Counter-Strike 2 comes out this summer but Ghostwire: Tokyo comes to Xbox consoles now. Plus, three more PS VR2 games to talk about.

Valve announces Counter-Strike 2, coming this summer

Counter-Strike, developed and published by Valve, is one of the biggest games of all time. And this summer, it’s getting an update in the form of Counter-Strike 2

The story of Counter-Strike is interesting. It started out as a mod for Valve’s Half-Life, in which a couple of programmers modified the Half-Life code to create a multiplayer shooter that had two teams fighting against each other in an attempt to complete missions.

The mod became popular enough that Valve hired the two people who created it and turned it into a full-fledged game in its own right.

The last update to the game was 2012’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and the new release will bring things like volumetric smoke, upgraded visual effects, and reworked audio.

Counter-Strike 2 is a free upgrade to Global Offensive.

Ghostwire: Tokyo gets an update and a release on Xbox consoles

Action adventure exploration game, Ghostwire: Tokyo has been out for a year and the console exclusivity has lapsed. That means that Xbox players can enjoy this ghost story that is steeped in Japanese culture.

The game, developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda, is also on Xbox Game Pass for subscribers.

At the same time, Tango has released an update for Ghostwire. “Spider’s Thread” adds new areas to explore, additional cutscenes, and new combat options. It’s available now as a free update on all platforms.

PS VR2 games we played this week

Cave Digger 2: Dig Harder

This was more interesting than I expected. You are a prospector in some steam punk world, and you need to explore caves to dig and collect valuable minerals while staying alive. You’ll be using a pickaxe in one hand and a funky revolver in another and a host of other tools to mine and survive.

Song in the Smoke Rekindled

In this you become a caveman? And then explore an environment, collecting berries to eat and crafting arrowheads out of rocks and bone. Smoke kept glitching on me so I couldn’t progress, so I didn’t get very far with it.

Gorn

I wanted to like Gorn more than I did. It’s pitched as a goofball gladiator game in which you whack away at other combatants before they can take you out. But the mechanics of movement are so awkward that I ended up just standing in one place and waiting for my enemies to come to me. It’s hard to win a fight that way.

A couple of months ago I got frustrated with my iMac which was running slower than I wanted it to. When I looked at my system overview I learned why: the machine is nearly ten years old.

This is the first time that I’ve even thought to look at the age of the machine, the first 27-inch iMac with the 5K Retina screen that shipped in 2014. That’s Apple in my experience. Mac computers, especially, are built to last.

So it was time to visit my local Apple Store to figure out what I was going to get as a replacement. I opted to go back to the flagship store at Pacific Centre.

And while I’m giving the 27-inch iMac from 2014 to one of my kids – it’s more than enough computer for what they need it for – my visit also gave me an opportunity to take in my first iMac that finally gave up the ghost last year, and which has been sitting on the floor in my office ever since.

While I might be a tech journalist, I don’t actually know everything about everything, and I wasn’t entirely sure what would be the best computer replacement for me. That’s almost certainly true for most people, and it’s why Apple’s retail experience is so important and valuable.

The experts in the stores are experts. They understand Apple products inside and out. They aren’t on commission, so you don’t have to worry about them trying to eke out every penny they can.

And in my experience, I often end up with a cheaper option that I expected. Because the experts take the time to understand my needs and requirements, and they recommend the best option to meet those requirements.

For me, the most important thing is being able to service as much screen real estate as possible. I’ve been using three monitors for a few years now, and will not go back. Given that constraint, the choice was pretty clear: Mac mini. Specifically, the model with the M2 Pro chip that can display on three monitors at a time.

While I was chatting away with an Apple expert, one of their colleagues was processing the ancient iMac to be taken away for recycling. This is actually part of Apple’s Trade-In program which can get you credit towards a purchase. Even an iPhone 7 can still get you up to $50.

You can trade in almost any computer equipment at Apple, too, not just Apple products. And if you’re not sure they’ll take something, you can always ask.

And while I didn’t opt for financing, Apple has interest-free financing for up to two years for those who qualify.

While I couldn’t get the Mac mini I wanted in the store – my configuration needed to be ordered – I did walk away with a new keyboard and a birthday present for the kid who’s about to turn 16. I can’t divulge what that is for fear of ruining the surprise.

My new Mac will be delivered to my office soon. I can’t wait to get it up and running, so I can forget about having to get a new computer for another ten years.

This week on The Shift, Shane Hewitt and I talked about the special edition Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch OLED, three new games in the Apple Arcade, four new PS VR2 games we’ve played, and Jabra’s Evolve2Buds.

Nintendo has a Zelda-themed OLED Switch coming, three recommendations on Apple Arcade, and the latest PS VR2 games we’ve played.

Tears of the Kingdom Edition Nintendo Switch announced

A lovely Nintendo Switch OLED with colours and designs from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is being released on April 28, in advance of the game’s release on May 12.

The console, a dock that puts the display onto a television, and the Joy-Con controllers are priced at $470.

Also available is a Pro Controller ($100) and a carrying case ($33) which will be available on May 12 when the game launches.

The console and accessories are available for preorder now.

Clue, Osmos, and Human Fall Flat among new games on Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade, the subscription service providing ad- and micro-transaction-free games for your iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV boxes, adds new games to the library every month.

Among the recent additions is Clue: The Class Mystery Game+, which puts the classic board game onto your phone and lets you play against AI or with friends.

Another game I’ve enjoyed is Osmos+, which comes from Hemisphere Games, a studio run out of Nelson, B.C. by Eddy Boxerman and a host of talented helpers.

The objective is to grow a bubble by absorbing smaller bubbles in the arena. But you must be careful about how you move around, because the faster you move, the more size you lose. And larger bubbles will consume you if they touch you.

Human Fall Flat is a physics-based platformer that we’ve enjoyed on console, and the whacky fun that comes from the rag doll bodies moving through the world will translate nicely to iPhones and iPads.

PS VR2 games we played this week

Kayak VR: Mirage is less interesting than I’d hoped. It’s a kayak simulator, which might be more fun to people who don’t have ready access to real kayaking like we do.

Startenders: Intergalactic Bartending was more interesting than I expected. It’s exactly what it promises. You have to make drinks for aliens at a bar. Don’t forget the garnish!

The two games in the Moss series are among the best VR games available.

In Moss you are introduced to Quill, the young mouse you guide and control through a world of puzzles and challenges.

In Moss: Book II, there’s a bigger world for Quill to explore, and more ways for you to help her move through that world.

We’ve spent a great deal of time in the past couple of years talking about how to make sure your home office is kitted out for all the meetings you need to have online. But with people heading back into offices, it’s worth thinking about whether you’ve got the right kit for that space, too.

Which is where Jabra’s Evolve2 Buds ($350) come into the conversation.

Like the other Jabra earbuds I’ve reviewed – they’ve all been great – the Evolve2 fit nicely, sound great, have excellent microphones with software designed to cut out background noise. And they are multipoint, so you can have two devices connected to them at the same time.

What makes the Evolve2 great for the modern office is the USB-C or USB-A adapter that is included, which you can plug into your computer.

This adapter means that your audio connection to your computer is more stable than Bluetooth alone. This is especially important in an office environment where everybody else is using Bluetooth headsets.