Saturday, May 18, 2019

Apple : Eurovision 2019 live stream: how to watch the song contest from anywhere - songs and judging

Apple : Eurovision 2019 live stream: how to watch the song contest from anywhere - songs and judging

Eurovision 2019 live stream: how to watch the song contest from anywhere - songs and judging

Posted: 18 May 2019 10:12 AM PDT

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest is finally here in all it's camp glory. For some it's a guilty pleasure, for others it's an excuse to get all your mates round and embrace the sequins and general madness. The Tel Aviv Convention Centre in Israel is all prepared for the 64th edition of the annual singing extravaganza, but are you struggling to know where to watch it? You've landed in the right place to find out with TechRadar's 2019 Eurovision live stream guide - it doesn't even matter where on Earth you are.

With the "Big Five" of the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain qualifying automatically alongside the hosts and a further 20 coming from the two semi-finals, we're now all set for the 26 act final event. That's where the real business begins, with acts from the Netherlands, Russia and Sweden the early favorites to take home the trophy and the right to host next year's event.

Once everyone has performed Madonna is set to take to the stage for a highly anticipated performance. Word is that she'll be performing the incredible Like a Prayer, in addition to one of her new tracks.

Winners are then picked based on viewers' votes and with up to 20 votes available per song, it's important to play your part if you want to be involved. So watching the event is key and we're going to tell you exactly how you can live stream the Eurovision 2019 song contest from wherever you are in the world. You can also scroll further down the page to discover more about this year's event and some of our favorite bits from its rich history.

How to watch the Eurovision Song Contest from outside your country

This year the grand final will be available to watch via the Eurovision YouTube channel. This means easy access through any device that you can get at YouTube with. The downside? You'll miss out on the commentary (or perhaps that's a positive if you're hosting a Eurovision party and really like the limelight).

If you're more interested in watching your home country's coverage - and there are details on watching in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada further down this page - but you're abroad this week, then you'll soon discover that the Eurovision goodness is geo-blocked by the broadcaster. Annoying, if you take particular delight in your domestic coverage. But the good news is that there's another way to get hold of it.

How to live stream Eurovision 2019 in the UK for FREE:

Good old aunty Beeb will be broadcasting the entire Eurovision Song Contest for free (assuming you have a TV Licence, of course). That means you can watch the main final via the BBC One on your TV from 8pm BST but it also means you can enjoy it online and on mobile via the iPlayer with Graham Norton as your wise-cracking host.

Representing the UK is 21-year-old singer Michael Rice who was voted in after competing on the BBC's You Decide selection show. He will sing a song called "Bigger Than US" which was written by Laurell Barker, Anna-Khara Folin, Jonas Thander, and John Lundvik.

Outside the UK this week? Fear not, as you can follow our instructions above to use a VPN and watch as if you were back in blighty. So that means no need to miss out on Graham Norton's unique take on the whole thing. Once downloaded, installed and a UK server has been chosen, head over to TVPlayer.com for a steady, free stream.

How to live stream Eurovision 2019 in Australia for FREE:

Since Australia's SBS is airing the whole final it should be easy to enjoy it on the big screen. That also means you can get all the fun online using the SBS On Demand service that works on multiple devices – ideal if you're on the go. Just remember to set your alarm if you want to watch all the singers live, as the show begins at 5am AEST. It's all set to be the biggest vote since, well...actually, scrap that.

Find out more in our full guide on live streaming Eurovision in Australia.

How to stream Eurovision live in New Zealand this year:

New Zealand's usual Eurovision broadcaster, UKTV, doesn't appear to be airing the event this year. But you don't need to be home in New Zealand to enjoy. You can still watch all the action online using a VPN. Check out how easy that is up the page with our handy guide.

Once you've sorted that, the next step is working out how you'll get up early enough to watch it!

How to watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US:

It doesn't look like there'll be any dedicated stateside broadcaster showing 2019 Eurovision. Sorry.

Luckily, there's always that YouTube coverage. Or, if you want a more thorough watching experience, grab a VPN and watch via another country's home broadcaster.

How to live stream Eurovision 2019 in Canada:

This year OMNI Television will broadcast the Eurovision 2019 event in Canada. Not heard of it? It's a specialist multicultural station, so Eurovision is an obvious fit.

But if you're out of Canada at the time but are still interested, scroll up to see how you can enjoy the contest using a VPN. It means you can watch everything for free from elsewhere on a tablet or phone.

Eurovision 2019 FAQ: Your questions answered

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How photogrammetry brought Resident Evil's world of undeath to life

Posted: 18 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT

A symphony of staccato shutter snaps filled the air. Xenon gas strobed from dozens of camera flashes. Capcom was visiting a meat processing plant with a trove of camera equipment.

Iron-stomached photographers shot photo after photo of wild game meat along with ivory bones and flowing blood. Afterwards, they ordered tofu and pizza, but not to cleanse their palates. Those, too, were photographic fodder. 

The meat, bones, blood, and viscera translated into zombified flesh in their recent remake of Resident Evil 2. The tofu photographs helped them create the character Tofu from the game's eponymous Tofu Survivor mode. As for the pizza, that was actually one of the first images audiences saw in the game's E3 2018 trailer as a rat skittered across it.

The ability to scan objects and then separately collect texture data has existed for some time, but photogrammetry captures both at once. Streamlining that process allows us to create accurate, properly textured 3D models faster than ever before.

Members of the RE2 dev team

The process that Capcom employed to transduce multitudes of photos into what players saw reflected in their world of undeath is called photogrammetry, and Capcom has been tapping into the art and technique of this process since 2017's Resident Evil 7.

"The photos we take are able to capture fine-grained details such as an object's texture, which in turn allows us to create realistic, high-quality 3D models,” members of the Resident Evil 2 development team told us in an interview. 

“The ability to scan objects and then separately collect texture data has existed for quite some time, but photogrammetry captures both at once. Streamlining that process allows us to create accurate, properly textured 3D models faster than ever before."

Streamlining processes like rendering is key when you want to make big budget games: it reduces cost, saves time and ultimately, creates a better product - in this case, one of the highest-rated games of 2019.

Photogrammetry 101 

The field of photogrammetry uses photographs to take precise and advanced measurements and has applications that range from cartography to archaeology.

The game industry has, over the last several years, adopted the science of photogrammetry to create highly detailed 3D models like the those found in Resident Evil 2's art deco museum-turned-police station and the sanitized white laboratory stained in stark relief with arterial spurts of blood.

This process works by first taking an array of overlapping photos of a subject from all angles to build a comprehensive set of measurements of the subject in 3D space. The photos are then stitched together using specialized software which takes into accounts for scale, angle, and perspective. In that way, a series of 2D images become a seamless 3D reconstruction.

Overlapping aerial photographs can be used to create topographical maps, whereas 3D modelers more often get up close and personal with their subjects in employing this technique.

Photogrammetry is also remarkably scaleable. A cursory glance around the internet reveals tutorials on how to do rudimentary photogrammetry with a smartphone camera. Of course, the technology employed by AAA-development studios is a bit more advanced than that.

A match made in heaven (or... hell) 

This versatile approach to creating high-fidelity 3D models has allowed Capcom to push the boundaries into literally photorealistic territory. Not only can it be applied to architecture and organic materials, but facial capture and even details as minute as creases and wrinkles in clothing as well.

"For Resident Evil 2, we hired live models who fit the descriptions of our characters, fitted them with the appropriate costumes, and then used photogrammetry to capture the data from which we built the 3D models. The process was pretty similar to filming a live-action movie. Many of the objects in the game were created using the same process," the developers told us. 

"Something we had to contend with in this game was the difference in size between the stunt actors and the facial model actors. We had to find a way to link the two of them by performing some initial facial scans to use as a target. We also use photogrammetry to capture the contortions that appear in the actors' outfits as they move around and in their faces as they emote."

To accomplish this, Capcom's 3D-scanning studio houses 141 commercially available digital single-lens reflex cameras across two booths. One booth is dedicated to creating lavishly-detailed full-body scans composited from photos taken across 103 camera, while the other 38 reside in a separate booth dedicated to facial scans. 

According to Capcom, the number of photos needed per object or person is directly proportional to the desired quality. They took, on average, about 100 photos for each model in the game for things like ...

Is the future of gaming picture-perfect? 

According to the Resident Evil 2 development team, there are a few drawbacks to employing photogrammetry - some objects can be cost-prohibitive to either procure or manufacture, while other objects that are constantly in motion (like trees and foliage that could sway in the wind) can introduce noise into the 3D data when converted if they move during the scanning process. 

