Long-awaited RTS ‘Homeworld 3’ is delayed until 2023

Homeworld 3 won’t be coming out this year after all. Gearbox Publishing and developer Blackbird Interactive have delayed the sci-fi real-time strategy sequel until the first half of 2023, meaning it will arrive 20 years after Homeworld 2.

“Delivering Homeworld 3 at the highest quality is the top priority for Gearbox Publishing and Blackbird Interactive because we recognize the special place this series holds in the hearts of players,” a statement posted on Twitter reads. “This passion from players fuels the work and the additional time will allow us to make good on our commitment to quality in a healthy and sustainable way for all those involved.”

While the delay might come as a disappointment to fans, it seems the team is looking to avoid crunch (i.e. nudging developers to work long hours) by taking a few more months to polish the game to the expected level of quality. Blackbird took other steps to improve the work-life balance of its team members earlier this year when it permanently adopted a four-day work week.

You can expect to learn more about Homeworld 3 in the not-too-distant future. Gearbox and Blackbird have promised to show off “the deepest look yet” at the game during Gamescom in August.

Some members of the Blackbird team previously worked at Relic Entertainment, the studio behind the original Homeworld games. Rob Cunningham, a Relic co-founder and art director on the first two entries, is among them. Blackbird previously made Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, a prequel to 1999’s original Homeworld.

Sonos’ Roam speaker is still 20 percent off, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals

If you’re still looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift, you have a bunch of options that you can get for less right now. A rare sale on the Sonos Roam and Move speakers discounts them both by 20 percent, while a number of Apple devices are on sale, …

‘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.

Samsung 父親節優惠第二波，75 折入手 Z Flip 3

今年 6 月 19 日便是父親節，為了答謝他在這一年辛勞工作、照顧家人，Samsung 特地推出了父親節專屬優惠。由今天起直至 19 日連續三週，官網上都會有不同產品折扣，讓各位子女準備好合適的禮物，好在當中孝敬父親。…

UK regulator plans to launch probe into Google’s and Apple’s mobile duopoly

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that Google and Apple “hold all the cards” when it comes to mobile phones a year after taking a closer look at their “duopoly.” It’s now consulting on the launch of a market investigation into the tech giants’ market power in mobile browsers, as well as into Apple’s cloud gaming restrictions. In addition, the CMA has launched a separate investigation into Google’s Play Store rules — the one that requires certain app developers to use the tech giant’s payment system for in-app purchases, in particular. 

The CMA has concluded after its year-long study that the tech giants do indeed exhibit an “effective duopoly” on mobile ecosystems. A total of 97 percent of all mobile web browsing in the UK is powered by Apple’s and Google’s browser engines. iPhones and Android devices typically come with Safari and Chrome pre-installed, which means their browsers have the advantage from the start. Further, Apple requires developers to make sure their iOS and iPadOS apps are using its WebKit engine to browse the web. That limits the incentives Apple may have to invest in Safari, the CMA said.

The agency also pointed out that Apple enforces policies that prevent cloud gaming apps from being available to download from its App Store. Under its rules, cloud gaming services would have to individually submit each playable game for review and approval if they want to be listed. The company eventually carved out an exception, but only to make services like Xbox Cloud Gaming available on iOS devices through a browser.

In its announcement, the CMA explained that the lack of intervention would allow the tech giants to maintain and even strengthen their hold not just over mobile browsers, but also over mobile operating systems and app stores. Their duopoly could stifle competition and limit incentives for individuals and other companies to innovate and develop new products and technologies for those markets. 

The Beats Fit Pro are back on sale for $180

If you missed the previous sale in April, you have another chance to pick up the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds for less right now. Amazon has them for $180, which is 10 percent off and one of the best prices we’ve seen. We saw the buds drop to around $153 in January of this year, but it was only for a brief period of time and that sale price hasn’t returned since. That makes the current sale even more appealing if you’ve had your eye on Beats’ latest buds.

Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon – $180

Being owned by Apple has its perks and it shows in the Beats Fit Pro. These buds have most of the convenient features that AirPods do, but with a more comfortable and secure design. They look similar to the Beats Studio Buds, with the exception of the flexible wingtip that helps them fit better into different ear shapes and stay put during intense workouts. Their design is also IPX4-rated, so sweat won’t bother them either.

These buds also impressed with their sound quality and ANC. They pumped out audio with depth and clarity, plus punchy bass that never overpowered, and the buds support Adaptive EQ and spatial audio. ANC is good as well, and while it’s not as strong as that from Bose or Sony, it gets the job done and will sufficiently block out surrounding noises.

Inside the Beats Fit Pro is Apple’s H1 chip, which powers things like one-touch pairing, Find My support and hands-free Siri access. Aside from Apple’s own AirPods, Beats earbuds like these are solid options for iPhone owners since they’re designed to works seamlessly with all Apple devices. As for battery life, Beats estimates six hours of listening time with ANC turned on, and you’ll get up to 27 hours of total use time when you employ the extra charges provided by the buds’ case.

Our biggest gripes with the Beats Fit Pro are is lack of wireless charging capabilities and the fact that some features are iOS exclusive, however the latter is to be expected. But Android users aren’t totally out of luck: the buds have their own dedicated Android app with supports fast pairing, control customization and a battery status indicator.

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Engadget Podcast: Apple’s WWDC 2022 and the Surface Laptop Go 2

This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam dive into all the announcements from WWDC 2022, as well as what it was like to cover the event both remotely and in-person. How did we (and our audience) feel about things that we did and didn’t see at the show? Plus, Sam tells us more about Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Go 2, plus news on regulations around USB-C and our right to repair our devices.

Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!

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Topics

  • WWDC 2022 – 1:39

  • The new M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro – 4:18

  • New features in macOS Ventura – 15:27

  • What’s coming to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 – 20:13

  • Big changes to the iOS lock screen – 21:04

  • WatchOS 9 – 44:46

  • Surface Laptop Go 2 hands-on – 58:21

  • The EU reaches deal to use USB-C to charge all devices – 1:06:07

  • New York state passed a Right to Repair bill – 1:12:31

  • Working on –1:20:07

  • Pop culture picks – 1:21:12

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Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford
Producer: Ben Ellman
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Luke Brooks
Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Brian Oh
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien