Deviation Games, the studio formed by Call of Duty’s Zombies mode creator Jason Blundell and Treyarch veteran Dave Anthony, has shut down before it could ship out the game it was developing in partnership with PlayStation.
The sad news was shared on LinkedIn by Deviation Games’ Chief HR & Operations Officer Kriste Stull, who also said the team would be holding a networking event to help those impacted by the studio’s closure.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Deviation Games,” Stull wrote. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to our entire team. Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and contributions to Deviation; I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with each and every one of you.
“To the entire video game industry, we will be hosting a networking event, and we would love for any/all companies/studios hiring to participate. Please reach out to me directly if you are interested in attending.
“To all the Deviators out there, we will always cherish the memories we made together. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Go get ’em!”
Deviation Games was revealed in June 2021 and Blundell and Anthony stated they were working on a new IP that was very early in development. We still have yet to learn what that IP was, but Blundell did share a few words about their dreams of the project back in 2021.
“We’re drawing on what we’ve learned over our collective decades making games, but we’re also out to make something fresh and brimming with innovation like you’ve never experienced before,” Blundell wrote. “We’re not afraid to say that our ambitions are super high: we’re setting out to make a huge, content-rich game with a focus on a lot of action and a lot of energy, but let’s leave it at that for now and hopefully it won’t be long before we can share more.”
The LEGO Animal Crossing range brings a variety of Animal Crossing: New Horizons characters to blocky life across five sets (initially, at least) that enable you to connect them and create your own Animal Crossing island in Lego form.
As part of this week’s Super Mario celebrations, Nintendo has now released an English version of its Super Mario Bros. Movie digital guidebook.
In case you missed our original post, this guide allows Mario Movie fans to “enhance” their viewing experience with all sorts of “Easter eggs and fun facts”. Although the guide is free, you will still need a Nintendo Account to view it.
A group of roughly 600 quality assurance (QA) workers at Activision under Microsoft have successfully voted to unionize with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), becoming Activision Quality Assurance United.
Activision Quality Assurance United is the first to unionize at Activision since the company was acquired by Microsoft, and the largest video game worker union in the United States. It incorporates central QA workers at Activision offices in Texas, Minnesota, and California, and is distinct from other recent QA unions under Microsoft such as the Zenimax QA union and groups at Raven Software and Blizzard Albany.
The group has organized with the support of a CWA-Microsoft neutrality agreement signed in 2022, wherein Microsoft committed to taking a “neutral approach” toward unionizing and refrain from hindering union discussions at the company, as well as offering a streamlined process for choosing to join a union. This is notable especially in light of the hurdles faced by Raven Software and Blizzard Albany in forming their unions prior to the acquisition, as both groups accused Activision Blizzard of union busting efforts.
“There was no one specific catalyst, but more so just recognizing as QA workers we often have the lowest protections and lowest pay of any workers in the industry even though our work requires expertise, skill, and is absolutely essential to the success of the companies where we work,” said Tom Shelley, technical requirements specialist at Activision and member of the newly formed AQAU.
The CWA Labor Neutrality Agreement is a historic agreement and unprecedented at a tech company of Microsoft’s size
“The CWA Labor Neutrality Agreement is a historic agreement and unprecedented at a tech company of Microsoft’s size. By recognizing our union, Microsoft is making good on its promise to respect our ability to decide for ourselves about union representation. We encountered no union-busting at a time when most US companies – especially tech companies — regularly spend millions on anti-union consultants to prevent workers from speaking up for themselves. We hope this will inspire other workers to form unions and raise industry-wide expectations for pay, benefits, and respect for workers’ rights.”
The group expects to bargain with Microsoft over a new contract, particularly over asks such as better pay and benefits, more promotional opportunities, and a clear career development track. Currently, Zenimax QA workers are bargaining over their first contract with the company, which thus far includes agreements on subjects such as subcontracting and artificial intelligence.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Korean developer Shift Up just published – and then unpublished – a demo for its upcoming sleek action game, Stellar Blade, ahead of its launch on PlayStation 5 next month.
Fans excited to try out the futuristic combat-focused title were surprised to see the offer show up on the PlayStation Store earlier today. They were even more surprised, however, to see the demo removed from the store minutes later.
After it was unlisted, the Stellar Blade demo page simply featured a message that said it was “not available for purchase.” Now, as pointed out by Wario64 on X/Twitter, links simply lead to an error page.
This short look at Stellar Blade was live on the digital store for around 20 minutes, giving some fans more than enough time to download and dive in before its removal. Streamer yaboyroshi was lucky enough to grab the demo and even started streaming gameplay on Twitch. The Stellar Blade Twitch page is slowly filling up with other streams of the demo, with seven users showcasing gameplay at the time of this story’s publication.
With players actively diving in to showcase what seems to be some early moments from the game, it seems Shift Up’s demo might have made its way to the PlayStation Store a bit too early. There is currently no official word on when or if it will return. It’s a head-scratcher, but it seems the page was accidentally updated by mistake. It would explain why the demo appeared without prior announcement from Sony or Shift Up, though neither have released an explanation.
Stellar Blade comes to PS5 on April 26. Those interested in pre ordering it can see the rundown of purchase options here.
Good news for deckbuilding fans itching to play the indie smash hit Balatro, as the game has returned to the Switch eShop today in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Just a week ago, the game disappeared from Switch storefronts due to “a reaction to an overnight change to Balatro’s age rating”. Today, publisher Playstack shared the news of Balatro’s return on Twitter. At the moment, the game is still unavailable to buy on the eShop in Japan, but the team are still looking into this.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
OS Version: XB_FLT_2408GE26076.1502.240306-2200
Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 8, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 9, 2024
New Features and Experiences
We have exciting news! Alpha Skip-Ahead users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.
Capture & Share
Users will now see a toast notification after uploading a new screenshot or game clip to OneDrive if they’re running low on space.
Xbox Wireless Controllers
We’re releasing a new version of the Xbox Wireless Controller firmware today which includes improvements to unexpected disconnections when using a wired headset.
If your controller needs an update, you will be prompted to install it once the controller is powered on and connects to your console. You can also open the Xbox Accessories App to install the update manually if you missed or dismissed the prompt.
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
The best Blu-ray players let you watch the best movies and TV shows in the comfort of your own home and at the highest possible quality this side of a movie theater. While you can easily stream content via streaming services on the latest smart TVs, Blu-Ray players offer a higher level of detail and a more immersive experience. If you’re a collector, it’s also great fun collecting and organizing Blu-Ray discs.
Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices, or if you’re searching for the ultimate home entertainment devices, you’ll want the best out there.
The Best Blu-Ray Players:
1. Panasonic DP-UB9000
Best Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Excellent image quality
HDR support
Cons:
Very expensive
If you’re ready to splurge on the best Blu-Ray player, you won’t be disappointed by the Panasonic DP-UB9000. This premium package all major HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.
Thinking about upgrading your home entertainment system? You’ll want this in your collection. Not only does it boast excellent image quality, but it also produces some seriously good audio thanks to its DAC, 7.1 audio channel, and two-channel outputs.
Turn the Blu-Ray player around and you’re met with tons of input and output options. This is the best Blu-Ray player on the market if it’s in your budget.
2. Sony UBP-X700M
Best 4K Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Decent picture
Dolby Vision support
Cons:
No HDR10+ support
Investing in a decent Blu-Ray player that doesn’t cost the Earth can be challenging. But the Sony UBP-X700M hits the sweet spot by offering a more affordable way into the world of Blu-Ray while maintaining decent specs and features. Despite its low price point, you still get 4K and premium audio quality.
You aren’t sacrificing an awful lot; yes, there’s no HDR10+ support, but there’s still HDR10 and the player can handle 24bit/192kHz files and multiple formats. Throw in some smart features and dual HDMI outputs, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
3. PlayStation 5
Best Game Console with Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Doubles up as a game console
Atmos and DTS:X passthrough
Cons:
Overkill for a Blu-Ray player
Gamers will love the PlayStation 5 and could definitely consider it one of the best Blu-Ray players since it doubles up as a game console. With 4K Blu-Ray support, you can play your favorite games and movies on the same device. And while it doesn’t support Dolby Vision over HDR like the Xbox Series X, it can pass Dolby Atmos via your TV and deliver outstanding picture quality.
The PlayStation 5 upscales HD Blu-Ray discs naturally and offers clean, sharp images when playing movies and TV shows. It’s fun for all the family too. Not only does the PlayStation 5 allow you to play games, but there are loads of apps you can install, including the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services.
4. Xbox Series X
Best Alternative for Home Entertainment
Pros:
Great for families
HDR10
Cons:
Not as good as the PS5
If you’ve decided you’re going to use your game console as a Blu-Ray player, the only real conundrum you’ll have is choosing between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the PlayStation 5 does tip the scales in favor of image quality, the Xbox Series X supports Dolby Vision HDR from streaming services.
Put this alongside Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got an entire home entertainment system for you and your family. Plus, if you invest a small amount each month on the Xbox Game Pass, there are plenty of games you can enjoy for free. You may have to suffer a small dip in 4K image quality and HD upscaling compared to the PlayStation 5, but unless you’re paying extra special attention and comparing them side by side, you won’t notice the differences too much.
5. Sony BDP-BX370
Best Budget Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Good value for money
User-friendly
Cons:
1080p
Sometimes all you need is a Blu-Ray player that will play your discs, display decent image quality and audio, and have none of the frills more expensive models offer. That’s what the Sony BDP-BX370 does well. It’s limited to 1080p, but in full HD, this might be what you’re after. If you have older DVDs lying around, it also upscales DVDs to near-HD quality.
With support for screen mirroring from your phone, this Blu-Ray player offers more than you might expect. It’s incredibly easy to set up too thanks to the included HDMI cable and super quick start mode.
If you are looking for an affordable Blu-Ray player, Sony does not let the side down. It’s simple, effective, and will look great in any home.
How To Choose the Best Blu-Ray Player
Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can enhance your home entertainment experience by delivering stunning picture quality and immersive audio. When selecting a Blu-Ray player, it’s essential to consider certain features and specifications to ensure that it meets your needs.
Let’s look at it this way; if you were stood in a shop deciding between two Blu-Ray players, the first thing you’re going to want to prioritize is picture quality. At the very least, you want HD playback, but if you want a future-proof device, opt for 4K UHD, as well as features like HDR support.
Next up is audio quality. If you’re adding to your home entertainment setup, support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds to the immersive experience. On a similar note, you’ll want to consider what connectivity options the Blu-Ray player offers, like HDMI, digital audio outputs, USB, and so on. If you have a projector at home, a smart TV, or something else, your new Blu-Ray player has to be compatible.
While streaming apps and smart features aren’t the be-all and end-all, these things are nice to have. If you are faced with two similar Blu-Ray players, having Netflix built-in or smart capabilities might tip the scales.
Upcoming Blu-Ray Players
There are no significant upcoming Blu-Ray players or planned releases, but it does look like there may be new ones at some point. Blu-Rays are having somewhat of a resurgence thanks to film studios and filmmakers investing resources into specific Blu-Ray releases. These are mostly targeted at collectors, or users who enjoy purchasing limited edition discs. This might, however, turn the tide on the Blu-Ray market.
Blu-Ray Player FAQ
Are Blu-Ray Players Still Worth Buying?
Blu-Ray players are a great addition to movie night. While it’s easy to stream movies and such directly from services like Netflix, you don’t get the same level of image and audio quality as you do from a high-end Blu-Ray player.
Some Blu-Ray players are also lightweight enough that they become more portable. For example, if you’ve booked a stay at an Airbnb with the family, some extra entertainment might prove useful.
Can You Play Blu-Ray Discs on a Normal DVD Player?
Blu-Ray discs only work on Blu-Ray players. You couldn’t put a Blu-Ray disc into a DVD player or CD player. The formats are different and therefore require specific drives to play them.
What Are the Advantages of a Blu-Ray Player?
Blu-Ray discs can hold large amounts of data. Not only are Blu-ray players great for the home, they are also great in workplaces. But, aside from being useful, Blu-ray players offer excellent sound and picture quality.
With many people opting to ditch Blu-Ray discs and move to online streaming services, Blu-Rays can often be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you invest in something like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you can enjoy games as well as movies and TV shows on the same device.
Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.
