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Alternative option to turn on AN515-55 because the buttons in section including power button broken
Hi I am looking for an alternative option to turn on my Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 laptop, because the buttons in the section including the power button are broken. There should be something under "Fn + ...", but I don't want to turn it off to check, because I need it for work, and for now I can't replace the keyboard. Please…
Acer Nitro 17 an17-41 randomly freezes
Hi. A mounth ago I got my Nitro 17 an17-41 (Ryzen 7840HS, RTX4070). Not so long ago I started receiving random hard freezes. The thing is, I can hardly understand why is this happening, as there are no stable scenarios and triggers. Sometimes I can do a serious gaming sessions for several hours in performance mode and…
Is this a factory defect? Is it still covered by the warranty?
My laptop is Aspire 7 A715-42G-R9F8 which is bought last October 23,2022 and I'm currently experiencing backlight screen bleeding which turned out red. I've said this defect even when it is only 1 week since I've purchased it but the bleed is just color white and not that disturbing and I was recommended to communicate…
I'm new here and I don't know if I'm in the right spot to ask this question.
How do I change the language in Photo Director, it is in chinese now??
AV15-53P Aspire vero keyboard failure after 11 weeks
Hi all, Do theses keyboards failed often? I have random keys not working after 11 weeks of very light use. 🙁 I think it is hardware failure. Dipster
Need a Power Supply fo my Acer Aspire TC-865 NESelecti5 Desktop PC.
Checked with Acer parts providers on replacement of orginal Power Supply Part number= DC.3001B.005 (300 watt) cost= $205.62. That's too much money for a 5 year old PC. Found this power supply on Ebay, the link is listed The AD at the Top states NEW 480W Acer Aspire tc-865-neselecti3 POWER SUPPLY REPLACE 50N.12 My PC is a…
new SpatialLabs ASV15-1B has zero brightness when turned on
I bought a SpatialLabs ASV15-1B online monitor. But I can't use it. When I turn it on, it has zero brightness. You can see the image only if you shine a flashlight on the screen. I can't see the monitor settings menu. Is this a malfunction or is there any way to fix it?
Can I turn off F4 key? It exits me to a locked desktop mid-game. :(
I love my Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-71-74UU series), EXCEPT for one thing. The F4 function key — which I sometimes accidentally hit when trying to turn up the sound with F3 — sends me to a locked Windows desktop. To get back to my game, I have to enter my password, even though I automatically log in when I turn the…
how do I upgrade my hard drive on acer R3-131T
how do I upgrade my hard drive on acer R3-131T
Need display for Nitro VG240Y, because the display is cracked
is there any way i can get a nitro vg240y display,because mine cracked a little bit,and i cant find another one [Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Recent Replies

Alternative option to turn on AN515-55 because the buttons in section including power button broken
Hi I am looking for an alternative option to turn on my Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 laptop, because the buttons in the section including the power button are broken. There should be something under "Fn + ...", but I don't want to turn it off to check, because I need it for work, and for now I can't replace the keyboard. Please…
Acer Nitro 17 an17-41 randomly freezes
Hi. A mounth ago I got my Nitro 17 an17-41 (Ryzen 7840HS, RTX4070). Not so long ago I started receiving random hard freezes. The thing is, I can hardly understand why is this happening, as there are no stable scenarios and triggers. Sometimes I can do a serious gaming sessions for several hours in performance mode and…
I'm new here and I don't know if I'm in the right spot to ask this question.
How do I change the language in Photo Director, it is in chinese now??
AV15-53P Aspire vero keyboard failure after 11 weeks
Hi all, Do theses keyboards failed often? I have random keys not working after 11 weeks of very light use. 🙁 I think it is hardware failure. Dipster
Need a Power Supply fo my Acer Aspire TC-865 NESelecti5 Desktop PC.
Checked with Acer parts providers on replacement of orginal Power Supply Part number= DC.3001B.005 (300 watt) cost= $205.62. That's too much money for a 5 year old PC. Found this power supply on Ebay, the link is listed The AD at the Top states NEW 480W Acer Aspire tc-865-neselecti3 POWER SUPPLY REPLACE 50N.12 My PC is a…
new SpatialLabs ASV15-1B has zero brightness when turned on
I bought a SpatialLabs ASV15-1B online monitor. But I can't use it. When I turn it on, it has zero brightness. You can see the image only if you shine a flashlight on the screen. I can't see the monitor settings menu. Is this a malfunction or is there any way to fix it?
Can I turn off F4 key? It exits me to a locked desktop mid-game. :(
I love my Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-71-74UU series), EXCEPT for one thing. The F4 function key — which I sometimes accidentally hit when trying to turn up the sound with F3 — sends me to a locked Windows desktop. To get back to my game, I have to enter my password, even though I automatically log in when I turn the…
how do I upgrade my hard drive on acer R3-131T
how do I upgrade my hard drive on acer R3-131T
Need display for Nitro VG240Y, because the display is cracked
is there any way i can get a nitro vg240y display,because mine cracked a little bit,and i cant find another one [Edited the thread to add issue detail]
How do I find a description of my PC Aspire TC-1760.does the machine have an entrance for a SANdisk
I have just acquired a new PC, the Aspire TC-1760, and have WINDOWS 11 installed. I have even managed to find the SNID and found some parameters. But when I want to get the user manual they send me in a loop … Especially the grouping of terms (example: "Drivers and manuals") seems very confusing. My questions - so far…

Unanswered Topics

Is this a factory defect? Is it still covered by the warranty?
My laptop is Aspire 7 A715-42G-R9F8 which is bought last October 23,2022 and I'm currently experiencing backlight screen bleeding which turned out red. I've said this defect even when it is only 1 week since I've purchased it but the bleed is just color white and not that disturbing and I was recommended to communicate…
GPU temperature not shown in PredatorSense (Helios 300 Predator PH315-53)
Helios 300 Predator PH315-53, partnumber NH.Q7ZED.00M Running Windows 11 Home, 64 bit with all updates. GPU is Nvidia RTX 2070 8GB Max-Q. CPU and system temperature are working fine, but not GPU temp in the Predator Sense software. According to Acer suport, I uninstalled PredatorSense and then reinstalled it, but it did…
Monitor not receiving image after latest Chromebook update
After updating to the latest version of Chromebook, my Acer KA270H monitor quit receiving and image from the laptop. It shows as the extended display monitor. I have a backup Chromebook Flex that has the same issue. Once and only once, I got a message saying the monitor was not supported.
My fan is very loud. ACer Aspire C27-962-UA91
I have an Acer Aspire C27-962-UA91 AIO Desktop, 27" Full HD Display, 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1, NVIDIA GeForce MX130, 12GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, 802.11ac Wi-Fi. About two weeks ago my fan started getting loud. Can I do anything to correct this. I bought my desktop in 2020. Thanks for any help. [Edited the thread to add…
Accidentally broke connection to HDD
Hello, I accidentally broke the white buckle thingy which held the connector. Now I can't connect my HDD. I tried using duct tape but it didn't work. Aby tips?
Max resolution and frequency to an external monitor AN515-58-77k5
i am thinking about grabbing a monitor to use with the above laptop, but I`m kinda new to all this, What resolution should i be hoping for and what sort of framerate will the 4060 be expected to provide to an external monitor . TIA
Acer Aspire Switch 10 (Model P0YCY) won't load OS when the docking station is attached
Hi all. My Acer Aspire Switch 10 (Model P0YCY) won't load OS when docking station is attached, it freezes at bios "Acer" screen. If I detach the docking station then Windows loads perfectly. After OS finishes loading I attach the docking station and it works without any problems. Please help me to solve this problem
No direct scanner to check the SSD and battery health? Swift SF315-52
Why is there no hardware scanner found on this site like on most others where it will scan my system for a hardware health checkup? I'd like to know my SSD & battery health. I'm astonished there has never been ANY driver or BIOS updates or did I just pick the perfect laptop? [Edited the thread to add issue detail]
Helios Predator Neo 16 I5-13500HX 4050,Ram usage stays around 6900mb to 7200mb when idle
Ram usage stays around 6900mb to 7200mb when idle, looks like DTS is using 1500MB or so. Is this normal, anyone else with numbers like that? Thanks [Edited the thread to add issue detail]
ACER Nitro 5 AN515-58-746Z RAM upgrade, wants to know whether he can add another 16Gb RAM
I've bought this laptop recently and I was wondering if I can add another 16GB RAM stick. On the seller's page this laptop was presented having 2 RAM slots, but when i checked the Acer website with my S/N it says the laptop has only one RAM slot and now I'm very confused. Can someone provide me with an answer for this…

Acer Answers Knowledge Base

Predator Connect W6 Router Firmware Improvements and Change Log
Acer releases firmware updates periodically for the Predator Connect W6 router to help improve features and increase security. You should ensure you are running the latest firmware for your device, and update it if you are not on the newest version. You can find instructions for checking and updating your firmware in our…
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager [SCCM]
Microsoft SCCM enables administrators to simplify system management for computers and other devices. It can deploy drivers and applications, manage operating system deployment, control network access, and more. Below, you will find SCCM driver packs* for Acer professional products: TravelMate Model Name Windows 11 Windows…
Temporary On-screen Sticker Appears When Exiting the Display Menu
How come I see a blurry, vague box/shadow on the screen when I exit the display menu? When you turn off the menu on a display, you may briefly observe a blurry/vague box or shadow or gradual brightening of the backlight where you previously saw the on-screen menu. This phenomenon is caused by a limitation of the processor,…
Chromebook Does Not Boot and the LED Does Not Turn On
How can I recover my Acer Chromebook if it does not boot and the battery LED does not turn on after a power adapter is connected? If your Acer Chromebook does not boot and the battery LED does not turn on when you connect a power adapter, leave your Chromebook connected to the power adapter for 6 hours. After those 6…
How to Turn Acer Nitro 5 Touchpad On and Off
Your Nitro 5 includes keyboard function keys that allow you to quickly turn your touchpad on or off. You may want to disable the built in touch pad while gaming, or you may need to enable it if your touchpad is disabled and your cursor does not move when you try to use it. How to disable the touchpad in Windows Settings…
How to Set Up the Acer Electric Scooter Series 5 App on Your Smartphone
How can I get the Acer Electric Scooter Series 5 app installed on my smartphone and connected to my Acer AES015 eScooter? If you want to use the Acer Electric Scooter Series 5 app to lock and unlock your Acer AES015 eScooter or check the battery status or remaining power in real time, you first need to download and install…
E-Lock Function on Your Acer AES015 eScooter
How does the electric lock function of my Acer AES015 eScooter work? Your Acer AES015 eScooter has an electric lock function; perfect for when you have to quickly run into a store and you need to leave your eScooter outside. You can activate the e-lock function through the Acer Electric Scooter Series 5 app. The connection…
Update BIOS to Improve Performance While on Battery Power
Applicable models: A315-24P, A315-24PT and EX215-23 Installing a BIOS update can improve CPU performance on some Acer notebooks. If you have one of the applicable models, we recommended you update your BIOS to version 1.09 or newer to allow for better performance when you are on battery power. Use the instructions below to…
Chromebook May Not Power On after Hibernation with Closed Lid
Impacted models: CB514-2H, CB514-2HT What should I do if my Chromebook does not power on after being in hibernation overnight or longer with the lid closed? Your Chromebook may not power on after being in hibernation overnight or longer if the lid of the device was closed. Google has released a Chrome OS update that will…
PredatorSense software
How do I use the PredatorSense software? Acer PredatorSense software allows you to monitor your CPU and GPU usage, as well as customize your Predator system for optimal gaming performance. Note: PredatorSense options and features may vary by model. Not all systems will support all of the customizable features listed above.…

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Latest Insights and Innovations from Acer Corner

World of Warcraft: The War Within - The Story and Details Revealed So Far
The War Within is the newly announced expansion heading to Blizzard’s long-running MMO, World of Warcraft. The War Within will be the first of three new expansions revealed for the Worldsoul Saga trilogy, subsequent entries of which will be named Midnight and The Last Titan. This upcoming expansion will take players beneath the surface of Azeroth to the land of Khaz Algar, where they’ll find the Earthen, a race of dwarves, and darker forces such as the Nerubians. Of course, a new setting isn’t all that comes with an expansion: the game will have a new level cap, dungeons, and a raid to overcome. Continue reading to find out all we know so far about World of Warcraft: The War Within. World of Warcraft: The War Within With World of Warcraft’s 20th anniversary coming up next year, and 2023 being the year BlizzCon returned after a long hiatus, fans certainly expected a lot from the even’ts welcome ceremony, and World of Warcraft in particular had a lot to surprise fans. The biggest announcement by Blizzard Entertainment at BlizzCon 2023 was that World of Warcraft will be receiving three major expansions in the future. These expansions will tell the tale of World of Warcraft’s next ongoing storyline, the Worldsoul Saga. The expansion that will be the opening act of this saga will be The War Within. This expansion is slated for release at the end of 2024 and will introduce new zones to explore, new dungeons and raids to conquer, new game systems to master, and more. Storyline https://youtu.be/o03STclgxSc?si=PGD1n9qmHpX2xbmU In terms of story, this certainly feels like the greatest undertaking in World of Warcraft since its inception. The story has been unfolding for almost 20 years (30 if you include the original Warcraft games), but it has never really felt like Blizzard has been aiming for a single, overarching plot. Each expansion so far has wrapped itself in a neat little package, ready to plunge the world into chaos once again with the arrival of a new threat. The War Within initially feels like a regular expansion. It brings new areas, new enemies, and a host of innovative mechanics that improve the gameplay experience. However, considering that The War Within is just the first step in the Worldsoul Saga, it feels like Blizzard is entering into an endgame-like event with the series. Although this will not be the end of Azeroth or the Warcraft universe, it may be a definitive point where Blizzard ends its 20 years