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08/08/2025

No backdoors, no kill switches, no spyware. That's Nvidia's pledge after an accusation from the Cyberspace Administration of China, which asked Nvidia last week to provide documents about security vulnerabilities in Nvidia's H20 data center GPUs, specifically citing "backdoor" security risks. Nvidia responded officially with a blog post the company's chief security officer, David Reber Jr.

"Embedding backdoors and kill switches into chips would be a gift to hackers and hostile actors," Reber wrote. "It would undermine global data infrastructure and fracture trust in U.S. technology. Established law wisely requires companies to fix vulnerabilities--not create them."

The Cyberspace Administration of China's concerns stem specifically from the Nvidia's H20 GPU, which is made for the Chinese market and designed to comply with US export guidelines. Ars Technica notes that U.S. lawmakers are considering a Chip Security Act that would "require exported chips to be built with 'location verification,'" and "calls for an assessment of mechanisms to stop unauthorized use." In other words, a kill switch.
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Nvidia responds to accusations and investigations from Chinese and United States governments.

08/08/2025

Few disaster movies are as iconic--or successful--as 1996's Twister. The blockbuster flick is often credited with kicking off a wave of popularity for the disaster movie genre that rolled far into the 2000s. The film's 2024 standalone sequel, Twisters, looks to be replicating that success, raking in nearly $400 million worldwide and earning praise from critics. Soon, fans will be able to add both movies to their Blu-ray collections with an upcoming double feature 4K Blu-ray release, releasing August 26, that includes 4K cuts of both films, a collectible steelbook case, and tons of bonus materials. Preorders for the Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray are available now for $45 at multiple online retailers.

Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray

$45 | Releases August 26

The Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook includes both Twister and Twisters on 4K Blu-ray and digital formats with support for Dolby Vision HDR, plus Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 spatial audio. There's also a long list of bonus features, which we've listed out below. The Blu-rays come in a collectible steelbook case featuring cover and interior artwork from both films. Note that preordering means you won't pay until the item ships, and if the price happens to drop between now and August 26, you're entitled to the lower price.

Preorder at Amazon

Preorder at Walmart

Preorder at Gruv

Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook

Twisters Double Feature Steelbook Bonus Features

The Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray offers a wealth of bonus content for both films, including commentary tracks, deleted scenes, documentaries, and more. Bonus material is presented in 1080p rather than 4K. Here's a look at all the special features:

Twister (1996)
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Preorders are live for the Twisters Double Deature Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray ahead of its August 26 release date.

08/08/2025

There's been a lot of speculation about the cost of Grand Theft Auto 6, with some companies hoping that it will debut at $100 to open the door for more games to drop at that price. The current ceiling for gaming prices appears to be $80, but Strauss Zelnick--the CEO of Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive--doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about raising the price for GTA 6.

"I think our approach may be a little bit different," replied Zelnick when asked about pricing GTA 6 at $80 during Take-Two's August 7 investor call. "We believe that any consumer experience is the intersection of the thing itself and what you paid for the thing. So our goal is to vastly exceed expectations. We want to put out the best entertainment on Earth, and we want to deliver more value than what we charge for it. We think we've generally speaking, gotten that right."

"Variable pricing has been the nature of this industry forever," added Zelnick. "You know, most Frontline releases will go out at a higher price, sometimes with special editions, and then over time usually the price is discounted to optimize for the largest possible market. And I don't think that's going to change anytime soon ... The rubric that informs us is really that of delivering more value than what we charge."
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CEO Strauss Zelnick was noncommittal about the rumored $80 price tag for GTA 6 during Take-Two's recent earnings call.

