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Engadget
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Remedy lays out its plan to fix FBC: Firebreak, which includes improved onboarding
Remedy has announced plans to fix FBC: Firebreak and restore the good will of consumers after a rough launch earlier this year. Many of the issues surrounding the launch were regarding the onboarding process, which the company acknowledges by saying that "many players come into the game and leave within the first hour." Remedy is trying to make that opening hour more welcoming to new players, so they don't "feel ineffective and confused as to what to do." It has already placed an introductory video in the game with a narrative to explain the world and how it relates to the developer's hit game Control , as FBC: Firebreak is set in the same universe. Remedy promises more of this type of "narrative onboarding" will come to the game later this year. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. It's building a playable tutorial level, as the developer acknowledges it needs "to do a better job" teaching new players the core mechanics and features. It's also taking a page out of Nintendo's playbook and introducing more "pop up" tips that will appear at "relevant times" throughout the first couple of hours. The forthcoming updates aren't just about onboarding. Remedy will be adding three new heavy guns to the arsenal and introducing a modding system for weapons. The company will share more about this system "before September." It's also introducing "big changes to the way" players access missions and beefing up the missions themselves. The developer says it's refining several elements to increase the fun factor, going on to say that it will be "weeding out our least fun experience" and "focusing on our best experiences." There will even be new game modes and missions down the line. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Much of this is coming in the game's first major update, with a planned winter launch. For the uninitiated, FBC: Firebreak is a multiplayer FPS that places an emphasis on cooperative action. It's available on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, so it could technically be "free" to check out any progress the dev has made since launch.
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
India Seeks to Stabilize Newly Thawed Relations With China
India's Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar's meetings with China's President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers' meeting in Beijing signal that the two neighbors are interested in normalizing relations. Jaishankar's visit to Beijing was the first to the Chinese capital since India and China clashed violently along their disputed border at Galwan in Ladakh on June 15, 2020. The meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit provided the two sides with an opportunity to take stock of recent efforts to improve bilateral relations that had frayed significantly over the past five years. Both sides had mobilized a large number of troops along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border, and built up military and other infrastructure. Several rounds of talks took place between top military commanders of the two countries and these resulted in troops pulling back from five of seven friction points in Ladakh. However, agreement was elusive disengagement at two friction points, and tensions continued to simmer. Then in October last year, India and China reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements and disengagement of troops from the last two friction points, paving the way for a meeting between Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a BRICS summit at Kazan in Russia. Since the Xi-Modi meeting at Kazan, relations have moved in a 'positive direction,' according to Jaishankar. In the months since, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh have travelled to China, as has Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. In Beijing, Jaishankar observed that ties are improving and underlined the responsibility of both sides to 'maintain that momentum.' The normalization of bilateral relations was due to the resolution of frictions and the ability of both sides to maintain peace and tranquility along their border, he said. This was key to developing mutual strategic trust and bilateral relations. 'It is now incumbent on us to address other aspects related to the border, including de-escalation,' Jaishankar said, drawing attention to the tens of thousands of troops still amassed on the border, though disengaged from the eyeball-to-eyeball situation that they were locked in previously. Jaishankar thanked China for reopening a pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar, a site that Hindus revere, in China after a gap of five years. Building people-to-people relations could promote mutually beneficial cooperation, he said. Equally essential was the avoidance of restrictive trade measures, Jaishankar said. Recently, Indian media reports pointed to China imposing restrictions on the export of critical minerals used in the manufacture of a wide range of products, including personal electronics and military hardware, to India. China, which dominates the critical minerals production and export supply chain, announced that the curbs on exports of these metals in April were in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on China. India is heavily dependent on China for imports that support its electronic, engineering and pharmaceutical industries. In 2024-25, India's trade deficit with China was almost $100 billion. There are concerns in New Delhi that this deficit will increase. The Chinese readouts on the two meetings Jaishankar had in Beijing steered clear of any controversy. The statement on Jaishankar's meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng's meeting with Jaishankar said that as 'major developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and India should be partners that help each other succeed.' It added that the two sides must 'advance