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NVIDIA Food for Thought — New Games and Boosts to GeForce NOW

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So, NVIDIA’s rolling out a pretty hefty lineup of new titles and some interesting tech perks for GeForce NOW. Among the fresh arrivals, you’ve got Dune Awakening from Funcom, Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak, Build A Rocket Boy’s MindsEye, and Sloclap’s Rematch. All of these are going live for streaming at launch — meaning no waiting, no downloads. That’s a nice boost, especially for those who rely on cloud gaming to skip the hardware grind.

Playing with Ray Tracing and Frame Boosts

Dune Awakening is supporting NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 and Reflex — so Premium and Ultra subscribers can turn on DLSS Super Resolution and Reflex for smoother gameplay. But here’s the kicker: GFN Ultimate subscribers can also activate DLSS Frame Generation, which is supposed to crank up frame rates even more. It’s an interesting little perk, especially if you’re chasing that buttery-smooth experience. Rematch and FBC share the same tech support, with FBC standing out because it supports full-on path tracing, adding to the visual fidelity challenge. Because of course it is.

This Week’s Additions: A Taste of the New

Nvidia’s list of new titles for this week looks fairly diverse. There’s Symphonia, hitting Xbox first — available on PC Game Pass — just on June 3. Then right after, a flurry of titles on Steam including Pro Cycling Manager 25 and Tour de France 2025. Also, Dune: Awakening – Advanced Access arrives on June 5, immediately making the list look rather competitive.

Other titles like Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (on Xbox, also on PC Game Pass) and Sea of Thieves on Battle.net pop up as well, giving variety for different gaming tastes.

Full June Lineup — Because NVIDIA’s Planning Ahead

If those titles are just a teaser, NVIDIA has a bigger schedule for June. The list includes upcoming drops like Dune: Awakening and MindsEye on June 10. Nodes like The Alters and Architect Life: A House Design Simulator are coming mid-month, on the 13th and 19th respectively.

A handful of familiar classics are also making a comeback — like Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced on Steam and Borderlands 2. Some of these will be part of the ongoing PC Game Pass rotation, which makes sense given the subscription’s focus on value.

Overall, this shows NVIDIA isn’t just bluffing about expanding their library — they’re also pushing Nvidia-specific tech features that could give the service a slight edge. Still, whether Frame Generation makes a huge difference, or just looks better in trailers, remains to be seen. But hey, it’s good to have more options, and especially now, when streaming feels like the best way to game without crashing your GPU for every new shiny thing.

June Xbox Game Pass: Hot Games and Perks You Can Grab Right Now or Soon

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With the Xbox Games Showcase looming, you’ve still got some time to dive into a few titles before they start piling up on your “to be played” list. Sure, there’s more coming, but right now, let’s talk about what’s out today, what’s on the horizon, and some in-game benefits that could sweeten the deal. Because of course it is — a little extra doesn’t hurt.

Today’s Highlights

Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (Cloud and Console) – June 5
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard

If you’re into classic RPGs, these are your tickets. Load up for over 100 hours of adventure in these lovingly remastered editions of two legendary games. Gather your party, make your choices, and see where the story takes you — there’s a reason these classics are still talked about.

What’s Coming Soon

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) – June 10
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

This one’s straightforward: suit up as a Space Marine and SMASH some Orks. It’s the kind of brutal, high-octane combat that Warhammer fans love, now with visual upgrades and quality of life improvements that make it look sharper than ever on new-gen consoles and PCs. If you missed it the first time, maybe now’s the moment to dive in.

Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

This isn’t just about pink and glitter. Barbie teams up to save a beloved community landmark—the Malibu Waves Community Center—from closing down. Think quests, mini-games, and a chance to help the community regain its sparkle. A charming little break, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Kingdom: Two Crowns (PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Think of this as a pixel art kingdom builder with a twist. Collect coins, build defenses, and keep your throne safe from waves of greed-caused monsters. It’s a side-scrolling strategy game that can be both relaxed and intense, depending on your mood.

EA Sports FC 25 (Cloud, Console, and PC) via EA Play – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Lead your squad through leagues, craft your tactics, and aim for glory in this fresh football sim. Members get unlimited access, plus a limited-time Supercharge Pack chock-full of gold players and special items. Because nothing screams “sports” quite like building a squad that’s better than the real thing.

The Alters (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

This one’s a sci-fi survival game where you play as Jan, stranded on some hostile planet. The twist? You can create alternate versions of yourself—each one shaped by different choices—to survive, gather resources, and grapple with some pretty deep moral dilemmas. One of those games you might not have heard of, but after day one, it could be a hidden gem.

FBC: Firebreak (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Another day-one with Game Pass. It’s a coop shooter set inside a federal agency under siege from strange, otherworldly enemies. You pick the most versatile squad member — Firebreak — and dig into some frantic crises. Reclaim order, contain chaos, save the day. Typical Friday night, right?

