Tom Regan
Articles by Tom Regan
EU approves plans forcing Facebook and YouTube to act on hate speech
The European Union has just approved a proposal to implement Europe's very first mandatory social media restrictions. In a bid to clamp down on hate speech across Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, the EU is proposing a law that allows them to block videos which incite hatred or promote terrorism. While these initial proposals were approved yesterday, the new regulations still need to get past the European Parliament before they become official legislation.
'Battlefield 1' DLC adds a playable female soldier class
By turning the clocks back to World War 1, DICE has created arguably one of the best games in the Battlefield series. Now, with Battlefield 1's latest DLC, the developer is using our tragic past to drag its franchise kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Taking inspiration from Russia's infamous 1917 military unit, The Women's Battalion of Death, this summer's 'In the Name of the Tsar' expansion introduces a female soldier class to Battlefield for the first time. As you'd expect from a unit with such an intimidating name, these soldiers were pretty badass, taking over 200 prisoners as they fought valiantly on the Western Front. The new multiplayer class these real world soldiers have inspired is called the Russian Scout -- and that's all that we know so far. EA has said it will reveal more information about the Russian Scout at E3, alongside the new maps that fan can expect from the upcoming expansion.
Xbox's Game Pass offers 100 titles starting June 1st
Remember when we told you that Microsoft was launching its own Netflix-style subscription service for games? Well, thanks to Danny McBride, we now know that it's coming to an Xbox One near you on June 1st. As we reported previously, Xbox Game Pass will set you back $10/£8 a month, allowing users to download anything they wish from a library of over 100 Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles. The initial lineup looks fine, if unremarkable, featuring the likes of Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and Soul Calibur II. While we know a handful of other titles coming to the service, the vast majority of the 100 plus game library still remains unknown.
Garmin crams 5K and AR into its latest 360-degree camera
Thanks to the steady growth of VR, 360-degree cameras are now the latest object of lust for videographers. Yet with many of the more mainstream options outputting low res videos, Garmin's taking aim at videophiles with its newly announced 360-degree camera. The Virb 360 will be able to capture video at up to 5.7K at 30 frames per second. As well as the impressive resolution, Garmin promises budding videographers smooth, rapids-enduring footage thanks to its 4K Spherical Stabilization tech. In a bid to make your videos' audio feel equally high end, the Virb also features four built-in microphones. In a nice touch, the camera also uses GPS tech to allow users to create their own 360-degree augmented reality overlays. Unsurprisingly, all this tech doesn't exactly come cheap, with the Virb 360 setting consumers back a wallet-damaging $800 --$300 more than Nikon's KeyMission 360. Still, at least it's far more affordable than its 8K competitors.
Blizzard launches an 'Overwatch' league for amateurs
Blizzard's colorful shooter may be one of the most popular multiplayer games out right now, but its eSport scene hasn't exactly got off to the best start. With rumors circulating that a slot in Overwatch's official League costs between $15 and $25 million, pro teams have started to abandon the game in droves. Now, in a bid to win them back, Blizzard has announced a new entry-level league for the game called Overwatch Contenders.
Vevo's Apple TV app takes cues from Spotify
Music lovers with Apple TVs, it's time to get moderately excited -- because the tvOS Vevo app is getting a hefty overhaul. From tomorrow, Vevo will let owners of fourth generation Apple TVs experience an endless wave of curated music videos like it's 1999 all over again.
OnePlus 5 will feature DxO's photography expertise
In a world where Instagram has more users than the population of most countries, it's no secret that a phone's camera is often its selling point. Now, in a bid to win over some of that mammoth audience, phone manufacturer OnePlus has enlisted the help of photography experts DxO. Renowned for creating the respected camera benchmark system, DxOMark, the company is now helping the phone maker create a world-leading camera for the upcoming OnePlus 5.
Facebook makes Messenger easier to use for social butterflies
First it added stickers, then it was games. Now, Facebook's latest Messenger update simply aims to make the popular app even easier to use. Starting today, the chat service is getting a bit of a makeover, introducing a few subtle tweaks to Messenger's home screen in a bid to make it more user-friendly. The service is now split into three tabs, letting users instantly access their messages, see which friends are 'Active now' and lastly, go straight into their favorite Groups. As well as this top level organization, the update also introduces a new bottom bar, which has tabs for home, calls, camera, people and games. A red dot next to one of these tabs will indicate that someone's tried to reach you, meaning that users on the go can easily see who's communicating with them through Messenger, and by which method. Given all the new features Facebook has crammed into Messenger recently, this much needed tidier UI is definitely a welcome addition.
Sony's grand prize for a motorbike eSports race is a car
Ever fantasized about competing on a world famous race track? Well, thanks to PlayStation's latest eSports partnership, picking up your Dualshock could make that dream a reality. This year, MotoGP's licensed video game is getting its first eSports championship -- and it's being broadcast alongside the real thing. PS4 players will have the chance to compete in seven online time trial events, with the 16 best digital bikers duking it out in November alongside real riders. Perhaps excitingly, for the gamers, the season finale takes place in Valencia on the same circuit as the MotoGP World Championships.
‘Sonic Forces’ will bring your fanfiction characters to life
Until now, Sonic Forces has looked like Sonic Generations 2 in all but name. With trailers showing off levels that switch between classic side scrolling and the 3D perspective of Sonic's more modern adventures, you can forgive gamers for thinking they've played this all before. Today, however, Sega has revealed a third type of gameplay for Sonic Forces -- levels where you control your very own customizable hero.
