James Bond has used a lot of different cameras in the movies, usually modified by Q Branch to be wielded as a weapon. But now a weaponized Leica camera has debuted in the new Bond videogame, 007 First Light.

The British superspy is no stranger to cameras modified for field use. The Man with the Golden Gun featured a rocket-firing Nikon F2, while Licence to Kill saw a Polaroid Spectra that shoots lasers and a Hasselblad 500C that turns into a sniper rifle.

However, the last time he used a Leica was in the original 1959 Goldfinger novel (he didn't pick one up in the 1964 movie adaptation). Back then it was a Leica M3, but today it's a modified version of the Leica Q3.

This continues a longstanding collaboration between the 007 and Leica brands, with numerous cameras like the Leica D-Lux 7 007 Edition (which came with a holster) and the Leica Q2 007 Edition.

In the 007 First Light videogame, developed by IO Interactive (best known for the Hitman franchise), Q Branch can outfit Bond with a (sadly fictional) Shockwave Camera. The inventory gives the following description:

"This inconspicuous looking camera triggers a small, directed propagating disturbance that staggers opponents on impact and causes medium damage to body armour. Perfect for buying time or gaining the upper hand in a fight."

It isn't just enemies that are affected by the camera, however. It appears that the Q3's 61MP full frame sensor is so powerful that it can also blow up environmental elements:

"Use shockwave to push enemies away and provide an escape route. Environmental objects, breakable covers and some locked doors can be destroyed or pushed by the shockwave."

Which is cool and all. But I must admit, it would've been cool if this more espionage-oriented Bond game gave you ability to use a Leica camera to actually take pictures. After all, per Golfinger, 007 knows how to take a proper photo:

"Bond took the elevator up to his suite. He went to his suitcase and extracted an M3 Leica, an MC exposure meter, a K2 filter and a flash-holder. He put a bulb in the holder and checked the camera. He went to his balcony, glanced at the sun to estimate where it would be at about three-thirty and went back to the sitting room, leaving the door to the balcony open. He stood at the balcony door and aimed the exposure meter.

"The exposure was one-hundredth of a second. He set this on the Leica, put the shutter at f11, and the distance at twelve feet. He clipped on a lens hood and took one picture to see that all was working. Then he wound on the film, slipped in the flash-holder and put the camera aside."

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Curious about which other cameras Bond used? Take a look at the (00)7 real cameras used by James Bond. And if you want a red dot camera of your own, check out the best Leica cameras (which sadly don't fire rockets or lasers).

Yes, you read that right, two out-of-work actors decided to stage a full-on production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the virtual video game world of Grand Theft Auto V. And now, an award-winning, feature-length documentary has been released to tell the incredible story of how this insurmountable task came into fruition.

The aptly named Grand Theft Hamlet follows protagonists Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, as they navigate the violent, virtual world of Grand Theft Auto against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns have left actors Sam and Mark out of work, so when they discover an amphitheatre within the game world, they find themselves contemplating the possibility of staging a full-on production of Hamlet, within the game world.

Sam’s partner, Pinny Grylls, is an award-winning HOH/deaf director and editor, so with her expertise, they set to work trying to make their virtual reality idea into a reality, while filming the story in the process.

The film is said to ask the questions, “what is this space? How do we use it now and what else is possible inside it? Can we transport this ancient story inside a brand new one? And will it still make sense?” And indeed, the game world itself presents the most challenging obstacle. The world of Grand Theft Auto V is inherently violent and players are free to drive, fight, and kill as they please. It was never built to host a full-on stage show.

Grand Theft Auto V is the third-best-selling video game of all time, with over 200-million copies sold worldwide. It was released in 2013 and takes place in the fictional state of San Andreas, which is loosely based on California. The single-player game allows players to assume the role of one of three characters, but the online portion of the game allows players to create their own avatar and explore the game world as they please.

Grand Theft Hamlet will be showing in select cinemas across the UK from December 6.

If filmmaking's your thing, check out the best camera for filmmaking and the best cinema cameras.

Mark Gurman, arguably the most famous 'Apple Watcher' since he is backed by Bloomberg, went as far as to call the new Mac Mini M4 "Apple's Game Console," and suggests it has the guts and pricing to challenge Sony's PS5. It's an interesting idea, but I don't think it'd work for me.

I'm not saying that as someone who is against plugging into screens. I've only recently come to terms with the fact Apple has taken away the 27-inch iMac (Bye Mac), and so currently rely on a MacBook Pro, but still love to have a fixed workstation I can plug into with one of the best USB-C hubs, a keyboard and (call me strange) the Apple Magic Mouse 2 which I actually quite like!

Anyway, I love my PS5 (not that it gets a lot of use these days) – could my photo and video workflow computer replace it and save me the price of both? Certainly they seem reasonably matched when it comes to processing power, so I thought I'd have a look...

Did you know that, if you have an iPhone, you can use the Apple Store app to check out Apple products to see how they'd look in your home without the pain and expense of actually buying them? The 'View in your space' feature is right there on the first page of the Mac Mini so I decided to try it in the place my PS5 lives.

Apple is already present, with its squared-off hockey puck like Apple TV, and the Mac Mini M4 isn't that much bigger. Looking at it, it's not that I don't have space for the PS5, but the Mini M4 certainly frees up a bit of room. Or does it? Because I'd need to have more devices lying around. The PS5 needs only a game controller (I've not shelled out for PSVR 2) but to use a Mac properly I'd need a keyboard and mouse too.

Sure, Apple do lovely wireless keyboards and mice, but you're looking at an investment of (interestingly the 'view with accessories' option didn't seem to work for me either) at least another £258 – the PlayStation 5 has a controller in the box.

Let's not forget that Apple has made attempts in the Game space before and made what felt like the same mistakes. The 1990s Pippin (or "PiPP!N"), created with Bandai, admittedly pre-dated Steve Job's return, but it was a commercial disaster, priced at double the PlayStation (1) it launched after ($599 then, so about the equivalent of $1,200 today).

Even if the Pippin had no competition, it lacked game software (it looked like a console but it had more in common with a Mac) save for the lack of a floppy drive).

This time, though, it's not Apple openly shouting: "Buy this, it's a console" – it's Gurman's interpretation (though he's well placed to know what Apple might be thinking.

What I do know is that Apple has been doing its best to mention games in the last few events I've covered, and woo developers, with less than impressive results. The tech might be there – ray tracing is mentioned – but can I play Horizon: Forbidden West or even The Last of Us or Fallout on the Mac? No. Well, not easily – a YouTuber has a solution using 'Crossover'. And these are games big enough to have been adapted to major TV series. Sure, Cyberpunk 2077 is coming but Apple is way behind (and Windows PCs get most console-exclusive games after a few months of waiting).

When I'm on my Mac, I tend to play different games though – especially Civilization – which can eat hours and completely stop me doing the video edits or photo tweaking I should be doing.

Here is my theory, though. For a setup like mine, MacOS isn't 'Living Room ready' – that's what the AppleTV does (and, to be fair, there are some fun games there). Editing photos – let alone checking emails – on a big TV the other side of the room from a wireless keyboard and mouse is bonkers.

A lot of people, however, game on a desk with a dedicated monitor, and in that case a Mac Mini M4 makes a bit more sense against a PS5 Pro, but there's a lot more Apple needs to do. (In the long run, too, the fact you use Sony's game controller to play games on MacOS probably doesn't look great!)

But – creators – perhaps it is time to worry that your Mac might, one day soon, be a little more able to distract you from your work! (That works two ways too – look how much Sony has been distracted by its hugely profitable PlayStation division!)

If you've not seen the trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 yet, well done! Over 100 million people did, setting a new record at YouTube. What really struck me, though, was how heavily influenced this next generation of the gaming franchise looks to be affected by content creation.

This probably shouldn't come as a huge surprise. At its heart the series has always been about satirising pop culture and the primary medium of culture creation is the lens – whether that's a TV camera or a phone camera feeding the infinite scrolling feeds of social media.

Look at the trailer carefully, though, and you'll see that's just the start of it. In the 90 seconds of carefully edited game footage, there is a lot which suggests that photography & videography, in the broadest sense, have had a massive influence on the game's style.

I have to assume that most of what we're seeing comes from cut scenes that develop the game's story, or at least the mission stories (the game will no doubt offer alternative routes to completion), but I'd be willing to bet that – just as we had to work as a pap in GTA5 – we'll need to capture something for the mock social media platforms.

On my viewing of the trailer, I saw something looking like Instagram, something like TikTok, and something like a YouTube-esque platform (horizontal format being the clue).

Other missions seem to depend on indoor security cameras, and even (judging by the overlay) something purporting to be a police bodycam. The best body cameras are another aspect of daily life for many police and security officers which have emerged since the previous edition of the game, now more than a decade old.

It's fascinating to see the game developers Rockstar playing with aspect ratios in their trailer because it reveals just how much the shape of an image now tells us, as viewers, about its meaning. Admittedly the emoticons and type on top help too; again, though, it is interesting to reflect how embedded these are in our lives since the GTA5 release in 2013 (in real life the year of the Boston Marathon bombing, Alex Ferguson's retirement and the arrival of the Sony A7). 

It looks like other franchise classics are remaining too, like Weazle News, which is bringing us simulated TV news as well as the in-car radio as the game setting returns to the fictionalised Miami-like "Vice City," with the game's first female protagonist. 

If nothing else, the detailed research into media platforms for the purpose of sending them – and their styles – up will offer a potential education to content creators; what GTA is mocking is probably tired and hackneyed so, if you're still doing it, it's time to move on!

If you've managed not to play GTA5 there is still plenty of time to enjoy it, and Rockstar have cleverly updated all the graphics for the latest platforms which keeps it surprisingly fresh (I played through as far as a paparazzi level a couple of weeks back).

Virtual photography has gained in popularity since the lockdowns when people found ways to fill the void left by empty streets and locked studios.

Photography modes in computer games are more complex than ever, with some offering the ability to control ISO, shutter speeds and aperture, but the fundamentals remain the same, including lighting, composition, focus and timing. 

• A new virtual photography category has been added to Flickr as popularity grows

For me, the act of pressing a trigger and creating an image is addictive – it doesn’t matter whether it’s physical or digital. So today, I’m heading to the fictional Wild West town of St Denis, the capital of the Red Dead Redemption 2 virtual world to capture a nighttime portrait by candlelight. You can check out the video at the end of this article for a more in-depth look at shooting virtual photos as I walk you through the process in real time.

Entering photo mode

Press the pause button and then the touchpad to enter photo mode. From here, you can increase or decrease basic settings, such as brightness, contrast and depth of field. You can also try the built-in filters for a more creative look.

Frame up your shot

Once in photo mode, you can use the analogue sticks to frame up your composition in much the same way as you would move your own body and arms in real life to show off your subject in the best light. Use a bold, up-front framing for strong portraits.

Watch the video!

Today I'm spending some time in St Denis, but the principles used are the same for most virtual photography. You can check out the video above for a simple introduction to creating your own in-game images.

