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Product Reviews

Balatro’s big 2025 update won’t be coming out this year after all

by admin September 13, 2025

Fans will have to wait a little bit longer for the hotly-anticipated Balatro 1.1 update. Developer LocalThunk just announced it will not be coming out in 2025, despite previously promising a release this year. Instead, it’ll come out “when it’s done.”

It’s worth remembering that Balatro was created by a single person, and the same goes for this update. The lone developer also made the original balance patch and the well-regarded mobile port. He says he’s “well and truly burned out.”

LocalThunk apologizes for the delay and says “it has become clear now that it won’t happen by the end of the year.” It’s actually nice to let us know now instead of forcing us to wonder where the update is for the next several months.

“I still consider this my hobby,” he wrote. “The prospect of rushing the work and going back into crunch mode to get it out this year just felt terrible.”

Now for some good news. The update is definitely coming, just not right now. It’ll be free for all players on all platforms. The developer also hinted that this update would not be the final DLC drop for the game.

For the uninitiated, Balatro is a deckbuilding roguelike that’s loosely based on poker. Consider it the highly addictive sequel to poker we never knew we needed. It has proven to be a bona-fide phenomenon.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Hollow Knight: Silksong review | PC Gamer

by admin September 13, 2025

Nothing prepared me for the Sisyphean exercise that is playing Hollow Knight: Silksong. Part of that is my bad for skipping the original Hollow Knight—I thought I’d have plenty of time to try it before Silksong ever actually came out. But now it’s here and I’ve spent over 25 hours with the videogame equivalent of sticking your hand into the Dune pain box.

Need to Know

What is it? A 2D action game with challenging combat and platforming
Release date: September 4, 2025
Expect to pay: $19.99
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Reviewed on: RTX 5090, Intel Core i9 12900K, 32GB RAM
Multiplayer: Yes
Steam Deck: Verified
Link: Steam

Silksong may be one of the most painful 2D action games I’ve played, and the worst part? I inflicted that pain on myself by pressing forward until I’d seen just about every inch of the bug-inhabited land of Pharloom. And that’s saying something; despite being a 2D game, Team Cherry has stuffed enough levels, characters, and quests into Silksong to fill a 3D world. It never ends: Lift up a rock and you’ll find a boss eager to be your newest archnemesis or an obstacle course of spikes and blades that are about as rewarding as scratching a mosquito bite.

Silksong makes you feel like a fool for playing it in the first place. From the moment you start a new game and bring Pharloom into existence, it’s agony for everyone involved. Every bug is out to get you or struggling to eke out their own hardscrabble existence.

This diabolical commitment to knocking you on your ass in a world where everyone’s been knocked on their ass for the last few decades is what impresses me the most about Silksong. Not even a game as punishing as Elden Ring outright refuses to loosen its grip around your neck. There comes a point in every FromSoftware game where you earn the right to play with your food, often by finding a character build that works for you. Silksong, on the other hand, will let you upgrade your weapon so that eventually you might deal out as much damage as the enemies have been doing to you since Act 1.

I may be bruised and sore from the experience, but I’m happy to say that for all the pain Silksong put me through, it was worth it. Team Cherry made a whole game about getting to your car without your keys and it’s phenomenal, unflinching in its vision to fully consume you until you can see the mazes of Pharloom when you close your eyes.

Harmony

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Team Cherry)

I will kill anyone who dares complain about precious Sherma and his calming lullaby.

As much as I find the term inadequate for describing what’s truly special about Silksong, calling it a soulslike has some merit. Combat-wise it doesn’t quite fit, but the construction of Pharloom rivals (and echoes) that of Lordran in Dark Souls. Not only is it intricate and interconnected, but it’s warped by its tragic history. You can open the map and draw a line from the golden citadel all the way down into the stagnant, maggot-infested pools of Bilewater to understand exactly where the rot began.

Every shortcut and secret area contextualizes the horrors you face in the bigger, sadder picture. A pristine dining room in the upper chambers of the citadel hides a kitchen caked in dust and decay, and just below that, in a secret room, lies the tangled corpse of a centipede pontiff. There’s always something just out of view or lingering in the background that draws your eye, and those details always kept me hungry to see more. By the end of the game, I couldn’t tell what was more exciting: the fact that I somehow dug my way into an entire zone I hadn’t explored yet or the questions that new place raised about what’s really going on with Pharloom’s biggest mysteries.

There are plenty of bright spots on the journey through hell, like the little towns you can help rebuild and the bugs you meet in them. I ran so many errands for the group of bugs living in giant bells that they gifted me one of my own. I will kill anyone who dares complain about precious Sherma and his calming lullaby.

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Team Cherry)

Hornet, and the characters she runs into, are a splash of cold water in this gloomy dream. There are bugs of all shapes and sizes who welcome you with warm greetings, sweet melodies, and sometimes a bit of deception. I met a whole caravan of nomadic fleas with french mustaches, a bartender beetle, and a ladybug carny who charged me for target practice.

