Microsoft has formally agreed to respect the right of Activision Blizzard workers to unionize in a pact with the Communications Workers of America. The agreement will be applied 60 days after Microsoft closes its acquisition of the video game publisher. The $68.7 billion takeover requires approval from regulators in various markets and is expected to… Continue reading Microsoft formally agrees to respect Activision Blizzard unionization efforts
Author: Engadget Online News
Google will expand the usefulness of voice commands beyond Android phones
Google has helped app creators make better use of Assistant voice commands over time, but its longstanding Conversational Actions framework for those commands has had its limits. It’s primarily meant for conventional Android mobile devices, and it’s voice-only — the technology won’t help much on your smartwatch, or when you need some on-screen interaction. The… Continue reading Google will expand the usefulness of voice commands beyond Android phones
Microsoft Teams is using AI to prevent awkward interruptions in video calls
Microsoft might soon mitigate some of the worst nuisances in video chats. The Verge notes Microsoft is rolling out AI-based voice quality upgrades that should help every call participant hear each other clearly. New machine learning models can not only cancel echoes, but even reduce the chances of awkward interruptions by eliminating echo-related overlaps. This… Continue reading Microsoft Teams is using AI to prevent awkward interruptions in video calls
Google places an engineer on leave after claiming its AI is sentient
Blake Lemoine, a Google engineer working in its Responsible AI division, revealed to The Washington Post that he believes one of the company’s AI projects has achieved sentience. And after reading his conversations with LaMDA (short for Language Model for Dialogue Applications), it’s easy to see why. The chatbot system, which relies on Google’s language models… Continue reading Google places an engineer on leave after claiming its AI is sentient
‘Limbo’ lead designer’s next project is the cosmic adventure ‘Cocoon’
Jeppe Carlsen’s new game has a distinctly different vibe than his previous releases. As the lead gameplay designer of Limbo and Inside, Carlsen is known for building spooky side-scrollers with morbid visuals, but his latest original project features a bug-like explorer in a mysterious, neon-speckled planet system. The main character resembles an anthropomorphic firefly as… Continue reading ‘Limbo’ lead designer’s next project is the cosmic adventure ‘Cocoon’
‘Grounded’ launches in September 2022 with a full campaign
If you’re looking to fight ants, scale fences, zip wire across grass and wear questionable helmets, Grounded is finally out of Game Preview and coming to Xbox Game Pass this September. [embedded content] Obsidian Entertainment’s first-person survival game is adding new bosses (including a giant mantis), the freedom to roam the entire backyard — please… Continue reading ‘Grounded’ launches in September 2022 with a full campaign
‘Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’ brings Nioh’s demon-killing pedigree to the Three Kingdoms
Fans of the rage-inducing difficulty and controller smashing frustration of the Nioh series from Team Ninja have something to celebrate. During the XBox Summer Game Fest on Sunday, Ninja teased its latest game, a brutal, demon-infested reimagining of Three Kingdoms-era China, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. You’ll play as a nameless militia member trying to stave… Continue reading ‘Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’ brings Nioh’s demon-killing pedigree to the Three Kingdoms
‘Starfield’ extended first look has big ‘No Man’s Sky’ energy
Here’s our first deep look at Starfield, the expansive sci-fi RPG coming from Fallout studio Bethesda. [embedded content] Bethesda producer Todd Howard introduced the gameplay video at the end of the big Xbox and Bethesda games showcase today. It quickly gave off No Man’s Sky vibes, with a person in a space suit exploring an… Continue reading ‘Starfield’ extended first look has big ‘No Man’s Sky’ energy
‘Minecraft Legends’ is a new action-strategy game coming 2023
A new Minecraft game has made its world premiere at the Xbox Summer Games Fest — one where you’ll be able to build structures and command your allies to fight enemies. Xbox Games Studios has showcased a short clip of Minecraft Legends at the event and has also announced that the new action-strategy game is… Continue reading ‘Minecraft Legends’ is a new action-strategy game coming 2023
‘Forza Motorsport’ will arrive on Xbox and PC in spring 2023
The new Forza Motorsport is due to hit Xbox consoles and PC in spring 2023, and it’ll hit Game Pass on day one. This’ll be five years after the release of Forza Motorsport 7, the latest game in the series. The new entry isn’t called 8 — just Forza Motorsport, thank you very much. [embedded… Continue reading ‘Forza Motorsport’ will arrive on Xbox and PC in spring 2023