EA is making a free-to-play Lord of the Rings RPG for mobile

Electronic Arts is stepping back into Middle-earth. The publisher has announced a free-to-play mobile game called The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth. The RPG is the first EA mobile title based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. EA Capital Games is developing the game. The studio was behind another successful collectible mobile RPG in 2015’s Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

Heroes of Middle-earth will include characters from both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, along with collection systems, turn-based combat and “immersive storytelling.” EA said in a press release that players will experience “iconic stories from the world of Tolkien and take up the fight against the great evils of Middle-earth.” Unsurprisingly, given that this is a free-to-play mobile title, there will be microtransactions.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with The Saul Zaentz Company and Middle-earth Enterprises on the next generation of mobile role-playing games,” said EA’s vice-president of mobile RPG Malachi Boyle said. “The team is filled with fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and each day they bring their tremendous passion and talents together to deliver an authentic experience for players. The combination of high-fidelity graphics, cinematic animations, and stylized art immerses players in the fantasy of Middle-earth where they’ll go head-to-head with their favorite characters.”

This will be EA’s first LOTR title since 2009’s The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, as Polygon notes. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, NetEase and Glu Mobile (which EA bought last year) are among the other publishers who have released mobile LOTR games.

EA expects to start limited regional beta tests of The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth this summer.

It’s not the only major LOTR project scheduled to debut this year. Daedalic’s action-adventure title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is supposed to arrive in 2022. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series, which will premiere on September 2nd.

NFTs are coming to Instagram this week

As promised (or threatened, depending on your perspective), NFTs are coming to Instagram imminently. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the app will this week start testing a way for users to display non-fungible tokens on their profiles.

“We’re starting building for NFTs, not just in our metaverse and Reality Labs work, but also across our family of apps.” Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook. “We’re starting to test digital collectibles on Instagram so that creators and collectors can display their NFTs.”

A similar feature is coming to Facebook in the near future, and Meta is considering enabling NFTs in its other apps, such as Messenger and WhatsApp. Also in the works is a way for people to display 3D NFTs in Instagram Stories using augmented reality. Zuckerberg says this feature would be built on Spark AR and would allow users to “place digital art in physical spaces.”

Rumors swirled over the weekend suggesting that Instagram would start testing non-fungible tokens in the app this week. CoinDesk reported that Meta would allow integrations with NFTs from the Ethereum, Polygon, Solana and Flow blockchains. 

Instagram head Adam Mosseri shed more light on how the NFT integrations will work. Users will be able to share NFTs they’ve created or bought in their feed, Stories and messages. A limited number of people in the US will have access to these features to begin with. 

Mosseri also noted the disconnect between the decentralized nature of Web3 tech like NFTs and the blockchain and the fact Instagram is a centralized platform. “One of the reasons why we’re starting small is we want to make sure that we can learn from the community,” he added. “We want to make sure we can work out how to embrace those tenets of distributed trust and distributed power, despite the fact that we are a centralized platform.”

Users won’t need to pay any fees “associated with posting or sharing a digital collectible” on Instagram, Mosseri said. In his announcement, he suggested NFTs could provide a way for a subset of creators to earn a living on the platform. That suggests users will be able to buy and sell them directly on Instagram at some point. Zuckerberg has said that creators may eventually be able to mint NFTs in the app too. Engadget has contacted Meta for more details.

Meta’s CEO has also spoken about other ambitions for NFTs in the company’s take on the metaverse. “I would hope that you know, the clothing that your avatar is wearing in the metaverse, you know, can be basically minted as an NFT and you can take it between your different places,” he said at SXSW in March.

Update 5/9 10:52AM ET: Added more details from Mosseri.

Xbox’s game streaming device and TV app could arrive soon

It’s been 11 months since Microsoft confirmed it’s making a dedicated game-streaming device and a smart TV app for the Xbox ecosystem. The company hasn’t announced many more details about either since then, but a new report suggests they could arrive in the coming months.

The streaming device, which can be plugged into a TV or monitor, will have either a stick or a puck design, according to GamesBeat. In other words, it’ll look like an Amazon Fire Stick or a Chromecast. It’s believed that you’ll not only be able to stream games from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with the device, but also use it to watch movies and TV shows.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is said to be working with Samsung on an Xbox app for that company’s TVs. Some of Samsung’s 2022 models support game streaming services like Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see an Xbox Cloud Gaming app on those TVs too.

Both the TV app and streaming device are expected to arrive within the next 12 months. They form part of Microsoft’s Xbox Everywhere strategy. The name is self-explanatory — the company wants to reach gamers wherever they are, even if they don’t have an Xbox console or a capable gaming PC.

