• Nacon has announced its new Revolution 5 Unlimited, an officially licensed controller built for PS5 consoles
• The controller is the world's first officially licensed PS5 controller to have a built-in control screen
• It's available for pre-order today for $229.99 / £179.99 / €199.99

Nacon has announced its new Revolution 5 Unlimited (R5U), a high-end asymmetric controller, officially licensed for PlayStation 5 consoles, featuring "major hardware innovations."

Available to pre-order today at NaconGaming for $229.99 / £179.99 / €199.99, the R5U is the world's first officially licensed PS5 controller to have a built-in control screen, which will allow players to make instant adjustments without leaving their game.

Audio mixing, joystick sensitivity, and shortcut mapping can also be adjusted on the fly, with the controller's TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) magnetic technology making its debut in Nacon's hardware lineup to "significantly improve reliability, while delivering surgical precision and reduced power consumption."

The R5U is built for competitive gaming and offers micro-switch action buttons, Trigger Blockers with "instant trigger" technology that lets players switch from an analog pull to an ultra-short click, and multiple remappable shortcut buttons.

It also boasts advanced software features, such as the "Shooter Pro Mode," which completely removes joystick dead zones to deliver "enhanced responsiveness, precision, and performance."

The controller comes with comprehensive accessories, a storage case and a dedicated charging dock, and is the first Nacon officially licensed PS5 controller, so users can charge and connect it in one convenient place.

It's also versatile, offering triple connectivity with PS5 consoles, PC, and Android Smart TVs, and supported by a dedicated mobile app for fine-tuning advanced settings; a dedicated PC mode for ultra-low 1ms latency and advanced features will also be available on the mobile app.

"With the Revolution 5 Unlimited, Nacon demonstrates its ability to set new standards in the competitive gaming peripherals segment," said Yannick Allaert, director of Nacon's accessories division.

"By combining a built-in control screen and TMR technology on an officially licensed PlayStation asymmetric controller, we are giving competitive and demanding players a state-of-the-art instrument, backed by years of expertise within the Group."

TechRadar Gaming has reviewed Nacon's Revolution 5 Pro controller, with reviewer Rhys Wood calling it a "fantastic controller that falls just short of being essential."

• Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR) is Sony's new machine-based upscaling tech for the PS5
• Analysts at Digital Foundry say it has "remarkable" potential
• QSSR enabled in Marvel's Wolverine has an "exceptional" quality boost, while Ghost of Yotei "saw less dramatic improvements"

Sony has unveiled Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), its new AI upscaling technology built for the base PS5, and it can offer major image-quality improvements.

QSSR is different from PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), with Sony describing it as a "quick new evolution of PSSR" and "built on two key innovations," including a streamlined neural network architecture and a hand-tuned implementation that maximizes performance on PS5.

"While PSSR remains the gold standard on PS5 Pro, QSSR provides some notable improvements to both image detail and image stability on PS5," Sony said, with the first titles to use the tech being Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei.

According to tech experts at Digital Foundry(DF), who went hands-on with QSSR and tested both games, they believe "The potential here is remarkable."

"Low resolution and poor upscaling have impacted so many titles in this generation, but QSSR could make a big difference," DF wrote. "In Marvel's Wolverine especially, the quality boost can be exceptional.

"In terms of image quality analysis, suffice it to say that temporal stability is substantially improved, detail level increases, sub-pixel integrity is considerably superior, while artefacts from elements like moving foliage are much reduced."

However, it notes that with Ghost of Yōtei, a game that already boasts gorgeous image quality, it "saw less dramatic improvements."

In its YouTube analysis, DF founder Richard Leadbetter showed off comparisons of QSSR enabled and disabled in both games; the analysts tested a Wolverine cutscene in Performance Mode uncapped, and there's a noticeable visual upgrade when the tech is on.

"The frame rate is lower," Leadbetter noted. "The headline number doesn't look great, right? A hit of about 8 to 10 frames per second [versus on/off]. But the important thing is the frame time cost of QSSR. By my calculation, it's between 1.5 to 1.8 milliseconds, and I'd say that's reasonable for an ML-based [machine-learning based] upscaler producing results like this from a low base resolution on hardware that doesn't have any form of ML acceleration."

Leadbetter deduces that the higher the output/input resolution is, "the bigger the frame rate hit will be."

In 60fps graphics modes where dynamic resolution scaling is being used, he said, "basically now we're getting the best of both worlds," as "Performance is practically identical" with or without QSSR enabled.

"The QSSR 'on' side will be lower in resolution to maintain frame rate," Leadbetter said, "but the quality of the upscaler is so much better that you're getting a better experience overall."

One clip shows a 1fps drop with QSSR on, but it's hardly noticeable, and while Ghost of Yotei running in Performance Mode uncapped VRR at 120 Hz does show frame dips when QSSR is enabled, they are "slight."

"Basically imperceptible for the most part," he said, "which is very different from what we saw with Wolverine, to the point where you know with the captures here, I had to recheck that QSSR was actually on because it just looks too good to be true here. There's no real performance here."

Like PSSR, QSSR is expected to be patched into more games and utilized in future PS5 titles; it's unclear right now whether Rockstar Games plans to take advantage of the tech in Grand Theft Auto 6.

• Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko says he typically finds his inspiration by looking at Remedy's "gorgeous" concept art
• He reveals that he has synesthesia, which allows him to "hear" music by looking at these pictures
• Alanko says there's a "transparency culture" at Remedy, which helps prepare the team for a new project

Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko has revealed that he has synesthesia, which allows him to find much of his inspiration by looking at Remedy's concept art.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Alanko, who also composed music for the first Control game and other Remedy titles, shared his process for creating the music fans hear in Remedy's sequel.

