The universe of Zootopia gets even bigger in Disney Lorcana’s upcoming 10th expansion, Whispers In The Well, set for release on 14 November 2025.

While the likes of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are no strangers to Lorcana, Geek Culture had a chance to peek into their main base of operations, the Zootopia – Police Headquarters location card, which expands the city’s footprint within the game.

Like many Steel ink cards, the Zootopia – Police Headquarters location card allows players to filter their hand early on to secure the best possible start. With its low cost, it can hit the field as early as the first turn, and once it’s in play, it earns 1 Lore each round the location remains active.

In terms of performance, the Zootopia – Police Headquarters holds its own among other uncommon-rarity locations seen so far in Lorcana. Its main drawback is the additional cost required each time you use its ability to filter your hand having to draw a card, pick to best of the lot, and discarding one. Compared to other locations that have been released, the ability is am on-rate trade-off for its consistency and flexibility. There will be a good chance the card will be included by default in the new Whispers In The Well preconstructed deck featuring Judy Hopps on the box art.

With Whispers In The Well being the first expansion to follow Fabled, it’ll be cool to see how the Steel archetype evolves in the current meta. Based on current meta decks, Steel pairs well with Amethyst, focusing on removing evasive cards through direct damage rather than digging for win conditions. It’s unlikely this new addition could shift the balance by itself, opening up new combinations and strategies.

We’re currently deep in spoiler season for Whispers In The Well, and if our hunch is right, the Zootopia expansion won’t stop here. It wouldn’t be surprising to see other iconic locations like Bunnyburrow or Tundratown join the lineup soon giving players even more reasons to explore the wild world of Zootopia in Lorcana.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Disney Lorcana: Whispers In The Well Set ‘Zootopia – Police Headquarters’ Card Preview appeared first on Geek Culture.

If your lifelong love of pizza started with four turtle brothers in a New York sewer, you’re not alone.

With a release slated for 6 March 2026, Magic: The Gathering is teaming up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) for a crossover set that spans every era of the franchise. From the original black-and-white comics to the ‘80s cartoon, blockbuster films, and modern animated reboots, the franchise is all-encompassing across the mutant turtle multiverse. What’s missing are the excellent video game renditions which might be showcased down the line.

At New York Comic Con 2025, fans got their first sneak peek at the upcoming cards. Yes, your favourite turtles are all here, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, each ready for battle in card form.

But the biggest reveal? A chase card signed by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman. Styled with the original comic art, this card is a major draw and will have collectors scrambling to get their hands on it.

Most of the Magic: The Gathering community still remember the hype around the recent Spider-Man set. It started strong, but many felt the card variety didn’t go deep enough. With TMNT, expectations are high. Everyone’s hoping for a deeper cut into the turtle universe considering that it spans across four distinct generations.

With this reveal, Magic: The Gathering’s full 2026 lineup is now locked in with seven sets ready to launch ending off with a Star Trek set. While some groups of fans are more than happy to empty their wallets, the lack of a more substantial Magic: The Gathering high fantasy universe presence have left some of the original players alienated from the game they had grown up with.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Magic: The Gathering Taps Radical Nostalgia With ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Set appeared first on Geek Culture.

It was inevitable. Since the first Marvel-themed Magic: The Gathering card landed in the franchise, it was certain that the Infinity Stones would eventually make their appearance.

After all, cards like Fist of Suns and a variant art of Arcane Signet, each alluding to the Infinity Gauntlet, have been teased in Magic: The Gathering. For years, fans speculated and yearned for a collision of two of the world’s most expansive pop culture universes: Marvel and Magic.

The power of the cosmos will present itself at the humble street level as the upcoming Marvel’s Spiderman Universes Beyond Magic: The Gathering set in the form of the Soul Stone.

The key aspect of the extended art Soul Stone card is the foiling treatment, which we presume is the maximum rarity the card can achieve. We last saw a similar treatment in the One Ring from the Lord of the Rings Universes Beyond set. Devoid of any text, players will have to remember the card’s ability to bring back creatures from the graveyard directly onto the battlefield after paying (or cheating) the hefty card cost.

One can safely assume that the Soul Stone will not be the first as players will be looking to assemble the rest of the Infinity Gems. The Soul Stone is likely the starting points for a broader phased release in which the six Infinity Stones will be distributed across various future Marvel Magic: The Gathering sets. If we’re to make an educated guess, once players have collected all six stones, and placing it within the Gauntlet, unlocking a special win condition would be the most natural outcome.

The only thing left then would be to do this –

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post First Infinity Stone Debuts In Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Crossover Set appeared first on Geek Culture.

If you had missed out on getting onto the Lorcana trading card game bandwagon back in its initial release, the upcoming Fabled expansion, releasing on 29 August 2025, will help you easily get up to speed.

The key aspect of the Fabled expansion is not simply adding new cards. As with many trading card games as a whole, refreshing the meta is an important step in a game’s lifecycle. This would give newer players an opportunity to enter the game on a fresh slate. However, at the same time, it would inadvertently cause some friction amongst existing invested players who have their current cards rendered obsolete.

Lorcana is rotating out its earliest four sets (The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, Into the Inklands, Ursula’s Return) from the “Core Constructed” competitive format. Although these sets will still be legal in the new “Infinity Constructed” format, this move brings a fresh metagame, ensuring new strategies and helping level the playing field for those who started after the earliest launches.

Brand new rarities spice up collecting and gameplay. The “Epic” rarity adds a shiny tier between Legendary and Enchanted, offering striking borderless art of past favorites, while “Iconic” rarity cards are sure to become coveted highlights for every collector.

Fabled stands out by reprinting over half of its card list from earlier sets. This is a huge win for anyone who missed iconic cards the first time around; fan favorites return with updated set symbols, new rarity treatments, and sometimes brand-new art or foiling styles.

Enter Robin Hood

Originally printed in the second Lorcana expansion, Rise of the Floodborn, Robin Hood – Capable Fighter returns to control the early game and get rid of small, key support characters in an exclusive reveal to Geek Culture ahead of the Fabled set’s release.

Here are some ways you’ll see this legend used to maximum effect –

Synergy Plays: Pair Robin Hood with cards that trigger off damaged characters or amplify direct damage. Equipment like Robin’s Bow or supportive locations can multiply his impact.

Continuous Threat: His ability makes opponents second-guess leaving fragile characters out, forcing more conservative strategies and gaining you tempo.

Combo Potential: Decks that can repeatedly ready Robin with effects or recover him quickly can use his ping multiple times per game, locking down the board.

The biggest benefit of playing Robin Hood – Capable Fighter would be having the option to shift into Robin Hood – Champion of Sherwood (though as of writing we are unsure if this card will be available in the new meta) or the existing Robin Hood – Sneaky Slueth who will linger on in the metagame a while longer, allowing him to gain greater relevance in the late game as well.

As the spoiler season rolls on, we shall see if Robin Hood goes back to his old ways or gains a new form to wreak terror on the battlefield. We know for sure that Robin Hood will be joining up with Officer Judy Hopps in the upcoming Whispers in the Well preconstructed deck, with the other fox favourite Nick Wilde nowhere to be seen.

On the upside, if you already have a playset of Robin Hood – Capable Fighter, you’ll be able to continue using him until 2027 before the card gets possibly rotated out once again.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Disney Lorcana: Fabled Set ‘Robin Hood – Capable Fighter’ Card Preview appeared first on Geek Culture.

With Disney’s Lorcana, the trading card game by Ravensburger, launching officially in Asia, it’s time for outreach efforts to expand further beyond local game stores.

From 23 – 29 June 2025, head on down to VivoCity Singapore (near the Golden Village cinema) and take part in the Lorcana learn-to-play demo sessions to score yourself an exclusive ‘Anna – Ice Breaker‘, promo card!

Promo cards are highly sought after by the trading card community, and this is by far one of the easiest ways for Disney fans to get hold of one. All you have to do, is show up, play the demo game, and receive your card.

But, just in case you’re looking to get into the game proper, the event will be a good way to get hold of Lorcana booster boxes from Set 1, all the way to the current Set 8 booster box – Reign of Jafar.

Do note that as a new player, you do not need to have all the cards from the past to play competitively. At this point of time, only sets from Shimmering Skies (Set 5) to Reign of Jafar (Set 8) will be legal for competitive play from September 2025 onwards.

If you’re wondering why a trading card game will be heading to VivoCity of all places, it would have to do with the massive Stitch movie promotional venue which you should check out at the same time –

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Break The Ice With Exclusive Lorcana Anna Promo Card At VivoCity Learn-To-Play Sessions appeared first on Geek Culture.

As the worlds of Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy collide, the response could not have been more assuring for both Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix. With booster boxes of the latest Magic: The Gathering expansion flying off the shelves at lightning speed, fans and new entrants to the trading card game will find it hard to get hold of their desired product.

However, pockets of supply do exist in the market. As we head into the full release of the hotly contested set, Singapore local game store Hideout, is organising an event where you could get your hands on more Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy product.

Festivities kick off this weekend (14 – 15 June 2025) at Suntec City, Singapore. Here are the top picks and deals to check out.

Commander Lucky Bag

We first spotted this bundle back in Singapore Comic Con 2024 where Hideout’s booth offered “fukubukuro” (Japanese-style mystery bags) filled with value. Fast forward to 2025, the upcoming Commander Lucky Bag has everything to kickstart your Magic: The Gathering journey for S$138.

Keep in mind that not all the bags will have Final Fantasy product, but it’s still a solid deal all around.

If you’d prefer a product with more certainty, the following option is a good alternative –

The starter kit comes with two cards featuring Cloud and Sephiroth that can only be found within the set, plus you get everything else from deckboxes, sleeves, and two more booster packs for a bundle price of S$60 to protect the collection.

Sealed Events

One of the best ways to learn Magic: The Gathering is in a low-stakes, level-playing-field event where everyone uses the same pool of cards. In a sealed format, players build a 40-card deck from six booster packs and face off against other players. It’s a great way to test your luck and skills on equal footing.

Pre-registration is needed for this weekend’s event, so grab your tickets before they are sold out.

Chocobo Racing Event Series

Play more events, win more swag! From this weekend onwards at the Play Event, every win and attendance for sealed and draft formats will earn you points to redeem a Chocobo poster and pin.

Compared to other sets, Wizards of the Coast is certainly pushing hard to get everyone in stores and laying out swag for the dedicated and skilled.

If you’re there just for the vibes, keep an eye out for cosplayers, too, as they’ll be adding their unique flair to the event.

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Hideout TCG Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Launch Event
Where: Suntec City (Next to Shake Shack)
When: 14 – 15 June 2025
Time: 9AM – 9PM

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Power Up Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Deals At Local Retailer Hideout’s Play Event appeared first on Geek Culture.

At Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, fans got a first look at Star Wars Zero Company, the newest video game title entering the galaxy far, far away. Instead of fast action or lightsaber battles, this game is all about smart planning, tough choices, and leading a team to overcome dangerous missions.

Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game where players take turns moving their team around a battlefield, telling them where to go and what to do. If you’ve played games like XCOM or Midnight Suns, it will feel familiar by taking cover, throwing grenades, or missing a critical shot when the odds are strongly in your favour.

The story takes place near the end of the Clone Wars. You play as Hawks, a former Republic officer who now leads a special squad of fighters. This group, called Zero Company, is made up of different characters which players can recruit from around the galaxy. The ragtag group could consist of Clone Troopers, Droids, Bountry Hunters, and even Jedi Padawans. But they don’t always get along, and it’s your job to keep the team working together.

What makes this game stand out is that your choices do matter. If a teammate dies, they’re gone for good with the inclusion of a permadeath mechanic on higher difficulty levels. While players can save scum their way to victory, it usually makes such tactical games hollow. This is similar to how XCOM works, where you grow attached to your characters and feel the loss when you’ve put a squad mate into unnecessary danger.

But Zero Company isn’t just about fighting. It also focuses on the relationships between your squad members, kind of like in Mass Effect. Some characters already have their own stories and personalities when they join while others can be created and customized.

The game’s world is darker and more serious than most Star Wars stories. It’s more like Rogue One, where small teams take on big missions and things don’t always go as planned. The trailer shows off the familiar UI that longtime fans of the genre will recognize plus a good dose of Star Wars lore.

Star Wars Zero Company will be released in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post ‘Star Wars Zero Company’ Brings XCOM-Style Strategy To The Clone Wars In 2026 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 continues to deliver surprise moments for fans, as during the panel for the upcoming second season of Ahsoka, set to begin production next week, Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) took to the stage and announced his return as Anakin Skywalker for the Disney+ streaming series, to the loud cheers of fans.  

The announcement capped off a panel which started off with series creator Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), executive producer Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian, The Jungle Book), and lead star Rosario Dawson (Daredevil).

As fans entered the hall, the stage only had three seats set-up for Filoni, Favreau, and Dawson, but midway though the panel, following a brief clip featuring Anakin and Ahsoka on screen, Christensen stepped onto the stage to enthusiastic applause. His return, teased throughout the session, was announced near the end of the panel. 

“There’s not much I can share, but Anakin will be back for season two,” he told the cheering crowd, appearing visibly overwhelmed by the resounding response.

Christensen famously played the future Darth Vader in 2002 and 2005’s Star Wars prequel films, and stepped away from the Star Wars universe before making his return as Anakin and Vader in the 2022 Disney+ streaming series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He subsequently returned for two episodes in 2023’s Ahsoka as the Force Ghost of Anakin, to great enthusiasm of fans, some of whom were critical of his initial entry to the galaxy far, far away at the turn of the century.

Along with previous year’s Celebration event, Christensen has become one of the standout attractions, as his return to the Star Wars universe has made him a central figure at the event. He has drawn some of the longest lines for autograph signings and photo ops, with prices reflecting that demand. A photo session with Christensen costs approximately US$208, making him the highest-priced guest at the event, with the next closest being Dawson, who plays the live-action version of Anakin’s former padawan, Ahsoka, who has an asking price of US$181. 

Set after the fall of the Empire, the first season of Ahsoka follows former Jedi Ahsoka Tano as she searches for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi, King Richard) and confronts the growing threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, House of Cards).

She is joined by Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo, The Society) and Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), with the group journeying to the distant world of Peridea. Along the way, they encounter powerful Force users Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno, Pacific Rim: Uprising) and Baylan Skoll, played by the late Ray Stevenson (Thor), who passed before the show premiered. At the panel, it was also announced that Game of Thrones‘ actor Rory McCann would step in to play evil Jedi Baylan Skol.

One of Season 1’s most talked-about moments saw Ahsoka step into the World Between Worlds, a mysterious realm where she confronts her past and reconnects with her former master.

At the heart of Ahsoka lies her bond with Anakin Skywalker. First introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, their relationship as Master and Padawan shaped the emotional arc of both characters across animated and live-action stories. Though Ahsoka walked away from the Jedi Order, her connection to Anakin remains central. Their reunion in the World Between Worlds offered a powerful turning point, allowing Ahsoka to reconcile with the past and grow beyond it.Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 also brought news on other major projects across the galaxy. These included the title and release date reveal for Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling’s standalone Star Wars film, and the debut teaser for The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Hayden Christensen Returning As Anakin Skywalker In Disney+ ‘Ahsoka’ Season Two appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s been six years since a new Star Wars film and audiences were not only treated to news of a new movie out of Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, but it even came with a premiere date.

Star Wars: Starfighter will serve as a new standalone film set five years after the events of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine, 2024), and starring Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy, 2024). Production is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025, with Lucasfilm aiming for a theatrical release on 28 May 2027 with scriptwriter Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project, Banshee), who previously worked with Levy on multiple projects joining up to bring the production to life.

While details about the new film have not been revealed, it has been described as “an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet”. Space fights have long been a staple in the Star Wars franchise, from the films, to PC classics such as  X-Wing (1993) and TIE Fighter (1994), which brought immersive space combat simulation to a new level. Subsequently, the Rogue Squadron series took off on the Nintendo 64, and reached new heights on the Nintendo GameCube with Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. 

