Xbox Wire has the announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded, a "faithfully" remastered version of the original Gears of War that will launch on August 26th for PC, Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A Steam Listing is live and accepting wishlist requests for the Windows edition. An Xbox account will not be required to play, though one will be necessary for crossplay functions. As for what's changed since the original version of this third-person shooter launched in 2006, word is: "From faster frame rates to deeper visual fidelity, every detail has been tuned to bring the original game into the present with clarity, smoothness, and immersion that matches the power of today’s hardware." Here are the details:

No matter where you play, Gears of War: Reloaded has been re-engineered to look and feel incredible. Players can expect:

• 4K resolution
• 60 FPS in Campaign
• 120 FPS in Multiplayer
• High Dynamic Range (HDR)
• Dolby Vision & 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos
• 7.1.4 3D Spatial Audio
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
• 4K assets and remastered textures
• Enhanced post-processing visual effects
• Improved shadows and reflections
• Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing
• Zero loading screens during Campaign

French-Canadian entrepreneur Stephan Tetrault has acquired GameStop Canada, and the GameStop Canada Website is welcoming users to what will once again be known as EB Games Canada. This resumes the name it carried prior to a 2021 rebranding that did not save the game store chain from this fate. Word is: "The transition to EB Games Canada will roll out nationwide over the coming months, including updated store signage, a redesigned website, and new branding across digital and social platforms all in order to enhance customer experience." Going back to its previous name leads to the paradoxical announcement that the company is "returning to its roots with a fresh identity." Here's more:

The acquisition marks a new chapter for the Canadian retailer, which will relaunch as EB Games Canada—a beloved and iconic name many Canadian gamers still associate with their earliest gaming experiences.

The move reflects a commitment to revitalizing Canada's gaming retail scene, bringing renewed focus to customer experience, collector culture, and the unique preferences of Canadian gamers.

Steam has kicked off three days of Early Access to Revenge of the Savage Planet, a perk for those who preordered the pricier Cosmic Hoarder edition of this sci-fi action/adventure from Raccoon Logic Studios. This post discusses the news, illustrated by this Early Access Launch Trailer, which shows off gameplay and revels in the game's satirical humor. Here's word on the game and an additional early adopter incentive:

Grab a friend and blast-off in May with exclusive limited-time Steam launch perks. Purchase Revenge of the Savage Planet within the first month of launch to receive the Trash Panda Suit and a bonus copy of Journey to the Savage Planet. This buy-one-get-one bundle is only available on Steam and for the first month of launch. Additionally, purchase the first week on Steam and you’ll also receive a 10% discount. Don’t miss out, wishlist today so you can be notified of the release and to secure your spot in space! Launch news is right around the corner.

Drop Duchy is now available on the Epic Games Store and Steam, offering a "hybrid" strategy game that warns of the dangers being inattentive when you pass the dutchie 'pon the left hand side. The Launch Trailer shows off a "charming, maquette-inspired medieval world" and gameplay featuring deckbuilding, puzzles, and roguelite progression. Sleepy Mill Studio and The Arcade Crew offer a 10% launch discount for the next week, and the following details:

With intuitive, puzzle-like block placement, Drop Duchy offers a satisfying depth that’s approachable for newcomers and rewarding for seasoned tacticians. Successful rounds guide your duchy’s forces along branching, decision-filled paths toward the ultimate goal: storming an enemy fortress.

Unlock upgrades and modifiers with over 110 unique cards, gaining access to new structures, enhanced soldier recruitment, improved resource gathering and other perks to improve strategies through robust deck customization. Drop Duchy keeps its blend of block-stacking, deckbuilding, and tactical decision-making fresh, challenging, and replayable with three playable factions, each of which command a distinct playstyle:

• One Year Countdown Clock Is Teasing Ecco The Dolphin's Return - Kotaku.

• Soldak 20th Anniversary Sale on Steam. Includes some all-time high discounts.
• Save 90% on Do Not Feed the Monkeys on Steam.
• Save 90% on Gal-Gun- Double Peace on Steam.
• Save 20% on WARRIORS: Abyss on Steam.
• Save 70% on Thief Simulator collection on Steam.
• The Complete Vibe Coding, Automation and Profit Super Bundle (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• 3D CAD Professional Bundle (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*

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

• Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Stats Snapshot.

• Citizen Sleeper is also a solo board game now — and it’s free - Polygon.

Official patches.

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Title Update 1.0.4 - Release Notes.
• V Rising - V Rising 1.1 Hot Fix 3.

• Survival Tips For Revenge of the Savage Planet, Available Today - Xbox Wire.

• Formula Legends - Official Announcement Trailer.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• The COMPLETE Story of Mafia - GVMERS. Thanks Ant.

• Star Wars: The Old Republic - Galactic Seasons Objectives: May 6 - June 2.

• No fate, just pixels: Terminator 2D revives Judgment Day, pixel by pretty pixel - Epic Games Store.
• Warside - ROADMAP TO v2.0.

• YouTube Premium Is Offering a Cheaper Two-Person Plan in Some Markets - CNET.
• New York Times Games launches leaderboard to celebrate daily wins - VentureBeat.

Thanks Console General.

• Software update makes HDR content “unwatchable” on Roku TVs - Ars Technica.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (Dev Channel) - Windows Insider Blog.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3950 (Beta Channel) - Windows Insider Blog.

• The people refusing to use AI - BBC. "Why would I bother to read something someone couldn't be bothered to write?"
• OpenAI says nonprofit retain control of company, bowing to pressure - CNBC.
• Perplexity AI's Comet browser will streak across the web this month - TechRadar.
• Open source AI models favor men for hiring, study finds • The Register. Tech bros gotta tech bro. Thanks Broadband Bulletin via Ant.

• Signal clone used by Trump official stops operations after report it was hacked - Ars Technica.
• A whopping 94% of leaked passwords are not unique - will you people ever learn? - ZDNET. We're not the ones leaking them.
• Vulnerability Summary for the Week of April 28, 2025 - CISA. Thanks Ant.

• Apple will appeal contempt ruling in Epic Games case over App Store - Reuters.
• States sue Trump over ‘existential threat’ to wind energy - The Verge.

Last Link of the Day: Did 'Thunderbolts*' Just Get Re-Titled? Movie Opens To $74M Box Office - Deadline.

Paradox Interactive announces more DLC (get that shocked look off your face) for Stellaris, as the new BioGenesis expansion is now available for the Windows sci-fi grand strategy game. This is available on GOG.com* and Steam and is also part of the Season 09 - Expansion Pass, so you may have purchased it already. The add-on is accompanied by a new "Phoenix" update that rises from the ashes for free for all owners of the game. A big update on Steam has the details and a new Biogenesis Release Trailer. Here's a bit:

BioGenesis, the first episode in Stellaris: Season 09, allows you to step into the role of a master geneticist, sculpting the galaxy to your design with living ships, engineered ecosystems, and enhanced species. Forge new paths with unparalleled bioengineering tools to create a civilization that thrives on adaptability and evolution – or exploit these tools to dominate the stars.

But beware, the wonders of life may harbor unforeseen dangers, including ancient threats lurking in the depths of space. The line between creator and creation blurs as you unravel the mysteries of life itself, unlocking the power to forge a living weapon capable of reshaping the galaxy – or devouring it.

Steam now features the Early Access launch of Knights of the Crusades, a "hybrid" strategy game for Windows that comes with a 20% launch discount for the next 10 days. A Launch Trailer takes a look at what to expect, which you can experience firsthand thanks to a playable demo. As the title states, this is set during the crusades, and word is it offers the chance to rewrite history, though it sounds like whatever path you follow, a holy war will result:

Rewriting history is made possible by Reverie's unique blend of real-time tactical combat, grand strategy systems, and open-ended campaign design. Beginning as a fledgling military order, players must pay close attention to logistics, ensuring their wandering army doesn’t arrive at the gates of Jerusalem with an empty stomach and no materials to build siege engines. They’ll also master tactical combat in a time when kings led charges from the front and the great equalizer of gunpowder had yet to arrive. With the right mix of strategy, leadership, and fortune, players will carve out their domain and enter an even more dangerous battlefield: the world of shifting alliances, fractured diplomacy, and long-term political maneuvering. With a combination of strategic thinking, talented leadership, and the right amount of luck, players will carve out their domain and enter an even bloodier battlefield - great politics in a rapidly shifting landscape, making and breaking alliances in pursuit of the goal.

• SpreadCheat on Steam (Windows). "SpreadCheat is a puzzle game that fuses intricate spreadsheet challenges with a comedic, 90s financial vibe in a retro Windows 3.11 setting. The Player takes on the role of the new office prodigy, solving absurd tasks and manipulating spreadsheet cells to hit specific targets using clever formulas."

• Hex Blast on Steam (Windows). "Hex Blast is a horde survival x roguelike deckbuilder where you strategize on a hex grid, chaining explosive card combos to wipe out cyber hordes. Build your deck, collect overclocked chips, and discover the most broken builds to annihilate cyber threats—before they overwhelm you."
• Kimono Cats on Steam (Windows). "Pop bubbles, collect coins, and build a dream cat village in Kimono Cats – an uplifting festival adventure set in old Japan!"

• Assassin's Creed gamers harassed a professor over a 'woke' character. She fought back with kindness - AP News. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Game veteran Warren Spector raises awareness about working with bipolar condition - interview - VentureBeat.

• This Doom themed Harley Davidson is the most metal game collab I've seen since The Dark Ages - PC Gamer.

Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• This Unofficial Frasier Video Game Lets You Play The Show's Greatest Hits - SlashFilm.
• First 4K Texture Pack for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - DSOGaming.

• Pets & Stuff - Coming to Steam on May 23rd! - HyperVR Games.
• 60-Hour Dance Sessions, Simulated Sex, and Ketamine- Inside the World of Hardcore VR Ravers - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

Official trailer.

• Daemon X Machina- Titanic Scion - Combat Basics Trailer.

• EA SPORTS FC Mobile Partners With MLS and Apple TV to Bring Four Live Match Broadcasts to Players Worldwide.

• A Steven Spielberg Classic Gave Rise To The Worst Video Game In History - SlashFilm.

• Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• One UI 7 update triggers battery life crisis on Galaxy S24 and Fold 6 - android Police. Thanks Reddit.

• The Dream of the Metaverse Is Dying. Manufacturing Is Keeping It Alive - WIRED (may require registration or subscription). Pipe dream.
• Microsoft finally retires Skype after 22 years of service - Tom's Hardware.

• Trump White House on 100% Movie Tariff: 'No Final Decisions' Made Yet - TheWrap.
• Trump’s ‘100% tariff’ on non-American movies sounds bad for anime - Polygon.
• Windows 11 24H2 update is now automatically downloading on some PCs - Tom's Hardware.
• Trump promises protection for TikTok as sale deadline nears • The Register.
• Notepad++ version 8.8.1. Thanks Console General.

• Opinion - Is AI Enhancing Education or Replacing It? - The Chronicle of Higher Education. Thanks Max.

• Security Researchers Warn a Widely Used Open Source Tool Poses a 'Persistent' Risk to the US - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Leading deepfake porn site is shut down for good - Engadget.
• 7 ways to lock down your phone's security - before it's too late - ZDNET. Without a time machine?

• Bungie fails to provide evidence for Destiny 2 copyright lawsuit because the content is ‘vaulted’ - VGC.

• Case: Thermaltake CTE E550 TG Review- Turn Your PC Build Sideways, If You Dare - PCMag. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Case: Thermaltake TR100 Mini Tower Chassis Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB Review - TechPowerUp.
• Motherboard: ASRock B860 LiveMixer WiFi Motherboard - Nikk Tech.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! This is a Mexican holiday that's apparently more popular in the U.S. than at home. It's often celebrated with margaritas, the most popular cocktail in the states and one of the most popular in the world, but perhaps not actually genuinely Mexican, as its origins are not clear. And while I'm not much of a drinker, I do enjoy the occasional visit to Margaritaville. But tonight is a school night, so I won't be searching for my lost shaker of salt before the weekend. So if you're celebrating, have one on me, provided you have a designated driver.

Also, "mein leben!" Happy 32nd birthday Wolfenstein 3D.

Obituary: 'Ren & Stimpy' Artist and Spümcø Co-founder Jim Smith Has Died, Age 70 - Animation Magazine. Thanks Neutronbeam.
Obituary: Charley Scalies Dies: 'The Wire' & 'The Sopranos' Actor Was 84 - Deadline.

Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Story

• Reopen Alcatraz? Trump's idea for prison has been tried before - USA Today.

Science

• As Trump Targets Researchers, Europe Makes a Pitch to Attract Scientists - The New York Times (free account required).
• The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early May 6 — Here's how to see fragments of Halley's comet burn up in the atmosphere - Space.
• SpaceX pushed “sniper” theory with the feds far more than is publicly known - Ars Technica.

Media

• IGORRR - ADHD. Thanks VideoSift.
• How to Throw a Football by Tom Brady.

Follow-up

• Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Makes Just $25,000 From Limited Theatrical Release - TheWrap.