Check out why we think that You should swap your camera for a joypad with virtual photography, be sure to check out the Best gaming cameras, and the 14 best photography video games

Viewfinder is the recently released 3D puzzle platform videogame from Sad Owl Studios, published by Thunderful, for PlayStation 5 and PC. It has a similar theme to Inception-style physics games like Portal, while using perspective tricks that will feel familiar to anyone that has played games like Superliminal. However, it manages to feel fresh and utterly unlike anything I've ever played before. 

• These are the best photography videogames across all genres

At its core, Viewfinder is a puzzle game where to complete each level you'll need to reach a teleporter to advance to the next section. To do so you'll pick up various photos, and later an instant camera to take your own snaps. These can then be carefully repositioned in the level to bend space and time to your will. 

If there's a gap in the level that you're struggling to traverse, for example, take a photo of a bridge and place it over the gap and watch the pixels become replaced with those in the photo – as a 2D print is transformed into three-dimensional space (as in the GIF at the top of this page). It’s a difficult concept to explain, so be sure to watch the trailer below to see how it all works in action:

The fun comes from how creative you can get with your solutions. While in the early levels your solutions are restricted to photos and artwork that you’ll find lying around, later on you’ll pick up an instant camera, (it’s unbranded but looks suspiciously like an old-school Polaroid), so you can take your own photos and insert them into the levels.

You’ll usually only have a few frames of instant film to play with, so you need to make them count. Get creative with what you take a picture of, the perspective, and whether or not to rotate the image when you come to place it back in the scene.

The level design is varied and constantly introduces new mechanics such as photocopiers, battery generators, or timers that keep the game feeling fresh while adding a new challenge at the same time, making it a great mental workout.

There are five main hub worlds to explore that get progressively more challenging. The main storyline took about 5-6 hours to complete, but factor in all the additional content to 100% the game and unlock all of the achievements and it was probably more like 10 hours all in – though being an avid fan of both puzzles and photography, perhaps I'm at an unfair advantage.

It was, however, the optional challenges that gave me the biggest headaches. While I did eventually figure out the solution to most of them after several attempts, there was one level near the end that did completely stump me – and when I looked up the solution, you can imagine I did the biggest facepalm. That said, the difficulty overall was nicely paced and offered a fun, rather than frustrating challenge.

Viewfinder is unlike anything else I’ve ever played. It feels new, exciting, challenging and it’s a joy to get sucked into its super-saturated worlds. If you love both photography and puzzle games in equal measure don’t pass this one by; it’s available now for $24.99 / £19.99 / AU$37.95 on PS5 and PC (Steam).

Why not also check out the best desktop computers for photo editing as well as how to take photos in videogames.

Thanks to the rise in video game streaming, the best capture cards are more powerful, versatile and feature-packed than ever.

While many people use capture cards to record footage from game consoles and stream them via services such as Twitch, capture cards are also fantastic tools for non-gaming applications, such as turning your camera into a powerful webcam, or digitizing footage from old sources such as VHS tapes and camcorders.

Combined with our guide on VHS to DVD converters, the best capture cards can help ensure irreplaceable footage on older technology is safely converted to digital files for editing, repairing and storing.

Despite them being called 'capture cards' there are actually two main types of this product. There are the original card designs that slot into your PC's motherboard (in a similar fashion to graphics cards and sound cards), and these offer excellent performance and comparatively lower prices. Once installed, they also help keep your desk and workspace clear of clutter, as you can then plug devices directly into your PC.

The downsides of this type of capture card is that you have to open your PC to install them, and you need a free compatible PCI slot in your motherboard - and this means they aren't the best choice for people who aren't comfortable tinkering with their PCs. Once installed, it means they're as portable as the PC you've slotted it into, which usually isn't very easy to move. If you use a Mac, all-in-one PC or a laptop, then these won't be compatible.

The good news is that there are a growing number of modern external capture cards. These plug into your computer via USB, and that makes them much easier to install, and means they are also compatible with Macs and laptops. They can be more pricey, as well.

When buying a capture card, you should also consider the inputs it accepts. Understandably, most modern capture cards stick to HDMI, which is the most widely-used interface for transmitting audio and visual, but that means if you want to import AV from sources that don't have HDMI, you'll either need to find a capture card with more options, such as coaxial or phono inputs (which are increasingly rare and expensive), or use a converter. 

Keep in mind what resolutions and frame rates they support as well. While 4K and 60fps (or higher) are ideal and future-proof, if you don't need that kind of performance, you can save money by getting a capture card that focuses on 1080p, for example. If you're converting old home movies for putting on a DVD, even that will be overkill. However, if you want the very best image and audio quality, make sure you check out our best HDMI cables guide to ensure you have a cable that can do the footage justice.

Best capture card in 2026

The Elgato HD60 X is our pick for the best all-round capture card in 2024. While it doesn't offer the very highest video capture quality at 4K and 60fps (4K is capped at 30fps), its 1080p abilities are fantastic, capturing at 60fps and with HDR support as well.

It comes with two HDMI ports - one input and one output. The output HDMI can be connected to a TV or monitor to display footage while you record, with minimal lag. This is particularly important if you are using the Elgato HD60 X for recording gameplay for live streaming. There is also a USB-C port for connecting it to a PC, laptop or Mac.

However, it should be noted that there have been some reports of the Mac compatibility not being great, so if you are looking for a capture card to connect to your Mac or MacBook, you should look elsewhere.

If you're looking for the best premium capture card that offers the largest array of features and supports ultra-high resolution recording, then the Elgato 4K60 S+ is well worth looking into - if you can afford it.

It supports 4K at 60fps recording, so for almost all footage, you're going to get the absolute best quality, with a built-in HEVC chip for lossless encoding - this means the image quality from the original source should be maintained, which is an important consideration for video editors and archivists. If you want a card for streaming video game footage at exceptional quality, this card will also do that.

The Elgato 4K60 S+ connects to your PC or laptop via a USB cable, but you can also plug in a memory card and record directly onto that. This is incredibly useful as it means you can use it without a PC, making it portable and versatile. Sadly, Macs aren't supported, but you can get around this by using the memory card recording function, then transferring footage from the memory card to your Mac (though you may need an adaptor if your Mac or MacBook doesn't have a memory card slot).

Of course, these features come at a premium cost - this is one of the more expensive capture cards you can get right now.

The EVGA XR1 Lite is our pick for the best budget capture card you can buy in 2024. Despite having a price tag that's noticeably lower than many of its rivals, the EVGA XR1 Lite still offers some handy features, such as the ability to record at 1080p at 60 fps, which will offer you excellent image quality. If you want to use it to record gameplay, the passthrough option allows you to play at 4K at 60fps. The passthrough option also allows you to use your DLSR camera or video camera as a high-end webcam.

Build quality is also solid, and the compact size means it's easy to carry around. There are some limitations though, which is understandable for a budget capture card. First, while it can passthrough 4K resolutions at 60fps, it can only record at 1080p at 60fps. That's probably more than enough for most people, but bear in mind you're not getting the highest possible image quality.

Encoding options are limited, as is compatibility - Windows users won't have an issue plugging this into their PC or laptop, but Mac users should look elsewhere.

While video capture cards can have a range of uses for digital creatives, they remain primarily a tool for recording and broadcasting gameplay, so if you're looking for a great capture card for showing off your gaming prowess, then the Razer Ripsaw HD is an excellent choice.

Razer is a trusted brand when it comes to gaming, and it's used its experience with gamers to produce an easy-to-use and well built capture card. It plugs in via USB, and it supports streaming from all the modern games consoles.

It passes through footage to a TV or monitor at 4K at 60fps, so your games will continue to look fantastic while you're playing. However, the Razer Ripsaw HD only records at 1080p at 60fps. This might be disappointing, but it keeps the cost down, and most video game streaming services, such as YouTube and Twitch, default at 1080p resolutions to save internet bandwidth, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Despite it's gamer-centric features, it doesn't mean that the Razer Ripsaw HD should be overlooked by other creatives, as it's a solid and affordable capture card that's easy to install. It also has hardware-based audio mixing, which is great for streaming and broadcasting, but can also be helpful to video editors as well. 

The Avermedia Live Gamer Duo is a great internal capture card which slots into your PC's PCIe slot, which is found on the motherboard. Because of that, this isn't a card you can use with a laptop or a Mac, and it may put off anyone who doesn't feel comfortable opening their PC and installing a card.

However, the installation process is a lot easier and less scary than you might imagine, and if you're used to tinkering and upgrading your PC, you'll have the Avermedia Live Gamer Duo up and running in no time at all. The bundled software helps with this, thanks to its user-friendly design.

This capture card maxes out at recording footage at 1080p and 60fps, but it can also passthrough 4K60 content. As the 'Duo' in the name suggests, the Avermedia Live Gamer Duo can record from two HDMI inputs at once. This means it's a great option for people who want to create advanced multi-source live streams, or to help speed up workflows by importing from two devices simultaneously.

The Genki ShadowCast is the best compact capture card. Its size is impressively small - the whole thing is around the same size as a USB memory stick. This makes it exceptionally easy to carry around with you.

It works by plugging directly into the HDMI port of the device you want to record from, and connects to a PC or Mac via a USB cable. So, it's incredibly easy to set up and use, thanks to the special software that's also included.

Despite its simplicity, it does a good job of quickly recording and streaming from attached devices, and it can be used for various uses. As well as plugging into a games console, you can connect it up to a camera and use it to turn the camera into a webcam.

You can also use it to turn your laptop screen into a multi-source monitor or TV. So, rather than plugging a console into a TV when you're travelling, you could plug it into your laptop via the Genki ShadowCast and use the screen of the laptop as the TV to play games on.

The small size and equally small price tag means you're not going to get the range of features (or image quality) that larger, more expensive capture cards offer, but as long as you know the compromises the Genki ShadowCast has to make, you'll be very pleased with this compact capture card.

• How to use your DSLR, mirrorless camera, or GoPro as a 4K webcam with a capture card
• Best camera for streaming

Long before VR gaming and the Nintendo Switch, there was the humble Gameboy – a handheld, nonbacklit console with just four buttons and a directional pad. It was a phenomenon. Just under a decade after its release, Nintendo launched a pocket camera that enabled you to not only shoot greyscale photos – and print them if you also bought the Game Boy printer. Now, decades later, a diehard Gameboy fan has brought developed his own version, but this one looks like a Gameboy Mini cartridge.

This isn’t the first time a tech enthusiast has imagined up a camera. Last year someone who was after a Leica-M system created his own cheaper version – a Peica- using a Raspberry Pi and 3D printing, and the Gameboy has been targeted too – someone modded a Gameboy camera with a DSLR lens.

Christopher Graves, the creator behind the Game Boy Mini Camera made several distinct changes to the original model including adding an iPhone XR lens and making it much smaller.

• Check out the best cheap cameras – don't worry they'll all take much better photos than this Gameboy camera mod

The original Gameboy camera was fitted inside a round ball-shaped unit that sat on top of the console and had the ability to swivel through 180° – perfect for taking selfies, albeit very low res (arguably this makes the camera a bit of a first, as it predated the first phone with a selfie camera by a year). However, Graves had no desire to shoot selfies so removed this feature, opting for a smaller, more refined model to which he added custom retro-look branding.