That’s also not even mentioning the setup cost, which is rather sizable when you factor in a scanning studio and acquiring the equipment therein.

"However, assuming the object we want is easily deliverable, the quality of the final product compared to what's possible with traditional methods is more than worth the extra cost," according to Capcom. "We take the investment and operating costs of the photogrammetry studio into consideration as well, but we think this is an incredibly effective way to create assets, particularly in terms of the quality most contemporary games demand."

That is why photogrammetry has continued to leave a footprint on the game development industry, and why Capcom has said they will continue to utilize it for their future projects. 

Moreover, Capcom tells us, they are looking towards a future where it isn't something noteworthybut another commonplace tool in the belts of creators.

"Photogrammetry will eventually cease to be special, and in some ways it's already reaching that point. What's important is to have a kind of auteur mindset that is always aiming for higher quality and bringing even more value to the title. Photogrammetry is, in the end, just a part of the foundation used to create games and images."

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Best Samsung Galaxy Watch bands: how to restyle your wearable

Posted: 18 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is one of the smartest wearables on the market. Its thoughtful styling makes it an absolute pleasure to wear and its wide range of features mean it's one of the most useful smartwatches out there. It's so good in fact that it tops our best smartwatch list.

But as with all these watches it's nice to add some flair and personality to your Samsung Galaxy Watch, and one of the best ways to do this is to find a strap that gives it a new look. Perhaps you want to switch straps depending on what you're doing. A silicone band for exercise with a metal strap for nights out.

The good news is that there are loads of custom options for the Samsung Galaxy Watch that allow you to breathe some extra personality into yours, so we've been out hunting for the best bands and straps to make your watch reflect your personality.

The Galaxy Watch comes in two sizes - 46mm and 42mm - so we'll be clear about compatibility with each band. 

These are products that we haven't had in our test labs, but based on our experts' opinion and knowledge of the most reputable brands around, we think these are worth looking at.

Our selections, ranked from cheapest to most expensive, take into account online reviews, brand reputation, product capability and unique features, to help you pick through the maze of choices available to you.

Image credit: Kades

The Kades Soft Silicone Band is one that allows easy removal, which means you can swap it out with different bands depending on your mood, or what you're going to be doing during the day. The silicone band is ideal for heavy workouts, as it's breathable and waterproof.

The pin clasp means that it's easy to put on or remove, as well as keeping the watch nice and secure on your wrist. A massive range of colors and versions for both sizes of Galaxy Watches make this an excellent choice for those looking for a good all-round band on a budget.

Image credit: MroTech

It's probably not much of a stretch to say that the MroTech Sport Loop borrows from the really excellent Apple Watch straps which use a similar 'hook and loop' fastening system to make them super-adjustable and simple to put on.

Nice design and a good selection of colors mean this is a great way to pick your style and make your watch stand out. MroTech has straps for both sizes of Galaxy Watch too, and like many of the bands here they will fit a wide range of smartwatches that use the same size fitting.

A sensible price and great design make this a really nice choice for many people.

Image credit: Goseth

Look, there's no point pretending we don't still love the Milanese loop strap design. The delicate look combined with its "wear with everything" practicality makes these styles pretty compelling to almost anyone. Perhaps not ideal for intense workouts, but a pretty good all-rounder nonetheless.

And the Goseth is an affordable option too, giving you bags of style without decimating your bank balance. The magnetic clasp is convenient and simple but by its very nature doesn't lend itself to high-stress situations, so perhaps invest in something else if you're always running marathons.

Image credit: TRUMiRR

For a modest price the TRUMiRR Stainless Steel strap brings a rather fetching two-color design to the Galaxy Watch. The high-end look makes this an ideal pairing with Samsung's super-fancy smartwatch and should catch some admiring looks from friends.

We also really like the hassle-free clasp, which requires you press buttons on either side of the strap to release it. This should keep your watch securely on your wrist and prevent any accidents - essential when you're dealing with an expensive smartwatch!

Image credit: Samsung

It's not the most cost-effective band you can buy and there are loads of third-party silicone straps that are cheaper, but for a lot of people, sticking with Samsung for your Galaxy Watch accessories is essential.

We do however really like the design and color of the Blue version of this strap. While the Black and Natural Grey are both fine in their own way, the blue color makes this strap a little more interesting. The traditional watch-style notched clasp isn't the most funky we've seen, but it will keep the watch on securely.

Image credit: Samsung

For some reason the color options are much better for the 20mm straps (which fit the 42mm Samsung Galaxy Watch) than the 22mm ones. Anyone who loves a nice bright color will enjoy the Violet and Pink bands, but we think the audacious Yellow is absolutely banging.

Samsung's silicone bands are well-suited to exercise and should last a long time, but the traditional strap clasp is a bit frustrating as these designs can be a little uncomfortable for workouts. We'd prefer to see an Apple-style clip, but we can live with Samsung's choice too.

Image credit: Samsung

Samsung knows that people may want to swap watch straps regularly, so the Hybrid Sport Strap allows for very quick removal and installation. That's super-handy if you want to use different bands for different outfits or activities.

The combination of both leather and rubber means that the Hybrid Sport is hard-wearing but looks as classy as an all-leather strap does. You get a splash of color, which can either be bright and bold or a bit more conservative - ideal for all tastes.

It's a bit expensive, especially compared to third-party bands, but it does offer some of the nicest design we've seen on a watch strap.

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Man City vs Watford live stream: how to watch 2019 FA Cup final today from anywhere

Posted: 18 May 2019 07:13 AM PDT

Tell us we aren't the only ones that get emotional when Abide With Me is belted out immediately before the FA Cup Final. We aren't? Phew! The stage is set at Wembley Stadium for the climax of the 2018/19 English football season. Manchester City and Watford are set to do battle under the now-famous arch. Is the outcome a foregone conclusion? Or is there a shock in the air? Whoever you're cheering on, you can get a Man City vs Watford live stream in the 2019 FA Cup Final wherever you are - the time is here.

No matter how big a Hornet's fan you are, there's no denying that Man City are overwhelming favourites for this game.

A quick look at their team sheet (and how much the club has spent on players) should tell you everything you have to know. Aguero. Kompany. De Bruyne. Sterling. Sane. Silva squared. And with Pep Guardiola calling the shots from the bench, there aren't many games that the blue side of Manchester go into as second favourites. And now with the Premier League and EFL Cup in the trophy cabinet, the historic treble is well and truly on.

It's Watford's first FA Cup Final appearance since 1984 and they will likely lean on influential leader and club captain Troy Deeney who will lead the line and set the tone and tempo for his team mates. With flair players Maxi Pereyra and semi-final hero Gerard Deulofeu, Watford have the creativity and skill in midfield to trouble the Wolves defense, but they certainly won't have it all their own way. 

You can watch the players try to carve out their little piece of history by getting a live stream of all the FA Cup final action from wherever on Earth you are. Below we're going to talk you through the best ways to watch the FA Cup final in the UK and the rest of the world so you can ensure you can easily live stream one of the biggest matches in the footballing calendar.

How to live stream FA Cup final in the UK for free:

Live stream the FA Cup final from outside your country

In the US? Then keep scrolling, as we have your viewing options below...spoiler alert, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription. And footy fans Down Under, in Canada and in India can also see who's broadcasting there.

But if you're abroad for the game and find that you can't watch your home coverage online because it is geo-blocked, we have a handy alternative to allow you to watch as if you were back on your sofa.

How to watch the FA Cup final: US live stream

How to watch Man City vs Watford live: Australia stream

How to live stream the FA Cup Final 2019 in Canada

How to live stream Man City vs Watford football in India

Read more:

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Remember Google keeps a list of everything you buy – and here's how to find it

Posted: 18 May 2019 06:30 AM PDT

In news that will come as no surprise to anyone who's been paying attention, CNBC reports on a list of your purchases managed by Google, pulled from email receipt data in your Gmail account.

This has long been a feature of Gmail – it's how Google Assistant can alert you to package deliveries, for example – and you can see the list here or by typing "my purchases" into Google search (if you're signed in).

Google mines plenty of other information about you through your Gmail account: try typing "my flights" or "my trips" into Google search (while signed in) to see some of it.

The aim is to give you pertinent information (like flight delay alerts) when you need it – Google says only you can view this data and that it isn't sold on to third parties or used to serve up advertising.

Private destination

As CNBC notes, the purchases list includes everything you've bought that there's a receipt for in Gmail, whether you got it from Google or not. It's also difficult to scrub this list without deleting the receipt.

