theverge--2020-07-10--Apple warns customers not to close its laptops with a camera cover attached

Though it might strike some people as obvious advice , Apple has published a support page that warns MacBook owners not to close their laptop with a camera cover in place .
Damage like a cracked display could result , according to the company , because “ the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances.
” MacRumors spotted the advisory , which Apple posted on July 2nd .
Those little plastic camera covers with a sliding mechanism are super common nowadays .
Heck , I remember getting one as a holiday gift from The Verge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they could spell disaster for your laptop screen if you shut the laptop with the cover still on , and Apple ’ s laptop repairs are extremely costly .
Even with AppleCare+ accidental coverage , the deductible isn ’ t cheap .
Instead of using a cover , Apple says that customers can trust the green LED beside the camera on a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air that illuminates whenever the camera is active .
“ The camera is engineered so that it can ’ t activate without the camera indicator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s support document says .
That ’ s all well and good , but sometimes it ’ s not so much about privacy as it is just having that layer of separation between you and your co-workers on a video conference ; I never like popping up on camera unexpectedly during that first cup of coffee in the morning .
Apple does acknowledge that some people have no choice in the matter and might be required to use a camera cover by their employer .
In those cases , the company says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing the laptop .
As MacRumors notes , there have been cases of a MacBook Pro ’ s screen breaking even when light pressure is applied to a closed machine with an attached camera cover .
I feel for this person on Reddit who cracked their new , expensive 16-inch MacBook Pro .
A strip of tape should be a safer option than a hard plastic stick-on cover if you don ’ t fully trust the light , but Apple warns against using anything “ thicker than an average piece of printer paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discourages camera covers that leave adhesive residue .
You can always check which apps have access to your camera by going to system preferences and choosing security and privacy .
In the camera section there , you can revoke camera permissions for any app .

Though it might strike some people as obvious advice, Apple has published a support page that warns MacBook owners not to close their laptop with a camera cover in place. Damage like a cracked display could result, according to the company, because “the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances.” MacRumors spotted the advisory, which Apple posted on July 2nd.
Those little plastic camera covers with a sliding mechanism are super common nowadays. Heck, I remember getting one as a holiday gift from The Verge’s parent company, Vox Media. But they could spell disaster for your laptop screen if you shut the laptop with the cover still on, and Apple’s laptop repairs are extremely costly. Even with AppleCare+ accidental coverage, the deductible isn’t cheap.
Instead of using a cover, Apple says that customers can trust the green LED beside the camera on a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air that illuminates whenever the camera is active. “The camera is engineered so that it can’t activate without the camera indicator light also turning on,” Apple’s support document says. That’s all well and good, but sometimes it’s not so much about privacy as it is just having that layer of separation between you and your co-workers on a video conference; I never like popping up on camera unexpectedly during that first cup of coffee in the morning.
Apple does acknowledge that some people have no choice in the matter and might be required to use a camera cover by their employer. In those cases, the company says the cover should always be removed before closing the laptop.
As MacRumors notes, there have been cases of a MacBook Pro’s screen breaking even when light pressure is applied to a closed machine with an attached camera cover. I feel for this person on Reddit who cracked their new, expensive 16-inch MacBook Pro.
A strip of tape should be a safer option than a hard plastic stick-on cover if you don’t fully trust the light, but Apple warns against using anything “thicker than an average piece of printer paper (0.1mm),” and also discourages camera covers that leave adhesive residue.


theverge--2020-07-10--Facebook and Instagram ban all posts promoting conversion therapy

Instagram on Thursday announced a new ban on all forms of content , including posts and videos , promoting the widely discredited practice known as conversion therapy , which attempts to forcefully change an individual 's sexual orientation .
The news was first reported earlier today by CNN .
A spokesperson for parent company Facebook tells The Verge this recent change in policy is an expansion of an earlier rule specifically banning ads promoting the practice put in place earlier this year , and that the policy now includes a ban on any content that directly promotes the practice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applies both to Instagram and the company ’ s main social network , which share hate speech policies .
Facebook and Instagram are banning conversion therapy content under hate speech guidelines “ We don ’ t allow attacks against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity and are updating our policies to ban the promotion of conversion therapy services , ” Tara Hopkins , Instagram ’ s public policy director for Europe , the Middle East and Africa , said in a statement given to CNN in response to conversion therapy content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Core Issues Trust .
“ We have removed violating content from @ coreissuestrusttv .
We are always reviewing our policies and will continue to consult with experts and people with personal experiences to inform our approach.
” Conversion therapy is banned in one form or another in at least 19 US states , in most cases protecting minors , but it remains legal at the federal level in the US and allowed in large swaths of Europe and elsewhere in the world .
It is often peddled by religious organizations as a pseudo-science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show it has direct links to higher rates of depression , drug use , homelessness , and suicide among young adults , many of whom are subjected to it without their consent .
Instagram says the ban applies worldwide as part of an expansion of its global hate speech policies .
Only Germany has a law on the books banning the practice for minors , meaning Facebook and Instagram ’ s shared content ban on conversion therapy should help shut down organizations in Africa , Europe , the US , and other regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online .

Instagram on Thursday announced a new ban on all forms of content, including posts and videos, promoting the widely discredited practice known as conversion therapy, which attempts to forcefully change an individual's sexual orientation. The news was first reported earlier today by CNN.
A spokesperson for parent company Facebook tells The Verge this recent change in policy is an expansion of an earlier rule specifically banning ads promoting the practice put in place earlier this year, and that the policy now includes a ban on any content that directly promotes the practice, too. The spokesperson confirmed the ban applies both to Instagram and the company’s main social network, which share hate speech policies.
Facebook and Instagram are banning conversion therapy content under hate speech guidelines
“We don’t allow attacks against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity and are updating our policies to ban the promotion of conversion therapy services,” Tara Hopkins, Instagram’s public policy director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement given to CNN in response to conversion therapy content promoted by a UK religious group called Core Issues Trust. “We have removed violating content from @coreissuestrusttv. We are always reviewing our policies and will continue to consult with experts and people with personal experiences to inform our approach.”
Conversion therapy is banned in one form or another in at least 19 US states, in most cases protecting minors, but it remains legal at the federal level in the US and allowed in large swaths of Europe and elsewhere in the world. It is often peddled by religious organizations as a pseudo-science with no basis in fact and studies show it has direct links to higher rates of depression, drug use, homelessness, and suicide among young adults, many of whom are subjected to it without their consent.


theverge--2020-07-10--Facebook reportedly considering ban on political ads before election

Facebook is reportedly considering a ban on political ads before the US elections this year .
Bloomberg reported the news this afternoon , saying that the idea is being discussed internally but is not yet a firm policy .
Sources also confirmed the discussion to The New York Times .
The step would drastically escalate Facebook ’ s current plans for preventing misinformation or meddling in the 2020 elections .
There ’ s not much detail about the policy , but based on Bloomberg ’ s report , the blackout would be brief — a matter of days before election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed users to “ turn off ” political ads and added disclosure requirements , and it ’ s attempting to provide reliable information with a voting hub .
But it ’ s stopped short of banning the ads themselves , in contrast with its rival Twitter , which announced a political ad ban last year .
Bloomberg writes that there are concerns about hampering “ get out the vote ” efforts or restricting how a candidate could respond to breaking news .
However , a ban would also protect Facebook from bad publicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad that it removed due to Nazi imagery .
For Facebook critics who argue the site promotes polarization and manipulation , a temporary blackout may also be considered a way of limiting its effects in the immediate lead-up to the election .
Update 4:00PM ET : Added corroboration from The New York Times .

Facebook is reportedly considering a ban on political ads before the US elections this year. Bloomberg reported the news this afternoon, saying that the idea is being discussed internally but is not yet a firm policy. Sources also confirmed the discussion to The New York Times. The step would drastically escalate Facebook’s current plans for preventing misinformation or meddling in the 2020 elections.
There’s not much detail about the policy, but based on Bloomberg’s report, the blackout would be brief — a matter of days before election day in November. Facebook has previously allowed users to “turn off” political ads and added disclosure requirements, and it’s attempting to provide reliable information with a voting hub. But it’s stopped short of banning the ads themselves, in contrast with its rival Twitter, which announced a political ad ban last year.
Bloomberg writes that there are concerns about hampering “get out the vote” efforts or restricting how a candidate could respond to breaking news.
However, a ban would also protect Facebook from bad publicity from inflammatory ads — like a Trump ad that it removed due to Nazi imagery. For Facebook critics who argue the site promotes polarization and manipulation, a temporary blackout may also be considered a way of limiting its effects in the immediate lead-up to the election.


theverge--2020-07-10--After fan upset, Crysis Remastered is ‘still’ coming to Switch on July 23rd

