Gaming

Switch 2 might be as powerful as a PS4

Leaked in court documents

Published

September 19, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

The successor to the Nintendo Switch is getting a lot of steam going into its expected launch window next year. In a new set of official documents, the Switch 2 has revealed a tidbit we’ve been craving for: how the console will perform.

As you might have read over the past few months, Microsoft is having quite a few busy days in court. The company must respond to the FTC’s claims of anti-competition, owing to its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In doing so, Microsoft shared its interactions with competing brands in the gaming industry.

Today, a new document was released to detail how Microsoft plans to deal with the Call of Duty franchise on the Switch. In the document obtained by The Verge, Activision Blizzard confirms that Nintendo already showed them the Switch 2 late last year.

By now, the existence of the Switch successor is already well known. It was recently rumored that Nintendo showcased the console behind closed doors during Gamescom 2023. Not much was known about the console’s performance, though. If anything, Nintendo reportedly demoed the device with an Unreal Engine 5 test.

Today’s released document shows a much more tangible comparison especially for those unfamiliar with different game engines. The email, which directly references an “NG Switch,” states that the Switch 2 will have similar benchmarks to the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.

It’s a big improvement over what the current console can do. Though it won’t be as powerful as the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X|S, it should be enough to play modern games at adequate settings.

The Switch 2 will still take a while to come out, though. According to previous speculation, Nintendo is planning to launch the console next year.

Gaming

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash character trailer revealed

Check out what the cast can do in battle

Published

September 29, 2023

GadgetMatch

The first cast of playable characters for upcoming Bandai Namco title Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash has been revealed through the game’s first trailer.

Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki and Satoru Gojo are all shown in the trailer. Meanwhile, battle footage featuring Ryomen Sukuna has been showcased as well to give fans a tease of what to expect.

Itadori is a melee puncher who has a passive skill called “High Gear,” relying on Cursed Energy for him to be able to dash easier. He also has “Divergent Fist” for close-range situations.

Fushiguro is a close-range Combo Master that specializes in coordinate strikes with Shikigami. His “Ten Shadows Technique” will summon Nue, Toad, and Divine Dog. These can be commanded by players to attack on their own.

Meanwhile, Kugisaki is a mid-range striker who uses the “Straw Doll Technique: Hairpin” attack on opponents. This hammers several nails onto foes several times, inflicting more damage. Moreover, “Marking” will allow these planted nails to detonate from any distance.

Gojo specializes in crowd control. He utilizes “Technique Amplification: Blue” to block the movement of enemies. Then there’s “Cursed Technique Reversal: Red” to keep enemies from coming toward him.

His powerful “Hollow Technique: Purple” takes time to build up, but can finish off enemies using a powerful move to knock them all down.

Lastly, Sukuna acts as an anti-hero who can make it difficult for both friends and foes. The wide-range melee attacker can blow up an entire battlefield, while his “Reverse Cursed Technique” allows him to heal by counterattacking.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash will be available for PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam at a yet to be announced date.

Watch the trailer.

Gaming

Counter-Strike 2 is now available

Free upgrade for CS:GO players

Published

September 29, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Amid the unabated popularity of Valorant, the iconic Counter Strike still stands tall as a classic choice for multiplayer shooters. Now, the Valve franchise is finally stepping into its next generation. Counter-Strike 2 is now online.

Announced back in March, Counter-Strike 2 is a free upgrade for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Though the announcement promised the same fun of the original titles, the sequel features better graphics, mechanics, and connectivity to keep the matches going.

Spotlighting the entire upgrade, the sequel will revamp all the maps including the iconic de_dust2. Smokes are now volumetric objects, which means they react to the player and player actions. A lot of effects were improved to keep up with modern hardware. After all, Global Offensive was launched way back in 2012.

Besides the graphics, Counter-Strike 2 will introduce “sub-ticks,” a new system designed to reduce latency and improve the fluidity of matches. Since the game was in beta since the announcement, Valve likely had the time to test out the technology before the launch.

In any event, Counter-Strike 2 is now available on Steam. If you already have Global Offensive, Steam automatically updated its entry in your library to the sequel. If you don’t, the new game is currently free to play.

AMD Update

Not wasting any time, AMD launched a software update that supports and optimizes Radeon graphics for the popular first-person shooter. Users can download AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.9.3 here.

SEE ALSO: Counter-Strike 2 is official!

Gaming

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan is retiring next year

Aims to spend more time with his family

Published

September 29, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Since the start of the pandemic, the PlayStation has had a steady face. Jim Ryan essentially ushered in the PlayStation 5 generation by powering through the pandemic. Sadly, Ryan’s tenure is about to come to an end. The Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and President has announced his retirement from the position.

Yesterday, Jim Ryan officially announced that he will step down from his position after March 2024. Starting April 1, Hiroki Totoki — the current COO, CFO, and president of the Sony Group — will assume the position as interim CEO. Totoki will continue Ryan’s work while finding a more permanent replacement for the latter.

Ryan has been with the company for almost 30 years. However, he only recently assumed the top spot in 2019, just in time for the new PlayStation 5. Ryan’s job was made more difficult with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because everything turned to online communication, he was forced to be the more visible face of the PS5 through a series of digital launches.

However, according to his announcement, the position was taking a huge toll on his work-life balance. The constant commute between his home in the United Kingdom and his work in the United States led him to consider and decide on retirement.