PC gaming news and reviews

The latest PC gaming news and reviews of gaming PC hardware, software and accessories.

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Test Shuri's prototype suits in Marvel's latest 'Avengers' VR game
Not a lot of people will buy themselves a VR headset or seek out VR arcades. Well, not as many as those who will go out to watch a Marvel movie, anyway. Marvel Studios and ILMxLAB, the company behind VR studio The Void, have teamed up to launch a new Avengers experience that might appeal to the franchise's millions of fans. The game is called Avengers: Damage Control, and it'll see you fighting alongside heroes like Ant-Man, The Wasp, and Dr. Strange under the instructions of Black Panther's sister Shuri.
Both 'Destiny' games went down for 'emergency maintenance' (updated)
Destiny 2 fans hoping to dive into the game's latest expansion Shadowkeep will have to wait a bit longer, as Bungie announced both Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 are undergoing "emergency maintenance." It's not clear exactly what the issue is, but it comes just as the company launched some big changes for the second game. Destiny 2 has added its new expansion for players that sees the return of Eris Morn, support for PC gamers using Steam and the ability to transfer saves between platforms, so you can take characters to wherever your friends are without replaying the same level grinds over and over again. The now free-to-play game should have a better experience overall, once it's actually working. Update (8:15PM ET): According to Bungie Help, they are "making progress" in restoring services, so you can feel free to jump back in the queues and hope. Update (10 PM ET): Bungie reported maintenance is complete, you may continue your FPS-related duties.
Logitech's new mechanical keyboard lets you swap switches with ease
Programmers, power users and gamers can be picky about their keyboards. Not only do some prefer old school microswitch keys, but they also want to get specific about what types of microswitches are under their keycaps. Logitech G's latest device, the PRO X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, will let you swap between three varieties of switches, providing assorted types of feedback and key travel, from "linear" to "clicky." The keyboard is aimed at pro gamers, but amateurs may also be drawn to the high-end compact design, precision and obligatory RGB lighting.
Join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and get six months of Spotify Premium free
At $15 per month, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription could be a no-brainer for gamers who play on both PC and Xbox One. The service provides over 100 games for download, including hits like Gears 5 and Monster Hunter: World. An Xbox Live Gold membership (which otherwise costs $10 per month) also comes with the subscription, enabling you to join online multiplayer sessions. Microsoft is sweetening the deal even more with a free six-month trial of Spotify Premium when you join the service.
Verizon buys Jaunt's AR and VR technology
With two of its co-founders out of the picture, one-time VR content startup Jaunt is selling many of its assets. On Monday, the company announced a sale to Verizon (Engadget's parent company). While financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Jaunt says the carrier is acquiring its software and technology. In a statement to The Verge, a spokesperson for Jaunt clarified that the company had sold "all" of its tech to Verizon, but didn't note whether the startup would continue to operate as a separate entity. We've reached out for additional information.
DTS Sound Unbound improves spatial audio for PC games
Taking a page from longtime rival Dolby, DTS is out today with a new Windows 10 app that promises to give gamers access to enhanced audio. Dubbed DTS Sound Unbound, the app builds on Microsoft's Spatial Sound platform to make almost any old pair of stereo headphones capable of outputting 3D sound. DTS says its headphone codec will give you an edge in competitive games, as well as make single-player games more immersive. The one limitation of the app is that it isn't compatible with certain hi-res headphones -- though it supports more than 450 different models otherwise. The app also won't work with just any game.
How ILMxLAB's 'Vader Immortal' is bringing 'Star Wars' into VR
The first episode of ILMxLAB's Vader Immortal for the Oculus Quest and Rift got everything right: the scale of volcanic Mustafar, the imposing presence of Darth Vader himself, and the joy of swinging a light saber. Where could they go next? How about more force powers and even deeper Star Wars lore cuts. Vader Immortal episode 2 had its surprise launch on Wednesday, the first day of the Oculus Connect 6 conference. Unfortunately, I didn't have my Quest on hand to sit through the entire episode, but based on its training dojo alone, I'm sure it'll please Star Wars fans.
Oculus Quest's hand tracking is a new level of VR immersion
Even though we had an inkling Oculus was working on hand tracking, it was still a huge surprise to see just how it would be implementing the feature. It'll be coming to the Oculus Quest next year — but best of all, it doesn't require any additional hardware, unlike Leap Motion's solution. Instead, Facebook is tapping into the Quest's four monochromatic cameras and a heavy dose of computer vision. To be honest, it sounds like magic — and it basically feels like that, too.
Oculus CTO John Carmack on the VR challenges of the Quest and Rift S
Give Doom co-creator and Oculus CTO John Carmack 90 minutes to talk, and you can expect be inundated with tons of geeky technical details. That basically describes his keynote for the second day of the Oculus Connect 6 conference, where the legendary developer spoke frankly about the challenges the company faced as it launched the Quest ($399) and Rift S ($399) headsets this year. But of course, he also couldn't help but give us a taste of where things are headed.
Watch the Oculus Connect 6 day 2 keynote at 1PM ET
