Hardware

IBM settles its DEI lawsuit with the DOJ for $17 million

IBM has agreed to settle the US Department of Justice's accusations that the company violated civil rights laws with its DEI practices . According to a press release from the DOJ, IBM will pay more than $17 million to resolve allegations of taking ace, color, national origin, or sex into account when making employment decisions. This settlement is the latest development in a longstanding effort from the Trump administration to end DEI programs, which was kick-started from an executive order in early 2025. IBM denied any wrongdoing and said the settlement wasn't an admission of liability, while the US government said this conclusion wasn't a concession that its claims weren't well founded, according to the settlement agreement. According to the DOJ, IBM had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with practices that included altering interview criteria based on race or sex, developing ace and sex demographic goals for business units, using a diversity modifier that tied bonus compensation to achieving demographic targets and more. An IBM spokesperson told Engadget in an email that the company is pleased to have resolved this matter, adding that our workforce strategy is driven by a single principle: having the right people with the right skills that our clients depend on. According to Todd Blanche, the agency's acting attorney general, this action is one of the first resolutions to come out of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which was launched in May 2025. IBM isn't the only company to alter its policies, with both T-Mobile and Meta agreeing to put an end to its DEI initiatives last year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ibm-settles-its-dei-lawsuit-with-the-doj-for-17-million-153749285.html?src=rss

Engadget review recap: ASUS ZenBook A16, AirPods Max 2, Sonos Play and LG Sound Suite

Spring has certainly sprung here at Engadget. Well, it has in terms of reviews , at least. Weve put over a dozen devices through their paces since my last roundup, which gives you a lot to catch up on over the weekend. Read on for the rundown of all the reviews you mightve missed. ASUS ZenBook A16 ASUS ZenBook A14 didnt live up to our expectations last year, but now the company is back with a 16-inch machine and a shot at redemption: the A16 . Compatibility issues aside, the ZenBook A16 delivers just about everything I want in an ultraportable, senior reporter Devindra Hardawar said. Its got a gorgeous OLED screen and all of the ports you need. Qualcomms Snapdragon X2 Elite chips also give it a much-needed power boost. And best of all, it's one of the lightest and sleekest 16-inch Windows laptops I've come across. Apple AirPods Max 2 Until this year, Apples only updates to the AirPods Max were new colors and a USB-C port. The company finally gave its pricey over-ear headphones the powerful H2 chip, delivering a host of handy features from the AirPods Pro. The H2 chip brings Apples over-ear headphones on par with the rest of the AirPods lineup, namely the AirPods Pro 3, I said. And since I dont expect Apple to announce new earbuds this year, that parity should remain for a while. Sonos Play Sonos badly needed a win. Thankfully, the company regained some of its mojo with a new portable speaker that offers the best of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in the same device. The latest Sonos speaker offers impressive sound quality, flexibility and portability, and its the kind of product that can help Sonos rebuild its reputation after its recent difficulties, deputy editor Nathan Ingraham said. LG Sound Suite After an impressive CES debut, LGs Sound Suite was my most anticipated review of the year. Despite impressive sound quality and Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, there are still some kinks to work out in both the setup and general use. Theres no denying that LG has created a powerful and immersive living room experience with its Sound Suite lineup, I said. While I did experience some setup and software issues, those are things LG can iron out over time Sound Suite is still brand new, after all. DJI Avata 360, Fender Audio, Nebula X1 Pro and more The last few weeks have been pretty audio-heavy here at Engadget, including the first headphones and speakers from Fender Audio, two sets of headphones from JBL and the Roland Go: Mixer Studio . I also reviewed the first of Sonys 2026 soundbars, the Bravia Theater Bar 5 , and contributing reporter Steve Dent reviewed the Anker Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro all-in-one projector. Senior reporter Sam Rutherford really took one for the team and spent some time with the Robosen Soundwave Transformers robot. Lastly, Steve took flight with the DJI Avata 360 drone, which is a direct answer to Insta360s Antigravity A1. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-asus-zenbook-a16-airpods-max-2-sonos-play-and-lg-sound-suite-133000521.html?src=rss

X's messaging app, XChat, may be available soon

XChat is now on the App Store , where its listing says that its expected to be available for download on April 17. This isnt the same IRC app from the early aughts, which you may remember if youre of a certain age. This is a messaging app specifically for X users. X chief Elon Musk first talked about rolling out a new version of his social networks direct messaging feature in mid-2025. In a series of posts back then, he said the new version would be encrypted and would feature a whole new architecture. He also said all X users were getting XChat in June last year, but Musk is pretty infamous for being overly optimistic about timelines. Now, instead of an upgraded DM feature on X, users are getting a standalone app. It allows them to chat with anybody on X and call each other across devices. The app is end-to-end encrypted and will let users edit and delete their messages for all participants in the conversation. It will also allow users to block screenshots and enable disappearing messages if they want the sensitive details they send in-chat to vanish within five minutes. The app allows users to create massive group chats with up to 481 members, as well. X promises in the App Store listing that XChat will not have ads and will not be tracking users. Users can now pre-order XChat for iPhones and iPads so that it automatically downloads on their device when it comes out. Your encrypted chats deserve their own app. Pre-order now: https://t.co/TM8Lk7AMGV pic.twitter.com/ZJ3yROXK1t XChat (@chat) April 10, 2026 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/xs-messaging-app-xchat-may-be-available-soon-114722904.html?src=rss

Marauding minotaurs, more CloverPit and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As always, we're here to tell you about a bunch of new games you can play this weekend, as well as several upcoming titles. The latest edition of the Triple-i Initiative showcase was packed with cool stuff, including a first peek at the fascinating next game from 1000xResist developer Sunset Visitor, word of a Don't Starve follow-up, a release date for stealth title Thick as Thieves and an announcement of when pirate survival sim Windrose will hit early access . We also got a release window for Neverway , a life sim with gorgeously creepy pixel art. The prologue is available to play now on Steam , and it doesn't take long at all before things become delightfully strange. I'll run through a few of the other Triple-i highlights below. Before we get to the new releases, though, I want to touch on something I spotted a little too late to include in last week's roundup . On Reddit, the developer of mixed reality game CoasterMania shared a video showcasing an update that lets players use their hands to build and interact with rollercoasters. I think this looks just swell. This is the most I've ever been interested in picking up a Meta Quest headset (which I'd inevitably use for a grand total of about 45 minutes). New releases I don't like to overwork my brain when I'm playing games. Im focused all day at work and afterwards, I just want to switch off for a bit. That's a big reason why I play a ton of Overwatch and don't really gel too well with most puzzle games . Minos , though, hits the sweet spot of brain engagement for me. In this roguelite from Artificer and publisher Devolver Digital, your aim is to stop glory-seeking adventurers from finding and killing a minotaur. You'll shape a labyrinth as you see fit in order to defend the beast from these warriors. You can set up the maze by building and knocking down walls, and setting traps. The adventurers will follow a set path to the minotaur's lair, then make a beeline for the monster when they discover it's hiding elsewhere. There are a lot of ways to dispose of the interlopers and you'll need to be thoughtful about how to set everything up to take out each wave of attackers. Many traps can only be placed on certain spots, so it's important to work around those. You'll need to adjust your setup after every wave youll gain more traps and have to re-arrange them to fend off different types of enemies. Minos is more active than a lot of tower defense and strategy games I've played, as the minotaur can reset certain traps after they trigger and, if need be, try to kill the adventurers head-on. I found myself spending quite a bit of time thinking through each enemy's path through my domain and how I was going to eliminate them. Sometimes, I miscalculated and brought my run to an end. Being able to improve the minotaur's stats and unlock new powers between runs helped me keep coming back for more. I'm really enjoying Minos , and I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being one of my favorite games of the year. You can snap it up on Steam now for $18 . A demo is available too. Spring has finally bloomed in my neck of the woods. I planned to spend a chunk of my weekend outside after a long winter. But now I might need to bring my Steam Deck with me, because the first DLC for CloverPit , one of my favorite games of last year, suddenly arrived during the Triple-i Initiative showcase. CloverPit is a Balatro -style incremental roguelite from Panik Arcade and publisher Future Friends Games. It tasks you with breaking the rules of a slot machine to meet increasingly high coin targets in order to pay off a debt. You can pick up charms that modify the machine, and the Unholy Fusion DLC is all about those totems. You'll be able to use a new device called the Surgery Machine to fuse charms into more powerful items ( la Ball x Pit ). It seems like that will free up valuable space for more charms too. The DLC adds 30 fusion charms, 11 new base charms, a secret ending and other features. I've played CloverPit for dozens of hours (I'm far from the only one, as the game's pulled in more than 5 million players). I suspect I'm about to sink a whole lot more time into this DLC. The Unholy Fusion DLC usually costs $3, but there's a 10 percent discount on Steam until April 23. The base game is typically $10, though you can get 30 percent off on Steam until the same date. You'll save an extra five percent if you buy a bundle with both. CloverPit is also on Game Pass, and you can buy a bundle of the base game and DLC on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Xbox on PC for $11.49. On iOS and Android , you can snag CloverPit for $5 and the DLC for $2. Another title had a surprise, sudden release during the Triple-i Initiative showcase: battle royale typing game Final Sentence . I really enjoyed the demo for this one, even though I'm not the fastest or most accurate typist around I made four typos in this sentence alone. Make too many mistakes or fail to beat everyone else who's bashing away at a typewriter and it's curtains for you, courtesy of a creepy figure with a revolver thats standing by your desk. Final Sentence, from Button Mash and Polden Publishing, is available on Steam . It'll typically cost $10, but if you pick it up before April 23, you'll save 10 percent.(Sidenote: I enjoyed a Steam review that read, finally a way for millennials to beat Gen Z at a battle royale game.) One of the most interesting things about People of Note is that Iridium Studios tried to make this musical adventure as approachable as possible . It's an RPG with turn-based battles, but you can skip the fights if you like. That's appealing to someone like me, who enjoys story-driven games but often struggles to engage with turn-based combat. Puzzles are skippable too. Great! People should be able to play non-competitive games however they want. I dug the demo when I played it a while back. The approach to battles here is interesting, as the protagonist, pop singer Cadence, recruits other musicians to join her band in other words, your party. The combat is based around music, and you can create mashups of battle tracks based on the genres that your collaborators specialize in. People of Note, from publisher Annapurna Interactive, will normally run you $25, though there's a 10 percent launch discount. It's available on PS5 (the discount on that platform is only for PlayStation Plus subscribers), Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Nintendo Switch 2 , Steam and the Epic Games Store . Tamashika is a fast-paced first-person shooter with a neat twist. The game only has one level available at any time. There are no checkpoints, and it'll take about 10 minutes to complete a successful run. The level gets a procedurally generated revamp once per day. A tant blade, a pistol, your movement and your aim are the only weapons you have to defeat the enemies and reach the goal. I had to watch the trailer a few times to get it, but the quirky hand-drawn aesthetic is growing on me. Tamashika from QuickTequila and publisher Edglrd is available on Steam , PS5 , Xbox Series X/S and Switch for $20. A Hidden Object Fest is running on Steam until April 13, and a few new games have debuted as part of that. One of those is Nippets by Blink Industries. It's a hand-drawn game with lots of secrets and, at least judging by the trailer, charming animations. It seems like a very relaxing counterpoint to some of the more intense games out this week. It's pretty digestible too, as it has around two to three hours of gameplay, depending on how sharp your observation skills are. Nippets is available on Steam and Itch for PC and Mac. It costs $13, though there's a 10 percent discount on Steam until April 21. A demo is available on both storefronts too. Upcoming Dead As Disco has some momentum after 1.2 million players checked out the demo, and this rhythm-based beat 'em up now has an early access release date. It's coming to Steam and the Epic Games Store on May 5. At the jump, you'll be able to play the first arc of a larger narrative and be able to take out bad guys to the beat of a soundtrack that has more than 30 songs, including original tracks, covers and licensed tunes. You can load in your own music as well, though I can't imagine being able to adeptly play this to the rhythm of Angine de Poitrine's wild time signature swings. Brain Jar Games expects the game to remain in early access for around a year as it adds new bosses, moves and other features, and makes adjustments based on player feedback. A co-op mode is planned too. You can get a taste of Dead As Disco now by checking out the Steam demo , though I would argue that disco is still very much alive. Those looking for a puzzle game of a Lovecraftian persuasion may be interested in Call of the Elder Gods , a sequel to 2020's Call of the Sea . The follow-up is bound for Steam , PS5 , Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2 on May 12. It'll be available on Game Pass and it's priced at $25 on the eShop. You seemingly won't need to have played Call of the Sea before diving into the sequel, though you'll surely get more out of Call of the Elder Gods if you have. You'll switch between two characters professor Harry Everhart and student Evangeline Drayton to solve puzzles from a first-person perspective and try to find out what happened to the pair's missing loved ones. I'd seen Long Gone at another showcase some time ago, but the name of it slipped from my memory. No such issues after it made an appearance in the Triple-i Initiative stream though, as this project from Hillfort Games and co-publisher Outersloth is now firmly on my Steam wishlist. It's a narrative-driven game set amid a zombie outbreak in which you'll solve environmental puzzles to learn about the lives of people who are no longer around. It's ostensibly a point-and-click adventure that looks very heavily inspired by a certain post-apocalyptic series from Naughty Dog, right down to the backpack-wearing protagonist. There are platforming sections too. I'm absolutely going to be interested in any game that smooshes together The Last of Us and the Monkey Island series. I'm really looking forward to playing Long Gone sometime next year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/marauding-minotaurs-more-cloverpit-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110000480.html?src=rss