"To help you easily view and keep track of your purchases, bookings and subscriptions in one place, we’ve created a private destination that can only be seen by you," Google told CNBC in a statement.

While Google has been collecting data from your Gmail account for some time, the new report is a reminder that using Google's apps and services comes with a trade-off in terms of privacy and data collection.

At the recent Google IO 2019 developer conference, Google reiterated its commitment to keeping user data protected and safe – the company promises it can be trusted with info like your history of purchases, but it's always worth remembering just how much Google knows about you.

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Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next

Posted: 18 May 2019 05:43 AM PDT

Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong two years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets.

And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience.

So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and community events are still going strong.

So without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.

Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates

  • What's new? New Pokémon (including all new Eeveelutions) have been added

Brand new Pokémon and evolutions have been added

A new Pokémon Go update has been released and it's bringing brand new Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, some more evolutions of existing Pokémon and all new lure modules to catch them. 

The latest batch of new Pokémon include Gible, Hippopotas, Cherubi, Burmy (male and female) and Shellos as well as their respective evolutions. 

As far as new evolutions are concerned, Probopass (the evolution of Nosepass) and Magnezone (the evolution of Mangeton) can be added to your Pokédex, as well as two new Eeveelutions, Leafeon and Glaceon. 

In order to get these new evolutions you will need the special Lure Modules that have been added to the game: Mossy Lure, Magnetic Lure and Glacial Lure. 

Aside from helping you to evolve specific Pokémon, these lures will create special habitats when added to a PokeStop in order to attract different types of Pokémon. The Mossy Lure Module attacks Grass, Bug and Poison types, the Magnetic Lure Module attracts Electric, Steel and Rock-types; while the Glacial Lure Module attracts Ice and Water-types.

At the moment, the new lures are only available in the coin shop but they will, apparently, be given as rewards for completing special Research Tasks later in the year so it could be worth holding off. 

Last but not least, there's also a brand new Earth-type move: Earth Power. 

Pokémon Go has released three legendary Pokémon into the game
Niantic has released the rare Legendary Lake Guardian Trio of Azelf, Mesprit, Uxie into Pokémon Go.

To date Legendaries have only appeared in Pokémon Go as special research or in Tier 5 raids

As far as we know, players have only reported one of the illusive trio per region with Azelf residing in the Americas, Uxie in Asia-Pacific and Mesprit in Europe. So unless you fancy traveling the globe, you are unlikely to catch all three.

Check out Niantic's tweet below:

When's the next Pokémon Go event?

The next big Pokémon Go event will begin on May 21 and run until May 28. It will revolve around raiding, offering extra free raid passes, a special raid hour and a raid day dedicated to Lapras.

This special raid week will see double Stardust and double XP awarded for each raid as well as two raid passes distributed each day rather than only one.

As far as the Pokémon you'll be given the opportunity to catch, Tier 1 raids will feature Machop, Slakoth, Shinx and Bronzor; Tier 2 will have Misdreavus, Kirlia, Mawile, Feebas, Clamperl and Bibarel; Tier 3 can net you Alolan Raichu, Chansey, Scyther, Aerodactyl, Floatzel; while Tier 4 is your chance to catch Alolan Marowak, Dragonite, Tyranitar, Absol and Metagross.

You'll be able to take part in the special raid hour, which will see raids appear in every gum, on May 22 between 6pm and 7pm local time.

The raid day just for Lapras will take place on May 25 between 11am and 2pm local time in Europe and America. If you've been desperately waiting on your chance to catch this coveted Pokémon in shiny form, this is your best shot. 

When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?

Pokémon Go's next Community Day takes place on May 19. The featured Pokémon for the event will be Torchic, while the bonuses for the event will be three times catch Stardust and three-hour-long lures. However, we don't know what exclusive move will be available. 

Pokémon Go update: what's next?

Niantic hasn't revealed what updates they have planned next, but we expect a summer/winter event in the coming months.

If the Spring event is anything to go by, we will be seeing seasonal content for the summer and winter events - potentially including limited time prizes?

For summer, we imagine there will be a Fire-type event (because it's warm, right?) while winter is likely to see a Ice-type event. 

Pokémon Go Plus deals

Want to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below.

(Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company)

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Now TV's Game of Thrones offer is ending soon if you're planning a mega binge

Posted: 18 May 2019 05:01 AM PDT

The final episode of Game of Thrones' final season is just around the corner now and this Now TV deal must end soon too. With this Entertainment pass you can get three months of access for just £17.99. 

This grants you access to hundreds of box sets found on the Sky service including every single episode of the previous seven seasons of Game of Thrones. And if you've fancied catching up on the entire series for a while now, we've got something of a challenge for you as seasons 1-7 will sadly be leaving Now TV in just 13 days' time. We reckon you can smash through the lot in that much time though. If you start now. 

Season eight is sticking around until June 19 though, so you've plenty of time to watch and rewatch every episode as we bid George's saga a fond farewell. Sign up via the link below and you could be watching Game of Thrones (plus a huge haul of other TV box sets), just minutes from now. 

This really is the best Now TV pass deal we've seen for quite some time and perfectly timed for Game of Thrones fans. You can watch live at the same time the show broadcasts in the US at 2am on Monday morning or watch it later on at a more sensible hour. Or both.

You'll find the free Now TV app on a huge range of devices. Smart TVs are most convenient if they have the app available, but you'll also find it on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, Chromecasts, Roku sticks and boxes, Apple TV, EETV, modern Youview boxes, mobiles, tablets or simply login with your PC or Mac. 

If you want to check out the full range of services offered by Now TV, head on over to our Now TV deals and offers guide. And if you've been meaning to upgrade your TV, be sure to have a peak at our roundup of the best cheap TV deals.

And if you happen to be outside the UK but still desperate for your GoT fix, then you'll need a VPN in order to get around pesky geo-blocking. Our favourite is ExpressVPN, thanks to its speed, security and simplicity to download and use.

So now all you need to figure out is whether your're going to stay up and watch or catch it at a more reasonable hour!

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The Last of Us 2 release date, news, and rumors

Posted: 18 May 2019 04:55 AM PDT

As endings go, The Last of Us's was pretty conclusive. But as it turns out, that hasn't stopped The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog from cranking out a sequel in the form of The Last of Us 2 – or, The Last of Us Part II if we're using its proper name. 

Given the first game was hailed by players and critics alike as a masterpiece with excellent, emotional storytelling and engaging, realistic characters, we have to admit that the decision to release a follow-up isn't particularly shocking. We'd probably have been more surprised if there wasn't one. And yet, when The Last of Us 2 was first announced, we'd be lying if we said our heart didn't skip a beat. 

The Last of Us 2 was first announced by Naughty Dog at PlayStation Experience in 2016 alongside a teaser trailer and as we're now into 2019, we're now hoping to hear an official release date any day now. 

Although we got a closer look at the game, Sony didn't give us any hints during E3 2018 when we'd see the game, but it's looking more and more likely that we'll have to wait until 2019 to see what becomes of Ellie in the brutal post-cure world.

[Update: The Last of Us 2 is entering the final stages of development. Read on to find out more.]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The sequel to the critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic game The Last of Us
  • When can I play it? It’ll be a while from now, late 2019 or early 2020
  • What can I play it on? PlayStation 4

The Last of Us 2 trailers 

The most recent trailer we have for The Last of Us 2 was shown during E3 2018. This trailer finally gives us a look at Ellie in an intimate scene before cutting away to some of the brutal but stealth-based combat we can expect to see in the game when it's launched.

The gameplay sequence gives us a look at Ellie fighting for her life in the wild. Success in a fight appears to require the right balance between stealth and all out attack as damage seems to have a more realistic impact. Ellie can move quietly between areas, taking weapons from bodies and crafting, before bursting out and taking down her enemies. 

See the gameplay for yourself below.

The Last of Us Part 2 had another trailer drop during PSX 2017. During a panel it was confirmed that the game will be set in the city of Seattle and the darker themes we know are coming were touched upon. You can watch the panel for yourself below:

Another trailer for the game was shown at Sony's press conference during the 2017 Paris Games Week. This trailer is around 5 minutes long, focusing on conflicts between the human factions in the game. It shows part 2 is going to have a dark story, perhaps even darker than the first, and the trailer is fairly harrowing to watch. 

Visually impressive though it is, do note that it's gory before you watch it for yourself below. 

The first look at the game came with its announcement at PlayStation Experience in 2016. Despite the fact that the game is early in development, the trailer showed a full (non-gameplay) scene that features both Ellie and Joel. You can watch it below:

The Last of Us 2 release date

The Last of Us 2 has been in the works for a while but we're still waiting for a definite release date. Considering Naughty Dog has seen the bad side of promising a solid release date and missing it before it’s hard to blame them for not committing at this stage. 