of storytelling and moves on to something else. Exactly what that means, players probably won’t find out until the third expansion in the saga, The Last Titan. The overall premise of The War Within is that Anduin Wrynn and Thrall have been experiencing visions where a mysterious voice singing a Radiant Song is calling out to them from the depths of Azeroth. To uncover the source of this voice, Thrall and Anduin gather a band of heroes and lead an expedition into the unexplored depths of their world. Our heroes will also find various allies on their journey, such as an ancient race of Dwarves known as the Earthen. Also, Magni Bronzebeard and Alleria Windrunner are set to return for this expansion to accompany Anduin and Thrall on their trip. As the expeditionary force makes its way through the underground caverns, players will have to fight a new threat that risks cutting their journey and their lives short. The villain leading this threat is Xal’atath, an ancient being who serves a chaotic, otherworldly force known as the Void. After being released from a cursed black blade, where she had been sealed for untold millennia, Xal’atath now seeks to create a new dark legacy to replace The Black Empire, which fell at the hands of the titan-forged. Xal’atath wants to use a new alliance with the Nerubians to form a force that seeks to enact the machinations of the Void. She has conscripted the Nerubians and their queen, Ansurek, to serve her. In return for their service, she has promised to help release the Nerubians from their isolation, restore their empire to its former glory, and grant them the power to transform into terrifying soldiers through a horrifying evolution. Who are the major players in The War Within? More details will inevitably emerge between now and release, but Anduin Wrynn, Thrall, Magni Bronzebeard, Alleria Windrunner, and Xal'atath are all set to play a significant role in the upcoming game. Anduin Wrynn It’s been a while since we saw Anduin Wrynn, the young man who is on paper still the King of Stormwind, and it doesn’t look like his time away has changed him for the better. Anduin was front and center during Shadowlands, where he was one of the important captives whisked away to Torghast by the Jailer. Anduin eventually found himself being controlled by Domination magic and forced to relieve several Covenant leaders of their Sigils, giving the Jailer access to Zereth Mortis, the place where the mysterious First Ones allegedly created all the realms of Death, and the ultimate goal of all the Jailer’s millennia of scheming. Once freed, Anduin—mentally shaken by what he had seen and done—opted not to return to Stormwind and immediately retake the throne of the Alliance. Instead he accompanied Sylvanas Windrunner on her punishment tour of the Maw, presumably helping her rescue and save every soul she had condemned to that hellish realm. He doesn’t seem to have regained much of his confidence; if anything, Anduin seems even more distraught over his time in the realms of Death than before, feeling disconnected from a Light he no longer feels worthy of wielding. We certainly didn’t hear a peep out of him during Dragonflight, but it appears that he’s one of many characters who’s been having visions of radiance—visions that have led him to Silithus. We do still see a little of the old hero in him, though. Maybe this story arc will be Anduin’s redemption. Thrall Although his hair is looking a little greyer these days, Thrall (a.k.a. Go’el) is an iconic figure in the World of Warcraft franchise and needs little introduction. After his role in Shadowlands, Thrall returned to Azeroth, but remained out of the spotlight for Dragonflight. He played a role in the orc heritage armor quest, appearing as a peacemaker and settled-down family man (and, if the player character chooses to join the Frostwolf Clan, a proud clanmate). As a Shaman, Thrall has always been in tune with the elements of Azeroth and, to an extent, the planet herself. However, it appears he’s one of many these days receiving the visions discussed in the trailer, and much as Saurfang did for him when he was in hiding during the events of Battle of Azeroth, now it has fallen to Thrall to seek out Anduin. It’s only natural that when the planet is threatened, Thrall is one of the first to step up to its defense; he’s done so time and time again, and he appears to be enlisting others as well. Magni Bronzebeard Formerly the king of Khaz Modan and the brother of Muradin, Magni Bronzebeard is a steadfast dwarf who now acts as the herald of the world soul of Azeroth. Magni was always a loyal friend of the Alliance and fought bravely against the Horde and later the Lich King’s forces. When the Cataclysm engulfed Azeroth, Magni heroically sacrificed himself and became a diamond statue, saving Khaz Modan while Magni remained frozen in the heart of the ancient iron forge. As the dwarves remembered and honored his sacrifice, the spirit of Magni bonded with the world of Azeroth. Years later, to everyone’s astonishment, Magni suddenly woke up from his torpor and declared that from now on he would be the voice of Azeroth. As a result, he played a crucial role in the events surrounding the finale of Legion, in which the Titan Sargeras plunged his sword deep into Azeroth, mortally wounding the world. From then on, Magni’s mission was to heal the wound in the world and save the planet. This was particularly evident during the Azeroth Crisis, when Magni went to great lengths to use the Heart of Azeroth to heal the planet’s wounds. In the end, Magni’s efforts finally bore fruit. Where once the lamentations of the world’s soul could be heard, Azeroth now sings happier songs again. We’ve known for quite some time that Azeroth is sentient; one of the reasons the Titans seem so fixated on this planet, and the Old Gods so dead set on corrupting it, is evidently due to Azeroth’s potential to become a phenomenally powerful Titan herself. Although in the past she has been seemingly only able to communicate through Magni, it appears that she is now capable of directly sending messages—albeit only momentary and confusing messages—to her residents. Alleria Windrunner In The War Within, we catch up not with Anduin’s travel buddy Sylvanas but with her sister. It turns out Alleria isn’t having visions of radiance, but of darkness, and for good reason. One half of the demon-fighting power couple that led the Army of the Light against the Burning Crusade for a thousand years, Alleria Windrunner chose to learn to wield the power of the Void in the fight against fel forces. Although she has mastered it, the price for that choice has been high—Alleria is constantly assaulted by whispers from the Void, seductive ones that want to turn her from her heroic path and into something darker. Alleria has been receiving visions of goings-on below the surface, as well as some imagery that current players may recognize from Iridikron’s escape cinematic in the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon. Alleria’s role is shaping up as the person receiving direct, taunting images from below of the Void’s machinations, and she’s likely to be one of the leaders on the expedition down there and to use her connection to the Void to hunt down the villain who’s stirring up so much trouble. Xal’atath, the Harbinger Anyone who’s played through the artifact quests in Legion as a Shadow Priest is of course familiar with Xal’atath, Blade of the Black Empire—or rather, the entity within it who shares the same name. At the end of that expansion, her blade, like the rest of the artifacts, was canonically used to subdue the corrupting energy within the Sword of Sargeras. After that, Xal’atath, like so many times before, disappeared. The knife turned up again in Battle for Azeroth, where she guided us to three powerful Void relics that the naga were attempting to use to create an ultrapowerful storm; in the process, we also got her a body outside of the knife, as the entity within the blade possessed the body of a dead high elf priestess who had been trying to harness one of the relics. After that, she helped us bring the relics and ourselves directly to N’zoth in the Crucible of Storms, then vanished. Although the knife that used to house her had been seen a few times after that (playing a relatively major role in the final two patches of Battle for Azeroth), the being inside stayed hidden… until recently. At the end of the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon, players noticed that the Void-flavored portal through which Iridikron escaped contained the silhouette of a distinctly feminine elf. Immediately, between this and Iridikron’s talk of a “Harbinger,” rumors immediately began to fly that this was Xal’atath, returned at last to do whatever it was she intended to do. It appears that those rumors were true, based on both Alleria’s dark visions. Xal’atath, confirmed the Harbinger, has been watching us and conjured up some dark plans of her own; the Black Empire may have been defeated, and the Old Gods are confirmed dead, but Xal'atath has struck up an alliance in the deep places of the world with the Nerubians, who made their largest appearance in Wrath of the Lich King. She has taught their queen how to mutate certain Nerubians into paragons of their species, something the queen has fully embraced; meanwhile, she is using them to gather a substance called the Black Blood of the Old Gods. Whatever it is that she’s up to, it seems she has distressed the planet’s soul enough to call out to its defenders, and so Xal’atath seems to be the first of no doubt many big enemies we’ll face off against during the Worldsoul Saga. New zones In a first for the series, the new continent the expansion introduces will be entirely subterranean. Introduced as Khaz Algar, this is the home of a specific subset of the Earthen, who players have seen before in zones like Ulduar. Within the continent are the following four zones: * The Isle of Dorn: a surface-level zone with fertile soil and plant life, this new area will be the central hub for players. Billed as a lush paradise, the limited screenshots show a combination of epic structures and beautiful vistas reminiscent of Valdrakken. * The Ringing Depths: an industrial underground cavern full of lava-flowing foundries, forges, and furnaces. Overseen by the Machine Speakers, Kobolds have taken over much of the Ringing Deeps, building a city of their own. Titan relics appear to litter the environment. * Hallowfall: a vibrant underground zone shining bright from the light of an enormous crystal that has recently seen its light changing. Fading without warning, the zone has been plunged into darkness. This area will be home to the Arathi and their capital Mereldar. * Azj-Kahet: in the deepest depths of Azeroth, this zone is the heart of the Nerubian Empire, the home to forgotten scavengers. Here lies the Nerubian City of Threads—a city that has been built on the ruins of itself many times over and is billed as having a complex political system and culture. New dungeons and raids When The War Within expansion launches, it will do so with eight dungeons for players to conquer. In line with previous expansions, four of these will be leveling dungeons, and the other four will be reserved for max-level characters. The full list is as follows: Level-up dungeons * The Rookery * The Stonevault * Priory of the Sacred Flame * City of Threads Maximum-level dungeons * Cinderbrew Meadery * Darkflame Cleft * The Dawnbreaker * Old City Additionally, the expansion will include a raid dungeon that will presumably follow a similar formula to Dragonflight’s Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon. Entitled Nerub’ar Palace, this eight-boss Nerubian Empire raid in Azj’kahet will be the first raid in The War Within. Delves One of the new systems being announced for The War Within is delves, which are scalable world instances for 1–5 players that are similar to dungeons, raids, and PvP except that they focus on the outdoor world and offer a more structured experience. Delves address the lack of upgrades and overall excitement found in the outdoor world beyond completing quests. Delves will involve exploration, deep-diving into mysteries, and extending open-world content, as opposed to moving from one boss to another, in the same vein as dungeons—with the difference from other open-world adventuring being the treasure received at the end. Unlike previous small-group content, such as scenarios and island expeditions, delves offer fully flexible group sizes, so you can run them alone, with a partner, or with a full party. Delves are also role agnostic, so you’ll be able to bring any combination of specializations you choose—no need to seek out tanks or healers for your group. They’ll also be cross-faction. You’ll be accompanied by a seasonal NPC companion in the vaults, starting with Brann Bronzebeard for Season 1. These companions will have customizable talents and abilities that you’ll be able to select to suit your group and playstyle. At the end of each delve, you’ll have to defeat a boss or complete a puzzle to unlock the vault’s treasure and complete the mission. The expansion will launch with the following 12 unique delves throughout the world: * Earthcrawl Mines * Skittering Breach * The Waterworks * The Spiral Weave * Kriegval’s Rest * Nightfall Sanctum * The Dread Pit * Rak-Rethan Abyss * Fungak Folly * The Sinkhole * Deepwalker Hold * Mycomancer Cavern Delves will also offer plenty of cosmetic awards, such as mushroom and candle hats, based on their specific theme, and they will be included into seasonal content, giving players rewards for the season, including mounts, pets, and achievements. Warbands Warbands is an innovative and game-changing new feature that will be introduced with the expansion. With Warbands, the character selection screen has been revamped and will conveniently showcase all your available characters, regardless of the server they belong to. You will be able to effortlessly manage multiple characters across accounts while enjoying a plethora of quality-of-life improvements. * Banks offer a shared account between characters, meaning that you won't need to mail items anymore. * Reputations, Achievements, and Renown will be account-wide for all players. * Flight Paths will be linked across accounts, meaning you'll only have to unlock paths once, saving time. * Universal Transmog across your warband will become available, meaning one character can unlock a Plate item, and another can transmog them. Hero talents New hero talents for each class specialization will allow players to progress characters with “evergreen self-contained talent trees that also infuse class fantasy flavor” inspired by iconic Warcraft universe archetypes. These will be in addition to current talent trees, and include three trees per class—two small trees per specialization that you can switch between. This system will auto unlock at level 71, with players receiving a new talent point at each level. Once players reach level 80, the whole tree will unlock. The goal is for hero talent trees to be “low friction,” with the ability to swap between choices and trees easily, in a vein similar to that for Dragonflight talents. The following are the names of the hero talents that players will be able to choose from: * Death Knight: Deathbringer, Rider of the Apocalypse, San'layn * Demon Hunter: Aldrachi Reaver, Fel-Scarred * Druid: Druid of the Claw, Elune's Chosen, Keeper of the Grove, Wildstalker * Evoker: Chronowarden, Ruby Adept, Scalecommander * Hunter: Dark Ranger, Pack Leader, Sentinel * Mage: Frostfire, Spellslinger, Sunfury * Monk: Conduit of the Celestials, Master of Harmony, Shado-Pan * Paladin: Herald of the Sun, Lightsmith, Templar * Priest: Archon, Oracle, Voidweaver * Rogue: Deathstalker, Fatebound, Trickster * Shaman: Farseer, Stormbringer, Totemic * Warlock: Diabolist, Hellcaller, Soul Harvester * Warrior: Colossus, Mountain Thane, Slayer New playable allied race: Earthen dwarves Earthen dwarves are a new allied race coming to The War Within that exist as three estranged groups: Oathsworn, Unbound, and Machine Speakers. Members of this titan-forged race are made of living stone imbued with the essence of Azeroth’s worldsoul. As players progress through the main campaign, they’ll meet the Earthen that have made the Isle of Dorn and the zones beneath it their home. Earthen will be available to both Alliance and Horde players and can be played as the following classes: Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, and Warrior. Leveling an Earthen toon will also unlock the new Earthen Heritage Armor. New “dynamic flying” update The Dragonflight mechanics have undergone a transformation in The War Within and are now called dynamic flying, which will be available from the beginning of the expansion, with the to-be-confirmed style unlockable at max level when the campaign is completed. This exciting update has been applied retrospectively to all existing flying mounts, resulting in a more thrilling and momentum-driven flight experience compared to the traditional classic/static flight initially introduced in The Burning Crusade. You will also be able to toggle between dynamic flight or the traditional flying style. What is the WoW: The War Within release date? A release date for The War Within has not yet been confirmed, but judging by the small print on the prepurchase page on the official website, you can expect it to arrive in fall 2024. This ties in with the timeline of previous expansions, which generally run for around two years; Dragonflight was released at the end of November 2022, so we can expect The War Within to be out sometime between October and December 2024. For more awesome games, make sure to check out the lineup of games the Xbox Game Pass has on offer. Furthermore, with the purchase of a Windows 11 PC from Acer, you can enjoy one month free of Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft Owns 13 Video Game Franchises Worth Over $1 Billion Each
