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Google has announced Android XR, a new operating system designed to power the next generation of extended reality (XR) devices, like VR headsets and AR glasses. With this new operating system, Google wants to leverage advancements in AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) to create more natural and conversational interactions with technology.

Google collaborated with Samsung to develop Android XR. The platform supports a wide range of tools, including ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity, and OpenXR. It will make it easy for developers to create apps and games for XR devices. Android XR also has a deep integration of Gemini to enable users to interact with content, plan tasks, perform research, and more.

Google has also reimagined its apps like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Photos for immersive XR environments. For instance, users can watch YouTube on a virtual big screen, explore cities and landmarks in 3D with Google Maps, or relive cherished memories in 3D with Google Photos. Android XR will also support multitasking through virtual screens in Chrome.

Samsung is already working on an Android XR device, codenamed Project Moohan. This is a headset set to launch next year. The headset promises to transform how users interact with digital content. It will offer the ability to switch seamlessly between virtual environments and the real world.

Android XR will also power future smart glasses. These smart glasses will provide real-time assistance, such as navigation, translation, and notifications, directly in the user’s line of sight or through voice commands. Google has already begun real-world testing of prototype glasses with a small group of users.

Android XR is an open and unified platform for XR devices. It also offers developers an opportunity to create innovative experiences using familiar Android tools. Google has partnered with Qualcomm, Lynx, Sony, XREAL, and Magic Leap to develop a diverse ecosystem of XR devices for both personal and professional use. Google is now inviting developers, device makers, and creators to help Google shape the future of XR.

We can expect the first Android XR device next year.

The unthinkable might finally happen. Apple could finally fix the Magic Mouse and its terrible charging port location. As per Bloomberg, a new Magic Mouse is in the works, and it will likely revise the location of the charging port.

“The current Magic Mouse is nearing the end of its life, and Apple is working on a full overhaul,” says the report. Earlier this year, Apple switched the mouse to a USB-C charging interface, ditching the proprietary Lightning port.

However, the company hasn’t fixed its biggest problem, which is the underside positioning of the Magic Mouse. That means it is still unusable when charging and has to lie awkwardly on the surface when the cable is plugged in.

Now, a new Magic Mouse with a fresh look will take its own sweet time to take shape, or anywhere between 12 to 18 months, as per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. When exactly it hits the shelves, however, remains a mystery.

Engineering, prototyping, and quality analysis at Apple are a long-drawn-out exercise. Then there’s the production cycle, and coupled with Apple’s scale situation, it would take a while before we get a redesigned Magic Mouse.

It’s pretty surprising that a crucial computing accessory that was introduced over a decade ago hasn’t received a meaningful upgrade. That’s especially perplexing in the case of the Magic Mouse, which has been criticized for its poor ergonomics and awkward charging port location.

But a poor port location isn’t the only Magic Mouse woe. Digital Trends’ review of the Magic Mouse labeled it as “terribly uncomfortable.” Here are a few nuggets from the review that sum up its design flubs and functional challenges:

1. “It feels unnatural, and no amount of practice seemed to make it any more comfortable.”
2. “For sheer practicality, any money spent on one is really a waste.”
3. “Not only is this nearly impossible to achieve with a standard mouse-holding position, it’s [also] downright tiring and takes forever.”
4. “We would prefer to work with the cheapo freebie mice that come bundled with all-in-one desktops than a Magic Mouse.”

The situation is so bad that DIY enthusiasts have come up with ingenious ideas to fix the uncomfortable grip and the port situation. Let’s hope Apple’s engineers can fix both aspects of the next Magic Mouse while retaining its signature gesture fluidity and responsiveness.

Bohemia Interactive has released open-world multiplayer first-person shooter Arma Reforger for PlayStation 5. The game is now available via PlayStation Store for $39.99.

Arma Reforger is already available for the Xbox Series and PC via Steam. The game was launched in Early Access back in May 2022, followed by a full release in November 2023.

Arma Reforger is also the first ever Arma installment on PlayStation. Developer has confirmed that Arma Reforger will have full crossplay ability across platforms.

The game takes players to two meticulously crafted islands: Everon and Arland. The game introduces a mix of multiplayer and creative modes to cater to both tactical and creative players. These game modes are Conflict, Game Master, Combat Ops, and Capture and Hold. With its debut on PlayStation, Arma Reforger redefines the military simulation (mil-sim) genre.

Watch Launch Trailer

Netflix is bringing the heat to close out 2024. Squid Game season 2 makes its triumphant debut one day after Christmas. Nothing screams holiday cheer more than a show about game contestants dying in the most brutal ways possible. For something with more thrills, check out Black Doves, the excellent espionage drama starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.