"You wouldn’t believe, but quite often everything starts a little like that old Simpson yelling at a cloud meme, but in my case it’s more staring at the clouds instead," Alanko joked, adding that it's really about thinking and trying to find an interesting approach.

The composer went on to talk about the "transparency culture" at Remedy, revealing that every time the studio births a new game concept, it "has a habit of telling the whole company about it" in the form of a well-rehearsed presentation, and Control Resonant's was no different.

"That, by the way, separates Remedy from many others; the amount of detail and level of depth is unparalleled," Alanko said. "Very unique. One would think they already have everything ready, albeit we’re only taking the first steps."

When discussing what helps his composer mind come up with ideas, he explained that he typically leans toward Remedy's concept art, because they "tell a story, and they usually are really, really beautiful."

Alanko shared that he has synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers, such as tasting colors or feeling sounds, and in his case enables him to hear sounds when looking at pictures.

"Those pictures have a 'sound' in my head, and following those intuitional sources often bring me a few melodies, harmonies… a feeling, actually," the composer explained. "To be able to hear music requires the background concept story as well as a presentation, and the pictures. I rely heavily on that. Plus, as a composer, I’ve always been an outsider and felt like I’m just watching everything from a distance, an observer, if you like.

"That feeling combined with the ability to 'hear' pictures - synesthesia, to be exact - are my go-to tools at the ground zero point."

Control Resonant is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1209) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LITTLE
• REAL ESTATE
• COMMON
• RING
• INDEX
• FUND
• BANKROLL
• RIB
• STANDARD
• MIDDLE
• STOCK
• SUPPORT
• BACK
• NUMBER
• ROUTINE
• TIMER

NYT Connections today (game #1209) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Put some money behind it
• GREEN: Digits
• BLUE: Pretty ordinary
• PURPLE: Begin with a word that rhymes with “rhyme”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1209) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: FINANCE
• GREEN: FINGERS
• BLUE: CUSTOMARY
• PURPLE: PRIME_____

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1209) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1209, are…

• YELLOW: FINANCE: BACK, BANKROLL, FUND, SUPPORT
• GREEN: FINGERS: INDEX, LITTLE, MIDDLE, RING
• BLUE: CUSTOMARY: COMMON, ROUTINE, STANDARD, STOCK
• PURPLE: PRIME_____: NUMBER, REAL ESTATE, RIB, TIME

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Whenever there is a very easy game of Connections I am always left with regret that I did not slow down and play more tactically.

Unfortunately I cannot help myself and blitz through the groups as I discover them, which today meant getting green first instead of a coveted purple first.

That said, despite the simplicity of this game there was a little red herring that almost caught me out, with STOCK, INDEX and FUND all being about financial trading.

Kudos if you took care and spotted PRIME____.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, October 1, 2026, game #1208)

• YELLOW: PUT: PLACE, POSITION, SITUATE, STICK
• GREEN: DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS: CHEST, NECK, SLEEVE, WAIST
• BLUE: 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE": DECEMBERISTS, NATIONAL, SHINS, WALKMEN
• PURPLE: STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES: ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD

• 007 First Light update 1.3.0 and the game's first free Extended Operations downloadable content (DLC) is now live
• The DLC adds New Game Plus, Photo Mode, a new mission, a difficulty level, and the long-awaited Valhalla Protocol
• A host of other gameplay improvements and bug fixes also arrive with the patch

007 First Light's first major free downloadable content (DLC) has officially rolled out, delivering all-new playable content and huge improvements across the board.

With Update 1.3.0, IO Interactive has launched the Extended Operations DLC, which includes some of the most highly requested features fans have asked for since the game's release earlier this year, including New Game Plus, Photo Mode, and a brand-new "00" difficulty level "for those ready to show they’ve truly earned the number."

The new Jungle Heist mission is another new addition to the game, where players return to The Pearl villa in Vietnam to recover special documents, as well as the long-awaited Valhalla Protocol, where players drive the Aston Martin Valhalla once more in an action-packed side activity.

"Take the wheel of Bond's most heavily armed ride and cut loose on the open road, with machine guns and missile launchers at your command," IOI said in the patch notes. "In TacSim you will now find the new Activity, which brings you to the scenic landscape of Slovakia, where you can show off your best driving skills and aim for the highest score."

More TacSim weapons, like the Storm 12 Gauge and Squire Marksman Rifle, have also been added, and three new Bond outfits are now available, alongside a new IOI Account reward, The Grey Standard outfit, which players can claim until November 1, and a separate Twitch Drop outfit available from today until October 16.

To celebrate seven million game wishlists, players can also meet the newest member of the MI6 HQ personnel, Jack the Bulldog, "a distinguished and charming resident offering support in the form of his presence," and yes, you can pet him.

Extended Operations also "brings over 700 fixes and improvements to the game," which covers everything from crashes and progression blockers to "refined weapon handling animations across the arsenal," and more.

• CD Projekt Red originally wanted to add Geralt's silver chain to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but there were technological constraints
• Songs of the Past game director Jakub Rokosz says modern tech allowed the team to finally add it in the upcoming expansion
• Rokosz says the 11-year time difference between the base game and Songs of the Past has made a huge difference

CD Projekt Red couldn't implement Geralt's silver chain in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt due to technological constraints, but modern technology finally allowed it to add the weapon in the upcoming Songs of the Past expansion.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, Jakub Rokosz, Fool's Theory CEO, Songs of the Past game director, and former Witcher 3 senior quest designer, explained that the chain, which first appeared in the first Witcher game, was something CDPR originally "always wanted to bring" to the third installment.

