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Gaming Gear

FIFA Club World Cup Soccer: Stream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City Live From Anywhere

by admin June 16, 2025

See at DAZN

Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free

DAZN

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

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The FIFA Club World Cup action shifts to Cincinnati on Sunday for a Group C clash that appears to be something of a mismatch, as German Bundesliga behemoth Bayern Munich takes on tournament underdog Auckland City.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch every match of the tournament as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the match isn’t available where you are, along with a full fixture list.

Six-time UEFA Champions League winner Bayern comes into this tournament fresh from having clinched the German championship last month. With star man Harry Kane only just back from last week’s international duty with England, veteran striker Thomas Müller looks set to deputise up front for the Bavarians, while key defender Alphonso Davies is set to miss the tournament with a knee injury.

Auckland’s group of mainly part-time players, meanwhile, will be looking to pull off a major shock. The current OFC Champions League holder is seen as the weakest side in the tournament, but it comes into this game sitting in third in its domestic New Zealand National League and in reasonably good form, with three wins from its last four fixtures.

Bayern Munich take on Auckland City on Sunday, June 15, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET or 9 a.m. PT. That makes it a 5 p.m. BST start in the UK and a 2 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Monday.

Thomas Muller is set to lead the line for Bayern Munich today in what is set to be the 35-year-old’s final tournament.

Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images

Livestream the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for free

The great news for footy fans is that sports streaming platform DAZN is set to broadcast all 63 matches of the FIFA Club World Cup free in almost every country, with coverage available in multiple languages.

DAZN

Existing DAZN subscribers or Freemium members can watch every game of the tournament as part of their current membership.

If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up for a free DAZN Freemium account using your email address to watch all the action at no cost through the DAZN app.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, DAZN offers a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the FIFA Club World Cup soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.

It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.

However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.

If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.

James Martin/CNET

Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City free in the UK

As well as DAZN, footy fans in the UK have a second option for watching FIFA Club World Cup matches that is also free.

Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 will show 23 select features live during the tournament, including today’s tournament opener.

That also means this match can be livestreamed via the network’s My5 online service. Coverage begins at 4 p.m. BST.

Channel 5 is available through Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky or Virgin Media.

If you want to stream the network’s coverage from the tournament, you can head to Channel5.com or download the dedicated My5 app for iOS, Android and smart TVs.

Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City in Australia

Like the UK, Australia also has a second option for watching the tournament live. Alongside DAZN’s free coverage, pay TV broadcaster Foxtel and its sister streaming service Kayo will also be showing all 63 games.

Kayo Sports

A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices.

The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.

Better still, if you’re a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial.

Quick tips for streaming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer using a VPN

With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

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June 16, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

FIFA Club World Cup Soccer: Stream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami Live From Anywhere

by admin June 15, 2025

See at DAZN

Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free

DAZN

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

See more details

The inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup gets underway on Saturday with soccer legend Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates taking on Africa’s most successful club, Al Ahly.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is fit to start today’s game, alongside fellow big guns Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets however Spanish star Jordi Alba is set to miss out because of a hamstring injury. The Floridians form hasn’t been great coming into today’s game, with Javier Mascherano’s team currently sitting third in the MLS Eastern Conference after a run of just four wins from their last 12 games across all competitions.

Al Ahly, meanwhile, secured a record-extending 45th Egyptian Premier League title last month and come into this tournament opener having won their last six competitive matches. The prolific Wessam Abou Ali is the Red Devils’ key man, with the Palestinian striker having scored eight goals in Al Ahly’s last six matches.

Al Ahly take on Inter Miami on Saturday, June 14, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. PT. That makes it a 1 a.m. BST start in the UK and a 10 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Sunday.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not appearing in this summer’s tournament, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has the chance to surpass the Portuguese star’s record for most FIFA Club World Cup goals. Messi has scored five goals in five Club World Cup appearances — just two behind Ronaldo’s tally.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Livestream the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for free

DAZN

Existing DAZN subscribers or Freemium members can watch every game of the tournament as part of their current membership.

If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up for a free DAZN Freemium account using your email address to watch all the action at no cost through the DAZN app.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, DAZN offers a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

How to watch Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the FIFA Club World Cup soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.

James Martin/CNET

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

Livestream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami free in the UK

As well as DAZN, footy fans in the UK have a second option for watching FIFA Club World Cup matches that is also free.

Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 is set to show 23 select features live during the tournament, including today’s tournament opener.

That also means this match can be live streamed via the network’s My5 online service. Coverage begins at 12 midnight BST.

Channel 5 is available through Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky or Virgin Media.

If you want to stream the network’s coverage from the tournament, you can head to channel5.com or download the dedicated My5 app for iOS, Android and smart TVs

Livestream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in Australia

Kayo Sports

A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices.