The Artemis II astronauts are back after a 10-day journey around the moon

The Orion capsule carrying the Artemis II astronauts has successfully splashed down off the coast of San Diego at 8:07PM Eastern time on April 10. It signals the conclusion of Artemis IIs 10-day journey around the moon, which is meant to be a test flight for a future mission that would bring humanity back to the lunar surface. The Orion crew module carrying the missions astronauts separated from the service module at 7:33 PM. While the service module was designed to burn up in the Earths atmosphere, the crew capsule was built to bring the astronauts back home safely. By 7:53 PM, Orion reached our planets upper atmosphere, where a six-minute communication blackout occurred due to the capsule heating up as it started its guided descent. The capsule has 11 parachutes, with its drogue parachutes being deployed at 23,400 feet to stabilize and slow it down. When Orion reached 5,400 feet above the ground, the drogue parachutes were cut off so that the three main parachutes could be deployed. That decreased the capsules velocity to 200 feet per second, enabling a safe splashdown. NASAs engineers conducted several tests while the capsule was in the water before the recovery team headed to the capsule on inflatable boats to extract the crew from Orion. By 9:34 PM, all four crew members were out of the capsule. They were then hoisted into helicopters and flown to the USS John P. Murtha dock ship, where doctors will assess their health. Artemis II launched on April 1 with four astronauts on board: NASAs Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agencys Jeremy Hansen. They traveled around the moon for almost 10 days, reaching distances no other crewed mission has before it. The astronauts took photos of the far side of the moon , the side we dont see from our planet, including amazing closeups of the lunar surface using their smartphones. That makes them the first humans to directly and personally view the lunar far side. During NASAs post-splashdown news conference, the agency said it will announce the Artemis III crew soon. Artemis III will rendezvous with one or both commercial landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit, which will take humans to the lunar surface. It will test the landers ability to dock with Orion before NASA lands humans on the moon again. Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! The Artemis II astronauts have splashed down at 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11), bringing their historic 10-day mission around the Moon to an end. pic.twitter.com/1yjAgHEOYl NASA (@NASA) April 11, 2026 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-artemis-ii-astronauts-are-back-after-a-10-day-journey-around-the-moon-033800654.html?src=rss

The FAA is encouraging gamers to get jobs in air traffic control

Sick! The Federal Aviation Administration is targeting gamers in its most recent job advertisement for air traffic controllers. The administration's annual hiring window opens at 12AM ET on April 17, and considering the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, it's calling this a period of supercharged hiring. Rad! The FAA's YouTube video draws parallels between gaming and directing air traffic, and notes that the average salary for the role after three years is $155,000. Hella! The FAA is clearly seeking players who are at least old enough to remember the Xbox One and Bjergsen in the LCS, which puts would-be candidates around their early 20s at least. It's either that, or the ad editors really just picked videos at random from the pile of stock footage marked gamerz . But I won't lie, it made me smile to see that Xbox One logo appear out of nowhere. Nostalgia is a hell of a thing. To reach the next generation of air traffic controllers, we need to adapt, US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said . This campaigns innovative communication style and focus on gaming taps into a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller. The FAA has been losing more air traffic controllers than it can hire and retain since the 2010s, and this trend only worsened during the pandemic in the 2020s, according to a report released in December by the US Government Accountability Office. The administration increased hiring every year since 2021, but at the end of 2025 it employed 13,164 air traffic controllers, 6 percent fewer than in 2015, the report said. At the same time, the number of flights in the air traffic control system increased by about 10 percent, to 30.8 million. Or, as the FAA put it on the ATC hiring page : Join the BEST AND BRIGHTEST, the elite squad of 14,000 controllers protecting 2.9 million daily passengers. Applicants must be a US citizen, under 31 (maybe those video editors do know what they're doing), and be able to speak fluent English. An aptitude test, medical screening and academy training follows, among other steps. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-faa-is-encouraging-gamers-to-get-jobs-in-air-traffic-control-230308014.html?src=rss

A man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house

A 20-year-old man was arrested by the San Francisco Police Department after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's house, The New York Times reports . In a statement shared on X , SFPD wrote that it responded to a request for a fire investigation in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco around 7:12 AM ET / 4:12AM PT. At the scene, officers learned that an unknown male subject threw an incendiary destructive device at a home, causing a fire at an exterior gate. After the man fled on foot, police found and arrested him around an hour later while responding to a business' complaint about an unknown male subject threatening to burn down the building. That business turned out to be OpenAI's headquarters and the subject happened to be the same man who threw the Molotov at Altman's house. View our latest statement regarding an incident that occurred early this morning at a North Beach residence. Officers have made an arrest, and no injuries were reported as a result of this incident. pic.twitter.com/t4DsF31uxh San Francisco Police (@SFPD) April 10, 2026 Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altmans home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Wired . We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and were assisting law enforcement with their investigation. As it's become more commonplace, artificial intelligence has also become more divisive. While more and more people continue to use AI tools, public reaction to the encroachment of the technology, whether in gaming or customer service , is increasingly negative. Altman's warnings of AI's impact on employment , and a recent New Yorker investigation digging into his allegedly manipulative leadership style at OpenAI, have also raised questions about the CEO's prominent role as a steward of the technology. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/a-man-allegedly-threw-a-molotov-cocktail-at-sam-altmans-house-210444731.html?src=rss

Estonia is the rare EU country opposing child social media bans

As child social media bans spread across Europe and beyond, Estonia isn't having it. On Friday, the country's education minister said the bans won't actually solve problems, while warning that the kids will find a way regardless. Although companies like Meta would love for you to believe its a fairy tale , social media addiction is associated with tangible negative repercussions for children. Studies show that its harms range from depression and anxiety to sleep deprivation and obesity. (The latter is from all the targeted junk food advertising.) On the other hand, teens can find community and support from social media. A growing list of countries looked at the negative data and concluded that the answer was to ban social media altogether for children. Although the age cutoff varies, legislation has been floated or enacted in Australia , Greece , France , Austria , Spain , Indonesia , Malaysia , the UK and Denmark just to name a few. Estonia's education minister believes these countries are coming at the very real problem from the wrong angle. The way to approach this, to me, is not to make kids responsible for that harm and start self-regulating, Kristina Kallas said at a Politico forum in Barcelona. She added that kids will find very quickly the ways to go around and to still use social media. Instead, she said the responsibility lies with governments and corporations. Europe pretends to be weak when it comes to big American and international corporations, she added. But she called that a pretense, challenging the EU to actually take this power and start regulating the big American corporations. To be fair, the EU regulates the tech industry more effectively than anywhere else in the world. But the point on childhood social bans stands. Another argument against the bans is that its a short path from the well-meaning to a more sinister erosion of basic freedoms. In February, France suggested that the next logical step after passing an under-15 social media ban would be to go after VPNs . After all, once you pass the ban, you need to enforce it and that can mean snuffing out the tools children could use to work around it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/estonia-is-the-rare-eu-country-opposing-child-social-media-bans-194620916.html?src=rss

Garmin may be working on a Whoop competitor

Whoop, the makers of a screen-free fitness tracker of the same name, could soon have some competition. Fitbit teased its take on a Whoop-style band with the help of Steph Curry at the end of March, and based on a trademark filing spotted by Gadgets & Wearables , Garmin appears to be working on its own band that tracks similar health metrics. This new Garmin wearable, called CIRQA in the trademark filing submitted in February, is designed to measure he body's physical parameters and other physiological data, bio-signals, and bodily behavior. That could broadly describe the smartwatches and fitness trackers Garmin already sells. But the CIRQA apparently goes further, by also measuring ecovery from physical and emotional stress, human alertness level, and performance, a set of more granular, wellness-focused features that could bring the unreleased wearable into the same ballpark as a Whoop. Garmin accidentally leaked that it was working on a new wearable via a hastily removed store page in January, Android Authority reports . While some phantom web pages and a trademark do not guarantee Garmin is working on a new device, or that the band will be screen-free in the same way the Whoop is. If the company is preparing a competitor, though, the timing makes sense. Where other devices try to split the difference between tracking biometrics and offering real-time information or other smartwatch features, Whoop is decidedly data-first. Its wearables monitor as much information as possible through a nondescript band, and then analyze and display what it learned via a smartphone app. The approach is attractive to anyone tired of dealing with screens, and the growing number of people obsessed with optimizing their health. In fact, Whoop just raised $575 million on the back of its current success. It would make sense that Garmin and Google (via its Fitbit brand) would want a piece of the company's audience, too. Whoop-style bands are also a perfect fit for future uses of AI in health and fitness tracking. Google is interested in having users turn to Fitbit's AI-powered health coach for everything from workout tracking to nutrition advice. If health data processing is going to happen in the cloud, and you're going to have to pull out your smartphone to view that data anyway, it makes sense to sell a tracker without a screen. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/garmin-may-be-working-on-a-whoop-competitor-191802041.html?src=rss