Microsoft's recent eye-popping $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard catapults it to the forefront of gaming with 13 AAA franchises, each with billion-dollar revenues. This move propels Microsoft to the third largest gaming company by revenue, trailing only Sony and Tencent. Rewind to 2014, when Microsoft shelled out $2.5 billion to bring Minecraft into its fold. That was just the start. From there, it's been a relentless expansion, amassing a war chest of 24 gaming studios including ZeniMax. The result? A beefed-up Xbox Game Pass library that pulls in over 25 million subscribers. And with the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's making a statement. "We will have 13 billion dollar-plus franchises – from Candy Crush, Diablo, and Halo, to Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and Gears of War," says Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO. With Microsoft's gaming realm expanding at warp speed, it's a maze keeping up. So, here's the rundown of the billion-dollar heavy-hitters they've now got under their belt. 1. Age of Empires https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSP8oL2jFU Age of Empires is a monumental journey through history, a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) series that has captivated gamers for over 25 years. The franchise has expanded to a dozen titles, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. Debuting in 1997, the original Age of Empires lets you command one of 12 civilizations, guiding them from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Your mission? To grow a simple settlement into a formidable empire. You must strategically manage resources, expand your cultural influence, and engage in military strikes. The game's allure lies in its blend of strategy and history. Countless gamers have commanded legions, built empires, and crafted historical narratives. It's a tribute to our past, a strategic challenge, and a testament to how games can make history come alive. 2. Call of Duty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZNSOEVJtok Call of Duty has outsold even the famed Grand Theft Auto series. As of 2023, this AAA franchise is valued at an incredible $31 billion, with nearly 450 million units sold. Each Call of Duty release is a global event, drawing millions of gamers. Known for its immersive FPS action, you dive into all kinds of warfare – from historical battles to modern skirmishes and even futuristic combat. Its success lies in its ability to continuously reinvent and elevate the FPS genre. Every installment brings innovative gameplay, gripping narratives, and a multiplayer experience that's often imitated but never replicated. 3. Diablo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro26B394ZBM Diablo is a dark fantasy RPG series where you delve into hell's depths, maiming creatures before escaping with loot. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, it's a saga of action, role-playing, and hack-and-slash that has captivated gamers since 1997. Set in the brooding world of Sanctuary, players battle demons, including the notorious Diablo, across various realms like the High Heavens and Burning Hells. The series, spanning four core games, has become a cultural titan in gaming, inspiring books, comics, and a rich expanded universe. As of 2023, Diablo has sold nearly 100 million copies globally. The latest, Diablo IV, made a hellish impact, raking in $666 million in just five days. Diablo's legacy continues to define the action RPG genre, with millions drawn to its dark allure. 4. Fallout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB4NQxmqJis Microsoft's 2020 acquisition of ZeniMax Media brought an unexpected prize: the Fallout series. Unleashed by Tim Cain at Interplay Entertainment, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic RPG juggernaut smashing sales records since its 1997 debut. Set in a world where 1950s American culture collides with a nuclear dystopia, it's a masterclass in atompunk retrofuturism. Think atomic age meets doomsday. Starting with the revolutionary Fallout, the series evolved under Bethesda Softworks, particularly with Fallout 3 in 2008, which revamped the game with immersive 3D graphics and a sprawling open world. In 2015, Fallout 4 smashed $750 million in sales just 24 hours after hitting the shelves. Fallout's blend of nail-biting survival, deep stories, and a world like a nuclear-blasted echo of our own. It's a mix of intense survival gameplay, rich narrative, and a haunting yet familiar nuclear wasteland, earning its stripes as a billion-dollar franchise. 5. Microsoft Flight Simulator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ozy64a-OG4 Microsoft Flight Simulator, soaring since '77, predates even Windows! Bruce Artwick's brainchild started as a geeky sim on MS-DOS, evolving into a jaw-dropping, cloud-powered spectacle on Windows and Xbox. The 2020 edition marked the biggest leap in the franchise’s over 40-year journey. More than 1 million copies sold quickly after its release contributed to the series' impressive total of 22.2 million units. The impact extends beyond the game itself, as Jon Peddie Research (JPR) highlights a remarkable $2.6 billion boost in PC hardware sales linked to the game. Microsoft Flight Simulator offers a sky's worth of adventure with over 24,000 airports, perfect for gamers and aspiring pilots. With its cutting-edge graphics and a worldwide fanbase hooked on its expansive mods, it's a gaming legend offering an unparalleled virtual flight experience. 6. Forza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJumrR_bbg0 Forza, a high-octane racing video game series, roars as a billion-dollar franchise and a jewel in Microsoft's crown. Since its 2005 launch, Forza has revved up immense success, selling over 16 million copies by 2021. It has become the go-to for racing fans on Xbox and Windows, attracting over 14 million unique players. Crafted by Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games, Forza splits into two adrenaline-fueled series: * Motorsport: simulation purists * Horizon: arcade-style racing With mobile spin-offs like Forza Street and Forza Customs, the brand has expanded beyond traditional gaming platforms, catering to a broader audience. This expansion and stellar sales cement Forza as a top-tier, billion-dollar racing franchise. It's not just racing; it's the cutting-edge of virtual racing experiences. 7. Gears of War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu2RsEUOA3M Microsoft acquired Gears of War from Epic Games in 2014. The series has consistently delivered gritty storytelling and visceral combat. Its groundbreaking cover-based combat system has revolutionized third-person shooting mechanics. The saga began in 2006 with the original Gears of War, centering on Marcus Fenix's fierce battle against the Locust. Over its nine titles, the series has continued to evolve, deepening the conflict, and expanding its universe with each new installment. More than a game series, it's a culture: DC comic series, novels, and merchandise, all testament to its magnetic pull. It hit the ground running, selling over three million copies within ten weeks of its debut, making it the fastest-selling video game of 2006. With total sales exceeding 22 million units and revenue surpassing $1 billion, Gears of War is not just a successful game series; it's a billion-dollar franchise and a landmark in the gaming industry. 8. Halo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18-_9E0HNY4 Halo isn't just a game; it's a sci-fi sensation that changed FPS gaming. Born from the minds at Bungie and now steered by Microsoft's own 343 Industries. It blasted onto the scene in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved. Fast-forward to now, and it's the Xbox's flagship with over 12 killer titles. Over 70 million Halo games have been snapped up worldwide. You play as Master Chief, a super-soldier taking on the alien Covenant. And it's not just about the solo play. Halo's multiplayer is equally acclaimed. But Halo's reach goes beyond the console. Its vast cultural impact sparked a whole universe of novels and comics. Even a TV series is on the horizon. Talk about impact. And with a cool $6 billion in the bank, Halo's a mega-hit, a cultural titan in the gaming world. 9. Minecraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rla3FUlxJdE Minecraft reigns as the top-selling video game, with over 300 million sold and more than 140 million players in August 2021. Snapped up by Microsoft in 2014 for a whopping $2.5 billion, it generated a massive $99.62 million from mobile revenues in 2022 alone. Minecraft launched in 2011 as a simple game where players could build and explore pixelated worlds. It's a canvas for creativity, offering gameplay including: * Survival: test your resourcefulness in a dynamic world. * Creativity: unleash your imagination with unlimited resources. * Story mode: dive into narrative-driven adventures. * Dungeons: explore action-packed, dungeon-crawling adventures. This digital playground, where players shape their own narratives, is a testament to the power of interactive storytelling and community-driven innovation in gaming. 10. Overwatch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQfRHycUsmQ When Blizzard Entertainment unleashed Overwatch in 2016, it redefined team-based combat games. Raking in $1 billion in its 2016 debut year, Overwatch merged cutting-edge gameplay with a roster of diverse characters, each with unique abilities and backstories. Overwatch's hero-based gameplay encourages teamwork and strategy. It demands players adapt their skills to dynamic combat situations. The cultural footprint of Overwatch stretches far beyond the screen with fan art, cosplay and an animated miniseries. It's sparked a global community where, and hopefully under Microsoft's new leadership the Overwatch League will flourish again. With Microsoft's acquisition, Overwatch stands on the brink of a new era. This move isn't just a financial transaction; it's a statement about the game's innovation. Overwatch, now a billion-dollar title under one of tech's biggest names, is poised to redefine the gaming landscape. 11. The Elder Scrolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI-EOVpDvo The Elder Scrolls series is revered in the realm of fantasy RPG with its intricate gameplay and vast, immersive worlds. Its colossal success caught Microsoft's eye, and it acquired ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, the publisher behind The Elder Scrolls. The deal, valued at a whopping $7.5 billion in 2020, underscores the immense value and influence of this best-selling video game franchise. Starting in 1994 with The Elder Scrolls: Arena, the series continually redefines the RPG genre. Each game invites players into vast narratives and intricately detailed universes. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, released in 2011, achieved over $1 billion in its first month. Skyrim is the 7th best-selling game, selling over 60 million copies. This success reflects the series' blend of immersive storytelling and player-driven adventure. With Microsoft's backing, The Elder Scrolls is poised for new horizons, promising to uphold its legacy as a beacon of interactive storytelling. 12. World of Warcraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03STclgxSc Since its 2004 inception, World of Warcraft (WoW) has redefined the MMORPG genre and amassed over $10 billion in revenue. Crafted by Blizzard Entertainment, WoW unfolds in the mythical world of Azeroth, captivating a player base of over 100 million registered accounts. Eighteen years on, its magic hasn't faded, with 9 to 10 million active players. You embark on epic quests, battle legendary beasts, and form alliances, constantly shaping Azeroth's destiny. Whether tackling dungeons, engaging in large-scale PvP battles, or simply exploring its vast landscapes, WoW offers a dynamic, player-evolving experience. The game's enduring appeal is reflected in its nine major expansions, each widening Azeroth's horizons. Beyond gaming, WoW influences real-world economics and social dynamics, underlining its cultural significance. Continuing its march, WoW consistently leaves a lasting impression on digital culture and entertainment. 13. Candy Crush Saga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le6LuyWfoIQ Candy Crush Saga is a huge mobile game hit and cultural phenomenon. This addictively simple tile-matching game has generated a staggering $20 billion, redefining casual mobile gaming. Microsoft owns it after acquiring Activision Blizzard and its developer, King. The game shows how simplicity, accessibility, and a freemium model can create a blockbuster in the digital age. At its peak, Candy Crush Saga was pulling in nearly $1 million daily, proving optional in-game purchases equals a goldmine. With the rise in casual gaming, Candy Crush proves that sometimes the simplest games can lead to the sweetest successes. Microsoft's gaming dominion Where digital entertainment is now king, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has positioned it as a gaming titan. Each franchise grows Microsoft's gaming empire from the blocky realms of Minecraft to the strategic depths of Age of Empires and the fast-paced battlegrounds of Call of Duty. Activision Blizzard's exit from being an independent company will have far-reaching consequences across all gaming platforms:  * PC * Consoles * Mobile * Streaming Microsoft's influence now extends beyond mere gameplay. It can scrap, reboot, or reshape our beloved titles and decide what we play. The recent acquisition encapsulates not just games but entire universes and communities, each with rich lore and a dedicated following. With this vast array of billion-dollar franchises, Microsoft is not just playing games; it's setting the rules for the future of gaming.
What Is an Internet Café, and How Did They Come About?
