The post <i>Battlefield 6</i> Fixes Cosmetics A Month After AI Slop Allegations appeared first on Kotaku.
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Saturday, 31 January 2026
Friday, 30 January 2026
Rumored New PS Portal’s Release Date Window Leaked
A well-known and reliable insider has corroborated recent rumors of a new PS Portal model and has leaked its release date window. Reports of a revised handheld began circulating several weeks ago, and now leaker KeplerL2 has added some weight to those rumors, claiming that the revised model will be out as soon as this year.
Rumors of a new PS Portal model crop up as the handheld becomes a surprising success story
According to Kepler L2, the revised PS Portal will feature an OLED screen. They didn’t provide any further information, but did say that its release window is 2026.
“[PS Portal] seems to be a success, they’re even doing another version this year,” Kepler L2 wrote.
An OLED screen is unlikely to be the only revision, so we’ll find out in due course what else we can expect. Over on the PS Portal subreddit, users are hoping for higher bit rate support, WiFi 7, better speakers, and even a touchpad on the back.
PS Portal users are also hoping for a big firmware update and an expansion of the cloud streaming library. The remote player was the only device that didn’t receive a system software update to kick off 2026, with the PS5 and PS4 receiving one each.
Do our readers use a PS Portal? Let us know what you’d like to see in a revised model.
The post Rumored New PS Portal’s Release Date Window Leaked appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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WD 8TB External Hard Drive Drops Back to $0.02 per GB, Now Cheaper Than 6TB Storage Capacity
The post WD 8TB External Hard Drive Drops Back to $0.02 per GB, Now Cheaper Than 6TB Storage Capacity appeared first on Kotaku.
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Thursday, 29 January 2026
PS Plus Game Still Free a Year After Being Removed From Catalog
PS5 and PS4 players have discovered that they still have access to a PS Plus Extra game a year after it was removed from the catalog. Life Is Strange 2 left PS Plus in March 2025 alongside Life Is Strange: True Colors, but a large number of players have retained a free copy of the former.
PS Store bug lets players access Life Is Strange 2 full game despite PS Plus removal
Over on Reddit, a player pointed out that they can access all episodes of Life Is Strange 2 despite never purchasing a copy. In response to the thread, several others checked their libraries and reported that they, too, could play the full game and never made a purchase.
If I recall correctly, a year ago, a PS Store glitch allowed players to download LIS 2 episodes for free. I assumed that Sony fixed the bug, but apparently, that’s not the case. If this is the same glitch, then even those who don’t have a PS Plus membership may still have the full game in their library.
Whatever the case, if you thought you lost access to LIS2 and never got around to finishing it, make sure to check your library before making a purchase.
The post PS Plus Game Still Free a Year After Being Removed From Catalog appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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DJI launches the lightweight RS 5 camera gimbal for video creators
DJI just revealed the RS 5 camera gimbal, a new entry in its long-standing Ronan Series. The RS 5 is lightweight, at around three pounds, with a maximum payload of nearly seven pounds.
This gimbal offers what DJI calls "enhanced intelligent subject tracking." The tracking was already impressive with some of the company's older offerings, so any improvement will be icing on the cake. A new tracking module lets videographers frame live footage and follow subjects directly from an included touchscreen, all without having to fiddle with the actual camera.
DJI
The tracking module also offers the ability to follow more than people. It can track pets, vehicles or just about any other object. It can also help maintain a locked focus on a human subject up to 10 meters away.
The RS 5 includes the company's latest stabilization algorithm, which DJI says lets videographers "effortlessly achieve complicated camera movements, such as surround shots, reverse tracking or single-person fixed-camera tracking." It's also great for when the cameraperson is capturing footage while walking or running.
It's been designed to carry a wide range of mainstream mirrorless cameras and lens combinations and can switch to vertical shooting without additional accessories. There's a nifty little briefcase handle for capturing footage from above or below.
The RS 5 delivers up to 14 hours of use per charge and can be fully charged in just an hour. Video shoots can take forever, so this is a welcome bit of news. For true marathons, there's a separate enhanced battery grip accessory that extends the runtime to 30 hours.
DJI
The standard DJI RS 5 includes the gimbal, a quick-open tripod, quick-release plates, a regular battery grip and some other useful accessories. That pack costs around $680. The combo pack includes all of the above, plus the enhanced tracking module, a carrying case and an electronic briefcase handle. That costs around $859.
Now for the bad news. We don't have a US release date or even any information as to if it will be available here. Engadget has reached out to DJI for more information. The company's drones were recently banned from being imported to the US. This only impacts newly-released models and shouldn't impact gimbals or anything like that.
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Free PS5 Upgrade All But Confirmed for Hit 2018 PS4 RPG
An incoming PS5 upgrade (possibly free) for one of the best PS4 RPGs has been leaked by none other than Sony. We first heard about Kingdom Come: Deliverance‘s unannounced PS5 port last July, but now, PS Store listings for the game mention the PS5 version, indicating an imminent release.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance PS5 upgrade leaked by Sony, but will it be free?
“The PS5 version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance now features graphical upgrades, including 4K resolution, an improved frame rate, high resolution textures, and much more,” reads a now-removed PS Store blurb that we can confirm seeing ourselves. “Medieval Bohemia has never looked so beautiful.”
This blurb was added to multiple regions’ PS Store pages for the original game and was removed when screenshots started making rounds online. Too late!
As for whether the upgrade will be free or not, the typical dev practice is to offer PS5 ports to PS4 owners at no additional cost. However, some publishers aren’t so generous and demand a small upgrade fee to cover the costs of porting their games.
We’ll find out in due course what Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver have planned. What we’re almost certain of is a Kingdom Come 1 and 2 bundle for new players.
The post Free PS5 Upgrade All But Confirmed for Hit 2018 PS4 RPG appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Anker Steam Deck Docking Station Was Already a Value Pick, Now It’s at Its Lowest Price Ever After Another Discount
The post Anker Steam Deck Docking Station Was Already a Value Pick, Now It’s at Its Lowest Price Ever After Another Discount appeared first on Kotaku.
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PS5 System Update for January 2026 Adds New Features
Sony is rolling out PS5 system software update 26.01-12.60.00 as we speak, and this time, we’re getting more than just stability. The new firmware brings new social features, one of which was first rolled out for the PS App last year.
PS5 system software update 26.01-12.60.00 patch notes (January 28, 2026)
Complete patch notes for today’s update are as follows:
- You can now jump directly from the Friends Activity widget in your Welcome Hub to the games your friends are playing.
- You can now turn on read receipts to show other players when you’ve read their messages.
- To turn on your read receipts, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy > View and Customize Your Privacy Settings. Under Communication and multiplayer, set Show read receipts to other players on PS5 and PlayStation App to Allow.
- This feature will be rolled out gradually, and some users will be able to use it when the system software update is released.
- We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.
- We’ve improved system software performance and stability.
Sony has also rolled out a PS4 system software update today, which we’ll cover separately, so keep an eye out on our home page for more information on that if you’re a last-gen player.
The post PS5 System Update for January 2026 Adds New Features appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Tuesday, 27 January 2026
PS Plus Essential February 2026 Free Game Leak Is Disappointing
A reliable insider has leaked PS Plus Essential February 2026 monthly free game, and it’s not what we were hoping for. Reportedly headlining next month is a boxing game that earned a mixed reception from both players and critics.
PS Plus Essential February 2026 monthly free game is a mediocre 2024 title
Developed by Steel City Interactive and published by Deep Silver, Undisputed is a PS5-only title. This means that Sony has officially started implementing its new policy of focusing on current-gen games. However, this focus on PS5 games won’t matter much to subscribers if the monthly headliners continue to disappoint.
? EXCLUSIVE ?
— billbil-kun (@billbil_kun) January 25, 2026
Here is the main title for February's PS Plus Monthly Games
? Available for all PS Plus tiers (Essential, Extra & Premium/Deluxe)
Feb 3rd – Mar 3rd, 2026 10AM UTC +1https://t.co/SaAQvTIMPV
Undisputed holds a PS Store rating of 2.57/5 stars based on 17,000 verified votes. On OpenCritic, the game is only recommended by 37% of reviewers. Meanwhile, Undisputed’s PS5 version holds a Metacritic average of 72/100.
“Become Undisputed and rule the ring in the most authentic boxing game to date,” reads a PS Store description. “Featuring true-to-life visuals, bone-jarring action, and more licensed boxers than ever before, Undisputed gives you unprecedented control to master every inch of the ring.”
Undisputed will become available to all PS Plus subscribers starting Tuesday, February 3. Premium members can access a game trial right now.
The full February free games lineup is expected to be announced on Wednesday, January 28.
The post PS Plus Essential February 2026 Free Game Leak Is Disappointing appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Oopsie, Walmart’s Maybe Leaked Two Big-Name GameCube Games Coming To Switch Online
The post Oopsie, Walmart’s Maybe Leaked Two Big-Name GameCube Games Coming To Switch Online appeared first on Kotaku.
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Monday, 26 January 2026
Amazon’s Choice Windows 11 Pro Mini PC at Nearly 40% Off Is Surging as a Mac Mini Alternative
The post Amazon’s Choice Windows 11 Pro Mini PC at Nearly 40% Off Is Surging as a Mac Mini Alternative appeared first on Kotaku.
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LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Is Back at a Record Low in Another Clearance Move on Amazon, Not the Official Store
The post LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Is Back at a Record Low in Another Clearance Move on Amazon, Not the Official Store appeared first on Kotaku.
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Sunday, 25 January 2026
Apple accuses Europe of 'delay tactics' following alternative app store collapse
Following the shutdown of an alternative app store, Apple has accused the European Commission (EC) of using “political delay tactics” as an excuse to probe and fine the company, Bloomberg reported. Apple issued the statement preemptively as commission is reportedly preparing to blame Apple for the shutdown of third-party app store Setapp due to what the developer called “still-evolving and complex business terms.”
As part of an EU ruling, Apple was forced to allow third-party marketplaces for apps once the Digital Markets Act (DMA) took effect in 2024. Apple agreed to allow such stores, but implemented fees of €0.50 per installation if the number of downloads exceeded one million, among other rules.
In April 2025, the EC found Apple to be in “non-compliance” with the DMA over rules on “steering” users to alternative payments and levied a $500 million fine. In June last year, Apple said it would change its pricing for third-party App Stores to a five percent revenue share called the Core Technology Commission (CTC).
However, Apple said that the EC has so far refused to allow those changes. In the meantime, a developer called MacPaw shut down its fledgling Setapp store, saying Apple’s terms “don’t fit Setapp’s current business model” due to the complexity. As a result, the EC will reportedly rule that Apple hasn’t addressed the key issues it raised regarding business terms, including their complexity.
“The European Commission has refused to let us implement the very changes that they requested,” Apple said in a statement to Bloomberg. “In October, we submitted a formal compliance plan and they have yet to respond. The EC is using political delay tactics to mislead the public, move the goal posts, and unfairly target an American company with burdensome investigations and onerous fines.”
In reply, an EC spokesperson told Engadget that it’s in “constant” contact with Apple with the aim of finding a DMA-compliant solution. “The Commission’s main objective is that gatekeepers operate in full compliance with the DMA. The Commission is available to discuss and work with gatekeepers to achieve full compliance. In this context, the Commission has been in a constant dialogue with Apple to solve all pending issues, while also listening to developers from all over the world. We remain committed to this exchange to find a DMA compliant solution.”
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Saturday, 24 January 2026
Samsung Crashes the Galaxy Watch 7 to a Record Low to Clear Out Old Smartwatch Stock
The post Samsung Crashes the Galaxy Watch 7 to a Record Low to Clear Out Old Smartwatch Stock appeared first on Kotaku.
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Friday, 23 January 2026
The Morning After: Apple might be making its own AirTag-sized AI wearable
It’s been a while since rumors and reports suggested Apple is exploring a new divisive product category, and it’s been several years since the Apple car. Unfortunately, the new challenger is a wearable AI pin with cameras, mics and… zero interest from me.
According to a report from The Information, it’ll resemble a slightly thicker AirTag with an aluminum and glass exterior. The report suggests it’ll have two cameras (standard and wide-angle) for photos and video. It may also have three microphones and a (swoon) physical button. I love a physical button.
Apple
How is Apple going to pitch it? What is the non-creepy, not-nefarious selling point of a tiny listening device with cameras? As Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar puts it: Why attempt an unproven wearable? Especially when its own Watch and AirPods could already deliver a lot of what’s being rumored here.
The Information says Apple could release its AI pin as early as 2027, but it’s reportedly only in the very early stages and could still be canceled. Even if the Vision Pro and Watch eventually happened, the Apple Car and the Apple TV never did.
— Mat Smith
TikTok finalizes deal for its US entity
A group of non-Chinese investors will own 80 percent of it.
TikTok owner ByteDance has finalized a deal for its US entity. The majority of its stake is held by a group of non-Chinese investors. The deal was closed just before the Trump administration’s latest deadline to ban the app in the US unless it was divested from ByteDance. TikTok’s new investors will own 80 percent, with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, an Emirati-state owned investment firm, taking 15 percent each.
According to TikTok’s announcement, the joint venture will protect American users’ data with Oracle’s secure US cloud environment. It will also retrain TikTok’s algorithm using US users’ data and will be responsible for content moderation in the US. The new US TikTok also promises interoperability, ensuring users still get international content and, if they’re creators, viewers.
Bungie’s Marathon arrives on March 5
Another extraction shooter to distract.
Bungie
Bungie’s long-awaited Marathon will arrive on March 5. The 3v3 extraction shooter has a lot riding on it — but it looks pretty damn cool. You might remember Sony, Bungie’s parent company, previously committed to a September 2025 release. However, it delayed the game indefinitely last June after a mixed reception to its alpha and partially plagiarized visual assets.
It’s a very important game for both Bungie and Sony. The latter said Destiny 2 had not lived up to its expectations. It wants another hit like Helldivers 2, not another Concord.
How to find an affordable GPU during the great RAMageddon
It sucks out there.
If you’re thinking about getting a new graphics card this year, your window for doing so at a typical retail price has closed. What do you do if you want to upgrade to a new graphics card this year? If you’re sitting on an older GPU, the best advice we can give is to stick with your current hardware. On the other hand, if your current GPU is not up to running the games you want to play, consider buying a card with at least 12GB of VRAM. Then, well, read on for more tips and our top recommendations.
The biggest stories you might have missed
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AMD Ryzen 7 Just Dropped Again Overnight to 43% Off After the Ryzen 9 Clearance Deal on Amazon
The post AMD Ryzen 7 Just Dropped Again Overnight to 43% Off After the Ryzen 9 Clearance Deal on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.
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Xbox Wireless Gaming Controller (2025) Gets Restocked at Its Lowest Price of the Year, Headed for Another Clearance
The post Xbox Wireless Gaming Controller (2025) Gets Restocked at Its Lowest Price of the Year, Headed for Another Clearance appeared first on Kotaku.
