Latest news with #Xbox
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Millions of TV owners getting irresistible sports freebie – exact brand of television you'll need to claim footie perk
MILLIONS of football fans across the UK can now score big without even owning a games console. Advertisement 2 Gamers will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership to get in on the action Credit: Getty The offer is rolling out via Samsung Gaming Hub, which is available on newer Samsung TVs and smart monitors. That means fans from London to Leeds can dive into the virtual pitch using nothing more than their telly, a controller, and a Game Pass subscription. Gamers will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership to get in on the action, but there's a huge bonus for those who haven't signed up before. Samsung is offering two months completely free. Just head to the Samsung Promotions app on your TV, tap the Xbox promotion banner, or scan the Advertisement Read more on Technology Once inside the game, fans can take control of over 19,000 real-life players, representing more than 700 clubs from across 30 leagues. Whether you fancy running a team in career mode, teaming up with mates in 5v5 Rush, or managing every aspect of your club with the new FC IQ system, the options are endless. It's the most immersive version of the game yet, and thanks to Samsung's deal with Microsoft and Electronic Arts, it's all available instantly via the cloud – no downloads, discs or consoles required. It also means you can go from watching the big match live on TV to jumping straight into one of your own, all on the same screen. Advertisement Most read in Tech Samsung's Gaming Hub is also home to other major streaming platforms including Hun Lee, executive vice president of Samsung's Visual Display Business, said: 'We are delighted to bring EA SPORTS FC 25 to Samsung TVs and monitors through cloud gaming on Samsung Gaming Hub. Virgin Media Launches Two Free Rakuten TV Channels As the world's leading TV manufacturer, one of our goals is to immerse soccer fans around the world in the exciting game of soccer, whether they are playing the game or watching a match live on a Samsung TV.' The promotion is expected to drive a wave of interest from casual fans and hardcore gamers alike, especially with the current buzz surrounding the EA FC franchise. Advertisement Just last week, He's also just been unveiled as the cover star for the EA FC 25 Ultimate Edition, appearing alongside football legends David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Gianluigi Buffon. With the Euros in full swing and football fever gripping the nation, Samsung's latest perk is perfectly timed. If you've got a compatible Samsung screen at home, this is your moment to take to the pitch without spending a penny more. All you need is the telly, a controller, and a few taps to get started. Advertisement 2 The offer is rolling out via Samsung Gaming Hub, which is available on newer Samsung TVs and smart monitors Credit: Getty
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Millions of TV owners getting irresistible sports freebie – exact brand of television you'll need to claim footie perk
MILLIONS of football fans across the UK can now score big without even owning a games console. EA Sports FC 25, the latest footie game sensation, is now available to play directly on Samsung TVs and smart monitors, thanks to a game-changing deal with Xbox Cloud Gaming. 2 The offer is rolling out via Samsung Gaming Hub, which is available on newer Samsung TVs and smart monitors. That means fans from London to Leeds can dive into the virtual pitch using nothing more than their telly, a controller, and a Game Pass subscription. Gamers will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership to get in on the action, but there's a huge bonus for those who haven't signed up before. Samsung is offering two months completely free. Just head to the Samsung Promotions app on your TV, tap the Xbox promotion banner, or scan the QR cod e shown on screen using your mobile. Once inside the game, fans can take control of over 19,000 real-life players, representing more than 700 clubs from across 30 leagues. Whether you fancy running a team in career mode, teaming up with mates in 5v5 Rush, or managing every aspect of your club with the new FC IQ system, the options are endless. It's the most immersive version of the game yet, and thanks to Samsung's deal with Microsoft and Electronic Arts, it's all available instantly via the cloud – no downloads, discs or consoles required. It also means you can go from watching the big match live on TV to jumping straight into one of your own, all on the same screen. Samsung's Gaming Hub is also