Monthly Archives: May 2024

How do you communicate your corporate culture to new employees in the hybrid world of work? Yves Bollinger, general manager at Plan.Net Studios, knows that virtual experiences take onboarding to a new level.

More and more employees give notice within the first 100 days of their employment. The main reason: the onboarding and integration process did not go as they hoped. New employees often feel left out, they lack a positive experience of the corporate culture and the corresponding sense of belonging. This development is problematic not only in light of the war for talent, but also because companies are wasting enormous recruitment costs. This makes a good onboarding process all the more important. And this is precisely what is becoming increasingly difficult in todays often hybrid and decentralised world of work.

Recognising these challenges, we created a dynamic, audio-driven environment that ensures a seamless and inspiring immersion into the Serviceplan community the berverse. The experience is tailored to the needs of new employees, being the very first touchpoint they have within the company. The focus is on conveying the sense of belonging and to give a very different and engaging introduction to the company culture.

Serviceplan's corporate identity was translated into a three-dimensional world with a unique architecture that brings the group's culture to life. The result is an immersive experience that transforms traditional onboarding elements into an interactive, gamified journey of discovery. Content that would otherwise be lost in PowerPoint presentations and Teams calls was transformed into engaging virtual spaces that invite exploration. In small groups and guided by a colleague from the HR department, new employees experience a playful journey through the company's history and culture, learning about its core values in an interactive way. Individual avatar design reflects the brand architecture and expresses each employee's personality in the virtual space.

The berverse invites active participation, turning the learning process into an interactive journey that captivates and educates simultaneously. And you dont need virtual reality glasses anymore: Laptops, PCs, smartphones or tablets are all you need to take part in the multisensory experience. By focusing initially on conveying a strong sense of inclusion and cultural immersion, the program ensures that all new hires start on a common ground, which strengthens their connection to the organisation.

Serviceplan's berverse exemplifies how virtual onboarding spaces can transform employer branding and retention. For companies willing to shape their own digital world, these three core elements are vital:

The storytelling: Which story building blocks are important for onboarding? What does the company want to convey to the new employee? In the virtual experience, information can be conveyed in more than just words. The room itself or objects in it interact with the visitors and actively involve them in the search for information. Presentations, videos or graphics can also be integrated, but must be translated into the immersive space.

The architecture: The range of ways in which the virtual space can be designed is gigantic depending on how a company sees itself and what values it wants to convey. Whether its a futuristic sci-fi city, a specially designed eco-friendly building or a changing, dynamic environment. By playing with size, weight and gravity, architecture can help to emphasise the importance of particular corporate values. New employees experience them consciously or subliminally and internalise them.

The Community: Shared experiences forge bonds between people and that also applies in virtual space. For example, the onboarding process can take place in a small group moderated by one person from HR, and thus acts as an icebreaker. New employees get to know their first colleagues, can interact with them and subsequently contact them.

The main difference to conventional onboarding sessions is that employees can discover the companys DNA for themselves all age groups, but especially gen Z, who are very familiar with gaming and digital worlds, can be reached by such virtual experiences. On their tour through the virtual space, they experience the corporate culture and values intuitively and anchor them deeply in their long-term memories.

At the same time, the company presents itself as an innovative, modern organisation which can be an advantage in the battle for the best talent. Virtual experiences thus help to inspire new employees and retain them over the long term.

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The Future of Onboarding: Inside Serviceplan's VR-Based Employee Integration | LBBOnline - Little Black Book - LBBonline

Rain Technology has announced new developments in its patented optical engine for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets, known as Anamorphic-XR. Dr. Michael Robinson, the companys chief scientist, will present these advancements at Display Week 2024.

Anamorphic-XR aims to enhance AR and VR headset performance by offering high-definition, wide-angle images in a compact and transparent form factor. The technology integrates an anamorphic microdisplay within the frame of an anamorphic waveguide, using a cylindrical mirror to reflect light upward, allowing both real-world and virtual images to appear in the users field of vision.

The technology magnifies images in orthogonal planes independently to optimize resolution and field-of-view. It uses polarization instead of diffraction to extract light from the waveguide, resulting in a brighter and crisper image. This approach addresses common AR/VR challenges such as size, eye relief, field-of-view, resolution, and brightness.

According to Rain Technology, the R&D has shown that using a mirror for the lateral optical path and lenses for the transverse path can improve field-of-view and efficiency over conventional AR/VR optics. This can address key optical challenges like wide-field image fidelity, brightness, dynamic range, and eye fatigue.

The technical paper, Anamorphic-XR: Imaging Waveguide Technology for Efficient and Wide Field-of-View Near-Eye Display, will be available for download after the presentation.

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Rain Technology to Unveil New Anamorphic-XR Optical Engine at Display Week 2024 - Display Daily

Disney+ is about to launch its first immersive title a narrative-driven story starring Marvels superheroes.

Set to be soon released on Disney+, the What If? An Immersive Story series promises a blend of augmented and virtual reality.

Connected to the critically acclaimed Disney+ Original animated series What If? the new release will provide viewers with an immersive experience, controlling the story through eye and hand movements.

Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Disney and Lucasfilm-owned ILM Immersive, is working on the project, which executive producer Dave Bushore calls the next evolution in storytelling.

"This experience kicks the door open to the Marvel Universe, and its a glimpse of what Ive been waiting for my whole life," he said in a press release.

The series will be accessible only for Apple Vision Pro headset users, so far excluding Metas Quest and other headsets.

After the long-anticipated launch of Apples VR headset, Disney partnered with the company to offer users 3D movies like Avatar, Avengers, Star Wars, and Elemental on the Apple Vision Pro.

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Disney+ to release VR Marvel series exclusively for Apple Vision Pro - CyberNews.com

To help you understand what is going on in the tech sector our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Heres the latest

The virtual reality industry got a much-needed jolt when Apple finally joined the fray with its first VR headset. If any company can bring face-worn devices to an audience beyond gamers, its the tech giant that introduced the world to the smartphone. Apple is focused on the mass market, says Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at IDC. Apple is doing a great job introducing the technology to many people.

It's still early days. But theres huge long-term potential. Heres an outlook for VR and the many ways it will be used.

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Vast improvements in tech components make amazing VR possible today. Headsets run on energy-efficient yet powerful mobile chips, and are packed with components: A memory chip, fast Wi-Fi, a slew of cameras, high-end eye displays, microphones, speakers, laser-scanning sensors, motion sensors, tiny cooling fans. (But batteries, on board or in a connected pack, are still heavy, yet last just 2-3 hours.) Users can fully immerse in a virtual world for calls, gaming, entertainment, etc. Or the front-facing cameras make a live video stream and 3D scan of the room so users can see their real environment populated by virtual screens or holograms.

Todays models will seem clunky in 5 to 10 years, as big improvements occur to shrink the size and weight, without hindering performance. Costs will fall, too.

The leaders are Apple and Meta. Meta has about 60% of global headset sales, focusing on lower-cost models ($500 or less) for gaming and social virtual worlds. Apples $3,500 Vision Pro has a dazzling display and dozens of high-end components, plus a new VR operating system that takes familiar apps and puts them into VR. Plus, Apple built two new chips: One for computing and one for eye/hand tracking. The device is controlled by incredibly precise eye and hand tracking. A simple glance at a digital icon and a subtle tap of two fingers will select it, with no noticeable lag.

There are plenty of other players, too. HTC, DPVR, Valve, Varjo, HP and Chinas ByteDance make high-quality headsets. Alphabet, Samsung and Huawei are among the tech giants expected to launch a device. Augmented-reality glasses, a related category, are not full VR and use transparent lenses to overlay digital info onto the real world. Top vendors include Xreal, Vuzix, Magic Leap and Microsoft.