When Crytek announced that a remaster for the original Crysis would launch this year , fans were excited to see how much the game ’ s legendary graphics would improve — but a leaked trailer has left so many fans disappointed with the graphical changes that Crytek has now pushed the game ’ s release on PC , PS4 , and Xbox One by several weeks .
On July 10th , Crytek announced that the Nintendo Switch version will “ still ” arrive on July 23rd , suggesting that other versions may launch as early as August .
A trailer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release date was initially leaked on YouTube , and the visuals left a bad taste in some fan ’ s mouths .
Several commented how the game ’ s graphics remained significantly unchanged from the 2007 original ; one fan even said the remaster “ looks like original Crysis but with the lowest settings.
” You can decide for yourself if the game looks too similar to a 10+ year-old game : Crysis , a sci-fi first-person shooter series originally released on PC , PS3 , and Xbox 360 , was praised for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people looking to test the power of their gaming PC builds .
( Its graphical fidelity warranted a meme that ’ s still going 10 years later . )
So , when Crytek agreed to remaster the game with “ high-quality textures and improved art assets , ” and yet would also inexplicably pass the “ can-it-run-Crysis ” test on a Nintendo Switch , we definitely perked up our ears .
Crytek acknowledged the leaks and the disappointed fans by promising to work on the game a bit more .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get Crysis Remastered up to the PC and console-breaking standard you ’ ve come to expect from Crysis games , ” Crytek said in a statement on July 1st .
In the game industry , it ’ s not uncommon for games to be delayed once or even multiple times , though it ’ s rare to delay a game due to backlash from fans .
Crysis Remaster ’ s delay mirrors a similar move made by the film industry last year when Paramount pushed back the release date for the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received backlash regarding the design of the titular blue hedgehog .
Update July 10th , 3:28PM ET : Crytek has now confirmed that Crysis Remastered will launch on the Switch on July 23rd .

When Crytek announced that a remaster for the original Crysis would launch this year, fans were excited to see how much the game’s legendary graphics would improve — but a leaked trailer has left so many fans disappointed with the graphical changes that Crytek has now pushed the game’s release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One by several weeks.
On July 10th, Crytek announced that the Nintendo Switch version will “still” arrive on July 23rd, suggesting that other versions may launch as early as August.
A trailer showing some gameplay and that July 23rd release date was initially leaked on YouTube, and the visuals left a bad taste in some fan’s mouths. Several commented how the game’s graphics remained significantly unchanged from the 2007 original; one fan even said the remaster “looks like original Crysis but with the lowest settings.”
You can decide for yourself if the game looks too similar to a 10+ year-old game:
Crysis, a sci-fi first-person shooter series originally released on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, was praised for its graphical design and remained a benchmark for people looking to test the power of their gaming PC builds. (Its graphical fidelity warranted a meme that’s still going 10 years later.) So, when Crytek agreed to remaster the game with “high-quality textures and improved art assets,” and yet would also inexplicably pass the “can-it-run-Crysis” test on a Nintendo Switch, we definitely perked up our ears.
Crytek acknowledged the leaks and the disappointed fans by promising to work on the game a bit more. “This extra time until release will allow us to get Crysis Remastered up to the PC and console-breaking standard you’ve come to expect from Crysis games,” Crytek said in a statement on July 1st.
In the game industry, it’s not uncommon for games to be delayed once or even multiple times, though it’s rare to delay a game due to backlash from fans. Crysis Remaster’s delay mirrors a similar move made by the film industry last year when Paramount pushed back the release date for the film adaption of Sonic The Hedgehog after it received backlash regarding the design of the titular blue hedgehog.


theverge--2020-07-10--How to set up and use email templates in Gmail

If you , like me , find yourself writing the same email over and over again , or copying and pasting the same message multiple times , Gmail gives you an easier option .
By creating and saving email templates , you can insert them the next time you compose a message and save yourself some time .
You can store up to 50 templates at a time , so it ’ s easy to create different templates for different situations .
Here ’ s how .
• Click on the cog icon in the top right corner of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Templates ” and select “ Enable.
” • Click “ Save Changes ” at the bottom of the menu .
• This will take you back to your inbox .
Click the “ Compose ” button .
• Now , start drafting your template .
When you ’ re ready to save it , click on the three dots toward the bottom right-hand corner of the window .
• Type in a name for your template in the window that pops up .
That name will appear as the subject line in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you want to make changes to a template , you have to overwrite it .
Write a corrected email , and then after clicking “ Save draft as template , ” click the name of the template you ’ d like to change under “ Overwrite Template.
” • To delete a template , click on “ Delete template ” under the “ Templates ” options .
Click “ Delete ” in the pop-up window .
• Select the three dots in the bottom right-hand corner .
• That template will now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can edit it before sending .
You can set up filters that automatically send out a specific template as a reply when certain emails come in .
You do this by creating a filter that specifies which emails you want to address and then assigning a particular template to that .
Here ’ s how : • Click the arrow pointing down in the right side of the search bar at the top of the screen .
• Fill in the fields .
For example , if you want this template to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enter those contacts in the “ From ” box .
If you want it sent to anyone whose email asked you to subscribe to something , put the word “ subscribe ” in the field “ Has the words.
” • Check the box next to “ Send template.
” Click “ Choose template ” and select the template you want to use from the drop-down menu .

If you, like me, find yourself writing the same email over and over again or copying and pasting the same message multiple times, Gmail gives you an easier option. By creating and saving email templates, you can insert them the next time you compose a message and save yourself some time.
You can store up to 50 templates at a time, so it’s easy to create different templates for different situations. Here’s how.
Create an email template:
Click on the cog icon in the top right corner of your screen.
Select “See all settings.”
Open the “Advanced” tab.
Scroll down to “Templates” and select “Enable.”
Make sure you’ve selected “Enable” under “Templates.”
Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the menu.
This will take you back to your inbox. Click the “Compose” button.
Now, start drafting your template. When you’re ready to save it, click on the three dots toward the bottom right-hand corner of the window.
Select “Template” from the options.
Click “Save draft as template.”
Click “Save as new template.”
After writing a message, you can save it as a template.
Type in a name for your template in the window that pops up. That name will appear as the subject line in your email. Click “Save.”
Name your template so you can easily retrieve it later.
If you want to make changes to a template, you have to overwrite it. Write a corrected email, and then after clicking “Save draft as template,” click the name of the template you’d like to change under “Overwrite Template.”
You can overwrite a template if you want to edit or change it.
Click “Save” in the pop-up window.
Confirm the changes by clicking “Save” in the pop-up window.
To delete a template, click on “Delete template” under the “Templates” options. Click “Delete” in the pop-up window.
You can delete templates using the template options in the compose view.
Use a saved template
Click “Compose” to start a new message.
Select the three dots in the bottom right-hand corner.
Open “Templates.”
Choose the template.
Insert a saved template by going to the template options when you’re writing a new message.
That template will now appear as your new message, and you can edit it before sending.
Click “Send” when you’re ready!
Send templates automatically
You can set up filters that automatically send out a specific template as a reply when certain emails come in. You do this by creating a filter that specifies which emails you want to address and then assigning a particular template to that. Here’s how:
Click the search icon in the right side of the search bar at the top of the screen.
Fill in the fields. For example, if you want this template to be automatically sent to emails from certain contacts, enter those contacts in the “From” box. If you want it sent to anyone whose email asked you to subscribe to something, put the word “subscribe” in the field “Has the words.”
Click “Create filter.”
Use the search bar to set a template to send out automatically.
Check the box next to “Send template.” Click “Choose template” and select the template you want to use from the drop-down menu.
You can choose which template is automatically sent out.
Click “Create filter.”
If at any time you want to change the filter — or delete it — it’s simple.
Click on the cog icon in the top right corner of your screen.
Select “See all settings.”
Click on the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab.
You’ll see a list of all your filters. Find the one you want to change, and click on either “Edit” or “Delete” to the right of that filter.


theverge--2020-07-11--Watch SpaceX launch its latest batch of Starlink satellites, with two hitchhiking spacecraft

