Even the NSA has a podcast
You can access No Such Podcast on all major platforms.
The National Security Agency has a podcast to bring “people to the table from across the agency to discuss our role as a combat support agency, our foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, and so much more.” The podcast is far from Edward Snowden-level sharing. The NSA’s chief of strategic communications, Sara Siegle, is quick to add that some of the agency’s work is too sensitive to discuss. The first episodes have focused on cybersecurity and the agency’s role in finding Osama Bin Laden.
Continue reading.
Balatro is coming to iOS and Android later this month.
Say goodbye to your free time.
Get ready to get addicted.
Continue reading.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-did-sony-just-reveal-the-ps5-pro-design-111516898.html?src=rss
How to watch Boeing Starliner's unmanned flight back to Earth
The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station and to make its way back to Earth at 6:04PM Eastern time today, September 6. If the weather cooperates and the spacecraft leaves the ISS as planned, it will be landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico with the help of parachutes to slow its descent and inflated airbags at around 12:03AM ET on September 7. While the ground teams at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and at Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida can control the spacecraft remotely if needed, it will be an uncrewed, fully autonomous flight for the Starliner.
NASA recently announced that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the astronauts that headed to the ISS aboard the Starliner for its first crewed flight, will be coming home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead. Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS in June and were only supposed to spend a little more than a week on the orbiting laboratory. On the way there, however, five of the spacecraft's maneuvering thrusters had failed, and its helium leak problem that previously caused its launch to be pushed back had worsened. Engineers on the ground conducted tests with help from the astronauts on the ISS to determine whether the Starliner was safe for the crew to ride back to Earth. In the end, NASA decided that it's safer for Wilmore and Williams to come home on a SpaceX vehicle, because "there was too much uncertainty" around the Starliner's thrusters.
The space agency will cover Starliner's return live on NASA+, the NASA app, its website, and you can also watch it below. Coverage of the undocking procedure will start at 5:45PM ET, while coverage for the spacecraft's deorbit burn, entry and landing will start at 10:50PM. NASA will also livestream Starliner's landing on September 7, starting at 12AM ET.
As for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission that's replacing the Boeing's vehicle on the ISS, it's scheduled to launch no earlier than September 24. Instead of flying with four astronauts as planned, it will fly with two — NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — to leave two seats empty for its return flight with Wilmore and Williams in February 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/boeings-starliner-is-coming-back-without-a-crew-on-september-6-140023545.html?src=rss
The best microSD cards in 2024
Most microSD cards are fast enough for storing and transferring files, but some will provide a little more bang for the buck than others. If you’ve got a device that supports the format — be it a Nintendo Switch or other gaming handheld, a GoPro, a Raspberry Pi or a dash cam — we’ve researched the market and put more than a dozen top microSD cards through a bunch of benchmark tests. You can find the cards that stood out the most below, alongside some general things to know before you buy.
What to look for in a microSD card
Capacity
The first thing to figure out when buying a microSD card is how much storage space you need. Modern cards are usually available in sizes ranging from 32GB to 512GB, while an increasing number are available in 1TB as well. 2TB cards from reputable manufacturers are getting closer but aren't widely available just yet.
For most, a 128GB or 256GB model should be the sweet spot between price and storage space. But if you need more room — say, for stashing a bunch of games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB or greater card could make more sense and often provides a better cost-per-GB ratio. These days, you can find a decent 128GB card for around $15 or less, a good 256GB card for less than $30 and a solid 512GB card for less than $40 (though many cost closer to $50 or $60). There’s a starker increase when you go up to 1TB cards, which typically cost closer to $100.
Note that a microSD card’s performance may differ depending on what capacity you buy. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme card delivers sequential write speeds up to 90 MB/s, for example, while the higher-capacity models in the same line offer up to 130 MB/s.
When we talk about microSD cards today, we usually refer to cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capacity between 32GB and 2TB. Your device needs to support this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This will almost never be an issue these days, but some older devices (a Nintendo 3DS, for instance) are only compatible with microSDHC (High Capacity) cards, which range from 2GB to 32GB.
Read and write speeds
MicroSD cards are primarily judged on their read and write speeds, which are usually measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). Generally, most microSD cards have faster read speeds than write speeds.
These metrics can then be broken down into sequential and random performance. Sequential read and write speeds matter when you’re trying to access or save long, constant streams of data, such as opening a large video or copying a big batch of files from a PC. If you want to use a microSD card for media storage, this is particularly important. Random performance, meanwhile, is about how quickly a card can read and write small files scattered throughout the device.
Since random read/write speeds are much lower than sequential ones, storage device makers tend not to advertise them as loudly. But they’re important if you use a card with a gaming device or a single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi, where it often has to rapidly save and access small bits of data in random locations.
Speed ratings
If you look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of these refer to the card’s speed class and performance ratings, which are determined by the SD Association.
A card’s Video Speed Class, or V-rating, details its minimum sequential write speed, which is especially important when recording video from a camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. Most of the cards we tested had a V30 rating, so they have a sequential write speed of at least 30 MB/s. This should be enough to support up to 4K video at lower bitrates. Higher-rated V60 and V90 cards are usually better for capturing 8K, but they come at a much higher cost.
The UHS Speed Class, or U-rating, also refers to a card’s minimum sequential write speed. It comes in two varieties: U3, which mandates a minimum of 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s.
