Netflix Confirms Sidney Sweeney Will Lead Live-Action Gundam Movie And I Could Not Be More Skeptical

The classic anime series is not built to succeed on streaming

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PS5 Owners Outraged After Being Told They Could Lose Features

Sony is asking PS5 users in some countries to verify their age or risk losing certain console features “later this year,” sparking intense backlash. Although the company cites “compliance with global regulations,” we can confirm that the messages are currently being sent to players in the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, this could expand to other countries.

No PS5 communication features for players who don’t verify age

There’s been a push towards age verification and social media bans as part of global efforts to safeguard minors. However, critics say that these measures are needlessly intrusive, calling them government overreach.

In its notice, Sony says that those who don’t verify their age will not be able to use PSN communication features, including messages and voice chat. Included in the message is a link to begin the age verification process, which is described as a “one-time check” that “takes a few minutes.”

However, it took me well over 20 minutes to verify my age despite having created my account at least 18 years ago. I encountered various errors at every step, and counted at least 10 attempts to get the system to work. I did get through in the end, but it felt like an exercise in frustration.

What’s interesting here is Sony’s choice of partner for photo-based biometric verification. Although we’re told that our photos are instantly removed after the checks are complete, Sony teamed up with a company called Yoti, which was recently fined $1.1 million in Spain for data handling violations.

Naturally, players are upset, if this Reddit thread is any indication.

We’ll update our readers if the age verification requirement is rolled out to more regions.

The post PS5 Owners Outraged After Being Told They Could Lose Features appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Trailer Leaks, And Oh Damn, It’s Looking Good

10 seconds of the 1:08 trailer are online so far, two days ahead of the official reveal

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Oh For God’s Sake, The Avengers: Endgame Re-Release Is Now Required Homework For Doomsday

Director Joe Russo calls the new footage a 'critical companion story' before seeing the new movie

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Hit PS5 Action Game Under $5 on PS Store Ahead of 2026 Sequel

An acclaimed 2021 PS5, PS4 action-adventure shooter game is under $5 on the PS Store in a limited-time deal that ends this week. It’s the perfect time for players to pick up Metro Exodus, before its recently announced sequel launches later in 2026.

Metro Exodus is 85% off on the PS Store in a limited-time deal

PS5 and PS4 players can buy Metro Exodus standard version (cross-buy) for just $4.49 until Thursday, April 23. If you haven’t played any of the Metro games and would like to start now, you’re in luck: the Metro Saga Bundle is a whopping 90% off until the aforementioned date.

The Metro Saga Bundle (PS5, PS4 cross-buy) contains Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux, and Metro Exodus Gold Edition (featuring all bonus DLC) for just $5.99.

These prices are a steal, and we highly recommend grabbing these offers.

The upcoming Metro 2039 will be a direct sequel to Metro Exodus.

“Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet,” reads an official description for Metro Exodus. “Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling storyline inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer, and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.”

PS Plus Premium members can cloud stream the Metro games.

The post Hit PS5 Action Game Under $5 on PS Store Ahead of 2026 Sequel appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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PS5 Getting New Game in Popular Bandai Namco Action Franchise

Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced the next PS5 game in its fan-favorite action franchise. Releasing more than a decade after its predecessor, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is billed as a “completely new Dragon Ball experience, where you decide the hero you want to be in an unexplored Dragon Ball world.”

PS5 action game Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 gets 2027 release date window

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 has been confirmed for all current-gen platforms except for the Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by Dimps, the game is expected to launch in 2027.

Check out a trailer below:

“Step into a brand-new future Dragon Ball universe filled with unique, original characters brought to life by Akira Toriyama, the original author of Dragon Ball,” an official overview reads. “In AGE 1000, journey through developed and vibrant West City. Explore the bustling city, encounter characters, and uncover exciting new stories. Take your place in the story and experience what awaits in West City. Guided into the ranks of the Great Saiyan Squad, you’ll fight alongside allies as events there begin to take shape.”

Previous Dragon Ball Xenoverse games were described as action RPGs. The upcoming title will be an action-adventure game, per Bandai Namco.

More information will be announced “soon.”