The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to specific VR uses. But Apple shows how VR can eventually be a general computing device. Think of Apples breakthrough VR operating system, visionOS, as Windows for VR, a new way to access web browsers, e-mails, documents, photos and all other apps. A crisp PC monitor, any size, can float in a fixed position in the room in front of you. Other apps, such as photos or a calendar, can open to the sides or hang on a wall. You can put these holographic monitors in the actual room or turn your workspace into any setting, such as a rocky coast in Washington, a tranquil lake in Maine or a beach in Italy. Early businesses testing Apple VR include Walmart, Vanguard, SAP and Stryker.

On-the-go workers can set up a virtual office anywhere, such as on a plane, in a crowded bus or in a hotel room. Even in a cramped taxi, users can multitask with huge displays and multiple windows open. Open a spreadsheet on one side, e-mail in the center and a web browser to the right. Receiving a call? A video chat will open in front of you, either in 2D or as a 3D avatar. Talking about a new product or design? A 3D hologram will appear on the desk and colleagues can collaborate to spin the object around, test updates and take notes on a virtual whiteboard.

VR will remain a niche market in the near term, hindered by high costs and a lack of VR content. But content is coming, as developers build VR apps, and Hollywood and others shift production to VR videos. Still, expect strong headset sales in coming years. By 2028, global yearly shipments of VR/AR headsets will hit 35 million, up from nearly 10 million this year, according to market research firm IDC. Apples device will sell at least 400,000 units in 2024. Expect Apples VR business to grow significantly, to about 10% of revenue, about the same share as iPad. Daily usage will rise steadily, too, a key metric.

Theres a rapidly growing list of uses for VR, including many practical ones. Todays office apps are being optimized for VR. From collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack, and web-based storage services such as Box, to project management tools such as OmniPlan, and video chats with life-size screens.

Some of the specific areas that are promising:

VR has the potential to cannibalize other tech segments, including PC monitors, big-screen TVs, game consoles and smartphones. Movies are stunning in VR and will give theaters competition. Still, the apps that will harness VR the best have yet to be built. But they are coming soon and will start winning over new users. Start-ups and tech giants alike will find moneymaking opportunities in VR. To get there, expect even bigger investment from companies and venture capitalists.

This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand whats coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.

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After Decades of Promise, the Virtual Reality Era Has Finally Arrived - Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Ian Fischer smiled broadly as he spoke about the unique opportunity before him.

Its awesome Im enjoying every minute of it and Im excited about everything thats to come, Fischer said.

Last week, St. Charles Parish Public Schools held a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony that saw 10 of the school districts top students accept apprenticeship-type positions with various companies.

Fischer, a senior at Hahnville High School, signed with Striker VR, a virtual reality gaming company under the umbrella of HapTech Inc., a company founded by Hahnville High School alum Kyle Monti. HapTech is centered around haptics, the technology that gives real world sensations to virtual reality experiences. HapTech innovates military training weapons. Its training weapons are unique because they use magnets to create hard-hitting recoil thats more realistic, less expensive and easier to maintain than the traditional training weapon technology that was developed in the 1970s.

Fischer has been working on the Striker side of things for the past several weeks. The signing day made official what he had been offered a few days earlier a paid two-month internship position with the company, where decision-makers saw potential worth exploring in the student from the work he had done with the company already in a learning capacity.

When they told me we want you to stay, it was really a lets go! type of moment, Fischer said. It was a goal I had not necessarily expected though. I wanted to go there to learn about the industry and see if it is something Id like to continue to pursue. Im very excited to be able to continue there.

Fischer, a top member of Hahnvilles robotics team, said his interest in computers and software spurred him to explore an opportunity he came across a few years ago.

In the COVID year, Id done a bunch of credits already and learned about a program, Project SPARK in New Orleans, said Fischer. I figured, sure, Im already interested in these things I took an intro level class and really kind of fell in love with it. I started researching and learning more on my own, invested my time in it and learned what I wanted to do.