07/08/2025

Reanimal Standard Edition

$40 | Release Date TBA

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop

Reanimal Deluxe Edition

$60 | Release Date TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal Collector's Edition

$200 | Release Date TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal is an upcoming horror game for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC, created by Tarsier Studios, the folks responsible for the Little Nightmares series. It follows a brother and sister as they explore a mysterious island in search of their missing friends, discovering all sorts of mutated animals and other abominations along the way. Based on the brief glimpses we've seen of the game through trailers, there's a strong emphasis on its chilling atmosphere and surviving tense moments. Reanimal does not yet have a release date, though preorders are open at most retailers. Three versions of the game are up for grabs, including a $40 standard edition, $60 Deluxe Edition, and a massive $200 Collector's Edition that's packed with physical extras.

Reanimal Preorder Bonuses

Since Reanimal doesn't yet have a firm release date, details about preorder bonuses are scarce. The Collector's Edition does make a mention of some sort of "Preorder DLC," though it's unclear what exactly this will be. Once more details become available, we'll be sure to update this section with specifics.

Reanimal Standard Edition

$40 | Release Date TBA

The standard edition gets you the Reanimal base game on your platform of choice. Physical preorders are available for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 at Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. Digital preorders are also available.

Preorder at Amazon

Preorder at Best Buy

Preorder at GameStop

Reanimal Deluxe Edition

$60 | Release Date TBA

The $60 Reanimal Deluxe Edition features the base game, plus access to the Season Pass and post-launch DLC--though we don't know exactly what these in-game bonuses will include. Physical PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X preorders are available at Amazon. You can also preorder this version digitally on consoles or Steam.

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal Collector's Edition

$200 | Release Date TBA

Reanimal is also getting a big $200 Collector's Edition that comes with everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus a bundle of physical collectibles. Here's what's included: the DLC and Season Pass, this edition gets you the following:

Base game on your platform of choice

Season Pass

First post-launch DLC

Pig statue (9.8 x 5.1 x 4.7 inches)

Bucket mini statue (4.8 inches)

Keychain

Map poster

Artbook

Stickers

Exclusive box

This version is available for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2. Preorders are live at Amazon.

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal Collector's Edition

Reanimal Collectibles Preorders

The Reanimal preorders don't end with just the game. There's also a selection of figurines available to preorder at the official Reanimal online store based on The Boy and The Girl protagonists, and various characters they'll meet throughout the game. These collectibles come in premium display boxes. They are estimated to launch on March 31, 2026. Here's a list of all the Reanimal figurines available to preorder:
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Reanimal is expected to arrive sometime in early 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC, and preorders are now open.

07/08/2025

Studio Ghibli Movies: Steelbook Editions (Blu-ray + DVD)

Get many of Hayao Miyazaki's best films for only $16.

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If you're a Studio Ghibli fan, now's an ideal time to start or expand your Blu-ray collection. The distinctive, matching Steelbook Editions of most of the movies in the Japanese animation studio's filmography are on sale for exceedingly low prices at Amazon. Nearly all of animated movies written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki are featured in the promotion, including nine Blu-ray Steelbook Editions for roughly $16 each.

Seven of the best deals are on Studio Ghibli movies directed and written by Miyazaki: Spirited Away, Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Porco Rosso. More than a dozen Studio Ghibli Steelbook Editions are on sale for $19 or less, and all of them follow the same design aesthetics, which makes these vibrant collectible editions look great alongside each other on a display shelf. The list below is organized by price, from lowest to highest.

Studio Ghibli Movies: Steelbook Editions (Blu-ray + DVD)

Spirited Away: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)

Ponyo: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)

Howl's Moving Castle: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

Kiki's Delivery Service: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

My Neighbor Totoro: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

Porco Rosso: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

The Secret World of Arrietty: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)

From Up on Poppy Hill: Steelbook Edition -- $17.89 ($27)

When Marnie Was There: Steelbook Edition -- $17.89 ($27)

Princess Mononoke: Steelbook Edition -- $18.43 ($27)

The Wind Rises: Steelbook Edition -- $18.89 ($27)

Earwing and the Witch: Steelbook Edition -- $20 ($27)