"There were numerous conversations that we [had where we] would want to do the chain even during the base game, but it was impossible from a technological standpoint to do it properly," Rokosz said. "Back then, the way the combat, the targeting, the camera, the enemies were implemented, it would require too much of an overhaul just for one feature."

CDPR didn't have the tools to overhaul these features for one weapon; however, working on the remaster and Songs of the Past with today's updated tech allowed the team to bring the chain to life.

"When we started working on Songs of the Past and the remaster at the same time, we knew that we were going to be touching up on various things, and all of a sudden the chain became a reality," the developer said.

"Also, one other thing is that the physics and animation technology had to go a little bit forward in time. And trust me, 11 years is a lot of difference. So now we were actually able to make the animations of the chain feel very natural, very fluid, and simulated very easily. Whereas 11 years ago, we would probably have to animate it by hand, with all the animations."

Senior quest designer Despoina Anetaki added that, "from a practical standpoint," it's challenging to work with so many animations for a huge game like The Witcher 3.

"When it comes to the remaster, it's a lot of things already, so you can focus on new things, right? And this was a good opportunity for the chain," Anetaki said. "I think it's a really cool weapon."

Geralt's crossbow can be switched out for the silver chain, and players can use it on flying enemies, enemies in water, and for crowd control, with Anetaki saying she thinks fans will love it.

"It's a very versatile weapon, and I think it's gonna fulfill that butcher fantasy for a lot of people, especially those who have read the books and are imagining a badass Geralt with a chain. I think it's gonna be very good for them," she said.

Rokosz added that it was important to make sure the chain wasn't "a gimmick item" you get in Songs of the Past and wanted it to be "a very important piece" of a witcher's arsenal that can be used in the base game and previous expansions, with Anetaki saying that it is something that is "woven into the narrative."

Songs of the Past doesn't have a release date yet, but it's slated to launch in 2027.

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt lead writer Marcin Blacha has explained what it takes to create a worthwhile Witcher remake
• He says CD Projekt Red needs to "stay true to the spirit" of the original game
• However, the remake has to appeal to a new audience using modern technology

CD Projekt Red VP of narration and story director Marcin Blacha has revealed the secret to making a worthwhile Witcher remake, and it's about balancing what made the original game good with appealing to a new audience.

During a panel at Logitech Play 2026 attended by TechRadar Gaming, Blacha, who was a lead writer on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, explained that the studio needs to "stay true" to the 2007 original, but also design a fresh experience for gamers who didn't play it.

"The secret is to identify what was good in the original game, and find a way to retell it to the audience that, for some reason, cannot participate in this experience," Blacha said. "Those are two different things, and each of them is difficult on its own, because it's not that easy sometimes to recreate this experience."

The writer went on to discuss what the studio calls "Act Four" of The Witcher 1, which takes place in a rural lakeside region "that is very folklorish" and "full of beautiful landscapes," but said it's difficult to recreate that feeling again because it's a different experience for every player and can be "a little bit vague."

"To create a good remake, you need to identify what was good and find a way to recreate it using newer technology, [while] staying true to the spirit of the original game," Blacha added.

The Witcher remake is in development at Fool's Theory and will utilize Unreal Engine 5, as CD Projekt Red is currently all hands on deck making The Witcher 4, the first game in a new trilogy of Witcher games that it wants to release within a six-year time frame.

CDPR has also just launched The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, which offers a massive collection of improvements that promise an entirely new experience for the decade-old role-playing game (RPG).

• We can exclusively reveal 'Sibling Theme' from Control Resonant's official soundtrack
• The track represents Jesse and Dylan's bond and is a "subset of the origin theme"
• Composer Petri Alanko says the track "carries the emotions, as if it soothes and comforts the siblings’ dented childhood memories"

Remedy Entertainment's Control Resonant has launched on PC and consoles, and to mark the release, we've got a track from its official soundtrack to debut exclusively for fans.

The 'Sibling Theme' represents the bond between Control and Control Resonant protagonists Jesse and Dylan, with composer Petri Alanko describing it as a "subset of the origin theme," which you can now listen to on YouTube.

"If you listen to the instruments and the harmonies, there’s more than a vague resemblance in it," Alanko told TechRadar Gaming in an exclusive interview.

"At its core, 'Sibling Theme' was originally a much more vibrant version, an instrumental version of 'The One I Once Knew', but it just felt overwhelming under intimate childhood memory-driven sections, and I toned it down, but nothing quite clicked there, until I tested the harmonies and the melody line with just an electric piano."

Alanko, who also created the music for the first game, added that "a delicate moment needed a delicate solution," and he's pleased with how 'Sibling Theme' "carries the emotions, as if it soothes and comforts the siblings’ dented childhood memories."

"The acting of the protagonists is also really one-of-a-kind when the track plays; a lot of emotions are being surfaced," he said.

In addition to our exclusive reveal of 'Sibling Theme', fans can also listen to the official soundtrack on all available music apps and YouTube, featuring 13 tracks.

"Creating a soundtrack is always a labour of love: it’s a transition into a world where dream-like events pass you by and leave their mark, maybe forever," Alanko said in a press release. "The scope of Control Resonant was well beyond everything I have been involved with, so were the emotions under the surface.

