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Next-gen tablets could be the final nail in portable consoles’ coffins

Published Dec 13th, 2013 11:15PM EST
ARM Geomerics Acquisition Mobile Gaming

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Smartphones and tablets may not deliver the gaming quality you get from dedicated portable consoles such as the PS Vita and the Nintendo 3DS… but they’re definitely catching up. VentureBeat reports that chipmaker ARM has acquired Geomerics, a graphics technology firm that specializes in making realistic lighting and imagery in video games. And Geomerics’s Enlighten technology has some very impressive notches under its belt since it’s been used in big-time games such as Battlefield 4, Need for Speed Rivals, Eve Online, and Medal of Honor: Warfighter. Carl Almgren, who serves as head of development for Electronic Arts’ Frostbite Engine, says that Enlighten has “helped EA provide new levels of realism and gameplay experience,” so it should be exciting to see what it can do on tablets and smartphones with ARM-based chips.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.