The project took another step forward this week with the addition of Fortnite to Xbox Cloud Gaming this week. That offers people a way to stream the all-conquering battle royale on smartphones (yes, even iPhones), tablets and PC.

What makes this different from other streaming games from Xbox is that it’s free. You don’t need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to stream Fortnite — just a Microsoft account. Microsoft says it’s interested in offering more free-to-play titles via the cloud, so perhaps the likes of Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone and the multiplayer side of Halo Infinite will be available at some point.

We might not have to wait much longer to hear about the next steps for the Xbox Everywhere initiative. A big Xbox and Bethesda showcase will take place on June 12th, and there could be more than game announcements and trailers in store.

Spotify’s Pandora-esque Stations app will shut down on May 16th

Spotify’s experimental Stations app is soon to be no more. The company says it will shut down the app on May 16th. It took a leaf out of the Pandora playbook with Stations, as the app and web player offered a way to listen to curated playlists in a radio-style format. Stations debuted in Australia in 2018 and arrived in the US the following year. The app has now been removed from the App Store and Google Play Store.

The company says it often conducts tests to “create better listening experiences” for users. Our “Spotify Stations Beta was one of those tests,” Spotify told TechCrunch. “We will be sunsetting the current feature, but users will be able to easily transfer their favorite stations and enjoy a similar radio experience directly within the Spotify app.”

If you’re a Stations user, you’ll be able to move the stations you want to keep over to the Spotify app. You’ll find them in your library in a folder called Spotify Stations. 

Those who enjoyed the app and its streamlined design may be disappointed by the move. However, the company noted that the radio feature in the main app offers a similar feature — it can create an ad-hoc station based on any artist, song, album or playlist.

A new Google Cloud team is building services for Web3 developers

Google is putting together a team to build backend services for blockchain developers. The company is hoping to make Google Cloud Platform the primary destination for those who want to run Web3 apps.

“We’re not trying to be part of that cryptocurrency wave directly,” Google Cloud vice president Amit Zavery told CNBC. “We’re providing technologies for companies to use and take advantage of the distributed nature of Web3 in their current businesses and enterprises.”

Zavery told staff in an email (which was viewed by CNBC) that the Web3 market is “already demonstrating tremendous potential with many customers asking us to increase our support for Web3 and crypto related technologies.”

This isn’t quite Google’s first foray into this space. In January, it announced a Digital Assets Team and said it would look into ways of allowing Google Cloud customers to make and receive crypto payments. On an earnings call the following month, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the Cloud unit was exploring support for blockchain projects.

The new team will comprise employees who have been involved in Web3 projects either at Google or on their own time, according to Zavery. He said Google may create a system that will enable other companies to make it easy for people to look into blockchain data. Google’s tools will be compatible with other platforms like Amazon Web Services, Zavery said.

There’s an element of incongruity here. A core aim of the Web3 movement is making the web decentralized and shifting power away from major companies like Google, Amazon and Meta. Still, Web3 developers need to host their apps and services somewhere, and Google wants to be their first choice.

‘EVE Online’ and Microsoft Excel pair up for the year’s hottest collab

EVE Online has often been derided as a “spreadsheet simulator.” Many dedicated players use spreadsheets to keep track of data like profit margins and to calculate fleet damage output at certain ranges. Developer CCP Games is now leaning into the spreadsheet lifestyle even more with official Microsoft Excel support.

The studio revealed at EVE Fanfest that it reached out to Microsoft and the pair are now building an extension that will pull data from the long-running MMO into an Excel spreadsheet. The news went over well with the crowd:

CCP showed an early prototype of the tool in action and said more details would be revealed later this year. This arguably isn’t the first time the studio has embraced spreadsheets. EVE Online has a UI-only mode that ditches 3D space battle graphics for pure data with a spreadsheet-style view.

Sure, other details about the future of EVE Onlinewereannounced at Fanfest, including a bunch of upcoming narrative arcs, a feature to help newcomers pick their class, visual upgrades and a Spanish-language client. But direct integration with Excel could be the biggest quality of life upgrade for the game’s most fervent fans.

‘Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ and ‘Ms. Pac-Man’ join the Video Game Hall of Fame

The Strong National Museum of Play has revealed the Video Game Hall of Fame class of 2022. This year’s quartet of honorees are Ms. Pac-Man, Sid Meier’s Civilization, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Dance Dance Revolution.

The finalists that just missed out on a spot this time are Assassin’s Creed, Candy Crush Saga, Minesweeper, NBA Jam, PaRappa the Rapper, Resident Evil, Rogue and Words with Friends. All of those are classics in their own way, but it’s hard to argue with any of the four picks.

