Latest news with #beta
Digital Trends
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Splitgate 2 retreats back into beta, aims for a 2026 re-release
After a rocky, controversial launch, Splitgate 2 is going back to the drawing board. In a post shared on Steam and social media, developer 1047 acknowledged player feedback and said 'we launched too early.' The team announced plans to revamp and overhaul the game by adding more portals, better monetization, and doubling down on classic game modes. This means the game is going 'back to beta,' according to the posts. Splitgate 2 will remain in a playable state, and the team still intends to ship chapter three along with major bug fixes. However, further development will slow until sometime in early 2026 when a more finalized version of the game is released. Recommended Videos Unfortunately, the news comes alongside layoff announcements. 'Rebuilding the core experience isn't a quick fix; it's a long-term commitment. To give ourselves the time to build the Splitgate you deserve, we've made the incredibly difficult decision to reduce certain roles and shift our resources to focus on this rework. This is heartbreaking. These are our teammates and our friends, and they helped build what we have today. They're receiving severance and job placement support, and we're committed to doing everything we can to help them through this transition. We hope to bring them back when we can.' To the Splitgate community, We believe in Splitgate 2. This game means everything to us – it's been our life for almost 10 years, starting in our dorm room, and we're more committed than ever to delivering the incredible experience you deserve. We've heard your feedback, and we… — Splitgate 2 – Beta (@Splitgate) July 22, 2025 The original Splitgate is also shutting down in a cost-saving attempt. The studio says it would like to keep the servers online indefinitely, but that it's prioritizing the team over the original game. 'Like us, we know this game means a lot to so many of you, so we are exploring the possibility of supporting offline or peer-to-peer matches.' A dedicated Splitgate 2 mode that closely resembles the gameplay of the first game has also been promised. The announcement demonstrates a dedication to the game and its community that sometimes feels rare in the modern landscape. 1047 is treating Splitgate 2 like a passion project rather than a simple cash grab and asks that players continue to provide feedback on changes and updates. 'Now more than ever, wqe need your help,' the studio says.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Splitgate 2 is yanked back to beta a month after release
Splitgate 2, the follow-up to the hugely successful 2021 Quake-Portal hybrid concept, is returning to beta. The game launched last month, but developer 1047 Games is pulling it after deciding the release had been rushed. The company doesn't plan to release the project again until 2026. "We'll be heads down until early next year, rebuilding major parts of the game to capture the spirit of what made Splitgate special," the founders said in a post to the game's Reddit community. "That means reworking progression from the ground up, adding more portals to our maps, simplifying monetization, refocusing on classic game modes you've been asking for, and more, which we'll share soon." Not only will the sequel go back into development, but 1047 Games is also cutting jobs. And that's after it already laid off some team members shortly after Splitgate 2's initial release. The company said it will shut down the servers for the original Splitgate in order to reduce expenses and keep more of its team members employed. 1047 Games has been brutalized in the public eye after co-founder Ian Proulx appeared at Summer Games Fest wearing a hat that read "Make FPS Great Again," which infuriated many of the original Splitgate's players. After the initial stance, posted to the studio's X account on Splitgate 2's release date, that he was both "not here to apologize" and that the hat was "not a political statement," Proulx finally landed on the line that it was all basically a publicity stunt.