Amazon Luna ends support for third-party subscriptions and game purchases

Amazon is ending support for third-party integrations on its Luna cloud gaming service. The most immediate changes mean that it's no longer possible to buy Ubisoft+ and Jackbox Games subscriptions or standalone games through Luna. Amazon will automatically any cancel active subscriptions bought through Luna at the end of customers' next billing cycle. If you have a Ubisoft+ subscription that you bought directly from Ubisoft instead, youll still be able to access games on that service through Luna until June 10. The Bring Your Own Library option which allows users to play games they own on the likes of EA , GOG and Ubisoft on Luna is going away too. You won't be able to access games from on those storefronts via Amazon's streaming service after June 3. If you bought any games outright on Luna, you'll still be able to play them there until June 10. Unlike Google did when it shut down Stadia , Amazon isnt offering refunds for those purchases. However, you'll still have access to them through the respective third-party platform that's linked to your account, be it the EA App, GOG Galaxy or Ubisoft Connect. That doesn't exactly help folks who don't have powerful-enough systems to play more demanding games and were relying on Luna. As such, some people might need to turn to the likes of GeForce Now in order to keep playing games they bought through Luna (and theyll need to hope GFN actually supports their specific games). Amazon has been reshaping Luna over the last several months. It rolled out a revamped version of the service back in October , with more of a focus on GameNight party games that you can play with a smartphone. Prime subscribers will still be able to claim PC games and stream games on the Luna Standard tier at no extra cost. The Luna Premium subscription, which includes a wider range of third-party games, is still available too. Were doubling down on a broad range of gaming experiences, including strong third-party titles, delivered in ways that make great games more accessible, as well as new and unique gaming experiences like GameNight, Amazon wrote in an email to Luna users. The company also said it will offer some folks a free Luna Premium subscription. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazon-luna-ends-support-for-third-party-subscriptions-and-game-purchases-171329996.html?src=rss

French government says au revoir Windows, bienvenue Linux

America's Big Tech companies may soon learn that saddling up with Donald Trump doesn't tend to work out in the end . As the president sows chaos and distrust around the globe while taking aim at EU tech regulations, Europe is looking for ways to adopt its own alternatives. The latest example is France, which said it's dropping Microsoft Windows in favor of Linux. On Wednesday, France said ( via TechCrunch ) it plans to move its workstations from Windows to the open-source Linux. It's part of a broader movement across Europe toward digital sovereignty, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign tech especially American and Chinese. Although homegrown alternatives aren't available in many areas, the EU seems prepared to wean itself off where it can. In January, France announced that it would move its videoconferencing from Zoom and Teams to the French-made Visio . As part of this weeks Linux announcement, France added that it would also migrate its health data to a new platform by the end of 2026. Since taking office, Trump has used tariffs and other measures to try to bully European nations into dropping their regulations on America's tech industry. In August, he vowed to stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies. (The strange capitalizations are his, not ours.) His administration has described laws like the EU's Digital Services Act as censorship and a tax. So far, Europe has stood firm. I want to be very clear: our digital sovereignty is our digital sovereignty, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Munich Security Conference in February. We have a long tradition in freedom of speech. Actually, the Enlightenment started on our continent. Christian Kroll, CEO of German search engine Ecosia, foresaw Europe's predicament soon after Trump's 2024 reelection. We, as a European community, just need to make sure that nobody can blackmail us. He added that if the US turned off access to search results tomorrow, we would have to go back to phone books. Granted, the guy is selling a European-made search engine, so his bias is clear. But the salience of his point stands. Giorgos Verdi, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the Trump administration's behavior underscores the need for Europe to break free. Could the US use its dominance over AI chips, its dominance over cloud in Europe, its dominance over AI systems in order to exert more pressure? Verdi asked CNN rhetorically in January. In order to build more resilience for Europe there is a geopolitical case for European innovations to emerge. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/french-government-says-au-revoir-windows-bienvenue-linux-165407232.html?src=rss

Google adds E2E encryption to Gmail for iOS and Android enterprise users

Google has announced that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Gmail on Android and iOS is now rolling out for its enterprise users. Emails that require E2EE in Workspace can be composed and read within the Gmail app, so eligible users wont need additional apps or portals. The new feature expands Googles client-side encryption (CSE) offering, a little more than a year after E2EE was introduced to Gmail on the web. According to a Google blog post , any encrypted message sent to a recipient who uses the Gmail app will appear in their inbox as any email thread would. If they dont have the app, theyre still able to read and reply to the email in their browser securely, regardless of their email address. Google says the new functionality combines the highest level of privacy and data encryption with a user-friendly experience for all users, enabling simple encrypted email for all customers from small businesses to enterprises and public sector. Of course, all users applies only to Enterprise Plus members here, with the millions of people who use Gmail as their personal email service currently unable to take advantage of the highest level of privacy and data protection. In order for Gmail users to start using E2EE in the app, an admin must first enable Android and iOS clients in the CSE admin interface, which is available in the Admin Console. When sending an email, you have to click the lock icon and select additional encryption before sending. Attachments can then be added as normal. E2EE is available straight away in the Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. Enterprise users will need the Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on, which provides businesses and organizations that handle sensitive data with extra security and compliance-related tools. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/google-adds-e2e-to-gmail-for-ios-and-android-enterprise-users-165345116.html?src=rss

Google has reportedly started to add Polymarket data to News results

Google News has begun showing Polymarket bets and odds alongside actual stories, according to a report by Futurism . These look to appear as large blocks that include links to numerous ways for people to lose their money. Bets tend to appear in the For you section of Google News, which is supposed to be tailored to a person's particular interests. Futurism notes that the platform actually placed a Polymarket bet as the top news result when inquiring about the price of Bitcoin. The publication saw links to the prediction market all over Google News, including in searches. It popped up in queries regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which presents a link that lets people bet on the number of ships that would be allowed to pass through the critical passageway. The report even indicates that users were able to set the gambling platform as a source, which directs readers to an aggregate page of other Polymarket links. Oof The Top Google News Result Is For Polymarket LOL. We Cooked. pic.twitter.com/IFBbYFdn2A Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) March 26, 2026 There's a caveat here. I wasn't personally able to confirm most of these results. This could indicate that Google has quietly made some changes behind the scenes following Futurism's initial report. Complaints from users on social media indicate that Google started doing this at the tail-end of March. However, one user noted all the way back in January that Polymarket results had started showing up in the news section of a traditional Google search . I was able to replicate that one. Lawrence Bonk/Google News Engadget has reached out to Google to see just what's going on here and if it plans to continue displaying Polymarket bets alongside actual news stories. The company did announce a partnership with both Polymarket and Kalshi back in November. This deal indicated the two gambling platforms would feed prediction data into Google's finance platform, but didn't say anything about News. It's pretty easy to see why Polymarket would be attractive to Google's algorithms. The platform generates huge numbers on pages that are constantly updated. This could make these algorithms think the links are leading to valuable news stories and not, you know, a place to bet on human misery . Prediction markets like Polymarket give users the ability to place bets on real world outcomes, which includes wars and other gruesome things . This has led to numerous scandals , which include an incident in which an unknown Polymarket user made more than $400,000 after predicting the capture of Venezuela's president Nicols Maduro just hours before US troops invaded the country and abducted him. Polymarket has hosted bets on the use of nuclear weapons in current global conflicts, which is pretty dang chilling when you consider the possibility of government employees tipping the scales in their favor. President Trump did, after all, recently threaten to end an entire civilization . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-has-reportedly-started-to-add-polymarket-data-to-news-results-161708462.html?src=rss

How to watch the Artemis II landing

After its history-making trip around the Moon, NASA's Artemis II mission is set to return to Earth later today. The Orion spacecraft carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego at approximately 8:07PM ET. NASA will stream the landing on YouTube and its NASA+ website , as will Netflix and HBO Max .The official broadcast will begin at 6:30PM ET. After leaving Earth on NASA's super heavy-lift SLS rocket and spending nine days in space , the most dangerous part of the Artemis II mission still lies ahead. It will take approximately 13 minutes for the Orion spacecraft to complete re-entry. During that time, it will be subject to temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius). Reentry is dangerous for any crewed spacecraft, but is of particular concern here because of a skip reentry during the Artemis 1 mission. At that time, the Orion crew vessel briefly used its own lift to skip back out of Earth's upper atmosphere before re-entering for the final descent, suffering excess charring in the process. NASA spent months investigating and determined the craft was safe to fly, but Artemis II will take a more gradual approach back to Earth in hopes of reducing its exposure to excess heat. Still, this is the first time in 53 years that NASA will need to guide a human crew back from the Moon. Once all is said and done, however, the Artemis II crew will have traveled 695,081 miles (1,118,624 km), captured amazing images along the way and reminded the world whats possible when nations work together. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/how-to-watch-the-artemis-ii-landing-145344873.html?src=rss

YouTube Premiums US pricing is going up

Another day, another subscription price hike, this time for YouTube Premium. Every plan for YouTubes ad-free tier is going up, and depending on which one you have, you could be paying as much as $4 per month more. As reported by 9to5Google , YouTube has started emailing subscribers about the price changes, rather than announcing them publicly, and some Reddit users have posted screenshots of the emails theyve received. The emails say that the increases will kick in during the June 2026 billing period. Individual plans are now $16 per month, up from $14, so a $2 hike. If youre on a YouTube Premium family plan, youll now pay $27 per month, a $4 increase from the previous price of $23. As a reminder, YouTube Premium unlocks ad-free viewing and listening on YouTube (including YouTube Kids) and YouTube Music, as well as offline viewing and the ability to continue listening in the background with other apps open. A family plan allows up to six accounts to enjoy all of the same benefits. Both the Lite which allows ad-free viewing and downloads for most, but not all, YouTube videos, and excludes music and Music Premium plans are getting $1 increases, so the former now costs $9 per month, while the music streaming service is up to $12 per month from $11 before, according to 9to5Google . This makes it more expensive than Apple Music when taken on its own (YouTube Music Premium is also bundled with the YouTube Premium individual and family plans at no extra cost). YouTube Premium last raised its prices (also rather quietly) in 2023, also by $2 for the regular plan. The latest price hikes follow Spotify putting its prices up by comparable amounts back in February. Netflix also jacked up the cost of all of its plans last month. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/youtube-premiums-us-pricing-is-going-up-132121683.html?src=rss

Microsoft starts removing unnecessary Copilot buttons in Windows 11

Microsoft has rolled out a Notepad update for Windows Insiders that removes the Copilot branding and icon from within the app, Windows Central has reported. The old Copilot menu has been replaced with writing tools, but its worth noting that the tools are still powered by AI and are pretty much identical to the selection found in the old menu. Microsoft has just replaced the Copilot button with a pen icon. In addition, the company has removed mentions of AI in the Settings menu and has placed the option to disable the AI-powered writing tools within the Advanced features section. The company first announced that it was dialing back its Copilot branding last month, most likely in response to all the criticisms against the AI assistant. Its not very well-liked, with people complaining that Microsoft is forcing them to use the assistant inside all its apps and that Copilot doesnt provide a consistent experience across different applications. You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows, said Windows and Devices EVP Pavan Davuluri. Microsoft also promised to remove unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos and Widgets. According to The Verge , Microsoft has already stopped showing the Copilot button when selecting areas to capture with the Snipping Tool, as well. Clearly, the company has been making good progress on yanking at least the visual reminders of Copilot from its apps. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-starts-removing-unnecessary-copilot-buttons-in-windows-11-120346728.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Amazon pledges its satellite internet starts this year

