With every smartphone maker aiming for hardware performance that outshines the competition, China’s OPPO is adopting a slightly different approach to tackle the long-term performance of its devices, to combat  signs of wear with an enduring quality that lasts after the dazzle of fleeting upgrades. With its Apex Guard suite of benchmarks, the company’s vision is to deliver devices that retain their original performance and reliability over time, ensuring users enjoy the same seamless experience year after year.

Announced at the company’s global headquarters and R&D hub at the new Binhai Bay Campus in China to a select group of exclusive media from around the world, Apex Guard is a comprehensive technology suite aimed at redefining smartphone quality across hardware and software and represents OPPO’s latest commitment to elevating user experience and extending product lifespans.

Apex Guard introduces three pillars of innovation. In design, OPPO has developed Ultra-High-Strength Steel and AM04 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, alongside structural features like Armour Shield, to protect devices from water damage, drops, and daily wear. In battery technology, the OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery extends cell life by 400 cycles, ensuring long-term performance and safety.

To uphold its rigorous standards, OPPO partners with global testing authorities such as TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD, and SGS. Devices undergo over 180 tests throughout their lifecycle, including extensive material assessments and precision manufacturing checks. OPPO’s after-sales services also exceed industry norms, reinforcing its dedication to quality beyond the point of sale.

Recognising that smooth performance is one of the most tangible indicators of quality, OPPO has introduced a suite of advanced technologies in ColorOS 16 to ensure both immediate responsiveness and long-term reliability.

At the heart of this upgrade is the new Luminous Rendering Engine, which debuts the first Unified Animation Architecture for Android. This breakthrough delivers fluid app launches and seamless transitions across the system. Devices also undergo extensive aging simulations, spanning 48 to 72 months, to ensure they remain smooth and responsive over time.

The OPPO Smoothness Baseline Test assesses performance across hundreds of real-world scenarios, while the Parallel Animation Standard 6 Zero sets a new benchmark with zero lag, latency, flicker, crash, mislaunch, and freeze during home-screen interactions. These innovations apply across OPPO’s entire lineup, from the A Series to the flagship Find Series, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering a consistently smooth and reliable user experience.

With Apex Guard, OPPO sets a new industry benchmark, promising users a worry-free, enduring smartphone experience built on innovation and trust.

A Visit To OPPO’s New Binhai Campus

Geek Culture managed to take a brief tour of OPPO’s Binhai Campus, to take a closer look at how the company delivers on its commitment to quality. The campus houses advanced labs including Materials, Intelligent Terminal Testing, Power Consumption, and Communication Labs. Each of these labs play a vital role in ensuring reliable hardware and seamless software performance.

The Materials Lab is a cutting-edge research facility responsible for over 380 patents that drive innovation in OPPO smartphones. It is equipped with more than 200 high-precision instruments, including one of the industry’s most advanced spectrometers, enabling OPPO to conduct world-class material analysis. Some notable breakthroughs include ultra-thin nanocrystal glass with 400% improved drop protection, a steel hinge that withstands one million folds, and ultra-strong, lightweight aircraft-grade fibers that are 50% thinner yet 4 times stronger.

The Intelligent Terminal Testing Lab is the industry’s largest software testing facility, spanning over 2,000 square metres and capable of testing tens of thousands of devices simultaneously. Operating 24/7 with highly automated systems, requiring minimal human oversight. The lab rigorously verifies all code and applications before release, validating nearly one million lines of code and testing over 10,000 third-party apps monthly to ensure stability, security, and compatibility across devices and system versions.

The Power Consumption Intelligent Lab is OPPO’s AI-driven hub for ensuring smooth and stable device performance. Outfitted with over 100 advanced instruments and powered by proprietary automation software, the lab operates around the clock, supporting over 100 devices to simulate real-world scenarios and optimise power efficiency.

The Communication Lab serves as the testing ground for cutting-edge technologies like AI LinkBoost, 360° Surround Antenna Design, and OPPO’s proprietary communication chips. To simulate real-world scenarios, the Live Network Wireless Lab recreates environments such as elevators, while the Automated Microwave Lab, an industry-first nonstop OTA testing system, uses robotic arms and high-precision machine vision to ensure continuous, error-free reliability testing.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post OPPO Sets Hardware & QC Benchmark Standards Across Ecosystem, Focusing On ‘Apex Guard’ Durability appeared first on Geek Culture.

This November, LEGO will boldly go where no man has gone before… with a 3,600-piece set that comes with 9 minifigures. The LEGO 10356 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D will measure in at 60 cm long and 27 cm tall when mounted on the display stand. The highly detailed replica of Starfleet’s legendary flagship comes with a detachable command saucer, secondary hull, warp nacelles with distinctive red and blue detailing, an opening shuttlebay, 2 mini shuttlepods and an angled display stand with a schematic and ship statistics.

