Despite the first game's Xbox exclusivity deal, PlayStation is 'still our lead platform' says Squanch Games CEO as High on Life 2 launches this week

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• Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley says the PS5 version of High on Life 2 is the studio's leading platform despite the first game's Xbox exclusivity deal
• Unlike the first game, the High on Life sequel is launching simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation
• Fridley says it was "kind of an easy business decision, as far as just looking at sales numbers on the first [game]"

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Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley has said releasing High on Life 2 simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation was a "no-brainer" following the first game's long Xbox exclusivity window.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming ahead of the game's release this week, Fridley discussed the decision to bring the High on Life sequel to all platforms at the same time, following a deal with Microsoft that saw the first game exclusive to Xbox for a period of time.

The first High on Life game launched in December 2022 as a console exclusive for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC via Game Pass, and wasn't released on PS4 and PS5 until July 2023.

However, this time around, Squanch Games is launching High on Life 2 on Xbox and PlayStation on the same date, and is even making it available through Xbox Game Pass, which Fridley notes was "definitely part of the consideration" due to Microsoft's help with the original.

Speaking on the sales that the studio may miss out on through Game Pass, Fridley isn't sure if the game's exposure outweighs "the potential cannibalization of sales", but he is sure it will "help establish an IP so getting a bunch of people to play your game," adding, "if your game's good and you want to be a bunch of people to play it, getting it on Game Pass is great."

Even following the first game's success, the CEO added that "we're still in a franchise building mode" and he wants as many people as possible to know about the studio, explaining that "the best way to do that is to give it away and get as many people with their hands on it as possible."

Although High on Life achieved success with its short Xbox deal, Fridley remarked that the PlayStation version of High on Life 2 is its main platform, saying, "shockingly even after a delay on the Sony launch [on PS4 and PS5] – because of an exclusivity clause with the first game that Microsoft had – it's [PlayStation] still our lead platform," Fridley said.

When asked if that was a factor in the sequel getting a simultaneous launch on PlayStation, he said, "That was a no-brainer, like our lead platform is Sony, Steam is right behind it as far as units sold."

He continued: "If you're a PlayStation player, you're going to buy it on PlayStation. You're not going to play it on Game Pass, and with the recent subscription increase on Game Pass, I'm sure they've probably seen subscriber numbers go down a bit; so those people have to play it somewhere."

Despite Fridley's comment, it's worth mentioning that we can't prove that Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have lowered due to the recent price hikes.

"It was kind of an easy business decision, as far as just looking at sales numbers on the first one and not having that exclusivity this time around to launch it on all platforms," Fridley said, adding that outside of sales, "it's just cheaper. We don't have to do two marketing pushes… we're just piggybacking off our own marketing to sell the same copy."

High on Life 2 launches on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC tomorrow (February 13), with a Nintendo Switch 2 release slated for April 20.

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'These updates raise the bar for security and privacy on Windows': Microsoft has a plan to toughen up Windows 11's defenses

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• Microsoft is going to bolster Windows 11's security levels
• A 'Windows Baseline Security Mode' will mean that only properly signed apps and drivers will be allowed to run
• A permissions system for apps will be enacted in a similar vein to what we see on smartphones now

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Windows 11 is set to get tighter levels of security, with Microsoft proposing a stronger baseline level of defenses, and an app-by-app permission system of 'allow access' prompts that'll be familiar to users of the best Android phones and best iPhones.

Windows Latest highlighted that Microsoft just published a blog post discussing the ways in which it's going to toughen up Windows 11 security-wise.

Microsoft describes the issue thus: "[Windows 11] users are increasingly seeing apps override their settings, install additional software or alter core Windows experiences without their awareness or consent.

"And your feedback is clear: Windows must both remain an open platform and be secure by default – protecting the integrity of your experience regardless of the apps installed. Our developers and ecosystem partners echo this need."

There's a line between convenience and security here, which Microsoft is effectively looking to shift a bit towards the latter. While it's all well and good to not get hit by security prompts, and be able to install whatever you want (from wherever) without interference from the OS, the software giant clearly feels that it's erred too far towards this side of the equation, and wants to rebalance in favor of tighter defenses.

One of the central pillars of what Microsoft is actioning is a 'Windows Baseline Security Mode' whereby various safeguards will be enabled by default. The upshot is that Windows 11 will only allow properly signed (certified by Microsoft) apps and drivers to run.

There will be ways to circumvent this protection – should you have legacy apps, for example, that aren't signed, and you know they're safe. But by default, Windows 11 won't allow for using unsigned apps to better protect users.

The other big move here is improving user transparency and consent, meaning app permissions. As noted at the outset, Microsoft is gravitating towards a smartphone model of security whereby apps must get permission before accessing your camera, or microphone, for example – you must actively 'allow' this. The idea is to stop apps sneakily gaining access to your webcam or other hardware.

Similarly, if an app is trying to stealthily install other software – something malicious, or unwanted – user permission will be required.