Ever wondered what an internet café is? An internet café is a business that rents computers to users by the minute or the hour. It began in the 1990s when internet access wasn't just a tap away. Now, in an age where Wi-Fi flows as freely as water, it's almost quaint to think there was a time when internet access wasn't just a pocket's reach away. If you wanted to ride the information superhighway (the internet's name in the 90s), you'd need to find an Internet Café or Cybercafé. It was a different digital landscape because: * No Wi-Fi – everyone used cables. Most of us were still on dial-up internet connection. * No laptops – computers were bulky behemoths anchored to desks. * No smartphones – your phone was just a dial-up and the internet? Not a chance. Believe it or not, in 1993, the speediest modem chugged along at 14.4 kbps or 51.84Mb per hour. Downloading a single photo? Grab a coffee while you wait—it was a few minutes of your life. Fast fact: Even in 2019, the United States Census Bureau reported a quirky stat—about 265,000 Americans still use dial-up. After reminiscing about those early days of modem melodies, let's rewind the tape and dive into the birth of internet cafés—where it all began. The desktop dilemma: When portability wasn't in the dictionary Today, it's all about instant gratification! But, flashback to the mid-'90s and early 2000s: computers were as stationary as a vending machine. If you were outside but needed to tap into the digital world, you were out of luck. Your desktop at home or the office was your only portal to the burgeoning internet. The solution? The iconic internet café. A place where you could drink coffee or a soda while replying to emails, 'surf the net,' or write a report. This was the era's hot ticket for prototype digital nomads—because, honestly, the alternative was waiting for a turn at a friend's place or counting the hours until you could reunite with your bulky PC. What was a typical internet café like? Internet cafés of this era focused more on computers than the café side. A room would contain rows of up to 20 desktop computers linked to dodgy printers that usually left streaks on the pages. You'd pay upfront for a slice of time—15 minutes for a quick email check or an hour for a deep dive into work. A countdown timer kept track of your minutes, and when time was up, so was your session—unless you were ready to invest in more minutes. And overseeing this tech sanctuary? Usually, just one person multitasking as a cashier, tech support, and the keeper of refreshments and snacks. Simple, yet it was everything we needed. The new millennium: Internet cafés hit refresh Fast-forward to 1996, a pivotal year when Australia invented Wi-Fi. Suddenly, the internet wasn't chained to our desks anymore. Meanwhile, tech wizards were crafting laptops you could carry. Cell phones made their mark with Nokia unveiling the first mobile phone in Finland that could peek into the internet—yeah, the web was going mobile. As the 2000s rolled in, mobile broadband (3G) and prepaid internet cards allowed people to access the internet almost anywhere. Free Wi-Fi became common in hotels and airports. Internet access was popping up everywhere, with no minute-by-minute fees attached. But this new era of ubiquitous connectivity? It hit internet cafés hard. The once-bustling hubs where you'd pay for precious online time started declining as the internet escaped the confines of cafés and spread into the wild. Internet café owners had to develop ideas beyond email and the World Wide Web to stay competitive in the evolving tech landscape. Game on: The evolution of cyber cafés Gaming's always been about community, long before our screens lit up with Facebook. Coin-op arcades were the original hangouts, buzzing with the beeps and chimes of high scores and shared fun. When the internet hit the scene, it supercharged gaming. Now, we weren't just playing; we were connecting—globally, in real-time. Multiplayer games changed the game. Internet cafés became the go-to spots for digital duels and global tournaments, turning solitary gaming into a shared, competitive quest. LAN (Local Area Network) gaming brought a whole new dimension to cyber cafés. Rows of PCs are connected not just by cables but by the excitement of players sitting shoulder to shoulder. These LAN parties transformed internet cafés into buzzing gaming arenas. Players would gather to dive into intense, real-time battles, bringing their own rigs or using the café's systems. Over 650 LAN centers across the US became the epicenters of this phenomenon, offering a unique blend of virtual competition and real-world camaraderie. In these hubs, gamers found their tribe, competing in popular titles, strategizing face-to-face, and celebrating victories together. The digital arena grew beyond casual play; it became a competitive sport. Gamers didn't just want to play; they wanted to compete, rank, and be recognized. Internet cafés, with their rows of computers, became the battlegrounds for these virtual tournaments, fostering a new culture of gaming that was about camaraderie, competition, and connection. What does a typical internet or gaming café look like today? To run a prime gaming café today it's not just about having computers. You need: * Top-notch PCs for unparalleled gameplay. * Crystal-clear monitors that make pixels come to life. * Responsive keyboards for split-second action. * Ergonomic chairs for enduring comfort. * Lightning-fast internet to keep lag at bay. * Dynamic lighting to set the gaming mood. * A lineup of epic games to satisfy any genre enthusiast. It all costs a lot of money. But for those who nail the trifecta of gaming, business, and location? The odds are in their favor. The gaming world has exploded, with nearly 2 billion mobile gamers sparking up screens worldwide, as reported by Statista. The pandemic turned scores of folks into gamers, and while some have put down the controllers post-lockdown, the scene's still buzzing. Not everyone's gaming at home. In buzzing cityscapes, like those in South Korea, internet or gaming cafés are the retreats for those who live in close quarters. They're a smart move for business owners, too—lower overheads and a keen understanding of local demand can spell success. But it's not all about the spontaneous game craving. To really thrive, café owners craft communities. They're the architects of events, the hosts of tournaments, and the organizers of parties. Memberships with perks, discounts, and leagues are the bait that hooks the regulars and keeps them returning for more. What is the internet café/gaming café in the US like? Navigating the landscape of US gaming and internet cafés? It's like diving into a patchwork of unique spots, each tailored to the local vibe and gamer preferences. It's not just about esports, where pros and joysticks joust in digital arenas—though it's got its champions. The real scoop, courtesy of gg Circuit's insights on 900 active gaming centers: esports is the tip of the iceberg, with just 15% diving into competitive play. Hardcore gamers? They're likely at home, dialed into their personal high-spec setups. So, using an internet café is less likely where they would want to be. But zoom out to the bigger picture, and it's clear—gaming's a universal language. 81.9% of players will play on any device, with smartphones clinching the most popular gaming device. With the rise of cloud gaming, gaming café could be perfect with their high-speed internet. The gaming café owner often aims at the casual crowd. Those seeking connection over competition, lacking that lightning-speed internet or the latest releases at home, or just groups of friends having fun together. Not all gaming cafés are running the latest competitive video games. Old-school board games can attract many folks who are not into high-action games, and retro arcade games still pull people into internet cafés. As for the munchies? Think niche—craft beers, specialty snacks—that sometimes steal the spotlight, making the gaming almost an encore to the main act. Should you go to a gaming café? Ever thought about hitting up a gaming café? It's more social than gaming. A spot where you can dive into your favorite games, solo and with a crew. It's the live reactions—laughs, gasps, and banter—that make it way more epic than any headset chat. Into board games? Then there's no place better. With the slower pace, chatting between turns is natural and a perfect way to get to know people or to make friends. Gaming cafés offer more than screens and controllers—they're a space to relax, connect, and play. So, ready to join the game? Smart play: Gaming café safety tips When planning to hit up a gaming or internet café, here's your quick checklist for a secure and enjoyable visit: * Location Check: Make sure the café is in a safe neighborhood. * Personal Belongings: Keep your essentials—wallet, phone, keys— in your pocket or a bag between your feet. * Account Safety: Avoid logging into your primary gaming accounts that may contain personal information or payment details on public computers. If necessary, use two-factor authentication and change your passwords afterward. * Downloads: Avoid downloading and installing games or software from unfamiliar sources on gaming cafe computers. Only download from trusted sources and, if necessary, bring your own game files on a USB drive. * Session Sign-off: Always log out of the computer after playing. * Privacy Protection: Be cautious about sharing any personal details with fellow gamers. * Gear Guarding: If you bring gaming gear, don't leave them unattended. * Virus Check: Always virus-check your USB when you return home. With these pointers in mind, you're set for a secure session of gaming fun! From the '90s internet café dial-up sounds to the exhilarating shouts of victory in today's gaming lounges, we've seen an incredible evolution. These spaces have adapted, survived, and thrived, inviting each of us to be part of the ongoing story. So why not drop by a gaming café? It's a portal to our past and a nod to our ever-connected future.
What is Mesh Wi-Fi? How Does it Work?
Imagine your Wi-Fi as a net that covers your entire house. That's mesh Wi-Fi: a strong signal that follows you from the kitchen to the bedroom. Say goodbye to frustrating dead zones and the hassle of switching networks. With mesh, one seamless Wi-Fi network follows you from room to room. What is mesh Wi-Fi? A mesh Wi-Fi is a whole home Wi-Fi system that eliminates dead zones and gives you a strong connection throughout your house or office. This extensive mesh network blankets your home with consistent wireless signals. Mesh's beauty lies in its simplicity. Instead of hopping between networks, you stay on a single, unified Wi-Fi network. It's ideal for large spaces where regular routers' connectivity fails. Mesh Wi-Fi vs. regular router: What's the difference? A standard Wi-Fi router provides Wi-Fi from one central location. If you move too far away, the signal weakens. It's that simple. This router connects your devices to the internet, sending data to wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) devices. Obstacles like walls and distances can weaken your Wi-Fi signal. Mesh Wi-Fi solves this. It uses multiple units—or nodes—to extend coverage. This network of nodes acts like a team, passing the signal from one to another to cover more ground. How mesh enhances Wi-Fi reach Here's how it stacks up: your primary mesh router connects to your modem, serving as the main gateway for internet access. Other nodes are placed strategically around your space. They act as satellites, rebroadcasting the signal and expanding your Wi-Fi coverage. The perks of a shared network With Mesh Wi-Fi's shared network, devices automatically stay connected to the strongest signal without logging in to a new network. No manual switching is needed. This eliminates the need to switch connections as you would with traditional extenders, providing a quality, seamless online experience throughout your home or office. A mesh network will be a game changer if your single router Wi-Fi signals are too weak to reach all corners of your home. How does mesh Wi-Fi work? This system is all about coverage and consistency. You have a team of identical mesh routers working together to create an extensive, seamless, high-speed network. Each mesh router, or node, links to the other, creating a web of connectivity that covers every room, corridor, and closet. A seamless connection Imagine your home is a soccer field. The mesh routers are players, making perfect passes —your Wi-Fi signal—to each other. No drops, just smooth transfers. Your connected devices are seamlessly handed off to the router with the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Expanding your coverage? Just bring in another router. It's all plug-and-play. Smart and resilient And what happens if a node gets blocked or goes down? Mesh Wi-Fi automatically reroutes data, bypassing trouble spots with self-healing connectivity to keep you online. So, given its adaptability, you might wonder if mesh Wi-Fi fits your home environment. Let's find out. Do I need a mesh Wi-Fi network? Assessing your home connectivity. If your current Wi-Fi network can't reach every corner of your home, you might consider switching. It's particularly effective if your home is: * Expansive, more than 2,300 square feet. * You live in a multi-level or split-level property. * You have walls that block signals. Standard routers struggle with thick walls or floors made from brick or concrete. In a multi-story home, dead zones become common. A mesh system places multiple nodes to extend your Wi-Fi coverage evenly, banishing dead zones and ensuring a consistent signal in every room. So, if your signal drops in the bedroom upstairs or the office in the back, a mesh system can help maintain a strong connection in every space. Plus, mesh routers also offer easy remote management for smart home features. If a single router doesn't cut it, mesh Wi-Fi could be your next step. Top 5 advantages of mesh Wi-Fi systems. 1. Simplified control Manage your home network with ease using a smartphone app. No need for a computer setup – control everything from anywhere - scan Wi-Fi speed, test connectivity quality, cut off access to specific networks, and connect to smart home devices. 2. Seamless single network with no lag Navigate your space seamlessly, as mesh Wi-Fi provides a unified network, unlike extenders that require separate connections. Mesh Wi-Fi minimizes lag by broadcasting the same signal, ensuring your device doesn't need to route requests through multiple networks. 3. Automatic security. Stay secure with less effort. Mesh systems often automatically check for and install firmware updates, keeping your network safe without extra steps. 4. Complete coverage. Enjoy strong Wi-Fi in every room. Mesh means no more dead spots anywhere in your space. Decentralizing the network frees up resources and optimizes the Wi-Fi connectivity of all your devices. Adjusting your coverage is hassle-free. Just move a node to expand your signal to a new area. Devices in proximity automatically sync, providing a stable and consistent connection. This flexibility allows you to tailor your network to your space without extra gear or complex setups. 5. Smart connections. Your devices always connect to the strongest signal for the best experience as you roam about your home. Families will find this helpful, especially if your kids like to play online video games in different rooms. Mesh Wi-Fi is easy to set up, expands to fit your space, and ensures a smooth online experience, making it ideal for homes with multiple connected devices. Top Disadvantages of Mesh Wi-Fi Systems. The drawbacks of mesh Wi-Fi systems can be narrowed down to four key points: 1. Cost Mesh Wi-Fi systems can be expensive. An initial setup with two nodes might set you back $200 or more, with each extra satellite costing up to $100 to $600 each. Traditional routers and range extenders are significantly cheaper. 2. Overkill for small spaces For modest-sized homes or spaces, a mesh network might be excessive. Standard solutions could suffice — think range extenders, central placement of routers, or a traditional router upgrade for those few annoying dead zones. 3. Additional hardware To optimize a mesh network, you may need several nodes spread out in your home, which means finding space for more equipment. This might clash with a preference for fewer devices and a more minimalist setup. 4. Latency and complexities Data hopping — the process where data jumps from one node to another to find the best path — can introduce latency and complicate your network. The more nodes you have, the more potential for increased latency and complexity. Mesh networks excel in coverage and strength. But they're an investment, ideal for spacious homes needing fast, reliable Wi-Fi. The Acer Connect Vero W6m could be the perfect match for such needs. Acer Connect Vero W6m: Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router The Acer Connect Vero W6m is not just a router; it's a commitment to eco-friendliness. Built with recycled materials, it boasts Wi-Fi 6E technology, ensuring your internet speeds soar up to 7.8 Gbps without putting a strain on the planet. Efficient and Earth-friendly With a case crafted from 30% post-consumer recycled plastics and 100% recyclable packaging, the Vero W6m marries high-end design with sustainability. Intelligent power management Embrace the Eco-Mode. This feature smartly minimizes energy use while keeping your devices connected, optimizing how and when they sync up with your network. Safety meets performance Meet the Acer Connect Vero W6m — a mesh router that not only delivers swift internet across a range of up to 700 sqm but also adheres to stringent cyber security protocols for secure surfing. Prioritize what matters The router's Hybrid Quality of Service feature smartly juggles your network traffic, ensuring your critical apps and websites get VIP treatment for a smoother online experience. Expansive coverage, optimal performance Whether in a cozy studio or a spacious three-story house, the Vero W6m adapts. Expand your network seamlessly and connect up to four units for blanket coverage and uninterrupted internet. Tech highlights: * Wi-Fi 6E Tri-Band for up to 7.8 Gbps speeds. * Eco-conscious design with 30% PCR casing. * Eco-Mode for smart energy savings. * Quad-core processor and 1GB DDR4 memory for robust performance. * Comprehensive coverage with support for up to 4 units. For a more connected and eco-aware home, the Acer Connect Vero W6m is the tech-savvy and environmentally responsible choice. Dive into a world where every video call is crystal clear, and every streaming session is uninterrupted. Mesh Wi-Fi paves the way for flawless connectivity in every room. With the Acer Connect Vero W6m leading the charge, dead zones become a thing of the past. Its connectivity transformed.
