Tag: much-needed
Overwatch 2’s new hero Lifeweaver is getting a much-needed control overhaul
Players don’t like ’em, so Blizzard’s changing ’em
The Sims 4 Growing Together adds some much-needed spark to Sims’ relationships
Last week, I attended a hands-off preview for The Sims 4‘s upcoming Growing Together expansion pack and its supporting free base game update. This was obviously a real treat for me as RPS’ resident Sims fanatic, but I’ll admit I went in with my expectations parked in neutral. After all, the theme of this new-content duo is young families, and that just isn’t part of the game I engage with too much these days.
Samsung’s Good Lock just got a much-needed quality of life update
Xbox Direct: 3 Predictions for Microsoft’s Much-Needed Showcase
CES 2023: Google gives Android Auto a much-needed facelift
Android owners, rejoice: Listening to podcasts in your car is about to get a lot easier.
At CES 2023, Google announced that a new version of Android Auto would start rolling out immediately. The in-car experience, which automatically pops up on your vehicle’s interior screen when you connect an Android phone to it, is getting a brand new design that should theoretically make life easier for drivers who just can’t get enough of their phones.
First up is the Maps view, which is now situated closer to the driver’s seat so it’ll be the first thing you see when you glance over at the screen. There’s also a new quick launcher for frequently used apps and Google has adopted the “Material You” visual design language from Pixel phones for the overall aesthetic.
Credit: Google
You can also make WhatsApp calls using Pixel and Samsung phones.
Oh, and perhaps most importantly: There’s a progress bar for songs and podcasts now. It seems like a pretty massive oversight that Android Auto didn’t already have that, but hey, progress is progress. And if you share your car with other people, digital key sharing is coming to Samsung and Xiaomi phones this year.
All of this sounds nice and dandy for those of you who rock Android phones and have to commute via car. Of course, always remember one thing: Keep your eyes on the road.
Apple Music Replay gets a much-needed redesign for 2022
Apple Music users can now access a recap of what they’ve listened to on the service this year thanks to Apple Music Replay. Apple has redesigned the feature to make it a much sleeker experience, albeit one that perhaps isn’t quite on par with Spotify Wrapped just yet.
For one thing, you’ll only be able to access your full Replay details on the web rather than in the Apple Music app (which does have a playlist of your most-played tracks). At the top of the page, you’ll see a stories-style highlight reel including how many minutes you’ve spent listening to music and your top song, artist, album and genres of the year. Further down the page are the lists of your top 10 songs, artists and albums, and your top five playlists. What’s more, you’ll see if you’re in the top 100 listeners for a certain artist.
You can share your highlight reel or other stats on social platforms or with friends. There are share buttons dotted throughout Replay on iOS and tapping one brings up the usual share sheet. Curiously, Apple Music’s desktop web player doesn’t feature share buttons, which makes it slightly more difficult for me to share just how much Rammstein and Taylor Swift I’ve been listening to this year.
Meanwhile, Apple Music has released its year-end charts, including the most Shazamed songs of the year. The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber had the service’s most popular song of 2022 with “Stay,” while Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti was the biggest album on Apple Music. On the top 100 songs chart, hip hop led the way in terms of genres with 32 tracks, followed by pop (23), R&B/soul (11), Latin (eight) and J-Pop (six).
Modern Warfare 2 patch notes confirm one small but much-needed fix
Modern Warfare 2 is huge. Massive. The launch of Warzone 2 has attracted over 25 milion people, so there are a lot of eyes on the game’s early updates. Luckily for Activision, Infinity Ward, and Raven, the first massive update has done some particularly impressive things.
One of the top-level changes is the reintroduction of the CDL modes (that’s Call of Duty League, if you’re curious) which were removed after some bugs were discovered in the playlists.
But whilst that is good, there’s something even better for players that like to put a bit of bling on their loadouts: a better navigation option for all your locked and unlocked camos.
Does Steelrising provide a much-needed Bloodborne fix?
The veil around Steelrising has lifted, meaning early review impressions of the third-person action game, alongside all its shiny bits and blemishes, are out in the wild for the world to see. Comparisons to the rest of the genre, especially the From Software games that have set the bar, are impossible to avoid.
To go alongside our in-depth review of Steelrising, Connor and Jim have sat down to talk briefly about some of the games best and dodgiest parts. You can check out that video below, which you should absolutely do if you want a quick fix of informal discussion, or the occasional botched French word here and there.
Not to spoil it or anything, but Connor talks about the revolutionary France setting of the game, something they found particularly interesting throughout the process of their review. This pro comes with a chaser, the way your character’s background as a dancing, prancing automat is weaved into combat, represented as quite remarkable move sets. It’s pretty cool to look at at!