Author: shubhmkr5@gmail.com

In what’s most definitely (not) the biggest Hades news of the week, the acclaimed game is coming to Game Pass. Not the long-awaited sequel, mind you, but the 2020 original. At least subscribers can catch up on the first game while waiting out the sequel’s Switch exclusivity window. Hades will be available for Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Standard tiers. This isn’t the roguelike’s first Game Pass rodeo. It was on Microsoft’s service from August 2021 to 2022. It returns this September 19, the same day Hades II launches on Switch 2 and Switch. The sequel also leaves early access then, jumping to version 1.0 on Windows and macOS. It will likely arrive on Xbox (and PlayStation) at some point, but developer Supergiant is mum for now. Supergiant Game Pass members who haven’t played the original still get a phenomenal title as part of their subscription. You play as Zagreus, a godborn lad just trying to get the @#$! out of the underworld. (Aren’t we all?) The dungeon crawler brought unexpected narrative depth to the genre, with well-developed characters and satisfying combat. On September 17, the Game Pass Standard tier will get some Call of Duty love. Although perhaps “hate” would be a better term for the largely maligned CoD: Modern Warfare III (2023). To say the game wasn’t well-received would be an understatement. IGN scored it as “bad,” describing its single-player campaign as “shallow,” “dull” and “the worst Call of Duty single-player campaign I’ve played. Regardless, it arrives on the cheapest Game Pass tier after hitting the more expensive ones in mid-2024. Meanwhile, on September 18, Game Pass Ultimate members can play Frostpunk 2 on console. The post-apocalyptic city-builder will be available on Xbox Series X/S and via cloud streaming. Game Pass Ultimate members could already play it on PC, where it probably makes more sense. City-builders and gamepads can be a match made in… Hades. You can check out Microsoft’s blog post for this month’s complete list of arrivals and departures. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/hades-returns-to-game-pass-on-september-19-190055465.html?src=rss

LimeWire has announced that it’s acquired the rights to Fyre Festival, the disastrous, influencer-fueled 2017 music festival. The newly revived company — which now acts as a NFT music marketplace rather than a file-sharing service — bought the rights for $245,000 in an eBay auction, The New York Times reports. A separate plan to use the Fyre Festival name to launch a new music streaming service was announced in April 2025. “Fyre became a symbol of hype gone wrong, but it also made history,” LimeWire CEO Julian Zehetmayr shared in a press release. “We’re not bringing the festival back — we’re bringing the brand and the meme back to life. This time with real experiences, and without the cheese sandwiches.” It sounds like LimeWire might want to turn Fyre Festival into a physical perk of the digital collectibles it sells through its NFT marketplace. The company is planning to reveal “a reimagined vision for Fyre” in the coming months that “expands beyond the digital realm and taps into real-world experiences, community and surprise.” During the height of their popularity, NFTs were frequently sold as memberships to exclusive communities and events, so if that’s the tack LimeWire takes, it wouldn’t be a particularly original one. Of course, originality might not be the goal when a key strategy for your company is apparently acquiring and reinventing old brands. LimeWire’s bet seems to be that the name recognition of buying a musician’s NFT from LimeWire or attending a Fyre Festival event and not getting stranded in The Bahamas will be enough for some people. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/limewire-acquires-fyre-festival-has-vague-plans-to-offer-real-experiences-200158421.html?src=rss

The free Apple Sports app just added widgets, which has been a long-requested feature. This allows users to build their own custom widgets to follow the teams and organizations of their choosing. Once placed, it’ll just take a quick swipe on the device to check out scores, statistics, upcoming matches and more. Widgets are available on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. This feature will operate in addition to the pre-existing Live Activities tool, which also delivers live sports updates directly to the iPhone lock screen and the Apple Watch. That’s also gotten a bit of a boost today, as Apple has announced that users can now schedule Live Activities in advance for upcoming events. There’s no limit on the number of widgets that can be added at once, so go crazy and put up a bunch of teams and leagues. After all, the NFL season is about to start. The app is also expanding to eight new countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The platform has added new organizations to follow throughout these regions, which are mostly soccer-related. This is just the latest update for Apple Sports. The app recently started offering tennis scores and shareable game cards. It’s also a big week for iPhones in general. The latest operating system, iOS 26, is now available and brings all kinds of stuff to the table. There’s a new visual theme, an updated camera app, AI tools and a whole lot more. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-apple-sports-app-finally-adds-widgets-for-tracking-scores-and-schedules-191539074.html?src=rss

