Connect with us

Geek Culture

Pioneer Brings 4K Blu-Ray Drive to PC

blank

Published

on

blank
Featured Image courtesy of theverge.com

As the DVD became dated, there were multiple competitors vying for dominance of the market. HD DVD competed with Blu Ray, with proponents of each making a bet on which would be successful when it came time to buy a new media player. The Blu-Ray definitely came out on top as the format for new films, though the future may require another purchase to stay up-to-date with high-end visual fidelity. Over the past year, Blu-Ray has established itself as king of the newer 4K format as well. Ultra-HD (UHD) Blu-Rays are now on the market and prove to be a good format for experiencing high-end recordings, but the gear capable of playing UHD Blu-rays isn’t widespread.

Pioneer hopes to change that with their new Ultra-HD Blu-Ray drives for PC, releasing in Japan in February (No word on an international release date!). The options for playing UHD available to the public are extremely limited, with Sony’s X800 player and the Xbox One S remaining pretty much the only options. It will be nice to have the option on PCs, but not just any PC can handle the requirements of Pioneer’s Blu-Ray drive. The drive requires the latest Core i5 or Core i7 processors, 6GB of RAM and a 4K capable HDMI2.0a port. You’d also need a monitor capable of displaying 4K content.

The Pioneer Blu-Ray drives are available in two models, the BDR-S11J-BK and BDR-S11J-X. The BDR-S11J-X is apparently the higher-end model which is quieter and offers increased audio quality when playing CDs.

As mentioned above, the Blu-Ray drives for PC will be released in February but there’s no word on pricing or a release date for the rest of the world. 4K is still the cutting edge of content, and consumers who want the ultimate in visual clarity and audio quality still have pretty limited options. Like most technology, it will likely gradually become more normal, but as of now it’s still pretty difficult as a member of the general public to get your hands on something that provides that experience. Pioneer’s release is limited to Japan at the moment, which means the rest of us may still be waiting a while for the capability to play UHD Blu-Rays on our computers.

As Editor here at GeekReply, I'm a big fan of all things Geeky. Most of my contributions to the site are technology related, but I'm also a big fan of video games. My genres of choice include RPGs, MMOs, Grand Strategy, and Simulation. If I'm not chasing after the latest gear on my MMO of choice, I'm here at GeekReply reporting on the latest in Geek culture.

Continue Reading

Gaming

New PS5 Patch Introduces Rare 40FPS Mode for Avatar Game

blank

Published

on

blank

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has received an exciting update that introduces a new graphical mode, elevating the game’s visual experience. With a smooth frame rate of 40 frames per second and enhanced resolutions, players can now immerse themselves in even more stunning and detailed environments. Now downloadable on PS5 with the latest patch 3.2, this mode is compatible with 4K TVs that can handle up to 120 Hz. Before this update, Avatar PS5 only offered quality and performance modes. However, with this new option, players can now enjoy the benefits of both modes after downloading the 2.4GB update.

Throughout the PS5 era, 40fps modes have been a rarity, much to the disappointment of the hardcore community. Insomniac Games first introduced them in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and later added the feature to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. They also included it in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Other PS5 titles, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Lies of P, and God of War Ragnarok, also offer 40fps modes.

In addition to that, Patch 3.2 for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings along the following:

Worldwide:

  • Research Station Alpha now features a convenient Fast Travel option
  • The issue of controller re-mapping and resetting on game restart has been resolved
  • Addressed multiple instances of crashes
  • I corrected a few spelling errors
  • Addressed the issue of voice lines overlapping during dialogue

Primary Objectives & Optional Objectives:

  • [Main Quest: Shadows of the Past] This main quest is an intriguing journey into the depths of history. Addressed a bug that previously hindered quest progression in co-op mode

More bug fixes have been implemented.

  • [Available on all platforms] The rescued human characters no longer return to the Resistance HQ wearing masks
  • Available on all platforms. There is a noticeable improvement in the visibility of NPCs when they are at the edge of the Player’s vision

 

Continue Reading

Gaming

Exciting news for gamers! The highly anticipated PS5 game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be joining EA Play on Thursday

blank

Published

on

blank

Update: It seems that the PS Store may have acted prematurely, as it has now been officially confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be added to EA Play on Thursday, April 25th, 2024. Once the active members are in, they’ll have the opportunity to download and play the complete game.

Original Story: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, released in 2023, has been added to the EA Play subscription service. This exciting action-adventure game is now available for download and play at no additional cost for active members. While EA has yet to provide any official updates, you can head over to the PS Store and find it listed as “included with EA Play.”

Adding to the mix is the recent announcement of a forthcoming price hike for the subscription, affecting both monthly and yearly payment plans. Starting on May 10th, 2024, the monthly subscription fee will be increased from £3.99 / $4.99 to £5.99 / $5.99. For those who choose the 12-month commitment, the price will be £34.99 / $39.99, which is a £15 / $10 increase.

blank

In April 2023, the highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor made its debut on the PS5. After thoroughly evaluating the game, we are pleased to announce that it has earned an impressive 9/10 rating in our review. We praised the game for its ability to build upon the first installment’s foundations and improve upon every aspect. “The combat is highly enjoyable and provides a plethora of options, while the exploration reaches new heights. The incorporation of Metroidvania elements adds an extra layer of depth, resulting in captivating puzzles and rewarding experiences.”

Click the link to access a comprehensive list of all EA Play games available on PS5 and PS4. Are you planning to give Star Wars Jedi: Survivor a try on the service? We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Rest assured, the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade, will be available in its original, uncensored form across all regions

blank

Published

on

blank

Fear not; for those worried about potential censorship issues with the PS5-exclusive Stellar Blade, set to release on April 26th, Sony has got you covered. ShiftUp, the developer, proudly assures players that the game will maintain its uncensored content across all regions, including Japan.

We have to admit, we didn’t anticipate this as a potential issue or a potential selling point. The main character, Eve, and her revealing costumes have been heavily showcased in the game’s pre-release marketing. Nevertheless, it is pleasing to witness ShiftUp’s evident enthusiasm as their vision prepares to reach the hands of a vast number of players.

Regarding Stellar Blade, Yoko Taro believes it surpasses NieR: Automata, and we were pleased to learn that the game will be considerate of your PS5 storage capacity. The demo is now available for you to try, and it has nearly doubled the daily active users of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This is quite impressive, especially considering it is the game’s first console showing.

Will you be there to experience Stellar Blade on its release day? It’s certainly a relief to witness the game remaining uncensored until the last moment. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Continue Reading

Trending