Beyond the high-profile titles, Netflix has thousands of programs to watch, so much so that you can waste precious time scrolling instead of streaming. To save time, this guide recommends three underrated shows available to stream right now. The picks include a mystery involving a missing airplane, an invigorating thriller about a prison break, and an interesting teen soap.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

If Manifest had originated on Netflix instead of NBC, who knows how much bigger an audience it could have reached? As soon as the show hit Netflix, Manifest instantly became one of the most popular shows on the streamer. This surge in fandom led to Netflix renewing the show for a fourth and final season.

Manifest’s excellent premise follows the passengers and crew of Montego Air Flight 828 from Jamaica to New York City. After some brief turbulence, the flight is rerouted to upstate New York. Upon arrival, those aboard the plane are shocked to learn that over five and a half years have passed during their flight. How is that remotely possible? That’s where the mystery begins in this addictive supernatural thriller.

Watch Manifest on Netflix.

Prison Break (2005-2017)

Prison Break is a show where its fans refuse to let it die. The crime drama aired from 2005 to 2009, spanning four seasons and a TV movie. The series’ audience grew on streaming, leading Fox to revive it for a nine-episode fifth season in 2017. Fast forward to this month, and Hulu picked up a pilot for a new chapter of Prison Break. This is now a sign to see what all the hype’s about.

After being wrongly convicted of killing the vice president’s brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is sentenced to death. Convinced of his innocence, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), Lincoln’s brother, plans to use his knowledge as a structural engineer to break him out of prison. For Michael, the only way out is through. To execute the breakout, he must do the unthinkable: commit a crime and get sent to Lincoln’s prison.

Watch Prison Break on Netflix.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

By the end of its run, Riverdale fully embraced the supernatural by executing a time jump to mixed results. The series strayed too far away from the original premise of an eerie high school mystery. The first half of Riverdale is far superior to the back half, and it’s been so long that the initial seasons are somewhat forgotten.

With the show off the air, now’s the time to revisit what made it so fun. Based on the long-running Archie Comics series, Riverdale begins with the tragic death of a local teen that shakes the town to its core. High school students Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) try to live normal lives, but the town’s enigmatic dark secrets threaten to tear the community apart.

Watch Riverdale on Netflix.

The Game Awards 2024, held on December 12, was a grand celebration of the best in gaming The award show honoured the most exceptional titles and talents of the year. Winners were announced during the live stream on the official YouTube channel and Twitch. The night’s biggest award, Game of the Year, went to Astro Bot, which beat strong contenders like Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Here’s the complete list of winners across all categories.

Game Awards 2024 Winners

Game of the Year

• Astro Bot – WINNER
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Game Direction

• Astro Bot – WINNER
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Ongoing Game

• Destiny 2
• Diablo 4
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2 – WINNER

Best Performance

• Briana White (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)
• Hannah Telle (Life is Strange: Double Exposure)
• Humberly Gonzalez (Star Wars Outlaws)
• Luke Roberts (Silent Hill 2)
• Melina Juergens (Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2) – WINNER

Best Mobile Game

• AFK Journey
• Balatro – WINNER
• Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket
• Wuthering Waves
• Zenless Zone Zero

Best Art Direction

• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Metaphor: ReFantazio – WINNER
• Neva

Best Score and Music

• Astro Bot
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – WINNER
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Silent Hill 2
• Stellar Blade

Best Audio Design

• Astro Bot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – WINNER
• Silent Hill 2

Best Adaptation

• Arcane
• Fallout – WINNER
• Knuckles
• Like a Dragon: Yakuza
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Best Narrative

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio – WINNER
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
• Silent Hill 2

Games for Impact

• Closer the Distance
• Indika
• Neva – WINNER
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Senua’s Saga: Hellbalde 2
• Tales of Kenzera: Zau

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• No Man’s Sky

Best Multiplayer

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2 – WINNER
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• Tekken 8
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Independent Game

• Animal Well
• Balatro – WINNER
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Neva
• UFO 50

Best Debut Indie Game

• Animal Well
• Balatro – WINNER
• Manor Lords
• Pacific Drive
• The Plucky Squire

Best VR/AR Game

• Arizona Sunshine Remake
• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Batman: Arkham Shadow – WINNER
• Metal: Hellsinger VR
• Metro: Awakening

Content Creator of the Year

• Caseoh – WINNER
• Illojuan
• Techno Gamerz
• Typical Gamers
• Usada Pekora

Most Anticipated

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Grand Theft Auto 6 – WINNER
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Best Action/Adventure Game