There are 9 minifigures that come with the set, complete with themed accessories and a minifigure-display tile with Star Trek: The Next Generation branding. Characters include Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Riker, Lieutenant Worf, Lieutenant Commander Data, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Lieutenant Commander La Forge, Counselor Deanna Troi, Bartender Guinan and Wesley Crusher. Accessories include a teacup, trombone with a stand, a phaser, tricorder, engineering case, PADD, bottle, portable tractor beam generator and a cat figure.

Star Trek fans will definitely want to score the 261-piece Gift-With-Purchase Type-15 Shuttlepod (40768) as well. The exterior details include the vehicle name, Onizuka, and the interior features a depiction of an LCARS system display with the Stardate 45076.3 and a schematic of a Romulan spacecraft. This set also includes an Ensign Ro Laren minifigure.

The LEGO 10356 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D starts shipping on 28 November 2025 and retails for US$399.99 (S$559.90).

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post LEGO 10356 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Warps In This Nov appeared first on Geek Culture.

Adobe’s annual MAX Sneaks event on the second day of Adobe MAX 2025 returned with flair, humour, and a lineup of prototypes that are not yet available to the public, but will serve as inspiration for future product features. Hosted by Adobe’s own Paul Trani, and Emmy-nominated comedian Jessica Williams, the session spotlighted ten experimental projects developed by Adobe Research, each offering a glimpse into what might soon be made possible across Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of products.

You can watch each of the ten project demos from the MAX Sneaks showcase below, and be prepared to have your minds blown by the potential for creatives in the future. Here’s a breakdown of each innovation:

• Project Motion Map – this gives users the ability to type in prompts to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) to auto-animate vector designs in Adobe Illustrator.
• Project Clean Take – this enables users to edit a video transcript’s text, while the AI is able to replace words spoken without the need to reshoot. It also detects and separates out the various audio tracks in a video, and gives the user full control on what noises/distractions or sound effects to mute, or dial down in volume.
• Project Surface Swap – with this, users can do a selection of an entire surface of an object and replace the texture or colour, within Photoshop.
• Project New Depths – this allows users to make modifications to their photos by using AI to identify the various depths and layers within the photo, and place new objects automatically in front or behind various elements within a 3D environment constructed from multiple photos taken at different angles.
• Project Light Touch – this enables users to control the lighting within an image after having taken the picture.
• Project Scene It – the Ai is able to generate a 3D mesh of an object from just one image of it, and place it in any AI-generated scene with realistic lighting applied.
• Project Trace Erase – this enables users to simply select an object to remove and the AI will auto detect and remove every trace of it from the image, even when it casts a shadow or reflection.
• Project Frame Forward – this enables users to edit videos as easily as if it was a single image.
• Project Sound Stager – this uses AI to auto-generate scenes and sound effects just from analysing a video.
• Project Turnstyle – this uses AI to convert any flat image or 2D object into a 3D object with just a click of a button, allowing the user to change the angle facing the subject at any time, with no loss in image quality.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Adobe MAX 2025: Ten “Sneaks” That Glimpses Into Future Of AI-Powered Tools appeared first on Geek Culture.

At Adobe MAX 2025, the world’s premier creativity conference, Adobe and Google Cloud unveiled a major expansion of their strategic partnership aimed at transforming the future of AI-powered creative technologies. The collaboration merges Adobe’s deep-rooted creative expertise with Google’s cutting-edge AI models Gemini, Veo, and Imagen, to unlock new possibilities for creators.

Under the new partnership, Adobe users, from business professionals, content creators, to enterprise teams, will gain direct access to Google’s advanced AI models within flagship Adobe applications such as Firefly, Photoshop, Adobe Express, and Premiere. These integrations promise to deliver richer visuals, sharper video content, and more precise creative control.

Enterprise customers will also benefit from enhanced capabilities through Adobe GenStudio and, in the near future, Adobe Firefly Foundry. These platforms will allow businesses to customise and deploy brand-specific AI models, enabling scalable, on-brand content generation powered by Google Cloud’s Vertex AI. More importantly, Google Cloud has committed to strict data privacy standards, ensuring customer data remains protected and is not used to train its foundation models.

Adobe and Google Cloud plan to jointly promote these innovations through a coordinated go-to-market strategy, aiming to broaden global access to AI-enhanced creative tools. The partnership reinforces Adobe’s open model strategy, giving users the flexibility to work with top-tier AI models within its trusted ecosystem.

“Our partnership with Google Cloud brings together Adobe’s creative DNA and Google’s AI models to empower creators and brands to push the boundaries of what’s possible, from Adobe Firefly and Creative Cloud to Adobe Firefly Foundry,” said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe’s CEO.

Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, echoed the sentiment: “By integrating Google’s models directly into Adobe’s trusted creative ecosystem, we’re giving everyone, from creators and creative professionals to large global brands, the AI tools and platforms they need to dramatically speed up content creation and realize creative concepts that were previously impossible.”

The announcement also follows Adobe’s recent partnership with YouTube, designed to help creators produce standout content and grow their audiences. A new feature, Create for YouTube Shorts, will soon launch in the Premiere mobile app for iPhone, allowing users to edit, publish, and share videos directly to YouTube Shorts, thereby streamlining the creative process for short-form video content.

