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Category Archives: Cyberpunk

10 Perfect Video Games (You’ve Never Heard Of) – WhatCulture

Posted: November 13, 2021 at 10:54 am

Unless you have a time machine, there's just no way you can play every great game that gets released. In fact - short of booting each game up to the title screen before moving onto the next - you probably can't even play half of them.

Though this "too many games, not enough time" problem has definitely got worse in recent years thanks to post-release content roadmaps becoming the norm, live service games feeling like jobs, and AAA titles increasing in scale to the point of bloat, it's actually a problem that's existed for decades.

After all, we can't be engaged with every different ecosystem, platform, and genre, and with each passing year, there's bound to be a load of awesome stuff that doesn't even blip your radar.

The positive spin here is that - should you ever find yourself in a dry spell where you don't know what to play - there are hundreds of incredible games out there that you originally missed, or, in some cases, didn't even hear about.

So, on that latter note, here are some recommendations: those hidden gems and forgotten gaming greats that most people missed entirely.

We may be living in the golden age of superhero video games thanks to world-class dev teams like Insomniac and Rocksteady, but that far-off land of the 1990s still had the occasional standout title in the comic-book realm.

Based on an obscure French-American animated series (which was based on an equally-obscure comic-book hero), Phantom 2040 is, for lack of a more elegant term, the absolute bee's knees. You play as the title character, a costumed crime-fighter operating in the futuristic city of Metropia, battling mechs, robot insects, and perhaps the most evil villain of all... a faceless corporation.

With Metroid-style exploration and a totally banging soundtrack, Phantom 2040 is a quintessential '90s side-scroller, though it also manages to feel ahead of its time by incorporating player choice and multiple endings - around two-dozen, in fact.

It may lack originality, but everything it does, it does perfectly. The game is also elevated by the awesome, cyberpunk-y vibe of The Phantom IP - and unlike a certain other cyberpunk, this one won't glitch out on you every five minutes.

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10 Perfect Video Games (You've Never Heard Of) - WhatCulture

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Starfield gets a big concept art reveal, with ships, cities, and strange worlds – PCGamesN

Posted: at 10:54 am

If youre as bonkers aboutRPGsas we are at this orange site right here, youll know that yesterday was the tenth anniversary of Skyrims debut. To mark the occasion, Bethesda launched a new Anniversary Edition of the iconic fantasy game, fans celebrated in all kinds of ways, and the studio put on a concert of Skyrim music but it wasnt all about the birthday Dragonborn. We also got a good new idea of what Bethesdas upcoming space game Starfield will bring.

From about the 51:12 mark onwards in Bethesdas Skyrim tenth anniversary fan celebration and concert video (below), the studio makes the leap from the Dovahkiins adventures to Starfield. Composer Inon Zur introduces us to the London Symphony Orchestra playing the Starfield Suite, which is accompanied by a pretty generous batch of new concept art to ogle.

As you can see in the gallery below, the studios given us a really good sense of Starfields worlds and feel. While its concept art, so wont necessarily reflect the exact places well get to head to in-game, it gives us an idea of the games tone and style. There are scenes that seem more familiar and inspiredby the sci-fi and cyberpunk genres the piled-high cities full of neon above and vendorsbustling down below, and the retro-futurist spaceships, for example.

Then there are the places that seem utterly otherworldly, with the sweeping, stream and tree-flanked boulevard, the strange planets various biomes, and the settlements and cities lodged in the mountains or cliffs.Heres the gallery of concept art weve thrown together from the concert:

And heres the celebration in full if you want to see them in action Bethesda pans across the images and adds charming little animations to some, which can give you a better sense of them in footage:

The Starfield release date isNovember 11, 2022. You can head to that link to get an idea of whats coming up in less than a year now, in fact.

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10 most-viewed Shacknews Cortex articles from its first year – Shacknews

Posted: at 10:54 am

Back on November 10, 2020, we made a major change to Shacknews. We gamified the system, allowing our faithful community to both create whatever content they desired, but also get points for interacting with Shacknews the way they do every day from using Chatty to awarding Lols to simply reading and interacting with articles on Cortex and the front page. Its been a whole year since the launch and many a Cortex Article have been made since across a myriad of topics. What were the ones that caught our readers attention most? Well, we have that list right here. Here are the most viewed Shacknews Cortex articles of all time in its first year of existence.