As far as cameras go, it’s really not going to win any awards. It’s only capable of producing four-tone greyscale pictures, has a maximum resolution of 0.014 megapixels, and has one of the most basic sensor designs ever created. That being said, back in 1998 when it was first released, the idea of being able to take a photo with a gaming console was pretty far-fetched and the idea it could be integrated into certain games was even crazier. 

Unfortunately for anyone who wanted to invest in this latest Game Boy Mini Camera, it isn’t going to come to the mass market anytime soon. Graves' motivation was simply to find out if he could make a smaller, pocketable version and he did it with great success.

To find out if Graves recreates any throwbacks with a modern twist, you can follow him on Instagram, @thegameboycam. I can't imagine this will make a comeback like those crappy cameras from the past did all thanks to TikTok, but there is something nostalgic about viewing the world as black, white, and grey dots.

• Best gaming cameras
• 14 best photography video games
• I'm a photographer, and I took STUNNING cinematic photos in The Last of Us
• Is Pokémon Snap really inspiring the next generation of photographers

If you didn't know, March 10 is Mar10 Day. And for Nintendo fans, that means there's a whole host of deals to be had on games, consoles, merchandise and even Lego sets that feature the world's most famous plumber, race car driver, doctor, spaceman and athlete – as well as his iconic companions, of course. 

The Super Mario franchise has been a powerhouse in gaming since the mid-Eighties, and it has even managed to infiltrate the camera industry with the Nintendo Switch game Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit that blends the virtual and real worlds using a digital camera and clever augmented reality features.

• These are the 14 best photography video games and you should definitely check them out!

Did you realise that Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit can actually be played in your living room? And we don't just mean while curled up on the sofa with your Switch; your actual living room can easily become the real-life physical race track for the game! 

You'll be dodging more than just red shells in Home Circuit, as you navigate your way around your own home avoiding sofa cushions, pets, furniture and whatever else might stand between your cart and the finish line.

The set comprises a physical remote control cart featuring Mario (or Luigi) that has a built-in camera, as well as two chevron signs and four sturdy cardboard color-coded gates that can be placed along a course of your making, and are recognized by the on-cart camera and brought to life in AR as you drive around the course. 

Make sure you drive through the gates in order, though, otherwise you won't have completed your laps correctly. 

In order to play, you'll need a Nintendo Switch console as well as the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit software – which can be downloaded for free from the Nintendo E-shop. Once this has been installed, follow the easy steps to pair your cart with your console using the ignition button on the vehicle.

Be mindful when setting up your course of any sharp bends that you might have to take to avoid damaging your decor, as well as floor surfaces. The carts can drive on carpet, but it feels much easier and smoother to set up a course on laminate floorings that you might find in hallways or a kitchen.

The controls are super easy to use and operate, with the A button on your Switch / controller acting as the accelerator, and B enabling you to reverse and drive backward, as Mario looks over his shoulder on your console screen.

As the video below demonstrates, the cart is susceptible to being attacked by pets and bumping into walls as you drive along the course. The aim is to create a course that matches up in a circle, a figure of eight, or the shape of your choosing – but be aware that once crossing through gate number 4, you must be able to reach gate 1 again, so straight-line courses won't work.

Watch video: Pets become obstacles in your Mario Kart Live course!

Sadly this Mario camera cart isn't designed for photography purposes, and unfortunately you cannot take screenshots with your console while using the software or looking through the cart camera on-screen. 

This is a shame, meaning that the AR action can't be captured through your Nintendo Switch console. So you'll need to use an external phone or camera to screen record if you want to document the fun. 

You can grab the Nintendo Switch-compatible Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit set today at a reduced price, if you love the idea of converting your home into a race course – the best deals are listed below in our handy widget.

You'll see your living spaces from a whole new angle, though, so if you'd rather not see some of the dust and daily dirt that lingers on your surfaces then it might not be for you! The power of AR is strong with this one, and Home Circuit is fun for kids and adults of all ages. 

• You might also be interested in the best gaming cameras to enhance your streaming setup, as well as the most picturesque videogames for virtual photographers, and the best games for virtual photographers to explore. 

Ever wanted to learn Japanese but felt it might be too daunting or complicated? This new videogame is not only educational but looks super fun, too! Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography is currently in development, with plans to release on both the Nintendo Switch console and via Steam for PC gamers. 

Recently listed on Kickstarter, things are looking very optimistic for Shashingo with over 850 backers and the $29,557 / £25,000 / AU$44,849 funding goal almost reached, before the campaign closes on March 31. 

• These are the most picturesque videogames for virtual photographers

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography could be a potential game-changer (pun intended) for English speakers who are looking to learn Japanese in a more engaging and entertaining way, compared with the traditional mind-numbing online courses for language learning or even smartphone apps with relentless notifications and pestering, such as Duolingo. 

For photographers especially, we already know that visual learning is a great way to understand how things work, and the fact that photography-based video games are gaining popularity just proves that it can be a really beneficial tool and resource for absorbing information that wouldn't otherwise stick. 

The aim of Shashingo is to take photographs with your trusty camera of beautiful (and fictional) streets of Japan, capturing new words and images, which will then transform into fully translated digital flashcards for you to study Japanese with.  

Shashingo will enable players to learn new Japanese words by exploring the vibrant streets of Japan and capturing virtual photos, which will then also be stored in your own photo album for you to practice with while learning to pronounce words correctly, with audio examples for enhanced listening skills. 

The game also includes real Japanese lessons to test you on your learned knowledge, and a 'Find' mode that will send you out on a hunt to search for and capture an image of an item, place, or subject that will be written in Japanese. There's even the option to buy and use different image filters with in-game reward stars as currency.

The game appears to be a familiar take on the extremely popular Nintendo Switch game, New Pokémon Snap!, which we regard at DCW as being one of the best photography videogames – and it has also been helping to inspire the next generation of young photographers in an educational yet fun approach for kids to learn fast-snapping and subject (Pokémon) searching from multiple angles. 

The team behind Shashingo is UK-based and spearheaded by the core developer, game artist, and overall designer, Ryan Pocock (whose indie game studio is Autumn Pioneer), as well as freelance music composer and translation checker, Kenya Abe, among other collaborators. 

Aside from looking visually awesome, this game clearly has a lot to offer – and the already overwhelming support for it on Kickstarter suggests that there's a lot of interest in it, too. 

If you feel like backing this project you could receive benefits that include your name in the game credits, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, additional in-game filters, and physical goodies such as stickers, pin badges and flash cards. So check out the Kickstarter campaign to help make Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography a reality!

Editor's note: As with all Kickstarter projects, please be aware that the finished project (or rewards) may not fully resemble the early campaign materials, it may not arrive on schedule, and it may not materialize at all. 

• You might also be interested in the best gaming cameras to enhance your streaming setup, as well as the 14 best photography video games, and the 10 best games for virtual photographers to explore. 

• Take a look at the best VR headsets for the 360 experience while gaming, and discover how I captured STUNNING cinematic portraits in The Last of US Part I, and find out why a new virtual photography category has been added to Flickr. 

The post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us game (and now TV) franchise is actually pretty beautiful with all things considered, and if you take a break from killing clickers in the game, the surroundings make for some stunning cinematic portraits of the main character Joel when using the games built-in photo mode and customizable lighting adjustments. It's undoubtedly one of the most picturesque videogames for virtual photographers.

I’m having a replay of the first-ever The Last of Us (TLOU) Part I game, purely for nostalgia purposes while waiting patiently for the next episode of the series, and thought I’d share some tips I’ve found for how to make the most out of the game’s underappreciated photo mode which is adept for use by in-game photographers. 

Everyone is hyped about the live-action The Last of Us series which has begun streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes released on a weekly basis. The series is not only inspired by the original game franchise created by Naughty Dog but is also heavily authentic to the main storyline of the game, following it almost precisely with incredibly accurate elements and shot-by-shot comparisons proving how much attention to detail has been created by the directors and cinematographers.  

During my replay of the Playstation 5 remastered version of the first game (Part I) I’ve been having so much fun with the game’s photo mode and been stopping so much throughout the gameplay to take portraits of Joel (the main protagonist) as well as other ally characters up against scenery and intriguing walls that stood out as I ventured through the game which is set in a post-apocalyptic world.

Take a look below to see some recorded footage from the PS5 edition of TLOU Part I and discover how I captured a Portrait of Joel during the first half of the game (don’t worry – these videos are spoiler-free for any key storyline details), and the photo mode choices that I made to enhance the images and add depth and sometimes drama to the captured in-game portraits. 

Firstly, if you’ve never used photo mode before or aren’t sure what it does, it’s a super helpful tool that most newly released games have built-in to help you capture an image (screenshot) during gameplay by adjusting your surroundings and settings such as lighting, depth of field, sharpness, and colors – just as you would when shooting manual with a digital camera.

You also don't need to enter photo mode at all to capture an in-game photo, and on most consoles, you should be able to take a screenshot very easily with the tap of a button or the "share" feature. While it's definitely a bonus to tweak the scene using photo mode, it's not always necessary, sometimes a virtual scene can have the perfect lighting just by luck or the perfect timing. 

There are three lights to play around with in this photo mode, conveniently named 1, 2, and 3, and can be fully controlled and operated using the analog thumb control sticks to find the right angle of each light and control the intensity of the light adjusted through the sliders in the photo mode tab. 

Toggle the square button on your controller to hide the photo mode menu and make your image clear for snapping a screenshot of the final result.

What other video games support photo modes?

More advanced photo modes such as the one on Red Dead Redemption 2 can allow users to change almost anything about the scene, such as the time of day, character position, and even the weather, but I guess this makes things just a little too easy in my opinion, instead of having to work with the scene you’ve got. Plus with TLOU the game setting is intended to be pretty gloomy so changing the weather kinda defeats the point of the game. 

The photo mode on TLOU Part I is however seriously lacking in the ability to have complete free-roam of the scene, and navigate towards other characters like Ellie or Tess. This meant if I wanted to capture an image of Tess, I would need to wait until she is in the frame or close enough to Joel before entering photo mode and having to navigate the camera and angle toward her. 

Virtual gaming, and in-game photography as it is commonly known, is an extremely fun pastime, especially for those with an interest in both gaming and photography. You can easily spend hours and lose yourself in these virtual environments with endless creative ways to make use of the landscapes and scenes around you for stunning results.

In-game photography is also a great way to practice for photographers who can’t get out much or don’t shoot as often as they’d like. Game photography can be just as cathartic as the real thing, and is being taken very seriously as an art form in the industry now too. 

• You may also be interested in the 10 best games for virtual photographers, as well as the 14 best photography video games. Make sure you have one of the best gaming cameras to enhance your live streaming experience, and you can now create 3D models using your iPhone thanks to Epic Games. 

• Discover how Photography based videogames are gaining popularity, and why we think Pokémon Snap is inspiring the next generation of photographers, and check out this digital image from Red Dead Redemption 2 that won Virtual photographer of the year

Instax has announced its latest Nintendo crossover, in the form of a Splatoon 3 tie-in with its Mini Link printers and Nintendo-oriented smartphone app. 

Characters from the Splatoon 3 videogame will be making an appearance in the Instax Mini Link for Nintendo Switch app, while a new color variation of the Instax Mini Link 2 printer will be released – along with a special edition featuring a Splatoon 3 silicone case.

