Sprint wants you to ditch your carrier, offers free year of unlimited data

Why it matters to you

If you’re planning on switching your mobile carrier for a cheaper plan, Sprint’s free year of unlimited data could be the right fit.

Sprint is trying out new tactic to reel in customers, judging by its latest promotion. The deal offers a year of free unlimited data service for up to five lines if you switch carriers by June 30, according to the company’s website.

Normally, Sprint’s unlimited plan for a family of five will cost you about $190 per month. When comparing it to the other three major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — it’s the cheapest plan you’ll find.

But the perks of this plan, like no overages and unlimited text and data (at a slower speed) in almost 180 countries, might not trump the better service you’ll experience on your devices using other carriers. In last year’s OpenSignal report, Sprint came in last for 4G latency, network coverage, and download speed, trailing behind Verizon and AT&T.

It’s clear Sprint needs to create a strong value proposition for consumers in order to make up for what it’s lacking in overall service and coverage, and this new promotion could be it.

If you make the decision to switch over from your carrier to Sprint, you have to make sure your phone can be used on its network. If it can’t be, you can trade it in toward a new or pre-owned Sprint phone. The eligible phones listed on the site include Apple iPhones (some being exclusive to Verizon only), the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S8, as well as the Google Nexus phones, among others.

The unlimited plan includes features such as HD streaming — with video speeds up to 1080p and music at up to 1.5mbps, 10GB of high-speed data to use toward a mobile hot spot, Peer-2-Peer usage, and VPN, along with unlimited talk and text.

For international services, the plan includes data up to 2G speeds, text messaging in over 165 countries within Sprint’s list of “Global Roaming” countries at no charge, and calling for $0.20 a minute.

The plan is not completely free since you’ll have to pay for a SIM card, additional fees and taxes, and a $30 activation fee up front that’s waived after two billing cycles. You’ll also be required to sign up for Sprint AutoPay billing and eBill — which, if you decide to cancel before the year is up, will result in being charged per month.

Once the contract ends on July 31 of next year, customers will be charged $60 per month for the first line, $40 per month for the second line, and $30 per month for lines three through five.

Microsoft updates keep Windows protected against state-sponsored attacks

Why it matters to you

This serves as yet another reminder to turn on automatic updating on your Windows machines and get them updated to Windows 10 as soon as you can.

The WannaCry ransomware attack that eventually infected more than 200,000 machines worldwide and caused numerous organizations some real headaches demonstrated just how vulnerable our systems can be. It also showed just how important it is to keep our systems updated because fully patched Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 systems were not affected by the attack.

Now, Microsoft is taking some steps to help protect Windows against cyberattacks perpetrated by government organizations. Known as nation-state actors, these groups can be some of the most competent in breaking into systems and stealing sensitive data.

Microsoft’s first steps in addressing these concerns are to issue a number of additional security updates to go along with its usual Update Tuesday release. All versions of Windows, including older versions, will receive these updates, a step that Microsoft is taking due to “the elevated risk for destructive cyber attacks” that exists today. As Microsoft describes the new updates:

“Today, as part of our regular Update Tuesday schedule, we have taken action to provide additional critical security updates to address vulnerabilities that are at heightened risk of exploitation due to past nation-state activity and disclosures. Some of the releases today are new, and some are for older platforms under custom support agreements, that we are making publicly available today. Customers with automatic updates enabled are protected and there is no additional action required. For customers managing updates, or those on older platforms, we encourage them to apply these updates as soon as possible.”

In order to receive these updates, you need to make sure your Windows machines are configured for automatic updates. At least, head over to Windows Update on all of your machines and run the update process periodically if you don’t have automatic updating turned on.

Microsoft has provided additional details on these updates at its Security Response Center blog. It also provides more information on how to determine which version of Windows you are running and additional details on how to enable Windows Update. As usual, the company recommends that anyone running a very old version such as Windows XP update to Windows 10, which will bring a host of additional security advantages in addition to the most up-to-date features.