Amazons satellite-based internet service, Leo, will enter service by mid-2026 , so says company CEO Andy Jassy. Writing in his annual letter, Jassy claimed Leo would offer download speeds of up to 1Gbps, far more than what Starlink presently offers. Sadly, Amazon declined to offer any more details about what that mid-2026 service would look like. But given select partners have already been kicking Leos tyres for a while, we can only hope. The mega-retailer is making some grand promises, including faster up and download speeds, cheaper cost and direct integration with Amazons other products. Of course, the company can also sell itself on the fact its a satellite internet provider not owned by Elon Musk. But it will have to buck its ideas up fast, given how far behind in its deployment of satellites it is. Daniel Cooper The other big stories this morning Dyson just announced its first-ever handheld fan, with a motor that spins up to 65,000 RPM Dont put your finger in it. JBL Live 780NC and 680NC review: Great leaps, greater missteps As the youth say, mid. Sony teases its next-gen True RGB Mini LED TV technology Yet another brand name to sully the Mini LED waters. ASUS ZenBook A16 review: A surprisingly light and powerful 16-inch ultraportable Its a showcase for the Snapdragon X2 Elite. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget ASUS ZenBook A16 is a 16-inch ultraportable designed to go toe-to-toe with LGs Gram Pro 16. Its equipped with Qualcomms Snapdragon X2 Elite and designed to address the flaws Devindra Hardawar found in last years ZenBook A14. Did it succeed? Youll have to read his review to get the full story, but hes certainly happy to have spent the last week using this thing. Continue Reading. Greece will ban all kids under 15 from using social media It will begin at the start of 2027. Greece will ban under 15s from accessing social media , Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced. Like many nations both in Europe and beyond, officials are concerned about the effect social media is having on childrens mental and physical health. The big platforms will be in charge of enforcing the ban, backed up by the hefty punishments enabled by the Digital Services Act. Continue Reading. Amazon is cutting off support for older Kindles Know what doesnt lose support after a few years? Books. Amazon If youre still using a Kindle or Fire tablet made in 2012 or before, then its going to get a little less useful on May 20. Amazon is discontinuing support for those earlier models on that date, removing the ability to purchase, borrow or download new titles. Thankfully, whatever is on the hardware already will remain, so dont fret if youre only a third of the way through Remembrance of Things Past. Continue Reading. Fender Elie review: Handsome speaker/amp hybrids with excellent clarity Fancy, but heavy. Billy Steele for Engadget Billy Steele has been putting Fender Audios new speakers through their paces to find what can only be described as a mixed bag. Excellent audio quality and a wide variety of inputs get high praise, but the heavy weight, exposed wood and limited battery life all dent the paintwork. Continue Reading. WhatsApp adds a better native interface for CarPlay About time too. WhatsApp WhatsApps CarPlay interface isnt the most elegant or easy way to keep in touch with your friends while driving. Meta has, however, given the UI a little polish to help make it a little easier to get something useful done without pulling your attention from the road. Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111524236.html?src=rss

Google removes Doki Doki Literature Club! from the Play Store

Google has removed popular psychological horror game Doki Doki Literature Club! from the Play Store. According to Dan Salvato, who led its development team, and publisher Serenity Forge, Google told them the visual novel was removed because it violated its Terms of Service in its depiction of sensitive themes. The game is widely celebrated for portraying mental health in a way that meaningfully connects deeply with players around the world, they said in their announcement. Its free version , which came out first, has been downloaded at least 30 million times, while the paid Plus version has had at least one million downloads. The visual novel has repeatedly made Engadgets lists of favorite games over the years. Doki Doki Literature Club! has the drawing style and the makings of a typical dating sim, but players find themselves confronted with serious themes, including depression and suicide, soon after starting. Its Play listing was appropriately marked as Mature 17+, which means that children wont be able to download it if their devices have parental controls. In addition, the developers clearly communicate that the game tackles serious issues. This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed is the first line of the game. In-game content warnings for such material can be enabled in the Settings menu at any time, it also warns players. In settings, theres link to a page that lists content warnings that apply to the visual novel. Weve asked Google for a statement on why the game was removed, and well update this post when we hear back. Salvator and Serenity Forge said theyre doing everything they can to find a path forward for getting DDLC reinstated on the Google Play Store. Theyre also looking at other methods of distribution for Android devices. At the moment, the games Play listing shows that its still not available, but its still out on Steam, PlayStation, Switch eshop and iOS. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/google-removes-doki-doki-literature-club-from-the-play-store-080615951.html?src=rss

OpenAI has a new $100 ChatGPT Pro plan to better match up with Claude

OpenAI has closed a yawning gap in its ChatGPT subscription pricing with a new $100 per month Pro plan that slots between the $20 per month Plus plan and $200 per month Pro plan. Offering five times more Codex than the $20 option, it appears designed to challenge Anthropic's $100 per month Claude option. Compared with Claude Code, Codex delivers more coding capacity per dollar across paid tiers, an OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch . So what's the difference between OpenAI's two Pro plans? The $200 version does offer four times the Codex. However, you get the same advanced tools and models with $100 plan, according to OpenAI's product page. To encourage users to jump in, it will offer double the Codex for a limited time, or 10 times what you get with the Plus plan. Users have been screaming for such a plan for a while now, according to posts on OpenAI's developer community forums. The Plus plan will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use, OpenAI said in a post on X . With the launch of GPT 5.2 late last year and GPT-5.3-Codex in February, OpenAI significantly boosted the speed and reasoning capabilities of Codex, giving developers a tough choice between ChatGPT and Claude Opus. However, the sticking point for many power users was ChatGPT's $200 per month price so OpenAI no doubt hopes the new plan will convince those on the fence to switch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-has-a-new-100-chatgpt-pro-plan-to-better-match-up-with-claude-062705626.html?src=rss

Apple is closing three US stores, including the first to unionize

Apple is closing three of its retail stores this summer, including its first location to unionize. The tech company said it plans to permanently close Apple Store in Trumbull, CT, Escondito, CA, and Towson, MD. The Apple Store location in Towson, was the first where unionized workers and Apple reached a contract agreement back in 2024. MacRumors published a statement from Apple confirming the closures. The company credited noting the departure of several retailers and declining conditions at the shopping centers where this trio of stores are housed as the reason for ending operations. Our team members at Trumbull and North County will continue their roles at nearby Apple Retail stores, the statement reads. Towson employees will be eligible to apply for open roles at Apple in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. We reached out to the company for additional comment, and were sent the same statement. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which leads the union the Towson workers had joined, released a statement about the closure. Apples claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union, the organization said. We are exploring all legal options and will work with elected officials and allies to hold Apple accountable. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-closing-three-us-stores-including-the-first-to-unionize-225941912.html?src=rss

The Metal Gear Solid movie is back on, with Final Destination: Bloodlines directors in charge

A film adaptation of Metal Gear Solid is in the works again, this time from filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the directors of Final Destination: Bloodlines , according to The Hollywood Reporter . The duo are reviving the project at Columbia Pictures as part of a new first-look deal with Sony, the latest attempt in what's been multiple decades of work to turn the blockbuster stealth game into a blockbuster film. Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games, Lipovsky and Stein said in a statement. We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima's iconic characters and unforgettable world to life. Lipovsky and Stein's horror bona fides helped make Bloodlines a critical and commercial hit when it came out in 2025, and the directors have a variety of other IP-focused genre films in the works, including a sequel to Gremlins for Warner Bros. and an animated Venom movie for Sony. It remains to be seen how exactly the duo will translate Metal Gear Solid 's unique quirks to film, though. Metal Gear Solid is heavily indebted to director Hideo Kojima's own taste in action and spy cinema, while also being in conversation with video games themselves in a way that wouldn't naturally translate to film. And even if you removed those metatextual rough edges, can it really be Metal Gear Solid without Kojima's equal parts charming and awkward writing ? Attempts to create a film version of the game date back to 2006, when Kojima first shared that an adaptation was in the works. Columbia Pictures announced a new version of the film in 2012, with Avi Arad, former head of Marvel Studios, producing. In 2014, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the director of Kong: Skull Island , was attached to direct that adaptation. And six years after that, Oscar Isaac was reportedly cast as Solid Snake . Arad and his son Ari Arad are still producing this latest take on the game, but with Lipovsky and Stein in charge, that older version of Metal Gear Solid is likely dead. Still, hope springs eternal that well get to see a man hide in a cardboard box on the big screen someday. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-metal-gear-solid-movie-is-back-on-with-final-destination-bloodlines-directors-in-charge-214914374.html?src=rss

A maverick hacker got Mac OS X running on a Wii

You may already know that emulators can run Wii games on a Mac . But one developer has flipped the script. Bryan Keller now has an ancient version of the Mac's operating system running on Nintendo's 2006 game console (via Kottke ). Why? Because they said it couldn't be done. The developer first had the idea in 2013 while a sophomore in college. However, they found renewed motivation five years ago when Redditor u/CussdomTidder posted , There is a zero percent chance of this ever happening. Developer Bryan Keller took it personally. YouTube / ESPN / Netflix Keller used that as fuel to begin plugging away, feeling encouraged by the anonymous contrarian. Thus began the process of porting Mac OS X 10.0 (Cheetah) onto a device designed to play Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy . Last year, when I saw that Windows NT had been ported to the Wii, I felt a renewed sense of motivation, Keller wrote. Even if my lack of low-level experience resulted in failure, attempting this project would still be an opportunity to learn something new. Keller didn't allow something as trivial as a flight to get in the way of the task at hand. Bryan Keller / GitHub Keller noted that the Wii is a phenomenally hackable console, with other enterprising hackers porting Windows 95 and NT, Linux and NetBSD onto it. Nintendo's system also runs a PowerPC chip similar to those found in older Macs. Given this close lineage, I felt confident that the CPU wouldn't be a blocker, they wrote. From there, Keller wrote a custom boot loader, patched the kernel and wrote new drivers. They even got the Wii's USB ports working for mouse and keyboard input. Tthe developer found the process deeply satisfying, especially given the initial doubt. (I'm talking to you, disparaging Redditor.) In the end, I learned (and accomplished) far more than I ever expected, Keller wrote. And perhaps more importantly, I was reminded that the projects that seem just out of reach are exactly the ones worth pursuing. For the technically minded, the developer's blog goes into extensive detail about the process. And full-on madlads can visit Keller's GitHub to try it for themselves. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/a-maverick-hacker-got-mac-os-x-running-on-a-wii-200800027.html?src=rss

