FIFA 22, Far Cry 6, Guardians of the Galaxy, and More: October Games on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

FIFA 22, Far Cry 6, Age of Empires IV, Guardians of the Galaxy, Back 4 Blood, and more games are set to hit the shelves in October 2021. Here are some of the most exciting games set to release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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Netflix acquires Night School Studio, creators of Oxenfree

Netflix is arguably the dominant force when it comes to online video streaming, but it looks like the company wants to do so much more. While the service already produces movies under its own banner, it looks like video games will be the next step for the company. Netflix has now purchased the video game studio, Night School Studio,  in a bid to push into the video game market.

Netflix buys Night School Studio

Night School Studio is best known for Oxenfree, a supernatural mystery graphic adventure game launched in 2016. The developer is currently working on Oxenfree II and notes that the acquisition has not yet changed those plans. 

In a post on it’s official blog, Sean Krankel, Founder of Night School Studio noted, “Of course, it’s a surreal honor to be the first games studio to join Netflix! Not only do we get to keep doing what we do, how we like to do it, but we get a front-row seat on the biggest entertainment platform in the world. The Netflix team has shown the utmost care for protecting our studio culture and creative vision. We’ll keep making OXENFREE II. We’ll keep cooking up new game worlds.”

It’s not yet known which games one can expect from Netflix in the future, but it could be titles based on it’s own shows and movies. Games based on Stranger Things has already been and there is no dearth of content when it comes to choosing a Netflix title to turn into a game. 

“Night School wants to stretch our narrative and design aspirations across distinctive, original games with heart. Netflix gives film, TV, and now game makers an unprecedented canvas to create and deliver excellent entertainment to millions of people. Our explorations in narrative gameplay and Netflix’s track record of supporting diverse storytellers was such a natural pairing. It felt like both teams came to this conclusion instinctively,” Krankel writes.

In a post on Netflix’s own website, Mike Verdu, VP, Game Development notes that the games will be a part of the user’s Netflix membership. Further, these games will feature no advertisements, nor in-app purchases.

Also read: Best sci-fi shows on Netflix right now!

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Realme Book Slim Review: Off To A Great Start

The Realme Book (Slim) is arguably one of the best laptops in this price range. If you have a budget of RS 45,000 and you are not looking to bother with any resource-intensive workloads, then look no further. It's also going to be my go-to recommendation for professionals looking to buy a reliable machine for office work. Xiaomi's Mi NoteBook Pro/ Ultra comes close and it should be on your list too if you are willing to extend the budget. This is a fantastic start for Realme in the laptop space and I can't wait to see more laptops from them in the future.

Realme has made a huge splash with the launch of its first laptop, the Realme Book (Slim). Starting at Rs 44,999, the Realme Book (Slim) offers a bevvy of features that were unheard of in this price range. We're talking about things like a thin and light form factor, a 14-inch 2K panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and more.

It is, however, worth pointing out that the starting price of Rs 44,999 is also for the base variant of the laptop that comes with a dual-core Intel Core i3 processor. Well, I have been using the base variant of the laptop for the better part of the month now and I think I am ready to share my verdict. Let's get started with the specifications first - 

Realme Book (Slim) Specifications

The Realme Book (Slim) comes in two variants, both of which are powered by Intel's 11th generation Core processors. In addition to the processor, there are some other differences between the two like a different integrated GPU, support for WiFi 6, a faster memory, and more. So you might want to check out the detailed specs sheet before picking up a unit. For now, let's take a look at the specifications of the base variant that was sent for review - 

Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 dual-core processor with 3.0GHz base clock and up to 4.1GHz turbo boost, 28W TDP Graphics: Intel UHD graphics with 48EUs RAM: 8GB DDR4 3733MHz Storage: Samsung 256GB NVMe SSD Display: 14-inch IPS 3:2 2160x1440 panel with 100% sRGB

Realme Book (Slim) Performance

Realme is using the Core i3-1115G4, a dual-core unit with 4 threads based on the 10 nm SuperFin process tech. The processor has a base clock of 3.0GHz at 28W TDP and all cores can turbo up to 4.1GHz. The Core i3-1115G4 idles at 1.7GHz with 12W TDP to save energy. I was a little sceptical about Realme going for a dual-core processor for its first laptop. Yes, it is for the base variant of the machine but it is still an unusual decision in such a specs-heavy market, especially when Xiaomi is so hell-bent at using an H-series processor in its laptops.

So, should you even bother looking at the Intel Core i3 variant of the laptop? Well, it depends on what you plan on using this laptop for, but the Intel Core i3 variant is perfectly serviceable. Core clock speeds won't paint the full picture but the Core i3-1115G4 running at 28W is more powerful than most other processors that go into the laptops in this price range.

In certain use-cases, this dual-core processor can lock-horns with the Intel Core i7-10510U that's powering the Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition from last year. In PCMark 10, the Realme Book (Slim) managed to score slightly higher than the Mi NoteBook 14 Horizon Edition powered by the i7-10510U. I got similar observations going against the i7-10510U in single-core tests.