Much as was the case with the Instax Mini Link SE, which featured a tie-in with New Pokémon Snap!, the app offers integration with a Nintendo Switch console so that in-game captures can be printed with an array of character-themed effects, stickers and special frames. 

Effects for the likes of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario, New Pokémon Snap and now Splatoon 3 can be applied through the app, and will be printed on your Instax Mini prints. 

The Special Edition Clay White variant of the Mini Link 2 complements the standard Clay White version, will remain as a base, but this version features black accents on the front power button and film ejection slot to create a more stylish look. This will retail for $99.95 / £114.99 (approximately AU$200).

For diehard fans, a bundle with a Splatoon 3 character silicone case will also be available, similar to the Mini Link SE and its optional silicone Pikachu cover, priced at $119.95 / £129.99 (AU$235 approximately). 

Additionally, an exclusive Splatoon 3-themed Instax photo album will be available for purchase as a separate accessory. All products, including the updated Instax Mini Link for Nintendo Switch app, will launch on January 19. 

If you're not sure how to connect your Switch console to your Instax Mini Link, we break it down in our how to print Instax photos from your Nintendo Switch guide, as well as an explainer on how the free-to-download app works with the compatible game franchises. 

In simple terms, you scan a QR Code on the Switch using your phone with the Mini Link app open, which connects your devices and enables you to print your screenshots with a variety of optional frames and stickers.

• You may also want to take a look at our picks of the best portable printers, as well as the 14 best photography video games, and not forgetting the best instant cameras, and see our review of the Instax Link Wide.

Ever wondered what the most popular videogame is among those who partake in what has now become the widely known genre of virtual photography? A recent study by global consumer brand, Crucial, has revealed not only the most popular and picturesque games, but the most demanding games to run with hefty system requirements and the latest equipment needed to play them smoothly. 

Virtual Photography is something that should be on your radar, gaining immense popularity and traction in the industry. NFTs, digital images, screenshot art and AI-powered image generators are slowly becoming the new future of photography.

• We need to talk about the Midjourney Discord-based AI image generator

If you aren't familiar with the concept of virtual in-game photography, here's a quick explainer. Many triple-A games over the last ten years have been released with a feature known as Photo Mode, with consoles such as the Nintendo Switch having a dedicated screenshot button and the PlayStation DualShock4 having a Share button designed for gameplay capture.

The act of screenshotting in-game action predated the implementation of Photo Mode, which is a far better feature and method than simply taking a screen grab (as DCW staff James and Rod will attest, being former videogame journalists!), as it enables gamers to essentially pause during a moment of gameplay and adjust the in-game surroundings. 

Gamers can also adjust the current actions, positioning, and facial expressions of a character, or move the camera away from the scene and the main protagonist character entirely to focus on background elements and the landscape instead.

With Photo Mode, depending on the game, players are given the ability to customize features such as depth of field, aperture, brightness, white balance, color effects, aspect ratio, sharpness and motion blur – in similar ways to how we might configure manual settings on a digital camera. For further insight into this new and emerging practice, check out our feature 'Photography-based videogames are gaining popularity'.

Now you're up to speed on what virtual gaming photography is, let's take a look at the research study from Crucial that comprises mostly Instagram post data for its findings. The company has not explicitly specified how it gathered and compiled the statistics for this data table, besides the mention of Instagram posts. 

It's unclear which exact hashtags were used on Instagram to search for each game, or what is meant by "Number of photography posts" or "percentage of game photography". This research should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt, though it does provide us with an approximate range of information and food for thought to determine the most picturesque and photo-worthy games. 

The table below shows the figures from Crucial's research, revealing the most popular video games for virtual photography in 2022:

Unsurprisingly, the wild west wonderland of Red Dead Redemption 2 claimed the top spot. The title is supremely popular among virtual photographers, with images from the game even earning a photographer the prestigious title of Virtual Photographer of the Year back in April at the The London Games Festival.

One of the most popular games in the world, Grand Theft Auto V has a surprisingly low rank. However, while the graphics and characters in this game might not be as photogenic as the beautiful streets of Cyberpunk 2077, the open-world and free-roaming elements of GTA V make it a great playground for virtual photographers. 

Spider-Man: Miles Morales (as well as its predecessor, Spider-Man) is again enormously popular not only among fans of the web-slinger but also virtual photographers. The game introduced the groundbreaking "Selfie" feature that enabled gamers to take a selfie-style image of Spidey mid-air using Photo Mode, with endless creative possibilities and camera angle adjustments to be made. 

See the full report from Crucial to learn what makes each of these games so great, and view the additional research the company has gathered to determine which games require the most hefty setups, by looking at the required CPU, recommended RAM and GPU, and suggested storage size needed for each title.

• You may also be interested in learning how Pokémon Snap is inspiring the next generation of photographers, as well as the 10 best games for virtual photographers.

The Nintendo Switch console has been around for over five years now, and almost every child and gaming enthusiast seems to have one. A year ago, Nintendo released a remastered version of one its most loved Nintendo 64 games, Pokémon Snap.

This photography-based game is one of my absolute favorites to play regularly, and I loved the original version too as a child. We've been raving about this game on DCW since it was first released, and the growing popularity of photography-based video games doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

• Photography-based video games grow in popularity 

This got me thinking... could the New Pokémon Snap game be the perfect safe gateway into educating the next generation of younger photographers? Of course, nothing will ever beat actually getting out there with a film or digital camera and practicing composition and the rule of thirds – but I don't think this game gets enough credit for the teachings and photographic aspects it employs. 

For example, during the game players are encouraged to capture images of Pokémon by searching every possible angle, high and low, hiding in trees and soaring the skies, with some appearing behind you. It's important having fast reactions, a good eye for spotting interesting moments, and adapting to different locations.

Gamers are awarded points and given a total end score based on things like positioning and pose of the subject, background, size, and direction. There's a request section in addition where the game's characters will ask you to photography certain things or moments in exchange for a reward. The game provides helpful photography tips during its loading screens, too!

Players are given the choice to use elements such as an apple "fluffruit", a light orb, and playing a repetitive sound to encourage different reactions from the Pokemon they encounter, and in turn snap interesting photos of subjects eating, dancing, running away or looking extremely angry if you hit them with an apple. 

The point of the game is to fill up your 'Photodex' album with at least four images of each Pokémon species that you come across, each image is given different star ratings (up to four) for the complexity of the image or motion happening, and you should aim to capture one of each rating. 

The challenge truly lies in that you can constantly improve upon your photo score, course score, and images by replaying the different courses, and as you level up, there will be new pokemon to photograph, different behaviours happening and side routes that you can discover. There's even a feature when viewing your photo album called "Re-snap" where you can adjust and reposition an image you've already captured and apply filters, similarly to how most in-game photo modes work. 

I think this game teaches the perfect core elements of photography for those just entering the field or younger children with a Nintendo Switch. You can only compare your images in-game with ones you've previously taken - which when applied to the context of photography is a great way to see how we've improved, without being disheartened or becoming overconfident by comparing our work to others, which I'm sure many of us can agree is a bad habit to get into.

Although, Nintendo did encourage gamers to share and compare their pokémon Snap images by sharing their screenshots online when the game first released, which can be a pleasant and positive experience. It also emulates the community aspect of photography groups and sharing images and constructive feedback that exists for "real world" photographers. 

That's not to say that gaming or virtual photography isn't "real" photography, as many people have made a career and a living from gaming and screenshot photography, but that's a separate article.

• Read more: Landscape photographer explores the rise of in-game photography

I would go as far as to say that playing Pokémon Snap regularly on train journeys and at home has actually helped improve my photography. It's made me more alert when shooting moving subjects, more engaged with searching my surroundings and constantly on the lookout for photogenic scenes or moments happening. 

As someone who has spent nearly 20 years (almost my entire life) in education, and having studied photography at a masters level, the only thing I was really 'taught' in my photographic education was how to use the dark room and photo studios, which I greatly benefitted from. Mostly though, we were encouraged to study famous practitioners to drive inspiration and guidance from their work. 

While some elements of photography are crucial to learn in understanding the fundamentals, and can't be learned from a video game, it could be argued that photography as a practice isn't really something that can be taught past a certain extent, and a personal journey of developing your skill and finding your style is what makes a photographer successful, and everyone does it differently.

My earliest memories of being shown the exposure triangle at school, aged 11, stayed with me as a visual resource and helped me understand manual shooting far better than anything I was taught at a higher level moving forward. Maybe visual and interactive learning is a better method for some, myself included, which is why YouTube tutorials and video workshops can be a blessing. 

While Pokémon as a franchise might seem childish to some, and gaming certainly isn't for everyone, I really do believe that interactive photography games and courses such as Pokémon Snap, amongst others, are the future of educating younger children and aspiring photographers as a first step, acting as a perfect way to train and engage your photographic eye in a virtual setting as it were. 

My 6-year-old nephew now has a keen interest in photography, just from playing Pokémon Snap, and even asks if he can use my camera in the garden to take photos. I don't let him use my expensive one and the rule we have is that he must use two hands at all times - but seeing his thought process and how his eye for composition and framing the subject (usually snails) works is amazing to witness. 

If you're a photographer who has never played Pokémon Snap, either the new or original versions, I strongly recommend that you give it a go. Purely for fun. You won't be disappointed - and there's ways of playing the original for free online too if you're familiar with emulators.

Read more:

10 best games for virtual photographers
14 best photography video games 
Cyberpunk 2077 has the best photo mode ever
Virtual Photography: taking photos in videogames is imaging's next evolution
How to print Instax photos from your Nintendo Switch (including Pokémon Snap!)

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) isn’t all about hijacking cars and shooting people. In fact, the latest side mission is rather tame in comparison to the rest of the game. In this mission, Franklin needs to capture photos of 20 different animals in order to unlock the Kraken submersible.

In GTA V, after completing the first Strangers and Freaks Mission, Franklin receives a message saying he’s signed up for the Wildlife Photography Challenge. The text is followed by an email from the Los Santos Tourist Board which tells Franklin exactly what he needs to do. Pictures must be captured with the Snapmatic camera on his phone and while a stun gun can be used to stop animals in their tracks, smaller animals may be killed instantly it warns.

• Read more: Best gaming cameras

In order to complete the missions, a set of rules need to be followed which include: only photos of living animals will be accepted, animals must be in the center of the photo, photos captured with a camera filter are unacceptable, selfies are not accepted and all image rights must be transferred to the tourist board.

The email from the tourist boards ends on a rather quirky note, stating, “Make your own chum, fill your glands with mountain lion pheromones, rub yourself in honey, and jack off in a bear pit. Do whatever it takes to get the shot of your life. And try not to get eaten, unless you've uploaded first. We can't wait to see (and steal) all your submissions.”

Animals that need to be captured can be found all over the map such as cats in the alleyways of Los Santos, deer in Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness, poodles at Vinewood Boulevard or a seagull at Vespucci Beach. Other animals that need to be captured include a pig, pug, mountain lion, rabbit, hen and coyote. 

Once the mission is complete, Franklin will receive a message from the Los Santos Tourist Board stating that he has won the Kraken Sub which can be found at the Cape Catfish in the San Chianski Mountain Range.

