Latest news with #ForzaHorizon
Tom's Guide
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Tom's Guide
Exclusive: I got early access to the best sim racing rig of 2025 — but it's so early I can't even tell you what it's called
Asetek is launching its first ever value sim racing rig to support consoles, and I'm the first person on the planet to tell you all about how it drives — months before its release. As the sim racing guy, I can always sniff out a good chance to race at any press event I go to, and Computex 2025 is no different. But even I didn't expect to come across something like this — especially given the fact it technically isn't coming out for months. Asetek is a brand more well-known for creating the best of the best for pro racers at a big price. But hiding in plain sight amongst the booth is a rather nice premium-feeling, hefty sim rig for passers by to jump on and try. What you don't know, though, is that this is Asetek giving its brand new entry a test drive before unleashing it on the public. Even better? It's a value sim bundle with a shockingly good price that packs console support. Let's talk about it, but first a heads up. Out of caution, we're blurring the wheel itself so you don't know what it's called! The truth is I know more details about this wheel than I'm letting on — that's the deal with a job like this. But you've got to play the game and work your way around the limitations put in place. I have to be indirect in what I say here… got it? So to navigate around the minefield and find a balance between telling you all about it while not messing up some poor PR team's campaign (as someone who's worked in PR in the past, I feel your pain), here are just some things that could be true about it: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. You got all that? Good! Let's take it out for a spin on Forza Horizon 5. Starting with the rig itself, the use of metal keeps a nice rigidity to it all, while the seat has a great plush cushioning that you sink into nicely — sure to keep me comfy for those longer endurance races. And then you start to drive. The wheel itself has a great feel to it — packing that trademark wallop of direct drive force feedback, but also offering up those small granular details to help you indicate oversteer and the surface on which you're driving. Based on having a feel of all the elements, there's a plastic construction to the wheel and pedal base, but nothing that feels cheap at all. While Forza Horizon is not really a game that relies on intricate controls, all the buttons and dials on the face of the wheel are placed nicely within a thumb's reach to adjust key controls on more complex race cars. Meanwhile, the pedals feel satisfyingly weighty under the feet. The brake pedal has a nice load cell sensation to it, with a realistic increase in resistive pressure as you push harder. That is sure to help you nail the small percentages for trail braking around more complex corners. Throw in some nice tactile paddle shifters, expandability for hand clutches and a versatile modular build for you to upgrade key elements over time as you become more of a seasoned sim racing veteran, and this is a seriously slick package. Not a total revolution in driving accuracy like more expensive solutions, but more than enough given the value its aiming at. But here's the kicker. I was here thinking this was a solid mid-range direct drive wheel to get you into the sim racing scene, and that's when I was told by Asetek that the plan is to sell the whole thing (wheel, wheel base, pedals and the seat to connect it all to) for $1,000. Yes, that's still four figures, but to get something equivalent to the accuracy of simulation and build quality would cost you at least twice that — and that's before even thinking about the racing seat. And with this ticking all my boxes, it's easily become my personal favorite discovery at Computex. Everything you'd find for vastly more, but for much less than you expect. Sim racing has a huge gap in the mid-range, as people are normally starting with a beginners toy wheel like the Logitech G29 — only to then have to reinvest a ton of money when it's not enough. To be able to get everything at the same time for a price like this is a seriously good long-term investment... Well, it could be. We're not supposed to talk about this so keep it to yourself!
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mario Kart World: hands-on with Nintendo's crucial Switch 2 launch game
How do you follow a game as complete and extensive as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Nintendo is banking on the answer being: go bigger. Double the number of racers to 24. Increase the number of characters (60 in total). More weapons. And, most eye-catchingly, more exploration. That's not a term you'd associate with the closed circuit, three-lap formula that the series has perfected over the last three decades, but in Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title for the forthcoming Switch 2, Nintendo is tearing down the tyre barriers and offering players a Forza Horizon style open world. It's not exactly a total reinvention of the wheel, but it's as big a change to the format as any since the series began. Given physical copies of Mario Kart World will retail at £75 though, is it enough? I got a chance to spend time playing the new game and my immediate impression was that it's what you'd expect from a next-gen Mario Kart title. It's familiar, incredibly polished, plays flawlessly no matter what carnage ensues and it looks awesome. As I hurtled through the courses, the temptation was to slow down and take in all the small, quirky details. Presumably there will be an opportunity to do just that in the free roaming element of the game. I didn't get much of a chance to explore this – it was essentially the lobby while we waited for 24 players to join. What I did get to experience were two modes. The first was Grand Prix. This is your traditional Mario Kart affair: start, three laps, finish. The slight tweak here is that rather than having closed circuit courses, these are sprints across the world map: you'll be in Boo's cinema one moment, a prehistoric jungle the next. I opted to play as the cow from Moo Moo Meadows, the internet-famous breakout star of the recent Nintendo Direct, driving a tractor called Big Horn. As a seasoned Mario Kart player (to put it mildly), I found that it plays exactly as you'd expect. Muscle memory takes over: you skid (though it's less agile than in MK8D, presumably to account for wider tracks); you throw shells at opponents; you scream in frustration when you get struck by lightning just as you were about to use a boost. The level design is beautiful and each track seems packed with alternate routes and little secrets. I can't escape the feeling that the wider roads may mean the game loses some of its claustrophobic carnage, and that the emphasis will be on weapons rather than driving skill in this iteration of the series, but I can live with that. Regardless, I win my first race – I want that on record – and a glorious crown is bestowed upon my cow. In my time with the game, I also had one race in Knockout Tour mode, Nintendo's battle-royale-style take on the series. As you progress along the course you'll encounter checkpoints on the horizon; when you cross these, the bottom four racers are blocked from continuing and drop out. This continues until the final stretch of track where the remaining four race to the podium. Not realising I would be racing 23 other journalists in the room with me, I opted for the comedy choice of racing as Wiggler in a pink cruiser, which, from a kart configuration standpoint, is a terrible choice. Had I realised the stakes I would have gone Wario/monster bike, but it's my own fault for assuming it was a race that didn't matter. They all matter. Knockout Tour mode is exhilarating. If, like me, you believe you've achieved God-like status at MK8D and can run through each course in your sleep, if you're used to cruising in first place without so much as a single banana to your name, then prepare yourself. In knockout mode you can drop from first to 24th in an instant. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion The solution is to embrace the carnage. Weapons feel more significant (I lost count of how many golden mushrooms, bullet bills and star powers I went through), skidding and handling less so, given the greater width of each track. Amid all the frenzied chaos, I had no idea how long the race lasted – I think somewhere between three minutes and three hours. Seeing the checkpoints and knowing I was only one horribly timed red shell away from dropping out prompted heart palpitations; clearing the checkpoints brought relief. It was a rush. I finished fifth, failing to qualify for the final section. This mark of shame aside, my initial impressions of knockout mode are that it's an exciting reinvention of the format and there is a strong chance it's about to become my entire personality.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Mario Kart World' For Switch 2 Improves On The 'Forza Horizon' Open-World Playbook By Letting You Race As A Cow
For over a decade now, the "Forza Horizon" series has owned the open-world racing genre. It's been the go-to franchise for those looking to cruise aimlessly around a scenic locale, spending hours in a constant drift without ever regaining traction. It seems Nintendo took note of Turn 10 and Playground Games' success in the segment, though, because the latest "Mario Kart" entry brings the same features to the new Switch 2. "Mario Kart World," the official title of the new game, connects classic and new tracks from the series into a single unified open world. This even includes racing between tracks, turning race series into unified endurance competitions that take place all across the map. Up to 24 players will compete in races at once, double that of the outgoing game. "Mario Kart World" even improves on the "Forza" formula in some interesting ways — most importantly, letting you play as a cow riding a Motocompo-inspired tape deck