It’s the biggest week in years for gamers across the globe, as both Microsoft and Sony are releasing their next generation of consoles. A console is only as good as the games that are available on it, so here are (almost) all the Xbox Series S and X games rounded up.
At the launch of the previous generation devices, the PlayStation 4 dominated the Xbox One in terms of horse power. You’d often see games running in lower resolutions, or at worse framerates, on the Microsoft console. The power difference was corrected with the launch of the Xbox One X back in 2017. Microsoft proudly proclaimed that the One X was the most powerful console on the market, and games did indeed run a lot better on the One X compared to its competition.
This generation, Microsoft is coming out of the gates with a split approach.
On the low end, it’s launching the Xbox Series S (pictured on the left), a $299 console made for 1080p screens. We haven’t gotten our hands on the Series S yet, but it looks cute and seems to do what it says on the tin. Be wary of the smaller HDD though, it only has 362GB of storage available, which could become a problem down the line.
The storage space is expandable but it’ll come at a price, as all these new consoles rely on expensive NVMe SSD hard drives. These are amazing for load times, but a 1TB upgrade will set you back $220, which is more than the price difference between the Series S and the Series X.
On the high-end, there’s the $599 Xbox Series X. A fat little tower that is eight times more powerful than the Xbox One X according to Microsoft. We’ve had our hands on the final hardware for a couple of weeks now and you can read Rachel’s full review here, but the tl;dr is that this console is an absolute beast. Like the PS5, it packs a one terabyte hard drive, that should have enough space for most consumers.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of games available at launch for these new Xbox consoles. It’s all ports of games that are available on the old consoles, running at higher resolution and with higher graphical fidelity. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play on them though, here’s the full list of everything we’ve been playing so far:
Gears 5
Rachel: This year-old game proves to be a treat on the new Xbox, with stunning visuals and gorgeous character models. I loved this game because it finally made Kait the main character she was always intended to be, but I’m not a fan of its attempt to be more open-world. You can read my full review here.
Compared even with the PC release, the Series X version of the game has so much more visual bloom. It’s locked at 60FPS, which makes the combat feel even more snappy. This feels like the version of the game we were meant to play, and I’m almost sorry it wasn’t saved as a launch game for the next-gen release.
Next-gen enhancements: 4k60 with improved textures and effects, 120FPS mode for multiplayer, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $39.99, or included with Game Pass
Also available on: Xbox One and PC
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Rachel: Out of all the games on here, few radiate joy and character as much as the latest entry in the Yakuza franchise. Departing a little from the series tradition, Like a Dragon is an RPG starring new protagonist Ichiban and a cadre of colorful companions. It’s an easy point of entry even if you’re not a series fan.
The next-gen offering gives you the option of playing in different modes for high framerates, high resolution, or an in-between “normal” mode that compromises on both. Personally, I prefer the compromise as it keeps things at a steady 60 FPS, which looks great with the RPG action.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K at 30FPS or 1440p at 60FPS, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $59.99
Also available on: PS4, Xbox One and PC. A PS5 version is set for March 2nd 2021.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Nino: I can not stop playing or thinking about this game. Read my review if you want to get the full story, but the gist is that it’s a more streamlined, cohesive experience that’s probably my favorite entries in the series.
Valhalla already looked great on PS4 Pro, but it looks even sharper on the Xbox Series X and playing it at twice the framerate makes me never want to go back. It doesn’t have any fancy ray tracing features we’ve seen in Ubisoft’s other open world launch title, but I’ll take a high framerate over fancy reflections in this case.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $59.99 (standard edition)
Also available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Watch Dogs Legion
Nino:Assassin’s Creed Valhalla isn’t the only open world game that Ubisoft has ready for the next generation of consoles, Watch Dogs Legion is also upgraded for the new Xboxes and the PlayStation 5 at their respective launches.
Watch Dogs Legion didn’t blow me away (read my full review here), but the next-gen upgrades are cool. The lower resolution and bad texture filtering on the PS4 Pro made the game a bit hard to navigate, which isn’t a problem in the next-gen versions.