By Daniel_Perez

Many may recall former Shackstaff and still-lurking-Shacker Daniel Perez. In fact, we know you do because he stopped in to share a Cortex post and the community let him know they remembered. He also happened to share that hes still a total weeb, showcasing his phone background which is VTuber Gura. Whether it was fandom solidarity with his VTuber phone background or just fond memories of Perez, Daniels little pop-in-and-say-hi pulled quite a few views, giving him the honor of kicking off this list. Keep doing that PR you do buddy. Youre a champ and obviously a Cortex contender.

By mlev

Do most people wandering through Shacknews.com know what Dungeons & Dragons is? Yeah, wed say of course they do. However, knowing about Dungeons & Dragons and knowing how to get into Dunegons & Dragons are two very different things. Thats likely a big part of what makes mlevs review of the Dungeons & Dragons The Essentials Kit so cool. First off, mlev doesnt assume you know. They take you through the whole intro to D&D and what kind of state its in. Then they guide us through the actual package, what it includes, and how well it introduces you to the game in a very well-thought-out use of the Shacknews Cortex review system. It got a lot of eyes and we hope there are at least a few more tabletop RPG enthusiasts because of it. Mlev really did this set justice in their explanation and critique.

By ejectorpod

One of the most enjoyable uses of Cortex (and definitely one that gets the conversations going) is that of food, whether exploring local favorites or cooking something up yourself. Ejectorpod was an early pioneer of this type of posting Shacknews Cortexs lifestyle, offering the Shacknews community a fantastic-looking coffee cake recipe they found. The coffee cake recipe article includes plenty of pictures of the baking process, as well as the delicious-looking final product and ejectorpod even does us the courtesy of a review to give us an idea of the difficulties of making the dish, the taste, and other factors that weigh as pros and cons. There have been plenty of delicious food posts on Cortex since, but this delightful coffee cake bake and review is one of the all-time best.

By Head Rush

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all did a lot of things to cope and try to have fun in a bad time. Tabletop Simulator was kind of a godsend during the worst of it and Head Rush knew it, so they whipped up this neat article on playing Warhammer on TTS. Not only does Head Rush lend some information to those who want to play as well, but they even disclose some tips they wish theyd known when theyd started to make it easier. COVID-19 might not be as bad as it was, but this article is still very handy for if youre ever stuck inside and want to enjoy a good tabletop game despite being cooped up.

By r_picmip 5

Lets face it: When Cyberpunk 2077 first came out, it was an unoptimized mess. Whether you were facing down the cavalcade of bugs or just trying to wrestle against some awkward default controls, it left a lot to be desired. With that in mind, r_picmip 5 tackled one of the games little frustrations and took it behind the woodshed. This guide is simple, but it teaches PC players how to get rid of the annoying double tap to dodge controls: one of the games many obnoxious defaults. It must have been something a lot of folks were looking for too because it drew quite the clicks, proof positive that Cortex guides written by you can be as useful as any of ours if you know a topic thats driving people bonkers.

By shotgun1

A good craft cocktail can be delightful within reason and responsibility, and around the craze of Cyberpunk 2077, Shacker shotgun1 took the time to whip up a special little something for the Shacknews community and shared it in Cortex. The Johnny Silverhand is a cocktail based on a real drink found in Cyberpunk 2077. Its a tequila Old Fashioned with a splash of beer and chili garnish, making for quite the wombo combo of citrusy and spicy. Cyberpunk 2077 may not have been as good as we wanted it to be, but shotgun1 gave a lot of folks the means to drink away their disappointment over the holidays with a choice cocktail creation.

By mr.sleepy

Early in 2021, mr. sleepy got into some comedy games writing in Cortex. Not every article was good enough to make it into the top 10, but occasionally, mr. sleepy hit that perfect balance of comedy and this could be real. I should click and read it. His article spoofing an interview with CD Projekt RED lead Antoni Szymon is one of those. Its humdinger of a spoof, playing at the idea that even CDPR didnt know how to fix Cyberpunk 2077 (something more than a year later, were inclined to believe). Mr. sleepys comedy Cortex posts are usually pretty good anyways, but this one was a bonified home run.

By mlev

In one of the only repeating appearances on this list, mlev did it again. They really seemed to have nailed down a niche for guiding hopeful Dungeons & Dragons players towards content that would ease them into the game, especially in a time where it was hard to get together with others to play. Only difference was, this adventure was specifically designed by mlev! They made it just for new DMs dipping their toes into the game and it caught a lot of eyes. Both inside and outside the Shacknews community, readers really dug what mlev put together because there were few other Cortex articles that garnered more attention (and were saying this got a lot of attention). Well played, mlev!