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 delivers fix for persistent Galaxy Watch connection problems
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Galaxy Watch owners have been experiencing issues when attempting to use their wearable with a device running any version of the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Reports say the issue results in connection drops, compatibility problems, and crashes. The recently released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 update appears to fix the bug. As with beta, there's always the threat of running into a bug. That's exactly what happened recently to some Android 16 beta testers who own a Samsung smartwatch. Thankfully, a recent update seems to have fixed the issue. There have been a growing number of reports of Samsung's smartwatches not playing well with devices running on any version of the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Specifically, the bug would cause problems like connection drops, crashes, and compatibility issues. The problem is said to be related to the connected phone trying to download Samsung's Watch Manager plugin and failing. At the time, the only fix was to go back to a stable version of Android 16. If your Galaxy Watch was affected by this bug, there's now another solution to fix the problem. Google released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 last week, which includes the July 2025 security patch and several bug fixes. According to 9to5Google, this rollout solves the issue blocking the Galaxy Watch Manager plugin from installing. The outlet states that after installing the update, their Pixel 9 Pro Fold was able to switch a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic paired on a Galaxy S25 over, without resetting. So if you don't want to go back to the stable channel, you'll want to make sure to download Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3. Once it's installed, your smartwatch should start working like normal again. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
Here's What You Should Know About the Last Major iOS 18 Update Before iOS 26
Before Apple releases iOS 26 this fall, the company will probably release iOS 18.6 in the next few weeks. The company released the iOS 18.6 release candidate on July 21, but it didn't change much on the iPhones of developers and beta testers. While iOS 26 will bring a major redesign to iPhones, the latest beta is filled with bug and security fixes, so developers and beta testers shouldn't expect new features. Apple/Screenshot by CNET Since this is a beta, I recommend downloading it on something other than your primary device. Because this isn't the final version of iOS 18.6, the update might be buggy, and battery life may be affected, so it's best to keep those troubles off your primary device. Note that the beta is not the final version of iOS 18.6, so more features could land on your iPhone when it is released. Apple will likely release iOS 18.6 to the general public in the next few weeks but an exact release date is unclear. However, iOS 18.6 will likely be the last significant iOS 18 update the company releases before it makes iOS 26 available this fall. Here's what to expect from iOS 18.6 when it lands on your iPhone. The release candidate is usually the last beta version of an iOS update before Apple releases the update to the general public. That means Apple could make iOS 18.6 available to the public in the next week. This beta is all about security patches and squashing bugs If you're a developer or beta tester, don't expect much from this beta other than bug and security fixes. After downloading and looking into the iOS 18.6 release candidate, I found no new features or noticeable changes. And that's not surprising considering Apple's iOS release schedule over the years. Apple announced iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 and released iOS 17.6 more than a month later in July. That update was filled with more than 30 important bug fixes and security patches but no new features. Apple recommended that everyone download the update at the time and it was the last major iOS 17 update before the release of iOS 18. Apple did the same thing in July 2023 when it released iOS 16.6. When the tech giant released that update, it was focused on bug fixes and security patches; the next major iOS release was iOS 17. Apple is likely shifting gears and focusing more on iOS 26. In fact, the company has already released three developer betas of that iOS software in preparation for its fall release. There could be more betas before iOS 18.6 is released to the public, so there's plenty of time for Apple to add features or change others -- but I wouldn't count on new features. Apple has not announced when it will release iOS 18.6, but since Apple released the iOS 18.6 release candidate, I expect the company to release the update in about a week. For more on iOS 18, here's what you need to know about iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4, as well as our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also check out what you should know about iOS 26.
Phone Arena
7 days ago
- Phone Arena
Update to Gboard brings back an important button that users had been missing
The beta version of Gboard that upset several Android users is on the way out. Some freaked out because in the beta Emoji and GIF picker, the small circles used to navigate the UI found near the bottom of the display were changed to wider rectangular buttons. This forced Google to make a change that users didn't like. That change reduced the number of buttons on the bottom to accommodate the larger size of the new ones. Having no choice, Google eliminated the backspace button. Users didn't like this even though the buttons were wider, perhaps making it easier for fat-fingered users to press the correct button. More importantly, users mourned the absence of the backspace button. While not everyone received the beta version of Gboard with the broader buttons and the missing backspace button, everyone seems to be receiving the newest version of Gboard as it is being sent through the stable channel. This new version of Gboard reduces the sizes of the wider buttons turning them into smaller squircles that are still a decent size, even for users with fat fingers. With the new, updated look, the backspace button is returned, and that seems to be what users were hoping would occur . At left, the old UI. The middle shows the changes made in the Gboard beta, and on the right is the latest updated version. | Image credit-Android Authority The new look Gboard has individual buttons for Emojis, GIFs, and stickers. Those using a Pixel 9 series phone also have an individual button for AI-generated stickers, a feature that is sure to be continued with the upcoming Pixel 10 series. While this might not seem like a big deal, users prefer having a backspace button, especially when it is in the same place. After all, the muscle memory of every user got accustomed to having the backspace button at the end of the last row of the Emoji and GIF picker. Some reports say that the new Gboard UI appears left-aligned on some devices, which makes it appear off-center. But on other devices, the UI looks centered. There is also a horizontal carousel to view bitmoji. Google is pushing out the new UI using server-side updates, so if you haven't received the new look yet, it's just a matter of waiting for Google to flick the switch. Knowing Google, you can assume that this won't be the last change made to Gboard and the emoji picker, even if it turns out that the majority of users would prefer that the game of musical chairs for Gboard comes to an end with the latest changes. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