This isn’t the first time GTA has launched a photography mission, back in 2016 there was another Wildlife Photography task that Franklin was able to unlock after completing the Paparazzo mission. These missions add a different side to the action and adventure task-based game. While stealing plans and finding yourself in a 5* police chase is fun, sometimes it’s nice to take on a mission that is a little more relaxing and certainly more creative. 

Read more:

14 best photography video games
10 best games for virtual photographers
Best 8K monitors

The Sony PlayStation 5 console is a spectacle, but the PS5 Camera, not so much. The official PlayStation 5 Camera is extremely limited in what it can do, and with so much wasted potential it's a shame that Sony can't upgrade it to appeal to its loyal gamers who don't use streaming platforms. 

You can stretch your value for money further by looking elsewhere for a console-compatible camera. The only purpose of the PS5 Camera is for those who regularly stream gameplay directly from the PS5 console. 

• Why not check out the best cameras for streaming!

While initially pitched to gamers as a crucial accessory to complement your new console, with its aesthetically pleasing and on-brand white-and-black design, the PlayStation 5 HD Camera  serves virtually no purpose to those who don't stream.

So what can Sony do to address these limitations? Here are five things I wish the PlayStation 5 Camera could do…

1. PlayStation VR compatibility

The current model of Playstation VR requires the PlayStation Camera (the 2016 PlayStation 4 version, sold separately) in order for the headset unit to function. Gamers having to purchase additional PlayStation Move controllers and fork out for a camera before they could even use their VR was a cheeky, money grabbing move five years ago – but the fact that the new Playstation 5 Camera isn't compatible with the existing PlayStation VR, let alone the upcoming Playstation VR2, really takes the cake. 

Those of us who have used a Playstation VR know that it can be a mess of exceedingly long and thick cables, and time-consuming to set up all the confusing symbol-coded wires and cables into the box that connects the console to the headset, that's as well as plugging in the camera separately. 

The Playstation 5 Camera requires only one cable (a USB-A connector) to connect to the PS5, so it would've made sense for Sony to offer its VR users a sleeker setup with backwards-compatibility of using the newest PlayStation 5 camera to replace the original PS4 Camera. However, the PlayStation 5 camera does not support motion – making it also incompatible with games like Just Dance.

Note: You can receive a free adapter ( CFI-ZAA1) from Sony by applying online with the serial number/ sticker code on the back of the PS VR Processor Unit. This free adapter will allow users to connect their PlayStation 4 Cameras to the PS5 for use with VR and motion-oriented games. This has not been advertised very well by Sony to its users, and is one per customer and serial code – meaning if you've purchased a second-hand unit the adapter may have already been claimed. 

2. Webcam for social media and personal calls

The PS5 Camera cannot be used for in-game party chat, and you can't see your friends while playing games during any in-game video calling sessions. The camera also can't be used for other purposes, such as video calls via social media channels like Discord, Skype or WhatsApp. 

Nor is the camera compatible with any other device besides the PlayStation 5. So if you planned on using the camera for university lectures over Zoom and Teams, then think again. It doesn't have facial recognition features, either, if this is something you were looking for. 

Sony could have enabled compatibility across multiple devices and apps to allow for additional usage of this camera, with further potential for application in fields of business meetings, working from home and for students who study remotely and also game in their free time. 

Until then, if you want to make calls or use video, you'll have to seek out the best webcams and best 4K webcams.

3. Inclusion of a built-in microphone

As well as the limited features and lack of device compatibility, this camera also lacks a microphone. Meaning that when it's being used for streaming, which is its primary purpose, an additional headset is required for the user to communicate with viewers of the stream – otherwise forcing the gamer to rely on the in-built microphone of the DualSense control pad, which is one of those love-it-or-hate-it functions of the controller that has gamers tangled in debate.

This lack of microphone could actually be a clever tactic from Sony, as many gamers will ditch a console's native controller for an upgraded, powerful, third-party one. With no microphone built into the official PS5 Camera, and in the unlikely but possible circumstance that a gamer does not have a headset to hand (or has thrown it against the wall), the official DualSense controller would be the only microphone option by default. 

4. Better green screen functionality

One of the primary selling points of the PS5 Camera is its ability to work seamlessly with the PlayStation 5 to perform background removal, putting streamers in the spotlight and discarding their messy or boring game domains. 

However, while many streamers have invested in the best green screen backgrounds, a large portion of the community has suggested that a blue screen actually works much better for this feature. Problems have been reported that imply the camera's ability to recognize green screens is temperamental, but blue screens work like a charm when using chroma key. 

Redditors have suggested that even when using multiple Elgato Key lights  placed overhead along with the best ring lights, no difference is made to the chroma key software that is causing them issues with green and static present on-screen. 

If Sony had suggested the fix of using a blue screen, even maybe creating a branded blue PlayStation-themed screen to offer as a bundle with the camera, less gamers would be wasting their money and time on purchasing additional lights and screens in the hope of having the camera's removal tools function correctly.

5. High-quality 4K streaming

The Playstation 5 itself boasts 4K capabilities and resolution at 60fps, with the latest games looking sharp on this console when paired with the best 4K monitors. 

The Playstation 5 Camera, however, only outputs at 1080p, which is an improvement on the PlayStation 4 Camera's 800p, yet still not as impressive as capturing 4K video. And since Sony does not allow compatibility for any other webcams to be used with the PlayStation 5 console,  if you're looking for the best 4K webcam to stream with, it might be best to look into purchasing a different setup that doesn't involve directly streaming from the console itself.

With higher quality streaming available elsewhere, Sony have missed the opportunity with this HD camera to allow gamers to have an advanced setup using solely Sony products, without having to shop with third-party competitors. 

If this article hasn't managed to put you off, you can grab yourself a Playstation 5 HD Camera priced at around $60 / £50 / AU$100 from various retailers. Just don't say we didn't warn you!

Read more:

Best gaming cameras
Best headset
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Best 240Hz monitors
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Photography is something that Lydia Winters has grown up with. Always known as the person with a camera in hand, from a young age photography wasn’t just about capturing memories – it was about documenting details, too. 

Recently Lydia was recognized in the Forbes 30 under 30 series for leading a technological and artistic revolution as the chief storyteller of Mojang Studios (the developer of the Minecraft videogames). When she’s not organizing the annual MineCon convention or working with the Minecraft community, Lydia’s passion is for product photography (specifically watches) in places of natural beauty. 

Although originally from the States, Lydia now lives in Stockholm, Sweden and can regularly be found hiking or taking pictures for one of her two photography Instagram accounts. Following the announcement that she was names as one of this year's Hasselblad Heroines, we got in contact with Lydia to discuss her journey and find out what challenges she’s faced. 

How old were you when you first took up photography? 

I first took up photography when I was quite young. When we would go on family vacations, I would always have a camera in my hands trying to not only capture memories but also to capture the locations and details of the trip. It became very natural and expected to see me with a camera in my hands. 

Who or what inspired you to do so?

My mom always had a camera with her and she passed that love onto me. Later in life, my wonderful partner, Vu Bui (@bui.watches) became my photography mentor and has personally had the biggest impact on my journey in photography. 

Do you have a favorite photo or project you've worked on?

In December, I went on a road trip in Iceland and it turned into my favorite photo project. The landscape and textures in Iceland are incredibly diverse, which offered interesting contrasts for my watches and completely inspired me. I photographed a body of work that highlights my watches through the beautiful textures of southern Iceland – from chunks of ice, to frozen leaves, to basalt columns, and moss-covered rocks. I look at these images and they transport me back to a magical place that I can’t wait to visit again.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

The advice I would give to my younger self is to have patience! A photography style develops by continually shooting and doesn’t suddenly happen. I would constantly look at other amazing photographers and wonder how they could have such a defined style – a clear way I could immediately recognize that it was one of their photos. I was always searching for what my style would be. 

When I started shooting projects for myself, I started to see my style emerge. With my flower photography (@enjoythewander) and my watch photography (@winters.watches) it became more defined. By being authentic to myself instead of trying to replicate others, I developed a style that’s uniquely me. 

What does it mean to you on being chosen as a Hasselblad Heroine?

Being chosen as a Hasselblad Heroine is one of my life highlights! I’ve loved the Hasselblad brand for years and have been following the program since its launch. To be chosen alongside such incredible women in collaboration with a brand I love is humbling and a huge honor. My goal is to make photography more accessible, for there to be more knowledge-sharing, and to get more women into photography – so my values align perfectly with the Hasselblad Heroines program.

What has been your biggest obstacle in getting to where you are?

My biggest obstacle has been my self-confidence as a photographer. In an age where your photography almost feels like it is rated (through likes) it can create a vacuum where you want to do the same thing over and over instead of experimenting. As soon as I let go of my self-imposed view of photography “success,” I was able to be truly creative and enjoy photography again.

Read more:

Hasselblad Heroine recipients 2022
22 pioneering women in photography
10 queer photographers you should follow on Instagram

Games implementing the medium of photography have been on the rise for many years. Even the latest and most popular games of all time, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V  feature advanced photo modes that enable gamers to adjust settings such as aperture and depth of field, in similar ways to how we would configure manual settings on a camera.

Snapping in-game screenshots using photo mode is simply one of many ways that photography has been absorbed into the world of game space. Popular titles such as  Pokémon Snap require players solely to capture images in order to progress through the game. 

• Read more: 14 best photography video games 

The newest photography-oriented game on the market is Toem – A Photo Adventure. A wholesome adventure game about snapping photos, this newest edition to the realm of virtual photography has been brought to gamers by a small team of developers who call themselves: SomethingWeMade.

The aim of the game is to set off on a delightful expedition in a monochrome world, and use your photographic eye to uncover the magical mysteries of Toem. Following a small figure through Scandinavia-inspired landscapes and encounter several characters to photograph in distinct environments. The game involves tasks such as taking photos, listening to calm music and traveling by bus, with options to climb the highest peak of a mountain or simply stop to smell the flowers.  

You may be thinking, what is the purpose of a photography based game? Well let me tell you, there are endless benefits to incorporating photography into videogames – I wrote a whole dissertation on the subject, so I could go on for hours. 

To name just a few… it encourages younger children to consider practicing photography as a hobby; it can improve the way that we perceive the world around us, including virtual worlds, by looking for abstract moments and details; and it adds another element once completing a game: to go back and look for photo opportunities.

Did I mention that you can also make money from in-game photography? That's a whole other article, but many photographers have expanded their careers in recent years to include game photography, and developed partnerships with major gaming companies to produce screenshots and digital content for visual marketing purposes. 

So if you find yourself sucking your teeth at people who capture digital photographs while not even owning a camera, check out work by artists Leonardo Sang for examples of what professional paid gaming photography looks like. 

Read more

10 best games for virtual photographers
Cyberpunk 2077 has the best photo mode ever
Landscape photographer explores the rise of in-game photography
How to print Instax photos from your Nintendo Switch (including Pokémon Snap!)
Virtual Photography: taking photos in videogames is imaging's next evolution
PlayStation 5 HD Camera: why you need the PS5 camera for your console

Call of Duty may be one of the biggest videogames franchises of the century. But makers Activision aren't resting on their laurels. And they've cooked up a quite imaginative stunt to promote their forthcoming release of Call of Duty: Vanguard.

