Sony closes a PS Plus loophole by pausing subscription extensions

Sony has temporarily prevented existing PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now members from extending their subscriptions as it prepares to combine them into the revamped PS Plus. It’s a clear attempt to stop users from getting years of access to the highest tier of the updated service on the cheap.

When Sony announced the new plans last month, it said PlayStation Now members would have their subscription converted to PS Plus Premium for the same length of time. That level of the service will include the current PS Plus benefits and 400 PS4 and PS5 titles from the middle tier, as well as hundreds of games from previous generations and cloud streaming on PS4, PS5 and PC. 

Sony clarified this week that if a user has both PS Plus and PS Now memberships active when the new service launches in the coming weeks, they’ll get access to PS Plus Premium for the longer of the two terms before having to renew. In other words, if you had seven years left to run on your PS Plus plan after stacking one-year memberships, but recently took out a 12-month PS Now subscription, you’d get seven years of access to PS Plus Premium at a significant discount after the switch.

As spotted by Twitter gaming deals maestro Wario64, Sony has updated its PS Plus FAQ section to note that current subscribers of PS Plus and PS Now are unable to redeem voucher codes and extend their memberships for the time being. They’ll be able to redeem them again when either their current membership lapses or the new PS Plus service is available in their region — whichever of those occurs first. As such, the company has stopped people from taking advantage of the PS Plus Premium loophole.

“As we prepare to launch the new PlayStation Plus membership service, we are doing some work behind the scenes to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of our existing members,” Sony said. “As part of this work, we’ve temporarily disabled stacking memberships for existing customers until after the launch.”

If you have an unredeemed voucher, it will now convert to a length of time equivalent to its monetary value. So, if you’re currently a subscriber and have a one-month PS Plus or PS Now code lying in a drawer somewhere, that can convert to a month of PS Plus Essential or 17 days of PS Plus Premium access. Sony has published a conversion chart detailing how that all works.

The revamped PS Plus service is scheduled to launch in some Asian markets on May 23rd, Japan on June 1st, the Americas on June 13th and Europe on June 22nd. 

NVIDIA adds native M1 Mac support to the GeForce Now app

The GeForce Now macOS app should run more smoothly for many Mac users after the addition of native support for Apple’s M1 chips. NVIDIA initially rolled out M1 support last year, albeit through Rosetta, a translation process that allows apps based on x86–64 architecture to run on Apple’s chips.

NVIDIA says the app will now consume less power, have faster startup times and offer an all-round improved experience on M1-based MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Minis. In addition, the latest version of the cloud gaming app includes a revamped overlay that displays server-side rendering framerates.

GeForce Now support for another batch of games was also announced (which is something NVIDIA typically does every Thursday). One of this week’s additions is Amazon’s hit free-to-play RPG Lost Ark. Given that the game doesn’t have native macOS support, Mac users who are interested in checking it out now have a way to do so. Other new titles that GeForce Now users can stream include Dune: Spice Wars, Sol Cresta and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt.

Valorant’s upcoming path-to-pro mode is designed for aspiring esports stars

Valorant‘s professional scene will look vastly different next year after Riot Games announced some significant changes to the game’s esports structure. Domestic and international leagues will be introduced in 2023. A new game mode designed to help aspiring esports stars turn pro is on the way too.

The upcoming mode will give players a chance to qualify for the domestic leagues, which will be integrated closely with the in-game tournament feature. Riot hopes the path-to-pro mode will help organizations scout upcoming talents as well.

There will be three international leagues which will respectively feature top-tier teams from the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and North Africa; and Asia and Oceania. The plan is to run competitive matches on a week-to-week basis. If health and safety protocols allow, Riot will bring teams together for in-person events with live audiences. These leagues will also serve as qualifiers for the existing elite global tournaments, Masters and Champions.

In addition, Riot will expand Valorant Game Changers, a program is designed for women and other marginalized genders in the competitive ecosystem. It will be available in more countries and regions next year. Meanwhile, third-party tournaments will take place during the off-season between official competitions.

Riot says it’s working on new fan experiences and partnerships with esports organizations. Teams who are part of that program won’t need to pay participation or entry fees and Riot will provide them with stipends “in return for their investment in growing the ecosystem.”

The publisher is using what it learned from the success of League of Legends esports to revamp the pro scene of Valorant, which now has 15 million monthly players. Riot is hoping to build on the first-person shooter’s popularity and “supercharge Valorant into the next great multigenerational esport,” the publisher’s head of esports John Needham told The Washington Post in a statement.

