Tag: gaming

LinkedIn to Add Games to Its Platform That Will Rank Firms Based on Employees Scores: Report

LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional social media platform, is working on diversifying its offerings beyond job searches and business networking. The company is reportedly going to add games to the platform to increase user engagement. LinkedIn would be the latest in the line of several social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube that have experimented with adding in-app games.

According to a TechCrunch report, LinkedIn is working on bringing several puzzle-based games on the app, three of which are called “Queens”, “Inference” and “Crossclimb.” The social media platform confirmed its gaming plans to the publication, but did not reveal a launch window for the upcoming games.

“We’re playing with adding puzzle-based games within the LinkedIn experience to unlock a bit of fun, deepen relationships, and hopefully spark the opportunity for conversations,” the report quoted a LinkedIn spokesperson as saying.

Nima Owji, an app researcher, also found evidence of in-app LinkedIn games, posting screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) that suggest that companies on the platform will be ranked in the games based on the scores of their employees. The screenshots showcase three games — “Blueprint”, “Queens” and “Crossclimb,” all of which seem puzzle-based games.

While LinkedIn confirmed its plans to offer games to its users, there are no details yet about the number and genre of games that will be available on the platform. The games could likely be offered as part of LinkedIn Premium subscription.

Earlier this month, LinkedIn disclosed sales figures for its premium subscription for the first time, confirming that the service reached $1.7 billion (roughly Rs. 14,091 crore) in revenue in 2023 after the company added AI tools to the platform.

In November last year, YouTube introduced “Playables” game arcade, collection of over 30 arcade games that can be played on the YouTube app on iOS, Android and Web, for its premium subscribers.

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Asus ROG Ally Price in India Revealed Ahead of July 12 Launch Date: All Details

Asus ROG Ally will be launched in India on July 12, the company announced on Wednesday. The Taiwanese firm’s first Windows-powered handheld gaming console will go on sale during a flash sale on Flipkart for one day on July 7, according to Asus. Last week, Asus teased the arrival of the ROG Ally via a Twitter post. The gaming console sports a 7-inch full-HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by AMD’s recently introduced Z1 Extreme APU, paired with 16GB of RAM.

Asus ROG Ally price in India, availability

Asus ROG Ally will be priced at Rs. 69,990 in India.  The device will be launched in India on July 12, and will go on sale for one day on July 7 as part of a flash sale on Flipkart. The device will be available for purchase in India via the Asus e-shop and Flipkart, as well as Asus Exclusive Stores and ROG Stores in the country

The company has also announced that the first 200 customers to purchase the Asus ROG Ally, after registering for a promotion on the company’s website, will receive a complimentary ROG Ally case worth Rs. 2,000.

Asus ROG Ally specifications, features (expected)

The Asus ROG Ally that was recently introduced in the US and global markets runs on Windows 11. It is powered with AMD’s Z1 and Z1 Extreme chips with AMD RDNA3 graphics paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. To store your games, you get 512GB of NVMe storage. 

This handheld gaming console sports a 7-inch full-HD (1,920×1080 pixels) IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 7ms response time, and up to 500 nits of peak brightness. The Asus ROG Ally is equipped with ABXY buttons, thumbsticks, a D-pad, bumpers, and analogue triggers. 

On the connectivity front, the Asus ROG Ally supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Type-C port. It has a dual speaker setup with Dolby Atmos and an array microphone with AI noise cancellation technology. The console runs on a 40Whr battery with support for 65W wired charging, according to the company.

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Competitive Gamers Puzzled at the Choice of Games Featured for the Singapore Olympics eSports Week

ESports has long been derided as “not a real sport”. But now, an Olympic-organised event is being dismissed by competitive gamers as not real eSports. Many long-time backers of big-money digital contests, which are edging their way towards elite-level recognition, are puzzled by the choice of games at the inaugural Olympics Esports Week that kicks off in Singapore on Thursday.