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Thursday, 22 January 2026
Snapchat gives parents more info on who their kids are talking to
Snapchat is updating its parental control features to give parents more detailed information about who their kids are connecting with in the app and which features they use the most. The app's Family Center already gives parents visibility into their child's friend list, but it will now surface contextual details when a new friend is added.
For example, the feature could highlight that the two share mutual friends or have each other's contact info saved in their phones. It could also indicate that they are classmates if both users have joined the same in-app “community.” If the two have no commonalities, then that could be a sign for a parent to "start a productive conversation," Snap says.
The company has long been criticized for making it too easy for teenagers to talk to strangers. The issue has come up in safety-related lawsuits, including an ongoing case brought by New Mexico's Attorney General. Snap says that adding additional "trust signals" to its parental control features "make it easier for parents to understand new connections and have greater confidence that their teen is chatting with someone they know in real life."
The update is also adding more granular stats about how exactly teens are spending their time in the app. Family Center's screen time dashboard now includes a breakdown of how much of their time spent in the app is in its messaging, camera, map or shortform video features. It will still be up to parents to decide what, if any, limits they want to put on their teens. But at a time when there's increasing conversation around banning teens from social media entirely, having access to more stats could better help parents understand their kids' relationship with Snapchat.
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List of Games Leaving PS Plus in February 2026 Quietly Updated
Sony has quietly updated the list of games leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium in February 2026, but not for the reason you think. A day ago, we reported that numerous games have randomly disappeared from the catalog — an issue that became noticeable when it emerged that two of the games in February’s departure list have been missing for a while. Now, Sony has addressed the problem.
Sony updates list of games leaving PS Plus in February after fans noticed missing titles
After players noticed that both Carto and Spirit of the North were already removed from the catalog without a warning (the latter of which was yanked without notice last year), some contacted PlayStation Support for an answer. Instead of fixing the problem, Sony decided to scrub the titles from its Last Chance to Play section.
As we’ve said before, the removal of these games wasn’t intentional, as they remain available to players who previously downloaded them. It’s just new players who are prompted to buy.
Sometimes, Sony will update a catalog game’s SKU on the PS Store, resulting in its temporary removal from PS Plus. At times, the company will eventually bring the title back into the catalog. Other times, Sony doesn’t bother, like in the case of Spirit of the North.
Considering these titles have now been removed from “Last Chance to Play,” my guess is that Sony has no intention of bringing them back into the catalog. Those who still have access to them will probably end up losing that access after February 2026, which is when Sony originally planned to remove them from the service.
The post List of Games Leaving PS Plus in February 2026 Quietly Updated appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming Controller Drops to an All-Time Low While PlayStation DualSense Stays Full Price
The post Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Gaming Controller Drops to an All-Time Low While PlayStation DualSense Stays Full Price appeared first on Kotaku.
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JBL Boombox 4 Drops Below Black Friday Prices as the Latest Portable Speaker Hits a New Low
The post JBL Boombox 4 Drops Below Black Friday Prices as the Latest Portable Speaker Hits a New Low appeared first on Kotaku.
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Highly Anticipated PS5 Action Game Gets Surprise Free Demo
Sega has surprised fans with a free demo for its highly anticipated upcoming PS5 action adventure game, and it’s out tonight. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will replace the existing version of Yakuza 3 on the PS Store, and Sega wants fans to get a taste of what it has to offer.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties free PS5 game demo detailed
The demo will be available to all PS5 players at 9 p.m. PT / 12 a.m. ET (January 22). Players will be able to try both Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the brand-new Dark Ties adventure. A PS Plus subscription is not required.
“In Yakuza Kiwami 3, players can explore Ryukyu, Okinawa as Kazuma Kiryu, beating down bad guys while dynamically switching between Kiryu’s brutal Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami and weapon-based Ryukyu styles and indulging in immersive side experiences like karaoke, sub-stories, outfit customization, and more,” Sega said (thanks, Gematsu). “In Dark Ties, players can enjoy a slice of the all-new story featuring Yoshitaka Mine, exploring Kamurocho and variety of side experiences while also sinking their teeth into Mine’s shoot-boxing combat to stylishly dispose of foes.”
Unfortunately, players can’t carry their save data over to the full game.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will launch on February 12 for the PS5 and PS4. A demo for the latter was not announced.
The post Highly Anticipated PS5 Action Game Gets Surprise Free Demo appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Tuesday, 20 January 2026
The Morning After: Elon Musk wants a $134 billion payout from OpenAI and Microsoft
Part of a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its non-profit status claims Musk is owed anywhere from $79 billion to $134 billion in damages for the “wrongful gains” of OpenAI and Microsoft.
Musk claims in the filing that he’s entitled to a chunk of the company’s recent $500 billion valuation, after contributing $38 million in “seed funding” during the AI company’s early years. It wasn’t just money — according to the filing, Musk helped advise on key employee recruitment, introductions with business contacts and startup advice.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because the lawsuit dates back to March 2024. It’s still going.
— Mat Smith
The other big stories (and deals) this morning
-
ASUS changes mind, will continue selling the RTX 5070 Ti after all
-
Musk claims Tesla will restart work on its Dojo supercomputer
-
Microsoft issues emergency fix after update stops some Windows 11 devices from shutting down
Anthropic opens up Claude Cowork to anyone with a $20 subscription
Anthropic’s AI assistant can handle simple tasks on your PC for you.
Engadget
Claude Cowork, Anthropic’s AI assistant for handling simple tasks on your computer, is now available to anyone with a $20-per-month Pro subscription. It was previously an exclusive feature for its Max subscribers, who pay a minimum of $100 per month.
As a reminder, the intriguing part of Claude Cowork is its ability to work on its own. If you have the macOS Claude app and a Pro subscription, you can prompt Claude Cowork to work on tasks on your local computer, like creating documents based on files you have saved or organizing your folders. Don’t expect it to deal with high-level PC work just yet, but it can handle simple organizational tasks.
Dr. Gladys West, whose mathematical models inspired GPS, dies at 95
Her decades-long career finally received wider recognition in 2018.
Pioneering mathematician Dr. Gladys West has passed away at the age of 95. Her name may not be familiar to you, but her contributions will be. West’s work laid the foundation for the global positioning system, GPS, we all use (sometimes daily). Beyond DoorDash requests and Google Maps navigation, GPS is now an essential component of industries ranging from aviation to emergency response systems.
ASUS will not release any new smartphones this year
Will the company be joining the likes of LG?
Engadget
ASUS might step back from smartphones. According to translations of recent quotes from Chair Jonney Shih, the company does not plan to release new phone models in the future. Previous reports suggested ASUS would not introduce any smartphones in 2026, but Shih’s recent comments indicate the pause may last longer, if not indefinitely. We’ve reached out to ASUS for additional comment. It's not like the company changes its mind...
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Sony is handing control of its Bravia TV business to China's TCL
Sony is ceding control of its Bravia TV brand to China's TCL as part of a new "strategic partnership," the companies announced in a joint press release. The Japanese electronics giant plans to sell a majority 51 percent stake in its home entertainment arm to TCL, while retaining a 49 percent share. The joint venture is set to start operations in April 2027, pending regulatory and other approvals.
The new combined business will sell TVs carrying Sony and Bravia branding while using TCL's display technology. The partnership will also leverage Sony's picture and audio expertise, supply chain management and other areas of expertise. For its part, TCL will contribute its vertical supply chain strength, global market presence and end-to-end cost efficiency.
"By combining both companies' expertise, we aim to create new customer value in the home entertainment field," Sony CEO Kimio Maki said in a statement. "We expect to elevate our brand value, achieve greater scale and optimize the supply chain in order to deliver superior products and services to our customers," added TCL Electronics chairperson DU Juan.
The news will come as a shock to some, particularly in Japan, as Sony has been strongly associated with high-quality TVs since the Trinitron days. However, it's currently fighting in a low-margin TV business full of formidable competitors including Samsung, LG, Hisense and TCL. The company has already sold off or closed other electronics operations, including PCs and tablets, and is barely hanging in with its smartphone business.
Sony effectively stopped making its own LCD and OLED panels some time ago, while TCL has increased its own production — having recently purchased LCD Panel patents from Samsung and taken over its plant in China. Other Japanese companies like Toshiba and Hitachi have already exited the TV business, while some including Panasonic have a highly reduced presence.
The Bravia brand survived mainly thanks to customers willing to pay extra for high-end picture and sound quality, along with Sony's association to filmmaking and high-end camera gear. As I detailed in a recent explainer, Sony was a pioneer in many key flat panel breakthroughs, having developed LED backlighting, quantum dot technology and the first OLED TVs.
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Games Leaving PS Plus in February 2026 Confirmed
PS Store has revealed the initial list of games leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium in February 2026, as the January 2026 lineup has begun rolling out in some regions. As accurately predicted, Square Enix RPG SaGa Frontier Remastered is among the games that will be leaving next month.
List of games leaving PS Plus Extra, Premium in February 2026 (as of January 20, 2026)
The following list of departures has been confirmed thus far:
- WWE 2K25
- SaGa Frontier Remastered
- The Ascent
- Spirit of the North
- Cult of the Lamb
- Super Neptunia RPG
- Carto
- Rez Infinite
- New World Aeternum (delisted)
Do note that this list isn’t definitive, as Sony sometimes adds more games to the departure list and/or removes games without a warning.
The games listed above are expected to leave the service by February 17, when next month’s Extra and Premium lineups are added to the catalog. We’ll update our readers if more games are added to the PS Store’s Last Chance to Play section.
Replacing these games is a lineup that has received a positive response from Extra members. Premium/Deluxe members have been left a little disappointed, however, as once again, only one classic has been added to the catalog.
The post Games Leaving PS Plus in February 2026 Confirmed appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Sunday, 18 January 2026
Microsoft issues emergency fix after a security update left some Windows 11 devices unable to shut down
If you weren't able to shut down your Windows 11 device recently, Microsoft has rolled out an emergency fix addressing a couple of critical bugs that popped up with its latest January 2026 Windows security update. The latest "out-of-band" update repairs an issue for some Windows 11 devices that would only restart when users tried to shut down or hibernate. The same update restores the ability for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users to log into their devices via remote connection apps.
Microsoft said the inability to shut down or hibernate affected Windows 11 devices using Secure Launch, a security feature that protects a computer from firmware-level attacks during startup. As for the remote connection issue, Microsoft explained in its Known issues page that credential prompt failures were responsible when users tried to log in remotely to affected Windows 10 and 11 devices.
According to WindowsLatest, some lingering issues with the January 2026 Windows security update are still affecting users, like seeing blank screens or Outlook Classic crashing. Back in October, Microsoft had to issue another emergency fix for Windows 11 related to the Windows Recovery Environment. For those still hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft is allowing you to squeeze some more life out of Windows 10 by enrolling in Extended Security Updates.
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PS3 Game Streaming Busted for PS Plus Premium Users
PS Plus Premium users are expressing frustration as a major tier perk — PS3 game streaming — has been down for several days at least. It appears that players can only stream games that are already in their library. If you want to try a PS3 game you haven’t already played before, it won’t launch.
PS Plus Premium members trying various workarounds for PS3 game streaming
PS3 games are only available to stream, and are thus only available to players in countries where Sony offers cloud streaming support. The equivalent of PS Plus Premium in non-streaming countries is PS Plus Deluxe.
Sometime over the last week, players began reporting that a large number of PS3 games in the catalog (and there aren’t that many to begin with) don’t launch when they press the Stream button. Only those they’ve tried before and are in their library boot up.
The problem persists at the time of this writing, and there’s been no acknowledgement from Sony. Those who have contacted PS Support have been told that the company is aware of the problem but there’s no ETA for a fix.
In the meantime, some players have discovered a workaround. Apparently, adding a game you want to stream to your PS Store wishlist is the solution. You can then access the game page from your wishlist, click the Stream button, and the game should launch.
Another workaround is using PS Plus app on PC to add PS3 games to your library. Attempting to play games via the PC app will automatically add them to your console’s library, bypassing the aforementioned bug.
While these solutions have worked for many, they haven’t worked for everyone. If this doesn’t help, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for Sony to address the problem.
The post PS3 Game Streaming Busted for PS Plus Premium Users appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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Washington is the latest state pursuing an age verification law for porn sites
Washington state residents may soon be forced to produce IDs before getting onto websites with pornographic content. Within the state's House of Representatives, Rep. Mari Leavitt introduced House Bill 2112, which is informally known as the Keep Our Children Safe Act. Similar to the initiatives seen in other states, the bill proposes to restrict access to "online sexual material harmful" to anyone under 18.
In practical terms, those living in Washington state could see websites asking for digital identification or demanding the user go through an age verification system that requests a government-issued ID. If a website that has more than one-third of its content being "sexual material harmful to minors" is found not following these rules, the state's attorney general can pursue steep civil penalties.
If those restrictions sound familiar, it's because many other states have also passed similar constraints. Washington state's proposed bill is very similar to Texas' age verification law that went into effect in September 2023 and was recently upheld by the US Supreme Court. Like the Texas law, several groups expressed disapproval of the bill during the public hearing at the House committee level. As reported by The Seattle Times, groups including the ACLU, Lavender Rights Project and the Northwest Progressive Institute warned of privacy risks related to potential data breaches and the loose definition of "sexual material harmful to minors" in the bill's language.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/JCqpmnsfrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/JCqpmns
Ex-Assassin’s Creed Boss Sues Ubisoft For Nearly $1 Million Over Alleged Forced Firing
The post Ex-<i>Assassin’s Creed</i> Boss Sues Ubisoft For Nearly $1 Million Over Alleged Forced Firing appeared first on Kotaku.
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Saturday, 17 January 2026
How to cancel CyberGhost and get a refund
I came out of my CyberGhost review with a positive opinion, feeling it had earned its spot in my best VPN roundup. However, even an expert review is subjective, and there's a chance CyberGhost will not work for you. If that’s the case, here's how to cancel your subscription.
How to stop your CyberGhost subscription renewing
Cancelling your CyberGhost subscription won't end it right away, unless you delete your account or get the refund (I'll explain how to do both of those later). Instead, the way to cancel CyberGhost is to stop your subscription from renewing at the end of each billing period. Once you've done that, you can keep using CyberGhost until your current period ends.
The following steps will cancel auto-renewal if you got CyberGhost through its website. If you bought it through an app store instead, see the next section.
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Open your browser and go to cyberghostvpn.com.
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At the top-right of the screen, click the box labeled My Account. Enter your username and password if you aren't logged in already.
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Look at the top-right corner of the new screen and click the CyberGhost logo next to your email address. From the drop-down menu, select Subscriptions.
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Find the subscription you want to cancel and select Cancel Subscription.
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When prompted, click Continue to Cancel.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
This will turn off automatic billing for your account. The next time you would have been billed, your subscription will expire. You can resubscribe by purchasing another term. If you're within the refund period — 14 days for a monthly subscription and 45 days for all others — you can now request your money back.