In a recent interview with Vorterix, the game's composer, Gustavo Santaolalla, said that it's going to launch in 2019. Naturally, this hasn't been confirmed so we'd take it with a pinch of salt. However, it doesn't seem all that implausible as a release window given that in-game footage was only shown as recently as Paris Games Week.

What we know so far

Into the final stages

News around the Last of Us 2 has been hotting up recently as the game inches closer towards completion. Naughty Dog has now confirmed that the final scene for the game has been shot and the game’s co-director, Anthony Newman, has tweeted out a recruitment call as the studio begins to “close out” the game’s development. 

As promising as these announcements are, they don't reveal anything about whether or not we can expect to see The Last of Us 2 this year or next. Regardless, development has reached a critical stage and though Sony won’t be attending E3 2019, that doesn’t mean it can’t make some announcements around the time of the show. In fact, recent rumours have suggested that we will see some kind of news. Hopefully we’ll see a confirmed release date in the coming months. 

We could see more before E3 2019

Sony isn't coming to E3 2019 but that doesn't mean it's not going to be making announcements around that time and a big update for The Last of Us Part 2 could be imminent. Hopes have been raised by an industry insider on a Resetera thread which discusses a potential release date for the game. User Aokiji, who has made some accurate leaks before, said "Considering we’re getting an official TLOU2 update before E3, would be really weird if it wasn’t 2019 now wouldn’t it ."

Now, any news that doesn't come from Naughty Dog or Sony itself should, of course, be taken with a pinch of salt. However, the time feels ripe for an update on the progress of the game. With E3 2019 only just over a month away, we don't have long to wait to find out. 

Definitely coming to E3 2018

Sony has confirmed the time and date of its E3 conference as June 11 at 6pm PT/ 9am BST. And Sony Worldwide Studios boss, Shawn Layden, has confirmed during a PlayStation Blogcast that the Last of Us 2 will feature. Layden said that Sony has decided to "refresh and remake its show" and that fans can expect to see "deep dives", gaining a better understanding of where Naughty Dog is and plans to go with the title. 

Mocap is underway

Things have been quiet on the official news front for The Last of Us 2 but we've been glad to see some studio insiders and actors from the game posting images on social media which show that the game's motion capture is well underway. Actors Ashley Johnson and Shannon Woodward have both posted images of themselves wearing mocap suits. They didn't give much away but the fact that Naughty Dog is this far into the motion capture process suggests we might at least be closer to hearing about a possible release date. 

Troy Baker is impressed

The Last of Us 2 is still in the works, but we now know that one of its lead voice actors, Troy Baker, has had an in-depth look and he thinks the game is 'awesome'. It's not clear whether Baker just saw some gameplay or had the chance to go hands-on himself but according to GameRant he said during MCM Comic Con at Birmingham “It’s a fantastic story. It’s a fantastic game. We just finished a playtest. It’s looking awesome. I can’t for it to be on shelves.” Though we can't be sure where exactly in the development process it is (during PSX, it was said that Naughty Dog had reached around the 50 to 60% mark) this playtest is an encouraging sign. 

Directors

With Neil Druckmann having been promoted to Vice President of Naughty Dog, The Last of Us 2 now has two confirmed directors. Druckmann will, of course, still be heavily involved in the creation of the game but it's now being headed up by Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau, both of whom were lead designers on Uncharted 4. 

Story

Although it was no slouch in the gameplay department, it was the story told by The Last of Us that stuck with us for months afterwards. Naturally Naughty Dog had to give us some kind of hint about where the sequel would go. 

At the moment we know The Last of Us 2 will take place in the city of Seattle, five years after the end of the original game, with a 19 year old Ellie taking the starring playable role. Joel will still appear in the game but if the teaser trailer is anything to go by, he could be a much more passive presence. 

This time around, Ellie is extremely angry about...something. From what we saw from the teaser trailer she wants revenge, which to her appears to be a dish best served deadly. 

She does, after all, promise to “kill every last one of them.” It’s not clear who “them” is but it could signal that the Fireflies, the first game's well-meaning but morally grey antagonists, will make a return. Anger, hate and revenge are going to be key themes this time around so expect to be in for an emotionally heavy ride. 

As Joel is such a passive presence in the trailer there’s been speculation that he’s actually dead, appearing in Ellie’s mind’s eye, and Ellie’s anger and vengeance will be directed at those who caused his death. This isn’t entirely unlikely but it’s purely speculation at this point. It is worth pointing out, however, that Neil Druckmann did reveal in an interview with PlayStation Lifestyle that this announcement trailer footage is not a scene that will actually take place in the real game. 

In the trailer for the game shown at Paris Games Week in 2017, we got a look at how dark the game is likely to be. The trailer focuses on the opposing relationships between human characters in the game and features some seriously cringe-inducing violence. 

It doesn't tell us much about any new characters of how they'll relate to one another but it does confirm that we're going into a dark game world in The Last of Us part 2. 

In a recent panel at PSX both Druckmann and Gross said that though the game's story will indeed be dark and there'll be a focus on the theme of hate, "there is hope" and there will be "lighthearted moments." 

We can't pretend we're not relieved to hear this after the game's controversial Paris Games Week trailer which, Druckmann said, was intended to highlight the game's exploration of the pursuit of justice.

Ellie is one of the most real and refreshing characters we’ve seen in gaming so it’s exciting that Naughty Dog are going to take her story further and put her in center stage. 

The creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann has said that the story will be about Ellie and Joel’s relationship and that though the story would be complementary to the story of the first game, it would be much larger. 

When asked at a PSX panel whether or not Joel or Ellie may die, Druckmann responded that "no one is safe" highlighting that the game's story really could go anywhere. 

Hopes are particularly high for this larger story as it’s been revealed that one of the writers of Westworld, Halley Gross, will be co-writing the game’s story. Having someone who’s written scripts for such an incredibly popular and successful show should be a boon for the game's story. 

Gameplay

Not much is being said about gameplay at the moment. Neil Druckmann said at a PSX Panel that there would, however, be some differences as a result of Ellie being the playable character rather than Joel. 

“Ellie plays differently than Joel [...] Some things are evolution, some things are reinvention, but there will be a gameplay reveal down the road.”

It’s hard to glean much from this, but if Naughty Dog take the approach that’s frequently taken with playable female characters, Ellie will probably be more swift on her feet than Joel was but perhaps less able to take damage. 

This won't be the first time we've had the chance to play as Ellie, after the first game put us in her shoes for a short mission, but here the purpose of the mission was to make her feel weak in comparison to Joel. We can only hope her abilities will be expanded for the sequel. In the Paris Games Week trailer she certainly looks far physically stronger than she did in the first game. 

We expect to see much more in terms of gameplay from E3 2018 after Druckmann stated in the PSX panel that more details for the game would emerge at that event. 

What we'd like to see from The Last of Us 2

A new setting

Given that time has moved on 5 years from the end of the first game, it’d be nice to see Joel and Ellie in a new location too. It doesn’t necessarily have to be far from the setting of the first game but considering we have the two lead characters and their relationship to keep us tied to the first game, it’d be nice to play in a new location to keep things feeling fresh and make the introduction of new characters feel more plausible. 

Druckmann has said that this game’s story will be larger than the story of the first game and we imagine this necessitates a slightly more expansive setting.

More frightening enemies

The infected in the first game are terrifying and threatening and we want to see more of that. Things don’t have to change too much but new classes of enemy, new character designs and new ways to defeat them would be excellent. 

Considering we’ll be playing as Ellie now rather than Joel we imagine players will have to learn to take a different approach to combat anyway as it’s been said she’ll play differently.

It’d also be great to see more human enemies as well as the infected. We saw more than a few morally grey factions make an appearance in the first game so to expand on this and maybe introduce some more elements would be interesting. 

The exploration of the morality of humanity in post-apocalyptic scenes is always interesting, particularly considering in games you’re interacting with it directly and feeling its impact more strongly than in most mediums. 

The Last of Us 2 has the chance to make a real emotional impact through the human areas it presents us with.

The return of multiplayer

Multiplayer in The Last of Us was surprisingly good so we wouldn’t be averse to seeing it return here. If the game’s main story is going to be as heavy as we expect, it’d certainly be nice to have the option to break free for a while without leaving the game world and connect with others online. 

