During Epic's State of Unreal keynote, the tech demo of The Witcher 4 running on Unreal Engine 5 was a standout moment. The demo featured a vibrant port city market, a lush forest, and a realistic horse, all running smoothly at 60 frames per second on a base PlayStation 5. Julius Girbig, a senior technical animator at CD Projekt Red, emphasized that using the standard PS5 was a deliberate choice to demonstrate the level of optimization achievable on current-gen consoles, rather than relying on high-end hardware. While the demo is not part of the final game, it reflects the style, direction, and fidelity that the developers aim for, showcasing tools that will eventually be used to create The Witcher 4.
Anker’s Soundcore brand has launched the Boom 3i, a rugged wireless Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use, especially at the beach. It features an IP68 water and dustproof rating, a protective coating to prevent corrosion from salt water exposure for up to two years, and it floats while keeping its speakers oriented upwards for optimal sound. The Boom 3i offers a unique Buzz Clean mode that vibrates to dislodge dust and sand from the speaker grill, making it easier to clean after outdoor adventures. It also includes an emergency alarm mode with a 96db output and can be used as a megaphone via the Soundcore app. The battery lasts up to 16 hours with moderate volume and minimal features enabled. Priced at $189.99 CAD (approximately $139 USD), the Boom 3i is designed to withstand tough conditions without compromising sound quality or functionality.
EchoStar has missed substantial interest payments totaling over $500 million, raising concerns about potential bankruptcy protection. Despite financial difficulties, the company is moving forward with its TV business by commissioning a new satellite, EchoStar XXVI, expected to enhance Dish TV coverage nationwide by 2028. The missed payments are attributed to uncertainties stemming from an ongoing FCC investigation into EchoStar's compliance with 5G deployment requirements necessary to retain its spectrum licenses. This probe has also caused a pause in strategic decisions related to Boost Mobile. Additionally, EchoStar faces competition from SpaceX, which challenges EchoStar's spectrum use in the 2 GHz band. Both Dish Network and EchoStar have yet to respond to requests for comments regarding these issues.
People Can Fly, the game developer known for Bulletstorm and Outriders, has cancelled two in-development projects, Gemini and Bifrost, and will lay off employees. The studio's CEO, Sebastian Wojciechowski, cited issues with the publisher, including lack of communication and financial problems, as reasons behind the cancellations. The publisher involved is Square Enix. Despite these setbacks, People Can Fly will continue to work as a partner studio on the upcoming Xbox game Gears of War: E-Day with The Coalition.
Panasonic, though not as prominent in the US TV market, is making a mark with its high-end lineup available on Amazon. The 65-inch Z85 OLED TV, featuring Amazon Fire TV, is now available for $997.99, down 45% from its $1,799.99 launch price in late 2024. An even better offer bundles this TV with Panasonic's wireless neck speaker for $999.99. This model boasts HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K at 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, variable refresh rate, and adaptive sync tech like FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, ideal for gamers. Despite not leading in brightness or glare handling according to RTINGS, it's an impressive option under $1K. Additional deals include Anker's 10,000mAh 30W portable battery at $12.94, Panasonic's DP-UB420-K 4K Blu-ray player at $217.99, and Sony's PS5 slim bundle with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 starting at $399.99, with a disc drive model available for $449.99 at Best Buy.
Google is reportedly planning to unveil its Pixel 10 series smartphones on August 13th during a Made by Google event, with the devices becoming available in stores on August 20th. The lineup is expected to feature four versions: the base Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold. The new Pixel phones will resemble last year’s Pixel 9 models, with the base model gaining a telephoto camera but with some quality compromises. Pro models are anticipated to retain similar camera hardware and design to the previous year but will include an upgraded Tensor G5 chipset with enhanced AI capabilities. Additionally, Google is likely to introduce the Pixel Watch 4 at the same event, boasting a thicker body possibly for a larger battery, improved charging technology, extra buttons, and the debut of Google’s Gemini AI assistant. The new devices will also showcase Google's Material 3 Expressive design language in their software.
Gen V, the spinoff series from The Boys franchise, is returning to Amazon Prime for its second season on September 17th with a three-episode premiere. Announced at the CCXP convention in Mexico, the new season will explore the darker atmosphere at Godolkin University under the control of Homelander, where superpowered students are increasingly adopting the belief of human inferiority. The season will focus on characters Marie, Emma, and Jordan as they face new challenges and fight against the sinister changes led by the university's new dean, Cipher. Additionally, more screen time will be devoted to Polarity as he investigates the mysterious death of his son Andre. Despite escalating dangers, the Gen V students are prepared for a fierce battle in the upcoming season this fall.
Apple offers a wide range of MacBook models with its M-series chips, including M1, M2, M3, and the latest M4 versions. Various configurations of the 14-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are available at discounted prices across different retailers. Notable deals include the M1 MacBook Air at $649, M2 MacBook Air with configurations from $799 to $899, and the M3 MacBook Air with discounts up to $300 off. The new M4 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models also feature improved specs like increased RAM and storage, with current sales offering between $150 to $365 discounts. Mac Mini models with M4 and M4 Pro chips also present strong value propositions with current deals starting at $557. Apple’s refurbished store remains a cost-effective option with warranty-backed products. The discounts make higher-spec models more accessible, catering to a variety of users from everyday productivity to professional creative work.
June brings a wave of Father’s Day discounts from many retailers, with Sonos offering notable deals on products including the Arc Ultra soundbar and the Era 100 smart speaker. The standout Sonos Ace wireless headphones are now available at an all-time low price of $329 — $120 off — from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos itself until Sunday, June 15th. These headphones offer premium sound quality and effective noise cancellation, along with a natural transparency mode to let ambient sounds in. What sets them apart is their seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem, including a TV Audio Swap feature that allows easy audio transfer from Sonos soundbars for private listening. The headphones support spatial audio, head tracking, and work with devices connected to your TV such as gaming consoles. Constructed with comfort and style in mind, the Sonos Ace feature magnetic memory foam ear cups, stainless steel sliders, up to 30 hours battery life, USB-C charging, and multipoint Bluetooth for connecting to two devices simultaneously.
Rivian is transforming the EV charging experience through a software update that offers drivers detailed real-time insights into their vehicle’s energy consumption and faster charging speeds. The new Energy app update provides an extensive view of energy flow during charging and driving, including breakdowns of battery usage, system consumption, and HVAC operation. A Trip Target feature optimizes charging stops during navigation, and an interactive Energy Monitor displays efficiency tips with a friendly Yeti mascot. Additionally, a requested battery preconditioning feature helps improve charging speed by warming or cooling the battery on demand. Both first- and second-generation Rivian EVs now benefit from faster DC charging, with the Gen 2 Large Pack charging up to 215 kW. Future updates will include Smart Charging to optimize home charging cost and emissions, and bidirectional charging to use the vehicle as a mobile power source. These improvements aim to democratize energy management and enhance the convenience and efficiency of EV charging for Rivian owners.