Together, these partnerships mark a significant leap forward in democratising creativity and equipping users with the AI-powered tools to bring their boldest ideas to life.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Adobe MAX 2025: Google Cloud & YouTube Partnership Brings Gemini AI To Creative Tools appeared first on Geek Culture.

Adobe kicked off its annual Adobe MAX conference today with a bold showcase of AI-powered tools designed to transform the creative process from ideation to production. With over 10,000 creative professionals, marketers, and storytellers gathered in Los Angeles, the company unveiled a wave of innovations across its Firefly, Creative Cloud, and GenStudio platforms, cementing its position at the forefront of AI-driven creativity.

At the heart of Adobe’s announcements is a commitment to democratising creativity through AI. The company introduced new studio-quality generative audio and video tools within Adobe Firefly, enabling creators to produce end-to-end video content with features like Generate Soundtrack and Generate Speech (both in public beta), as well as a new AI-powered timeline-based video editor (private beta).

Creative professionals using Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, and Premiere will benefit from a suite of new AI tools that offer pixel-level precision and time-saving automation. Highlights include:

• Generative Fill with model selection in Photoshop for text-to-image creation.
• Generative Upscale using Topaz Labs’ tech to enhance images to 4K.
• Harmonize for seamless AI-assisted compositing.
• AI Object Mask in Premiere (public beta) for isolating subjects in video.
• Assisted Culling in Lightroom (public beta) to streamline photo selection.

For high-volume production needs, Adobe introduced Firefly Creative Production (private beta), allowing teams to edit thousands of images simultaneously, replacing backgrounds, applying color grading, and cropping with a no-code interface.

Adobe also debuted conversational AI assistants powered by agentic AI, which allow users to generate content simply by describing what they want. These assistants are being integrated into Adobe Express, Firefly, and Photoshop, with previews shown for third-party chatbot platforms.

In a move to give creators more control, Adobe expanded access to a wide range of generative AI models:

1. Adobe Firefly Models – Commercially safe models for video, audio, imaging, vectors, design, and 3D, including the new Firefly Image Model 5 (public beta) with 4MP resolution and photorealistic quality.
2. Industry Partner Models – Integrated models from Google, OpenAI, Runway, Luma AI, and new partners ElevenLabs and Topaz Labs, offering flexibility across Adobe apps.
3. Firefly Custom Models (private beta) – Personalized models that creators can train using their own reference assets to generate content in their unique style.

Adobe also introduced Firefly Foundry, a new offering that enables businesses to build proprietary generative AI models tailored to their brand. These models, trained on existing IP and built atop Firefly’s commercially safe foundation, support all major asset types such as image, video, audio, vector, and 3D to accelerating campaign delivery and unlocking new creative possibilities.

Adobe MAX 2025 continues through October 30, featuring keynote speakers like filmmaker James Gunn, YouTube innovator Mark Rober, and actress-comedian Jessica Williams. The event blends inspiration, education, and entertainment, underscoring Adobe’s mission to empower creators of all skill levels.

“Our AI at Adobe is made to create and built for the creators who paint the world with their imagination,” said David Wadhwani, Adobe’s President of Digital Media. “We believe every creator should be able to harness the economic and artistic opportunities flowing from generative AI and the exploding global demand for creative content.”

With these announcements, Adobe reaffirms its vision of AI as a creative co-pilot (not a replacement) designed to amplify human imagination while respecting creators’ rights.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Adobe MAX 2025: Adobe Goes All In With AI Use Across Ecosystem appeared first on Geek Culture.

One can never have enough DeLorean time machines. A LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to the Future (77256) model car kit is coming on 1st January 2026. The 357-piece playset features the iconic DeLorean measuring over 10 cm high, 17 cm long and 7 cm wide.

It will be the third BTTF DeLorean since the first release way back in 2013, when the 401-piece LEGO Cuusoo 21103 set was released, and this was followed by the 1,872-piece LEGO Icons 10300 set released in 2022.

This time, the iconic car comes with a lightning rod and California license plate from the first movie. It can be rebuilt it into its flying version from the second movie with Mr. Fusion, an orange barcode license plate and sideways wheels. Both versions have rear air vents, a cockpit, the flux capacitor and time calculator. The set comes with two minifigures: Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

The LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to the Future will ship on 1 January 2025 and pre-orders are already up on Amazon now at US$27.99.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Great Scott! LEGO Speed Champions Back to the Future DeLorean 77256 Is Coming Jan 2026 appeared first on Geek Culture.

In a marvelous team-up crossing genres and game formats, Hasbro’s Marvel Legends has taken a huge swing with Magic: The Gathering (MTG), to introduce one of the world’s biggest collectible tabletop card game to an army of toy collectors and fans, by packing limited edition MTG cards from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man with four Marvel Legends Marvel’s Spider-Man Figures.

