Tag: july
Amazon will shut down its Halo health service on July 31st
Amazon is shutting down its Halo division. In an email the company sent to users on Wednesday, it said it would stop supporting all devices under the health brand, including the recently released Halo Rise sleep tracker, on July 31st, 2023. As part of the shutdown, Amazon is also laying off an unspecified number of employees. The company did not immediately respond to Engadget’s comment request.
“We have made the difficult decision to wind down the Halo program, which will result in role reductions,” Melissa Cha, the company vice-president of smart home and health, told staffers in a memo obtained by The Verge. “More recently, Halo has faced significant headwinds, including an increasingly crowded segment and an uncertain economic environment. Although our customers love many aspects of Halo, we must prioritize resources and maximize benefits to customers and the long-term health of the business.”
In its email to Halo users, Amazon said it would fully refund all Halo device and accessory purchases made in the last 12 months. The company will also refund any unused prepaid Halo subscription fees. If you were paying month-to-month for service, you won’t be charged any additional subscription fees. Come August 1st, the Halo companion app will stop functioning, as will all Halo devices. If you wish to download or delete your data, you can do so from the software’s Settings menu. Amazon will erase all remaining data on August 1st. You can send your soon-to-be potatoes to the company for disposal through the Amazon Recycling Program.
The demise of the Halo brand shouldn’t come as a surprise. Last month, Amazon announced it would lay off 9,000 employees. That’s in addition to the 18,000 jobs it cut at the start of the year. Amazon was also late to the health and fitness segment. It announced the first product in the family, the Halo Band, in mid-2020, and it arrived without much fanfare, in part due to the fact some of its features were controversial.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-will-shut-down-its-halo-health-service-on-july-31st-195652188.html?src=rss
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will launch on Netflix and other platforms on July 12
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, the follow-up to supernatural thriller Oxenfree, will launch on July 12 on Netflix, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Steam. The game was developed by Night School Studio, a gaming studio that Netflix acquired back in 2021. Night School Studio originally planned to launch Oxenfree II: Lost Signals in 2022 […]
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will launch on Netflix and other platforms on July 12 by Aisha Malik originally published on TechCrunch
Get your walkie-talkie ready for Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, launching July 12
‘Oxenfree II: Lost Signals’ will hit Switch, Netflix, Steam and PlayStation on July 12th
Nintendo’s latest Indie World showcase featured some news on the long-awaited sequel to Oxenfree. You’ll be able to check out Oxenfree II: Lost Signals in a few months, as it will arrive on Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Steam and on mobile via Netflix on July 12th.
Night School Studio announced the follow-up to its supernatural mystery title back in 2021 during a previous Indie World stream. Last year, after Netflix bought the studio, Night School it said was delaying Oxenfree II until 2023 in order to make the game “truly special.” A new trailer offers a closer look at the sequel, which sees a character called Riley returning to her gloomy hometown to delve into the mystery behind some unusual radio transmissions. As you explore, you can use a new walkie-talkie conversation system to stay in touch with local contacts.
As is often the case, the Indie World stream featured rapid-fire updates and announcements for a broad swathe of games, including Cult of the Lamb, one of Engadget’s favorite titles of 2022. A major free update for the deliciously cute mashup of dungeon crawler and management sim will land on April 24th.
Among other things, the Relics of the Old Faith update adds richer combat and a photo mode, while refreshing bosses and enemies. Those who’ve been waiting for a reason to come back may be pleased to learn there’ll be much more post-game content as well, including additional stories, revamped dungeons, a boss rush mode and a permadeath option.
Elsewhere, it emerged during the Indie World showcase that Rift of the NecroDancer, a Crypt of the NecroDancer spin-off, is coming to Switch later this year. It adds a Guitar Hero-style rhythm twist to lane-based combat — you’ll need to match onscreen prompts to fend off monsters.
This fall, you’ll be able to check out Quilts and Cats of Calico. This adaptation of the board game Calico sees you placing pieces on a board and adding buttons to earn points and attract cats. Each of the customizable cats has their own favorite quilt pattern. It all seems utterly adorable. The game supports local and online multiplayer and you’ll even be able to compete in ranked matches.
