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The ninth mainline Resident Evil is trying to split the difference between the series action-heavy entries and the stress-inducing hide-and-seek episodes. During a four-hour playthrough of some early parts of Resident Evil Requiem, I spent time with both of the two main characters, Grace and series mainstay Leon. They offer distinctly different playstyles, talents, strengths, and weaknesses. While it isn't an entirely new premise for the survival horror series (in the original, playing as Chris Redfield offered more challenge than playing as Jill Valentine) its never been this pronounced. I started playing as Leon, entering a medical facility he seemed to have been invited to. With a cavernous main hall, it feels like yet another iconic Resident Evil hub, immediately reminding me of Raccoon City's Police Precinct and even the original's cavernous manor. Wings to explore? Check. Suspiciously quiet and empty central area that will almost definitely get overrun by zombies at some point? Probably.Both Grace and Leons parts can be played in either third- or first-person perspective, though Leons segments seem better suited to the third-person view, since there's just a lot more shooting. Grace's segments were tense and demanded my full attention, more akin to Resident Evil 7. During this early part of the game, there is a lot of hiding, plenty of ammo conservation and a lot more learning from dumb mistakes. The parts of the game I played with Leon reminded me more of Resident Evil 4 (or 5 or 6 but lets gloss over those).Once you take control of him, Leon is immediately attacked and has to fend off roughly 15 infected doctors, nurses and patients. Its a significant tone shift from Grace skulking around the facility, hiding behind plants and sometimes just hoping for the best. Leon faces off against a chainsaw-wielding doctor zombie. Best cut that arm off.CapcomLeon, fortunately, arrives with several weapons, including a new melee option, a hatchet. Using this, he can make targeted attacks to lop off limbs and aim at the head to deliver more damage. At least on these basic zombies, I found relentless slashing more effective than more targeted efforts Im sure future enemies will demand more nuanced approaches. A later enemy must be decapitated to kill it. After a set number of swings, you will need to retreat and sharpen the blade, which adds to the jeopardy while not disrupting the chaos. The hatchet can even be used to parry attacks if you get the timing down. Leon even gets to wield a chainsaw during this initial encounter, but only after claiming it from one particularly industrious zombie that seemed to find it inside a hospital. It was crucial to both disarm this zombie and grab the chainsaw before another corpse could take a turn on it. However, just because the chainsaw gets dropped doesnt mean its turned off. I suffered significant damage when I repeatedly rushed into the spinning power tool. The zombies in Requiem are also a little more nuanced compared to previous games if a zombie can have nuance. While nearly all of the zombies will attack you on sight, they can be distracted or delayed based on the person they were before they turned. For example, the chef zombie (a hardy, bigger zombie than the ones youve come across until that point) will only chase you around his kitchen. Step out into the corridor and hell leave you alone. Elsewhere, a zombie (attached to an IV, cute) has his eyes bandaged and will react aggressively to any noise. I used this to my advantage, hurling an empty bottle at another zombie who stood nearby. The IV zombie killed him immediately. Another time, a senior exec whos been turned is firing an employee of his by killing them, moaning Youre fired as he does so. This little vignette gave me enough time to dim the lights and hide when he left his office. In Requiem, players are expected to exploit individual zombie behaviors to outmaneuver them. Its also a welcome dose of humor to the survival horror series, reminding me a little of the camp moments in Dead Rising, another zombie-centric Capcom series. Leon doesnt have to strategize quite as much, arriving with a particularly powerful handgun, the Requiem, that he eventually passes over to Grace. This is capable of stopping pretty much (but not all) enemies you come across, although it initially comes with only a single bullet, so you really have to make it count. During a set-piece battle against a towering, swollen former patient, I got to test Requiems action-horror controls under pressure. Leon finds a shotgun and has to flank (and outrun) his hungry attacker. The environment in the rafters of the building is designed so its easy to figure out where you need to go and how to stop the giant zombie from cornering you. Ammo, at least during this fight, was scattered around, which was a relief after struggling to find bullets during Graces segment.Despite the lack of traditional weapons, Grace eventually finds a blood injector (and its companion blood analysis system). These turn into Requiems crafting system. Powered by literal buckets and puddles of blood (you have to draw up infected blood from certain parts of the environment and enemies), samples can be combined with scraps, herbs and more to create high-powered first-aid shots, injectable explosive blood, ammunition and a lot of other things. Analysing different blood types (and solving some light puzzles) adds further crafting options. Oh he's not going to help you.CapcomDuring the preview, the infected blood injector was exclusively for Graces use. Itll be intriguing if only one character gets to benefit from the crafting system, although Capcom teased customizable weapons for Leon, which might better suit his playstyle. Grace might also be handicapped by the typewriter save system popularized in the first few RE games. This could mean youll only be able to save if you have an ink ribbon on you, a very stressful part of inventory management early on in the series she really cant catch a break. However, it appears to be adjustable in difficulty settings. According to Capcoms Resident Evil showcase last week, infected blood will apparently play a strong role in Requiem, touching on both Leons past (hes apparently suffering from a mystery ailment) and the circumstances surrounding the death of Grace's other. And it wouldnt be a Resident Evil game with mystery, buckets of blood, and a pulpy villain. Capcom has primed another fascinating villain with Requiems Dr. Gideon, a former Umbrella virologist who was seemingly written for an actor to go full camp baddie if the doctors hooded snakeskin trenchcoat wasnt a giveaway. Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27, 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/resident-evil-requiem-preview-150000849.html?src=rss
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Europe is probing Elon Musks X for failing to take action to prevent the spread of AI-generated sexually explicit images including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), regulators said in a press release. The European Commissions investigation could result in further enforcement steps against X, not long after it levied a $140 million fine against the platform. Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation. With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA [Digital Services Act], or whether it treated rights of European citizens including those of women and children as collateral damage of its service, said the Commissions executive VP, Henna Virkkunen in a statement.The EU said that it will assess whether X took measures to reduce risks around the dissemination of illegal content when it deployed Grok onto the platform. Those risks include manipulated sexually explicit images including content that may amount to CSAM. These risks seem to have materialized, exposing citizens in the EU to serious harm, the Commission stated. On top of the new inquiry, the EC is also expanding its 2023 investigation of X over its recommendation algorithm and tools used to prevent the spread of illicit content. The investigation is coming at a delicate time for Europe, which is already in the Trump administrations crosshairs over its scrutiny of American tech companies. And the EU would also be going up against Musk, who is the owner and has the biggest megaphone on X. After X was hit with a 120 million euro ($140 million fine) for breaching Europes Digital Services Act, Musk called the EU the fourth Reich and said in a post on X that it should be abolished. In response to the inquiry, X reiterated previous comments it has made about Grok. We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, nonconsensual nudity and unwanted sexual content, a spokesperson told The New York Times. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-eu-is-investigating-grok-and-x-over-potentially-illegal-deepfakes-134506678.html?src=rss
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It's that time of year where a great pair of headphones double as earmuffs and a current sale will ensure you get a great quality and good looking option. One of our favorite wireless headphones for 2026 is available for 35 percent off. Amazon is offering the first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones for $279, down from $429. Since coming out last April, they've become our choice for best noise-canceling wireless headphones. Notably, the sale is only available in the headphone's nice limited edition Deep Plum model. We gave the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones an 86 in our review, thanks, in part, to their incredible active-noise cancellation (ANC) an industry-lead Bose has held for years. They also offers improved audio, producing a warmer and clearer sound than other Bose headphones. Plus, they live up to their name, remaining comfortable even after hours and hours thanks to cushioning inside the headband and earpads. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-are-35-percent-off-130020033.html?src=rss
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