Microsoft announced today that it is rolling out a beta version of Copilot for Gaming to mobile platforms. Testers on iOS and Android can now try out Microsoft's first attempt at integrating an AI assistant with its Xbox platform.

In a blog post, Microsoft shared that users of the beta version of the Xbox app for mobile can now try out Copilot for Gaming's chatbot functionality. The AI assistant is designed to link into your Xbox account and be able to answer questions about your Xbox history, current gameplay, games in general, and other topics.

Copilot for Gaming is now in beta on the Xbox mobile app (via Microsoft).

Microsoft suggests that Copilot will be able to answer particularly specific or context-sensitive questions, such as advice on certain encounters in games, guidance on improving your Gamerscore, or particularly rare Achievements in certain games. Right now, Copilot incorporates your Xbox profile with information gathered from Bing searches, but Microsoft says that deeper personalization is in development. It's currently unclear exactly how often and in what way Copilot will be gathering information from profiles, and Microsoft has yet to explain how its answers might cite sources that it crawls while searching Bing. Finally, while Copilot is currently reactive--it waits for you to ask it something--Microsoft also states that proactive guidance for in-game activity is in the works.

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Earlier this year, Nintendo noted that one of the ways it intends to fight Switch 2 scalpers is by producing enough consoles to meet the demand. It's an admirable goal, but there's almost always someone willing to pay ludicrous amounts of money to get a Switch 2 from scalpers. Now, Nintendo has laid out how it's going to make things harder for scalpers to connect with would-be customers.

Nintendo has announced a partnership with a handful of Japan's top "flea market" sites--Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Yahoo Flea Market, and Rakuten Rakuma--to limit the reach of Switch 2 resellers and scalpers. As noted by Autmaton, Yahoo Auctions is even prohibiting any Switch 2 listings in the immediate future.

The partnership between Nintendo and the associated flea market outlets lets them work together to take down Switch 2 listings that go against the sites' terms of service, penalize sellers who violate those rules, and lay the groundwork for "a collaborative system for sharing information."

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A new first-person, open-world RPG is climbing the Steam charts, and it may be a good choice for those who have already blasted through Oblivion Remastered and are looking to continue scratching that Skyrim itch.

Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon is $45 and fully released on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on May 23, having been in early access since 2023. It looks to have found an audience on Steam in particular, where as of writing it's the number three best-selling game and is only a few spots below Oblivion Remastered on the most-played charts. It also sports "Very positive" reviews on the platform.

Heavily influenced by first-person RPG games like Skyrim and Oblivion, Tainted Grail takes place in a dark fantasy world inspired by Arthurian legend. It features branching storylines and morally ambiguous choices where players will shape the future of King Arthur's now ruined kingdom, according to the game's Steam page.

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Electronic Arts has confirmed it's cancelling its upcoming Black Panther game and closing its developer. Cliffhanger Games, which was only opened in 2023 to make the Black Panther game, is now shuttered. EA previously signed a deal with Marvel for multiple games, and an Iron Man title is still coming.

EA boss Laura Miele said in a memo obtained by IGN that the company is cancelling the game and closing the studio to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."

EA's Black Panther game is not going forward.

Additionally, EA is laying off staff on its mobile and "central" teams, though the exact number of affected staff is unknown. This follows on from a previous round of layoffs in April that affected around 300 people and led to the reported cancellation of a Titanfall game.

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One of the core pieces of gameplay in The Sims 4 is skills--you know, the stuff that your sims are good at. As it is in our world, there are tons of skills that every sim can hypothetically learn over the course of their lives, and every new expansion adds a small pile of new ones. It can be a lot to keep track of; even folks who've been playing The Sims 4 since launch have probably forgotten about some of these. There are more than four dozen skills that adult sims are able to learn at this point, and that's not even counting the many Sims 4 mods that add more.

Every skill in The Sims 4 has related activities that you can do to learn them, but there are also universal methods. There are several aspiration rewards you can take that will make your sim gain skills faster--Night Owl and Morning Sim will increase your skill gains at night and in the morning, respectively, and Savant will give you a 25% boost to all skill gains permanently.

Every skill also has corresponding skill books you can read to jumpstart your skill gains, though you won't be able to max out any skill just by reading about it--learning theory will only take you so far. Likewise, you can learn skills by taking college classes, or by using a research terminal at a library. But eventually you'll have to practice for real.

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Music is a major element of The Last of Us, both the video game and the HBO TV series based on it. In the newest season of the show, we see more of how Joel built Ellie's guitar and gifted it to her on a birthday. It was a tender, special moment, and if you want to own a similar guitar, iconic guitar manufacturer Taylor has created a replica of it--but it'll cost you.

The guitar sells for $2,800 before tax, but it does come with a hardshell case and a lifetime warranty. Taylor is known for making a premium product, and this replica looks no different.