The older Speed Class rating overlaps with the other two systems. It’s signified by a C symbol and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the number (again) indicating minimum sequential write speed. This rating is less relevant nowadays, but you may still see a “C10” logo on some cards.
The Application Performance spec, marked by an A symbol, is an indicator of random read/write speeds. This is measured in IOPS, or input/output operations per second, rather than MB/s. There are two categories here: A1 cards offer a minimum random read speed of 1,500 IOPS and a minimum random write speed of 500 IOPS, while A2 cards bump those up to 4,000 IOPS and 2,000 IOPS, respectively. Both ratings also guarantee sequential write speeds of at least 10 MB/s.
To keep it simple, most people should look for a card with V30, U3 and A2 ratings. It’s totally possible to get a solid card without those: A U1 card might be worth it if you just need a cheap, high-capacity option, for example. V60 and V90 cards are worth a look if you’re serious about shooting high-resolution photos and video as well. But overall, cards with the certifications above should provide the best blend of price and performance today.
It’s important to emphasize that these ratings are baselines. Most V30 cards offer significantly higher write speeds than 30 MB/s, for instance, and some A1 cards can outperform some A2 models in practice. The speeds advertised by manufacturers aren’t always 100 percent accurate, either: Sometimes the card will be slower in real-world use, other times it may actually be a bit faster.
UHS bus speeds
The other spec to note is the card’s bus interface. Most microSD cards available today are UHS-I, which have a theoretical maximum speed of 104 MB/s. There are also UHS-II cards, which have an extra row of pins on the back and can reach up to 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III standard exists as well but hasn’t seen wide adoption.) These are labeled on the card with a Roman numeral I or II.
The fastest microSD cards you can buy right now are UHS-II cards, and they’re usually the ones with V60 or V90 ratings. If you shoot lots of 4K to 8K video or frequently use burst mode to capture ultra high-res photos, the performance gains of a good UHS-II card can save you time.
But these are much more expensive than UHS-I cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold model, for instance, is a relative bargain at $40. While that's less than many UHS-II models we’ve seen in the past, it's still more than double the typical price of our top pick mentioned below. You need a device that’s compatible with the UHS-II interface to see any benefits, too, and stock for UHS-II cards is generally spottier. For now, the higher speeds aren’t worth the price premium for most people, so we stuck mostly to UHS-I cards here.
We’ll also note Samsung’s announcement earlier this year of a new 256GB microSD card based on an entirely different standard called SD Express. This is theoretically much faster than any UHS-I or UHS-II option: Samsung claims this specific model can reach sequential read speeds up to a whopping 800 MB/s. For context, that’d be quicker than some older SSDs. SD Express has technically been around for several years but hasn’t seen wide adoption, so exactly how this card performs in reality — and how much it’ll cost — remains to be seen. We’ll test the device once it becomes available, which Samsung says will be sometime later in 2024.
A note on card readers, the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck
While the UHS-I spec has a theoretical maximum of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I cards can exceed that speed through proprietary extensions. You need a compatible card reader and host device to take advantage of that extra performance, though. If you find a UHS-I card advertising speeds higher than 104 MB/s, this is what’s going on. You can see these limits in action with a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming devices support the UHS-I interface and don’t go beyond its official speed, flattening any sequential gains some cards may have elsewhere. The broader takeaway: Your microSD card will only be as fast as the slowest link in your chain.
Warranty
Many microSD cards are designed to be durable, with protection from water, extreme temperatures, X-rays and drops. Still, in case of catastrophe, a long warranty is always good to have. Many manufacturers offer lifetime or 10-year limited warranties, though we’ve noticed that “endurance” cards marketed to withstand more hours of writing are usually covered for a shorter period of time. For example, Samsung's Pro Endurance, a model aimed at security cameras and other monitoring devices, comes with a five-year warranty.
Avoiding counterfeits
The memory card market has had a particular problem with scammers selling fake products. To guard against this, only buy from a known brand and a reputable retailer such as Best Buy, B&H Photo or Adorama. If you shop at Amazon, only buy if the shipper and seller is Amazon.com. (Though a handful of users have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon directly in the past.) Remember: If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any retailer offering significantly a lower price than others.
Once you receive a card, check its packaging for any irregularities. You can run benchmark tests like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to verify its speeds aren’t drastically lower than what’s advertised (or possible, given its specs). You can also use software that’s designed to verify the true capacity and performance of your card, such as H2testw and FakeFlashTest.
How we tested
We put 13 microSD cards through a series of tests to verify their sequential and random performance. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test, as well as a few “real-world” tests. We copied and pasted a small folder of photos about 1.15GB in size to and from each card, then did the same with a larger 12.2GB folder containing multiple file types and subfolders, timing the process each time. We also checked how each card performed on the Steam Deck, downloading games of varying sizes — including Stardew Valley, Aperture Desk Job, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how long it took to launch each game and load save files.
We used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to test each card on both Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma. For the former, we used an Alienware gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-10900F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. For the latter, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. To use our card reader on the MacBook, we used Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
We tested the 128GB version of each card wherever possible, though for a few cards — SanDisk's Extreme and Samsung's Pro Plus and Pro Ultimate — we were only able to test their 256GB models. We also reformatted each card before testing with the SD Association’s Memory Card Formatter tool.