Instead of well-established gaming titles, it will feature 10 simulated sports, among them archery, baseball, chess, and taekwondo. Aficionados are concerned with the choice of virtual sports — that is, digital recreations of real-world events — rather than eSports, which are essentially video games played at an elite competitive level.

With popular video games such as Counter-Strike and DOTA 2, eSports has been booming over the past decade. It has penetrated pop culture and social media, its tournaments filling stadiums and pulling millions of online viewers.

Matthew Woods from eSports marketing agency AFK said the disappointment over the Olympics Esports Week “spawned from the fact that none of the games selected were games that anybody in the industry really considered to be eSports”.

Malaysian professional eSports coach Khairul Azman Mohamad Sharif agreed, saying he found the list baffling. “I don’t think these sports games should be highlighted at the competition compared to top eSports games, considering these types of sports are already physically contested,” he said.

‘Olympic values’

The only saving grace for some is that the shooting event will involve the globally loved Fortnite, but in a version without its kill-or-be-killed Battle Royale mode. That modification is because the International Olympic Council (IOC) cannot feature titles that go against Olympic values, so a lot of popular video games with violence are out.

The IOC officially recognised eSports as a sport in 2017 and has been in discussions with industry players about inclusion on the most prestigious stage. Such changes tend to happen slowly but the IOC has opened new frontiers recently, with skateboarding at the Tokyo Games and breakdancing at Paris 2024.

ESports will be a medal sport for the first time at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Describing the list of games as “a very sensible first approach”, vice-president of the Global Esports Federation and CEO of British Esports Chester King said the Singapore event would be a positive step in eventually putting popular video games on the Olympic roster.

“This is the first event and we’ve got to make sure all the stakeholders in the IOC accept it and like it,” he said.

Bryan Tan, a partner at law firm Reed Smith, which specialises in eSports and media, said the event in the city-state “is also a testing ground to iron out the kinks involved in bringing eSports to the Olympic level”.

IOC sports director Kit McConnell told AFP that the choices were made to support virtual sports.

“This is why we have focused first on virtual and simulated sports games in the competition series,” he said. He added that selected games had to be inclusive with no technical barriers to entry and have gender equality, which is “often not yet the case in the field of competitive gaming”.

If popular video titles do make it to the Olympic level with top players, the Games will stand to potentially draw millions of fresh viewers. But a major challenge could be navigating intricate relationships with publishers of popular games.

AFK’s Woods said publishers are “commercial enterprises which own the IP that their games are built on and therefore have an unlimited amount of influence into who hosts events and how this is done”.

While there are no concrete plans now for eSports to be included as medal events at the Olympics, the Singapore event will be watched closely to see what sort of reception it garners.

“I think it will be fascinating to see how it is received. Much of this will no doubt come down to the altered format of the games,” said Woods.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Asus ROG Ally With AMD Z1 Series Chip to Go on Sale in India on July 7: Details

Asus ROG Ally India launch has been confirmed by the company, which is set to bring its first handheld gaming device running Windows to the country. The device was recently launched in global markets and is equipped with AMD’s latest Z1 and Z1 Extreme CPUs, paired with 16GB of RAM. There’s currently no word from the company on the chip that will feature on the device when it launches in India. The Asus ROG Ally also features a 7-inch full-HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Update: A new microsite for the Asus ROG Ally on Flipkart reveals that the handheld gaming device will go on sale in India via the e-commerce website during a flash sale on July 7.   

 

The company teased the arrival of the Asus ROG Ally in India via a Twitter post on Thursday. Other details such as the price of the device or its availability are currently under wraps. The Asus ROG Ally is available in two variants equipped with AMD Z1 series processors in the US.

The model with the AMD Z1 CPU is priced at $599 (roughly Rs. 49,300) while the AMD Z1 Extreme variant costs $699 (roughly Rs. 57,500). Asus is yet to announce whether one or both versions of the handheld gaming device will be available in India.