Buy The Last of Us guitar at Taylor

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Microsoft and Bethesda have announced a charity campaign themed around Doom: The Dark Ages and focused on supporting animals in need.

Microsoft is donating $32,000 to the Nebraska Humane Society, Seattle Humane, and Montgomery County Humane Society. The $32,000 amount is not random--it's $1,000 for all 32 years since the first Doom game came out in 1993.

Additionally, Microsoft and Bethesda created a new "Bark Ages" t-shirt, and all net proceeds from the $35 piece of clothing will go to the animal charities mentioned above. The shirt is only on sale for two weeks, and you can buy it here. The 100% cotton t-shirt is available in sizes from small to 3XL.

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Fortnite DualSense Wireless Controller - Limited Edition

$55 (was $85) at PS Direct | $65 at Target

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Fortnite fans can snag PlayStation's special-edition controller themed around the battle royale game for a steeply discounted price at PlayStation Direct. As part of Days of Play 2025, the Fortnite Limited Edition DualSense is only $55 (was $85). The $30 discount is by far the best price offered since the controller's launch last fall. If PlayStation Direct sells out before the sale ends on June 11, Target has the Fortnite DualSense for $65. PS Direct and Target are the only retailers with units available, so we'd be surprised if this deal sticks around for long.

• Fortnite Limited Edition DualSense Controller
  • PlayStation Direct - $55 ($85)
  • Target - $65 ($85)
  • GameStop -- $65 ($85) | Regional availability
  • Amazon - Sold out
  • Walmart - Sold out
  • Best Buy -- Sold out

The Fortnite-themed DualSense Controller is one of only two first-party PlayStation controllers with a $30 discount. The other one is the DualSense Edge, which is on sale for $170 (was $200) in white or Midnight Black. This is the best price yet for PlayStation's customizable controller geared toward competitive players.

A dozen other standard DualSense Controllers are on sale for $20 off, which brings the price down to $55-$60. Check out the full list of DualSense Controller deals below. And for more Days of Play deals, take a look at our stories on the PS5 Pro price cut, PS5 Slim Call of Duty bundles, and Pulse Explore Earbuds.

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Development on the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel has just taken another big step forward, as the game has officially entered pre-production and it has a new title: Cyberpunk 2.

"Several weeks ago, the CDPR team responsible for the next big game set in the Cyberpunk universe completed the project's conceptual phase. As a result, Cyberpunk 2--previously known under the codename Project Orion--has progressed to pre-production," CDPR said in its Q1 2025 earnings report.

Extremely early development on Cyberpunk 2 began several years ago, and pre-production generally means that more pieces need to fall in place--from concept art to staffing and multiple other crucial factors--before work kicks off in earnest.

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Diablo 4's latest update, patch 2.2.2, just made a big change to Masterworking costs, but maybe doesn't go as far as players would like.

The update, which is now live, reduces the cost of basic Masterworking materials for upgrade ranks 1-4, as well as for resetting Masterwork ranks. That means early upgrades and even late-game resets will require fewer of the following materials: Rawhide, Iron Chunks, Veiled Crystals, Coiling Wards, Baleful Fragments, Abstruse Sigils, and Forgotten Souls.

That's a welcome change, and Blizzard said in the patch notes its goal is to ensure that those materials don't limit when players can Masterwork gear.

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Call of Duty Season 4 arrives in Black Ops 6 and Warzone on May 29, and the big update will include a brand-new battle pass and premium BlackCell bundle. Call of Duty's latest trailer is themed around Season 4's demonic-looking BlackCell operator, and you can see this new operator in action in the video below.

This $30 BlackCell pass comes with a brand-new operator named Omen, and the skin is an otherworldly creature with horns. The trailer shows off Omen's three-headed guard dog, who assists with his finishing move, and a gun screen that can count your kills in the match. Omen, as well as all the other BlackCell skins and weapon blueprints for Season 4, are all themed to have an ethereal purple and blue glow.

Players who purchase the Season 4 BlackCell bundle will get instant access to the following rewards:

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PlayStation’s Days of Play 2025 sale is upon us, which includes excellent deals on hardware, accessories, and a long list of discounted PS5 and PS4 games until June 11. Some titles are up to 50% off, making now a great time to stock up on games you may have missed over the past few years, and you’ll even find a handful of newer releases with slight price drops. All of the deals are available at the PlayStation Direct online store, though several retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are price-matching many of the deals as well.

See All Days of Play 2025 Deals

• Amazon
• Walmart
• PlayStation Direct
• Best Buy
• Target

If you haven’t yet played Astro Bot, now is a great time to jump in. It’s currently on sale for just $50 (was $60), which is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen this year. Our review gave it an impressive 9/10, thanks to innovative gameplay that introduces new features at a breakneck pace and some memorable boss fights.