Best microSD cards of 2024
Other notable microSD cards
The SanDisk Extreme and PNY Elite-X.
Delkin Devices Power
We didn’t use it ourselves, but if you’re willing to pay for a more powerful UHS-II card built for heavy-duty video recording, the Delkin Devices Power has tested well elsewhere and should deliver significantly faster sequential write speeds than our picks above. It’s one of the few UHS-II cards we could actually find in stock, but it costs a ton, with a 128GB model normally priced around $90.
SanDisk Extreme
The SanDisk Extreme effectively matched the Pro Plus in a few of our sequential write tests and delivered sequential reads about on par with the Canvas Go Plus, but that was partly due to us only being able to secure the card’s 256GB model, which is higher-rated than the 128GB version. It’s a fine choice if you see it on sale at a reputable seller, but its random performance lagged behind the Samsung Pro and Kingston cards, and it often costs more.
SanDisk's Nintendo Switch-branded microSDXC card.
SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch
The SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch is another decent option if you ever see it available for less than the Pro Plus and Canvas Go Plus. Its sequential read speeds were about the same as the latter in our benchmarks, but its sequential writes were slightly slower (and farther behind the Pro Plus). Its random read/writes were a bit behind according to CrystalDiskMark as well, and it's often priced higher than our top pick. SanDisk backs the card with a lifetime warranty, however, plus it’s available in a 1TB capacity. Note that we tested the Apex Legends version of the 128GB card; SanDisk also sells a Super Mario model, but we can't say if that one performs any differently.
Lexar Professional 1066x
Similarly, the Lexar Professional 1066x is a decent alternative to the Pro Plus if our main picks are unavailable. It’s another V30, U3 and A2 model, and like Samsung’s card, its sequential write speeds were a bit faster than the Canvas Go Plus and SanDisk Switch card in our benchmarks. Those write speeds weren’t as quick as the Pro Plus, and its sequential reads trailed all three cards. Random read/writes also lagged behind the Pro Plus and Canvas Go Plus, and we noticed its speeds peak and dip more noticeably in our file transfer test. Still, it’s not slow, so depending on its price, it might be a good bargain if you need fast write speeds for video recording and the like. It’s also available in 1TB, plus it comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
SanDisk Extreme Pro
The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a rival to the Samsung Pro Ultimate but, as of this writing, is either unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too high by comparison.
PNY Elite-X
The PNY Elite-X often goes for cheap and wasn’t too far off the random read/write performance of Samsung's Pro cards in CrystalDiskMark, but it was well behind in our sequential tests.
Recent updates
August 2024: We’ve updated this guide to note the recently released 1TB models for three of our top picks: the Samsung Pro Plus, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Evo Select. We’ve also made sure all pricing details are as up to date as they can be. We aim to add testing info on new cards, including Lexar’s Professional Silver Plus and SanDisk’s new Pokémon-themed models, with another update in the near future.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-microsd-card-130038282.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/best-microsd-card-130038282.html?src=rss
Withings introduces a 39mm version of its ScanWatch Nova smartwatch
Withings is announcing the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant, a 39mm version of its ScanWatch Nova smartwatch. It comes in titanium silver and a two-tone silver and gold. For those with smaller wrists, this watch should be a more comfortable fit than the standard 42mm option.
The elegant timepiece mixes analog features with modern digital ones. A small OLED screen on the top half of the watch helps you tell the time quickly and can also display health metrics, but there are mechanical hands for a classic look. It’s also water resistant up to 50 meters (5 ATM) and has a five-link stainless steel bracelet for improved outdoor durability. The battery lasts for 30 days but there’s no info about the charging time.
Withings outfitted this health-tracking smartwatch with a medical-grade electrocardiogram to check your heartbeat for irregularities. The watch can also detect temperature fluctuations, blood oxygen levels, breathing disturbances overnight and measure sleep quality. By pairing the watch with the app, it can also count your steps, calories burned, elevation and workout routes via the app.
The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant will be available starting in early November. Those who want to purchase the watch in person can do so in the US, EU and UK at selected retailers. The new watch is priced at $600, €600 and £550, respectively, an identical price to the ScanWatch Nova.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/withings-introduces-a-39mm-version-of-its-scanwatch-nova-smartwatch-060056915.html?src=rss
Withings introduces a 39mm version of its ScanWatch Nova smartwatch
Withings is announcing the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant, a 39mm version of its ScanWatch Nova smartwatch. It comes in titanium silver and a two-tone silver and gold. For those with smaller wrists, this watch should be a more comfortable fit than the standard 42mm option.
The elegant timepiece mixes analog features with modern digital ones. A small OLED screen on the top half of the watch helps you tell the time quickly and can also display health metrics, but there are mechanical hands for a classic look. It’s also water resistant up to 50 meters (5 ATM) and has a five-link stainless steel bracelet for improved outdoor durability. The battery lasts for 30 days but there’s no info about the charging time.
Withings outfitted this health-tracking smartwatch with a medical-grade electrocardiogram to check your heartbeat for irregularities. The watch can also detect temperature fluctuations, blood oxygen levels, breathing disturbances overnight and measure sleep quality. By pairing the watch with the app, it can also count your steps, calories burned, elevation and workout routes via the app.