The wide cast of weirdos kept me sane when I was losing my grip from being repeatedly squashed by a metallic bug with a bell chained to her arm. Hornet’s tendency to soften from cold-blooded warrior to empathetic survivor when confronted with a bug-in-need or a fluffy flea added a tender counterpoint to the most abrasive moments. Even the fact that she speaks at all helps Silksong temper its overwhelming despair and it made me eager to talk to every bug I could find.

The thrill of playing as Hornet is what really anchors Silksong as a brilliant action game above all else. Skipping and dodging around enemies becomes a delicate dance that grows more and more intricate as you pick up new moves. I was merely poking at enemies in the first few hours of the game and by the end I was tossing out spike traps and silk missiles while bouncing between bugs like a pinball. When I wasn’t getting clobbered, it felt like the tables had turned and suddenly I was the boss with the unfair, unpredictable attacks. Silksong sets the bar for mastery so high that you can only reach it for short bursts, but it’s a carrot worth chasing when pulling it off is so unbelievably satisfying.

In those glorious, fleeting moments, I was able to take a step back and appreciate how creative Silksong’s boss fights can be. I almost wanted to stall during a duel with a glitzy butterfly on a stage full of explosive fireworks and spotlights so that I could enjoy the absurdity of it just a few seconds longer. And despite my waning patience when I was locked in a room with two mechanical dancers who mirror each other’s moves, I had to admit it was a clever way to learn how to stay focused on a single target while making me feel like I was part of the dance—which would prove useful for many bosses down the line. Again and again its commitment to cruelty had a purpose. This phenomenon continued until the final hours of the game.

Stubborn

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Team Cherry)

Most of Silksong is fair despite being unrelenting, and I suspect playing it in a compressed amount of time exacerbated the moments of pain. At the same time, there are sections, particularly the ones you’re forced to repeat every time you attempt a boss, that threaten curdling. One of the worst ones shows up near the beginning and forces you to pogo your way past rabid worms and flies with sniper rifles just to have a chance at seeing the boss again.

Silksong doesn’t always get the balance between effort and reward right. Some games will make you find an access code to unlock a safe with a key in it—Silksong will make you fight with your bare fists through four waves of flies with crowbars to get a key that unlocks a door leading to more flies with crowbars. You’re not even guaranteed to get anything after defeating a boss. For the first half, you’ll be lucky to find a bench to rest on that isn’t trying to kill you or take your money.

It’s an evocative choice to fill the game with checkpoints that you have to pay for to underline the disparity between the upper and lower halves of Pharloom, a clever bit of friction tied to the bleak state of the world. It’s also a choice to stack that on top of a system that empties your wallet if you die too much—and you will when just about every enemy and spike trap can knock out your health bar with a few mistakes. For as beautifully drawn as its tunnels and cathedrals are, not all of them made the climb worth it. Silksong, especially in the first half, requires you to take a blood oath on the promise that experiencing the entire thing will pay off.

(Image credit: Tyler C. / Team Cherry)

Silksong will beat you, burn you, rub your face in the dirt, and then dazzle you with another piece of a haunted clockwork world.

I may be bruised and sore from the experience, but I’m happy to say that it does, in fact, pay off. There were frustrating points in Silksong where I was reluctant to hand it to Team Cherry, but I’m still processing the shock that it managed to exceed my expectations after listening to people scream about Hollow Knight over the last seven years. I can’t tell you if the hype was worth it, because that hype exists on message boards and YouTube channels and Discords, not in the game I booted up on Steam every day for the last week. But I can tell you that Silksong glows with a level of precision and imagination that’s hard to find anywhere else.

It’s too good to let the brutal difficulty hold it back, or to hold me back from seeing all of it—even if I wish there were at least some options to tone down the nastiest punishments. Silksong will beat you, burn you, rub your face in the dirt, and then dazzle you with another piece of a haunted clockwork world, confident the sight will elicit a bloody, jagged-tooth grin. When that happens, the pain will fade away and you’ll press forward into the unknown, ready to endure whatever it throws at you just to stick around a little longer.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Horror Icon Lin Shaye Is Returning to ‘Insidious’

by admin September 13, 2025

Insidious franchise star Lin Shaye’s dearly departed medium character will make another return to star in Blumhouse’s sixth film in the series.

The horror legend’s tenure as psychic Elise Rainier has been a beloved part of the Insidious movies and filmmaker Jacob Chase has officially enlisted her return, as reported by Deadline. The actress is joined by Amelia Eve (star of Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor) in the upcoming installment, written by Chase and David Leslie Johnson. It goes into production next week.

