Cutting corners: AMD might have a clever solution to rapidly roll out their upcoming FSR4 upscaling technology to a wide range of games. According to a reliable tipster, the company could provide a straightforward "drop-in" upgrade path from FSR 3.1 to FSR4 for games already implementing the current version. The concept is straightforward: instead of requiring game developers to integrate an entirely new version of FSR, AMD could replace the backend FSR library file. This would allow any game already supporting FSR 3.1 to seamlessly benefit from FSR4's enhanced upscaling quality with minimal effort from developers.The report comes from Kepler_L2, who shared the details in response to a VideoCardz post on X.As of now, AMD hasn't confirmed any details regarding an upgrade path for FSR4. The company only briefly showcased FSR4 at CES, where it was presented as a clear visual improvement over FSR 3.1.If this rumored upgrade plan proves accurate, we could see over 40 existing FSR 3.1-compatible games upgraded to FSR4 immediately upon launch. AMD currently lists over 100 games with existing or upcoming support for FSR 3/3.1, which could provide a strong foundation for the rollout. // Related StoriesHowever, there's a catch. Kepler_L2 notes that FSR 3 compatibility alone may not be sufficient and that only games using FSR 3.1 would qualify for the seamless upgrade. This requirement is likely due to FSR 3.1 being the first version where upscaling and frame generation libraries were separated, simplifying integration. As a result, some games may need to be updated to FSR 3.1 before they can take advantage of FSR4.In terms of improvements, AMD's CES demo showcased FSR4 delivering superior 4K upscaling quality compared to FSR 3.1. The new AI-powered upscaler will leverage dedicated AI acceleration hardware found in RDNA4 GPUs. FSR4 is also expected to offer enhanced frame generation for better performance and a revamped "Anti-Lag 2" feature designed to minimize latency.That said, FSR4's benefits come with a significant caveat: it will initially be exclusive to AMD's next-generation Radeon RX 9070 GPU, part of the RDNA4 lineup. Despite this limitation, an easy upgrade path for the existing library of FSR-compatible games would provide a strong launchpad for the new technology.For now, it remains to be seen whether AMD will pursue this rumored strategy.

NestAfter spending a bit of time in Public Preview, Google is rolling out its Google Home extension for the Gemini app to everyone. This will allow you to control smart home devices using Gemini, including tasks like turning on smart lights, checking your smart thermostat, or adjusting the volume on your speakers.The Google Home Extension will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and once youve made the update, any compatible devices synced to your Google account will be accessible via Gemini. If you try using commands in the Gemini app that arent supported, your smartphone will automatically launch the Google Home app to complete the command (such as accessing camera actions and smart lock features).Recommended VideosGemini supports various devices, including smart lights and power switches, smart thermostats, smart curtains, smart speakers and TVs, and various other devices like washers, coffee makers, and vacuums. Google notes that Gemini requests are designed for convenience tasks, with most tasks related to safety and security not available for use.GoogleFor example, Google says Gemini wont unlock a door though its smart enough to open the Google Home app to help you complete the action.Please enable Javascript to view this contentTo use Geminis new features, simply connect your Google Home and Gemini apps. Then, any supported devices on your Google Home account will respond to commands given in the Gemini app. Heres a quick look at a few commands Google says you can try:Set the dining room for a romantic date nightSet the AC to a good temperature for sleepingTurn off the bedroom TV and lightsThe sun is too bright in the living room (to close window coverings)Help me clean up the kitchen (to start vacuuming)The Google Home extension is rolling out over the next few weeks, so be sure to check your apps if you want to enjoy the new functionality.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to use Whim Balloons in Infinity NikkiWhere to find all Whim BalloonsAll Whim Balloon puzzlesAlthough you may already know about Whimstars in Infinity Nikki, what about Whim Balloons? These are new collectible items that work in similar ways to the Whimstars where theyre either easily accessible or require you to complete a puzzle to earn. But instead of using them in the Heart of Infinity, this dress-up gacha games version of a skill tree, you can collect enough to earn rewards.Included in the 1.2 update and found all over Firework Isles, your rewards for collecting Whim Balloons include Diamonds, which are the key to making gacha pulls. Lets go over where you can find all Whim Balloons and how to use them in Infinity Nikki.Recommended VideosInFold GamesYou can currently use your Whim Balloons in Infinity Nikki in two different ways. First, you can trade them in with Vita at Sparkheart Island for Firework Sketches, among other nice rewards. While the majority of the trade-ins are only for unique Fireworks Sketches you can craft and then release into the night sky, you can also earn 200 Shiny Bubbles and 40 Diamonds through Vita.InFold GamesThe second way to use Whim Balloons is only available for the next month, but you can receive a total of 600 Diamonds and many other rewards for collecting all 56 Whim Balloons. Through the Drifting Whim event, youll be able to collect prizes upon reaching certain milestones depending on how many Whim Balloons youve found.RelatedSo far, weve only been able to find 46 out of the 56 Whim Balloons. This is presumably due to some of the events on Firework Isles not yet being available, which would grant you the last 10 Whim Balloons. We will update you with the final 10 balloon locations as soon as we discover them.InFold GamesSimilar to how Whimstars worked, Whim Balloons have nearly identical puzzles. Here are all the Whim Balloon puzzles, explained.Normal Whim Balloon: The most common Whim Balloon youll find is just sitting out in the open available to grab. Sometimes they require a bit of parkouring to reach.Animal Whim Balloon: If you see a glowing pink and blue ferret-looking animal, use your Bye-Bye Dust ability outfit to groom the animal. Youll gain a Whim Balloon as a reward.Fishing Whim Balloon: You can find fishing spots that will allow you to catch special blue and pink fish that give you a Whim Balloon. Use the Rippling Serenity ability outfit to go fishing.Bug-Catching Whim Balloons: There are certain Whim Balloons in the form of glowing insects you can catch. Use the Afternoon Shine ability outfit to catch bugs.Timer Whim Balloon: This puzzle requires you to grab all the glowing balloons in a trail before the timer runs out.Chasing Whim Balloon: This puzzle first has you break a box before the Whim Balloon pops out and flies away. You now have to chase after it.Cloud Whim Balloon: A pink, fluffy cloud will appear for you to hop on while collecting all the balloons before the timer runs out.Curio Domain Whim Balloon: These Whim Balloons take you to the Curio Domain where you must solve a unique puzzle. Each one is different, and it usually requires parkouring, moving objects around, activating mechanisms, etc.Combat Whim Balloon: Youll attempt to open a chest, but then a bunch of enemies appear. Take them out to earn the Whim Balloon.Editors Recommendations

Shane Snider, Senior Writer, InformationWeekJanuary 27, 20253 Min ReadimageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG via Alamy Stock DeepSeek, an underdog Chinese startup with a large language model boasting powerful performance at a fraction of competitors steep training costs, knocked OpenAIs ChatGPT from its top position in the Apple App Store -- a development that on Monday spooked investors enough to send US technology stocks plummeting.DeepSeek claims its V3 large language model cost just $5.6 million to train, a fraction of ChatGPTs reported training costs of more than $100 million. With comparable performance to OpenAIs o1 model, a 95% cost cut may be especially attractive to cash-strapped companies looking to leverage generative AI (GenAI).The development sparked a pre-market selloff for major AI players, including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta. Investors sold off around $1 trillion in tech stocks in pre-market trading alone, with the S&P falling 2.3% and Nasdaq dropping by nearly 4% before the opening bell. Nvidia, the worlds leading supplier of AI chips, fell more than 11% in early trading. Chip designer Arm, Broadcom, and Micron Technology also suffered losses.In a research note, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives wrote: Clearly tech stocks are under massive pressure led by Nvidia as Wall Street will view DeepSeek as a major perceived threat to US tech dominance and owning this AI revolution.Chirag Dekate, vice president and analyst at Gartner, thinks Wall Street may have overreacted to the DeepSeek news. In an interview with InformationWeek, Dekate says developments that reduce training costs will have an overall positive impact.Its not just model innovation, its a system innovation, Dekate says. The DeepSeek innovations are real, and they matter Lowering the cost structures is a net positive for the overall industry DeepSeek enables a pathway to utilize resource more productively. Meta, Microsoft, Google, OpenAI and other AI innovators can utilize those underlying capabilities even better. That will likely define the future of GenAI.Why is DeepSeek a Potential Disrupter?Businesses can take advantage of massive cost savings on DeepSeeks application programming interface (API) that boast costs of $.55 per million input tokens and $2.19 per million output tokens, a fraction of OpenAIs API pricing of $15 per million input tokens and $60 per million output tokens.But those savings come at a price -- experts say widespread adoption of a Chinese-made model could pose significant security risks.National security concerns in November prompted a bi-partisan US congressional group to sound the alarm on Chinas progress in AI. The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission called for a government-funded effort to quickly develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) before China. AGI, which promises