Gaming 20 October 2025 - 14 January 2026

Pokémon Champions Launch Stumbles as HOME Error 9007, Missing Modes Spark Backlash
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Pokémon Champions Launch Stumbles as HOME Error 9007, Missing Modes Spark Backlash

Pokémon Champions launched April 8 on Switch and Switch 2 as a free-to-start battler, but players quickly reported a Pokémon HOME transfer bug and criticized missing formats and a limited roster. The game is set to become the standard for official Pokémon VGC events starting in May. Nintendo shares closed down 2% Thursday at 8,531 yen. Mobile versions are expected later in 2026.
April 9, 2026
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 Drops Early — LEGO Items, Slumber Islands, and Switch 2 Upgrades
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 Drops Early — LEGO Items, Slumber Islands, and Switch 2 Upgrades

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Version 3.0 update went live January 14, a day ahead of schedule. The paid Switch 2 Upgrade Pack, offering performance boosts and new features, remains set for January 15 at $4.99 in the U.S. The update adds LEGO items to Nook Shopping and expands storage to 9,000 items. Some new multiplayer features and characters require Nintendo Switch Online or amiibo.
January 14, 2026
PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium January 2026 lineup is official — Resident Evil Village, Like a Dragon lead the drop
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PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium January 2026 lineup is official — Resident Evil Village, Like a Dragon lead the drop

Resident Evil Village and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth lead the January 2026 PS Plus Game Catalog update, launching January 20 for Extra and Premium members. Premium subscribers also get Ridge Racer with new features. Need for Speed Unbound, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper remain available as monthly PS Plus games until February 2. Game availability may vary by region.
January 14, 2026
4 Android Apps Most Users Rarely Open in 2025 — Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam (But They’re Worth Trying)
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4 Android Apps Most Users Rarely Open in 2025 — Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam (But They’re Worth Trying)

Google Play Store’s app count fell from 3.4 million to 1.8 million between early 2024 and April 2025, following stricter quality rules. As the store shrinks, apps like Nintendo Music, Apple TV, Blackmagic Camera, and Steam remain underused despite offering advanced features for Android users. Google will phase out Play Instant starting December 2025.
December 29, 2025
Google Pixel Phones Now Work as Nintendo Switch 2 Webcams for GameChat — What You Need to Know
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Google Pixel Phones Now Work as Nintendo Switch 2 Webcams for GameChat — What You Need to Know

Nintendo Switch 2 now supports Google Pixel phones as webcams for GameChat, following recent updates from both companies. Multiple outlets report that updated Pixels can connect directly via USB-C, with no adapters or third-party apps needed. The change appears linked to Google’s November 2025 Pixel update, which fixed webcam compatibility issues. The exact update responsible remains unclear.
December 6, 2025
RedMagic 11 Air Leak Reveals Cooling Fan as Liquid‑Cooled RedMagic 11 Pro Shines in Early Reviews
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RedMagic 11 Air Leak Reveals Cooling Fan as Liquid‑Cooled RedMagic 11 Pro Shines in Early Reviews

China’s TENAA published images of the upcoming RedMagic 11 Air, revealing vent slits, a screw-studded back, and redesigned triggers, strongly indicating a built-in cooling fan. The leak follows the global launch of the RedMagic 11 Pro, which reviewers confirm uses active liquid cooling with a micro-pump and fan, a first for mass-market smartphones.
November 29, 2025
Nintendo Black Friday 2025: Cyber Deals, Switch 2 Bundles and Best Game Discounts Live Now
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Nintendo Black Friday 2025: Cyber Deals, Switch 2 Bundles and Best Game Discounts Live Now

Nintendo’s Black Friday and Cyber Deals 2025 promotion is live, with digital discounts of up to 60% on select Switch and Switch 2 titles through December 3. Physical game deals and bundles are available at major retailers until November 29, though console discounts remain limited. Notable sale titles include Luigi’s Mansion 3, Super Mario Odyssey, and Persona 5 Royal. Nintendo is also offering amiibo and microSD card deals.
November 26, 2025
Nvidia vs Google: AI Chip War Escalates as Meta Eyes Google TPUs and Nvidia Claims It’s “a Generation Ahead” – 26 November 2025
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Nvidia vs Google: AI Chip War Escalates as Meta Eyes Google TPUs and Nvidia Claims It’s “a Generation Ahead” – 26 November 2025