By mr. sleepy

Coming in hot at number two is our only other second appearance in the Cortex first year Hall-of-Fame. Weve already talked about how mr. sleepys comedic articles really hit it out of the park when they sound just a little too close to real while still being parody. This is another one of those. Boy howdy, did this get some hopes up before folks realized that Luigis Apartment would be a little too silly (or would it?!). We have to say, its a little on point that mr. sleepy interviews Satoru Iwata, who had been dead for five years at the time of this article. Really adds that g-g-g-g-g-g-GHOST flair. Either way, this is one of the most viewed articles on Cortex. Of all of mr. sleepys spoofs, this was the one that got tons of folks real good.

...

By at0micgarden

You know, theres something to be said about a good, simple guide. You might think its click-baity, but when they're done right and have something folks want, they draw all the eyes. Even in Cortex, this simple guide to getting the most out of an LG CX OLED television is the most clicked and most viewed Cortex article of all-time so far. Dont get us wrong, theres a lot of views on the creative stuff above (the Luigis Apartment parody was actually quite close to this in views). However, it turns out that a lot of folks out there just really need a hand getting the most pixel perfect clarity out of their LG CX TV! Were not going to judge. at0micgarden found that magical niche that folks were looking for and knocked it out of the park with this extensive guide. Congratulations. You have the most viewed Cortex article so far.

That covers our list of the most viewed Cortex articles in its first year of life. Thank you all for your part in bringing life to Cortex. The above list is only a sampling of the cool stuff that has rolled through Cortex since its launch and rest-assured, there are more cool things on the way. What was your favorite Cortex article? Let us know in the Shacknews Chatty section below! And don't forget that you, too, can be part of Cortex! Have something to post? An interesting idea, a funny one, a hobby, some pictures from a trip? Post it in Cortex! Maybe next year, you could end up on our hallowed list.

TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on Twitter @JohnnyChugs.

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Cyberpunk 2077 sees all new updates and free DLC pushed into next year – Videogamer.com

Posted: November 1, 2021 at 6:51 am

CD Projekt Red appears to have confirmed that all future updates and DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 have slipped into next year.

The info comes following the company quietly updating a roadmap for the game. While the Our Commitment to Quality page was first established in January, the updates roadmap has since been tweaked. As of October 28, 2021 all future updates and content for the game now appear to be targeted for 2022.

It shouldnt come as too much of a surprise, of course. Just over a week ago the company announced that next-gen updates for both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 were being moved into next year. The games most recent major updatePatch 1.3launched back in September and will be the last substantial update this year.

On the positive side, these future updates should mainly be quality of life and additions. Back in June, company CEO Adam Kiciski called the games stability at a satisfactory level. Its not known what Cyberpunk 2077 DLC we can expect, but Gabriel Amatangelo was appointed the games director earlier this year.

Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC. You can check out what Josh made of the game at launch in his review just over here.

on Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Players will be thrown into the dark future of the year 2077

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Cyberpunk action-RPG The Ascent gets a photo mode – PC Gamer

Posted: at 6:51 am

Dystopian Diablo-em-up The Ascent has an extra gorgeous setting, a planet called Veles that is 80% burnished gunmetal by weight. (The other 20% is neon.) It's so good-looking that players have been using the Universal Unreal Engine 4 Unlocker to take sweet screenshots, but now there's a way to do that without downloading a third-party program. The latest update by developers Neon Giant adds a photo mode, which you can activate by turning it on in the gameplay settings and then pressing P.

Photo mode comes alongside a patch that should improve stability and has a few fixes for audio, collision, and slow-loading in online co-op. The update also includes 10 new weapon skins and two shirts. A separate Halloween Pack DLC is also available for free, which contains a skeleton shirt, a skull face tattoo, and Jack o'Lantern headgear for your gun-toting punk.

Neon Giant has revealed the post-launch roadmap for The Ascent, with two more updates planned for this year. The first will include a much-requested transmogrification feature, while the second will bring side-mission VO and a winter pack, presumably containing festive cosmetics. Next year: a Chongqing pack and another much-requested feature, new game+ mode.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Mods Ranked from Worst to Best – GIVEMESPORT

Posted: at 6:51 am

Cyberpunk 2077 is continuously getting patched by CD Projekt Red to maximise the potential of the game, but what are the best community-made mods for PC?

There are a number of mods available for the controversial game, with some designed to try and make the experience a far more enjoyable one than the often buggy original.

Heres our list of the best Cyberpunk 2077 mods ranked from Worst to Best.