Jazzy stealth-action game Thick as Thieves hits PC on May 20

Thick as Thieves , the magical heist game from a crew of stealth legends at OtherSide Entertainment, is coming to Steam on May 20. OtherSide and publisher Megabit Entertainment announced the release date in a new gameplay trailer during today's Triple-i Initiative showcase (which was packed with cool indie games , as always). OtherSide was founded by Thief and System Shock 2 veteran Paul Neurath in 2013, and Deus Ex creator Warren Spector joined in 2016. These are two of the developers who shaped the stealth genre as we know it, so Thick as Thieves has a solid foundation. The new trailer showcases the game's fictional Scottish city of Kilcairn, where magic and technology clash against a backdrop of 1910s music and architecture. At launch, Thick as Thieves will feature two thieves, two maps, 16 contracts, six unique pieces of gear and multiple difficulty settings, which alter the layout of each level. Thick as Thieves has evolved since its introduction at The Game Awards in December 2024. It was originally pitched as a PvPvE game, but it's landing as a solo or two-player experience, with no player-on-player brawls. OtherSide announced the pivot on Steam on April 2, 2026 : As development progressed and the world of Kilcairn has come to life, we found that we were having more fun with solo and co-op play. So, weve taken a decision we feel is right for the game: Thick as Thieves is now focused on two-player co-op and single player. This sharpened focus has allowed us to double down on what makes Thick as Thieves truly special dynamic stealth gameplay. A handful of playtesters and early fans expressed their disappointment at the removal of PvP. A developer responded to one question with, PvPvE may come further down the line. There's also no word on the console versions of the game. Thick as Thieves was announced for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but today's news suggests it's coming to Steam first (if not only). Details are a bit up in the air at the moment, but hey, at least it's on-brand for the developers of a stealth game to be sneaky. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/jazzy-stealth-action-game-thick-as-thieves-hits-pc-on-may-20-193320746.html?src=rss

Netflix adds three Jackbox games to its TV app

Netflix has added a heavy hitter in party activities to its gaming lineup. The streamer announced that Jackbox Party Essentials is joining the Netflix Party Games collection. This move makes three of the popular Jackbox group games available for free to Netflix subscribers: Fibbage 4 , Quiplash 3 and Drawful 2 . Each one supports up to eight players. Netflix has been refocusing its interactive strategy to highlight family-friendly and party games. The company has even offered tie-ins to its original content; for instance, playing Overcooked through Netflix will let you use a member of Huntr/x from Kpop Demon Hunters as your in-game avatar. We also saw Netflix's Game Controller software, which turns any mobile device into a gamepad for its game library, take the crown as a top-downloaded iOS app around the Easter holiday weekend. That performance could indicate that many families were at least thinking of trying out the streamer's games as part of their festivities. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/netflix-adds-three-jackbox-games-to-its-tv-app-190220143.html?src=rss

Another Don't Starve game is on the way

Developer Klei Entertainment has announced a follow-up to Don't Starve that adds a new sense of depth to the popular survival game. And that's in a literal sense: Don't Starve Elsewhere translates the game's resource gathering and sanity management to a world with three-dimensional terrain at different elevations, a first for the traditionally flat series. Don't Starve Elsewhere doesn't quite seem like the Super Mario 64 to Don't Starve 's Super Mario Bros. but based on the trailer, having actual mountains, cliffs and plateaus does offer plenty of new opportunities to have your world rocked by an unfriendly goat. The game also incorporates new biomes, what looks like plenty of new animals, enemies and bosses and several features that were first introduced as DLC for the first Don't Starve . Klei released the original Tim Burton-inspired Don't Starve all the way back in 2013, and has been remarkably consistent in supporting it with paid DLC introducing new characters, mechanics and biomes over the last 13 years. Additions like multiplayer support, from standalone expansion Don't Starve Together , and dynamic weather patterns, introduced in Don't Starve: Shipwrecked , appear to be built into the new game from the start. A mobile spin-off created by Tencent, Dont Starve: Newhome , was announced in 2020 and appears to still be in active development. Klei hasnt announced a release date for Dont Starve Elsewhere , but if the game is anything like the developers previous games, it will be released in early access on PC before it makes its way to a full release on other platforms. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/another-dont-starve-game-is-on-the-way-184400774.html?src=rss

Co-op pirate survival game Windrose hits PC in early access on April 14

Windrose was a hit in a recent Steam Next Fest event, with more than 850,000 people checking out the demo. More than 1.5 million people have wishlisted the pirate survival-adventure title on Steam as well. So, its safe to say this game has some wind in its sails, and itll be arriving very soon. During Thursdays Triple-i Initiative showcase , developer Windrose Crew revealed that its charted a course for an early access release on Steam , the Epic Games Store and Stove on April 14 for $30. In Windrose , you can sail the high seas solo or explore the open world with friends. While the world is procedurally generated, the developers have handcrafted more than 90 points of interest, such as dungeons, temples and shipwrecks. You and your buds can team up to take down rival ships by sharing command of your vessel's weapons. Once you get close enough, you can board enemy ships for close-quarters combat. A broad range of weapons (including swords and muskets) can help you in battle with adversaries such as sailors, monstrous creatures and bosses. Windrose also features farming, fishing, crafting and trading, as well as a reputation system and base building. You can hire non-player characters for your crew as well. Windrose Crew expects the game to remain in early access for around 1.5 to 2.5 years. It plans to add 50 percent more content, such as new biomes (the early access version has three), enemies, ships and gear. The developers might introduce more gameplay systems as well. The team also said the main story should take players between 50 and 70 hours to complete. This is a grittier alternative to Sea of Thieves and Skull and Bones for those who want to engage in a spot of piracy with some of their friends. If youd like to sample what Windrose is all about, the demo remains available on all three PC platforms. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/co-op-pirate-survival-game-windrose-hits-pc-in-early-access-on-april-14-175842163.html?src=rss

Tesla may be working on a smaller and cheaper electric SUV

Tesla may be shifting strategy once again. Reuters reported that the company is working on a smaller and less expensive electric SUV. This would be a brand new vehicle rather than a variant of the existing Model 3 or Model Y, according to the publication's sources. The new EV would allegedly be about 14 feet long, shorter than the 15.7-foot Model Y. Reuters didn't have details about whether this would be an autonomous vehicle or a traditional one, but one source reportedly said that Tesla is generally looking to offer a driverless option in its vehicle lineup. The company had previously been working on a budget EV with a target price of $25,000, but Tesla appeared to abandon that effort in 2024 to work on robotaxis. And as recently as the start of 2026, Tesla discontinued two of its EV models in order to refocus the business on robotics. Perhaps the brand felt it needed to have a bigger auto imprint after cutting the Model S and X and relaunched the budget EV project. Or perhaps this is just the latest whim of the company's leadership and it won't actually come to pass. We'll have to wait and see. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-may-be-working-on-a-smaller-and-cheaper-electric-suv-175230630.html?src=rss

Razer just released some new gaming earbuds with low latency and fast switching between devices

Razer just released the Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds , another entry in the recently-crowded field of gaming earbuds . These have been designed for low latency, which is a necessity when playing video games. To that end, the earbuds integrate with Razer's proprietary HyperSpeed 2.4GHz streaming platform, which allows for gaming-grade lag-free audio. This works with plenty of devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, the Steam Deck, the PS5 and more. The earbuds can also connect via Bluetooth for devices that don't support Wi-Fi-based streaming audio. The charging case includes a dongle that plugs into devices via USB-C, which doubles as a wireless transmitter . Razer promises that users can quickly switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth audio, which would be useful when going from a PC to, say, a smartphone to listen to music. These earbuds include improved ANC, when compared to the previous generation. The battery here lasts for 40 hours, with the earbuds getting 10 hours per charge and the case offering four charges. Razer The case can charge via USB-C, which means it charges as the transmitter is being used to stream audio. However, the dongle can also work on its own without the charging case. The earbuds also support THX spatial audio on PCs. Razer's Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed gaming earbuds are available right now and cost $130. The almost identically-named Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds run $100 and connect via Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 6.0, with a slightly reduced battery life. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/razer-just-released-some-new-gaming-earbuds-with-low-latency-and-fast-switching-between-devices-172907717.html?src=rss

Indie game Neverway will launch this October, just in time for spooky season

Indie game studio Coldblood announced today that its debut project Neverway has been given a release window of October 2026. Billed as nightmarish life-sim RPG, this is going right to the top of my spooky season game queue. It has a cozy-sounding premise, with protagonist Fiona starting a new life on an island, but things take a surreal turn when she becomes the immortal herald for a dead god. She'll be building relationships and making friends one minute and coping with psychological horrors the next. This game has been on our radar since it was introduced at last year's Triple-I Initiative event. The new trailer once more shows off the work of both pixel artist Pedro Medeiros, who also worked on Celeste and Towerfall , and composer Disasterpeace, whose past game credits include Fez and Hyper Light Drifter . The prologue is available to play for free starting today on Steam , and Neverway will launch both on that PC platform as well as on the Nintendo Switch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/indie-game-neverway-will-launch-this-october-just-in-time-for-spooky-season-170000669.html?src=rss

1000xResist devs reveal their wild-looking second game about convincing an AI it's not human

Developer Sunset Visitor just revealed its follow-up to the fantastic 1000xResist . It's called Prove You're Human and looks to wade in similar sci-fi waters as the team's first title. Just like 10000xResist , the new game is a narrative adventure set in the far future. Prove You're Human tasks players with convincing an AI product that its not alive, but there's a rub. The protagonist is a digital clone of a person, so they aren't human either. This will no-doubt lead to all manner of ethical conundrums. An AI dares to dream she is human, a tagline reads. You've been hired to put her in her place. The gameplay looks to involve scanning the environment, talking to corporate employees and keeping up with the digital clone's corporeal body. There's also an emphasis on making and solving CAPTCHAs, which makes sense when trying to prove humanity or a lack thereof. The graphics certainly look unique, as the dev team has weaved real-world footage of Vancouver and the surrounding areas into the virtual landscape. Vancouver is a well-known film town, Remy Siu, Founder of Sunset Visitor said in a press release. Were accessing that infrastructure, along with our long-time collaborators, to bring a sense of tactility to human forms in the game. We don't know when this is coming out, as the above trailer is just an announcement for the game. However, it's already available to wishlist on Steam. This is actually a pretty big deal. 1000xResist was a bona-fide sensation and was nominated for a Hugo Award . It also managed to win a Peabody Award , which honors excellence in storytelling. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/1000xresist-devs-reveal-their-wild-looking-second-game-about-convincing-an-ai-its-not-human-170018986.html?src=rss

Rhythm Heaven Groove comes to Switch on July 2

A large chunk of Nintendos 2026 plans remain a mystery (that is, unless you take the insiders and leakers at their word ), but we have been waiting on release dates for a couple of previously announced first-party titles, including Rhythm Heaven Groove , which officially arrives July 2. Seemingly announced first on the Nintendo Today! app before making its way to the companys various social channels, the first new entry in the Rhythm Heaven series in more than a decade is technically launching on the original Switch, but should also be fully playable on Switch 2. Currently the games Switch 2 compatibility status is listed as Untested on its official store page , but its hard to imagine there being any issues there. Did you catch all that? #RhythmHeavenGroove comes to #NintendoSwitch on July 2! pic.twitter.com/WrWiyC7Yqn Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 9, 2026 If youve never played a Rhythm Heaven game before, the series is a bit like a (slightly) less wacky WarioWare, but all the minigames are based around rhythm and beat-matching. The challenges are rarely especially complex in terms of what's required of you, leaving you free to enjoy the always excellent original pop and electronic music. Rhythm Heaven is one of Nintendos less prolific series, with the upcoming Groove being only the fifth entry in two decades. The series debuted on the Game Boy Advance in 2006 in Japan as Rhythm Tengoku , with Rhythm Heaven arriving on the DS two years later in the US. That was followed by Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii, and the most recent entry was 2015s Rhythm Heaven Megamix for the 3DS, which was something of a best-of collection. Rhythm Heaven Groove is notable not only for being the first Rhythm Heaven game of the Switch generation, but also likely one of the consoles last games, as Nintendo prepares to shift its full focus to the Switch 2. Before then were also getting the typically charming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (Switch 2-only) on May 21 and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream , which launches on both platforms next week, April 16. Rhythm Heaven Groove is available to pre-order now for $40. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/rhythm-heaven-groove-comes-to-switch-on-july-2-155715068.html?src=rss