Shaye most recently played Rainier in Insidious: The Red Door, directed by series star Patrick Wilson, where she guided the Lambert family to a resolution in dealing with their past family trauma in relation to the original film’s events. Rose Byrne and Ty Simpkins also reprised their roles to help wrap up the Lambert chapter of the series.

The plot of the upcoming film remains unknown, but Red Door did hint that Elise would be returning in some capacity to fight the good fight against the demons of the Further. Eve may be playing whoever the ghosts and entities decide to pick on next but we’ll have to wait to find out.

We hope that Rainer gets an assist from Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) from the original cast as her living paranormal investigation counterparts. We’ve been wanting to see that partnership become a part of more ongoing investigations.

The as-yet untitled Insidious film is set for release on August 21, 2026.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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September 13, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Bullets Found After the Charlie Kirk Shooting Carried Messages. Here’s What They Mean

by admin September 12, 2025

On Friday, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah native, was identified by federal law enforcement as a suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk. During Friday’s press conference, officials said that several bullet casings recovered from a hunting rifle found near the crime scene had messages inscribed on them.

During the press conference, officials appeared to take the inscriptions literally, to the extent they ascribed meaning to them at all. But the four messages apparently written by the alleged shooter instead seem to invoke a variety of memes and video game references.

One of the casings was said to be engraved with the phrase “Hey Fascist! Catch!” followed by an up arrow, a right arrow, and three downward-facing arrows. That sequence is an apparent reference to the “Eagle 500kg bomb” in the popular third-person-shooter game Helldivers 2. The bomb has become a meme in the Helldivers community for being comically excessive.

Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers of Helldivers 2, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from WIRED. Launched in 2024, the game has grown a cult following for its Starship Troopers–like storyline. The cooperative shooter allows teams of up to four players, called “Helldivers,” to spread “freedom” across a fictional universe—fighting bugs, robots, and squid-like aliens rather than other humans. Their form of managed democracy is “basically fascism,” says independent extremism researcher Harry Batchelor, who works with the Extremism and Gaming Research Network.

Helldivers 2 is satire, and the vast majority of players are in on it. The game, says Batchelor, “takes “the whole ‘pretending to be democracy while actually being a fascist government’ so seriously, it’s obviously a joke.” The community around the game has generally maintained a positive reputation, even working together to combat “review bombing”—coordinated negative reviews intended to hurt a game’s chance of success.

The arrows that activate the Eagle 500kg bomb have been used in other memes to show that a user is “going to do a big, violent action,” Don Caldwell, editor in chief of Know Your Meme, tells WIRED. “That’s maybe a cheeky way of expressing it on the casing.”

Shortly after the Friday press conference about Kirk’s fatal shooting, moderators locked the r/Helldivers subreddit. “Due to recent events and the high amount of posts about the topic, we will be locking the subreddit temporarily,” a post on the subreddit reads. “We’re aware of what happened, our modteam doesn’t condone it.”

Helldivers may not be the only game reference on the casings. Another casing was allegedly engraved with lyrics to a famous Italian folk song called “Bella Ciao,” which translates directly to “goodbye beautiful.” The song, which has associations with postwar anti-fascist movements in Italy, has seen a resurgence on social media in recent years. Notably, “Bella Ciao” holds significance for rebel forces during a mission in Far Cry 6, a video game set on a fictional Caribbean island ruled by a dictator. A USB stick with the song is a collectible item labeled “Bella Ciao de Libertad,” a reference to the rebel group; the in-game description notes that the song has been “inspiring guerrillas and partisans for over a century.”

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

‘Hypernova’ smart glasses, AI and the metaverse

by admin September 12, 2025

Meta Connect, the company’s annual event dedicated to all things AR, VR, AI and the metaverse is just days away. And once again, it seems like it will be a big year for smart glasses and AI.

This year, the event will take a slightly different format than in the past. Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to kick things off with an evening keynote at 5PM PT on Wednesday, September 17. A developer keynote with other executives will take place the next morning on September 18, beginning at 10AM, with more talks and developer sessions to follow.

It’s not clear why Meta changed things up this year, but it is shaping up to be a particularly eventful year for Connect. We’re expecting two new models of smart glasses, including Meta’s first to have a display, as well as new Meta AI and metaverse updates. As usual, Engadget will be reporting live from Zuckerberg’s keynote at Meta HQ, but until then, here’s a closer look at what’s coming and what to keep an eye on.

New and updated smart glasses

The biggest news of the day will be Meta’s next-generation of smart glasses. The frames, often referred to by their reported internal name “Hypernova,” will be the first consumer-ready glasses from Meta that have a display. We already know quite a bit about these thanks to more than a year of leaks.

While the frames are expected to have a small display on one side, they won’t offer the kind of immersive augmented reality experience we’ve seen on Meta’s Orion prototype. Instead the display will allow you to view things like notifications and photo previews. The glasses will also come with a dedicated wristband, similar to what the company showed off with Orion, that allows the wearer to control specific features through hand gestures.

The EMG wristband that’s part of the Orion prototype.

(Karissa Bell for Engadget)

The glasses, which may officially be called “Celeste,” are expected to go on sale later this year, will likely cost around $800. They could be sold with Prada branding, which would be in line with Meta’s longtime EssilorLuxottica partnership, according to CNBC. Given the much higher price tag — most of Meta’s Ray-Ban-branded glasses cost around $300 — it seems Meta is positioning this as a higher-end product that will have a more limited appeal. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested Hypernova will have a “negligible” share of the overall smart glasses market.

It also sounds like we could see a new version of Meta’s smart glasses without a display with an updated version of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. There could be two versions for sunglasses and clear frames, according to leaked renders. The new glasses are reported to have improved cameras and battery life, and support new AI capabilities.

We could also see new third-party glasses integrations. As UploadVR recently pointed out, early versions of the Connect schedule for developers seemingly confirms that Meta is getting ready to give developers access to its smart glasses. Up to now, the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley glasses have mostly been limited to apps within Meta’s ecosystem (with a few exceptions like Spotify and Audible). Allowing more developers to start experimenting with the platform could bring even more functionality to the existing lineup of glasses.

Meta AI

As with other recent years, AI will be a major theme throughout. Meta AI has a billion monthly users (something Zuckerberg will surely remind us of) and I’m expecting to see new features for Meta AI both on the company’s glasses and within its apps. Business Insider reports the company has been working on new lineup of non-English speaking “character-driven” bots for its apps. (Meta’s character-centric chatbots have also faced scrutiny, with the company recently blocking teens’ access to many user-generated characters amid growing safety concerns.)

Outside of Meta’s chatbots, I’m hoping Zuckerberg will talk more about his vision to create “superintelligence.” As I wrote in July, his initial manifesto that outlined his vision was confusing at best. The CEO has recently reorganized Meta’s AI teams around the idea, and has been on a very expensive hiring spree to recruit executives and researchers for the effort.

At the same time, Zuckerberg could use Connect to shore up expectations around its Llama models. The company’s larger Llama 4 model has been delayed and reports suggest Meta’s engineers have been struggling to improve it. There are other signs that Zuckerberg may be backing away from open-source AI.

What about the metaverse?

While the metaverse has taken somewhat of a backseat to AI in recent years, it wouldn’t be Connect without some VR-related news. In a recent Instagram post, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth teased “metaverse software” updates related to Horizon Worlds at Connect. The company recently offered a preview to developers of its plan to bring AI-powered NPCs to the metaverse, and I expect we’ll hear more about how generative AI could help shape the metaverse.

And while there are no new Quest headsets expected, we could hear more about those third-party VR headsets that will run Meta’s VR software. Last year, the company announced that ASUS, Lenovo and Xbox were working on Meta Horizon OS headsets. We haven’t heard too much about these devices since, but there was a leak earlier this year that suggested ASUS would be the first to launch, and that it would include face and eye tracking features.

Another intriguing possibility is an update on Meta’s holographic Codec avatars we got a glimpse of last year. While Meta’s current lineup of VR headsets don’t have the necessary face and eye-tracking sensors to support the tech, UploadVR suggests Meta could show off a more “rudimentary” version of the avatars that could run on the Quest 3 or even work in conjunction with video calls on WhatsApp and Messenger.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Sam Altman Seeks Texts From Shivon Zilis, Elon Musk’s Employee/Mother of His Child

by admin September 12, 2025

Last year, Elon Musk sued his rival Sam Altman’s company, tech superstar OpenAI. In his lawsuit, Musk claimed that the company had violated federal racketeering laws because, having once promised to stay a nonprofit research lab, had since converted itself into a for-profit company. Musk, who initially poured tens of millions of dollars into the startup, claims he was deceived. OpenAI and Altman have since countered that Musk also wanted OpenAI to become a for-profit venture. This week, the legal battle was ratcheted up a notch, as OpenAI sought to bring those close to Musk into the mix.

Business Insider writes that Altman has now asked a judge to order Shivon Zilis and Jared Birchall to turn over key correspondence as part of the legal case.

Zilis, an executive at Musk’s brain-computer interface startup Neuralink, has had four children with Musk via IVF. They first met back in 2016 when Zilis, who formerly worked for OpenAI, joined the company. Birchall, meanwhile, has often been described as the billionaire’s “right-hand man” and his “fixer,” and often seems to be tasked with critical behind-the-scenes affairs (like managing his money), while also dealing with the less savory aspects of managing Musk’s empire (like interfacing with other women that Musk has had children with).

Additionally, Birchall occupies several important executive roles at Musk-related orgs. Specifically, he runs Musk’s family office, Excession, directs the Musk Foundation, and is the CEO of Neuralink. The inclusion of the two Musk allies in the legal case is described thusly:

As part of his defense against Musk’s 2024 racketeering lawsuit, Altman wants a judge in California to order Birchall and Zilis to turn over key texts and emails in 72 hours. If either blows that deadline, they should be required to sit for one additional, preliminary deposition prior to their primary depositions in the case.

The OpenAI CEO’s legal team has noted that communications with Zilis, in particular, should have relevance to the case. BI reports that attorneys have argued, “She was a conduit between Musk and OpenAI’s co-founders on matters central to this case, including discussions about a potential 2017 restructuring that would have given Musk a large equity stake in OpenAI.”

Altman’s targeting of Zilis and Birchall, two people with close personal and professional ties to Musk, could indicate a broader escalation of the legal fight, as both sides seek to gain an advantage. “Birchall and Zilis should not be forced to sit for two depositions each,” Musk’s attorneys have argued. “If their texts and Gmails cannot be produced in time, their depositions should be rescheduled.” Gizmodo reached out to Neuralink, OpenAI, and Tesla for comment.

The lawsuit against OpenAI is the culmination of a long-running feud between the two billionaires. More recently, Musk sued OpenAI again (along with Apple), alleging that the two companies had colluded to exert anticompetitive control over the AI market.

The suit seeks “billions” in damages. “Apple and OpenAI’s exclusive arrangement has made ChatGPT the only generative AI chatbot integrated into the iPhone,” the suit says. “This means that if iPhone users want to use a generative AI chatbot for key tasks on their devices, they have no choice but to use ChatGPT, even if they would prefer to use more innovative and imaginative products like xAI’s Grok.” In the past, OpenAI has characterized the litigation as being “consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment.” Musk also previously tried to buy OpenAI, although Altman turned him down.

Where did the feud between Musk and Altman start? God only knows, but one thing’s for sure: it shows no signs of simmering down. In the before times, Altman and Musk were chums and business partners, but that all imploded, and for the past several years, it’s been increasingly bad. Can it all be traced back to the fact that Musk was once a co-founder and board member of OpenAI but now, having acrimoniously fallen out with Altman, must be forced to watch it soar without him? All we really know for sure is that personal animosity has transmogrified into a nasty legal war that could ultimately hurt both men more than it helps anyone.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Nintendo Drops Surprise Trailer for New ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’

by admin September 12, 2025

Mario is returning to the big screen. Following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which made more than $1.3 billion worldwide in 2023, animation studio Illumination and Nintendo are releasing a sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, in April 2026. Nintendo dropped a teaser trailer during its Direct presentation on Friday.

The teaser doesn’t offer much about the movie, which takes its name from the 2007 platformer. Mario dozes in a field before title credits appear, that’s about it. But the trailer still signifies that Nintendo will continue to churn out films aimed at turning Mario into a megafranchise.

It’s no coincidence that the trailer and accompanying announcement come just one day before the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. video game. In the four decades since that game’s release, Mario—and Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and other assorted characters—have become cultural icons.

In 1993, Super Mario Bros. became one of the earliest videogame film adaptations. It was panned by critics and fans, but in the years since, games ranging from Mortal Kombat to Tomb Raider have been turned into movies. Now, as superhero fatigue sets in and ’90s nostalgia peaks, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which will include nods to the entire Mario series, stands poised to continue Mario’s domination.

Considered the most successful video game adaptation ever made, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was the second highest-grossing movie of 2023, second only to Barbie. The original cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser, will return for the sequel.

Alongside the news, Nintendo also announced it will release remastered versions of Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel on October 2.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

all the biggest announcements from today’s Nintendo Direct

by admin September 12, 2025

Whenever there’s a Nintendo Direct in September, you can be pretty sure that it’ll be a major edition of the showcase. Given that Friday’s one was scheduled to be about an hour long and that Nintendo has a whole new console to put games on, it was already likely that there was going to be a lot of news.

Even then, it managed to be a jam-packed Direct. Let’s take a look at all the biggest announcements from the showcase, including what’s obviously the most important one: a Switch 2 version of Overcooked 2.

Mario’s 40th anniversary

September 13 is the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. in Japan, which is a big reason why this Direct took place on a Friday (a highly unusual day for Nintendo to hold one of its showcases). Following news of Mario-related updates for the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, the company revealed the title for the next Mario movie. It’s called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s coming to cinemas in the US on April 3. We’ll have to wait a little longer for a trailer, though.

There was no announcement of an upcoming 3D Mario game today, unfortunately, but there was still plenty of other news. Mario Tennis Fever is coming to Switch 2 in February as the first new Mario Tennis game since 2018. Yoshi’s getting another adventure of his own with the Switch 2 platformer Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which is set to arrive next spring. A Switch 2 version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder with fresh multiplayer modes will drop around that time too.

Before all of that, though, Nintendo is bringing the wonderful Wii games Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Switch on October 2. They’ll be available separately or as a bundle on the eShop and as a combined edition on a $70 physical cartridge. On Switch 2, you’ll be able to play these two classics in 4K.