The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant will be available starting in early November. Those who want to purchase the watch in person can do so in the US, EU and UK at selected retailers. The new watch is priced at $600, €600 and £550, respectively, an identical price to the ScanWatch Nova.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/withings-introduces-a-39mm-version-of-its-scanwatch-nova-smartwatch-060056915.html?src=rss
Tesla says 'Full Self-Driving' will be ready for Europe and China in early 2025
Tesla has tweeted its roadmap for the remaining months of 2024 and early 2025, revealing that Full Self-Driving could be available in Europe and China in the first quarter of next year, if it gets the proper approval from each region's respective regulators. Company chief Elon Musk previously said that he expects to receive regulator clearance from the regions by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal reported in April that authorities in China had already tentatively approved the launch of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in their country. It's not quite clear where the company stands with European Union regulators at the moment.
In a response to the original post, Musk added that he's hoping for FSD to be approved in Right-Hand Drive markets by the end of the first quarter or by early second quarter next year. Since he's presumably talking about RHD markets in Europe and China, then he's pertaining to the UK, Hong Kong and Macau.
Hopefully, RHD markets in late Q1, early Q2, pending regulatory approval
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 5, 2024
The automaker has also revealed that Full Self-Driving will be available for Cybertrucks sometime this month, along with the Autopark capability. In October, Tesla is adding unpark, park and reverse functions to FSD, as well. The FSD software isn't free, and buyers will have to pay to be able to unlock its semi-autonomous driver assistance capabilities. In the US, Tesla owners can buy the software outright for $8,000, though they can also pay a $99-per-month subscription fee for the supervised version of the feature.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-says-full-self-driving-will-be-ready-for-europe-and-china-in-early-2025-033012374.html?src=rss
Tesla says 'Full Self-Driving' will be ready for Europe and China in early 2025
Tesla has tweeted its roadmap for the remaining months of 2024 and early 2025, revealing that Full Self-Driving could be available in Europe and China in the first quarter of next year, if it gets the proper approval from each region's respective regulators. Company chief Elon Musk previously said that he expects to receive regulator clearance from the regions by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal reported in April that authorities in China had already tentatively approved the launch of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in their country. It's not quite clear where the company stands with European Union regulators at the moment.
In a response to the original post, Musk added that he's hoping for FSD to be approved in Right-Hand Drive markets by the end of the first quarter or by early second quarter next year. Since he's presumably talking about RHD markets in Europe and China, then he's pertaining to the UK, Hong Kong and Macau.
Hopefully, RHD markets in late Q1, early Q2, pending regulatory approval
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 5, 2024
The automaker has also revealed that Full Self-Driving will be available for Cybertrucks sometime this month, along with the Autopark capability. In October, Tesla is adding unpark, park and reverse functions to FSD, as well. The FSD software isn't free, and buyers will have to pay to be able to unlock its semi-autonomous driver assistance capabilities. In the US, Tesla owners can buy the software outright for $8,000, though they can also pay a $99-per-month subscription fee for the supervised version of the feature.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-says-full-self-driving-will-be-ready-for-europe-and-china-in-early-2025-033012374.html?src=rss
The US, UK, EU and other major nations have signed a landmark global AI treaty
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and several other countries have signed an AI safety treaty laid out by the Council of Europe (COE), an international standards and human rights organization. This landmark treaty, known as the Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, opened for signature in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the first legally binding international agreement aimed at ensuring that AI systems align with democratic values.
The treaty focuses on three main areas: protecting human rights (including privacy and preventing discrimination), safeguarding democracy, and upholding the rule of law. It also provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, promoting innovation, and managing potential risks.
Besides the US, UK and the EU, the treaty’s other signatories include Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino, and Israel. Notably absent are many major countries from Asia and the Middle East, and Russia, but any country will be eligible to join it in the future as long as they commit to comply with its provisions, according to a statement from the Council of Europe.
“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them,” said COE secretary general Marija Pejčinović Burić in the statement. “The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text - the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and which ensured that it benefits from multiple and expert perspectives.
The treaty will enter into force three months after five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, ratify it. The COE’s treaty joins other recent efforts to regulate AI including the UK's AI Safety Summit, the G7-led Hiroshima AI Process, and the UN's AI resolution.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-us-uk-eu-and-other-major-nations-have-signed-a-landmark-global-ai-treaty-232119489.html?src=rss
How to watch the It's Glowtime Apple event and the iPhone 16 reveal
If you’re in the market for a new phone, it’s probably the exact wrong moment to buy an iPhone. Unless you’re in desperate need of a replacement, wait just a few days because Apple's new iPhones will be revealed on Monday. That means you’ll be able to either opt for the company’s latest and greatest, or pickup the iPhone 15 at a reduced price really soon. The Apple event will be held September 9 at 1PM ET (10AM PT) at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino. You can livestream Apple's It's Glowtime event on YouTube (which we’ve embedded above for your convenience), as well as on Apple’s site.
As far as new products go, we’re expecting four new iPhone models to be announced: The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Don’t expect a huge leap forward from the iPhone 15, which our senior editor Billy Steele called the “most substantial update to the regular iPhone in years.” Instead, the major push will be around iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence. In terms of hardware, there'll be the usual more powerful processor, screen sizes may adjust slightly and there’s supposedly a new dedicated camera button for the Pro models.
Away from iPhones, we’ll likely also get new Apple Watch models (Series 10 or Series “X,” and maybe an Ultra 3), alongside new AirPods in both entry- and Pro-level models. You can get the scoop on everything we expect at the event in our in-depth what we expect at the iPhone 16 launch article.
For anyone not planning to buy any new Apple devices this year, you'll still have access to the latest iOS 18 update, likely later in September, as long as your device is eligible (find out here). Here's everything coming with the iOS 18 update this year, including Apple Intelligence and more home screen customization options.
Engadget’s Cherlynn Low and Billy Steele will be on the ground in Cupertino to liveblog the iPhone event, so look out for real-time news and analysis on September 9.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/how-to-watch-the-its-glowtime-apple-event-and-the-iphone-16-reveal-113044658.html?src=rss
Peacock Premium is only $5 for four months for a limited time
NBC is offering a discount on its Peacock Premium streaming service. Until September 6, you can get four months of access to the ad-supported tier of the streaming platform for $5 per month. This deal nets you more than 30 percent off the list price for the plan during that time frame; the Peacock Premium access tier normally costs $8 a month.
To take advantage of the reduced price, customers can sign in to the Peacock platform and use the code TGIF. Once you've signed up, the plan can be canceled at any time. The TGIF offer can't be combined with any other deal, and it does not extend to current subscribers on the Peacock Premium and Premium Plus plans. As mentioned, the deal is only available for a limited window, through September 6.
Now is a good time for football fans to try out Peacock. The NFL season begins this weekend and Peacock will have exclusive access to the Packers v. Eagles game being played in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 6. The network's exclusive stream of the AFC Wild Card game in January set records as the most streamed live event in history, reaching 27.6 million viewers.
On top of the seasonal sports content, Peacock is also home to several fan favorite TV sitcoms including The Office, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl. It also hosts original programming such as Poker Face.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/peacock-premium-is-only-5-for-four-months-for-a-limited-time-225157876.html?src=rss
Did Sony just reveal the PS5 Pro design in its 30th Anniversary announcement?
Today, Sony shared a first glimpse at what it has planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation and it seems likely that a PS5 Pro will be a part of the party. Hidden in the marketing material is what may be an image of the rumored upgrade to the current-gen PS5 console. Zoom in between the "S" of the PlayStation logo and the "3" of 30th and you'll see a console similar to a PS5 that doesn't quite match the look of any past or present PlayStation product.
As people are pointing out, PS5 Pro design may have been revealed through the PlayStation 30th Anniversary image
PS5 Pro on the left, PS5 on the right https://t.co/oyfSZgs92R pic.twitter.com/kC09hTcmp6
— Wario64 (@Wario64) September 5, 2024
This is obviously not an official announcement or confirmation about the PS5 Pro, so we're really no closer to definitive news about the new hardware launch. But it's hard to ignore just how much the silhouette of that beefy console looks like the possible PS5 Pro rendering that was leaked in late August. The larger size and the three lines across the body seem pretty dang similar between the two images.
And if you want to go really far down the rabbit hole, the actual 30th anniversary of PlayStation is December 3. Sounds like the perfect day to start selling a powerful new console to me. That date would also align neatly with rumors circulating earlier this year that the PS5 Pro version would arrive in time for holiday shopping.
Besides the speculation around the PS5 Pro, Sony did formally share some news about how it plans to mark the big three-oh. Between October and January, the company is making some digital soundtracks from its games available for the first time on Spotify: God of War, God of War II, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Twisted Metal, Starhawk and Unit 13. There will also be a special event aimed at getting first-time players introduced to the Gran Turismo franchise and a pretty darling collection of toys called Shapes of Play inspired by the colors and shapes of PlayStation consoles. And there's a little stage for a 30th anniversary photo op in the hub area of upcoming release Astro Bot, which looks just wonderful.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/did-sony-just-reveal-the-ps5-pro-design-in-its-30th-anniversary-announcement-212322835.html?src=rss
You can now officially create and use Baldur’s Gate 3 mods on PC
Baldur’s Gate 3 modding has arrived for PC players. After a closed alpha in June and an open beta in July, the long-awaited Patch 7 — which may be the game’s last big update — is now available. It lets you play around with user-created weapons, armor, classes and subclasses, spells, dice skins and just about anything else you can imagine.
Mods are available through an official (mod.io-powered) in-game Mod Manager and external channels. “We will never prevent modding outside of our own official pipeline,” Larian Studios wrote. But the developer says its officially approved mods are targeted for stability and cross-platform compatibility. “It’ll also ensure a smoother experience, at the cost of more script-focused modding, which can still be done outside of our pipeline,” the studio wrote.
Larian said earlier this summer that Baldur’s Gate 3 mod support would arrive on PC first, with Mac and console support “shortly after.” But the developer clarified in an update today that console (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) and macOS players can expect Patch 7 in October.
That presents some short-term compatibility issues. If you want your game save files to work across PC and console, you’ll need to hold off on installing Patch 7 on your PC. However, cross-platform save compatibility will return in October when the update lands on PlayStation, Xbox and Apple devices.