Asus ROG Ally specifications, features

Launched in global markets last month, the Asus ROG Ally sports a 7-inch full-HD (1,920×1080 pixels) IPS display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, up to 500 nits of peak brightness, a response time of 7ms, and multitouch support.

The device is powered with AMD’s Z1 and Z1 Extreme APUs along with AMD RDNA3 graphics and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It is equipped with 512GB of NVMe storage. The Asus ROG Ally runs on Windows 11 out-of-the-box. It is equipped with ABXY buttons, two thumbsticks, a D-pad, bumpers, and analogue triggers. 

Connectivity options on the Asus ROG Ally include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Type-C port. It packs a 40Whr battery that can be charged at 65W. The device is equipped with a dual speaker setup with Dolby Atmos, along with an array microphone with AI noise cancellation technology, according to Asus. It measures 28 x 11.1 x 2.12cm and weighs 608g.

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Nike Partners EA Sports to Bring Exclusive NFT Collection to Gamers: Details

In a rather pro-Web3 move, Nike has struck a partnership with EA Sports hoping to be able to push elements of Web3 like cryptocurrencies and NFTs, deeper into the international gaming ecosystem. The shoes and athleisure brand Nike has been experimenting with digital collectibles or NFTs for quite some time now. As for EA Sports, the US-based game publisher behind world-famous titles like FIFA and F1 among others, and has a player-base of over 150 million as per Statista.

As part of this deal, Nike’s Web3 platform called ‘.Swoosh’ will provide its users access to exclusive NFT collections inspired by EA Sports games, which boast a massive community of fans across the globe.

“Nike Virtual Studios and EA SPORTS are today announcing a new partnership aimed at enhancing and personalising the virtual sports experience for fans all over the world. In future EA Sports titles, EA Sports and Nike plan to make select .Swoosh virtual creations available allowing members and players unique new opportunities for self-expression and creativity through sport and style,” an official blog by Nike said.

The companies announced the development officially on Twitter on June 1.

Nike is expected to make its EA Sports-focussed NFTs, customisable. These NFTs would include wearable merchandises inspired by teams within the games. Players will be able to purchase these Nike NFTs to tweak their virtual avatars.

The option to engage with NFTs, most of which are bought with cryptocurrencies, will now reach millions of players who are part of the EA Sports community, which could significantly boost Web3 adoption.

Other prominent players from the gaming sector are also looking at Web3 to refresh the existing video game ecosystem.

Previously, Sony has also filed for patents pertaining to the integration of digital assets and NFTs to its offerings and services.

Over 55 percent of the global gaming community resides in Asia. The continent contributes over $72 billion (roughly Rs. 5,88,229 crore) in annual gaming revenue.

A Chainalysis report also recently highlighted that in the second quarter of 2022, 58 percent of web traffic from Asian nations to crypto services was NFT-related. Another 21 percent traffic was related to play-to-earn blockchain games.

Hence in recent times, the blockchain gaming market in Japan has specifically garnered major interest of the gaming industry.

Apple’s annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company’s first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we’re looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Netflix Bets Big on Games, to Launch 40 New Titles in 2023 on iOS and Android

As one of the biggest streaming services in the world, Netflix is well known for its massive catalogue of original and licensed movie and TV series content. However, many may not be aware that Netflix is also a subscription game service for mobile games since November 2021. Interestingly, this does not require anything more than your standard Netflix subscription, with all paid subscribers gaining access to the full catalogue of mobile games, available on iOS and Android. For 2023, Netflix is betting big on its gaming service, with major expansion plans to build on its existing catalogue, and is working with developers such as Ubisoft and Super Evil Megacorp, to bring 40 new titles to the service.

New releases on Netflix Games in 2023 and beyond

The global streaming platform recently announced that it is planning to bring 40 new games to its platform in 2023. As of now, the service has launched 55 games since November 2021, and has a total of 70 games in development with external partners. Notable among these are Terra Nil, a reverse city-builder which will be launching on March 28, and Mighty Quest: Rogue Palace from Ubisoft, which will release on April 18. Assassin’s Creed fans can also expect a mobile game from the franchise to come to Netflix games soon.

Monument Valley 1 and 2 are confirmed to be coming to Netflix Games in 2024

 

Unlike some of Netflix’s earlier titles such as Too Hot to Handle: Love is a Game and Narcos: Cartel Wars Unlimited which are based on existing Netflix titles, many of the upcoming games are not in any way linked to movies or TV shows on the streaming platform. Netflix hopes to establish itself a major games publisher for mobile platforms, and is not really limiting itself to using its games as extensions to its existing streaming content, as per Leanne Loombe, Vice President of External Games at Netflix.

Notably, the games service is also planning to bring existing premium titles under its subscription banner. Netflix is working with UsTwo Games to bring Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2 to its service in 2024. All of this will see Netflix go up against established players in the gaming subscription space such as Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass, but with the notable advantage on being available on both iOS and Android.

How does Netflix Games work?

Netflix Games are accessible as regular apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and are installed on your smartphone or tablet independent of the Netflix app. That said, you can use the Netflix app on iOS or Android to find games, and you’ll be redirected to the app marketplace to download the app. As of now, the Netflix app does not let you play any of the games within it, and is only used to help you discover titles of interest.

While the game apps themselves are free to download, you do need an active Netflix subscription to actually be able to access and play the games. If you’re logged in on the Netflix app on the same device, this process is seamless, with the game working normally using your existing credentials.

Importantly, Netflix Games features premium games that are fully unlocked and can be played for free within the subscription service; there are no in-app purchases beyond the actual cost of the Netflix subscription in any of the games, similar to how Apple and Google operate their subscription-based gaming services.

For now, Netflix Games are limited to mobile platforms. However, the company has confirmed that it is working on its own cloud gaming service, which could then bring its games onto many more devices beyond smartphones and tablets. This is still some time away, and Netflix has confirmed that its immediate plans for gaming will remain focused on mobile platforms.

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Esports Now Recognised as Part of Multi-Sport Event, to Be Taken Care by Department of Sports: Government

The Government of India on Tuesday gave Esports a major boost by integrating it with mainline sports disciplines in the country.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in exercise of the powers “conferred by clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution” amended the rules governing Esports and asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Sports Ministry to include “e-Sports as part of multi-sports events”.

There had been a growing demand for Esports to be included in the curriculum of multi-discipline events after it was included in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games as a demonstration sport, meaning medals won in the sport were not counted in the official overall medals tally.

But following the President’s notification, issued on December 23, that IT Ministry will be the nodal agency for online gaming-related matters and the sports ministry will have to include it in its curriculum, it has come as shot in the arm for Esports enthusiasts.

The International Olympic Association (IOC) too is going big on popularising e-Sport with Singapore being confirmed to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in June next year.

This marks the next big step in supporting the development and integration of virtual sports with the Olympic movement and engaging further with competitive gamers.

The IOC had said in November this year that the Olympic Esports Week would showcase the best of virtual sports — hybrid physical and simulated sports — in the four-day festival from June 22 to 25, including exhibiting the latest technologies, panel discussions, education sessions and show matches.

IOC President Thomas Bach had said last month that the inaugural Olympic Esports Week would mark an important milestone “in our ambition to support the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement”.

The Indian DOTA 2 team had clinched bronze at the first Commonwealth Esports Championship held in Birmingham in August defeating New Zealand.

The sport will make its debut at the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China next year.

Reacting to the report of its inclusion as a mainline sport, Lokesh Suji, director, Esports Federation of India and vice-president of Asian Esports Federation, said the efforts of the fraternity had finally borne fruit.

“We have been constantly working on establishing the difference between esports and iGaming, and finally, our efforts have been fulfilled. We welcome this announcement by our government, which will open new avenues to pour in more investment opportunities in this booming industry.