language models that match or better human intelligence, could be harnessed as a powerful weapon and give the country that first develops the technology a huge geopolitical advantage.And DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng stated in a recent interview that developing AGI is a top priority. Our destination is AGI, which means we need to study new model structures to realize stronger model capability with limited resources, Wenfeng told Chinese publication ChinaTalk in a November interview.The US also alleges China backed hacking group Volt Typhoons efforts to disrupt US critical infrastructure. China remains the most active and persistent cyber threat to US government, private-sector and critical infrastructure efforts, according to a blog post from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who warned of continuing state-sponsored security threats.Despite lower costs, Dekate says, enterprises will not likely rush into using DeepSeek widely because of potential legal liabilities. Enterprises should always be careful about creating external facing products that are produced by open-source models, Dekate says, noting that enterprise grade AI models offer more guardrails, security, and higher quality outputs. There are going to be constraints [with open source models] that Gemini, OpenAI and other models do not have you are going to get a more comprehensive answer on certain topics.About the AuthorShane SniderSenior Writer, InformationWeekShane Snider is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of industry experience. He started his career as a general assignment reporter and has covered government, business, education, technology and much more. He was a reporter for the Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh News and Observer and most recently a tech reporter for CRN. He was also a top wedding photographer for many years, traveling across the country and around the world. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children.See more from Shane SniderNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

DeepSeek is limiting who can register for a new account.The Chinese AI company cited recent "large-scale malicious attacks" for the temporary registration limits.DeepSeek users can still login, the company said.DeepSeek is limiting who can sign up for its service as the popular Chinese AI app encountered issues on Monday morning.The app, which is currently the top free app on Apple's App Store, says that only those with China-based phone numbers can register for a new account."DeepSeek's online services have recently faced large-scale malicious attacks," the company said in a message on its website. "To ensure continued service, registration is temporarily limited to +86 phone numbers. Existing users can log in as usual."The chatbot was encountering issues on Monday morning, according to its status page.This post is developing

Taylor Swift wore a luxury outfit that cost more than $68,000 to the 2025 AFC Championship game.The look featured a monogram jacket from Louis Vuitton, a Cartier watch, and diamond jewelry.Swift's style may signal a shift from quiet luxury back to logo mania in fashion.There was nothing quiet about Taylor Swift's latest luxury look.The superstar attended the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in a full Louis Vuitton look that retails for over $68,000.She wore an oversize zip-up jacket, a black miniskirt, and a knit beanie that looked fun and casual or, at least, as casual as a designer outfit can look. Taylor Swift arrives at the AFC Championship game on January 26. Jamie Squire/Getty Images Each piece of her outfit was more expensive than the last.The base of Swift's outfit included $35 cherry tights from Sheertex, a $3,050 black cotton-blend miniskirt from Louis Vuitton, and the designer's $5,000 monogram jacket, crafted from 56% silk and made in Italy.There was also a $550 cashmere hat, a $2,850 calf-leather wallet purse, and three-inch heel boots. Swift's all-black pair is sold out, but the same pair in a different colorway retails for $1,800.Swift's accessories were also pricey. She completed her outfit with $495 statement gloves, a $32,200 Panthre de Cartier watch, and two pieces of Louis Vuitton jewelry: a $3,950 yellow-gold ring with 28 diamonds and a matching bracelet that costs $18,500.Finally, there was the coin pendant and gold chain that Swift wore on her neck, designed by Steven Battelle. These items vary in price and must be custom-ordered. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce embrace after the Kansas City Chiefs victory on January 26. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Swift also brought back a controversial designer trend with her outfit: logo mania.In the 2010s, designer monograms seemingly covered everything from clothes to furniture. However, after 2020, quiet luxury took over.The trend saw loud, flashy pieces pushed aside for classic, subtle designs. Brands like The Row and Bottega Veneta were favored over designers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.That could all change now, thanks to Swift.Just like she's impacted economies and small businesses, the "Tortured Poets Department" musician might help revive loud luxury with outfits like her latest.

