Ghostrunner is now available for free on the Epic Games Store as its latest weekly giveaway. This is not the first time the sci-fi cyber-ninja game has been on the giveaway pile, so you may already have this. If not, you have until next Thursday to snag it and it will be a permanent addition to your transitory game library. At that point the store will begin handing out free copies of The Big Con and Town of Salem 2. If you need to be sold on a free game, here's the sales pitch for Ghostrunner:

As the most advanced blade fighter ever created, you’re always outnumbered but never outclassed. Slice your enemies with a monomolecular katana, dodge bullets with your superhuman reflexes, and employ a variety of specialized techniques to prevail.

One-hit one-kill mechanics make combat fast and intense. Use your superior mobility (and frequent checkpoints!) to engage in a never-ending dance with death fearlessly.

Ghostrunner offers a unique single-player experience: fast-paced, violent combat, and an original setting that blends science fiction with post-apocalyptic themes. It tells the story of a world that has already ended and its inhabitants who fight to survive.

Presumably in celebration of the launch of the Fallout television series, Bethesda Softworks is offering everyone the chance to play Fallout 76 for the next week for free. You can check out the Windows edition on Steam and the PlayStation and Xbox editions are available through their respective stores. If you enjoy your time with the RPG prequel you can pick it up with an 80% discount and continue on in the wasteland. Here's a refresher:

Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76. Twenty-five years after the bombs fell, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America on Reclamation Day, 2102. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats. Explore a vast wasteland, devastated by nuclear war, in this open-world multiplayer addition to the Fallout story. Experience the largest, most dynamic world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe.

The fallout of the new Fallout television series continues to settle, as Bethesda announces free updates coming to Fallout 4 on April 25th. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S owners will get current generation support for the 2015 installment in the RPG series. Owners of the PC version are also getting some newer graphics features in an update that will also bring the game to Steam Deck and the Epic Games Store:

We are also releasing a free Fallout 4 update for PC players! Experience Fallout 4 on your next-generation PC with widescreen and ultra-widescreen support, as well as fixes to Creation Kit and a variety of quest updates.

Players with PC versions of Fallout 4 on Steam, Microsoft Store and GOG will receive stability, mods and bug fixes. For Japanese and Chinese language players on PC, Bethesda.net login issues have been resolved, fixing access to mods.

Alongside this exciting update, Fallout 4 will be available to purchase on the Epic Games Store.

Fallout 4 will also be Steam Deck verified.

The Shadow Game Store is live, offering a hybrid game store accompanying a cloud gaming service based on the assets of the bankrupt Shadow service. This is not a rental dealie, the store sells a catalog of discounted games, and there is the option of subscribing to the service and playing online through the cloud. Here's word:

On the Shadow Game Store, games are not rented like in other streaming services; on the contrary, users become full owners. This approach gives gamers total freedom: they can enjoy their games however they like, whether on their Shadow PC or on other devices, without any restrictions. This full ownership ensures a constraint-free gaming experience, allowing players to maximize the use of their game collection.

With the launch of its Game Store, Shadow reaffirms its commitment to offering added value to its community. This new platform promises to open up new possibilities and enhance the gaming experience for Shadow users.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts handed out its 2024 BAFTA Games Awards. It turns out Baldur's Gate 3 is not yet done adding to its impressive list of game of the year awards, taking home Best Game. Here's a rundown of all the winners:

• ANIMATION - HI-FI RUSH Development Team - Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks
• ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT - ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team - Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games
• AUDIO ACHIEVEMENT - ALAN WAKE 2 Development Team - Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games
• BEST GAME - BALDUR’S GATE 3 Development Team - Larian Studio/Larian Studio
• BRITISH GAME - VIEWFINDER Development Team - Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing
• DEBUT GAME - VENBA Abhi, Sam Elkana, Shahrin Khan - Visai Games/Visai Games
• EVOLVING GAME - CYBERPUNK 2077 Development Team - CD PROJEKT RED/CD PROJEKT RED
• FAMILY - SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER Development Team - Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
• GAME BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT - TCHIA Phil Crifo, Marilou Lopez-Aguilera, Thoanë Thomadra – Awaceb/Kepler Interactive
• GAME DESIGN - DAVE THE DIVER Development Team – MINTROCKET/MINTROCKET
• MULTIPLAYER - SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER Development Team - Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
• MUSIC - BALDUR’S GATE 3 Borislav Slavov - Larian Studio/Larian Studio
• NARRATIVE - BALDUR’S GATE 3 Development Team - Larian Studio/Larian Studio
• NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - VIEWFINDER Development Team - Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing
• PERFORMER IN A LEADING ROLE - NADJI JETER as Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - ANDREW WINCOTT as Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3
• TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT - THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Development Team - Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
• EE PLAYERS' CHOICE AWARD (voted for by the public) - BALDUR’S GATE 3 Larian Studio/Larian Studio