The best Xbox One games to look forward to in 2017-2018: Crackdown 3, Forza Motorsport 7, Sea of Thieves, Ori 2 and more

The big news from E3 2017 was that the extra-powerful Xbox One X console – formerly Project Scorpio – will launch worldwide on November 7 2017. That means true 4K HDR gaming is imminent.

But it wasn’t just hardware that Microsoft was showing off at its E3 conference. It was games too. Plenty of exclusives, others which will run better on the One X than any other platform. Exciting times.

We’ve included release dates where possible and a trailer for each of the best upcoming Xbox One games. We’ll also update this round-up throughout E3 2017 and the rest of the year, so there’ll always be something to come back for.

Crackdown 3

Release date: November 7 2017Xbox One exclusive: Yes (also on Windows)Publisher: Microsoft Studios

First revealed at E3 2015, it’s been a fairly long wait for this Microsoft exclusive. But we can see why: the game is due to launch alongside the Xbox One X console, with full 4K graphics at 60fps, so there’s surely been tuning going on to get that right. Plus actor Terry Crews plays the lead. Yep, Terry Crews – he’s both hilarious and brilliant in that casting, as you can see from the trailer above.

Forza Motorsport 7

Release date: October 3 2017Xbox One exclusive: Yes (also on Windows)Publisher: Turn 10

Forza is one of the Xbox’s mainstays. So it was no surprise to see Motorsport 7 announced for 2017. Interestingly it’ll arrive more than a month before the Xbox One X, but will support the fullest graphical fidelity to make that on- and off-road racing look all the more elegant.

Beyond Good And Evil 2

Release date: 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Ubisoft

It’s been almost 15 years since the original game, so when Ubisoft pulled this one out of the bag at its E3 2017 pre-show conference it was one of those fuzzy stomach happy moments. The game’s other-world setting – where multiple species communicate and interact – is quirky, cheeky and stunning. Think The Fifth Element in video game form and you’re half way there.

Sea of Thieves

Release date: 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Rare

• Sea of Thieves preview: Turning you into a software pirate

With more than a little pepper of Britishness – the trailer was voiced by Simon Pegg doing his try-hard Scottish accent – Sea of Thieves, a treasure hunting pirate game, produced by Rare, is one of those slightly out-there online games that’s probably going to divide opinion. We played it in 2016 and loved it, however, because its co-op multiplayer brings a fresh approach to the usual hack and slash.

Skull & Bones

Release date: TBCXbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Ubisoft

If there’s a game to starkly contrast the jovial pirates of Sea of Thieves (above) then, well, Ubisoft has hit the nail on the head with Skull & Bones. This multiplayer takes you to the seas where you’ll need to use co-operative play to sink your competitors’ ships and get the best loot possible. With Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag already under its belt, Ubi is no stranger to the world of pirates – which gives us more than an inkling that this is going to be one very well received game indeed.

Ori and The Will of the Wisps

Release date: TBCXbox One exclusive: Yes (also on Windows)Publisher: Microsoft Studios

The visual style of the original Ori was simply gorgeous, a trait which is carried forward into the sequel, The Will of the Wisps. Also: that owl, it makes us want to cry.

Metro: Exodus

Release date: 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Deep Silver

The follow-up to Metro: Last Light proves that we can’t keep our gaming hands off the post-apocalyptic future. First shown at the E3 2017 Xbox pre-show conference, Metro: Exodus looks stunning – while ensuring its fair share of frightening scares too.

Anthem

Release date: 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: EA / BioWare

Perhaps the first “wow” game to be unveiled at E3 2017, the new IP from BioWare mixes robots and monsters together in a third-person mission-based adventure which looks like a mixing pot of Fallout 4, Titanfall 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Mass Effect. And we mean that in a good way. Just watch the trailer and try to keep your jaw closed.

State Of Decay 2

Release date: 2018Xbox One exclusive: Yes (also on Windows)Publisher: Undead Labs

State of Decay has its work cut out more than ever, especially in the face of Sony’s zombie onsluaght in its exclusive Days Gone and The Last of Us 2. But if you like open-world and the undead then it still looks like a top drawer title.

