Gamereactor UK

Carlos Alcaraz admits playing Roland Garros may put at his the future of his career

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:33:51 +0200

Carlos Alcaraz was crowned as the Sportsman of the Year for the first time at the Laureus World Sports Awards, becoming the fourth male tennis player to win the award (after Novak Djokovic with 5 awards, Roger Federer with 4, and Rafa Nadal with 2). In the award ceremony, held in Madrid, he appeared with a splint in his arm because of his wrist injury, which has already caused him to miss Barcelona Open and Madrid Open... and raising concerns about his participation in Roland Garros next month.

Speaking in a press conference, Alcaraz did not want to commit to a specific comeback date, but he was already mentally prepared that he may miss Roland Garros this year... and that's okay. "I'd rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell."

"We have a very long career ahead of us, many years, and pushing myself too hard at Roland Garros could seriously harm my chances in future tournaments, so we'll see how the test goes, which is what we're relying on", Alcaraz said, explaining that the complete state of his injury won't be known until further tests are made on him. He is wearing a splint to immobilise his arm, but he needs more rest before taking that test.

"Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them", said Alcaraz. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious, and we can get back on the courts soon, but we know that I have to recover very well if I don't want it to affect me later on".

Famous anime and entertainment producer Toei Company announces in-house games brand Toei Games

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:22:00 +0200

Toei Company, the Japanese entertainment giant behind hit anime, TV series, movies, and more, has announced it's creating its own gaming offshoot, known as Toei Games. This new publishing label will primarily be concerned with creating games for PC via Steam this year, but there are plans to expand with Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch titles too.

"Our goal is to create a new IP that will captivate the world, starting with games," reads the statement on Toei's press release announcing the creation of Toei Games (translation via Gematsu). The first game coming from Toei Games is going to be revealed very soon, coming our way on the 24th of April, AKA this Friday.

It's interesting to note how Toei wants to use this opportunity to establish new IP. Considering the wealth of Japanese media at its disposal, you might think it would just create some hit games based on that. "The initial lineup of titles, which will be announced at a later date, will not be games using Toei's existing IPs, but rather completely new game titles created by talented creators from Japan and abroad," the press release states.

"Games are an extremely global form of entertainment that continues to spread beyond language and national borders. Our group's medium- to long-term vision, "TOEI NEW WAVE 2033," aims to deliver the "stories" created by Toei to the entire world, and we believe that our challenge in the game business, with the global market as our main battleground, is the embodiment of that vision, Toei Games aims to create entirely new IPs from scratch, rather than simply utilizing existing IPs. We will leverage the technology and expertise we have cultivated through video production into our new game business, delivering Toei's unique entertainment experience to players around the world." said Toei's President and CEO Fumio Yoshimura.

Coupe de France semi-finals this week between Lens, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Nice

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:59:00 +0200

There is no Champions League, Europa League or Conference League this week, so the domestic competitions in Europe are wrapping up, and the semi-finals of the Coupe de France are taking place this week, starting today Tuesday with a duel between Lens and Toulouse, and following on Wednesday with Strasbourg and Nice.

This year an opportunity arose as Paris Saint-Germain, with the record of more wins, was eliminated very early in the competition, at round of 32, eliminated by neighbours Paris FC back in January.

Remarkably, none of the four teams in semis have won the Coupe de France too many times. Strasbourg won the Cup three times, the last time in 2001, and Nice also won the Cup three times, the last time in 1997. Toulouse won the Cup only once in 2023, but Lens has never won it, and was runner-up three times, the last time in 1998.

Coupe de France semi-finals and final:

Lens vs. Toulouse: Tuesday, April 21, 21:10 CEST, 20:10 BST

Strasbourg vs. Nice: Wednesday, April 22, 21:00 CEST, 20:00 BST

Final: May 23, 2026

The winner of the competition also gets qualified for Europa League. For Lens, who has almost secured a Champions League spot as runner-ups of the Ligue 1, that doesn't mean much (they still have options of winning the League is PSG has another slip).

