The saga has become a safe asset for Ubisoft. So much so that he ISs taken a risk with the next game in the franchise… that, frankly, he should have tried to take sooner.
Those were the times when ‘Assassin’s Creed‘ had numbered games and only a couple of protagonists roaming the world, right? Nowadays, with 13 main games in the franchise on the market (and 16 spin-offs), a good handful of assassins have already come together. The saga has become a sure bet for Ubisoft. So much so that they have taken a risk with the next game in the franchise… which, frankly, they should have tried to take earlier.
Assassin’s Creed’ is always several games ahead, developed like in a factory, especially after the success of ‘Mirage.’ A virtual reality game (‘Nexus’), one for mobile phones (‘Jade’), a service that serves as an entry point for the rest of the games (‘Infinity’), a game focused on the 16th-century witch hunt (‘Hexe’), and finally, the next major title in the franchise, set during feudal Japan: ‘Assassin’s Creed: Project Red.
Little is known about this game beyond the fact that it will be released in 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, and that ‘Red’ probably won’t be its final name. We also know that it will have a more role-playing style; in fact, they intend for it to set the future of the open world for a new generation of RPGs. Alright, all very nice, but… What is it that they have dared to do?
Well, it turns out that Pierre Boudreau, a writer who had already worked on previous installments of the game, made a mistake by setting one of ‘Assassin’s Creed: Project Red’ images as his profile picture on LinkedIn, which he removed almost immediately. But in that image, a female assassin was clearly visible. It’s not the first time we can play as a female assassin, as a “shadow” of the male version, but it is the first time Ubisoft would promote a game using the female character by default.
Rumors about the game suggest that we will have to choose between a samurai and a shinobi, each with a different fighting style, and what we don’t know is whether we will also have to choose the gender of the character we play with. In any case, we will know soon: the marketing campaign is about to start, and that’s when we’ll find out if they have taken a leap of faith or are still anchored in fear of what a small group of players with the superpower of shouting very loudly and crying even louder might say. Are you ready to get into the Animus again?
Do you suspect someone has blocked you on WhatsApp? With these easy tips you’ll soon find out if you’ve been deleted from their online life.
You’re talking to someone on WhatsApp, tempers flare, and suddenly they disappear and you never hear from them again. It can be your bestie, fling, former co-worker, an ex… they simply stop replying to your messages leaving you somewhat in the dark. This is when you ask yourself, “Did they block me on WhatsApp?”. We’ve all been there and know it’s not a nice feeling. Fortunately, there are a few ways to figure out if you’ve been blocked by a certain user.
Do you suspect you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp? There are some red flags that will help you find out the truth. Here are some easy ways to prove if your intuition is right.
You can’t see their last seen stamps or online status in the chat window
WhatsApp includes a “last seen” function that shows if a user is active and when was he last seen online. You can easily find this ticker by opening a chat with your contact and checking under his name. Normally you’ll find there a last seen stamp with a date and time. If you can’t see any information, you might have been blocked.
Keep in mind this isn’t a foolproof system since it is possible to disable this feature from the app’s settings. However, it’s a good start if you suspect someone has blocked you on WhatsApp.
Their profile pictures never change
If you can’t see the status of the person that you think that has blocked you, their profile photo hasn’t changed in a long while or it simply has vanished into thin air, there’s a chance they’ve blocked you.
When a person limits or blocks a contact on WhatsApp, their profile picture and status disappear from the app. Instead of it, you’ll see a blank silouette similar to the one that appears when you open an account and there’s still no profile picture uploaded.
It’s important to point out that, once again, this isn’t a foolproof method to know if you’ve blocked. It is possible that your contact isn’t very prone to update their picture often or that they decided not to share with the rest of their contacts.
Your messages can’t be delivered
If you’re sending messages and there are no blue check marks or double check marks, you can start to worry: they may have blocked you.
There are three types of check marks:
✓ Check mark- This is just a single check mark and means that the message has been delivered to the source server. For example, this is what you’ll see if it is at WhatsApp’s base of operations where everything is managed.
✓✓ Double check mark- Two check marks mean that the message reached its recipient. In other words, the same way it arrived at the WhatsApp servers, it was sent on out to that other person. This all probably sounds pretty familiar to regular users of the app.
✓✓Blue check marks- The check marks turn blue, which means the recipient has read your message. Although you won’t always see it. If the message recipient has turned read receipt off, you’ll never know if it’s blue or not. The most you’ll see is the double check we talked about before.
You might be surprised to know there’s quite a few reasons you might see only one check mark next to a message. The person may have turned off their phone so the second icon won’t appear, their device might be broken so it’s disabled, the SIM card may not work for that person (or you), etc. These explanations have an expiry date though. If you write to that person and it’s stuck at a single check mark for a long time, it is very likely you’ve been blocked.
Voice calls won’t go through
One of the easiest way to know if a contact has blocked you on WhatsApp is making a phonecall through the app. You can do this simply by pressing the phone icon you’ll find at the top right corner of your chat window. If the call goes through, even if they’re not answering, you can breathe a sigh of relief: You haven’t been blocked. It you get an error message though, sound the alarms since the odds are against you.
“Well, maybe not, maybe they don’t have reception.” That’s possible, it’s true. If the person does not have reception or Internet connection, you will also get an error when you call, just like if their device is blocked, broken, lost, etc. However, and as we said before, the chances of this happening for a long stretch of time are very low.
You can’t add them to a group
This one is one of the few foolproof methods to find out if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp. In fact, it’s so dependable we’re surprised we didn’t find it on the app’s official website as a way to find out if someone has blocked you. And the best part is that it’s as simple as creating a group and adding that person to it.
The best way to test this out is to quickly create a dummy group and then try to add your contact. If they’ve blocked you, the system itself will tell you that you can’t that participant because you don’t have the proper permissions and that an error has occurred. You’ll also notice a red question mark next to your suspected contact’s name. If you experience any of this, we’re sorry to let you know you’ve been blocked in WhatsApp.
Ask them directly
We all like playing Sherlock Holmes from time to time but there’s an easier method to know if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp. Simply ask the person straight away. If you’re not dealing with an online friend or someone that lives abroad, just meet this person and casually ask them about your WhatsApp conundrum. If you’ve been blocked and the person confirms it, talking it out might fix the problem. So, why not giving it a go?
As you can see, finding out if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. With these list of tips you’ll easily know who has kicked you out of their mobile life. And remember, when in doubt, just ask your friend directly!
Stop renting your cloud storage — own it with a lifetime subscription to Koofr, now on sale for $119.97 with coupon code KOOFR until October 31.
The modern-day tech world grapples with an internal crisis: Thanks to subscription fees, users often can’t truly own their favorite apps and services. Platforms like Koofr are challenging this new norm by offering lifetime subscriptions, allowing you to genuinely own your cloud storage.
Even better yet, through October 31, you can get 1TB with Koofr for $119.97 (reg. $810) when you enter code KOOFR at checkout. That’s the lowest price found on the web!
Own a massive 1TB cloud for life
Koofr has an impressive 4.9 out of 5-star rating from nearly 300 verified buyers. Some mention fast sync speeds and high value with a lifetime offer. But there’s even more to love about Koofr, like 1TB of storage that holds 250,000 photos, 500 hours of video, or 6.5 million document pages.
An offer packed with convenience and value
A feature that makes Koofr stand out is seamless integration with other cloud accounts. If you currently have a Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon Drive, or OneDrive account, you can access files from them all in one central location. Of course, you could also migrate them all into Koofr. This feature is especially useful for anyone currently juggling the free option on multiple platforms and looking for more convenience.
Moreover, Koofr is packed with tools that streamline your storage experience. A duplicate file finder makes it easy to remove repeated files within your account and advanced management tools help you keep your cloud space organized.
Threads is already working on its own API, which is essentially an Application Programming Interface, as stated by Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, in response to a conversation that took place on Meta’s own social network. The mentioned conversation raised the possibility of having an app equivalent to TweetDeck for Threads, and it justified the absence of a similar application due to the lack of a developer API.
With the creation of an API for Threads, it can open the door to new forms of interaction with Meta’s platform, allowing users to view its content through third-party applications or on the web. For those not familiar, an API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of definitions and protocols that enable communication between software from different applications, sharing both information and functionalities.
Threads will have its own API
This API for Meta’s latest platforms could also be used to create complementary applications to Threads. These applications could allow interaction with the social network and its content. Additionally, they could add features currently not available in the original app. It could be very useful, for example, to share content that has been published on a website directly on Threads.
On the other hand, Instagram‘s CEO, despite confirming this news through Threads, also wanted to express his concern that the introduction of an API for the social network might result in “much more content for publishers and not much more content for creators.” In other words, he is worried that media outlets, for instance, could publish much more content on the app, overshadowing the content created by users on the platform itself.
We’ll see how all of this turns out. For now, we can remember that Twitter (now X), among other networks, had a public API from which platforms like TweetDeck were created. However, as you may know, access to its API started getting restricted back in April. As a result, TweetDeck is now only available to X Premium subscribers.