home to other major streaming platforms including Amazon Luna and Nvidia GeForce Now, giving even more reason for gamers to stay glued to their smart screens. Hun Lee, executive vice president of Samsung's Visual Display Business, said: 'We are delighted to bring EA SPORTS FC 25 to Samsung TVs and monitors through cloud gaming on Samsung Gaming Hub. Virgin Media Launches Two Free Rakuten TV Channels As the world's leading TV manufacturer, one of our goals is to immerse soccer fans around the world in the exciting game of soccer, whether they are playing the game or watching a match live on a Samsung TV.' The promotion is expected to drive a wave of interest from casual fans and hardcore gamers alike, especially with the current buzz surrounding the EA FC franchise. Just last week, Real Madrid and England ace J ude Bellingham made headlines at the EA FC 25 launch in Madrid, where he rolled his eyes at an overly dramatic intro calling him 'the main man from Madrid'. He's also just been unveiled as the cover star for the EA FC 25 Ultimate Edition, appearing alongside football legends David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Gianluigi Buffon. With the Euros in full swing and football fever gripping the nation, Samsung's latest perk is perfectly timed. If you've got a compatible Samsung screen at home, this is your moment to take to the pitch without spending a penny more. All you need is the telly, a controller, and a few taps to get started. 2
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is Windows the Future of Xbox?
Microsoft dropped some new details about its next-generation Xbox, and it sure sounds like the next console will be very similar to a Windows PC. If so, this plan could conceivably lead to Steam on the Xbox. Xbox President Sarah Bond hinted at big changes for the upcoming Xbox in an announcement on YouTube about AMD's involvement in providing the console's chips. It's not surprising that AMD has a role in the next Xbox, as it's provided hardware for Xbox in the past, but Bond managed to pack quite a few revelations into the short announcement video (below). Bond kicked off the announcement by revealing a 'strategic, multi-year partnership with AMD' that will include the next generation Xbox 'in your living room and in your hands.' As she finished that statement, she held her hands the way one would to hold Asus' upcoming ROG Xbox Ally, a Nintendo Switch-shaped portable gaming console running a custom version of Windows. The UI is that of Xbox, but it supports other stores, like Steam. Unfortunately, as Polygon points out, the Xbox Ally only plays Xbox games designed for PC play. Standard Xbox console games get left out. To cap it off, Bond said the goal was to bring gamers 'an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to a single device.' 'That's why we're working closely with the Windows team to ensure that Windows is the number one platform for gaming,' Bond added. As we said, that has Steam written all over it in our eyes. Of course, other game stores will also want to get access to the console, but adding the Steam Store to the Xbox would be a huge win for gamers. It's also worth noting that Bond said the upcoming Xbox hardware would maintain 'compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games.' That statement, perhaps more than any other she made during the video, suggests that Microsoft is determined to be gamer-centric. If the company forced gamers to ditch their game collections…well, Microsoft isn't doing that, so we don't need to imagine the chaos. The next-gen Xbox should arrive sometime in 2027. The launch of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally was expected for 2025, so if that's any indication, we'd say development of the next Xbox is likely on track.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
What we know about EA FC 26 – expected release date, leaks and new FUT Heroes
EA FC 26 will be the next EA Sports FC game to be released, with the game projected to drop in a few months. With EA FC 25 coming towards the end of its cycle, all eyes are now turning to the future, with EA FC 26 the next game to be released by EA Sports. We're rapidly approaching year three of EA Sports ' EA Sports FC era, with EA FC 26 set to be released this fall, as confirmed by EA in its Q4 and FY25 results. A tough start to life for EA FC 25 saw EA admit at the beginning of the year that EA FC 25 had 'underperformed' financially in its preliminary Q3 FY2025 results, but after an impressive gameplay update, the game seems to be back on track, giving players of the game some optimisim ahead of EA FC 26's release later this year. Based on past releases, we should start to get our first official look at EA FC 26 in