Two Mario Galaxy Amiibo figures are coming in April as well. Even though I’m not typically an Amiibo collector, I really want those because Luma is just adorable. In addition, Nintendo plans to release a physical collectible of the Talking Flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder next spring.

Donkey Kong Bananza DLC out today

If you’ve already smashed everything to smithereens in Donkey Kong Bananza and have been yearning for more to do in one of the biggest Switch 2 exclusives to date, you’re in luck. Nintendo revealed a paid expansion for the platformer during the Direct. It’s called DK Island & Emerald Rush and it’s out today for $20.

You’ll be able to barrel around Donkey Kong’s home island and meet up with some familiar faces. After you’ve beaten the story in the main game, you’ll be able to try the Emerald Rush mode. This will see you undertaking timed runs in DK Island and the main game’s layers to collect emerald ore, smash fossils and collect Banandium Gems.

Meanwhile, Nintendo has released a demo for the main game. So, if you have a Switch 2 and haven’t played Donkey Kong Bananza yet, you’ll be able to find out for yourself why the other cool kids are saying “ooh, banana!” all the time.

Pokémon Pokopia

Quite a few people were expecting/hoping for news of a new Animal Crossing during the Nintendo Direct. While that didn’t happen, Nintendo had arguably something even more exciting to announce — especially if you’re both an Animal Crossing and Pokémon fan.

Pokémon Pokopia is the first Pokémon life simulation game. You’ll play as a Ditto who has been transformed to look like a human and turn empty land into a cozy paradise for both yourself and Pokémon. Ditto can learn abilities from Pokémon, such as using Squirtle’s Water Gun to give life to flora.

It looks utterly lovely. Pokémon Pokopia is coming to Switch 2 in 2026.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Nintendo used this Direct to seriously start filling out its Switch 2 slate for 2026. One of the games it’s publishing for the system next year is a new entry in the Fire Emblem series. It announced Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave during the showcase.

As ever, this will be a turn-based tactical RPG. The debut trailer touched on the story and characters in the upcoming game.

Metroid Prime 4 and Hades 2 release dates

We had a feeling these were coming soon, but release dates for both Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Hades 2 were both major announcements during the Direct. Samus has a rad, Tron-esque bike in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which will arrive on Switch and Switch 2 on December 4.

Hades 2, meanwhile, will arrive on Switch and Switch 2 on September 25. The full game will be available on Steam and Epic Games Store on the same day as it will exit early access on PC. There were be cross-save support across PC and Switch/Switch 2. The Switch 2 version will support 120fps gameplay when the console is docked. That Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong are dropping in the same month is pretty wild. Apologies to any designs you had on getting some sleep in September.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment release date

Nintendo announced Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment during a dedicated launch direct for Switch 2 back in April, and now there’s a release date for this hack and slash game. It’s coming to the console on November 6.

Age of Imprisonment, which was developed by Koei Tecmo’s AAA Games Studio, sees Princess Zelda traveling back in time and meeting Rauro and Sonia, the first king and queen of Hyrule. You’ll try to take down Ganondorf (yes, again) in what’s known as the Imprisoning War. Zonai devices will be at your disposal. According to the trailer, you’ll “uncover ancient truths that were only glimpsed in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.”

There’s two-player co-op support via split-screen and GameShare. Zelda, Rauru and Sonia are among the playable characters, and you’ll be able to swap between them. You can also play as a Korok for a change instead of torturing the poor creatures, you monsters.

AAA third-party games coming to Switch 2

Nintendo confirmed during the Direct that Resident Evil Requiem is coming to Switch 2. It’ll arrive on February 27, the same day the next entry in Capcom’s classic survival horror series debuts on other platforms. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village will also land on Switch on on February 27.

We learned back in April that the first installment of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy was bound for Switch 2 and now there’s a release date for that. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is coming to the system on January 22.

Switch 2 versions of indie classics

The Nintendo Switch was such an important platform for indie games, and several that became huge hits are getting Switch 2 versions. Overcooked 2 (the ultimate relationship test, in my opinion) will have support for 4K visuals, 60fps gameplay, GameShare and CameraPlay — the feature that allows you to see you and your teammate’s faces on screen as you play —in its Switch 2 version. That’s on the way this holiday season.

Stardew Valley will also support GameShare for co-op play on Switch 2. Mouse controls will be available, as well as four-player splitscreen and eight-player online action. Those who have the game on Switch already will get a free upgrade when the Switch 2 version arrives this fall.

Human Fall Flat is headed to Switch 2 in Spring 2026. That will also have support for mouse controls, GameShare and eight-person multiplayer.

