Xbox is making changes to its Microsoft Rewards program
The Microsoft Rewards service on Xbox is set to undergo some changes.
Provident News
Red Dead Redemption 2 receives unexpected HDR10+ support, reminding us all that there are still cowboys moseying out there somewhere
Personally, it brings me some amount of peace to know that, somewhere in the world, people are still firing up Red Dead Redemption 2 and stepping through a doorway back across time to a world that moved according to the deeds of steely-eyed gunslingers and, more importantly, their steely-eyed horses. Even if I've moved on in my fascinations, they're still riding those dusty trails, picking wild carrots and—if my own experience was at all representative of the norm—getting mauled soon after by a large mountain cat. And now, according to the patch notes from a Red Dead Redemption 2 title update that dropped yesterday, that mauling can be enjoyed in glorious HDR10+ splendor. After all, can it truly be the Wild West without a full, vivid range of contrast and brightness, providing lifelike detail? I mean, I couldn't tell you.
NVIDIA RTXGI 2.0 Now Available: The Next Frontier of Ray Traced Visuals With Neural Radiance Cache, Spatial Hash Radiance Cache & Dynamic Diffuse Global Illumination Support
NVIDIA has updated its ray tracing global illumination SDK to the latest feature set in the RTXGI 2.0 update, offering support for new technologies.
Power Beyond Limits with BLUETTI New AC240 IP65 Weatherproof Portable Power Station
BLUETTI, the pioneer in portable power solutions, is gearing up to revolutionize outdoor adventures once again with its latest innovation, the AC240 IP65 Water Resistant Portable Power Station.
Suyu Nintendo Switch Emulator First Build Is Now Available for Download; Packs UI Improvements, QOL Changes
The first build of the Suyu Nintendo Switch emulator is now available for download, packing multiple improvements over the latest build of the now-defunct Yuzu emulator.
Alone in the Dark review
What is it? An intelligent reimagining of the 1992 classic that inspired Resident Evil and ushered in the era of survival horror.
Roblox reveals new AI-powered 3D modeling tools to 'empower the creation of anything, anywhere, by anyone,' which we're probably not meant to read too closely
Today at GDC, Roblox unveiled a pair of AI technologies aiming to streamline 3D modeling for the platform's boundless legion of content creators. The tools aim to automatically prepare 3D models for animation and provide AI-powered texture generation, offering either a way to offload some creative tedium, or to accelerate the expansion of the company's exploitable labor pool, depending on how charitably you want to look at it. The first of the announced tools, Avatar Auto Setup, automatically handles the rigging of humanoid models, which prepares the model for animation—in this case, for use as a Roblox avatar. «With just a click, Auto Setup will automatically rig, cage, segment, and skin 3D models,» Roblox said in a provided press release, claiming the tech cuts a process that can take days down to a handful of minutes. The second tool, Texture Generator, uses predictive image generation to create a texture for a 3D object based on a text prompt. «We are showcasing new technologies and opportunities to create, scale, and monetize on the platform in support of our vision to empower the creation of anything, anywhere, by anyone,” Nick Tornow, Vice President of Creator Engineering at Roblox, said in the provided press release. The „by anyone“ there sticks out, considering that just last month Roblox was accused in a class-action lawsuit of building a platform founded on the exploitation of child labor. Included demo footage of the new Roblox Studio features shows a baby-faced mannequin as it's processed by Avatar Auto Setup for avatar use. Before demonstrating the model's automated rigging with a standard running animation, the model gets slapped with a set of clothes thanks to its freshly-generated attachment points for Roblox cosmetics. Luckily for our nameless figure, I'm not basing any impressions on style points, because they've been garbed as a fantasy ranger with the world's worst haircut/headwear pairing. But hey, the auto-rigging looks like it works.
Ubisoft shows off AI-powered 'Neo NPCs' at GDC: 'It could be the start of a fantastic paradigm shift,' but let's be honest, it probably won't
Ubisoft unveiled a new project called Neo NPCs today at GDC, offering an early look at its «first player-facing generative AI (GenAI) prototype that could transform the way players interact with non-playable characters (NPCs) in videogames.»