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The United Nations’ Environmental Program has released a new report with yet more dire news about our odds of avoiding climate disaster caused by greenhouse gas emissions. According to this assessment, the current trajectory of international commitments will see the planet’s temperature increasing 2.6 degrees Celsius or more over the course of this century. That amount of temperature change would lead to more catastrophic and life-threatening weather events.
UN members are due to submit their latest Nationally Determined Contributions ahead of the COP30 conference in Brazil next year. The NDCs lay out each country’s plan for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. One part of the NDCs are to reach the goal set by the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and one part targets keeping global temperature increases to within a less ideal 2 degrees Celsius. While the report says it is technically possible to reach the Paris Agreement goal, much larger actions will be required to cut emissions by the necessary amount. 
“Increased deployment of solar photovoltaic technologies and wind energy could deliver 27 percent of the total emission reduction potential in 2030 and 38 percent in 2035,” the report gives as an example of what’s still needed. “Action on forests could deliver around 20 percent of the potential in both years.”
“Every fraction of a degree avoided counts in terms of lives saved, economies protected, damages avoided, biodiversity conserved and the ability to rapidly bring down any temperature overshoot,” UN Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen wrote in the report’s forward.
International collaboration, government commitments and financial contributions will also be essential for getting back on track to either the 2-degree or 1.5-degree goals. “G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting,” the report reads.
If all of this sounds familiar, that’s probably because the UN has issued the same stark warnings in each of its annual reports on emissions for several years now. And other reports have echoed their calls, such as damning findings earlier this year that just 57 companies are responsible for 80 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/latest-un-report-demands-unprecedented-emissions-cuts-to-salvage-climate-goals-223450262.html?src=rss

The United Nations’ Environmental Program has released a new report with yet more dire news about our odds of avoiding climate disaster caused by greenhouse gas emissions. According to this assessment, the current trajectory of international commitments will see the planet’s temperature increasing 2.6 degrees Celsius or more over the course of this century. That amount of temperature change would lead to more catastrophic and life-threatening weather events.

UN members are due to submit their latest Nationally Determined Contributions ahead of the COP30 conference in Brazil next year. The NDCs lay out each country’s plan for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. One part of the NDCs are to reach the goal set by the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and one part targets keeping global temperature increases to within a less ideal 2 degrees Celsius. While the report says it is technically possible to reach the Paris Agreement goal, much larger actions will be required to cut emissions by the necessary amount. 

“Increased deployment of solar photovoltaic technologies and wind energy could deliver 27 percent of the total emission reduction potential in 2030 and 38 percent in 2035,” the report gives as an example of what’s still needed. “Action on forests could deliver around 20 percent of the potential in both years.”

“Every fraction of a degree avoided counts in terms of lives saved, economies protected, damages avoided, biodiversity conserved and the ability to rapidly bring down any temperature overshoot,” UN Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen wrote in the report’s forward.

International collaboration, government commitments and financial contributions will also be essential for getting back on track to either the 2-degree or 1.5-degree goals. “G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting,” the report reads.

If all of this sounds familiar, that’s probably because the UN has issued the same stark warnings in each of its annual reports on emissions for several years now. And other reports have echoed their calls, such as damning findings earlier this year that just 57 companies are responsible for 80 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/latest-un-report-demands-unprecedented-emissions-cuts-to-salvage-climate-goals-223450262.html?src=rss

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There’s time for one more Armageddon for Amazon’s Good Omens but not much. Amazon Prime Video announced that Good Omens would return for one final season last year, but TVLine reports it’s only going to have one 90-minute episode that will begin filming in Scotland soon.
Amazon originally confirmed that author Neil Gaiman, who co-wrote the book upon which Good Omens is based with Discworld creator Terry Pratchett, will continue through the final season as the show’s executive producer, writer and showrunner. TVLine says Gaiman “contributed to the episode’s writing,” but “he will not work on the production.”
Gaiman has stepped out of the spotlight and away from several projects based on his works since his sexual assault allegations surfaced in July. The Tortoise Media podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman outlined the author’s alleged behavior with accounts from four women, one of whom signed a non-disclosure agreement. A fifth woman later stepped forward with similar accusations on the podcast. Gaiman denied the allegations and said he was “disturbed” by them, according to Rolling Stone.
The allegations paused pre-production for Good Omens’ third season. Gaiman also offered to step away from the show in September, according to Deadline.
Good Omens stars Michael Sheen as the angelic, fussy angel Aziraphale and David Tennant as the free-wheeling demon Crowley who formed an unlikely alliance to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and the fall of humankind. The dramatic comedy started as a limited series on Amazon’s streaming network in 2019 but the show’s popularity prompted a second season in 2020 with an expanded cast including Jon Hamm as the archangel Gabriel.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/good-omens-final-season-will-have-only-one-episode-212956591.html?src=rss

There’s time for one more Armageddon for Amazon’s Good Omens but not much. Amazon Prime Video announced that Good Omens would return for one final season last year, but TVLine reports it’s only going to have one 90-minute episode that will begin filming in Scotland soon.

Amazon originally confirmed that author Neil Gaiman, who co-wrote the book upon which Good Omens is based with Discworld creator Terry Pratchett, will continue through the final season as the show’s executive producer, writer and showrunner. TVLine says Gaiman “contributed to the episode’s writing,” but “he will not work on the production.”

Gaiman has stepped out of the spotlight and away from several projects based on his works since his sexual assault allegations surfaced in July. The Tortoise Media podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman outlined the author’s alleged behavior with accounts from four women, one of whom signed a non-disclosure agreement. A fifth woman later stepped forward with similar accusations on the podcast. Gaiman denied the allegations and said he was “disturbed” by them, according to Rolling Stone.

The allegations paused pre-production for Good Omens’ third season. Gaiman also offered to step away from the show in September, according to Deadline.

Good Omens stars Michael Sheen as the angelic, fussy angel Aziraphale and David Tennant as the free-wheeling demon Crowley who formed an unlikely alliance to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and the fall of humankind. The dramatic comedy started as a limited series on Amazon’s streaming network in 2019 but the show’s popularity prompted a second season in 2020 with an expanded cast including Jon Hamm as the archangel Gabriel.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/good-omens-final-season-will-have-only-one-episode-212956591.html?src=rss

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The White House issued its first national security memorandum outlining the use of artificial intelligence for the military and intelligence agencies. The White House also shared a shortened copy of the memo with the public.
The new memo sets up guidelines for military and intelligence agencies for using AI in its day-to-day operations. The memo sets a series of deadlines for agencies to study the applications and regulations of AI tools, most of which will lapse following President Biden’s term. The memo also aims to limit “the most dystopian possibilities, including the development of autonomous weapons,” according to the New York Times.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the new directive today at the National Defense University as part of a talk on AI’s presence in government operations. Sullivan has been one of the President’s most vocal proponents for examining the benefits and risks of AI technology. He also raised concerns about China’s use of AI to control its population and spread misinformation and how the memo can spark conversations with other countries grappling with implementing its own AI strategies.
The memorandum establishes some hard edges for AI usage especially when it comes to weapons systems. The memo states that AI can never be used as a decision maker for launching nuclear weapons or assigning asylum status to immigrants coming to the US. It also prohibits AI from tracking anyone based on their race or religion or determining if a suspect is a known terrorist without human intervention.
The memo also lays out protections for private-sector AI advance as “national assets that need to be protected…from spying or theft by foreign adversaries,” according to the Times. The memorandum orders intelligence agencies to help private companies working on AI models secure their work and provide updated intelligence reports to project their AI assets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/president-biden-sets-up-new-ai-guardrails-for-military-intelligence-agencies-201752211.html?src=rss

The White House issued its first national security memorandum outlining the use of artificial intelligence for the military and intelligence agencies. The White House also shared a shortened copy of the memo with the public.