The biggest upgrade in the next-gen versions of Watch Dogs Legion is the addition of ray traced reflections. The London environment is filled with puddles and other reflective surfaces, so it’s a great showcase piece for this new reflection tech. It unfortunately also means that the game’s framerate is locked at 30FPS.
Next-gen enhancements: Ray tracing, higher internal resolution, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $59.99
Also available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Dirt 5
Rachel: I haven’t had the chance to play this game on a previous-generation console, so all I can say is that it’s absolutely stunning on a next-gen console. I can think of few genres that benefit more from higher FPS and resolution than racing. The new graphics mean better weather, sharper environments, and dynamic effects. If you want a game that feels like a real test of what the Series X can do, you might want to give Dirt 5 a try.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60 with the option to prioritize resolution or image quality and a lower quality 120FPS mode. Faster load times.
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $59.99
Also available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, coming to Google Stadia in 2021
Forza Horizon 4
Nino: My favorite racing game of the last generation got even better on the Series X, though it’s not a huge upgrade.
On the Xbox One X, Forza Horizon 4 offered players the choice between native 4K at 30FPS, or 1080P at 60FPS. On Series X, the choice is gone because Forza Horizon 4 runs at 4K60, so the best of both modes.
According to its developer, the Xbox Series X patch for Forza Horizon 4 also boosts the shadow, reflection, and particle effects quality, but those differences are so minor that they’re hard to distinguish. But that’s ok, Forza Horizon 4 was already a stunning game on the previous generation of consoles and seeing it run in native 4K at 60FPS is a treat.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free patch, available now
Price: $59.99, or included with Game Pas
Also available on: Xbox One
Credit: Capcom
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
Rachel: Few games of this generation or the last exude sexy, gothic energy with as much abandon as Devil May Cry V. I was in love practically from the moment I booted it up, and the game only got better from that point on. You can read my full review here.
The great thing about action games like this is that they’re usually always locked at high frame rates — and if they aren’t, they should be. The game gives you the ability to turn ray tracing and 120FPS mode on (though not at the same time) if you choose. It’s nice to have the option. Also, you get to play as Vergil — and that’s awesome!
Next-gen enhancements: 4k60 with ray tracing, 120FPS mode without ray tracing, faster load times
Upgrade path: None, unfortunately
Price: $39.99
Also available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (non-special edition) PS5 (special edition)
Fortnite
Nino: It’s safe to assume that every popular free-to-play game from the old consoles is going to receive an update to take advantages of the new ones sooner or later. Fortnite has already been patched and it looks great.
The graphical improvements aren’t going to set the world on fire, but Fortnite looks and runs great on Xbox Series X. The game now runs in 4K (it ran in 1728p on the One X), has faster load times thanks to the new SSD and the split screen mode now also runs in 60FPS.
The physics engine also received an upgrade. Grass and trees now respond to explosions, and fluids like smoke and water look more realistic on the Xbox Series X.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60, improved physics, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free patch
Price: Free
Also available on: Everything except iOS lol
No Man’s Sky
Rachel: Hey, remember when No Man’s Sky was kind of an alternate word for “fundamentally undercooked game released ahead of schedule”? It’s taken years, but NMS is finally the game it’s always meant to be. Not only is it visually spectacular, you can now play with up to 31 other players.
What was originally a rather lonely experience can now involve a full-blown community, with the ability to build bases and colonies together. The new visuals and fast loading times supported by the Series X’s SSD definitely give the game the upgrade it’s always longed for.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K 60FPS, visual enhancements including improved lighting and shadows, 32-player multiplayer support
Upgrade path: Free upgrade
Price: $59.99 with Xbox Game Pass
Also available on: PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One
The Falconeer
Nino:The Falconeer is a neat indie game about aerial dog fights with huge falcons. Think Ace Combat, but in a fantasy setting. It’s a cool concept – we don’t see a lot of narrative-driven flight ‘simulators’ – but I found the controls and the structure to be a bit frustrating. It would’ve been a perfect game for Game Pass, but at $29.99 I find it tough to recommend. Unless you’re desperate for some aerial combat of course.