A bug has begun to appear for some third-party Xbox controllers, along with a warning that the accessory will be blocked…
If there’s one good thing about the Xbox ecosystem, it’s that there are hundreds of options in the market when it comes to buying accessories. Many of them are official, while others are unauthorized third-party products. But they all work. Or, well, they used to work.
It’s not clear whether Microsoft is trying to deceive the devices to make them not work or if the Xbox manufacturer is attempting to promote its official partner program. It’s probably the latter.
Microsoft is nuking many third-party Xbox accessories owing to this new policy.
Goodbye to unauthorized controllers, and there are millions of them
An error has started to appear for some third-party Xbox controllers, accompanied by a warning stating that the accessory will be blocked for use after two weeks.
“From the moment you connect an unauthorized accessory and receive error code 0x82d60002, you will have two weeks to use the accessory, after which its use will be blocked with the console,” says Microsoft in a support note.
“At that point, you will receive error code 0x82d60003. We recommend that you contact the store or the manufacturer where you obtained the accessory to assist you in returning it,” concludes the message, which seems more like a threat.
Third-party Xbox controllers that are part of the “Designed for Xbox” hardware partner program are not affected, but any that have not been officially authorized by Microsoft are at risk of generating this error and being blocked.
A measure that could put an end to cheating on consoles
This could also potentially block third-party cheating devices such as XIM, Cronus Zen, and ReaSnow S1 from working on an Xbox console.
These adapters are commonly used on PCs to spoof controller inputs, allowing users of mouse and keyboard to gain the advantages of controller aim assist and reduced recoil mixed with the precision of mouse and keyboard movement.
Companies like Activision, Bungie, and Ubisoft have attempted to block these hardware spoofing devices with restrictions and bans in games like Call of Duty, Destiny 2, and Rainbow Six Siege.
However, Microsoft’s crackdown could negatively impact the fighting game community. Most third-party Xbox controllers are wired, as Microsoft typically doesn’t license its Xbox Wireless protocol to other providers.
PowerA released the first third-party wireless controller with an official license for Xbox consoles earlier this year, and Windows Central speculates that Microsoft’s recent ban might be related to the company working to expand approval for third-party wireless Xbox controllers.
As of today, it’s quite challenging not to be aware of Patreon, an ideal platform for content creators of all types, who have a community willing to invest in their work to help it thrive. Speaking of Patreon, and in case you use it or plan to use it, you’ll be interested to know that the platform is undergoing a significant makeover.
Patreon has revamped its logo and the application, but these changes are not just cosmetic; the platform has introduced new features to make the user experience as optimal as possible. With these additions, they aim to continue evolving the relationship between content creators and their followers.
Patreon continues to evolve
To start, in addition to Patreon’s rebranding, the platform now offers access to free membership levels. This means people following a specific creator can engage with their content more closely without having to pay. Content creators will still provide exclusive content for paying supporters, but now they can also sell digital products like files or videos.
It’s worth noting that content creators producing material for adults over 18 cannot sell digital products. The updates don’t stop there; Patreon has also introduced fully deployed community chats, a messaging system similar to Discord. Furthermore, user profiles can now be more comprehensive, allowing for the addition of details such as bios, profile pictures, and links to social media visible to other followers.
In fact, it’s not ruled out that in the future, Patreon might allow adding more details to member profiles, such as displaying the subscription level they are at or the products/articles they have purchased, for example. However, this would be something for the future, as what has been announced now is far from lacking.
Returning to the current user experience, Patreon’s revamped home feed now allows us to see new posts grouped individually by creators and organized chronologically in reverse order. In other words, posts from one creator won’t be interspersed with those from others, greatly enhancing the overall user experience.
Certainly, Patreon is determined to invest in its future as a platform and to make it a great place for content creators looking to finance their projects with the support of their followers and community.
These days, the portable console market is heavily dominated by Nintendo Switch and its models, that’s something evident, but they are by no means alone. In fact, in recent times, several alternatives have emerged that, while not solely consoles, can be referred to as portable gaming devices. For example, there are the two featured in this post, Steam Deck and Razer Edge, and we’re going to share some of their most important differences so you can lean towards one proposal or the other.
To be precise, let’s explore several of the key differences between Steam Deck and Razer Edge, something that should help you decide between the two, if you haven’t already. Remember that both portable consoles have been available for some time now (Valve’s since early 2022 and Razer’s since this very 2023), so once you’ve made up your mind, you can go ahead and buy them without any issue.