The new memo sets up guidelines for military and intelligence agencies for using AI in its day-to-day operations. The memo sets a series of deadlines for agencies to study the applications and regulations of AI tools, most of which will lapse following President Biden’s term. The memo also aims to limit “the most dystopian possibilities, including the development of autonomous weapons,” according to the New York Times.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced the new directive today at the National Defense University as part of a talk on AI’s presence in government operations. Sullivan has been one of the President’s most vocal proponents for examining the benefits and risks of AI technology. He also raised concerns about China’s use of AI to control its population and spread misinformation and how the memo can spark conversations with other countries grappling with implementing its own AI strategies.

The memorandum establishes some hard edges for AI usage especially when it comes to weapons systems. The memo states that AI can never be used as a decision maker for launching nuclear weapons or assigning asylum status to immigrants coming to the US. It also prohibits AI from tracking anyone based on their race or religion or determining if a suspect is a known terrorist without human intervention.

The memo also lays out protections for private-sector AI advance as “national assets that need to be protected…from spying or theft by foreign adversaries,” according to the Times. The memorandum orders intelligence agencies to help private companies working on AI models secure their work and provide updated intelligence reports to project their AI assets.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/president-biden-sets-up-new-ai-guardrails-for-military-intelligence-agencies-201752211.html?src=rss

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In iOS 18.2, Apple is adding a new feature that resurrects some of the intent behind its halted CSAM scanning plans — this time, without breaking end-to-end encryption or providing government backdoors. Rolling out first in Australia, the company’s expansion of its Communication Safety feature uses on-device machine learning to detect and blur nude content, adding warnings and requiring confirmation before users can proceed. If the child is under 13, they can’t continue without entering the device’s Screen Time passcode.
If the device’s onboard machine learning detects nude content, the feature automatically blurs the photo or video, displays a warning that the content may be sensitive and offers ways to get help. The choices include leaving the conversation or group thread, blocking the person and accessing online safety resources.
The feature also displays a message that reassures the child that it’s okay not to view the content or leave the chat. There’s also an option to message a parent or guardian. If the child is 13 or older, they can still confirm they want to continue after receiving those warnings — with a repeat of the reminders that it’s okay to opt out and that further help is available. According to The Guardian, it also includes an option to report the images and videos to Apple.
Apple
The feature analyzes photos and videos on iPhone and iPad in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters (in the Phone or Contacts app) and FaceTime video messages. In addition, it will scan “some third-party apps” if the child selects a photo or video to share with them.
The supported apps vary slightly on other devices. On Mac, it scans messages and some third-party apps if users choose content to share through them. On the Apple Watch, it covers Messages, Contact Posters and FaceTime video messages. Finally, on Vision Pro, the feature scans Messages, AirDrop and some third-party apps (under the same conditions mentioned above).
The feature requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia or visionOS 2.
The Guardian reports that Apple plans to expand it globally after the Australia trial. The company likely chose the land Down Under for a specific reason: The country is set to roll out new regulations that require Big Tech to police child abuse and terror content. As part of the new rules, Australia agreed to add the clause that it was only mandated “where technically feasible,” omitting a requirement to break end-to-end encryption and compromise security. Companies will need to comply by the end of the year.
User privacy and security were at the heart of the controversy over Apple’s infamous attempt to police CSAM. In 2021, it prepared to adopt a system that would scan for images of online sexual abuse, which would then be sent to human reviewers. (It came as something of a shock after Apple’s history of standing up to the FBI over its attempts to unlock an iPhone belonging to a terrorist.) Privacy and security experts argued that the feature would open a backdoor for authoritarian regimes to spy on their citizens in situations without any exploitative material. The following year, Apple abandoned the feature, leading (indirectly) to the more balanced child-safety feature announced today.
Once it rolls out globally, you can activate the feature under Settings > Screen Time > Communication Safety, and toggle the option on. That section has been activated by default since iOS 17.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/ios-182-has-a-child-safety-feature-that-can-blur-nude-content-and-report-it-to-apple-194614810.html?src=rss

In iOS 18.2, Apple is adding a new feature that resurrects some of the intent behind its halted CSAM scanning plans — this time, without breaking end-to-end encryption or providing government backdoors. Rolling out first in Australia, the company’s expansion of its Communication Safety feature uses on-device machine learning to detect and blur nude content, adding warnings and requiring confirmation before users can proceed. If the child is under 13, they can’t continue without entering the device’s Screen Time passcode.

If the device’s onboard machine learning detects nude content, the feature automatically blurs the photo or video, displays a warning that the content may be sensitive and offers ways to get help. The choices include leaving the conversation or group thread, blocking the person and accessing online safety resources.

The feature also displays a message that reassures the child that it’s okay not to view the content or leave the chat. There’s also an option to message a parent or guardian. If the child is 13 or older, they can still confirm they want to continue after receiving those warnings — with a repeat of the reminders that it’s okay to opt out and that further help is available. According to The Guardian, it also includes an option to report the images and videos to Apple.

The feature analyzes photos and videos on iPhone and iPad in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters (in the Phone or Contacts app) and FaceTime video messages. In addition, it will scan “some third-party apps” if the child selects a photo or video to share with them.

The supported apps vary slightly on other devices. On Mac, it scans messages and some third-party apps if users choose content to share through them. On the Apple Watch, it covers Messages, Contact Posters and FaceTime video messages. Finally, on Vision Pro, the feature scans Messages, AirDrop and some third-party apps (under the same conditions mentioned above).

The feature requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia or visionOS 2.

The Guardian reports that Apple plans to expand it globally after the Australia trial. The company likely chose the land Down Under for a specific reason: The country is set to roll out new regulations that require Big Tech to police child abuse and terror content. As part of the new rules, Australia agreed to add the clause that it was only mandated “where technically feasible,” omitting a requirement to break end-to-end encryption and compromise security. Companies will need to comply by the end of the year.