Fairly simple this one, but great nonetheless. More Options allows players to tweak elements in the menus of the game, unlocking options that were not previously available to gamers. There is a chance that messing with this could break the game (even more than it already is) though, so proceed with caution if youre going to do so.

The CDPR game has had issues with performance ever since it was initially released, and the Cyber Engine Tweaks mod tries to help with that.

Cyber Engine Tweaks gives the game a frame rate boost, and it appears to work for the most part. This mod will also let you access the games console.

Cyberpunk 2077 mods arent really known for their imaginative names and The Alternate Crowd Behaviour and Other Tweaks mod follows in that vein.

What the mod does do however is add some dynamics to the crowds in the game, and youll find more traffic and parked cars on the map.

The AI in the game will also handle races better (somewhat) and there is improved asset streaming, which will come at an FPS cost so its worth bearing in mind it might slow the game quite a bit if youre on older hardware.

See what I mean about the names of these mods? Despite the unimaginative title, this is certainly one of the most exciting mods currently available.

Full Gameplay Rebalance changes up how aspects of the title actually run. Level scaling is no longer an issue, Crit chances are also lowered, enemies now actually have the ability to look upwards so you might actually get detected whilst sneaking!

This is by far the most expansive and best mod currently available for Cyberpunk 2077 on the PC, so it is certainly worth giving a go if you find the original version of the game getting a bit tedious.

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Next-Gen Updates for Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3 Pushed to 2022 – PCMag

Posted: October 21, 2021 at 10:56 pm

CD Projekt Red will keep us all waiting a little bit longer to get the next-gen upgrades for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Both updates have been officially delayed until 2022.

In a tweet, CD Projekt Red explained that updates for both games on PC and console are being postponed to 2022 on the basis of recommendations supplied by teams supervising the development of both games.

The developer is now targeting the Cyberpunk 2077 update for the first quarter of 2022. The update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt should follow in the second quarter.

Cyberpunk 2077 launched in late 2020 to widespread disdain for poor performance, bugs, and a console experience that didnt line up with what CD Projekt Red had demoed, especially on last-gen consoles. Even new consoles were not getting the PC-like experience, with gamers stuck playing the game in a backward-compatibility mode for Xbox One and PS4.

Since then, CD Projekt Red has been working on some serious updates to improve the game. And in January, the developer laid out plans to release the next-gen update late this year. That announcement came just a few months after CD Projekt Red announced updates to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that would also see it get new enhancements for modern hardware, including ray tracing and faster loading times.

The update for Cyberpunk 2077 makes sense to deliver first, as its effectively CD Projekt Red making up for the botched launch of the game on consoles. The update to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is more of a gift to gamers, as the developer is releasing it for free to owners of the game.

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Why Are Cyberpunk 2077s Next-Gen Versions Taking Over A Year To Release? – Forbes

Posted: at 10:56 pm

Cyberpunk 2077

Yesterday, Cyberpunk 2077 announced that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game would be out in Q1 2022, a delay from what CDPR had said the entire past year, where multiple roadmaps always indicated they would be coming in the second half of 2021.

CDPR has been talking about these next-gen versions for ages, all the way back in June 2020, well before release, they talked about how PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were coming, and that they would be free upgrades to those who owned last-gen copies on PS4 and Xbox One.

One of the major issues Cyberpunk endured was the games performance on consoles. The worst offenders were PS4 and Xbox One base versions of the game, but the game did not exactly run great even on next-gens PS5 and Xbox Series X, which were running upconverted PS4 Pro and Xbox One X versions respectively.

Sowhy? Why is it taking CPDR over a full year to release these versions of the game, when clearly the original plan was to get them out shortly after launch?

A few reasons are obvious. First, the game was so broken at launch that whatever resources were going to be devoted to things like DLC or next-gen versions of the game were redirected toward simplyfixing the game. That took the better part of the first year, delaying all those plans.

Cyberpunk 2077

But what I think is really happening here, is that CDPR is gearing up for some major, major overhauls to Cyberpunk 2077, and they are going to release the next-gen version with many of those in place, rather than a version now that will then need stuff carved out of it and re-patched later.

The more patches we get in Cyberpunk 2077 lately, the larger they have been, and the more they are changing many of the core fundamentals of the game to pave the way for larger changes. We just got an entire overhaul to the way reflective surfaces work in the game, dramatically increasing visual fidelity in some circumstances. Other changes involve massive updates to the game itself, much of which cant even be seen, but its laying groundwork under the surface for larger changes to come.

