Gamereactor UK

We may have finally found the man behind Bitcoin

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:20:00 +0200

For over a decade, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto (the pseudonymous author of the bitcoin white paper) has been one of tech's greatest unsolved mysteries. Now, a years-long New York Times investigation claims to have cracked it, pointing to Adam Back, a London-born computer scientist and veteran of the 1990s cypherpunk movement.

Reporter John Carreyrou built his case by combing through decades of internet postings, running AI analysis on writing styles, and tracking forum activity, noting that Back went mysteriously quiet on cryptography forums precisely when Satoshi became active. When Carreyrou confronted Back at a bitcoin conference in El Salvador, he described him reddening, shifting uncomfortably, and at one point apparently speaking as if he were Satoshi himself.

Back flatly denied it on social media, calling the evidence "a combination of coincidence and similar phrases from people with similar experience." Experts are divided. A UCL professor said there was "no smoking gun," while another researcher argued Satoshi was likely a small group of people, not a single individual. Polymarket gamblers were less cautious: one put the odds at 99% it was him (as reported by The Guardian).

The stakes are enormous. If Back is Nakamoto, he holds around 1.1 million bitcoins (worth tens of billions of pounds) a fortune he would be legally required to disclose to the SEC, as it could move markets on its own. Back, who runs a bitcoin treasury firm, signed off his denial with the line: "We are all Satoshi."

https://x.com/adam3us/status/2041821826704101754?s=20

Xbox momentum continues with long‑awaited Achievement overhaul

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:36:00 +0200

The Xbox team has been working at full speed over the past month, announcing plans to further expand their already industry-leading backward compatibility, fix issues with Quick Resume, unveil Project Helix, and host an Xbox Partner Preview.

And apparently, they're not done yet, because now it's time for the next big thing, and it's something fans have been asking for for a very long time. It's finally time for a major overhaul of Achievements. For now, this only applies to members of the Xbox Insider program, but it usually takes just a month or two before it's released to everyone.

The news is being presented via Xbox Wire, and among other things, we can look forward to a visual refresh "with a new look and feel, including updated icons and animations when you unlock classic or rare achievements," and the article goes on to mention that "Notifications will also match your custom color, making each unlock feel more personal."

Another feature many have requested is the ability to hide Achievements. The points will still count, but if you have just a single Achievement in a game you didn't like (or one you are embarassed about...), you can now remove it from your list - or why not just let your proudest ones show up in a really streamlined list?

Another new feature is that games you've maxed out will be highlighted in a special way, so you and others can quickly see your finest accomplishments, and Microsoft says this gives you "a quick, at-a-glance way to celebrate full completion."

Quite a few highly requested features all at once, in other words. The still-relatively-new Xbox boss Asha Sharma explains on X why things are moving so quickly right now, and reveals that she's started a team specifically focused on the Xbox community's wishes. In other words, there's probably more to come.

https://x.com/asha_shar/status/2041927053159886910

Hopefully, it won't be long before we all get to take a closer look at all these refreshed Achievements, but in the meantime, what do you think of all this?

Rumor: PlayStation is hosting a third party stream next week

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:30:00 +0200

The pace of gaming events this year has been so frenetic that it almost feels strange to go a week without a major livestream to watch. But next week, things might be back to normal. After previously stating that Sony would host a stream for third-party games before summer, Nate the Hate has now posted more specific details on the matter, writing:

"I'll share the unconfirmed date I've heard for the next potential State of Play: April 16th. Emphasis on unconfirmed."

It's certainly stressed that this isn't confirmed information, so don't be disappointed if nothing happens. Nate the Hate is normally one of the most reliable leakers right now, but in this case, for once, a disclaimer is included.

Some reasonable guesses as to what we might see are {Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced}, {Kena: Scars of Kosmora}, and {Silent Hill: Townfall}. If this turns out to be correct, what are you hoping to see?

Halo: Campaign Evolved could potentially be released in late July

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:25:00 +0200

Just before Easter, it was revealed that {Halo: Campaign Evolved} had already been rated by the Korea Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC). This is typically something that happens only a few months before launch, and as we've previously reported, rumors suggest the game will be released during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7.

Now we have another possible launch date, after a Korean retailer stated that Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to debut on July 28. That's a Tuesday, which is a common day of the week for Microsoft game releases. When this was noticed, the date disappeared quickly, but alert Reddit users managed to save screenshots as proof.

Meanwhile, data miners have found other evidence that actually supports July 28 as the premiere date after two dates were discovered: July 23 and July 28. Microsoft often releases more exclusive editions that let us get an early start five days earlier, and it's very likely that's what this is about.

Dates can, of course, change, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, there is still enough evidence to make this a well-founded guess.

The First Berserker: Khazan's developer has largely been disbanded

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:20:00 +0200

Exactly one year ago, {The First Berserker: Khazan} was released. There was some hype surrounding the Korean action-adventure game ahead of its release, but mixed reviews prevented it from becoming a hit. And now Yonhap News reports that this is having consequences.

A large portion of the team at developer Neople, which until now numbered around 100 people, has now been reassigned to a resource group called Team R. Neople will continue to exist as a studio, but this is likely the end of the road for future support for The First Berserker: Khazan.

If you'd like to read our review of the game, you can find it here.

PSG humiliates Liverpool in Champions League: the best news for Liverpool is the result

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:57:38 +0200

Paris Saint-Germain crushed Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, with an incredible superiority on every stat that didn't really translate into the scoreboard: 2-0, a good lead but not definitive. However, Liverpool will need to drastically improve the level in the second leg in Anfield: in Paris they only made 3 shots, vs. PSG's 17 shots, and had only 26% of ball possession with only 78% of pass accuracy (Paris had 93%).

According to CentreGoals, it was the first time in six years that Liverpool didn't make any single shot on target at Champions League. Certainly, not the picture imagined by the early predictions, which considered PSG-Liverpool to be the more balanced duel of the quarter-finals...

Désiré Doué and Kvaratskhelia scored two goals for PSG and dominated the whole time. Alexander Isak, who returned from injury since not playing in December, couldn't do nothing to change the tune. The reality, however, is that with 2-0 down, Liverpool can still work to attempt a comeback next week with the help of their fans. So can Barça, who lost 2-0 to Atlético on Wednesday...

Atleti stuns Barça at the Camp Nou and edge closer to Champions League semifinals

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:16:20 +0200

Atlético de Madrid has defeated FC Barcelona 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, en emphatic win helped by the sendoff of Pau Cubarsí at the end of the first half, immediately followed by a great goal by Julián Álvarez from the subsequent free kick. Later, Alexander Sorloth scored the second goal that gives Atleti a great lead before the second leg, that will be played in Madrid.

Impressively, this is the first time in 20 years that Atlético de Madrid has defeated Barcelona at the Camp Nou: the last time that happened was in the 2005/26 season, with a brace by Fernando Torres.

https://x.com/goncalo_diass17/status/2041966385190838698

Wednesday's victory comes only four days after a Liga match at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, in which Barcelona defeated Atleti 2-1 away, in a match that similarly saw a player, Nico González from Atleti, being sent off at the end of the first half. And it comes a month after Atleti eliminated Barcelona in the Spanish Cup, with a crushing 4-0 in the first half in Madrid.

That time, Barça came very close to a comeback, winning the second leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou, but eventually were eliminated. Hansi Flick's men will try another desperate comeback next Tuesday, with the whole stadium against them.

Zoolander is messing up Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in new video

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:32:00 +0200

As we all know, there are many ways to go viral, and unfortunately, an alarming number of them are downright terrible. Some, however, are funnier and more tasteful than others. The creator eli_handle_b.wav belongs to the latter group and has found a niche all of their own: throwing iconic movie and TV characters into games where they absolutely don't belong, and they manage to make it feel shockingly natural. We've previously seen everything from Mr. Bean in Hitman to Austin Powers in Cyberpunk 2077 (and quite often The Office's resident troublemaker Michael Scott in the midst of messing up and misunderstanding everything), and now it's time for yet another completely absurd cameo.

This time, it's none other than Derek Zoolander who has stumbled into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, last year's smash hit that has won just about every award imaginable. As we all know, Zoolander has roughly three brain cells and one pose in his arsenal, which makes him exactly as out of place and hysterically funny as you can imagine.

Check out the video below and be sure to check out the rest of the channel's work if you want to see more movie heroes who definitely don't belong in the games they end up in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeQsAKDc7qc

"I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really, really ridiculously good looking."

Forza Horizon 6 unleashes stunning gameplay and reveals the full map of digital Japan

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:26:00 +0200

With just over a month to go before Forza Horizon 6 launches on both PC and Xbox Series S/X on May 19, Playground Games has now released an extensive video they're calling Prologue Gameplay, which pretty much sums up what it's all about. As the name suggests, it's packed with juicy gameplay from a game that looks almost outrageously beautiful.

It alternates between racing with Mount Fuji on the horizon, racing against the Shinkansen, four-wheel ski jumping, breath-taking vistas, driving alongside rockets, and much more. We also get a taste of the Japanese music channel you can tune into while tearing up the Japanese roads.

All in all, a very substantial video that certainly got us craving the game. Check it out below along with a map of the open world.

Also: don't forget that Forza Horizon 6 is included with Game Pass and will later be coming to PlayStation 5.

Amanda Seyfried to star as Cinderella in Netflix's animated film Steps

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0200

Over the years, Netflix has really stepped up its animation efforts, bringing iconic projects to its library of titles while simultaneously creating a boatload of original projects. 2026 will be a continuation of this animation expansion, and one such film that is part of this movement is known as Steps.

This is a fresh take on the Cinderella story that twists the plot and sees the 'evil' stepsisters take on a more heroic role. Essentially, in Steps, we see what happens when the fate of the kingdom is thrust into the hands of one of the stepsisters after a mishap with a magic wand, a mistake that requires the aid of the iconic princess this very tale is based upon, the famous Cinderella.

With this in mind, Netflix has just revealed who will be taking on the duties of bringing Cinderella to life in Steps. Fresh off making waves in The Housemaid, Amanda Seyfried has been cast as Cinderella in Steps, where she will be joining Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu, who are voicing the stepsisters Lilith and Margot, respectively.

Directed by Alyce Tzue and Raya and the Last Dragon's John Ripa, Steps is slated to premiere sometime in 2026 and a few images of the flick have been shared by Netflix. You can see these below on top of the official synopsis for the movie.