For years, fans hoped to see that same spirit on the big screen — hopes that briefly soared with the announcement of a Rogue Squadron film from director Patty Jenkins, before it was seemingly shelved.

That legacy now finds new life, as revealed during a packed panel at Makuhari Messe, with fans and Geek Culture in attendance.

After being welcomed to the stage by writer and director Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka), Levy immediately disclaimed that the movie “…is a stand-alone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet.”

Levy’s fear stems from his excitement in talking to fans, but it was not without good reason.

“I’ve read about people who are in the movie and who are not in the movie. Most of it is very inaccurate but one of those rumours I heard that I do need to dispel is I had heard at one point that my movie was going to star Ryan Gosling, and believe me that would be a dream come true for me. So today, I just wanted to tell you here in this room that the rumour is 100 per cent…true.”, sending the hall into a frenzy.

Wearing a “never tell me the odds” cap in a nod to Han Solo, Ryan Gosling took the stage to a warm welcome. A childhood photo followed, showing his Star Wars bedsheets from when he was a kid, submitted by his mother.

“The reality is that this script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters,” said Gosling from the stage. “It’s filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn.”

“She still has them, obviously,” Gosling joked, referring to the Star Wars bedsheets. “Naturally, she thought that it might be something that the fans would appreciate, but I suspect that she just sort of wants to justify years of hoarding.”

Looking at the massive projection of the bedsheets, he added, “As you can see from the picture, I guess I was probably dreaming about Star Wars before I even saw the film. And it’s probably framed my idea of what a movie even was.”

Star Wars: Starfighter is the first major theatrical Star Wars project to be set after the Sequel Trilogy. With Shawn Levy directing and Ryan Gosling starring, it signals Lucasfilm’s plans to tell new stories with fresh characters beyond the Skywalker saga.

While the release date is still two years away, the announcement at Star Wars Celebration Japan has already set the stage. With a fresh story, a star-powered cast, and a creative team ready to take flight, Star Wars: Starfighter looks ready to chart a new course through the stars.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Ryan Gosling Leads ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Standalone Film With Director Shawn Levy appeared first on Geek Culture.

Footage from the first Star Wars film in seven years, The Mandalorian & Grogu, has finally been revealed, and met with rousing applause at the ongoing Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. 

Director and co-writer Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2) and co-writer Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka) took to the stage at the opening panel of the three-day fan and public event, to reveal new details, as well as premiere the official teaser of the upcoming film that serves as a sequel and continuation to Disney+’s The Mandalorian, as well as other interconnected Star Wars streaming shows, including The Book of Boba Fett.

This marks the first time the popular characters Din Djarin aka The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us) and Grogu aka Baby Yoda will make their big-screen Star Wars appearance.

Announced in January 2024, the film marks the first in a series of upcoming live-action Star Wars movies that will move away from the Skywalker Saga, and will be the first Star Wars movie since Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. 

As Pascal stepped onto the stage to a roar of applause from the rabid Star Wars fans, he kicked things off by stating he knew right from the start that the Mandalorian would connect to the people in a massive way.

“The first day that I got to sit down with John and Dave in the writer’s room, they showed me a wall to wall story illustrations of the first season of the Mandalorian. I remember just seeing the greatest sort of visual storyboards that I had ever seen. Did I feel like people would connect? Yeah, I did. I knew that would because of these guys. You.”

Cue screams and cheers from the audience as Pedro pointed into the crowd as he delivered the line.

Joining Pascal are new stars to the massively popular Star Wars franchise, including Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, Avatar), and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), the latter who plays Rotta the Hutt, son of the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Returning from the streaming series are Johnny Coyne, who returns as an Imperial Warlord, and voice actor Steve Blum as Garazeb ‘Zeb’ Orrelios, from Star Wars Rebels.

Weaver’s entry to the franchise was as smooth as it could be, as all it took was a Zoom call with Favreau and Filoni get the ball rolling but it would take more to seal the deal.

“I got really lucky and I just want to say what a thrill it is to see everyone here. Jon and Dave invited me to zoom with them and they gave me an assignment to watch it (The Mandalorian). And, when I watched it, I fell in love with all the characters but especially this man,” as Weaver tapped Pedro on his shoulder to the delight of the crowd.

But it would take more to tip Weaver over to the side of The Force, and that came in the form of Mando’s companion.

“May I just say, Grogu, like all of you, stole my heart.”

While the Celebration teaser trailer didn’t reveal any plot details, it will see Din Djarin and Grogu going on a new adventure and meeting new friends along the way. The movie started as a planned fourth season for The Mandalorian, but after delays caused by the Hollywood writer’s strikes, Lucasfilm decided to shift gears and turn it into a film. 

Filming happened entirely in California, and marks the first time a Star Wars movie has filmed in one location, and will premiere on May 22, 2026. 

The teaser at Star Wars Celebration Japan opens up with a scene inside an AT-AT, where the commander orders his squad to forge ahead.

The camera turns to the rear entrance and the door blasts open with Mando blasting his way in.

It’s a corridor fight and in such tight space, Mando makes quick work of at least 10 Imperial forces using the full range of his armaments to dispatch his foes.

As Mando completes the job, we cut to the exterior of a snowy mountain as the AT-AT collapses and explodes.

We then cut to Weaver’s character who seem to play as Mando’s handler and she says ‘Messy… so messy’ which could have been directed to the recent AT-AT mission.

She then quickly says “No” to Grogu who was trying to Force Pull a bowl of snacks toward by grabbing the bowl mid motion.