We can take proposed lists of whats coming with grains of salt, but there are reportedly large overhauls to things like police, enemy and civilian AI in the works. A large amount of new content is planned, both with free DLCs and paid expansions, which will layer new missions on top of what we already have in Night City, just fleshing out areas more (like Pacifica).

I dont think that the next-gen versions will launch for the first expansion, but I do expect there to be a lot of core changes to the game made by the time thats released, and these big, larger-scale overhauls are the reason the next-gen version has been pushed so it can feel like a true relaunch. I think CDPR knows that many, many next-gen players have been waiting on the game entirely until the next gen version comes out, and if they can do a second launch where everything works 100% better than at launch, looks better, plays better, performs better, thats the closest thing they can get to the start of a redemption arc. And if theyve waiting a year for that, whats a year and three months?

Again, CDPR is still putting in a massive amount of work on Cyberpunk, with most of the company still working on the game, and something like 60 open roles listed as they try to staff up even further. Big, big changes are coming, and I believe this is the main reason for the next-gen delay, in addition to the past year of bug fixes we had to endure.

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Turn-Based Cyberpunk RPG Keylocker Is in Final Days of Kickstarter – COGconnected

Posted: at 10:56 pm

The Keylocker Kickstarter is wrapping up, and it is definitely worth a look. The Kickstarter is already a success, but with three days left to go, they are very close to being able to do a Switch port.

The Kickstarter itself is very well done and gives you all the information you could want on Keylocker as well as a demo so you can see for yourself if the game is something you would like to play.

So what is Keylocker? Keylocker is a rhythm-focused turn-based RPG that is inspired by the Mario&Luigi RPG series and Chrono Trigger. You will play as the singer and songwriter, BOBO. B0B0 is one of the Doppelgangers, twins born as perfect human beings fit to obey the purpose of the caste they were assigned to. Her purpose is to serve in the lowest caste for the prosperity of Saturn, but B0B0 doesnt quite agree to that. Amidst a revolution against the Saturnian Satellites, the ultimate form of law, B0B0 bands together with a newfound music robot thatll fit right in her illegal band as a drummer.

The combat is turn-based, but you will have to press buttons to a rhythm for proper offense and defense. There will also be no random encounters as enemies can be seen on the map. You can also befriend or betray the citizens and play concerts, so there seems to be plenty of stuff to do here as you go towards the games multiple endings.

Here are some of Keylockers key features:

Keylocker is a game I have some faith in, and Im excited to see how it comes out. It is a game by the creator of Virgo Versus The Zodiac, which I found to be a delightful little RPG, so I have some high ups as this is an established dev in my mind when it comes to RPGs. It also doesnt hurt that Im a huge fan of the cyberpunk genre.

Source: Kickstarter

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Razers new Zephyr smart mask is a glowing vision of a cyberpunk future – The Independent

Posted: at 10:56 pm

Razer, the computer company best known for its RGB lighting, announced a smart mask at the beginning of the year called Project Hazel. Today this concept came to fruition with a new name: the Zephyr.

The Razer Zephyr features two N95 filters, one on each side, and a passive filter on the bottom that are changed my removing the magnetically-attached plastic covers. It has a transparent outer shell, and internal lighting to make it easier to see peoples lips. There are two-speed fans, controlled by a companion app or the power button on the right-hand chamber and, of course, some customizable external lights.

For the past two years, during the pandemic, most people have worn the smaller cloth masks, and the move to a larger N95 mask especially a larger, premium one like this does feel akin to walking around as Mad Maxs Immortan Joe. But its an upgrade that experts say could be necessary for everyone to take on the new variants of the coronavirus and perhaps protect against air pollution.

Razers reasoning for building what it calls the worlds smartest mask is curt and corporate: Many suffered due to the shortage of equipment to combat this pandemic, the company says. We saw and acted on this opportunity to bring innovation into a space that has by and large been void of technology.

In the real world, wearing the mask feels like a statement, moreso than wearing a cloth one or a less conspicuous filter mask. Its a little like how I imagine the first proponents of Google Glass must have felt: I know something about the future that you dont. Its hard to say whether a smart mask is more dystopian, more cyberpunk, or less, compared to Glass.

The Zephyr feels like Razers attempt to get in on the ground floor, using its technological capabilities to make masks both a fashion icon (a trend that had already begun due to mass pollution) and a visible ad for the company with its iconic light effects. If tomorrow holds smart glasses and smart clothes, why not smart masks too?