Grave of the Fireflies: Steelbook Edition -- $22 ($27)

Only Yesterday: Steelbook Edition -- $22 ($27)

The Boy and the Heron: Steelbook Edition (4K) -- $30 ($45)

Studio Ghibli Steelbook Editions of movies written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Along with the seven Miyazaki-directed films for $16.29 or less, you'll find two of the other films he directed, The Wind Rises and Princess Mononoke, for below $19 each. Two of the three Ghibli films he wrote but didn't direct, are also up for grabs for cheap, with The Secret World of Arrietty priced at $16.29 and From Up on Poppy Hill discounted to $17.89.
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Spirited Away, Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and more of Hayao Miyazaki's animated hits are an absolute bargain right now.

07/08/2025

BioShock 4 Isn’t Getting Canceled Despite ‘Some Ups And Downs’ https://kotaku.com/bioshock-4-not-canceled-movie-judas-ken-levine-2000616424

07/08/2025

Cronos: The New Dawn is an upcoming third-person survival horror game from Bloober Team, the dev responsible for terrifying hits like the Silent Hill 2 Remake, Observer, and Blair Witch. Cronos is shaping up to be another nightmare-inducing adventure with a sci-fi twist that looks unlike anything the studio has made. Cronos takes place in a futuristic rendition of Eastern Europe where an event known as The Change has radically altered the landscape, which is now stalked by horrific, mutating creatures. Players take the role of the Traveler, who searches the twisted environment for rifts that connect back to 1980s Poland so they can rescue key people from the past on behalf of a mysterious group known as The Collective. Preorders are open ahead of its September 5 release, with two editions up for grabs--including a $60 standard edition and a $70 Deluxe Edition--both of which include their own exclusive extras. On top of that, preorders come with a selection of additional in-game content, as well as up to 48-hour early access to the game depending on which version you buy.

Cronos: The New Dawn Preorder Bonuses

Cronos: The New Dawn standard edition physical preorder bonuses

Cronos: The New Dawn has several preorder perks available. All preorders include the following bonuses:

4x Pistol Ammo

Small Health Pack

1000x Energy

Unique Armor Skin

These preorder bonuses are included with the standard and Deluxe Editions on all platforms.
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Cronos: The New Dawn releases for PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and PC on September 5.

07/08/2025

Call of Duty Season 5 is live, and the big update added the final Zombies map for Black Ops 6. Just like the previous maps, Treyarch has included a secret Easter egg song to discover, and here we'll guide you through finding the items needed to unlock the hidden song unique to Season 5's Reckoning map.

For more on Season 5, make sure to check out all the highlights for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, including more multiplayer maps, new game modes, and the Warzone Stadium event. Season 5 patch notes can be found here, which includes some weapon balancing and improvements to Grief mode.

How to unlock the Easter egg song for Reckoning

To play the secret Zombies song on Reckoning, you first need to find three hidden headphones. The headphones are blue and have fuzzy ears like the Mr. Peeks bunny. These can be interacted with in any order and at any time during your match. Press Square (PlayStation) or X (Xbox).

Completing this Easter egg will play the new Zombies song called "Remember Us," which is performed by Kevin Sherwood and Elena Siegman.

Mr. Peeks headset #1

Starting from the spawn room, go up the elevator into the Mutant Research Lab area. The first headphone set is near a dead zombie on the floor. As shown in the image above, the body is near a cryo chamber with a Disciple floating inside.

Mr. Peeks headset #2

Continue following the in-game prompts that lead you to Pack-a-Punch. Use the Anti-Grav Personal Launcher to reach Android Assembly in Tower 2.

Take another elevator and progress through the doorway to the Dark Aether Entity Containment area. From here, drop down into the lower section of the room. As shown in the image above, a zombie is sitting in a chair wearing the second set of headphones.

Mr. Peeks headset #3

Still following the Pack-a-Punch route, make your way into the Director's Office. As shown in the image above, the headphones are inside a cabinet on the shelf behind the Director's desk.