July, but once again, leakers have beaten EA to the punch, with lots of EA FC 26 information starting to circulate on social media. From new game additions to when EA FC 26 will be released worldwide, leaks are appearing more and more each day, so here's everything we know about EA FC 26 so far, and all the leaks we've found on social media in one place. EA FC 26 leaks round-up Here are all the EA FC 26 leaks we know so far. There seem to be endless amounts of leaks out there at the moment, so we've whittled it down and included leaks from sources that have proven reliable in the past. EA FC 26 leaked release date and expected price Starting strong, one of the most reliable leakers in the game, @FutSheriff, has revealed the EA FC 26 release date, with the leaker claiming that the EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition will be released on September 19, 2025, while the EA FC 26 Standard Edition will be released on September 26, 2025. Debunking any theories of an August release, the leaker has a proven track record when it comes to leaks, and the majority of EA's past EA Sports FC and FIFA have been released in the last week of September, so this looks to be nailed on. Price-wise, there have been no leaks as of yet, but as reported by Esports Insider, EA CFO Stuart Canfield confirmed during an earnings call that EA isn't planning a change in its current strategy, meaning EA FC 26 should be priced the same as EA FC 25. So, we can expect that these will be the EA FC 26 prices when the same is released in September: EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition (PlayStation, Xbox, and PC) - £99.99 / $99.99 / AU$149.95 EA FC 26 Standard Edition (PlayStation, Xbox, PC) - £69.99 / $69.99 / AU$109.95 For Nintendo Switch players, the EA FC 25 Ultimate Edition was released at £69.99 / $69.99 / AU$119.95 while the EA FC 25 Standard Edition cost £54.99 / $54.99 / AU$89.95. But, with Nintendo Switch 2 now available, we expect EA FC 26 will likely be priced the same as the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the game. EA FC 26 leaked FUT Heroes More of a potential slip-up by EA rather than a leak, but some of the new FUT Heroes coming in EA FC 26 may have already been revealed, and it's been there for all to see since March. As we reported a few months ago, Nexon, one of the developers of EA Sports FC Mobile, a PC and Mobile version of EA Sports FC, which is only available in South Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam, posted a bunch of unseen FUT Heroes in a blog post. 19 new FUT Heroes were being added to the game, but eight of them are not in EA FC 25, so they could be coming to EA FC 26. The eight FUT Heroes are as follows: Cesc Fabregas (Spain) Michael Carrick (England) Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) Andrea Barzagli (Italy) Jan Koller (Czech Republic) Estaban Cambiasso (Argentina) Gilberto Silva (Brazil) EA tends to add a handful of new Heroes to the game each year, but this doesn't mean that all of these players are guaranteed to feature in EA FC 26. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. EA FC 26 leaked Ultimate Team changes @DetectiveFUT is the source of the majority of FC 26 Ultimate Team leaks, with the leaker having a proven track record with Ultimate Team leaks during EA FC 25. According to the leaker, we could be set for a big shake-up to some of the biggest game modes in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team, including a change to FUT Champions. According to @DetectiveFUT, Champions Play-Offs will be scrapped, meaning you will no longer have to qualify for FUT Champions Finals before playing. But, there will now be two different FUT Champions events each week instead – FUT Champions and FUT Champions Challengers. Players who are in Division 5 or higher in Division Rivals will qualify for FUT Champions, while players in Division 6 or lower will qualify for FUT Champions Challengers. The leaker has also revealed a change is coming to Division Rivals in EA FC 26. Checkpoints are being turned into 'Stage Events', with each Stage Event featuring an objective that can give out extra rewards. For example, the objective may be to score first in your next game, and if you do so, you could earn some extra rewards. If you go on a win streak, you will earn double Rivals points, while there is also relegation protection for tough runs. The leaker hasn't elaborated on the latter, so we'll have to wait and see what the criteria is for that. The leaker also reported that EA is testing a penalty system for players who quit too many games to try and stop players from regularly leaving games. This may be the best addition of them all if true. Lastly, @DetectiveFUT has claimed that