Roku will stream Savannah Bananas games, along with the entire Banana Ball Championship League

The Banana Ball World Tour is coming to Roku. The platform has signed a deal to stream free content from the Banana Ball Championship League. This, of course, includes Savannah Bananas games. If that last paragraph didn't make a lick of sense to you, here's a primer. The Savannah Bananas are a wacky baseball team, playing something called Banana Ball. The team has been called the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, and that's a fairly apt name. Players dress in funny costumes, step into ridiculously tall stilts, perform dance routines and do all kinds of things that could frustrate traditional baseball fans but tend to delight those looking for a unique night out. To that end, Savannah Bananas games have become massive events. They've been traveling around the country the past few years doing exhibition matches, but the team's success led to the creation of the Banana Ball Championship League and the Banana Ball World Tour. There are now six teams involved and Roku will be streaming games from later this month until September. First up, the Savannah Bananas face the Party Animals on April 26 at Yankee Stadium, which streams live at 3PM ET on the Roku Sports Channel. The Party Animals are Savannah's main rivals, making them the Washington Generals of Banana Ball. Roku has published a calendar of streamed matches, but it doesn't include the actual championship game. This inaugural Banana Bowl is scheduled for October 10. Engadget has reached out to the platform to see what their plans are for the final game of the season. Many games are also available to stream on ESPN via Disney+ . The company also says it's working on some kind of interactive platform for Banana Ball fans. The matches have a lot of audience participation, so this could be some kind of riff on that. Roku promises to share more details at a later time. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/roku-will-stream-savannah-bananas-games-along-with-the-entire-banana-ball-championship-league-153329667.html?src=rss

Google introduces AI-generated avatars to YouTube Shorts

A new feature that lets you create an AI avatar with your likeness is now live on YouTube. First announced in a blog post earlier this year, avatars are designed to be used in Shorts (provided you still allow them to show up), allowing you to insert yourself into video content in a way that YouTube deems to be safe and secure. YouTubes approach to combatting the AI sloppification of the internet and the proliferation of deepfakes appears to be adding more and more AI features to its platform, framing this latest addition as a tool that gives creators more control of their digital identities. Any video generated using an avatar will feature YouTubes AI disclosure and include visible watermarks and labels like SynthID and C2PA. YouTube has published a pretty in-depth explainer on how to create and use an avatar in either the YouTube or YouTube Create app, but heres a brief summary of how to do it using the former. Once youve opened AI Playground, youll be taking a live selfie that also records your voice. You can then preview your photorealistic virtual self and either proceed with it or redo the process if youre unhappy with anything. Creating an avatar in the YouTube Create app is broadly similar, but you have to navigate to the My Avatar homepage first. YouTube recommends that you hold your phone at eye level and keep yourself centered as much as possible. Lighting is also important, as is ensuring your whole face is visible, youre in a quiet area, and theres nobody else in the background. You also have to be the account owner to create an avatar, and over the age of 18. Once you have an avatar you like, you simply type in a prompt and wait for the AI to generate a video, which according to 9to5Google can be up to eight seconds long. Alternatively, YouTube will also let you add an avatar to existing eligible Shorts by tapping Remix and then Reimagine with your avatar selected. Avatars can be deleted or retaken whenever you like, as can any video with your avatar in it. You can also limit whos able to remix your videos, but deleting a video with your avatar in it wont also delete the original video, or that avatar from your account. YouTube will automatically delete any avatar that hasnt been used to create new video content for three years. The new avatar feature will roll out gradually, and is the latest in a long line of AI-centric tools and updates YouTube has added to the platform in the last year, including automatic upscaling for low-res videos, automatic editing for creators and an AI-generated carousel for search results. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/google-introduces-ai-generated-avatars-to-youtube-shorts-140222368.html?src=rss

Spotify now lets you turn off all video

Sometimes, you just want your dang music streaming app to play music. Spotify, which has increasingly incorporated video features through the years, is finally giving us the option to turn that mess off. Behold: universal video toggles. Spotify's video settings control several areas. First, the old Canvas toggle ( videos on the Now Playing screen ) is still there. But now you'll find two additional switches alongside it. One lets you control whether the app plays music videos. The other, all other videos, covers video podcasts, vertically scrolling videos and artist clips. You'll find the controls under Settings > Content and display . Once you choose your preferences, they'll apply universally across all platforms. And if you're a family account manager, you can toggle video settings for all members on your plan. Spotify has increasingly leaned on video in recent years. The Canvas video loops arrived back in 2018. Then came video podcasts in 2020 , as the format was enjoying a pandemic-era boom . The platform added music videos in 2024 (though they didn't arrive in the US until late last year). Then there are artist clips , the 30-second vertical videos where creators can send intimate (promotional) messages to their fans. The company claims that over 70 percent of its users say more video content would enhance their experience. So, don't be surprised if more video features arrive in the future. Fortunately, Spotify recognized that certain (perhaps older?) users don't want or need a TikTok-ified music app. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-now-lets-you-turn-off-all-video-130000034.html?src=rss

JBL Live 780NC and 680NC review: Great leaps, greater missteps

JBL introduced two new headphones to its Live series lineup and both are fighting to live up to expectations. Dont get me wrong, the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC are both a solid set of cans, but in a sea of noise-cancelling headphones, one of them definitely has more appeal. The biggest differences between these two headphones are the over-ear and on-ear cups, and surprisingly, their audio quality. Lets get into what does and doesnt make them so special. Design and comfort Outside of varying colors and cup sizes, the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC look practically identical. They have these hockey puck-looking ear cups that are divided from the leatherette pads. The design looks like someones idea of headphones from 10 years ago. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but it feels a bit clunky. Despite that, the metal hinge and leatherette band are more pleasantly minimalist. The cups also fold up neatly in a heart shape so you can slot them easily in the included bag. Theres a dedicated volume rocker on the left ear cup while the right holds room for a USB Type-C port, the active noise cancelling (ANC) button and a combo power/Bluetooth switch (yes, its a switch, not a button). Meanwhile, you get all of the touch controls available on the right cup of each set of headphones. Both headphones felt a little uncomfortable to wear at first, but it usually takes time for me to get used to new cans. After spending several hours each with them, they eventually grew on me. Theyre both a bit snug, but neither one left me aching at the end of the day. I felt more relief when taking off the 680NC because of the added pressure of on-ear cups, but Im also not used to the on-ear design. Seamless customizable features The ANC button and USB-C port on the Live 680NC Rami Tabari for Engadget Despite the near $100 price gap, you get the same set of features for the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC, all wrapped up in the JBL Headphones app. Its easy to set up and you dont even need to make an account. The first thing you might want to do is hop over to the settings and add the disable ANC function to the rotation. Out of the box, you can either switch between ANC or Ambient mode on the headphones, which is super frustrating I shouldnt need an app to enable a basic action. Most headphones these days allow you to cycle between ANC, Ambient mode and off (neither). At the very least, the app offers a thorough suite of features. You can adjust the strength of the ANC and Ambient modes. Enabling Adaptive ANC allows automatic noise cancellation changes based on the surrounding noise level, while Personal Sound Amplification makes everything around you sound louder than normal. The latter was incredibly helpful in writing this very headphone review, ironically, as I had to keep an ear out for my child potentially committing a crime (kidding mostly). The JBL Live 780NC and 680NC are packed with the features Id expect from a pair of premium headphones. They offer 360-degree spatial sound, an adaptive EQ, Auracast, automatic pausing and simultaneous Bluetooth connections with automatic switching. You can also customize all of the controls, from the ANC Button to the Touch Panel, which includes two call shortcuts and four general shortcuts, one of which is already dedicated to native voice assistants like Bixby and Siri. You do need to put a little more pressure than you might expect in order for the touch controls to activate, though. This is a bit of a learning curve, so it wouldve been nice if it was more sensitive. Sound quality The Live 780NC (left) and Live 680NC (right) Rami Tabari for Engadget The JBL Live 780NC and 680NC both feature 40mm neodymium drivers, but they offer completely different soundstages. With the 680NC, I noticed the bass hit a lot harder during the DanDaDan soundtrack, but vocals and string instruments werent as crisp or bright as they were with the 780NC. I had a similar experience while schmoozing my way through everyday objects in Date Everything! , where vocals seemed more distant with the 680NC. However, when playing Helldivers 2 , 680NC captured the bassy intensity of an explosive-intergalactic space war. Continuing to run through tracks like JVKEs her and Radio by Bershy, I noticed a common theme amongst the headphones. The 680NCs soundstage was narrow and bassy, while the 780NC was wide and hollow. Both reproduced one half of a great couple, but unfortunately, theyre currently separated and seeking lives of their own. No, but seriously, the audio quality on both of them is still decent individually. I can distinguish each instrument from each other, so they arent getting muddied in the mix. But I dont think the 780NC is worth the extra $90 on sound quality alone, since youre trading one issue for another. ANC The ANC system is slightly different in the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC. The former features six microphones that detect and monitor ambient noise while the latter is outfitted with four microphones. What difference does that actually make, though? Well not much, at least not practically. If you stuck them in a lab and crunched the numbers, there might be, but in my testing using the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC as everyday headphones, theres virtually no difference outside of the passive noise isolation you get from over-ear design. My dog is quite the yapper, so I happened to test the ANC against her with both headphones, and they managed to block out most of her bark, but not all (she is quite loud). Unless youre actively listening to something, it wont kill all the sound around you when everything was quiet, I still heard my fan running in the background. As a passenger, the cars road noise and the other cars around me faded mostly into the background, but they were still present (when not actively listening to music). Ambient modes for both headphones kept me alert while walking outside, and while checking to make sure nothing chaotic was happening in my home. I could clearly hear the ruckus my child and dog were causing in the next room, and I got even more of it when I turned up the Sound Amplification. As I mentioned above, the most annoying thing about the ANC and Ambient mode systems is that you cannot disable both of them at the same time (out of the box); you need the app in order to make the off option available via the ANC button. Calls and voice quality The volume rocker on the JBL Live 780NC Rami Tabari for Engadget JBL wasnt lying about calls: Both the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC were great at cancelling out the noise from my surroundings, whether it was busy traffic or me blasting music on my desk. The microphone picked up little things here and there, but it blocked out most background distractions. The problem, however, is the overall microphone quality. Microphones on both sets were pretty rough. My voice sounded like it was underwater or in another room entirely. And while the microphones were able to cancel out the noise in the background, I noticed that it made me a little more muddied, like it was also cancelling out some of my voice as well. This is likely due to the signal processing to block background noise. My friend said, You sound like youre fighting an ocean. If youre looking for a great caller, these aint it. Battery life With a full battery, I didnt have to charge the JBL Live 780NC or 680NC for the week I tested them. Thats with a combination of ANC on and off, as well as using them to chat with friends. JBL rates both headphones with the same battery life: 80 hours with ANC off (33 hours of talk time) and 50 hours with ANC on (28 hours of talk time). Those numbers lined up with my testing considering how long they lasted. Charging the headphones from empty does take two hours, though. The competition If you want a solid pair of over-ear ANC headphones in this price range, Id recommend the Sony WH-CH720N . The ANC struggles a bit, but the headphones are much cheaper than the 780NC and offer great sound quality. Its the best option if you want to save some money. However, if youre looking for alternative on-ear ANC headphones, youll be hard pressed to find premium competitors to the JBL 680NC. On-ear headphones tend to land in the mid-range or budget class. The JBL 680NC arent the best pair of headphones out there, but theyre good for what they are in those categories. Wrap-up Both of the new Live models fold for easy storage Rami Tabari for Engadget To bass or not to bass? Thats one of the few questions youll need to ask yourself when choosing between the JBL Live 780NC and 680NC. Of course, on-ear and over-ear designs appeal to different consumers, but the fact is that the former sounds hollow and the latter is more bass-heavy. Both headphones are comfortable and offer great ANC and features. Overall, however, the JBL Live 780NC falls in the middle of the overcrowded market for noise-cancelling wireless headphones, while the 680NC stands just tall enough to make you want to take a closer look. On a sale, Id say you could grab either of these cans and be satisfied, but at their full price, Id be wary. If you twist my arm, I could make an argument for the 680NC because there arent enough on-ear noise-cancelling headphones available these days. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/jbl-live-780nc-and-680nc-review-great-leaps-greater-missteps-120000508.html?src=rss