(Image credits: Naughty Dog)

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E3 2019: everything we expect to see at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this year

Posted: 18 May 2019 04:50 AM PDT


No matter how it changes over the years, E3 is still the biggest event in gaming. Whether it’s held at a hotel, a convention center or somewhere out in Hollywood, it is the definitive industry event of the year, where gamers from around the world get together to see what comes next for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobile phones and everything in between.

That said, while E3 2019 has the heritage of the world’s most illustrious gaming convention, this year’s show will be a bit different: EA announced recently that it wouldn’t hold a traditional press conference and would opt instead to host several smaller live stream events, while Sony says it won’t be attending the conference at all. 

  • Update: Nintendo has announced a time for its E3 Nintendo Direct event that will go up on YouTube at 12pm ET/9am PT on Tuesday, June 11. EA has also just opened up fan registration for its annual EA Play event in Los Angeles. The event will be held on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, and it will give fans an inside look at Respawn's new game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, plus hands on time with Battlefield V, Anthem and a suite of new EA Sports titles. Snag your tickets for the event here! 

If E3 is your go-to source for gaming news, that may raise a few questions: Will E3 still be the same? Is it dying? Does that mean we’ll all get a discount on a conference pass? The answers to all of the above, for now, are no.

While we won't be sure exactly what’s going to be different about this year’s event until we get there, we can hopefully provide some insight - and some predictions - as to the games we’ll get to see at this year’s show.

Officially, the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2019) will begin on Tuesday, June 11 and end on Thursday, June 13. Those dates, however, are just for the portion of the show held inside the Los Angeles Convention Center.

In reality, the first big event of E3 2019 is the EA Play kick-off event that’s slated for Friday, June 7 at the Hollywood Palladium. While EA has told us not to expect a keynote speech, that Friday afternoon is the first time we’ll be able to play the publisher’s upcoming titles, as well as get some info about games coming out in the next year or two.

Between EA Play on Friday and the opening of the show floor on Tuesday morning you can also expect a press event for Microsoft sometime on Sunday afternoon with a chance of Bethesda, Square Enix, Ubisoft and Nintendo announcing a keynote later.

We expect to be in Los Angeles from Friday until Thursday, and gamers with an entry pass should try to do the same.

FIFA 19 (Image Credit: EA)

Keynote time: EA Play won't have a keynote this year, but ticketed fans are welcome to join EA Play at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday, June 8.

EA has an early lead going into 2019 with its plans already detailed on the publisher’s website. To that end, EA says it will be hosting its annual EA Play event on June 8 with free tickets to be distributed shortly.

According to a press release from EA on which games it’s bringing to E3 2019, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order from Respawn Entertainment will definitely be there. It's more than likely we'll hear about some addition to the Titanfall universe - either a second spin-off title or Titanfall 3 - as well as its plans to expand its successful battle royale shooter, Apex Legends.

Elsewhere inside EA’s event we’ll see announcements for the next version of the Madden, FIFA, NHL and NBA Live franchises and, very likely, another expansion for The Sims 4 that might continue StrangeVille’s story-first approach.

Less likely but still possible are new games from EA’s DICE studio, the developers behind the Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront games who have yet to announce a project for 2019, as well as projects from PopCap (famous for Plants vs Zombies) and Ghost Games, the new stakeholders of the Need for Speed franchise.

Last but not least, BioWare debuted a teaser trailer for Dragon Age 4 at last year’s The Game Awards, and we expect to hear something - anything - about its development at EA’s event. 

Final Fantasy VII (Image Credit: Square Enix)

Keynote time: Monday, June 10, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET 

After the long-awaited release of Kingdom Hearts 3 in early January, Square Enix has been fairly quiet. What we know for sure is that Square Enix is currently working on Dragon Quest Builders 2 on Nintendo Switch, as it was announced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, as well as Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition.

Outside of those two games, it’s likely we’ll hear more about the next episode in Life is Strange 2, as well as DLC for Kingdom Hearts III. 

Less likely but still possible is the chance that we’ll hear about The Avengers Project that’s being developed by Crystal Dyamics and Eidos Montreal and Final Fantasy VII Remake which, back in 2017, switched developers from CyberConnect2 to Square’s in-house team.

‘But is it too early to hear something about Final Fantasy 16?’ Yes. Yes, it is.  

Halo Infinite (Image Credit: 343 Industries)

Keynote time: Sunday, June 9 at 1 pm PST, 4 pm EST and 9 pm BST 

As of right now, Microsoft is the only one of the big three console makers that’s definitely going to E3 2019. That gives Microsoft a bit of an advantage if it decides to debut its next-gen Xbox codenamed Project Scarlett, and it might be the reason why Sony is avoiding the show altogether. 

While we’re still not sure exactly what Microsoft is going to show us in terms of hardware, we're likely to hear more about XCloud, Microsoft’s new game streaming service and new updates to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service which has grown immensely in the last 12 months. 

Less likely, Microsoft could have demos of the HoloLens 2 in a similar setup to a few years ago when it paired the hardware with a demo of Halo 5: Guardians, but that’s on the far fringes of what’s likely to happen.

In terms of games, we’re predicting that Microsoft’s first-party studios should be there in full force with new footage of Gears 5, Halo Infinite and, as always, a new Forza title.

Last year Microsoft announced the acquisition of several new studios including The Initiative, Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games, so hopefully we’ll start to see some of the projects these companies have been working on.

Elder Scrolls VI (Image Credit: Bethesda)

Keynote time: Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 5:30pm PT

Regardless of Sony's plans, we now know that Bethesda will be holding a showcase event at E3 2019, close in time to last year's event. To that end, you can expect to hear more about the developer/publisher's titles starting on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 5:30pm PT.

So what can we expect to see? It’s almost a given that we’ll hear updates for legacy titles like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76, two of the developer’s largest MMOs to date, as well as the previously  Doom Eternal from partner iD Software. 

In between bombshell announcements, we’re also likely to hear more about Bethesda’s free-to-play and mobile offerings like Elder Scrolls Blades, which is due out later this year, and The Elder Scrolls: Legends, a free-to-play card game that’s in the same vein as Hearthstone.

Unfortunately, those of us expecting to see new trailers for the next hotly anticipated entry in the Elder Scrolls franchise, Elder Scrolls VI, and Bethesda's ambitious sci-fi project, Starfield, are going to be disappointed. Bethesda Game Studios executive producer Todd Howard told a roomful of attendees at PAX East that it's still too early to talk about the games and asked everyone to "please be patient".

Interested in attending in-person? Bethesda is giving out tickets via an online contest that will give out two tickets to you and a friend!

Keynote time: N/A

Sorry guys, unfortunately Sony is skipping the E3 festivities this year and has said that it will instead find another venue to showcase the games and hardware coming down the pipeline.  That said, we won't rule out another State of Play event, like the one Sony held back in March.

If that doesn't happen, well, we’ll just have to wait to hear more about The Last of Us Part II, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 (Image Credit: Ubisoft)

Keynote time: Monday, June 10, 2019 at 1pm PT (4pm ET, 9pm UK) 

Ubisoft will definitely be back at this year's E3. The developer-slash-publishing house has a lot on its plate for early 2019 including Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 as well as Trials Rising, both of which came out in the February-March window, but hasn't said what's coming later this year.

The game we know the most about from Ubisoft that would likely be at this year’s show is Skull and Bones, the ship-focused combat game that looks to carry the torch from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft has yet to give us a solid release date for the game, but it’s likely that’s the sort of thing it’s saving for an E3 2019 keynote. 

It’s also likely we’ll hear more about Beyond Good and Evil 2 and potentially get our first look at the gameplay at Ubisoft’s keynote... but that could just be wishful thinking on our part.

Beyond those two games, we’ve heard rumors that Ubisoft will announce three to four new AAA titles in between March 2019 and March 2020, but we can only speculate what’s to come. The only franchise that’s definitely not going to be there is a mainline Assassin’s Creed game as Ubisoft has said that it will be skipping a release in 2019. 

PC Gaming Show (Image Credit: PC Gamer)

Keynote time:  Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10am PT (1pm ET, 5pm UK)  

If you’re a PC gamer, you won’t want to miss the PC Gaming Show, which will make its fifth consecutive return to the convention. 

We’re not sure what to expect from the two-hour event, but if it’s anything like previous years it will feature a number of indie games that wouldn’t usually get time up on the big stage alongside hardware announcements.

For folks at home, the event will be available to stream on twitch.tv/pcgamer, or on Facebook or YouTube or, if you're in town, it's open to the public with an RSVP at The Mayan Theater.  