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Analysis: paving the way for AI agents

(Image credit: AI)

While this isn't a concrete vision of the future of security in Windows 11, the blog post makes it sound like all this is happening, albeit that it'll take time, and will "roll out through a phased approach". Microsoft also stresses that it'll be taking feedback into account as it goes along in order to refine these concepts.

While more permission prompts on the Windows 11 desktop may sound a bit tiresome on the face of it, a tighter level of security is a good idea in many ways. Especially considering that, with Windows being the most prevalent desktop OS by far, users are targeted by a lot of the malware out there. (Don't make the mistake of thinking Macs are invulnerable to malware, mind you, especially not these days).

There's something else going on as an undercurrent here, though, in my opinion, which is that this is all about building up trust in Windows 11 ahead of the release of AI agents in the operating system.

Arguably, trust in Windows 11 is at an all-time low as more and more bugs creep into the operating system – and Microsoft has promised to do better in this respect already (as well as with addressing sluggish performance in some areas of the OS).

How can Microsoft expect people to let AI agents loose on their files, and trust these entities if Windows 11 can't even be kept remotely bug-free with basic parts of the interface? This is a major problem, one that Microsoft must see, and this security work is likely a part of addressing these trust issues, and restoring Windows 11's reputation so that it's seen as a more robust and reliable platform.

Notably, Microsoft mentions AI agents in the blog post, observing that: "Apps and AI agents will also be expected to meet higher transparency standards, giving both users and IT administrators better visibility into their behaviors. These updates raise the bar for security and privacy on Windows, while giving you more control and confidence in how your system and data are accessed."

I think the mentioned reputational recovery is vital work to ensure that Windows 11 stands on a good footing going forward, and at least Microsoft appears to be recognizing this – and taking it very seriously.

Ultimately, how this pans out will be in the implementation, and while 'raising the bar' in this way, as Microsoft describes it, is a good idea to keep Windows 11 users more secure, the danger is that if the 'bar' gets in the way of a smooth computing experience in the OS, it could end up being a source of frustration.

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Highguard studio Wildlight Entertainment confirms mass layoffs that seemingly impacts the majority of the team, but says a 'core group of developers' will keep the game running

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• Wildlight Entertainment has laid off an unspecified number of Highguard developers
• The studio confirmed the layoffs, but confirmed that a "core group of developers" will continue to work on the game
• The free-to-play hero shooter launched just two weeks ago

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Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed that it has laid off an unspecified number of staff, just two weeks after the launch of its live-service hero shooter, Highguard.

According to former senior-level designer Alex Graner (via IGN), it appears that most of the development team has been affected. "Unfortunately, along with most of the team at Wildlight, I was laid off today," he wrote on LinkedIn.

Graner added, "This one really stings as there was a lot of unreleased content I was really looking forward to that I and others designed for Highguard."

At this time, it's unclear just how many employees have been cut, but the studio's LinkedIn states that it had as many as 200 employees.

Wildlight Entertainment has also released a statement, confirming the layoffs.

"Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to part ways with a number of our team members while keeping a core group of developers to continue innovating on and supporting the game," it said in a social media post.

"We're proud of the team, talent, and the product we've created together. We're also grateful for players who gave the game a shot, and those who continue to be a part of our community."

In terms of what this means for its new hero shooter, a representative told Eurogamer that work on the game will continue, but will be given to a "core group of developers". How many are included in that group is unclear.

Tech artist Josh Sobel was also laid off, saying on X / Twitter, "It was the best team I've ever worked with, and I've never put so much of myself into a project before. I wouldn't trade the past 2.5+ yrs for anything."

In a separate post, Sobel said, "I LOVED working at Wildight," adding, "It wasn't just a gig to me. 2.5yrs of working towards a promising, rose-tinted future, with the most passionate and efficient devs on the planet."

Sobel continued: "I don't think gamers really understand just how special this group of talented devs was. There were stumbles, as any new team would face, but our ability to execute on goals and pivot at a moment's notice was unmatched. I am devastated that this team as a complete unit can no longer be.

"We accomplished a lot, and I couldn't be more proud. But it's hard to believe it's over. Hard to believe that this was the result of all our efforts. I wish the best of luck to everyone who remains at Wildlight. If the numbers climb, I'll be the first in line to apply again."

Created by former Apex Legends and Titanfall developers, Highguard was announced at The Game Awards in December and launched just over a month later for free.

If you're thinking about checking it out, the game is now available to play on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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Apple could defy the RAM crisis with a rumored cheaper MacBook — which sounds like its biggest laptop launch for years

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• Apple could ship its affordable MacBook in quantities of up to 8 million
• New rumor notes this would represent 25% of Mac sales in 2025
• In short, the company could have big plans for its wallet-friendly device, and the wherewithal to price it temptingly in this unfavorable climate

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Apple's rumored affordable MacBook could be a huge piece of the firm's laptop sales strategy based on the latest chatter from the grapevine.

