It says "we celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas," but the actions of SAG-AFTRA suggest otherwise, as the performance artist union has filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board over the recent news that Fortnite now features Darth Vader's voice recreated by AI. The union objects, despite this being something James Earl Jones approved of before he died. The complaint, filed against Epic subsidiary Llama, suggests that in making this arrangement with the Jones estate, the company is altering the deal:

Within the past six months, the Employer, by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite.

NVIDIA announces the release of its new GeForce RTX 5060 GPUs, saying standalone graphics cards and 5060-powered prebuilt systems are now available. This presents things just the way NVIDIA wants, which only makes sense. But as noted earlier, tech enthusiast sites are alleging they are being pressured to do the same, so the review situation is fraught. The news includes a new version 576.52 GeForce game ready Windows driver, and you can download that from NVIDIA. This relates to one of the complaints from tech outlets, which is that the driver was withheld to prevent reviews from preceding the launch. Not to pile on, but this also highlights another recent problem for NIVIDIA. While new drivers accompany almost all new card releases, four other new drivers or hotfixes have arrived in the barely a month since we got the version 576.02 driver with the 5060 Ti launch. That's a new driver or hotfix every five and a half days. Word is: "This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games supporting DLSS 4 technology including F1 25 and Dune: Awakening, as well as the Full Ray Tracing update for NARAKA: BLADEPOINT." Here's more:

Gaming Technology

• Adds support for GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPUs
• Fixed Gaming Bugs
• [F1 23/F1 24] Game crashes at the end of a race [5240429]
• [Diablo II Resurrected] Game displays black screen corruption when using DLSS [5264112]
• [SCUM] Game may crash after updating to R575 drivers [5257319]
• Shader disk cache will not be created with certain games if OS username contains unicode characters [5274587]

• Banished Stone on Steam (Windows). "Embark on a unique fantasy action RPG adventure with 20 hours of gameplay. Traverse on foot, or by air, engaging in battles against monsters and bosses. Capture or kill criminals, take quests for NPCs, and acquire loot. Revive your ancestral home, befriend and tame pets, craft, or simply go fishing."

• Naughty Dog working on second game alongside Intergalactic, Neil Druckmann confirms - Eurogamer.net.

• Mafia Franchise Event Sale on Steam.
• Save 50% on Galactic Civilizations IV on Steam.
• Save 34% on The Stone of Madness on Steam.
• Save 80% on Zeno Clash on Steam.
• Learn To Make Games in Godot 4 by GameDev.tv 2025 (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*
• Lights, Camera, Movavi! The Photo & Video Dream Kit (pay what you want and help charity) - Humble.*

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

• The Last of Us TV showrunner confirms four season plan, says "no way" to wrap things up in three - Eurogamer.net.

Official patch.

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered PC - Patch 1.4 Release Notes.

Official trailers.

• Anno 117: Pax Romana - Gameplay Showcase Trailer.
• Chrono Odyssey - Closed Beta Announce Trailer.

• Frostpunk 2 awarded Polish Game of the Year 2024.

Thanks Ant.

• Apple Releases iPadOS 17.7.8 - MacRumors.
• Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It? - MacRumors. Not that your car does.

• Mozilla quietly makes Microsoft’s GitHub the authoritative home for Firefox code • DEVCLASS. Thanks Ant.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 138.0.2 Release Notes.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 128.10.2esr Release Notes.

Thanks Console General.

• How to watch the Google I/O 2025 keynote tomorrow.
• Samsung is finally bringing Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to its OLED TVs - Tom's Hardware.
• NVIDIA Research Breakthroughs Put Advanced Robots in Motion - NVIDIA Blog.
• Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.4188 to the Release Preview Channel - Windows Insider Blog.
• Microsoft PowerToys versuib 0.91.1 - Github.

• NVIDIA and Microsoft Accelerate Agentic AI Innovation, From Cloud to PC - NVIDIA Blog.

• Vulnerability Summary for the Week of May 12, 2025 - CISA.

• Trump Signs Controversial Law Targeting Nonconsensual Sexual Content - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Trump administration cuts funding for the Strong Museum of Play - Game Developer…

Last Link of the Day: Physicists Say We Were Completely Wrong About How Gravity Works - Futurism. All I know is "what goes up must come down," so let me know when that's wrong.

Cast & Spell is currently free to keep on Steam, and all you have to do to snag this multiplayer spellcasting game for Windows is add it to your library by 3:00 pm EDT tomorrow (thanks Game Rank). This just launched into Early Access a month ago and there's no update from Hosthood Studio explaining the freebie, but multiplayer games need multiple players, so it's not hard to see the logic. Here's a Gameplay Trailer and more:

Cast & Spell is an action-packed multiplayer game where wizards battle using elemental magic. Fight in PvP duels or team up with friends in co-op modes to defeat monsters. Master different elements and enjoy intense, strategic combat across various game modes.