"It was incredibly intense trying to hold back tears when the twists and turns were thrown at you, and emotionally Control Resonant went deeper under my skin than I expected. Under the action, it is a story about devotion, dedication, and determination."

Control Resonant is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

• Borderless Gaming is a tool that's sold on Steam
• It just got an add-on to easily fudge DLSS 5 to work with various PC games
• Reviews of the tool have turned rather colorful, as those who still hate DLSS 5 and all it stands for are chipping in

You can't have missed all the chatter about experimenting with Nvidia's DLSS 5 in all sorts of different PC games, and if you've felt the urge to join in but have been too intimidated by the idea of fudging the tech to work, a solution is now at hand.

VideoCardz noticed that Borderless Gaming, a tool that's sold via Steam – it's used to facilitate gaming in a borderless window, as the name indicates – now has DLSS 5 support. Or, as the developer put it: "DLSS 5 Neural Rendering for Everyone."

The dev notes that: "DLSS 5 Neural Rendering is now available in Borderless Gaming – without replacing game DLLs, modifying game files, or needing a game-specific mod. Install the effect, select the preset, and apply it to your game."

Borderless Gaming applies DLSS 5 directly through its own BGFX pipeline, the developer explains, rather than forwarding requests to Nvidia's DLLs.

In short, this is DLSS 5 being fudged in about as no-fuss a manner as can be, save for the fact that you have to buy and install the app, of course. This implementation shouldn't be confused with native DLSS 5 support, because it's simply a workaround to bring the neural rendering technique into play (with variable results as you might expect).

Note that the Borderless Gaming app doesn't actually come with this built-in, but after installing the tool itself, you need to also download the appropriate effect (DLSS5-NR v0.2.1 currently) from GitHub here (installation instructions are provided at that link).

Analysis: catching some of the DLSS 5 hate

According to the developer, this implementation can work on a wide range of GPUs – not just the officially supported RTX 5000 models – and an RTX 3090 can hit around 30fps typically with DLSS 5 turned on. Obviously the frame rate will vary massively depending on the game and graphics settings, but the gist is that you can get something playable on the RTX 3090.

It's a neat enough solution by the looks of it, although as ever, if you're curious, I have to issue my usual warning about third-party apps here: download and use them at your own risk.

Borderless Gaming is an app that's been around for a long time, but the Steam reviews have turned distinctly colorful of late – with some of that color revolving around this latest move with DLSS 5. As one reviewer puts it: "Added DLSS 5 for no reason but to make games look worse... Slop." (Hence the above clarification that DLSS 5 isn't actually added to the app itself at all).

Nvidia's DLSS 5 was controversial when it was first announced, although the reception to its neural rendering trickery has warmed up considerably since it went live in a game (NBA 2K27). There are still haters out there, though, as the Steam reviews for Borderless Gaming illustrate.

It's also a fair question whether Nvidia might take action against projects like this, which are going further in terms of tweaking and playing about with DLSS 5 tech. It's likely that for now, with DLSS 5 getting a greater level of positivity from many of the gaming experimenters out there, Team Green might let it slide – at least for the time being.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1208) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• NATIONAL
• KEN
• NECK
• SHINS
• ACRO
• STICK
• WAIST
• WALKMEN
• SITUATE
• SLEEVE
• CROSS
• PLACE
• SUD
• POSITION
• CHEST
• DECEMBERISTS

NYT Connections today (game #1208) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Manoeuvre into a spot where it belongs
• GREEN: Required for sharp dressing
• BLUE: Alt rock with something missing
• PURPLE: A puzzling beginning

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1208) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: PUT
• GREEN: DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS
• BLUE: 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE"
• PURPLE: STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1208) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1208, are…

• YELLOW: PUT: PLACE, POSITION, SITUATE, STICK
• GREEN: DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS: CHEST, NECK, SLEEVE, WAIST
• BLUE: 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE": DECEMBERISTS, NATIONAL, SHINS, WALKMEN
• PURPLE: STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES: ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

NYT got very meta with today’s purple group, with an online game paying homage to the NYT's offline games. I’m ashamed to say it flew over my head.

Instead, I was focused on the appearance of one of my favorite bands of all time in Connections, The NATIONAL, alongside three other equally highly regarded bands which made it into 2000s INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE". Even though the majority of music I like could be described as “indie rock” I find genre names cringe, but it’s not a hill I’m willing to die on, or even suffer a mild ankle sprain on, so I’ll let it go.

Anyway, I digress… Fortunately, with that purple group not registering, DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS and PUT were both easy to collect

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, September 30, 2026, game #1207)

• YELLOW: SECURITIES: BOND, FUTURE, OPTION, STOCK
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED): ETCH A SKETCH, MARTINI, SPRAY PAINT, TAMBOURINE
• BLUE: GANGSTER MOVIES: BUGSY, CASINO, DONNIE BRASCO, SCARFACE
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS: DECENT, NOVELTY, OCTOPUSSY, SEPTUM

• Blaze Entertainment head of communications Sean Cleaver says it wants to collaborate with more companies on the Evercade
• Cleaver says it's been in contact with EA, Sega, and Bandai Namco, but "it's about when they're ready to do it"
• He confirms that Blaze has a three- to four-year roadmap and hopes to work with Rare again

Blaze Entertainment has revealed that it has a four-year-long roadmap prepared for the Evercade and has even spoken to several industry giants about collaborating.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom, where head of communications Sean Cleaver discussed the Evercade Nexus and the collaboration with Rare to produce the Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie ports, he revealed that Blaze would love to work with a number of other companies.