The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.

Better still, if you’re a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial.

Quick tips for streaming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer using a VPN

With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

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June 15, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live vs. DirecTV and More

by admin June 15, 2025

Making the switch from cable to streaming could feel confusing or like a chore, but it might be exactly what you’re looking for. As TV costs increase, there are plenty of alternatives you can consider, such as live TV streaming services and affordable skinny bundles. Cord-free live services come with perks like a broad mix of channels, DVR and no long-term commitments. You can stream sports and more, and these services offer wider channel options than antennas but also let you watch on your laptop or phone.

Choosing a service can be tricky because of pricing and regional sports networks, but there are six main platforms to consider (we’re not including smaller ones): Sling TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Fubo and Philo.

It really boils down to the channels, right? We’ve looked at who carries the top 100 channels in their main lineups to help you decide which one could be the best for your household.

Read more: Best Sports Streaming Service for 2025

The Big Chart: Top 100 channels compared (updated June 2025)

The main difference between the services is their channel selection. All of them offer different lineups of channels for various prices.

Below, you’ll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all six services. Note that not every service has a worthy 100. There are actually seven listed because Sling TV has two “base” tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you’re wondering, I chose which “top” channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD.

DirecTV cut “Stream” from its name, but its streaming offerings remain. Its basic plan starts at $87 a month, while YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo and Hulu Plus Live TV’s plans all cost more now, affecting the value of these services based on their channel lineups. Don’t forget Fubo’s big loss of Warner Bros. Discovery channels such as Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Magnolia Network OWN and TLC, which may make it less appealing.

However, there are numerous live TV streaming choices available. Sling TV’s basic monthly packages are $46 in most cities and Philo offers a small roster but packages AMC Plus access with it. But costs continue to go up and those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.

Some more stuff to know about the chart:

Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service’s name.
No = The channel isn’t available at all on that service.
$ = The channel is available for an extra fee, either a la carte or as part of a more expensive package or add-on.
Regional sports networks — local channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams — are not listed. DirecTV Stream’s $130 tier has the most RSNs by far but a few are available on other services. You can also check out its MySports package for $70 and Xfinity’s sports and news offering.
Local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city. Because the availability of these channels varies, you’ll want to check the service’s website to verify that it carries your local network.
Local PBS stations are only currently available on DirecTV Stream, Hulu Live and YouTube TV. Again, you’ll want to check local availability.
Sling Blue subscribers in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City must now pay $51 per month, but have access to local ABC, Fox and NBC channels. Customers in Houston, Fresno, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina, now have ABC and Fox on their Blue or Orange-and-Blue subscriptions at no extra charge. This is not reflected in the chart. Check Sling’s site to see which local channels are available in your area.
Fubo subscribers may find that the ACC Network and SEC Network are included with their package at no extra cost. Check availability for your state.
The chart columns are arranged in order of price, so if you can’t see everything you want, try scrolling right.
Overwhelmed? An easier-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.

Philo vs. Sling TV vs. Fubo vs. YouTube TV vs. DirecTV vs. Hulu: Top 100 channels compared

Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Total channels: 42243578754655ABC NoNoNoYesYesYesYesCBS NoNoNoYesYesYesYesFox NoNoYesYesYesYesYesNBC NoNoYesYesYesYesYesPBS NoNoNoYesYesNoYesCW NoNoNoYesYesYesYes (limited)MyNetworkTV NoNoNoYesYesNoYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)A&E YesYesYesNoYesNo$ACC Network No$NoYesYesYes$Accuweather YesNoNoNoNoYesYesAMC YesYesYesYesNoNoYesAnimal Planet YesNoNoYesYesNoYesBBC America YesYesYesYesNoNoYesBBC World News Yes$$YesNoNo$BET YesYesYesYesYesYesYesBig Ten Network NoNo$YesYesYes$Bloomberg TV NoYesYesNoYesYesYesBoomerang No$$No$NoYesBravo NoNoYesYesYesYesYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Cartoon Network NoYesYesYesYesNoYesCBS Sports Network NoNoNoYesYesYes$Cheddar YesNoNoYesYesYesYesCinemax NoNoNo$$No$CMT Yes$$YesYesYesYesCNBC NoNo$YesYesYesYesCNN NoYesYesYesYesNoYesComedy Central YesYesYesYesYesYesYesCooking Channel Yes$$No$$$Destination America Yes$$No$$$Discovery Channel YesNoYesYesYesNoYesDisney Channel NoYesNoYesYesYesYesDisney Junior No$NoYesYesYesYesDisney XD No$NoYesYesYesYesE! NoNoYesYesYesYesYesESPN NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPN 2 NoYesNoYesYesYesYesESPNEWS No$NoYesYes$$ESPNU No$NoYesYes$$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)Fubo ($85)DirecTV ($87)Food Network YesYesYesYesYesNoYesFox Business NoNo$YesYesYesYesFox News NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS1 NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFS2 NoNo$YesYesYes$Freeform NoYesNoYesYesYesYesFX NoNoYesYesYesYesYesFX Movies NoNo$YesYes$$FXX NoNo$YesYesYesYesFYI Yes$$NoYesNo$Golf Channel NoNo$YesYesYes$Hallmark Yes$$YesYesYesYesHBO/Max NoNoNo$$No$HGTV YesYesYesYesYesNoYesHistory YesYesYesNoYesNo$HLN No$YesYesYesNoYesIFC YesYesYesYesNoNoYesInvestigation Discovery YesYesYesYesYesNoYesLifetime YesYesYesNoYesNo$Lifetime Movie Network Yes$$NoYesNo$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87)Magnolia Network Yes$$YesYesNo$MGM+ $$$$NoNo$MLB Network No$$NoYes$$Motor Trend YesYesNoYesYesNoYesMSNBC NoNoYesYesYesYesYesMTV Yes$$YesYesYesYesMTV2 Yes$$Yes$$YesNational Geographic NoNoYesYesYesYesNoNat Geo Wild NoNo$YesYes$$NBA TV No$$YesNo$$NFL Network NoNoYesYesYesYes$NFL Red Zone NoNo$$$$NoNHL Network No$$NoNo$$Nickelodeon YesNoNoYesYesYesYesNick Jr. YesYesYesYesYesYes$Nicktoons Yes$$Yes$$$OWN YesNoNoYesYesNo$Oxygen NoNo$YesYesYes$Paramount Network Yes$$YesYesYesYesScience Yes$$No$$$Channel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87)SEC Network No$NoYesYes$$Showtime No$$$$$$Smithsonian YesNoNoYesYesYes$Starz $$$$$$$Sundance TV Yes$$YesNoNoYesSyfy NoNoYesYesYesYesYesTastemade Yes$$YesNoYes$TBS NoYesYesYesYesNoYesTCM No$$YesYesNo$TeenNick Yes$$Yes$$YesTelemundo NoNoNoYesYesYes$Tennis Channel No$$NoNo$$TLC YesNoYesYesYesNoYesTNT NoYesYesYesYesNoYesTravel Channel YesYesYesYesYesNo$TruTV No$YesYesYesNo$TV Land Yes$$YesYesYesYesUSA Network NoNoYesYesYesYesYesVH1 Yes$$YesYesYesYesVice YesYesYesNoYesNo$WE tv Yes$$YesNoNoYesChannel Philo ($28)Sling Orange ($46)Sling Blue ($46)YouTube TV ($83)Hulu with Live TV ($83)FuboTV ($85)DirecTV ($87) James Martin/CNET

Hulu Plus Live TV, which includes access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, now costs $83 a month for its base package. Its channel selection isn’t as robust as YouTube TV, yet Hulu’s significant catalog of on-demand content sets it apart. Exclusive titles such as Shōgun, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building give it a content advantage no other service can match.

Live TV subscribers also receive unlimited DVR that includes fast-forwarding and on-demand playback — at no additional cost. It’s a move that has aligned Hulu with its competitors in terms of features, but the channel lineup may still be a deciding factor. It’s the same price as YouTube TV, which has more channels, but the access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus may make it a more appealing choice for you. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.

James Martin/CNET

With an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $83 per month YouTube TV is one of the best cable TV replacements. It offers a 4K upgrade add-on for an additional price, but the downside is there isn’t much to watch at present unless you watch select channels. If you don’t mind paying a bit more than the Sling TVs of the world, or want to watch live NBA games, YouTube TV offers a high standard of live TV streaming. Read our YouTube TV review.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If you want to save a little money and don’t mind missing out on local channels, Sling TV is the best of the budget services. Its Orange and Blue packages start at $46 per month, and you can combine them for a monthly rate of $61 ($66 in some regions). The Orange option nets you one stream, while Blue gives you three. It’s not as comprehensive or as easy to navigate as YouTube, but with a bit of work, including adding an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it’s an unbeatable value. We’ll also add that the service offers local channels such as ABC and CBS in some regions where the monthly rate is $51. Read our Sling TV review.

Sarah Tew/CNET

DirecTV’s base streaming package costs more than all the other platforms on this list and its stiffest competition is still Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTube TV. With its channel selection, it’s ideal for sports fans who want to watch local or national games.

The service does have its pluses, though — for example, it includes the flipper-friendly ability to swipe left and right to change channels. Additionally, it includes some channels some other services can’t, including nearly 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $87 Entertainment with sports package may suit your needs with its 75-plus channels. But for cord-cutters who want to follow their local NBA or MLB team, DirecTV Stream’s $115 Choice package is a more robust live TV streaming pick because it has access to more regional sports networks than the competition. Nonetheless, you’ll want to make sure your channel is included here, and not available on one of our preferred picks, before you pony up. Read our DirecTV streaming service review.

Ty Pendlebury/CNET

There’s a lot to like about Fubo — it offers a wide selection of channels and its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans or NBA, NHL and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of Fubo’s RSNs. It’s also a great choice for NFL fans because it’s one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that offer NFL Network and optional RedZone. As of February 2025, Fubo is charging more for its service and access to Bally Sports RSNs. The biggest hole in Fubo’s lineup is the lack of Warner Bros. Discovery networks, including Cartoon Network, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, TBS and TNT — especially as the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular MLB, NBA and NHL. Those missing channels, and the $85 price tag for the base plan, make it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers. Read our Fubo review.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Philo raised its price from $25 to $28 for new subscribers and added an AMC Plus bundle, and it’s still a cheap live TV streaming service with a variety of channels. But it lacks sports channels, local stations and big-name news networks — although BBC news and Cheddar are available. Philo offers bread-and-butter cable staples like Comedy Channel, Magnolia Network and Nickelodeon and specializes in lifestyle and reality programming. It’s also one of the cheapest live services that streams Paramount, home of Yellowstone, and it includes a cloud DVR and optional add-ons from Epix and Starz. We think most people are better off paying a few bucks more for Sling TV’s superior service, but if Philo has every channel you want, it’s a decent deal. Read our Philo review.

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June 15, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Sony remains committed to “diverse and resilient” live service games, including forthcoming Marathon and Fairgames, despite high profile failures

by admin June 14, 2025

During an annual Sony business presentation, CEO Hermen Hulst stated the company remains committed to building “a diverse and resilient” portfolio of live service games, which includes the unreleased Marathon and Fairgames. That’s despite high profile live service failures, in addition to controversy with these two forthcoming games.

Hulst stated that Sony is building on the successes of games such as Helldivers 2 and Destiny 2 for future projects, adding: “We look forward to showcasing our progress with Marathon”, a game that has seen no shortage of controversy recently.

Helldivers 2, the large jewel in Sony’s live service crown, was dubbed a “resounding critical and commercial success” by Hulst, who highlighted both its ability to retain a passionate community and win industry awards.

Watch this Marathon gameplay trailer, if you want.Watch on YouTube

Hulst called Marathon “innovative and bold”. No other compliments were offered to Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, though the accompanying slide noted “strong early engagement” as its prime achievement so far.

An interesting perspective to be sure, at least as far as Marathon is concerned. While much of what Hulst said about Helldivers 2 is true – the game has managed to remain a fantastic success story for the industry giant – Marathon has found itself on the receiving end of some exceptional problems.

The “strong early engagement” noted in the presentation doesn’t reflect the available player figures for the games’ closed alpha. During this short-lived test, Marathon shed roughly 80 percent of its initial alpha playerbase. As far as engagement via discussion, Marathon’s many problems dominated the conversation, such as its locked three-player format and lack of feasible solo mode, repetitive nature, lack of crucial extraction shooter features such as proximity voice, and more.

One of the biggest merits of Marathon was its aesthetic, which soon soured due to an art plagiarism scandal. Bungie admitted to the use of external art in the games development process, blaming it on a former employee and committing to a full audit of in-game assets in order to remove any stolen work. This situation would reportedly send morale at Bungie into “free fall”.

Then we have Fairgames, which hasn’t been shown off much since its initial reveal. A co-operative heist game, it was recently delayed due to studio founder Jade Raymond departing for greener pastures. This came following worrying external tests, according to a report from Bloomberg.

According to Raymond in a 2022 Gamesindustry.biz article, “more than 30 percent of the studio is currently working on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based dev tools”, technology that has proven divisive in recent years. Not to mention what could possibly be the most devastating hit to Fairgames yet: the removal of the dollar sign from its title.

It is clear that, despite uncertainty surrounding Sony’s upcoming live service releases, the company wishes to remain entrenched in the space. Or, at the very least, to appear confident in its continued presence in the world of live service. It’s worth noting the full record of Sony’s venture into live service, which includes the legendary blunder Concord, a cancelled live service God of War project, The Last of Us Online, and more. Sony, which initially wanted to release 12 live service games by March 2026, has cut that figure down to six.

Sony’s single-player output however has proven a far better offering for PlayStation fans. Earlier in this presentation, Hulst highlighted releases such as Astro Bot, God of War: Ragnarok, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Describing such releases as “a core strength” for Sony, it appears as though this style of game has proven more successful overall for the company.

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June 14, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Mass layoffs at Days Gone studio Sony Bend after Sony pull the plug on live service game

by admin June 12, 2025

Sony have confirmed the cancellation of a live service project amid mass layoffs at Sony Bend, the team behind open world zombie biker Days Gone.

Earlier in the week, Bloomberg reported that Sony Bend were doing away with about 40 people, following the nuking of an unannounced live service game earlier in the year. Amongst the people affected is former senior animator Robert Morrison, who announced his departure on Xitter.

The studio’s social media account acknowledged the layoffs, without sharing exact numbers, adding that Sony Bend “remain committed to building the future of Bend Studio with creativity, passion, and innovation in the titles we craft.”

Now, Sony have confirmed the departures in an email to Eurogamer. “Earlier this year, Bend Studio wrapped development on a live service concept,” it reads. “After careful consideration, we chose not to move forward with it. As the team shifts focus to its next project, we’ve made strategic changes to better position the studio for long-term success.”

“As part of this transition, a workforce reduction has taken place at the studio,” the statement goes on. Again, no hard numbers. According to Bloomberg, Sony Bend now have a new game in the works.

All this continues Sony’s on-going partial retreat from blockbuster live service productions, which has seen them cancel The Last Of Us Online, a co-op Spider-Man and a new God Of War game despite 2022-era plans to launch more than 10 of the things by March 2026. As Brendy wrote in January, when news of the Bend project’s abandonment first surfaced, Sony appear terrified by the failure of last year’s Concord, which they shut down mere weeks into its shelf life after it failed to accrue figures of sufficient bigness at launch.

To quote Arrowhead Games Studio CEO Shams Jorjani from an interview in April: “Who among these executives is stepping down? Or slashing their salaries?” Best of luck to all affected.

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June 12, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Splatoon 3’s Free Switch 2 Update Now Live, Here Are The Patch Notes

by admin June 12, 2025

Nintendo has rolled out a fresh update for Splatoon 3. On top of visual improvements on Switch 2, the ver. 10.0.0 patch introduces a wealth of new content to the game, along with some weapon balance tweaks and other gameplay adjustments.

According to the official patch notes, Splatoon 3 now looks and runs better when played on Switch 2. Moving around hub areas like Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds is now smoother, and the visuals overall are more detailed. Nintendo says it has also “smoothed animations” for jellyfish and other characters around the game.

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Now Playing: Splatoon Raiders Reveal And Splatoon 3 Update 10.0.0 Overview Trailer | Nintendo Switch 2

The update also adds a range of new weapons as part of the “Splatlands Collection.” 30 weapons in total are now available in the Ammo Knights shop. The classic Splatoon 1 stage Urchin Underpass has been added as well, bringing the total number of multiplayer maps to 25.

Finally, the update makes a range of balance adjustments to certain weapons and specials. Among the changes, both the ’91 and ’92 variants of the S-Blast now consume more ink, while the Wave Breaker’s durability has been improved. The weapon freshness cap has also been increased, and a Series Weapon Power feature has been implemented in Anarchy Battles.

You can read the full patch notes, along with details on all of the new weapons, below.

It’s been a big week for Splatoon news. In addition to the ver. 10.0.0 update, Nintendo announced a new spin-off game called Splatoon Raiders. The title is coming exclusively to Switch 2 and casts players in the role of a mechanic who must adventure across a mysterious island chain known as the Spirhalite Islands alongside the three members of Deep Cut.

Splatoon 3 Ver. 10.0.0 Patch Notes

Added Features and Game Content Changes

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:

Made it so that the screen displays in more detail.
Made on-screen movement smoother in the following areas.
- Splatsville
- Inkopolis
- Inkopolis Square
- Grand Festival Grounds
In Salmon Run, smoothed Salmonid animations even when there’s a large number of Salmonids in the stage.
Smoothed animations for certain characters, such as jellyfish.
Changed the animation that displays in the bottom right of the screen when switching scenes.
Increased the resolution of images stored in the Nintendo Switch 2 Album when screens are captured using Photo Mode or the Capture Button on the controller.

The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch:

Made it so that certain elements outside the stage and unrelated to battle do not display when battling in Splat Zones/Tower Control/Rainmaker/Clam Blitz modes.
- This change is to reduce differences in game operation speed as much as possible when compared with Nintendo Switch 2.
- In Recon Mode, all elements will display as they have up to this point.

All other changes below apply to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.

Changes to Multiplayer

Added a new stage, Urchin Underpass.
Added 30 new weapons as part of the Splatlands Collection – Barazushi / Emberz.
- These weapons will be available in the shops after applying the update. Splatlands Collection – Barazushi WeaponSub WeaponSpecial WeaponSplash-o-matic GCK-OToxic MistInk StormSplattershot Pro FRZ-NSplat BombTenta MissilesJet Squelcher COB-RBurst BombTriple SplashdownH-3 Nozzlenose VIP-RSuction BombTriple InkstrikeRapid Blaster Pro WNT-RSuction BombTacticoolerCarbon Roller ANG-LFizzy BombSuper ChumpPainbrush BRN-ZSplash WallTrizookaSplat Charger CAM-OSprinklerCrab TankSplatterscope CAM-OSprinklerCrab TankTri-Slosher ASH-NSplat BombSplattercolor ScreenMini Splatling RTL-RSquid BeakonTrizookaDapple Dualies NOC-TSplat BombKiller Wail 5.1Tenta Brella CRE-MToxic MistSuper ChumpREEF-LUX 450 MIL-KTorpedoBooyah BombSplatana Wiper RUS-TCurling BombTrizooka Splatlands Collection – Emberz WeaponSub WeaponSpecial WeaponColorz AerosprayBurst BombSplattercolor ScreenGlamorz SplattershotBurst BombKraken RoyaleClawz .96 GalAngle ShooterTacticoolerGlitterz L-3 NozzlenoseSplat BombInkjetGleamz BlasterSquid BeakonCrab TankStarz Dynamo RollerPoint SensorKiller Wail 5.1Planetz Big Swig RollerTorpedoTriple SplashdownCometz OctobrushAutobombKraken RoyaleHornz Dread WringerCurling BombCrab TankTorrentz Hydra SplatlingSprinklerBig BubblerTwinklez Splat DualiesFizzy BombBig BubblerHoofz Dualie SquelchersPoint SensorSplattercolor ScreenPatternz Undercover BrellaCurling BombKiller Wail 5.1Bulbz Tri-StringerAngle ShooterInkjetStickerz Splatana StamperAutobombBooyah Bomb
Specifications for some main weapons have changed. WeaponChange DetailsS-BLAST ’92
S-BLAST ’91
- Increased the amount of ink consumed by approximately 11%.
- Increased the amount of time between firing and becoming able to act again by approximately 1/20th of a second.
Specifications for some sub weapons have changed. Sub WeaponChange DetailsToxic Mist
- Reduced the amount of ink consumed from 60% of a standard ink tank to 55%.
- Increased the amount of time it takes for ink to begin recovering after throwing by about 1/12th of a second.
Specifications for some special weapons have changed. Special WeaponChange DetailsTriple Inkstrike
- Damage dealt to Crab Tank armor increased by approximately 50%.
Booyah Bomb
- Damage dealt to Crab Tank armor increased by approximately 100%.
Wave Breaker
- Increased durability by approximately 20%.
- Decreased damage taken from ink flung by opponents’ splatanas by approximately 50%.
Crab Tank
- Reduced damage dealt by a direct cannon shot from 60.0 to 50.0.
  - With this change, the damage dealt simultaneously by a direct cannon shot and the explosion is reduced from 90.0 to 80.0.
Added a Series Weapon feature to Anarchy Battle (Series) for Rank S and higher.
- In Anarchy Battle (Series) for Rank S or higher, Series Weapon Power will be measured for each weapon players equip. They will be matched with other players whose Series Weapon Power is similar to theirs for the currently equipped weapon.
- Series Weapon Power is the same for all four modes.
- Players can check their current Series Weapon Power for each weapon by pressing the ZL Button on the Equip screen to display the weapon’s details.
- Series Weapon Power resets each time the season changes, but the highest value players have achieved will be recorded in SplatNet 3.
In Anarchy Battle (Open), increased the amount of change in Rank Points per battle by approximately 2.5x.
Made it so that call signs, which are automatically determined using factors such as equipped gear, will display in X Battles in place of nicknames.
- After the battle ends, you can check players’ actual nicknames and IDs (the string of numbers and letters starting with #) on screens for checking results, such as the match menu and the lobby terminal.
- For X Rankings, players’ actual nicknames and IDs will display.

Changes to SplatNet 3

Players’ Best Nine will now display.
- “Best Nine” indicates the nine weapons with the highest Series Weapon Power out of all the weapons a player owns.
Best Nine rankings will now display.
- Best Nine rankings are rankings where players compete for total Series Weapon Power for their Best Nine.
Notifications from SplatNet 3 will now display in the notifications box within the Nintendo Switch App.

Other Changes

Increased the maximum value for weapon Freshness to 10★.
- Players can earn new badges for weapons by achieving Freshness 6★ to 10★.
- Once the update has been applied, weapons that had received XP beyond the maximum value before applying the update will have their Freshness increase after one battle by an amount proportionate to the amount of XP received up to this point.
Added new badges players can acquire based on the number of weapons with Freshness ★★★★ or higher.
Made it so that other players a player has battled with in Anarchy Battle (Series) and Splatfest Battle (Pro) will not display in the Users You Have Played With system feature of Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.

As a bonus update, in this update we added weapons and a stage, increased the maximum Freshness, implemented a Series Weapon feature for Anarchy Battle (Series), added a call sign feature to X Battles, and performed optimization of operations on Nintendo Switch 2.

For Anarchy Battle (Series), we implemented a new Series Weapon feature targeted toward players Rank S or higher.

With this feature, the Series Weapon Power will be measured for each weapon currently equipped, and players will be matched up against others with similar levels of power.

We implemented this feature in hopes that players will enjoy battling using a variety of weapons, including the Splatlands Collection – Barazushi / Emberz weapons added in this update.

Additionally, we made balance changes to multiplayer battles.

For S-BLAST ’92 and S-BLAST ’91, we have made adjustments to give players fighting against them more room to counter because, from the opponent’s point of view, there seemed to be no openings at any distance.

For the Crab Tank, we lowered the maximum damage of the cannon to decrease the frequency that the person being attacked is defeated without any opportunity to evade. We also made it easier for other special weapons to fight against the Crab Tank.

For Toxic Mist, we have reduced the amount of ink consumed to make it easier to fight in combination with main weapons. On the other hand, we have simultaneously extended the time before ink begins to recover so that this change does not lead to tactics where players simply continuously throw their sub weapons.

The next update will focus on multiplayer balance based on analysis of changes to the situation that come with these weapon additions.

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June 12, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Ripple News XRP Ledger’s Ethereum-Compatible Sidechain to Go Live in Q2

by admin June 11, 2025

Decentralized Layer 1 blockchain XRP Ledger’s (XRPL) sidechain that’s compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is set to go live in the second quarter, Jaazi Cooper, director of product management at Ripple, and David Schwartz, Ripple’s chief technology officer said at the ongoing APEX 2025 conference in Singapore.

EVM compatibility refers to the ability of the blockchain to run Ethereum-based decentralized applications and smart contracts seamlessly.

The XRPL EVM sidechain testnet went live early this year and is experiencing rapid growth, according to Peersyst Technologies.

“87 new entities – with no prior XRP involvement – are now contributing to the ecosystem: infrastructure, apps, and demand generation,” Peersyst said on X. “When mainnet goes live, all of it becomes part of the XRP ecosystem – possibly the biggest onboarding in XRP history.”

The EVM sidechain will allow users to potentially generate yield through DeFi applications, such as liquidity pools, and smart contract interactions.

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June 11, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Mass Layoff At Days Gone Studio After Live Service Cancelation

by admin June 10, 2025

Days Gone maker Bend Studio has been hit by layoffs. Roughly a third of the first-party PlayStation team was cut following the recent cancelation of an unannounced live service project, but Sony confirmed the studio is working on a new project now and it remains “confident in its future and creative direction.”

Nintendo Switch 2 Price Is Set at $450 for Now, But Could Go Higher

“Earlier this year, Bend Studio wrapped development on a live service concept. After careful consideration, we chose not to move forward with it,” a spokesperson for Sony confirmed to Kotaku in an email. “As the team shifts focus to its next project, we’ve made strategic changes to better position the studio for long-term success. As part of this transition, a workforce reduction has taken place at the studio. This decision was not made lightly, and we are extremely grateful for the meaningful contributions of all those impacted. Bend Studio has been a valued part of PlayStation Studios for decades, and we remain confident in its future and creative direction.”

About 40 developers at the Oregon-based studio were laid today, as first reported by Bloomberg. The project they were previously working on was canceled earlier this year amid a purge of some internal live service projects, including an online God of War spin-off at Bluepoint Games. “Bend Studio laid off a bunch of people today,” senior animator Robert Morrison posted on X. “I was a part of the layoffs. I did my best. Hopefully I can find a new team to join.”

Best known for the Syphon Filter espionage games in the PS1 and PS2 eras, Bend Studio later moved on to developing handheld ports of first-party franchises like Resistance and Uncharted before eventually making 2019’s open world zombie blockbuster Days Gone. The game didn’t review as highly as some PlayStation exclusives but still sold well.

While fans pined for a sequel, the studio hasn’t released a game since. Days Gone received a PS5 version earlier this year but has otherwise laid dormant as Bend Studio reportedly worked on a new live service IP. Leaked images made it appear like the now canceled game was an online multiplayer loot shooter of sorts, though no official details about the project were ever shared publicly.