The post PS5 Getting New Game in Popular Bandai Namco Action Franchise appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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Casey Affleck-Led Bitcoin Thriller Made By AI Seems Desperate For Some Sucker Studio To Buy It

Gal Gadot, Casey Affleck, and Pete Davidson star in movie about previous snake oil phenomenon

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Little Guy Solves Big Puzzles In Gecko Gods

New lizard-loving indie game offers a vibrantly colorful adventure, mysterious temples and a tiny sailboat

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YouTuber Reconstructs Nintendo’s Notoriously Rare First Arcade Game

A winning eBay bid on elusive film reels kicked off Callan Brown’s quest to build the lone playable version of Nintendo's 1974 Wild Gunman

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Players Are Reporting A Surprise Fire Sale on Switch 2 Games At Costco

Pokémon Legends Z-A and more are apparently being sold for just $30

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As Slay The Spire 2 Continues To Dominate Devs Outline The Future Roadmap And Confirm 49 Percent Of You Monsters Have Been Eating The Bird EggsEgg)

Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano revealed that work on alternate versions of Acts 2 and 3, as well as a new character, have already begun; just don't expect them any time soon

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PS5 Remake of Hit Adventure Game 60% Off on PS Store, Lowest Price

The PS5 remake of a widely praised 2013 PS3 and PS4 adventure game is 60% off on the PS Store in a limited-time deal. Ubisoft’s Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is at its lowest price until next week, and we highly recommend picking it up if you haven’t played it yet.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is under $10 in limited-time PS Store deal

PS5 players can grab Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake for just $7.99 until Thursday, April 23. The game usually costs $19.99. Unfortunately, the PS4 edition is not on sale.

The remake offers rebuilt character models and landscapes alongside improved graphics, performance, and gameplay. The original soundtrack was re-recorded for the PS5 version.

For the uninitiated, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is an award-winning adventure game that tells the story of a pair of siblings on a quest to find a cure for their father’s illness.

“With their father suffering from a deadly illness, two brothers must bravely set out to find the ‘Water of Life,’ the one cure that can save him,” the plot reads. “With no option for failure the brothers must rely on each other using their individual skills to protect one another and overcome the obstacles ahead in this unforgettable journey.”

PS Plus Premium members can cloud stream the game.

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PS Plus Extra, Premium April 2026 Games Playable Early

A heads-up for PS Plus Extra and Premium members: subscribers can start two of the incoming April 2026 games right now before they arrive in the catalog. Both The Crew Motorfest and Football Manager 26 Console have full game trials available on the PS Store, with save data carrying over when the games go live next week.

Who can start PS Plus Extra, Premium April 2026 games early?

The Crew Motorfest’s game trial isn’t locked behind a PS Plus Premium subscription. Ubisoft offers a five-hour full game trial that all PS5 and PS4 players can download for free right now.

However, Football Manager 26 Console’s game trial is only available to Premium members. Subscribers can play the full game for up to 10 hours.

As a reminder, all your progress — including trophies — will carry over when both games become available in the catalog on Tuesday, April 21. It’s nice to have a bit of a head start over the weekend.

“Motorfest has settled down in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth: Hawaii. Travel to an ever-evolving playground, regularly upgraded with new locations, and featuring an incredible diversity of environments,” reads an overview for The Crew Motorfest.

Meanwhile, Football Manager 26 encourages players to “change the game.” “Football belongs to you and your vision. New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny,” the official description states.

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PS5 Getting New Game in Beloved Action Franchise This Year

Following a recent leak, it has been confirmed that PS5 is due to receive the next game in a popular action shooter franchise in 2026. Metro 2039 will release on all current-gen platforms except for Nintendo Switch 2.

PS5 action shooter game Metro 2039 gets winter 2026 release date window

Although we don’t have a release date for Metro 2039, players won’t have to wait too long, as 4A Games and Deep Silver have confirmed a winter 2026 launch window. The game is a sequel to 2019’s Metro Exodus.

Check out the official reveal trailer and showcase below:

“For a quarter century, the last survivors of nuclear war have been locked in bitter conflict deep in the Metro tunnels beneath the poisoned city of Moscow,” a synopsis reads. “Now, the underground factions are unified under one banner — the Novoreich, led by a new Fuhrer: the legendary Spartan, Hunter. The Fuhrer promises salvation and a new life for the people on the surface but in reality, communities remain trapped deep within the Metro, flooded by propaganda and misinformation, suffering under his authoritarian regime.”

4A Games has promised an immersive game, with a “handcrafted,” story‑rich single-player campaign.

We’ll update our readers when we have more information. In the meantime, share your thoughts on the reveal with us below.

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Gorgeous PS5 Sci-Fi Action Game Arrives on PS Store Today

(Credit: Capcom)

We are three and a half months through the year, and the PS5 already has some of the best-looking games the console has ever seen. One regular contributor to the list of gorgeous games is Capcom, which just released its latest game Pragmata.

What is Pragmata?

Developed and published by Capcom, Pragmata is a sci-fi action game where players take control of Hugh and Diana as the duo tries to find their way off the moon. Here is a trailer and description of Pragmata, giving PS5 players a look at what they can expect from the long-awaited sci-fi action game:

“At a remote lunar research facility, humanity discovers a new ore—one that, when properly refined, can be used to create almost anything using 3D printers. When the facility suddenly falls silent, Hugh and his team are dispatched to investigate…but then disaster strikes. Hugh is saved by Diana, a lone android wandering the complex. The two of them must join forces to find a way off the moon while working their way through an AI-controlled facility bent on stopping them.”

Pragmata is available now for the PS5 on the PS Store. The Standard Edition is exactly what most players will expect. For $59.99, the base edition just includes the game. The Deluxe Edition costs $69.99 and comes with a couple of extra goodies. Here is everything included in the Deluxe Edition:

• Base Game
• Hugh & Diana Outfit Set
• Shelter Variety Pack

Just before its release, Pragmata received very solid review scores. According to the review aggregate site Metacritic, the action game received an average score of 86 based on 93 critic reviews. In our review, we gave it a 9 out of 10.

“Pragmata is 2026’s most unique game so far, with its blend of puzzles and third-person action being a total blast,” reads our review. “Anyone looking for a fresh experience will want to check it out, as it’s unlike nearly anything else and has a gorgeous sci-fi world to explore as well.”

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New Konami PS5 Console Exclusive Game Announced, Out Soon

Konami has announced a PS5 console exclusive game in a fan-favorite franchise, and it’s out surprisingly soon. eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026 is coming only to PS5 and PC for reasons unknown to us, leaving Nintendo Switch and Xbox players disappointed.

PS5 console exclusive game eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026 launching worldwide in July

eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026 will be released globally on July 16, 2026, priced at $59.99. A PS Store listing for the game is live now, where players can preorder or wishlist.

Preorders will be rewarded with a 1,000,000 VP (in-game currency) bonus. Those who purchase eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026 by December will also receive the “SAMURAI JAPAN 2026 ‘Shohei Ohtani'” reward.

“Experience realistic baseball powered by the eBaseball Engine,” says Konami. “Every movement and sound inside the stadium is brought to life with remarkable realism. From the flight of the ball and the players’ intense actions to the eruption of the crowd, every moment is recreated with impact.”

Game modes include:

• Exhibition: Start by jumping into Versus Mode
• Season: Build a winning team
• Star Player: Use the detailed player customization system to fine‑tune your player, and live out up to 30 years of a pro baseball career
• Hakkyu no Kiseki: Coach a high school team to a national title
• eBaseball: Pro Spirit: Compete online against players from around the world

eBaseball: Pro Spirit 2026 is PS5 Pro enhanced.

The post New Konami PS5 Console Exclusive Game Announced, Out Soon appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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PS Store Drops New Free PS5 Games Including Long-Awaited Title

The PS Store has quietly added another pair of free PS5 games, one of which players have been patiently waiting for. After nearly a decade, Fortnite: Save the World is available for free to all players. The game is PS5 Pro-enhanced.

PS Store has quietly added several free PS5 games within the last week

Fortnite: Save the World probably doesn’t need an introduction, but for the uninitiated, it’s a player-versus-environment co-op action game.

“Take on the monster hordes either solo or with up to three friends as you explore a vast, destructible world, with dynamically created maps where no two games are ever the same,” an official description reads.

The second free game that was just added to the PS Store is 3D fighting game Starward. Players control mecha girls in a Japanese arcade-inspired game.

“The Starward experience spans across three distinct game modes featuring 2v2, 1v1, and Arcade gameplay,” says publisher Wuhan Shengtian Game Network. “PvP is the main, featuring fast-paced battles lasting about 3 minutes per match.”

The aforementioned games don’t require a PS Plus subscription to play, but Premium members can cloud stream the titles.

In case you missed it, the PS Store added another pair of free games earlier this week, which you can read more about here.

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Telltale-Like Star Trek Game Is Getting Pulled From Sale Forever [Update]

Star Trek: Resurgence is delisted from Steam but still available on Epic

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2023 PS5 Game Being Delisted From PS Store, Last Chance to Buy

A 2023 PS5 and PS4 adventure game is about to be delisted from the PS Store, and players have been given one last chance to buy it. Publisher Bruner House has announced that its license for Star Trek: Resurgence has expired, and it’s in the process of removing the game from all digital storefronts.

PS5, PS4 adventure game Star Trek: Resurgence will be removed from the PS Store any minute now

Bruner House didn’t provide an exact time and date for Star Trek: Resurgence’s delisting. The game has already disappeared from the Xbox store, but remains available for purchase on the PS Store and Steam at the time of this writing.

On the PS Store, Star Trek: Resurgence costs $24.99. Unfortunately, the game isn’t part of the ongoing sale, and it’s too late for another discount, so those who are on the fence will need to make up their minds. Alternatively, you can find a physical copy online at retailers like Amazon.

Star Trek: Resurgence is an offline single-player game that’ll remain playable even after it’s delisted.

“Star Trek: Resurgence is a narrative adventure game featuring dialog choices, relationship building, and exploration,” an official overview reads. “Alongside dialog-driven role playing and rich branching storylines, you will also engage with the Star Trek universe in a variety of other gameplay styles, including shuttle piloting, phaser fights, tricorder scanning, stealth, and micro-gameplay mechanics.”

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PS Plus Extra, Premium April Games Leak Reveals Returning Title

A set of PS Plus Extra and Premium April 2026 games has leaked, and it includes a title that’s returning to the catalog in remastered form. After its original release was removed from PS Plus in May 2024, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is reportedly set to join the catalog next week.

All PS Plus Extra and Premium April 2026 games leaked thus far, and when they’ll be confirmed

According to reliable leaker billbil-kun, who’s yet to be proven wrong, the following games will be added to the PS Plus Extra and Premium catalog in April:

• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• The Crew Motorfest
• Football Manager 26 Console

As for when we’ll get the full lineup, this one’s a bit tricky to answer right now. Under normal circumstances, we’d expect Sony to reveal PS Plus catalog additions at 8:30 a.m. PT today, April 15. However, there are reports that a PlayStation State of Play event is scheduled for Thursday, April 16.

Therefore, if you don’t hear from us by the aforementioned time, it means Sony plans to announce April’s lineup during or after the State of Play.

That said, what we can confirm is that PS Plus Extra and Premium April 2026 catalog additions will go live next week on Tuesday, April 21.

The post PS Plus Extra, Premium April Games Leak Reveals Returning Title appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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Oops: Actor Accidentally Leaks The Existence Of Spider-Man 3 From Insomniac Games

Ben Jordan posted a mo-cap pic to his Instagram, before rapidly deleting it

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Month-Old Major 2026 PS5 Game Has a Shutdown Date Already

An acclaimed PS5 game that released in March 2026 has already received a server shutdown date from its publisher. 2K tends to schedule server closures for its annual franchises, giving players plenty of notice. In line with that policy, WWE 2K26 players are warned that they have two years to enjoy the game’s multiplayer features.

Acclaimed PS5 game WWE 2K26 gets an early 2028 shutdown date

WWE 2K26 is scheduled to go offline on March 31, 2028. However, 2K has said that it reserves the right to “modify or discontinue online features at any time” in accordance with its terms of service.

This notice is much welcome because WWE games enjoy immense popularity, and WWE 2K26 earned praise from both critics and fans alike. So those planning to pick up the game later down the line should know how much time they have with the online features, especially if you’re a trophy hunter.

“Run the world’s greatest show your way and live out your WWE fandom to the fullest,” an official overview reads. “Experience the most expansive gameplay to date with rebellious Legends of the Attitude Era and Superstars of today.”

We’ll update our readers if 2K changes the aforementioned shutdown date.

WWE 2K26 did not launch on the PS4.

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Meta is reportedly building an AI clone of Mark Zuckerberg

Picture this: You're a senior Meta employee looking for feedback from the CEO. But, instead of hearing from the real Mark Zuckerberg, you get a response from a Zuckerberg AI character. As absurd as that sounds, it could eventually be a reality. 

Meta is reportedly working on such an AI character, training it on Zuckerberg's mannerisms, tone and publicly available statements, according to the Financial Times. The character is also learning about the CEO's thoughts on recent company strategy, with the idea that it could offer advice to Meta employees. 

The company has reportedly, for some time, been working on creating photorealistic, 3D animated AI characters that can manage interactions. However, it now appears to be focusing on this Zuckerberg AI character, which would interact with employees when the CEO can't or doesn't want to.

This additional AI tool follows last month's news that Zuckerberg is creating an AI agent to help him do his job, first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It would reportedly do things like finding answers for him, but there aren't many details of the still developing AI agent. 

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Roblox introduces mandatory age-gated account tiers

Roblox is preparing to roll out its biggest change since starting age verification late last year. While that program was initially focused on chat access, today’s news is about age-segregating the games on the massive platform.

Starting in mid-May, users will be pushed into one of three worlds: Roblox Kids, Roblox Select or Roblox. The exact age ranges of these groups will vary by territory, but in the US they are 5-8 for Kids, 9-15 for Select and 16+ for the regular account. These three account types then align with the platform’s current content maturity labels, which divide games into Minimal, Mild, Moderate and Restricted.

Kids accounts will be the most restricted, with chat off by default and only Minimal and Mild experiences available.

Ages 9-15 get to chat with kids in their age group and “trusted friends” that have passed the parent test, and will be able to access Moderate content as well as games for babies.

At 16, teens will automatically be moved to a full-fat Roblox account with all of its features, but not all of the games. Content marked as Restricted will only unlock once they turn 18.

Roblox

Roblox says over half of its users are now age checked, whether through ID verification or face scans. With the new account types rolled out globally — which the company says should be done by June — it’ll start forcing users who haven’t completed an age check into a Kids-like experience, with no access to chat or games rated higher than Mild. 

Once age verification is completed, Roblox still faces the task of ensuring that its vast collection of user-created content is actually age-appropriate. Its solution to this is, of course, ID verification, AI and upcharges.

Developers will have to verify their identity and pony up $5 a month for Roblox Plus to show “a long-term commitment to the platform.” The wisdom is that, with these hurdles cleared, a developer will surely apply the correct maturity label to their games. On the off-chance that an experience is mislabeled, Roblox’s AI moderation will keep tabs on game instances to make sure what's happening on-screen and in-chat matches the maturity label. On the surface, this does leave a gap where a toddler could end up playing an incorrectly labeled mature game before the AI catches it. Don’t fret, though, as Roblox says users over 16 “play new games first,” which surely isn’t an overgeneralization and will ensure that no child ever plays a mature game.

Roblox also previewed a pair of new parental control features coming in June. First, parents will be able to block any game and manage direct chat access until a child turns 16. Previously, kids over 13 could unblock experiences by themselves. Second, parents will be able to approve games outside of their child’s age bracket on a case-by-case basis. Roblox gave an example of a younger child wanting to play a game with their older sibling for this feature’s utility.

Of course, the big blocky elephant in the room is the efficacy of automated age verification. Reporting from Wired in January suggested even enterprising toddlers might be able to get past the platform’s age checks, which somewhat undermines everything Roblox is trying to achieve. Speaking to press ahead of today’s announcement, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said, “If we get it wrong … we offer users multiple ways to correct that.” He added that the platform is “constantly measuring users’ behavior and comparing that against what their age-check data says. If we see those things divert, then we will just ask people to run through the age process again.”

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GTA 6 Hackers Say They Will Release The Breached Data After Ransom Demands Not Met

Hacker group ShinyHunters plans to leak the information, but Rockstar doesn't seem concerned

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Steven Soderbergh Says He Felt “Obligated” To Use AI On John Lennon Documentary

The Magic Mike director tells Variety that ignoring AI is a “privilege” and that feelings could change once the fad is over

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Failed MMO Ashes Of Creation‘s $3.2 Million In Kickstarter Funds Allegedly Spent On Private Chefs And Trading Cards

A report published by NefasQS purports that Intrepid Studios' CEO spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in Kickstarter funds to fuel his lavish lifestyle

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PS Store Got a Cool Stealth Update Alongside New PS5 UI

Sony dropped another stealth update for the PS5 PS Store alongside the recent UI changes. Like the UI update, these changes are currently only available to select users in various parts of the world. This is not a beta update and doesn’t require any kind of program participation.

What’s new in PS5’s PS Store update for April 2026

Players who received the update noticed that Sony has overhauled the PS5 PS Store’s “Browse” tab, moving the “Recently Released” category up top. This section now displays large playable video icons rather than game thumbnails. Beneath the icons are relevant tags for each game as well as a brief one-line description.

Here’s what it looks like, as shown by a Reddit user who received the update:

PS5 Store Has Videos now?
byu/SomeCommunity5058 inplaystation

There are some unconfirmed reports that these video trailers auto-play when players hover over them, but we haven’t received the update ourselves and can’t confirm if this is indeed the case. Additionally, it’s unclear if these changes are being applied across the store or just certain sections.

Up until now, players would have to enter a game’s PS Store page in order to get the information that’s now available up front.

Both the PS5 UI and PS Store console updates started rolling out a week ago. There’s been no word from Sony, and players are still figuring out the rollout pattern. So far, we can confirm that the updates are not limited to beta participants and aren’t being staggered by region.

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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 "race, 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 "race 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.

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

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

XChat is now on the App Store, where its listing says that it’s expected to be available for download on April 17. This isn’t the same IRC app from the early aughts, which you may remember if you’re 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 network’s 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

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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. I’m 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 — you’ll 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 (à 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 that’s 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 tantō 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.

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