The plan to “save” TikTok is starting to come into focus. On Tuesday The Wall Street Journal reported more details about a deal between the US and China as the two sides are apparently “finalizing” specifics of the arrangement. According to the report, TikTok’s US business will be owned primarily by a group of US investors, which will have a “roughly” 80 percent stake in the entity. The group includes longtime TikTok partner Oracle, as well as Silicon Valley VC firm Andreesen Horowitz and the private equity firm Silver Lake. Chinese shareholders will have a minority stake that keeps their ownership under the 20 percent threshold required by law. The US government will also reportedly get to choose one board member for the “American-dominated” body.  Reports about such an arrangement have been swirling for months, with President Donald Trump saying in June that a deal could be “about two weeks” away. It seems that Chinese officials have finally signed off on the new arrangement, with a Chinese regulator saying earlier this week that the new US version of TikTok would continue to use the Chinese algorithm. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that “TikTok engineers will re-create” the app’s algorithm for a brand new TikTok app using technology licensed from ByteDance. The company is reportedly testing the new app. Oracle will oversee US user data for the operation; TikTok and Oracle have partnered on data security for years following previous negotiations between the company and the US government. Even though a final deal is apparently close, it could still take some time before it’s finalized. In the meantime, Trump extended the deadline that would have banned the current version of the app in the US for a fourth time. On Tuesday he told reporters at the White House he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday “to confirm everything.” This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/trumps-tiktok-deal-will-give-control-to-a-group-of-us-investors-report-says-201331190.html?src=rss

Who says journalism is dead? Less than a week after Bloomberg published a damning report about Tesla’s “dangerous doors,” the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now looking into it. On Tuesday, the regulator said it opened an investigation into the automaker’s electrically powered doors. The problem: They stop working if the vehicle’s low-voltage battery fails. The NHTSA’s probe will cover the 2021 Model Y, which covers an estimated 174,290 vehicles. But the agency suggested in a document that it could expand its investigation. That makes sense: Every Tesla ever made uses electrically powered door handles. So, this could potentially get very expensive for the otherwise perfectly lovable company. Tesla uses a flush door handle design for its vehicles. A 12-volt battery powers the door’s ability to pop the handle and release the latch. It’s one of the Apple-like design details that helped the automaker become a household name. But cars aren’t iPhones, and sleekness can’t take a backseat to safety in the auto space. Tesla vehicles have a mechanical backup system in the cabin that enables the doors to be opened manually in case of a power loss. But the manual release location varies by model and is often hard to find. And even if you do know where it is, that won’t help if a small child or pet is trapped inside. “Although Tesla vehicles have manual door releases inside of the cabin, in these situations, a child may not be able to access or operate the releases even if the vehicle’s driver is aware of them,” the NHTSA wrote in its public summary document. Mylo Kaye / Unsplash Bloomberg‘s original report recounted some heinous stories of Tesla owners dealing with electronic door failures. There was an off-duty firefighter who struggled to break into a burning Model Y in 2023. The occupant was trapped in the passenger seat by airbags and couldn’t reach the manual release. Losing precious seconds due to the door design, she suffered third-degree facial burns and had lasting lung damage from smoke inhalation. There are reportedly more. Last November in California, three college students died trapped inside a Cybertruck after it caught fire. The same month, five people in Wisconsin died inside a Model S. The cluster of bodies in the front seat suggested to the detective they may have struggled to escape. Then, this spring in LA, a star college basketball recruit managed to escape only after kicking out a Cybertruck window when it caught fire. “I try to open the door, and the door’s not opening,” Alijah Arenas said. He was placed in a medically induced coma due to extensive smoke inhalation. Bloomberg discovered that the NHTSA has received over 140 complaints about stuck Tesla doors since 2018. The regulator cited nine “failure reports” that led it to probe the company. In four cases, the people resorted to breaking the window. “Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are entrapped in a hot vehicle,” NHTSA said. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nhtsa-is-investigating-tesla-over-its-electronic-door-handles-203605393.html?src=rss

Amazon will host a press event at the end of the month with some new hardware developments. It’s scheduled for September 30 at 10AM ET in New York City. Here’s what we think will be discussed at the fall event. In February, Amazon introduced some improvements to its voice assistant, promising that Alexa+ would be more conversational and more helpful thanks to generative AI. It seems likely that the fall event will put hardware for interacting with Alexa+ front and center, so expect to hear about new models or new software updates for the Echo line of smart speakers. It’s been a couple years since the Echo Show got an update, and it’s been even longer for the standard Echo. Those two products are the most likely to star in the upcoming announcements. Amazon The invite also includes a photo of a Kindle that depicts a color illustration, so there may be more in store for the ereaders. The Kindle Scribe 2 just came out earlier this year, as did the Kindle Colorsoft, so maybe there’s a new option in the works that combines the best features of both. As with the Echo, there also hasn’t been much new for the basic model Kindle, so that may also be getting some updates. There’s also what appears to be the corner of a television in the invitation, so news about the Fire TV also seems promising. This event is also where Amazon-owned Ring and Eero brands may unveil new products. Any announced items may not be available right away, but the timing does set the stage for some substantial discounts on older generations of Amazon gear when the next Prime Day rolls around on October 7 and 8. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/what-to-expect-from-amazons-event-on-september-30-210035671.html?src=rss

Gig economy platform Fiverr is laying off 250 employees as it pivots to being an “AI-first company,” CEO Micha Kaufman shared in an essay on X. The move affects around 30 percent of the company’s staff, The Register writes, and it’s not uncommon among tech companies in 2025. Duolingo announced similar plans to become “AI-first” in April. Kaufman describes this process as returning to “startup mode” and writes that his ultimate goal is to turn Fiverr into “an AI-first company that’s leaner, faster, with a modern AI-focused tech infrastructure, a smaller team, each with substantially greater productivity, and far fewer management layers.” Part of the justification Kaufman offers for why Fiverr doesn’t “need as many people to operate the existing business” is that the company has already integrated AI into its customer support and fraud detection programs. The first sign that Fiverr might justify layoffs with AI came when Kaufman was interviewed by CBS News in May 2025 about the danger the technology posed to employees. Kaufman specifically advised employees to “automate 100 percent” of what they do with AI, while also claiming that wouldn’t make them replaceable because they were still capable of “non-linear thinking” and “judgement calls.” That advice doesn’t seem like it was ultimately helpful for Fiverr’s own employees. The company’s cuts affect fewer people than a larger firm like Workday, who announced plans to eliminate 1,750 roles in February 2025. Regardless of the size of the company or its level of investment in AI, though, layoffs have the same effect: More work has to be done by fewer people. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/fiverr-is-laying-off-250-employees-to-become-an-ai-first-company-215730063.html?src=rss

If there’s one thing devices don’t have, it’s enough memory. No matter how much your phone or console comes with, it’s never too long before you need to start deleting stuff. With that in mind, we’re always happy to see one of our favorite memory cards go on sale. Right now, you can buy the Samsung Evo Select MicroSD card for $20, down from $27. The 26 percent discount brings it to only $2 more than its all-time low price. This model is a new generation with 256GB and read and write speeds up to 160MB per second. Engadget named the Samsung EVO select our favorite decent cheap microSD card and it’s a great option for expanding your space without breaking the bank. It works with smartphones, tablets and the Nintendo Switch — though not the second-generation model.  Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-samsung-microsd-cards-drops-to-only-20-132713110.html?src=rss

Folks in the US can now snap up the first smart projector that’s powered by Roku tech. The Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube is available on Amazon for a regular price of $250. Until October 1, though, there’s a coupon that drops the price to $180 (a discount of $70). There was a Roku-branded 3M projector that arrived all the way back in 2012, but that required a Roku Streaming Stick. The new Aurzen model has Roku’s operating system built in. You’ll be able to operate this projector using the Roku remote. It uses the Roku interface and personalized homescreen, which includes access to The Roku Channel and a litany of streaming media apps. The projector also works with Roku’s mobile app and smart home ecosystem, as well as compatible wireless speakers and soundbars. You’ll be able to use Bluetooth headphones and there’s a 3.5mm audio out jack. The projector is designed for indoor and outdoor use, and it supports screen sizes of between 40 and 150 inches. It has Apple AirPlay support, an HDMI port so you can plug in a games console or another device, dual 5W speakers and 1080p resolution. Brightness tops out at 330 ANSI lumens. Getting the projector ready to use should be pretty straightforward as the D1R Cube has auto focus and auto keystone correction, as well as a guided setup process. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/the-first-roku-powered-smart-projector-is-here-143155271.html?src=rss

KPop Demon Hunters has been the talk of the town since debuting on Netflix in June. Now, the Huntr/X singers might be taking over a new area: gaming. Kpop Demon Hunters is reportedly coming to Fortnite. Two Fortnite leakers, SpushFNBR and Loolo, posted the news on X (formerly Twitter), citing a “reliable source.” Little to nothing is known about what a crossover would entail but the duo said they would be posting more details in the coming weeks. A film about three k-pop singers who save the world from demons could really be parlayed into just about anything in Fortnite.  KPop Demon Hunters made history last month as Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time. It racked up 236 million views between its debut on June 20 and August 26. The movie also had four of its tracks reach the top ten in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and had a limited theatrical release.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/kpop-demon-hunters-is-reportedly-coming-to-fortnite-145459950.html?src=rss