A Switch 2 release for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows hasn't been officially confirmed by the company, but an unannounced port may have just been leaked by PEGI. The PEGI website seemed to list Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Shadows' other launch platforms in a minor detail that was soon picked up and posted to Reddit.As spotted by Eurogamer, while Assassin's Creed Shadows' dedicated page on the PEGI ratings website lists only PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, one Redditor noticed that, when the game was displayed on the PEGI homepage under the Most Searched Games band, it also included Nintendo Switch 2. At the time of writing, Shadows is no longer included under Most Searched Games, so it's unclear whether the Switch 2 is still included on the games listing.It's possible the Switch 2 only appeared because of a mistake by PEGI, but it's also not unlikely that Ubisoft would bring Shadows to the Switch 2. The company already has one game coming to the Switch 2--Star Wars Outlaws, and Ubisoft revealed at Star Wars Celebration over the weekend that it will be releasing for the Switch 2 on September 4.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Capcom has found some players are cheating in certain Monster Hunter Wilds quests by modifying the game to output higher rewards, and has warned players against joining modified quests. Players who join these quests, even if they aren't the ones instigating the modifications, run the risk of corrupting their games, or being picked up by Capcom's anti-cheat measures."Modified data can interfere with normal gameplay and even render the game unplayable," Capcom warned in a post on the Monster Hunter X account (via Eurogamer). "If you suspect a quest has been modified, please do not play it, or stop playing it immediately."❗Unauthorized Data Modification Warning❗We have confirmed the unauthorized modification of game data in Monster Hunter Wilds for High Rank environment Investigations, Field Surveys, and more.Modified data can interfere with normal gameplay and even render the game… pic.twitter.com/Z9HZuigQQZ — Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) April 18, 2025 The warning is accompanied by an image showing what players should look for to identify if a quest is legit, or has been modified. The image explains that legitimate quests will only ever have 1-2 target monsters, with a max of five rewards per monster, for example.Continue Reading at GameSpot

While Diablo 4 fans may be waiting some time for the game's next major expansion, which isn't planned for release until 2026, there may be other surprises in store for the game in the meantime. Blizzard recently released the 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4, and while it didn't wow many fans, there were a few treats for players to look forward to. However, there is one unrevealed release that could be even more exciting than anything listed on this roadmap, and it would involve the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

A fake mobile version of the smash hit Steam game, Schedule 1, has made its way to the top of the charts in some countries. Schedule 1entered early access on Steam last month, quickly finding success with hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. While the indie title receives regular updates, the sole developer of Schedule 1 has to confirm an official mobile port.