motorcycle. Moo-tocompo. Read more: Pokémon Go Was A Plot To Use Your Data To Fast Track An AI-Slop Google Maps Competitor It appears from the trailer that players in "World" won't be limited in the karts they choose to explore the open world with. There are standard karts, buggy-style offroad karts, even what appears to be a '90s F-150–esque truck with rally lights. Different karts also come with different outfits in "World," and I would like to personally extend my thanks to whoever decided Peach should ride a Honda XL 600LM-inspired dual sport in Daisy Dukes and a cropped pink jacket. Absolute fashion icon. That's exactly how I would dress for motorcycling if crashes weren't real. The Switch 2 releases on June 5 for $449.99, with "Mario Kart World" priced at $79.99. The game can be bundled with a Switch 2 for $499.99, a marked increase from the $299.99 "Mario Kart 8" bundle for the outgoing Switch. That's more expensive than a $299 Xbox Series S and a $59.99 copy of "Forza Horizon 5," and only about $20 less than a $449.99 PlayStation 5 with a $69.99 copy of "Gran Turismo 7" — a bundle that would include my personal 2024 Game of the Year, "Astro Bot." Nintendo's latest kart racer expands the series in some very interesting ways, but only time will tell whether the company has priced itself out of its own game. With competitors offering more choices in racing games for the same or less money, it remains to be seen whether Nintendo's pricing gamble here will pay off. If you're on the fence about preordering, though, just remember — prices sure aren't going down as tariffs loom. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fable is delayed until 2026, but Xbox Game Studios head says: "It's definitely worth the wait"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Fable reboot, initially scheduled to release some time this year, has been delayed to 2026. "We are actually going to give Fable more time," Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan says in a new episode of the Official Xbox Podcast. "While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait." Playground, the Forza Horizon developer, has already made "quite frankly, the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen," the Xbox director continues. "I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon – the last two games critically acclaimed [...], award-winning, beautiful, played great." Xbox first revealed Fable in 2020, but it's been reticent about sharing more details about the action RPG – the first game to join the irreverent fantasy series in nearly two decades – since then. Fable didn't even get a full trailer until 2023, though Duncan shared fresh pre-alpha footage during his Official Xbox Podcast appearance, calming the sting of Fable's delay a little bit. The new clips show off Fable's lush, flower-spotted environments and dynamic sword combat, and Duncan adds that the game's quests, boss battles, and magic all "felt amazing" during his hands-on time. "Genuinely beautiful," he says, "It's very real. Everything you're seeing here is very playable. [...] Take my word for it." "There are no bigger fans of Fable as a franchise [than] the Playground team that are making it," Duncan continues. "It's a really fun balance between, what are the game tenets that are true to Fable? And what's some modern day reimagining of what is Playground Games' version of Fable?" Fable's reboot remains shrouded in mystery – but that's the most exciting thing about it.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Xbox has delayed its Fable reboot until 2026
Microsoft is delaying one of the major first-party games it had lined up for 2025. The company said during its big annual Xbox showcase last June that its Fable reboot would arrive this year. But that's no longer the case as Xbox has pushed back the fantasy RPG to 2026. "We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time and it's going to ship in 2026 now," Craig Duncan, the new head of Xbox Game Studios, said on the latest edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. "While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait." The reboot, which is being developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games, was announced all the way back in 2020 and there have been a few teasers since then. While the delay might be disappointing to those who have been waiting for Fable — especially since it's been 15 years since the last mainline game in the series — Xbox can afford to give it a little more time. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Microsoft's games division has a pretty healthy slate for the coming months. Avowed only just came out, the promising South of Midnight is not too far away and then Doom: The Dark Ages and its ridiculous shield-saw is slated to arrive in May. The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4 are also on the docket for this year, and there are likely others in the pipeline (such as the inevitable annual Call of Duty entry). That's not to mention all the third-party titles coming to Game Pass and Microsoft selling more of its games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. So Xbox is probably going to be okay while Playground keeps Fable simmering away. Duncan claims that the studio is crafting "the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen" but with its own spin and British humor. The Xbox Game Studios chief visited Playground to play some of Fable and see how things were going. Duncan brought back some new, early footage to show on the video version of the podcast, which you can see below starting at 15:55. Even the pre-alpha versions of these environments look very pretty, so here's hoping Playground makes good use of that extra time to make the most of the game.