OpenAI 'pauses' its Stargate UK data center plan

OpenAI is putting the brakes on Stargate UK, according to Bloomberg . Thats the companys AI infrastructure project with NVIDIA thats meant to help the UK build out its sovereign computing capabilities. The company announced Stargate UK back in September, but it launched a strategic partnership with the UK government months before that. Stargate UK would enable the government to run top AI models locally from data centers inside the region, particularly for specialist use cases where jurisdiction matters. But now OpenAI is pausing the project due to high cost of energy and regulatory issues. In a statement provided to the publication, the company said that it still sees a huge potential for the UKs AI future. It added that AI compute is foundational to that goal and that it continues to explore Stargate UK and will move forward when the right conditions such as regulation and the cost of energy enable long-term infrastructure investment. Upon announcing Stargate UK, OpenAI said that it would offer the same deal to other countries that want to expand their sovereign AI capabilities. Its unclear if those plans are affected, as well, but its worth noting that the initiative, OpenAI for Countries, is also working with Australia , Greece , the UAE, Slovakia, Kazakhstan and other regions. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-pauses-its-stargate-uk-data-center-plan-115626978.html?src=rss

Google bakes NotebookLM, its research tool, into Gemini

Google has fully integrated NotebookLM , its AI-powered research tool, into the Gemini app. The company launched a standalone NotebookLM app last year, but as it said in its announcement, keeping track of everything can be a challenge. It added NotebookLM as a source in the Gemini app last year, but now you can create notebooks right inside the chatbot. You can now find the option to create a new notebook in Geminis side panel and then select Add sources that the tool can use, such as PDFs, documents, website URLs, YouTube videos and even copy-pasted text. NotebookLM will use information from those sources to create a searchable repository of information for you, and you can ask Gemini to create things like reviewers, infographics and video and audio overviews that turn your uploaded information into an easy-to-understand format. Take note, however, that Google warns users within the NotebookLM interface that it can be inaccurate, and that its best if you double-check information it puts out. The company is rolling out NotebookLMs full integration into Gemini this week for Google AI Ultra, Pro and Plus subscribers on the web. It will be available on mobile, in more locations and to free users over the coming weeks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-bakes-notebooklm-its-research-tool-into-gemini-101850634.html?src=rss

Dyson just announced its first-ever handheld fan, with a motor that spins up to 65,000 RPM

Dyson just announced its first-ever handheld fan, the HushJet Mini Cool. As the name suggests, it uses the company's proprietary HushJet air projection system. This tech first showed up on an air purifier that we found to be exceptionally quiet . Dyson promises the fan can deliver focused airflow of up to 25m/s, which works out to 55mph. The brushless motor spins up to 65,000 RPM. This thing looks like a legitimate cooling system, despite its size. It also weighs just 7.5 ounces. It offers five speeds and a boost mode, which should be useful during that next heat wave. It charges via USB-C and ships with a charging stand. The fan can also stand on its own, making it a decent choice for a desk. The rechargeable battery can get up to six hours of use per charge. Dyson The HushJet Mini Cool costs $100, which is cheap for a Dyson product but expensive for a handheld fan. It's available in a trio of colorways. The gray model is available tomorrow. The red version goes on sale this May and the blue one will be available for purchase in June. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/dyson-just-announced-its-first-ever-handheld-fan-with-a-motor-that-spins-up-to-65000-rpm-000135028.html?src=rss

How to watch the Triple-i Initiative showcase on April 9

The latest Triple-i Initiative Showcase is nearly upon us, as the indie-focused event returns for its third consecutive year on Thursday, April 9 at 12PM ET / 9AM PT. Were being promised announcements for 40 games, including eight world premieres, so its well worth tuning in if you like your indies. Youll be able to watch the stream on The Triple-i Initiative YouTube channel, as well as Twitch , bilibili , niconico and on Steam . Co-streaming partners IGN and Gamespot will also host their own streams. The showcase will run for 45 minutes, and nine featured studios will also have post-show deep dives on their games if you want to know more. As previously, the mantra here is no hosts, no ads, just games, so rest assured your attention will be rewarded. Confirmed featured games so far include Risk of Rain 2 , the open-world survival game Windrose and Castlevania: Belmonts Curse . We also know that the studio behind the excellent sci-fi narrative adventure 1000xResist will be showing off what its been working on, and we can also expect news from Cairn developer The Game Bakers. It sounds like a typically eclectic lineup, then, and given last years showcase gave us release dates for 2025 indie hits like The Alters and Rematch , you can be confident that plenty of notable news should come out of this one too. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-the-triple-i-initiative-showcase-on-april-9-170353957.html?src=rss

Meta's Muse Spark model brings reasoning capabilities to the Meta AI app

Following the icy reception to Llama 4 , Meta is releasing the first in a new family of AI systems built by its recently formed Superintelligence team. The company is kicking off its new Muse era with Spark , a lightweight model geared toward consumer use. In the future, Meta plans to offer more capable versions of Muse, but for now, it's clear the company wants to nail the basics. To that point, many of Spark's capabilities are table stakes for a new model in 2026. For instance, it offers both Instant and Thinking modes. With the latter engaged, the model will take an extra few moments to reason through a prompt. Other consumer-facing AI systems have had this kind of flexibility for a while. Anthropic, for example, was one of the first AI labs to offer a hybrid reasoning model when it released Claude Sonnet 3.7 at the start of last year. That said, Meta plans to add an even more powerful Contemplating mode down the road. A GIF demonstrating Muse Spark's multi-agent capabilities. Meta Muse Spark can also coordinate multiple AI subagents to tackle a request. Meta suggests users will see this capability in action when they ask for help with tasks like family trip planning. In such a scenario, one agent might compile an itinerary, while another finds kid-friendly activities everyone can enjoy. At the same time, Meta has built Spark to be natively multimodal, meaning the model can process images, video and audio. Like Google Lens , this gives you the option to snap a photo with your phone and ask Meta AI questions about what you see. Of course, it wouldn't be a 2026 AI release if Muse Spark didn't include a built-in shopping assistant. Like ChatGPT , Spark can compare different items for you, listing the pros and cons of each, with links to make it easy to buy the product that appeals to you. Muse Spark is available today in the Meta AI app and meta.ai website everywhere where the company offers those services. Meta will begin rolling out the new features the model powers starting in the US. In the coming weeks, the company plans to bring Muse Spark to more countries and places where people can access Meta AI, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Additionally, Meta says it hopes to open source future versions of the model. We'll see if the company ends up doing that; last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared to flip flop on the company's open source stance , saying it would need to be more rigorous about such decisions moving forward. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/metas-muse-spark-model-brings-reasoning-capabilities-to-the-meta-ai-app-161456684.html?src=rss

Greece will ban all kids under 15 fromusing social media

Greece will ban children under the age 15 from using social media starting next year. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the announcement in a video posted to TikTok , in which he referenced anxiety, sleep problems and addictive design features as reasons for the ban. Greece has been proactive in its approach to tackling excessive screen time for children, having already banned mobile phones in schools in 2024. While the PM chose not to name any platforms, he said he was concerned about children comparing themselves to others on social media and taking online comments to heart. Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative, Mitsotakis said. I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well. As reported by The New York Times , Greeces digital governance minister, Dimitris Papastergiou, said that social media companies would be legally required to uphold the new restrictions by verifying the ages of their users. Failure to comply would lead to fines under the EUs Digital Services Act. Parents would also need to download an app called Kids Wallet, backed by the state, that could be paired to their childs device and block access. The finer details of how the ban would be enforced are still being worked out by decision-makers. The PM conceded that he would likely incur the wrath of his countrys young children, but theres widespread support for the plans from Greeces adult population, according to an opinion poll published by ALCO in February. Greece follows in the footsteps of Indonesia , Austria and Australia , all of which have introduced similar bans of their own in the last year. The UK is also considering bringing in tighter restrictions on children under the age of 16 using social media. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/greece-will-ban-all-kids-under-15-from-using-social-media-154850415.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light is delayed until later this summer

Nintendo Switch 2 owners will have to wait a bit longer to check out IO Interactive's stab at a James Bond game on the console. The Hitman developer has delayed that version of 007 First Light until later this summer. The game is still slated to hit PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 27, which itself is a delay from the previous March release date. We're excited to see players discovering James Bond's reimagined origin story, IOI wrote on X . [We] are looking forward to bringing you the best game experience possible across all platforms. Earlier this year, IOI suggested that PC players would need quite a beefy rig to meet the recommended specs for 007 First Light . A week later, the publisher updated the specs with more modest requirements and apologized after eagle-eyed observers spotted inconsistencies in the original version. IOI said the error was due to an internal miscommunication leading to an older version of the specs to be shared. Meanwhile, Sony has announced a limited-edition 007 First Light DualSense controller. Developers and publishers have had difficulty in porting certain games to the Switch 2, as Kotaku notes. Gearbox Entertainment delayed and ultimately shelved a version of Borderlands 4 for the system. The long-awaited Switch 2 port of Elden Ring was delayed until sometime this year after the game had severe performance issues in a public demo at Gamescom 2025. Reports suggest the game is in better shape on Switch 2 now, but there's no firm release date for that version as yet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-version-of-007-first-light-is-delayed-until-later-this-summer-151524487.html?src=rss