How to Reskill and Upskill Employees in the Age of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world of work as we know it — and fast. New machines and technology can now take over an increasing number of monotonous manual tasks traditionally done by human workers. AI is also increasingly able to handle knowledge-based work like coding, writing, and research. which was long regarded as safe from such disruption. As these shifts continue to cause shockwaves throughout workforces, reskilling employees is no longer a choice — it is a necessity. What is upskilling and reskilling? Various companies are already investing in upskilling their workers to adapt to the digital age. In fact, a recent study showed that these investments account for up to 1.5% of an organization’s total budget. However, upskilling alone may not be enough to shield workers from the impact of AI. The US Chamber of Commerce defines upskilling as teaching employees new information and skills required to help them improve their current job performance. This helps them adapt to change while teaching them how to do their job more efficiently. Upskilling also helps employees understand modern techniques and creates specialized workers. For example, marketing professionals can learn Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to remain competitive in their field. On the other hand, reskilling refers to learning new skills required to start a new job or function. Reskilling also lets organizations retain important employees even if their department is no longer required. Some skills may overlap, however, workers must acquire new skills to get ahead. For example, employees could earn a degree or certification in a different field. How has AI changed job roles and which new skills are required? It is estimated that 70% of companies will have embraced AI and adopted at least one AI-powered technology by 2030. AI is already enhancing existing jobs by removing human errors and improving precision in quality control and data analysis tasks. For example, using AI-assisted healthcare can help professionals make more accurate diagnoses and improve patient outcomes. Despite this, it is estimated that advancements in AI technology could mean some of the skills learned in college or university will soon be obsolete. As AI evolves, the need for human skills like critical thinking and problem-solving will increase, and we will likely see demand for a whole new skill set. Aligning employee skills with evolving industry needs Employers should encourage employees to align their current skills with evolving industry needs. Not only does this enhance their competitiveness, but also that of the company. Employees with the skills required to face industry changes are vital to overcoming potential challenges and market shifts. It can also help companies better serve customers in the digital age. What skills do employees need in the age of AI? Generation Z and beyond are digital natives who have been brought up around technology. They learn essential computer skills like coding and how to use AI from a young age, which they take with them into the workforce. This means they are automatically far ahead of older colleagues when it comes to using and understanding modern technology thanks to their environment and a more refined and customized education process. Older generations must be adaptable and learn new skills to remain competitive in the job market. Luckily, Acer TravelMate P Series laptops seamlessly support AI-assisted solutions like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Teams to help ease the transition into using AI. Alongside technical skills and data literacy, employees should consider the tasks that robots or computers cannot do well. For example, skills like creativity are difficult for technology to mimic without sounding robotic, which is where human emotions and our ability to invent, imagine, and dream come in. Critical thinking is crucial as we can analyze the pros and cons and imagine real-life outcomes better than machines. Humans can also solve complex problems through logic and reasoning and consider how certain decisions impact other humans. Machines have little or no emotional intelligence and cannot empathize with others’ feelings. Although machine learning helps AI-powered chatbots improve their responses, they will never be able to understand and value real human connections as we do. Humans communicate through body language and other mannerisms that are hard for machines to replicate. Therefore, improving interpersonal skills is also beneficial for workers looking to adapt to current industry conditions. How to reskill and upskill employees With rapidly evolving AI and technological advances, it can be challenging for managers to know where to begin reskilling and upskilling employees. Instead of resisting change, it is beneficial for companies to lean into and embrace it. Here are some tips to help do just that. Step 1: Determine which skills need more focus Identifying bottlenecks or issues that impact the flow of internal operations provides valuable insight into skill gaps. Doing so helps allocate resources and investments to the departments and areas that need them most. Moreover, managers should assess company goals and train employees to reflect them. Step 2: Create a list of reskilling criteria Managers should take time to analyze the company’s future and what they aim to achieve for survival and growth. Assessing current performance, future goals, and objectives while considering current workforce capabilities can provide valuable insight into reskilling criteria. Step 3: Identify individual employee skill gaps Employees should be free to decide which career development opportunities are important to them. Initiating open discussions about their career and life goals may provide food for thought regarding skill gaps. By asking the right questions, communicating clearly, and providing steps toward growth, managers can help employees reskill and protect themselves from industry changes. Step 4: Select a training style for reskilling and upskilling workers People learn in different ways, and managers should offer reskilling and upskilling opportunities to reflect this. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, offering a range of training methods like presentations, hands-on workshops, simulations or games, or instructor-led courses may be more suitable. This approach also empowers employees to make their own decisions about their learning, helping them feel supported in their progress. Offering rewards or recognition for upskilling or reskilling efforts may also motivate employees to participate. Step 5: Discuss reskilling and upskilling with employees Talks of global job cuts and AI taking over roles can be scary for employees. Managers should reassure workers and help them navigate these uncertain times by offering support. By discussing reskilling and upskilling opportunities, managers can reach out to employees and listen to their concerns. It will also help employers decide which kind of training opportunities are most suited to their workforce. Step 6: Develop a reskilling and upskilling program Developing and implementing a reskilling and upskilling program should be beneficial and empower employees. Once training courses are over, managers should collect feedback to ensure it reaches the intended learning outcomes. Moreover, managers should understand that reskilling and upskilling is a journey, not a destination. Courses and training content should be refined and redefined as technology develops and employees become more skilled. This also helps create a resilient workforce that does not waver when faced with change. Conclusion Upskilling involves teaching employees new skills to advance in their current role, whereas reskilling prepares them for a new role. As technology advances, so should workforce skills, and both upskilling and reskilling are crucial for navigating AI transformations. Employers can support the transition by encouraging employees to learn new digital skills to keep competitive in the workplace. Bosses should identify areas for improvement and implement a strategy designed to upskill or reskill their workforce. Doing so will be beneficial as technology continues to improve, and devices like Acer TravelMate P Series laptops, packed with AI-assisted productivity features, that companies would desire and enable their employees to navigate and excel in this new AI-focused era right away.
How to Master Prompt Engineering
The dust has settled somewhat since Artificial Intelligence (AI) became widely accessible to humanity through our laptops and smartphones at the end of 2022. Since then, the use of generative AI has steadily grown in popularity and is now applied to constantly evolving applications across many industries. Since the initial novelty/shock of using AI has worn off, learning how to effectively use the diverse AI platforms available can help you make the most of all that AI has to offer to your business. Large Language Model (LLM) platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 ) are designed to understand human-generated text input and respond accordingly, often in a conversational manner, using natural-sounding language. Trained on huge amounts of internet text, AI language models use deep learning techniques as well as neural networks to respond to our requests with generally coherent, relevant, and correct responses. Have you ever dutifully typed a request into the input field and clicked send, only to receive a confusing, biased, or even incorrect answer? If so, you’re not alone! The good news is there is a simple, effective way to ensure that you get the best responses possible from whatever AI platform you choose to use: prompt engineering. In this article we introduce the fast-growing field of prompt engineering and then discuss several key techniques needed to master it, providing a variety of examples along the way. What is prompt engineering? Before we get into the finer details of our prompt engineering guide, let’s first get a better idea of what it really is. In the context of AI models, a prompt is a query that you type into the text input box to request information or content generation from the AI model. Human language and ways of speaking, writing, and expressing our thoughts and queries vary greatly, even within the same language. Unsurprisingly, our prompts also vary greatly, and while originality and self-expression are generally well-received characteristics in the human environment, our AI pals may not get the joke or the prompt! If the AI model fails to fully understand your prompt, the response it provides will likely lack understanding and be of little use to you. Quality and clarity are both desirable traits: by providing clear instructions and context, the AI model will be able to understand the user’s requirements and provide an accurate, relevant reply. In conversation with other humans, we may carefully choose the right words in order to achieve the desired response and outcome. Similarly, prompt engineering is the skill of creating specific instructions and queries to get the best responses from the AI model. A vital skill for anyone working with AI models, effective prompt engineering empowers the user, ensuring that the AI model produces desired outputs. The right results can help your organization reap the fruits of the AI model’s labor, from effective content creation to task automation, and even improved productivity. AI assistants are also increasingly common. Microsoft Copilot, now available in the latest version of Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 business and enterprise version, is a powerful AI assistant for your device. Bing Chat is another free service from Microsoft, providing users with an AI-powered assistant to help browse the web and more. As AI assistants become more integrated into our daily tech, hardware manufacturers are also stepping up their game. Acer’s TravelMate P laptops feature high-quality dual microphones optimized with Acer PurifiedVoice’s AI-powered noise‑reduction to enhance your AI assistant user experience. Prompt engineering is crucial in the context of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI models like GPT-4 because NLP models lack inbuilt contextual awareness. By engineering prompts, we can guide the AI model to the applicable context, ensuring that it produces appropriate outputs. In addition to context, prompt engineering also allows users to adapt the AI model to specific tasks, in turn improving the overall performance. Furthermore, prompts that specifically guide/constrain the AI model’s output behavior can help to avoid biased and incorrect output. Read on to discover a raft of prompt engineering tips. How to Master Prompt Engineering 1. Know the model’s strengths and weaknesses There are many generative AI models out there in 2023 with increasingly specialized functions. These models all have strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these can assist you greatly in using different AI models to generate the most reliable outputs. AI models are fundamentally limited by the datasets they were trained on, and may express bias learned from real-world data. Be aware of limitations and biases and craft effective prompts for individual AI models accordingly. Prompt engineers are well versed in the strengths and weaknesses of the various AI models floating around. As laypeople, we can learn from the masters, and from our own experiences using different AI models. While ChatGPT-3.5 is a free, highly popular platform, the knowledge of the model is based on information available until September 2021, and it lacks access to updates and developments beyond this date. Text-to-image generator DALL-E helps users create realistic images and art from a description in natural language. But don’t overcomplicate your instructions! Provide an instruction that is too complicated or too abstract, and it might yield an abomination of a painting. If you prompt “Painting of cat in the style of Picasso, ” it will definitely know what to do. 2. Be specific! Being clear and specific in our verbal and written communications is a good habit to foster in our prompts with AI models too. AI models are trained to understand a great range of natural language prompts in various languages, and even programming codes. If our prompts are not specific enough, they may be misinterpreted, leading to incorrect or irrelevant output. Imagine for a minute that you want to prompt your AI model to calculate the amount of standard 14cm wide, 3.6m long ACQ treated boards needed to cover a 3.6m by 4.2m deck. If you prompt “How much wood for a 3.6m by 4.2m deck?” the AI will likely present you with further considerations and questions in order to make the calculation. If, however, you prompt “How many standard 14cm wide, 3.6m long ACQ treated boards are needed to cover a 3.6m by 4.2m deck frame, including 5mm spacing between each board?” You would receive an output outlining the calculation, along with a suggestion of approximately 30 boards. 3. Create a persona Asking the AI model to adopt a persona, whether that be a specific historical figure, a work persona, or even simply prompting “Add a relevant joke at the end of every second paragraph,” can help you to explore diverse outputs. Experimenting with various personas and prompts to guide the model will help you to obtain the output you require. For example, if you are using the AI model to write an FAQ section for your company website, you may find that the responses churned out are a bit too vague or even a bit terse. Tell the model that you would like it to be a kind and helpful customer service representative. Setting up a scenario and guiding the mood of the response will yield a more accurate response. 4. Experiment with prompt formats When interacting with AI models, most people tend to input questions, but did you know you can also input a transcript or context for the model to give you the answer in a format that you want? For example, if you want to learn about the Jacobite uprising of the 1700s, but only want to learn about it through songs, you could tell the model to “Answer only in the form of Scottish folk songs and war ballads.” You can also ask the model “Do you understand?” to make sure it understands your instructions. Repeatedly checking if the model understands will lessen the likelihood of false answers. Refining or tuning your prompts will help to ensure that the model gains a better understanding of the format, style and structure of output that you require. Helpful tip: make sure the model only uses factual evidence and cites sources, otherwise you might end up with some pretty wacky revisionist history! Ask the model to “Cite your source” to check that it hasn’t fabricated anything! 