practical cooperation, respect each other's concerns,' and promote China-India relations. The Chinese statement following the Wang-Jaishankar meeting described India and China as 'two major Eastern civilizations and major emerging economies living adjacent to each other.' Given this, 'the essence of China-India relations lies in how to live in harmony and help each other succeed,' it said. Given the tone and tenor of statements from both sides, it would be natural to think that India and China ties are poised to move in an upward trajectory. But a closer look reveals the many problems complicating an already complex relationship. Since 1962, when India and China fought a border war, ties have been riddled by suspicion, especially over their unsettled border. Additionally, China's close relations with India's arch-rival Pakistan have been a source of concern for Delhi. China and Pakistan describe each other as 'all-weather strategic cooperative partners' with an ''ironclad'' friendship between them. This friendship extends to the military and nuclear domain – which India has repeatedly flagged. While this has been known for decades, the support China extended to Pakistan during the recent May 7-10 India-Pakistan military clashes has drawn India's ire, especially since such support came amid Indian efforts to improve ties with Beijing. Pakistan used Chinese-origin fighter jets, Chinese PL-15 missiles, and drones, highlighting deep levels of cooperation. It reaffirmed what Indian military strategists have been raising for decades – the challenges India faces in having to fight a two-front war along its hostile borders. Deputy Chief of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Rahul R. Singh, said earlier this month that India had to deal with three adversaries during Operation Sindoor – Pakistan being the 'front face' and China and Türkiye providing vital support to it. Given Pakistan's use of Chinese-made weapons, China was able to test its hardware in a live conflict scenario, he said, describing the situation as a 'live lab' available to China. Besides this, China has also backed Pakistan at international fora where India has tried to spotlight Islamabad's support to anti-India terrorist groups. India believes that China's unstinted support to Pakistan and its reluctance to resolve its border problem with New Delhi by clearly delineating its frontier are aimed at keeping India pinned down in South Asia, stymying India's ambitions to emerge as a global power or a key pole in a multipolar world. Adding to New Delhi's suspicions about Chinese intentions is Beijing's efforts to create a new South Asian grouping to replace the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which comprises India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka as its members. SAARC has not met since 2014; Afghanistan, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh pulled out of the summit that Pakistan was to host in 2016, citing Islamabad's support for terrorism. In the context of trilateral cooperation between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan on the one hand, and China, Pakistan and Bangladesh on the other, the prospects of a new China-led South Asian regional grouping have brightened. This is of concern to India. Last but not the least, is the question of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The presence of the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of refugees in India and the fact that the Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in India has riled Beijing for decades. Earlier this month, the 90-year-old Tibetan leader said the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue after his death, with the Gaden Phodrang Trust picking his reincarnation. The announcement incensed China, which said that the 15th Dalai Lama would need its recognition as well. Also angering Beijing was Indian minister Kiren Rijiju's remark that only the current Dalai Lama and conventions established by him could decide on identifying his successor. Officially, the Indian foreign ministry said the Indian government had no position on religious matters. But in deeming the Dalai Lama's reincarnation a 'religious matter' that it had no comment about, New Delhi seemed to suggest it would not intervene when the Gaden Phodrang Trust identifies the reincarnation. That could mean that India would stay silent on Beijing's choice of the 15th Dalai Lama too. Beijing is keen on India endorsing its choice of the Dalai Lama. Following Rijiju's remark, China called on India to act cautiously on Tibet-related issues. Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing posted on X that members of the strategic and academic communities, including former officials, had made 'improper remarks' regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. 'In reality, (the) Xizang-related (Tibet-related) issue is a thorn in China-India relations,' Yu said in the post, shortly after the Indian foreign ministry announced Jaishankar's China visit. Things may be looking up on the India-China front, but the road ahead to normalization is riddled with potholes. Testing times lie ahead for India as it tries to balance these challenges while seeking a working relationship with China in a turbulent and unpredictable world.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
India makes business like moves amid ChiPak axis