Cleaver said it's spoken with EA, Sega, and Bandai Namco, but in terms of actually collaborating on a project, ultimately, "It just depends what the company's policy is more than anything."

"We've spoken to EA, spoken to Sega, we've worked with Capcom on a number of things already that are built-in rather than cartridge," Cleaver said. "We've spoken to [Bandai] Namco. We keep up a constant dialogue with all of them because it's not about when we're ready to do it; it's about when they're ready to do it.

"You can rock up with a suitcase full of cash, but if it's not up for licensing, if they're unsure about it, if they have other business priorities, then it needs to be when they're ready to look at those franchises, look at those things, and get stuff done."

Cleaver added that "Obviously, we want to do more work with Rare," and hopes that will come to fruition in the coming years, before confirming that Blaze has a roadmap for the next three to four years.

"We've got what the retailers would call a long tail," he said. "We're not a one-and-done. We've been here for six years now. We're aiming to be here for at least another six more."

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1207) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TAMBOURINE
• SEPTUM
• DECENT
• BOND
• MARTINI
• OPTION
• NOVELTY
• CASINO
• SPRAY PAINT
• OCTOPUSSY
• DONNIE BRASCO
• FUTURE
• BUGSY
• ETCH A SKETCH
• STOCK
• SCARFACE

NYT Connections today (game #1207) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Trading terms
• GREEN: Shake it up
• BLUE: Mobster films
• PURPLE: Hidden calendar

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1207) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: SECURITIES
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED)
• BLUE: GANGSTER MOVIES
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1207) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1207, are…

• YELLOW: SECURITIES: BOND, FUTURE, OPTION, STOCK
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED): ETCH A SKETCH, MARTINI, SPRAY PAINT, TAMBOURINE
• BLUE: GANGSTER MOVIES: BUGSY, CASINO, DONNIE BRASCO, SCARFACE
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS: DECENT, NOVELTY, OCTOPUSSY, SEPTUM

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

007 was today’s red herring, with tiles for BOND, OCTOPUSSY and MARTINI, although his fussy cocktail instruction did end up being the green groups connection, in which the appearance of the ETCH A SKETCH a toy from the pre computer age may have confused some.

I did fear that the four GANGSTER MOVIES would be a trick too, as it seemed too obvious a grouping or that I was missing a more significant reason for why they were collected together.

With eight tiles left I made my only mistake, although I was on the right track with STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS as I included MARTINI (as in Mar for March) instead of SEPTUM.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, September 29, 2026, game #1206)

• YELLOW: SECLUDED: HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY
• GREEN: RIVER FEATURES: DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, STREAM BED
• BLUE: FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS: FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, TOY
• PURPLE: PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE

• Rainbow Six Tactics game director Martial Potron says it was "crucial" that the development team designed a unique roster of Operators
• Each of the 15 Operators has unique gadgets, playstyles, and progression to avoid "overlap"
• He says it would have been "impossible" not to feature fan favorites like Ash and Sledge

Rainbow Six Tactics game director Martial Potron has said that it was important for Ubisoft to design the game's Operators with unique loadouts and progression to avoid overlap.

"My team really wanted the operators to feel unique and to serve unique places," Potron told TechRadar Gaming at Gamescom. "It was part of the creative process to make sure that every Operator would serve one turf course in the experience, so we really made sure that all Operators were unique: unique gadgets, unique playstyles, unique progression. It was crucial for us, in fact, that we didn't have too much overlap with other Operators."

The upcoming turn-based tactics spin-off will offer 15 Operators in total, with Ash, Sledge, Glaz, Montagne, Doc, and Nokk confirmed so far, and you won't be able to play them repeatedly due to the game's new gameplay systems. While that's far from the entire roster fans are familiar with in the core series, Potron explained that it was also important to include "community favorites."

"We really did the operators that were impossible not to have, [like] Sledge and Ash," the game director said, adding that there are a few that he's personally disappointed aren't included.

"I love Tachanka. We don't have Tachanka; we don't have Lion." Potron said. "We had to make [tough] choices. It's part of my job to make [tough] choices."

As for the possibility of adding more Operators in the future, Potron said there are no current plans to do so, saying, "For the launch, it's not something we are digging into. We are very close to releasing a fantastic single-player experience, and so [we're] focused on the release date; shipping something amazing, and we'll see [about] the future."

Rainbow Six Tactics releases in 2027 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered's patch notes have been released
• The update will offer all-new animations and an improved skill system
• A new accessibility preset called Bard's Ballad also offers a more tailored gameplay experience

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is officially here, and CD Projekt Red has released the long list of improvements that promise an entirely new experience for the decade-old role-playing game (RPG).

The patch notes detail a ton of upgrades, from better visuals, transmogrification, an expanded photo mode, updated textures, PS5 Pro support, and more. Some pretty impressive animation improvements that are sure to make my new playthrough feel even more immersive have also been added. Geralt's animations during combat, idling, and riding Roach have all been refined; new finishers have also been added, and ladder climbing, jumping, and vaulting are now "more responsive" and "fluid."

The skill system has also been completely rebalanced, and " Skills are now organized into a skill tree, and each skill has three ranks," while others have been renamed to better reflect their effects, and I can't wait to try out new builds.

One of the most notable additions to the remaster, included in the accessibility features, is the Bard's Ballad preset, which can be enabled when starting a new game on "Just the Story" difficulty or mid-game.

