Snap wants to integrate your Bitmoji into games

Snap wants to bring your Bitmoji into the games you play. It launched a new Bitmoji for Games SDK that will let developers do just that. The SDK will support games built in Unity, the Unreal Engine, and Snap’s own in-house PlayCanvas engine. The company selected developers who will gain free access to the SDK. It’ll work by using the Snapchat app to scan an in-game code that links the game to your Snapchat account. The plan is to bring this feature to games on the PC, consoles, as well as mobile.

Source: The Verge

Nintendo will release ‘Mario Kart Tour’ beta starting next month

We don’t really know much about this new mobile spin-off of Mario Kart, but it is coming. Nintendo just announced a “Closed Beta Test” for Mario Kart Tour. This sneak peek will be available to Android users in the US and Japan between May 22^nd and June 4^th. If you’re in either countries and want to check it out, you can sign up using the QR code on the official Mario Kart Tour website. The game is set to debut in “summer 2019” alongside Doctor Mario, a game Nintendo co-developed with messaging company Line. And yes, Mario Kart Tour is coming to iOS, too.

Source: Engadget

Nintendo says we won’t get new Switch at E3

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Despite what rumours say, there will not be a new Switch coming out at E3 this June. Nintendo’s CEO Shuntaro Furukawa said in yesterday’s earnings call that they are not announcing new hardware at the expo. He said, “As a general rule, we’re always working on new hardware and we will announce it when we are able to sell it, but we have no plans to announce that at this year’s E3 in June. E3 is scheduled to start on June 11^th.

Rumours claim there might be two new Switch consoles coming out this year, with a cheaper version expected to launch in June. And that may or may not happen, even without an E3 announcement, it seems highly unlikely for now.

Source: The Verge

Samsung does a take two of the Galaxy View

It’s a tablet but looks more like a portable TV—and its getting a second iteration. Samsung is launching the aptly named Galaxy View 2 in the US with AT&T teasing its release. It comes with a 17.3-inch 1080p display and comes with a built-in cover that doubles as a kickstand. It runs on a mid-tier 1.6GHz Exynos 7884 octa-core chip, 3GB of RAM, a front-facing 5-megapixel camera, and 64GB expandable storage. Since it’s designed for entertainment purposes, it comes with Dolby Atmos audio and a gigantic 12,000mAh battery. Since it’s launching with AT&T it comes with built-in LTE support for calling (if you want to).

It’ll be coming to the US on April 26^th through a US$37 per month, 20-month installment plan. This means the Galaxy View 2 will cost $740, which is $140 more than the original View. But if you’ve been looking for a pretty hefty portable TV/tablet, here’s one to consider.

Source: Engadget