5. Provide reference text A pitfall of AI models is their ability to confidently provide incorrect answers, notably when questioned about lesser-known topics, as well as for citations. Providing examples such as reference texts can help guide the model to understand your needs. Alternatively, prompting the model to answer using a reference text or to answer with citations from a reference text can help to create less fabrications. Let’s return to our Scottish history example to illustrate this approach. If you find that the model is not yielding the results of the Jacobite uprising in the ballad format that you desire, you can input “Johnny Cope” and tell the model, “Answer me with a similar type of ballad.” (“Do not make anything up” would also be a good prompt to add here.) Remember, your prompts are instructions for the model to follow, and its replies will align with your requests in style, content and language. 6. Split complex tasks into simpler subtasks When it comes to handling complicated tasks, the more complex a task, the more errors there are likely to be. Splitting these complex tasks into smaller, simpler subtasks has several benefits. Firstly, chain-of-thought prompting helps improve the reasoning capabilities of AI models. By simplifying a complex problem into smaller subtasks, then prompting the model to output reasoning for each step, the output of earlier tasks is used to construct the input of later tasks. In this manner, the AI model gains a better understanding of the problem, and will be able to provide more useful, concise answers. Instructions can be specific, or simply something along the lines of “Let’s think step by step.” Summarization of texts longer than the fixed content length, like an entire book, requires this approach. A sequence of queries is necessary, summarizing each section of the book. These summaries can then be combined to make larger summaries, and repeated until the entire book is summarized. 7. Control output format and length Specify the format and length of your desired output. This can be as simple as setting a word limit, or more specific such as designating output formats like plain text, HTML, JSON, or XML. If you were setting up a global cookbook recommendation website and required JSON format to integrate into the backend, you could prompt: “Provide me with a list of 5 English language Korean cookbooks in JSON format.” For AI-assisted creative and other writing endeavors, providing clear structural prompts is a surefire way to guide the AI model to help you to arrive at your goal. For example, when writing summaries, input “Write me a 150-word summary using concise language.” Or, if you are writing a script set in Shakespearean times, you might say “Write me a 500-word soliloquy in iambic pentameter using the expressive language of a forlorn lover.” You might then decide that’s way too long. “Summarize this in 200 words or less” you can then input. In order to yield the best results, always focus on positive instructions. Tell the model what to do, not what not to do, because this avoids confusion and augments the model’s ability to generate the required output. 8. Use GPT plugins As the most widely used of the LLMs, we have mentioned ChatGPT several times in this article. After setting up a free account and logging in, there is no limit to the volume of questions that users can ask. At time of writing, the free-use ChatGPT uses GPT3.5 architecture. If you are willing to pay a subscription fee, ChatGPT Plus has many benefits, namely the ability to use plugins. Plugins are add-ons that add accuracy and practicality to your searches by incorporating third-party websites, providing real-time outputs. While many of the plugins available today are still beta quality, when used correctly, they can greatly enhance your efficiency. Some are free while others feature tiered pricing, so have a browse to decide which plugins will enhance your ChatGPT experience. From eliminating unnecessary workflows to language learning and even job searching, let ChatGPT plugins revolutionize the way you access data. Conclusion We hope you have enjoyed this journey into the realm of prompt engineering. Now you have a better grasp of prompt design, hopefully you are ‘prompted’ to make the most of your interactions with AI LLMs like ChatGPT! By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different models, users can effectively harness the best aspects of each platform, avoiding any pitfalls. Be specific in your prompts and create a persona to guide the model to receive accurate, concise outputs. Providing context ensures better results; experiment with different prompt format styles and provide reference texts for citation to guide the model. Divide and conquer! Splitting complex tasks into simpler subtasks increases efficiency and improves the quality of responses. Let the AI model work for you by setting parameters to control output length and format. Finally, make the most of ChatGPT plugins for industry-specific applications. Generative AI is here to stay. Take the time to master prompt engineering and benefit from ChatGPT and other AI models. As AI becomes more prevalent in industries worldwide, prompt engineering skills are the key to generating accurate outputs. In the near future, more and more businesses will adopt generative AI to boost productivity in various aspects of their operations. Mastering prompt engineering will help to ensure that your business can make the most of this brave new world of AI-enhanced assistance. Microsoft and Adobe programs will come equipped with their respective AI assistants Microsoft Copilot and Adobe Firefly. AI will continue to grow and evolve, as will the skill of prompt engineering. The journey of AI learning has just begun! Recommended Products TravelMate P2 14 Shop Now TravelMate P2 Shop Now

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World of Warcraft: The War Within - The Story and Details Revealed So Far
The War Within is the newly announced expansion heading to Blizzard’s long-running MMO, World of Warcraft. The War Within will be the first of three new expansions revealed for the Worldsoul Saga trilogy, subsequent entries of which will be named Midnight and The Last Titan. This upcoming expansion will take players beneath the surface of Azeroth to the land of Khaz Algar, where they’ll find the Earthen, a race of dwarves, and darker forces such as the Nerubians. Of course, a new setting isn’t all that comes with an expansion: the game will have a new level cap, dungeons, and a raid to overcome. Continue reading to find out all we know so far about World of Warcraft: The War Within. World of Warcraft: The War Within With World of Warcraft’s 20th anniversary coming up next year, and 2023 being the year BlizzCon returned after a long hiatus, fans certainly expected a lot from the even’ts welcome ceremony, and World of Warcraft in particular had a lot to surprise fans. The biggest announcement by Blizzard Entertainment at BlizzCon 2023 was that World of Warcraft will be receiving three major expansions in the future. These expansions will tell the tale of World of Warcraft’s next ongoing storyline, the Worldsoul Saga. The expansion that will be the opening act of this saga will be The War Within. This expansion is slated for release at the end of 2024 and will introduce new zones to explore, new dungeons and raids to conquer, new game systems to master, and more. Storyline https://youtu.be/o03STclgxSc?si=PGD1n9qmHpX2xbmU In terms of story, this certainly feels like the greatest undertaking in World of Warcraft since its inception. The story has been unfolding for almost 20 years (30 if you include the original Warcraft games), but it has never really felt like Blizzard has been aiming for a single, overarching plot. Each expansion so far has wrapped itself in a neat little package, ready to plunge the world into chaos once again with the arrival of a new threat. The War Within initially feels like a regular expansion. It brings new areas, new enemies, and a host of innovative mechanics that improve the gameplay experience. However, considering that The War Within is just the first step in the Worldsoul Saga, it feels like Blizzard is entering into an endgame-like event with the series. Although this will not be the end of Azeroth or the Warcraft universe, it may be a definitive point where Blizzard ends its 20 years of storytelling and moves on to something else. Exactly what that means, players probably won’t find out until the third expansion in the saga, The Last Titan. The overall premise of The War Within is that Anduin Wrynn and Thrall have been experiencing visions where a mysterious voice singing a Radiant Song is calling out to them from the depths of Azeroth. To uncover the source of this voice, Thrall and Anduin gather a band of heroes and lead an expedition into the unexplored depths of their world. Our heroes will also find various allies on their journey, such as an ancient race of Dwarves known as the Earthen. Also, Magni Bronzebeard and Alleria Windrunner are set to return for this expansion to accompany Anduin and Thrall on their trip. As the expeditionary force makes its way through the underground caverns, players will have to fight a new threat that risks cutting their journey and their lives short. The villain leading this threat is Xal’atath, an ancient being who serves a chaotic, otherworldly force known as the Void. After being released from a cursed black blade, where she had been sealed for untold millennia, Xal’atath now seeks to create a new dark legacy to replace The Black Empire, which fell at the hands of the titan-forged. Xal’atath wants to use a new alliance with the Nerubians to form a force that seeks to enact the machinations of the Void. She has conscripted the Nerubians and their queen, Ansurek, to serve her. In return for their service, she has promised to help release the Nerubians from their isolation, restore their empire to its former glory, and grant them the power to transform into terrifying soldiers through a horrifying evolution. Who are the major players in The War Within? More details will inevitably emerge between now and release, but Anduin Wrynn, Thrall, Magni Bronzebeard, Alleria Windrunner, and Xal'atath are all set to play a significant role in the upcoming game. Anduin Wrynn It’s been a while since we saw Anduin Wrynn, the young man who is on paper still the King of Stormwind, and it doesn’t look like his time away has changed him for the better. Anduin was front and center during Shadowlands, where he was one of the important captives whisked away to Torghast by the Jailer. Anduin eventually found himself being controlled by Domination magic and forced to relieve several Covenant leaders of their Sigils, giving the Jailer access to Zereth Mortis, the place where the mysterious First Ones allegedly created all the realms of Death, and the ultimate goal of all the Jailer’s millennia of scheming. Once freed, Anduin—mentally shaken by what he had seen and done—opted not to return to Stormwind and immediately retake the throne of the Alliance. Instead he accompanied Sylvanas Windrunner on her punishment tour of the Maw, presumably helping her rescue and save every soul she had condemned to that hellish realm. He doesn’t seem to have regained much of his confidence; if anything, Anduin seems even more distraught over his time in the realms of Death than before, feeling disconnected from a Light he no longer feels worthy of wielding. We certainly didn’t hear a peep out of him during Dragonflight, but it appears that he’s one of many characters who’s been having visions of radiance—visions that have led him to Silithus. We do still see a little of the old hero in him, though. Maybe this story arc will be Anduin’s redemption. Thrall Although his hair is looking a little greyer these days, Thrall (a.k.a. Go’el) is an iconic figure in the World of Warcraft franchise and needs little introduction. After his role in Shadowlands, Thrall returned to Azeroth, but remained out of the spotlight for Dragonflight. He played a role in the orc heritage armor quest, appearing as a peacemaker and settled-down family man (and, if the player character chooses to join the Frostwolf Clan, a proud clanmate). As a Shaman, Thrall has always been in tune with the elements of Azeroth and, to an extent, the planet herself. However, it appears he’s one of many these days receiving the visions discussed in the trailer, and much as Saurfang did for him when he was in hiding during the events of Battle of Azeroth, now it has fallen to Thrall to seek out Anduin. It’s only natural that when the planet is threatened, Thrall is one of the first to step up to its defense; he’s done so time and time again, and he appears to be enlisting others as well. Magni Bronzebeard Formerly the king of Khaz Modan and the brother of Muradin, Magni Bronzebeard is a steadfast dwarf who now acts as the herald of the world soul of Azeroth. Magni was always a loyal friend of the Alliance and fought bravely against the Horde and later the Lich King’s forces. When the Cataclysm engulfed Azeroth, Magni heroically sacrificed himself and became a diamond statue, saving Khaz Modan while Magni remained frozen in the heart of the ancient iron forge. As the dwarves remembered and honored his sacrifice, the spirit of Magni bonded with the world of Azeroth. Years later, to everyone’s astonishment, Magni suddenly woke up from his torpor and declared that from now on he would be the voice of Azeroth. As a result, he played a crucial role in the events surrounding the finale of Legion, in which the Titan Sargeras plunged his sword deep into Azeroth, mortally wounding the world. From then on, Magni’s mission was to heal the wound in the world and save the planet. This was particularly evident during the Azeroth Crisis, when Magni went to great lengths to use the Heart of Azeroth to heal the planet’s wounds. In the end, Magni’s efforts finally bore fruit. Where once the lamentations of the world’s soul could be heard, Azeroth now sings happier songs again. We’ve known for quite some time that Azeroth is sentient; one of the reasons the Titans seem so fixated on this planet, and the Old Gods so dead set on corrupting it, is evidently due to Azeroth’s potential to become a phenomenally powerful Titan herself. Although in the past she has been seemingly only able to communicate through Magni, it appears that she is now capable of directly sending messages—albeit only momentary and confusing messages—to her residents. Alleria Windrunner In The War Within, we catch up not with Anduin’s travel buddy Sylvanas but with her sister. It turns out Alleria isn’t having visions of radiance, but of darkness, and for good reason. One half of the demon-fighting power couple that led the Army of the Light against the Burning Crusade for a thousand years, Alleria Windrunner chose to learn to wield the power of the Void in the fight against fel forces. Although she has mastered it, the price for that choice has been high—Alleria is constantly assaulted by whispers from the Void, seductive ones that want to turn her from her heroic path and into something darker. Alleria has been receiving visions of goings-on below the surface, as well as some imagery that current players may recognize from Iridikron’s escape cinematic in the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon. Alleria’s role is shaping up as the person receiving direct, taunting images from below of the Void’s machinations, and she’s likely to be one of the leaders on the expedition down there and to use her connection to the Void to hunt down the villain who’s stirring up so much trouble. Xal’atath, the Harbinger Anyone who’s played through the artifact quests in Legion as a Shadow Priest is of course familiar with Xal’atath, Blade of the Black Empire—or rather, the entity within it who shares the same name. At the end of that expansion, her blade, like the rest of the artifacts, was canonically used to subdue the corrupting energy within the Sword of Sargeras. After that, Xal’atath, like so many times before, disappeared. The knife turned up again in Battle for Azeroth, where she guided us to three powerful Void relics that the naga were attempting to use to create an ultrapowerful storm; in the process, we also got her a body outside of the knife, as the entity within the blade possessed the body of a dead high elf priestess who had been trying to harness one of the relics. After that, she helped us bring the relics and ourselves directly to N’zoth in the Crucible of Storms, then vanished. Although the knife that used to house her had been seen a few times after that (playing a relatively major role in the final two patches of Battle for Azeroth), the being inside stayed hidden… until