Steam Deck vs Razer Edge
With the introductions made, we can now delve into these key differences between Steam Deck and Razer Edge that we are going to highlight right here. Before we start, it’s worth mentioning that here we will take a superficial look at their features and some of their differences that we consider relevant when choosing one or the other. However, if you want to know all the details of each one, you can access the official website of Steam Deck and Razer Edge.
Firstly, it’s true that Valve’s portable console has managed to position itself in an advantageous position compared to its competitors (excluding Nintendo Switch, which continues to lead in its own way, as always), but we can’t say that Razer Edge is anything less than a solid alternative. Both devices have screens of a very similar size (7 inches for Steam Deck and 6.8 inches for Razer), although in terms of resolution, there are more differences. Valve’s device has a resolution of 1280 x 800p, while the Razer Edge has one of 2400 x 1080p. Regarding the refresh rate of both consoles, the differences are also very notable, with Steam Deck lagging behind at 60 Hz, while Edge has 144 Hz.
As you can see, in terms of the screen, Razer Edge scores a significant point because what a portable console’s screen can offer is crucial for enjoying the best possible gaming experience. As for the battery life of both, Razer Edge also wins, although by a narrow margin. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while Edge has a 128 GB storage model, its rival comes in three models: 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB respectively. However, all of Valve’s models have 16 GB of RAM, whereas Razer Edge has versions with 6 GB and 8 GB of RAM. It’s a closely contested aspect, indeed.
Since we’re discussing the technical aspects, it’s necessary to mention that Valve’s portable console features an AMD APU Zen 2, while Razer Edge has the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1. Regarding operating systems, one runs SteamOS 3.0, and the other runs Android. While Razer Edge wins in terms of screen quality and smoothness during gameplay, it’s worth noting that Steam Deck remains the more powerful option.
Getting into the most exciting aspect of a gaming device, we need to talk about the compatibility of both devices. Steam Deck allows you to enjoy stores like Steam itself, obviously, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect, along with a few lesser-known stores. It also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, so cloud gaming has its presence on the handheld. Well, all these mentioned stores can be accessed from Razer Edge, which also allows you to play mobile games since it’s compatible with the Google Play Store, given its use of Android.
Therefore, in this regard, they offer very similar experiences, but Edge wins by allowing you to enjoy many more games, no matter how mobile-oriented they are. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Steam Deck gives us the option to play on our TV as it comes with a dock, although this needs to be purchased separately, if desired, at a price of 99 euros. This interesting option is not available on the Razer device, although we understand that if you’re looking for a handheld, this might not be a deciding factor.
Another major difference between the two consoles lies in their design. To put it simply, Razer Edge is similar to the Switch. In essence, this device is an Android tablet that comes with an integrated Razer Kishi controller which can be detached and used with other compatible devices, like our mobile phones. In the case of Steam Deck, the controls are fully integrated into the console, offering a much more secure usage experience.
With all that said, and before we conclude, let’s talk about the prices of both devices. Razer Edge has an official price of 499.99 euros, while Steam Deck is priced as follows: the 64 GB version costs 419 euros, the 256 GB version is around 549 euros, and the 512 GB version is 679 euros. Now that you have all the necessary and relevant information about both consoles, it’s up to you to decide based on what you’ve read in this post. We could recommend what we consider the better purchase, but ultimately, this depends on what each individual is looking for in a handheld.
For players delving into the world of Alan Wake 2, an intriguing challenge awaits—a puzzle embedded within the Cauldron Lake landscape. This puzzle involves interpreting clues hidden among rocks and trees to access a secured stash of vital items. Let’s take a closer look at the Alan Wake 2: Rock Rock Tree puzzle and give you the answer so that you can continue your progress in the game!
The key to cracking the math puzzle lock in Alan Wake 2 revolves around a cryptic message, “Are you bright enough?” embedded within two rocks and a single tree. To solve the puzzle, players must find the specific rocks and trees holding the clues to unlock the hidden cache.
Clues are strategically placed near the locked box. One rock bears the “3 + 3” marking, almost inconspicuous beside the lock. Nearby, a tree with “6 + 2” marked in yellow tape presents the second clue. Not far off, another rock displays “7 – 2,” serving as the third and final hint essential for unlocking the box.
These clues translate into basic mathematical problems, showcasing numbers 6, 8, and 5—crucial elements of the locked box code. The sequence begins with the two rocks, where the first two digits must represent either 5 or 6, concluding with the final number, 8. Thus, the code to unlock the cache and reveal its contents is 658.
Entering this code into the lock grants access to the secured box, unveiling an assortment of essential items: flares, a propane tank, and a first aid kit. Although these contents don’t feature exclusive upgrades, they offer vital supplies crucial for surviving the game’s challenges.