The hidden song, "Remember Us," will play once you've interacted with all three. You can only do these steps once per match to play the song.

More BO6 Zombies guides

For more Zombies, make sure to check out our guide for the best perk augments to use. We can also walk you through unlocking the hidden songs for the Liberty Falls, Terminus, The Tomb, and Shattered Veil maps.

Here's how to unlock the secret song in the new Reckoning map for Call of Duty BO6.

07/08/2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 is shaping up to be a fun reunion for series' veterans, as well as a great entry point for newcomers.

07/08/2025

Shmup Summer Has Officially Arrived Thanks To These Incredible Arcade Throwbacks https://kotaku.com/gradius-origins-earthion-shmups-shoot-em-up-games-2000616417

07/08/2025

Since its announcement earlier this year, Ninja Gaiden 4 has seemingly met just as much skepticism as excitement. Yes, after over a decade, we finally have a new Ninja Gaiden--but with Team Ninja and Platinum Games collaborating on its development and Microsoft publishing, is the series' identity at stake? It's a question that's been on many long-time fans' minds, as well as my own.

After all, there's no denying that some of what makes Ninja Gaiden such a beloved series are the little quirks we overlook out of affection. And, more often than not, these are the very same friction-inducing qualities that are promptly removed when a series is remade or rebooted. At the same time, does opting to retain each and every one of these qualities prevent the game from evolving, or becoming an exciting, modern entry-point? After spending around four hours with Ninja Gaiden 4 and speaking with the team behind it at Platinum Game's Tokyo office, I've come to a preliminary conclusion: Ninja Gaiden 4 is whatever style of Ninja Gaiden you want it to be.

Flexible and fluid

More so than previous entries in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4 emphasizes flexibility. If you're a Ninja Gaiden veteran who loathes the idea of executing perfect dodges, locking on to enemies, and watching your Karma--the game's scoring system that rewards players for executing combos--rack up in the top left corner, you can either ignore or remove all of it. At the same time, these options, an impressively robust accessibility menu, and the game's beginner-friendly Hero mode--which auto-blocks most incoming damage--make the game extremely approachable for new audiences and those who might have been turned off by the series' brutal reputation.
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Ninja Gaiden 4 is shaping up to be a fun reunion for series veterans, as well as a great entry point for newcomers.

07/08/2025

With less than three months to go until Ninja Gaiden 4's release date, our anticipation for the frenetic action game is at all-time high--and that's saying a lot considering it's been over 13 years since the last mainline entry in the series. Fortunately, new screenshots are here to help ease the wait.

Developed as a collaboration between Ninja Gaiden creator Team Ninja and Bayonetta and Nier Automata developer Platinum Games, Ninja Gaiden 4 marks a soft reboot for the series. Though original protagonist Ryu Hayubasa will still make an appearance as a playable character, the story revolves around newcomer Yakumo, a fledging ninja belonging to the Raven Clan.

To help pass the time until October 21, we've compiled some images from Platinum Game's official assets. These pictures showcase some of the game's impressive locations, from cyberpunk-inspired city streets to darkened temple grounds, as well as multiple bosses.

For even more on the game, be sure to check out our Ninja Gaiden 4 hands-on preview. In it, editor Jessica Cogswell wrote:

"More so than previous entries in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4 emphasizes flexibility. If you're a Ninja Gaiden veteran who loathes the idea of executing perfect dodges, locking on to enemies, and watching your Karma--the game's scoring system that rewards players for executing combos--rack up in the top left corner, you can either ignore or remove all of it. At the same time, these options, an impressively robust accessibility menu, and the game's beginner-friendly Hero mode--which auto-blocks most incoming damage--make the game extremely approachable for new audiences and those who might have been turned off by the series' brutal reputation."

Ninja Gaiden 4 is scheduled to release on October 21 and will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.