recently. At the end of the Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon, players noticed that the Void-flavored portal through which Iridikron escaped contained the silhouette of a distinctly feminine elf. Immediately, between this and Iridikron’s talk of a “Harbinger,” rumors immediately began to fly that this was Xal’atath, returned at last to do whatever it was she intended to do. It appears that those rumors were true, based on both Alleria’s dark visions. Xal’atath, confirmed the Harbinger, has been watching us and conjured up some dark plans of her own; the Black Empire may have been defeated, and the Old Gods are confirmed dead, but Xal'atath has struck up an alliance in the deep places of the world with the Nerubians, who made their largest appearance in Wrath of the Lich King. She has taught their queen how to mutate certain Nerubians into paragons of their species, something the queen has fully embraced; meanwhile, she is using them to gather a substance called the Black Blood of the Old Gods. Whatever it is that she’s up to, it seems she has distressed the planet’s soul enough to call out to its defenders, and so Xal’atath seems to be the first of no doubt many big enemies we’ll face off against during the Worldsoul Saga. New zones In a first for the series, the new continent the expansion introduces will be entirely subterranean. Introduced as Khaz Algar, this is the home of a specific subset of the Earthen, who players have seen before in zones like Ulduar. Within the continent are the following four zones: * The Isle of Dorn: a surface-level zone with fertile soil and plant life, this new area will be the central hub for players. Billed as a lush paradise, the limited screenshots show a combination of epic structures and beautiful vistas reminiscent of Valdrakken. * The Ringing Depths: an industrial underground cavern full of lava-flowing foundries, forges, and furnaces. Overseen by the Machine Speakers, Kobolds have taken over much of the Ringing Deeps, building a city of their own. Titan relics appear to litter the environment. * Hallowfall: a vibrant underground zone shining bright from the light of an enormous crystal that has recently seen its light changing. Fading without warning, the zone has been plunged into darkness. This area will be home to the Arathi and their capital Mereldar. * Azj-Kahet: in the deepest depths of Azeroth, this zone is the heart of the Nerubian Empire, the home to forgotten scavengers. Here lies the Nerubian City of Threads—a city that has been built on the ruins of itself many times over and is billed as having a complex political system and culture. New dungeons and raids When The War Within expansion launches, it will do so with eight dungeons for players to conquer. In line with previous expansions, four of these will be leveling dungeons, and the other four will be reserved for max-level characters. The full list is as follows: Level-up dungeons * The Rookery * The Stonevault * Priory of the Sacred Flame * City of Threads Maximum-level dungeons * Cinderbrew Meadery * Darkflame Cleft * The Dawnbreaker * Old City Additionally, the expansion will include a raid dungeon that will presumably follow a similar formula to Dragonflight’s Dawn of the Infinite megadungeon. Entitled Nerub’ar Palace, this eight-boss Nerubian Empire raid in Azj’kahet will be the first raid in The War Within. Delves One of the new systems being announced for The War Within is delves, which are scalable world instances for 1–5 players that are similar to dungeons, raids, and PvP except that they focus on the outdoor world and offer a more structured experience. Delves address the lack of upgrades and overall excitement found in the outdoor world beyond completing quests. Delves will involve exploration, deep-diving into mysteries, and extending open-world content, as opposed to moving from one boss to another, in the same vein as dungeons—with the difference from other open-world adventuring being the treasure received at the end. Unlike previous small-group content, such as scenarios and island expeditions, delves offer fully flexible group sizes, so you can run them alone, with a partner, or with a full party. Delves are also role agnostic, so you’ll be able to bring any combination of specializations you choose—no need to seek out tanks or healers for your group. They’ll also be cross-faction. You’ll be accompanied by a seasonal NPC companion in the vaults, starting with Brann Bronzebeard for Season 1. These companions will have customizable talents and abilities that you’ll be able to select to suit your group and playstyle. At the end of each delve, you’ll have to defeat a boss or complete a puzzle to unlock the vault’s treasure and complete the mission. The expansion will launch with the following 12 unique delves throughout the world: * Earthcrawl Mines * Skittering Breach * The Waterworks * The Spiral Weave * Kriegval’s Rest * Nightfall Sanctum * The Dread Pit * Rak-Rethan Abyss * Fungak Folly * The Sinkhole * Deepwalker Hold * Mycomancer Cavern Delves will also offer plenty of cosmetic awards, such as mushroom and candle hats, based on their specific theme, and they will be included into seasonal content, giving players rewards for the season, including mounts, pets, and achievements. Warbands Warbands is an innovative and game-changing new feature that will be introduced with the expansion. With Warbands, the character selection screen has been revamped and will conveniently showcase all your available characters, regardless of the server they belong to. You will be able to effortlessly manage multiple characters across accounts while enjoying a plethora of quality-of-life improvements. * Banks offer a shared account between characters, meaning that you won't need to mail items anymore. * Reputations, Achievements, and Renown will be account-wide for all players. * Flight Paths will be linked across accounts, meaning you'll only have to unlock paths once, saving time. * Universal Transmog across your warband will become available, meaning one character can unlock a Plate item, and another can transmog them. Hero talents New hero talents for each class specialization will allow players to progress characters with “evergreen self-contained talent trees that also infuse class fantasy flavor” inspired by iconic Warcraft universe archetypes. These will be in addition to current talent trees, and include three trees per class—two small trees per specialization that you can switch between. This system will auto unlock at level 71, with players receiving a new talent point at each level. Once players reach level 80, the whole tree will unlock. The goal is for hero talent trees to be “low friction,” with the ability to swap between choices and trees easily, in a vein similar to that for Dragonflight talents. The following are the names of the hero talents that players will be able to choose from: * Death Knight: Deathbringer, Rider of the Apocalypse, San'layn * Demon Hunter: Aldrachi Reaver, Fel-Scarred * Druid: Druid of the Claw, Elune's Chosen, Keeper of the Grove, Wildstalker * Evoker: Chronowarden, Ruby Adept, Scalecommander * Hunter: Dark Ranger, Pack Leader, Sentinel * Mage: Frostfire, Spellslinger, Sunfury * Monk: Conduit of the Celestials, Master of Harmony, Shado-Pan * Paladin: Herald of the Sun, Lightsmith, Templar * Priest: Archon, Oracle, Voidweaver * Rogue: Deathstalker, Fatebound, Trickster * Shaman: Farseer, Stormbringer, Totemic * Warlock: Diabolist, Hellcaller, Soul Harvester * Warrior: Colossus, Mountain Thane, Slayer New playable allied race: Earthen dwarves Earthen dwarves are a new allied race coming to The War Within that exist as three estranged groups: Oathsworn, Unbound, and Machine Speakers. Members of this titan-forged race are made of living stone imbued with the essence of Azeroth’s worldsoul. As players progress through the main campaign, they’ll meet the Earthen that have made the Isle of Dorn and the zones beneath it their home. Earthen will be available to both Alliance and Horde players and can be played as the following classes: Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, and Warrior. Leveling an Earthen toon will also unlock the new Earthen Heritage Armor. New “dynamic flying” update The Dragonflight mechanics have undergone a transformation in The War Within and are now called dynamic flying, which will be available from the beginning of the expansion, with the to-be-confirmed style unlockable at max level when the campaign is completed. This exciting update has been applied retrospectively to all existing flying mounts, resulting in a more thrilling and momentum-driven flight experience compared to the traditional classic/static flight initially introduced in The Burning Crusade. You will also be able to toggle between dynamic flight or the traditional flying style. What is the WoW: The War Within release date? A release date for The War Within has not yet been confirmed, but judging by the small print on the prepurchase page on the official website, you can expect it to arrive in fall 2024. This ties in with the timeline of previous expansions, which generally run for around two years; Dragonflight was released at the end of November 2022, so we can expect The War Within to be out sometime between October and December 2024. For more awesome games, make sure to check out the lineup of games the Xbox Game Pass has on offer. Furthermore, with the purchase of a Windows 11 PC from Acer, you can enjoy one month free of Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft Owns 13 Video Game Franchises Worth Over $1 Billion Each
Microsoft's recent eye-popping $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard catapults it to the forefront of gaming with 13 AAA franchises, each with billion-dollar revenues. This move propels Microsoft to the third largest gaming company by revenue, trailing only Sony and Tencent. Rewind to 2014, when Microsoft shelled out $2.5 billion to bring Minecraft into its fold. That was just the start. From there, it's been a relentless expansion, amassing a war chest of 24 gaming studios including ZeniMax. The result? A beefed-up Xbox Game Pass library that pulls in over 25 million subscribers. And with the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's making a statement. "We will have 13 billion dollar-plus franchises – from Candy Crush, Diablo, and Halo, to Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, and Gears of War," says Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO. With Microsoft's gaming realm expanding at warp speed, it's a maze keeping up. So, here's the rundown of the billion-dollar heavy-hitters they've now got under their belt. 1. Age of Empires https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSP8oL2jFU Age of Empires is a monumental journey through history, a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) series that has captivated gamers for over 25 years. The franchise has expanded to a dozen titles, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. Debuting in 1997, the original Age of Empires lets you command one of 12 civilizations, guiding them from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Your mission? To grow a simple settlement into a formidable empire. You must strategically manage resources, expand your cultural influence, and engage in military strikes. The game's allure lies in its blend of strategy and history. Countless gamers have commanded legions, built empires, and crafted historical narratives. It's a tribute to our past, a strategic challenge, and a testament to how games can make history come alive. 2. Call of Duty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZNSOEVJtok Call of Duty has outsold even the famed Grand Theft Auto series. As of 2023, this AAA franchise is valued at an incredible $31 billion, with nearly 450 million units sold. Each Call of Duty release is a global event, drawing millions of gamers. Known for its immersive FPS action, you dive into all kinds of warfare – from historical battles to modern skirmishes and even futuristic combat. Its success lies in its ability to continuously reinvent and elevate the FPS genre. Every installment brings innovative gameplay, gripping narratives, and a multiplayer experience that's often imitated but never replicated. 3. Diablo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro26B394ZBM Diablo is a dark fantasy RPG series where you delve into hell's depths, maiming creatures before escaping with loot. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, it's a saga of action, role-playing, and hack-and-slash that has captivated gamers since 1997. Set in the brooding world of Sanctuary, players battle demons, including the notorious Diablo, across various realms like the High Heavens and Burning Hells. The series, spanning four core games, has become a cultural titan in gaming, inspiring books, comics, and a rich expanded universe. As of 2023, Diablo has sold nearly 100 million copies globally. The latest, Diablo IV, made a hellish impact, raking in $666 million in just five days. Diablo's legacy continues to define the action RPG genre, with millions drawn to its dark allure. 4. Fallout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB4NQxmqJis Microsoft's 2020 acquisition of ZeniMax Media brought an unexpected prize: the Fallout series. Unleashed by Tim Cain at Interplay Entertainment, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic RPG juggernaut smashing sales records since its 1997 debut. Set in a world where 1950s American culture collides with a nuclear dystopia, it's a masterclass in atompunk retrofuturism. Think atomic age meets doomsday. Starting with the revolutionary Fallout, the series evolved under Bethesda Softworks, particularly with Fallout 3 in 2008, which revamped the game with immersive 3D graphics and a sprawling open world. In 2015, Fallout 4 smashed $750 million in sales just 24 hours after hitting the shelves. Fallout's blend of nail-biting survival, deep stories, and a world like a nuclear-blasted echo of our own. It's a mix of intense survival gameplay, rich narrative, and a haunting yet familiar nuclear wasteland, earning its stripes as a billion-dollar franchise. 5. Microsoft Flight Simulator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ozy64a-OG4 Microsoft Flight Simulator, soaring since '77, predates even Windows! Bruce Artwick's brainchild started as a geeky sim on MS-DOS, evolving into a jaw-dropping, cloud-powered spectacle on Windows and Xbox. The 2020 edition marked the biggest leap in the franchise’s over 40-year journey. More than 1 million copies sold quickly after its release contributed to the series' impressive total of 22.2 million units. The impact extends beyond the game itself, as Jon Peddie Research (JPR) highlights a remarkable $2.6 billion boost in PC hardware sales linked to the game. Microsoft Flight Simulator offers a sky's worth of adventure with over 24,000 airports, perfect for gamers and aspiring pilots. With its cutting-edge graphics and a worldwide fanbase hooked on its expansive mods, it's a gaming legend offering an unparalleled virtual flight experience. 6. Forza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJumrR_bbg0 Forza, a high-octane racing video game series, roars as a billion-dollar franchise and a jewel in Microsoft's crown. Since its 2005 launch, Forza has revved up immense success, selling over 16 million copies by 2021. It has become the go-to for racing fans on Xbox and Windows, attracting over 14 million unique players. Crafted by Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games, Forza splits into two adrenaline-fueled series: * Motorsport: simulation purists * Horizon: arcade-style racing With mobile spin-offs like Forza Street and Forza Customs, the brand has expanded beyond traditional gaming platforms, catering to a broader audience. This expansion and stellar sales cement Forza as a top-tier, billion-dollar racing franchise. It's not just racing; it's the cutting-edge of virtual racing experiences. 7. Gears of War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu2RsEUOA3M Microsoft acquired Gears of War from Epic Games in 2014. The series has consistently delivered gritty storytelling and visceral combat. Its groundbreaking cover-based combat system has revolutionized third-person shooting mechanics. The saga began in 2006 with the original Gears of War, centering on Marcus Fenix's fierce battle against the Locust. Over its nine titles, the series has continued to evolve, deepening the conflict, and expanding its universe with each new installment. More than a game series, it's a culture: DC comic series, novels, and merchandise, all testament to its magnetic pull. It hit the ground running, selling over three million copies within ten weeks of its debut, making it the fastest-selling video game of 2006. With total sales exceeding 22 million units and revenue surpassing $1 billion, Gears of War is not just a successful game series; it's a billion-dollar franchise and a landmark in the gaming industry. 