Technology - Google News

Apple reportedly planning two MacBooks with ARM processors for 2020 - The Next Web
Naughty Dog's PS5 plans are already kicking into gear - TechRadar
Why Tencent is looking to buy Warframe parent company Leyou - VentureBeat

Apple reportedly planning two MacBooks with ARM processors for 2020 - The Next Web

Posted: 10 Jul 2020 12:05 PM PDT

Prolific Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo is at it again with another prediction on Cupertino's upcoming products. Specifically, Kuo believes Apple is planning to launch a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and a new MacBook Air with the newfangled chips as early as this year, as well as 14 and 16-inch Pros next year. In a research note, Kuo says(via MacRumors):

We predict that Apple will launch new MacBook models including the new 13.3-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ equipped with the ‌Apple Silicon‌ in 4Q20, the new ‌MacBook Air‌ equipped with the ‌Apple Silicon‌ in 4Q20 or 1Q21, and new 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models equipped with the ‌Apple Silicon‌ and all-new form factor design in late 2Q21 or 3Q21.

Apple is also rumored to announce a redesigned iMac with a design more akin to the iPad Pro this year, although it probably won't feature an ARM processor in 2020.

The company has developed an expertise in ARM processors since the inception of the iPhone, launching devices with processors that are often a generation ahead of competitors in performance while being more efficient to boot. At WWDC, the company claimed its silicon will both be more powerful and use less power than existing desktop processors, although the announcement was light on specifics.

Developers were offered a new Mac Mini featuring an A12Z Bionic process — essentially a tweaked iPad Pro chip — after WWDC. While we may see that chip in the new MacBook Air, being Apple's entry-level laptop, we expect to see a big leap in performance on the new MacBook Pros, as those will have to compete with the existing Intel Models.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say — we'll (hopefully) find out more later this year.

For more gear, gadget, and hardware news and reviews, follow Plugged on Twitter and Flipboard.

Published July 10, 2020 — 19:05 UTC

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Naughty Dog's PS5 plans are already kicking into gear - TechRadar

Posted: 10 Jul 2020 03:56 AM PDT

After the huge critical and commercial success of The Last of Us 2, what does developer Naughty Dog have planned next? That's the question on our minds after the famed game studio – also behind the Uncharted and Crash Bandicoot series – posted a number of job listings for what seems like a PS5 title.

Naughty Dog's careers website currently has a whole host of vacancies – everything from single-player level designers to temporary texture artists – but a couple in particular raise interesting questions about what the studio is planning next.

As noted by GameSpot, one specific listing for a Tools Programmer mentions "next-generation graphics analysis, profiling and debugging" – and given the close relationship Naughty Dog has with PlayStation, it's pretty certain this is referring to the incoming Sony PS5.

Not the last of it

We wouldn't be surprised if something related to The Last of Us 2 was in the works, with a PS5 remaster of the recent title being pretty much inevitable at some point.

We know that the studio is also planning some kind of multiplayer experience rooted in The Last of Us universe, after a planned online mode for TLOU 2 was turned into its own separate project – one that could launch as a standalone title possibly as soon as early 2021.

A multiplayer title would fit with other details in these job listings, including mention of a "hand-to-hand combat system", though something else entirely could also be on the cards.

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Why Tencent is looking to buy Warframe parent company Leyou - VentureBeat

Posted: 10 Jul 2020 02:16 PM PDT

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After rumors surfaced that Sony was considering acquiring Hong Kong gaming company Leyou Technologies, the focus is now shifting to Tencent. In a note to investors, Leyou confirmed that it is in talks with Tencent about an acquisition. The two companies agreed to terms on a three-month exclusive window for talks about Tencent taking Leyou private. This effectively ices out any other firm from acquisition talks — and that includes Sony and its PlayStation brand.

Leyou is an appealing acquisition target because it has a number of talented game-development studios. Most notably it owns Dirty Bomb developer Splash Damage and 97% of Warframe studio Digital Extremes. Splash Damage is also currently working with Microsoft on Gears Tactics and Google Stadia on an unannounced project. And it's that capability to build modern service games for PC that makes Leyou so attractive.

"Tencent continues its global expansion efforts with acquisitions of studios that augment the company's exposure in PC, mobile, and console development for China and for global markets," Nike Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad writes in a note provided to GamesBeat. "Leyou owns a number of studios that have expertise in global online free-to-play game development for console and PC, an area that Tencent is actively exploring as it expands overseas."

Tencent is huge in global mobile gaming. It's the company that adapted PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds for smartphones. But it wants to ensure it has a similar presence on PC. Leyou can unlock that.

Leyou's studios could also benefit from a Tencent partnership

But the exchange of experience is a two-way street. While Leyou's teams can bring deep insights into best-practices for live-service PC games, Tencent can also capitalize on Warframe and other properties on mobile.

"Tencent's mobile expertise can also help studios under Leyou bring their titles to smartphones," writes Ahmad. "Warframe is Leyou's largest title, accounting for $175 million, or 80%, of revenue generated in 2019. The game is licensed by Changyou in China and is also available on [Tencent's Steam-like] WeGame locally."

With 60 million registered players, Warframe has already proved its capability to bring in players. Digital Extremes continues to prove the game's longevity after growing in each concurrent year since 2013. Mobile could potentially add to those numbers in a significant way.

Finally, a Leyou acquisition would give Tencent exposure to some important properties.

"Leyou has numerous titles in development, including games based on popular IP such as Lord of the Rings and Transformers," writes Ahmad. "That can help diversify revenues in the future."

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