No Mans Sky now has Pokmon-style creature battles

The free No Mans Sky updates are still flowing. With the latest one, dubbed Xeno Arena , Hello Games has added a completely original feature. Players have long been able to adopt wild animals as companions . But now these can be deployed in simulated, turn-based battles against rival teams. As you win more battles, youll increase your reputation and perhaps be invited to take on more difficult opponents. Among other things, the creatures can launch powerful attacks, use healing abilities, dodge incoming salvos, power up their own abilities and turn enemies into more vulnerable forms. They can earn experience that allows them to grow stronger and genetically mutate into new forms. An evolution, if you will. You can also modify the progeny of your squad, with their personalities and physical characteristics affecting how they fare in battle. There are eight affinities (some might call them types) that the creatures belong to, including ones concerning fire, ice and radiation. A fire-based beast might fare well against an ice-based one, but struggle to be effective against radiation. So youll need to choose your creatures for each battle strategically. Gotta catch em all first, though! This all seems really neat and such a novel concept. It would be quite a shocker if there were a brand-new game out today that also features turn-based creature battles. The No Mans Sky battles take place on Holo-Arena tables that are found in a range of structures throughout the universe. The creatures look quite small on these tables, almost pocket-sized. Wait a second, pocket monsters? Now, theres an idea This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/no-mans-sky-now-has-pokemon-style-creature-battles-142020310.html?src=rss

GoPro to lay off over 20 percent of staff by the end of 2026

GoPro will cut 23 percent of its global workforce by the end of this year, as the action camera pioneer looks to reverse its fortunes in a competitive market. 145 employees will be laid off, with the restructuring process commencing in the second quarter of 2026, the San Mateo company said in a Form 8-K filing. At the end of the first quarter, GoPros total number of employees stood at 631, and it expects the cuts to cost it between $11.5 million and $15 million. These charges include honoring severance packages and healthcare benefits. GoPros last reported round of layoffs took place in the second half of 2024. The company posted a year-end revenue decline in its 2025 financial results , including a loss of $9 million in its fourth quarter. Despite the layoffs, GoPro is seemingly optimistic about 2026, banking on its AI-centric GP3 processor to spearhead a ew era of performance and innovation for the company. The first GP3-powered GoPro cameras will launch in the coming months. GoPro launched its first action camera in the early 2000s and enjoyed huge success with extreme sports enthusiasts. But it no longer has the market to itself, facing stiff competition from the likes of DJI, Insta360 and smartphone cameras in general. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/gopro-to-lay-off-over-20-percent-of-staff-by-the-end-of-2026-131918779.html?src=rss

Forza Horizon 6 gives would-be racers another gorgeous open world to explore

I've played a couple of hours of Forza Horizon 6 , and so far I've enjoyed it in much the same way as its predecessor: by exploring and taking in the sumptuous world Playground Games has crafted. The preview build I played on my Xbox Series X was limited in terms of available activities it was basically the game's prologue but I was able to explore almost all of the open world. The on-rails intro takes you through some of the Japanese countryside and past landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Shibuya Crossing on the way to a race through the streets of the country's largest city. Once that was out of the way and a springtime version of the map opened up, I set a marker for the mountains in the north. I wanted to check out an area I'd seen in a screenshot, a pass where you can drive through snowdrifts that are dozens of feet tall. Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios My goal was simple: to bury my car into these snowdrifts, just to find out if it was possible. Sadly, the piles of snow were steadfast barriers. What a shame. The journey to the mountains took me through rainstorms and falling cherry blossom leaves, small towns and forests. The environments, vehicles and weather effects all look pretty and polished, as you'd expect from this series at this point. (For what it's worth, I normally opt for performance mode in modern console games, prioritizing higher framerates over visual fidelity. This Forza Horizon 6 preview was locked to the 30fps quality mode.) In the prologue, there are activities to complete ahead of the Horizon Qualifier, a wristband event that gates story progress, and I checked a few of those out on my way up north. Trying to go as fast as you can through speed traps, drag meets, time trials and drift zones are enjoyable enough, but it's the races that are the bread and butter of this series. I entered a challenging cross-country race in a GMC Jimmy with a tall suspension. Not my smartest move. Still, I managed to pull out the victory after drifting my way across rice fields and beaches. I would have had an easier time if I'd chosen my car more carefully there'll be hundreds available in the full game. Playground Games has built on the very welcome slate of accessibility features from Forza Horizon 5 as well. Having options like autosteering should help ensure a broader range of folks can play the latest game. Other than only having access to a limited number of activities, the only aspects of the open world that were blocked off were The Estate (i.e. your home base) and Legend Island, which sounds like an endgame region. I didn't tinker with my vehicles in the garage either. I did, however, stumble across an aftermarket sale, where I was able to buy a tuned-up car at a discount. That's one of several neat additions in Forza Horizon 6 . Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios Though I'm not much of a car guy, I dug my time with the last two Forza Horizon games. I'm looking forward to playing through this one. More than anything, though, Forza Horizon 6 is nudging me toward taking the step of actually booking my second trip to Japan, which I've been thinking about taking later this year. As pretty as the game is shaping up to be, it can't beat the real deal. If I do take that trip this summer, I wont get to see the aforementioned giant snowbanks in person. That area of the map is based on a real place, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route , where the snow walls can reach 65 feet in height. I wouldn't want to travel between snowbanks like that in real life anyway, so driving through the pass in the game was a worry-free way to have that experience. Thanks for that, Playground. Forza Horizon 6 is coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Steam and Xbox Cloud on May 19. It'll be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The game is set to hit PS5 at a later date. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/forza-horizon-6-gives-would-be-racers-another-gorgeous-open-world-to-explore-130000365.html?src=rss

Amazon is cutting off support for older Kindles

If youre using an older Kindle, you may want to check what year it was released. Amazon has sent out emails to some of its users, with a warning that its discontinuing support for Kindle ereaders and Fire tables released in 2012 or earlier. You can still read books youve already downloaded on those devices, but youll no longer be able to purchase, borrow or download new ones, starting on May 20, 2026. In addition, if the device has an issue that can only be solved by a factory reset, doing so will brick it. Deregestering it will also render it unusable. On Kindle Fire devices, users wont be able to purchase or download content anymore, but other services would remain functional. The affected models include the very first Kindle , Kindle 2, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5 and the first version of Kindle Paperwhite . Weve asked Amazon why it decided to cut off support for those models, and the company told us: These models have been supported for at least 14 years some as long as 18 years but technology has come a long way in that time Amazon also told Engadget that this only affects approximately 3 percent of its current users, whom its now urging to upgrade. In its email, it gives them a promo code for 20 percent off select Kindle devices, as well as ebook credits if they purchase a new model by June 20. Our newer Kindle devices bring meaningful improvements in screen quality, performance and accessibility and you'll have access to your complete Kindle library and the Kindle Store, the company wrote. Update 04/08/26 8:23AM ET: Added information we received from Amazon. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/amazon-is-cutting-off-support-for-older-kindles-115653205.html?src=rss

Uber begins testing its Volkswagen ID. Buzz robotaxi fleet in LA

If you live in Los Angeles, you may soon be able to hail a Volkswagen ID. Buzz robotaxi from the Uber app. The companies' previously announced multi-year strategic partnership is nearing a public launch, with on-road testing with a safety driver underway. The vehicles use tech from MOIA America, the US wing of Volkswagen's self-driving subsidiary. Uber and MOIA plan to deploy thousands of ID. Buzz vehicles across the US over the next decade. LA is the pilot city, and if all goes well, it will spread to multiple US markets. The companies say they're still on track for driverless rides in LA in late 2026. Uber / MOIA The ID. Buzz is Volkswagen's modern take on the automaker's classic hippie van microbus . The head-turning EV has minivan-style sliding doors and seats up to seven people, making it a logical fit for larger groups hailing an Uber. The vehicle has a per-charge range of up to 234 miles. After selling its in-house self-driving unit in 2020, Uber pivoted to a new strategy of partnering with multiple AV companies. It currently offers autonomous rides in the US with Waymo (Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta) and Avride (Dallas). Overseas, it has live service with WeRide in Abu Dhabi , Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Uber has a long list of other partners lined up for future services, including (among others) Rivian , NVIDIA and Zoox, the latter of which also plans to debut van rides in LA within the next year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/uber-begins-testing-its-volkswagen-id-buzz-robotaxi-fleet-in-la-120000762.html?src=rss

WhatsApp adds a better, native interface for CarPlay

Meta has released a new version of WhatsApp for CarPlay that has much better integration that its previous version.As MacRumors and 9to5Mac report, the new app gives users access to a native interface. The old WhatsApp for CarPlay is mostly limited to Siri-operated features. Users can, for instance, ask Siri to compose messages or place calls for them. The new interface has a contact info section, where they can see the profiles of people saved in their account, as well as a favorite contacts section that makes it easy to find users they usually message or call. Users can also find a list of their recent chats and call history within the app. Plus, theyll see new shortcut buttons for sending messages via dictation or for placing a call, in case they dont want or cant give verbal Siri commands. Meta has been beta testing the new app since at least last week. Now that its available, users can have access to all the features weve listed by updating their iOS app and connecting to their infotainment systems. OpenAI also recently rolled out ChatGPT's Voice mode to CarPlay, allowing drivers to hold a conversation with the chatbot while on the road. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-adds-a-better-native-interface-for-carplay-112127361.html?src=rss

Sony teases its next-gen 'True RGB' Mini LED TV technology

This year at CES 2026 everybody was pretty confused about the new Micro RGB and RGB Mini LED TVs that use similar technology but carry different names. Now, Sony has come up with another label for its own Mini LED TVs with RGB backlighting: True RGB . The idea is to emphasize that the individual red, green and blue LED backlights allow for purer color, greater brightness, and the largest color volume ever achieved in Sonys home TV history, the company said. To be clear, this is not some new technology that Sony just came up with it's the same Micro RGB tech we saw earlier this year from Samsung, LG, HiSense and others. These TVs use pure red, green and blue LED backlights along with an LCD layer (rather than solid blue LEDs and quantum dots like Mini LED TVs) to produce the final picture. This display tech is supposed to deliver better color accuracy and more brightness than regular Mini LED TVs. (It's not the same as OLED tech, in which each pixel acts as a light source.) Sony's True RGB backlight tech (right) compared to current Mini LED TVs Sony However, Sony says that the way it processes the image makes its True RGB TVs stand out from rivals. To control the LEDs more precisely, it borrowed algorithms from its wildly expensive professional reference monitors. That supposedly allows for more precise color control and higher brightness that allow movies and series to look more like the creators intended. It also reduces the looming that occurs when light leaks into neighboring pixels, while improving color accuracy when viewing the TVs from an angle. Every TV maker claims to have the best technology, but Sony has a lot of credibility due to its history with cinema cameras, Hollywood productions and reference monitors. We'll have to wait until spring this year to see the new Bravia True RGB TVs for ourselves, but prior to that, the company has promised to release additional details about them in the near future. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/sony-teases-its-next-gen-true-rgb-mini-led-tv-technology-064732375.html?src=rss

Babbel Promo Code: Up to 65% Off in April 2026

Master a new language with expert-led courses. Use our verified Babbel coupon codes to save up to 65% on student plans and 60% on 6-month subscriptions.