The first wave of figures that embrace storytelling and play with a series of exclusive promo cards comprises Battle-Damaged Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson (Iron Spider), Anti-Venom, and Man-Wolf. Packed with each of these Marvel Legends Figures is a traditional foil borderless Magic: The Gathering promo card that has artwork that matches the design of the Marvel Legends Figure.

In what comes as a surprise though, the cards and the figures show an intimate look at the legacy of Spider-Man, as each has its own unique history and legacy in the Web Crawler’s vast history, meaning collectors would want this series in their collection, and MTG players will want these cards to power their decks.

Marvel Legends Series Magic: The Gathering Battle-Damaged Spider-Man

Peter Parker has weathered many tough encounters, but he has always come back up, and while there have been numerous figures that show the battle-weary wall -rawler, this Spider-Man figure offers a new take, with a 1960s-styled face mask to match the character’s battle-damaged appearance in the comics.

The figure comes with over 20 points of articulation and seven accessories – an unmasked head sculpt, two ‘thwip’ web-shooting hands, two wall-crawling hands, web line, and web shield.

The exclusive foil Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man card, “Spectacular Spider-Man”, can web-swing past your enemies or sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team.

Marvel Legends Series Magic: The Gathering Mary Jane Watson (Iron Spider)

Just as how Tony Stark was the reason Peter Parker donned the Iron Spider costume, it’s also the reason why Spidey’s one time-wife, Mary Jane Watson, wore the costume. After the Superhuman Registration Act was abolished, Stark recruited MJ to be his assistant.

When a villain overpowered both Spider-Man and Iron Man, MJ swung… wait, more like jumped, since she doesn’t have super agility, into action with the Iron Spider suit in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2017) #15. It’s a one-time adventure, with an amazing cover art by the legendary Alex Rosee, and this variant is, in our opinion, the main draw of this set.

The figure comes with over 20 points of articulation and seven accessories – an alternate masked head sculpt, two ‘thwip’ web-shooting hands, and four articulated Iron Spider legs.

The exclusive foil Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man card, “Iron Spider, Stark Upgrade”, improves your artifact army with +1/+1 counters and then converts those counters into resources to draw a card.

Marvel Legends Series Magic: The Gathering Agent Anti-Venom

A one-time bully turned ally, Peter Parker’s friend, Flash Thompson, continues his war against the alien symbiote with this Agent Anti-Venom figure inspired by the character’s appearance in Marvel’s Spider-Man comics. After losing his legs in a car accident, he bonded with the black Venom symbiote to become Agent Venom, before losing it and then bonding with a new symbiote to become a color-inverted version of his Agent Venom form, now as white Agent Anti-Venom.

The figure comes with over 20 points of articulation and 14 accessories – 4 alternate hands, 2 blast effects, 2 smoke effects, anti-venom tendrils, and an arsenal of weapon accessories.

The exclusive foil Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man card “Anti-Venom, Horrifying Healer” can bring one of your creatures back to the battlefield. Anti-Venom gets stronger the more you damage him.

Marvel Legends Series Magic: The Gathering Man-Wolf

In the Spider-Man mythos, Spider-Man’s greatest critic is none other than The Daily Bugle’s gruff publisher J. Jonah Jameson, but few know that his son, astronaut John Jonah Jameson III, is Peter Parker’s friend.

His discovery of the mystical Godstone, an other-dimensional ruby on the moon turned him into the Man-Wolf and the figure comes with over 20 points of articulation and six accessories – two alternate hands, the sacred sword of Stargod, a bow, a loose arrow, and a quiver of arrows. 

The exclusive foil Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man double-sided card, “Colonel John Jameson (Hunter of the Fells)“ and “Man-Wolf (Ravager of the Fells)”, lets you enter the battlefield bringing a 2/2 wolf friend with you. Complete the transformation to Man-Wolf, grow stronger, and deal damage.

The Marvel Legends Magic: The Gathering Figures are available now in Singapore at The Falcon’s Hangar, Robo Robo and Toys “R” Us, and in Malaysia at MYTOY and 1TOY.

Learn to Play Magic: The Gathering on 11 & 12 Oct!

If you’re in Singapore, Toys “R” Us VivoCity and The Falcon’s Hangar will be having “Learn to Play Magic: The Gathering” sessions from 1 to 5 pm (hourly slots) on 11 October (Sat) and 12 October (Sun) respectively. It is free for all to attend, but online registration is required. Registration closes on 6 October 2025.

• Toys “R” Us VivoCity – 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02 -182, Singapore 098585
• The Falcon’s Hangar – 261 Waterloo St, #01-27, Singapore 180261

ENTER NOW TO WIN

Thanks to Hasbro Singapore, we are giving away one of each Marvel Legends Magic: The Gathering figure (worth S$79.90 each) as seen above, to 4 lucky fans! For a chance to win yourself the figure of your choice, simply complete these steps: 

1. SHARE THIS POST and TAG a friend or more** you would like to share your love of Marvel and Magic: The Gathering with.
2. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM and/or TELEGRAM**.
3. Fill in the form below.

Give us a LIKE below if you haven’t done so yet, so you won’t miss out on future similar giveaways!

