Gaming

Fancy a mecha shooter game with animé waifu as ‘Jarvis’?

That’s SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada. We think.

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SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada

Full disclosure: We had a hard time wrapping our heads around what SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is after seeing only one trailer. Thankfully, BANDAI NAMCO flew us to Thailand Game Show 2023 to speak with the game’s producer Yosuke Futami. 

We had the chance to hear from Futami on two occasions: One during a press conference and another through a group interview with other media. Here’s what we learned about SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada

A PvPvE game 

SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is primarily a PvPvE game. Think Battle Royale but with robots and with some extra objectives. You’re tasked to mine crystals all while fending off both AI and player foes. 

The animé waifus are your ‘Jarvis’

By ‘Jarvis’ I mean the AI assistant helping Iron Man manage his suit. These AI partners are called Magus. They aid you during your playthrough by giving tips while you play. These include which areas to avoid, whether you’re adequately equipped to take on an opponent and more. 

Inspired by FF6 Magitek, Hatsune Miku, and Bakemonogatari

Futami, during the group interview, said that the design of the mechas in the game were mostly inspired by the Magitek Armor in Final Fantasy 6. 

Meanwhile, the story draws inspiration from two pieces of entertainment that don’t exactly have many similarities: Hatsune Miku and Bakemonogatari. 

Prequel to the animé Synduality: Noir

Speaking of animé, the show Synduality: Noir is set in the same universe as SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada but it’s far ahead into the future. The story in the game will shed light on why the world in Synduality:Noir is the way that it is.

What’s it like to play?

We spent a short time playing the game and the biggest standout is how the mecha feels. There’s some significant heft to the mecha’s movement. It does a good job of making you feel that you are piloting a big chunk of killer metal. The sense of weight feels very similar to how Jaeger’s were handled in the Pacific Rim film in 2013.

Platforms and language support 

SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada will be available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. It supports multiple languages including English, Japanese, Thai, and more. Release date has yet to be announced.

Watch the trailer. 

Gaming

Acer unveils Predator Atlas 8 handheld with Intel Arc G-Series power

PC gaming on the go

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Predator Atlas 8

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.

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Gaming

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has been officially announced

And it’s coming out on the Switch 2.

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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