At last year’s event we got the chance to see a number of new indie games like Neo Cab and Maneater, as well as some heavy-hitting titles like Stormlands from Insomniac and Warframe: The Sacrifice from Digital Extremes. We’re expecting some similar big announcements from this year’s show.  

The gaming world might be gearing up for a possible reveal of the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Two at E3 2019, but there's a lot in store for desktop gamers, too. 

Animal Crossing (Image Credit: Nintendo)

Keynote time: Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 9am PT (12pm ET)

While Sony won’t be at this year’s event, Nintendo most certainly will - first digitally in a Nintendo Direct that usually airs Tuesday morning and then physically when its massive booth takes over West Hall. 

In terms of what games Nintendo is going to bring with it this year, the company says we’ll hear more about Pokemon Sword and Shield, as that’s due out by the end of 2019, plus the Link’s Awakening Remake and Mario Maker 2.

We're hoping we'll also hear more about Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch, which was announced in 2018 and given a 2019 launch window, but there's no guarantee from Nintendo that we'll catch Tom Nook at this year's show. 

Beyond those core games, we know Nintendo is developing Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Fire Emblem Three Houses, the latter of which should be available in August unless it’s delayed. Nintendo could also use the time to show off its next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC character pack. 

Either way, we'll find out more on June 11 at 9am PT.

Keynote time: Confirmed, but TBD

Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t leave out Devolver Digital, who has confirmed via Twitter that it would be posting another off-the-wall pre-recorded keynote which may or may not involve fictional CEO Nina Struthers. 

Expect it to be just as weird as year’s. 

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Resident Evil 8: everything we want to see

Posted: 18 May 2019 04:45 AM PDT

When it was first released in 2017, Resident Evil 7 was a much-needed rejuvenation for the classic horror franchise. Capcom departed from its usual formula in a big way and even took the opportunity to embrace new experiences with PlayStation VR. This risk paid off and a large proportion of fans and critics embraced the changes, with a keen eye on what the next game might bring.

Two years on from Resident Evil 7's release, and shortly after a very successful Resident Evil 2 remake, we think it’s a good time to peek around the corner and have a look at what the future of the franchise might look like. 

Whether it’s called Resident Evil 8 or not, we know that Resident Evil 7’s executive producer Jun Takeuchi has said plans for a sequel are “already in motion.” In light of that, we’ve gathered everything we know about Resident Evil 8 right here. 

[Update: Capcom is working on "numerous" unannounced titles. Could Resident Evil 8 be one of them? Read on to find out more.]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Another addition to the hugely successful survival horror franchise 
  • What can I play it on? Nothing confirmed just yet
  • When can I play it? It's not likely to be any time soon

Release date

Although we know that work has started on Resident Evil 8 in some form, we don't have any details about the game just yet or when we can expect to see it released. If we're going to hear about it any time this year, E3 2019 would be the perfect time. 

News and rumors

Capcom has numerous unannounced titles in development

Resident Evil fans hoping for a new entry in the series will be feeling their hopes rising after a 2019 financial briefing from Capcom which confirmed the publisher has "numerous" unannounced titles in development. The games are being developed on the RE Engine used for Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5 so it's highly likely Resident Evil 8 could be one of them. This is especially possible as Capcom has said that it will be using the engine into the next generation of consoles. 

Work has already started

Though we haven’t received any kind of release date or name for the next Resident Evil game, we do know that the development process has started. 

We’ve known this since early in 2017 when Resident Evil 7’s executive producer Jun Takeuchi confirmed it. In an interview for an official “making of” Resident Evil 7 documentary, Takeuchi said that work on the next game is “already in motion.”

It’ll build on the work of Resident Evil 7

In the same interview Takeuchi also ruminated on what the game might look like. 

The first thing that he confirmed was that Resident Evil 7 was the start of a new direction for the series and that it was “the start of a new kind of survival horror, and of a new series.”

“We’re already thinking about various plans for the next game,” he revealed, “but we also want to see how we can continue to evolve survival horror itself. In the next few years technology will continue to advance and what players want may also change.”

It is, admittedly, hard to draw any solid information from this. When Takeuchi spoke in this interview it’s clear that planning was still in the very early stages and it’s quite possible that things such as plot and setting were still yet to be nailed down. 

While we’d surmise that Resident Evil 8 will build on the fresh new feel of Resident Evil 7, Takeuchi’s comments on wanting to evolve the genre as well as capitalize on changing technologies and player desires suggests that the team aren’t locking themselves into a formula just yet.

Just as Resident Evil 7 integrated virtual reality in an interesting experiment that played on the new first-person perspective of the game, Resident Evil 8 could do the same all over again. We could see another perspective change, the team could find new ways to integrate virtual reality technology, or it could even delve into new augmented reality technology. 

Part one of the "making of" documentary gives a good insight into the kinds of gameplay experiments the team were looking into. 

It seems that Takeuchi is telling fans not to assume there’s a new formula from which the developers won’t waver. Resident Evil will be taking a survival horror approach to the creation of survival horror – adapt, change and stay on your toes because you don’t know what new technology or fan request is around the corner. 

One thing we do know, however, is that the Resident Evil team will “always want to create horror experiences where the characters overcome a difficult situation.” 

Takeuchi said he believes this is what survival horror is “all about” before adding that “the next Resident Evil game, and the one after that, every future Resident Evil, will feature characters getting through crises like this.” It’s this essence of “core survival horror concept of people overcoming the odds” that Tekeuchi says the series will “always retain.”

From this, at the very least, we can assume that the future of the series will place a heavier focus on the survival horror elements showcased in Resident Evil 7, rather than delving back into the more action-heavy gameplay of releases such as Resident Evil 4. 

Shinji Mikami could come on board

As the director of the original Resident Evil and the fourth installment, Shinji Mikami is hugely beloved by Resident Evil fans and inexorably tied to the series. He hasn’t, however, been directly involved with it since Resident Evil 4.

That could change though. In an interview with PCGamesN Mikami was asked if coming back to direct Resident Evil 8 was something he’d consider. He would, of course, have complete creative freedom to with the game as he’d like. His answer was short and far from finite: “I might.”

Now that work on Mikami’s latest project, The Evil Within 2, has finished up perhaps working on Resident Evil 8 is something he’d consider. At the very least we know he’s not resolutely against it. 

What we want to see

More enemies

We loved the Molded in Resident Evil 7 but we’d love to see a little more variety in Resident Evil 8. Dangerous and scary enemies are a given but there’s something about having a wide range of terrifying character designs that makes turning every corner even more frightening. Who knows what you’ll have to face next?

A different location

This actually plays into our request for more varied enemies. Naturally, we’d love to see a new location in Resident Evil 8. To keep fans of the series on their toes it’d be interesting to see something that’s a little more open or a little more varied. New locations tends to mean new opportunities for new enemies so we think these demands feed into one another quite nicely. 

More answers

The ending of Resident Evil 7 left us with some questions and though many of them have been answered in the DLC that followed, not all of them have. As Resident Evil games go, Biohazard was quite isolated in terms of its place in the wider series universe. Though we understand the desire for a fresh start, we’d love to see a little more exploration and integration there. At the very least it would be nice to see a few more knowing nods to fans. 

VR support

Resident Evil 7’s foray into VR was terrifying and an excellent example of how to develop for the platform. We wouldn’t be against Resident Evil 8 delving back into this once again, lessons learned and technologies advanced. 

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Capcom is working on ‘numerous’ unannounced titles

Posted: 18 May 2019 04:33 AM PDT

During a recent financial briefing, Capcom has confirmed that it has “numerous titles” in development using its very own RE Engine. Used to develop Devil May Cry V, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 7, the RE Engine has had no shortage of success, so it’s no surprise that the publisher is looking to continue using it through this generation and into the next.

Aside from some Resident Evil re-releases for Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Monster Hunter World expansion, Iceborne, we don’t actually know which new releases Capcom is working on. 

That hasn't really changed as Capcom wasn’t willing to elaborate any further on which games it’s developing or even how many there are in the pipeline during the Q&A. However, after the success of Resident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil 2 remake, fans will no doubt be hoping to see a Resident Evil 8 announcement some time in the future. 

Into the next generation

Regardless of what these unannounced titles are, it’s highly likely that they’ll be playable on the next generation of consoles. 

In another portion of the briefing, the publisher stated that “from the early stages of building this engine, we kept the ability to augment it for next-generation development in mind; as such, we view the RE Engine as one of our strengths that will contribute to next-generation game creation.”

With details of the next Xbox and PS5 now emerging, the next generation is closer than ever. Could we see some exciting announcements from Capcom at E3 2019? We don’t have long to wait to find out. 