"Think you know Cinderella's "evil" stepsisters? Think again! When misunderstood Lilith (Ali Wong) is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl. Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried)...and a surprisingly dreamy troll...to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after."

Dress to impress when playing 007 First Light with the DualSense 007 First Light Limited Edition

alberto@gamereactor.eu (Alberto Garrido) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:43:09 +0200

Today we received the bittersweet news that 007 First Light, the IOI title set to bring James Bond back to the world of video games after more than 13 years' absence, will be delayed on the Nintendo Switch 2, whilst reaffirming the commitment to launch the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series versions on 27 May, as planned.

Perhaps to encourage players to celebrate that date in style, PlayStation has seized the opportunity to unveil the DualSense 007 First Light Limited Edition controller, featuring a design inspired by Bond's agent code and a gold colour scheme that pays homage to the franchise. The controller will be available from May 27 in limited quantities at a price of £74.99/€84.99, and pre-orders will open on April 17 at 10:00 AM local time, according to the PlayStation Blog post.

So, if you want to get your hands on this distinctive controller to help a young James Bond become the most famous MI6 agent with a licence to kill in history, make a note of the date, because they're sure to sell out in minutes. Take a look below.

James Wan plans to "keep chipping away" at his Call of Cthulhu adaptation

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:07:00 +0200

It's a pretty great time to be a fan of all things Lovecraftian horror, especially in the video game space where there are a ton of upcoming titles, including Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, Call of the Elder Gods, The Sinking City 2, and much, much more.

Lovecraftian horror is less common in the world of film and TV, but horror expert James Wan is hoping to change that soon by delivering an adaptation of Call of Cthulhu, a project he has been attempting to get off the ground for a long while. It hasn't been going particularly smoothly for Wan, but he isn't giving up, something he touched upon recently in an interview with ScreenRant.

When asked about the current state of his Call of Cthulhu adaptation, Wan explained that he's "been wanting to do [it] for a while" but that these films are "very hard to try and get them off the ground" because they "are not cheap movies." Thankfully, Wan capped off by explaining he's "just going to keep chipping away at it."

Essentially, don't hold your breath on this project, but also don't give up on it just yet.

World Athletics postpones opening event of the 2026 Diamond League in Doha

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:00:58 +0200

The situation in the Middle East is still uncertain despite Donald Trump agreeing on a two-week ceasefire in Iran, and World Athletics has announced on Wednesday that Doha Diamond League, meant to be the opening round of the 2026 Diamond League (a annual series of outdoor track and field), has been delayed from May 8 to June 19.

"In the interests of athlete and spectator safety, a decision has been taken to postpone the meeting", due to concerns for "player and spectator safety". The new date, on June 19, will only stay if the war has ended before then, as missiles were still being intercepted in Qatar hours after the ceasefire was reached.

The Wanda Diamond League 2026 will consist of 15 one day competitions, from May to September, in Qatar, China, Morocco, Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, United States, Monaco, Great Britain, Switzerland, Poland and Belgium. The Doha event will take place at the Khalifa International Stadium, which hosted World Cup 2022 matches.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie rockets past $414 million at the box office

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:40:00 +0200

Recently, we touched upon the opening weekend performance of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and how the animated sequel generated over $370 million in cinemas around the world throughout Easter. Now, the latest data has been revealed and shown that the film doesn't intend to slow down.

The latest data from Box Office Mojo shows that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has now reached $414 million in cinemas, meaning it is likely just a day away from overcoming Project Hail Mary and becoming the second-biggest film of 2026 so far. Pretty impressive considering the movie has only been out for a week.

For more from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, check out our complete review of the film and also our exploration into the best cameos and MIAs from the film.

007 First Light hit with another delay, but only for Switch 2

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:30:02 +0200

Danish developer IO Interactive's upcoming 007 First Light suffered a major delay in December, but that was supposed to be the last one, and everything pointed to the game being released in May. And that's exactly what will happen... but unfortunately not for everyone.

Via the game's official social media account, we've now been informed that the Switch 2 version will arrive later, and they won't say when it will be released other than that it will be sometime during the summer:

"007 First Light comes to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 27th, 2026, and Nintendo Switch 2 later this summer. We're excited to see players discovering James Bond's reimagined origin story, and we are looking forward to bringing you the best game experience possible across all platforms."

This is disappointing news, but at least it's coming as planned to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. We look forward to diving into the adventure and will be back with our review next month.

Blizzard reveals re-design of Anran following facing backlash of original design

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:09:00 +0200

It's almost time for the second season of the rebranded Overwatch to arrive, as on April 14, the next chapter of the game will arrive, bringing fresh story beats, a new character, additional changes and improvements, and also the awaited re-design of the hero Anran.

When the character was unveiled earlier this year, she received a fair bit of backlash from the community and even her voice actor, who weren't exactly thrilled by how Blizzard moved away from the confident and popular concept design. The developer promised that it would take another look at the character and update her model as soon as possible, and this is what we're seeing now.

The updated model has been shared, which features in Blizzard's own words, a "more confident pose", a greater focus on "eyes, eyebrows & mouth", a "closer resemblance to her brother, Wuyang", more "defined cheeks & jaw", and "darker shading and freckles".