Cuphead

Release date: September 29 2017Xbox One exclusive: Yes (also on Windows)Publisher: Studio MDHR

Years in the making, Cuphead, the side-scrolling platformer, finally has a release date. Hurrah.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Release date: October 27 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Bethesda

We loved the original Wolfenstein reboot when it landed in 2014. Three years on, it’s time for round two in The New Colossus. Bethesda introduced the game at E3 2017 at its pre-show press conference (in quirky style, with a live action video that looked like something between Lassie and Terminator), showing the Nazi future and the American resistance.

Destiny 2

Release date: September 8 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Activision

• Destiny 2 release date, screens, formats and everything you need to know

The follow-up to Activision’s massive multiplayer online first-person shooter is sure to be a big hit with its hardcore fans. And there’s not long to wait, either, with the game arriving this September.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2

Release date: November 17 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: EA / DICE

The first game we played at E3 2017 was at EA’s pre-show showcase, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 looks set to please fans of the original game – while grabbing yet more thanks to a brand new solo campaign mode. The game is even said to have a storyline that “helps bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Fore Awakens”. Interesting stuff.

Strange Brigade

Release date: TBCXbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Rebellion

With its lick of British charm, Strange Brigade introduces an “exotic safari” of forgotten lands in a way that only publisher Rebellion could deliver. It’s tongue-in-cheek 1930s-style trailer shifts direction not long in, introducing a rosta of enemy types – from the undead to armoured minotaurs – which look like they’ll ensure it’s no picnic.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins

Release date: October 27 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Ubisoft

After a year off the boil, the Assassin’s Creed series is back in business for 2017. And this time it’s set in ancient Egypt.

Far Cry 5

Release date: February 27 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Ubisoft

After the more stripped back sticks ‘n’ stones Far Cry: Primal, the forthcoming outing in the series, Far Cry 5, looks to be a far more current political missile. Set in a fictional United States, the story follows a preacher whose rise to prominence is more gang-like in style than religious. Throw in the usual array of hunting, shooting, flying and general disarray and it looks to be a return form for the series.

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm

Release date: August 31 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Square Enix

One of our favourite choice-based games of recent year’s, which went under the radar of too many players, Before The Storm is effectively Life Is Strange 2. Judging by the trailer it’s going to delve into life’s big questions, with its share of quirks. Here’s hoping it matches up to the mastery of the original.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Release date: October 17 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PCPublisher: Ubisoft

• South Park: The Fractured But Whole preview
• You can pre-order South Park: The Fractured But Whole here

If you’re a South Park fan then you’ll love The Fractured But Whole, which looks almost exactly like a live episode of the animated adult comedy show. If you’re a turn-based role-playing game fan then you’ll love the game too, if you can get beyond its childish fart jokes and humour. Love both? Then you’re in for a treat.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Release date: 2018Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Rockstar/Take-Two

• You can pre-order Red Dead Redemption 2 here

We already had an inkling Red Dead Redemption 2 was on the cards before the official reveal at the end of 2016. A slew of rumours about the game circulated in summer 2015 – specifically around E3 time. A map was leaked on NeoGaf, alleged to be a design guide. And Take-Two previously said that Red Dead Redemption was as important a franchise as GTA. Considering there have only been two games in the series so far, which originally came out in 2004 and 2010 respectively, we’re certainly due another one.

The Evil Within 2

Release date: October 13 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also on PS4Publisher: Bethesda

Like having the bejeezus scared out of you? Say hello to TEW2, the follow-up horror that will almost certainly make your skin crawl. And with Resident Evil 7 now played to death by most horror fans, the Friday 13th release date in October makes for perfect timing.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

Release date: 2017Xbox One exclusive: No, also for Xbox One and PCPublisher: Capcom

The crossover beat-em-up is back, with Capcom characters – such as the Street Fighter gang and Mega Man – taking on superheroes from the Marvel Universe. Not much else is know for now, but you can expect a mighty of cast of fighters to control.