Nvidia shares fell 2.6% Tuesday after reports that Meta is in advanced talks to buy billions of dollars’ worth of Google’s AI chips, potentially shifting business away from Nvidia. Alphabet stock jumped over 4% in pre-market trading. AMD, Micron, and TSMC also declined as investors reassessed the AI chip landscape.
November 26, 2025
Skate Story Joins PlayStation Plus Day One on PS5: Release Date, Gameplay, and What It Means for PS Plus in December 2025
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Skate Story Joins PlayStation Plus Day One on PS5: Release Date, Gameplay, and What It Means for PS Plus in December 2025

Skate Story launches on PlayStation 5 December 8, 2025, and will be available day one in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium subscribers, Sony confirmed Monday. The indie skateboarding adventure, also releasing the same day on PC and Nintendo Switch 2, features a demon protagonist skating through the Underworld in a surreal narrative quest.
November 25, 2025
NVIDIA GeForce NOW Ultimate Completes Global RTX 5080 Rollout: New Games, Chromebook Fast Pass and the Regions Still Waiting
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NVIDIA GeForce NOW Ultimate Completes Global RTX 5080 Rollout: New Games, Chromebook Fast Pass and the Regions Still Waiting

NVIDIA has completed its GeForce NOW Ultimate upgrade to RTX 5080-class GPUs in all first-party data centers, with Stockholm the final region added as of November 24, 2025. Ultimate members in supported regions now stream games on RTX 5080 hardware, but markets including India, much of Latin America, Africa, and Australia/New Zealand will wait until 2026 for similar upgrades via partner networks.
November 24, 2025
Nintendo Cyber Deals 2025: Best Nintendo Switch & Switch 2 Black Friday Discounts (Nov. 24 Update)
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Nintendo Cyber Deals 2025: Best Nintendo Switch & Switch 2 Black Friday Discounts (Nov. 24 Update)

Nintendo’s Cyber Deals 2025 sale is live, offering up to 50% off over 70 Switch and Switch 2 games through December 3. Black Friday discounts at US retailers drop first-party hits like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom to $29.99 or $39.99. Switch 2 hardware is not discounted. Select amiibo and Samsung microSD cards also see price cuts at participating stores.
November 24, 2025
Android 17 Gaming Revolution: Native Controller Remapping, Virtual Gamepad & Xiaomi HyperOS 4 Console Mode
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Android 17 Gaming Revolution: Native Controller Remapping, Virtual Gamepad & Xiaomi HyperOS 4 Console Mode

Google is testing a major overhaul of game controller support in Android 17, according to multiple reports citing pre-release code. New features include native controller remapping, a dedicated controller hub in Settings, and a system-wide virtual gamepad. Xiaomi is preparing HyperOS 4 to leverage these changes and position its devices as gaming consoles. Google has not officially confirmed the updates.
November 16, 2025
RedMagic 11 Pro: The Gaming Phone That Puts Water in Its Veins (First Liquid-Cooled Smartphone Stuns Tech World)
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RedMagic 11 Pro: The Gaming Phone That Puts Water in Its Veins (First Liquid-Cooled Smartphone Stuns Tech World)

The RedMagic 11 Pro is the first smartphone with a visible active liquid cooling loop, circulating blue coolant through a transparent rear tube. Its triple cooling system—liquid loop, 24,000 RPM fan, and record-size vapor chamber—kept surface temps near 56°C and delivered about 80% sustained performance in 3DMark stress tests. YouTuber JerryRigEverything called it “the most powerful phone on the planet” after durability and burn tests.
November 5, 2025
Pixel 10 Set to Get Massive Graphics Boost as Google Confirms GPU Update
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Pixel 10 Set to Get Massive Graphics Boost as Google Confirms GPU Update

Google confirmed it will release more GPU driver updates for the Pixel 10 after users reported lag, freezing, and poor gaming performance. The phone launched with an outdated PowerVR GPU driver, while a newer version with Android 16 and Vulkan 1.4 support remains unavailable. Google says fixes began in recent patches, with further improvements expected by the December 2025 Pixel Drop update.
October 27, 2025
This Magnetic Game Controller Snaps to Your Phone and Slides Out to Let You Play Anywhere
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This Magnetic Game Controller Snaps to Your Phone and Slides Out to Let You Play Anywhere

Ohsnap’s MCON magnetic Bluetooth controller raised $1.75 million from 16,000 Kickstarter backers and is now available for pre-order at $149.99, shipping mid-January 2026. The device attaches via MagSafe or adhesive, features slide-out Hall-effect sticks, analog triggers, and supports iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Switch. Created by 19-year-old Josh King, it offers handheld, tabletop, and TV modes.
October 20, 2025
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