Firefox 54 was released, and with it we finally get multi-process. The old Firefox used a single process to run all the tabs in a browser, and a complex site in one Firefox tab could slow down all the others. That often meant a less than perfect browsing experience. Firefox now uses up to four processes to run web page content across all open tabs. This means that a heavy, complex web page in one tab has a much lower impact on the responsiveness and speed in other tabs. By separating the tabs into separate processes, Firefox makes better use of the hardware on your computer, so it can deliver you more of the web you love, with less waiting. Medium has a nice write-up of the new version of the browser. In order to run multiprocess, your add-ons need to support it as well. You can check compatibility using this plugin.
The Minecraft server has been updated to version 1.12. This update adds a new crafting system, a new function system, hints for beginners, glazed terracotta, concrete, colored beds, illusioners, and parrots. It also replaces achievements with advancements.
Since the PC as a platform doesn’t really have a corporate overlord to put on a conference, the guys over at PC Gamer have been putting on a show for the last couple of years. Its more low key and paced slower then the other conferences since it doesn’t have a ton of money behind it, but it often has some interesting demos and developer interviews. Full conference is above. Some of my personal favorite parts of the show:
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
A short video showing some of the new features coming to the extremely popular PC game. New features include climbing and vaulting as well as weather changes. Also coming is modding support and two new maps: one set in Peru and the other set in the Adriatic.
The full Bethesda press conference is above. It was a pretty short and depressing show though. Lots of emphasis on their old games such as Skyrim on the Nintendo Switch, Dishonored DLC, and an Elder Scrolls Online expansion (people still play this?). They also showed off some dumb card game that will never take off. Oh yeah, and they announced paid mods for Fallout 4 and Skyrim. I am sure that wont go over well with the community, although I understand the business reasons for it. Steam tired something similar a while back but failed when the community revolted. They showed off some Fallout 4 VR and Doom VR VFR stuff, but even as a headset owner I am not too interested in either of them.
Here are the only two things they showed at their conference that I thought looked any good:
Wolfenstein II
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed first-person shooter, Wolfenstein: The New Order developed by the award-winning studio MachineGames.
Full press conference is above. Here are some of the trailers that I thought looked interesting from this year’s Microsoft conference:
Anthem
In Anthem™, a new shared-world action-RPG from EA’s BioWare studio, team up with friends as Freelancers—the bold few with the courage to leave civilization behind and explore a landscape of primeval beauty. Wield an arsenal of Javelin exosuits, each equipped with unique weapons and abilities. Band together with friends, confront the dangers you find, and grow in power with every step.