Far Cry 5 gameplay preview: A politically charged, unflinchingly brutal return to form

Far Cry is back with a bang. The fifth game in the main series is a politically charged and unflinchingly brutal first-person game, set in fictional present-day Montana.

And it’s rather brilliant.

That’s perhaps no surprise, as when Far Cry is at its best, it’s one of those unstoppable games. The sheer unpredictable evil of lead villain Pagan Min in Far Cry 4 will live on in our minds for years to come. And with only Far Cry: Primal to sate appetites in 2016, it felt as though that raw, evil core always at the heart of Far Cry’s bad-guys had been somewhat washed away.

In Far Cry 5 it’s a return to form: the setting alone, “Hope County”, has political resonance in modern day America. It’s been overrun by a cult, The Project at Eden’s Gate, led by the so-called Father, who is hell-bent on using his political facade to rule.

You play Joseph Seed, one of the resistance, whose job it is to liberate the local community from the cult; a group that will stop at nothing, it seems, to pursue power. The forced baptisms (slash drownings) and litany of bodies are clear evidence of that.

• Best Xbox One games to look forward to in 2017 & 2018
• Best PS4 games to look forward to in 2017 & 2018

Our game begins with the goal of overthrowing a town. Before diving into first-person combat – patriotic stars ‘n’ stripes baseball bat in hand – we get to select from one of three support characters: Nick, a pilot who can rain down a hail of bullets; Grance, a sniper who can be positioned for long-stance head-shots; and Boomer, a dog, who can wander the town undetected, tag enemies on the fly and be used as an attack dog too. We choose Nick, having watched the previous two players use the other two characters.

Ubisoft

From the off, Far Cry 5 goes to show how play style affects the game. Stealth is a real important factor in the game. Although, try as we might to crack skulls and stay out of sight, it’s not long before we’re seen and all hell breaks loose. Then it’s a change of tactics: run, shoot like mad, lob dynamite and cross fingers that you’ll be able to hide out of sight successfully until things settle. Backup rolls into town in cars, so we aim our sights onto an explosive gas tanker and get Nick to fly in and watch the fiery results with glee.

Far Cry 5 is one of those games that is wide open to play styles. Mastering its stealth, but being quick enough to engage its combat system to remain undetected is the best way. But if you’re feeling nutty, then a bit of body armour, some fast legs and heavy weaponry can get the job done in extra loud fashion. Or, if you’re feeling particularly heinous then a ride-on combine harvester can take your foe down in, well, a bloody horrible mess.

• E3 2017: All the games and major announcements that matter

Of course, we’ve only seen a smidgen of the expansive world on offer – something that fans have been calling into question, given real Montana’s relative flatness. Not to worry: in this fictional world there are planes to fly, cars to drive, mountains to traverse and plenty more secret nuggets besides, we’re sure. The usual character building will strengthen your ability to progress too.

Ubisoft

After some hectic running around, making the most of rooftops, lots of healing when in the bushes, and melee attacks, we managed to overthrow the town. It’s rewarding to play the beacon of hope in such a messed up world… a message that, we’re sure, will resonate with many in today’s twisted world.

A pan shot finishes off our experience, passing the Spread Eagle bar. So long as you know what  you’re fighting for, eh? God bless America.

Far Cry 5 will be released on February 27 2018 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Instagram adds archiving: How to hide your old, heavily filtered photos

Remember when you first started using Instagram?

You probably loved to play around with several filters, maybe add a border, then sprinkle in a vignette effect, and top the whole thing off with a dozen hashtags before pushing out your photo for all to see. Now, five years later, you think that creation is anything but pretty. Most of us prefer little to no filter. Sometimes we’ll use tools like Boomerang. But that’s it. Instagram even ditched borders a while back.

If you’re anything like us, you regret those old ‘grams. But it’s not like you want to permanently delete them. So, what are you going to do? Well, Instagram has finally introduced a simple solution for us all: Archive. It essentially lets you hide old photos – whether they’re ugly, embarrassing, or whatever. Here’s everything you need to know about Instagram’s archiving feature, including how it works.