Mac Observer spotted a post from yeux1122 dropping new info about the MacBook. This is a Korean tech blogger with links to the supply chain who has got things right in the past, but should obviously still be taken with a good deal of seasoning.

The leaker claims Apple has big plans for this cheaper MacBook, and that (as translated by Google): "Annual shipments of this model are expected to reach around 5.5 million units [to] 7.9 million units, accounting for about 25% of last year's total Mac series sales."

In short, this will not be a relatively niche release, an equivalent to an iPhone SE – rather, it's framed as a major push to drive Mac sales forward.

As we've heard before, this MacBook is expected to cut down its price by using an iPhone processor (likely the A18 Pro chip), and also dropping to 8GB of system RAM, which would be an obvious cost saving in the current memory crisis.

We're told that Apple's 'strong' supply chain management – contracts for parts and existing component inventory – means it'll still be able to mass-produce this cheaper MacBook, even with current RAM (and other) pricing and supply headwinds.

This sentiment was echoed by another recent report from Taiwan's Mirror Daily, highlighted by leaker Jukan on X, which claims that rising RAM prices won't stop Apple's new entry-level MacBook from launching this year. Again, we're told it'll use the A18 CPU and 8GB of RAM, and be priced around $699 to $799 in the US (and in line with that in other currencies).

This other report also mirrors the buoyant sales forecasts as floated by yeux1122, and it all lends further weight to the idea that this MacBook could be ready to pitch up soon. Previous rumors have indicated a spring 2026 launch, so that could be as soon as next month, in theory, and likely before May.

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Analysis: a big opportunity for Apple – but is 8GB still tenable?

(Image credit: Future)

It seems Apple has plenty of reserve inventory for MacBook production, so it can theoretically carry on with the launch of this new entry-level model without batting an eyelid at the now-raging RAM crisis. That's not hugely surprising, given the MacBook maker's clout, but even so, the purported quantity for this launch, as aired here, is a shock, if true.

Another surprise here is yeux1122 noting that the price of this MacBook "may be lower than expected", although it's difficult to imagine Apple shooting for, say, a $599 model with the state of the PC industry right now (with the prices of everything going up). It seems likely Apple could settle on an MSRP of more than that and still look like a great value for money.

Of course, everything depends on the quality of this affordable MacBook. As well as the iPhone chip and 8GB of RAM loadout, we can also expect corners to be cut with the screen, and the chassis and overall build won't likely be as premium as other MacBooks. There must be comprises, of course, but it's a question of what effect these might have – and we don't have a clue in that regard at this stage of mere rumors.

One thing is clear enough, though: if Apple is reverting to 8GB with a MacBook, it's reversing course on its recent policy of not having any Mac with less than 16GB. As you probably haven't failed to notice, 8GB is viewed rather dimly in the world of contemporary laptops. Indeed, I wrote a long article about this quantity of RAM and how suitable it is, or isn't, for a notebook in 2026 if you want to explore that in more depth.

In a nutshell, at least for everyday computing, you can still get by with 8GB in 2026, but it's far from ideal – particularly when it comes to considerations around any kind of future-proofing. And interestingly, yeux1122 observes that thanks to the way Apple has macOS and its hardware tightly integrated, you can expect a "smooth user experience even with 8GB of RAM" (again, translation nuances may have to be taken into account, but you get the gist).

Especially when it comes to AI features going forward, which, after all, are supposedly the next big thing, I find it difficult to believe that 8GB of RAM will be enough – but seemingly the affordable MacBook will happily support Apple Intelligence, yeux1122 tells us. (Although in truth, it'll have to, really).

There are some conflicting ideas with the (rumored) design and reality of this laptop, then, and I don't think the path is at all clear for a MacBook with 8GB going forward into 2030 – you'll want the laptop to last a few years, of course. But that said, there's no doubting that a very temptingly priced MacBook could really spark Mac sales, and if Apple puts the device out in the quantity theorized here, it's not unfeasible that the notebook could account for a big chunk of the company's PC sales, given the current climate of rising prices elsewhere with laptop manufacturers.

With a release seemingly on the horizon now, it shouldn't be long before we start to get more rumors pouring in – and we find out more of the likely truth about this purported entry-level MacBook. If Apple really is planning to go all-in with this device as suggested, it'll mean interesting times are ahead, for sure – and some much-needed relief on the value front in the laptop space this year.

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No, a Resident Evil 5 remake isn't likely to show up in tomorrow's PlayStation State of Play — that ESRB rating has been there for at least a year

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• A report claims that a Resident Evil 5 remake might be revealed tomorrow
• Its evidence is a "new" ESRB rating for an Xbox Series X and Series S version of the game
• The rating isn't actually new, though, so a reveal seems unlikely

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Rumors are swirling ahead of the upcoming PlayStation State of Play livestream, with some claiming that a Resident Evil 5 remake might be on the cards.

The evidence, according to Kotaku, is a "new" listing on the ESRB website with an age rating for an Xbox Series X and Series S version of the game, which seems to line up with the event tomorrow.

The problem? This listing isn't actually new, and checking snapshots on Internet Archive reveals that it's been live since as early as February last year.

An image from Internet Archive (via the Wayback Machine) showing the ESRB page in question - note the timeline at the top shows February 10, 2025. (Image credit: Internet Archive)

There's also the fact that there are multiple Resident Evil games listed as having unreleased Xbox Series X and Series S releases that have conveniently left out of the report. This includes Resident Evil Revelations, Revelations 2, and 6.

Presumably, Capcom isn't preparing to unveil remakes of all of those games at once tomorrow.

The prospect of a Resident Evil 5 remake reveal goes against the claims of a reliable Resident Evil leaker too, who says that Code: Veronica will be the next game to receive the remake treatment.

It also doesn't really make much sense given the imminent release of Resident Evil Requiem. It simply isn't plausible that Capcom would want to unveil a new remake so close to the launch of the next flagship instalment and potentially impact its sales.

Of course, there is still a slim chance that one will be shown in spite of all this - but I wouldn't bet any money on it. We'll have to wait and see tomorrow.

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Discord tries to ‘share clarity’ on disastrous age verification plans amid mass cancellations, but safe to say it’s not helping — it’s getting thoroughly community noted

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• Discord's age verification plans have been 'clarified' in an updated press release
• Multiple Nitro users have cancelled subscription plans after the announcement
• Discord's X post has been community noted, due to recent data breach

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Discord is facing backlash from its users due to its recent announcement of expanded age verification plans, and its recent damage control attempts haven't been successful.

In an updated press release, Discord has added 'clarification' on its approach to its age verification plans, which is set for a rollout in March. The press release further highlights that not all users will be required to complete face or ID scans to continue using the platform.

Both the announcement and the updated press release have led to users canceling Nitro subscriptions, and many on Reddit and X are encouraging current subscribers to follow suit. A spike in 'Discord alternatives' searches is also apparent, according to Google Trends.

Notably, Discord states that the 'vast majority' of users will be able to continue to use the app as normal, without ever being asked to confirm their age. This is possible via Discord's claims that it will be able to confirm age groups via the information it already has on users' activity, and age predictions to access age-restricted servers or channels.

However, for users who are required to complete age verification checks, Discord claims 'facial scans never leave your device' and that IDs are only used to verify your age and are subsequently deleted.

If your deeply worried about Discord rolling out age verification globally you should cancel your Nitro. from r/pcmasterrace

Google Trends

Future / X

The same press release update has been community noted on X, as Discord faced a huge data breach in 2025, which leaked 70,000 government IDs. This directly contradicts its claims that personal selfies and IDs for age verification are deleted, and X users were quick to highlight the matter in replies.

It's no wonder users are adamantly searching for Discord alternatives, as this March age verification rollout puts security and privacy at a major risk, despite Discord's claims.

Many have also suggested that Discord's press release indicates it's already 'spying' on its users, as it states that many adults won't need to complete age checks, due to 'information we already have'.

It's quite evident that Discord is in a state of damage control, and mass cancellations of Nitro subscriptions aren't going to do it any favors.

Opinion: Discord, stop punishing everyone for others' lack of parental control

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We all want better online safety for children every and every time, and fortunately, many measures are already in place to facilitate that. The same applies to video games and entertainment with age ratings, to restrict underage individuals from accessing said content.

However, it feels as though everyone is now being punished for the lack of parental control from others, at the cost of having personal information leaked.

Discord's Family Center exists to ensure parents can keep tabs on their children and their activity, and while this isn't completely foolproof, it seems as though Discord is going down the extreme route for extra protection of kids – but frankly, it doesn't feel like those are Discord's true intentions, as it would've implemented such changes a long while ago if so.

It's also worth noting that this has essentially come directly from the UK's new Online Safety Act, but was initially only implemented for UK users. Discord is taking it a step further by enforcing this for all users worldwide, when it truly doesn't need to, and I don't blame anyone looking to step away from the platform for good unless it walks back on this decision.

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A cure for the memory crisis? John Carmack envisions fiber cables replacing RAM for AI usage, which would mean a better future for us all

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• John Carmack has shared an idea for using fiber rather than RAM
• This is a vision of the future for replacing RAM modules in AI workloads
• While it's highly theoretical and a long way off, there are other possible nearer-term solutions to reduce AI's all-consuming appetite for RAM

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John Carmack has aired an idea to effectively use fiber cables as 'storage' rather than conventional RAM modules, which is a particularly intriguing vision of the future given the current memory crisis and all the havoc it's wreaking.

Tom's Hardware noticed the cofounder of id Software's post on X where Carmack proposes that a very long fiber optic cable – and we're talking 200km long – could effectively fill in for system RAM, at least when working with AI models.

Carmack observes: "256Tb/s data rates over 200km distance have been demonstrated on single-mode fiber optic, which works out to 32GB of data in flight, 'stored' in the fiber, with 32TB/s bandwidth. Neural network inference and training [AI] can have deterministic weight reference patterns, so it is amusing to consider a system with no DRAM, and weights continuously streamed into an L2 cache by a recycling fiber loop."

What this means is that said length of fiber is a loop where the needed data (normally stored in RAM) is being "continuously streamed" and keeping the AI processor always fed (as the AI model weights can be accessed sequentially – this wouldn't work otherwise). This would be a very eco-friendly, power-saving way of completing these tasks, too, compared to traditional RAM.

As Carmack points out, this is the "modern equivalent of the ancient mercury echo tube memories", or delay-line memory, where data is stored in waves going through a coil of wire.

It's not an idea that's feasible now, but a concept for the future, as mentioned – and what Carmack is arguing is that it's a conceivable path forward which possibly has a "better growth trajectory" than we're currently looking at with traditional DRAM.

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Analysis: flash forward

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Nor Gal)

There are very obvious problems with RAM right now in terms of supply and demand, with the latter far outstripping the former thanks to the rise of AI and the huge memory requirements therein. (Not just for servers in data centers that field the queries to popular AI models, but video RAM in AI accelerator boards, too.)

So what Carmack is envisioning is a different way to operate with AI models that uses fiber lines instead. This could, in theory, leave the rest of us free to stop worrying about RAM costing a ridiculous amount of cash (or indeed a PC, or a graphics card, and the list goes on with the knock-on pricing effects of the memory crisis).

The problem is that there are a lot of issues with such a fiber proposition, as Carmack acknowledges. That includes the sheer quantity of fiber needed and difficulties around maintaining the signal strength through the loop.

However, there are other possibilities along these lines, and other people have been talking about similar concepts over the past few years. Carmack mentions: "Much more practically, you should be able to gang cheap flash memory together to provide almost any read bandwidth you require, as long as it is done a page at a time and pipelined well ahead. That should be viable for inference serving today if flash and accelerator vendors could agree on a high-speed interface."

In other words, this is an army of cheap flash memory modules slapped together, working massively in parallel, but as Carmack notes, the key would be agreeing on an interface where these chips could work directly with the AI accelerator.

This is an interesting nearer-term proposition, but one that relies on the relevant manufacturers (of AI GPUs and storage) getting their act together and hammering out a new system in this vein.

The RAM crisis is forecast to last this year, and likely next year too, potentially dragging on for even longer than that with all sorts of pain involved for consumers. So, looking to alternative solutions for memory in terms of AI models could be a valuable pursuit towards ensuring this RAM crisis is the last such episode we have to suffer through.

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Resident Evil Survival Unit devs wanted the mobile game to be 'objectively scary', so they monitored play testers' brainwaves

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• Resident Evil Survival Unit studio JOYCITY monitored play testers' brainwaves to make the game "objectively scary"
• Business lead Jun Seung Park said the team "obtained meaningful results that helped us adjust the fear levels and immersion"
• The team also referenced the mainline series to "capture the same unique feel on mobile devices"

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South Korean studio JOYCITY, the developers behind Resident Evil Survival Unit, apparently monitored play testers' brainwaves to ensure that the game was scary enough.

That's according to JOYCITY business lead Jun Seung Park, who told This Is Game(machine translated by Automaton), that the developers wanted to make sure the mobile game was "objectively scary" for players.

"We conducted a bio-signal-based focus group test, monitoring players' brainwaves, eye movements and pulse to objectively measure their levels of tension and immersion," said Seung Park. "Even if we received positive responses through surveys, looking at actual bio-signals could lead to a different conclusion. Through this data, we obtained meaningful results that helped us adjust the fear levels and immersion."

A documentary-style video on JOYCITY’s official YouTube channel shows a bunch of playtesters wearing said brainwave-measuring devices strapped to their heads, so it's clear that the studio went all in on trying to up the scare-factor.

Seung Park also discussed referencing the original Resident Evil games and said the team tried to "capture the same unique feel on mobile devices", even going so far as to mimic the series' sound design, in particular the sound of footsteps in a scene without background music.

"Capcom’s 30 years’ worth of accumulated know-how proved to be invaluable," they said.

Producer Dongkyun Kye added, "At first, I was worried whether this kind of approach would be effective, but seeing how surprised and tense players got in these moments made me feel relieved."

It's also worth mentioning that since this is machine-translated, some additional context and nuance may be missing from Jun Seung Park's and Dongkyun Kye's comments.

Resident Evil Survival Unit quietly launched on mobile last November and flew under the radar for even the biggest Resident Evil fans. The reception was lukewarm to say the least, with some players praising its exploration, but criticising the game's lack of horror, limited-time purchases, and overpriced microtransactions.

