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The latest 'South Park' game is hardest if you choose a black character
South Park writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone haven't ever really shied away from social commentary (president Donald Trump notwithstanding) and that doesn't look like it's changing with the upcoming South Park: The Fractured but Whole. When creating your character in the make-believe superhero game, Eurogamer discovered that the darker the skin tone you choose, the more the difficulty level ramps up. "Don't worry, this doesn't affect combat, just every other aspect of your life," perpetual jerk Eric Cartman says in voiceover.
Microsoft to unveil new Surface gear on October 31st
Microsoft might not be done introducing new Surface hardware this year just because the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro are on store shelves. The company has confirmed that devices executive Panos Panay will be presenting at the company's two-day Future Decoded event (starting October 31st -- yes, Halloween), hinting that he'll introduce new hardware. A source speaking to The Verge supports this with word that there will be "at least one" new piece of hardware at the event, so it seems like Microsoft's habit of introducing new Surface machines in October will remain intact. As it stands, there are a few systems that could stand to get upgrades.
Now the free Windows 10 S upgrade period runs through March
Today Microsoft announced the availability of different colors of its Surface Laptop in 20 more countries, but that's not the biggest news. Tucked in at the end is a note that buyers will be able to upgrade its Chrome OS-fighting Windows 10 S operating system to standard Windows 10 through March 2018. Originally the upgrade period only ran through the end of 2017, but Raphael Aquino Jose says this should provide extra flexibility for back to school and holiday gift buyers. That's probably a good call considering that in our review we found that Windows 10 S is too limited for most, and this way people can give it a fair trial without being pressed for time. The Surface Laptop came off as a great notebook, but the possibility of needing a $50 upgrade to install some critical software that's not in the Windows Store is a tough restriction. As ZDNet notes, promised apps like iTunes are still missing from the store, which is probably playing into the extension.
Play as Mega Man and Ghost Trick in 'Dead Rising 4' on PS4
Patience is paying off for Dead Rising fans on PlayStation 4. Last year's (formerly) Xbox One exclusive Dead Rising 4 is making its way to the PS4 with a few extras in Dead Rising 4: Frank's Big Package. Yup, Capcom's marketing department thought that name was a good idea. Anywho, the "complete" edition has a couple of noteworthy additions.
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update lands October 17th, Microsoft confirms
Looks like that leak was right, after all. Microsoft announced today at IFA that the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will officially launch on October 17th. It's the fourth major addition to the OS, and it follows the Creators Update from earlier this year. The biggest change? It'll give us our first taste of Windows Mixed Reality, the company's VR platform that's powered by inexpensive headsets from the likes of Dell, HP, Lenovo and ASUS. And if you don't have a headset, you'll also be able to check out some experiences in 2D with the Mixed Reality Viewer.
Parallels makes Windows apps work with your MacBook's TouchBar
If you're one of those Apple users who likes (or needs) to run Mac OS and Windows side by side, you'll probably be into Parallels Desktop 13. Especially if you have one of those MacBook Pros with a TouchBar. The latest version of the software makes certain apps on Microsoft's platform fully compatible with Apple's digital OLED strip, including all the major web browsers and the entire Office Suite. For instance, if you're running PowerPoint for Windows through Parallels, you can use the TouchBar to do things like bold or italicize the text on your slides. You can also customize functions based on which app you're using, just as you would on the Mac OS interface.
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update may arrive on October 17th
We've known that Microsoft planned to release a large Windows 10 update this fall, but the company has been mum on the exact date. The Fall Creators Update is slated to feature some big changes, too, including built-in AI to fight malware, new Cortana features and handwriting recognition. While many expected bi-annual updates for Windows 10 starting in September, PC World reports that hardware partner Lenovo leaked a Windows 10 ship date of October 17th on a since-deleted product page for its upcoming two-in-one PC, the Miix 520.
'Katamari Damacy' creator's next game will be released in 2018
We noticed that Sony was taking a concerted step away from quirky indie games back at E3. One of the titles caught in the fray was Wattam, a charmer rom a few of the minds behind Katamari Damacy and Journey that made it debut at the first PlayStation Experience back in 2014. Sony's newfound reluctance toward indies left Funomena's debut title in a lurch, but PlayStation's loss is publisher Annapurna Interactive's gain. The game will drop is PlayStation 4 exclusivity and will be released next year on "console and PC."
Acer Switch 7 hands-on: A compelling Surface alternative
There are plenty of pretenders to Microsoft's Surface throne, but they often come with compromises that force you to default to the original. Acer is hoping to buck that trend with the Switch 7 Black Edition, a tablet-laptop hybrid that may succeed where so many others, including the Switch 5, have failed.
