Borderlands 4 is coming this fall. Developer Gearbox revealed that the latest entry in the Borderlands series is launching on September 23, 2025 at Sony's latest State of Play event, and the game will receive a standalone State of Play this spring where you can get an in-depth look at it in action.
Like past Borderlands games, Borderlands 4 has shooting and looting, though with much looser and faster-paced movement. You'll be able to double jump, dodge and grapple your way through the game, and play as four new vault hunters looking to make their fortune.
Borderlands 4 was originally announced during Gamescom in 2024, and Gearbox showed off a first glimpse of gameplay during the Game Awards. Other than those tweaks to traversal, it looks like more Borderlands. Considering its been about six years since Borderlands 3 was released in 2019, that might not be a bad thing, but hopefully Gearbox still has something up its sleeve to justify another dip into the post-apocalyptic shooter well.
Borderlands 4 is launching on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on September 23, 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/borderlands-4-is-launching-on-september-23-225358207.html?src=rss
Blizzard is making some major changes to Overwatch 2 for its Season 15 update, including adding all new gameplay in the form of a perks system and the return of loot box rewards, on top of the new heroes and skins.
Overwatch 2 has been through several changes since it left early access in 2023, many of which brought the game from the revamped structure that made it a sequel to something that works more like a free-to-play version of the original Overwatch. Perks are legitimately new, though. Now during a match you'll be given two opportunities to pick a perk for your hero. One minor perk after leveling up for the first time, which adds smaller upgrades like a passive ability or a cooldown reduction, and one major perk that can alter the play style of your hero. For example, Torbjorn can pick from turrets that stick to ceilings and walls (a frankly diabolical upgrade) or an even more powerful "Level 3 turret."
Blizzard Entertainment
As a reward for your hard work in-game, Blizzard is also adding to Overwatch 2's battle pass system by reintroducing loot boxes as another way to get cosmetics. You can earn loot boxes by completely weekly and event rewards, and you'll get one Legendary Loot Box for having the Free Battle Pass or two Legendary Loot Boxes for having the Premium Battle Pass, as well. Beyond publishing drop rates for boxes, Blizzard is guaranteeing that "a Rare or better item will drop in every single box, with an Epic item within five consecutive boxes and a Legendary item within twenty consecutive boxes."
Blizzard Entertainment
Coming a bit later in Season 16, Overwatch 2 will get an entirely new "Stadium" game mode that draws clear inspiration from competing shooters Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. In a Stadium match you'll be placed on a team of five fighting to earn currency across seven possible rounds. In-between rounds you can spend that currency to unlock upgrades and customize your abilities as you play. Stadium will also let you pick between the traditional first-person mode or a new third-person mode, which should make it easier to aim some of the wilder abilities you can unlock during a match.
The cherry on top to all these changes are new quality of life features Blizzard plans to add this year, like the ability to ban specific heroes from a match, and vote on maps you want to play. Of course, there are also two new heroes in the works: Freja, "a former search and rescue operative turned bounty hunter" with an explosive crossbow who will be playable in a free trial weekend during Season 15 before joining the game in Season 16, and a hero currently being called "Aqua" who will land in Season 18 and can control water.
Season 15 launches on February 18, while features like hero bans and map voting are coming later this year, in that order, according to Blizzard.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatch-2s-next-update-overhauls-the-game-with-perks-and-loot-boxes-212409206.html?src=rss
OpenAI's upcoming GPT-5 release will integrate its o3 reasoning model and be available to free users, CEO Sam Altman revealed in a roadmap he shared on X. He said the company is also working to simplify how users interact with ChatGPT.
"We want AI to 'just work' for you; we realize how complicated our model and product offerings have gotten," Altman wrote. "We hate the model picker as much as you do and want to return to magic unified intelligence."
In its current iteration, forcing ChatGPT to use a specific model, such as o3-mini, involves either tapping the "Reason" button in the prompt bar or one of the options present in the model picker, which appears after the chatbot answers a question. If you pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, that dropdown menu can get pretty long, with multiple models and intelligence settings to choose from.