Want something more challenging? Demon’s Souls is now just $30 (was $70). Elden Ring: Nightreign releases on May 30--but if you’re looking for a more traditional From Software experience, Demon’s Souls is hard to pass up. There’s also The Nioh Collection for $20 (was $70). Along with both games, it comes with all six major expansions--that’s a lot of content for $20, so give it a look if you want a challenging RPG to get you through the summer.

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Like the Cha Cha Slide, Mario Kart World might let people reverse, reverse when it comes to the game's courses. This ultimately could be a replacement for Mirror Mode, which has been a series staple since Mario Kart 64. However, there is no official word from Nintendo yet.

Instead, NintendoSoup spotted a clip from an apparent Japanese commercial that shows off a reversed edition of Mario Bros. Circuit. This was actually the first track seen that teased a new Mario Kart game during the Switch 2 console reveal in January. What's important to note is the minimap implies the course is reversed instead of just mirrored, too.

So far, there are 32 courses confirmed for Mario Kart World--and that doesn't even include Knockout Tour tracks or Free Roam. A reverse option would double that number to 64 for possibly the iconic Grand Prix mode in the Switch 2 exclusive, which will launch alongside the system on June 5.

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Work has begun on a new "major" World of Warcraft Classic project, according to Blizzard. As a result, development on Season of Discovery looks to be coming to a close.

In a forum post, WoW Classic producer Josh "Aggrend" Greenfield explained what's next for the WoW Classic team and dove into its philosophy behind the more experimental Season of Discovery servers that launched in 2023, and what comes next.

"Season of Discovery was a success beyond our wildest imagination in 2023," Greenfield said. "We learned so much, we grew as a team both literally and figuratively, and we've been invigorated for the future like never before. That future for Season of Discovery is somewhat bittersweet, as we've made the decision to slow down on Season of Discovery and begin work on our next major project in the original WoW design space."

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PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (White)

$170 (was $200)

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PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (Midnight Black)

$170 (was $200)

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The Pulse Explore Earbuds are one of several rarely discounted PlayStation accessories featured in the new Days of Play 2025 sale. You can snag a pair of white or Midnight Black Pulse Explore Earbuds with a matching charging case for $170 (was $200).

Days of Play 2025 runs until June 11 and includes deals on PS5 consoles, games, and other popular accessories such as the DualSense Edge and over a dozen different colors of the standard DualSense Controller. If you're in the market for a console or want to upgrade to the PS5 Pro, Days of Play features the first discount on the PlayStation 5 Pro and two PS5 Slim bundles with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (White) $170 (was $200)

These wireless earbuds are designed specifically for PS5, featuring full support for the console's Tempest 3D spatial audio, plus other gaming-focused features like built-in noise-canceling mics for voice chat.

The Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds come with a charging case and six earbud tips to help you fine-tune the fit.

The earbuds were developed alongside the PlayStation Portal Remote Play handheld. The Portal has built-in support for PlayStation Link, low-latency wireless tech designed to offer lossless audio and fast switching between devices.

The Pulse Explore also comes with a PlayStation Link adapter, which is required to sync the earbuds to PS5. You can use the adapter on PC and Mac, too. Since the earbuds also have Bluetooth, you can use them on Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and smartphones. If You can connect to two devices simultaneously with PlayStation Link and Bluetooth.

See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Best Buy PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (Midnight Black) $170 (was $200)

The Pulse Explore Midnight Black edition released earlier this year alongside a few other all-black PS5 accessories, including the Pulse Elite Wireless Headset and DualSense Edge, which is also on sale for $30 off during Days of Play.

See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Best Buy Shop Days of Play 2025 Sales

• Amazon
• Walmart
• PlayStation Direct
• Best Buy
• Target

DualSense PS5 Controllers

Save $20 on all color options

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DualSense Edge PS5 Controller

$170 (was $200)

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PS5 Pro Console

$650 (was $700)

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PS5 Pro Disc Drive

$79

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PS5 Slim Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Bundle

$450 | Valued at $570

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PS5 Slim Digital Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Bundle

$400 | Valued at $520

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More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders

• DualSense Edge PS5 Controller Drops To Best-Ever Price For Days Of Play
• The PS5 Pro Has Received Its First Discount For Days Of Play 2025
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Steelbook Edition 4K Blu-Ray Is Up For Preorder
• + Show More More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders Links (5)
• The $325 Lord Of The Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set Is Only $146 For A Limited Time
• Tolkien Collectible Book Sets Are Up For Preorder - Myths, Legends, Tales Of Middle-earth
• Highly Limited Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary 4K Blu-Ray In Stock At Amazon
• Lego Monkey Palace Board Game Is Over 50% Off At Amazon Right Now
• 8BitDo Reveals Leverless Arcade Controllers For PC, Switch, And Xbox

Former Grand Theft Auto lead developer Leslie Benzies had an ugly exit from Rockstar Games nearly a decade ago when he sued its parent company, Take-Two Interactive. Benzies subsequently co-founded Build a Rocket Boy and developed a GTA-like game called MindsEye, which is releasing next month. Now, Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard has suggested that the bad word of mouth about MindsEye is part of a "concerted effort" to trash the game and his studio.