Snap made a $230 selfie drone called Pixy

After years of rumors, Snap has officially revealed its first selfie drone. The pocket-sized device, which is called Pixy, doesn’t require a lengthy setup. It doesn’t even come with a controller.

Instead, you’ll be able to choose one of four preset flight paths with the touch of a button. The drone can float, orbit or follow you. Once you’re done, Pixy can land in your hand. It has a settings dial in the middle, with four rotors aligned with the body inside of protective casings.

Snaps captured by Pixy can be wirelessly transferred to Snapchat Memories after flights. You’ll be able to apply effects such as speed ramps, jump cuts and 3D bounce. You can, of course, add lenses and sounds before sharing your creations on Snapchat or elsewhere.

Snap's Pixy selfie drone
Snap

Pixy could be a useful addition to Snapchat creators’ toolkits, following in the footsteps of Snap’s Spectacles lineup. It emerged in 2017 that Snap was considering building its own drone, so Pixy has been a long time coming. In March 2021, it was reported that Snap invested in a company called Zero Zero Robotics (which it previously tried to buy) and that the two sides were collaborating on a selfie drone.

Folks in the US and France can buy Pixy now. It costs $230. Snap says the drone will be available while supplies last.

Activision Blizzard shareholders approve Microsoft’s $68.7 billion takeover bid

Activision Blizzard’s shareholders have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a proposed $68.7 billion takeover by Microsoft. More than 98 percent of the shares that voted at a special meeting held on Thursday approved of the merger.

Though the company called the vote non-binding and advisory, the deal could not have moved forward without the majority of shareholders giving it the green light. The board of directors unanimously agreed it was in the best interest of Activision Blizzard and its shareholders, and recommended they vote in favor.

The planned merger is not finalized and it could still collapse. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the deal and is expected to closely scrutinize the details. Under chair Lina Khan, the FTC has put the kibosh on NVIDIA’s attempt to buy ARM and revived an antitrust case against Meta over its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard will also need regulatory approval from the UK, the European Union, China and some other jurisdictions, according to an SEC filing. The companies expect the deal to close by June 2023.

There are other considerations that may impact the planned Activision Blizzard-Microsoft merger beyond antitrust concerns. The embattled game publisher has been the subject of lawsuits and accusations alleging workplace harassment and discrimination. Meanwhile, some quality assurance workers at Activision studio Raven Software are holding a union election over the next few weeks.

Sony may create PlayStation Plus game trials on behalf of developers

It emerged in a report this week that Sony appears to be asking developers to create time-limited trials for certain games for the new PlayStation Plus Premium service. It was initially unclear how much support Sony would offer studios for this purpose, but, according to Ethan Gach of Kotaku, the PlayStation Store team will actually set up the trials on behalf of developers.

This would put less strain on studios and prevent them from having to dedicate precious resources to create trials. However, Gach said some developers expressed worry that Sony will not share revenue related to game trials with them. Engadget has contacted Sony Interactive Entertainment for clarification.

Earlier this week, Game Developer reported that studios were informed about the new policy through Sony’s developer portal. It appears that games with a wholesale price of at least $34 will need to have a time-limited trial that runs for at least two hours and must be available to PS Plus Premium members for at least a year. The measure reportedly won’t apply to previously released games or virtual reality titles. Developers are said to have the option of offering custom game demos instead, as long as Sony gives them the green light.

Xbox and Bethesda will hold a games showcase on June 12th

Although there’s no E3 this year, you can still expect a ton of gaming news to emerge in the coming weeks. Microsoft has announced an Xbox and Bethesda games showcase, which will take place on June 12th (yes, that’s a Sunday) at 1PM ET.

The event will include information on games from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and some of Microsoft’s partners. It sounds as if it’ll be pretty comprehensive, with the promise of details on “everything you need to know about the diverse lineup of games coming soon to the Xbox ecosystem.” That includes projects on the way to Game Pass for both Xbox and PC.

As for what to expect, it’s a safe bet that we’ll get a fresh look at Starfield. I’m hoping to hear more about Redfall, a vampire shooter Bethesda showed off last summer and hasn’t said a whole lot about since. There will surely be trailers and teasers for previously unannounced games too.

The event will be broadcast in 30 languages (including American Sign Language) on platforms including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. 

In terms of other gaming events, Summer Game Fest will return this year. THQ Nordic has also set a showcase for August 12th.