Monti said Fischer has a unique skillset that HapTech is happy to bring aboard and work with.

You could see when he was up there, when one of the students asked why is he so interested in this, Ians eyes lit up, Monti said. Hes been working on software interface that other companies with can take and integrate into their game.

Were so grateful for programs like this to exist to connect us with such talented individuals. Weve signed the paperwork and Ians coming on for a summer internship.

Continued here:

Hahnville senior signs with virtual reality gaming company - St. Charles Herald Guide

Holoride, a startup that wanted to bring Virtual Reality entertainment to cars, has filed for insolvency. CEO Nils Wollny broke the news on LinkedIn in a heartfelt post that made it clear that this was very unexpected.

Founded in 2019, Holoride envisioned backseat passengers being able to enjoy VR experiences during their trips. These experiences would be designed to take into account the movement of the vehicle for truly immersive entertainment.

So, after months of negotiations, instead of celebrating holoride's next funding round to boost our new strategic direction and release new product versions, we were forced to file for insolvency.

The idea, to me, seems pretty interesting. Not every car ride passes by magnificent vistas for you to marvel at. Holoride was bringing personalized games and its own custom cinema app to make boring car rides a lot more enjoyable.

However, until then, well have to make do with other amazing VR games. And if you want to do your part in helping the XR industry grow, our list of the best VR headsets in 2024 is sure to help.

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Startup aimed at VR entertainment in cars files for insolvency - PhoneArena

The best VR games intend to take your gaming experience one step further, bringing the dream of stepping into your favorite games to life. But, with the number of titles on the market, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time and energy, so we've pulled together the best of the best so you know which adventures in VR are worth embarking on.

VR technology is becoming better, too headsets are becoming more ergonomic, and developers continuously improve reaction times and measures against nausea so that your time playing feels smooth and you can concentrate on having fun. Because of this, VR gaming is becoming more accessible to a wider audience, making it even more important to be playing the best games on the platform.

By now there are not only a lot of games to choose from, but also different headsets to consider if you havent made your choice yet, let us help you find the best VR headset with our definitive list. Whether youre playing on a Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, or PSVR 2 headset, this list has games for any kind of VR platform. If youre looking for something more specific, check our lists of the best Meta Quest 2 games, best VR fitness games, and best VR horror games.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure youre buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Essential zombie slaying

Platforms: PSVR 2

For fans of the best zombie games, Arizona Sunshine 2 is a must-play. You'll need to optimize the tactile gunplay the game offers while facing off with hoards of the undead, making for a fast-paced frenzy of zombie slaying. It's intense, but the gameplay feels so fluid that you can really lose yourself in its content. Plus, you can pet the dog - and that's always a good sign.

In addition, the environment of Arizona Sunshine 2 is enough to sell it alone. As you'd expect from one of the best VR games, a solid setting helps enhance the experience, which Arizona Sunshine 2 definitely delivers.

The best VR rhythm game

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR

Dance Dance Revolution meets Star Wars, Guitar Hero meets Tron; thats the best way to describe Beat Saber. This rhythm game has players slashing around glowing sabers to the beat of a musical track. It challenges players to keep up with the tune while cutting through colored blocks and dodging obstacles.

This game was one of the first VR titles to hit mainstream notoriety, because it looks so much fun to play, and its still one of the best VR games today thanks to an impressive library of DLC tracks that expand the song selection. Hooking up external headphones (our list of the best headphones can help you there) is a must so you can enjoy tracks from Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and Beat Saber's genre mixtapes to the fullest extent.

Become an international superspy

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

I Expect You to Die 2 is the perfect James Bond simulator, putting you into the shoes of a bonafide international superspy on a mission to take down a criminal organization no matter what convoluted traps stand in your way.