"It is designed to reduce cognitive load for players who experience mental fatigue or have difficulty concentrating," CDPR explained. "It streamlines gameplay by simplifying certain mechanics and disabling select features for a smoother, more focused adventure."

On top of that, players can customize the preset by enabling or disabling some options that I've always wanted and would normally need mods for. Those options include Vitality Regeneration Boost, Infinite Breath, Unlimited Item Durability, Unlimited Boat Durability, Faster Boats, Toggle Witcher Sense, and probably my favorite out of the bunch, Ignore Item Weight.

I typically play on normal or higher difficulties in The Witcher 3, but for my latest playthrough I'm quite eager to try out the Bard's Ballad preset for the added customization that comes with it.

There are plenty more quality-of-life, modding, UI/UX, gameplay, and visual improvements to discover in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered, which is now available and is free for current owners of the game. Players who also own only the base game can claim the two included expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, at no extra cost.

• The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 nominations have been announced
• Voting is open now until October 23, with winners to be revealed on November 11
• The nominations include some of our favorite games of the year, including Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light

The nominees for the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards have been officially announced across 21 categories, with games like Resident Evil Requiem, Big Walk, and 007 First Light leading nominations.

Public voting is now live and will remain open until October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / 0:00am BST. Fans can vote for their favourite games of 2026 in 21 categories, including Console Game of the Year, PC Game of the Year, Most Wanted Game, and more.

Winners will be revealed during the ceremony on November 11, with the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist to be announced on October 26.

"With the hugely-anticipated GTA 6 set to launch a week after our live show, the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards is delighted to share its most diverse and creative nominees line-up yet," said Daniel Dawkins, content director of Golden Joystick Awards at Future.

"Indie hits Big Walk, Dispatch and Mina the Hollower sit alongside AAA blockbusters such as 007 First Light, Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem. This year, no single game dominates the field, this is one of our most open and unpredictable years yet - making your vote more influential than ever in deciding our winners. We’re thrilled to debut a new look for the Golden Joystick Awards, embracing the iconic joystick trophy that traces all the way back to our inception in 1983. Gaming has changed so much in the following 43 years, but not the creativity and determination of those who sacrifice so much to share the games we love so much."

The Golden Joystick Awards 2026 - Nominations

Console Game of the Year

• 007 First Light
• Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
• Forza Horizon 6
• LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
• Nioh 3
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword
• Pokémon Pokopia
• PRAGMATA
• Resident Evil Requiem
• Saros

PC Game of the Year

• Big Walk
• Crimson Desert
• Escape from Tarkov
• Esoteric Ebb
• MECCHA CHAMELEON
• Mewgenics
• Order of the Sinking Star
• Star Wars Zero Company
• The Blood of Dawnwalker
• Valheim

Best Audio Design

• Big Walk
• Marathon
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword
• Rhythm Heaven Groove
• SAROS
• Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Best Early Access Game

• Dead as Disco
• MENACE
• skate.
• Slay the Spire 2
• Subnautica 2
• WARDOGS

Best Game Adaptation

• Devil May Cry (Season 2)
• Exit 8
• Fallout (Season 2)
• Iron Lung
• Mortal Kombat II
• Resident Evil

Best Game Expansion

• Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven
• DAVE THE DIVER - In the Jungle Content Pack
• DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations
• Quake: Dawn of the Machine
• The Alters: Last Variable
• World of Warcraft: Midnight

Best Game Trailer

• Battlefield 6 x Top Gun: Carrier Strike Cinematic Trailer
• Big Walk - Release Date Announcement
• Cairn - Launch Trailer
• MOUSE: P.I. For Hire | Official Launch Trailer
• Prove You're Human - Announcement Trailer
• Resident Evil Requiem - Evil Has Always Had A Name

Best Gaming Hardware

• Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE
• Razer Viper V4 Pro
• Secretlab ATLAS
• Sony INZONE M10S II
• Steam Controller
• Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II

Best Indie Game

• Big Walk
• Denshattack!
• Esoteric Ebb
• Mixtape
• Mouse: P.I. for Hire
• Order of the Sinking Star
• REANIMAL
• Sovereign Tower
• Titanium Court
• Valheim

Best Indie Game - Self-published

• Cairn
• Fields of Mistria
• MECCHA CHAMELEON
• Mewgenics
• Mina the Hollower
• Perfect Tides: Station to Station
• Phonopolis
• Rhythm Doctor
• The Incident at Galley House
• Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors

Best Lead Performer

• Aaron Paul - Robert Robertson III, Dispatch
• Angela Sant'Albano - Grace Ashcroft, Resident Evil Requiem
• Anna Demetriou - Sophia, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
• Liam McIntyre - Wolverine, Marvel's Wolverine
• Patrick Gibson - James Bond, 007 First Light
• Will de Renzy-Martin - Coen, The Blood of Dawnwalker

Best Supporting Performer

• Frankie Kevich - Zoe de Vera, Control Resonant
• Grace Saif - Diana, Pragamata
• Lennie James - John Greenway, 007 First Light
• Terry O'Quinn - Richard, Silent Hill: Townfall
• Troy Baker - Nathaniel Essex, Marvel's Wolverine
• Vic Michaelis - Runa Blask, Star Wars Zero Company

Best Multiplayer Game

• ARC Raiders
• Big Walk
• Marathon
• MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
• MECCHA CHAMELEON
• Valheim

Best Remake / Remaster

• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
• Gothic 1 Remake
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2
• Star Fox
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered
• Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