Larian Studios
Larian says Patch 7 in Baldur’s Gate 3’s console versions will include “an additional curation process” to determine which mods will be available across platforms. “While not all PC mods will become available for console, we’ll be sure to publish guidelines to help you understand what kind of content will pass our necessary checks — without blocking any unsupported creative mods on PC — so that we can continue supporting the modding community both inside and outside our official pipeline,” the studio wrote.
Mod support isn’t just a fun bonus for gamers; it’s also a way for Larian to keep the game alive as it pivots resources to new projects. CEO Swen Vincke said in June that opening the gates to modding would allow the developer “to say ‘ok, now it’s yours fully,’” according to Eurogamer. Of course, the studio will still push updates for critical bug fixes, but today’s arrival of Patch 7 is likely the first stage of calling it a wrap on one of 2023’s best games.
If you want to roll up your sleeves and dive into Baldur’s Gate 3 mods, Larian has created a series of handy tutorials for modding guidelines, getting started with mods, creating mods and browsing others’ creations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/you-can-now-officially-create-and-use-baldurs-gate-3-mods-on-pc-210006703.html?src=rss
Microsoft joins coalition to scrub revenge and deepfake porn from Bing
Microsoft announced it has partnered with StopNCII to help remove non-consensual intimate images — including deepfakes — from its Bing search engine.
When a victim opens a "case" with StopNCII, the database creates a digital fingerprint, also called a "hash," of an intimate image or video stored on that individual's device without their needing to upload the file. The hash is then sent to participating industry partners, who can seek out matches for the original and remove them from their platform if it breaks their content policies. The process also applies to AI-generated deepfakes of a real person.
Several other tech companies have agreed to work with StopNCII to scrub intimate images shared without permission. Meta helped build the tool, and uses it on its Facebook, Instagram and Threads platforms; other services that have partnered with the effort include TikTok, Bumble, Reddit, Snap, Niantic, OnlyFans, PornHub, Playhouse and Redgifs.
Absent from that list is, strangely, Google. The tech giant has its own set of tools for reporting non-consensual images, including AI-generated deepfakes. However, failing to participate in one of the few centralized places for scrubbing revenge porn and other private images arguably places an additional burden on victims to take a piecemeal approach to recovering their privacy.
In addition to efforts like StopNCII, the US government has taken some steps this year to specifically address the harms done by the deepfake side of non-consensual images. The US Copyright Office called for new legislation on the subject, and a group of Senators moved to protect victims with the NO FAKES Act, introduced in July.
If you believe you've been the victim of non-consensual intimate image-sharing, you can open a case with StopNCII here and Google here; if you're below the age of 18, you can file a report with NCMEC here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-joins-coalition-to-scrub-revenge-and-deepfake-porn-from-bing-195316677.html?src=rss
New Mexico sues Snap over its alleged failure to protect kids from sextortion schemes
New Mexico's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Snap, accusing the company of failing to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation and other harms on Snapchat. The suit contends that Snapchat's features "foster the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and facilitate child sexual exploitation."
The state's Department of Justice carried out a months-long investigation into Snapchat and discovered a “vast network of dark web sites dedicated to sharing stolen, non-consensual sexual images from Snap.” It claims to have found more than 10,000 records related to Snap and child sexual abuse material “in the last year alone,” and says Snapchat was "by far" the biggest source of images and videos on the dark web sites that it examined.
In its complaint [PDF], the agency accused the app of being “a breeding ground for predators to collect sexually explicit images of children and to find, groom and extort them.” It states that "criminals circulate sextortion scripts" that contain instructions on how to victimize minors. It claims that these documents are publicly available and are actively being used against victims but they “have not yet been blacklisted by . . . Snapchat.”
Furthermore, investigators determined that many accounts that openly share and sell CSAM on Snapchat are linked to each other through the app's recommendation algorithm. The suit claims "Snap designed its platform specifically to make it addicting to young people, which has led some of its users to depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues."
The Snapchat complaint follows a similar child safety suit that the state filed against Meta last December. Engadget has contacted Snap for comment.
“Our undercover investigation revealed that Snapchat's harmful design features create an environment where predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes and other forms of sexual abuse,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. “Snap has misled users into believing that photos and videos sent on their platform will disappear, but predators can permanently capture this content and they have created a virtual yearbook of child sexual images that are traded, sold and stored indefinitely. Through our litigation against Meta and Snap, the New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to hold these platforms accountable for prioritizing profits over children's safety.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/new-mexico-sues-snap-over-its-alleged-failure-to-protect-kids-from-sextortion-schemes-182426135.html?src=rss
Apple's Find My finally comes to South Korea in 2025
Apple is finally bringing its Find My feature to South Korea in 2025. The company says the service will launch at some point during the spring, according to a translation of a press release published by AppleInsider.
For years, South Korea has been just about the only country without access to Apple’s tracking network. So what changed? It looks like one reason behind the move is an influx of user complaints. These complaints have merit, as Apple sells AirTags in the country. Without the Find My network, AirTags are basically useless little silver pucks.
Apple has not addressed the reason behind the sudden change of heart. According to the user petition, the company has kept the feature disabled due to "internal policy." The country has strict privacy regulations, so that could be what led to the aforementioned internal policy. In the past, Apple has said that Find My was absent from South Korea because the company was unable to export high-precision map data due to local laws, as reported by MacRumors.