A little over a week after launching a GPS satellite for the Space Force , SpaceX is back with another launch of its internet-beaming Starlink satellites .
The company ’ s Falcon 9 rocket is slated to take off from Cape Canaveral , Florida , today , launching 57 Starlink spacecraft as well as two hitchhiking Earth observation satellites from operator BlackSky .
The flight is the latest in SpaceX ’ s ongoing quest to flesh out its proposed massive Starlink constellation , aimed at providing broadband internet connectivity from space .
The company has permission to launch nearly 12,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a swarm of spacecraft that will beam internet coverage to every point on the globe .
After this launch , SpaceX will have launched 595 of its Starlink satellites ( though at least one has come out of orbit , while a few others have failed since making it to space ) .
This mission is the second Starlink launch to include another company ’ s satellites Today ’ s mission is the second Starlink launch to include another company ’ s satellites along for the ride .
Typically , SpaceX has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 , all by themselves .
But on a previous launch in June , SpaceX launched 58 Starlink satellites as well as three tiny imaging satellites from the company Planet .
The company Spaceflight , a broker that finds room for satellites on upcoming launches , arranged for the BlackSky satellites to fly on this mission .
SpaceX also has its own program to arrange ride-shares on its Falcon 9 rocket , working directly with customers , as it did with the recent Planet ride-share .
The Starlink satellites going up on today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively new feature , too .
They ’ re equipped with a deployable visor , known as a sunshade , designed to prevent the sun ’ s light from reflecting off of the shiniest parts of the satellites , notably the antennas .
The goal is to decrease the overall brightness of the Starlink spacecraft while in orbit so that they appear as dark as possible in the night sky .
SpaceX already launched one of these sunshades on a previous Starlink flight in early June .
This is the first launch where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SpaceX ’ s new sunshades are a direct response to concerns that have been raised by the astronomy community about Starlink .
After the first launch of SpaceX ’ s satellites , astronomers noticed just how bright the spacecraft appeared in the sky , and scientists grew worried that such a massive constellation of shiny satellites would interfere with their observations of the universe .
To observe distant celestial objects , astronomers often rely on taking long-exposure images of the night sky — and a satellite zooming through an image leaves a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All of the Starlink satellites are equipped with a deployable visor known as a sunshade Following discussion with leading astronomy groups , the sunshade is the latest solution SpaceX has come up with .
The company tried coating one of its Starlink satellites in early January to make it appear darker ; that solution didn ’ t dampen the vehicle enough to allay everyone ’ s fears .
More changes could be on the horizon , too , such as changing how the satellites are oriented when they reach their final orbits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slated for liftoff at 10:54AM ET out of the company ’ s launchpad at NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
SpaceX is using one of its used rockets for the mission , a Falcon 9 that has flown to space and back four times before .
The rocket will attempt to land on one of SpaceX ’ s drone ships in the Atlantic following the launch , potentially enabling the vehicle to fly for the sixth time after today .
In June , SpaceX set a new record of landing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time following a flight ; the company could repeat the feat today .
If all goes well , the two BlackSky satellites will deploy first , just over an hour after takeoff .
The Starlink satellites will then deploy about 30 minutes after that .
Weather is a bit iffy , with just a 60 percent chance that conditions will be favorable for flight .
SpaceX postponed the original launch date for this mission on July 8th , due to bad weather .
If SpaceX is able to launch today , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin about 15 minutes before takeoff .
Update July 8th , 12:00PM ET : SpaceX postponed the launch on July 8th due to bad weather in the area .
The company decided to proceed through the countdown of the launch up until one minute before the planned takeoff in order to collect data from the rocket .

Update August 7th, 8:45AM ET: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket took off at 1:12AM ET. The first stage successfully landed on the droneship ‘Of course I still love you.’ The company confirmed that both BlackSky satellites had been deployed at 2:21AM ET, and the successful deployment of the 57 Starlink satellites was confirmed soon after. Our original post continues below.
After a month-long delay, SpaceX is ready again to launch its latest batch of internet-beaming Starlink satellites. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket is slated to take off from Cape Canaveral, Florida super early Friday morning, launching 57 Starlink spacecraft as well as two hitchhiking Earth observation satellites from operator BlackSky.
The flight is the latest in SpaceX’s ongoing quest to flesh out its proposed massive Starlink constellation. The company has permission to launch nearly 12,000 Starlink satellites from the Federal Communications Commission, a swarm of spacecraft that will beam broadband internet coverage to every point on the globe. After this launch, SpaceX will have launched 595 Starlink satellites (though at least one has come out of orbit, while a few others have failed since making it to space).
This mission is the second Starlink launch to include another company’s satellites
SpaceX originally hoped to launch this mission in early July, but delayed the launch twice — once due to bad weather and a second time to “allow more time for checkouts” of the Falcon 9 rocket. Ultimately the company pushed back the mission into August, after it brought back its first astronaut crew — Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley — from the International Space Station.
This mission is the second Starlink launch to include another company’s satellites along for the ride. Typically, SpaceX has launched its Starlink probes in batches of 60, all by themselves. But on a previous launch in June, SpaceX launched 58 Starlink satellites as well as three tiny imaging satellites from the company Planet. The company Spaceflight, a broker that finds room for satellites on upcoming launches, arranged for the BlackSky satellites to fly on this mission. SpaceX also has its own program to arrange ride-shares on its Falcon 9 rocket, working directly with customers, as it did with the recent Planet ride-share.
The Starlink satellites going up on this launch will all sport a relatively new feature. They’re equipped with a deployable visor, known as a sunshade, designed to prevent the sun’s light from reflecting off of the shiniest parts of the satellites, notably the antennas. The goal is to decrease the overall brightness of the Starlink spacecraft while in orbit so that they appear as dark as possible in the night sky. SpaceX already launched one of these sunshades on a previous Starlink flight in early June. This is the first launch where the entire fleet will carry the visor.
SpaceX’s new sunshades are a direct response to concerns that have been raised by the astronomy community about Starlink. After the first launch of SpaceX’s satellites, astronomers noticed just how bright the spacecraft appeared in the sky. Scientists grew worried that such a massive constellation of shiny satellites would interfere with their observations of the universe. To observe distant celestial objects, astronomers often rely on taking long-exposure images of the night sky — and a satellite zooming through an image leaves a bright streak that can ruin an observation.
All of the Starlink satellites are equipped with a deployable visor known as a sunshade
Following discussion with leading astronomy groups, the sunshade is the latest solution SpaceX has come up with. The company tried coating one of its Starlink satellites in early January to make it appear darker; that solution didn’t dampen the vehicle enough to allay everyone’s fears. More changes could be on the horizon, too, such as changing how the satellites are oriented when they reach their final orbits.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is slated for liftoff at 1:12AM ET on August 7th out of the company’s launchpad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If all goes well, the two BlackSky satellites will deploy first, just over an hour after takeoff. The Starlink satellites will then deploy about 30 minutes after that. SpaceX is using one of its used rockets for the mission, a Falcon 9 that has flown to space and back four times before. The rocket will attempt to land on one of SpaceX’s drone ships in the Atlantic following the launch, potentially enabling the vehicle to fly for the sixth time. In June, SpaceX set a new record of landing the same Falcon 9 for a fifth time following a flight; the company could repeat the feat with this mission.
So far, weather is looking okay launch, with a 70 percent chance that conditions will be favorable. However, SpaceX does has a backup launch date on Saturday, August 8th at 12:50AM ET. Whenever SpaceX is able to launch, the company’s live stream is set to begin about 15 minutes before takeoff. If you’re awake, check back then to watch the mission live.
Update August 6th, 1:00PM ET: This post was updated to include the new launch date.


theverge--2020-07-11--This weekend, you can still save $30 on the Apple AirPods Pro at Verizon

This weekend , you can still get the biggest discount we ’ ve seen yet on Apple ’ s AirPods Pro truly wireless earbuds .
The sale is happening at Verizon , and you can save $ 30 on a set of Apple AirPods Pro online only .
Most discounts for this model are in the $ 15 to $ 20 range , but this deal at Verizon brings them down to their best-ever price of $ 220 .
The AirPods Pro are the best truly wireless earbuds for people who own an iPhone , according to The Verge ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pack in active noise cancellation , and specifically for those who own an iPhone , Apple Watch , or other Apple tech , they can quickly switch between playing audio on different devices .
Another notable deal comes from Best Buy where the GoPro Fusion 360-degree action camera is $ 230 for Saturday only , down from its usual $ 300 price .
What makes this deal even better than just a mere price drop is that it includes a second battery and a battery charger , so you won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your trip out .
Ubisoft ’ s Forward game conference is this Sunday , July 13th , at 3PM ET / 12PM PT .
If you tune in between 2:30PM ET and 4:30PM ET that day to watch the show , you ’ ll get a free copy of Watch Dogs 2 for PC .
To get the game , you ’ ll need to be signed in with your Ubisoft account at its site where you ’ re watching the event or on Uplay .
If you plan to watch the conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up your Ubisoft account to Twitch Drops to receive the game after the conference .
Ubisoft notes that you ’ ll receive the game a day after the conference .

This weekend, you can still get the biggest discount we’ve seen yet on Apple’s AirPods Pro truly wireless earbuds. The sale is happening at Verizon, and you can save $30 on a set of Apple AirPods Pro online only. Most discounts for this model are in the $15 to $20 range, but this deal at Verizon brings them down to their best-ever price of $220. The AirPods Pro are the best truly wireless earbuds for people who own an iPhone, according to The Verge’s Chris Welch. They sound great and pack in active noise cancellation, and specifically for those who own an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other Apple tech, they can quickly switch between playing audio on different devices.
Apple AirPods Pro / Was $250, now 12% off $220 at Verizon
Another notable deal comes from Best Buy where the GoPro Fusion 360-degree action camera is $230 for Saturday only, down from its usual $300 price. What makes this deal even better than just a mere price drop is that it includes a second battery and a battery charger, so you won’t be stranded without an extra battery during your trip out.
GoPro Fusion 360-degree camera / Was $300, now 23% off. Includes a second battery and a charger for free with purchase. $230 at Best Buy
Ubisoft’s Forward game conference is this Sunday, July 13th, at 3PM ET / 12PM PT. If you tune in between 2:30PM ET and 4:30PM ET that day to watch the show, you’ll get a free copy of Watch Dogs 2 for PC. To get the game, you’ll need to be signed in with your Ubisoft account at its site where you’re watching the event or on Uplay.


theverge--2020-07-11--Three top Ubisoft execs are leaving the company amid abuse allegations

