Update – April 29
Redditor the_andshrew has now found image assets and IDs for two additional games in the PlayStation store backend: Worms World Party and Worms Armageddon.
We can expect to find the invertebrate turn-based shooters in the PS Plus Premium's retro games collection when it launches later this year.
Original story
Several classic PlayStation games due to be added to the PS Plus Premium tier later this year appear to have leaked, giving us a glimpse of which classic titles will be hitting the subscription platform when it relaunches.
Assets for three PlayStation games were found in the PSN storefront backend by Redditor the_andshrew , including cover images for classic PS1 fighting game Tekken 2, PS1 puzzler Mr Driller, and arcade-style PSP racer Ridge Racer 2.
When the revamped PS Plus service relaunches later this year, its Premium tier will give subscribers access to a catalog of games from across the PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP generations. These assets appear to be tied to the service, implying all three games will be heading to the tier’s new retro collection.
Although this leak only reveals three games out of the total 340 titles included in PS Plus’s retro collection, it does give us an indication of the sort of games we can expect to see on the service.
Tekken 2 is a PlayStation staple full of nostalgia for many PlayStation fans, Mr Driller is a lesser-known, kid-friendly title, while Ridge Racer 2 has gained something of a cult following since it was released on Sony’s handheld over 15 years ago. It’s a pretty eclectic mix. If the whole retro collection spans a similar range, it will have something for everyone.
Games for days
It’ll be a while yet before we can get our hands on the games, though. The revamped PS Plus will receive a staggered launch later this year, first hitting Asia on May 23, before making its way to Japan on June 1, America on June 13, and finally Europe on June 22.
The service will be available in three tiers. PS Plus Essential provides the same benefits as the current version of PS Plus, namely two monthly downloadable games and online access. PS Plus Extra, meanwhile, expands the package into an Xbox Game Pass competitor, handing you a collection of 400 PS4 and PS5 games to download.
PS Plus Premium completes the service by letting you stream the PS Plus library through the cloud and adding the collection of retro PlayStation games.
As with any leak, take this with a pinch of salt. While the_andshrew’s post history shows he has a history of rummaging around the backend of computer systems, it’s best to rein in your excitement about these specific titles until Sony officially announces the PS Plus retro games list.
The OnePlus 10 Pro has finally gone global, and at a surprisingly low price
After months of waiting, the OnePlus 10 Pro has finally left China and gone global, with the launch event for most of the rest of the world having now taken place.
We already knew most of what the OnePlus 10 Pro had to offer, but thanks to this global launch some of the gaps have now been filled in, and most importantly we now know the price.
The OnePlus 10 Pro starts at $899 / £799 (around AU$1,400) for a version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and rises to £899 (roughly $1,180 / AU$1,575) for one with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage – with that pricier model not being available in the US, and no versions coming to Australia.
That means the price is actually lower than what the OnePlus 9 Pro cost, as that phone started at £829 (about $1,090, AU$1,450) for 8GB of RAM / 128GB of storage, rising to $1,069 / £929 (about AU$1,625) for 12GB / 256GB.
You’ll note also that OnePlus this year is offering only the cheapest version in the US, while last year it sold only the priciest there.
We’re not sure why this is, but it has the side effect of making the phone look significantly cheaper than its predecessor at a glance – until you realize you’re getting less RAM and storage. Still, both versions are cheaper in the UK, so the price has legitimately been reduced too.
Pre-orders are open now, and the OnePlus 10 Pro ships on April 5 in the UK, and on April 14 in the US.
Unsurprisingly the specs are exactly the same as they were for the Chinese model, meaning you’re getting a phone with a 6.7-inch 1440 x 3216 AMOLED screen sporting a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a 5,000mAh battery with 80W charging (or 65W in the US ), and a triple-lens camera, with a 48MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto (with 3.3x optical zoom).
Analysis: no Extreme Edition – or at least not yet
What we don’t appear to be getting is the OnePlus 10 Pro Extreme Edition – a model in a Panda White shade, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The standard OnePlus 10 Pro is available in a choice of Volcanic Black or Emerald Forest (also known as green), so this white shade is exclusive to the Extreme Edition, and that storage capacity is double what you can currently get with the global model.
But the other specs – including the RAM – are identical to what you’ll find in the phone elsewhere, so the Extreme Edition isn’t a huge upgrade.
There’s also a chance it will still come to some other regions, as it didn’t arrive in China until a while after the standard OnePlus 10 Pro had launched, so it’s possible the company will do the same elsewhere – or launch a different region-specific model at a later date.
We wouldn’t count on it though, and unless you really need mountains of storage or really love the white shade, it’s probably not worth waiting to find out.
Sigma expected to finally launch three lenses for Fujifilm X-series cameras soon
Sigma's long-awaited debut lenses for Fujifilm X-series cameras still haven't materialized, but fresh speculation suggests that Fuji fans won't have to wait much longer for new glass from the Japanese lens maker.
According to the reliable Fuji Rumors , "Sigma will start its X mount adventure by launching three X mount autofocus lenses". And while no exact time frame was given, the rumor's headline promises they're coming "soon".
This is promising news for Fuji fans who've been waiting for some fresh alternatives to Fujifilm's own X-mount lenses. While Fujifilm's lenses are generally very high-quality, there are some gaps in its focal length coverage (particularly at the longer end) and some of its current lenses could also do with updates.
Sigma has been making noises about porting some of its high-regarded lenses, which are split across its Art, Contemporary, and Sport lines, since November 2020. In an interview with CineD in September 2021, Sigma's CEO Kazuto Yamaki-san said the company was "thinking about how we can satisfy Fujifilm customers".
But after leaving them distinctly unsatisfied last year, it seems Sigma is finally gearing up to launch three lenses for X-series cameras, which are popular among hobbyists and pro landscape photographers.
Sigma is exhibiting at the CP+ 2022 camera show, which starts on February 22, and it has previously used the event to announce new products, like the development of the Sigma FP L. But we'll have to wait to see whether the X-Mount lenses will arrive there – and just as importantly, which lenses Sigma has in store.
Analysis: First X-Mount lenses likely to be safe bets
Fujifilm fans have been waiting years for Sigma to release lenses for the X-Mount, but they sadly didn't arrive last year. Whether this was down to the knock-on effects of the pandemic or extended development times isn't clear, but it looks likely that Fujifilm cameras will get three Sigma lenses soon.
The big question, though, is which ones? The lenses desired by Fuji fans and the ones that make the most practical sense for Sigma are likely to be two different things. But one strong candidate is surely the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN , which arrived in October for the Sony E-Mount and the L-Mount (supported by Panasonic and Leica).
That lens is the smallest and lightest of its kind, making it an ideal partner for some of Fujifilm's most compact bodies, but it still has a constant f/2.8 aperture, which means it has the same light-gathering powers whatever focal length you use. With a price tag of $549 / £429 (around AU$795), it'd also sit nicely below Fujifilm's current mid-range zooms.
But which other lenses Sigma might port to the X-Mount isn't yet clear. The safest, and perhaps least interesting, approach would be to do simple ports of recent prime lenses that already exist for the Sony E-Mount. These include affordable options like the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 AF DC DN or an all-rounder like the 30mm f/1.4 DC DN.
That said, the Fujifilm X-Mount is already fairly well stocked with small prime lenses, and as Fuji Rumors ' poll suggests, hardcore fans will be hoping for more interesting releases like the Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens. Fortunately, it seems we won't have to wait too much longer to find out.