Return to 'Smuggler's Run' in the next 'GTA: Online' expansion
For the next expansion to GTA: Online, Rockstar Games is looking to its past. "Smuggler's Run" will task you to move inventory for the perpetually paranoid Nervous Ron by land and air. "Smuggler's Run opens up the air corridors above Los Santos and Blaine Country, providing new business opportunities while introducing a range of planes, choppers and even ultralights as highly viable options for transporting criminal cargo across the state -- simultaneously opening up some creative new methods of dispatching any rival gangs along the way," a post on the Rockstar Newswire says.
'Assassin's Creed' is crossing over with 'Final Fantasy'
So this is weird: Square Enix and Ubisoft have announced that this month will mark the beginning of crossovers between Assassin's Creed and Final Fantasy. Yup, really. "This collaboration is the result of being huge fans," Ubisoft Montreal game driector Ashraf Ismail says on the UbiBlog. "There's a lot of respect between the two teams and we couldn't be more thrilled with the opportunity to pay homage to each other's work."
'Final Fantasy XV' comes to your phone this fall
Square Enix is bent on bringing Final Fantasy XV to every platform imaginable, and that includes the phone in your pocket. It just unveiled a Pocket Edition of the road trip role-playing game that will hit Android, iOS and Windows 10 (yes, despite its dwindling influence) this fall. Its first episode will be free to play, while you'll have to fork out an unspecified amount to continue the tale of Noctis and crew. The title includes the "main story" and characters, but don't expect a carbon copy of the game you can buy on your console.
Formula One's eSports racing league seeks the best 'F1 2017' driver
Traditional sports squads and eSports teams partnering has been happening pretty frequently recently. But now we're seeing it happen in a big way with motorsports. Specifically, Formula One is pairing with developer Codemasters and Gfinity to find the best F1 2017 driver. Per Reuters, the semi-final races will be held in London at the Gfinity Arena in October, and the best 20 racers will proceed to the last round of competition the next month.
Newton is the rare email app that works great on both Windows and Mac
There are plenty of good third-party Windows email apps out there, but not many of them work across all the platforms you might use. If you're the type of person who jumps between macOS and Windows, Newton (formerly CloudMagic) might be worth a look. Today, the company is bringing its app to Windows -- it should be available on the Windows Store now. With Newton already available on macOS, Android and iOS (not to mention the Apple Watch and Android Wear), it's now one of only a few email apps that works on basically any device.
Xbox’s self-published indies have their own space on the store
Finding self-published indie games on Xbox is a lot easier as of today. You'll be able to find them on the Xbox Store hidden in their own "Creators Collection" marketplace. Microsoft's Chris Charla (director of its ID @ Xbox indie outreach program) says this is a way to maintain the main store's curated experience -- citing concerns for families with young kids who could stumble across something that isn't age-appropriate.
'Spelunky' and 'Downwell' creators have 50 games coming this fall
Good news if you and yours have long worn out Sportsfriends' appeal -- it's been a few years, so that's understandable -- and you're hankering for another collection of unique multiplayer games. Next year, the minds behind Spelunky, Downwell, Time Barons, Skorpulac and Madhouse have teamed to bring you UFO 50. "Our goal is to combine a familiar 8-bit aesthetic with new ideas and modern game design sensibilities," the game's website reads. That purview includes platformers, puzzle games, RPGs and shooters, for a total of, you guessed it, 50 different games.
Xbox One is getting a completely new customizable interface
Microsoft just updated its suite of products for online gamers a month ago, adding a few quality-of-life features to Xbox Live and its streaming service Mixer (previously Beam). But today, they've announced an even bigger overhaul, revamping the user interfaces Xbox One and Windows 10 users.
Microsoft starts testing Windows 10's built-in Eye Control
The latest Insider preview build for Windows 10 is rolling out, and it's bringing that eye-tracking support Microsoft recently mentioned. Users with a compatible eye tracking device (which right now means certain hardware from Tobii) can control their PC and even type just by looking at the relevant spot onscreen. Still, the most surprising change is available via the command prompt. As described on the Command Line blog, it's overhauling the default colors in the Windows console for the first time in 20 years.
Windows 10 will soon include built-in eye tracking
It's not easy to use a PC if you have ALS or another neuromuscular disease that prevents you from using your hands. You can use eye tracking, but that could easily entail specialized software and an imperfect experience. Microsoft thinks it can do better. It's adding built-in eye tracking to Windows 10, nicknamed Eye Control, that will let anyone navigate using their gaze. You can launch apps, type and otherwise perform common tasks just by focusing your eyes on the right part of the screen.
What we're using: The Razer Blade and switching back to Windows
Welcome to IRL, our series dedicated to the things that Engadget writers play, use, watch and listen to. This week, Features Editor Aaron Souppouris explains his switch to Windows and a new laptop, after an extended stint dedicated to MacBooks and Mac OS. How did that work out?