  • Everything you need to know about E3 2019

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Spotify is testing a smart assistant speaker that fits in your car

Posted: 18 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT

Rumors around a Spotify speaker for your car have been swirling for a while, and it's now official: Spotify has confirmed it's testing a new hardware device that fits in your car, designed to assess "how people listen in" on the go.

As this is still in the testing phase, you can't actually buy the speaker – called Car Thing – at the moment, but it is going to be given to a select number of Premium subscribers in the US.

Details on what Car Thing actually does beyond collect data for Spotify are a little thin on the ground. All Spotify is saying is that it's "a voice-controlled music and podcast device".

In fact, it might never go on sale: Spotify says it's committed to becoming "the world's number one audio platform" rather than making hardware devices.

Voice and Home

Even if hardware doesn't become a big part of Spotify's business, future devices may include a Voice Thing and a Home Thing, Spotify says. We're assuming that last one might be a little like a Google Home Mini.

"Americans spend 70 billion hours behind the wheel each year," Spotify's announcement reads. "That’s a lot of time spent on the road. So what you do – and what you listen to – to help you get through those long hours in the car matters."

"That’s why Spotify is trying to learn more about people’s listening habits and preferences to help create an unparalleled experience for our users."

Testing is beginning in the next few weeks, according to The Verge. As the device gets into cars we might start hearing more about what it can actually do.

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The best big data SIM only deal just came to an end - what's the next best SIMO option?

Posted: 18 May 2019 02:17 AM PDT

For those on the big data SIM hunt, your timing is just ever so slightly late to reap the benefits of the best SIMO we've ever seen. That may have been a discouraging way to start so let us pick you back up by letting you know that the big data SIM only deal market is still remarkably strong right now. 

With options on an exclusive unlimited data SIM with a host of benefits, a cheap, big data Vodafone deal with cashback to bring its price back down and of course, EE's best pick, you'll find yourself spoilt for choice.

And you know that 'best SIM only deal' we mentioned above, when we said it's gone we meant its gone up by £2 a month, now costing £22 instead. That means you'll only actually have to pay an additional £24 over the year...sorry, we have a flair for the dramatic.

These big data SIM only deals in full:

  • Still not convinced? Select from our list of best SIM only deals in the UK today

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OnePlus 7 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus vs Huawei P30 Pro: the powerhouse playoff

Posted: 18 May 2019 01:30 AM PDT

OnePlus has launched its newest range of phones, including the OnePlus 7 Pro, the company’s first ever ‘Pro’ phone - we're in a world of 'ultra premium', apparently.

The OnePlus 7 Pro has features we haven’t seen yet in a device from the brand – and some that are fairly new to phones in general, making the Pro a pretty competitive handset.

One way the OnePlus is aiming to win over audiences with the 7 Pro is that it looks a lot like the recent Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, which also has a large, curved display and impressive internals. 

You’re getting an arguably better screen in the Galaxy S10 Plus, but there’s a glaring gap in it thanks to the ‘punch-hole’ camera, which may annoy some users hoping for full-screen fluidity.

And if we're looking for high-end phones that sport a curved edge, we simply have to add the new Huawei P30 Pro into the mix.

All three are offering some seriously impressive headline specs in their own individual ways - so ahead of our full, head-to-head-to-head rundown, here are the key things you should know:

Price and availability 

The competition between the OnePlus 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Huawei P30 Pro is a little lighter if you live in the US, as the latter phone isn’t available there, so you can comfortably ignore it if you’re looking for a new phone – in most other regions all three phones are available though.

The OnePlus 7 Pro is the clear winner when it comes to cost - the cheapest variant, which nets you 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, comes in at $669 or £649 (around AU$1,200). The 256GB+8GB RAM is $699 / £699 (around AU$1,300) and the 256GB+12GB RAM, if you need that much, is $749 / £799 (around AU$1,500).

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus has a similar-to-before but premium design

If you’ve got a lot of money to spend, the most expensive of these premium phones is the 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage model of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, which will set you back $1,599 / £1,399 / AU$2,399. 

Of course you don’t have to spend that much to own the phone from Samsung, so a 8GB / 512GB version will cost you $1,249 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, and the lesser 8GB / 128GB phone is $999 / £899 / AU$1,499.

This £899 / AU1,599 price (around $1140) is shared by the cheapest Huawei P30 Pro, which has 12GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory, and then the price increases to £1,099 (around AU$2,000, $1,400) if you want 512GB of storage instead.

Design and display 

The one unifying feature between all three smartphones is that they have displays that are curved glass, with the screen falling away at the sides of the phone. This gives them a distinctly ‘premium’ look, but in other ways there’s some distinction between the screens.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

The Huawei P30 Pro has a Full HD+ OLED screen, but both the OnePlus 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus have Quad HD+ AMOLED displays, which makes for more vivid color reproduction. 

That’s not to say the P30 Pro has a lesser screen, as it’s bright and clear, but its competitors take are arguably the more proficient in this space.

The OnePlus 7 Pro

In terms of size, the phone with ‘Plus’ in its name actually has the smallest screen, at 6.4 inches for Samsung's entry.

That’s smaller than the Huawei P30 Pro, at 6.47 inches, and the OnePlus 7 Pro, with its 6.67-inch screen. The OnePlus 7 Pro additionally benefits from a 90Hz refresh rate, which makes interacting with the display smoother and feel more responsive when scrolling.

One important distinguishing feature between the phones – possibly the most important to many people – is the front-facing camera situation. 

The Huawei P30 Pro has a small, tear-drop notch

In the Huawei P30 Pro this is housed in a traditional notch, with a ‘tear-drop’ design, but the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus has a ‘punch-hole’, which means the camera is cut out of the screen, in the top right corner. 

The Galaxy S10 punch hole camera

The OnePlus 7 Pro has a completely different idea – its front-facing cameras are housed in a pop-up section, which rises from the phone’s body when you need it. This is an intriguing design, as it means the handset has a screen unbroken by any complications, but a mechanical part provides the potential for breaking and snapping.

The OnePlus 7 pop-up camera

There’s another difference between the design of the phones – while the Galaxy S10 Plus has a 3.5mm headphone jack, the P30 Pro and OnePlus 7 Pro have followed the trend of premium phones and dropped it, so if you’re a fan of wired headphones there’s a clear champion.

Camera

Photography is one of the most competitive areas for smartphones, and premium phones need powerful cameras to justify their price tag.

On the OnePlus 7 Pro there’s a triple-camera setup, consisting of a 48MP main snapper joined by an 8MP sensor with a telephoto lens, and a third camera with a wide-angle lens.

The OnePlus 7 Pro camera

Highlights of this trio include 3x optical zoom and a few processing powers, like super resolution mode which enhances small details in pictures, such as faces or textures.

The Huawei P30 Pro snapper

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus has a lower megapixel count, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a worse camera. On the rear of the handset there’s a 12MP main shooter, a 12MP sensor with a telephoto lens, and a third 16MP camera with an ultra-wide lens – if you’re getting deja vu, that’s because the prupose of each sensor is basically the same as in the OnePlus 7 Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 camera

If you’re looking for impressive camera specs, perhaps the Huawei P30 Pro is the phone you’re looking for – it has four cameras, consisting of 40MP main, 20MP ultra-wide angle, 8MP telephoto, and time-of-flight depth-sensing cameras. 

Because of this it’s useful in a range of situations and contexts, so is the most flexible of the phones for photography.

While the OnePlus 7 Pro has the highest megapixel count on a sensor, the P30 Pro’s variety in terms of camera potential means it’s arguably the best of the phones if you’re a keen photographer.

Front-facing cameras are important too – the P30 Pro has a 32MP sensor, while the OnePlus 7 Pro has a 16MP snapper. 

On the Galaxy S10 Plus you actually have two cameras – one of which is a 10MP main sensor and the other being an 8MP depth-sensing camera. 

This means it’s great at sensing depth, allowing you to take selfies with accurate bokeh and blurred backgrounds, so if selfies are your main draw for a camera, perhaps the Galaxy S10 Plus is the phone for you.

Specs and battery life 

Both the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and OnePlus 7 Pro use a cutting-edge Snapdragon 855 chipset (at least in the US - the S10 Plus uses an Exynos 9820 in many other parts of the world). 

The 855 is the latest and greatest processor from Qualcomm – however the Huawei P30 Pro’s Kirin 980 is advanced enough to give it a run for its money, as is the Exynos 9820 from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

With roughly equal chipsets, you can expect all phones to handle intensive tasks like gaming and video rendering roughly similarly, but the OnePlus 7 Pro and 1TB Galaxy S10 Plus have 12GB of RAM, while other Galaxy S10 Plus models and the P30 Pro have 8GB of RAM, a difference you may notice if you’re frequently handling complicated tasks.