Warhorse Studios on X announces its Bohemian rhapsody over the three million-plus players that have taken up arms in Kingdom Come Deliverance II in the three months since the launch of the medieval action/RPG sequel. There are additional posts with infographics outlining the myriad activates all of these Henrys have engaged in along with way, including a body count that's approaching the half-billion plateau. Here's a bit of appreciation:

Over 3 million Henrys setting out on their adventures - and leaving their mark on Bohemia. Thank you for every quest completed, every battle fought, and every story written! #KCD2

The Prime Gaming Blog details the May content update for this program that's part of an Amazon Prime subscription. This provides free games and game content to members which are free to keep. Consistent with today's May the Fourth celebrations, this includes a couple of Star Wars games among the freebies being handed out this month:

This May, Prime members can claim a fresh lineup of free games, including STAR WARS™ Galactic Battlegrounds Saga, LEGO® Star Wars™ — The Complete Saga, Styx: Master of Shadows, The Invisible Hand, Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™ Digital Deluxe Edition, Amnesia: Rebirth, Hypnospace Outlaw, Doors — Paradox, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell, ENDLESS™ Legend Definitive Edition, Golf with Your Friends, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2, Mail Time, FATE, Thief™ 2: The Metal Age, Everdream Valley, Chessarama, The Lost Ashford Ring, Samurai Bringer, Trinity Fusion, Masterplan Tycoon, Liberté and Jennifer Wilde Unlikely Revolutionaries.

• Half-Life 3 Is Being Widely Playtested Ahead of a Possible Summer Reveal, Winter Release; Game Is Playable From Beginning to End - Wccftech.
• MindsEye Gameplay Leaks Online, Showing GTA-Like Features - MP1st.

• Dark Souls Franchise Sale on Steam.
• Save 80% on Legend of Grimrock 2 on Steam
• Save 40% on Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion on Steam.
• Save 75% on Neon Abyss on Steam.

Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• Free Dino Crisis 2 Fan Remake Demo in Unreal Engine 5 Released - DSOGaming.

• How Riot Games is fighting the war against video game hackers - TechCrunch.

• Blizzard accidentally left a placeholder item in Diablo 4 and a couple of lucky players went god mode with it - PC Gamer.

• When will Unreal Engine 6 be released? - Tim Sweeney and Lex Fridman (video). Thanks DSOGaming.

Thanks Ant.

• Darkest Days - Official Gameplay Trailer.

↑↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• Ketheric's FINAL FORM! - Baldur's Gate 3 Ep21 - Carbot.
• The Truth Behind the Switch 2’s Price - The Warp Zone.

• Matt Chat 552: Richard Murtland on Splintered (video). Thanks Ant.

• Clair Obscur- Expedition 33: How the 'Game of the Year' was made - BBC.

• Chips aren’t improving like they used to, and it’s killing game console price cuts - Ars Technica.

• Chinese smartphone makers reportedly want a Google-free Android alternative - Neowin.
• Change These Settings on Your Gaming Laptop to Save Battery and Play Longer - Lifehacker. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• ‘Changing lanes’- China heralds fastest-ever chip technology – without silicon - South China Morning Post. Thanks Slashdot.
• Storage device boiled in salt water, then grilled in an oven as proof of durability — Cerabyte's glass storage media claimed to be ultra-rugged - Tom's Hardware. And fall off the bone tender! Thanks Max.
• Elon Musk’s SpaceX gets a company town in Texas - The Verge.
• Microsoft should integrate these five PowerToys utilities into Windows 11 - Neowin.
• QModem 4.51 Source Code - GitHub.

• Google is going to let kids use its Gemini AI - The Verge.
• Not everything needs an LLM- A framework for evaluating when AI makes sense - VentureBeat. Sacrilege!
• A DOGE recruiter is staffing a project to deploy AI agents across the US government - Ars Technica.

• Nintendo Sues Accessory Maker for Switch 2 Leak - MP1st.

• Wreckfest 2- a robust overhaul that showcases phenomenal soft-body physics - Eurogamer.net. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Headset/Earbuds: Focal Bathys MG Review- Gorgeous Sound for a Pretty Penny - WIRED.
• Laptop: Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 review- powerful graphics, LOUD FANS - The Verge.

• Summer heatwaves are a nightmare for PC gaming – here are the tricks I'm using to stop my room from becoming a sauna - TechRadar. Thanks Neutronbeam…

Happy Star Wars Day! As I mentioned at the time, MrsBlue ended up working on some book tie-ins with the movies years ago, which forced her into becoming a fan, so to speak. So we have plans to celebrate this together by watching A New Hope, as it's been quite a while. Whether we'll follow by watching the rest of the series is up in the air, so we'll see. May the fourth be with you. Alwayth.

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

Brunch Link

• The Phony Physics of Star Wars Are a Blast - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

Science

• Writing by Hand Helps Children Learn Letters Better - Neuroscience News.
• Quantum Simulation Shows How Reality Could Collapse Like a House of Cards - SciTechDaily.
• Just 1 erythritol-sweetened drink may harm brain, blood vessel health - MedicalNewsToday.
• Facial Movements and Pupils Reveal Tinnitus Severity - Neuroscience News.

Media

• When an Actor Just Wants to Have Fun - Sam Rockwell - FilmStack.
• The birds and the bees talk. Thanks VideoSift.