During this escape room-like experience, youll have to deflect hidden lasers, avoid heat-seeking missiles, and serve drinks so you can thwart the criminal mastermind before their plan comes together. The traps can leave you feeling more like Austin Powers than 007, but even when you fail the game is full of humor to keep you entertained. With its delightful characters including the brilliant voice acting of Wil Wheaton and spy-clich story, I Expect You To Die 2 delivers a VR experience that will have you feeling like a super spy.

Perfect with friends (or enemies)

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is the new Mario Party, at least in the sense that it will make your friends hate you.Developed by Steel Crate Games, this game requires careful attention from a recommended 2 to 6 players. While one player works to defuse a bomb, the others have to provide clear instructions on how to do so, but neither team can see what the other is looking at.

Demanding some intense cooperation from your peers, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a fun game with the right group of people, and one of the best VR games thanks to how well it translates.

A relaxing cooking sim

Platforms: Meta Quest 2

A lot of the best VR games are somewhat frantic, but they don't always have to be. Lost Recipes is a wonderfully relaxing cooking simulator that's a great pick whether you've been playing games for as long as you can remember or are a complete newbie. Each level tasks you with creating a historically accurate dish using a variety of cooking methods and ingredients to please a ghost NPC who is guiding you through the process. It's a weird, yet excellent, blend of Assassin's Creed Nexus VR and Cooking Mama in VR.

Schell Games combines elements of these games with approachable VR gameplay, charming NPCs, and highly detailed VR object interaction to create a concoction that is greater than the sum of its parts. Because of this, Lost Recipes is an excellent entry point into the world of VR gaming, that will also entertain experienced users with its meditative gameplay and historical tidbits.

Explore planets

Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR

No Man's Sky took a while to iron out its kinks, but now it is a game like no other. In VR, no game comes this close to what it could feel like to explore actual alien planets, and that alone deserves a spot among the best VR games.

Fight aliens, build your base, or explore planets the freedom in No Man's Sky can feel daunting, but it's also exhilarating. Traversing and discovering its generated worlds is already one epic adventure many gamers would gladly immerse in. However, Hello Games has taken it to the next level by making No Mans Skys VR experience better than most other developers have on their games.

Platform: Meta Quest 2

Resident Evil 4 VR is an incredible remake of the classic survival horror game for the Meta Quest 2 platform. Armed with nothing but a knife, handgun, and the tools you can scavenge on the way, youll have to fend off parasite-infected brutes and monsters on your mission to rescue the U.S. Presidents daughter.

Thanks to the great array of comfort options available, this is a game that will leave you frightened instead of queasy. The immersive controls are awesome, too: youll really feel like Leon S. Kennedy as you stare down a horde of angry villagers trying to tear you limb from limb its enough to get your heart racing. it would make sense that one of the best survival horror games would also make one of the best VR games.

If you own a PSVR headset, why not try out Resident Evil 7: Biohazard? This game features a lot of whats great about Resident Evil 4 in VR, facing you off against equally terrifying odds as you try to escape the ranch of the wicked Baker family. Resident Evil: Village is the next game in the series with a planned VR version, so it's going to be one to watch for the PSVR2.

Revisit Skyrim

Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index,PSVR

At this point, Skyrim should need no introduction as a game that's been rereleased more times than we can count. This time, its come to the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, and, in doing so, it offers one of the biggest adventure games weve ever seen in VR.

Not only do you get to re-live the entire base game of Skyrim in VR, but the game includes the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn DLC as well. Even if Skyrim VR isnt one of the best VR games on a technical level, with its dated graphics (that can be improved with mods) and slightly rough translation to VR, its still an adventure easily worth diving into especially if you're an Elder Scrolls fan.

Feel like you're in the Matrix

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR

Super addictive first-person shooter Superhot has come a long way since its humble beginnings one of the best free web browser games in 2013. It's found its natural home on VR headsets, where it makes the most of 360-degree tracking by having enemies flank you from all sides.