This is exactly why the base variant of the Realme Book (Slim) is great for most use cases for people shopping for laptops in this price range. In real-world usage, I had absolutely no issues working on a dozen Chrome tabs with a handful of other apps running in the background. Having good quality storage also helps and the NVMe drive from Samsung managed to beat almost every other laptop's SSD score when I ran the CrystalDiskMark test.

The Intel UHD integrated graphics is obviously not the fastest unit, so your gaming performance is going to be very limited, to say the least. You can run some esports titles like Valorant and Dota 2 at low graphics settings, but don't expect anything crazy. This isn't a gaming laptop by any means, so there's no point trying to push the limits.

Without getting into too many details, I can also confirm that the Realme Book can be used for creative workloads like photo and video editing, but get ready to make some compromises. Rending our usual set of test files in Adobe Lightroom took longer than usual but it worked. The same goes for video editing using Davinci Resolve too. I highly recommend using a proxy for video editing to save time before the final render.

Thermal Performance

The Realme Book (Slim). despite its petite form factor has two fans inside the chassis for cooling. The copper heat sink also helps to keep this thing cool under heavy loads. While running Cinebench R23, the CPU package temperature didn't exceed 80°C. I didn't see any abnormal behaviour from the processor too while running the test. Cinebench R23 kept the core clock count high at 4.1GHz throughout the test except for a few drops down to 3.5GHz.

I was surprised to see that the processor didn't throttle during a test that usually brings other CPUs down to their knees. Even the iGPU load wasn't anything out of the ordinary and the package temperature continued to stay under 80°C while I was running 3DMark's Timespy test on loop.

I am really curious to see how the Core i5-1135G7 performs in this chassis, but the Core i3-1115G4 seems like a solid choice, especially for not-so resource-intensive workloads.  

Realme Book (Slim) Display

The Realme Book (Slim) sports a 14-inch 2K display which I think is the highlight of this laptop. It has a 3:2 aspect ratio that's not very commonly seen in most laptops. I encourage you to watch this detailed comparison video I managed to put together, comparing the Realme Book's display to the Mi NoteBook Ultra 3.2K panel. Here, check it out - 

The video dives deep into various aspects like the resolution, colour accuracy, aspect ratio, and more. It should also help you understand exactly how good the display on the Realme Book really is.

Realme Book (Slim) Keyboard, Trackpad & IO

The Realme Book (Slim), in my opinion, has the best keyboard and trackpad I've used on a laptop in this price range. The keyboard and the trackpad on the Realme Book, honestly, make even some premium laptops look bad. You are looking at a 3-level Backlit keyboard with keys that have a 1.3mm key travel. If you like using the keyboard on the MacBooks then you'll simply enjoy this one. The experience is almost the same and I personally love it.

The trackpad is also much better than even the one on the Mi NoteBook Ultra that I recently reviewed. It's a multi-touch trackpad with a 123.8 × 78.2mm surface with support for Windows Precision drivers. Only the bottom half of the trackpad is clickable but it works very well and doesn't feel cheap.

The port selection, however, could have been better. You only get 2 USB Type C 3.2 gen 2 ports, a USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1 port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Core i3 variant. The Thunderbolt 4 port is limited to the Core i5 variant. This isn't a deal-breaker since there's a USB Type-A port at least, but it leaves me wanting more.

Realme Book (Slim) Design & Build Quality

Having used Realme's smartphones in the past, I was expecting nothing but the best from the company when I heard they were making a laptop. And honestly, they delivered. The Realme Book is absolutely stunning and it's arguably one of the best-looking laptops you can buy in this price range. Some people might call it a MacBook Air clone and to them, I say there's nothing wrong with it. I'd take a stunningly thin and light chassis over the dozen other laptops for which design seems like an afterthought.

The Realme Book (Slim) has a high-quality aluminium body that weighs approx. 1.38 kg. I wouldn't say it's built like a tank but the construction is definitely sturdy and feels super premium to use. It also doesn't have the best weight distribution which is also why you can't open the laptop's lid with one finger. Again, not a deal-breaker in this price range.

I also love the fact that Realme has added a fingerprint scanner that's embedded on the power button. There's also a 720p webcam making it better than a lot of laptops on the market, including more premium ones. I also want to mention the dual HARMAN Speakers with support for Stereo Surround Sound by DTS. I compared the Realme Book's speakers with the Mi NoteBook Ultra's dual speakers and it's not even close.

Realme Book (Slim) Battery Life

Realme Book's 54Whr battery is rated to last for 11 hours on a single charge. I'd say it's good for about 8-9 hours of usage on a daily basis. That's enough to get an entire day's worth of usage out of the machine. I'd assume the Core i5 variant might last a little less considering it's a more powerful processor which also means it'll dissipate more heat that needs to be cooled with the fans. The Realme Book's battery can be charged via a 65W USB-C power adapter. 

