Feed aggregator

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 has officially finished, and I was pretty disappointed by this year's show. There were loads of announcements, sure, but many of them felt like pure filler. Did we seriously need not just one, but two whole World of Tanks trailers?

As a long-time Call of Duty fan, I was really looking forward to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 gameplay reveal, which was confirmed ahead of the show, but even that left a sour taste in my mouth.

The trailer showed off some levels from the campaign and gave us our first look at its four-player co-op in action. The visuals are definitely there with some really stunning sights like the neon-lit rooftops of Tokyo, but the frequent glimpses of large open environments left me feeling uneasy.

I can't help but think that they look more like the maps from the open-world 'Open Combat Missions' of 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 than the linear environments that the series is known for.

Modern Warfare 3 had easily the weakest campaign in Call of Duty history, transparently comprised of sloppily repurposed Warzone battle royale content, and I worry that the same thing is true of Black Ops 7's offering.

We already know that part of the story takes place in Avalon - a map that rumors indicate was initially intended for Warzone - but things only got worse when a subsequent developer video confirmed that the campaign's final mission will be some kind of weird multiplayer "social experience".

Officially called the Endgame, it's a repeatable PvE (player versus enemy) experience that drops you into Avalon with your squad to explore and survive against a wide range of enemies, which sounds suspiciously like a Warzone match to me.

Like Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 7 is being released as a direct sequel to its immediate predecessor - Black Ops 6. Hailing from the same two studios, Treyarch and Raven. I hope that not many corners have been cut in order to make that shorter than the usual production time.

More of the game is being shown at an upcoming Call of Duty Next on September 30, 2025, so I'm hoping that multiplayer and zombies – the other two parts of the offering – will look a lot more promising.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to launch on November 14, 2025.

You might also like

• The Logitech G522 Lightspeed delivers high-end performance at an attractive price – here's why it's my new gaming headset of choice in 2025
• The Hollow Knight: Silksong appearance at Opening Night Live 2025 was disappointing, but thankfully there's more information on the way
• Nvidia and Capcom are bringing DLSS to Resident Evil – here's why it's about time

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 20, #801.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for Aug. 20, No. 1,523

Samuel Kangethe has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades, but an unresolved immigration case has made him deportable. He's decided to return to Kenya, leaving his wife and three children behind.

(Image credit: Sergio Martínez-Beltrán)

For now, the new moon has a clunky name, but if it passes peer review, NASA might call it something better.

• Ghost of Yōtei will receive the Legends multiplayer mode in 2026
• The mode will be free for all owners of the base game and offer two-player story missions and four-player survival matches
• The multiplayer DLC was first introduced in Ghost of Tsushima

Sucker Punch has announced that Ghost of Yōtei will receive a free Legends multiplayer mode in 2026.

Revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 alongside a new story trailer ahead of the game's October launch, Legends is a cooperative multiplayer mode that was first added to the previous game, Ghost of Tsushima.

Ghost of Yōtei Legends will offer two-player story missions and four-player survival matches and will be available at no extra cost to those who already own the base game.

In this version, players will have access to four character classes and will need to defeat demonic, giant versions of members of the Yōtei Six, along with a variety of new enemies that fight beside them.

Concept art for each boss has been revealed in a new PlayStation Blog post, which you can view here.

Ghost of Yōtei launches on October 2, 2025, exclusively for PS5 and PS5 Pro, and takes place more than 300 years after the first Ghost game.

In this indirect sequel, players explore the lands surrounding Mount Yōtei as protagonist Atsu, who will hunt down the people responsible for her family's death.

Ghost of Yōtei pre-orders are now live, along with Ghost of Yōtei PS5 bundle pre-orders. If you're looking to get your hands on the exclusive PS5 controller, here's where you can buy the Ghost of Yōtei DualSense.

You might also like...