User privacy and security were at the heart of the controversy over Apple’s infamous attempt to police CSAM. In 2021, it prepared to adopt a system that would scan for images of online sexual abuse, which would then be sent to human reviewers. (It came as something of a shock after Apple’s history of standing up to the FBI over its attempts to unlock an iPhone belonging to a terrorist.) Privacy and security experts argued that the feature would open a backdoor for authoritarian regimes to spy on their citizens in situations without any exploitative material. The following year, Apple abandoned the feature, leading (indirectly) to the more balanced child-safety feature announced today.

Once it rolls out globally, you can activate the feature under Settings > Screen Time > Communication Safety, and toggle the option on. That section has been activated by default since iOS 17.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/ios-182-has-a-child-safety-feature-that-can-blur-nude-content-and-report-it-to-apple-194614810.html?src=rss

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Bluesky has revealed how it plans to start making money without necessarily having to rely on ads. The platform will remain free to use for everyone, though it’s working on a premium subscription that will provide access to profile customization tools (remember when Myspace offered that for free?) and higher quality video uploads.
One thing that you won’t get as a paid user, though, is any preferential treatment. Unlike certain other social platforms, Bluesky won’t boost the visibility of premium members’ posts. Nor will they get any kind of blue check, according to chief operating officer Rose Wang.
In addition, Bluesky is planning a tip jar of sorts for creators. “We’re proud of our vibrant community of creators, including artists, writers, developers and more, and we want to establish a voluntary monetization path for them as well,” it said in a blog post. “Part of our plan includes building payment services for people to support their favorite creators and projects.” Bluesky will reveal more details down the line, though it’s not clear whether the platform plans to take a cut of any such payments.
Bluesky revealed its initial monetization plans in an announcement of its Series A funding round. It has raised $15 million from investors. Even though the lead investor in this round is Web3 VC company Blockchain Capital, Bluesky “will not hyperfinancialize the social experience (through tokens, crypto trading, NFTs, etc).”
“Bluesky is powered by a 20-person core team, moderators, and support agents,” Wang wrote on Bluesky. “Our biggest costs are team and infrastructure. Subscription revenue helps us improve the app, grow the developer ecosystem and gives us time to explore business models beyond traditional ads.”
The platform now has more than 13 million users, with many of those defecting from X following that service’s temporary ban in Brazil. (Analysts at Appfigures estimate that 3.6 million Bluesky app downloads came from Brazil, around 36 percent of the total figure.) Others made the switch after X made certain changes to its platform, including a revamp of how the block function operates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/blueskys-upcoming-premium-plan-wont-give-paid-users-special-treatment-193800247.html?src=rss

Bluesky has revealed how it plans to start making money without necessarily having to rely on ads. The platform will remain free to use for everyone, though it’s working on a premium subscription that will provide access to profile customization tools (remember when Myspace offered that for free?) and higher quality video uploads.

One thing that you won’t get as a paid user, though, is any preferential treatment. Unlike certain other social platforms, Bluesky won’t boost the visibility of premium members’ posts. Nor will they get any kind of blue check, according to chief operating officer Rose Wang.

In addition, Bluesky is planning a tip jar of sorts for creators. “We’re proud of our vibrant community of creators, including artists, writers, developers and more, and we want to establish a voluntary monetization path for them as well,” it said in a blog post. “Part of our plan includes building payment services for people to support their favorite creators and projects.” Bluesky will reveal more details down the line, though it’s not clear whether the platform plans to take a cut of any such payments.

Bluesky revealed its initial monetization plans in an announcement of its Series A funding round. It has raised $15 million from investors. Even though the lead investor in this round is Web3 VC company Blockchain Capital, Bluesky “will not hyperfinancialize the social experience (through tokens, crypto trading, NFTs, etc).”

“Bluesky is powered by a 20-person core team, moderators, and support agents,” Wang wrote on Bluesky. “Our biggest costs are team and infrastructure. Subscription revenue helps us improve the app, grow the developer ecosystem and gives us time to explore business models beyond traditional ads.”

The platform now has more than 13 million users, with many of those defecting from X following that service’s temporary ban in Brazil. (Analysts at Appfigures estimate that 3.6 million Bluesky app downloads came from Brazil, around 36 percent of the total figure.) Others made the switch after X made certain changes to its platform, including a revamp of how the block function operates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/blueskys-upcoming-premium-plan-wont-give-paid-users-special-treatment-193800247.html?src=rss

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Playtonic Games’ ode to the 3D platformers of the ‘90s is coming to modern consoles. Yooka-Laylee is getting a remastered version called Yooka-Re-playee for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and “Nintendo platforms,” according to the press release. It’s possible the plural use of platform refers to the current-gen Nintendo Switch and Nintendo’s next console.
Yooka-Laylee is a spiritual successor of sorts to 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon. In fact, some of the people who worked on the original Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country helped bring Yooka-Laylee to life.
Playtonic funded the development of its launch title’s with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015 that raised more than £2 million. The game came out two years later for consoles, PC and Mac. Then in 2017, Playtonic Games released a sequel called Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair.

The remastered version comes with updated graphics, new enemies to pounce on and revised controls and camera views. The original score penned by Banjo-Kazooie’s Grant Kirkhope and Donkey Kong Country’s David Wise is also getting an update from a full orchestra.
Yooka-Laylee plays like an updated Banjo-Kazooie in a new, colorful, open world to explore. The titular duo are a chameleon and a bat fighting a ruthless CEO named Capital B who attempts to steal all the books in the world with a giant vacuum. Yooka and Laylee head to a world called Hivory Towers to stop Capital B from finding the “Pagies” of the One Book that can rewrite the universe.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/yooka-laylee-remaster-rolling-to-all-consoles-including-nintendos-next-system-192541702.html?src=rss

Playtonic Games’ ode to the 3D platformers of the ‘90s is coming to modern consoles. Yooka-Laylee is getting a remastered version called Yooka-Re-playee for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and “Nintendo platforms,” according to the press release. It’s possible the plural use of platform refers to the current-gen Nintendo Switch and Nintendo’s next console.

Yooka-Laylee is a spiritual successor of sorts to 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon. In fact, some of the people who worked on the original Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country helped bring Yooka-Laylee to life.

Playtonic funded the development of its launch title’s with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015 that raised more than £2 million. The game came out two years later for consoles, PC and Mac. Then in 2017, Playtonic Games released a sequel called Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair.

The remastered version comes with updated graphics, new enemies to pounce on and revised controls and camera views. The original score penned by Banjo-Kazooie’s Grant Kirkhope and Donkey Kong Country’s David Wise is also getting an update from a full orchestra.

Yooka-Laylee plays like an updated Banjo-Kazooie in a new, colorful, open world to explore. The titular duo are a chameleon and a bat fighting a ruthless CEO named Capital B who attempts to steal all the books in the world with a giant vacuum. Yooka and Laylee head to a world called Hivory Towers to stop Capital B from finding the “Pagies” of the One Book that can rewrite the universe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/yooka-laylee-remaster-rolling-to-all-consoles-including-nintendos-next-system-192541702.html?src=rss

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Balatro is back with yet another update full of crossovers. Starting today, you can ante up for a new run with decks inspired by Cyberpunk 2077, The Binding of Isaac, Slay the Spire and Stardew Valley thanks to the Friends of Jimbo 2 update. Like the first Friends of Jimbo expansion from August, this round is also free with the main game and available on all platforms: PlayStation, mobile, Steam, Switch, and Xbox.
The gang’s getting bigger! Friends of Jimbo 2 FREE update is available today on PC, Console, and Mobile!Is this the full squad, or is there more to come? 👀👉https://t.co/bMjMzoIsXQ pic.twitter.com/4WyrWO8Wtd— Balatro (@BalatroGame) October 24, 2024
Additionally, the game has an even deeper crossover tie with indie RPG Dave the Diver that will let you play Balatro when you’re in the Sea People Village. It’s called ‘Jimbo’s Game’ instead, but rest assured, it’s still just as addictive in this setting.
The roguelike has won over many fans (including several Engadget staffers) with its blend of poker gambling and deck-building. The tweet announcing today’s new Balatro decks hints that more collaborations could be in the works, so there could be another batch dropping in the coming months. These new crossover decks should help ease the wait for the big gameplay update that developer LocalThunk has promised will land in 2025 (and likely make the game even more un-put-down-able).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/your-balatro-deck-can-now-feature-binding-of-isaac-characters-191009810.html?src=rss

Balatro is back with yet another update full of crossovers. Starting today, you can ante up for a new run with decks inspired by Cyberpunk 2077, The Binding of Isaac, Slay the Spire and Stardew Valley thanks to the Friends of Jimbo 2 update. Like the first Friends of Jimbo expansion from August, this round is also free with the main game and available on all platforms: PlayStation, mobile, Steam, Switch, and Xbox.

Additionally, the game has an even deeper crossover tie with indie RPG Dave the Diver that will let you play Balatro when you’re in the Sea People Village. It’s called ‘Jimbo’s Game’ instead, but rest assured, it’s still just as addictive in this setting.

The roguelike has won over many fans (including several Engadget staffers) with its blend of poker gambling and deck-building. The tweet announcing today’s new Balatro decks hints that more collaborations could be in the works, so there could be another batch dropping in the coming months. These new crossover decks should help ease the wait for the big gameplay update that developer LocalThunk has promised will land in 2025 (and likely make the game even more un-put-down-able).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/your-balatro-deck-can-now-feature-binding-of-isaac-characters-191009810.html?src=rss

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For a few years now, it’s been hard to pin down the strategy behind Samsung’s Fan Edition products. Ostensibly, they’re supposed to offer high-end features at a more affordable price. However, following the Galaxy S20 FE, most FE devices haven’t lived up to that promise. Whether it was the poor timing of the S21 FE or the boring hardware of the S23 FE, those phones never felt like the absolute steal the S20 FE was four years ago. 

With the new Galaxy S24 FE ($650), Samsung is offering its cheapest entry into its Galaxy AI ecosystem. Unfortunately, a few hardware changes and a lot of AI aren’t enough to overcome an uncompetitive price.

Design and display
When I first took the S24 FE out of the box, I thought Samsung had left the design of the phone untouched. It turns out I was only half right. The new model features a display that is 0.3 inches larger than the S23 FE’s 6.4-inch one. In terms of size, that means the S24 FE is a much closer match to the S24+ than the S23 FE was to the S23+. I want you to keep the S24+ top of mind as you read through this review; The S24 FE is the phone Samsung wants you to consider if everything about the S24+ is appealing to you other than its $1,000 price.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Like with the S23 FE, Samsung chose an AMOLED 2X panel that has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution. In addition to being bigger, the S24 FE’s screen is brighter than the one on last year’s FE, offering close to 1,900 nits of peak brightness compared to 1,450 nits. The S24 FE is still missing the battery-saving LTPO tech found on Samsung’s flagship phones, but as far as screens on midrange phones go, the S24 FE easily has one of the best I’ve seen. I also think it’s the reason to buy the FE.
The display looks great, especially when scrolling through social media and playing games. It’s also easily legible in bright sunlight. Likewise, I found it was plenty sharp, despite having a lower resolution than the QHD screen on the S24+. It’s nice Samsung offers such a large display on a midrange device, but I’m not a fan of big phones. Obviously, personal preference will dictate if the FE’s girth is your thing, but those with smaller hands like me, consider this your warning: it’s not an easy phone to hold.
In North America, the S24 FE is available in four colors: blue (pictured), graphite, gray and a lovely mint. It might not be made of titanium, but I think the FE looks just as premium as its more expensive siblings. I also wouldn’t worry about its durability too much; the front and back of the phone are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, and the entire phone is IP68-certified against dust and water.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Cameras
I’ll be honest, I did not expect to like the S24 FE’s camera as much as I did. The new phone offers the same hardware as its predecessor. Specifically, it comes with a 50-megapixel, f/1.8 main camera; a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera; an 8MP, f/2.4 telephoto camera and a 10MP selfie camera with f/2.4 lens.
The one addition here is the company’s ProVisual engine. It’s the first time Samsung has offered the software on one of its FE phones. Having not used last year’s model, I wasn’t able to directly compare the two devices.
So I did the next best thing: I compared the photos I snapped with the S24 FE to those I took with the last Samsung phone I reviewed, the Galaxy A53 5G. If I had to pinpoint a difference, it’s that the S24 FE did a better job of consistently nailing white balance and properly exposing dark scenes.
At the same time, Samsung’s image processing hasn’t dramatically changed over the last couple of years. There’s no mistaking the photos from the S24 FE came from a Samsung device. As you can see from the gallery below, nearly every image features bright and saturated colors.
Even as someone who’s not a fan of Samsung’s image processing, I had a lot of fun using the FE’s cameras. Of the three main ones, my favorite was the telephoto. Thanks to its 32-degree field of view, it gives you a 3x optical zoom over the FE’s main camera. That might not seem like much, but when most midrange phones, including the excellent Pixel 8a, don’t come with a telephoto camera, any bit of optical zoom makes it feel like you’re using a more premium product.

In the case of the FE, it’s a quality camera too, with a bright f/2.4 lens and built-in optical image stabilization. I’m usually not a fan of portrait modes on more affordable handsets like the S24 FE, but here I found it made sense since the compression from the telephoto lens leads to better subject separation. I ended up snapping a lot of portraits because the phone did a great job of rendering natural-looking skin tones and background blur.
The main camera is less of a standout. Thanks to that 50MP sensor, it can produce the most detailed images of the S24 FE’s cameras, but the autofocus wasn’t as fast as I would have liked. When I tried to get a closeup of something, such as my cat Celine, the camera took a few seconds to lock focus. However, outside of that, the S24 FE can take stunning photos. It’s no slouch in low light, either.
As for the 12MP ultra-wide, it was my least favorite of the FE’s cameras. Samsung’s image processing doesn’t do a great job of correcting for the fish-eye distortion produced by such a wide lens, so buildings and anything else captured in the periphery of the frame look misshapen. Photos look fine when zoomed out, but begin to look worse as soon as you start pixel-peeping. Part of the problem here is that Samsung didn’t update the ultra-wide camera to add autofocus, so not every shot comes out as sharp as it could be, despite the sensor offering a decent amount of resolution.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Speaking of autofocus, the selfie camera is missing that feature as well. It’s a shame because the FE has one of the better front-facing cameras I’ve used recently. It offers enough resolution to make selfies look detailed but not so much that every pore and blemish is rendered in painful detail. At the same time, the company seems to have toned down the overly aggressive skin smoothing it was known for in years past.
I mentioned the Pixel 8a earlier, and I think it’s worth returning to it for a moment. When my coworker Sam Rutherford pitted Google’s midrange handset against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, he found the two were surprisingly comparable when it came to camera performance. Despite costing $800 less, the Pixel 8a frequently produced photos with more accurate colors and superior detail. The S24 FE’s cameras perform a shade worse than their counterparts on the S24+. Unless you value the inclusion of a telephoto lens as much as I do, there’s a case to be made that the S24 FE doesn’t offer enough of an upgrade to warrant spending $650.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Performance
Thankfully, the S24 FE is not all small tweaks. Internally, the phone features Samsung’s new Exynos 2400e chipset. It’s the one processor the company is using for both US and international variants. I can already hear some of you groaning since Exynos chips have been known in the past for both poor performance and efficiency relative to their Qualcomm counterparts, so let me get straight to the good news: The 2400e is a powerhouse.
When I put the S24 FE through Geekbench 6, the chip delivered a single-core score of 2,140 and a multi-core performance of 6,690. To put those numbers in perspective, when my co-worker Sam did the same with the S24+ earlier this year, its flagship Snapdragon Gen 3 SoC performed better but not significantly so, posting scores of 2,284 and 7,003, respectively.
The Exynos 2400e was equally impressive in real-world use. Even though the FE only has 8GB of RAM at its disposal, I didn’t experience any hiccups scrolling through websites, switching between apps and other daily tasks. When it came to gaming, I could play Diablo Immortal with the game’s 60 fps mode enabled and graphics settings pushed to their max. I didn’t experience any hitching or dropped frames. I’ll mention here that Samsung redesigned the FE’s vapor chamber to make it bigger and thereby improve cooling. In my experience, the phone gets warm — but not hot — running graphically intensive games.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Battery
As I mentioned at the top, this year’s FE is bigger than its predecessor. Samsung has wisely used the extra space to include a larger 4,700mAh battery. Disappointingly, the company only made a minor change to the FE’s charging capabilities. Thanks to Qi2 support, wireless charging now tops off at 15W, up from 10W on the S23 FE. As for wired power delivery, the FE is still limited to 25W.
During one test, I left home at 8AM with the FE’s battery at 87 percent. For the next three hours, I used the phone to track a bike ride on Strava and snap photos along the way. When I got home, the battery was at 67 percent. I then went out for lunch with my partner, snapping plenty of photos along the way, and using the FE to surf the web and check social media. I later played an hour of Diablo Immortal for a total of three hours of screen time that day. Before bed, I had about 40 percent battery left. Samsung says the S24 FE can power long gaming sessions, and judging by what I saw, that’s accurate.
Charging the FE is far from an ideal experience. In my testing, it was possible to get the battery from zero to 50 percent in about 30 minutes. That’s in line with Samsung’s claims. However, charging to full takes substantially longer. It took close to 70 minutes to get a dead battery to 100 percent. Of course, this is assuming you own a compatible 25W fast charger. Did I mention Samsung doesn’t include a power adapter in the box? Yes, you’ll need your own. Otherwise, expect glacial charging speeds.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Software
I’ve spent a lot of words on the S24 FE’s hardware, but for Samsung, that’s not the story of this phone. The company wants you to see the new FE as a more affordable way to access its Galaxy AI tools. I won’t bore you with a review of the entire suite since Engadget has already covered what’s included.
What I will say is that all of the S24 FE’s AI features work well, but none of them are reasons I would go out and buy this phone for myself. Take Circle to Search, for instance. By long pressing the FE’s home button, you can bring up Google anywhere, including while scrolling through photos on Instagram and your camera roll. It’s then possible to search for a specific object by drawing a circle around it. So, the next time you spot a cute floof, you can confirm it was a Samoyed without leaving Google Photos. No need to switch between apps or try to figure out how to describe what you saw to Google.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Circle to Search is useful, but I could also live without it. And I can safely say the same for all of Samsung’s own AI features. For example, Transcript Assist was handy for turning voice memos into written notes, but it didn’t save me much time in the long run since I ended up editing most of what the software produced. I also don’t want to subject my friends to AI-generated texts courtesy of Chat Assist.
Most importantly, I can’t see myself paying for any of the FE’s AI features once they’re no longer free. In case you forgot, Samsung plans to monetize Galaxy AI. “Fees may apply to certain AI features at the end of 2025,” the company said in the press release announcing the S24 FE. If you’re in the market for a midrange device, the prospect of paying a subscription to use some of its features feels like a non-starter. I don’t know about you, but if I’m buying a budget phone, I want it to save me over the long run, not cost me more after a year or two.

Igor Bonifacic for Engadget

Wrap-up
In a vacuum, the Galaxy S24 FE is a great all-around phone and would be an easy recommendation if the S24+ didn’t exist or had Samsung released the two devices at the same time. At $650 for the base 128GB model and $710 for 256GB, the FE isn’t substantially cheaper than the S24+, especially when you consider the Plus comes with 256GB of storage by default and has already been reduced by as much as $150 off in recent months. If you want a discount S24+, you’re better off just waiting for that phone to go on sale.
The S24 FE is in an even weirder spot compared to the best midrange phones you can buy right now. Yes, it has a larger screen and an extra camera over our current top pick, the $499 Pixel 8a. However, for most people, I don’t think those upgrades warrant spending an extra $150. If you’re looking to get the most phone for as little money as possible, the S24 FE is not it.
I’m sure Samsung will adjust the price before long, but for now, this Fan Edition device doesn’t have a clear audience.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s24-fe-review-a-great-phone-but-i-wish-it-was-cheaper-190032655.html?src=rss

For a few years now, it’s been hard to pin down the strategy behind Samsung’s Fan Edition products. Ostensibly, they’re supposed to offer high-end features at a more affordable price. However, following the Galaxy S20 FE, most FE devices haven’t lived up to that promise. Whether it was the poor timing of the S21 FE or the boring hardware of the S23 FE, those phones never felt like the absolute steal the S20 FE was four years ago. 