The 18th installment in the series, the new game traces the birth of special forces to face an emerging threat at the end of World War Two. The graphics in this game are a big step forward, introducing newly photorealistic environmental details and textures. And to show just how realistic it all is, they've invited two working war photographers 'inside' the game to photograph it, just like they would a real conflict.

“We’ve created a virtual camera; it’s like a portal into the game engine,” says Michael Sanders, senior visual director at Activision. “Not only does it transcend them into the game engine, but back in time, as if they were a photographer there, in the period."

Veteran photojournalists

The two photographers enlisted for the stunt certainly have impressive credentials. Sebastiano Tomada is an Italian photojournalist known for documenting war in Afghanistan and conflicts in Libya, Syria, and the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Alex Potter, meanwhile, is a photographer and journalist from the USA working mostly in the Middle East with a long term focus on Yemen, Iraq, and divided communities. 

In the video below, we see them taking virtual photos inside game scenes set in Northern Africa, Western Front and Berlin.

"I was impressed by how kinetic the game was, because everything is actually happening and moving around you," says Sebastiano. "This is what war looks like, this is what conflict looks like. This is it. This is real."

Alex was similarly won-over. "I felt like they were situations I would normally capture," she says. "It was very fascinating to be part of a type of battle that I’ve never been." Prints of four photos taken by the pair, shown on this page, are being sold to raise funds to help US military veterans.

Comments below the video on YouTube and across social media have mainly focused on the tastefulness of the stunt – which seems a little odd to us, given that the game itself allows you to blow people's heads off in gory detail.

We'd argue, in fact, that putting you into the shoes of a war photographer, rather than a soldier, helps you to empathise more fully with the victims of war, as your prime motivation becomes to capture horrific moments, rather than cause them.

Is this the future of photography training?

More broadly, we're big fans of virtual photography in video games, and are excited that Activision is keen to push this discipline forward. While in-game photography is an art in itself, it does teach you a lot of skills, from composition to focal length, that you can apply to real world shooting.

To get started yourself, check out our roundup of the best videogames for virtual photographers. Also check out the YouTube series Photo Mode Perspective, which uses photo modes in video games to teach photography concepts.

Further into the future, we're wondering if graphics and screen resolution will reach a point where taking photos in a virtual world will become the best way of training as a photographer, especially in environments most people can't access that easily. Imagine taking a virtual cruise down the Zambezi to photograph wildlife, navigating the majestic scenes of the Antarctic, shooting from the press area of a sports event... the possibilities are endless. 

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The best photography video games come in all shapes and sizes. Tutorial-style software, virtual photo safaris, frantic zombie games… even racing games where you physically drive a camera around your living room!

While the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are setting the gaming world on fire, many of the best photography video games can actually be played on your computer, phone, Nintendo Switch or older games consoles from years past.  

So whether you're looking for something camera-related to buy for your new console, or you want to test your trigger finger on some headshots rather than head shots, here are the best games about, featuring, or involving photography!

1) New Pokémon Snap

by Bandai Namco Studios
Nintendo Switch

You don't need to be a Poké-fan to enjoy this game (though it certainly helps!), as it pits you on a virtual safari on an island populated by Pokémon. Your task is to photograph and catalogue all the species – and Professor Mirror will judge and reward your images based on composition, the behaviors your subject is exhibiting, and the rarity of the species you've photographed. 

A long-awaited sequel to the 1999 classic for the Nintendo 64 (re-released in 2016 for the Wii U), this is unquestionably the finest pure photography game out there – and you can even get real instant photographs of your shots, too, using the Instax Mini Link printer! 

• How to print Instax photos from your Nintendo Switch (including Pokémon Snap)

2) Polaroid Pete / Gekibo: Gekisha Boy

by Tomcat System
PlayStation 2 

Originally a Japanese game, Gekibo: Gekisha Boy, released for the 8-bit PC Engine (Turbografx 16) console in 1992, the sequel was published in the United States as Polaroid Pete for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. A frantic side-scrolling action game, you control a paparazzi photographer as he avoids obstacles and photographs subjects and surroundings. 

Those inclined to pixel peep will no doubt take umbrage at the Polaroid licensing, since Pete clearly uses an SLR and rolls of film, and there are some rather "dated" stereotypes in there. However, it's still a silly and enjoyable slice of 2D fun.

3) CameraSim

by Tuitive
OS X / iOS

Okay, CameraSim isn't technically a game – it's an educational photography tool that enables you to learn various aspects of a camera through interactive virtual scenarios. However, it's very game-like – and there's a free version that you can play with on your browser. 

The full Camera Sim Pro costs $39 per year and features interactive setups where you can experiment with composition and settings at different times of day. We recommend trying the free web version (also $1.99 / £1.99 on the App Store) which is guaranteed to keep you busy for a few minutes!

4) Afrika

by Natsume
PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4

If you like the sound of Pokémon Snap but would rather take photographs of real animals, Afrika is for you. You take the part of a wildlife photojournalist in an unspecified part of Africa, where you'll be taking photos of various animal species in their natural habitats. 

Unlike the Pokémon game, which is "on rails" (like a rollercoaster, moving along a fixed path), here you can roam the terrain by foot, Jeep or balloon to go wherever you want – including right up close (but not too close!) to your subjects.

Afrika was only released in Japan, but is perfectly playable without understanding Japanese – and there are a number of online translations to help with any tricky parts you encounter. 

5) Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

by Nintendo
Nintendo Switch

The only game here that features an actual camera, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a cutting-edge version of the long-running Mario Kart series. Here you have physical, miniature karts with real cameras mounted to them; by building a track around your home, and pairing the karts to your Nintendo Switch, you control them just like RC cars and race them around the room!

It's a brilliant combination of camera technology, classic Mario Kart gameplay and augmented reality. And even though each set is north of a hundred bucks, it makes a perfect gift for kids of all ages.

6) Fatal Frame / Project Zero (series)

by Koei Tecmo
Xbox / PlayStation 2 / Nintendo Wii / Nintendo Wii U / Nintendo 3DS

If you love creepy Japanese horror, the Fatal Frame (US) / Project Zero (Europe) series sees you confronting ghosts in haunted locations using the Camera Obscura – a supernatural device that damages and captures spirits when you photograph them (particularly if you hit them with the titular fatal frame to their weak spot).

The efficacy of the old-fashioned camera is affected by how accurate your manual focus is, along with aspects such as composition. You can also acquire different film stocks (effectively different 'ammo') to increase the camera's damage. 

The series has been dormant since 2014 (with a movie adaptation stuck in development hell), and we'd love to see it return – until then, definitely check it out if your nerves can handle it!

7) The Bradwell Conspiracy

by A Brave Plan
Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch / Windows / Apple Arcade

An unnerving first-person puzzle game, set amid a technological disaster beneath Stonehenge, The Bradwell Conspiracy features a unique premise: you and another character are trapped but separated from one another, yet must work together to help each other escape.

However, your character is unable to speak – so the only way you can communicate is to take and transmit photographs using your Google Glass / Apple Glasses-like spectacles. It's a slow-burn and narratively driven adventure, but one that's well worth taking.

8) Life is Strange

by Dontnod Entertainment
Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Windows / Android / iOS

If there's one game on this list that you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PLAY, it's this one. Life is Strange is a supernatural episodic adventure game in the tradition of Netflix serials, evoking shades of Stranger Things and the 13 Reasons Why. 

You play Max, a student with a passion for photography (and a Polaroid camera, which you will intermittently take snaps with) and a hidden ability with the power to make (and unmake) incredible change – and the game features a dynamic decision / consequence system that will shape the direction of your story.  

One of the most affecting (and, at times, disturbing) pieces of media you'll ever consume, if you have any interest in videogames whatsoever then you really do have to try this wonderful title. 

9) Dead Rising 4

by Capcom
Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Windows

The original Dead Rising was basically Dawn of the Dead with a photographer, crafting makeshift weapons and armor while trapped in a shopping mall and taking photographs of the undead carnage to score points. 

Fast-forward to Dead Rising 4 and the zombie infestation is out of control on a near World War Z-like scale. The focus is firmly on creating ludicrous weapons (baseball bats with nails in have given way to battery powered, electrified exo suits) with which to despatch the undead, but using your camera to reveal secrets, find clues and capture photos (including selfies!) is more enjoyable than ever. 

10) Beyond Good & Evil

by Ubisoft
Xbox / PlayStation 2 / GameCube / Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3

You know those cult TV shows that people just won't shut up about? The quirky, undiscovered movies that your hip friend insists will change your life? Beyond Good & Evil is the videogame equivalent, a sadly overlooked gem that never got its due, but has developed a fervent following over the years.

You play an investigative reporter armed with a camera, with which you will expose, oppose and rebel against an evil regime. Games where a journalist is the hero are quite the rarity, but this experimental and exquisitely European third-person action game built its towering reputation on subverting expectations. A bona fide classic.

11) Outlast

by Red Barrels
Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch / Windows / OS X / Linux / Android

Where Fatal Frame was more about creeps and chills, Outlast is an exercise in abject terror. Another rare game featuring a journalist protagonist, this first-person horror game plunges you into the bowels of an abandoned asylum – and you'll be spending much of your time in total darkness. 

The only way to see – and to escape the horrors chasing you – is by using the night vision capabilities of your camcorder, though this drains the batteries, so you need to ration its use while searching for more juice. And if you're brave enough to stay and record certain events instead of running the other way, as an investigative reporter you'll document it. Definitely not one for the faint of heart!

12) Phasmophobia

Kinetic Games
Windows

If bustin' makes you feel good, then Phasmophobia will make you feel great… and just a little bit terrified, especially in VR! A co-operative online multiplayer ghost hunting game, you and four buddies will use a variety of equipment to track down and gather evidence of the paranormal. 

Among your tools are EMF readers, Spirit Boxes (which let you use ouija boards by talking through your mic), thermometers, and night vision cameras, CCTV cameras and stills cameras. Find clues, record proof, and sell it to the ghost removal team to get rid of the supernatural troublemakers. We ain't 'fraid of no ghosts! 

13) Firewatch

Campo Santo
Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch / Windows / OS X / Linux

Photography is, in one sense, only a small part of Firewatch – a wonderful first-person mystery, set in a national park in the aftermath of the 1988 Yellowstone fires. While you investigate the unexplained events that start taking place, you find an abandoned backpack with a disposable camera. 

You can use its 18 remaining shots to take photos of the beautiful golden hour landscapes. And then, once you've finished the game, you can 'send in your roll of film' to be developed – and 2-4 weeks later, you'll then receive glossy 4 x 6-inch prints mailed to you! Campo Santo is no longer offering this service (the game did come out in 2016, after all), but your photos are still uploaded for you to see later.

14) The Sims 4: Moschino Stuff Pack

by Maxis
Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Windows / OS X

Even non-gamers have probably heard of The Sims, a long-running life simulation series that sees you populate a virtual town with characters who wake up, eat, sleep, get married, get jobs, get fired and basically have the chance to live the lives we all dream of. And, with the Moschino Stuff Pack for The Sims 4, that dream career now includes freelance fashion photographer. 