OPENAI ROADMAP UPDATE FOR GPT-4.5 and GPT-5:We want to do a better job of sharing our intended roadmap, and a much better job simplifying our product offerings.We want AI to just work for you; we realize how complicated our model and product offerings have gotten.We hate Sam Altman (@sama) February 12, 2025
As for the company's roadmap, Altman says GPT-4.5 will be OpenAI's "last non-chain-thought model," meaning everything that comes after will feature the capability to solve problems by breaking them down into a series of intermediate steps. Following the release of GPT 4.5, OpenAI's primary goal is "to unify o-series models and GPT-series models by creating systems that can use all our tools, know when to think for a long time or not, and generally be useful for a very wide range of tasks."
Looking ahead to GPT-5, Altman says OpenAI will release the model "as a system that integrates a lot of our technology," including o3 and its recently released Deep Research feature. In a change of plans, OpenAI won't release o3 as a standalone model. Previously, Altman had said the new system would arrive "shortly after" o3-mini, which OpenAI made available for public use at the end of last month.
Once GPT-5 arrives, OpenAI plans to offer free users unlimited access to the model, "subject to abuse thresholds," at "the standard intelligence setting." Plus users will get to run GPT-5 "at a higher level of intelligence," while Pro users will get to run the model at "an even higher level of intelligence."
Altman did not provide an exact timeline for either GPT-4.5 or GPT-5, other than to say they could arrive within weeks or months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-will-offer-free-chatgpt-users-unlimited-access-to-gpt-5-211935734.html?src=rss
Google will start testing a feature this year that uses machine learning to weed out children trying to access adult content on YouTube. The machine learning-based age estimation model will try to predict whether a user is under 18 and, if so, apply appropriate age filter settings to their account. The announcement came amid a flurry of Google child safety announcements as the US Senate considers a bill that would ban pre-teens from social media.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan first mentioned the ML age restriction feature on Tuesday in his letter about the platforms bets for the coming year. Well use machine learning in 2025 to help us estimate a users age distinguishing between younger viewers and adults to help provide the best and most age-appropriate experiences and protections, he wrote.
A YouTube spokesperson clarified to Engadget that the model will make its predictions using data like the types of info the person searches for, the categories of videos they watch and the age of their accounts. For example, if someone frequently searches for info about mortgage lending or taxes, that probably points to the person being over 18. Ditto for an account thats over 20 years old.
If the ML model predicts that someone is underage, YouTube will apply its standard protections to deliver a more age-appropriate experience. Of course, the platform blocks explicit (and otherwise age-restricted) videos from under-18 users. Googles underage restrictions also include its SafeSearch Filter, which (as its name suggests) blocks explicit content from search results.
YouTube told Engadget it will begin testing the filtration tool by the end of this year. The platform plans to roll it out globally in 2026. Although YouTubes CEO first announced the feature, Google will test the feature in other areas, too. However, we dont yet know where else the new ML feature will pop up. Google isnt alone in trialing such a feature.
Google isnt alone in trialing such a moderation feature. Last year, Meta said it would use an adult classifier tool to identify underage Instagram users posing as adults.
Google
Google also said on Wednesday that School Time, a feature previously only available as a smartwatch app on the Fitbit Ace LTE and Galaxy Watch for Kids, will roll out to Android phones and tablets. Part of Googles Family Link parental controls app, School Time will let parents determine what phone features and apps their children can use during school hours. Parents can choose which apps remain active (like, say, learning-friendly apps) while allowing messages and calls from certain contacts. The idea is to minimize screen time and help kids focus on their work while still green-lighting emergency contacts.
Along similar lines, the Android Family Link app will let parents approve or deny contacts to add to their childrens devices. (This is another feature making its way over from the Galaxy Watch for Kids.) Parents can then limit calls and texts to only approved contacts. However, that feature isnt quite here yet: Google says it will roll out in the coming months.
Finally, this spring, parents using Google parental control features can add tap-to-pay to their childrens Android phones. (Google said this was coming last year.) Parents will be able to approve a payment card, add or remove further cards and view the childs transactions. Google says the feature will also work for things like gift cards and concert tickets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-will-use-machine-learning-to-try-and-tell-if-a-user-is-under-18-204713279.html?src=rss
After years of waiting, the Apple TV app is finally available natively on Android devices. This version was built from the ground up to take advantage of the Android operating system and is currently ready for download from the Google Play Store. It was designed for smartphones, tablets and foldables.
This is a full version of the app, with all of the stuff Apple users have come to expect. Theres a feature for picking up a show where you left off and a tool for downloading content to watch offline. It works via Wi-Fi or cellular.