With the new Galaxy S24 FE ($650), Samsung is offering its cheapest entry into its Galaxy AI ecosystem. Unfortunately, a few hardware changes and a lot of AI aren’t enough to overcome an uncompetitive price.

Design and display

When I first took the S24 FE out of the box, I thought Samsung had left the design of the phone untouched. It turns out I was only half right. The new model features a display that is 0.3 inches larger than the S23 FE’s 6.4-inch one. In terms of size, that means the S24 FE is a much closer match to the S24+ than the S23 FE was to the S23+. I want you to keep the S24+ top of mind as you read through this review; The S24 FE is the phone Samsung wants you to consider if everything about the S24+ is appealing to you other than its $1,000 price.

Like with the S23 FE, Samsung chose an AMOLED 2X panel that has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution. In addition to being bigger, the S24 FE’s screen is brighter than the one on last year’s FE, offering close to 1,900 nits of peak brightness compared to 1,450 nits. The S24 FE is still missing the battery-saving LTPO tech found on Samsung’s flagship phones, but as far as screens on midrange phones go, the S24 FE easily has one of the best I’ve seen. I also think it’s the reason to buy the FE.

The display looks great, especially when scrolling through social media and playing games. It’s also easily legible in bright sunlight. Likewise, I found it was plenty sharp, despite having a lower resolution than the QHD screen on the S24+. It’s nice Samsung offers such a large display on a midrange device, but I’m not a fan of big phones. Obviously, personal preference will dictate if the FE’s girth is your thing, but those with smaller hands like me, consider this your warning: it’s not an easy phone to hold.

In North America, the S24 FE is available in four colors: blue (pictured), graphite, gray and a lovely mint. It might not be made of titanium, but I think the FE looks just as premium as its more expensive siblings. I also wouldn’t worry about its durability too much; the front and back of the phone are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, and the entire phone is IP68-certified against dust and water.

Cameras

I’ll be honest, I did not expect to like the S24 FE’s camera as much as I did. The new phone offers the same hardware as its predecessor. Specifically, it comes with a 50-megapixel, f/1.8 main camera; a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera; an 8MP, f/2.4 telephoto camera and a 10MP selfie camera with f/2.4 lens.

The one addition here is the company’s ProVisual engine. It’s the first time Samsung has offered the software on one of its FE phones. Having not used last year’s model, I wasn’t able to directly compare the two devices.

So I did the next best thing: I compared the photos I snapped with the S24 FE to those I took with the last Samsung phone I reviewed, the Galaxy A53 5G. If I had to pinpoint a difference, it’s that the S24 FE did a better job of consistently nailing white balance and properly exposing dark scenes.

At the same time, Samsung’s image processing hasn’t dramatically changed over the last couple of years. There’s no mistaking the photos from the S24 FE came from a Samsung device. As you can see from the gallery below, nearly every image features bright and saturated colors.

Even as someone who’s not a fan of Samsung’s image processing, I had a lot of fun using the FE’s cameras. Of the three main ones, my favorite was the telephoto. Thanks to its 32-degree field of view, it gives you a 3x optical zoom over the FE’s main camera. That might not seem like much, but when most midrange phones, including the excellent Pixel 8a, don’t come with a telephoto camera, any bit of optical zoom makes it feel like you’re using a more premium product.

In the case of the FE, it’s a quality camera too, with a bright f/2.4 lens and built-in optical image stabilization. I’m usually not a fan of portrait modes on more affordable handsets like the S24 FE, but here I found it made sense since the compression from the telephoto lens leads to better subject separation. I ended up snapping a lot of portraits because the phone did a great job of rendering natural-looking skin tones and background blur.

The main camera is less of a standout. Thanks to that 50MP sensor, it can produce the most detailed images of the S24 FE’s cameras, but the autofocus wasn’t as fast as I would have liked. When I tried to get a closeup of something, such as my cat Celine, the camera took a few seconds to lock focus. However, outside of that, the S24 FE can take stunning photos. It’s no slouch in low light, either.

As for the 12MP ultra-wide, it was my least favorite of the FE’s cameras. Samsung’s image processing doesn’t do a great job of correcting for the fish-eye distortion produced by such a wide lens, so buildings and anything else captured in the periphery of the frame look misshapen. Photos look fine when zoomed out, but begin to look worse as soon as you start pixel-peeping. Part of the problem here is that Samsung didn’t update the ultra-wide camera to add autofocus, so not every shot comes out as sharp as it could be, despite the sensor offering a decent amount of resolution.

Speaking of autofocus, the selfie camera is missing that feature as well. It’s a shame because the FE has one of the better front-facing cameras I’ve used recently. It offers enough resolution to make selfies look detailed but not so much that every pore and blemish is rendered in painful detail. At the same time, the company seems to have toned down the overly aggressive skin smoothing it was known for in years past.

I mentioned the Pixel 8a earlier, and I think it’s worth returning to it for a moment. When my coworker Sam Rutherford pitted Google’s midrange handset against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, he found the two were surprisingly comparable when it came to camera performance. Despite costing $800 less, the Pixel 8a frequently produced photos with more accurate colors and superior detail. The S24 FE’s cameras perform a shade worse than their counterparts on the S24+. Unless you value the inclusion of a telephoto lens as much as I do, there’s a case to be made that the S24 FE doesn’t offer enough of an upgrade to warrant spending $650.

Performance

Thankfully, the S24 FE is not all small tweaks. Internally, the phone features Samsung’s new Exynos 2400e chipset. It’s the one processor the company is using for both US and international variants. I can already hear some of you groaning since Exynos chips have been known in the past for both poor performance and efficiency relative to their Qualcomm counterparts, so let me get straight to the good news: The 2400e is a powerhouse.

When I put the S24 FE through Geekbench 6, the chip delivered a single-core score of 2,140 and a multi-core performance of 6,690. To put those numbers in perspective, when my co-worker Sam did the same with the S24+ earlier this year, its flagship Snapdragon Gen 3 SoC performed better but not significantly so, posting scores of 2,284 and 7,003, respectively.

The Exynos 2400e was equally impressive in real-world use. Even though the FE only has 8GB of RAM at its disposal, I didn’t experience any hiccups scrolling through websites, switching between apps and other daily tasks. When it came to gaming, I could play Diablo Immortal with the game’s 60 fps mode enabled and graphics settings pushed to their max. I didn’t experience any hitching or dropped frames. I’ll mention here that Samsung redesigned the FE’s vapor chamber to make it bigger and thereby improve cooling. In my experience, the phone gets warm — but not hot — running graphically intensive games.