The giveaway is open to all residents of Singapore. The giveaway closes on 12 October 2025 @23:59hrs (GMT+8). 4 lucky winners will be picked at random and contacted via email by 14 October 2025. Good luck!

**These steps are entirely optional, but we greatly appreciate it if you choose to show some support to Geek Culture by sharing and tagging the post so that we may be able to bring more giveaways to you all in the future!

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post These Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Figures Come Bundled With Exclusive Magic: The Gathering Foil Cards + Giveaway! appeared first on Geek Culture.

Monster Hunter’s legacy of epic battles, imaginative worlds, and cooperative gameplay is set to take a new leap with the upcoming installment, Monster Hunter Outlanders, promising a fresh franchise experience to iOS and Android devices.

And in adapting the game for mobile users, the team discovered that the biggest challenge was in fact, the smaller screens, explains Dong Huang, the game’s producer from Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group, in an exclusive interview with Geek Culture and several other press from Southeast Asia during Tokyo Game Show 2025.

“The most difficult part was adapting the controls and UI for smartphones,” Huang admits. The team at China-based TiMi Studio Group has had a lot of experience creating action games for smartphones in the past, so applying their expertise and innovation on Monster Hunter Outlanders was a top priority, in translating the franchise’s iconic experience into a mobile user interface that not only works well but also streamlined some key mechanics for mobile play. 

“We’ve done away with the action of polishing weapons, but sharpness still remains as a strategic element.”

Monster Hunter Outlanders introduces streamlined controls that allow familiar actions to be executed with a single button press, preserving the franchise’s signature excitement while offering a fresh gameplay experience. Players take on the role of “Adventurers”, which comprises diverse characters from around the globe, each equipped with unique skills tailored for exploring uncharted ecosystems. These abilities bring strategic advantages to hunts, enhancing both combat and exploration. 

Every Adventurer is also joined by a companion, either the beloved Palico or new game-exclusive buddies, Rutaco and Trillan. Each buddy features distinct traits, appearances, and skill sets, and can be trained to become even more dependable allies in the field.

Set in the dynamic world of Aesoland, the game spans multiple regions defined by varying terrain and weather conditions. Through crafting and exploration, players can uncover rare items and vital clues that propel their quests forward. Aesoland also introduces the formidable “Radiant Species,” monsters transformed by the island’s mysterious mineral, Radiantite. These creatures exhibit heightened aggression and enhanced abilities, turning every encounter into a fierce and unpredictable battle.

And to think that all of these game enhancements and changes were borne from wanting the franchise, known for its niche gameplay formats, to reach a wider audience, notes Capcom producer Genki Sunano during the same interview.

“TiMi Studio gave us a proposal that it would be very interesting to create a mobile version of Monster Hunter,” Sunano-san explains and the team recognised an opportunity to reach a broader audience. 

“Making this mobile version of Monster Hunter would allow more people to have access to these games and if we accept this proposal, it would enable us to broaden our reach in Asia and around the world.”

Monster Hunter Outlanders introduces new crafting and survival elements, a first for the series. “They gave a proposal that they will be including the craft elements and also the survival elements within the Monster Hunter world that we already have. And we thought that that would be a very interesting premise,” says Sunano-san. 

Effectively, these features are designed to enhance both exploration and combat. “The game will enable players to move around freely to collect all the materials to build and customise their own houses,” Sunano-san adds.

Players stepping into the game will discover features designed to streamline traditional hunting, including diverse crafting systems and adaptive survival mechanics. “If you’ve played the demo at the Tokyo Game Show, you’ll notice many features that allow players to move freely and collect materials easily. There are catapults to shoot arrows, and other tools that help build fences. These craft elements make traditional hunting more interesting,” says Huang.

Despite these new features, the developers are committed to preserving the core Monster Hunter experience. “We are maintaining the important values that have been in the traditional Monster Hunter games, so I believe that the core Monster Hunter fans can also enjoy,” says Sunano-san.

One thing that fans might dislike, but is making its way to the game, is in-game monetisation that the team is still developing. “The monetisation will come into play during the character customisation experience, on a very basic level, to improve the players’ gaming experience. But we still haven’t decided on what kind of a business model we will be adopting. There will be a series of tests before the formal launch,” Huang reveals.

Looking ahead, the developers are planning seasonal updates and new weapon types, but the game is expected to launch with the usual 14 weapon types synonymous with the franchise.

As Monster Hunter Outlanders prepares for launch, the team is eager to welcome both longtime fans and newcomers, to provide feedback to help shape and improve the game and TiMi Studio Group is inviting players to a Closed Beta test for the game to help them fine-tune the game’s systems, balance and server performance. Registration for the Closed Beta is open from now till 7 November, and the test is expected to start sometime from mid-November onwards. Find out more about the mobile device requirements and FAQs on the Monster Hunter Outlanders website.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post TGS 2025: ‘Monster Hunter Outlanders’ Charts New Evolution On Mobile appeared first on Geek Culture.