Next, we see a hypercut of various scenes and an appearance of Zeb as Mando walks with him in a hangar.

Grogu is now very much in control of his powers and he Force Crushes a mouse droid effortlessly and he seemed proud of his feat with a small chuckle.

The teaser ends with a Hutt roaring in an arena but we’re not sure if it might be Jeremy Allen White’s new character and the close off with Grogu cheering and eating a snack.

The presentation for The Mandalorian & Grogu at Star Wars Celebration Japan was not just about showing cool footage. It showed that Star Wars is ready to return to movie theaters in a big way. This film is the first time characters from a Star Wars streaming show are taking the lead in a movie. With Favreau and Filoni steering the ship, the movie is being made for both longtime fans and newcomers. It could even be a first Star Wars experience for a new generation.The details and footage revealed today give us our best look yet at what is ahead. It also helps connect the dots with other shows like Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett. Din and Grogu’s journey from bounty hunter and foundling to movie heroes has officially begun.

This is the way… from a galaxy far, far away to a cinema near you.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Debuts Action-Packed First Looks At Star Wars Celebration Japan appeared first on Geek Culture.

It doesn’t take anyone with special intelligence to surmise that the rapid push into AI, or artificial intelligence, is going to cost consumers, who will soon see AI models invade their homes through computers, smartphones, tablets and even cars. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push cultural conversations, the economics behind it are rapidly coming into focus since the technology demands massive computational power and constant development, and are unlikely to be offered for free down the line.

Few companies want to put a price tag on things at the moment, given that not many have successfully rolled out AI alongside hardware, but this pivot to machine learning at scale, where the system essentially ‘learns’ from patterns in data will change how consumers subscribe to services in the future, much like the way our grandparents could never fathom paying for a portable phone line that would be with them 24/7.

With the launch of Google’s Pixel 9 flagship series, the integration of AI into hardware has never been more evident, particularly with large language models like Gemini, Google’s AI assistant – requiring extensive training data, large-scale infrastructure, and significant processing power to function. The tech giant is pushing Gemini Advanced, the premium upgrade that comes at additional cost, through its current hook, to get consumers seduced by AI, is a complimentary one-year subscription on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL models. 

Speaking to Geek Culture at Mountain View in California after the Made By Google 2024 event, Amar Subramanya, Vice President of Engineering at Google, shares the company’s outlook of improving both free and paid AI models and “make them amazing, and then learn from that.”

This dual approach reflects a larger trend in the AI industry. On one hand, companies want to democratise AI, making it accessible to all; on the other, advanced features such as greater context windows or faster processing power often require significant resources, justifying subscription-based models. It’s a sector that will evolve as AI continues to mature, but  Subramanya remains unfazed by its newborn nature, stating that the team can “figure out how we make progress” once there’s a “better understanding of what the economics of generative AI are.”  

The sentiment echoes a larger observation – that the economics of AI are still being defined, and how the way companies like Google monetise and distribute AI will continue to evolve with further investment. Then, there’s also an industry-wide nudge toward personalising AI for users, highlighting the growing importance of creating economically sustainable AI models that can operate efficiently on consumer-grade hardware without having to tap into cloud services. Between these considerations, as well as the immense computational power and ongoing development that AI requires, one cannot help but ask: how is financial sustainability achieved? 

For now, the balance between free and premium models ensures accessibility without compromising the development of more powerful tools, especially as these tools become embedded in everyday devices like the Pixel 9. 

As the industry has pointed out, there’s plenty of potential to harness here, evident from the growth of text processing models into a jack-of-all-trades capable of handling multiple data types, including images and voice. This explosion of multimodal (inputting prompts via text, audio, photo and video) capabilities has brought AI closer to resembling the depictions often seen in popular media, but as Subramanya points out, true artificial general intelligence (AGI) is still a distant dream.

“We’ve been making a ton of progress, especially in the last two or three years. Just even two years ago, we only had models that could take in input in the form of text and output text responses,” he explains. “And fast forward to today, you have models that can take images. We also demoed at Google I/O on inputting video and how you can actually speak to it in a natural way.”

The concept of AGI, where machines can perform any intellectual task a human is capable of, has been a defining feature of AI’s narrative in pop culture. However, the current reality is more nuanced. Today’s AI excels in specific domains, like language processing and image recognition, and although it has grown dramatically, it still lacks the unified reasoning abilities that AGI would require.    

“I think reasoning is another area where, recently, we announced this massive stride in how we can get these models to solve Mathematical Olympiad problems. So I think we will continue to make progress in all of these areas. But I do think AGI is probably a little bit further out,” Subramanya adds. 

For now, the focus remains on enhancing these specialised capabilities, gradually increasing AI’s capacity to handle more complex and diverse tasks. Still, there are challenges – while AI software is progressing at an extraordinary pace, hardware struggles to keep up. It’s hardly surprising, given the significant computational demands that modern AI places on existing hardware infrastructure, and Subramanya shares his own experience:

“We’ve made a lot of progress, particularly at Google, thanks to the work we’ve done on TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) of running these models efficiently on those processors. But the pace of progress here has been so rapid that hardware always takes a while to catch up.”

The implication here is clear – as AI becomes more integrated into everyday devices, from smartphones to wearables, ensuring that hardware can support these advancements is key. The Pixel 9 represents a significant step in this direction, providing consumers with faster, more efficient AI experiences. However, it may take time for hardware across the board to fully match the rapid evolution of AI software, which Subramanya describes as “a journey”. 