Battery capacity for the phones is as follows: the OnePlus 7 Pro’s is 4,000mAh, and there’s a relatively small step up to the Galaxy S10 Plus at 4,100mAh and the Huawei P30 Pro’s 4,200mAh.

With such a similar battery capacity, you can expect each to last a relatively similar amount of time, and charging speeds are rather similar too – the OnePlus 7 Pro doesn’t have wireless charging though, which the others do, so if you use this convenient method of charging, you might want to look elsewhere.

 Which is right for me?

Each of these premium phones have their own strengths to differentiate them from the competition - which is great for you, the buyer, when making a decision.

The OnePlus 7 Pro shines for a low cost

In the case of the Huawei P30 Pro, this is the camera – the quad-snapper combo is the most flexible to facilitate all your photography needs.

On the OnePlus 7 Pro, you’re looking at a great display, as its large, unbroken Quad HD+ screen tops the others for viewing media and playing games - and combined with a superbly low cost.

It’s what’s inside that counts with the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus – it has a high-end processor, bigger storage potential and wireless charging, although on the outside the two front-facing cameras and 3.5mm headphone jack are important too.

So if you’re looking to spend as much money as you can on a chunky, premium Android smartphone, you’ve got to consider your main use of a phone, and make a purchase accordingly.

We'll be updating this piece in the coming weeks as we compare these phones head to head - but for now, it's pretty clear where the distinctions lie between this high-end handsets.

All images credit TechRadar

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It's your last chance to get a £30 Amazon voucher with Vodafone's cheap fibre broadband deals

Posted: 18 May 2019 01:23 AM PDT

Wouldn't it be nice to be rewarded for getting your new internet package? Vodafone seems to think so considering it is currently offering a pretty tempting incentive when you sign up for either of its broadband deals.

Exclusive to TechRadar readers, ordering either of  Vodafone's packages - Superfast 1 or Superfast 2 - will earn you a £30 Amazon UK voucher. Considering the fact that Vodafone has some of the best value fibre broadband deals on the market, we're confident in saying it doesn't get a whole lot better than this.

With Amazon Prime Day set to drop in July, you'll have the perfect opportunity to use the voucher just around the corner. Or if you need to go even cheaper, an ADSL option perhaps? Then check out our guide to the best cheap broadband deals.

But like all good things in life, there's a catch. This deal comes to an end this Sunday so a rushed attitude is needed if you want to capitalise on this exclusive reward.

TechRadar's EXCLUSIVE fibre deals from Vodafone:

Vodafone says that it will take up to 120 days after you sign up to verify your purchase. Then, once verified, details of how to claim the voucher will be sent to the email address you have provided. You will then have 90 days to claim the voucher. 

Ultimate Speed Guarantee

When it comes to avoiding slow connection speeds, Vodafone broadband is leading the way where we imagine other internet providers are bound to follow. It offers new fibre broadband customers an internet speed guarantee with minimum speeds of 25Mb for Superfast 1 and 55Mb for Superfast 2.

If Vodafone fails to deliver on the speeds, customers will be entitled to a 15% discount off their next monthly bill. It makes Vodafone's broadband plans the only widely available packages to offer such a speed guarantee in the UK.

Compare fibre broadband deals with our price comparison:

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PGA Championship live stream: how to watch 2019 US PGA golf online from anywhere

Posted: 18 May 2019 01:00 AM PDT

If the Masters had the drama, the PGA Championship has seen pure dominance. Brooks Koepka has made the Bethpage Black Course in New York look like an easy game of mini golf. Golf's second major tournament of the season is here in an all new pre-Memorial Day weekend slot and you can get a 2019 US PGA Championship live stream no matter where you are.

With so many elite players all vying for every major and those extravagant purses, it's rare to see a tournament being so dominated by one man. But reigning US PGA Champion Brooks Koepka is doing just that.

We had expected to see Tiger Woods feature, following his miraculous Masters victory. He's failed to avoid the cut after two rounds. So where could the challenge to Koepka come from this weekend?

Well a resurgent Jordan Spieth is the next best placed on the leaderboard and seeking a career Grand Slam - the PGA Championship is the only major he's failed to win. World number 1 Dustin Johnson is a few shots back and well overdue a major win with still only one to his name. And the likes of Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama are high on the leaderboard. But surely Koepka has already done enough to fend them off?

Bethpage is looking like a handsome home for the 101st PGA Championship and there are plenty of places you can watch all the action, with some very easy-to-access FREE online options in there, too. Keep reading to see how to get a PGA Championship live stream from any corner of the Earth.

Live stream golf for free at PGA.com

Well here's a stroke of good news (pun very much intended) - the official tournament website, PGA.com, is live streaming some of the best action.

But, it's by no means comprehensive. The schedule currently says that it will be showing a live stream of featured groups only, as well as holes 16 through 18. Nice if you're only interested in following the players it selects for you, but not so good if you want full and proper coverage.

Furthermore, it seems as though the free PGA Championship live stream just isn't available in certain regions, such as the UK, Australia, South-East Asia and big parts of Europe.

Aside from the US PGA live stream, we have more US watching options below.

How to get a PGA Championship live stream from outside your country

Assuming you want better golf coverage than the limited US PGA live stream as described above, you can scroll down to discover how to watch from the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

But if you're on your holiday or abroad with work, then things become a little trickier to watch. That's because host broadcasters apply geo-blocks on their coverage. You need to find a way to bypass these blocks and watch as if you were sat back in your home country.

How to watch the US PGA golf in the US

There are number of options you can watch the US PGA golf if you're stateside:

- The live stream from PGA.com as mentioned above. Although you'll be limited to what the website wants to show you. That's looking very limited, unfortunately.

- TNT and CBS have grabbed the rights in the US this year. Cable-based TNT has all four rounds, but only the early action of the crucial third and fourth rounds. CBS will provide coverage on its website of the third and fourth round - including the concluding action - which you can also watch if you sign up to a trial of its All Access service. Great news for golf fans who don't want to shell out for a subscription.

- If you're outside the US this weekend but want to access one of the above options, then you can use a VPN service to effectively transport your computer, phone or tablet's IP back to a US location.

And they  aren't you're only options either, with all of the top US-based TV streaming services all providing an alternative. Each one offers a free trial to get you started and has masses of other content and channels for you to enjoy if you subscribe: 

  • Hulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.
  • PlayStation Vue From $45 per month and the ideal choice for PS4 owners thanks to its access to the likes of ESPN, NBC, Fox, Disney and other essential networks. Crank up the price and you can add the likes of Showtime and HBO, too.
  • DirecTV Now $50 per month - DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $5 extra you can add the NFL Network.
  • FuboTV $35 for the first month - FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.
  • YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.

How to watch the US PGA Championship live: UK stream

Live stream the 2019 PGA Championship action in Canada

How to get a US PGA Championship live stream in Australia

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Wilder vs Breazeale live stream: how to watch the boxing online from anywhere tonight

Posted: 18 May 2019 12:39 AM PDT

Deontay Wilder truly is a heavyweight force to be reckoned with. The US boxer is the holder of the WBC heavyweight title and one of the most intimidating fighters in the world. Unperturbed, Dominic Breazeale aims to knock Wilder off his throne and grab his belt in the process. And you can get a Wilder vs Breazeale live stream wherever you are using this handy guide.

Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs), 33-year-old heavyweight champion, will put his impressive record on the line against powerhouse challenger 33-year-old Dominic "Trouble" Breazeale (20-1, 18 KOs). As you can see from those stats these two are both knock-out specialists which should make for a really high power pairing.

While Wilder is undefeated as belt holder, Breazeale has lost one of his 21 fights in a seventh-round knockout by unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2016. So while Wilder is one of the fiercest fighters out there, Breazeale is no bum either.

Basically put...don't miss this match if you're after some intense heavyweight boxing action. We'll do our part by telling you how to get a Wilder vs Breazeale live stream from absolutely anywhere in the world.

How to watch the Wilder vs Breazeale fight from outside your country

If you want to watch the boxing outside of your country you may find that the content is geo-restricted. That could mean that, despite having access when on home turf, you are blocked while away. Fret not, that can be rectified with the use of a clever piece of software called a VPN.

How to watch Wilder vs Breazeale: US streaming

How to watch Wilder vs Breazeale fight in the UK

How to live stream Wilder vs Breazeale in Australia

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