It runs well on Xbox Series X with a ‘minimum‘ resolution of 4K and support for both 60FPS and 120FPS. It’s still an indie game made by a small studio, so don’t expect Pixar-level graphics, but it’s not unpleasant to look at.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K, 60FPS or 120FPS
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $29.99
Also available on: Xbox One, PC
Gears: Tactics
Rachel:Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy game that marries XCOM-style gameplay with a uniquely Gears-flavored campaign — and if you like either one of those things, you’ll like what Tactics has to offer. It also comes with an excellent story campaign that features some new faces (and at least one familiar one).
The biggest benefit you’re likely to get from going next-gen with this game is the speedy load times and 60FPS. It won’t makes as big a difference as it makes in, say, Gears 5 (see above), but it’s still nice to look at nevertheless.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60 with enhanced textures and ‘maxed out’ lighting, faster load times
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $59.99, or included with Game Pass
Also available on: Xbox One, PC
Tetris Effect: Connected
Nino: I absolutely, unconditionally LOVE Tetris Effect. I loved it when it came out in 2018 (review here) and I still love it just as much two years later. Tetris is one of the best game concepts ever conceived and it blends phenomenally well with Rez and Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s acid-laden audiovisual style.
Previously a PlayStation 4 exclusive, Tetris Effect now launched on the new (and old) Xboxes in the form of Tetris Effect: Connected. As the title implies, this version adds (online and local) multiplayer to the mix. Tetris Effect was already a great party game, so the addition of local multiplayer is more than welcome.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K60
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $39.99, or included with Game Pass
Also available on: Xbox One, PC, PS4 (without multiplayer)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Rachel: Nino will probably fight me on this, but I think the glowing jewel that is Ori is the prettiest game available on either console. A delightful platformer, it’s a great expansion on the rather simplistic original, adding such amazing things as weapons and actual characters other than Ori themselves. You can read my thoughts on why characters make the game better here.
If you played this game on a decent PC or an Xbox One X, you might not see a huge improvement — it’s not like this game has ray-tracing or realistic graphics. But if you haven’t yet experienced this game at 60fps, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Also, the pretty environments look spectacular on a 4K TV.
Next-gen enhancements: 4K120 or Supersampled 6K60
Upgrade path: Free upgrade via Smart Delivery
Price: $29.99, or included with Game Pass
Also available on: Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
As of this writing, we are still waiting on access to some games like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which is out this week. Other titles – like Mortal Kombat 11, Control, and FIFA 21 – are set to receive their next-gen patches in the coming weeks. We’ll be sure to update this article as we get our hands on these titles.
Copenhagen, 22.10.2024 – COBOD International, the global leader in 3D construction printing technology, proudly introduces the BOD3 3D Construction Printer for 3D printing of real concrete. Equipped with an extendable ground-based track system, the BOD3 advances the construction process by eliminating printer downtime between multiple buildings on the same site, setting anew benchmark for productivity and efficiency. The BOD3 is the most advanced solution for high-volume low-rise construction and a very effective alternative to conventional construction methods.
The heart and key feature of the new BOD3 3D printer is the advanced extendable ground-based track system. This system enables limitless extension along the Y-axes (length), expanding the printable area to cover 2 or 3 buildings, and reducing setup time to a single installation for multi-building projects. It’s a game-changer, allowing continuous, uninterrupted printing across large sites, increasing efficiency for high volume and mass production at an unmatchable scale.
Render of COBOD BOD3 3D Construction Printer.
The BOD3, COBOD’s third printer model, is the outstanding achievement of years of dedicated research, development, and close collaboration with customers. It is a vital advancement in automated construction technology, directly addressing the urgent global demand for faster, smarter, more efficient and sustainable building solutions. Like every COBOD 3D printer, the BOD3’s modular design offers customization, allowing it to easily adapt to any customer’s size wishes in addition to complying with the various sizes of construction sites anywhere in the world.
The BOD3 follows COBOD’s vision to build smarter through automation. Its operational stand combines the control and monitoring of both the 3D printer and supplementary equipment in one user-friendly system. The Advanced Hose Management System (AHMS) transports 3D printable material from the materials delivery system to the printhead via hoses secured within E-chains, minimizing physical labor and optimizing material flow. With the addition of the dual dosing system for additives, operators can better control the concrete and adapt it to onsite environmental conditions. By introducing additives directly at the printhead, the system reduces drying time between layers, speeding up the overall construction process. Designed for easy operation and precision, the BOD3 can be operated by a small, trained, and certified team, reducing the costs of projects.