Take bookings from clients, curate an appropriate clothing collection, choose the perfect subject (different Sims have different poses and expressions, with some having more "cameras instincts" than others!), create and decorate your own studio and conduct photoshoots. It's one of the best Sims expansions yet, and a whole heap of fun.

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Did I blink and wake up in 2002? Perhaps not, but the newly announced Tamagotchi Pix certainly made me doubt myself for a second. Tamagotchi consoles were massively popular in the 90s and the early 00s, but have fallen out of favor after the prolific rise of smartphone technology. 

However, the new Tamagotchi Pix looks to combine everything that made the original Tamagotchi models so great (i.e. cute virtual pets!) with new augmented reality technology that will let users 'pose' with their Tamagotchi pets.

• Read more: Best budget camera phone

The Tamagotchi Pix still has the classic Tamagotchi elements that enables users to rear their virtual pets. However, while the Tamagotchi Pix likely won't rank in our best camera for kids guide, it also has a built-in camera that gives players the opportunity to take photos with the device and add their virtual pets next to them. These images are stored locally on the device, giving users the chance to document their gameplay with their virtual pet over time as it 'grows'. 

According to The Verge, Bandai, the brand behind Tamagotchi, has also made a few other upgrades to the game console. The physical buttons around the screen have disappeared, replaced with a touch-based system. Users also have more ways to influence the way their Tamagotchi develops, such as choosing different room decorations. 

The new Tamagotchi Pix will be available in four colors, including "floral" (pink), "sky" (purple), "ocean" (blue) and "nature" (green), retailing for $60. You can pre-order the Tamagotchi Pix from Amazon US, but it won't be available until 01 July.

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When you're trying to learn the basics of photography, experimenting with different focal lengths, apertures, exposure settings and more can become a little confusing. However, one photographer is helping to demystify these key photography essentials with an unusual tool – video games. 

Photographer Mir-or-Image has recently created a new YouTube series called 'Photo Mode Perspective', where he uses photo modes in video games to teach photography concepts.

• Read more: Why you need the PS5 Camera

As first reported by PetaPixel, Mir-or-Image writes, "In this series, we'll be looking at photo modes in different video games, but through the eyes of a photographer. My goal for these videos is so you can not only take better pictures in the game, but also with your camera, or phone, in the real world."

Video game photography has become pretty popular over the past few years, with a surprising amount of games including virtual cameras that users can take "photos" with. While different games will have varying levels of manual control for users to experiment with, they can be a fantastic way for budding photographers to understand some of the fundamental concepts that underpin photography.

Focal length is one of these key concepts that can actually be quite difficult to wrap your head around if you don't have access to a wide range of kit. While most new photographers will understand that a wide angle lens shows more of the scene and a telephoto lens gives a closer view, it's not until you can play around with both that you can truly begin to understand concepts such as compression and distortion. While video games are never going to be a perfect learning tool substitute, they're definitely a relatively low-cost way to get a better grip on these ideas.

Discover more of Mir-or-Image's Photo Mode Perspective series on YouTube – and don't forget to check out some of the best photography video games for photographers to play.

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24fps video comes to the Canon EOS RP

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been one of the biggest hits of the past year, as it enables players to virtually visit friends and family during the lockdown. And as a bonus, photography fans can also dress their characters with Canon cameras! 

And now you have the chance to win an incredible prize pack worth over £312 that includes a Nintendo Switch Lite console, a digital copy of Animal Crossing, a three-month membership to the Nintendo Switch Online service, plus official Animal Crossing merchandise including an Isabelle hoodie, Tom Nook mug and New Horizons water bottle!

To enter the competition, simply familiarise yourself with the Animal Crossing Photo App, go see Harv's Island and capture a photo – whether it’s wildlife, landscape, food or portrait, all ideas are welcome! Then all you have to do is follow us on Twitter, comment on this post and share your shot with the hashtags #ACNH and #DigitalCameraWorld.

We'll contact the lucky winner via direct message on Twitter, then you can just kick back and wait for all your goodies to arrive!

Terms and Conditions:

By taking part in this competition, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions below and the competition rules: www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/.

The competition opens on 22/01/2021 9:30am GMT and closes 01/02/2021 12:00pm GMT. Late or incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Open to all residents of the UK aged 18 years and over, except employees of Future Publishing Limited (“Future”) and Nintendo.

There will be 1 winner in total entitled to win An Isabelle Hoodie, Tom Nook Mug, Water Bottle,Nintendo Switch Lite (Coral) + Animal Crossing: New Horizons + Nintendo Switch Online (3 Months) worth £312.96.

This offer is limited to one entry per household.

To enter the competition please comment on the Twitter post. Winner will be contacted by direct message on Twitter with further instructions on how to claim the prize.

Use of automated devices or methods of submission are not valid forms of entry. The winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries by Future and shall be notified by email and/or telephone by Future within 14 days of the closing date. If the winner has not responded after 14 days from notification, an alternative winner will be drawn.

The sponsor will deliver the Isabelle Hoodie, Tom Nook Mug, Water Bottle, and Future will deliver the Animal Crossing: New Horizons + Nintendo Switch Online (3 Months).

Any personal details collected will only be used to send the prize and not for any marketing purposes unless you have opted in to receive them.

Future reserves the right to substitute any product with an alternative product of equivalent value. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. No purchase required. Void where prohibited.

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If you're the lucky owner of a PS5, you may have seen the PlayStation 5 HD Camera but you may not know what it does. So, why do you need a PS5 Camera? 

First things first, the PlayStation 5 HD Camera is the only native PS5 camera for the console – at the moment, there no alternative options available from third parties. And while you can plug in and use the existing PS4 camera with an adapter, it only features 720p resolution (which hardly seems befitting a 4K console) and it doesn't have all the tricks of the new PS5 version. 

• Read more: Best camera for streaming

So, what exactly does the PlayStation 5 HD Camera actually do? As you may well have guessed, in basic terms it's a webcam that connects to your PlayStation 5 – but it's so much more than that. 

Sony's new console is, once again, tailor-made for live streaming, with a dedicated 'create' button on the DualSense control pad. Press this button and you can start recording or streaming video – and the PS5 Camera integrates with the console to offer picture-in-picture broadcasting to enable you to present content on your preferred platform, such as Twitch and YouTube. 

Even better, the camera possesses built-in background removal tools. So in addition to adding yourself your playthroughs and gameplay videos, you can crop your background or even remove it entirely automatically if using a green screen – giving you the same kinds of funky backgrounds that we've all been using on Zoom calls the past few months. 

The PlayStation 5 HD Camera possesses stereo wide-angle lenses and can capture in up to 1080p – which may seem strange, given that the PS5 is such a 4K-focused console, but for picture-in-picture broadcasts it's obviously more than sufficient.

It should be noted that the PS5 Camera isn't compatible with PlayStation VR (so you'll have to use your old camera), but otherwise it's an essential peripheral if you're into streaming your gameplay. 

PlayStation 5 consoles – live deals

Finding a PlayStation 5 console can still be a challenge, so here's a live feed of availability for both the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition. If you see one in stock, we recommend jumping on it right away! 

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UPDATE: New Pokémon Snap, the photography game that we've been waiting 22 years for, finally has a release date – it will arrive on Nintendo Switch on 30 April. 

The original title was the best photography video game ever made, despite releasing for the Nintendo 64 way back in 1999. Two decades and four console generations later, New Pokémon Snap is landing on Nintendo Switch in just a few short months.

As revealed in the new trailer below, you'll be able to go on a literal Pokémon photo safari around the Lental region and photography adorable pocket monsters new and old – and Professor Mirror will critique your portfolio and grade each of your shots when you return from each assignment. 

Pre-orders for the game open soon – and New Pokémon Snap could well prove to be one of the new best games for virtual photographers…

ORIGINAL STORY (18 Jun): Ever wanted to go on a photographic safari… to take pictures of Pokémon? Well, a new Pokémon-themed photography game is being released for the Nintendo Switch games console that enables you to do exactly that. 

New Pokémon Snap has just been announced by Nintendo, and is a videogame that takes you to exotic islands inhabited by wild Pokémon including fan favorites such as Pikachu and Squirtle, as well as newly introduced pocket monsters like Scorbunny from Pokémon Sword and Shield. 

The new game sees you hop in a dome-shaped safari buggy, giving you an unobscured view of the environment. As the buggy travels across the terrain, you must spot and snap photographs of the Pokémon that are native to each area.

When you finish each stage, you select your best photos and submit them to your mentor Professor Oak for a photographic critique, where he will score them based on specific factors. 

Some scoring is based on capturing shots of Pokémon exhibiting special behaviors, some related to the rarity of the subjects you’ve shot, and some are based on your photographic skill, such as capturing subjects as large as possible in the frame (though clearly Professor Oak needs to watch our What is the rule of thirds? video, as he doubles your score if the subject is in the center of your composition). 

New Pokémon Snap is the sequel to the beloved Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap, which came out over 20 years ago. Fans have been clamoring for a follow-up ever since the original was released in 1999, but Nintendo always insisted that it would need to add a “very unique twist” before that would happen. 

“All I can say is that I don’t think we can just make the same thing again,” Pokémon producer Junichi Masuda told Metro last year. “So we’d have to come up with a very unique twist on this if we do make another one.”

So what could that unique twist be? The obvious one would be the ability to freely roam the environment. The Nintendo 64 original was an ‘on rails’ game, which means that you follow a predefined course (as if you were on the rails of a roller coaster or haunted house). 

If New Pokémon Snap enables us to take our virtual cameras and roam around the islands, peeking under rocks and over cliff edges and up trees to spot pocket monsters, that would be a very welcome addition. 

No release date has been given, but it would certainly make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season…

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UPDATE: Canon has added more cameras to hit Nintendo Switch game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with Volume 2 of its Canon Animal Crossing Original Custom Designs series. 

The second volume sees the new Canon PowerShot Zoom join other cameras featured in the game, such as the Canon EOS R5. These appear as custom designs outfits, wearable by your in-game villager, enabling you to literally outfit your favorite Canon kit as you go about live on your island.

• Read more: Canon PowerShot Zoom review

You can add the latest custom designs to your game by inputting the Creator Code MA-6953-1746-0221. 

We loved the concept of the PowerShot Zoom, which gives you 100-800mm zoom range that slips into your pocket, even though its optical performance falls a little short of expectations. 

ORIGINAL STORY (17 Jul): Whether you've already pre-ordered a Canon EOS R5 or you're eager to try one out in camera stores, you'll still have to wait until the end of July to get your hands on one. Until then, the closest you can get to an R5 is in the blockbuster Nintendo game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

Canon Japan has released free Creator Codes that enable you to download and wear a number of cameras around the neck of your in-game character – including the Canon EOS R5, the Canon EOS M50 and even the Canon AE-1, which of course is one of the best film cameras ever made. 

Even if you're not a gamer yourself, you've probably heard about Animal Crossing through your kids or social media, as it was released for the Nintendo Switch console right at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. 

The social simulation game became an immediate runaway success, enabling you to do things that lockdown prohibited, such as meeting friends and traveling to far-off islands. It even features a Photo Mode, an increasingly popular pastime for both gamers and photographers, affording you the chance to run around taking pictures and even set up virtual photography photo sessions. 

