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Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Morocco Gaming Expo 2025: French Delegation Backs Youth, Talent and Tech in Rabat
The Morocco Gaming Expo is back in Rabat, and this year it comes with a distinctly French twist. Running from 2 to 6 July at the city's Palais des Sports, the second edition of the expo has drawn a sizeable French delegation – some thirty professionals from studios, publishers, unions, and game design schools. At the heart of this cross-border cooperation are two initiatives: the Video Game Creator (VGC) and the Video Game Incubator (VGI). Both will be on full display at the expo, to push for the development of local talent and support emerging Moroccan studios. Launched earlier this year, VGC offers a ten-month certified programme blending technical training with creative rigour. Its counterpart, VGI, is already working with nine promising Moroccan studios, providing mentoring, bespoke training, and access to international experts. 'This joint presence of VGC and VGI, along with the French delegation, reflects the unique and structured partnership between France and Morocco in the gaming sector,' said Agnès Humruzian, Director General of the Institut français du Maroc. 'It's a sign of our commitment to building a strong and innovative ecosystem for Moroccan youth.' The initiative builds on a Franco-Moroccan declaration signed in October 2024 during President Macron's state visit to Morocco. It's backed by France's Fonds équipe France Création, aimed at tightening cultural and digital ties between the two countries. Beyond the formalities, it's also a chance for young Moroccan developers to rub shoulders with major industry names, explore the latest trends, and perhaps, get a foot in the door. Tags: AI technologyDigital creatorsExpo 2025gamingRabat
Tom's Guide
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I'm skeptical about the PS6 — here's 3 upgrades that could change my mind
Sony hasn't announced the PS6, but there's been plenty of buzz about the PS5's successor for quite some time. Sony officially said it's developing a new system during a recent earnings call (via VGC), and several alleged leaks (via VideoCardz) hint at its potential specs. Based on what we've heard, the PS6 could arrive in 2027 or 2028. I'm sure Sony will eventually release a PS6. And while I've been a die-hard PlayStation fan for decades, I can't say I'm thrilled about the prospect of this system. As I've previously written, the PS5 doesn't always feel like a next-gen console. If the PS6 generation is anything like the current one, it will be difficult to get excited about the new system. Despite my skepticism, I'm not going to dismiss the PS6 completely. With some meaningful upgrades and features, it could be a system worth purchasing on day one. Here are 3 upgrades that could change my mind about a PS6. I've said this plenty of times, but the PS5 is one ugly console! Its hourglass-like shape and popped collar top are not only unpleasant to the eye, but make it hard to comfortably situate on a shelf or entertainment center. Say what you will about the refrigerator-like Xbox Series X, but at least that system is easier to store… and to look at! I'm not asking for a boring and utilitarian design for the PS6, but something with a streamlined chassis can make the system easier on the eyes and easier to store. I would ask for a smaller system, but given the trajectory of PS system designs, I don't think that's a realistic ask. I'm sure we'll eventually get a PS6 Slim. We've had PlayStation consoles with irregular designs since the PS3 days. It would be nice if Sony went back to the PS1 and PS2 eras and kept things simple yet unique. I don't want to deal with another big and heavy system. A sleek-looking PS6 would definitely get me excited. The PS5 Pro is the most powerful PlayStation console ever made. It plays all the same games as the regular PS5 but can offer increased image quality and higher framerate with supported titles. It's the ideal console for players who want the best performance levels but Pro comes at a high price of $699. With the PS4 and PS5, Sony failed to truly deliver on its resolution and performance promises for those systems. The PS4 didn't have many games that actually ran at 1080p and 60 frames per second, and the same is true for the PS5 and its handful of 4K/60 titles. While the latter is more consistent than the former, resolutions and frame rates in games are all over the place on both the PS5 and PS5 Pro. I'm sure Sony will tout the PS6 as an 8K-ready machine… which would be ironic considering how the company did that with the base PS5. I neither expect nor care if the system can achieve that resolution, especially since I don't think the best 8K TVs will be widely adopted in the next two to three years. To that end, if PS6 can consistently deliver true 4K resolution and 60 frames per second for the majority (or all) of its titles, I'll be one happy camper. I should note that 60 frames per second should be