Because time moves in slow motion when you do, Superhot VR benefits from the flexibility of a bigger play space. As the difficulty ramps up, you'll need every inch of cover to dodge incoming fire, bullet-time style, while crushing faceless enemies using guns, shurikens, and most satisfyingly your clenched fists.

A classic reimagined

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR

It's hard to put the Tetris Effect experience into words. Fundamentally, youre playing a regular game of Tetris, except that the environments you're playing in change - it's trippy as heck.

Each level has its own distinct flavor, with music and visuals tailored to its theme. For example, you can play an underwater level and hear soothing underwater noises, while sparkling whales float around your head.

It's a psychedelic and hypnotic experience, and one that everyone should have the privilege to play especially if you're looking for one of the best VR games that gives you a more meditative VR experience to enjoy.

Golf with a VR twist

Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index

Walkabout Mini Golf is an excellent golfing simulator, offering you eight varied courses (plus DLC) set in unique locations from a pirate cove to outer space.

Its expertly crafted golfing mechanics make it feel like you're playing the real thing and whether you're a more cautious or brazen golfer you'll find that your playstyle will be perfectly translated into this virtual world.

While it might not be the most mind-blowing offering on this list Walkabout Mini Golf is no less deserving of its place here it is without a doubt one of the best VR games we've played and you should absolutely give it a try.

Spellbound

Platforms: Meta Quest 2

If you're after a competitive multiplayer shooter set in VR, then look no further than Wands Alliances: it's quite possibly the best example of the genre on Quest 2. As a member of either The Ministry or The Watchers, you and two teammates will do battle on the streets of a steampunk London as you use your spells and unique abilities to arm or disable a magical explosive or eliminate your opponents.

The magical tricks at your disposal and the way they are used in combat both offensively and defensively make this so much more than a reskinned Call of Duty, and the tactical movement gives Wands Alliances an almost chess-like quality. It can be a lot to take in, but you'll be eased into the game gently thanks to an in-depth, yet quick tutorial. Wands Alliances is a must-play VR game that everyone with a Meta Quest 2 headset should play.

Back in the game

Platforms: SteamVR

Half-Life Alyx wasn't quite the game many had been expecting when it was announced, but it more than proved itself upon launch. The thing is, Half-Life and VR is a marriage made in heaven, with the new platform giving the developers more space to innovate and try out new types of mechanics. Playing it is genuinely transformative, as you peak from cover, manipulate objects from afar, and get into tense shootouts.

Absolutely worth trying if you have a headset to play it on. Here's hoping it's ported to be a bit more widely available though, as many simple don't have the hardware to run it.

To find the best VR games, your choice will mostly be down to preference. Only you know whether you find shooting games or space exploration games or mystery puzzle games fun. But there are some other factors to consider, too.

The most obvious is finding out whether the game you have your eye on works with your virtual reality system. To help you out we've listed what platforms these games are on under their entry with links to their storage.

Another consideration is whether the game allows you to both sit and stand. If you have a lot of room and want to play a high-energy game, it might be a no-brainer that you'll want to stand up and move about. Those with smaller spaces who aren't playing action games might want the option to stay seated and stationary though.

If you're prone to motion sickness, you might also want to check whether there are accessibility controls to change movement settings. Most people get used to VR after a few plays, but some people can still experience a lot of dizziness if they move quickly in VR or have to fly, hover or spin.

All the games featured in this guide are well worth your time, but what the best VR games ultimately depends on your personal tastes. there are many more VR games out there for you to try, take this list as inspiration and once you know which of these experiences you like best, it's time to look for more.

The team at TechRadar Gaming spend a lot of time testing out the best VR titles, and with hundreds of hours spent across different headsets, so we know exactly which titles are worth recommending.

Our experience with VR gaming, alongside the time we have spent within the games themselves, mean we have opinions you can really trust when it comes to recommendations.

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Best VR games in 2024 - TechRadar