a big focus for EA in EA FC 26 could be Live Events and Tournaments in Ultimate Team. According to the leaker, there will be up to two tournaments per week, both competitive and friendly. Qualification for tournaments may be needed, and winning the tournaments could give you bonus rewards on top of early access to SBCs. The leaker also claims that these tournaments will be in the form of Live Events and that it's not a new game mode. EA FC 26 leaked gameplay updates Once again, coming from @DetectiveFUT, the leaker has revealed some new additions coming to EA FC 26 gameplay, including new Player Roles, updated PlayStyles, and a new Tactical Focus. Here are all the new additions in full: New Player Roles CB: Wide Back CDM: Box Crasher LB/RB: Inverted Wingback We guess that Wide Back will be most useful for left and right centre-backs in three-at-the-back and five-at-the-back formations, Box Crasher will instruct your CDM to make late runs into the box to meet crosses, and Inverted Wingback will have your fullbacks play high and central, almost as two extra attacking midfielders. PlayStyle Updates Enforcer (NEW) Aerial - Aerial Fortress Flair - Trailblazer Trivela - Inventive We don't really have any idea what these new PlayStyles could mean. We predict Enforcer could be a PlayStyle best suited to defensive midfielders, while the updated names for Aerial, Flair and Trivela may simply just be name changes. New Tactical Focus A new Tactical Focus called 'Versatility' is reportedly coming to EA FC 26. We predict this could be a set-up that allows your players to adapt to opponents' tactics, but this could limit player familiarity with certain roles and positions. EA FC 26 cover star The EA FC 26 cover star will be announced when EA starts to reveal information about the new game in July, and as always, there's lots of speculation over who it could be. Jude Bellingham? Mohamed Salah? Lamine Yamal? Well, we already know for a fact it can't be the latter. Yamal was revealed as an ambassador for eFootball, previously known as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), earlier this year, meaning the Spaniard cannot be on the cover of EA FC 26. Bellingham will likely feature on the cover once again in EA FC 26 after making his debut on the front of the game in EA FC 25.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited Xbox Controller Review: Simply The Best?
Nacon's Revolution X Unlimited might be the best third-party controller for the Xbox, and arguably ... More the best Elite-style pad outright. When it was announced in August 2024, Nacon's Revolution X Unlimited for Xbox and PC looked like it had the chops to become the best Elite-style pad yet. It has form; it's based on the superb Revolution 5 Pro for PS5, which is one of the best third-party controllers out there. With such high expectations, it's great to confirm that it delivers on its promises. The Revolution X Unlimited joins Victrix's Pro BFG at the top of the pile for Xbox and PC players — another peripheral that not only beats Microsoft's first-party Elite 2 but also carves a unique niche in the market, with the RXU even separating itself from the Pro BFG's more fighter-focused design. In all honesty, it's my favorite Xbox pad yet, even if it might not be yours. Channeling the hallmarks of the Rev 5, the Revolution X Unlimited comes with an almost identical setup, but with a nice extra in the form of a charging stand (and, dear reader, that's for good reason). Here's what's inside: Everything in its right place. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Of course, there's more underneath the hood, including: The contents of the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited package (without case and microfiber cloth). When you first hold the Revolution X, two things surprise you. Firstly, it's probably the biggest Xbox controller out there — while it sits comfortably in my larger-than-average hands, it still feels bulky. Its finish is lightly rubberized, meaning it won't slip from your grasp. Secondly, it's surprisingly light, despite its size — just 327g, compared to the standard Xbox controller's 306g. If anything, it feels too light for its shape. I opted for the 14g weights on both sides, which made it feel just right. Fitting these is a breeze, and the same thing can be said for the sticks and D-pad toppers. Admittedly, I prefer the out-of-the-box set-up with concave stick heads and the dish D-pad cover, but the Revolution X Unlimited doesn't fall foul of a four-way D-pad that's seemingly impossible to remove once it's placed. Across the board, the RXU's buttons and triggers are incredibly quiet. The mechanical face buttons aren't silent, but you wouldn't want them to be; they're just