But the other three are far from European spots, some quite low in the league: Strasbourg is seventh, Tolouse is 11th, and Nice is 15th. In the Ligue 1, only the top three will qualify for Champions League under normal conditions, the fourth would go to Europa League and the fifth to Conference League.

Will you follow the Coupe de France semi-finals this week?

Lando Norris wins Laureus Award for Breaktrough of the Year, but at 26, is he really a 'breaktrough' anymore?

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:42:08 +0200

26-year-old F1 driver from McLaren Lando Norris took a big prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026, winning Breakthrough of Year, recognising his victory at the Formula 1 World Championship. He became only the fifth Formula 1 driver to claim the Breakthrough of the Year Award, after Nico Rosberg (2017), Daniel Ricciardo (2015), Jenson Button (2010), Lewis Hamilton (2008) and Juan Pablo Montoya (2002).

"I managed to win the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious awards an athlete can win. To everyone who voted for me, to the Laureus Nominations Panel, thank you very much for awarding me this incredible prize", Norris said in a recorded speech, as he was unable to attend the Awards ceremony in Spain.

Can Norris be considered a breaktrough anymore?

The Laureus pannel highlighted that Norris achieved a first World Championship double since 1998, also crediting teammate Oscar Piastri from McLaren. Norris' victory was impressive, specially with the pressure of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in the championship... but at 26 years old, and having spent six full seasons in Formula 1 before his winning season -finishing second in 2024, and sixth in 2021 and 2023- is he really a breaktrough star anymore?

Norris competed with much younger sportspeople in this category: darts World No. 1 Luke Littler (18 during 2025), tennis breakthrough star Joao Fonseca (turned 19 in August), PSG's gem Désiré Doué (was 19 when he won Champions League), and the 12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi.

The other exception in the category was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 27-years-old, NBA champion and MVP in 2025, but hardly a breakthrough star as he had spent six seasons at the NBA, and five with the Oklahoma City Thunder, before his remarkable 2024/25 season.

Previous winners of the Breaktrough of the Year Award include Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu and Patrick Mahomes, who were significativel younger, or at the start of their careers, when they won the recognition... Do you think Lando Norris should have been nominated to the overall Sportsman of the Year category instead?

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO after 15 years at the helm

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:28:42 +0200

While Steve Jobs is often regarded as the most famous individual associated with Apple, Tim Cook would be second in the eyes of many, after serving as the company's CEO for the past 15 years, succeeding Jobs and helping the technology titan grow into one of the largest companies in the entire world.

After a very successful tenure as the top dog at Apple, Cook will soon be stepping down from the CEO position, instead moving over to become Apple's executive chairman and leaving space for a new CEO to take over.

As for who will be stepping up to the responsibility, John Ternus has been named as the new CEO for Apple, after formerly serving as the senior vice president of hardware engineering for the company.

The transition won't be made until September 1, meaning Cook will continue to lead throughout the rest of the spring and the summer, before Ternus takes over for the autumn and beyond.

In a press release, Apple describes this changing of the guard as the product of a "thoughtful, long-term succession planning process" and speaking about ending this phase of his career at Apple, Cook has shared the following statement.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world."

Cook even briefly commented on Ternus taking over, adding: "John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman."

Ternus will become Apple's eighth CEO since its foundation in the 1970s.

Formula 1 announces refinements to enhance safety and avoid crashed like Oliver Bearman's

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:21:03 +0200

FIA, the Team Principals and the CEOs of the Power Unit Manufacturers have agreed on a series of changes in the Formula 1 rulebook, that will come in place starting from the Miami Grand Prix, on May 1-3. These will intend to ease some of the criticism from drivers after the first three races with the new 50/50 energy split, between internal combustion and electricity.

Some have said that the new engines means drivers need to focus more on strategically managing the new power sources (switching from boost and overtake mode) rather than on traditional driving skills, and that the bursts of acceleration when switching to electric power increases risk of accidents... and in the last race before this mini-break in April, Oliver Bearman had a crash.