It’s far too early to say whether Powerwash Simulator 2 will become an indie classic, but the original game was terrific and its sequel is getting a Switch 2 version as well. There’s no exact release date for Powerwash Simulator 2 as yet, but it’s still slated to arrive this fall.

Suika Game gets a sequel

Suika Game was a huge hit, and the sequel promises to soak up even more of my time. Suika Game Planet adds an extra dimension to the puzzle action. Instead of dropping fruit into a bucket and trying to combine two of the same items into a larger one, this time there’s a circular stage. That might be a fun wrinkle for anyone (me, hi) who gets frustrated about not being able to reach large fruit at the bottom of the container.

Suika Game Planet is coming to Switch and Switch 2 this winter and I might not be able to do anything else with my time after it drops. The Switch 2 version will support a GameShare mode that allows up to four players to work together.

Virtual Boy is back

Last but not least, Nintendo had an absolute shocker when it came to Switch Online + Expansion Pack. No, it’s not adding Super Mario Sunshine to the Gamecube app just yet. The company is bringing Virtual Boy games to the service, which is more bananas than anything you’ll find in Donkey Kong Bananza.

To play those games from a system that was notoriously undercooked (partly because Nintendo was placing much more focus on the massively more successful Nintendo 64 around that time), you’ll need an accessory. A $100 plastic tabletop one that looks just like the original Virtual Boy and a $25 cardboard version are on the way. They’re compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and, if it’s an authentic Virtual Boy experience, probably some eye strain.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The Xbox handheld showed me that handhelds are better with prongs

by admin September 12, 2025

Here’s a hot take: gaming handhelds are better with prongs.

How do I know? I hold a lot of handhelds (and gamepads) here at The Verge, but Microsoft and Asus’s upcoming Xbox Ally X might take the cake for the most comfortable to hold. And that handheld has basically the exact same design as the existing ROG Ally X I’ve reviewed not once but twice — except for two big prongs that let you grip the device.

Seriously, check out my comparison photos: the Xbox Ally X is an Ally X with upside-down antlers. It’s the one distinguishing design change, and that change alone instantly makes it feel comfortable, familiar, and secure.

From the front, it looks like Microsoft got Asus to ape the Nintendo GameCube (or better yet Wavebird) controller, but it’s more than that. I have a GameCube controller right here, as I type these words, and my hands delightfully melt into it too — but the Xbox Ally X doesn’t abandon the tips of my pinkies like the GameCube’s shorter kids-to-adults prongs do.

These are more like Sony’s PS5 DualSense prongs, or, I suppose, the prongs on a modern Xbox pad. They let me get my whole fingers around them, with that all-important notch at the bottom for my fingertips.

I can’t yet say that the Xbox Allys are the most comfortable to play, partly because I didn’t get to play much and partly because Microsoft and Asus, like other competitors, are all still firmly rejecting Valve’s superior thumb ergonomics. The Steam Deck places the thumbsticks, D-pad, and face buttons up top, all within perfect reach of my thumb’s natural arc, so I barely have to bend.

But though the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go S, and MSI Claw 8 all have substantial grips, and the Ally X wasn’t bad, I can’t get my fingers fully around any of them. I can with the prongs and notches on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. It’s worth it, even though it makes the console look a bit like a box with handles. My colleague Ash, who doesn’t appreciate the Steam Deck’s ergonomics, said in June that the Xbox Ally “felt like a literal dream.”

But when I visited Asus to check out the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, the company wouldn’t talk about price, and wouldn’t let me evaluate the new Windows experience. I spent my time comparing the hardware, then zeroed in on one core truth that, I expect, will ripple across the handheld industry: prongs rock.

These handhelds will ship on October 16th, which suggests that pre-orders will open soon. But despite my praise for prongs, I hope you’ll wait for the reviews. Meanwhile, here are some additional photos that Tom didn’t get to use from when he took the Xbox Ally X for a spin in August.

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September 12, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Rippling employee management review | TechRadar

by admin September 12, 2025

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Rippling is a one-stop software solution that lets businesses manage their HR needs along with providing a series of add-ons that can help improve efficiency.

This particular piece of software, Rippling HCM, is Rippling’s HR software. It does everything it says on the tin, from keeping tabs on worker stats to handling time off and timesheets.

Alongside HR, there are several benefits administration features within this all-in-one platform augmented by payroll and talent management tools.

Adding wider appeal is the way that Rippling lets you expand the feature set to include IT products, with the option for managing employee apps such as Slack and Gmail.

Rippling Employee Management Platform subscription options:

12 month plan – $8 per month ($96 total cost)

The IT aspect of Rippling gets an extra boost from the ability of the software to handle device management. Employee computers, software and security can all be administered using this innovative software package.

On a practical level, Rippling offers lots of flexibility as you can scale it up to include as many add-ons as you think your business needs, with pricing that adjusts accordingly.

Rippling: Pricing

Rippling is a bit cagey about pricing, which can often be perceived as a red flag.