Gerhard recently took part in a Q&A session on Discord (via IGN), where he agreed with the potentially explosive allegation that the negative responses to the game "were financed by someone." Gerhard's response to that suggestion was, "100%... Doesn't take much to guess who."

Although Gerhard didn't back down from his initial implication, he later clarified that he isn't accusing any specific players of being paid to bad mouth the game.

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Nuclear fusion, an energy generation method driven by the combination of two hydrogen atoms, has long been sought for its potential as a near-limitless source of energy. In the pursuit of cheap and attainable fusion energy, scientists recently achieved an important breakthrough drawn from an unlikely source: video game technology.

Drawing from algorithmic innovations in the video game industry, researchers from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea were able to achieve a 15x increase in computation speed in predicting where and when particles would collide in nuclear fusion reactions. Specifically, the scientists adapted collision detection algorithms, which are fundamental calculations done in video games to produce realistic models of how objects interact in space.

Diagram of nuclear fusion process, from the IAEA.

Predicting particle collision is vital for progressing fusion technology. The quest for profitable fusion energy has long been stymied by fusion's high energy and computational costs, and the high costs of current fusion reactors. As the scientists stated in their press release, fusion reactors require the injection of extremely high-energy particles; while collisions between particles are desired, the energy of the particles makes collisions with reactors walls highly likely, too. Particles that hit reactor walls may destabilize the reaction, reduce the effectiveness of the fusion process, or even harm the reactor. This algorithmic advancement could allow engineers and scientists to make reactors safer, more efficient, and more stable.

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Switch 2 stock has begun filtering into stores worldwide, and naturally, this has led to some leaks around the new Nintendo console. While there's not much that can be done with the console right now--it reportedly requires a day-one update to function properly--it looks like some people have managed to slip some stock out of shops ahead of the official June 5 release date. Unfortunately for those people, Nintendo has a very specific set of skills acquired over a very long time in the gaming industry, and it will use them to hunt down those leakers.

That's according to former Nintendo Minute series hosts Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, who explained in a new video how Nintendo has become adept over the years at tracking down leakers, dating all the way back to the original Switch.

"It was like code red, to find out what happened," Ellis said in reference to the original Switch console and its menu being shown off prior to its launch in 2017. "The interesting thing is, they can get pretty precise of finding where this is, who this is, like, what store. These things get scanned and identified, and there are so many little identifiers that you might not even think of. They will find out who it is.

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Yuri Lowenthal, a voice actor who portrayed Yosuke Hanamura in Persona 4, seemingly revealed that a Persona 4 remake was in the works in a Bluesky post about not being invited back. Atlus has still not confirmed a remake of this RPG classic is in the works.

"And for those who keep asking, no, I will not be returning as Yosuke for the Persona 4 remake," Lowenthal remarked on Bluesky. "I asked. Maybe I even begged, but they don’t want me to come back."

And for those who keep asking, no, I will not be returning as Yosuke for the Persona 4 remake. I asked. Maybe I even begged, but they don’t want me to come back.

— Yuri Lowenthal (@yurilowenthal.bsky.social) May 28, 2025 at 9:37 AM

Rumors of a Persona 4 remake have been swirling ever since Persona 3 Reload launched last February. These rumors have gained traction in recent months, with leakers like extas1s claiming that it will be revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase. Atlus has not commented on these rumors at all, though, so Lowenthal's comments are the first we've heard about a Persona 4 remake from anyone who could potentially be in the know about it.

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With the Switch 2 set for release on June 5, the floodgates are beginning to open with respect to leaks. The biggest leak so far came from a Russian YouTube account that has uploaded a lengthy unboxing video showing a person removing the system from the packaging and displaying the console and Joy-Cons.

The person boots up the console but the console needs a critical day-one update to actually work, so we don't see much beyond the hardware. Still, it's a notable development, and it follows on from someone else who got their hands on a system and uploaded an unboxing video of their own. For what it's worth, the new unboxing video shows the boot-up screen and some of the setup menus--and it all looks quite familiar to anyone who's used a Switch before.

Other posts are showing things like Switch 2 games beginning to land at retailers, like the one below. All the leaks should be taken with a fair amount of skepticism, but it won't be long before everything is broken wide open when the console launches next week. For anyone posting leaks, former Nintendo workers have warned that Nintendo knows how to track people down.

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