Game director Aaron Keller touched on these improvements in a new update video, which you can see below, and for a comparison between the new and old models, you can see some images below too.

https://x.com/PlayOverwatch/status/2041290205659861214

Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov fight on Saturday: What time is it and full list of fights

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:07:48 +0200

Tyson Fury, the two-time heavyweight world champion, is returning from a 15-month retirement to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov this Saturday, April 11, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, in a boxing event that will be broadcast worldwide by Netflix. Makhmudov, 36-year-old with a 21-2 record, is still active and most recently defeated David Allen on October 11.

https://x.com/netflix/status/2041848532752064515

Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov will be the main event of the main card, starting at 20.00 CEST, 19:00 BST, but Fury's fight is not expected until 23:30 CEST, 22:30 BST.

Additionally, there will be six preliminary fights and three other fights in the main card, including Conor Benn vs. Regis Prograis as the co-main event:

Preliminary fights:

Simon Zachenhuber vs Pawel August - middleweight

Breyon Gorham vs Eduardo Costa - light-welterweight

Mikie Tallon vs Leonardo Blanc - flyweight

Felix Cash vs Liam O'Hare - middleweight

Hector Lozano vs Sultan Almohammed - super-featherweight

Elliot Whale vs Tom Hill - welterweight

Main card:

Tyson Fury vs Arslan Makhmudov - heavyweight

Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis - welterweight

Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva (champion) vs Richard Riakporhe - British heavyweight title

Frazer Clarke vs Justis Huni - heavyweight

EU welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, but calls for lasting diplomatic solution: "A step back from the brink"

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:01:00 +0200

The European Union has welcomed the recently agreed ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a crucial step towards de-escalation after weeks of intensifying conflict. As EU figures stated:

Ursula Von der Leyen:

I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much-needed de-escalation. I thank Pakistan for its mediation. Now it is crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution to this conflict continue. We will continue coordinating with our partners to this end.

https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/2041777854833180791?s=20

Antonio Costa:

I welcome the announcement by the United States and Iran of a two-week ceasefire. I urge all parties to uphold its terms in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The EU stands ready to support ongoing efforts and remains in close contact with its partners in the region. I thank Pakistan and all other parties involved in facilitating this agreement.

https://x.com/eucopresident/status/2041784093843521606?s=20

Kaja Kallas:

The U.S.-Iran agreement on a ceasefire is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation. It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement. The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again. The door to mediation must remain open, as the underlying causes of the war remain unresolved.

https://x.com/kajakallas/status/2041770713904722081?s=20

The ceasefire, announced by Donald Trump shortly before a looming deadline, marks a sudden shift from earlier threats to "destroy a whole civilisation". European leaders now see the agreement as a fragile but important opening for diplomacy.

Here is Sony's new True RGB Mini LED TV technology

markus@gamereactor.eu (Markus Hirsilä) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0200

Sony has now presented its own Mini LED TV with RGB backlighting, and they call it True RGB. The idea is to emphasise that the individual red, green, and blue LED backlights allow for "purer colour, greater brightness, and the largest colour volume ever achieved in Sony's home TV history", as reported by Engadget.

Furthermore, according to Engadget, this is not new technology, but rather the same Micro RGB technology presented earlier by Samsung, LG, HiSense, and others. These new kind of TVs use pure red, green, and blue LED backlights along with an LCD layer to produce the final picture. The goal is to have better colour accuracy and more brightness than regular Mini LED TVs.

Sony does something different compared to its rivals. To control the LEDs more precisely, they borrowed algorithms from professional reference monitors. This should allow for more precise colour control and higher brightness. It also reduces "blooming", which occurs when light leaks into neighbouring pixels. And finally, this new technology also improves colour accuracy, when viewing TV from an angle.

Sony has promised to release "additional details" in the near future.

Exclusive: MCM Comic Con London will feature a trio of Resident Evil Requiem stars

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0200

If you're a Resident Evil Requiem fan, you won't want to miss the upcoming MCM Comic Con London when it takes place in the English capital between May 22-24.

Gamereactor can exclusively reveal that the show will bring together three major stars from the hit horror title from Capcom, with the voice and motion capture actresses who brought to life Grace Ashcroft, Alyssa Ashcroft, and the young Emily, set to appear for the full three-day event.

Angela Sant'Albano, known for bringing to life the newest Resident Evil protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, will be present and available to sign autographs and appear in photo opportunities throughout the show.

The same also applies for Emma Rose Creaner, the individual behind Emily, who will likely also be able to speak about her time working on Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 as the character of Marla Lee.

Jane Perry will then also be on-hand to speak about becoming Alyssa Ashcroft in the game, with the veteran video game star also likely able to speak about her time starring in Returnal as lead hero Selene and in the Hitman games as Agent 47's handler Diana Burnwood.

All three stars will even be taking to the Side Quest Stage on Friday, May 22, at 14:00 BST/15:00 CEST, where they will be sharing insights into their voice and performance capture work on Resident Evil Requiem, with this being a free-to-attend panel for anyone with a Friday, Weekend, or VIP ticket.

We're expecting further news about what MCM Comic Con London will offer this May as we get closer to the show taking place, but we do know that a collection of huge names will be present, including David Hayter (the voice of Solid Snake), the Star Wars: The Clone Wars cast, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice cast and creator Kevin Eastman, and more.

