Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
Google rolls out Imagen 4, its advanced text-to-image model, for free on AI Studio
The offer is available for a limited time only
Two versions announced: Imagen 4 and Imagen 4 Ultra
Imagen 4 Ultra delivers higher accuracy at a higher price
Gemini integration is expected for paid users soon
Google debuts upgraded text-to-image tool
Google has launched Imagen 4, its latest text-to-image generation model, now available for free via AI Studio for a limited time. The tool promises substantial improvements over its predecessor, Imagen 3, especially in image quality and text generation accuracy.
According to Google’s announcement, there are two new models: Imagen 4 and Imagen 4 Ultra. Imagen 4 is optimised for general use cases and is priced at $0.04 per image when not using the free offer. Imagen 4 Ultra, the more advanced option, costs $0.06 per image and is designed to follow text prompts with greater precision.
At present, Imagen 4 is not available within Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot, but it is expected to roll out to paid users in the coming weeks.
Insider claims Resident Evil Requiem will feature a combat system similar to The Last of Us Part II.
Leon Kennedy reportedly returns as one of the protagonists despite official silence.
Players will be able to travel through open-level areas using vehicles.
New lighting, shadow, hair, and environmental physics systems have been implemented.
Release date set for 27 February 2026.
With just days to go before Resident Evil Requiem is showcased at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, new leaks suggest the game will deliver its most ambitious mechanics yet. According to reliable insider Dusk Golem, the next entry in Capcom’s survival horror series will blend innovations with influences from The Last of Us Part II, introduce open-level exploration with vehicles, and push technical boundaries with upgraded visuals and AI.
A combat system inspired by The Last of Us
Dusk Golem reports that combat in Resident Evil Requiem has been heavily reworked, drawing inspiration from The Last of Us Part II while adding unique elements of its own. Leon Kennedy, who Capcom has not confirmed as a protagonist, is said to feature prominently in these combat sequences.
Open-level design and vehicles
The game will reportedly feature open-level areas such as Raccoon City, designed to perform smoothly despite their scale. Players will be able to traverse these environments using vehicles, adding a new layer of mobility and exploration to the series.
Switch between first and third person
One of the officially announced features is the ability to swap between first-person and third-person perspectives at any time. Dusk Golem notes that this has required Capcom to design and balance the gameplay as if developing two separate games simultaneously.
— (@)
Technical upgrades
Capcom has reworked its development tools to accommodate the game’s ambitions, introducing a new lighting and shadow engine, improved hair rendering first seen in Pragmata, and expanded environmental physics. Interactivity has been increased in sequences featuring the character Grace, while the interplay between light and darkness is expected to be a key gameplay element.
Smarter enemies
A new dynamic AI system powers an enemy that actively pursues the player, adapting its behaviour on the fly for a more unpredictable and tense experience. This AI will respond intelligently to the player’s actions, creating varied encounters across playthroughs.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man remains one of the most acclaimed superhero games
Eleven games coming to PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra on 19 August.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered available for PS5; PS4 players get Game of the Year Edition.
PS Plus Premium subscribers gain access to PS1 versions of Resident Evil 2 and 3.
Game trial for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach available to Premium members.
Sony has announced 11 new titles joining the PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra catalogues this month, with Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered leading the line-up. The additions, arriving on 19 August, include major console exclusives and classic titles, offering a strong month for subscribers across both tiers.
Full August line-up
The games being added to PS Plus Premium and Extra on 19 August 2025 are:
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & The Secret Key (PS4, PS5)
Coral Island (PS5)
Earth Defense Force 6 (PS4, PS5)
Harold Halibut (PS5)
Indika (PS5)
Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4, PS5)
Mortal Kombat 1 (PS5)
PS1 version of Resident Evil 2 (PS4, PS5) – Premium only
PS1 version of Resident Evil 3 (PS4, PS5) – Premium only
Sword of the Sea (PS5)
Unicorn Overlord (PS4, PS5)
These titles join the service alongside August’s PS Plus Essential games, including Lies of P.
Spider-Man swings back onto PlayStation
Marvel’s Spider-Man remains one of the most acclaimed superhero games, combining a compelling story with fluid web-swinging gameplay. PS5 owners will receive Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, while PS4 users will access the Game of the Year Edition.
The line-up also features Sword of the Sea, a new console exclusive, and retro horror classics Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 for Premium subscribers.
Extras for Premium subscribers
The PS1 versions of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 are emulated releases offering modern features such as rewind, save states and enhanced resolution. Premium members will also be able to try Death Stranding 2: On the Beach via a five-hour game trial starting 19 August.
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The studio has not confirmed that all features will be completed by the end of 2025
PS5 version of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl planned for release later this year
Game to be upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.5.4 for improved performance and stability
New gameplay features and balance tweaks also in development
GSC Game World has confirmed plans to deliver significant updates to STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl ahead of its upcoming PlayStation 5 release. The improvements, targeted for later this year, include a major engine upgrade and a host of gameplay additions.
Engine upgrade for better performance
The developer’s primary focus is upgrading the game to Unreal Engine 5.5.4. According to the studio’s statement on Steam, the update will bring new features, tools, and optimisations designed to enhance performance and stability. STALKER 2 faced performance issues following its launch on PC and Xbox Series X|S in November last year, though many have since been addressed.
