Whether you've got a party planned, or you've got the TV all to yourself, it's undeniable that the Super Bowl is one of the biggest broadcasting events of the year.
If you want to watch Super Bowl 2022 in the best possible quality, however, we've got some bad news. NBC recently announced that this year's big game won't be broadcast in 4K UHD resolution ( as originally reported by The Verge).
That's not exactly a rarity. Last year's Super Bowl LV was broadcast in standard HD by CBS after the network cited the organizational difficulties presented by the pandemic. In fact, Fox is the only network able to show the game in that glorious Ultra-HD resolution (and did so only for the first time back in 2020).
That's not to say your hard-won Super Bowl TV deals will be in vain. If you're using the big game to upgrade your entertainment setup you'll still benefit from enhanced colors, better motion handling, and greater contrasts with a premium set. However, those looking to watch the Super Bowl in high quality 4K may have to do a little more digging.
Why isn't NBC broadcasting the Super Bowl in 4K?
NBC isn't broadcasting the Super Bowl in 4K for the simple reason that it doesn't have the distribution platform to do so just yet.
However, many have found such an explanation a little thin. After all, the network has successfully shown the Olympics in 4K HDR... kind of.
NBC's coverage of the Tokyo Olympics was available in 4K HDR, but only through partner services like FuboTV, YouTube TV, and Xfinity. NBC's own apps and networks were still streaming in standard definition.
However, even streaming the Super Bowl on the likes of FuboTV or Sling TV won't yield 4K results this year.
Neither NBC, CBS, nor ESPN have the infrastructure to broadcast football games in 4K, with Fox only being able to do so by upscaling its standard HD footage once it comes down to the wire. None of these channels broadcast regular season and post-season games in UHD either.
It takes a lot to put the whole Super Bowl package together, and even more to ensure that each halftime performer, slow motion replay, and commercial seamlessly flows in 4K HDR. It's easy to see why the technology has been put on the backburner considering the scramble to put on the big show, but now that 4K is firmly on the road to industry standard a full UHD season can't be too far away.
Can you still watch Super Bowl LVI in 4K?
That brand new TV might not go to waste though. There is a way to watch every play in a crystal clear picture, and that's through 4K upscaling .
If you own a 4K TV , it's worth checking to see if your set can take HD content and fine tune it to produce a clearer, more detailed UHD picture.
Some 4K TVs can do this better than others; Sony sets are particularly adept while cheaper TCL and Sharp sets will struggle a little more. However, the process taking place is largely the same from display to display.
Your TV can take a Full HD picture from a broadcast and inflate it for a larger 4K resolution, while reducing noise, sharpening details, and defining textures a little better.
The result is a crisper image overall, with greater attention to smaller details. It won't be the same as a native 4K stream, but it will still be better than viewing on a Full HD set.
Should you buy a 4K TV for the Super Bowl?
NBC's broadcast may throw a spanner in the works if a 4K Super Bowl stream was a driving factor behind your decision to upgrade your setup this month. You won't be able to use your new TV to its fullest potential for this year's game (even upscaling won't be quite as crisp as a full 4K stream), but picking up a new display will still help you get more out of this week's big game.
The latest 4K TVs go beyond a crisper picture, so you can enjoy enhanced colors and contrast as well as better audio on top. You'll still feel the benefits of your purchase this weekend.
Beyond the big game, though, there's more 4K content available than ever. Disney Plus , Amazon Prime , Netflix , and more all stream in 4K with hundreds of titles up for viewing. As the technology behind 4K displays grows cheaper, we'll see a far greater spread of UHD content up for grabs as well.
New Windows 11 update shows Microsoft still wants to take down the iPad
Microsoft has released a software preview for Windows 11 that will make using the operating system on tablet devices, and 2-in-1 laptops , much better.
As DigitalTrends reports , Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22563, which has just been released to people signed up to receive early versions of Windows 11 to test, optimizes the taskbar on tablets and 2-in-1 devices.
In the new update, the taskbar now has two states: a collapsed and expanded mode. When the taskbar is collapsed, it appears much thinner, giving you more screen real estate and helping to prevent accidental presses of taskbar buttons.