How to cancel CyberGhost if you subscribed through an app store
When you subscribe to an app through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, the store handles the billing; the app provider doesn't process the money itself. If you bought CyberGhost through an app store and want to cancel, you'll have to ask the app store in question, not CyberGhost. Here's how to do it.
If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, you'll need to cancel through your Apple ID. Here are the steps.
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Open the Settings app on your home screen.
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At the top of the Settings menu, you'll see your name. Tap it.
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In your Apple Account menu, tap Subscriptions.
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Scroll until you find your CyberGhost subscription, then tap on it.
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Tap the words Cancel Subscription, then follow the prompts.
Here's what to do if you subscribed through the Google Play store. Similar to the Apple process, you'll go through the list of subscriptions on your profile.
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Open the Google Play Store app.
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Tap the circle in the top-right corner with the first letter of your name.
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Find the Payments & Subscriptions menu and tap on it. On the next menu that appears, tap Subscriptions.
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Scroll down until you find your CyberGhost subscription. Tap on it, then click Cancel Subscription.
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Follow the prompts to complete cancellation.
How to delete your CyberGhost account
Before you set out to delete your CyberGhost account altogether, make sure you've cancelled auto-renew first by following the steps in the previous section. If you don't, you might still be charged for the subscription you're not using, and it's a huge hassle to end that without an account.
Once you've done that, log into your account on cyberghostvpn.com and click on your account profile at the top-right, just like when you canceled auto-renewal. Below the username/password window and the message about an activation key, you'll see the words Delete My Account in tiny letters.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
Click on them. On the page that appears, select Delete My Account again. Follow any more prompts you're given to annihilate your username for good (note that you can't use it again afterwards).
How to get a refund from CyberGhost
To get a refund on your CyberGhost subscription, you have to be inside the window for the plan you chose. With a monthly plan, the refund period is 14 days. For all other plans, it's 45 days. If this time has elapsed, there's unfortunately no way to get your money back.
If you are within the refund period, you can get your money by sending a request through customer support. You can email support@cyberghost.ro, submit a ticket through this link or open a live chat conversation by clicking the Live Chat button at the bottom-right of any page on cyberghostvpn.com. No matter what method you choose, the conversation will go faster if you have your order number on-hand — check your inbox if you don't know it.
Sam Chapman for Engadget
If you went through an app store, you'll need to request your money back from that platform instead. Apple and Google Play handle their own monetary transactions, which means they also process refunds.
Best CyberGhost alternatives
After you've cancelled and/or deleted CyberGhost out of your life, you still need a VPN; the benefits of masking your IP address and changing your virtual location don't go anywhere. You can check out my best list (linked at the top) or best free VPN roundup for ideas, or check out the review for my favorite service, Proton VPN.
Proton VPN is my top choice because of its focus on user freedoms and attention to quality in everything it does. If you're willing to pay a bit more for extreme simplicity and total reliability, ExpressVPN is ideal for beginners. If you're a speed demon and just want to keep your downloads fast, go with Surfshark.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/lEnN02Ufrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/lEnN02U
Papers Please but with zombies, a farming-based shoot-'em-up and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. Several neat-looking games arrived this week, we got release dates for several others that I'm really looking forward to and a brand-new Steam festival was announced.
The Love, Romance, and Heartbreak Debutante Ball is said to be the first Valentine's Day-themed Steam festival. It'll run from February 13 to 20 and feature more than 100 games, including discounts and demos. A showcase will take place on February 13 at 1PM ET on the Sunny Demeanor Games YouTube channel too.
Organizers say the festival includes a wide variety of games about love, including RPGs, puzzle games and (naturally) visual novels. You might play as a cat or someone trying to fish an engagement ring out of a claw machine, as a secret agent or a couple that's run off to another planet. I'm intrigued! There will be some NSFW games involved, for what it's worth.
New releases
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check seems like a 3D version of Papers Please but with zombies. At a checkpoint amid a zombie outbreak, your mission is to screen survivors for signs of infection. If you're unsure of their status, you can send an individual to quarantine for further observation or a lab for additional screening. Otherwise, you can let them in or send them to "liquidation." Get things wrong and it could spell disaster, but at least you have a sidearm (and a weaponized drone) to help you deal with sticky situations.
It looks like there's a lot going on in Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, which is from Brigada Games and publisher Devolver Digital. There are base and resource management aspects as well. It's out now on Steam (usually $20, but there's a 10 percent discount until January 26) and PC Game Pass.
Air Hares seems to draw inspiration from classic top-down shoot-'em-ups. But instead of simply blowing up countless ships, your mission is to restore farmland. You'll fire seeds and water to turn barren land into fertile carrot fields. There are still enemies to contend with — you (and perhaps a co-op partner) can dodge and ram them as you try to protect the land. Expect boss battles, too.
I really like the aesthetic here. It has a '90s-style cartoon look (I suddenly really want a modern Bucky O'Hare game). Also, the song from the trailer is going to live in my head for weeks.
Husband-and-wife team Tim and Megan Bungeroth created Air Hares over six years with the help of several contributors. According to a press release, the game is "inspired by the creators’ personal journey with infertility and the idea of creating life rather than destroying it."