• Astro Bot – WINNER
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Silent Hill 2
• Star Wars Outlaws
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best Role-Playing Game

• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the ERdtree
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio – WINNER

Best Fighting Game

• Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
• GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics
• MultiVersus
• Tekken 8 – WINNER

Best Action Game

• Black Myth: Wukong – WINNER
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Stellar Blade
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Innovation in Accessibility

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo 4
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – WINNER
• Star Wars Outlaws

Best Family Game

• Astro Bot – WINNER
• Princess Peach: Showtime
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Plucky Squire

Best Sim/Strategy Game

• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Frostpunk 2 – WINNER
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Manor Lords
• Unicorn Overlord

Best Sports/Racing Game

• F1 24
• EA Sports FC 25 – WINNER
• NBA 2K25
• Top Spin 2K25
• WWE 2K24

Best ESports Game

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends – WINNER
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

• 33
• Aleksib
• Chovy
• Faker – WINNER
• Zywoo
• Zmjjkk

Best Esports Team

• Bilibili Gaming
• Gen.G
• Navi
• T1 – WINNER
• Team Liquid

Players’ Voice

• Black Myth: Wukong – Winner
• Genshin Impact
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Wuthering Waves
• Zenless Zone Zero

The absence of Kevin Costner from the second half of Yellowstone‘s fifth season was one of the defining stories of the show’s second half. While many fans may have missed Costner and his character, John Dutton, there was at least one member of the cast who thought Costner’s absence made filming the show easier.

In an interview with Esquire, star Luke Grimes got candid about filming the final season. “Hopefully, everyone can see that it was time,” he told Esquire. “To be really honest, there was a part of Kevin being gone that meant some of the conflict was gone. Obviously, it didn’t make it super fun to be around. Not pointing any fingers, but it was actually the easiest season we’ve filmed.”

Costner didn’t return for the final season of Yellowstone because he was filming Horizon: An American Saga, his self-financed multi-part western. Costner’s John Dutton was the show’s central character through much of its run, but the show decided to move forward without him.

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Elsewhere in his interview with Esquire, Grimes said that Costner’s absence from the show gave his character Kayce a chance to step up.

“Kayce’s kind of the silent killer, and it’s great whenever he gets to use that energy for something good,” he explained. “He’s a character who is under his father’s thumb — just sinking into the background because he would rather be not noticed than have to do the s**t his dad wanted him to do. Now he gets to step up and figure everything out. So it was a nice payoff for me.”

The series finale of Yellowstone airs on December 15.

At Thursday’s Game Awards, two of the biggest reveals were new entries in the Okami and Onimusha franchises. It’s the first new title in either IP for 18 years, although there have been a few ports and remasters released over the years. The good news doesn’t stop there, though: Capcom has stated that it wants to continue bringing back its older properties and rebooting them.

According to its recent press release, Capcom “is focusing on re-activating dormant IPs that haven’t had a new title launch recently.” In this case, “recently” is a vague term. We’re approaching two decades without a new entry in either franchise, but these are both good places to start.

Capcom says it wants to broaden the range of titles it produces and make more money “by leveraging its rich library of content … in order to continuously produce highly efficient, high-quality titles.”

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If you aren’t familiar with Onimusha, it’s an action game that puts you in the role of a swordsman with supernatural powers and tasked with fighting endless waves of monsters. Capcom goes on to say that it hopes players look forward to a chance to “hack and slash” through hordes of foes.

Okami, on the other hand, is focused more on art than combat. You play as Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, who has taken on the form of a wolf. You fight your way across Japan in search of Celestial Brush powers that can help you advance farther into the game. It’s a colorful experience steeped in Japanese mythology, and it’s good to see the franchise earning another entry.

Capcom conducted a survey earlier this year asking players what franchises they would most like to see return. It’s no surprise that Mega Man, Dino Crisis, and other beloved games made the cut. For a long time, it seemed too much to hope these series might return, but now Capcom has dropped the barest hint that nostalgia might win again.

Warning: This article includes spoilers for Carry-On.

For an action movie predominantly set in an airport, Carry-On’s most memorable fight sequence occurs in a moving vehicle cruising on the highway. Stunt coordinator Dave Macomber had experience choreographing combat scenes in parked cars, but never ones that were moving.

“That one in particular was challenging,” Macomber told Digital Trends about the car crash sequence. “It came from the very specific demand that it be an unbroken shot in a moving vehicle going down a road.”

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Carry-On stars Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent assigned to work the security line on Christmas Eve. A mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails Ethan into letting a potentially dangerous package slip through TSA and make its way onto a plane. If Ethan fails to comply, the traveler will kill his pregnant girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson).