Medvedev loses control and smashes his racket during humiliating 6-0, 6-0 defeat

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:46:12 +0200

Daniil Medvedev has made a reputation for his ire and rage outbursts during tennis matches, but he had never gone as far as he did on Wednesday in the Monte-Carlo Masters, where the Russian player, seventh seed of the tournament, lost dramatically: 6-0, 6-0 in 49 minutes to Matteo Berrettini. Medvedev, who very recently defeated Alcaraz and pushed Sinner to his limits, made five double faults, 27 unforced errors, and only won 17 points, vs. Berrettini's 50 points.

When he was trailing 6-0, 6-2, Medvedev repeatedly smashed his racket into the clay court in Monaco. The spectators ironically cheered on him, chanting "olee" on every hit, until he finally threw the wrecked racket into a near garbage bin.

https://x.com/PolymarketSport/status/2041833639747391619

https://x.com/Sevillismo99/status/2041816036899422420

Medvedev had won his past three matches with Berrettini. This crushing defeats comes months after his Dubai title (he won by default when Tallon Griekspoor withdrew), his Indian Wells final, and his second round exit from Miami Open.

Matteo Berrettini will next face Joao Fonseca on Thursday in round of 16.

Farage's Reform UK proposes visa bans to countries asking for reparations demands over slavery

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:36:00 +0200

The UK political party Reform UK has proposed denying visas to citizens of countries that demand reparations for transatlantic slavery, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism internationally.

Led by Nigel Farage, the party said it would block visa applications from nations pursuing compensation claims, including countries such as Ghana and Jamaica. The proposal comes as calls for reparations gain traction among international groups.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) condemned the idea, with its reparations commission describing it as a reflection of "toxic racism" and urging the party to reconsider its stance.

Reparations advocates argue that compensation is necessary to address the long-term economic and social impacts of slavery, while many maintain that present-day governments should not be held accountable for historical injustices.

The proposal adds to a growing political debate in the UK over how to address the legacy of slavery, particularly as the country approaches future elections.

Farage

Premier League secures five spots in Champions League next year, but could rise to six/seven

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:14:43 +0200

Arsenal's victory over Sporting on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals is not definitive, and all will be decided on the second leg next week, but it was enough to mathematically confirm that the Premier League will have at least five teams in Champions League next year, something that was almost a given: Spain and Germany are far behind in the ranking.

The Premier League has managed to earn an additional spot two years in a row, which is conceded according to a UEFA ranking based on victories in all three UEFA club competitions: Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. This means that, as of right now, the five teams that will qualify for Champions League are Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool. Chelsea would go to Europa League and Brentford to Conference League.

However, there are other possibilities that could give the Premier League two more spots in Champions League. For that to happen, Aston Villa would have to win the Europa League and finish outside of the top four, and Liverpool would have to win the Champions League and also finish outside of the top four.

As Sky reports, if both teams win their European tournaments, that would give the sixth and seventh Premier League teams a Champions League spot. If either of Liverpool or Aston Villa wins, the sixth team in the league would qualify for Champions League...

Additionally, if Nottingham Forest wins the Europa League they would also play Champions League next season, despite being currently much closer to the relegation zone, in 16th place.

Trump says the US will ease shipping congestion in the Strait of Hormuz: "We'll be hangin' around"

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:01:00 +0200

Donald Trump has said the United States will help manage the growing backlog of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz following the recent ceasefire with Iran.

This comes after both sides agreed to a temporary truce, which includes Tehran pausing its blockade of the vital waterway, a crucial artery for global energy markets, handling roughly a fifth of the world's oil shipments.

Trump indicated that US involvement would focus on ensuring safe passage and stabilising flows, as hundreds of tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude and refined fuel remain stranded in the Gulf.

As he states: "We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran ‌can ⁠start the reconstruction process."

Cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz

PAW Patrol: Dino World is coming to PC and consoles this July

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0200

This summer, the iconic PAW Patrol will be heading back to cinemas for an all-new major blockbuster adventure known as PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. With this slated to premiere in August, Nickelodeon and Outright Games are collaborating once again to further make this summer all about the PAW Patrol by debuting a new adventure game in late July.

Regarded as PAW Patrol: Dino World, this project takes the iconic hero pups to Dino Island, where they will be tasked with working through a "fresh, story-driven adventure" that has been built for youngsters and families. It's designed to accompany the theatrical movie but it is not directly tied to the events of the film, as this game will instead focus on asking players to suit up as their favourite rescue pups to help prehistoric pals.

Supporting cooperative play for up to two players, the game will serve up light challenges perfect for those looking for an "accessible introduction to video adventure gameplay". We're told that the different pups each bring unique tools and gameplay options, with Skye able to use her wings to fly to inaccessible areas, while Marshall can use his water cannon to activate environmental elements.

As for the launch date and platforms for PAW Patrol: Dino World, the game will be coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch on July 31.

Kerbal Space Program hits 10-year high peak player count thanks to Artemis II

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:48:00 +0200

I couldn't tell you how many Kerbal deaths I've been responsible for. How many Kerbal families I've left without fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. When I close my eyes, all I see is the explosions from my failed rockets. But hey, that's not going to stop plenty of other players from suiting up some Kerbals and rocketing them into orbit.

As spotted by PC Gamer, Kerbal Space Program has seen a massive boost in player count recently. The 2015 simulation hit hit a 24-hour peak of 11,434, which isn't a monstrous amount of players, but it is near the top 100 most-played games on Steam list right now.