NVIDIA's Dirty Manipulation of Reviews - Gamers Nexus (NSFW video) takes a deep dive into how NVIDIA is dealing with tech enthusiast outlets over GPU reviews, a tense situation which seems to have come to a head with the launch of new RTX 5060 graphics cards (thanks Burrito of Peace and Simon). In the video, Steve calls this "the G.N. chef's special: scorched earth." Similarly, PC Gamer offers a guerrilla RTX 5060 review as a result of NVIDIA's practices. Don't Buy The RTX 5060 from Hardware Unboxed is another video discussing the new cards and the pressure NVIDIA put on the channel to create reviews following its preferred narrative. TechSpot breaks down the clip and its own experiences to explain the situation, and says this is a wakeup call for enthusiasts:

This situation is a wake-up call. As tech enthusiasts, we rely on honest coverage to guide our purchases. We must demand transparency and support outlets that prioritize truth over marketing. Because if this trend continues unchecked, the next generation of gamers might find themselves drowning in polished PR, without even realizing they're being sold a fantasy.

Ubisoft offers details on Rainbow Six Siege X and Operation Daybreak, supplying a Year 10 Roadmap and details on the new free-to-play era that begins on June 10th with the launch of Rainbow Six Siege X. In addition to free access to the tactical first-person shooter, this brings additional changes to the mix: "Dual Front (the new 6v6 game mode for current gen consoles and PC), modernized maps, destructible ingredients, improved rappel navigation, an audio overhaul, and more as part of a wide-ranging suite of upgrades, improvements, and refinements." There's more intel on what to expect in a new video with Operation Daybreak Operator Gameplay Gadget & Starter Tips. Here's more on the changes and improvements this will bring:

Siege X is the next evolution of Rainbow Six Siege that is free for all players who already own the game. It's also introducing Free Access, which means anyone can hop in for free and play the Quick Match, Unranked, and Dual Front modes, and enjoy all of the upgrades delivered with Siege X. Keep an eye out for newly placed destructible ingredients in every map, including explosive gas pipes, vision-clouding smoke detectors, and interactable metal detectors. Player movement will be more fluid thanks to the advanced rappel navigation allowing sprinting and turning corners, as well as the momentum movement improvement.

Mark J. Mayers and The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild announce DESOLUS, a first-person puzzle game inspired by Dutch art and Portal, as it features portal gameplay to solve puzzles based on the paradoxical artwork of M.C. Escher. Its Steam Listing is live, promising a playable demo will arrive at the end of next week. If "games can't be art" critic Roger Ebert isn't spinning in his grave over the video game reviews added to his namesake website following his death, this bit might get him going: "Desolus has been selected for several festivals, including an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum." There's also an Announcement Trailer which leans hard into the portal mechanic and little else (besides some virtuoso piano). Here's the description:

Explore a city of Gothic architecture torn between past and future in Desolus, a first person puzzle game. Solve Escher-like puzzles through the use of black holes, traveling back and forth through time to make architecture whole again. Prevent a cataclysm which fractures reality, and save the city.

• Neanderthallica Demo on Steam (Windows). "Puzzle-metroidvania game set in a prehistoric world with a twist of sci-fi. Master the ability to change the weather, altering the environment and battles. Craft unique gear and weapons, and explore hidden secrets as you journey through humor-filled stone age."

• Former PlayStation exec says "$70 or $80" games are a "steal," "As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining" - GamesRadar+. Those who don't have to choose carefully how they spend their money seem to be the most eager to opine on the topic.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says 'PC gaming is now 30 years old,' - PC Gamer. So NVIDIA invented PC gaming? Cool story, bro.
• Hideo Kojima Says Physint, His Next Action Espionage Game, Is 5-6 Years Away - Game Informer.

• Doom: The Dark Ages has the lowest Steam player count of any of the modern Doom games at launch - VG247.

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Achievement Stats Suggest Not Many of You Have Completed the Main Questline — Are You Getting Sidetracked Like Everyone Else? - IGN.

• It's pretty clear Monster Hunter Wilds' first Capcom collab will be with Street Fighter - VG247.

• George A. Romero's Resident Evil Is The Most Unique Video Game Movie Of The Year - Game Rant. Apologies to grammarians for "most unique."
• The Firepit Company - We are excited to reveal our one of a kind DOOM: The Dark Ages firepit in collaboration with @bethesda - Instagram. Being shown in the Chelsea Flower Show 2025, one of the less travelled circles of Hell.

Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• Skyrim's LoreRim Modlist Releases Version 4.0 With Over 4,000 Mods - GameRant.

Official trailer.

• Courtyard King by Teravision Games - Created In Fortnite.

• Amalgoom RC3 + Sandy Petersen Interview - Map Releases & Development - Doomworld. DOOM modders talk with an OG DOOM designer. Thanks Ant.
• INTERVIEW- Henk Rogers Changed Gaming, Now He Wants to Change the World - Newsweek.
• Balatro and beyond- behind Playstack's run of indie game hits - GamesIndustry.biz.
• Ashly Burch Breaks Down Her Iconic Characters - Horizon Zero Dawn, Borderlands, The Last of Us - IGN (video).
• Matt Chat 554: Mark Crowe on Space Quest and SpaceVenture (video). Thanks Ant.