• Instagram now lets you save live videos: Here’s how to do it
• Instagram albums: How to share multiple pics and videos in one post
• Instagram tips and tricks: How to master the app and post amazing pics
• Finally! You can now save Instagram posts to revisit later – here’s how

What is Instagram Archive?

In May, Instagram began trying out a new feature that allows users to hide old photos. Then, in June, it rolled out that feature to all Instagram users. Called Archive, Instagram described it as a tool that lets you “move posts you’ve previously shared into a space that’s visible only to you”.Your profile is a representation of who you are, Instagram explained, and it should evolve with you over time.

Now, with Archive, you should have more flexibility and control over your profile. You can remove unsightly memories so that they’re not sitting on your profile, mucking up your theme or online vibe, while also still preserving those moments for the future. Think of archive as a sweet spot between leaving those photos on your profile for everyone to see and deleting them from your life forever.

It allows you archive photos that you don’t want on public display, but it will retain all likes and comments and still make the photos available for you – and only you – to access. You also can restore archived photos back to your public profile, if you want. The Washington Post said that teens are regularly deleting their old Instagrams in bulk, so we’re assuming this feature has been released for them.

How do you hide or archive photos?

Archive a photo

To archive a post you’ve shared, tap the “…” icon at the top of the post and choose “Archive”. Archived posts will retain their likes and comments from your followers.

View your archived photos

Tap the Archive icon in the top right corner of your profile to view all your archived photos.

Restore archived photos

If you change your mind about a post you’ve archived, tap “Show on Profile” to make it show up in its original spot.

When will archiving be available?

This new feature is apart of Instagram update 10.21. It is now available for both the iOS and Android versions of Instagram.

Want to know more?

Check out Instagram’s blog post for more details.

Did Google hire Apple’s chip designer to make chips for Pixel 2?

Future Pixel phones might feature custom, Google-designed chips.

According to Variety, Google has hired Manu Gulati, an Apple micro-architect. He worked at Apple on chip development for about eight years, but his LinkedIn profile shows he just joined Google. With the title of lead SoC architect, he’s obviously overseeing some type of system-on-a-chip development at Google. It’s a bold move for a company that uses third-party chips in all its products.

Google’s current Pixel phones rely on Qualcomm chips, but the company may be planning to ditch them going forward, considering it has over a dozen new SoC-related job listings live right now that are all specific to mobile. A few of the postings include a mobile SoC architect, mobile SoC CPU architect, mobile SoC memory architect, and so on. Their descriptions also offer up clues.

• Google may only release two Pixel phones, one possibly made by LG
• Best smartphones 2017: The best phones available to buy today
• Google Pixel 2 could come with an 18:9 display

We can see phrases like “architect the memory sub-system of a high-end mobile SoC” and “help define the architecture of future generations of phone and tablet SoCs”, which, again, all suggest Google wants to develop custom chips, possibly for future-generation Pixel phones. The Information even reported in 2015 that Google was considering developing its own chips to compete with Apple.

Check out Pocket-lint’s Pixel 2 guide for more details on what the next Pixel phones from Google may feature.

Microsoft Surface Laptop: How to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S

Microsoft has a new Surface device, the Surface Laptop, which comes running Windows 10 S out of the box.

The thing about Windows 10 S is that it is designed to run Windows Store apps only. If you’ve bought the Surface Laptop, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows 10 Pro. It’s a free upgrade after all, as long as you meet the criteria and take advantage of the offer before it expires later this year. With Windows 10 Pro, you get the full Windows 10 experience and aren’t limited to specific apps in the app store.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S.

• Which Microsoft Surface device is best for you?
• Microsoft Surface Pro event: What was launched and how to watch
• Microsoft Build 2017: All the announcements that matter
• Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: Everything you need to know

Which Windows is right for you?

Windows 10 S

Windows 10 S is described as a fully-functional version of Windows that is designed to run smoothly on all hardware. Microsoft hasn’t revealed exactly what the S stands for, but it claimed that its evolved from features that teachers have asked for – hence the education tie-in. Those things include things like faster log-in, better battery life, and, apparently, the ability to only run verified apps.

