Gaming
Honkai: Star Rail version 1.3 arrives August 30
Much-awaited update
The much-awaited Version 1.3 update for Honkai: Star Rail called “Celestial Eyes Above Mortal Ruins” will go live on August 30.
The latest iteration of miHoYo’s action RPG features three playable characters, a brand-new area, the Aurum Alley, and a Simulated Universe major update.
The new area called Aurum Alley needs a much-needed revitalization from Trailblazers, who shall employ strategic logistics planning and efficient cargo organization to shape the alley and bring it back to its glorious form.
Meanwhile, Trailblazers can also navigate through dynamically generated domains and face various challenges to unlock the Path of Propagation within the Simulated Universe, which has been upgraded with the introduction of “The Swarm Disaster.”
Play Dan Heng, Fu Xuan, and Lynx
Headlining the list of anticipated characters is Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae, a five-star Imaginary-Type character following the Path of Destruction.
He can consume multiple Skill Points in battle to unleash powerful abilities; players can enhance his basic attack up to three straight times, and depending on the number of enhancements triggered, the basic attacks can transform into different forms.
His Ultimate deals Imaginary damage to a single target and adjacent enemies, while also receiving a fixed amount of Squama Sacrosancta to offset the consumption of Skill Points.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuan of Xianzhou Luofu debuts, possessing the mysterious omniscia on her forehead which allows her to calculate moves in advance.
The Quantum-Type five-star character following the Path of Preservation can deal effects such as damage reduction and health points reversal using her Talent, absorbing damages for her allies via Skill, and unleashing Quantum damage using her Ultimate.
Lastly, players will be able to recruit Lynx, a Quantum-Type four-star character from the Landau family who follows the Path of Abundance and is capable of a versatile array of healing abilities for her team.
Honkai: Star Rail to be available in PS5 soon
As additional good news, Honkai: Star Rail will soon be available for the PlayStation 5 console in Q4 this year.
With cross-save and cross-play, players can enjoy their game progress across different platforms.
Acer has unveiled the Predator Atlas 8, a new Windows 11 gaming handheld powered by Intel’s latest Arc G-Series platform. The device expands Acer’s growing handheld portfolio and targets gamers who want PC gaming performance in a portable form factor.
The Predator Atlas 8 pairs Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme processor with up to Intel Arc B390 graphics. It supports ray tracing and Intel XeSS 3 AI-powered upscaling to boost performance while maintaining image quality. Acer says the platform balances gaming performance and battery efficiency for gaming on the go.
Predator cooling comes to a handheld
Acer equips the Atlas 8 with a dual-fan cooling system inspired by its Predator gaming laptops. The setup includes what Acer describes as the first metal fan used in a gaming handheld. The company says the ultra-thin AeroBlade fan increases airflow by up to 10 percent. It works alongside a second fan and Acer’s Vortex Flow design to move heat out of the chassis more efficiently.
The handheld features an 8-inch WUXGA touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Variable Refresh Rate support. The panel reaches up to 500 nits of brightness and uses a 16:10 aspect ratio. Acer also protects the display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a DXC coating that helps reduce glare.
Acer complements the display with dual 2W speakers that support DTS:X Ultra audio. Dual microphones with PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction help improve voice clarity during multiplayer sessions and online chats.
Built around the Windows gaming ecosystem
The Predator Atlas 8 runs Windows 11 and supports Xbox Mode for quicker access to games and system functions. Acer also includes an Xbox Game Pass subscription, giving users access to hundreds of games from day one.
For connectivity, the handheld offers dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and UHS-II microSD expansion. The control layout includes full-size analog sticks and dual-mode triggers. Players can switch between instant-click microswitch controls for shooters and Hall-effect analog controls for racing and simulation titles.
A dedicated PredatorSense button provides quick access to performance settings, RGB lighting controls, and system monitoring tools. Acer has not yet announced pricing or local availability. The company says details will vary by market.
Gaming
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has been officially announced
And it’s coming out on the Switch 2.
Compared to the crazier news we’ve gotten so far, a new Call of Duty doesn’t seem like it should make a ripple, but it does. Activision has officially announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it’s coming out on the Nintendo Switch 2.
This year’s mainline entry has a couple of firsts for the ubiquitous franchise. For one, Modern Warfare 4 will not launch on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. It’s the first time that the series is dropping the last generation of consoles. Secondly, it’s launching for the Switch 2, marking the first time that the franchise is coming out on a Nintendo system since 2013. Finally, it won’t launch as a day-one release on the Game Pass.
Besides the reshuffling of launch outlets, Modern Warfare 4 will offer much of the same from the franchise: bombastic campaigns with global stakes and a thriving palette of multiplayer modes.
This time around, players will start the campaign as Private Park, a South Korean soldier thrust into a war as North Korea suddenly invades its southern neighbor. Players will also face assignments in Mumbai and New York. Captain Price is, of course, coming back but as an outlaw in pursuit of a powerful weapon.
For multiplayer, Activision promises more improvements yet again for movement and gunplay. Modern Warfare 4 will also introduce new modes such as Kill Block, which features maps that change after every round. DMZ is coming back, of course.
Activision promises more updates coming throughout the year. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on October 23, 2026.
SEE ALSO: Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game
Gaming
The Witcher 3 is getting a third expansion, Songs of the Past
It’s coming in 2027, twelve years after the release of the original game.
I feel like Robin Williams in Jumanji asking people what year it is. Yes, the calendar says “2026,” but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is getting a new expansion, and it feels like 2016 all over again.
Today, CD Projekt Red announced the upcoming third expansion, Songs of the Past, for The Witcher 3, eleven years after the release of the base game. As with the graphics of the other two expansions, the announcement for Songs of the Past does not reveal much about its story. The graphic shows Geralt standing determined in front of an unnamed tree-like monster.
Medallion's humming… that can only mean one thing! It's time to announce The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past! ⚔️
This brand new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will take you to the Path with Geralt of Rivia once more. It’s being co-developed with @Fools_Theory… pic.twitter.com/rrcPXppgdc
— The Witcher (@thewitcher) May 27, 2026
The studio, along with co-developer Fool’s Theory, will reveal more about the game later this summer. The expansion itself is scheduled to launch sometime in 2027.
The biggest question, of course, is where the expansion will take the story next. Blood and Wine, the second expansion, ended Geralt’s story conclusively with the witcher retiring in Toussaint. Whatever happens to Geralt in this expansion will thrust the witcher back into life on the road or recap a past story (as the name hints).
Additionally, Songs of the Past might end up bridging the stories between Wild Hunt and the also-upcoming The Witcher 4 focusing on Ciri’s life. The next mainline entry is still some ways away, though.
SEE ALSO: The hunt begins: The Witcher in Concert hits Manila with surprises in tow
-
Accessories1 week agoThe UGREEN Nexode Air 65W is the only charger I travel with now
-
Accessories1 week agoUGREEN unveils pocket-sized Nexode and MagFlow Air Editions
-
Reviews1 week agoThe Infinix GT 50 Pro has the most inspired design for a gaming phone
-
News2 weeks agoXiaomi is making it easier for customers in the PH to shop
-
Accessories1 week agoJBL marks 80th anniversary with AI-powered audio ecosystem
-
Accessories1 week agoCASETiFY x Tamagotchi brings back nostalgia
-
Accessories1 week agoUGREEN MagFlow Air review: Airy Yet Mighty
-
Health1 week agoSpring reset: Growing more at home with Auk Mini