Best Soundtrack

• 007 First Light
• Crimson Desert
• Dispatch
• Lumines Arise
• Mewgenics
• Mixtape

Best Storytelling

• 007 First Light
• Dispatch
• Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
• Silent Hill: Townfall
• The Blood of Dawnwalker
• ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies

Best Visual Design

• Control Resonant
• Forza Horizon 6
• Orbitals
• Phonopolis
• Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
• Saros

Most Wanted Game

• Alien: Isolation 2
• ANANTA
• Black Myth: Zhong Kui
• EXODUS
• Fable
• Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
• God of War Laufey
• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
• Kingdom Hearts 5
• METRO 2039
• NO LAW
• Persona 6
• Resident Evil Veronica
• STRANGER THAN HEAVEN
• Stuntman: Hollywood
• The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
• The Witcher 4
• Tides of Annihilation
• Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
• Total War: Warhammer 40,000

Still Playing - Mobile

• Balatro
• Genshin Impact
• Honkai: Star Rail
• MARVEL SNAP
• MONOPOLY GO!
• NTE: Neverness to Everness
• Old School RuneScape
• Pokémon GO
• Roblox
• Sky: Children of the Light
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Mobile
• Wuthering Waves

Still Playing - PC & Console

• Apex Legends
• Fortnite
• GTA Online
• HELLDIVERS 2
• HITMAN World of Assassination
• Minecraft
• No Man's Sky
• Palworld
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Warframe
• World of Warcraft
• Call of Duty: Warzone

Studio of the Year

• CAPCOM
• Frogwares
• House House
• IO Interactive
• Nintendo EPD
• SQUARE ENIX

• Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann says "a couple of very exciting" The Last of Us projects are in the works
• He says the games will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond the first two games
• Druckmann adds that work on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is proceeding, and the studio will do a "full reveal" in 2027

Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has confirmed the studio is working on more games to expand the world of The Last of Us.

To close out this year's The Last of Us Day, Druckmann shared new insight into the studio's current projects, including Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and what's next for The Last of Us.

In a blog post, The Last of Us Part 2 director revealed that two new The Last of Us projects are in early development, saying Naughty Dog hopes to "expand the canon" of the first two games.

"Since Grounded II, we’ve talked about the possibility of telling more stories in the world of The Last of Us," Druckmann said. "We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages – so we can’t say much about them at this point. I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part 1 and Part 2.

"The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn’t return to it unless we had something meaningful to say. We believe these stories are worth telling."

As for Intergalactic, which was revealed almost two years ago, Druckmann said the development team is "heads down on what is shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious game yet."

"There’s an electricity around the studio right now as all the pieces come together, and we’re stoked to finally unveil Intergalactic in all its glory. But...we need to cook for just a little bit longer," he said.

Druckmann said the team will remain quiet for the rest of 2026, but in 2027, it will "fully reveal" the game and give fans "a proper look."

"We know it’s been a long time since we’ve had much to share with you. We don’t take your continued support for granted," he added. "We’re working incredibly hard to make something worthy of your patience. Until then…Endure & Survive!"

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1206) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DELTA
• HIDDEN
• INSIDE
• MODEL TANK
• MONSTERS
• FINDING
• SECRET
• TOY
• FREEZE TAG
• ORAL PHASE
• MOUTH
• REMOTE
• STREAM BED
• TUCKED AWAY
• HOME GAME
• DRAINAGE BASIN

NYT Connections today (game #1206) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Private cabin
• GREEN: Water geography
• BLUE: Start of animated classics
• PURPLE: Look for hidden ancient alphabet

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1206) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: SECLUDED
• GREEN: RIVER FEATURES
• BLUE: FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS
• PURPLE: PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1206) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1206, are…

• YELLOW: SECLUDED: HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY
• GREEN: RIVER FEATURES: DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, STREAM BED
• BLUE: FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS: FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, TOY
• PURPLE: PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I might have got PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS eventually, but thankfully I didn’t need to.

Instead, the FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS jumped out at me immediately. I loved the early Pixar films, back when they were a rare treat — there was three years between Toy Story and A Bug’s Life. Monsters Inc is also the film I have seen the most due to being the parent of a child who was obsessed with Sully and Mike and still uses the phrase “put that thing back where it came from or so God help me” on an almost daily basis.

RIVER FEATURES was my second group, although I was less confident including DRAINAGE BASIN than the other three tiles and momentarily worried that I was missing out on a plumbing group.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, September 28, 2026, game #1205)

• YELLOW: THINGS WITH STALKS: BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT
• GREEN: OYSTER CONDIMENTS: HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO
• BLUE: DODGE MODELS: CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER
• PURPLE: THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING

• Logitech G has just released a new microphone for gaming and streaming
• The Yeti 2 is a successor to the legendary Blue Yeti
• It has a wealth of new features and a color screen

Logitech G has just launched the Yeti 2, a new streaming microphone designed to be an all-in-one solution for content creators.

The first Yeti launched back in 2009 and quickly became something of a legend in the streaming space. It was relatively affordable and offered good plug-and-play performance for the time, making it one of the easiest-to-use and best microphones for streaming for many starting out in content creation.

Originally manufactured by Blue Microphones, the brand was bought by Logitech in 2023 and gradually folded into the Logitech G portfolio. Despite this, that old model still continues to be made and remains a popular choice.

The Yeti 2 looks to take everything that people loved about its predecessor and overhaul it with modern technology and a wealth of new features.

