The promised new freebies are now live on the Epic Games Store, where Nightingale and a Firestone Bundle are the store's latest weekly giveaways. This means they'll be permanently added to your possibly impermanent game library as long as you snag them before next week's gifts arrive. These are revealed to be Gravity Circuit and a Rogue Journeyman Bundle. Here's the not-sales pitch on today's gifts:

Nightingale is a first-person, PVE, open-world survival crafting game played solo or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms. Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, shimmering deserts, and shadowy jungles as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.

Firestone: Online Idle RPG is a multiplayer fantasy game with idle rpg mechanics. Collect heroes‍♂️, upgrade their gear & skills, and sent them in AFK battles or go on an incremental clicker frenzy to beat monstrous bosses! Chat with guild friends or engage in PVP⚔️. Log in to Firestone through Epic Games Store between Thursday, Oct 2 at 11AM ET and Thursday, Oct 9 at 11AM ET to claim your exclusive bundle.

Starbreeze announces it is discontinuing development of Project Baxter, the Dungeons & Dragons RPG it announced in 2023. Word is the developer will focus on trying to "accelerate the growth of Starbreeze’s flagship PAYDAY franchise," as PAYDAY 3 has still not found its footing from issues that prompted a major "revival" effort. Word is some developers are being reassigned to PAYDAY, but that 44 employees will lose their jobs as a result. Here's word:

Starbreeze will shortly present its updated strategy, detailing its renewed PAYDAY-centered growth path and plans to expand the heisting genre into new experiences and markets.

Adolf Kristjansson concluded: “I want to sincerely thank the Baxter team for their passion and creativity, and express appreciation to Wizards of the Coast for their support. Though we have made the decision to not continue forward with this project, we are proud of what was achieved in Baxter, and those contributions will carry forward into PAYDAY and the future of Starbreeze. By concentrating our efforts on PAYDAY we give Starbreeze and all our employees the best chance to succeed.”

Steam now features playtesting of NCORE, a PvPvE first-person shooter that will make its free-to-play launch "soon." This post discusses the test and Battle Pass rewards it will unlock for the full game. The Steam playtest launch trailer takes a look, and here's word:

The alpha test is finally live. You can now step into the arena, test your skills and show us the real champion. Make sure you have these checked off your list: you’ve applied for the alpha, downloaded the client, have your favorite drink by your side. Now you’re all set for some action! If you haven’t applied for the test yet, you still have the chance — the system will quickly check your info and send you a notification. Don’t wait around for too long, the testing time is limited and will last until the end of October 8th.

PRM Games, Benacus Entertainment, and RNF Productions announce The Run, a full-motion video horror game coming to mobiles in time for Halloween, and to PC at some point thereafter. This is the latest FMV game written and directed by Paul Raschid, who's continued to plumb this bygone genre with previous releases like The Gallery, Hello Stranger, and Ten Dates. The Run centers on a fitness influencer who runs into a bad situation where malevolent forces seek an interaction beyond subscribing and smashing that Like button. Here's the an Official Trailer with a look (live action, naturally), and here's more:

On a remote running trail amid the breathtaking landscapes of Lake Garda, Northern Italy, a famous fitness influencer’s morning run spirals into a fight for survival. Hunted by seemingly motiveless killers, players must make split-second decisions that will shape the story in real time. The fate of the protagonist rests in the player’s hands, where one wrong move could be fatal.

ILHAM announces Mystic, a survival/action game with RPG elements "inspired by Middle Eastern and South Asian traditions," promising to bridge "culture, spirituality, and technology" when it arrives "soon." But the chance to experience a portion of this mysticism, as there's a playable demo on Steam promising 30 minutes of gameplay. Here's a trailer and the quick description:

Survive in a retro-futuristic world filled with Jinns, animals, and other spiritual entities based on eastern fantasies in the spirit of Arabian Nights and middle-eastern history. Gather, craft, evade and ultimately fight your way to an epic battle between Man vs Jinn.

• 687 Days on Mars on Steam (Windows). "687 Days on Mars is a survival game where you are stranded alone on Mars - your task is to manage resources, build a base from scratch, grow food, and explore the red planet in search of supplies and other hidden challenges. Every breath and decision counts - can you survive on the Red Planet?"
• The 9th Charnel on Steam (Windows). "A first-person psychological survival horror game, The 9th Charnel is filled with a rich and frightening atmosphere. While exploring the many mysteries of this world, you must survive- whether you do it through stealth or by using weapons."
• Anima Gate of Memories: I & II Remaster Demo on Steam (Windows). "A third-person action RPG that brings to life the world of Gaia from the Anima: Beyond Fantasy RPG table-top books. Explore a deep and multifaceted story where your choices and actions directly impact the journey and decide the fate of the characters."
• THE SPIRIT LIFT on Steam (Windows). "THE SPIRIT LIFT is a cute spooky card game blending deckbuilding rogue-likes with story-driven indie horror. As teenagers from the '90s, players explore an ever-changing retro 3D hotel with the help of a magic elevator. Be Kind, Rewind, and Seek the Truth Lost Behind..."
• Stuck Together on Steam (Windows). "A co-op climbing game about two stuck-together toys on an escape mission from their evil owner. Failure is always one slip away. Will you reach your destiny beyond the attic?"

• Anima: Gate of Memories 1 & 2 Remaster - Official Release Date Trailer. November 7th.
• Capote: Official Early Access Release Date Trailer. October 23rd.
• Necesse 1.0 Announcement Trailer. October 16th.
• Stray Children is coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch on October 30, 2025 (video).

• A ‘deep dive’ on the future of Halo will be held next month - VGC.

• Roblox to Report Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results on October 30, 2025.

• Peacemaker Fortnite Dance Will Come Back Different After Nazi Concerns - Kotaku.

• KPop Demon Hunters arrive in Fortnite Trailer.

• Heroes of the Storm Live Patch Notes - September 30, 2025.

↑ Official patches. ↓ Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• Skyrim Unreal Engine 5.6 Demo Available for Download - DSOGaming.

• GeForce NOW Thursday: 17 New Games in October - NVIDIA Blog.

• The Phoenix Gene VR on Steam. Includes a playable demo. Here's a trailer.

• EA tackles Sims 4 save corruption: "We've committed to transparency" - Polygon.

• The 9th Charnel - STORY TRAILER - Horror video game 2025.
• DRAGON BALL- Sparking! ZERO - Over 200 Characters Trailer.
• Marvel Rivals - Daredevil: The Man Without Fear - Character Reveal. Our boy got thicc.
• Shoni Island Demo 2.0 Teaser Trailer.
• Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - Voice Cast Reveal.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Voxel Duke Nukem Trailer. Thanks DSOGaming.

• Here are the winners of the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards 2025 - MCV/DEVELOP.

• Journey Across the Northern Edge of 17th Century Japan in Ghost of Yōtei, Out Now on PlayStation 5.
• Bloodshed - Console Release Date Announcement Trailer. October 23rd.
• Reus 2 - Consoles Release trailer (Switch and XBOX Series).
• Nintendo Download- Reach for the Stars.

• Hulu To Become International Tile On Disney+ On October 8 - Deadline.

• OpenAI is now the world's most valuable private company at $500 billion - Engadget. Imagine if it wasn't losing billions!
• DOLPHIN AI uncovers hundreds of invisible cancer markers - ScienceDaily. Thanks Max.
• Don't use ChatGPT voice mode if you want accuracy - here's why - ZDNET.
• Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Lab Launches Its First Product - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Chatbots Play With Your Emotions to Avoid Saying Goodbye - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• MEPs: EU must explain funding to spyware companies • The Register.

• Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile review - it's just fine - Eurogamer.net.

• Microphone: Maono A04 Gen2 XLR-USB Podcasting Microphone Kit - Christ Centered Gamer.
• Monitor/Projector: Dangbei DBOX02 4K Projector Review - Dangbei DBOX02 4K Projector - Neoseeker.
• Motherboard: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870 Nova Wi-Fi Review - TechPowerUp.
• SSD: SK Hynix P51 Platinum 2 TB Review - Impressive Performance - TechPowerUp.

I'm saddened by yesterday's news that Rock Band 4 will soon be delisted, But word that the console rhythm game will remain playable for those of us who own it is great news. The delisting is because its 10 year music license is ending, so there probably was no other practical recourse. As I wrote about frequently at times, I was a big fan from its launch in November 2007. I love to sing, and have excellent pitch, but don't sound particularly pleasant. But the game ignores tone, allowing me to pretend doesn't matter as it rewards my prowess. My ability to stay on key actually greatly surpasses my reflexes and dexterity, so playing the seven(?) installments in the series encompasses the most impressive showings on global leaderboards of any games I've ever played. And play I have. I met a guitarist named Tweeter online early on, and we have been friends ever since, and along with my brother on drums have been playing together mostly on a weekly basis ever since. Seriously: my pneumonia cancelled two play sessions, so we're still at it. And while I've led a fairly microtransaction-free gaming life, the vast majority of such purchases are in this game, where I own an extensive song library. I am by far not the only one who does, so the real point I want to make is to thank current owner Epic Games for not pulling the plug on the game entirely before now, much less at this point. It can't be earning a lot, and for all I know may be losing money by now. So I think this is a goodwill gesture, and I really do appreciate when a company does something based on that kind of motivation. Thanks Epic!

Obituary: Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds Dies Weeks Before 80th Birthday - Noise11.com.

Rocking Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Story

• Florida Man Arrested for Eating Pet Peacocks - People. Thanks Boing Boing.

Science

• Health Canada study on silicone bakeware is out - Inside Halton.
• Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Wins Contract to Take NASA Rover to the Moon - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Alzheimer's Drug Shows Surprising Benefits For Some Kids With Autism - ScienceAlert.

Media

• Frankenstein - Guillermo del Toro - Official Trailer - Netflix.

Follow-up

• Jane Goodall wanted her life’s work to carry on, so start by streaming her groundbreaking Disney+ documentary - TechRadar.
• Rumor: Amazon-MGM Pushing For Jacob Elordi to Play James Bond in Denis Villeneuve’s Reboot — World of Reel. Thanks Dark Horizons.

The Funnies

• xkcd: Measure Twice, Cut Once.

A post on Xbox Wire announces updates to Xbox Game Pass, introducing upgraded tiers. These reintroduce Microsoft's hand to gamers wallets, as while perks are being added, there are also a couple of significant price hikes. Along with some new content (including some PC games in every console tier), the Ultimate Tier is getting whopping 50% price increase, and is now $29.99 per month. And the PC-only game pass, which was previously $11.99 monthly, is going up by 37.5%, to $16.49 a month. Here's word:

As we continue to evolve Xbox Game Pass, we’re focused on delivering more value, more benefits, and more great games across every plan. Whether you play on console, PC, cloud – or all three – there’s a Game Pass option designed to fit your playstyle.

With the latest upgrades, Ultimate is now priced at $29.99/month, reflecting the expanded catalog, new partner benefits, and upgraded cloud gaming experience. Standard subscribers will be upgraded to Premium remaining at $14.99/month, offering exceptional value for players who want flexibility and access to new Xbox-published titles within a year of launch. Core subscribers will be upgraded to Essential remaining at $9.99/month, providing a curated library, online multiplayer, and cloud gaming for those who want to jump in and start playing.

In a second dose of game streaming service news, Amazon Games introduces the "all new" Amazon Luna, announcing revamps to its cloud gaming offering that will arrive later this year. This is pretty low-key, simply promising "a new era of gaming for everyone" (okay, maybe it's not that low-key). It starts off with a lecture about barriers to entry in gaming, and how Luna will solve them. Word is this will lead to a "completely redesigned and reimagined Amazon Luna that combines innovative social party games with amazing blockbusters to make every night in your house the perfect game night to share with your family and friends." This will include more access to premium titles, giving Hogwarts Legacy, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II as examples. It also reveals a new GameNight feature for party games, promising it will also include entertainment programming like a courtroom operated the AI version of a convicted felon:

With all GameNight games, your smartphone is your controller for experiences centered around the living-room TV. In seconds, anyone in the room can join the fun simply by scanning a QR code. All GameNight games are designed to be played together with family and friends for maximum laughter and connection. Finally, a reason for parents not to tell their kids to put their phones away!

GameNight will feature exclusive titles developed by Amazon, starting with the launch title Courtroom Chaos: Starring Snoop Dogg — a human‑built, AI‑powered improv courtroom game where players invent outrageous characters, spin wild stories, and do whatever it takes to defend their testimonies before Judge Snoop Dogg.

CICADA has swarmed Steam, offering Windows gamers the chance to be a cicada and be part of the unusual cycle of life for these noisy insects. One of the species' great survival traits is the unfathomable populations it generates, so it's a little surprising that this centers on your prospects as a solitary bug (and its offspring). Here's word:

Set in the Japanese countryside during summer, “CICADA” lets players live the short yet intense life of a cicada. Fly freely through fields, forests, and lakes, seek out partners to breed, and face powerful enemies scattered throughout the land. Each defeat is not the end—your abilities can be passed down to the next generation. With every cycle, your cicadas grow stronger, until the day comes when you can finally overcome the enemies that once seemed unbeatable.

• Below the Crown Demo on Steam (Windows). "Explore the dungeons Below the Crown, in this love letter to Roguelikes, Dungeon Crawlers, and Chess. Prepare for strategy, game-changing spells, psychological tests, and challenges from your fellow players."

• I Mother - Release Announcement Date Trailer. October 22nd.

• ENDLESS Legend 2 - From Feedback to Features- The Year Ahead.
• Capcom will not "guarantee" Monster Hunter games can run on Windows 10 after October 14 - GamesIndustry.biz.

• Amnesia and SOMA creators Frictional Games tease their upcoming project - Polygon.

• Dune: Awakening developer Funcom announces redundancies - GamesIndustry.biz.
• EA says there will be no "immediate changes" to its workforce following leveraged buyout - GamesIndustry.biz.
• Ubisoft Launches New Subsidiary – Vantage Studios.

• All The Gaming Companies Saudi Arabia Owns Or Has Invested In - GameSpot.
• Social justice advocacy groups slam Roblox for "silencing important voices" with new parental controls - GamesIndustry.biz.

• KPop Demon Hunters Takes Over Fortnite Trailer.

Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• New Starfield Mod Adds Five Star Wars Classes to the Game - DSOGaming.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot PC Tutorial Video.
• PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Weekly Bans Notice (09/22~09/28).

• Amazon Prime Gaming's Luna Changes, Execs on AAA Video Games.

• Apple Pauses Work On The 2027 Iteration Of Its Vision Pro Headset To Launch A Competitor To Meta's AI-Enabled Smart Glasses - Wccftech.
• This Startup Wants to Put Its Brain-Computer Interface in the Apple Vision Pro - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• MAESTRO - LA CRÈME DE LA CRÈME trailer.

• Borderlands 4's worst character is getting 66 buffs, leaked patch notes reveals - Eurogamer.net.

• Build Your Own Commodore 64 Cartridge - IEEE Spectrum. Thanks A.M.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - Beta Trailer.
• Call of Duty- NEXT 2025 Recap.
• Dwarf Fortress - Siege Update Preview.
• Ember and Blade - Steam Next Fest Demo Trailer - Survivors-like Roguelite ARPG.

• Call of Duty- Black Ops 7 — hands-on report – PlayStation.Blog.

• Rock Band 4 Will Be Delisted This Weekend - Game Informer.
• Ghost of Yotei Update 1.007 Out at Launch as New Day-One Patch - MP1st.
• Get ready for new Ghost of Yōtei official merchandise, available from today – PlayStation.Blog.
• Bubble Bobble: Sugar Dungeons - Showcase Trailer.
• Just Dance 2026 Edition Let’s You Dance With Bluey.
• PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October- Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, Cocoon – PlayStation.Blog.

• Amazon is reportedly aggressively pitching law enforcement on its cloud services - Engadget.
• FCC chairman leads “cruel” vote to take Wi-Fi access away from school kids - Ars Technica.
• Cable nostalgia persists as streaming gets more expensive, fragmented - Ars Technica.

• AMD in early talks to make chips at Intel Foundry, report says - Tom's Hardware.
• Taiwan refuses to move half of U.S.-bound chip production to American shores — trade discussion to be focused on Section 232 investigation for preferential deal on semiconductors - Tom's Hardware.
• Intel Arc B580 Receives Huge Performance Gains In Some Titles As New Drivers Mitigate CPU Overhead To A Good Extent - Wccftech. NVIDIA who?
• Peloton Is Having Its Biggest Hardware Launch in Years - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• clsid2/mpc-hc Release 2.5.4 - GitHub. Thanks Ant.

• OpenAI's Stargate project to consume up to 40% of global DRAM output — inks deal with Samsung and SK hynix to the tune of up to 900,000 wafers per month - Tom's Hardware.
• How to Get Started With Large Language Models - NVIDIA Blog.
• Japan’s AI Demand Will Increase 320x by 2030, Industry Leader Says at NVIDIA AI Day Tokyo - NVIDIA Blog. Presumably a leader in the hype industry.
• Apparently the most popular clip on OpenAI's new AI video app Sora depicts Sam Altman stealing graphics cards - PC Gamer.

• Social justice advocacy groups slam Roblox for "silencing important voices" with new parental controls - GamesIndustry.biz.
• Adam Mosseri’s ‘we’re totally not spying on you’ video is raising a lot of questions - The Verge.

• DJI fervently rejects Chinese Military Company designation following court ruling — drone maker says it 'is not controlled by the government and has no ties to the military' - Tom's Hardware.
• FTC sues Zillow and accuses it of buying off rival Redfin - Engadget.

Last Link of the Day: 'Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair'- Quentin Tarantino Epic Sets Release Date - Deadline.

Obituary: Jane Goodall, pioneering conservationist and primatologist, dies at 91.
Obituary: Movie poster legend Renato Cesaro dead at 89 - Boing Boing.

NGL, Serafini Productions announces BrokenLore: DON'T LIE, a psychological/horror game that will test your veracity when it comes to PC and consoles. This is a "darker spinoff" of BrokenLore: DON'T WATCH, which launched earlier this year. The Reveal Trailer is here with a first look, bouncing between different gameplay and graphic styles, filled with trippy visuals revealing some of the game's twisted take on horror. The Steam Listing is live for the Windows edition, showing this with a "to be announced" release date. Here's more:

BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is a first-person psychological horror game. Junko lives trapped inside her small apartment, drifting between loneliness and madness as her fragile reality unravels. Lies, hallucinations, and terrifying visions blur the line between what is real and what is imagined, twisting the familiar into disturbing liminal spaces where nothing can be trusted. Not everything you see is real. Not everything you hear is true. Above all, remember: DON’T LIE.

Bunny Space Odyssey: FlopHop has hopped out for Windows and Linux on Steam, offering an adventure from AinkOink set in space, where no one can hear you ask, "what's up doc?" As seen in the Official Release Gameplay Trailer, this features platformer gameplay and environmental puzzles, all starring the cutest space bunny since Barbarella. Here's what to expect:

In the world of FlopHop, you will experience an exciting story told through quests and lore, during which you will be engaged in platforming gameplay: Ponchee must protect capsules with plants to eventually green the planet. You will also encounter many puzzles of various kinds that will stand in Ponchee's way as she learns about the history of the world, the universe, and her home planet.

Why is Ponchee alone on this planet? Who created Usagi-01? What happened to her home planet, and how did she end up on FlopHop? Ponchee will uncover all this together with our players! But this journey of discovery might not be so sweet – along the way, there will be many disappointments, moments of loneliness, contemplation, and reflection.

KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME is now free-to-play for Windows on Steam, giving the chance to do battle with giant monsters in turn-based combat in this game that debuted for mobiles (the PC release comes with crossplay support). As seen in the Official Trailer, not only do your combatants pass on a big power suits, but many pass on guns, as there's a lot of melee combat. Here's more:

Based on the global hit anime, adapted from the Shonen Jump+ sensation, KAIJU NO. 8 THE GAME brings you into the heart of the action! Witness epic battles between the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force and cataclysmic Kaiju, all rendered in breathtaking graphics!

Engage in an intuitive turn-based combat system, packed with strategic depth! Select your Defense Force officers' skills to attack, and when the Kaiju's core is exposed, unleash devastating ultimate attacks to deliver the final blow!

• Dark Atlas: Infernum on Steam (Windows). "If hell is a state of the soul, these are the steps that will lead you to its gates. Dark Atlas: Infernum is a disturbing first-person story where an esoteric end of the world meets psychological survival horror with a strong narrative component."
• LIFTED on Steam (Windows, macOS). "Get LIFTED! Play as slacker Ari, unwillingly starring in his professor’s deeply personal, HILARIOUS era-hopping tiara heist. Swing, climb, puzzle through time & outsmart a rival tomb-raider – an ’80s blockbuster adventure!"
• MARVEL Cosmic Invasion on Steam (Windows, Linux). "A cosmic battle awaits! Choose between 15 Marvel heroes in this frenetic action beat ‘em up to fight against the deadly Annihilation Wave threatening the galaxy. From New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, the future of the Marvel Universe will be fought for across the stars!"
• Riddlewood Manor on Steam (Windows). "Riddlewood Manor is a point & click adventure set in a haunted house that will try to kill you each step of your way. Overcome eerie logic puzzles to uncover a maze of mysterious rooms filled with dark secrets, spooky encounters, and hidden pathways. Optional jump scare warning is available."
• Sheepherds! on Steam (Windows). "Sheepherds! is a cozy co-op party game where you and your sheepdog buddies guide colorful flocks through beautiful landscapes to collect their wool. There's no time limit: bark, run, and play together — or take on challenges to win even more rewards!"

• Cut That Wire - Announcement Trailer. October 22nd.
• Dark Atlas: Infernum - Release Date Trailer. November 14th.
• The Last Caretaker - Release Date Nov 6 2025 - Announcement Trailer.
• Riddlewood Manor Release Date Trailer. October 27th.

• SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide - New content revealed.

• Crime Scene Cleaner - 1,000,000 Copies Sold – Thank You, Cleaners! New Beta Update Out Now.

Official patches.

• Bulwark - Falconeer Chronicles - Behemoth Releases. Free expansion.
• Hunchback's Dungeon - Patch - 0.3.2.
• The Last Starship - Alpha 17 Released.
• Polterguys: Possession Party - 🎃 Halloween Update- Ghoul Scouts and Haunted Trails.
• STRIDEN - Content patch - Relaunch is live.

Official trailers.

• The 18th Attic - Gameplay Trailer (Horror Game Awards).
• Arcane Overdrive - Gameplay Teaser Trailer.
• Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles - Behemoth Update.
• The Last Starship - Alpha 17 trailer.
• Little Nightmares III - 'Alone' Trailer.
• Painkiller - Slay Together Trailer.
• Permafrost - 5 Things that can kill you.
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide - Jellyfish Fields Reveal Trailer.

• Jurassic World Evolution 3 Developer Interview - GameWatcher.

• Hands-on with Fallout 76’s next expansion- Yep, it has Walton Goggins - Ars Technica. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Jurassic World Evolution 3 Hands-On Preview - GameWatcher.

• Wizard101 Console Release Date Announcement Trailer. October 9th.
• Reus 2 - Consoles Release trailer (Switch and XBOX Series).
• TRUCK DRIVER: The DUTCH CONNECTION - Story Trailer (2025).
• Namco’s first ever video game from 1978 is getting its first re-release this week - VGC,

• DoorDash’s New Delivery Robot Rolls Out Into the Big, Cruel World - WIRED (may require registration or subscription). Still don't trust it to not steal fries.

• Imgur blocks access to UK users after proposed regulatory fine - BBC.
• Venmo and PayPal users will finally be able to send money to each other - TechCrunch.

• Everything Amazon Announced Today at Its Fall Hardware Event (2025) - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Gemini for Home- Expanding the Platform for a New Era of Smart Home AI - Google Developers Blog.

• Google’s Latest AI Ransomware Defense Only Goes So Far - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Case: Einarex Prisma S800 Review - TechPowerUp.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: NZXT Kraken Plus 360 RGB Review - OCinside.
• Keyboard: be quiet! Dark Mount Keyboard Review - Hardware Asylum.
• Speakers/Soundbar: Edifier MR5 Studio Monitor Speakers - Nikk Tech.

This morning I'm enjoying my first coffee since my illness. I drink it black, and with my stomach being tortured by lack of solid food and piles of antibiotics, I just could not do that to myself. But I did cheat with a morning can of Coke, which was not advisable for my recovery, but a compromise I was willing to live with. The amount of caffeine this provided is meager compared with my usual two cups of coffee, but it was enough to stave off withdrawal symptoms. This is one of the last couple of steps to get back into my normal routine. The other is to follow my return to solid food with more of a full substantial meal, which will happen today too.

Perked-up Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Breakfast Link

• Channing Tatum Says MCU Fans Are ‘Not Ready’ for Avengers: Doomsday. Fans say MCU is not ready for Avengers: Doomsday.

Stories

• Government shutdown begins as lawmakers fail to reach deal to extend funding - CBS News.
• 3 big things happening in the coffee world - NPR.

Science

• Dinner Too Spicy? Scientists Discover Natural “Anti-Spice” Compounds - SciTechDaily. Heretics!

Media

• Gaosu Sheying (literally "High-Speed Photography") is a Chinese artist who creates mesmerizing slow motion videos. Thanks VideoSift.
• Bailey Bridge: The Invention That Won WWII - Calum. Thanks the Flying Penguin.