It's only fitting, then, that Canon has made it possible for you to wear a selection of its most popular cameras in the game. They are only part of your outfit, of course, so you can't really 'use' them and they aren't objects that you can place or display in your virtual home. (Note to Canon: talk nicely to Nintendo, because it would be great to have an in-game camera shelf!)

Trust us, though: dressing up your avatar is a key point of Animal Crossing, so even if you think this is a bit daft, millions of people are going to be downloading these outfits… including the Digital Camera World editor!

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Virtual photography, also known as in-game photography, is trending worldwide with over one million posts on Instagram labeled with #virtualphotography. 

And virtual photographers might found scouting the streets of Gotham (Batman: Arkham Knight), the hidden cottages of Tamriel (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim), or the war-torn Tilted Towers (Fortnite) for the perfect shot. 

• Read more: Best photography video games

With travel and gatherings being restricted at the moment, photography is a tricky pastime to keep up. Luckily, this new wave of picture-taking exists completely independent of outside factors or cancelled travel plans. 

So, in which games are you most likely to find the perfect shot to add to your unconventional COVID portfolio? To find out, the team at ShotKit.com measured the Instagram presence of the 100 most popular games from the last decade to discover which are the most popular for virtual photography…

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Developer: Rockstar Games
Formats: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, PC

As you may have guessed, the number one game for virtual photography is Red Dead Redemption 2, originally released in October 2018. Red Dead 2’s historic Wild West landscapes, teeming wildlife and protagonist Arthur Morgan have made an impressive mark on the photography community, attracting 165,000 video game photography posts since its release. 

Photographers have been pushing the boundaries with this game since its release, roping in friends (sometimes literally) to join them in the vast lands to pose, while making use of the game's first-person perspective mode to grab incredibly cinematic shots for their digital portfolio.

2. Grand Theft Auto V

Developer: Rockstar Games
Formats: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Pinching the second spot is another Rockstar title, Grand Theft Auto V, which raked in a total of 146,495 photography posts. It comes as no surprise that GTA V is so popular for virtual photography, being one of the trailblazing titles that kickstarted the movement. 

The complete freedom that GTA V gives players makes it the perfect playground for keen but restricted photographers. If you haven't got access to golden beaches, gorgeous sunsets, Bugattis, tanks, jet fighters or Lamborghinis in the real world, don't worry – Los Santos has you covered!

3. Fortnite

Developer: Epic Games / People Can Fly
Formats: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

The smash hit Fortnite comes in at third place, with an impressive 135,007 photography posts. Arguably, though, this is mainly down to the sheer weight of popularity of the game, rather than the specific draw of its photography mode. 

Fortnite is not just the world’s favorite battle royale game, it also offers a treasure trove of completely unrealistic but utterly stunning photo opportinities – such as the game’s range of colorful character skins and unusual architecture.

Best of the rest

The remainder of the top ten features plenty of familiar titles, from old favorites like The Sims 4 to recent blockbusters like Ghost of Tsushima. 

What's interesting to note about the list is the split across different different platforms. Of these ten titles, five are multi-format, four are PlayStation exclusives and only one is an Xbox exclusive. 

Will that balance shift, now that we've moved into a new console generation with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X? And with the best graphics cards such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti setting new standards of visual fidelity, will the PC become the equivalent of medium format in the world of video game photography?

What makes the perfect game for virtual photography?

To find out more about what makes these games so well suited to video game photography, we spoke to professional virtual photographer Leo Sang, who is partnered with graphics card juggernaut Nvidia.

“A familiar and easy to use photo mode is less intimidating if you are getting used to virtual photography. The basic camera controls and settings should have easy access and be intuitive. Nvidia Ansel, which is used by games like Dishonored 2 and Watch Dogs 2, for example, shares the same interface with all games from its catalog, making it easier than having to learn a new interface from new photo modes.

“The camera's movement can't be too restricted; the wider the movement range, the easier it is to compose your shot. And the same applies to the other settings – field of view, roll angles, depth of focus, et cetera… being able to fine tune your shot helps you experiment and create a lot easier.”

However, simply having high quality graphics alone isn't enough. “An element of fun is always important, especially if you’re trying to do this professionally. If the game is fun, your motivation to find great shots increases as you kind of want to do the character justice. It’s probably this element of fun which explains why games like The Sims 4 and GTA V made it onto the list.”

If you'd like to share your own virtual photography efforts with us, let us know by  tagging your shots with #dcwowVR and following DCW on Instagram!

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Landscape photographer explores the rise of in-game photography

We've had our first look at the photo mode for Cyberpunk 2077, the blockbuster in the making videogame that's finally hitting streets this week – and it looks to be the best photo mode any game has ever seen.

Polish developer CD Projekt Red has released the trailer for the Cyberpunk 2077 photo mode – an in-game photography feature possessed by many of the biggest and best videogames, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and the PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man, which enables you to engage in virtual photography using authentic camera and photography techniques and settings.

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Previously, titles like Ghosts of Tsushima and Horizon: Zero Dawn vied for the crown of best photo mode in a videogame, but Cyberpunk 2077 looks to be taking things to unprecedented heights. Whether you're purely a virtual shooter, or you're a traditional photographer experimenting with in-game photography for the first time, you'll be blown away by how feature-rich this mode it.

You can choose the type of camera you use (so far the only option we've seen is drone), and as you'd expect you can reposition it, zoom in and out, pan left and right and so on. By further delving into the settings, you can change your field of view (effectively changing the lens for wide-angle or telephoto effects) and add Dutch tilt by rotating the camera.  

There's also a dedicated depth of field menu, which enables you to adjust your aperture, turn autofocus on or off, or turn depth of field off entirely if you want an infinite depth of field. 

Aside from standard camera settings, there's a raft of Photoshop-like sliders that effectively enable you to edit your shots as you're composing and taking them. You have the expected controls, like exposure, contrast and highlights, and you can also adjust the vignette and turn film grain on or off. Of particular interest to fans of the cyberpunk genre and aesthetic, though, is the slider for chromatic aberration – which gives that grungy, distorted VHS-era effect.  

On top of that, you can leave your character in their existing pose (if they're diving through the air during a shootout, for example) or give them a bespoke pose that suits the scene – along with a matching facial expression, and you can also toggle muzzle flash on or off if they are carrying a weapon. If you want a clean shot of your landscape or other characters in the scene, you can even make your player invisible. 

Cyberpunk 2077 was already destined to be groundbreaking purely in videogame terms, but it looks like its photo mode is going to be equally game-changing. It hits store shelves on 10 December for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 – and we can't wait to play it!

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Landscape photographer explores the rise of in-game photography

Having the ability to take screenshots while playing games is something that's been around for a while now, but the genre of virtual photography has only recently started to gain real traction. In 2013 the launch of the Playstation 4 saw a dedicated 'Share' button added to it's controller to share what games you were playing with friends. 

Now, in the last couple of years, this option has been taken to new heights with games such as Ghosts of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Death Stranding adding in a completely controllable free moving camera – as if you were there in the landscape yourself.

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The validity of this new art form is sometimes questioned because in-game photographers are taking photos of artwork created by the game's designers and artists. A little like taking a photograph of some street art and claiming 'Look what i did'. However, for the most part in-game photographers share the same motivations as "real life" photographers, including a desire to capture visually interesting images, preserve memories, and to demonstrating technical expertise. All the fundamentals of photography still remain within your control to manipulate into your style. Framing, composition, focal length, depth of field, color - the lot!

For the aforementioned reasons I was apprehensive about experimenting with virtual photography. However, when COVID-19 hit earlier this year, I had enough time on my hands to become curious enough to give it a go. 

It was during this time I made my peace with virtual photography. I didn't see much difference in taking photographs of a landscape designed by nature, or doing architecture photography of a building someone else designed, or fact fashion photography with clothing made by a textile guru. 

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Photography like most hobbies is, by its nature, addictive. I mainly shoot street or portraits, but everyone was inside or wearing masks. It put a huge dampener on my own practice, and this is where I made my first steps into gaming photography. At that time I was playing Red Dead Redemption 2 which had a reasonably ok in game camera system. I began by just taking shots for new screensavers or backdrops for my monitor, but I quickly became quite focused on making them better and better. Then a few weeks later along came Suckerpunch's Ghosts of Tsushima... Now I was hooked, and I was about to find out wasn't alone. 

While I had felt somewhat limited in the past by other games, Ghosts had fully set me free. I could control almost anything, and with regular updates the in-game photography options were improving all the time. If you've not experienced in-game photography before, you essentially hit a button (right on the D-pad in this case) and everything freezes. The camera becomes unlocked from your main character and you can position it wherever you like. Vast barren landscapes or extreme close up portraits of our hero in the heart of the action. If you can visualize it, you can shoot it. 

Aside from the typical framing and composition there are also about 15 other options to control your look, from color grading, weather and focal length to cloud formation and sun location. I started posting my shots on Instagram and quickly found a huge community of likeminded people doing the same. No two shots are alike, and just like real life photography, an individual's vision can shine through.

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It's launch week and the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles have been as rare as unicorn poop, but fear not – we've just spotted both consoles in stock right now at Walmart! 

Click quickly, as there are single-digit stocks of these machines available, so if you want to get Microsoft's new console don't waste a second more!

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Landscape photographer explores the rise of in-game photography

Sony has abandoned development of a new mirrorless camera in order to focus on production of the PlayStation 5, according to a new report. 

The new videogames console, due for release next year, is apparently facing component and supply chain issues that are threatening to drive up the cost of the upcoming PlayStation successor. 

Faced with the uncomfortable prospect of releasing the product at a higher price than the Xbox Series X (the rival console being released by Microsoft) Sony is said to be sacrificing components earmaked for a new camera in order to keep manufacturing costs under control.

That's according to a story by Bloomberg, which notes that one of the most significant issues is stockpiling sufficient DRAM.

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"The company’s biggest headache is ensuring a reliable supply of DRAM and NAND flash memory, with both in high demand as smartphone makers gear up for fifth-generation devices, according to people familiar with Sony’s operations," notes the report.

"Sony has already canceled some previously planned features for a new mirrorless camera due this year owing to the constrained DRAM supply, several people with knowledge of the matter said."

So which model – or even models – could this flash memory shortage affect? Prime candidates would be the Sony A7 IV and the already unicorn-like Sony A7S III.

"I expect the A7 IV and A7S III to be particularly DRAM hungry," notes Andrew Reid of EOSHD. "The A9 stacked sensor technology has additional very high-spec DRAM chips are solder bumped directly to the back of the CMOS sensor facilitating very fast readout speeds. It was expected to trickle down to the A7 IV and especially the A7S III, to make a fast 8K sensor readout possible."

The question is, does the DRAM issue mean that camera features are curtailed, or would the cameras be delayed or cancelled outright? Given the choice between an impeded feature set or, in the case of the A7S III, a slower sensor with more rolling shutter, it might be better if they are held off until there are sufficient resources.

All of which is probably music to the ears of Canon, which would love to steal more share from an absentee Sony with the 8K Canon EOS R5…

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