That’s the big catch with Windows 10 S: it’s designed to only run verified apps from the Windows Store. You will not be able to download apps online and install them, so this version of Windows is essentially sandboxed. You can learn more about Windows 10 S from our guide here. As for Windows 10 Pro, it’s a higher-end version of the Windows 10 OS that can install and run any app.

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro also comes with more sophisticated features, like the encryption software BitLocker, which is handy for when you’re traveling and want to lock down your data. It also offers a remote desktop connection between your machine and a Windows 10 Home PC. Another feature is Client Hyper-V, which lets you create a secure operating environment so you can run different operating systems.

You can learn more about Windows 10 Pro, which is primarily aimed at business-class users, from Microsoft’s site. The software retails for $199. Keep in mind all versions of Windows 10 come with Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, which can make calendar entries, take dictation, open applications and local files, search the web, and give directions — all based on your voice commands.

Does it cost anything to upgrade?

If you buy a machine, like the new Surface Laptop, that runs Windows 10 S, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro with just a few clicks and an update. This will remove the restriction on app installs – an attractive option for those of you who may need an app that’s not verified by Microsoft and therefore isn’t accessible otherwise. The upgrade will be free until the end of the year, if you fit certain criteria.

First, you need to have a Windows 10 S computer priced at $799 or above. Or, if you’re using Microsoft Intune for Education to manage your device (for instance, schools and accessibility users), you can also upgrade for free. But if you don’t fit into either of those categories, then you must pay Microsoft’s $49 upgrade fee (UK price to be confirmed), which is processed through the Windows Store, naturally.

How do you upgrade to Windows 10 Pro?

Download an app

The quickest way to begin the upgrade process is to install – or try to install – an app outside the Windows Store. Once you download it and attempt to install it on a Windows 10 S PC, you’ll be warned that the OS is restricted, but you’ll also see the following option: “Still want to install apps from outside the Store?” If you do, click the “see how” link, which will open a new Windows Store page.

One-way switch

You’ll then see an offer to switch to Windows 10 Pro. You’ll also see a breakdown of the difference between Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Pro. If you don’t meet the free-upgrade requirements, you’ll be prompted to pay the $49 fee. If you’re good to go, you’ll see a free upgrade button, which will essentially let you upgrade your license key to Windows 10 Pro. But keep in mind this is a one-way switch.

Backup your files

In other words, you can’t switch back to Windows 10 S. Now, for whatever reason, if you already own a Windows 10 Pro key, you can manually enter that now to avoid the $49 fee. Otherwise, click the upgrade button to proceed. Windows 10 will remind you to backup all your files, and then it’ll start the switch, which takes a couple minutes at most. When it’s done, your system will reboot.

At that point, you should be running Windows 10 Pro. A notification will tell you if the upgrade worked. Once you see it, feel free to install regular Windows desktop apps from outside the Windows Store.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Surface Laptop review to see what we think of Windows 10 S.

Assassin’s Creed Origins gameplay preview: The rethinking of a classic

At E3 2017 there seems to be one game on everyone’s lips: Assassin’s Creed. In its latest iteration, Origins, which is set in ancient Egypt, the game returns after a hiatus from its usual annual cycle.

While Origins embodies what is is to be an Assassin’s Creed game, in both style and exploration, it’s also a rethinking of the classic formula. There’s no mini map displayed on the screen. Combat is far more engaging. Towers are a thing of the past for opening new map areas. And the parkour and press-and-hold climbing of previous titles takes a back seat.

Add that Origins runs in 4K on the Xbox One X and, well, there’s no denying it looks visually stunning too.

From the beginning of our gameplay session we set off on horseback, playing as Bayek, following the beaten desert track (which can be automated, to make firing your bow while in motion easier), free to explore the world. A top bar acts as a compass to track down points of interests, critical missions and side missions.