To that end, South Korea is particularly protective of geographic data. Associated legal restrictions have long been a thorn in the side of international platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps, as real time mapping data is tough to come by. This has also impacted games that rely on mapping data, like Pokémon Go.
However, Find My already works in the country’s outlying territories like Baengnyeongdo and Ulleungdo, so who knows exactly why it’s taking so long for Find My to reach the mainland. In any event, this is good news for South Koreans who want to keep an eye on their precious belongings. Here’s hoping the platform works as intended.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/apples-find-my-finally-comes-to-south-korea-in-2025-185754477.html?src=rss
New Mexico sues Snap over its alleged failure to protect kids from sextortion schemes
New Mexico's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Snap, accusing the company of failing to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation and other harms on Snapchat. The suit contends that Snapchat's features "foster the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and facilitate child sexual exploitation."
The state's Department of Justice carried out a months-long investigation into Snapchat and discovered a “vast network of dark web sites dedicated to sharing stolen, non-consensual sexual images from Snap.” It claims to have found more than 10,000 records related to Snap and child sexual abuse material “in the last year alone,” and says Snapchat was "by far" the biggest source of images and videos on the dark web sites that it examined.
In its complaint [PDF], the agency accused the app of being “a breeding ground for predators to collect sexually explicit images of children and to find, groom and extort them.” It states that "criminals circulate sextortion scripts" that contain instructions on how to victimize minors. It claims that these documents are publicly available and are actively being used against victims but they “have not yet been blacklisted by . . . Snapchat.”
Furthermore, investigators determined that many accounts that openly share and sell CSAM on Snapchat are linked to each other through the app's recommendation algorithm. The suit claims "Snap designed its platform specifically to make it addicting to young people, which has led some of its users to depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues."
The Snapchat complaint follows a similar child safety suit that the state filed against Meta last December. Engadget has contacted Snap for comment.
“Our undercover investigation revealed that Snapchat's harmful design features create an environment where predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes and other forms of sexual abuse,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. “Snap has misled users into believing that photos and videos sent on their platform will disappear, but predators can permanently capture this content and they have created a virtual yearbook of child sexual images that are traded, sold and stored indefinitely. Through our litigation against Meta and Snap, the New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to hold these platforms accountable for prioritizing profits over children's safety.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/new-mexico-sues-snap-over-its-alleged-failure-to-protect-kids-from-sextortion-schemes-182426135.html?src=rss
Astro Bot PS5 review: One of the best games Sony has ever made
Astro Bot is not just for kids. Team Asobi clearly designed it for players of all skill levels, and that includes children and newbies, but at its core Astro Bot feels purpose-built for video game fans. It’s a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and at the same time, it’s an excellent introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, adorable characters, and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments, Astro Bot is easily one of the best games that Sony has ever produced.
Astro Bot is technically the fifth entry in the Astro universe, though it’s the series’ first fully fledged — and fully priced — installment. It follows The Playroom (a 2013 mini-game collection for PS4), The Playroom VR (a 2016 PlayStation VR jam), Astro Bot Rescue Mission (a 2018 PS VR platformer starring just the bots), and Astro’s Playroom (a 2020 DualSense demo that’s pre-loaded on every PS5). Astro Bot takes ideas from these earlier titles and compiles them into a focused 3D platformer with dozens of main worlds, a bevy of additional unlockable planets and a wide range of satisfying mechanics. On top of this, the robot protagonists are super cute in every situation. The fact that some of the characters and settings in Astro Bot are recognizable from popular video games only makes the whole thing sweeter.
Players are on a mission to rescue all 300 of their robot friends after an alien intercepted their spaceship, a super-charged PS5, and scattered the crew across six dangerous galaxies. Perched atop a lone DualSense, Astro scours 50 total planets and collects other bots by punching them — you know, in a friendly way — and then storing them inside the touchpad of the on-screen controller before dumping everyone on a secure world. At the same time, Astro is searching for the missing parts of the PS5 spaceship, which are being guarded by bosses in each galaxy.
The hub world, where the ship and rescued bots live, has customization portals for the DualSense and Astro, a gatcha machine with items that bring your bots to life, and a safari zone where you can take pictures with animals you find. There are also small regions to fix up with extra puzzles for Astro and his friends. Outside of the hub planet, the game’s baseline loop involves collecting coins, puzzle pieces and bots by completing platforming challenges and surviving Koopa-like enemies, but new dangers and even-trickier environments appear at every turn.
Many of the planets that Astro lands on introduce new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that blows Astro up like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming booster, and a stopwatch that freezes time for a short while. Stages are designed around these unique mechanics and the diversity on display is impressive, from a spooky castle filled with toxic-green ghosts and invisible platforms, to a deconstructed space station in a delectable cosmic setting, and an entire planet built out of giant, neon-lit casino props.
Even before picking up any cool new toys, Astro has a laser-propelled hover ability that lets him destroy enemies while jumping over them, plus a standard punch and a chargeable spin move. These three abilities, plus whatever tool he picks up, are the entirety of Astro’s arsenal. This mechanical focus allowed Team Asobi to perfect each move and then apply them all in a thousand different ways, and the result is a rewarding and robust platformer. All the cuteness is just an added bonus.