Ocarina of Time made it into the Hall of Fame as a first-time nominee. The first 3D Zelda title is widely regarded as one of the best games of all time, and it remains the highest-scoring game ever on Metacritic. It paved the way for the last two and a half decades of action games. Ocarina of Time walked so Breath of the Wild could run.

Influential simulation and strategy title Sid Meier’s Civilization was first named as a finalist back in 2016 and again in 2019. Arcade icons Ms. Pac-Man and DDR each made the shortlist once before.

They join the likes of Super Mario Bros., Doom, Mortal Kombat, Tetris and Animal Crossing. As Eurogamer notes, Zelda and Pac-Man are the first two series with more than one entry in the Video Game Hall of Fame, though Super Mario Kart is in there as well.

Lyft brings shared rides back to more cities, including San Francisco

Lyft is slowly but surely bringing back shared rides in more cities. Users in San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Las Vegas and Atlanta will once more be able to take shared rides.

That option was suspended soon after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020. Lyft started offering shared rides again last summer in select cities such as Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia. The company plans to bring the feature back to more markets in the coming months.

Users can save money by taking a shared ride, since they’ll be splitting the cost with someone else. Ride requests are currently limited to one person. These rides will have a maximum of two passengers, though one can sit in the front if the driver’s okay with it. 

The company also says that drivers can opt out of shared rides without penalty through 2022. Last month, Lyft dropped its requirement for drivers and passengers to wear masks, which are now optional for shared rides too (depending on local rules).

Lyft’s recovery from the pandemic has been slower than rival Uber’s, and greater availability of shared rides could provide a boost to business. This week, the company said it would need to spend more on incentives to entice drivers back to its platform.

Summer Game Fest returns on June 9th and it’s coming to IMAX theaters

E3 isn’t happening at all this year, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a ton of gaming news to look forward to in June. Three days before Xbox and Bethesda’s event, the third annual Summer Game Fest showcase will take place on June 9th at 2PM ET.

As always, Geoff Keighley will be the master of ceremonies for Summer Game Fest Kick Off Live. Expect new game announcements, world premieres and fresh looks at other upcoming titles. Immediately after that event wraps up, Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition will shine the spotlight on a bunch of indie games.

You’ll be able to watch the Summer Game Fest double bill on a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter and Facebook. For the first time, you’ll be able to catch Summer Game Fest Kick Off Live (and, in December, The Game Awards) at IMAX theaters in the US, Canada and the UK. If you really want to see a bunch of trailers and teasers for upcoming games in IMAX, you can buy a ticket for Summer Game Fest on May 12th.

“Video games are the most powerful, immersive and spectacular form of entertainment in the world, so it’s only natural to bring them to fans in IMAX, the world’s most immersive cinema format,” Keighley said in a statement.

IK Multimedia’s latest mobile audio interface is designed for field recording

IK Multimedia has revealed its latest mobile audio interface, a field recorder called iRig Pro Quattro I/O. The device has 24-bit, 96kHz conversion and four microphone and instrument preamps, along with line-in ports. You’ll also get two balanced XLR outputs, 3.5mm stereo and headphone ports and MIDI in/out. There’s a built-in microphone as well.

There are physical control dials for the inputs, headphones and line out. IK Multimedia says there’s a standalone mixer mode and a built-in limiter. You’ll be able to take advantage of a safety mode as well. Inputs three and four can be used as safety channels, whereby they capture the same signals as the other two main inputs, but with a 12dB reduction “in case the sound source unexpectedly overloads the main channels,” the company said.

You can power the iRig Pro Quattro I/O with a USB cable, 9VDC adaptor or battery. IK Multimedia notes that it’ll work with a range of devices out of the box, and it’s MFi-certified for better compatibility with iPhone and iPad.

This isn’t a standalone device, however. It doesn’t have an SD card slot, so you’ll need to connect it to a mobile device or computer to actually record audio. As with the iRig Pre 2, you’ll be able to hook it up to a DSLR, which would likely help you capture better quality audio than what the camera can pick up by itself.

IK Multimedia iRig Pro Quattro I/O
IK Multimedia

Field recorders have been growing in popularity for on-the-go audio capture, with the likes of Zoom and Tascam making notable models over the years. Fans of IK Multimedia’s other gear might be pleased to learn about the iRig Pro Quattro I/O, but the lack of onboard storage might be a sticking point.

The iRig Pro Quattro I/O is available worldwide starting today. It costs $350/€350 and comes with batteries, USB and Lightning cables, a quarter-inch camera thread adaptor and software for Mac, PC, iPhone and iPad.

A deluxe version is also available for preorder. That model costs $450 and should ship at the end of June. If you opt for that, you’ll also receive two iRig stereo microphones, a windscreen, a carrying case and a 9V power supply unit.