• The best PS4 games to look forward to in 2017 & 2018
• The best Xbox One games to look forward to in 2017 & 2018

The landscape isn’t as tightly knit as some previous Assassin’s games, which means the constant climbing up and down buildings isn’t as prevalent. You can still climb, of course, with a degree of automation ensuring your assassin-like skills remain in check and that you won’t go tumbling down. We climbed a ships mast and skipped along the ropes when looting a boat as part of a mission.

Ubisoft

Getting to said boat was interesting for a number of reasons: a press down on the directional pad puts your eagle, Senu, into flight to explore the surrounding landscape and tag enemies. Once we’d flown Senu miles off the shoreline we knew which boats we wanted to loot and then it was a case of swimming there.

• E3 2017: All the games, major announcements and what else to expect from the games show

Water is no stranger to Assassin’s Creed. There was an abundance of it in Black Flag. But in Origins it plays a critical role; diving in a swimming underwater is a serene experience which looks stunning. Well, it’s serene until Bayek is attacked by a hippo or shark, adding a whole other dynamic.

Ubisoft

Having completed one of the many available missions, involving returning gold statues looted from a boat, we levelled up. Opening the skills tree from within the settings showed the breadth of skills available and how it’s possible to tune Bayek to suit your play style.

We opted to carry two melee weapons rather than one, to add different options to combat. Fight scenes in Origins feel like a much more involved experience than previous games. It feels less on rails, with the ability to dodge to help breakup those infuriating moments when mobbed by a gang of enemies. There are light and heavy attacks, separated by left and right triggers, adding further decision-making dynamism to play. It’s more like The Witcher, in a sense. And it’s way better.

Ubisoft

Which is our sentiment of Origins as a whole: it’s Assassin’s Creed as we know it, only better. Whether the stunning setting and 4K HDR graphics lures you in or not, it feels as though Ubisoft has brought the series into the future. If it launches with no major bugs and glitches then it looks like a surefire success that will please fans and newcomers alike.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 27 2017.

Virtual nation Asgardia will launch itself into space

Asgardia, also known as “The Space Nation,” will launch a small satellite later this year. According to Asgardia’s leader, Russian scientist Igor Ashurbeyli, the satellite will carry the nation’s constitution, its flag and data stored by up to 1.5 million of its citizens.

But let’s take a step back. What the hell is Asgardia? The nation, if you want to call it that, was officially announced on October 12th, 2016 — or October 5th if you’re an Asgardian. The nation has its own calendar with 13 months (the additional month is named Asgard) that are 28 days each, which actually makes much more sense than our own calendar.

According to Asgardia’s website, the nation received over 100,000 applications in the 40 hours after its debut and if you want to join the nearly 200,000 current citizens, all you have to do is apply. As of now, Asgardia is run by Ashurbeyli alone, but it’s holding Parliamentary elections for verified Asgardian citizens beginning today, June 24th, 0001.

At a press conference in Hong Kong today, Ashurbeyli announced the plan to launch the satellite — Asgardia-1. “Asgardia-1 will mark the beginning of a new space era, taking our citizens into space in virtual form, at first,” Ashurbeyli said. On its website, Asgardia says that a second satellite is planned for 2018.

Asgardia’s website includes a history of satellite launches, starting with Sputnik-1. But it leaves out a lot of examples, like every single Vanguard satellite, for instance.

It’s a weird experiment pushing the boundaries of what makes a nation and what’s considered sovereign, though it’s unlikely many recognized countries will acknowledge Asgardia as a state. I, however, need to get back to my Asgardian application because even a virtual space nation seems like a good idea these days.

Via: CNET

Source: Asgardia

Watch Nintendo’s E3 2017 event in under 7 minutes

The E3 Nintendo Spotlight earlier today delivered a load of announcements in about half an hour. We’re all busy people, and you might not have time to watch the entire event to catch up on the news. Now you don’t have to. We’ve cut down the the finer points to a clip that’s less than 7 minutes. Sit back, relax and check out all of the Switch, Mario, Kirby, Yoshi and Pokémon stuff you may have missed. And yes, there’s Metroid.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!