Gaming
Pokémon Go update adds Buddy Pokémon feature; new Easter egg uncovered
The Pokémon Go community can apparently look forward to a new update this week. The update, referred to as version 0.37 for Android and version 1.7.0 for iPhones, will address a number of bugs and performance issues and introduce the Buddy Pokémon feature to the wildly popular mobile game.
You can find the release notes from Niantic Labs’ development team below:
– Implemented Buddy Pokémon: Trainers will now be able to choose one of their Pokémon to be their buddy. A Trainer can earn Candy for their Buddy Pokémon by walking a certain distance
– Made it easier to select smaller Pokémon on the screen
– Fixed an issue where Eggs would sometimes hatch without displaying the animation
– Improved performance reliability when a device switches networks to no longer cause the application to hang or stop updating
– Pokémon Go Plus support
– Minor text fixes
Pokémon Go Plus is slated for release on September 16 so a patch that adds compatibility with the $50 wearable is expected. It connects to your Android or iPhone via Bluetooth and alerts users when something occurs in the Pokémon Go app.
The new buddy system will allow trainers to walk their pokémon for candy, though you won’t exactly see your avatar walking on the map alongside your creature of choice. The candy you receive depends on the creature you’ve chosen, and some pokémon, stronger pokémon, will score you fewer candies than others for the same distance traveled. Also: Evolving pokemon will reset any progress it has made towards generating a new candy.
The Silph Road has put together a nice infographic showing you far you have to travel to generate one candy for every pokémon in the game — excluding the ones that haven’t been found yet; Mewtwo is rumored to dispense one candy every five kilometers. Yikes! Another thing to keep in mind is that you can’t use a buddy pokémon in gym battles.
The new feature also contains an Easter egg that ties back to the game’s roots. Those who can recall the original anime series will know that Pikachu didn’t trust Ash at first, and it took a bit of time for it to sit on Ash’s shoulder. But it appears anime Pikachu isn’t the only one with bonding issues; players will have to walk at least 10 kilometers to see the iconic electric mouse do the same thing in Pokémon Go.
In addition to announcing the new update, Niantic Labs reiterated that it is killing support for rooted and jailbroken devices to mitigate cheating in the game.
[irp posts=”7981″ name=”How to catch Ditto in Pokémon Go”]
Image credit: Penn State at Flickr
Gaming
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 clip shows Losing Ground 1st look
Pre-order now for Campaign Early Access
A short new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 teaser shows a quick look at the Losing Ground mission for the first time.
It is one of the big war missions from the title’s Campaign mode, following the Korean grunt squad through chaos on the ground.
The brief clip is a pre-order promotional material, wherein gamers can place pre-orders now on any platform for Campaign Early Access.
This shall allow players to dive into the full single-player campaign a week ahead of the official worldwide release date on October 16.
In the vignette, soldiers can be seen advancing through a burning urban environment while under intense enemy fire.
The squad pushes through a breached storefront into a local cafe to clear enemy strongpoints.
Laster on, out in the open on the bridge, squad members realize they are heavily exposed and call out incoming enemy air support. This was right before an explosion rocks the area.
AMD has launched the new AMD Radeon RX 9050 graphics card, expanding the Radeon RX 9000 series with an affordable option.
This brings AMD RDNA 4 gaming technologies to mainstream gamers with a retail price of US$ 279.
The particular GPU is designed for responsive gameplay at 1080p. That’s for esports and modern AAA titles.
Some popular titles it can run at high frame rates on a 1080p resolution include: Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 6, Pragmata, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Valorant, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, to name a few.
This highly efficient, drop-in upgrade features a 92W TBP and fully supports the latest AMD FSR technologies, next-gen raytracing, and high-quality AV1 video streaming.
Key specs:
- Architecture: AMD RDNA 4
- Compute Units: 16
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- Game Clock / Boost Clock: 1.92 GHz / Up to 2.60 GHz
- TBP: 92W
In line with the Radeon RX 9050 launch, AMD has also released AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.7.1.
This driver introduces official day-one support for Radeon RX 9050, alongside early multiplayer access for Gears of War: E-Day.
Users can download the software here.
Gaming
NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer showcases new dunk mechanics, Rucker Park, and more
First gameplay details revealed
NBA 2K27 is giving fans their first look at this year’s gameplay.
2K has released the official gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27, showcasing enhanced visuals and several gameplay updates ahead of the game’s September 4 launch. The trailer also features cover athletes Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose while teasing changes across Gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and the MyPLAYER Builder.
The publisher also confirmed the Preseason Breakdown: NBA 2K27 Game Reveal, which streams on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT. During the presentation, 2K will reveal this year’s biggest gameplay innovations and mode updates before Early Access begins on August 28 for Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition owners.
Smarter AI and a new Dunk Meter headline gameplay changes
NBA 2K27 introduces several gameplay refinements based on community feedback.
AI defenders now contest shots more effectively and hold their defensive positioning better, especially in online modes like The REC. The changes aim to create a more balanced experience on both ends of the floor.
The game also introduces a fully dynamic Dunk Meter. Instead of locking in the timing at takeoff, the meter continuously evaluates defensive positioning throughout the dunk attempt. Open driving lanes create a larger green window, while late defensive rotations shrink it, making each dunk attempt feel more responsive to the action on the court.
MyPLAYER Builder expands with more Badges
The MyPLAYER Builder now features 53 total Badges, up from 40 in last year’s game. Players can also experiment with 19 brand-new Badges designed to support more specialized builds.
Cap Breakers are also making a return. This time, players can preview attribute boosts directly inside the Builder before finalizing their character.
MyTEAM and MyNBA receive community-requested updates
MyTEAM introduces the franchise’s first unified Auction House across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The shared marketplace creates the largest pool of community-listed cards in the mode’s history. It should also make card prices more consistent across supported platforms.
Winning an auction is now faster, too. Purchased cards go straight into your collection without a verification delay.
MyNBA also receives several franchise management updates that reflect today’s NBA. These include second apron salary cap rules from the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement and the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents.
Rucker Park comes to MyCAREER
The City returns with the same centralized layout introduced last year. This time, however, it gets a new nighttime look filled with neon lights.
NBA 2K27 also recreates the legendary Rucker Park. The iconic streetball court serves as the setting for this year’s MyCAREER prelude story, Fire & Concrete, and also appears in the Street Kings mode.
NBA 2K27 launches on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition can jump in early starting August 28 through Early Access.
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