8. Halo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18-_9E0HNY4 Halo isn't just a game; it's a sci-fi sensation that changed FPS gaming. Born from the minds at Bungie and now steered by Microsoft's own 343 Industries. It blasted onto the scene in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved. Fast-forward to now, and it's the Xbox's flagship with over 12 killer titles. Over 70 million Halo games have been snapped up worldwide. You play as Master Chief, a super-soldier taking on the alien Covenant. And it's not just about the solo play. Halo's multiplayer is equally acclaimed. But Halo's reach goes beyond the console. Its vast cultural impact sparked a whole universe of novels and comics. Even a TV series is on the horizon. Talk about impact. And with a cool $6 billion in the bank, Halo's a mega-hit, a cultural titan in the gaming world. 9. Minecraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rla3FUlxJdE Minecraft reigns as the top-selling video game, with over 300 million sold and more than 140 million players in August 2021. Snapped up by Microsoft in 2014 for a whopping $2.5 billion, it generated a massive $99.62 million from mobile revenues in 2022 alone. Minecraft launched in 2011 as a simple game where players could build and explore pixelated worlds. It's a canvas for creativity, offering gameplay including: * Survival: test your resourcefulness in a dynamic world. * Creativity: unleash your imagination with unlimited resources. * Story mode: dive into narrative-driven adventures. * Dungeons: explore action-packed, dungeon-crawling adventures. This digital playground, where players shape their own narratives, is a testament to the power of interactive storytelling and community-driven innovation in gaming. 10. Overwatch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQfRHycUsmQ When Blizzard Entertainment unleashed Overwatch in 2016, it redefined team-based combat games. Raking in $1 billion in its 2016 debut year, Overwatch merged cutting-edge gameplay with a roster of diverse characters, each with unique abilities and backstories. Overwatch's hero-based gameplay encourages teamwork and strategy. It demands players adapt their skills to dynamic combat situations. The cultural footprint of Overwatch stretches far beyond the screen with fan art, cosplay and an animated miniseries. It's sparked a global community where, and hopefully under Microsoft's new leadership the Overwatch League will flourish again. With Microsoft's acquisition, Overwatch stands on the brink of a new era. This move isn't just a financial transaction; it's a statement about the game's innovation. Overwatch, now a billion-dollar title under one of tech's biggest names, is poised to redefine the gaming landscape. 11. The Elder Scrolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI-EOVpDvo The Elder Scrolls series is revered in the realm of fantasy RPG with its intricate gameplay and vast, immersive worlds. Its colossal success caught Microsoft's eye, and it acquired ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, the publisher behind The Elder Scrolls. The deal, valued at a whopping $7.5 billion in 2020, underscores the immense value and influence of this best-selling video game franchise. Starting in 1994 with The Elder Scrolls: Arena, the series continually redefines the RPG genre. Each game invites players into vast narratives and intricately detailed universes. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, released in 2011, achieved over $1 billion in its first month. Skyrim is the 7th best-selling game, selling over 60 million copies. This success reflects the series' blend of immersive storytelling and player-driven adventure. With Microsoft's backing, The Elder Scrolls is poised for new horizons, promising to uphold its legacy as a beacon of interactive storytelling. 12. World of Warcraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03STclgxSc Since its 2004 inception, World of Warcraft (WoW) has redefined the MMORPG genre and amassed over $10 billion in revenue. Crafted by Blizzard Entertainment, WoW unfolds in the mythical world of Azeroth, captivating a player base of over 100 million registered accounts. Eighteen years on, its magic hasn't faded, with 9 to 10 million active players. You embark on epic quests, battle legendary beasts, and form alliances, constantly shaping Azeroth's destiny. Whether tackling dungeons, engaging in large-scale PvP battles, or simply exploring its vast landscapes, WoW offers a dynamic, player-evolving experience. The game's enduring appeal is reflected in its nine major expansions, each widening Azeroth's horizons. Beyond gaming, WoW influences real-world economics and social dynamics, underlining its cultural significance. Continuing its march, WoW consistently leaves a lasting impression on digital culture and entertainment. 13. Candy Crush Saga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le6LuyWfoIQ Candy Crush Saga is a huge mobile game hit and cultural phenomenon. This addictively simple tile-matching game has generated a staggering $20 billion, redefining casual mobile gaming. Microsoft owns it after acquiring Activision Blizzard and its developer, King. The game shows how simplicity, accessibility, and a freemium model can create a blockbuster in the digital age. At its peak, Candy Crush Saga was pulling in nearly $1 million daily, proving optional in-game purchases equals a goldmine. With the rise in casual gaming, Candy Crush proves that sometimes the simplest games can lead to the sweetest successes. Microsoft's gaming dominion Where digital entertainment is now king, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has positioned it as a gaming titan. Each franchise grows Microsoft's gaming empire from the blocky realms of Minecraft to the strategic depths of Age of Empires and the fast-paced battlegrounds of Call of Duty. Activision Blizzard's exit from being an independent company will have far-reaching consequences across all gaming platforms:  * PC * Consoles * Mobile * Streaming Microsoft's influence now extends beyond mere gameplay. It can scrap, reboot, or reshape our beloved titles and decide what we play. The recent acquisition encapsulates not just games but entire universes and communities, each with rich lore and a dedicated following. With this vast array of billion-dollar franchises, Microsoft is not just playing games; it's setting the rules for the future of gaming.
What Is an Internet Café, and How Did They Come About?
Ever wondered what an internet café is? An internet café is a business that rents computers to users by the minute or the hour. It began in the 1990s when internet access wasn't just a tap away. Now, in an age where Wi-Fi flows as freely as water, it's almost quaint to think there was a time when internet access wasn't just a pocket's reach away. If you wanted to ride the information superhighway (the internet's name in the 90s), you'd need to find an Internet Café or Cybercafé. It was a different digital landscape because: * No Wi-Fi – everyone used cables. Most of us were still on dial-up internet connection. * No laptops – computers were bulky behemoths anchored to desks. * No smartphones – your phone was just a dial-up and the internet? Not a chance. Believe it or not, in 1993, the speediest modem chugged along at 14.4 kbps or 51.84Mb per hour. Downloading a single photo? Grab a coffee while you wait—it was a few minutes of your life. Fast fact: Even in 2019, the United States Census Bureau reported a quirky stat—about 265,000 Americans still use dial-up. After reminiscing about those early days of modem melodies, let's rewind the tape and dive into the birth of internet cafés—where it all began. The desktop dilemma: When portability wasn't in the dictionary Today, it's all about instant gratification! But, flashback to the mid-'90s and early 2000s: computers were as stationary as a vending machine. If you were outside but needed to tap into the digital world, you were out of luck. Your desktop at home or the office was your only portal to the burgeoning internet. The solution? The iconic internet café. A place where you could drink coffee or a soda while replying to emails, 'surf the net,' or write a report. This was the era's hot ticket for prototype digital nomads—because, honestly, the alternative was waiting for a turn at a friend's place or counting the hours until you could reunite with your bulky PC. What was a typical internet café like? Internet cafés of this era focused more on computers than the café side. A room would contain rows of up to 20 desktop computers linked to dodgy printers that usually left streaks on the pages. You'd pay upfront for a slice of time—15 minutes for a quick email check or an hour for a deep dive into work. A countdown timer kept track of your minutes, and when time was up, so was your session—unless you were ready to invest in more minutes. And overseeing this tech sanctuary? Usually, just one person multitasking as a cashier, tech support, and the keeper of refreshments and snacks. Simple, yet it was everything we needed. The new millennium: Internet cafés hit refresh Fast-forward to 1996, a pivotal year when Australia invented Wi-Fi. Suddenly, the internet wasn't chained to our desks anymore. Meanwhile, tech wizards were crafting laptops you could carry. Cell phones made their mark with Nokia unveiling the first mobile phone in Finland that could peek into the internet—yeah, the web was going mobile. As the 2000s rolled in, mobile broadband (3G) and prepaid internet cards allowed people to access the internet almost anywhere. Free Wi-Fi became common in hotels and airports. Internet access was popping up everywhere, with no minute-by-minute fees attached. But this new era of ubiquitous connectivity? It hit internet cafés hard. The once-bustling hubs where you'd pay for precious online time started declining as the internet escaped the confines of cafés and spread into the wild. Internet café owners had to develop ideas beyond email and the World Wide Web to stay competitive in the evolving tech landscape. Game on: The evolution of cyber cafés Gaming's always been about community, long before our screens lit up with Facebook. Coin-op arcades were the original hangouts, buzzing with the beeps and chimes of high scores and shared fun. When the internet hit the scene, it supercharged gaming. Now, we weren't just playing; we were connecting—globally, in real-time. Multiplayer games changed the game. Internet cafés became the go-to spots for digital duels and global tournaments, turning solitary gaming into a shared, competitive quest. LAN (Local Area Network) gaming brought a whole new dimension to cyber cafés. Rows of PCs are connected not just by cables but by the excitement of players sitting shoulder to shoulder. These LAN parties transformed internet cafés into buzzing gaming arenas. Players would gather to dive into intense, real-time battles, bringing their own rigs or using the café's systems. Over 650 LAN centers across the US became the epicenters of this phenomenon, offering a unique blend of virtual competition and real-world camaraderie. In these hubs, gamers found their tribe, competing in popular titles, strategizing face-to-face, and celebrating victories together. The digital arena grew beyond casual play; it became a competitive sport. Gamers didn't just want to play; they wanted to compete, rank, and be recognized. Internet cafés, with their rows of computers, became the battlegrounds for these virtual tournaments, fostering a new culture of gaming that was about camaraderie, competition, and connection. What does a typical internet or gaming café look like today? To run a prime gaming café today it's not just about having computers. You need: * Top-notch PCs for unparalleled gameplay. * Crystal-clear monitors that make pixels come to life. * Responsive keyboards for split-second action. * Ergonomic chairs for enduring comfort. * Lightning-fast internet to keep lag at bay. * Dynamic lighting to set the gaming mood. * A lineup of epic games to satisfy any genre enthusiast. It all costs a lot of money. But for those who nail the trifecta of gaming, business, and location? The odds are in their favor. The gaming world has exploded, with nearly 2 billion mobile gamers sparking up screens worldwide, as reported by Statista. The pandemic turned scores of folks into gamers, and while some have put down the controllers post-lockdown, the scene's still buzzing. Not everyone's gaming at home. In buzzing cityscapes, like those in South Korea, internet or gaming cafés are the retreats for those who live in close quarters. They're a smart move for business owners, too—lower overheads and a keen understanding of local demand can spell success. But it's not all about the spontaneous game craving. To really thrive, café owners craft communities. They're the architects of events, the hosts of tournaments, and the organizers of parties. Memberships with perks, discounts, and leagues are the bait that hooks the regulars and keeps them returning for more. What is the internet café/gaming café in the US like? Navigating the landscape of US gaming and internet cafés? It's like diving into a patchwork of unique spots, each tailored to the local vibe and gamer preferences. It's not just about esports, where pros and joysticks joust in digital arenas—though it's got its champions. The real scoop, courtesy of gg Circuit's insights on 900 active gaming centers: esports is the tip of the iceberg, with just 15% diving into competitive play. Hardcore gamers? They're likely at home, dialed into their personal high-spec setups. So, using an internet café is less likely where they would want to be. But zoom out to the bigger picture, and it's clear—gaming's a universal language. 81.9% of players will play on any device, with smartphones clinching the most popular gaming device. With the rise of cloud gaming, gaming café could be perfect with their high-speed internet. The gaming café owner often aims at the casual crowd. Those seeking connection over competition, lacking that lightning-speed internet or the latest releases at home, or just groups of friends having fun together. Not all gaming cafés are running the latest competitive video games. Old-school board games can attract many folks who are not into high-action games, and retro arcade games still pull people into internet cafés. As for the munchies? Think niche—craft beers, specialty snacks—that sometimes steal the spotlight, making the gaming almost an encore to the main act. Should you go to a gaming café? Ever thought about hitting up a gaming café? It's more social than gaming. A spot where you can dive into your favorite games, solo and with a crew. It's the live reactions—laughs, gasps, and banter—that make it way more epic than any headset chat. Into board games? Then there's no place better. With the slower pace, chatting between turns is natural and a perfect way to get to know people or to make friends. Gaming cafés offer more than screens and controllers—they're a space to relax, connect, and play. So, ready to join the game? Smart play: Gaming café safety tips When planning to hit up a gaming or internet café, here's your quick checklist for a secure and enjoyable visit: * Location Check: Make sure the café is in a safe neighborhood. * Personal Belongings: Keep your essentials—wallet, phone, keys— in your pocket or a bag between your feet. * Account Safety: Avoid logging into your primary gaming accounts that may contain personal information or payment details on public computers. If necessary, use two-factor authentication and change your passwords afterward. * Downloads: Avoid downloading and installing games or software from unfamiliar sources on gaming cafe computers. Only download from trusted sources and, if necessary, bring your own game files on a USB drive. * Session Sign-off: Always log out of the computer after playing. * Privacy Protection: Be cautious about sharing any personal details with fellow gamers. * Gear Guarding: If you bring gaming gear, don't leave them unattended. * Virus Check: Always virus-check your USB when you return home. With these pointers in mind, you're set for a secure session of gaming fun! From the '90s internet café dial-up sounds to the exhilarating shouts of victory in today's gaming lounges, we've seen an incredible evolution. These spaces have adapted, survived, and thrived, inviting each of us to be part of the ongoing story. So why not drop by a gaming café? It's a portal to our past and a nod to our ever-connected future.

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