Gaming 16 November 2025 - 30 January 2026

Google opens Project Genie to U.S. Ultra subscribers, letting users generate interactive worlds
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Google opens Project Genie to U.S. Ultra subscribers, letting users generate interactive worlds

Google began rolling out Project Genie, an interactive world-building prototype, to AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. on Thursday. The tool uses DeepMind’s Genie 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Gemini to generate interactive scenes from text or images, with sessions capped at 60 seconds. Google describes Genie as a research prototype, not a finished product. Users must be 18 or older.
January 30, 2026
Roblox faces Dutch watchdog probe over kids’ safety under EU rules
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Roblox faces Dutch watchdog probe over kids’ safety under EU rules

Dutch regulator ACM has opened an investigation into Roblox over child safety and compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act. The probe examines whether Roblox protects minors from explicit content, scams, and manipulative design. ACM can order changes or fine the company if violations are found. Roblox says it is cooperating and introducing new age verification measures.
January 30, 2026
RedMagic 11 Air goes global on Jan 29 as slim gaming phone targets buyers outside China
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RedMagic 11 Air goes global on Jan 29 as slim gaming phone targets buyers outside China

RedMagic will launch its 11 Air gaming smartphone globally on Jan. 29 after a Jan. 20 debut in China, where it sells for 3,699 yuan ($530) and up. The device features a 6.8-inch 144Hz display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 7,000mAh battery, and a 24,000-rpm cooling fan. Asus has halted new phone development, casting doubt on its ROG Phone series. International pricing and carrier details for the 11 Air remain unannounced.
January 21, 2026
Microsoft could make Xbox Cloud Gaming free with ads — a new “1 hour” message just leaked
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Microsoft could make Xbox Cloud Gaming free with ads — a new “1 hour” message just leaked

Xbox Cloud Gaming has begun showing users a “1 hour of ad supported play time per session” warning when launching games. Multiple reports indicate Microsoft is developing a free, ad-supported streaming tier for users who own games but don’t subscribe to Game Pass. Microsoft has not confirmed details or a launch date. The warning does not affect current paid cloud gaming tiers.
January 19, 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
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Stock Market Today

  • Australian Job Mobility Hits Record Low Amid Rising Economic Uncertainty
    May 24, 2026, 3:48 PM EDT. Australian job mobility has declined sharply, with only 7.7% of workers changing jobs in the year to February 2025, down from nearly 20% in 1989. Economic indicators reveal Australians are increasingly risk-averse, hesitant to move jobs, start businesses, or relocate between states. Factors include housing costs, the burden of large mortgages averaging $700,000, and a tightening labor market. Research from the e61 Institute highlights a fall in self-employment to a 20-year low of 14%, as more workers opt for wage jobs offering greater security through benefits like superannuation and paid leave. Business strategist Kate McCready attributes this shift to fears over job retention amid technological advances like AI and global uncertainties. The trend suggests Australians are 'stuck' in current roles, limiting labor market dynamism.