You can take one of many approaches, beginning with the Rippling Platform. This is an all-in-one solution to workforce, payment and compliance management.

There are Core and Pro tiers, but most functionality is generally covered in the Core option unless you need advanced reporting and custom workflows.

Unlimited workflows, custom apps and Rippling’s API platform to connect with over 600 third-party apps and integrations are three separate add-ons, but like the subscriptions, the company won’t actually disclose how much they are.

Other than that, you can pick different modules within Rippling HCM, IT and Spend, so if your business may be on the smaller side and you need to piece together the important bits that you can afford, this is the way to go.

Of course, once you get to the point that you’ve included most features, you’ll be better off bundling them together into the Rippling Platform subscription.

(Image credit: Rippling)

Rippling: Features

Rippling’s software suite is mostly targeted at larger companies with bigger turnovers – it has a whole range of finance and people-related tools, and as such, costs can climb.

In terms of its HR software, it handles all the core elements that you’d expect from good HR software, like employee onboarding and offboarding, document management, leave and time off tracking, scheduling with support for clocking in and out, and time sheets.\

Its automation tools are particularly strong compared with other similar software, promising to speed up repetitive processes like onboarding.

Rather handily, Rippling HR also has an employee self-service portal, which helps ease the burden on HR teams who can make workers responsible for their own tracking.

The Employee Management Platform sits at the heart of Rippling and comes armed with a variety of tools, while also providing a unified employee database structure. Admins can carry out task management from here, keep tabs on workflow and approvals, perform reporting chores and customize other areas such as fields and alerts along with position management.

(Image credit: Rippling)

Move on through the HR management aspect of Rippling and you’ll find the capacity for carrying out full service payroll too.

In the US, this means federal, state and local tax filing, W2, W4, 1099 and new hire filing are all covered.

In addition, benefits administration chores are covered, with management of medical, dental, vision and 401K areas all capable of being handled. Employees can also be given the option of utilizing online self-service features.

Where Rippling’s software stands out against many others in this space is just how much it has to offer across the whole board. For example, HR and IT can work together on device management for better inventory, access permissions and general device management.

It also works with Rippling’s payroll software for expense management, corporate card issuance, bill paying and more.

Rippling: Ease of use

Everyday employee management tasks are easy to handle thanks to the lean, almost minimalistic interface, which offers speedy performance even when you’re navigating more complex data heavy areas such as running payroll and collating detailed reports.

Rippling also benefits from its easy integration with over 400 different apps, allowing you to add in extra functionality and speed up workflow with very little effort.

Full marks should go to the team who developed the Rippling interface as it’s got a great look and feel – customers often praise its intuitive design.

The overall design is slick, easy to use and feels bang up to date. This makes working with the feature set very easy indeed, with a central dashboard area that lets you dip into core features instantly.

(Image credit: Rippling)

The main menu offers quickfire access to key areas of Rippling, such as people, apps, tasks and reporting, while the central work area offers up a reassuringly straightforward overview of the task in hand.

We also love the single sign on option, which lets users pick from their list of apps in one location. Add it all together and the Rippling user experience proves to be wonderfully fuss free.

Once you’re in, setting up automations take a bit of thinking, but they’ll save you plenty of time in the long run.

The mobile experience seems pretty solid for everyday tasks carried out by workers, but admins will definitely want to access the full desktop version.

Rippling: Support

There are all of the usual support options available to customers of Rippling, with subscribed users being able to log into a dedicated help center.

The support pages also include useful guides, webinars and documentation, so if you’re happy with self-service then you should be able to find the answer in Rippling’s comprehensive library.

You’ll find that the support is basically divided down the middle, with an option for administrators who handle all things Rippling for a company able to get help via the center mentioned above.

Meanwhile, employees who make use of Rippling’s features and functions and who need support are encouraged to contact the designated Rippling administrator at their place of employment.

Getting hold of support could be a bit easier, in our opinion. Th4ere’s an online chat pop-up and a form, but no email address or phone number.

(Image credit: Rippling)

Rippling: Final verdict

Rippling is a great proposition if you’re a business that’s looking to streamline your HR workflow along with other administration tasks. With its slick interface, flexible package options and keen pricing there’s plenty to like about Rippling.

In recent years, we’ve seen plenty of investment into the platform, with genuinely useful improvements like automation and even new tools altogether.

While the costs might start to add up as you add on features, including the likes of the payroll and app management aspects of the software, the resulting increase in productivity looks like it could produce a decent return on your investment.

We think it’s a strong choice for medium to large organizations, or smaller ones that expect to scale. It offers the most value to those who want to centralize administrative tools and have them work with each other without barriers.

The best bit about this arrangement is that you’ll only end up paying for the features that you need, with the provision for adding more easily if you find your business needs them further down the line.

Rippling Employee Management Platform deals

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September 12, 2025 0 comments