Another concern surrounding the tech is the phenomenon of “hallucinations”, where AI generates responses that are plausible but factually incorrect, which undermines trust in the system. To alleviate the issue, Google has adopted various measures, such as “including some algorithmic improvements, “improving training to get the model to hallucinate less”, and it’s secret weapon that its competitor’s won’t have – the “Google it” button.

By allowing users to cross-referencing AI-generated responses with verified sources, the industry heavyweight is one step closer to creating an environment where AI is both powerful and reliable. Doing so also paints a more complete picture of its capabilities, as the common expectation is that results should be immediate. But AI is inherently iterative, and Subramanya highlights the importance of engaging with AI over multiple interactions. 

“These models are multimodal. They are multi-turn. They are contextual. So if you don’t get the right response, if you don’t get what you want the first time around, work with the model and you will have to go through a few turns, you’d actually get there,” stresses Subramanya. “Oftentimes what will happen is people will just give up on the first try. But if you actually take one more step, you will probably end up achieving what you wanted to go for.”

There’s also the question if consumers will bite. Google isn’t the first to introduce AI to mobile devices and while Samsung has laid claim to having AI on over 100 million devices since last year, it hasn’t, or can’t claim supremacy. And this September, tech giant Apple will also roll out it’s AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence, across select iPhone 16 Pro models, which means that the battle has only just begun.

Through its various AI-powered offerings like the Pixel 9, Google is opening the door to more practical applications that have the potential to reshape industries and daily life, even if the road to AGI remains a long stretch. 

With Gemini Live already working and out in the wild, the pace at which such tools and services are moving faster than Google can roll out its latest mobile hardware globally. As it stands, current AI advancements are inadvertently reshaping user experiences especially as users learn to make full use of these tools but as AI continues to evolve, building trust and ensuring reliability will be crucial to its widespread adoption and success. 

Or it just might be another trend in tech that comes off more as a fancy party trick as opposed to actual utility.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Google Pixel 9 Outlines Economic Tightrope Between AI Innovation And Sustainability appeared first on Geek Culture.

OLED monitors have come a long way in the market, evolving from niche products to becoming mainstream choices for gamers and creative professionals alike. Initially praised for their exceptional contrast and deep blacks, OLED tech has continued to push the boundaries of brightness and colour accuracy, resetting what users expect from a display. 

Amidst the growth, the segment has followed the trajectory established by its television bretheren and splintered off into different tangents, and the likes of QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) and WOLED aka White OLED, have made their mark as some of the latest developments in the arena. The incorporation of quantum dots brings along enhanced colour performance and brightness levels, while WOLED remains competitive by focusing on maximising high dynamic range (HDR) performance and brightness. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, which features a 27-inch 1440p WOLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, exemplifies this distinction by offering superior gaming experiences with advanced features catering to the needs of serious gamers.

Cutting a sleek and modern figure, the monitor comes equipped with slim bezels and a glossy display that enhances its premium look. It opts for a more low-profile aesthetic, taking the form of subtle etching and an illuminated logo on the rear, which can be customised using the on-screen menu or coordinated with other RGB-LED devices via ASUS’ Aura Sync software.  

The stand is compact and flat, minimising its footprint on the desk and allowing for ergonomic adjustments such as height (0~120mm), tilt (+20° ~ -5°), swivel (+45° ~ -45°), and pivot (+90° ~ -90°). As the monitor is VESA compatible, users will be able to attach it to various mounts and configure a setup that fits their work or play space. Compared to past ROG models, the XG27AQDMG is subtle in its design language and does not scream “gamer” at first glance. 

There are also basic but sufficient connectivity options, including one DisplayPort 1.4 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB-A ports for connecting peripherals, and a USB-B upstream port. It’s important to note, though, that the monitor does not support HDMI 2.1 (sorry PlayStation 5 owners), which limits the maximum refresh rate to 144Hz over HDMI, while the full 240Hz is only achievable via DisplayPort.

On-screen navigation is accessed through a joystick on the underside, making it easy to navigate and adjust settings. The menus are logically arranged, with extensive image quality adjustments available, including preset modes, colour temperature, gamma settings, and six-axis colour customisation. For those new to OLED monitors, some additional time will be needed to arrive at the right display settings. 

Put it into action, the glossy coating on its 2560×1440 panel delivers sharper images as opposed to traditional matte offerings, even if it doesn’t come close to those on OLED TV displays. In standard dynamic range (SDR) mode, the XG27AQDMG reaches a maximum brightness of 260 nits, which, while competitive with other OLED monitors in the market, isn’t  particularly remarkable. Still, the blacks prove beneficial for games and movies with a darker presentation, offering deep and immersive visuals without straining the eye. 

Where it truly shines is in HDR mode. Here, it can achieve a peak brightness of 724 nits – higher than its QD-OLED competitors that typically top out at 400 nits. Part of the magic can be credited to WOLED tech and its incorporation of a white sub-pixel in addition to the traditional red, green, and blue (RGB) sub-pixels found in standard OLED panels. Unlike the latter, WOLED panels use a white OLED emitter layer that produces white light, which then passes through RGB colour filters to create the desired colours. The additional white sub-pixel also allows more light to pass through, resulting in higher luminance levels. 

Essentially, this enhanced brightness brings out more detail in luminous areas of a scene, making HDR content on the monitor look exceptionally vibrant and detailed. There’s a small hitch, however – orange tones appear somewhat undersaturated, translating into skin tone issues that are exacerbated by the limited colour customisation in HDR, restricted to three nearly identical presets. 