The reason behind this sudden interest? Artemis II of course. The real-life NASA mission to see the other side of the moon has sparked interest in space travel and exploration across the internet. Considering most of us don't have a billion dollars to fly up into space with Jeff Bezos and crew, Kerbal Space Program is about the closest we can get to making our own Artemis II mission. It's also worth noting that the sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2, hit some boosts on SteamDB as well, but didn't enjoy nearly as much success as the original experience.

Dark Matter returns to Apple TV this August

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:14:00 +0200

Apple TV has announced that at the end of the summer, its sci-fi thriller series known as Dark Matter will be making a return for its second season. Starring both Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly, the show is a multiversal story that is based on a book of the same name from author Blake Crouch.

Following the first season debuting in 2024, the second round of episodes will be making their arrival as soon as August 28, and to mark this announcement, Apple TV has shared a handful of first look images, which you can see below. As for when a trailer will debut, typically these arrive a month or two before the premiere.

https://x.com/AppleTV/status/2041516714949509592

For those who haven't seen the first season, which is available to watch on Apple TV, you can read the synopsis for the show here: "In this mind-bending thriller, Jason Dessen (Edgerton) is abducted into an alternate version of his life. To get back to his real family, Dessen embarks on a journey to save them from the biggest foe imaginable: himself."

Keir Starmer heads to the Gulf to push for Strait of Hormuz reopening

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:08:00 +0200

Keir Starmer will travel to the Gulf to hold talks with regional leaders aimed at securing the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the recent ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Starmer welcomed the agreement, describing it as a moment of relief for both the region and the global economy, but stressed the need to turn the temporary pause into a lasting resolution.

The visit comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise one of the world's most critical energy corridors. The UK has been coordinating with international partners, including hosting a recent meeting with more than 40 countries to address the crisis.

Despite tensions with Donald Trump over Britain's stance on the conflict, London is positioning itself as a key diplomatic player in efforts to sustain the ceasefire and prevent further disruption.

"Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz," he says.

Starmer

The State of Decay 3 alpha test will take place as early as May

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:45:00 +0200

After a long period of silence, things are finally starting to happen with {State of Decay 3}. Undead Labs has confirmed that the game is entering a new phase with public alpha testing set to begin as early as May. These tests are intended to give us an early taste of what the studio has been working on, with a focus on co-op for up to four players, improved base building, resource management, and according to the developers themselves, "a whole lot of combat". In short: classic {State of Decay}, but on a grander scale. The game's creator, Brant Fitzgerald, describes the setup as follows:

"If scavenging supplies in the middle of a zombie outbreak sounds fun to you, then grab your rucksack, pack some magazines, and head over to our website to find more information and register for a chance to be included in the alpha."

The fact that the studio is now opening its doors to players is also a clear sign that the project has come a long way. It was actually announced back in 2020, but has since led a rather low-key existence. So far, it's only been confirmed for PC and Xbox Series X/S, but we imagine the PlayStation 5 will be added too. If you'd like to join the alpha, you can register your interest here.

Call of the Sea sequel Call of the Elder Gods to launch this May

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:10:00 +0200

Back in 2020, developer Out of the Blue served up a Lovecraftian narrative puzzle adventure known as Call of the Sea, which proved to be a rather big hit among fans and critics. This led the studio to return to the universe and explore how it could be expanded. Six years later and we'll be meeting this very project.

Regarded as Call of the Elder Gods, this project will see players stepping into the shoes of Professor Harry Everheart and new hero Evangeline Drayton and will see as the duo go about solving a slate of environmental puzzles and challenges while searching for loved ones in an adventure that takes place across New England, Australia, the arctic, and even an ancient city.

This game is regarded as a sequel to Call of the Sea but the developer does express that "no prior knowledge" of the existing game will be required to play and enjoy Call of the Elder Gods.

The plot synopsis for the adventure adds: "All is not well at Miskatonic University. Professor Harry Everhart tries to ignore the shadows flitting at the corners of his vision, while student Evangeline Drayton is haunted with impossible dreams of an artifact uncovered a decade ago. In their search for answers, the pair will uncover revelations more ancient than anyone could have imagined."

We're also told that Marvel's Spider-Man's Yuri Lowenthal voices Professor Harry while Firewatch and Starfield's Cissy Jones is taking on the duties of Evangeline.

As per the launch date and platforms, the game is rather close to debut, with the arrival slated for May 12, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. It will also be a day one inclusion on Xbox Game Pass. Check out the latest trailer for the game below.

Avalanche co-founder reveals the developer was working on its own Crimson Desert back in the late 2000s

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:06:00 +0200

If Crimson Desert has proven one thing, it's that a lot of people love complete freedom in their video games. The ability to look at a mountain and say "I want to climb that" and then go do that exact thing is pretty powerful, and apparently Avalanche was working on a game to capitalise on that feeling long before Crimson Desert came about.

Speaking to PC Gamer, Avalanche chief creative officer and co-founder Christofer Sundberg said that AionGuard, the fantasy game the Swedish studio was working on in the late 2000s, would have been exactly like Crimson Desert. "It was exactly that. I haven't played Crimson Desert enough, but we had everything that I've seen from Crimson Desert in the plans for that game," he said.