Cult action game 'Vanquish' powerslides its way onto PCs
A month after SEGA brought Bayonetta to Steam, the publisher has now seen fit to throw PC owners another Platinum Games-shaped bone. Coming to the platform on May 25th, $20 will net gamers a souped-up version of third person slide-em-up -- Vanquish. The long-awaited port will support unlocked framerates and resolutions, allowing sadistic PC players to make this game look slightly shinier, and feel even faster. As well as support for 4K (and higher) resolutions, Vanquish on PC also offers keyboard and mouse control, along with all the inbuilt Steam functionality you'd expect.
Supernatural indie hit 'Oxenfree' is, well, free with Twitch Prime
Last year's supernatural indie hit Oxenfree was arguably one of 2016's best games-- and today, Twitch is giving it away for free. Amazon Prime users and Twitch Prime subscribers can claim their copy of the indie hit here, launching it through Twitch's desktop app.
Manufactured controversy puts Netflix's future at Cannes in doubt
This year, Netflix original movies will be shown at Cannes Film Festival for the very first time. Yet, thanks to pressure from the French government, 2017 could also be the last time we see Netflix original films at the event. In France, the law dictates that movies which enjoy theatrical releases can't be shown on streaming services until three years later. Due to these strict regulations, Cannes exhibitors strongly opposed the inclusion of this year's Netflix entries Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories, demanding that they at least be shown nationwide across French theaters. While exhibitors calls for Netflix's entries to be removed from the competition were dismissed by the festival, the organizers have now caved under pressure.
Microsoft didn't make Xbox One's first easy-pairing headset
In an age where technology is becoming increasingly wireless, it's baffling that Xbox One headsets still require either a transmitter or lengthy wires in order to work. Thankfully, LucidSound's latest is about to change that. Connecting directly to Xbox One (just like a controller), the LS35X is the first truly wireless audio peripheral on Microsoft's console. Interestingly, the headset is also confirmed to work with upcoming Xbox One successor-- Scorpio, making it the first peripheral announced for the mysterious hardware so far.
A single autonomous car could greatly reduce man-made traffic
Traffic. We all hate it, but what can honestly be done to significantly reduce it? Well, according to an experiment conducted by the university of Illinois, simply introducing a few self-driving cars to roads could be the answer. Conducting experiments in Tucson, Arizona the team discovered that even adding a single autonomous vehicle to the roads can massively reduce traffic. They programmed a self-driving car to loop a track continuously and then added 20 other human-driven cars to the mix. While humans somehow naturally create stop-and-go traffic even without lane changes or other disruptions, thanks to the robotic racer, both traffic and fuel consumption were reduced by 40 percent.
Devolver's eco-building sim 'Blockhood' is finally ready
After a year spent laying its foundations in Steam's Early Access program, Devolver's award winning 'neighborhood simulator' is now complete. Winning an award for its unique take on the building sim, Block'hood sees players feeling the ecological impact their creations have on the world around them. Sporting an eye-catching new aesthetic and adding a story mode into the mix, the full release of Block'hood arrives on Steam this Thursday -- costing $15.
Peripheral maker Roccat is developing its own game
My dad always used to say that if you can put your mind to it, you can do anything. It looks like someone at Roccat had an equally encouraging parent, as the gaming peripheral manufacturer has revealed that it's now attempting to develop its very own game. The undertaking in question is Sick City, a real-time tactical combat game that takes inspiration from classic squad-based strategy titles like Commandos and Company of Heroes. While gameplay details are still pretty vague, Roccat promises that Sick City will intertwine 'exciting espionage' with a cast of heroes that wield powerful abilities.
Most American households have abandoned their landlines
A US Health Department study has confirmed that most US citizens have completely stopped using landline phones -- shocking no-one. In a report released today, the government revealed that 50.8 percent of American households are now cellphone-only, with just 39.4 percent using both a mobile and a landline. That leaves a measly 6.5 percent of US homes that just use a landline, with the remaining 3.2 percent not owning a phone of any kind. The declining interest in landlines likely has one major culprit: the smartphone.
Google turns Raspberry Pi into a dirt cheap Home competitor
If you've ever wanted to have a conversation with your own tiny home-made computer, then your prayers have just been answered. Raspberry Pi has teamed up with Google, bringing voice integration to the Pi with a clever combination of hardware and software. Packed with the same tech that powers Google Home, the companies have released a kit that transforms a regular Raspberry Pi 3 into your very own virtual assistant. The pack contains a Voice HAT (Hardware Accessory on Top) board with a speaker and a microphone, giving Pi owners everything they need to add-in voice integration. (For the uninitiated, a HAT refers to any physical hardware that needs to be added on top of a Pi.)
Feast your eyes on Microsoft's 'Phantom Dust' remaster
After three long years, Microsoft has finally released more details about Phantom Dust HD. While the publisher announced a remaster of the 2004 cult-classic during E3 2014, it has been mostly quiet about the up-rezzed card battler ever since. With its unique mix of addictive deck building and tactical third-person combat, the little-known game earned itself a devoted fanbase -- and they've been waiting patiently to play it in high definition. Producer Adam Isgreen broke the silence during an interview with Polygon, confirming that it will run at 1080p on Xbox One and support 4K on PC. Thankfully he brought evidence with him too, allowing us all to finally see the remaster in action in the video below.