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Browser extensions can potentially see a lot of what you're up to on your computer—so you need to be careful when it comes to choosing which of these add-ons you install and allow to access your browser.While plenty of browser extensions out there are legit and genuinely useful, some of them aren't. Browser security analyst John Tuckner (via Ars Technica) recently posted about discovering dozens of suspect extensions that have overly broad permissions and seem to be mining browser data. These extensions are apparently being used by around six million users.Most of these extensions are unlisted in the Chrome Web Store, so users need to be directed to the exact URL to find them, and they're less visible to security scans and the wider web. They don't appear to offer much in the way of functionality, and are coded in a way that makes it difficult to ascertain their purpose.Even more worryingly, the developers of some of these extensions have been labeled as "Featured" by Google, which supposedly means they've met certain standards in terms of privacy and security. It's a reminder that even when an extension looks fine, you should still exercise plenty of caution.There's no foolproof, 100-percent-guaranteed way to spot dodgy browser extensions, but there are plenty of ways to assess their legitimacy, which I've outlined below. Keep up with the newsThere are plenty of good folk on the right side of the security and privacy fence, including John Tuckner. Stay up to date on the tech news headlines, and breaking stories across social media, and you should get a heads up about any major issues.Take the case of the Honey extension, for example, which was recently found to be deploying some shady tactics in terms of manipulating online prices. If you're checking the news, you'll know about discoveries like these.Read the reviewsReviews can be faked, and don't always provide a true indication of the quality of an extension, but they'll give you some pointers. Look for common complaints and concerns, especially those that have been posted recently.A lot of low ratings can be a big warning sign, especially if they're mentioning the extension being buggy or slow. You should also check to see if the developer has addressed any of the complaints, and given plausible explanations for them. Pay close attention to extension listings. Credit: Lifehacker Look at the developerSpeaking of developers, the details of the people behind these add-ons are always shown on the extension listings. See if there's clear evidence for what these individuals or teams do, and why they might have made an extension available for your browser.If an extension is made by a professional coder with an active social media presence and a genuine GitHub landing page, that's a good sign. If a developer link leads to a badly formatted webpage with little in the way of info, that's not so good.Check the permissionsLike the apps installed on your phone or laptop, browser extensions have permissions: You can see the permissions they're asking for on their listing pages, and after you've installed them, to check what they're trying to do.You have to make some judgment calls here in terms of what's reasonable and what isn't when it comes to permissions, but clearly an extension that snoozes inactive tabs (for example) doesn't need to read everything you're typing into your browser. You can always look up the extensions each browser has. Credit: Lifehacker Use security toolsSeveral security tools will help you spot bad extensions, such as John Tuckner's own Secure Annex: With a little help from AI, it scans through extensions looking for potential problems, though it's aimed at companies rather than individuals.For Chrome, try Chrome Extension Source Viewer (for checking code), and Under New Management (for checking who's behind an extension), plus Chrome's own Safety Check. There are plenty of other options out there, both for Chrome and for other browsers.Stay up to dateWeb browsers and operating systems are actually pretty good—though not infallible—when it comes to spotting security issues, including browser extensions that might be trying to steal data or direct you to suspicious parts of the internet.This depends on you keeping your software up to date, though: Hackers and scammers love outdated, unpatched code. Make sure you install pending updates for your browser and Windows or macOS as soon as you get notifications about them.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.You don’t usually associate Bose with “budget-friendly,” but Woot’s current offer on the Bose Smart Soundbar 550 comes pretty close. It’s down to $169.99 for the next 12 days—or until it sells out—and that’s a noticeable drop from the $229 sale price it’s going for on Amazon. Just keep in mind this is a certified refurbished unit, which means it might have minor cosmetic wear but has been tested and approved by Bose to work like new, and includes a one-year manufacturer's limited warranty. (Woot ships only within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and unless you’re a Prime member, you'll have to tack on $6 for shipping.) Bose Smart Soundbar 550 $169.99 at Woot $259.37 Save $89.38 Get Deal Get Deal $169.99 at Woot $259.37 Save $89.38 The Soundbar 550 doesn’t look flashy (it’s just a low-profile rectangle), but it manages to do quite a lot in a relatively compact frame. It supports Dolby Atmos, and even when the content isn’t Atmos-encoded, Bose’s TrueSpace tech helps simulate that same immersive feel. Dialogue comes through crisp, and the spatial audio helps effects feel like they’re coming from all around, not just from the TV. The 550 packs five drivers, two of which fire upward to reflect sound off the ceiling and walls for a more immersive effect. It won’t replace a full surround system, but for a single unit, it’s an impressive upgrade.You’re not locked into movies and shows, either—Bluetooth, wifi, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast built-in mean your playlists and podcasts stream just as easily. If you're already in the Bose ecosystem, it gets even better. The Soundbar 550 works with SimpleSync, so you can pair it with other Bose headphones or Bluetooth speakers, or group it with other Bose devices for whole-home audio. Setup is mostly app-based through the Bose Music app, and there's also HDMI eARC and optical connectivity if you want a wired setup.