Astro Bot is not punishing, but it’s not easy either. Plenty of stages require patience, awareness and a high degree of platforming skill, though resets are generous and failure doesn't cost anything other than your time. Completionists will have a great time with this one — there are so many secret passages and hidden bots to find, most of them cleverly tucked away and easily missed unless you’re actively looking for them. On the flipside, speedrunners should enjoy Astro Bot as well, since it offers planets of platforming challenges with incredibly responsive controls.
There are 300 bots to find, and many are pulled from the wider world of gaming. Plenty of the branded bots originate outside of Sony’s stable, with big hitters from Capcom and Sega represented well — a few of them definitely made my partner yell in excitement, which was adorable in its own right. Some of the more memorable levels center on popular Sony franchises like God of War, with Astro wielding Kratos’ ax on one planet. Team Asobi really mined Sony’s vaults, far beyond simple Crash Bandicoot callbacks, and into weird and wonderful games like LocoRoco and Vib-Ribbon.
And now, allow me to really gush. Astro Bot is beautiful, and not just in a cartoony kind of way. Its landscapes are sharp and alive with interactive details, and it seems like every pixel has been polished to perfection. But it’s the game’s physics that energize everything — when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material buckles under his little feet, indenting with each step and sway, and making the entire scene look utterly squeezable.
When skating in the snowy levels, Astro picks up speed and pivots on a dime, and the DualSense responds with the sounds and vibrations of a sharp knife slicing through thick ice. (Side note: I could happily play an entire game of just ice skating… as long as it’s not called Astro Glide.) Piles of tactile objects like sprinkles, dice, skulls and glass stars are scattered around the levels, and running through them is not only gratifying in an ASMR sense, but it sometimes uncovers a new secret. When rain hits Astro’s transparent umbrella hat, the sound is mirrored perfectly on the DualSense, along with the feeling of raindrops on the grips. Each stage has background music to match, funky or big band or synth-y, and always with a catchy hook. Astro Bot’s sound effects, haptics, graphics and physics harmonize flawlessly, transforming every surface into a playground. It’s magical.
On the cute side of things, Astro reacts to his environments with endearing animations like shivering in the cold, quivering in fear and tapping his tiny metal feet in excitement, and his bot friends are similarly expressive. When Astro boops his head on an impassable ceiling, he makes the sweetest little flinching motion. The bots turn around and shake their booties at Astro right before he punches them into the DualSense. On the pause screen, you can flick all of your collected bots out of the digital controller and they flail in mid-air before landing safely back inside the touchpad. Pretty much everything the bots do is charming.
Astro Bot highlights the importance of play. It’s Super Mario Bros. for a new generation of video game fanatics, at once an introduction to common mechanics and also a significant challenge for seasoned players. In both cases, Astro Bot radiates joy. If this, alongside new titles like Lego Horizon Adventures, signals a new and less stuffy direction for Sony, then I’m excited to see what the future holds. For now though, you’ll find me trying to 100-percent Astro Bot, cursing and laughing the whole way through.
Psst: Astro Bot has now joined the hallowed ranks of our favorite PS5 games guide. You can view all of our picks — 21 at the time of writing — at The best PS5 games for 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-ps5-review-one-of-the-best-games-sony-has-ever-made-120014494.html?src=rss
Balatro is coming to mobile, and it’s going to ruin my life
Beware: The most addictive game of 2024 is coming to a device that’s always within reach. Balatro, a clever combination of poker, deck-building and roguelikes, will arrive on iOS — as a standalone purchase and Apple Arcade — and Android later this month. (That’s plenty of time to shop for a power bank or battery pack.)
Created by Canadian solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, Balatro (styled as Balatro+ on Apple Arcade) is one of Engadget’s picks for best PC games. It's one of the great indie gaming success stories of 2024.
Unlike poker, Balatro’s spin includes magical tarot cards and unique Jokers that can dramatically alter your hands. For example, one might increase the pool of cards to build your hand from, and another could raise your score if your hand hits a particular sequence. Depending on which Joker you draw, you may be forced to rethink your entire strategy. (But play them strategically because you’re limited to five per hand.)
Its presentation adds to the fun. It includes a synthwave soundtrack, trippy animations and a delightfully retro CRT filter.
Productivity be damned! Balatro is coming to mobile on September 26th pic.twitter.com/qNF1d0ArBx
— Balatro (@BalatroGame) September 5, 2024
If you don’t know much about poker, don’t sweat it. First, poker is only one element of the game — and, even then, it encourages you to break its rules. Balatro also includes tutorials and help pop-ups to make learning the unique deck game (and throwing away all your free time) as easy as possible.
Balatro launched in February on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch (and on macOS in March). It arrives on Android and iOS on September 26. It will be a $10 standalone purchase on either mobile platform or free on Apple devices for Apple Arcade subscribers. Those in the Apple ecosystem can also play it on iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro.
2K Sports / Apple
NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, which continues the franchise’s mobile-friendly spinoffs for Apple devices, is also coming soon to Apple Arcade. This year’s version adds The Neighborhood, the open-world, skill-building environment first seen in the standard version of NBA 2K18. It also adds a revamped version of Greatest Mode, where you can relive iconic moments from NBA legends, past and present. 2K Sports promises new Great Mode players will be added throughout the season.
NBA 2K Arcade Edition arrives on Apple Arcade on October 3.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-coming-to-mobile-and-its-going-to-ruin-my-life-173039968.html?src=rss