• The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date, but its improvements are astronomical
• I’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade
• Battlefield 6 Open Beta weekend 2 gets an official start time among new changes, including All-Out Warfare playlist adjustments – here's what to expect

• An anime based on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is coming to Crunchyroll in 2026
• Sekiro: No Defeat will be a fully hand-drawn adaptation of FromSoftware's game
• A first trailer teasing memorable boss fights has been released

An anime based on FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has been announced, and we have our first official teaser trailer.

Revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, Sekiro: No Defeat is coming to Crunchyroll in 2026 worldwide, excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus, and will be produced by Kadokawa, Qzil.la, and ARCH.

The anime will be a fully hand-drawn adaptation that will retell the game's story down to every memorable boss battle.

"We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production," said Kenichi Kutsuna, director of the adaptation.

"The final product is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time. Please look forward to it."

The anime will also be helmed by a team of acclaimed anime creators, including director Kenichi Kutsuna, screenwriter Takuya Satou, character designer Takahiro Kishida, action animation director Takashi Mukoda, and more.

We also have the first few names of the voice cast. Sekiro's main character, Wolf, will be played by Daisuke Namikawa, Kuro (The Divine Heir) will be voiced by Miyuki Satou, while Genichiro Ashina will be played by Kenjiro Tsuda.

"Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game known for its precision and intensity, and those qualities carry through beautifully in this adaptation," said Asa Suehira, chief content officer at Crunchyroll. "We’re excited to bring Sekiro: No Defeat to fans around the world, and honored to work alongside Kadokawa, Qzil.la, and ARCH to expand this iconic story through the medium of anime."

• The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date, but its improvements are astronomical
• I’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade
• Battlefield 6 Open Beta weekend 2 gets an official start time among new changes, including All-Out Warfare playlist adjustments – here's what to expect

• A new trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's DLC, The Order of the Giants, was revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025
• The expansion arrives on September 4, 2025
• The game is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

Machine Games has given us a new look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's forthcoming expansion, The Order of the Giants, along with confirmed of a Nintendo Switch 2 version.

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 is finally here and as one of the major announcements of the showcase, a gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's first downloadable content (DLC) was revealed.

The Order of Giants was first announced during the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this month and arrives on September 4.

The story expansion will be accessible to those who own the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Premium Edition, Collector’s Edition, or Collector’s Bundle, or it can be purchased separately.

The DLC takes place during the events of the main game and follows Indiana Jones as he returns to the city of Rome to uncover a dark secret that lies beneath the city.

"There is a myth of a beast in the hidden depths of Rome, rumored to guard a terrible secret... When Indiana Jones encounters Father Ricci, a young priest desperate for help to track down a Roman artifact, a standard treasure hunt soon turns into a perilous journey," its description reads.

"Along the way, Indy must face the sinister plots of Emperor Nero and his gladiator games, the enigmatic Cult of Mithras, and whatever else lurks in the shadows. Can Father Ricci's cryptic knowledge guide Indy through these treacherous passageways? Only Indiana Jones can piece together this breathtaking mystery."

New and intricate puzzles while traversing Rome’s ancient sewer system, the Cloaca Maxima, and beyond will also be featured, along with new enemies and the return of familiar faces.

However, the most exciting part of the trailer for me was the announcement that the game will also be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, making it the first Xbox-owned title to be confirmed for Nintendo's latest console.

In TechRadar Gaming's four-star review, hardware writer Dashiell Wood called Indiana Jones and the Great Circle "a thrilling adventure ripped straight from the silver screen" that features "flawless voice performances and incredible motion capture work".

You might also like...

• The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date, but its improvements are astronomical
• I’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade
• Battlefield 6 Open Beta weekend 2 gets an official start time among new changes, including All-Out Warfare playlist adjustments – here's what to expect

President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and seven European leaders met at the White House to talk about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting followed a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. We dive into the proposals to end the war and how each side might react to them. We hear from NPR’s correspondent in Moscow and Ukraine’s former foreign minister.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

The politics of air conditioning in France, as the country basks in yet another heatwave.

Gamescom 2025 kicked off with its Opening Night Live showcase, featuring trailers for Ninja Gaiden 4, Fallout Season Two and more.

The AI tools include one-click translations, lip-syncing and new creator metrics.

• The Maxsun Arc Pro B60 Dual 48G Turbo merges two Intel GPUs into one workstation card
• With 48GB VRAM onboard, the card promises headroom for demanding AI and data tasks
• Power consumption between 250W and 400W forces serious consideration in workstation builds

Maxsun has revealed the Arc Pro B60 Dual 48G Turbo, a $1,200 graphics card which places two Intel GPUs on a single board.

This product takes an unusual route in today’s market, where most manufacturers have abandoned dual-GPU designs in favor of single, more powerful chips.

Maxsun instead combines two Arc Pro B60 processors into one card, supported by 48GB of GDDR6 memory.

Designed for specialized workloads

Each GPU connects to a 192-bit memory interface with 456GB/s of bandwidth, and together the card brings 5,120 FP32 cores to the table.

The hardware is based on Intel’s Xe-2 “Battlemage” design, specifically the BMG-21 variant, marking one of the few workstation-grade attempts to use this architecture in a dual configuration.

Unlike consumer products designed for high frame rates in games, this dual Intel GPU card is presented as a tool for compute-heavy fields.

Maxsun describes this device with the phrase “Cut the Cloud. Keep the Power,” suggesting a push toward local processing of sensitive data.

The move from a single Arc Pro B60’s 120W rating to a combined load between 250W and 400W shows that this is a power-hungry device.

Feeding two GPUs requires strong power delivery and cooling, which in turn complicates deployment in compact workstation cases.

The reliance on PCIe 5.0 x16 ensures that data transfer to both GPUs is handled with sufficient bandwidth, but it does not change the reality that higher power consumption may limit adoption.

A workstation PC with this card could theoretically run large models such as DeepSeek R 70B or QwQ 32B entirely in-house.

Whether the performance matches that of dedicated server hardware remains to be seen.

Although the card is not marketed as a video editing PC component, its 48GB of VRAM could appeal to users working with extremely large projects.

The dual-GPU arrangement also frees up motherboard slots, which might benefit systems where expansion space is limited.

The practicality of such a configuration is still uncertain, especially given the varied history of software optimization for multi-GPU systems.

With retail availability expected soon, the Arc Pro B60 Dual 48G Turbo is unlikely to reach mainstream buyers.

Instead, it seems aimed at AI researchers, engineers, and developers who value large memory pools and local compute capacity over raw gaming output.

Via Guru3D

You might also like

• We've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing on the market today
• And here are the best monitors for programming we've found
• OpenAI rival gets free publicity by offering to buy Google Chrome for just under $35 billion

• Asus ExpertBook P3 focuses on lasting reliability with long software updates and a sturdy all-metal chassis
• Asus balances Ryzen AI performance with bright panel options and a battery designed for all-day work
• Five years of BIOS and driver support make ExpertBook P3 unusual among business laptops

Asus has launched the ExpertBook P3 series, available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, aimed at professionals looking for a stable business laptop.

The company is offering five years of BIOS and driver updates alongside a one-year subscription to McAfee+ Premium, an unusually long software support promise in this segment.

This warranty may sound appealing, especially to IT managers, but questions remain about how consistently such updates will be delivered over the lifespan of the devices.

Hardware designed for productivity and AI

Both models are powered by AMD Ryzen AI processors, including the PRO variants, with up to 16 cores and support for AI workloads at 50 TOPS.

Asus says this means tasks such as real-time captions, automated notes, and AI noise cancellation run locally rather than relying on the cloud.

The new devices can be configured with up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and as much as 2TB of primary storage, with a secondary slot allowing for further expansion.

The smaller 14-inch version offers a WUXGA or WQXGA panel with up to 400 nits brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate, while the 16-inch version mirrors those options at a slightly higher screen-to-body ratio.

Both models include anti-glare coatings, which could be useful for outdoor meetings or bright offices.