In particular, the problem is more noticeable when running SDR emulation in HDR, and remains slightly off in pure HDR scenes. All other colours look good elsewhere, with orange tones appearing just fine in sRGB mode. For now, the recommendation is to turn off HDR when not viewing HDR content, and hopefully a future firmware update will be able to address the issue. 

As a gaming monitor, it’s important for the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG to nail motion performance – and it does. The 240Hz refresh rate combined with a 0.03ms response time ensures smooth and responsive gameplay, but there’s also the Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) mode that reduces motion blur with backlight strobing. While effective, the feature reduces brightness and is limited to a 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the monitor supports a wide range of adaptive sync technologies, including VESA Adaptive Sync 240, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, for a tear-free gaming experience across various platforms.

Putting it through its paces in Doom Eternal yielded stunning visuals in HDR mode and undersaturated orange hues, as mentioned earlier. Mowing through hordes of demons proved to be a smooth experience, easily exceeding the bar when compared to previously reviewed monitors. When it comes to SDR performance, the monitor continues to excel with accurate colours in Hades 2 and Zenless Zone Zero. It was highly capable of keeping up with the on-screen action for both games, handling the constant changes in motion seamlessly and without much effort. 

A widespread concern with OLED technology is screen burn-in, and ASUS has taken measures to reduce the chances of it happening. The XG27AQDMG boasts several tailored features such as pixel shifting, a brightness limiter for static elements, and pixel shifting, which is less aggressive than on the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, but does appear from time to time to keep it in tip-top shape. 

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is a compelling option for gamers seeking a highly competent OLED monitor, with its HDR performance, high refresh rate, and advanced gaming features adding to the allure of a US$749 or S$1,199 price tag. While it has minor drawbacks, such as limited HDMI 2.0 support and undersaturated colours, its overall value and performance make it a strong contender in the OLED market. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a content creator, the monitor offers an exceptional visual experience that is hard to beat.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

Even as tech companies struggle to successfully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their products to enhance the daily life of user, Korean tech giant Samsung is already taking things several steps further. After successfully embedding AI into its flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 earlier this year, the chaebol is now emphasizing a human-centric approach so instead of merely showcasing what the technology is capable of, Samsung is focusing on how people can tap on AI to improve their lives. Unlike many competitors, its AI integrations aim at creating a seamless and unique user experience, blending hardware and software in ways that stand out from the typical software-based virtual assistants.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is its latest smartphone and the first to adopt Samsung’s human approach and while the flip device didn’t enjoy the smoothest growth in its quest to reinvent the past, this year’s line-up continues to serve as a bold ode to the good old days of flip phones that consumers slowly grew to embrace. With the addition of AI, the conversation has shifted from hardware functionality and concerns over durability, to how implementation can seamlessly integrate with a unique clamshell. 

Or at least it makes an attempt to.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 retains the signature flip phone flair of its predecessor – to the point that the design language seems deliberately held back, which means the upgrades here are, as such, more minor touches than a big leap forward, bleeding into other parts of the foldable, including its overall build. When folded, it measures 14.9mm thick, just slightly thinner than before, and weighs 188 grams. The device is both lightweight and durable, armed with a reinforced Armor Aluminum chassis and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with a robust form factor for improved protection against scratches and impact. 

While the aluminum edges promise a more comfortable grip and reduced accidental touches, the rigidity may cause discomfort during prolonged use, especially when gaming. There’s no denying the premium build quality, however, which features a visually appealing finish that maintains a modern aesthetic.

The familiar dual-display setup with an outer display makes a return on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, boasting the same 3.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a 720 x 748 resolution. The small screen size means limited functionality, but users can still expect a quick access point for notifications and essential functions. Supported widgets include Spotify, Weather, and Calendar, with the tech’s maturity ultimately capped at offering similar capabilities as before. 

Unfolding the device reveals the main attraction: a 6.7-inch 2640 x 1080 AMOLED display. Despite the 1080p panel, the AMOLED technology ensures vibrant colors and deep blacks, enhancing the visual experience. A 120Hz refresh rate ensures fluid and responsive interaction, proving crucial for activities such as gaming and video streaming. 

The hardware performance is further furnished with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM that packs flagship-level performance. Smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and a lag-free experience are all par for the course, even with demanding applications and games such as Zenless Zone Zero, where the on-screen action heats up after the execution of multiple button-mash combos. 

Amid the smaller tweaks, the phone’s camera system claims its place as the pièce de résistance. The rear camera on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 now features a 50MP sensor, a substantial improvement from the 12MP camera in the Z Flip 5, which allows for more detailed and higher-quality photos. The front-facing camera remains a 10MP shooter, providing decent selfies, but it doesn’t match the camera quality of flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

In action, the photos still look saturated and often have a strong beauty filter applied. However, there’s no denying that the phone has captured images to the best of its ability, especially in natural light. Do note that the Flip 6 lacks the additional telephoto lens found in the S24 Ultra and Fold 6, so it would struggle to get those insane zoom shots we’ve seen at concerts. Here’s a gallery for you to check out some sample shots –

The new autofocus and auto-zoom capabilities are standout features powered by AI. When the phone is propped in a half-open position, it automatically adjusts the camera’s zoom based on the subject’s distance and the number of people in the frame, intelligently switching between the main and ultrawide cameras for the best composition. Designed for group shots and selfies, the AI-powered tool brings greater convenience and optimal framing without a need for manual intervention. 