the bare minimum. I'd actually like to see more games that can run at 120 frames per second, either natively or with whatever version of the frame-generating PSSR tech the PS6 will employ. But given the console brand's track record with frame rates, I'm going to set my expectations for at least 60fps. Anything we get over that will be gravy. The PS6 will undoubtedly have a new design and improved performance. I can't say whether I'll approve of the new design or if we'll see meaningful performance gains, but we know those changes will happen in some form or another. However, there's one big thing I'd love to see on PS6 that would instantly make me consider buying the console: actual first-party exclusives. This is as true now as it was when the PS5 launched in late 2020, but there is a severe lack of true PlayStation first-party games that are only available on PS5/PS5 Pro. Yes, we have gotten a lot of exclusive games over the years, but a good chunk of them have been available for the PS4, which has somewhat defeated the point of owning a PS5. According to our friends at GamesRadar, there are only 21 PS5 exclusives currently available. And if you go through the list, you'll notice many of these are third-party exclusives or remakes. Let's also not forget that even some of the first-party games are now available on the best gaming PCs. In a world with PC ports and cross-gen compatibility, true console exclusives seem to be an endangered species. This is something I've accepted, even if I'm not thrilled about it. However, if the PS6 can launch with at least four or five exclusives that won't be on other platforms for at least six months, then I'd accept that as a compromise. With the PS6, Sony seems keen on delivering the same kind of experience players have become accustomed to. Though cloud gaming will play a role, Sony wants games you can play locally on its next-gen system. If reports are true, we might also get a PlayStation handheld, which could leverage the power of the cloud similarly to the PlayStation Portal. In that sense, we could see a return to the PS4/PS Vita days, only with better synergy between both machines. Cloud gaming is all well and good, but I still want games I can play locally on a machine. Since it appears Sony wants to deliver that experience with PS6, I know I'll at least get that. However, for me to really get excited about PS6, I'll need to see a slimmer design, meaningful performance gains and a robust lineup of PS6 exclusives. If I have at least two of those wishes granted, then I'll be excited for the PS5's successor.
Tom's Guide
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I've played 8 Nintendo Switch 2 launch games — here's the best one you (probably) skipped but really should buy now
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been in the wild for more than two weeks, and after sampling more than half a dozen of the system's launch games, I'm having a blast with the new hybrid console (and said as much in my very positive Nintendo Switch 2 review). A VGC report this week suggests that third-party Switch 2 game sales are pretty slow off the bat, and while I'm a little disappointed at this news, I'm not entirely surprised. It's little wonder that Nintendo published software like Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are dominating the play time of early adopters. Cyberpunk 2077 is reportedly the exception that is bucking the trend and seeing strong sales. However, much as I love Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 (I named it one of the launch games you need to play first), there's another third-party title that is quickly becoming one of my go-to Switch 2 games at this very early stage of the console's lifecycle: Hitman World of Assassination. I've seen it knock around the bottom of the best-selling charts on the Nintendo eShop, but otherwise, it's not a launch title that many Switch 2 players appear to be talking about. This could be because the majority of Switch 2 owners have already played it on other systems where it's been available for several years, but I think the Signature Edition on Switch 2 makes a compelling case for double-dipping. Here's why you shouldn't skip Hitman WoA on Nintendo Switch 2 (assuming you have access to a solid Wi-Fi connection). Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition brings the complete IO Interactive trilogy to Nintendo Switch 2. In this action-stealth game, you play the world's most lethal killer, Agent 47, as they travel the globe eliminating high-value targets in a multitude of creative ways. Each mission is highly replayable, and this Signature Edition also comes with a wealth of extra content. The Hitman World of Assassination trilogy (which packages the three Hitman games developed by IO Interactive between 2016 and 2021) is a known quantity at this point, so I won't harp on about the basics of what the game actually is. There are plenty of reviews covering all three games in the series already, many of which successfully highlight why they represent not