• $50,000 RTX Remix Mod Contest Begins, Portal with RTX Adds DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation - GeForce News - NVIDIA.

• The PC Gaming Show returns June 8 with great hosts, amazing games, and a live on-air PC build and giveaway - PC Gamer.
• BitSummit - Japan’s Industry-Leading Independent Game Development Festival in Kyoto. July 18-20.
• Indie JRPGs showcase Indie Quest 2025 set for May 29 - Gematsu.

• Chibi Wars- Deep State by Robert Schug — Kickstarter. "Picture this: a world where the Deep State pulls the strings, and only you can blast through their lies with a grin and a gun. Chibi Wars: Deep State is a first-person shooter like no other, blending heart-pounding action with adorable chibi-style characters and a razor-sharp satirical edge. As a fearless Truthseeker, you’ll dive into a dystopian city to expose the Deep State’s darkest secrets, armed with wild weapons and the power of social media. Get ready for a game that’s equal parts hilarious, thrilling, and totally unique!"

• DOOM- The Dark Ages Wouldn't Have Been Possible Without Ray Tracing - Wccftech.
• Sierra made the games of my childhood. Are they still fun to play? - Ars Technica. Thanks Ant.

• China’s non-Chinese smartphone shipments decline to 1.85 million units - NotebookCheck.net News. Thanks Reddit.
• JerryRigEverything raises big red flags after Pixel 9a teardown- 'Don't buy it' - Android Authority. Thanks Reddit.

• How to Reduce Browser Battery Drain in Chrome, Edge, and Opera - WIRED (may require registration or subscription). Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Tor Browser 14.5.2. Thanks Console General.
• Microsoft finally making Google Chrome as good as Edge by blocking Admin rights - Neowin.
• Vivaldi 7.4 is out with improved keyboard shortcut and address bar controls - Neowin.
• Bluesky Is Plotting a Total Takeover of the Social Internet - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Here's how US tariffs have affected PC gaming hardware, from paused shipments to new investments - PC Gamer.
• Over 125 DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation Games & Apps Available Now, 10 More Just Revealed - GeForce News - NVIDIA.
• Semiconductor Industry Accelerates Design Manufacturing With NVIDIA Blackwell and CUDA-X - NVIDIA Blog.

• NVIDIA and Foxconn are building an ’AI factory supercomputer’ in Taiwan - Engadget.
• A.I. job interview: Job hunting was already hard. Then came the glitching HR robots - Slate. Thanks Slashdot.
• Talk to Me- NVIDIA and Partners Boost People Skills and Business Smarts for AI Agents - NVIDIA Blog.
• NVIDIA CEO Envisions AI Infrastructure Industry Worth ‘Trillions of Dollars’ - NVIDIA Blog.

• You can now use authenticator apps to keep your GOG account secure! - GOG.com.
• 23andMe and its user data will soon belong to a pharmaceutical giant - The Verge. So your games are now more secure than your DNA.
• It's more important than ever to protect yourself online, but a VPN won't do you much good — Here are 5 things that will - XDA. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Trump administration scuppers plan to stop data brokers from putting Americans’ sensitive data up for sale - TechRadar.
• 'Significant amount' of private data stolen in Legal Aid hack - BBC.
• We 3D-Printed Luigi Mangione’s Ghost Gun. It Was Entirely Legal - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• The Sinking City Remastered PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.

• Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB OC Graphics Card - Nikk Tech.
• Headset/Earbuds: SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro Review - APH Networks.
• Mouse: CHERRY XTRFY M68 PRO 8K Wireless White Gaming Mouse Review - MADSHRIMPS.
• SSD: We Review the SanDisk 6 TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD- Wallet-Friendly and Rugged - Fstoppers. Thanks Neutronbeam.

A conversation I had at the party we attended Friday has put a bug in my ear. One of my step-cousins was talking about his use of his movie pass subscription. I've always enjoyed going to the theater for movies, but MrsBlue does not share my enthusiasm, and I used to go to the movies alone on occasion. That was before the pandemic, which killed off the last of her willingness to attend in person. So my main plan is to stop letting this hold me back from going by myself. Especially with a proper looking Fantastic Four movie on the way. My secondary plan is to figure out if I this could lead to me attending enough movies to get one of those passes too. But I'm probably getting ahead of myself, as the next movie I attend will be my first in so long I can't even recall the last time I went.

Obituary: Walter Frankenstein, Who Hid from the Nazis All Over Berlin, Dies at 100 - The New York Times (free account required). Thanks Devicer.

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

Stories

• Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office says - BBC.
• Canada hosts more old passenger jets than anyone: Here's why - CTV News. Gravel runways. Maybe just visit via Snowpiercer.

Science

• Cavorite X7 hybrid air taxi achieves world's first flight - New Atlas.
• Experts alarmed over Trump’s promotion of deep-sea mining in international waters - Ars Technica.

Image

• Halo on X: Master Chief as the OG Doomslayer. Back when he was just an ordinary Space Marine.

The Funnies

• Emerald Assault - Penny Arcade.