Realme Book (Slim) Verdict

The Realme Book (Slim), as I mentioned earlier, is priced at Rs 44,999 in India for the base variant that we reviewed. For that price, you are getting a fantastic machine with a 2K display, a beautifully thin and light form-factor, a great keyboard and trackpad combo, and reliable performance for day-to-day workloads thanks to the 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor.

The Realme Book (Slim) is arguably one of the best laptops in this price range. If you have a budget of RS 45,000 and you are not looking to bother with any resource-intensive workloads, then look no further. It's also going to be my go-to recommendation for professionals looking to buy a reliable machine for office work. Xiaomi's Mi NoteBook Pro/ Ultra comes close and they should be on your list too if you are willing to extend the budget. This is a fantastic start for Realme in the laptop space and I can't wait to see more laptops from them in the future.

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Battlefield 2042 Open Beta Dates Announced; PC Requirements Revealed

Battlefield 2042 will be releasing globally on November 19. The developers have announced that the game will be available in open beta on October 8 and October 9. However, players who have pre-ordered or have EA Play subscription will get early access to the open beta test on October 6 and October 7. Additionally, the developers have also mentioned the mode, the map, ...

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Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G with slim and light design launches in India: Price, specs and sale

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G has officially launched in India and is one of the slimmest and lightweight phones you can buy right now. It is the second 11 Lite that has launched after the 4G version which Xiaomi debuted back in June. The 11 Lite is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chip which has been fabricated on a 6nm process. The highlight of this phone is the fact that it measures just 6.8mm and weighs 158 grams making it thinner than the recently launched iPhone 13 or even iPhone 12 for that matter.

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G pricing and availability

The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is priced starting at Rs 26,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The 8GB+128GB storage option is priced at Rs 28,999. It goes on its first sale from October 2 at Midnight on mi.com, Amazon India, Mi Home stores and other retail stores.

During the Diwali with Mi and Amazon Great Indian Festival sale 2021 which commences from October 2, the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G can be purchased for an effective price of Rs 23,499 and Rs 25,499 respectively.

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G specifications

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G features a 6.55-inch display that uses a 10-bit AMOLED panel which offers Full HD+ (1920x1080 pixels) resolution and supports upto a 90Hz refresh rate. The display is also Dolby Vision and HDR10+ certified making it perfect for watching videos and movies. It is also topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection.

The 11 Lite NE 5G weighs 158 grams and is just 6.8mm thin. It is also IP53 rated which makes it dust and splash-proof. It is available in Diamond Dazzle, Tuscany Coral, Vinyl Black and Jazz Blue colours to choose from.

The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chip with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 642L GPU. This is paired with upto 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. It runs on MIUI 12.5 which is based on Android 11.

There is a 64MP primary camera on the back along with an 8MP ultra-wide camera with 119-degree FOV and a 5MP macro camera. These cameras can record in 4K at 30FPS and on the front, you have a 20MP selfie camera.

The phone has dual stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.1 and the power button doubles up as a fingerprint reader. It is equipped with a 4,250mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

Also Read: Redmi 9 Activ, Redmi 9A Sport tipped for India launch: Expected price, specifications and details

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Garena Free Fire Max now available for download, but you still cant play it

Garena's new game, Free Fire Max is now finally available to download. To recall, the game was announced a little while back and promised to bring a bunch of new additions to the game, The game was up for pre-registration for a while and now players can finally download it. The game’s file size on Android is 0.96GB.

Unfortunately, it seems like players will still have to wait a bit before they can play. When we tried to play the game, we were greeted with a message that says, “Limited test has ended. See you in the next test.” So most likely only a few lucky players were able to experience the game during that time. 

It is not yet known when Garena will hold the next test for Free Fire Max, or even when the game will be available to play for all. Those who managed to pre-register for the game will receive in-game items such as the Cyber Max Loot Box which will include some unique in-game items like the Cyber Max Skyboard, Max Raychaser Bundle, and the Cybermax Loot Box.

Garena Free Fire Max: Details

According to the game’s listing on the Google Play Store, the gameplay of Garena Free Fire Max will be pretty much the same as the standard version of Free Fire. As such, it will still offer 50-player battle royale matches. It is also expected to give players the chance to create their own maps via the Craftland feature

Garena will also be implementing its Firelink technology in Free Fire Max. This will allow Garena Free Fire players to transfer their progress and items across to Free Fire Max and these are maintained across both games. Players will be able to play all game modes with both Free Fire and Fire Fire Max together. 

Also Read: Beginner's Guide to Garena Free Fire

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Netflix Acquires Night School Studio That Created Oxenfree, Rolls Out New Mobile Games

Netflix has acquired Night School Studio behind creating the game Oxenfree. The streaming giant has also rolled out new mobile games in select European markets.

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