“From now onwards, we will have to build proper infrastructure, training facilities and coaching for our young esports athletes. Only a short time until we see esports being placed in the same league as cricket, football, basketball, etc. and having similar fan power, scale and craze,” said Suji.

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JBL Quantum 350 Wireless Gaming Headphones With 22-Hour Battery Life Launched in India: All Details

JBL Quantum 350 wireless gaming headphones have been launched in India, priced at Rs. 8,499. The new headset is part of JBL’s Quantum range of gaming headphones, and features 2.4GHz wireless connectivity which offers a stable, low-latency connection that is critical to ensuring a good audio experience while gaming. The Quantum 350 was recently announced globally alongside other products in the true wireless connectivity segment. The headphones are the wireless version of the JBL Quantum 300 headphones, which feature 3.5mm wired connectivity, and offer the benefits of convenient wireless connectivity for PCs and consoles, without the drawbacks of Bluetooth.

JBL Quantum 350 price in India, availability

The newly launched JBL Quantum 350 is priced at Rs. 8,499 in India, and is available now across online and offline stores in the country, including JBL’s own online store. In comparison, the JBL Quantum 300 is priced at Rs. 5,599, while the top-of-the-line JBL Quantum One is available for Rs. 28,990.

The JBL Quantum 350 goes up against competition in the growing gaming audio segment in India, including the Logitech G435 Lightspeed. Although lacking high-end features such as customisable RGB lights, the Quantum 350 does offer wireless connectivity using the 2.4GHz wireless protocol.

JBL Quantum 350 specifications and features

The JBL Quantum 350 wireless headset features 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, using a USB dongle to manage the connection with the PC or compatible gaming console. The headset has 40mm drivers, and features the company’s QuantumSound Signature and QuantumSurround tech. The ear cushions are constructed out of PU leather finish memory foam, the headset weighs 252g. PC gamers can use the JBL QuantumEngine software to customise the sound on the headphones.

The JBL Quantum 350 Wireless headset is Discord certified, and has a detachable boom microphone. JBL claims that the Quantum 350 Wireless has a battery life of 22 hours, and the company’s speed charge is claimed to offer up to 60 minutes of playback on a 5-minute charge. Users can charge the headset simultaneously during gameplay via USB Type-C.

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EPWA Asks Tamil Nadu Government to Recognise Skill-Based Games as Distinct Sport: Details

India esports athletes’ body EPWA has urged the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport, not club it along with gambling, and provide safe harbour for professional players, a senior official of the entity said on Friday. “We have sent representation to the state government on August 13. We have requested the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport and not club it along with gambling and provide safe harbour for professional players,” Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA) Director Shivani Jha told PTI.

The Madras High Court had in August last year struck down a recent amendment made to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, passed in 1930, which imposed a ban on online gaming of rummy and poker with stakes. The bench declared Part II of the TN Gaming & Police Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, as unconstitutional which banned betting or wagering in cyberspace and also games of skill if played for a wager, bet, money or other stakes.

The bench, however, granted liberty to the state to pass another legislation, without any lacunae.

Tamil Nadu has set up a committee under the chairmanship of retired Justice K Chandru for advising on enacting fresh legislation on online games. The state government has invited inputs from various stakeholders for new legislation.

Chess Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara in support of online gamers sought the intervention of the central government in the ban imposed by states. “In the past, the central government has given comfort to players in stakeholder meetings that we will not be treated as criminals, however, state governments continue to do the opposite,” Rajpara said.

Jha said multiple legislations and putting skill-based games in the same bucket as gambling is leading to the criminalisation of skill-based players.

“While India is participating in international tournaments and developers are making new games, it is imperative for the state to regulate online skill-based gaming. Moreover, courts have repeatedly pronounced judgments stating the state government can only make laws on online gambling and not gaming, this ends up putting players at risk and equating them with gamblers and criminals,” she said.

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