Battery

As I mentioned at the top, this year’s FE is bigger than its predecessor. Samsung has wisely used the extra space to include a larger 4,700mAh battery. Disappointingly, the company only made a minor change to the FE’s charging capabilities. Thanks to Qi2 support, wireless charging now tops off at 15W, up from 10W on the S23 FE. As for wired power delivery, the FE is still limited to 25W.

During one test, I left home at 8AM with the FE’s battery at 87 percent. For the next three hours, I used the phone to track a bike ride on Strava and snap photos along the way. When I got home, the battery was at 67 percent. I then went out for lunch with my partner, snapping plenty of photos along the way, and using the FE to surf the web and check social media. I later played an hour of Diablo Immortal for a total of three hours of screen time that day. Before bed, I had about 40 percent battery left. Samsung says the S24 FE can power long gaming sessions, and judging by what I saw, that’s accurate.

Charging the FE is far from an ideal experience. In my testing, it was possible to get the battery from zero to 50 percent in about 30 minutes. That’s in line with Samsung’s claims. However, charging to full takes substantially longer. It took close to 70 minutes to get a dead battery to 100 percent. Of course, this is assuming you own a compatible 25W fast charger. Did I mention Samsung doesn’t include a power adapter in the box? Yes, you’ll need your own. Otherwise, expect glacial charging speeds.

Software

I’ve spent a lot of words on the S24 FE’s hardware, but for Samsung, that’s not the story of this phone. The company wants you to see the new FE as a more affordable way to access its Galaxy AI tools. I won’t bore you with a review of the entire suite since Engadget has already covered what’s included.

What I will say is that all of the S24 FE’s AI features work well, but none of them are reasons I would go out and buy this phone for myself. Take Circle to Search, for instance. By long pressing the FE’s home button, you can bring up Google anywhere, including while scrolling through photos on Instagram and your camera roll. It’s then possible to search for a specific object by drawing a circle around it. So, the next time you spot a cute floof, you can confirm it was a Samoyed without leaving Google Photos. No need to switch between apps or try to figure out how to describe what you saw to Google.

Circle to Search is useful, but I could also live without it. And I can safely say the same for all of Samsung’s own AI features. For example, Transcript Assist was handy for turning voice memos into written notes, but it didn’t save me much time in the long run since I ended up editing most of what the software produced. I also don’t want to subject my friends to AI-generated texts courtesy of Chat Assist.

Most importantly, I can’t see myself paying for any of the FE’s AI features once they’re no longer free. In case you forgot, Samsung plans to monetize Galaxy AI. “Fees may apply to certain AI features at the end of 2025,” the company said in the press release announcing the S24 FE. If you’re in the market for a midrange device, the prospect of paying a subscription to use some of its features feels like a non-starter. I don’t know about you, but if I’m buying a budget phone, I want it to save me over the long run, not cost me more after a year or two.

Wrap-up

In a vacuum, the Galaxy S24 FE is a great all-around phone and would be an easy recommendation if the S24+ didn’t exist or had Samsung released the two devices at the same time. At $650 for the base 128GB model and $710 for 256GB, the FE isn’t substantially cheaper than the S24+, especially when you consider the Plus comes with 256GB of storage by default and has already been reduced by as much as $150 off in recent months. If you want a discount S24+, you’re better off just waiting for that phone to go on sale.

The S24 FE is in an even weirder spot compared to the best midrange phones you can buy right now. Yes, it has a larger screen and an extra camera over our current top pick, the $499 Pixel 8a. However, for most people, I don’t think those upgrades warrant spending an extra $150. If you’re looking to get the most phone for as little money as possible, the S24 FE is not it.

I’m sure Samsung will adjust the price before long, but for now, this Fan Edition device doesn’t have a clear audience.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s24-fe-review-a-great-phone-but-i-wish-it-was-cheaper-190032655.html?src=rss

Read More 

Big tech firms have been releasing AI tools all over their software offerings over the past year. But as it becomes ever easier to manipulate images and video with generative AI, there’s been a second wave of launching companion policies to better inform people when that technology has been applied to content. Google is the latest to follow the trend.
After debuting tools like the Magic Editor last spring and incorporating AI into its video editor last month, Google Photos will begin labeling visual content that has been modified with AI. Google was already tagging AI-modified images with corresponding metadata, but now a plain language statement will accompany edited photos. In the example the company shared in its blog post, there is a section at the bottom of the image details screen titled “AI Info.” This then lists a credit of the AI tool used to adapt the image. It will also state when an image has been modified with generative AI or when an image is a composite of several photos without the use of generative AI, such as with the Best Take feature. The new language will appear in Google Photos beginning next week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-photos-will-show-when-images-have-been-modified-with-ai-180007494.html?src=rss

Big tech firms have been releasing AI tools all over their software offerings over the past year. But as it becomes ever easier to manipulate images and video with generative AI, there’s been a second wave of launching companion policies to better inform people when that technology has been applied to content. Google is the latest to follow the trend.

After debuting tools like the Magic Editor last spring and incorporating AI into its video editor last month, Google Photos will begin labeling visual content that has been modified with AI. Google was already tagging AI-modified images with corresponding metadata, but now a plain language statement will accompany edited photos. In the example the company shared in its blog post, there is a section at the bottom of the image details screen titled “AI Info.” This then lists a credit of the AI tool used to adapt the image. It will also state when an image has been modified with generative AI or when an image is a composite of several photos without the use of generative AI, such as with the Best Take feature. The new language will appear in Google Photos beginning next week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-photos-will-show-when-images-have-been-modified-with-ai-180007494.html?src=rss