‘FIFA 22’ headlines May’s PlayStation Plus games

Sony has revealed the three games that PlayStation Plus subscribers can snag in May at no extra cost. The headliner is a big one: FIFA 22. It was the 12th best-selling game of 2021 overall, according to NPD, and the most-downloaded title on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Europe last year.

You’ll be able to claim both the PS4 and PS5 versions of FIFA 22 starting on May 3rd. PS Plus subscribers can also snag a special FIFA Ultimate Team pack that includes 11 players rated 82 or above as well as an Icon Moments Loan Player Pick. You’ll be able to add one of three legendary players to your squad for five games.

Also in the PS Plus lineup for May is survival and action-RPG hybrid Tribes of Midgard for PS4 and PS5. Rounding out the trifecta of sort-of freebies is temple-plundering roguelike Curse of the Dead Gods for PS4.

If you haven’t claimed them yet, you have until May 2nd to snap up April’s games: Hood: Outlaws & Legends, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated and Slay the Spire. Sony also says Persona 5 will be removed from the PS Plus Collection on May 11. As long as you claim any of those before they’re rotated out, you’ll still be able to download and play them as long as you’re a PS Plus member.

This is one of the last monthly PS Plus drops before Sony revamps the service. It’s folding PlayStation Now into PS Plus and creating a three-tier system. The new-look PS Plus will roll out gradually and it’s expected to hit the US on June 13th.

‘Disney Dreamlight Valley’ looks like Animal Crossing with Wall-E and Moana

If you’ve had your fill of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and want to check out a new game with a similar flavor, it might be worth taking a gander at Disney Dreamlight Valley when it arrives. It’s a blend of a life sim and an adventure game that’s packed with Disney and Pixar characters.

You’ll be able to customize your character with T-shirts, dresses, hats and other gear you design yourself. There’s also the option of kitting them out with streetwear adorned with Mickey Mouse or a ballgown inspired by a Disney princess. Your home and village (which will have several biomes including snow-capped mountains and the Peaceful Meadow) can be decorated and upgraded as well.

As they explore, players will meet and befriend the likes of Buzz Lightyear, Moana, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Simba, Anna, Elsa and Belle. It seems like there’s plenty to do. For instance, you can cook with Remy from Ratatouille, go fishing with Goofy and tend to Wall-E’s vegetable patch.

Disney Dreamlight Valley
Gameloft Montreal/Disney

There’s a story-driven campaign at the heart of Disney Dreamlight Valley. After a mysterious event called The Forgetting, the village is full of Night Thorns. You’ll clear the thorns and help the residents restore their memories by completing tasks. More areas can be unlocked as well. Developer Gameloft Montreal is promising regular updates, including activities linked to new Disney and Pixar movies and events.

Disney Dreamlight Valley will be available on PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Although it will formally launch in 2023 as a free-to-play game, you’ll be able to gain early access this summer via Xbox Game Pass or by buying a founder’s pack. Gameloft Montreal says the early access period will have exclusive rewards that can carry over to the officially released version.

Alexa can tell you when your security camera detects a person or package

Amazon is rolling out a feature that will allow Alexa to tell you when a supported security camera or video doorbell detects a person or a package. If you activate the announcements, you can receive an alert from the Alexa mobile app, hear a notification from an Echo speaker and/or view a live video feed on Echo Show, Fire TV or a Fire tablet.

The feature is compatible with Alexa routines. So, when your camera or doorbell spots a package or a person, you can automatically turn on a floodlight, activate a smart lock or trigger a custom Alexa greeting. It’s worth noting that person and package detection are only available on Ring devices if you have a Ring Protect subscription, which starts at $3 per month.

Alexa person detection alerts are available starting today on all Ring video doorbells and cameras that have Work with Alexa support. Abode Iota and Outdoor cameras will be supported in the near future. Amazon says the feature is even coming soon to some Google devices. It’ll work with the battery-powered Google Nest Cam (whether outdoor or indoor), the wired indoor Nest Cam, Nest Cam with floodlight and the battery-powered Nest Doorbell.

As for package detection announcements, those are now available for Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 and the 2020 model of the Ring Video Doorbell. Abode Iota and Outdoor cameras will support the feature soon. Amazon also announced an Object Detection Sensor API so developers can enable person or package detection Alexa announcements for other compatible cameras.

If you have a supported Ring device and want to use these features, you’ll need to switch on Smart Alerts in the Ring app and Camera Events in the Alexa app. You an set up routines and custom voice announcements in the Alexa app as well.