Resident Evil fans not into mobile games can look forward to the next mainline installment, Resident Evil Requiem, which launches on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

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Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is reportedly 'three to five years' away and will likely be a PS6 launch title now that multiplayer action game Horizon Hunters Gathering is Guerrilla's primary focus

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• Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly the main game being worked on at Guerrilla Games
• Sources close to the project told Kotaku that many Horizon Zero Dawn 3 developers were pulled over to work on the multiplayer co-op title
• It's also suggested that Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is more than a few years away and could launch on PS6

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Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is reportedly still years away after Guerrilla Games moved many members of its development team over to Horizon Hunters Gathering.

Last week, the studio unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, a "new chapter in the Horizon universe", and a three-player cooperative action game developed for PlayStation 5 and PC.

The game doesn't have a release date yet. Still, game director Arjan Bak has said it will feature "reactive, and deeply skill-based" combat and combine "tactical precision" from the Horizon games and team play dynamics.

Before the game's announcement, it was believed that the Dutch developer was working on the next installment in its hit Horizon Zero Dawn series. However, it's now suggested that Horizon Hunters Gathering is no side project.

According to Kotaku, two sources familiar with the project claimed that it's now the main game many at the studio are working on, with one source saying that many staff working on Horizon 3 were pulled over to help on Hunters Gathering, "which Sony is committed to making a multiplayer success".

Unfortunately, this means fans won't get to see Aloy again for another few years. A separate source suggested that the next mainline Horizon game is "three to five years" away and would likely make it a PlayStation 6 launch title. Although there is a chance the game could also be a cross-gen PS5 release.

Kotaku's sources appear to align with what Bloomberg's Jason Schreier said last week following Horizon Hunters Gathering's announcement. When asked if he believes the project is being made by a separate team at Guerrilla, he responded, "I believe most of the studio is on this."

While Horizon Hunters Gathering may be a cooperative multiplayer game, the director has confirmed that it will feature a narrative campaign that will be "fully canon" to the Horizon series and "doesn't stop at launch", suggesting post-launch updates.

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'What a great way to kill your community': Discord users are furious about its new age verification checks — and are now hunting for alternatives

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• Discord says it's rolling out age verification checks globally from March
• The decision has sparked outrage from many disappointed Discord users
• A third-party vendor used by Discord was hacked in October 2025

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Discord has announced that it's rolling out age verification checks globally from March, and the decision has sparked a wave of online anger not seen since Disney+ suspended Jimmy Kimmel.

The messaging app casually announced that "teen-by-default settings" will roll out "globally for all Discord users" in early March. That means both new and existing users will need to complete a facial age estimation check – using a video selfie – or submit an ID to Discord's partners in order to use many parts of the platform.

These include accessing age-restricted channels, servers, or commands, and unblurring sensitive content or turning off that setting. If you don't complete Discord's age verification, you also won't be able to access a separate message inbox for DMs from people you may not know, or speak on stage in servers.

The controversy centers on the security of those age checks, particularly given that Discord recently had to admit in October 2025 that "an unauthorized party compromised one of our third-party vendors".

Discord's assurances about its age checks haven't exactly instilled much confidence in many users. If you get your age estimated by video selfie, Discord promises it will never leave your device. However, it also adds that "some users may be asked to use multiple methods if more information is needed to assign an age group," and if your age group estimate is incorrect, you'll need to appeal it or verify it with an ID instead.

On that front, Discord says that "identity documents submitted to our vendor partners are deleted quickly – in most cases, immediately after age confirmation". And the company says that it is no longer working with the third-party vendor that was hit by that leak last year.

Yet none of this has particularly calmed the concerns of many Discord users, who say they're already hunting for alternatives...

Discord lives up to its name

(Image credit: Discord / Future)

There's been a growing suspicion that age verification might come to Discord, ever since the service rolled out age checks in the UK and Australia last year. Back then, some users found cunning ways to circumvent the barriers imposed by the UK's Online Safety Act, like using Death Stranding's photo mode.

Sadly, that loophole was closed within a week, but it's likely to be a taste of things to come from March, given the widespread rage that greeted the news. In countless threads on Reddit, the reaction has been near-universal condemnation, with some even predicting the death of the messaging app.

"I categorically cannot trust tech companies with that kind of personal data," wrote one frustrated user, with many hoping they might be able to convince Discord to do a U-turn with enough public pressure. Others went further. "What a great way to kill your community," added another longtime user, while some predicted "that’s game over for Discord" and remarked ruefully that "privacy on the internet is truly dead".

The latter gets to the heart of what many feel is wrong with these mandatory age verification checks. While governments say it's an essential tool to keep teens safe on the internet, many feel it oversteps the mark and does more harm than good, leading to compromised privacy and increased intrusion.

What's galling for many Discord users is that they've used the service for years, some since it launched over a decade ago in May 2015, and now feel their reward is being exposed to what feels like surveillance and privacy issues.

"My account has been around for 8 years, am I seriously gonna have to scan my face to prove I'm an adult?" said one popular Reddit response. Another added, "I am an adult and I am tired of being treated like a child on the internet", concluding that "I will not be uploading my face or ID to a database that I know is not secure enough to handle this".