Level 5 just announced the delay for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. Originally slated for 2025 release, it is now pushed back to 2026, so that the team can “deliver the game in the best possible form”. The good news is, it is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 as well, and a new playable demo was showcased on the showfloor of Tokyo Game Show 2025. Check out the full demo playthrough below, captured in 4K, using Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse mode:

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam takes place one year after the events of Professor Layton and the Unwound Future from way back in 2008 (on the Nintendo DS). The story now takes place in Steam Bison, America, where the power of highly advanced steam engines has ushered in a new world, greatly surpassing even London’s technological development. And now, due to the mysterious incident in Steam Bison, a new adventure for Professor Layton and Luke begins.

There’s more gameplay to check out from last year’s TGS showfloor too:

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is now coming to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in 2026.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post TGS 2025: ‘Professor Layton and the New World of Steam’ Full Nintendo Switch 2 Demo Playthrough appeared first on Geek Culture.

Insomniac Games has finally announced its latest project, a bold new take on Marvel’s Wolverine, developed in partnership with Marvel Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Building on the studio’s success with the Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise, this upcoming title promises a fresh, emotionally charged interpretation of the iconic mutant.

Actor Liam McIntyre (Spartacus 2010 – 2013) steps into the role of Logan, bringing depth and intensity to a character known for his volatility, resilience, and inner turmoil. The narrative follows Wolverine as he hunts for answers to a shadowy past, confronting enemies determined to keep those secrets buried. With his trademark healing factor and relentless drive, Logan is prepared to claw his way through any obstacle.

The game explores Wolverine’s duality as a reluctant hero and living weapon. Once provoked, he unleashes his adamantium claws and berserker rage in fast-paced, brutal combat sequences designed to leave a lasting impact. Players can expect fluid, visceral action that showcases Wolverine’s raw power and precision. Insomniac’s portrayal emphasises Logan’s emotional complexity, his pain, rage, and the burden of his violent nature. As he navigates a world that demands blood for truth, Wolverine remains a solitary force, unafraid to get close when it matters most.

With this announcement, Insomniac continues its tradition of reimagining Marvel legends with cinematic storytelling and cutting-edge gameplay. Wolverine is set to be a defining chapter in the studio’s expanding superhero universe.

Want more? Here’s a behind the scenes look at the Marvel’s Wolverine:

Wolverine may be known for his solitary nature, but his journey is anything but isolated. Fans will recognise familiar faces like Mystique and Omega Red, who either join forces with Logan or stand in his way, including the ruthless Reavers faction that keeps him constantly on edge. The trailer teases even more danger with the appearance of a prototype of a menacing purple robot, hinting at the scale of threats ahead. Set against a backdrop of global intrigue, Wolverine’s quest for truth takes him through high-stakes environments, from the shadowy alleys of Tokyo to the icy wilds of Canada and the lawless streets of Madripoor, each one a stage for brutal, unrelenting combat.

Marvel’s Wolverine is coming exclusively to PlayStation 5 consoles in Fall 2026.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post ‘Marvel’s Wolverine’ Is As Brutal And Visceral As Expected, Nuff Said appeared first on Geek Culture.

Ecovacs, a global pioneer in smart home robotics, made a bold entrance into the APAC market with the unveiling of its flagship Ecovacs Deebot X11 Family. Held in Ho Chi Minh City, the event welcomed over 600 attendees for an exclusive preview of the brand’s latest innovation in intelligent cleaning. The showcase highlighted two cutting-edge models: the Deebot X11 OmniCyclone and the Deebot X11 Pro Omni.

“The Deebot X11 Family represents a defining milestone for Ecovacs in APAC as we expand our regional portfolio while elevating our flagship innovation to the next level—meticulously tailored to local market demands. It embodies our promise, ‘Xtra in Every Way, Ahead in Every Play’, as we stay ahead of the market and democratize smart living throughout the region”, stated Fiona Tao, Ecovacs Asia Pacific Head of Marketing.

Unveiled at IFA 2025 in Berlin, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Family introduces a new era of intelligent home cleaning. At the heart of this innovation is PowerBoost charging technology, which is an industry-first feature that enables continuous cleaning by restoring 6% battery in just three minutes during mop intervals. This ensures uninterrupted performance without the worry of running out of power.

“We are exceptionally proud to introduce the Deebot X11 Family to the Southeast Asian market, where appetite for premium, AI-driven cleaning solutions continues to surge”, said Chris Ma, Regional Head of Southeast Asia and South Korea at Ecovacs. “With advanced features like PowerBoost charging and intelligent navigation, the Deebot X11 Family sets a new standard in cleaning and home automation, offering our Southeast Asian consumers an unmatched smart solution designed for modern homes.”

The X11 series also features the upgraded Ozmo Roller 2.0 and TruEdge 3.0, which use a high-density nylon mop to tackle stubborn stains and reach every corner with zero-edge precision. Enhanced by the Blast suction system and OmniCyclone Station, the X11 delivers powerful cleaning and efficient filtration.

Cleaning performance is further boosted by ZeroTangle 3.0 brush technology, a 100W high-performance fan, and a 6400 mAh battery. Together, they offer 140% improvement in fine dust removal, 262% increase in hair pickup and 100% success rate in collecting large particles.

AI Stain Detection 2.0 customises cleaning based on stain type and intensity, activating Deep Re-mop Mode for tougher messes. Meanwhile, Agent Yiko enables smart mapping and optimised cleaning paths, and TruePass technology allows the robot to smoothly cross obstacles up to 2.4 cm and thresholds up to 4 cm. The redesigned OmniCyclone Station combines powerful dust collection with eco-friendly filtration. Its bagless system can save up to 25 disposable dust bags over five years.

The Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone officially launches in Singapore on 9 October 2025 via the Ecovacs official webstore, Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok with an introductory price of S$1,699. In a limited launch offer from 9 to 12 October 2025, the first 25 purchases made on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok will receive a Winbot mini window cleaner worth S$699. The Deebot X11 Pro Omni will not be released in Singapore.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCylone Packs Fast Charging & AI Cleaning At S$1,699 Launch Price appeared first on Geek Culture.

After having treated fans to exclusive footage of The Mandalorian and Grogu during Star Wars Celebration Japan earlier this year, we now finally have a first trailer for the highly anticipated silver screen debut of the duo.

There’s plenty to be excited about in the first official trailer above, there are AT-ATs on a mountain range, a buff Rotta the Hutt in an arena, Sigourney Weaver, Mando flying up to a UT-60D U-Wing starfighter (from Rogue One), even the Razer Crest is back! There’s even Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios kicking butt in live-action, along with Grogu going on a joyride with Babu Frik and his gang of droidsmiths. There’s plenty to love in the trailer, and hearing that iconic theme song for The Mandalorian, along with “THIS IS THE WAY” is more than enough to get us super hyped for the movie next year.

Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian and Grogu, joined by 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. The film is directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2) who is also co-writing with Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka).

The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in cinemas on 22 May 2026 (and 21 May in Singapore).

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post The Razor Crest Returns In First Trailer For ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ appeared first on Geek Culture.

’80’s and 90’s kids will fondly remember Acclaim for publishing copious amounts of video games from 1990 till 2004 when it filed for bankruptcy. Now in 2025, Acclaim has made a bold return with its inaugural “Play Acclaim” video showcase, unveiling a vibrant lineup of nine new titles that fuse inventive gameplay with nostalgic charm.

“We’re ecstatic to relaunch Acclaim with a lineup that captures our legacy of bold creativity and delivers fresh, unforgettable experiences. These games are just the beginning of our mission to redefine fun for players everywhere,” said Alex Josef, CEO of Acclaim.

Highlights from the lineup include:

• TossDown – Run, jump, and dash through chaos, dodging hazards and enemies as you deliver packages. Fight back with wacky power-ups and chaos from a variety of perks to improve your chances of survival. It’s Crazy Taxi meets Jet Set Radio!
• Ground Zero Hero – Ground Zero Hero is an action-roguelite with light survival elements set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Battle mutated freaks, absorb their radioactive guts, mutate yourself to gain new powers… and eat a lot of candy.
• Basketball Classics – A 5 on 5 Pro Basketball game born from the golden era of sports games. This spiritual successor to the 8-bit ballers bridges the gap between retro and today’s simulation games. Side-scrolling, sweaty arcade action with simplified 3-button gameplay and retro vibes galore.
• Pixel Washer – Step into the hooves of Pigxel, a plucky pig armed with a powerful power washer, tasked with cleaning up a messy town. Wielding your trusty washer, you’ll spray your way through a variety of exciting challenges, from hosing down stunning pixel art masterpieces in a filthy museum to transforming a muddy pigsty into a shimmering pixelated paradise and more.
• The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest  – Step into the mind of Fletcher Howie Jr, a game developer on the brink of physical and emotional burnout during the final stages of an intense project. After a visit to the psychologist that goes horribly wrong, you must escape your perilous mental prison in a Metroidvania drenched in anxiety based on a very true story.
• GRIDBeat! – Step behind the keyboard of a shadowy hacker and move to the beat as you infiltrate virtual dungeons teeming with traps to evade and systems to hack.  Featuring more than 50 neon-saturated stages to explore and endless additional content in the form of user-generated stages, GRIDBeat! will put your skills and your rhythm to the test.
• Talaka – A fast-paced, combat-driven roguelite that brings Afro-Brazilian mythology to life in a vivid, hand-painted world unlike anything you’ve seen. 
• Hyper Yuki – A high-speed, trick-fueled snowboarding bonanza wrapped in a slick, retro-futurist Y2K aesthetic. Inspired by 90s legends like Cool Boarders and SSX, you’ll shred through eight over-the-top courses packed with chances to pull off jaw-dropping tricks—all set to an electrifying soundtrack featuring YMCK, Trasto NueveVidas, and more.
• Katanaut – An action-roguelite set aboard a massive space station falling into cosmic chaos. With the station slowly spiraling out of control, and its once-human inhabitants twisted into terrors, you’re the unlucky one tasked with uncovering what is going on… assuming you’re able to survive the station’s violent halls with souls-like combat.