Yesterday's Oculus Connect 6 keynote was a doozy. We learned that the standalone Quest headset would soon play PC VR games; it's getting hand tracking next year; and that Facebook is building a new social VR world called Horizon. Oh yeah, it's also attempting to map the entire world to make its AR glasses work better. We're scared too. On the brighter side of things, the company is also still trucking along with prototype VR headset technology, including electronic varifocal lenses. Where could Facebook go from here? (And really, how could they have enough news for another 2-hour presentation?) We'll find out more today at 1PM Eastern, when the company kicks off its day 2 keynote. You can watch the livestream over at the Oculus Facebook page.
Oculus Link hands-on: It really makes the Quest feel like Rift VR
There's one common question I've heard from Oculus Quest ($399) owners over the past few months: Why can't I plug it into to my PC? Perhaps that's why Facebook developed Oculus Link, a new feature that'll let its standalone VR headset connect to gaming PCs for more complex games and experiences. On paper, Oculus Link seems like a killer feature, one that practically makes the Rift S irrelevant. And now that I've had some time with a Link-equipped Quest, I'm even more convinced that's true.
Who needs the Rift S when the Oculus Quest can do everything?
With a slew of updates on the horizon, the Oculus Quest ($399) is now a must-have purchase for anyone getting into VR. Today's Oculus Connect 6 keynote was jam-packed with major new features for the Quest: Oculus Link will let it connect to PCs and play any Rift title; hand-tracking is coming next year; and it's even getting Go apps and better passthrough support. All of this begs the question, what purpose does the Rift S ($399) serve now? Not much, I'd say.
Facebook lays out its vision of our communal VR future
After all the new products were announced and surprise features revealed at Oculus Connect 6 on Wednesday, Facebook Reality Lab (FRL) lead Michael Abrash took to the stage to discuss the future of VR, AR, and the company's leading role in their continuing development.
Fandango launches its video service on Oculus Go and Quest headsets
You now have a particularly easy way to watch newer movies and TV shows on Oculus' self-contained VR headsets. Fandango has made its FandangoNOW video store available on the Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, providing quick access to about 90,000 titles overall and "hundreds" of 3D movies. You can rent a recent flick like Yesterday without disturbing anyone else in your home, or catch up on shows in between Beat Saber rounds.
Oculus' latest concept headset has electronic varifocal lenses
Facebook might have had plenty to share about its immediate VR future at Oculus Connect 6, but it's looking even further ahead. Michael Abrash, Facebook's Reality Lab chief scientist, discussed two newer versions of the Half Dome prototype Facebook revealed last year, which uses moving lenses to sharpen focus.
Beat Saber's 360-degree mode arrives in December
Oculus Connect is as much about games as hardware and services, and at the event, Beat Games had some news about upcoming additions to Beat Saber. In December, you'll be able to slash your way through stages in 360 degrees, keeping you even more on your toes. To tide you over until then, a new music pack is on the way next week featuring tunes from Panic! At The Disco.
Oculus Quest is getting Go apps and improved Passthrough
If being able to use the Oculus Quest as a PC VR headset wasn't exciting enough, Facebook is also adding some other new features soon. First up, the Quest will get Oculus Passthrough+, which lets you see a stereoscopic view of the outside world whenever you hit the borders of your playspace. It's something that the Rift S already offers, and it'll be a huge improvement over the flat, 2D version of Passthrough currently on the Quest. You'll also be able to activate that feature anytime with Passthrough "on demand," a new feature coming late this year, that'll let you get a glimpse of your surroundings whenever you want. Additionally, Facebook is bringing over Oculus Go titles to the Quest, starting with 50 Go apps next week. You'll also be able to upgrade to the Quest versions of any apps you've purchased on the Go until the end of the year. (Honestly, that's something Facebook should offer indefinitely.)
Social VR world 'Facebook Horizon' comes to Oculus in 2020
Facebook, at its core, is a social networking company, so it's perhaps not too much of a surprise it has a major social project in the works for Oculus. At Oculus Connect 6, Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook Horizon, described as a "social VR world coming to Oculus Quest and the Rift Platform." However, as it focuses on that new VR experience, the company will shut down Facebook Spaces and Oculus Rooms October 25.
Oculus Link turns every Quest into a Rift this November
Oculus Quest owners will soon have access to the entire library of Rift PC experiences, but not in the way you'd expect. Today at the Oculus Connect 6 conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Oculus Link, a new feature that'll let Quest owners connect their headsets to gaming PCs with a USB-C cable. Basically, it turns that standalone headset into a fully functional Oculus Rift.
Watch the Oculus Connect 6 keynote at 1PM ET
Where can Oculus go next? We'll find out later today during the Oculus Connect 6 keynote, which kicks off at 1PM Eastern. We've already seen the astounding Quest VR headset and the so-so Rift S this year, so that leaves the door wide open for the company to wow us with something truly new. It might be asking too much to see another consumer headset so soon, but we wouldn't be surprised if Oculus is ready to talk more about the content side of things. Killer hardware needs killer software to succeed, right? And maybe, just maybe, we'll get a preview of how Oculus intends to tackle augmented reality.

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