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Planned gameplay enhancements
In addition to the engine upgrade, GSC Game World is working on a range of new content and refinements, including:
Exploration-based equipment
Gameplay balance adjustments
Additional open-world events
New missions
New weather type
‘Master’ difficulty mode
Extended day-night cycle
Loot system overhaul
Stamina and energy rework
Immersive display mode
User interface updates
Release outlook
The studio has not confirmed that all features will be completed by the end of 2025, noting that plans may change. However, the goal remains to implement most of the improvements alongside the PS5 release later this year.
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This is consistent with the studio’s historical approach
Mortal Kombat 1 surpasses 6.2 million sales, topping Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.
Major content support ended less than 21 months after launch.
Ed Boon says NetherRealm remains committed to refining game balance.
Fans express disappointment over shorter-than-promised support cycle.
MK1 tops sales chart for current generation fighters
Mortal Kombat 1 has secured its position as the best-selling fighting game of the current generation, selling over 6.2 million copies. The milestone places it ahead of Street Fighter 6, which reported five million sales two months ago, and Tekken 8, which reached three million sales five months ago.
The latest entry in the long-running franchise launched to strong sales and broad appeal, attracting both casual and competitive players. However, it still falls short of Mortal Kombat 11’s performance, which sold more than 15 million copies by 2022.
Shorter support window than expected
Despite its commercial success, major support for Mortal Kombat 1 ended in under 21 months, with NetherRealm announcing nearly three months ago that no further DLC characters or story expansions would be released.
This is consistent with the studio’s historical approach; its fighting games typically receive around 12 months of substantial updates. In contrast, Street Fighter 5 was supported for six years, while Tekken 7 enjoyed four years of major updates. Even Mortal Kombat 11 lasted two years before NetherRealm ceased major content development.
Prior to MK1’s release, series creator Ed Boon had indicated that the next title might enjoy a longer support cycle than its predecessor, but this ultimately did not materialise.
— (@)
Ongoing balance updates and community feedback
Although new content is no longer being developed, NetherRealm continues to release balance patches for MK1. In a recent post on social media, Boon said: “With over 6.2 million games sold, we’re still committed to refining MK1 to be our most balanced game,” alongside the latest patch notes.
He also invited community feedback, asking players which four fighters most needed buffs and which needed them least, as well as their preference for multiple smaller DLC packs versus fewer larger ones.
- YouTube YouTube/ MKIceAndFire
Mixed reaction from players
While some welcomed the continued balance improvements, many fans have expressed disappointment at the early conclusion of the game’s major support period, especially given previous suggestions it might last longer than Mortal Kombat 11.
The discussion has reignited hopes that the eventual Mortal Kombat 2 might receive a more extended post-launch development cycle.
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Copilot 3D allows users to upload PNG or JPG images under 10MB in size
New AI-powered Copilot 3D tool converts 2D images into 3D models in seconds.
Available for free to some users via Copilot Labs with Microsoft or Google account sign-in.
Models can be exported in GLB format for use in 3D viewers, tools, and AR applications.
Launch follows Microsoft’s recent introduction of GPT-5-powered Smart Mode in Copilot.
Microsoft has launched Copilot 3D, an artificial intelligence tool that converts standard images into 3D models within seconds. The feature, part of Copilot Labs, is currently free for a subset of users and comes a day after the introduction of GPT-5-powered Smart Mode, reflecting the company’s growing integration of AI into creative and design workflows.
How Copilot 3D works
Copilot 3D allows users to upload PNG or JPG images under 10MB in size. Once an image is uploaded, clicking the “Create” button prompts the AI to produce a 3D model within a few seconds to a minute. The resulting files can be downloaded in GLB format, which is supported by most 3D viewers, design tools, and game engines.
Early testing reported by The Verge suggests the tool performs best with objects such as furniture or everyday items but may be less accurate with animals or more complex forms.
Access and storage
The feature is designed for desktop browsers. Users can visit Copilot.com, open the sidebar, navigate to “Labs,” and select “Try now” under Copilot 3D. Generated models are stored for 28 days on a “My Creations” page, allowing time for download and export to augmented reality applications.
Limitations and usage guidelines
Microsoft advises using images with clear separation between subject and background for optimal results. Current support is limited to PNG and JPG formats, but the company may expand compatibility in future updates.
Users must only upload images they own the rights to and avoid submitting photos of people. Accounts may be suspended for violations, and illegal content will be automatically blocked. Microsoft has stated that user-generated 3D models will not be used to train its AI systems.
Target users and applications
Copilot 3D is aimed at rapid prototyping, concept testing, and education — areas where conventional 3D modelling software can be time-consuming or technically demanding. Analysts believe it could appeal to sectors such as game development, product design, and teaching, where demand for 3D assets is high.
By lowering the technical barrier, Microsoft is positioning the tool for professional creators, hobbyists, and learners who wish to experiment with 3D content without mastering complex programmes such as Blender or Autodesk Maya.
Part of Microsoft’s wider AI expansion
The release follows Microsoft’s integration of GPT-5-powered Smart Mode into Copilot, enabling more context-aware AI interactions. The consecutive launches demonstrate the company’s aim to make Copilot a multi-functional platform for productivity, creativity, and design.