The Bend Studio cuts are the latest self-inflicted wound of a PS5 generation live service pivot that’s left Sony conspicuously short on big first-party blockbusters. Live service spin-offs of Twisted Metal and The Last of Us were also canceled, while Concord’s launch went so poorly the company refunded the game and shutdown the studio behind it which had acquired just a couple years prior.

Another upcoming online shooter, Fairgame$, was recently delayed according to Bloomberg after it received negative feedback from external testing. That studio’s head, Jade Raymond, departed around the same time.

Update 6/10/2025 5:06 p.m. ET: Added statement from Sony.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Multiplayer game and live streaming gaming platform Noice shuts down

by admin June 10, 2025

Multiplayer game and live streaming gaming platform Noice is closing down.

Despite raising $21 million in 2023, CEO Tuomas Rinta wrote in a statement posted to LinkedIn that while the news wasn’t “a surprise to anyone in the company,” he wanted people to be proud of “what [they’d] built.”

“Last Monday, I went in front of the team at Noice and had to deliver the message I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to, to tell them that the story of Noice is coming to an end,” he wrote. “It wasn’t a surprise to anyone in the company, as we’ve been openly discussing the tough fundraising market we’re in, but of course we wanted to be hopeful until the end that we could deliver a positive outcome and our story would continue.

“My journey at Noice is a shorter one than many others, who have been building this platform for over five years […] In these moments, people go through many emotions – disappointment, frustration, even worry as loss of your job in this market can be scary. But I also told people that I hope that there is one emotion that we feel that once we get through this dark moment and look back at what we built, and that’s pride.”

Chairman and co-founder Jussi Laakkonen also shared a statement on LinkedIn, saying writing the words “Noice is shutting down,” “stings like hell.”

“Today is one of those days that I never want to have. But the days, weeks, months and years leading up to this day are full of extraordinary moments that I will cherish, because I got to again be part of a fantastic startup team building truly incredible and ambitious stuff,” Laakkonen added.

Rinta closed on thanking his colleagues and “personally vouching” for every one who has been made redundant.

“We’ll be putting together a list of names and roles that people are looking for. If you are hiring, feel free to reach out to me directly and I can put you in touch with people from the team,” Rinta concluded.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Live Stream French Open Final

by admin June 8, 2025

Sinner faced one of the toughest challenges in this year’s French Open — defeating Djokovic — and his victory was nothing short of spectacular. Now, all eyes are on the highly anticipated Sinner vs Alcaraz showdown, which promises to be a fierce and unforgettable French Open final.

If you’re having trouble finding a stream, we’ve got you covered. You can watch Sinner vs Alcaraz live on a free channel — no subscription or fees required. Forget overpriced streaming services, there’s a better way.

Stream Sinner vs Alcaraz online for free on 9Now. All the details are just below.

Where to watch Sinner vs Alcaraz Live for Free: 9now

Okay, so 9Now is the place you so desperately seek. It’s an Australian channel, or more precisely, a video-on-demand service. As a Nine Network property, it allows you to watch all of its channels online.

Gem, the channel that streams Sinner vs Alcaraz online, is available on 9Now, as well. Since we’re discussing Australian TV channels, you’ll be able to enjoy the match with English commentary and in Full HD.

Watch Sinner vs Alcaraz With NordVPN

9Now requires each user to register an account, however. This shouldn’t be an issue, as the channel doesn’t need a subscription, and an account is free. All in all, the process will take you just a minute.

There’s a catch; 9Now works exclusively in Australia.

Users abroad will face a geo-restriction message and be unable to watch the duel. This can be countered with a VPN service, which many people have reported working flawlessly in all locations outside Australia.

Accessing 9Now from Anywhere: All You Need to Know

To stream 9Now and its channels internationally, people often rely on NordVPN. NordVPN is a logical choice given its popularity. It’s like Apple in the VPN world. The provider features hundreds of Australian VPN servers.

People often use them to get an Australian IP address and access Australian services on their vacation or business trips. NordVPN allows you to connect with a single click or tap, making it ideal for beginners.

It’s also compatible with all devices, allowing people to access 9Now even on their phone, tablet, or laptop. With unlimited bandwidth and top-tier speeds, it enables viewers to watch the French Open final between Sinner and Alcaraz for free without any hiccups.

Although this VPN isn’t 100% free, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you request a refund if you’re not satisfied.

You can get NordVPN, use it to watch Sinner vs Alcaraz online for free, and immediately be reimbursed, with the excuse that you don’t need it anymore. More details are available in our article explaining how to try NordVPN risk-free.

Alternatively, you can keep using it for other VPN-related benefits.

Try NordVPN risk-free today

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June 8, 2025 0 comments