India is on the path of gradual normalisation of ties with China. The resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is likely to be followed by restarting direct flights and adoption of a new visa regime that will facilitate more travel across categories between both countries. Does this signal a strategic shift? Not really, because China's active political and military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor is a warning on how deep this nexus runs. At the same time, Indian business is grappling with supply chain issues with China , hit also by latest restrictions on rare earth magnets, other elements and added certification requirements. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category others Project Management Data Science Leadership Others Cybersecurity MCA Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Data Science Public Policy Design Thinking Digital Marketing Technology Product Management Data Analytics CXO PGDM healthcare Degree MBA Management Finance Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India Starts on undefined Get Details At best, it's a pragmatic approach to address supply chain issues. It's important not to confuse this with any major trust reorientation that gives businesses allowance to increase their dependencies on China. The objective, on the contrary, would be to use this thaw to build alternatives without losing out in the immediate run. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Are Unstoppable: The Most Beautiful and Talented Female Athletes Even the US is trying to balance similar contradictions in its China folder, where on the one hand it recognises Beijing as its main competitor and long-term threat, but is willing to talk on securing supply chains for its industry. Even Japan and South Korea are working at ways to ease trade tensions with China. In many ways, a new China realism is at play, where there's an acceptance to deal with Beijing in recognition of its leverage in supply chains as well as its tendency to weaponise this advantage for political gains. So, if the Trump administration is looking to cut deals with China on supply of rare earth magnets, India must also guard its interests. Live Events From an Indian standpoint, there's a basis to this normalisation which flows from the improvement of the situation on the Line of Actual Control. While the de-escalation process is yet to take shape, there are reports of some thinning out of troops. This gives room for conversations on the economic side, which is needed to ensure India is not battling on multiple fronts. If India has supply chain issues, China has its own list of complaints starting with the intensive screening of its companies. It has worries about the future of investments, already locked in India before the Galwan clashes, besides issues arising from investigations into its entities by Indian law enforcement agencies. Eventually, it's about maintaining peace and tranquility on LAC because New Delhi has politically linked this to the economic conversation with Beijing . The earlier dictum, one pushed by China, was to not let differences over the LAC impact development of relations in other areas. Now, of course, the two have been linked, with India conveying constantly that differences should not turn into disputes. By this logic, a thaw on LAC should reflect progress on other fronts. The recent spate of political and official visits, including by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, signal this willingness to re-engage. What India has consciously not done is to politically link the Sino-Pak axis with the bilateral relationship. It's a threat that India will have to counter, for now, through geopolitical play with the US. After all, it's the America question that bothers China. It always wants to know what are India's plans with the US? Will it turn into an alliance against China? What's the big idea with Quad? India mostly answers back, also with the question: What is China doing with Pakistan? Both hedge, knowing well the value of the leverage they hold. Which is why the current thaw should be seen, as a strategic adjustment to buy time for Indian business to derisk supply chains, build alternatives and not a licence to integrate further.
India Today
a day ago
- Science
- India Today
Akash Prime Missile aces Ladakh test, downs 2 unmanned targets at 15,000 feet
The Indian Army successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the indigenously developed Akash Prime surface-to-air missile system in Ladakh. The upgraded air defense system demonstrated its capability by neutralising two unmanned aerial vehicles at an altitude of 15,000 feet in Ladakh. Akash Prime is described as a deadlier and more precise version of the original Akash missile, which has a range of 25 kilometers and was previously used to defend against threats on the western border. This recent test signifies an enhancement of India's air defense capabilities along the Line of Actual Control with China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the achievement, stating the missile "has neutralized two threats in air at a height of 15,000 feet."
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Jaishankar in China: A recalibration for regional stability
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to China, his first since the 2020 border clashes, marks a cautious yet deliberate recalibration of India-China ties. In talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar's tone was forward-looking and frank. Coming as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, the visit underscored both the opportunities for engagement and the urgency of addressing unresolved issues. People-centric initiatives such as resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and enhanced flight connectivity signal a thaw after five years of diplomatic frost. Beyond this, Jaishankar emphasised the core priority for taking the ties to a meaningful plane: peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control. While recent steps towards disengagement are encouraging, India continues to press for complete de-escalation. Jaishankar also flagged trade restrictions and barriers to market access as impediments to genuine economic cooperation. He called for the resumption of hydrological data-sharing and broader trans-border cooperation regarding rivers. These are reminders of regional interdependence that require transparency and trust to thrive. That is why differences need to be addressed and prevented from escalating into disputes. This is not just vital for bilateral stability; it's essential for regional peace. A predictable India-China relationship will shape the broader Asian security architecture and aid India's efforts to navigate an increasingly multipolar world with more strategic space.