While not entirely new per se, this marks the first time that a smartphone is using it predominantly for webcams to help users center themselves while on a call. Samsung combines this tech with its gesture command to allow users to take pictures from a distance, but it isn’t always the fastest to respond to the framing and can be thrown off when the scene is busy with a crowd.

The next offering in the new AI tool kit is the Sketch-to-Image feature, which has the ability to turn sketches into realistic images. It works in a straightforward manner – all users have to do is draw simple shapes or objects, and the phone will generate a detailed image based on the sketch. Although it doesn’t score high on the practical use scale, it offers a unique way to engage with the phone’s capabilities, particularly for creative projects or social media content.

The real benefit of this would be the ability to draw (or at least attempt to) directly on a specific area of a scene, as opposed to using a text prompt and hope for the best. As it stands, Sketch-to-Image has the most potential out of all of Samsung’s new AI features, reminiscent of puzzle game Scribblenauts, in that users can tap into the power of their mind and whip up anything from their imagination. 

When it comes to day-to-day use, the Interpreter tool reigns supreme. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is able to display real-time translations on its cover screen with ease, proving especially useful for travellers and those communicating in different languages, by showing each speaker’s words in their native language. It’s not perfect, but the translations are generally accurate and helpful, even if slight errors can occasionally lead to minor misunderstandings. Having tried it with translations for French and Chinese, the Interpreter did conjure up odd translators for French especially when it came to expressions but Chinese was more accurate and straightforward.

It should be noted, however, that while the feature is great in theory, its execution can come off a bit stiff, as both users will be staring at the device for most of the time, instead of engaging in natural human interaction involving eye contact and non-verbal behavior. As a result, this feature is best used for quick questions as opposed to long exchanges – pressing a button for an individual to start their turn in a dialogue can become cumbersome and end in fatigue. 

These three highlighted AI features are a continued attempt by Samsung to differentiate its AI offerings from the rest of the pack. However, the real challenge is getting people to use them in the first place. With subtle changes to the phone’s UI, the “star” button – which triggers AI functionalities and used to be hidden deep within the Galaxy S24’s UI – is now more prominent, playing into the idea of encouraging users to explore AI suggestions that might help improve their visuals. Only time will tell if these features would actually stick in the long run like Circle to Search has, though. 

Having addressed the battery life concerns in the previous model, the Z Flip 6 excels with its 4000 mAh battery. Despite its compact form factor, it houses a larger battery than its predecessor, providing all-day usage without frequent recharging, and more than sufficient juice to power through work and entertainment throughout the day. 

Because the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 brings numerous enhancements and cutting-edge features, it comes with a steeper price tag of S$1,648 (12GB + 256GB configuration). This is a jump from previous models and raises questions about its value proposition, especially if you aren’t keen on the AI features. If anything, it might make more sense to use an older model and wait for some level of AI to make an eventual appearance, as the company is committed to roll out AI features to their older Galaxy range of devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 stands out in the smartphone market with its nostalgic design, durable build, and innovative AI features, with camera enhancements, display quality, and performance making it a formidable device. The price tag might be a deterrent for some, but for those who appreciate the unique form factor and advanced features, it comes as a compelling choice – more so if they can take advantage of trade-in deals or discounts.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

With the PlayStation Portal launching in key markets at the end of 2023, PlayStation’s latest accessory will make its way to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand from 4 September 2024 onwards.

Being able to play games in your bedroom is such an underrated experience that many Steamdeck or portable PC owners can attest to. With the PlayStation Portal, we’re also yearning for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) days when life was simpler given its form factor.

The PlayStation Portal remote player brings the PlayStation 5 experience right to your hands. It incorporates the essential features of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The vivid 8-inch LCD (we were hoping OLED) screen offers 1080p resolution at 60fps, delivering the high-definition visual quality you expect from top-tier games.

Looking at PlayStation’s marketing material, it would seem that users will be tethered to only their home for the Portal to work. However, as long as you have a stable Wi-Fi connection, the PlayStation Portal should work anywhere in the world. It’s just that PlayStation recommends that the second screen experience on the home network is ideal for the best experience in the event you’d need to give up the living room TV.

Preorders for the PlayStation Portal start on 5 August 2024 and will cost S$295.90 / MYR 999 / IDR 3,599,000 / THB 7,790.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post PlayStation Portal Sets Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand Launch appeared first on Geek Culture.

Gaming on the PlayStation console leans more mature, which has been the brand’s DNA since day one. But since the launch of the PlayStation 5, the cute robot companions from Astro Bot have been on hand to educate new console owners on how to make full use of their DualSense controller.

Filled with even more textures to allow players to feel through the haptics, the new Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller is a work of art. Complete with Astro Bot’s robotic digital eyes on touchpad, the handles and buttons feature Astro Bot’s signature blue accent.

For anyone who has used the DualSense of present-day PlayStation 5 games, the haptics for each title might be a hit-and-miss between true gaming immersion and gimmick. But that’s where the upcoming Astro Bot title is looking to address.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, this approach seems more akin to Nintendo than PlayStation themselves as players can feel the thruster vibrating in sync with the animation, creating a highly dynamic and immersive experience. Each new power-up receives this special treatment, allowing players to sense different effects through their fingertips.

Preorders for the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller start on 9 August 2024 for US$79.99 / S$114 and will be set for launch on 6 September 2024 in line with the game’s release.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post PlayStation 5 Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Is Simply Adorable appeared first on Geek Culture.