Paris-based video game company Ubisoft announced Saturday that several high-level company officers are leaving amid allegations of abuse and harassment .
The departures of chief creative officer Serge Hascoët , global head of HR Cécile Cornet , and Yannis Mallat , managing director of Ubisoft ’ s Canadian studios , “ come following the initiation of a rigorous review that the company initiated in response to recent allegations and accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior , ” Ubisoft said in a statement .
Earlier this week , Ubisoft confirmed the departure of its vice president , Maxime Béland , following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four prominent executives departing .
Under Mallat , Ubisoft ’ s Toronto studio produced several of Ubisoft ’ s biggest game franchises : he personally produced the Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time series before going on to manage big brands including Assassin ’ s Creed ; Rainbow Six ; Far Cry ; Watch Dogs ; and For Honor .
French news outlet Libération reported details of some of the allegations against Hascoët , who oversaw all the company ’ s games , and was considered by many to be close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier .
Employees of Ubisoft in Toronto had told company leadership they had “ grave concerns about ongoing reported harassment and an inability to feel safe or protected within our own studio ” in a letter signed by more than 100 employees , Kotaku reported earlier this week .
The company said recent allegations against multiple Ubisoft employees in Canada make it “ impossible ” for Mallat to continue in his position .
Mallat was let go just a day after apparently addressing these allegations against the company in general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Guillemot will now oversee “ a complete overhaul of the way in which the creative teams collaborate , ” according to the company 's press release .
The company is hiring an international management consulting firm to audit its HR procedures , part of what it calls a “ comprehensive set of initiatives ” to foster “ an environment that its employees , partners and communities can be proud of – one that reflects Ubisoft ’ s values and that is safe for everyone.
” Guillemot said in a statement that Ubisoft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to guarantee a safe and inclusive workplace environment for its employees .
This is unacceptable , as toxic behaviors are in direct contrast to values on which I have never compromised — and never will .
I am committed to implementing profound changes across the company to improve and strengthen our workplace culture .
”

Paris-based video game company Ubisoft announced Saturday that several high-level company officers are leaving amid allegations of abuse and harassment. The departures of chief creative officer Serge Hascoët, global head of HR Cécile Cornet, and Yannis Mallat, managing director of Ubisoft’s Canadian studios, “come following the initiation of a rigorous review that the company initiated in response to recent allegations and accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior,” Ubisoft said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Ubisoft confirmed the departure of its vice president, Maxime Béland, following assault allegations, making a total of four prominent executives departing. Under Mallat, Ubisoft’s Canadian studios produced several of Ubisoft’s biggest game franchises. He personally produced the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time series before going on to manage big brands including Assassin’s Creed; Rainbow Six; Far Cry; Watch Dogs; and For Honor.
French news outlet Libération reported details of some of the allegations against Hascoët, who oversaw all the company’s games, and was considered by many to be close to CEO Yves Guillemot, according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier.
Employees of Ubisoft in Toronto had told company leadership they had “grave concerns about ongoing reported harassment and an inability to feel safe or protected within our own studio” in a letter signed by more than 100 employees, Kotaku reported earlier this week.
The company said recent allegations against multiple Ubisoft employees in Canada make it “impossible” for Mallat to continue in his position. Mallat was let go just a day after apparently addressing these allegations against the company in general and being the one to reassure employees:
Guillemot will now oversee “a complete overhaul of the way in which the creative teams collaborate,” according to the company's press release.
The company is hiring an international management consulting firm to audit its HR procedures, part of what it calls a “comprehensive set of initiatives” to foster “an environment that its employees, partners and communities can be proud of – one that reflects Ubisoft’s values and that is safe for everyone.”
Guillemot said in a statement that Ubisoft had “fallen short in its obligation to guarantee a safe and inclusive workplace environment for its employees. This is unacceptable, as toxic behaviors are in direct contrast to values on which I have never compromised — and never will. I am committed to implementing profound changes across the company to improve and strengthen our workplace culture.”


theverge--2020-07-11--Fitbit Charge 4 gets ‘smart wake’ alarm and dynamic GPS with latest software update

The latest software update to the Fitbit Charge 4 gives two big upgrades including dynamic GPS , and a “ smart wake ” option .
First reported by 9to5Google , the new features are now rolling out to all users .
Dynamic GPS allows you to connect with the GPS in your phone if it ’ s in range , which may help with location accuracy and preserve the Fitbit ’ s battery life .
If your phone isn ’ t close enough , the tracker will revert to its internal GPS , which can drain the battery more quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty cool addition ; it will work along with the wearable ’ s sleep tracker , and set alarms to wake you at the time you ’ re likely to feel most rested .
Another new option allows users to decide how long the screen display stays on once the Fitbit has been awakened .
In addition to the new features , the Fitbit Charge 4 also has Spotify control , a seven-day battery life , and other premium features that used to be reserved for its smartwatches .
Released earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 149.95 .

The latest software update to the Fitbit Charge 4 gives two big upgrades including dynamic GPS, and a “smart wake” option. First reported by 9to5Google, the new features are now rolling out to all users.
Dynamic GPS allows you to connect with the GPS in your phone if it’s in range, which may help with location accuracy and preserve the Fitbit’s battery life. If your phone isn’t close enough, the tracker will revert to its internal GPS, which can drain the battery more quickly.
The Smart Wake feature is a pretty cool addition; it will work along with the wearable’s sleep tracker, and set alarms to wake you at the time you’re likely to feel most rested. Another new option allows users to decide how long the screen display stays on once the Fitbit has been awakened.


theverge--2020-07-11--Cisco’s Webex videoconferencing software now lets you set virtual backgrounds

As it tries to catch up with the popular features offered by some of its younger competitors , Cisco ’ s Webex has unveiled virtual backgrounds for its videoconferences .
Users can either apply a “ blur ” effect to mask their background or replace with one of Webex ’ s preset background images .
Zoom , the most popular videoconferencing app of the moment , and rivals Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all allow users to upload their own custom images for background displays .
Webex is one of the oldest players in the videoconferencing space .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2007 for $ 3.2 billion .
It ’ s primarily used as a business application and has a focus on companies , rather than personal customers , but has increased the features available on its freemium version during the current surge in demand for remote meetings .
In recent weeks , Google and Microsoft have started to catch up to Zoom ; Microsoft has grown its Teams app to 75 million daily active users , the company said in April .
And Google said Meet recently surpassed 100 million daily meeting participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen a sharp increase in usage during the coronavirus pandemic with more people working and schooling at home .
The company said in April it tripled its average number of meeting minutes to 25 billion .

As it tries to catch up with the popular features offered by some of its younger competitors, Cisco’s Webex has unveiled virtual backgrounds for its videoconferences. Users can either apply a “blur” effect to mask their background or replace with one of Webex’s preset background images.
Zoom, the most popular videoconferencing app of the moment, and rivals Google Meet and Microsoft Teams all allow users to upload their own custom images for background displays.
Webex is one of the oldest players in the videoconferencing space. It was founded in 1995 and acquired by Cisco in 2007 for $3.2 billion. It’s primarily used as a business application and has a focus on companies, rather than personal customers, but has increased the features available on its freemium version during the current surge in demand for remote meetings.


theverge--2020-07-11--Bill Gates says COVID-19 drugs should go where needed, not just ‘the highest bidder’

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Saturday that drugs and a future vaccine to treat COVID-19 should go where they are most needed , not just to “ the highest bidder , ” Reuters reported .
“ If we just let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidder , instead of to the people and the places where they are most needed , we ’ ll have a longer , more unjust , deadlier pandemic , ” Gates said ( remotely ) during a COVID-19 conference .
“ We need leaders to make these hard decisions about distributing based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The World Health Organization said July 6th there were 21 candidate vaccines in clinical trials being tested on human volunteers .
Public health experts have cautioned against “ vaccine nationalism ” —where countries vie against each other to get a potential vaccine first— which they predict would have dire consequences for both public health and the global economy .
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged a total of $ 250 million toward COVID-19 research , “ to support development of diagnostics , therapeutics , and vaccines ... and help mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus.
” Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000 and left his full-time role at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on the foundation work .
In 2015 , he warned during a TED Talk that the world was not ready for a global pandemic .

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Saturday that drugs and a future vaccine to treat COVID-19 should go where they are most needed, not just to “the highest bidder,” Reuters reported.
“If we just let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidder, instead of to the people and the places where they are most needed, we’ll have a longer, more unjust, deadlier pandemic,” Gates said (remotely) during a COVID-19 conference. “We need leaders to make these hard decisions about distributing based on equity, not just on market-driven factors.”
The World Health Organization said July 6th there were 21 candidate vaccines in clinical trials being tested on human volunteers. Public health experts have cautioned against “vaccine nationalism” —where countries vie against each other to get a potential vaccine first— which they predict would have dire consequences for both public health and the global economy.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged a total of $250 million toward COVID-19 research, “to support development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines... and help mitigate the social and economic impacts of the virus.”


theverge--2020-07-11--7 new trailers to watch this week

7 new trailers to watch this week

I love when books and films take place over really short periods of time , and I recently watched two that work within a similar time frame back to back : Booksmart ( which I was seeing for the first time ) and Cloverfield ( which , if I ’ d ever seen before , I had completely forgotten ) .
Both take place mostly over the course of a single night , which kicks off after a short setup sequence introduces their cast of characters .
The movies aren ’ t particularly alike , but side by side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job Booksmart does in getting its events rolling .
The main character is set up in all of 30 seconds with a glance over her bedroom , and nearly every other character in the movie is established over the next 15 minutes .
Then the night rolls , and we watch everything that was set up earlier fall into place .
Cloverfield , on the other hand , really takes its time .
The setup isn ’ t that much longer — about 18 minutes — but it does so much less in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few characters while we impatiently wait for something to happen .
It ’ s a monster movie , and ultimately , they just need to get to the monster .
Check out seven trailers from this week ( okay , one ’ s from last Friday , but it was a holiday ) below .
Seth Rogen stars in this wonderfully depressing looking comedy about a 1920s immigrant to America , who — through failures in early 1900s factory safety standards — becomes frozen in time and wakes up in the modern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is also played by Seth Rogen .
It ’ s a perfectly ridiculous premise .
The film comes to HBO Max on August 6th .
Kevin Hart stars as a fictionalized version of himself going through a ludicrous training boot camp to learn how to become an action star , rather than just a comedic sidekick , in Die Hart .
It ’ s a funny premise , but I ’ m not sure how many people will see it — the show airs on Quibi , which doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It comes out on July 20th .
Hilary Swank stars as an astronaut headed to Mars in Away , a new series headed to Netflix .
This first look doesn ’ t reveal much , but we should know more soon : the series debuts on September 4th .
I Used To Go Here Gillian Jacobs stars as a burnt-out author who heads back to her old college for inspiration , and in doing so , seems to regress into a college student herself .
Jemaine Clement co-stars as a professor .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We Are Who We Are HBO has a new series coming up from Luca Guadagnino , the director of Call Me By Your Name , that once again involves glamorous teenagers living in Italy .
This first teaser is super short , but it gives off just enough Call Me By Your Name vibes to get me interested .
The show debuts in September .
Amy Seimetz wrote and directed this eerie , dryly comic psychological thriller about a woman who believes she ’ s going to die and the people around her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film got great reviews out SXSW , and now it ’ s heading to theaters ( and drive-ins ) on July 31st before streaming on August 7th .

I love when books and films take place over really short periods of time, and I recently watched two that work within a similar time frame back to back: Booksmart (which I was seeing for the first time) and Cloverfield (which, if I’d ever seen before, I had completely forgotten). Both take place mostly over the course of a single night, which kicks off after a short setup sequence introduces their cast of characters.
The movies aren’t particularly alike, but side by side, it was clear what a comparably amazing job Booksmart does in getting its events rolling. The main character is set up in all of 30 seconds with a glance over her bedroom, and nearly every other character in the movie is established over the next 15 minutes. Then the night rolls, and we watch everything that was set up earlier fall into place.
Cloverfield, on the other hand, really takes its time. The setup isn’t that much longer — about 18 minutes — but it does so much less in that time period, loosely establishing just a few characters while we impatiently wait for something to happen. It’s a monster movie, and ultimately, they just need to get to the monster.
Check out seven trailers from this week (okay, one’s from last Friday, but it was a holiday) below.
An American Pickle
Seth Rogen stars in this wonderfully depressing looking comedy about a 1920s immigrant to America, who — through failures in early 1900s factory safety standards — becomes frozen in time and wakes up in the modern day, where he meets his great-grandson, who is also played by Seth Rogen. It’s a perfectly ridiculous premise. The film comes to HBO Max on August 6th.
Die Hart
Kevin Hart stars as a fictionalized version of himself going through a ludicrous training boot camp to learn how to become an action star, rather than just a comedic sidekick, in Die Hart. It’s a funny premise, but I’m not sure how many people will see it — the show airs on Quibi, which doesn’t exactly have a huge subscriber base. It comes out on July 20th.
Disclosure: Vox Media, which owns The Verge, has a deal with Quibi to produce a show, and there were early talks about a Verge show as well.
Away
Hilary Swank stars as an astronaut headed to Mars in Away, a new series headed to Netflix. This first look doesn’t reveal much, but we should know more soon: the series debuts on September 4th.
I Used To Go Here
Gillian Jacobs stars as a burnt-out author who heads back to her old college for inspiration, and in doing so, seems to regress into a college student herself. Jemaine Clement co-stars as a professor. The film comes out on August 7th.
We Are Who We Are
HBO has a new series coming up from Luca Guadagnino, the director of Call Me By Your Name, that once again involves glamorous teenagers living in Italy. This first teaser is super short, but it gives off just enough Call Me By Your Name vibes to get me interested. The show debuts in September.
She Dies Tomorrow
Amy Seimetz wrote and directed this eerie, dryly comic psychological thriller about a woman who believes she’s going to die and the people around her who start to believe it. The film got great reviews out SXSW, and now it’s heading to theaters (and drive-ins) on July 31st before streaming on August 7th.
Valley of the Gods


theverge--2020-07-11--Wells Fargo directs employees to remove TikTok from company mobile devices

Wells Fargo has instructed employees who installed TikTok on company devices to remove the app over privacy concerns , as first reported by The Information .
“ We have identified a small number of Wells Fargo employees with corporate-owned devices who had installed the TikTok application on their device , ” a Wells Fargo spokesperson said in an email to The Verge .
“ Due to concerns about TikTok ’ s privacy and security controls and practices , and because corporate-owned devices should be used for company business only , we have directed those employees to remove the app from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest company to raise security concerns about employees using the popular video-sharing app , which hit 2 billion downloads in April .
On Friday , Amazon said it sent an email “ in error ” to employees asking them to remove TikTok from mobile devices with Amazon email addresses .
The company later clarified that there had been “ no change to our policies right now with regard to TikTok.
” TikTok , which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance , was one of several apps recently revealed to be accessing user clipboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The practice was discovered via a new feature in beta versions of iOS 14 , which alerts users when an app copies from the clipboard .
TikTok says it has since removed the feature .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this week that the Trump administration was “ looking at ” banning TikTok , although it ’ s not entirely clear how such a ban would work in practice .
Some branches of the US military have already banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices .
TikTok did not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Wells Fargo has instructed employees who installed TikTok on company devices to remove the app over privacy concerns, as first reported by The Information.
“We have identified a small number of Wells Fargo employees with corporate-owned devices who had installed the TikTok application on their device,” a Wells Fargo spokesperson said in an email to The Verge. “Due to concerns about TikTok’s privacy and security controls and practices, and because corporate-owned devices should be used for company business only, we have directed those employees to remove the app from their devices.”
It’s the latest company to raise security concerns about employees using the popular video-sharing app, which hit 2 billion downloads in April. On Friday, Amazon said it sent an email “in error” to employees asking them to remove TikTok from mobile devices with Amazon email addresses. The company later clarified that there had been “no change to our policies right now with regard to TikTok.”
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, was one of several apps recently revealed to be accessing user clipboard data when running in the background. The practice was discovered via a new feature in beta versions of iOS 14, which alerts users when an app copies from the clipboard. TikTok says it has since removed the feature.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this week that the Trump administration was “looking at” banning TikTok, although it’s not entirely clear how such a ban would work in practice. Some branches of the US military have already banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices.
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.


theverge--2020-07-11--SpaceX delays launch of its latest batch of Starlink satellites, with two hitchhiking spacecraft

Update July 11th , 9:30AM ET : SpaceX postponed the launch again on Saturday morning , “ to allow more time for checkouts.
” The company says it will announce a new launch day once it ’ s confirmed .
Original Story : A little over a week after launching a GPS satellite for the Space Force , SpaceX is back with another launch of its internet-beaming Starlink satellites .
The company ’ s Falcon 9 rocket is slated to take off from Cape Canaveral , Florida , launching 57 Starlink spacecraft as well as two hitchhiking Earth observation satellites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest in SpaceX ’ s ongoing quest to flesh out its proposed massive Starlink constellation , aimed at providing broadband internet connectivity from space .
The company has permission to launch nearly 12,000 Starlink satellites from the Federal Communications Commission , a swarm of spacecraft that will beam internet coverage to every point on the globe .
After this launch , SpaceX will have launched 595 of its Starlink satellites ( though at least one has come out of orbit , while a few others have failed since making it to space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starlink launch to include another company ’ s satellites The mission is the second Starlink launch to include another company ’ s satellites along for the ride .
Typically , SpaceX has launched its Starlink probes in batches of 60 , all by themselves .
But on a previous launch in June , SpaceX launched 58 Starlink satellites as well as three tiny imaging satellites from the company Planet .
The company Spaceflight , a broker that finds room for satellites on upcoming launches , arranged for the BlackSky satellites to fly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own program to arrange ride-shares on its Falcon 9 rocket , working directly with customers , as it did with the recent Planet ride-share .
The Starlink satellites going up on this launch will all sport a relatively new feature , too .
They ’ re equipped with a deployable visor , known as a sunshade , designed to prevent the sun ’ s light from reflecting off of the shiniest parts of the satellites , notably the antennas .
The goal is to decrease the overall brightness of the Starlink spacecraft while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark as possible in the night sky .
SpaceX already launched one of these sunshades on a previous Starlink flight in early June .
This is the first launch where the entire fleet will carry the visor .
SpaceX ’ s new sunshades are a direct response to concerns that have been raised by the astronomy community about Starlink .
After the first launch of SpaceX ’ s satellites , astronomers noticed just how bright the spacecraft appeared in the sky , and scientists grew worried that such a massive constellation of shiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the universe .
To observe distant celestial objects , astronomers often rely on taking long-exposure images of the night sky — and a satellite zooming through an image leaves a bright streak that can ruin an observation .
All of the Starlink satellites are equipped with a deployable visor known as a sunshade Following discussion with leading astronomy groups , the sunshade is the latest solution SpaceX has come up with .
The company tried coating one of its Starlink satellites in early January to make it appear darker ; that solution didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allay everyone ’ s fears .
More changes could be on the horizon , too , such as changing how the satellites are oriented when they reach their final orbits .
SpaceX ’ s Falcon 9 was slated for liftoff at 10:54AM ET out of the company ’ s launchpad at NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
SpaceX is using one of its used rockets for the mission , a Falcon 9 that has flown to space and back four times before .
The rocket will attempt to land on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Atlantic following the launch , potentially enabling the vehicle to fly for the sixth time .
In June , SpaceX set a new record of landing the same Falcon 9 for a fifth time following a flight ; the company could repeat the feat with this mission .
If all goes well , the two BlackSky satellites will deploy first , just over an hour after takeoff .
The Starlink satellites will then deploy about 30 minutes after that .
SpaceX postponed the original launch date for this mission on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then a second time on July 11th , claiming the company needed more time to checkout the vehicle .
When SpaceX is able to launch , the company ’ s live stream is set to begin about 15 minutes before takeoff .
Update July 8th , 12:00PM ET : SpaceX postponed the launch on July 8th due to bad weather in the area .
The company decided to proceed through the countdown of the launch up until one minute before the planned takeoff in order to collect data from the rocket .


theverge--2020-07-12--How to watch Ubisoft’s Forward game conference

Ubisoft is hosting a digital press conference to show off what would have been its slate of E3 game announcements .
The event is called Ubisoft Forward , and though it ’ s a strange time for the studio to announce new projects — amid several high-level execs leaving the company after being accused of sexual misconduct and harassment — that hasn ’ t slowed it down .
You can expect to see “ plenty of exclusive game news , exciting reveals , and much more , ” according to the publisher .
With several games in development , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch Dogs : Legion to name two anticipated examples , there ’ s plenty still to show off .
Perhaps we ’ ll see some extended PS5 and Xbox Series X gameplay demos for those games and hopefully others , like the next Far Cry .
When does the Ubisoft event start ?
You can tune in to the broadcast at 3PM ET / 12PM PT on Sunday , July 12th .
There ’ s a preshow presentation that begins an hour before that will focus on news for games that are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ubisoft event ?
Ubisoft is streaming the event through its website .
Alternatively , it ’ s hosting the event through Twitch .
If you don ’ t feel like clicking away , we have a livestream via YouTube embedded above that will turn on at 2PM ET / 11AM PT .
How do I get Watch Dogs 2 for free ?
If you ’ re watching the event on Ubisoft ’ s site or through Uplay , make sure to log in to your account on either .
You ’ ll need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ / 11:30AM PT and 4:30PM ET / 1:30PM PT to earn a free copy of Watch Dogs 2 for PC .
Ubisoft says you ’ ll receive the free game a day after the conference .
If you ’ re watching on Twitch , make sure to link your Ubisoft account to Twitch so you can earn the game via a Twitch Drop .

Ubisoft is hosting a digital press conference to show off what would have been its slate of E3 game announcements. The event is called Ubisoft Forward, and though it’s a strange time for the studio to announce new projects — amid several high-level execs leaving the company after being accused of sexual misconduct and harassment — that hasn’t slowed it down. You can expect to see “plenty of exclusive game news, exciting reveals, and much more,” according to the publisher. With several games in development, like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion to name two anticipated examples, there’s plenty still to show off. Perhaps we’ll see some extended PS5 and Xbox Series X gameplay demos for those games and hopefully others, like the next Far Cry.
When does the Ubisoft event start?
You can tune in to the broadcast at 3PM ET / 12PM PT on Sunday, July 12th. There’s a preshow presentation that begins an hour before that will focus on news for games that are already available.
Where can I watch the Ubisoft event?
Ubisoft is streaming the event through its website. Alternatively, it’s hosting the event through Twitch. If you don’t feel like clicking away, we have a livestream via YouTube embedded above that will turn on at 2PM ET / 11AM PT.
How do I get Watch Dogs 2 for free?
If you’re watching the event on Ubisoft’s site or through Uplay, make sure to log in to your account on either. You’ll need to watch the event between 2:30PM ET / 11:30AM PT and 4:30PM ET / 1:30PM PT to earn a free copy of Watch Dogs 2 for PC. Ubisoft says you’ll receive the free game a day after the conference.


theverge--2020-07-12--The 4 biggest announcements from Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft , like many other video game companies , was unable to host its typical in-person press conference at E3 in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Instead , it hosted a digital event on Sunday called “ Ubisoft Forward , ” revealing more about its biggest upcoming games .
Those included Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla , Watch Dogs : Legion , its newly-announced battle royale shooter Hyper Scape , Far Cry 6 , and more .
The company says it also plans to hold another Ubisoft Forward showcase later this year .
Ubisoft Forward comes at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a pervasive toxic culture at Ubisoft have recently come to light amid multiple allegations of misconduct levied against Ubisoft employees .
Just yesterday , three prominent executives left Ubisoft , bringing the total to four departures ( and one additional suspension ) since the allegations were made public .
“ We wanted to recognize that the issues we ’ re currently dealing with won ’ t be addressed directly in the show.
” In a tweet posted just a few hours before the event kicked off , Ubisoft acknowledged the challenges facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t discuss them during the digital event .
“ Because all the content has been pre-recorded , we wanted to recognize that the issues we ’ re currently dealing with won ’ t be addressed directly in the show , ” Ubisoft said .
CEO Yves Guillemot already promised sweeping company changes in a letter sent to employees on July 2nd , including appointing a head of workplace culture and creating a position for a head of diversity .
Here ’ s our roundup of the biggest announcements from the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and its villain could look familiar to Breaking Bad fans After a tease on Friday , Ubisoft officially announced Far Cry 6 , the next game in the hugely-popular series .
Far Cry 6 takes place on the tropical island of Yara , and the role of the villain will be played by Giancarlo Esposito , who you might know as Gus Fring from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul .
The series is known for focusing on its villains rather than protagonists , but Esposito is the first actor widely known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the video game role .
Ubisoft says Far Cry 6 will be available on February 18th , 2021 for PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox One , PC , and Google ’ s Stadia cloud gaming service .
Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla will be available on November 17th Ubisoft announced that its Norse-inspired Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla , which it first showed off in April , will launch on November 17th for Xbox One , PlayStation 4 , PC , and Google Stadia .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Viking-themed game , which you can watch above .
My colleague Chaim Gartenberg recently got to spend three hours with the title , and he says it should feel very familiar to fans of Assassin ’ s Creed Odyssey and Assassin ’ s Creed Origins .
You can read his impressions right here .
At the end of today ’ s trailer , Ubisoft noted that the game is “ coming soon ” to next-gen consoles .
Ubisoft announced that its upcoming battle royale shooter Hyper Scape will enter open beta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailer for the beta and a new cinematic story trailer , which you can watch above .
My colleague Nick Statt got to go hands-on with the technical test when it launched earlier this month , and you can check out his thoughts here .
Watch Dogs Legion is available on October 29th Ubisoft announced that Watch Dogs Legion will launch on October 29th on Xbox One , PlayStation 4 , PC , and Google Stadia , and shared some footage from the game in a new gameplay trailer .
The game takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change from previous Watch Dogs titles is that you can recruit any NPC in the game as a playable character .
My colleague Chaim also got to spend three hours with Watch Dogs Legion recently , and he said that despite the huge number of NPCs you can play as , many of them feel the same .
Similarly to Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla , Ubisoft said the game is “ coming soon ” to next-gen consoles .

Ubisoft, like many other video game companies, was unable to host its typical in-person press conference at E3 in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, it hosted a digital event on Sunday called “Ubisoft Forward,” revealing more about its biggest upcoming games. Those included Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, its newly-announced battle royale shooter Hyper Scape, Far Cry 6, and more. The company says it also plans to hold another Ubisoft Forward showcase later this year.
Ubisoft Forward comes at a difficult time for the company: Reports of a pervasive toxic culture at Ubisoft have recently come to light amid multiple allegations of misconduct levied against Ubisoft employees. Just yesterday, three prominent executives left Ubisoft, bringing the total to four departures (and one additional suspension) since the allegations were made public.
“We wanted to recognize that the issues we’re currently dealing with won’t be addressed directly in the show.”
In a tweet posted just a few hours before the event kicked off, Ubisoft acknowledged the challenges facing the company, but said that it wouldn’t discuss them during the digital event. “Because all the content has been pre-recorded, we wanted to recognize that the issues we’re currently dealing with won’t be addressed directly in the show,” Ubisoft said. CEO Yves Guillemot already promised sweeping company changes in a letter sent to employees on July 2nd, including appointing a head of workplace culture and creating a position for a head of diversity.
Here’s our roundup of the biggest announcements from the show.
After a tease on Friday, Ubisoft officially announced Far Cry 6, the next game in the hugely-popular series. Far Cry 6 takes place on the tropical island of Yara, and the role of the villain will be played by Giancarlo Esposito, who you might know as Gus Fring from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The series is known for focusing on its villains rather than protagonists, but Esposito is the first actor widely known for playing a strong villain to take on the video game role.
Ubisoft says Far Cry 6 will be available on February 18th, 2021 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service.
Ubisoft announced that its Norse-inspired Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which it first showed off in April, will launch on November 17th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Google Stadia. The company also shared a new gameplay trailer for the Viking-themed game, which you can watch above. My colleague Chaim Gartenberg recently got to spend three hours with the title, and he says it should feel very familiar to fans of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Origins. You can read his impressions right here.
At the end of today’s trailer, Ubisoft noted that the game is “coming soon” to next-gen consoles.
Ubisoft announced that its upcoming battle royale shooter Hyper Scape will enter open beta starting today. Ubisoft also shared a trailer for the beta and a new cinematic story trailer, which you can watch above.
My colleague Nick Statt got to go hands-on with the technical test when it launched earlier this month, and you can check out his thoughts here.
Ubisoft announced that Watch Dogs Legion will launch on October 29th on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Google Stadia, and shared some footage from the game in a new gameplay trailer. The game takes place in London, and the big change from previous Watch Dogs titles is that you can recruit any NPC in the game as a playable character. My colleague Chaim also got to spend three hours with Watch Dogs Legion recently, and he said that despite the huge number of NPCs you can play as, many of them feel the same.


theverge--2020-07-12--Watch the first trailer for Far Cry 6, featuring Giancarlo Esposito

Ubisoft debuted the first trailer for Far Cry 6 as part of its Ubisoft Forward digital conference today .
The cinematic trailer didn ’ t have any gameplay , but showed a city in revolt under the regime of Antón Castillo , who is played by Giancarlo Esposito , perhaps best known as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul .
In Far Cry 6 , players control Dani Rojas , who is tasked with stopping Castillo ’ s regime .
Much like its predecessors Far Cry 5 and Far Cry New Dawn , the playable character will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either a male or female .
But Far Cry 6 will also see the return of a voiced protagonist , GameSpot reports .
Ubisoft says players will have many weapons at their disposal and a companion system that allows you to recruit numerous allies to fight alongside you , like in Far Cry 5 .
( In Far Cry 6 , one of those allies can be a “ dangerously distracting wiener dog ” named Chorizo , according to Ubisoft . )
Far Cry 6 is set to launch on February 18th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Xbox Series X , Xbox One , PC , and Google ’ s Stadia cloud gaming service .
It ’ s the latest entry in the series since 2019 ’ s Far Cry : New Dawn , a post-apocalyptic sequel to 2018 ’ s Far Cry 5 .
Update July 12th , 4:42PM ET : Added details from Ubisoft ’ s website and GameSpot .

Ubisoft debuted the first trailer for Far Cry 6 as part of its Ubisoft Forward digital conference today. The cinematic trailer didn’t have any gameplay, but showed a city in revolt under the regime of Antón Castillo, who is played by Giancarlo Esposito, perhaps best known as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
In Far Cry 6, players control Dani Rojas, who is tasked with stopping Castillo’s regime. Much like its predecessors Far Cry 5 and Far Cry New Dawn, the playable character will be customizable and can be played as either a male or female. But Far Cry 6 will also see the return of a voiced protagonist, GameSpot reports.
Ubisoft says players will have many weapons at their disposal and a companion system that allows you to recruit numerous allies to fight alongside you, like in Far Cry 5. (In Far Cry 6, one of those allies can be a “dangerously distracting wiener dog” named Chorizo, according to Ubisoft.)
Far Cry 6 is set to launch on February 18th, 2021 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service. It’s the latest entry in the series since 2019’s Far Cry: New Dawn, a post-apocalyptic sequel to 2018’s Far Cry 5.


theverge--2020-07-12--Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s new Vikings don’t change up the formula much

It ’ s been nearly two years , but Ubisoft is finally gearing up to release a new Assassin ’ s Creed game .
Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla is billed as “ the ultimate viking fantasy , ” set not in the fjords of Scandinavia but in the fields and rivers of England during the ninth century Viking invasion .
Players are put in the role of Eivor , a Viking from Norway , as they attempt to lead their people to establish a settlement in England .
It may have new Norse trappings and some refreshed gameplay modes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours running around Valhalla ’ s open world , it feels a lot more like an iteration of 2018 ’ s Assassin ’ s Creed Odyssey than a drastically different experience .
The game ’ s recreation of England might be the best the series has ever looked I was able to try out an early version of Valhalla , playing both a chunk of the game ’ s story and exploring the open world .
The demo I played was streamed over Parsec , as the ongoing pandemic made a normal in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valhalla looks absolutely gorgeous ; while Odyssey had already set a high bar in bringing Ancient Greece to life , Valhalla ’ s recreation of England might be the best the series has ever looked , with rolling fields , misty forests , and gorgeous sunsets .
If you ’ ve played either Origins or Odyssey — the preceding two “ modern ” Assassin ’ s Creed titles — then much of Valhalla will be familiar , despite the new map .
The weapon , gear , and skill tree system introduced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing the customization and RPG trends that the series has been following for the past few years , albeit with a few new wrinkles .
Instead of the hunter ( bows ) , warrior ( melee ) , and assassin skill trees , Valhalla has “ wolf , ” “ bear , ” and “ raven ” trees that correspond loosely to those categories , although they ’ re less strictly defined in previous games .
Different weapons and armor sets also synergize with those categories , so “ raven ” armor sets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve invested heavily in stealth-based skills , while a pair of wolf axes will get a bonus if you focused more on the corresponding skills .
‘ Valhalla ’ is also less obviously focused on being an RPG Valhalla is also less obviously focused on being an RPG — for example , there ’ s less emphasis on damage indicators for weapons or percentile perks for items ( although every blow does still have a damage number pop-up overhead ) .
More importantly , there ’ s also no leveling system anymore .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ power ” level that ’ s based on the number of skills they ’ ve unlocked .
The skill tree also has a lot more nodes to unlock , with more incremental upgrades like increases to melee or ranged attacks intermixed with larger new skills , to allow for a more customizable and continual rate of progression than tying all new abilities to leveling up .
Combat is also virtually identical to previous AC titles .
Players have the choice of heavier , two-handed weapons as well as quicker single-hand axes and flails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller weapons ( I quickly embraced a pair of axes that felt fitting to the setting ) .
Like in previous games , there ’ s a big emphasis on mixing up your light and heavy attacks with parries and blocks to dispatch your enemies .
Odyssey ’ s special abilities system — bound to the face buttons when holding down the left trigger ( for ranged weapons ) or right trigger ( for melee ) — is also back .
Old favorites like the Spartan Kick or Multi-shot have returned for Valhalla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , although there are some new options , too , like the incredibly satisfying rapid-fire throwing axes .
Also virtually identical to the previous two games is the exploration loop out in the open world .
Some series mainstays will never leave : there ’ s still the “ go to the top of the building / pillar / tall object ” to “ synchronize ” and reveal points of interest in the surrounding map before diving into an impossibly soft bale of hay .
The compass wheel from Origins is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives , as is your bird companion ( this time , a raven named Sýnin ) , which players can use to scout out new areas and mark enemies .
Players also have a Viking longship , which can be used to navigate the streams of England , complete with the now-requisite Assassin ’ s Creed boat shanties , and a second option for God of War-style recounting of epic tales and battles while you travel .
Unlike previous games , though , the longship is mostly meant for traversal — and bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources for your own base .
Like Odyssey , Valhalla offers interactive dialogue that lets players make key choices about how they progress , like whether to kill a rival leader , recruit an ally , or romance a companion .
( And also like in Odyssey , all romanceable characters are available partners for both the male and female versions of Eivor . )
In an interesting improvement , not only can players choose between male and female versions of the main character , Eivor , at the start of the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genders at any point in gameplay .
There are some new and interesting features in ‘ Valhalla ’ Even with all those core elements largely the same , there are some new and interesting features in Valhalla .
The game takes a few steps back toward the franchise ’ s roots , with the return of the classic hidden blade for assassinations .
And unlike Odyssey , players have the ability to insta-kill nearly any enemy — including some bosses — with a single blow , although there ’ s an extra timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wasn ’ t able to nail down in my attempts .
One of the more interesting changes in Valhalla is the scale of some battles .
While previous Assassin ’ s Creed games have focused on the idea of the player as a one-man smaller army , Valhalla is emphasizing larger battles with NPC companions .
“ Raids ” are a key new element here ; I was able to unleash my longship full of viking warriors against a fortified church or base , fighting side by side with my crew against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll have to keep an eye on and revive as necessary ) .
Raids aren ’ t required : stealthy players can still infiltrate , parkour , and stab their way through their goals .
But they ’ re an interesting new option .
A longer “ Assault ” level built on that concept in a story mission .
There , I led a full-scale invasion of a castle , dodging sheets of flaming arrows from the defenders as I led a fleet of longboats , before fighting my way through successive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a battering ram ( which is able to be controlled by your troops , with your direction ) .
The whole mission culminated in a final boss fight against a rival Viking leader , who I could have optionally assassinated by sneaking around the back of the castle .
There are also some smaller changes .
The health system has been revamped in Valhalla : passive regeneration while out of combat was replaced by a set number of “ rations ” that allow players to restore a chunk of their life bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by harvesting the plentiful edible items ( like berries or mushrooms ) around the game world , but it adds an additional dimension to combat by giving players a new system to manage .
In the practical sense , giving players access to more health means combat encounters can be longer and enemies more deadly .
Valhalla also features overt in-game reminders toward the present-day frame narrative ( where players are technically playing as the series ’ s modern-day protagonist Layla Hassan , who is experiencing these memories of the past using a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Valhalla , players can now encounter an intentionally glitched-out area where frames will stutter and objects will blink in and out of existence , where you can activate an “ Animus Anomaly ” challenge .
It ’ s effectively a slightly more difficult parkour run that puts players in charge of Hassan ( instead of Eivor ) and offers more information on the present-date plot .
There ’ s also a variety of other puzzles and mini-games scattered around the massive world , including world bosses , legendary animals , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for even tougher combat challenges .
Viking drinking contests and “ flyting ” insult battle mini-games let you test rhythm skills .
There ’ s even a new fishing mode .
‘ Valhalla ’ feels extremely similar to the titles that came before it Obviously , Valhalla promises to be a massive game , and it ’ s hard to make any real judgements from the comparatively brief snippet I played .
( One of Valhalla ’ s biggest new features — a customizable Viking settlement that also serves as the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t available in this demo to test out . )
But at its core , Valhalla feels extremely similar to the titles that came before it , which isn ’ t a bad thing : both Odyssey and Origins were fresh and deeper takes on the classic Assassin ’ s Creed style .
If what you ’ re looking for is more of that , then Valhalla will absolutely provide .

It’s been nearly two years, but Ubisoft is finally gearing up to release a new Assassin’s Creed game. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is billed as “the ultimate viking fantasy,” set not in the fjords of Scandinavia but in the fields and rivers of England during the ninth century Viking invasion. Players are put in the role of Eivor, a Viking from Norway, as they attempt to lead their people to establish a settlement in England.
It may have new Norse trappings and some refreshed gameplay modes and features, but after spending three hours running around Valhalla’s open world, it feels a lot more like an iteration of 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey than a drastically different experience.
The game’s recreation of England might be the best the series has ever looked
I was able to try out an early version of Valhalla, playing both a chunk of the game’s story and exploring the open world. The demo I played was streamed over Parsec, as the ongoing pandemic made a normal in-person hands-on impossible. Despite those limitations, Valhalla looks absolutely gorgeous; while Odyssey had already set a high bar in bringing Ancient Greece to life, Valhalla’s recreation of England might be the best the series has ever looked, with rolling fields, misty forests, and gorgeous sunsets.
If you’ve played either Origins or Odyssey — the preceding two “modern” Assassin’s Creed titles — then much of Valhalla will be familiar, despite the new map. The weapon, gear, and skill tree system introduced in Origins makes a return in Valhalla, continuing the customization and RPG trends that the series has been following for the past few years, albeit with a few new wrinkles. Instead of the hunter (bows), warrior (melee), and assassin skill trees, Valhalla has “wolf,” “bear,” and “raven” trees that correspond loosely to those categories, although they’re less strictly defined in previous games.
Different weapons and armor sets also synergize with those categories, so “raven” armor sets will get a boost if you’ve invested heavily in stealth-based skills, while a pair of wolf axes will get a bonus if you focused more on the corresponding skills.
‘Valhalla’ is also less obviously focused on being an RPG
Valhalla is also less obviously focused on being an RPG — for example, there’s less emphasis on damage indicators for weapons or percentile perks for items (although every blow does still have a damage number pop-up overhead). More importantly, there’s also no leveling system anymore. Instead, players have a “global power” level that’s based on the number of skills they’ve unlocked. The skill tree also has a lot more nodes to unlock, with more incremental upgrades like increases to melee or ranged attacks intermixed with larger new skills, to allow for a more customizable and continual rate of progression than tying all new abilities to leveling up.
Combat is also virtually identical to previous AC titles. Players have the choice of heavier, two-handed weapons as well as quicker single-hand axes and flails, and the added option to dual-wield smaller weapons (I quickly embraced a pair of axes that felt fitting to the setting). Like in previous games, there’s a big emphasis on mixing up your light and heavy attacks with parries and blocks to dispatch your enemies.
Odyssey’s special abilities system — bound to the face buttons when holding down the left trigger (for ranged weapons) or right trigger (for melee) — is also back. Old favorites like the Spartan Kick or Multi-shot have returned for Valhalla (albeit with new, Norse-inspired names), although there are some new options, too, like the incredibly satisfying rapid-fire throwing axes.
Also virtually identical to the previous two games is the exploration loop out in the open world. Some series mainstays will never leave: there’s still the “go to the top of the building / pillar / tall object” to “synchronize” and reveal points of interest in the surrounding map before diving into an impossibly soft bale of hay. The compass wheel from Origins is still present, gently guiding players toward new objectives, as is your bird companion (this time, a raven named Sýnin), which players can use to scout out new areas and mark enemies.
Players also have a Viking longship, which can be used to navigate the streams of England, complete with the now-requisite Assassin’s Creed boat shanties, and a second option for God of War-style recounting of epic tales and battles while you travel. Unlike previous games, though, the longship is mostly meant for traversal — and bringing your crew to raid settlements to gain resources for your own base.
Like Odyssey, Valhalla offers interactive dialogue that lets players make key choices about how they progress, like whether to kill a rival leader, recruit an ally, or romance a companion. (And also like in Odyssey, all romanceable characters are available partners for both the male and female versions of Eivor.) In an interesting improvement, not only can players choose between male and female versions of the main character, Eivor, at the start of the game, they can also freely switch between genders at any point in gameplay.
There are some new and interesting features in ‘Valhalla’
Even with all those core elements largely the same, there are some new and interesting features in Valhalla. The game takes a few steps back toward the franchise’s roots, with the return of the classic hidden blade for assassinations. And unlike Odyssey, players have the ability to insta-kill nearly any enemy — including some bosses — with a single blow, although there’s an extra timing element to successfully accomplish the task that I wasn’t able to nail down in my attempts.
One of the more interesting changes in Valhalla is the scale of some battles. While previous Assassin’s Creed games have focused on the idea of the player as a one-man smaller army, Valhalla is emphasizing larger battles with NPC companions. “Raids” are a key new element here; I was able to unleash my longship full of viking warriors against a fortified church or base, fighting side by side with my crew against a battalion of soldiers (who you’ll have to keep an eye on and revive as necessary). Raids aren’t required: stealthy players can still infiltrate, parkour, and stab their way through their goals. But they’re an interesting new option.
A longer “Assault” level built on that concept in a story mission. There, I led a full-scale invasion of a castle, dodging sheets of flaming arrows from the defenders as I led a fleet of longboats, before fighting my way through successive gates that had to each be breached by a battering ram (which is able to be controlled by your troops, with your direction). The whole mission culminated in a final boss fight against a rival Viking leader, who I could have optionally assassinated by sneaking around the back of the castle.
There are also some smaller changes. The health system has been revamped in Valhalla: passive regeneration while out of combat was replaced by a set number of “rations” that allow players to restore a chunk of their life bar at will. Those rations get replenished by harvesting the plentiful edible items (like berries or mushrooms) around the game world, but it adds an additional dimension to combat by giving players a new system to manage. In the practical sense, giving players access to more health means combat encounters can be longer and enemies more deadly.
Valhalla also features overt in-game reminders toward the present-day frame narrative (where players are technically playing as the series’s modern-day protagonist Layla Hassan, who is experiencing these memories of the past using a machine called an “Animus”). In Valhalla, players can now encounter an intentionally glitched-out area where frames will stutter and objects will blink in and out of existence, where you can activate an “Animus Anomaly” challenge. It’s effectively a slightly more difficult parkour run that puts players in charge of Hassan (instead of Eivor) and offers more information on the present-date plot.
There’s also a variety of other puzzles and mini-games scattered around the massive world, including world bosses, legendary animals, and elite “Drengr” warriors for players looking for even tougher combat challenges. Viking drinking contests and “flyting” insult battle mini-games let you test rhythm skills. There’s even a new fishing mode.
‘Valhalla’ feels extremely similar to the titles that came before it
Obviously, Valhalla promises to be a massive game, and it’s hard to make any real judgements from the comparatively brief snippet I played. (One of Valhalla’s biggest new features — a customizable Viking settlement that also serves as the main customization hub for Eivor — wasn’t available in this demo to test out.)