The chassis is all-metal, the keyboards are spill-resistant, and optional backlighting is available.

For connectivity, it features dual USB-C ports, dual USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, LAN, and a headphone jack, along with Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 configurations paired with Bluetooth 5.4.

70Wh battery is standard, and Asus claims it should handle a full day of work, which would appeal to buyers seeking a laptop with long battery life.

The ExpertBook P3 is MIL-STD-810H certified, which suggests some resilience against drops and shocks.

Security features include TPM 2.0, a fingerprint sensor, webcam shutter, and a Kensington lock slot.

These devices are not the lightest laptops on the market, as the 14-inch model weighs 1.355kg while the 16-inch model weighs 1.79kg.

The ExpertBook P3 specifications look good on paper, but its success will be determined by its ability to deliver consistent reliability in everyday office use.

You might also like

• These are the best budget laptops available
• We've also listed the best workstations right now
• Remember floppy disks? This YouTuber set out to build his own from scratch

Google's newest Pixel phones are about to be revealed -- what's in store?

There are separate Game Pass subscription and preorder requirements to join the closed and open betas for the next Call of Duty game.

• Amazon has revealed the official release date for Fallout season 2
• Previously, we only knew it would premiere on Prime Video in December
• This season's first trailer was unveiled alongside the launch date at gamescom 2025

Amazon has announced that Fallout season 2 will make its Prime Video debut on December 17, 2025.

Before today (August 19), we only knew that Fallout season 2 would be released on Prime Video in December. Now, we know exactly when it'll launch on one of the world's best streaming services, with its actual release date being revealed during Opening Night Live at gamescom 2025.

That's not all that was revealed. Indeed, Amazon also unveiled this season's first trailer, which you can watch above, and shows Ella Purnell's Lucy MacLean and Walton Goggins' The Ghoul coming face-to-face with one of the videogame series' iconic Deathclaws.

That Deathclaw encounter aside, season 2's inaugural teaser unsurprisingly puts the series' main characters front and center as they continue to traverse the Wasteland. It also offers our first glimpse at the Fallout TV show's live-action take on New Vegas, aka the main location for one of the videogame series' most beloved entries in Fallout: New Vegas.

The mid-credits scene of last season's finale made clear that New Vegas would feature heavily in one of the best Prime Video shows' second season. Fans, then, were well aware that part of this installment's story would take place there. Nonetheless, it's great to see such a prominent and beloved locale from the games depicted as authentically as possible. Oh, and we'll be spending some time with its dictatorial ruler Mister House, who'll be played by Justin Theroux, in flashback sequences showing New Vegas at the height of its glory.

The first round of footage arrives a day after Fallout season 2's first-look images and four days on from the debuting of Fallout season 2's first poster. With just under four months to go until Amazon's adaptation of Bethesda's iconic game franchise returns, let's hope it hasn't spoiled every surprise that awaits us in season 2.

Ella Purnell is back as Lucy MacLean in Fallout's sophomore outing (Image credit: Prime Video)

Season 2 will see familiar faces return from its forebear, including Purnell's Lucy, Goggins' The Ghoul/Cooper Howard, Aaron Moten's Maximus, Kyle MacLachlan's Hank MacLean, and Moises Arias' Norm MacLean. Theroux's addition notwithstanding, Fallout season 2 also reportedly added Home Alone icon Macauley Culkin to its roster last November, but there's still no word on who he'll play.

Fallout season 2 will launch with a one-episode premiere on Prime Video. New episodes will roll out weekly after that until the finale's arrival on February 6, 2026. For more on the Prime Video TV Original's return, check out my dedicated guide on Fallout season 2.

You might also like

• Peacemaker season 2 cast tease what's next for the 11th Street Kids in the hit HBO Max show: 'it's something new'
• Marvel Zombies won't make its Disney+ debut in October after all – here's why that's a good and bad thing
• James Gunn drops major hint over Supergirl age rating – and it's what I expected for the DC comic-book movie

• Meta and Oakley have released their non-limited edition smart glasses
• They're up for preorder ahead of an August 26 release
• They start at $399 / £399 / AU$629

Oakley and Meta have finally debuted their six non-limited edition HSTN smart glasses, and they’re all available for preorder now, ahead of their August 26 release.