Meet cute cats and sew the coziest quilts when the award-winning puzzle board game Quilts and Cats of Calico from @monstercouch comes to #NintendoSwitch this fall! #IndieWorldpic.twitter.com/DvTtRTm6Lz
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 19, 2023
In addition, cooking and restaurant management sim PlateUp! will land in October and the enjoyable Escape Academy will hit Switch in the fall. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, a game that caught our eye during a previous showcase thanks to its Jet Set Radio vibes, will be available on Switch and Steam on August 18th.
Paper Trail, which requires you to fold parts of the world to solve puzzles, looks charming as heck. That one is coming to Switch in August. Meanwhile, Brotato, a Vampire Survivors-style game that’s been one of the most-played titles on Steam Deck in recent months, is getting a Switch port this year.
If you’re looking for something new to pass the time with on your Switch until Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom drops, you’re in luck. Nintendo revealed that Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach and puzzle platfomers Teslagrad Remastered and Teslagrad 2 will all be available on the eShop today, along with slapstick RPG Shadows Over Loathing. In case you missed the Indie World stream, you can catch up on the entire thing below:
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/oxenfree-ii-lost-signals-will-hit-switch-netflix-steam-and-playstation-on-july-12th-173603739.html?src=rss
Netflix delays its password-sharing crackdown to sometime before July
Netflix is pushing back its plans to crack down on password sharing in the US until sometime before July. In an earnings report released on Tuesday, the streamer says it “shifted out the timing of the broad launch from late Q1 to Q2.”
Earlier this year, Netflix committed to cracking down on password sharing “more broadly” toward the end of the first quarter of 2023. While it did roll out new anti-password sharing rules in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain in February, these rules never reached the US.
Now, Netflix says that it’s “pleased with the results” of its paid sharing implementation in these four countries so far and that it has helped build up Canada’s paid subscriber base, which is “now growing faster than in the US.”
In…
EA’s magic shooter ‘Immortals of Aveum’ arrives July 20th
A studio full of video game veterans is about to release its first big project. Ascendant Studios and EA have confirmed they’re releasing the magic first person shooter Immortals of Aveum on July 20th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows PCs. You play a new battlemage who’s thrust into a never-ending war for control of the world’s magic.
This isn’t Call of Duty with spells, though, or even a revival of classic fantasy shooters like Heretic. Immortals revolves around a combination system that rewards mixing up different magic types to defeat enemies. You can also draw on magical abilities to create shields or turn the environment against your foes. Ascendant is also promising a narrative-focused experience with an extensive backstory, not to mention recognizable voices like Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) and Gina Torres (Firefly).
Ascendant is part of a wave of indie studios formed by departing leaders at major game developers. It’s helmed by Bret Robbins, the creative director from the original Dead Space, who formed Ascendant in 2018 with Immortals in mind. The team also includes former Telltale Games workers as well as people behind well-known games like Spider-Man and Tomb Raider. Like other well-known exiles, Robbins and crew are effectively trying to regain creative control — even if they’re still publishing through major brands.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eas-magic-shooter-immortals-of-aveum-arrives-july-20th-172003619.html?src=rss
Immortals of Aveum, EA’s magic FPS, is reportedly releasing this July
Immortals of Aveum, the upcoming first-person magic shooter from EA and Ascendant Studios, is reportedly releasing in July.
Revealed back at The Game Awards, we haven’t really seen any of Immortals of Aveum since its teaser trailer, which just showed off a pre-rendered cinematic. Currently the game has a release window of 2023, which hasn’t gotten any more specific since the reveal. But according to dataminer billbil-kun, notable for numerous accurate leaks, the game will be launching July 20 (thanks, VGC).
Billbil-kun has become a reliable source for PlayStation Plus’ free games leaks over the past few months, so while this is just a rumour, it’s at least one that’s a bit more reliable than usual. Still, like with any rumour, better to be slightly apprehensive about it, especially considering we haven’t seen any gameplay for it.
Russia vows to station tactical nukes on Belarus’s borders with Poland from July
Nobunaga’s Ambition celebrates 40th anniversary with new western release in July
Not many video game series reach the 40-year mark, but that’s the anniversary Nobunaga’s Ambition celebrates this year. The historical grand strategy series is celebrating with the announcement of a new western release, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening, which will launch this July. You’ll find the first trailer below.