Importance of the cache
While the items within the Alan Wake 2 puzzle don’t offer exclusive upgrades, they play a significant role in navigating the uncertainties of the game. Flares provide light and defense against encroaching darkness, the propane tank serves as a potent weapon, and the first aid kit offers essential healing capabilities, preparing players to tackle the game’s challenges.
Mastering this enigmatic Alan Wake 2: Rock Rock tree puzzle not only unlocks necessary items but also showcases players’ skill and determination in decoding the mysteries within Alan Wake 2.
The adventure continues, with more secrets waiting to be unraveled and challenges to overcome in the captivating world of Alan Wake 2. Stay sharp and vigilant, as every rock and tree might hold the key to the next exciting puzzle. Happy gaming!
Remember, the world of Alan Wake 2 is brimming with surprises, urging players to explore for hidden revelations and thrilling discoveries.
The former CEO of Apple is credited with 145 patents despite having died in 2011.
Steve Jobs was a figure who never left anyone indifferent. Known for his iconic ideas and peculiar behavior, the former CEO of Apple is credited with 145 patents despite having passed away in 2011 due to pancreatic cancer. How is this possible?
If we add up all the patents in which Steve Jobs appears, we can count up to 458 in total. The last one he applied for in his lifetime was the incredible glass cube that forms the entrance of Apple’s store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (New York), which was eventually granted in 2012. The truth is, Jobs was always deeply involved in Apple’s products and encouraged registering even the most insignificant details of each of them.
The first patent we know of from the former Apple CEO was registered in 1983 and is titled “Personal Computer.” The rest, as they say, is history. But how can Steve Jobs continue to appear in new patents if he is no longer with us?
One of the initial reasons has to do with the review timelines. More complex patents can take months or even years to be granted. Moreover, all the patents obtained by Jobs after his death were applied for before his passing. Deceased inventors can also “file” more patents if intellectual property updates are requested.
A good example to illustrate this is the famous patent for an Electronic Device. It was initially applied for in April 2008 and then published in October 2009. The most recent update recorded dates back to July 2021.
Still, the significant number of patents under Steve Jobs’ name continues to be attention-grabbing. To put it in perspective, Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook, doesn’t have any patents to his name as of today. Many people question Jobs’ true role in these creations, where he often appears listed alongside many other names rather than alone.
Take, for example, the interface of Apple’s Quicktime Player. Tim Wasko, the lead developer of the UI, explains that Jobs pointed out the interface details to be improved. This work was enough to have him credited on the patent.
If things continue this way, who knows how many more patents will appear in the coming years with Steve Jobs included?
Without a doubt, one of the major hits that can be found on Steam right now is the recently released Counter-Strike 2. Despite some criticisms from its players, Valve’s title usually boasts a more than notable number of simultaneous users. However, today we are here to highlight a title that isn’t even on Steam and yet competes head-to-head with CS2 in terms of concurrent players.
We’re talking about Blox Fruits, one of the many experiences you can find on Roblox. Obviously, the mentioned platform usually has a lot of users, but it’s quite striking that a game on the platform has such a resounding success. However, it’s worth mentioning that this triumph is largely due to a very significant update it received recently.
Blox Fruits is a success in Roblox
The other, in fact, the major part, of the success of this game within Roblox is due to its inspiration from One Piece, something they make clear just by looking at its logo. Blox Fruits has managed to capitalize on the popularity of the mentioned anime’s adaptation to live-action on Netflix. What we can also mention is that the proposal of this experience isn’t necessarily the closest to what the adventure starring Luffy and his crew offers.
Blox Fruits is a free role-playing game where players collect Blox fruit, which gives the game its name, and use the powers it grants to level up and become the best player in the experience. Yes, it’s true that the concept of the fruit is similar to One Piece, but the rest is a different story.
As expected from a Roblox experience, the game features Blox Fruits codes, which serve to assist players. This might not surprise you too much, as it’s more or less customary in these types of offerings. Earlier, we mentioned that one of the most recent updates is one of the main reasons so many players have gathered in the past few days, as it is heavily focused on Halloween.
At the time of writing, Blox Fruits has about 612.652 simultaneous playersin Roblox, while Counter-Strike 2 has about 652.886. As you can see, CS2 still has a greater number of players, as is normal, but the differences are minimal. In fact, this comparison is not at all coincidental, since not long ago Blox Fruits achieved 1.250.000 players, surpassing the Valve title, which had 1.200.000. Certainly, things seem to be getting back on track, but it is undeniable that it is very striking that a Roblox experience surpasses one of the most notable releases of 2023, although they are far from titles for the same type of audience.