We now also have pricing for the smart specs, which is important. The cheapest pairs – black frame with clear lenses, or a warm gray frame with PRIZM ruby lenses – are $399 / £399 / AU$629, followed by $449 / £449 / AU$699 pairs – the black frames with PRIZM black polarized lenses, or brown smoke frames with PRIZM deep Water polarized lenses.

In the UK, the black with black polarized lenses are currently listed as £499, which we’re assuming is an error, simply because they’re the same price as the brown smoke specs in other regions. We’ve contacted Meta for clarification on this.

Otherwise, the most expensive two pairs – excluding the existing limited edition Oakleys – are priced at $479 / £479 / AU$719. This gets you either a black frame with clear to amethyst transition lenses or a clear frame with clear to gray transition lenses.

(Image credit: Oakley / Meta)

We’ll be testing a pair of these Oakleys soon, but there are three big reasons to buy these glasses. Firstly, their sporty design.

The frame shape is subjective, but Oakley’s PRIZM lenses can be super handy for certain sports. For instance, the ruby lenses are reportedly handy for sports like hiking and golf because of the contrast they create.

Then there’s the on-device hardware. The first-person camera isn’t the best, but I’ve found these sorts of specs are ideal for concerts and when you’re on holiday, as you can capture memories without taking yourself out of the moment by living it through a phone screen. The open-ear speakers are also handy for soundtracking your activities while keeping you present.

Finally, you have the advantages of Meta AI. The on-glasses version of the assistant has been a super handy tour guide and teacher for me. I’ve used it to learn more about destinations I visited in Italy – like structures at Pompeii – and it can quickly translate signs with a good amount of accuracy.

(Image credit: Meta)

However, there’s one big reason I’m not in a rush to grab a pair: my Ray-Ban smart glasses.

These glasses aren’t as sporty, nor do they boast the Oakleys’ upgraded specs, but they’re honestly fine for my needs – and could be great picks for you if you want something a bit cheaper (the Ray-Bans start at $299 / £299 / AU$449).

If you aren’t yet rocking a pair of smart specs, however, then these Oakley glasses look to be well worth your attention, even if they are a little costlier. My advice would be to try a few pairs at an in-person store to see which ones you like best.

You might also like

• The next Meta smart glasses might have a much more sensible launch price
• Meta revealed what makes a VR game perfect, and it could be hinting at big hardware changes
• Meta CTO teases ‘big wearables announcements’ for later this year but makes no VR headset promises

• Hollow Knight: Silksong had a brief appearance at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, with a few seconds of gameplay
• Host Geoff Keighley also reaffirmed that the game is officially launching this year
• A special Silksong livestream will air this week

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 has officially kicked off, and the first announcement of the night assured us that Hollow Knight: Silksong is definitely real.

It's been a long time since Team Cherry announced the Hollow Knight sequel, and it has made appearances at several live presentations throughout the past few years, with no news of a release date each time.

Unfortunately, Opening Night Live 2025 didn't share the long-awaited release date, but host Geoff Keighley did reaffirmed the fact that the game is officially launching this year.

We also received a very brief glimpse of new gameplay, though sadly, it wasn't quite a full new trailer.

However, Team Cherry has confirmed that a "special announcement" will be shared during a broadcast on August 21, 2025, which will offer a brand new look at Silksong and (hopefully) a proper release date.

There was also confirmation that the game will be playable on the Gamescom show floor.

You might also like...

• The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s least ambitious console to date, but its improvements are astronomical
• I’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade
• Battlefield 6 Open Beta weekend 2 gets an official start time among new changes, including All-Out Warfare playlist adjustments – here's what to expect

The home-improvement chain is now one of the companies most caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown. The retailer's history with day laborers is long. So far, it's choosing to keep its distance.

(Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon)