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5 reasons why Xbox Series X will beat PS5 – Tom's Guide

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With a much larger install base and more beloved exclusives, there’s no question that the PS4 has soundly defeated the Xbox One over the course of this generation. But that could change when the Xbox Series X takes on the PS5 this fall.

Thanks to its superior raw power, robust backwards compatibility and access to a rich library of great services, the Xbox Series X is already primed to be the best next-gen console you can buy. 

That being said, Sony is looking primed to continue its dominance next generation, with an impressive PS5 games lineup that includes heavy hitters like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon II: Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7. While the Xbox Series X’s success will ultimately hinge on how many great exclusives it can deliver in return, here are five reasons why Microsoft’s new console can top the PS5.

Better raw power

(Image credit: Xbox)

Looking at the Xbox Series X and PS5 specs side-by-side, Microsoft’s console should come out on top when it comes to sheer performance. The Series X has more teraflops of compute power at 12 TF vs the PS5’s 10.3 TF, and has a slightly larger SSD at 1TB vs the PS5’s 825GB drive. However, the PS5’s SSD has a faster read speed of 5.5GB per second compared to the Xbox Series X’s 2.4GBps. 

Of course, specs alone don’t tell the full story, and each system’s gaming performance will ultimately come down to how well developers are able to take advantage of the tech inside of each box. But on paper, the Xbox Series X should allow for the highest-fidelity graphics we’ve seen on a console. 

Superior services 

Here’s where Xbox is miles ahead of the competition. Xbox Series X will benefit instantly from Microsoft’s $10-per-month Xbox Game Pass service, which provides access to 100-plus Xbox games for a monthly fee. Game Pass also gets you all first-party Microsoft games at launch, meaning Series X owners won’t have to pay $60 a pop to score hot exclusives such as Halo Infinite and Hellblade 2. 

While Sony has its own subscription service in the form of PlayStation Now, that program largely delivers older games with occasional, limited access to major exclusives. Unless Sony makes a big change for PS5, Xbox Series X will be far ahead of the competition in terms of subscription options at launch. 

 Better backwards (and forward) compatibility

Speaking of having access to great games at launch, the Xbox Series X is already confirmed to support thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Xbox games out of the gate thanks to backwards compatibility. That includes virtually every Xbox One game, as well as the hundreds of Xbox 360 and Xbox titles already optimized to run on the Xbox One. 

But Microsoft isn’t stopping there. Many older games will be able to run on Series X at even better settings, bringing key features such as 4K resolution and blistering 120fps framerates to classic Xbox games from previous generations. Sony has been much less direct about PS5 backwards compatibility, only suggesting that the “overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles” will work on the new console. 

Better yet, Microsoft has already promised that those who buy Xbox One titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Halo Infinite will automatically get their upgraded Xbox Series X versions for free via the Smart Delivery program. This feature will apply to all first-party Xbox games, as well as select third-party titles such as Madden NFL 21 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. 

There’s still no word on whether Sony will offer a similar upgrade system for PlayStation fans, and if it doesn’t, the PS5 could fall way behind for those with large libraries of legacy games.

An expansive ecosystem 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

When the Xbox Series X launches, it’ll join a rich Xbox ecosystem that extends across multiple Xbox consoles, Windows 10 and even the cloud. When you buy a game like Halo Infinite, you’ll be able to seamlessly hop between your Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC, picking up right where you left off on the previous platform. And if recent releases like Gears 5 and Sea of Thieves are any indication, Xbox Series X owners will be able to play with Xbox One and PC players on most first-party titles.

Once you factor in Project xCloud, Microsoft’s upcoming cloud gaming service that will let you stream titles to your phone or PC, it’s clear that your Xbox Series X game purchases will go way beyond that specific machine, and can be enjoyed wherever you want to play them in that specific moment. Sony seems to be taking a more rigid stance on PS5 games, insisting that its building experiences that can “only be enjoyed on PS5.”

A potentially better value  

Console wars are often won on price, and after stumbling with the Xbox One, Microsoft has a chance to redeem itself with the Xbox Series X. Noted gaming analyst Michael Pachter predicts that Microsoft will take a loss on the Series X and undercut the PS5 by $100. Of course, pricing isn’t confirmed for either console, so we’ll have to wait and see how things shake out later this year.

But even if the Xbox Series X isn’t cheaper than the PS5, it could still be more attainable. The new console will be part of Microsoft’s Xbox All Access program, which currently allows you to lease an Xbox One complete with Xbox Game Pass starting at $20 a month for 24 months. Once you’ve made 18 payments of your current Xbox, you’ll be able to upgrade to the Series X on your plan. We don’t yet know what the monthly price of an Xbox Series X will be under All Access, but the ability to pay for the console in monthly installments could give it a big advantage over the PS5 for budget-conscious gamers. 

Outlook

Microsoft started the Xbox One generation stumbling, with a more expensive, less powerful console that had few killer exclusives to attract gamers. But the Redmond giant has made significant moves over the years, developing a great ecosystem built around seamless cross-platform play, expansive backwards compatibility and great value via Xbox Game Pass. 

Of course, Microsoft still has to prove it can deliver where it matters most: The games. The company has built up an impressive stable of developers under its Xbox Games Studio umbrella, but it’ll need exclusive titles on the level of a God of War, The Last of Us or Spider-Man to truly give the PS5 a run for its money. But thanks to its superior hardware, services and feature set, the Xbox Series X is in the best possible position to do just that.

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Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

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LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

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Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

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LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.

The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.

“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”

San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.

Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”

“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.

The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Kuwait bans ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ video game, likely over it featuring Saddam Hussein in 1990s

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The tiny Mideast nation of Kuwait has banned the release of the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” which features the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and is set in part in the 1990s Gulf War.

Kuwait has not publicly acknowledged banning the game, which is a tentpole product for the Microsoft-owned developer Activision and is set to be released on Friday worldwide. However, it comes as Kuwait still wrestles with the aftermath of the invasion and as video game makers more broadly deal with addressing historical and cultural issues in their work.

The video game, a first-person shooter, follows CIA operators fighting at times in the United States and also in the Middle East. Game-play trailers for the game show burning oilfields, a painful reminder for Kuwaitis who saw Iraqis set fire to the fields, causing vast ecological and economic damage. Iraqi troops damaged or set fire to over 700 wells.

There also are images of Saddam and Iraq’s old three-star flag in the footage released by developers ahead of the game’s launch. The game’s multiplayer section, a popular feature of the series, includes what appears to be a desert shootout in Kuwait called Scud after the Soviet missiles Saddam fired in the war. Another is called Babylon, after the ancient city in Iraq.

Activision acknowledged in a statement that the game “has not been approved for release in Kuwait,” but did not elaborate.

“All pre-orders in Kuwait will be cancelled and refunded to the original point of purchase,” the company said. “We remain hopeful that local authorities will reconsider, and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series.”

Kuwait’s Media Ministry did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press over the decision.

“Call of Duty,” which first began in 2003 as a first-person shooter set in World War II, has expanded into an empire worth billions of dollars now owned by Microsoft. But it also has been controversial as its gameplay entered the realm of geopolitics. China and Russia both banned chapters in the franchise. In 2009, an entry in the gaming franchise allowed players to take part in a militant attack at a Russian airport, killing civilians.

But there have been other games recently that won praise for their handling of the Mideast. Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed: Mirage” published last year won praise for its portrayal of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age in the 9th century.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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