By the sounds of it, the game would have operated like a fantasy Just Cause. You are plopped down in a world that needs retaking/saving, and can go about destroying and capturing enemy bases as you see fit. However, the project wasn't to be, as the publisher at the time pulled out.

"It was signed with a big publisher that has a lot of famous IPs. And then they just changed business direction again and wanted to focus on their existing IPs instead of new ones. They broke up with us on a text message, which I will never forgive them for," Sundberg said.

Pope Leo condemns Trump threat against Iran to "destroy a whole civilisation" as "truly unacceptable"

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:01:00 +0200

Pope Leo XIV has sharply criticised Donald Trump after the US leader warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet his demands.

Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, the pope described the threat against the Iranian population as "truly unacceptable," stressing both its moral implications and its potential breach of international law.

The remarks mark a rare direct intervention by the pontiff, who has increasingly voiced concern over the escalating US-Israel war on Iran. In recent weeks, he has urged restraint and encouraged diplomatic solutions, including a direct appeal to Washington to seek an "off-ramp" to end the fighting.

Further reading: Trump steps back from threat to "destroy a whole civilisation".

As Pope Leo states:

Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable. There are certainly issues ⁠here of international law, but even more than that, it is a moral question for the good of the (world's) people. People want peace.

I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved to ⁠contact the authorities -- political leaders, congressmen -- to ask them to work for peace. Remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become or ⁠will become victims of this continued warfare.

Pope Leo

Can Real Madrid achieve a 'remontada' away against Bayern? Historically, it has never happened...

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:59:26 +0200

Real Madrid was defeated at the Bernabéu by Bayern Munich, but the German team did not finish the job and, with a 2-1 from the first leg, there are still chances for Madrid to comeback: a {remontada} is possible, and Bayern manager Vincent Kompany reminded that this isn't over... but all signs point that it won't happen.

Real Madrid, for example, hasn't won a Champions League or an European Cup knockout round when they were losing from the first leg and played the second leg away. The only similar precedent was in the extinct UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, when they faced Wacker Innsbruck in 1971, according to AS.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich's stats are even more chilling for Arbeloa and his men. The German team has only lost one match this season in the Bundesliga, 1-2 against Augsburg; and incredibly hasn't lost by more than one goal since March 2024, a 0-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund, the year Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga. The only exemption is the Champions League, where they lost 3-1 to Arsenal in November 2025.

Real Madrid will need more than one goal to win next week at the Allianz Arena (unless they go to penalties). Do you think Real Madrid has any chances of beating Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena next week? Next week, without Tchouameni, but with Militao, Bellingham in the starting line-up and Ferland Mendy expected to return from injury, they will try, likely their final chance to save the season.

Colombia's Petro calls for economic emergency

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0200

Gustavo Petro has announced plans to declare a new economic emergency and submit a fresh tax reform bill to Congress in an effort to stabilise Colombia's finances.

In a televised address, Petro said the measures were necessary to protect living standards and address a widening budget gap for 2026. He warned that if lawmakers fail to approve the proposals, the government could move forward by decree.

The initiative comes amid tensions with the central bank, following disagreements over interest rate hikes and the resignation of Finance Minister Germán Ávila from its board.

Colombia's Congress has already approved a spending plan that falls short of the country's fiscal needs, while previous attempts at tax reform have been rejected. A similar economic emergency declared last year was partially suspended by the constitutional court.

Political uncertainty also looms, with upcoming elections set to determine Petro's successor and a new Congress due to take office in July.

Petro

Report: Nick Offerman joins Elden Ring movie cast

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:21:00 +0200

It's all quiet on the Tarnished front when it comes to A24's Elden Ring movie. Over the weekend, what looks like the first set images, depicting a church of Marika, appeared online, and now we may have another actor who's joining the cast of Alex Garland's upcoming fantasy epic.

As reported by insider Jordan Ruimy on his World of Reel site, The Last of Us and Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman is set to join the cast. Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, and Cailee Spaeny have already been confirmed for undisclosed roles in the Elden Ring movie.

Offerman's casting may seem a bit odd, as his famous voice is tinged so deeply with an American accent it's hard to imagine it existing in The Lands Between. However, Offerman's talent speaks for itself, and he has worked with Alex Garland before on the A24 movie Civil War.

As for who Offerman might play in the Elden Ring movie, it's currently unclear, but if the story revolves around the lowly Tarnished, then he might act as a guiding figure for our protagonist. Either as a new or pre-established character.

Carlos Alcaraz admits the inevitable: He is going to lose World No. 1 soon

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:20:20 +0200

Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a comfortable win over Sebastián Báez in his opening match at the Monte-Carlo Masters, 6-1, 6-3, and was optimistic with his level ("I surprised myself with the level. I thought I was going to play a little bit worse"). Alcaraz is also happy to return to clay, which has been his preferred surface: last year he won three titles on clay (Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros) and reached a final in Barcelona, a 22-1 record in 2025.

The downside of being so dominant last year, including that dramatic Roland Garros final that lasted over 5 hours, is that he will be defending 4,300 points while Jannik Sinner only defends 1,950 points. Currently separated by only 1,190 points, it is almost inevitable that Sinner will overtake him in the ATP rankings at some point, maybe even on Sunday if both reach the final and Sinner wins.