Read More 

It’s finally happening, Overwatch 2 fans: as Blizzard indicated back in July, it will test out a return to six-player teams. When the transition from the original game took place just over two years ago, Blizzard switched to a 5v5 format, dropping one tank from each side. But after countless requests from the community, the team is ready to trial new spins on the old format with different approaches to team compositions.
Two 6v6 tests will take place in the next season of Overwatch 2. The first of these will get under way a week into season 14. Based on when the current season is expected to end (December 10, given the battle pass countdown), that means the first 6v6 test should start around December 17.
Blizzard is looking to avoid some of the pain points that persisted with the 2-2-2 setup of two tanks, two supports and two damage (or DPS) heroes in the original Overwatch. The first test will offer something in between that rigid role queue format and letting players have whatever combination of heroes they want without duplicating the same character (the current open queue option).
Each team of six will have between one and three heroes from each role. So you could opt to run with three tanks, two supports and one DPS in a set up that’s similar to the infamous GOATS meta. But since this is a spin on the open queue format, teams will also be able to switch up their composition mid-match.
Blizzard Entertainment
“There are a few different combinations here that you will be able to try, but this opens up many different team compositions that we haven’t seen before in Overwatch 2,” game director Aaron Keller wrote in a blog post. “Besides experimenting with a format that could be seen as a middle ground to Role Queue and Open Queue, this will also give us a look at how Overwatch 2 heroes, abilities and updates work in a 6v6 environment before we expand to other types of tests.”
The second test will take place at some point later in season 14 (which is also slated to introduce a new Scottish hero). This will be a step back in time of sorts to 2-2-2. However, it will “incorporate some new principles we introduced with Overwatch 2,” such as hero reworks and fewer crowd control abilities. 
Blizzard will make significant balance changes just for these two tests. For instance, tanks will have reduced power and survivability. Many passive abilities, such as self-healing over time for all heroes, may be tuned down or ditched.
“These format tests are all about understanding if we can make the core game even stronger,” Keller wrote. “Every day, millions of players jump into the core 5v5 format and the last thing we want is to negatively impact that experience. The exciting thing about these tests is the potential to introduce something that could appeal to another group of players, ones that might have felt uncertain about the move to 5v5 when Overwatch 2 launched. Part of this series of tests is to not only judge our player’s appetite for larger team sizes, but for us to explore different ways that we might implement a change without running into the same problems we had previously.”
Before the big 6v6 tests, Blizzard will try out a couple of composition-based experiments in season 13. The first will allow players to run with any spin on 2-2-1 that they like, but tanks will have reduced health, just like in open queue modes. You won’t be locked to a given role here, either — for instance, you can switch from support to damage as long as your team doesn’t have two DPS heroes already. The second 5v5 test — dubbed “Kingmaker” — will be a spin on that, but the player who is flying solo in their given role will receive some kind of bonus.
Blizzard Entertainment
“We’re exploring more freedom in 5v5 while enabling more types of compositions to succeed,” Keller noted. These two tests are set to “provide an excellent benchmark and framework for us going into the 6v6 tests,” and Blizzard is hoping that players will provide feedback on them.
The future of 6v6 really depends on how much enthusiasm there is. “In the world where a surge of players join this mode and continuously play it, then we have the signal we need to do more with it,” Keller wrote. The game’s director notes that as recently as a few months ago, it was hard for him to foresee a situation in which 5v5 and 6v6 coexisted for the long term, but if the latter is a hit among fans, “we know our players can want more than one experience, and it would be something we’d need to consider.”
So, there you have it. If you’re yearning for a return of 6v6, you’ll probably want to spend quite a bit of time playing these tests. These experiments seem like a smart way to go about things and could mark a return to the days when it was easier to swap between roles, giving players much more flexibility to pull off great plays.
Any permanent return of 6v6 is likely to be a while away, though. Overwatch 2 has been tuned entirely for 5v5 in terms of hero abilities, reworks and balance changes. The maps have been designed with 5v5 in mind as well, with the team updating many maps from the original Overwatch to add more cover. As such, it may take some time to tweak things to make 6v6 happen, but its return is no longer a pipe dream for players.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatch-2s-long-awaited-6v6-tests-start-in-december-180100100.html?src=rss

It’s finally happening, Overwatch 2 fans: as Blizzard indicated back in July, it will test out a return to six-player teams. When the transition from the original game took place just over two years ago, Blizzard switched to a 5v5 format, dropping one tank from each side. But after countless requests from the community, the team is ready to trial new spins on the old format with different approaches to team compositions.

Two 6v6 tests will take place in the next season of Overwatch 2. The first of these will get under way a week into season 14. Based on when the current season is expected to end (December 10, given the battle pass countdown), that means the first 6v6 test should start around December 17.

Blizzard is looking to avoid some of the pain points that persisted with the 2-2-2 setup of two tanks, two supports and two damage (or DPS) heroes in the original Overwatch. The first test will offer something in between that rigid role queue format and letting players have whatever combination of heroes they want without duplicating the same character (the current open queue option).

Each team of six will have between one and three heroes from each role. So you could opt to run with three tanks, two supports and one DPS in a set up that’s similar to the infamous GOATS meta. But since this is a spin on the open queue format, teams will also be able to switch up their composition mid-match.

“There are a few different combinations here that you will be able to try, but this opens up many different team compositions that we haven’t seen before in Overwatch 2,” game director Aaron Keller wrote in a blog post. “Besides experimenting with a format that could be seen as a middle ground to Role Queue and Open Queue, this will also give us a look at how Overwatch 2 heroes, abilities and updates work in a 6v6 environment before we expand to other types of tests.”

The second test will take place at some point later in season 14 (which is also slated to introduce a new Scottish hero). This will be a step back in time of sorts to 2-2-2. However, it will “incorporate some new principles we introduced with Overwatch 2,” such as hero reworks and fewer crowd control abilities. 

Blizzard will make significant balance changes just for these two tests. For instance, tanks will have reduced power and survivability. Many passive abilities, such as self-healing over time for all heroes, may be tuned down or ditched.

“These format tests are all about understanding if we can make the core game even stronger,” Keller wrote. “Every day, millions of players jump into the core 5v5 format and the last thing we want is to negatively impact that experience. The exciting thing about these tests is the potential to introduce something that could appeal to another group of players, ones that might have felt uncertain about the move to 5v5 when Overwatch 2 launched. Part of this series of tests is to not only judge our player’s appetite for larger team sizes, but for us to explore different ways that we might implement a change without running into the same problems we had previously.”

Before the big 6v6 tests, Blizzard will try out a couple of composition-based experiments in season 13. The first will allow players to run with any spin on 2-2-1 that they like, but tanks will have reduced health, just like in open queue modes. You won’t be locked to a given role here, either — for instance, you can switch from support to damage as long as your team doesn’t have two DPS heroes already. The second 5v5 test — dubbed “Kingmaker” — will be a spin on that, but the player who is flying solo in their given role will receive some kind of bonus.

“We’re exploring more freedom in 5v5 while enabling more types of compositions to succeed,” Keller noted. These two tests are set to “provide an excellent benchmark and framework for us going into the 6v6 tests,” and Blizzard is hoping that players will provide feedback on them.

The future of 6v6 really depends on how much enthusiasm there is. “In the world where a surge of players join this mode and continuously play it, then we have the signal we need to do more with it,” Keller wrote. The game’s director notes that as recently as a few months ago, it was hard for him to foresee a situation in which 5v5 and 6v6 coexisted for the long term, but if the latter is a hit among fans, “we know our players can want more than one experience, and it would be something we’d need to consider.”

So, there you have it. If you’re yearning for a return of 6v6, you’ll probably want to spend quite a bit of time playing these tests. These experiments seem like a smart way to go about things and could mark a return to the days when it was easier to swap between roles, giving players much more flexibility to pull off great plays.

Any permanent return of 6v6 is likely to be a while away, though. Overwatch 2 has been tuned entirely for 5v5 in terms of hero abilities, reworks and balance changes. The maps have been designed with 5v5 in mind as well, with the team updating many maps from the original Overwatch to add more cover. As such, it may take some time to tweak things to make 6v6 happen, but its return is no longer a pipe dream for players.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatch-2s-long-awaited-6v6-tests-start-in-december-180100100.html?src=rss

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