Incorporating the innovative Universal X-Carriage, the BOD3 is ready for future COBOD advancements and technologies, like the introduction of additional tools for the printer aimed at insulating, painting, sanding, etc. This ensures long-term versatility and performance that will keep the BOD3 at the forefront of the industry for years to come.
Universal X-Carriage with Printhead.
Already deployed to the global market, the BOD3 is currently active in Indonesia, by Modula Tiga Dimensi, Angola, by Power2Build, andBahrain, by Ab’aad 3D. The customers report faster project execution with near-zero downtime between individual buildings on the same site. The projects showcase the BOD3’s ability to speed up construction and print with real concrete, with 99% locally sourced materials and 1% of innovative D.fab, a co-developed solution by COBOD and Cemex to make concrete 3D printable.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder and General Manager of COBOD, commented on the BOD3: “The global housing crisis demands a more efficient construction solution that is faster, more efficient, and scalable. The BOD3 is our answer to this challenge. Drawing on years of research and expertise, we’ve designed the BOD3 with innovative features, making it our most cost-effective and efficient model yet for multiple low-rise buildings. Its design supports high-volume, linear production of houses, enabling mass production without compromising quality. The fact that six units have already been sold before its official launch speaks volumes about the BOD3’s market demand and the trust our customers place in our technology.”
Michael Holm, Chief Innovation Officer at COBOD, states, “The advanced ground-based track system was developed as a response to our customers’ needs to increase efficiency and productivity. Now the 3D construction printer can be easily extended, and multiple consecutive structures can be printed with minimal repositioning and zero downtime between projects, making 3D construction printing more efficient than ever before.”
The BOD3 is now available for purchase worldwide; for more information, please visit our website, www.cobod.com, or contact us at info@cobod.com.
COBOD stands as the global leader in supplying 3D printers for the construction sector, with over 80 printers distributed across North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Driven by a mission to revolutionize construction through multifunctional robots based on 3D printing, COBOD envisions automating half of the construction processes to achieve faster, cost-effective, sustainable results with enhanced design versatility.
From residential, commercial, and public buildings, COBOD’s 3D printers have been instrumental in erecting 1- to 3-story structures across all six inhabited continents. The innovative technology also extends to fabricate large-scale data centers, wind turbine towers, tanks, and more.
Embracing an open-source material approach, COBOD collaborates with global partners, including customers, academia, and suppliers. The company, backed by prominent shareholders such as General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim, and PERI, operates from its main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and regional competence centers in Miami, Florida, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. COBOD’s dynamic team comprises over 100 professionals from 25 diverse nationalities.
ABOUT MODULA TIGA DIMENSI
PT Modula Tiga Dimensi is a joint venture between Bakrie & Brothers (BNBR) and COBOD. BNBR focuses on offering and providing solutions for housing backlog problems currently encountered by the country.
Teaming up with COBOD International, the company is now set to adopt the latest 3D printing construction technology and is ready to offer the Indonesian market a new and better solution to housing obstructions.
ABOUT POWER2BUILD
Reshaping the construction sector and adapting it to urgent human needs.
Power2Build is a technology company for the construction industry, prepared to establish partnerships with private, public, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) so that they can make the transition to Build 4.0 through 3DCP.
We offer our clients value-added services and high-quality projects, always with a multidisciplinary approach that brings together the necessary experience to deal with complex issues.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.
Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.
Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.
Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?
A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.
Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?
A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.
The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.
Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.
Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?
A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.
Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?
A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.
Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?
A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.
Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.
The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.
Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?
A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.
The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-in-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.
“What we’ve been able to do with the CHIPS Act is not just build a few new factories, but fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers,” Raimondo said. “All of this is because of the vision of the Biden-Harris administration.”
A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement reflected the negotiating process for reaching terms on the grant, rather than any political considerations. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the process.
After site work, Hemlock Semiconductor plans to begin construction in 2026 and then start production in 2028, the official said.
Running in 2016, Trump narrowly won Saginaw County and Michigan as a whole. But in 2020 against Biden, both Saginaw County and Michigan flipped to the Democrats.