only a new high watermark for the long-running franchise, but also why Hitman in this current guise might just be the most polished stealth game ever. Instead, let's specifically talk about the Nintendo Switch 2 port, officially known as the Signature Edition. The first thing to note is you're getting a ridiculous amount of content here. For starters, you get the full campaign of 2016's Hitman, 2018's Hitman 2 and 2021's Hitman 3, alongside the two extra chapters released as DLC for Hitman 2. That's enough to last you dozens of hours, as it's 21 total locations (Hitman's name for individual open levels), and each is purposefully designed to be replayed several times over. Plus, they're all stitched together into a single seamless campaign that can be enjoyed from start to finish with no hitches. Alongside that, you get plenty of additional game modes like user-created Contracts, a rougelike offering called Freelancer and a fiendishly challenging Arcade mode. That's not all; you can also dive into side campaigns like Seven Deadly Sins and Patient Zero. There's also The Sarajevo Six, though this latter one does unfortunately require an additional purchase. These separate modes remix content from the base games in surprisingly inventive ways, changing levels you might have played dozens of times already in often substantial ways. There's also limited-time Elusive Targets, which right now include a tie-in event with James Bond, which features Mads Mikkelsen reprising his role as Le Chiffre from 2006's 'Casino Royale.' Plus, I haven't even touched on the Sniper Assassin mode, which is a totally different spin on Hitman. Here you find Agent 47 perched in a watch tower, and eliminating targets from afar using, you've guessed it, a powerful sniper rifle. None of this content is exclusive to the Signature Edition; it can also be found in Hitman World of Assassination on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, but I've found the Switch 2 platform ideally suited for the Hitman experience because of its portability. Hitman is a great game for shorter sessions. Because each level is highly replayable and designed to be mastered through repeat play, once you've got some knowledge of a location, you can hop in and complete a few challenges within just a matter of minutes. It's the perfect game for playing in shorter bursts, and that approach suits the Switch 2 hardware. The downside is that on a technical level, Hitman World of Assassination on Nintendo Switch 2 isn't up to the same graphical or performance standards as you'll get playing on beefier hardware like the PS5 Pro or a powerful gaming PC. But that's really to be expected with a Switch 2 port. Ultimately, this isn't a highly compromised port. The visual downgrades are well within my tolerance levels, and I suspect most players will feel the same. The unlocked frame rate does dip a little more than I'd like, but it's far from a major issue, and when played in handheld mode, Hitman: WoA showcases the increased graphical power of the Switch 2 pretty well. Like many Switch players, I'm okay making some visual sacrifices in the name of portability. Unfortunately, there is one major issue with Hitman World of Assassination on Switch 2, and it's severe enough that it could serve as a dealbreaker for a significant number of prospective players. The game is ostensibly an always-online title. Now, it's not technically always online, because you're not fully locked out of the game without an internet connection. However, the 'offline mode' places several major restrictions and prevents you from accessing certain modes, making it a highly undesirable way to play. When playing offline, you can't make proper progress as none of your unlocks carry across, and you don't even get a mission score upon completing a level (which is a fundamental part of the Hitman WoA experience). You also can't work through the location Challenges, which is another key pillar of the experience. You're limited to playing each campaign level in its most basic form. That's still pretty fun, but you're basically getting half the game. Making matters worse is that you can't even hop between offline and online, and just tolerate the restrictions. You cannot access online save data when offline, and any progress made won't transfer across. Offline mode is a completely separated and seriously less-than-ideal way to play. Basically, if you don't have a reliable connection, do not buy Hitman on Nintendo Switch 2. Considering that being able to play Hitman on the go is the biggest selling point of the Switch 2 edition, it is a pretty major flaw. And it means that as much as I enjoy Hitman World of Assassination on Nintendo's new platform, it won't be a game I turn to on flights or trains. However, I'm still glad the phenomenal sandbox stealth experience has been ported over to Nintendo Switch 2. And if IO Interactive could tweak the way offline play works, then it would be a game I recommend without any caveats. Sadly, that looks unlikely, so my recommendation comes with an asterisk.