Fortnite keeps getting weirder, and this week players can become Gozilla itself in the new Titan Takedown event and unlock the Godzilla Evolved skin for their troublesTech14:19, 27 Jan 2025Updated 14:19, 27 Jan 2025Fortnite OG is a throwback for fans of Epic's Battle RoyaleIf you prefer your battle royale a little more vanilla, Fortnite OG is still kicking and still very popular, and the game's next update will bring even more for the throwback mode.Here's all we know about Fortnite version 33.30, including when it's coming and the patch notes.The game's next update is tipped for Friday, January 31, and it's likely to drop at 12pm GMT, 7am EST or 4am PST.That's in line with other updates of this size, but don't forget the servers could go down ahead of time. Expect it to be trickyContent cannot be displayed without consentAs always, we'll post the full patch notes as soon as we have them, but perhaps the most exciting leak suggests we could be getting a fresh event pass for something that hasn't leaked yet (a rarity in the world of Fortnite).The update could also add Chappell Roan's 'Good Luck Babe!' emote that's been leaked, but there's a big focus on Fortnite OG.We're expecting that the Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2 will kick off with v33.30, and there's a host of bug fixes planned according to the game's ever-evolving Trello board.Here's everything marked as "Fixed in Next Game Update":GeneralHomescape Wrap not animating The Homescape Wrap does not animate when viewed or equipped due to an issue. We are working to resolve this, and will update this card as we have identified and deployed a fix.Battle Royale / Reload / OGPlayers unable to enter build mode using build tools bound to the F key Weve identified a keybind overlap issue affecting multiple build keybinds on the keyboard. The fix ro address these conflicts is in the works and will be coming with the v33.30 game update. As a temporary workaround, go to the Misc section under the Keyboard Controls tav and remove or remap the DBNO Carry and Object Carry keybinds.Display issues in split screen when three or more players are signed in If three or more players are signed in to a console and play Fortnite in split screen mode while the third player is not in the game, they may notice a third display pop up instead of the intended two.Structures at BURD drop Stone instead of Metal When harvesting resources at the BURD gas station., some metal structures may drop Stone instead of intended Metal.BallisticWalking is not silent The Walk movement does not make footsteps silent. Temporary workaround: To move silently, walk while crouching or aiming down sights.Lego FortniteReduced Job Listing details text visibility When on the Job Listings screen, players may experience difficulties reading the job details on the right side of the screen due to blue background overlap.Rocket RacingLockjaw and Fuse Bundles missing reward icon and preview in the Quest tab When navigating to the Lockjaw and Fuse Quests in the Quest tab, the reward icons and previews are missing.Article continues belowSave the WorldTornadoes may destroy Traps in Wargames or Endurance runs During Endurance or Wargame runs (e.g. Torn Apart), if the tornado oasses through a structure with a Trap attached, it may damage and/or destroy it.Fall damage not reduced while riding the Hoverboard When falling off a tall enough cliff, building or structure while riding the Hoverboard, the player will receive more damage than intended.Kongs Battle Axe incorrectly using two-handed swing animation When swinging the Kongs Battle Axe in Save the World, the Pickaxe displays the incorrect two-handed animation.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Is Sega bringing back another classic? (Sega)Theres renewed hope for the return of a beloved role-playing game, as Sega looks to revive its classic franchises.The Sega Dreamcast may have been the companys last ever console, but many of its games are still widely revered today.The console marked Sonics first mainline 3D outing with Sonic Adventure, introduced Jet Set Radio, and saw the start of Shenmue, which has become a cult favourite. It also housed some notable role-playing games, like Phantasy Star Online and Grandia 2, which was recently ported to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.One of the best game on the system was Skies Of Arcadia, which was later ported to the Nintendo GameCube. Since then though, the IP has laid dormant, outside of some small cameos in other Sega games.However, Sega has now fuelled hope of a remaster, after it renewed the Skies Of Arcadia trademark and its Japanese name Eternal Arcadia earlier this month, as spotted by X account Sega Informant.While this is no indication that a remaster or sequel is in the works (Sega also renewed the trademark back in 2012), this comes after the company announced plans to bring back five of its classic franchises: Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Streets Of Rage, Shinobi, and Golden Axe.A revival of Virtua Fighter is also in the works at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, with a new PC version this month.As such, this renewal comes with some added weight, even if it is entirely possible that its simply a legal formality.These hopes, however, arent entirely unfounded. An insider previously claimed a Skies Of Arcadia remaster was in development back in 2023, but theres been no word on its existence since.Skies Of Arcadia was originally released on the Dreamcast in 2000 and while it was critically beloved, it underperformed sales