What are the alternatives?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

So what next? It isn't yet clear how Discord's age verification checks affected its user numbers in the UK and Australia last year, and it's possible the impact won't be anywhere near as dramatic as the many "RIP Discord" posts are predicting.

However, some users are clearly serious about leaving the popular messaging service. For many, Discord has replaced forums and become the default home of hobbyist communities. Some alternatives mentioned by leavers include TeamSpeak, Stoat (formerly Revolt), and Matrix, but they don't have anywhere near the scale or popularity of Discord.

Meanwhile, the likes of Signal and Slack either lack its community features or are more work-oriented. Quite simply, there isn't really a direct Discord alternative right now, but it's possible some rivals will seize the opportunity in the same way that Bluesky and Threads capitalized on misgivings about Twitter when it morphed into Elon Musk's X.

What's far less likely is a U-turn from Discord on age verification, despite the hopes of many. The decision follows a trend that started last year after the UK's Online Safety Act, which saw any sites hosting potentially 'harmful' content being forced to verify that users are over the 18. Lawmakers in the US and Europe have now followed suit, which means today's Discord furore will likely be the first of many similar incidents in 2026.

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'We’ve never stopped developing Fallout' says Todd Howard on Fallout 5, but the game is still a long way off with the 'majority' of the team working on The Elder Scrolls 6

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• Todd Howard has spoken about the Fallout franchise in a new interview
• He mentioned the "anxiety" surrounding the next instalment, and said "we do like to wait"
• Fallout 5 is expected to release after The Elder Scrolls 6

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Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard has spoken about the "anxiety" surrounding the upcoming Fallout 5, and reassured fans that some Fallout projects are still in development.

Speaking to Game Informer as part of the outlet's 'oral history of Fallout', Howard began by reflecting on the ongoing development of Fallout 76. "The game obviously didn’t launch in a great state, but it had an audience, even then," he said. "We had moments where you saw the quality of the game and what it could do, these big jumps, but also a lot of small jumps every quarter for six or seven years now."

"We want each of them to feel different," he explained. "My favorite thing about the Fallout franchise now is the online debates about your favorite. It should be a debate! 'Well, I like Fallout 1.' 'Nope. Fallout 2!' Fallout 3, 4, New Vegas, 76… not a whole lot of people vote for Shelter!

But we want them all to be different. I think it’s great that you can, if you’re a fan, return to each one in some way, and they have something unique to say."

On the future of the franchise, he said that "looking at 76, we’ve never stopped developing Fallout. We’ve had a full team on it for a long time, so Fallout, as a franchise, is the one that we’re still doing the most work in, above anything. Now, the majority of our internal team is on The Elder Scrolls 6. We are doing other things with Fallout that we haven’t announced."

"I get the sort of anxiety from fans," he added. "We do like to wait."

On the subject of waiting, The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced all the way back in 2018 with a brief trailer. We also know that Fallout 5 is in the works, and that it will release after The Elder Scrolls 6 - so it's undoubtedly still a long way off.

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No, the Nvidia RTX 5090 Ti GPU isn't coming out this year — here's why

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• Rumor suggests Nvidia has a 'very high-end RTX 50' GPU in the works
• It could be an RTX 5090 Ti, or RTX Titan, arriving in Q3 of this year
• Nvidia producing a supercharged RTX 5090 seems very unlikely, though, for a number of reasons

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A new rumor claims that Nvidia might have an RTX 5090 Ti in the pipeline, but I doubt that very much – if there is a new heavyweight GPU waiting in the wings, it's surely not one aimed at gamers.

VideoCardz noticed that French tech site Overclocking.com published this speculation, apparently after a lot of deliberation about whether to air it at all (understandably – and note that the site expresses its own disbelief about this purported plan of Nvidia's).

The rumor is that in Q3 of 2026 Nvidia is planning to launch a "very high-end RTX 50 series card", meaning either an RTX 5090 Ti, or maybe an RTX Titan to sit at the top of the GeForce range.

We're told that the design process and early work on manufacturing this graphics card is already underway.

According to Overclocking.com, five or six reliable sources – all from different companies (and indeed separate countries) – have insisted that this new RTX 5000 GPU is incoming. This follows similar chatter which the French site says it heard back at CES 2026, last month, but disregarded because it seemed too fanciful a notion given the RAM crisis.

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Analysis: an RTX 5090 Ti seems very unlikely to say the least

(Image credit: Future)

Frankly, I find this rumor is still too much of a reach, certainly the contention that there's going to be an RTX 5090 Ti, which is one of the mentioned possibilities. This just doesn't make any sense.

For one thing, Nvidia has apparently canned any possible RTX 5000 Super refreshes for this year, and indeed any gaming graphics cards at all, if several reports elsewhere on the rumor mill are to be believed.