It keeps the same iconic pill shape and overall aesthetic, now housing a redesigned array with three capsules.

There's a new 1.3-inch screen too, which can be used to keep track of key settings like gain or pickup pattern. It can also be set to display a cute animated mascot with an expression that changes when you're too loud or too quiet.

The default option is naturally a cute pixel-art yeti, but there are plenty of other pre-set characters to choose from, and even the option to upload images to create your own.

Senior global product marketing manager SM tells me that making the Yeti 2 easy to use was a key priority for Logitech G, something apparent in its feature set. It includes an adjustable AI-powered denoiser to cut out background sounds,

This runs locally on the microphone, without the need for any PC software.

There's also now a proximity sensor built into the mic (which SM is very keen to stress is not the same as a camera) in order to track the position of your face and distance from the mic. This adapts everything from pickup pattern to EQ and gain automatically in real time, on paper making that you always sound as good as possible with minimal tweaking.

All of this comes in at just $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.95 — handily undercutting premium alternatives like the SteelSeries Alias or Shure MV7+.

• Discord is working on a new 'Game Mode' feature to reduce CPU and GPU usage while gaming
• The new feature seems to be an auto-toggle of the Reduced Motion feature on the desktop app when a game is running
• It's not yet clear if any improvements will be made to resource consumption while screen sharing

Discord is infamous for its high RAM, CPU, and GPU consumption while gaming, and some of those aspects are finally being addressed.

As reported by VideoCardz, Discord is working on 'Game Mode,' a new feature for the Discord client that frees up CPU and GPU resources while a game is running by disabling effects and animations for smoother gameplay.

Discord already offers options to reduce system resource use, notably Reduced Motion, which reduces the intensity of animations and hover effects when navigating the client. Users can also disable hardware acceleration, which stops the app from using the GPU for better performance within it, and disabling it should stop "visual glitches like frame drops in games or performance problems".

Game Mode sounds a lot like Reduced Motion, with DiscordPreviews (on X) describing how it reduces animations and effects automatically once a game is detected. With this in mind, Game Mode might not be the best answer to solving Discord's system resource issues, especially since there's no mention of RAM usage reduction.

It's also worth noting that Discord is an Electron-based application (a framework for desktop applications that uses web technology), which means Discord's web app is essentially running in an embedded browser engine known as Chromium — the same engine Google Chrome is built on, which is another app that is heavy on system resources.

What about screen sharing?

It's unclear if Game Mode will do anything new other than serve as an automatic toggle for Reduced Motion while gaming. In that case, Discord still has a long way to go in ensuring the desktop app doesn't continue to creep up as a system resource issue for gamers.

At the very least, having Discord devs address the issues is a great start, but it remains to be seen if Game Mode will also help with keeping CPU and GPU usage as low as possible while screen sharing.

Unsurprisingly, the latter uses high amounts of system resources, especially when streaming at higher resolutions, but it's more reasonable compared to simple voice chat or the app being open in the background and still hogging memory.

Still, in-game frame rates can suffer when using screen share, even if the resolution is below 1080p, and this is far more problematic on lower-end systems with less RAM. Solutions such as a capture card on a separate system (or specifically a laptop) can help solve game performance problems completely, but it's not exactly an affordable option.

If Discord can optimize the desktop app or move away from its Electron-based nature, it could go a long way toward removing all of the major pain points.

• Fable associate game directors Craig Littler and Will Kennedy say British humour is a "crucial" part of the reboot
• They say it's presented in all systems, from story to dialogue and combat
• Playground Games made sure to steer away "from anything that's too crude"

Playground Games has said its Fable reboot will feature the series' iconic British humour across all systems, but it avoided anything overly "crude."

During a press Q&A at Gamescom, attended by TechRadar, associate game director Craig Littler said British humour "is a core part of the Fable DNA" and the decision to bring it forward into Playground's reboot "has been a crucial thing that we're always thinking about, because for us it has to be interwoven throughout the entire game."

"It's not just in the story. It's not just in the dialogue, but you even see flourishes of it in the combat," Littler said, before talking about the spell that lets players turn enemies into chickens, which he laughs about every time.

"It's hilarious," he added, saying, "We believe that the core idea of Fable is that the humor is [shown] throughout."

Associate game director Will Kennedy said that even when enemies turn back from a chicken, they'll still flap around for a while, which is visually funny but also gives players the opportunity to land some attacks.

"To us, tone is something that we're thinking about all the time and in every system, really," Kennedy said. "Any opportunity to add that fabled British tone of humor."

The directors also said the team thought deeply about how to present the humour, particularly for a modern audience; not every joke or gag will land the same for everyone, and the humor in the older Fable titles may be outdated, and they made sure not to feature anything too rude.

"For us, we've steered away from anything that's too crude," Littler confirmed, "and I think the real test for Fable when it comes to the tone is that it does just have to be funny, and that comes from really great writing, having a brilliant narrative team, and honestly the actors that we've hired as well."

Those actors include British stars and comedians like Hayley Atwell, Matt King, Natasia Demetriou, and more, with Littler saying they "really bring themselves to the role and are also capable of the sincerity that really gets to the heart of fairy tales as well. You want somebody who has that humour, but can really deliver an enormous performance as well."

He also teased some improvisation from the cast, explaining that the actors are given a solid script, but do give them "some latitude" for some improv.

"At the end of the day, they're great British comedians," he added. "Sometimes they're going to say something that's just pure gold. So yes, there is some latitude, and absolutely we reuse it when we can."

Fable launches on launch on February 23, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.