wise. Considering weve heard very little from the IP over the past two decades, its likely the 2002 GameCube port didnt sell well either.More TrendingVarious historic role-playing games have been remastered in recent years though, including Baten Kaitos and Tales Of Symphonia, so theres a chance Skies Of Arcadia could get the same treatment. A pirate-y RPG (Sega)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: Like A Dragon boss rules out Akiyama spin-off GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Homer has tapped out (EA/Disney)Fans of a long-running video game based on The Simpsons are gathered in grief as it permanently shuts down.The Simpsons has a historic legacy of video game tie-ins, from Konamis arcade beat em up to Virtual Springfield on the PC and the beloved GTA clone The Simpsons: Hit & Run.Theres another game in The Simpsons lineage which has quietly built up a fanbase over the past 12 years. The Simpsons: Tapped Out was a free city-building mobile game developed by EA, where you could create and manage your own version of Springfield.The game launched in February 2012 and continued to receive updates up until September last year, when EA announced plans to delist the title and shut down the servers in January 2025.The decision to end our 12-year journey is an emotional one, a statement read on the games Facebook page. Together with our partners at The Simpsons and The Walt Disney company, we have delighted in bringing this game to you, the fans, and seeing how youve each built your own beloved versions of Springfield.It has been a remarkable journey, and we are grateful that weve been able to deliver 308 updates, 831 characters, and including todays final farewell 1,463 questlines. As our journey comes to a close, we offer our sincerest thanks to you, the players, who have made this all possible.The servers for The Simpsons: Tapped Out officially shut down on Friday, January 24, which sparked an outpour of commemorative tributes to mark the end of an era.Goodbye The Simpsons: Tapped Out, one player wrote on X. Played it pretty much everyday since it launched in 2012. Gonna miss my version of Springfield that I spent so much time building.Another wrote: As Simpsons: Tapped Out is about to shut down forever, Ive played it every day for 12 years. Its been a part of my daily routine. As life changed around me, as people came and went, TSTO remained.I had this game on my phone longer than any other app ever released, another post read. Good bye The Simpsons: Tapped Out.Unlike the recent shut down of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, there are no plans for a paid offline version, so this is going to be another mobile game which looks set to be lost to time.More TrendingThe best option for a revival might fall on the fans themselves, much like those who decided to create their own remake of The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Farewell to your very own Springfield (EA/Disney)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Matt Murdock and his friends (and enemies) are set to return withDaredevil: Born Again in March. The path to getting this show has been somewhat fraught, in part owing to a creative overhaul in 2023 that stemmed from Marvels general issues with the TV format. In a recent interview with SFX Magazine, showrunner Dario Scardapane talked about the pivot away from that original version from Chris Ord and Matt Corman. According to Scardapane, Ord and Cormans version, which only had less than half of its planned 18 episodes filmed before being scrapped, had really strong points. But it wasnt feeling in line with what Daredevilhad been established to be. In that initial version,Born Again was a soft MCU-connected reboot of the Netflix series that also kept some (but not all) elements of that initial show. Once Scardapane was brought on, it was decided the Netflix series (and by extension, the larger Defendersuniverse) were fully part of the MCU, andBorn Again could fully pick up where the show left off. Speaking on the U-turn, actor Charlie Cox acknowledged the first Born Againiteration just wasnt quite working, even as he called it equally interesting and valid in its own right. Ord and Corman wanted to avoid just doing exactly the same thing, and when Scardapane joined, a new pilot was shot to be more in the vein of the Netflix series. That did the trick, as made clear by how much Born Agains trailer is working to make you think of the best parts of Daredevil. There are some changes ahead, though: Scardapane also told SFX about his desire to have a lot less navel-gazing than the original series and have more fun in the moments between characters. In Scardapanes eyes, this show is more of a New York crime story compared to the original noir feel of the Netflix show. For him, the least appealing scenes came when it was two characters in a room talking about what a hero is. He was quick to clarify he wasnt throwing any shade, he just doesnt want characters grousing about their lot in life, I wanted to see them doing things. I felt that had been done. As such, therell be longer scenes in Born Again, particularly duringthe fights. When he ran the Punisherseries, characters would hash things out for five pages so thered be space for action scenes. With characters like Matt, Punisher, and newcomers like White Tiger and Muse to play with, Scardapane teased the show will be big action scenes at a lot more pace than before. How big are we talking? Well find out whenDaredevil: Born Againhits Disney+ on March 4. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.