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (Console and PC) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Crash and Coco are back, and this time they’ve got to fight through a multiverse mess. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are launching a full-blown assault, and it’s up to you to reunite the Quantum Masks and bend reality—because apparently that’s what you do when the universe tips into chaos.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

This one’s a mix of real-time action, tactical combat, and dice mechanics that keep things unpredictable. You follow Queen Aleksandra, aiming for vengeance and redemption—off the beaten path, but definitely a game to keep on your radar for some chaotic fun.

In-Game Extras and Benefits

Zenless Zone Zero: Xbox Game Pass benefits (Cloud and Console) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate

Grab this bundle and snag some pretty wild in-game rewards—Polychrome, Ether Batteries, special logs, and even some in-game currency to boost your progress. Just enough that you might feel like you’re gaining an edge without breaking the game.

Splitgate 2: Aeros Javi Ace Skin (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

The only free-shooter with portals, and now with a new skin designed for members—a sleek green and black number. Perfect for flair on the battlefield or just looking cool while shooting stuff.

The Finals: Urban Ronin Set (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Some stylish gear for your in-game avatar—weapon skins, emotes, a charm, and even bonus XP and currency. If you’re into that shooter chaos, it’s a quick way to add some flair.

Perks That Bring Extra Value

Stumble Guys: Neon Bundle – Now
Includes the neon skin, emote, plus a bunch of gems and tokens. Because why not.

Minecraft: 1 Month Marketplace Pass – Now (US only)
The perfect way to explore new worlds, buy cool skin packs, and keep your avatar fresh. Just one month, but who’s counting?

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms: 5 Free Champions – Now (US only)
Claim your set of legendary heroes, including Dungeon Master himself, and boost your adventure with platinum chests. Basically, more ways to clutter your inventory.

Apex Legends: Gold Tribal Mask Weapon Charm – June 5
Show off your style in the arena with a shiny new charm—because weapon charms make all the difference, obviously.

Rainbow Six Siege X: Mute Pack – June 10
This flashy pack includes headgear, a uniform, and a weapon skin. Limited for consoles, so grab it while it’s hot if you’re into tactical gear and colorful branding.

Heads Up: Games Leaving Soon

Just a reminder—these titles will be booted from Game Pass on June 15. If you’re still working through them or just want to keep a backup, now’s your chance to grab a discount and save a spot in your library.

  • Dordogne
  • Hypnospace Outlaw
  • Isonzo
  • Keplerth
  • My Time At Sandrock
  • Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
  • Depersonalization

And to keep things flexible, there’s a growing list of cloud-enabled streaming titles on Xbox.com/Play. So if you own these games but haven’t tried streaming them yet, now’s a decent time to check it out.

Keep an eye here and on Xbox, Game Pass, and PC Game Pass for updates, surprises, and those sneaky “available today” announcements. More games, more benefits — stay tuned.

Receipt Stapling Nightmare: Switch 2 Launch Marred by Damaged Screens

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It’s launch day for Nintendo’s latest, the Switch 2. After all the hype, all the teasing, you’d think everyone’s just excited to get their hands on the thing and dive into new realms of gaming. But nope. Turns out some folks are getting a different kind of experience—one nobody signed up for. Already, there are reports of these brand-new consoles showing up with… holes in the screens. Yes, holes. From store receipts being stapled onto the boxes at retail. Because of course it is.

Switching into chaos: the early disaster of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch

Some players who hit up their local GameStop for the midnight launch found themselves heading home to find their shiny new console damaged—holes punched right through the screens. Thanks to IGN reporting on the ordeal, it’s confirmed that store employees stapled receipts directly onto the boxes—well, onto the front of the box, near the screen. Classy. The damage appeared to be caused by staples, which, unsurprisingly, punctured the screens.

One Reddit user pointed out that this happened to many at the same Staten Island GameStop, almost like a concerted shenanigan. Everyone walking out of that store with their receipt stapled to the box. The tedium of retail, right? Apparently, the store used a stapler to attach the receipts, and in the process, compromised the screens. Several reports confirm this isn’t a one-off fluke either; other affected consoles are believed to have come from that same location. Ouch.

Apparently one GameStop store used a stapler to attach receipts to Switch 2 boxes and the staple ruined the screen…another person commented their unit and others were affected at the same store www.reddit.com/r/GameStop/c…

— Wario64 (@wario64.bsky.social) 2025-06-05T07:18:39.993Z

As for the unlucky customers, it’s probably a wait until the store gets new stock, assuming they even get replacements. The online response? Not surprisingly, it’s not all about throwing shade at GameStop. Plenty of gamers on social media are saying Nintendo should’ve packaged this thing differently—maybe not with the screen exposed at the top of the box, or at least without staples that turn screens into Swiss cheese.

So, will Nintendo step in? Might be too early to tell. Perhaps they’ll rethink how they package the Switch 2 to avoid such mishaps. Or maybe this is just an odd glitch—strangely enough, no widespread reports have emerged from other stores, including the recently separate and Canadian-owned EB Games, which also did midnight launches. For now, that Staten Island store stands as a pretty stark example of what *not* to do on launch day—hopefully just a one-off freak incident, but it’s certainly one way to make a terrible first impression.

New God of War Spin-Off Rumored to Be a 2.5D Metroidvania from Santa Monica Studio

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Whispers of a New God of War—Sort Of

So, according to insider Tom Henderson, Sony might be dropping something God of War-related today during the State of Play stream. But hold your horses—this isn’t gonna be the next big Norse epic. Nope. The scoop is that it’s apparently a smaller project, a 2.5D Metroidvania-style game, and it’s supposedly set in ancient Greece. Sounds kinda like a side quest rather than a full-blown sequel. Henderson even mentioned it’s looking smaller in scope than what some might have expected, so don’t go preparing for a sprawling, AAA masterpiece.

Still, that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting. Think of it more like Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown—a neat little detour. Maybe a stopgap, too, especially if Sony Santa Monica is busy on bigger projects. Because why not keep fans engaged with something new and different?

And speaking of Santa Monica, the news swirling around is that they’ve got two main teams. The one led by Cory Barlog, which we *think* is working on a new IP—something possibly sci-fi flavored. As for the mainline God of War series? Well, sure, another entry will come eventually. But given how long development cycles are these days, don’t be shocked if it only shows up on PlayStation 6. Because, of course it is. Wait long enough and you’ll get the big sequel, just maybe not on the current console generation.

Earlier this year, there were also reports suggesting Sony Santa Monica was looking into remastering the Greek trilogy. Now, whether that’s still happening or just a rumor that got lost in translation? Who knows. Maybe they’re delaying it, or maybe the insiders confused the remasters with this new 2.5D project. They’re close enough in concept, after all. We should find out more in about twelve hours or so; the countdown is on.

A quick note—besides all this gaming stuff, Sony is also juggling a TV project. They’re working with Amazon Prime Video on a live-action series based on the Norse trilogy. But, in true Hollywood fashion, things hit a snag. Showrunner Rafe Judkins has been replaced by Ronald D. Moore, whose resume includes Star Trek: The Next Generation, Battlestar Galactica, and Outlander. Apparently, it was a major change, which might hint at some behind-the-scenes upheaval or just standard TV drama.

At Last, an Official WhatsApp App for iPad Brings Surprise and Speculation

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It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. WhatsApp, with its staggering 3 billion users, is undeniably the world’s most popular messaging platform. Originally making its debut on the App Store back in 2009—just around six months before the launch of the first iPad—most assumed that a dedicated iPad version was inevitable. Yet, somehow, until today, there was no standalone WhatsApp app for Apple’s tablet. That’s right: no dedicated app, no tailored interface—just the web client or a slightly clunky workaround.

Now, after what feels like a surprising delay, users can finally download WhatsApp for iPad. The app is live, and it’s clear that the tablet’s users no longer have to rely on the web client or browser workarounds to stay connected—an update many Tech enthusiasts have been awaiting for years, particularly since Meta, then Facebook, acquired WhatsApp in 2014.

The Mystery Behind the Wait

It’s genuinely odd that such a universally used messaging tool didn’t have an official iPad app before now. After all, WhatsApp’s availability on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and even via the web indicates there’s no shortage of resources or design capacity. Naturally, some readers might wonder why it took so long to bring a native tablet experience.

Some speculate that restrictions around “telephony” apps on iPad might have played a role, although that explanation doesn’t fully hold up given the platform’s capabilities. To everyone’s surprise, even with limitations, web access was available, offering a less-than-ideal but workable solution. Now, the native app promises features that were, until recently, only accessible via the web version.

What the New App Brings to the Table

Power users will appreciate the native client’s support for advanced iPad features like Stage Manager, Split View, and Slide Over—enhancements that improve multitasking and productivity on larger screens. Plus, it supports the Apple Pencil, allowing for a more integrated experience that could appeal to those looking to jot notes or markup images directly within chats. From the looks of it, this version is crafted to make full use of the device’s hardware and display capabilities.

This transition from web-only to native app might seem minor on the surface, but it’s a meaningful step forward for an app that’s, until now, been somewhat of an odd outlier in the Meta family.

Behind the Curtain: Why Now?

While Meta hasn’t issued a detailed statement, some analysts whisper that this release could be part of a broader strategy to optimize WhatsApp’s integration across all devices. Alternatively, it might simply be a response to user demand that’s been growing louder over the years. Well, in tech, timing is everything, and perhaps now is the right moment for Meta to settle this longstanding omission. Interestingly, some industry insiders also suggest that this move might be a testbed for future features or platform enhancements aimed at Apple’s tablets.

It’s worth noting that many users are already joking that the move is a “thank you” gift after years of web workarounds. Others see it as a pragmatic upgrade that finally aligns WhatsApp with the tablet experience—without needing bedazzling new features or fanfare.

Overall, the arrival of a dedicated iPad app feels like a small but significant shift—possibly a prelude to more tablet-focused features or simply a recognition that, these days, multi-device ecosystems are the new normal. For now, it’s just nice to see WhatsApp finally giving its iPad users a native, polished experience. Just another day in tech headlines…