I also never had that same intensity of conviction about smart masks that Glass wearers must have done, partly because of professional scepticism but also because it is big and bulky. Most people will want to stash the mask, when theyre not wearing it, in a bag or rucksack rather than wear it uncomfortably around their neck. I had to make a certain amount of preparation to wear a mask which, by definition, makes it feel unnatural.

Razer claims the mask filters out 95 per cent of particles, although there does not appear to be clear evidence of this on the companys website currently. In contrast, a tightly woven cloth mask with at least two layers can achieve somewhere around 40 to 80 per cent filtration efficiency, Dr Miranda Loh, an exposure scientist and head of environmental and public health at the Institute of Occupational Medicine told The Independent, but emphasised that no matter how effective at filtration the material a mask is made out of, if the fit is poor, the mask will not achieve a high level of protection.

Having worn the Zephyr for a week while walking and on public transport, it is generally comfortable and its adjustable strap fits around the head well. The silicone cup has a tight, but not pressurizing, seal, and anecdotally it does make a difference breathing in places like the London Underground which historically has had dangerously high levels of pollution.

With regards to the other features, the external lights are neat and can cycle between a rainbow of colours or two shades for a breathing effect but much like light-up computers and mice are only as compelling as the wearer thinks they are.

The internal light does make it easier to communicate (and hopefully future Zephyrs could have a dedicated button to activate it) and could be helpful to deaf people who have had trouble lipreading others or reading facial cues from people wearing conventional masks.

Assuming, that is, other people take it up. There are some things that may give people reservations about the Zephyr some of which are issues of the product, and some of which are political.

At 99.99, the Zephyr is more expensive than other masks, and a pack of 10 filters (which Razer says should be changed every three days) is 29.99. A reusable half mask respirator, meanwhile, costs around 20, with the filters costing around 8.

The mask is designed to be water resistant for small splashes but is not recommended for wet weather conditions, which is not ideal for Britains unpredictable weather; and taking the mask off when wearing glasses and wireless headphones can turn into a battle to keep everything on the head, especially for those with longer hair, compared to a mask that hooks around the ears.

During testing, the companion app for the mask only worked when provided with location tracking information deny that permission, and it became unusable. A Razer spokesperson said that this was only used for the beta test and, when the mask is available, the app will not require location data to work.

A cloth mask, despite what the more outlandish conspiracy theorists might believe, cannot track you.

(Razer)

Then there are the culture war issues around masks, which sparked early last year and still continue. In July this year, face masks were no longer made compulsory made instead into matters of personal choice. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has urged his Conservative colleagues to wear masks in the crowded Commons chamber, although it has been noted that few MPs have been pictured in the Commons wearing masks.

Even when the pandemic passes it is possible that masks will become needed to fight pollution, but that political debate has raged long before the coronavirus spread and will likely continue long after. In 2018, toxic air in the UK was deemed a national health emergency, yet two years later, it was found that 60 per cent of the population was living with air pollution above legal limits. Although broadly speaking, overall air pollution trends are declining, Dr Loh says, there are some areas where tackling the issue may be more difficult, for example in areas with busy roads

Environmentally, a long-term mask like the Razer Zephyr may avoid millions of masks being used then thrown away every single day and clogging up ocean ecosystems; but conversely, some researchers have said it might encourage a false sense of security and that once clogged, masks are worse than useless.

There is no doubt the Zephyr is futuristic, but whether it is a future will come to pass in the UK remains to be seen and there will be many factors about cleanliness and upkeep wearers will need to consider about masks in ways they have not done before even now.

The Zephyr itself feels like a product that would have been an ideal investment at the beginning of lockdown, but the lack of restrictions and the feeling that the pandemic is over (despite rising cases) may lower the publics interests.

In other countries, however, it may have a greater adoption rate. Many people wore N95 masks in China to protect themselves against air pollution as it was more common, and it could find popularity in heavily polluted areas of India (although the vast wealth disparity means many might not be able to afford the Zephyr).

Razers approach appears to be providing an option not advice. The company says it wants to give users as much choice as possible, including the choice whether to wear a mask or not to provide protection in busy, urban environments, and especially with the upcoming flu season.

In the UK the issue of mask wearing and infectious diseases will not go away, Dr Loh predicts. COVID isnt going to go away nor will the flu, and an increase of phenomena like wildfires could also see episodes of extremely high pollution where it would be advisable for people to wear masks.

Should that happen, people may find new products like the Zephyr, and other masks like it, to be a breath of fresh air.

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Razers new Zephyr smart mask is a glowing vision of a cyberpunk future - The Independent

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