Why? Because video RAM is scarce – as is all memory these days – and therefore pricier, so consumer GPUs loaded up with VRAM like an RTX 5080 Super or 5070 Super would be a drain on Nvidia's RAM resources. That's memory which would be far better deployed with heavyweight AI GPUs, which are much more profitable – and an RTX 5090 Ti would surely be expected to load up with more VRAM than ever.

Also consider that the RTX 5090 itself is already stupidly pricey at retail, having suffered a painful bout of price inflation since 2026 began. So how much would an RTX 5090 Ti cost? And also bear in mind that the reason the 5090 is so pricey is because of supply limitations; so again, why would Nvidia bring out a Ti version in this climate?

On top of all these reasons is the simple truth that gamers don't really need an RTX 5090 Ti. Enabling the full loadout of cores on the GB202 chip (which powers the 5090) wouldn't be a huge jump in performance (around 10%), especially considering what cost that might come at (as already noted). Really, the RTX 5090 is plenty powerful for any PC gamer, anyway.

If this rumor is true, it will surely be an RTX Titan (which is floated as the other possibility here) or similar heavyweight model aimed at prosumers, not consumers or gamers. And given the VRAM situation, it seems unlikely that Nvidia would even bother taking this tack, as the French site admits – but seemingly, this is the current plan.

Even if we assume this is correct, and Nvidia is indeed exploring a design around such a top-end RTX 5000 board, there's no guarantee it will come to anything — these concepts can be toyed with and then abandoned relatively late in the day.

In summary, then, do not expect an RTX 5090 Ti for later this year – and I'm all too willing to believe the rumors that we won't get any new GeForce gaming GPUs from Nvidia at all in 2026.

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Ever heard of 'quishing'? NordVPN warns the future of scams lies in QR codes – and shares some tips on how to stay safe

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• QR codes are the new creative gateway for cybercriminals
• 26 million may have already been at risk of falling victim
• Tips for staying safe include keeping your phone up to date

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Have you scanned a QR (Quick Response) code recently? Then maybe take a second look at that black-and-white pixel matrix, as there is a significant chance you may have already unwittingly been lured into a QR code or 'quishing' scam, NordVPN warns.

QR codes are everywhere. Since their debut over 20 years ago, a growing number of services – such as paying for parking, collecting parcels, booking concert tickets, or ordering a pizza – have increasingly relied on these versatile 2D barcodes.

Cybercriminals have also recognised their potential, increasingly employing so-called 'quishing' as a method for financial fraud and data theft. Alarming data from TechRadar's best-rated VPN suggests that many of us may already have fallen victim. In fact, as many as 26 million people could have been lured into a phishing scam by clicking a malicious QR code.

It’s a trap!

Over the years, retailers, financial institutions, and marketers have replaced traditional barcodes with QR codes, with the benefit that they can store large amounts of data and instantly link users to websites, apps, or digital content when scanned with a smartphone.

Fraudsters, however, have also integrated them into both physical and digital scams, boosted by AI to make these attacks faster and more effective.

Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, explains: "Unlike traditional phishing emails, where people have learned to spot the warning signs, a physical QR code seems inherently trustworthy."

As a result, scammers have been increasingly exploiting a malicious e-commerce technique called 'brushing.' This involves sending unexpected parcels with cryptic notes encouraging recipients to scan a QR code to learn more, only to be redirected to phishing websites.

Unlike traditional phishing emails, a physical QR code seems inherently trustworthy

Marijus Briedis, NordVPN's CTO

NordVPN warns that real-life examples include Amazon appearing to have sent packages that were never ordered, with a QR message encouraging recipients to claim nonexistent rewards as part of larger scam operations.

Earlier quishing scams also involved fake payment QR codes placed in car parks, where victims ended up inadvertently sending money to criminals.

A particularly emotionally manipulative scam tricks victims into scanning QR codes by persuading them that it will provide proof that their partner is cheating on them.

Because QR codes are so versatile for creative scam tactics, their use in fraud has skyrocketed. According to reports from cybersecurity experts at KepNet, 26% of all malicious links are now embedded in QR codes.

NordVPN has been at the forefront of the fight against scams, strengthening its Threat Protection Pro features – including email protection that scans links for phishing threats, as scam blocking remains its top priority for 2026. Last week, the VPN provider blocked 92% of malicious websites in testing conducted by AV-Comparatives.

How to stay safe?

While essential for protecting your data, a virtual private network (VPN) will not prevent you from scanning for malicious code yourself. Although studies show that Britons are actually quite good at spotting phishing scams, NordVPN urges us to remain vigilant by following some easy preventive steps.

Briedis’ advice is clear: "Treat every unexpected QR code with the same suspicion you would treat a link from an unknown sender in your inbox."

Before scanning a QR code, make sure you know who sent it and verify that the company requesting the scan is trustworthy.

Since most smartphones allow you to preview links, check whether the URL looks unusual or suspicious.

Keep your security measures active, including VPN protection, and be wary of QR codes found in unusual ways or locations.

And if this is old news to you, be sure to share it with someone who isn’t aware: after all, a user per day might just keep those scammers at bay.

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