As lawmakers, regulators call for social media companies to do more to protect the mental health of their youngest users, teens’ perception of social media also seems to be changing. A growing number of teens say that social media is harmful and takes up too much of their time, according to a new report from Pew Research. The report, which was based on a survey of 1,391 teens and parents in the United States, sheds light on how teens’ perspective on social media has changed amid increasing calls to hold online platforms accountable for the alleged harms they’ve done to their youngest users. According to the report, 48 percent of teens now view social media as a “mostly negative” influence on other people their age. That’s a significant jump from the last time Pew polled teens on the question in 2022, when just under a third of teens said the same. The number of teens who view social media as “mostly positive” also decreased, from 24 percent in 2022 to 11 percent in the latest poll. “Teens’ views of the impact of social media on their peers has grown increasingly negative,” Pew’s researchers note. Interestingly, teens are significantly less likely to report that social media is harmful to themselves specifically. Only 14 percent of teens polled by Pew reported that social media “negatively affects them personally.” Pew’s researchers don’t speculate on the reason for that disparity, though the report notes that there have been growing conversations about the effect social media has on teen mental health, including a warning last year from the US Surgeon General. Pew’s report also suggests that teens are becoming increasingly aware of how much time they spend on social media platforms. Forty-five percent of teens said they "spend too much time” on social media, up from 27 percent who said the same in 2023. A similar proportion of teens said that social media negatively affects their sleep (45 percent) and productivity (40 percent). And 44 percent of teens report that they’ve “cut back” their smartphone and social media use overall. While this report is unlikely to settle the long-running debate about whether social media is more helpful or harmful to young people, the fact that teens’ views are shifting is telling. At a time when some lawmakers have proposed banning younger kids from social media altogether, Pew’s report suggests that adults aren’t the only ones worried about the issue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/teens-are-becoming-more-worried-about-the-effects-of-social-media-113027657.html?src=rss

After that whole tariff tango, Nintendo is readying its North American pre-order system for the Switch 2. The original Switch 2 price will remain the same, $450, as will the original $500 for the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle. However, some Switch 2 accessories will receive price adjustments due to “market conditions.” (As a non-North American, I may have splurged on the Piranha Plant Switch 2 camera — I have no regrets.) Take a picture. It'll last longer.Hori There are some fine-print details attached to pre-ordering directly from Nintendo. You must be 18 years or older, sign in with your Nintendo account and register your interest in pre-ordering. Then, you’ll get an invitation email when it’s time to play your pre-order, and the invitation will be valid for 72 hours. And for extra jeopardy: “Invitation emails will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis for registrants who have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership with a minimum of 12 months of paid membership and a minimum of 50 total gameplay hours, as of April 2, 2025.” If you don’t meet those criteria of die-hard/flush with cash Nintendo fan, there are other options: Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and Target have confirmed they’ll open pre-orders on April 24. — Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! All the stories you might have missed Watch Paul Rudd not age between a vintage SNES commercial and a Switch 2 ad The 6 best air fryers, tested and reviewed Blizzard explains hero bans in Overwatch 2 Bluesky is getting an official verification system And blue checkmarks. Bluesky is adopting an official verification system, after all. The company said it plans to grant blue checkmarks to “authentic and notable” accounts. It will also allow some trusted organizations to verify users. The platform previously resisted centralized verification, relying instead on a domain-based verification system, which allows users to change their handles to match domains they’re associated with. It’s a bit of a mess. For example, when Barack Obama joined Bluesky recently, his handle did not use a custom domain. Individual Bluesky employees ended up publicly vouching for the former president. The company will now proactively verify certain accounts and add a prominent blue checkmark to their profile. It’s still not clear what criteria Bluesky will use to verify its users. Continue reading. Nintendo is going after the person behind last year’s massive Pokémon leak It wants Discord to give up the user’s identity. Nintendo Nintendo is going after the leaker behind last year’s massive Pokémon data breach. It wants Discord to reveal the identity of the person behind the leak, who goes by the name GameFreakOUT on the platform. Nintendo said in a subpoena the person uploaded “confidential materials not released to the public” to a Discord server called FreakLeak. After that, the leaked materials spread to every corner of the internet. It included early character designs, source codes and even an upcoming Pokémon MMO. Continue reading. Using generative AI will ‘neither help nor harm the chances’ of Oscar nominations Both The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez came under fire for using AI. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided AI is fine. The issue of award-nominated films using AI was first raised in 2024 when the productions behind Best Picture nominees The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez both admitted to using the tech to alter performances. “With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination,” AMPAS writes. Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-112038131.html?src=rss