• Warhorse Studios: New Game Reveal - Thursday April 18 20:00 CEST. 2:00 pm EDT.

• EA is Shutting Down the Apex Legends UK QA Team, With Around 50 People Affected.

• Data Science from Novice to Ninja (pay what you want and help charity).*
• Fallout Franchise Sale 2024.
• Save 55% on System Shock on Steam.
• Save 30% on Among Us VR on Steam.
• Save 25% on Strike Force Heroes on Steam.

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

• Genshin Impact Developer Recently Valued at $23 Billion.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• The Culture Desk: What to Know Before You Watch “Fallout.”
• Welcome, Vault Dwellers: A Guide to the Fallout Universe.
• The best Fallout Easter eggs in the Prime Video show.

Official patches.

• System Shock - Shodan's Citadel Station Updates on April 11th. Adds female protagonist, new HD visuals, and more.

• For Honor - Content Of The Week - 11 April.
• SAND LAND - First Look Impressions Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• The Story of The Oregon Trail. Would have arrived sooner except for all the dysentery. Thanks Ant.

• Steam FPS Fest 2024- Official Trailer. April 15-22.

• The Rise And Fall Of The LAN Party.

• Free Play Days – Fallout 76, PGA Tour 2K23 and Classified France ‘44 - Xbox Wire.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta (2405.240408-2200).

• Google is launching a paid version of Chrome. I guess it depends on how much they're willing to pay us.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Ubisoft: "If there is no value in gen AI for creatives, it is not going to be adopted."
• Nvidia and Georgia Tech announce first AI supercomputer for students. Can write term papers and also locate keggers.
• Western Digital Previews 4 TB SD Card- World's Highest-Capacity.
• As a PC gamer, these are the apps I couldn't live without.
• Compaq: Gone But Not Forgotten. Thanks The Flying Penguin.

• How Election Deniers Became Mainstream—and Are Weaponizing Tech (may require registration or subscription).

• ISPs are violating the spirit of the FCC Broadband Facts mandate. Thanks DSLReports.
• The Hacking Lawsuit Looming Over Truth Social (may require registration or subscription).
• Sam Bankman-Fried files to appeal conviction and sentence.

Last Link of the Day: New Star Trek Prequel Movie Is Officially Official, Andor And Black Mirror Director Confirmed.

War is declared on Steam, where Headquarters: World War II is now available for Windows, offering a turn-based strategy game set in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. A new Video Trailer shows off gameplay. Developer Starni Games and publisher Slitherine Ltd. are also hosting a live launch event right now, and this post has details on how to attend. Here's word:

Headquarters: World War II is a fast paced turn-based strategy covering the Battle of Normandy in the three plot-driven campaigns and a number of skirmishes. Choose your side, form your force, assign heroes, level up your units, and use Headquarters skills to overcome the enemy.

Face a real tactical challenge
The game's combat system is based on an easy to learn - hard to master approach. Deceptively easy at a first glance, it offers lots of possibilities:

Continue here to read the full story.

Revival: Recolonization is now out of Early Access and version 1.0 of this 4X strategy game is now available on Steam with a 20% launch discount. This tests your tactical skills in a postapocalyptic setting where you must overcome the "despotic entity" that's taken control. Here's the Full Release Date Trailer with a look at gameplay, and here's word on what to expect:

Set in a post-apoc version of Earth, Revival is a 4x strategy game where the world and its rules can change at key moments, creating a deep and highly replayable experience. Explore a transformed planet, negotiate or conquer new territories and bring the light of civilization to regressing human colonies in order to prepare mankind for war with a despotic entity.

Revival generates a vast possibility space for you to play around with. From sudden weather changes to zombie infestations and bans on certain weapon types – boy, you are in for a surprise.

Continue here to read the full story.

Goons: Legends & Mayhem is now available for Windows on Steam and for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. This is an arcade hockey game that looks to add more action and violence to the sport, which is no small task. Word is: "The game mixes cartoon brawling action, frantic PvP and PvE modes, a raft of outrageous special abilities, ice rinks on pirate ships and a full campaign." You can check this out in the new Launch Trailer. Here's more:

Supporting 1-6 players, Goons: Legends & Mayhem is a hockey action game offering 1 vs 1 up to 3 vs 3 matches with a variety of PvE and PvP modes, including a full story campaign. Players can choose from one of eight characters divided into 3 classes - the attack focused sharpshooter, the defense oriented enforcer and the wingman, a wildcard that can either focus on supporting their team, or act as a constant pain in the neck of the opponents. Each character has their own special ability, including explosive mines, freezing opponents in a cube of ice and teleportation, adding an element of cartoony brawling to this hockey title where teamwork is the key to success.

Goons: Legends & Mayhem story campaign takes players on a varied journey across ice rinks nestled in forests, to floating ice rinks on the deck of a pirate ship as they try to stop the Grand Mascoteer’s mission to ruin hockey for everyone. On this epic adventure, players will face epic goaltender bosses, recruit unhinged heroes offering new ways to play, and gather a variety of collectibles and cosmetic goodies.

Continue here to read the full story.

Bandai Namco announces a release date for PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs, saying this multiplayer take on the arcade classic will start popping pills and chasing ghosts on May 9th. It will waka waka onto PC via Steam, PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. A Pre-Order Trailer (Offense Version) is here to a maze and amuse you, and here's more:

PAC-MAN MEGA TUNNEL BATTLE: CHOMP CHAMPS captures PAC-MAN’s insatiable appetite in a game where everything except the maze is edible. In the game, players must eat their way through multiple interconnected mazes to become the Chomp Champ – a.k.a. the last PAC standing at the end of each match. Gain the upper hand on other players or turn the tables against GHOSTS by utilizing a variety of Power Items which give PAC-MAN shields, enhanced speed, and more. Players can also sabotage their competition by using Power Items that help the GHOSTS. Not only will they be able to chomp through PAC-MAN’s regular diet of dots and fruit, but they can also chomp through other players’ PACs in true competitive head-to-head competition.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Jason Schreier on X: It was never really a Dead Space 2 remake, and for nearly a year it's had nothing to do with Dead Space. When pundits fight.

• Command & Conquer invades European March charts as sales improve - European Monthly Charts.

• Star Wars Outlaws’ Expensive Gold and Ultimate Editions, With Their Season Passes and Early Access, Spark Debate.

• Claim your free Fallout TV show rewards in Fallout 76 right now.
• Todd Howard says no Skyrim show for us even as critics go wild for Fallout.
• Wow Bao Partners With Flaunt to Become First Fast Casual Restaurant to Integrate Rewards Program With Roblox. Quite the distinction.
• Capcom Wants to Release Resident Evil Toys via Happy Meal.
• I called the Vault-Tec phone number from the Fallout show so you don't have to.

• Euro Truck Simulator 2 - 1.50 Update Experimental Beta.
• Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition 1.2.48.0 Release Notes.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Xbox App [2404.1001.17.0].

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

• Reign of the Old Republic v3.1.3 news - Battlefront II Expanded Conflicts mod for Star Wars Battlefront II.

• How to cheat at Super Mario Maker and get away with it for years.

• Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 Have Been Added to GeForce NOW.

• Startenders - Steam Announcement Trailer.

• One Last Breath – Release Trailer.
• SunnySide Official Release Date Trailer.
• Total War: WARHAMMER III - Tamurkhan, The Maggot Lord Gameplay Showcase.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Star Citizen 3.23 EPTU - Character Creation First Look.

• Moonglow Bay - Picture Perfect Trailer - Available Now on Nintendo Switch & PlayStation.
• TRAIL OUT Now Available on Xbox Series Consoles.
• Slave Zero X - Available Now on Nintendo Switch Trailer.
• Nintendo Download: Root Around for Clues.

• E-bike battery fires in Canada becoming more common. Thanks Max.

• Google announces $1bn undersea cable funding.
• How to Delete Your Google Account—After Downloading All of Your Data First (may require registration or subscription). Thanks Neutronbeam.

• AI may eventually consume a quarter of America's power by 2030, warns Arm CEO.
• Computer Theorist Wins $1 Million Turing Award. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Some high-end MSI motherboards have failed due to cracking chip modules — but your rig will probably be OK.
• More ads are set to plague your Windows 11 PC, thanks to Microsoft.
• Engineer creates CPU from scratch in two weeks — begins work on GPUs.

• Hospital websites share visitors' data with Google, Meta.
• Eric Schmidt Warned Against China’s AI Industry. Emails Show He Also Sought Connections to It (may require registration or subscription).
• Instagram to test new tools to fight so-called sextortion.
• DuckDuckGo Is Taking Its Privacy Fight to Data Brokers.

• Vietnam tells Netflix to stop offering video games. The Tetris offensive.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KS Review - PCMag.
• CPU: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Review- Meteor Lake Marks A Fresh Start To Mobile CPUs - AnandTech.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: Hyte THICC Q60 240mm AIO Review- The strongest, quietest AIO available - Tom's Hardware.
• Gaming Chair: Atlasio SHD Mini und Dynamic Chair - OCinside (German).
• Game Controller: Scuf Envision Pro controller review - PC Gamer.
• Headset/Earbuds: Dan Clark Audio E3 Closed-Back Headphones Review - TechPowerUp.
• Laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) review - This is the 14-inch gaming laptop to beat - Engadget.
• Misc: AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K 2.1 - TweakTown.
• Misc: Humane AI Pin review- the post-smartphone future isn’t here yet - The Verge.
• Mouse: Glorious Model D 2 Pro 4K-8KHz Edition review - PC Gamer.
• Speakers/Soundbar: Majority D80 Active Bluetooth Speakers review - PC Gamer.

Happy National Pet Day! And yes, I don't currently have a pet, and no, this is not ideal, but I have not given up on finding a proper critter pal. One thing that makes this state of affairs easier to tolerate is the incredible array of birds that populate the pond we overlook. This has been by far the best year for bird watching here. In addition to at least two pairs of nesting swans (we've only ever had one), the usual assortment of mallard ducks and Canada geese, and the great blue heron that's king of the pond, we've also had a huge influx of crows. This also holds the promise of possibly befriending one of them, which is apparently a thing. I don't know if I have the patience to actually cultivate any of them, but it would certainly be an amazing accomplishment if I could manage it. In the meantime, it's a load of fun to watch their antics.

Obituary: OJ Simpson Dead at 76 After Cancer Battle.
Obituary: Pioneering Hawaiian-born sumo champion Akebono dies aged 54.

Pet Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• Rethinking Happiness: New Research Challenges Global Perceptions. Thanks Max.
• The Dark Knight Rises- Nolan Brothers Initially Disagreed On The Villain Role. In fairness, nobody cared who Bane was until he put on the mask.

Stories
Thanks Max.

• UK Lifesavers Called To Rescue Baby Yoda Balloon.
• Pacific castaways’ ‘HELP’ sign sparks US rescue mission – and an unexpected family reunion. Thanks RedEye9.
• 'Heroes' Reboot Series 'Heroes: Eclipsed' In Works From Tim Kring.

Science
Thanks Max.

• Peregrine falcons expose lasting harms of flame retardant use.
• A microbial plastic factory for high-quality green plastic.
• Transplanting Feces From One Person to Another Could Ease Parkinson's Symptoms.
• ‘It must be something I ate’ is hard-wired into the brain.

Media

• Watch "vortex rings" above Mount Etna.

Creature Features

• Terrance the octopus came to live with a family. Then she laid dozens of eggs. Thanks RedEye9.