Google will expand the usefulness of voice commands beyond Android phones

Google has helped app creators make better use of Assistant voice commands over time, but its longstanding Conversational Actions framework for those commands has had its limits. It’s primarily meant for conventional Android mobile devices, and it’s voice-only — the technology won’t help much on your smartwatch, or when you need some on-screen interaction. The company is taking steps to make voice control more useful across all its platforms, though. It’s expanding the App Actions framework to be more helpful for the entire Android ecosystem, and it’s phasing out the old system in the process.

The company is in the midst of integrating App Actions across all Android-based platforms, including automotive platforms and wearables. Assistant can now point you to the relevant apps for a given command even when you don’t mention an app’s name, or when you’re looking for the right software in “All Apps” on a Pixel 6. And if you don’t have the app necessary for a command, you’ll be taken to the appropriate Play Store page. These will help developers by boosting demand for their apps, of course, but they’ll also help you focus on accomplishing tasks rather than crafting the exact phrase you need.

Developers will have a strong incentive to embrace the newer technology. Google is sunsetting Conversational Actions in June 2023, and plans to “turn down” features like console analytics at that point. The extra year will give app producers the time to learn App Actions and otherwise transition away from the earlier approach.

You might have seen this shift coming. Conversational Actions was introduced five years ago, only to be supplemented by App Actions (in an initially limited form) in 2019 — Google has been priming itself for a handover like this for a while. And with Google committing to major expansions of platforms like Android Auto and Wear OS, upgraded voice functionality is that much more important for the company.

Afterlife game ‘Spiritfarer’ is coming to mobile through Netflix

You’ll have to sign up for Netflix if you want to play the award-nominatedSpiritfarer on your phone. The streaming service has announced that the death management game will be available on mobile through its platform sometime “soon.” It’s not clear what (if anything) will change in this version, although it’s safe to presume you’ll find touch-optimized controls.

Spiritfarer revolves around Stella, a ferrymaster who befriends the dead and brings them to the afterlife. You need to build a boat, of course, but you’ll also craft items and harvest materials to help you explore the landscape and take care of the deceased. Think of it as Stardew Valley or Terraria with a message — it’s as much about developing a healthy attitude toward death as it is refining your resource management skills.

The debut comes alongside other high-profile Netflix game launches, such as ustwo’s Desta and a deluge of show-related titles. The company is determined to become a home for much-loved (if not always new) games, and Spiritfarer might tip the balance if you’re either a fan eager to play on mobile or a newcomer curious about all the buzz.

‘Monument Valley’ studio’s next game is a Netflix mobile exclusive

You’ll need a streaming subscription if you want to try ustwo’s upcoming Desta: The Memories Between. The Monument Valley developer has announced that its turn-based, sports-influenced roguelike will be a Netflix exclusive on mobile when it debuts sometime later this year. The game is coming to other platforms, but Netflix is promising that there will be no in-app purchases or “extra fees” in its version.

Desta revolves around a twentysomething who returns home after their dad’s death. You help them deal with their past in dreams and reality by solving puzzles and talking to the people they left behind. As you might have guessed, the hybrid mechanics promise a considerably more varied experience than in titles like Monument Valley — ustwo is borrowing cues from games like Hades and Into the Breach.

The exclusive further signals Netflix’s commitment to gaming. While it’s clearly serious about games with show tie-ins and a rapidly growing catalog, it’s increasingly courting major mobile developers like ustwo. In that regard, Netflix is competing as much with Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass as it is Amazon and Disney — it’s hoping to reel in customers willing to pay a flat fee for access to a library of quality games without surprise costs.

A Dragon Age animated series is coming to Netflix in December

The next Dragon Age game is still a long ways off, but that isn’t stopping BioWare from expanding the fantasy RPG’s reach. Netflix has unveiled a six-episode anime series, Dragon Age: Absolution, premiering sometime in December. The teaser trailer (below) doesn’t reveal much, but you can expect a “new saga” in Tevinter that appears to center on a special ring — and, of course, plenty of magic and bloody swordplay.

Red Dog Culture House (which created an episode for Love, Death & Robots) is producing the limited-run project. Guardians of the Galaxy series producer Mairghread Scott is serving as the showrunner.

This certainly isn’t a novel project for Netflix. There are already game-related anime shows either available or in the works at Netflix, ranging from Castlevania through to the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 series. However, it’s notable that this production is coming in the run-up to a new game (Dreadwolf) for a long-dormant franchise. Absolution is effectively a bid to revive interest in Dragon Age, not to mention court an audience that might not have heard of the games until now.

‘God of War: Ragnarok’ reportedly lands this November

God of War: Ragnarok might make its 2022 launch window after all. Bloombergsources say the marquee PS4 and PS5 game will be released in November despite recent claims it might be delayed to 2023. Sony’s Santa Monica Studio is poised to announce the release date later in June, the tipsters said. The debut had supposedly been pushed back from September, but there don’t appear to be further worries.

European sources talking to Gamereactor had maintained the game wouldn’t be ready until next year. The no-shows at both the June 2nd State of Play event and this week’s Summer Games Fest helped fuel speculation about a lengthy delay. The Bloomberg contacts said there had been “several” internal and public delays for Ragnarok since the 2020 announcement, with at least some due to the pandemic and the need for remote work.

Sony hasn’t commented on the rumor, and there’s no guarantee the new God of War will stay on track. A November ship date wouldn’t be surprising, though. Game developers often plan to release their biggest titles during the all-important holiday shopping season, particularly before Black Friday (the day after American Thanksgiving in November). And when Ragnarok could easily be the most important PlayStation game of the near future, a holiday premiere could be crucial for Sony’s bottom line.