Alcaraz did not hide from that fact, admitting that "I'm going to lose No. 1 in the world" in an interview after the match with Báez. "I don't know if it is going to be at this tournament or [another] one. I'm defending a bunch of points that are going to be really difficult to defend. Even if I defend them, Jannik is going to add some points.

"I will just try to play my best and let's see what happens, but for me the No. 1 spot is not in my mind right now. I'm just trying to feel the best way on clay courts and let's see how the clay swing goes."

Both Alcaraz and Sinner will play their round of 16 matches tomorrow. Alcaraz will face Tomás Martín Etcheverry or Terence Atmane, and Sinner will face Francisco Cerúndolo or Tomas Machac, depending on the matches on Wednesday.

PlayStation will soon give fans the chance to be a part of their favourite games

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:13:00 +0200

While plenty of games give you the chance to create your own character, few allow for you to be scanned in as part of the overall experience. PlayStation's new The Playerbase scheme allows you to do just that, by bringing lucky players into their favourite first-party titles.

As outlined in a PlayStation blog post, The Playerbase will first make use of Gran Turismo 7, asking fans to submit a few answers to questions about their experience with the games and with PlayStation. After these initial applications are reviewed, a select portion of applicants will be invited for video interviews to learn more about them.

Then, only one fan will be selected to be put into Gran Turismo 7. They'll get their own in-game portrait, a limited-time appearance. They'll also be part of the design process for their own custom logo and livery. If you're this lucky fan, you'll have to head to the visual arts studio in Los Angeles to have your face scanned and create your personalised additions to the game.

More games are being considered for The Playerbase at the time of writing, but none have been confirmed so far. What game would you want to appear in if given the chance?

David Raya wins Man of the Match and reignites debate: Does Arsenal have the best goalkeeper in the world?

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:05:01 +0200

Arsenal took a narrow win in Lisbon, defeating Sporting 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal by Kai Havertz that ends a streak of two defeats in the EFL Cup and FA Cup. However, it was Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya who took the title of Man of the Match, receiving praise for his saves, and credit for saving his team and maintaining Arsenal's status as the only unbeaten team in Champions League so far this season.

In the Premier League, no other keeper has kept more clean-sheets, 15 matches with no goals conceded (ahead of Donnarumma and Pickford's 11 clean-sheets). In 10 Champions League games, Raya has only conceded three goals and kept seven clean-sheets, with a 90% save percentage, according to Squawka: 27 saves out of 30 shots.

Havertz said after the match that he believes he has been the best goalkeeper in the world for the last two seasons. He is frequently mentioned in the conversation of the best goalkeeper in the world, in the same elite with Donnarumma, Courtois, Becker, and Neuer (who also won Man of the Match with his saves in the match between Bayern and Real Madrid)

However, he is less known in Spain, where he frequently acts as second choice for Luis de la Fuente, behind Unai Simón. And with the arrival of Barça's Joan García to the national team, the debate on who should be the starting goalkeeper for Spain in World Cup only gets more complicated...

Portugal allows US use of Azores base during Iran conflict, but with strict conditions

Óscar@gamereactor.eu (Óscar Ontañón Docal) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:01:00 +0200

Portugal has confirmed it is allowing the United States to use a key air base in the Azores during the Iran conflict, but only under strict conditions.

Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said 76 landings and 25 overflights by US aircraft have been authorised at Lajes Air Base since the start of the war.

However, Lisbon made clear that its approval is conditional on operations not targeting civilian infrastructure, stressing that any military action must remain "necessary and proportional".

According to this information, Portugal said the US has complied with these requirements so far, although some requests for access have been denied.

The stance contrasts with other European countries, including Spain, France and Italy, which have restricted or refused US access to airspace or bases linked to the conflict.

Azores base

Supercell boss to be honoured at BAFTA Games Awards with Fellowship accolade

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:51:12 +0200

Next week, the annual BAFTA Games Awards will be hosted, with many of the industry's best and brightest travelling to London's Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre, for a premium show where tons of promising awards and trophies will be handed out.

While many of these winning recipients will be determined on the day, BAFTA has revealed who will be given the highest possible honour at this year's show. The prestigious Fellowship will be handed out to Supercell's (Clash of Clans, among other mobile hits) CEO and co-founder, Ilkka Paananen, for his efforts in building up the studio into one of the most successful game developers in the entire world.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip spoke about this decision, adding: "A visionary leader in games, he has built a globally influential company while championing creative collaboration and trust at every level. His deep respect and commitment to nurturing emerging talent and his ongoing support for young people reflect the very best of BAFTA's values."

Paananen has also issued a statement about receiving this honour, noting: "Looking at the names of previous Fellows, I see so many of my personal heroes - people whose work has inspired me and who I continue to look up to. Being included in their company is something I never could have imagined. Throughout my career, I have been extremely fortunate. But my greatest fortune, by far, has been the privilege of working with amazingly talented and passionate game developers over the past 25 years. They are the ones who create the magic. This award truly belongs to each and every one of them."

In the past, the BAFTA Fellowship award has been handed to a slate of other video game titans, including Yoko Shimomura, Shuhei Yoshida, Siobhan Reddy, Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, and John Carmack.

As for when the BAFTA Games Awards will be held, the show is slated to take place on Friday, April 17. You can see all of the categories and nominees here.