Of the nine games announced, Katanaut was the only one that received a surprise release and is available now on Steam. The rest of the titles have yet to announce any release dates.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Not Game Over – ‘90s Game Icon Acclaim Marks Return With 9 Titles appeared first on Geek Culture.

Samsung has unveiled the latest addition to its S25 series, the Galaxy S25 FE, featuring One UI 8 and the newest Galaxy AI experiences for a personalized, multimodal AI companion. It introduces advanced editing tools like Generative Edit and Instant Slow-mo, along with an upgraded 12MP front-facing camera, enhanced by the AI-powered ProVisual Engine. With a robust 4,900 mAh battery, an expanded vapor chamber (more than 10 per cent larger) for smoother performance, and support for 45W wired fast charging, the Galaxy S25 FE is built to keep users inspired, entertained, and seamlessly connected wherever they go.

The Galaxy S25 FE features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, and a new enhanced Armor Aluminum frame that provides improved durability and a more refined finish. The device will come in four expressive colours – Navy, Jetblack, Icyblue and White.

“At Samsung, we’ve taken what our customers value most from the Galaxy S Series and brought those flagship experiences into the Galaxy S25 FE. By combining innovation with advanced intelligence, we’re making everyday creativity and productivity more intuitive. The Galaxy S25 FE is an important entry point at accessible price for consumers looking to step into the Galaxy AI ecosystem,” said Ronnie Ng, Head of Mobile eXperience, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

Alongside the Galaxy S25 FE. Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Buds 3 FE, which delivers an upgraded audio experience with improved Active Noise Cancelling, clearer call quality, longer battery life, and enhanced comfort.

To round off the announcements, Samsung also unveiled not one, but three new tablets. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (14.6-inch) and Galaxy Tab S11 (11-inch), which are Samsung’s most advanced tablets yet, powered by Galaxy AI and enhanced with One UI 8 and new multimodal capabilities. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, the thinnest Galaxy Tab to date, at 5.1mm, combines premium design with uncompromised performance, offering pro-grade hardware and large-screen experiences for seamless productivity on the go. Both tablets have Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate, and the S11 Tab Ultra comes with an 11,600 mAh battery while the Tab S11 comes with an 8,400 mAh battery. The redesigned S Pen has a new cone-shaped pen tip that supports increased tilt angles for better control, and the hexagonal design provides a more natural, ergonomic feel that’s comfortable and stable in the hand.

Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is an affordable, versatile tablet built for immersive viewing, effortless creativity and comes bundled with an S Pen. The tablet has a 10.9-inch display and 8,000 mAh battery for uninterrupted entertainment or late-night study sessions at the library without having to worry about frequent recharging.

The Galaxy S25 FE (in Navy, Jetblack, Icyblue and White) and Galaxy Buds 3 FE (in White and Black) will be available starting 12 September in Singapore, at Singtel, StarHub, Samsung Experience Store, Samsung Official Store on Shopee, iShopChangi and major consumer electronics & IT stores (Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman). The Galaxy S25 FE is priced at S$948 (128GB), S$1,038 (256GB) and S$1,218 (512GB). The Galaxy Buds 3 FE is priced at S$168.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Series (in Grey and Silver) and Galaxy Tab S10 Lite (in Grey, Silver and Coralred) will be available starting 19 September in Singapore. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is priced at S$1,698 (256GB) and S$1,898 (512GB) while the Galaxy Tab S11 is priced at S$1,198 (256GB – WiFi) and S$1,398 (256GB – 5G). The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is priced at S$488 (128GB – WiFi) and S$588 (128GB – 5G).

To save more on the new devices, consumers in Singapore can purchase the Samsung Registration+ e-voucher at S$10 to get S$50 off their purchase of Galaxy S25 FE, Tab S11 Series, or S$30 off the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, Buds 3 FE & Tab S11 Ultra Set 12 Sep Launch appeared first on Geek Culture.

Seeing how LEGO has been pushing out quite a number of nostalgia-fueled retro gaming consoles in recent years, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Atar 2600, and with the LEGO 72046 Nintendo Game Boy Set coming on 1 October, it was only a matter of time before SEGA joined the party. But instead of a Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) console set, it looks like we’ll be getting a LEGO 40769 SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Controller first.

The 260-piece retro gaming controller set features a microscale “Green Hill Zone” scene from Sonic the Hedgehog on the inside, offering two ways to display the set, on a display stand. The set also includes regional stickers for fans to customise the controller as “SEGA Genesis” (for US) or “SEGA Mega Drive” (for rest of the world). We’re betting on a SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive console set release to follow shortly, mark our words.

The LEGO 40769 SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Controller will be available from 8 to 27 September as a Gift-With-Purchase with a minimum spend of S$190 on LEGO sets purchased at LEGO Certified Stores in Singapore.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post LEGO 40769 SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Controller With ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Easter Egg Is Coming This Sep appeared first on Geek Culture.