In the car scene, Detective Elena Cole (Danielle Deadwyler) and Agent Alcott (Logan Marshall-Green) are heading to the airport to investigate a potential crisis involving Kopek. After discovering Alcott’s lies about his identity, Cole pulls out her gun and demands answers. Realizing his cover has been blown, Alcott attacks Cole, leading to an explosive fight sequence with the two characters battling for control of the gun.

Collet-Serra, an experienced filmmaker in this genre, tasked Macomber with staging an unbroken shot of a tight-quarters fight within a moving vehicle. For Macomber, there’s no better way to plan a fight than by re-creating it yourself.

“The first thing that I got going on was doing a mo-cap (motion capture) version of that here at my house,” Macomber said. “I have a couple of motion-capture suits and designed the fight in such a way that it would guide the viewer’s eye to be able to see the things that were happening outside of the car at the appropriate times.”

“There was a process that we went through where we did all the motion capture and sent it to Jaume. Then he gave notes, and then we continued to revise,” Macomber added.

Macomber is no stranger to executing massive stunts for action movies. The veteran stunt coordinator has worked on several action projects, including Avengers: Endgame, Jungle Cruise, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Macomber added another title, second unit director, to his resume on Carry-On. Taking on more responsibility is a privilege Macomber does not take lightly.

“I’m in a responsible position for people that are friends of mine that are potentially in danger all the time. I’ll be honest with you, that’s kind of a motivation to be in the position in the first place because I’ve seen enough things go sideways that I don’t want that to happen to my friends,” Macomber said. “At the same time, I’ve managed, on the projects that I’ve been on, to surround myself with people that I really enjoy, so it’s been great.”

Many former stunt performers, such as Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and Sam Hargrave, have found success behind the cameras as action directors. Macomber credits a stunt performer’s versatility as to why they make for a great director.

“People like Chad, Dave, and Sam, they all have a great wealth of information at their disposal,” Macomber said. “When it comes time for them to sit in the main chair, they’re really well-trained because they’ve been doing it behind the scenes for a long time.”

Does Macomber want to add his name to the list of stunt performers who move on to direct feature films?

“I do,” Macomber said. “There’s a lot of us these days that are watching the success of those guys and saying, ‘Wow.’ It’s so cool to see people have those kinds of opportunities.”

Carry-On is now streaming on Netflix.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been the subject of speculation and rumors for a long time now, with fans looking for the slightest hint of news at every major gaming event. There have been several leaks, some more plausible than others, but two big leaks have emerged this weekend: one from Reddit, and another from Dbrand.

Reddit user u/NextHandheld posted a thread titled, “I’ve come from the future,” and claimed to have a finalized version of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its dock. They said proof would be posted on Christmas Day, but subreddit mods demanded proof or they would delete the account. Apparently u/NextHandheld had proof, because the mods allowed the post to remain up and said the evidence is substantial enough to believe.

The other leak comes from a Dbrand accessory listing, although it feels somewhat intentional. Take a look at the X post below.

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We will not be answering any questions at this time. pic.twitter.com/kBQcbB2PfV

— dbrand (@dbrand) December 12, 2024

Dbrand told Insider Gaming that the device inside the case is, in fact, the Nintendo Switch 2. The company, known for being blatantly irreverent, shared a link to the product page. On that page is a spinning animation that shows more details of the console inside, and it looks like all of the other Nintendo Switch 2 image leaks we’ve seen so far.

Another Reddit post from u/stardew92 had images from the most recent leak. These leaked images look a lot like the device inside the Dbrand case, and it matches the curved design that has been visible in other supposed Switch 2 leaks.

Returning to the original Reddit post from u/NextHandheld, they answered a lot of questions. The only proof we have is that the mods vouch for the evidence, so skepticism is suggested — but also know that these are the clearest details we’ve heard so far.

According to the post, the Nintnedo Switch 2 has a curved dock and Joy-Cons, but the basic build and design of the dock remains the same. It has two USB-A ports on the side, and then USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet inside. There’s a new button beside the Home button that is labeled “C.” Users speculated that it could be a camera control button or a Cast function, allowing the Switch 2 to act like a Wii U gamepad.

As for when any official announcement, u/NextHandheld said “I’ve heard word it’s gonna be in January. Something about there being a Nintendo meeting, but I don’t have that info confirmed.”

As with any early leaks like this, take it with enough sodium to worry your cardiologist — but the evidence presented so far seems pretty solid, so it’s okay if you get a little excited about this.