Meanwhile, the expanded mode makes the taskbar wider, allowing you to select items more easily, such as apps, using the touch screen.
Switching between the two modes looks pretty easy as well, and is done by simply swiping your finger up or down at the bottom of the tablet’s screen where the taskbar resides.
It seems that this version of the taskbar will only be available on Windows 11 tablets and 2-in-1 laptops, which have touchscreens that either detach from the keyboard, or can be folded back, and used as a tablet. Desktop PCs and traditional laptops won’t get this new taskbar.
As it’s currently in a Preview Build, it also means that regular Windows 11 users won’t see it just yet. However, if testing goes well and there’s a positive reaction from Windows Insiders, we could see the feature appear in a Windows 11 update sometime in the future.
Analysis: Microsoft’s tablet ambitions remain
This new update shows that Microsoft’s tablet ambitions remain undeterred. While its rivals Apple and Google have found immense success with tablet devices, Microsoft has yet to do the same. Its attempts to take on the mighty iPad and gain tablet market share have been a mixed bag.
There was the deeply unpopular Windows 8 , which dropped much of the classic interface of Windows, including the taskbar and Start menu, for an interface with large icons that was aimed at tablet use. The problem was, Windows 8 tablets were largely ignored, and desktop and laptop users hated having to put up with an interface that was designed for touchscreens they didn’t have.
Microsoft found more success with its Surface Pro line of 2-in-1 devices, alongside Windows 10 , which struck a more even balance with an interface that was better suited to traditional PCs, while also having a tablet mode.
However, Surface Pro sales still lag behind iPad and Android tablet sales, but it seems Microsoft isn’t giving up. If Windows 11 continues to evolve to work even better on tablet devices, then this could be Microsoft’s best bet yet to take on Apple and Google.
The next PS5 console exclusive is getting a free demo next week
Square Enix’s upcoming online action RPG Babylon’s Fall will be the next console exclusive to hit PlayStation, and it's getting a free demo on February 25 in the run-up to the game’s launch.
Available on PS5 and PS4 , the demo will allow you to explore the game’s opening area through multiple hours of story content, letting you get to grips with its basics and the many character types on offer.
You’ll be able to dig into the game solo or team up with three pals in four-player co-op. Plus, all saved data made during the trial (including progress and achievements) can be transferred to the full game after it launches, giving you a bit of a head start if you decide to pick it up.
Square Enix has also said anyone who signs into the game during its first season of content will automatically be given the game’s Premium Battle Pass for free. It’s unclear whether that applies to players of the demo, though, and there’s no word yet on how much the Battle Pass will retail for.
Babylon's Fall is scheduled to release March 3, a week after this demo goes live. If you cough up a little extra for the game’s digital deluxe edition, you’ll get your hands on the game a little earlier on February 28.
It’s also scheduled to release on PC for the same date, but this demo looks to be exclusive to PS4 and PS5.
You can pre-order the game for $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95.
Analysis: is a demo the best way to try a live-service title?
Co-developed by Square Enix and Bayonetta -developer PlatinumGames, Babylon’s Fall styles itself around a fluid co-op combat system, as well as its original fantasy world that reportedly draws from the aesthetics of medieval oil paintings. Taking the role of magical Sentinels, you’ll buddy up to fight your way through the Tower of Babel, collecting loot and facing progressively tougher challenges.
While Babylon’s Fall might not call itself a live-service game, it looks pretty close to one. Its developers have promised to keep the game updated with new game modes, areas, and story content after it launches, adding more features to the game for free. While it looks to center on small-team multiplayer co-op rather than competitive matches, the ongoing content releases should certainly give it a live-service feel.
But whether a short demo that's only a few hours long can give you a substantial feel for a live-service game is a little questionable. Games like Destiny 2 and Apex Legends are loved for how they evolve over time. A small snapshot of these games isn’t likely to do them justice; they demand you invest countless hours to fully appreciate the development of their stories and metagames.
Regardless, if you’re interested in Babylon’s Fall but aren't fully swayed, its try-before-you-buy demo will be well worth checking out. At the very least, you’ll know whether PlantinumGames’ new multiplayer focus is for you.