Air Hares is out now on Steam. It typically costs $9, but there's a 20 percent discount until January 28.
Luckshot Games' Big Hops looks like my kind of 3D platformer: joyous and playful. As a young frog who has been kidnapped, you'll try to find airship parts for a raccoon who has promised to help get you home.
There are tons of movement mechanics here, and Hop's tongue plays a major role in those. You can use it to swing across gaps, hookshot your way to higher platforms and solve puzzles.
Big Hops is out now on Steam, Nintendo Switch and PS5 for $20. The Switch and Steam versions have a 10 percent launch discount until January 19.
Cassette Boy is a pixel-art game that might appear to be a 2D exploration puzzler, but there's more going on here. You can rotate the world to discover new secrets and hide enemies and hazards from view so you can move past them. If you can't see something on your screen, it doesn't exist. There's a bit of a Fez influence here, it would appear.
Wonderland Kazakiri and publisher Pocketpair are behind this one, which I'm looking forward to checking out when I have a chance. Cassette Boy is available on Steam, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S for $13.
Upcoming
I really enjoyed the demo for Aerial_Knight’s DropShot (as well as Aerial_Knight’s previous games). I'm for sure going to be playing the full game when it hits PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store on February 17.
This is a single-player first-person shooter in which you're skydiving with finger guns. You compete with four enemies to grab the only available parachute as you're falling through the air. Rounds are fast-paced too, generally lasting under a minute.
Point-and-click adventure Earth Must Die has been on my radar for a while and we'll all get a chance to try it soon. It's designed to be a playable cartoon (with a runtime of about eight hours) and it has an art style to match.
The cast is pretty stellar, with Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II), Joel Fry (Our Flag Means Death) and a whole load of British comedy figures on board. There's a demo available on Steam now and the full game — from Size Five Games and publisher No More Robots — will land on January 27.
Let's wrap things up for this week something very silly-looking from Monster Shop Games. Pie in the Sky is a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-inspired action arcade game in which you play as a magpie that terrorizes bystanders. You can knock people off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, ram kids off of scooters, actually go skateboarding and, uh, cause havoc from above. In classic THPS-style, there are hidden areas too.
This looks like a fun distraction from [gestures at everything]. Pie is the Sky will swoop onto Steam on February 2.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/bx5A14ofrom Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics https://ift.tt/bx5A14o
Friday, 16 January 2026
Ubisoft’s Avatar Game Is So Much Better Than Fire And Ash
The post Ubisoft’s <i>Avatar</i> Game Is So Much Better Than <i>Fire And Ash</i> appeared first on Kotaku.
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Thursday, 15 January 2026
God of War Ragnarok Gets Surprise Update for New PS5 Feature
PS5 console exclusive God of War Ragnarok has surprise dropped a new update to add support for the console’s latest feature. It took Santa Monica Studio longer than we expected to roll out support for PS5’s Power Saver function, but it’s finally here.
PS5 exclusive God of War Ragnarok adds Power Saver mode in January 2026 update
God of War Ragnarok update 06.06 “adds compatibility for Power Saver mode on PS5 and PS5 Pro,” the patch notes read. It doesn’t look like the update does anything else.
If your God of War Ragnarok game tile on PS5 displays an icon that looks like a little leaf, then the aforementioned update has been applied.
The Power Saver mode was rolled out in a firmware update last September with the aim of reducing PS5’s power consumption while playing games. The list of games that support the feature is still tiny and understandably dominated by first-party games.
It has been reported that this feature is preparing PS5 games for an upcoming PlayStation handheld that will be part of the PS6 generation. Reliable insiders have said that the handheld will run both PS5 and PS4 games.
As a reminder, you can enable the Power Saver function via the PS5 system menu by following these steps: Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Use Power Saver.
The post God of War Ragnarok Gets Surprise Update for New PS5 Feature appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
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ISS mission splashes down after medical issue
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Crew-11 astronauts has splashed down into the ocean after they left the ISS a month earlier than planned due a medical issue. It’s the first time NASA cut a mission short due to a medical concern. The agency didn’t name the crew member and their condition but stated that they were stable and that it wasn’t a case of medical evacuation. NASA merely decided to end the mission early out of an abundance of caution, because the ISS didn’t have the tools for a proper diagnosis.
NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, JAXA’s Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — the members of Crew-11 — left for the space station on August 1 and were supposed to stay there until February. Despite the mission being cut early, they still stayed 167 days in space before they made their way back home. The Dragon capsule carrying the members splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California at 3:41AM on January 15. A SpaceX medical doctor was the first person who checked in on them, though that is routine procedure and not because of one member’s medical issue.
With Crew-11 back on Earth, there are now only three people aboard the orbiting lab. Two are Russian cosmonauts, while the other one is NASA astronaut Chris Williams. NASA is now looking at options to be able to send Crew-12 to the ISS earlier than its planned February 15 launch.
LIVE: After undocking from the @Space_Station, Crew-11 is on their way back to Earth. Tune in to watch them splash down off the coast of California, scheduled for 3:41am ET (0841 UTC). https://t.co/mIUojli3XW
— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2026
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