muted enough to provide the satisfaction of inputs beyond simple haptics. Perhaps most importantly — given the competition mentioned above — the RXU's trigger stops also benefit from shoulder dampeners, meaning that hairline fans aren't met with insufferable clacking in FPS games. It's such a simple thing to get wrong, but most high-end controllers seem to fall foul of this problem. You'll maybe want to add weights to the RXU, if only to get the "real feel" for its size. Mechanical buttons are a must for any controller at this price point, but their responsiveness is incredible. The difference between wired (1ms) and wireless (2ms) input lag is minimal, but the resistance provided by the face buttons is essentially faultless, so the difference is outright indiscernible. The same quality can be found with the additional S3-S6 buttons on the rear, which you never find yourself pressing accidentally, even in more fraught firefights. I always map throwables and reload to them, and I never once found myself dead via self-inflicted misadventure. Undoubtedly, the D-pad is the star of the show, especially with the pre-fitted dish piece. You feel all degrees, especially during trickier combos and quarter-turn or semi-circular maneuvers on Tekken or Street Fighter. What's more, I think it's the first controller where I've genuinely felt every direction to such a degree that I never felt like I missed my chosen input. However, the LB, RB, and bonus S1 and S2 buttons — inset from the triggers — have a bit more of a basic feel, and certainly don't feel mechanical. That's not to say they're bad, and not any worse than standard Xbox controllers; the S1 and S2s still feel satisfying to use, providing you have fingers long enough to let them sit comfortably under your prints. One thing that many controller manufacturers get wrong is the app. The Pro BFG's suite was only available on PC at launch; the PowerA Fusion Pro had a more lightly adapted PC app with limited functionality; the Thrustmaster eSwap Pro 2's software struggled to connect at the best of times. The RXU's app is straightforward enough. There's no doubt the Nacon RXU app for the Xbox is good, but it's not great; set-up is a chore, and for me, it struggled to connect on the first couple of tries. There's no such issue on the PC, which is usually better to use anyway. Being able to map four profiles, with handy colors to distinguish them, is straightforward. Reassigning buttons on the fly without the app is easy enough, too; you don't need a degree in software engineering to figure it out from the manual. The one thing you may struggle to overcome is the RXU's vibration. Unlike the Revolution 5, which lacked official Sony status and so didn't vibrate at all, this Microsoft-approved peripheral can be way too loud. Feedback itself is mostly great — the four motors work nicely — but at its worst, it might drown out your TV. Admittedly, this tends to be more of a problem with games that aren't quite its forté — not so much Tekken 8, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, or even Halo Infinite, but given how much I love this controller, I was using it for everything. It really hit a high with To a T, where I wondered if it was trying to sing like the Nintendo Switch 2's JoyCons in Welcome Tour. Still, you can adjust the intensity via the app, at the same time you inevitably adjust the deadzones of your sticks. As with any high-end controller, you have to question value for money, and chief among these is the $200 Nacon RXU. It's the most expensive controller I've ever held — even the Elite Series 2 is $160 right now — so it naturally needs to justify the tag, especially when it lacks the swappable elements of the Pro BFG or eSwap Pro 2. Sure, some things don't quite stack up for the Revolution X Unlimited. The ten-hour battery life isn't great, but at least it comes with a nice charger dock when you inevitably return to real life, even if the pad doesn't offer a show like the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless. The weight and size might put people off, but as one of the larger humans on this planet (on both the X and Y axes), I love it, even if returning to a regular Xbox controller is like going from a Sports Direct mug to an espresso cup. Despite having three different types of Xbox controllers on rotation depending on my mood or the game, I only ever picked up the Revolution X Unlimited while I had it. It's been with me through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chornobyl, Metal Gear Solid, Forza Horizon 5, To a T, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, and even SEGA Mega Drive Classics, and never felt out of place. It just consistently does the job — to a tee, if you will.