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
PS5 Finally Has More Players Than PS4, Almost Five Years After Launch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The current console generation has been a bit different than those that came before. While previous generations have seen releases for older consoles gradually discontinued, the current generation still sees a lot of high-profile games get PS4 versions, despite PS5 being far more powerful. A PS5 on display A PS5 on display Photo byWe finally have a sense of why that is, as in a new business report from Sony, it has been revealed that the PS5 has more monthly players for the first time since the console's launch in November 2020, as reported by VGC. This is a step up from last year, where a similar report showed that the PS5 to PS4 monthly player ratio was an almost perfect 50/50 split at 49 million players each. A slide from Sony showing a graph of PS5 vs PS4 monthly players and their spend per console. A slide from Sony showing a graph of PS5 vs PS4 monthly players and their spend per console. Sony There are a lot of possible reasons behind this. Some critics say that Sony's lineup of PS5 exclusive titles has been weaker than previous generations, with plenty of PS4 versions of games, meaning older players don't feel the need to make the upgrade. Price is also a potential issue, as both games and consoles are getting more expensive as time goes on, with Sony most recently releasing the PS5 Pro at an eye-watering price point of $699.99, and prices are only expected to go up as we approach the PS6 in the next few years. Either way, Sony is viewing a multi-generational player base as a positive, as CEO and SIE president Hideaki Nishino explained during the presentation, "We now have a large ecosystem of highly engaged players across both the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 4 generations, so naturally, therfore, there's a huge interest in our next generation console strategy." This gives the impression that even when the PS6 does get revealed, Sony still has every intention of continuing to invest in the PS5, and possibly even the PS4 as well.
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews Won't Drop Before Launch — Here's Why
Mario is pictured at a Nintendo display ahead of the launch of the company's Switch 2 console, an ... More electronics store in the city of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan on June 2, 2025. Are you waiting impatiently for Nintendo Switch 2 reviews to start popping up? You'll need to be a little patient for those, as well as reviews of Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 launch games. In fact, you might have your very own Switch 2 in your hands before you're able to read a review of the console or its launch titles. The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5. However, Nintendo did not provide Switch 2 units to reviewers ahead of the release date. A company spokesperson told VGC this was because "important features and updates" will be unlocked via a system update that will only be available on launch day. That's despite reviewers being used to games and products getting new features and updates over time and accounting for that in their coverage. Many publishers now only grant reviewers access to review copies once their games are live, especially in cases of live-service games or when there are major day-one patches. But some publishers simply ask reviewers to bear in mind issues that will be resolved with day-one patches or updates that will be soon be available. (Certain companies also sometimes set review embargoes for a game's release date if they're pretty sure their product stinks, but I doubt that's the case for the Switch 2.) Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo may also have valid technical reasons for not offering reviewers early access to Switch 2 units, as VGC rightfully points out. It could very well be that the company needed as much time as possible to make sure core features like GameChat are working optimally. Reviews are pretty important in the grand scheme of things. Before you spend $450 on a new product, you probably want to know if the thing you're buying works as advertised out of the box. That takes time for reviewers to fully assess. It's a process that requires days, not hours. Having sufficient time to properly analyze new features, and critical factors like battery life without relying on Nintendo's claims of how many hours you'll get on a single charge, is key. Reviews don't inherently exist to tell you what to buy or use your valuable time on. That's up to you. The whole idea of reviews is to help you make more informed decisions on how to spend your time and money. But that's going to be a tough needle for Switch 2 reviews to thread. Many reviewers will feel compelled to rush out coverage as quickly as possible after the Switch 2 launches to ensure they get enough attention from readers and viewers to make their efforts worthwhile. That's not ideal, for either reviewers or their audiences. Switch 2 review scores are unlikely to end up mattering much for Nintendo in any case. The Switch 2 is going to do huge numbers right out of the gate. Many, many people are already clamoring to get their hands on one as soon as possible – including me, for both professional and personal reasons. Lots of people aren't going to wait for reviews to snap up a Switch 2 especially not those who are already lining up for retailers to open on June 5 so they can pick up the console. It's likely that you already have a decent idea of whether you want a Switch 2 now, you're happy to wait until more first-party games and other exclusives are available for the device, or you don't feel the rush to get the console anytime soon. Still, having in-depth Switch 2 reviews available from trusted critics at launch would have been helpful for both consumers and media outlets (many of which are battling to keep the lights on and would have greatly benefited from pre-launch review traffic and views). It stinks for fans and reviewers alike that that won't be an option on launch day. Follow my blog for coverage of video games and word games (though I can't promise I'll have Switch 2 reviews to share). It helps me out a lot! Follow me on Bluesky too! It's fun there. And make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, Pastimes!