The app allows access to Apple TV+ content, so you can finally watch the absolute boatload of original shows the platform pumps out. Its a veritable cornucopia of sci-fi goodness, with hit shows like Severance, Silo and For All Mankind. The platform also airs non-genre fare like Ted Lasso, Shrinking and Slow Horses. New users get a free seven-day trial to the platform. Otherwise, pricing is the same as always and folks can sign up for subscriptions via Google Play.
The app even grants access to MLS Season Pass content, just in time for Major League Soccers 2025 season. Sports fans can also check out a weekly MLB double-header each Friday with no local restrictions.
There have been workarounds to get Apple TV content on Android devices. In the past, users were forced to enter credentials via the web app or use a Prime Video bundle. Android TVs have long had a dedicated Apple TV app, but there was no way to subscribe on the television itself. That also changed today, as Google Play now offers the ability to subscribe on Android TVs.
Theres no casting support on this first version of the app, but we hope itll come soon via a future update. The Apple TV app only works on devices running Android 10 or later.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/an-apple-tv-app-is-finally-available-for-android-devices-200044050.html?src=rss
Iconic game designer Jeff Minter is back with another modern take on a long-forgotten Atari title. Minter has turned his psychedelic eye toward the 1984 arcade cabinet I, Robot. His version ups the visuals and takes serious liberties with the original design, adopting techno music and some new game modes.
The original I, Robot was a flop, despite being made by Dave Theurer, the guy behind Missile Command and Tempest. Maybe it was just ahead of its time. After all, it was the very first commercial video game to use real-time, flat-shaded 3D polygon graphics. The game came out a full eight years before Segas Virtua Racing and more than a decade before the PlayStation and N64 brought 3D gaming into the mainstream.
The original title had players control a robot as it jumped around mazes to flip the color of tiles and shoot enemies. There was also a giant eyeball that had to be avoided at all costs. Minters version keeps the core gameplay mechanic, but increases the speed and incorporates new gameplay elements. For instance, there are new tube shooter levels and an exploration mode called Ungame. It looks pretty nifty.
If the name Jeff Minter seems vaguely familiar, hes the person who made Tempest 2000 and its various sequels. More recently, he remade an unreleased Atari prototype called Akka Arrh that originally dates back to 1982. He also provided the visuals for a Nine Inch Nails video.
Minters version of I, Robot will be released this spring on pretty much every platform, including Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The design team is also working on a port for PlayStation VR2.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/acclaimed-designer-jeff-minter-is-back-with-a-remake-of-the-80s-arcade-curio-i-robot-194037105.html?src=rss
MyFitnessPal, a popular, free food logging app, is getting into AI, specifically letting AI plan your meals for you. Following an acquisition of a startup called Intent, MyFitnessPal is adding an AI-generated meal planning feature for subscribers.
The meal plans the updated MyFitnessPal app will be able to create take into account subscribers' "goals, preferences, dietary habits, and routines," according to MyFitnessPal, via information the app already has on you, and what looks like a survey. The feature will also be part of an end-to-end experience. Any plan the app creates can be automatically translated into a grocery list for the next time you're at the store, or an order to a grocery delivery service if you'd prefer to do as little as possible.
MyFitnessPal
Given the sheer number of recipe and diet videos you can stumble upon across social media, trying to simplify the process of planning what you're going to eat makes sense. Using AI to do it does seem like it could have some unintended consequences, though. Knowing AI's ability to hallucinate, even if MyFitnessPal isn't generating recipes from scratch, it still feels like you could end up with some oddball meal combinations or incorrect grocery lists.
The only way to know for sure is to try the AI meal planner for yourself, and if you're interested, you can already sign-up for a waitlist so you're able to try it out as soon as its available. MyFitnessPal says meal planning will officially launch in the spring in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and require joining a new $99.99 annual subscription tier called "Premium+" to use.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/myfitnesspal-is-going-to-let-ai-play-your-nutrionist-191239496.html?src=rss
We're in the tail end of winter here, but it's snowing as I write this. Not a lot, but just enough to be a potential frustration to the move I have planned for later this week. Basically, winter weather sucks, and one of the worst things about it is how unpredictable it can be. The Weather Company, owners and developers of the Weather Channel app (but not the TV station) know this, and have just released a feature to try and make planning for storms a little easier.
It's called probabilistic snowfall, and it aims to give you greater insight into just how severe or impactful a storm might be. You'll still see the standard "50 percent chance of snowfall" in your forecasts, but in the 72 hours leading up to snow, you'll also see the percent change for specific snowfall amounts. For example, you'll see that there's an 80 percent chance of snow overall, but you'll also see bars detailing how likely more specific snowfall amounts are. In this screenshot from the app, you can see that five to eight inches is the most likely outcome, followed by eight to 12 inches enough snow that you might want to change your plans to deal with it.
According to Rachel Chukura, head of product at The Weather Company, that was precisely the vision behind the feature. "The idea is that users can see the different probabilities and know there could be variations, she said. "That's important because of all the decisions we make in terms of what weather we think is coming. What time do you need to leave for your commute, will there be a school delay, and so on." And while the company is starting with snowfall forecasts, they also hope to bring it to more forecasting tools over time.
I've been using the feature for about a week, just in time to see it pop up for the small storm we had in Philadelphia last night. I obviously can't say how accurate it is, as I'm not out there measuring snowfall with a ruler. But the few inches we got overnight were in line with the probabilistic forecast, and it was helpful leading up to the storm to know I likely didn't have to worry about the weather truly being an inconvenience.
The feature is part of the Weather Channel app's premium subscription, which costs $30 per year. Besides probabilistic snowfall, that also removes ads, shows longer-term forecasts on the radar, adds a 30-mile lightning strike map and provides more detailed 15-minute weather breakdowns. While most people out there will stick with the default weather app on their phones, or just use the free version of the Weather Channel or other similar apps, there's definitely something to be said for greater insight into how likely you are to get crushed by a snowstorm.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-weather-channel-app-can-show-how-likely-you-are-to-get-specific-snowfall-amounts-165900316.html?src=rss
Roll up, gamers. It's time for your latest influx of PlayStation knowledge. Sony is hosting its first State of Play stream of 2025 today (February 12) at 5PM ET. The showcase will focus on PS5 games. You'll be able to watch it on the PlayStation website or the brand's YouTube and Twitch channels. Or, you know, by hitting the big play button on the YouTube video embedded above.
The State of Play will run for about 40 minutes, so there should be lots of juicy details here. Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach are both slated for 2025 debuts, so we could get release dates for those. For what it's worth, Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima recently teased that he was working on a new trailer and he's appearing at an SXSW panel next month to talk about the game.
Other first-party projects such as Marvels Wolverine, Marathon and Fairgame$ could get a look in during the State of Play. It seems far too early for us to get another peek at Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, though there's a chance that we'll finally find out the exact release date for season two of The Last of Us on HBO.
As for third-party games, it's a pretty safe bet that we'll see a trailer and release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater since, whoops, Sony itself leaked those last week. Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are making the leap over from Xbox this spring, so release date reveals for those during the State of Play would make sense.
Rumors also suggest that Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, a remastered collection of the first three Gears of War games and even the Halo series, Xbox's crown jewel, will cross the great divide to PlayStation. Perhaps we'll learn about some of those during the stream too. In any case, you'll be able to find coverage of all the big State of Play news on a cool website called Engadget dot com.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/watch-sonys-state-of-play-showcase-here-at-5pm-et-165148390.html?src=rss
The iPad mini 7 is once again on sale for $100 off via Amazon. This applies to every design variation, so the 128GB standard model is now $400 and the 512GB Wi-Fi/cellular version is $850. However, not all of the colors have been blessed by the discount fairy. Most colorways get a discount of some kind, but it may not apply to all of the hardware variations.
Apples latest and greatest diminutive tablet easily found a place on our list of the best iPads. Its a solid refresh without any real tradeoffs when compared to the full-sized tablet. It supports the Apple Pencil Pro, the A17 Pro chip is plenty powerful and the overall design is comfortable to hold. Its an iPad mini.
We called it a solid and necessary update to the best small tablet on the market in our official review. We came away impressed by the stereo speakers, which sound much better than one would expect. The display is nice, despite maxing out at a 60Hz refresh rate, and the camera array takes surprisingly decent shots, even in low light. Its great for everyday computing tasks and, of course, for playing mobile games like Balatro.
This model doesnt include an M-series chip, though the A17 Pro is plenty powerful. Also, the battery life isnt going to be winning any awards. We struggled to squeeze ten hours of it. This model also lacks Face ID, which could be an issue for some users. Beyond these minor nitpicks, however, this is a near-perfect teensy tablet.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-ipad-mini-7-is-back-on-sale-for-100-off-162536671.html?src=rss
