News Mash-Up - Week # 19

Top News Items

• • Both EA and FIFA have confirmed their 30-year relationship for the football simulation game will come to an end. EA stated "Our unique licensing portfolio of more than 19,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues that we've continued to invest in for decades will still be there, uniquely in EA Sports FC. That includes exclusive partnerships with the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, the MLS - and more to come." FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino stated “(we will) launch new football video games developed with third-party studios and publishers […] I can assure you that the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans […] the FIFA name is the only global, original title. FIFA 23, FIFA 24, FIFA 25 and FIFA 26, and so on — the constant is the FIFA name and it will remain forever and remain THE BEST”. FIFA 23 will be the last FIFA game to be made by EA, expected later this year.

  • Sources from Microsoft have revealed to VentureBeat that a dedicated GamePass streaming device is being planned. Similar in concept to Amazon’s Firestick or Google’s Chromecast, the device is expected to a USB dongle and that it will stream games via Xbox’s Cloud gaming service. Microsoft is also working closely with Samsung TV to develop an Xbox game-streaming app for the company's televisions. Both, the app and streaming device, is expected to roll out by next year.

  • The Biden government has struck a deal with 20 of the largest internet providers in the US to provide low-cost high-speed internet to rural and (internet) disadvantaged areas. As part of the existing Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), internet providers will now offer $30 monthly plans with speeds of at least 100Mbs. Those eligible for a $30 subsidy will then have access to free internet. About a 1/5 of those who are eligible for the plan have taken it. Over 10 million households have already signed up for ACP subsidies to help pay for broadband.

  • Nintendo had another Nintendo Indie World video showcase. In a 24-minute video, over 20 games were highlighted. All were slated for release this year. Gunbrella, Silt and Batora: Lost Haven look the most interesting.

  • GameRant has discovered that Microsoft has filed a patent for an external optical drive that will work and authenticate games with the Xbox Series S, adding the possibility the all-digital cheaper Xbox Series console will be able to play and install physical games.

  • AMD has released version 2.0 of its Fidelity FX Super Resolution. Currently the only game to support the latest version is Deathloop, with more games to follow. Community feedback has been very positive. Higher resolution upscaling and better integration of anti-aliasing. FSR 2.0 is also open source in nature, meaning that developers can slot it into their games free of charge, with minimal development time.

  • Bethesda’s games Starfield and Redfall, slated for 2022 release (November and Summer respectively), have been pushed back to 2023.

  • 2K will be closing servers for WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20 from 30th June.
    
    

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Week commencing Monday 16 May 2022