These rules intend mainly enhance safety, including a system to detect cars with abnormally low acceleration, and cap the maximum power available through the Boost mode in race conditions, to limit sudden performance differentials:

Qualifying - promoting performance

Adjustments to energy management parameters, including a reduction in maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving. This change targets a maximum superclip duration reduced to approximately two to four seconds per lap.

Peak superclip power increased to 350 kW, previously being 250 kW, further reducing the time spent recharging, and reducing driver workload on energy management. This will also be applied in race conditions.

The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply has been increased from eight to 12 races, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics.

Race - improved safety and consistency of performance

The maximum power available through the Boost in race conditions is now capped at +150 kW (or the car's current power level at activation if higher) limiting sudden performance differentials.

MGU-K deployment is maintained at 350 kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250 kW in other parts of the lap.

These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.

Race starts - enhanced safety mechanisms

A new 'low power start detection' system has been developed, capable of identifying cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release.

In such cases, an automatic MGU-K deployment will be triggered to ensure a minimum level of acceleration and mitigate start-related risks without introducing any sporting advantage.

An associated visual warning system is being introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and lateral) on affected cars to alert following drivers.

A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap has also been implemented to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.

Wet conditions - improving safety and visibility

Tyre blanket temperatures for intermediate tyres have been increased following driver feedback in order to improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions.

Maximum ERS deployment will be reduced, limiting torque and improving car control in low-grip conditions.

The rear light systems have been simplified, with clearer and more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for following drivers in poor conditions.

These are the latest changes announced by FIA and Formula 1, to be implemented on the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3, if they are approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. What do you think of these changes?

SpaceX bought around 20% of all Cybertrucks sold in Q4

magnus@gamereactor.eu (Magnus Groth-Andersen) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:36 +0200

It's hard to look at the Tesla Cybertruck as a succes, looking at sales figures over the past couple of years since its debut. But there is of course one way to prop up sales, and that's for Elon Musk to buy them himself.

And that's, seemingly, kind of what he has done. A new report by Bloomberg suggests that nearly one in five Cybertrucks sold in late 2025 was bought by Elon Musk's own companies, with SpaceX doing most of the heavy lifting.

Out of roughly 7000 trucks registered in the US during Q4, around 1279 went to SpaceX, with additional units snapped up by other Musk-linked firms like xAI, Neuralink and The Boring Company. That puts the total at just under 20% of all sales for the quarter.

And it didn't stop there. The same pattern has continued into 2026, with more Cybertrucks being registered to those companies in the early months of the year.

That makes for a murkier sales picture than before, now that we know Musk and his companies owns a significant chunk of the total amount of Cybertrucks in the US. Without those internal purchases, Cybertruck sales would look significantly weaker. In fact, some estimates suggest registrations could have dropped by more than half if you removed those company buys.

Zacoe unveils wild Lamborghini Temerario body kit

magnus@gamereactor.eu (Magnus Groth-Andersen) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:53:08 +0200

Some time ago, Lamborghini unveiled and launched their hybrid V8, the Temerario, but while looking rather striking, and garnering good reviews, some saw it as slightly safe, especially for a legendarily outlandish brand such as Lamborghini.

But now Zacoe has gone ahead of Lambo themselves, and designed a more hardcore-looking bodykit for the car. All 17 new panels are in carbon, and can be fitted without cutting or additional structural changes. It's actually totally reversible, too.

Zacoe says the kit "reinterprets the Temerario through an OEM+ design philosophy", and you can see the images (through Top Gear) below:

Xbox showcases a vibrantly coloured Forza Horizon 6 controller and headset

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:30:00 +0200

Just as they did for {Forza Horizon 5}, Microsoft has now announced a controller inspired by {Forza Horizon 6}. It's one of the most colourful versions they've released so far, and in a social media post, the new Xbox boss Asha Sharma writes:

"Everything about Forza Horizon 6 is beautiful. The accessories had to be too."

It's a standard version of the controller, but with rubberised finger grips and a design inspired by Japan's road network. Xbox Wire describes the controller as "one of the most vibrant controllers Xbox has ever released. With a transparent cyan blue top case easing into a metallic gradient, it is accentuated with volt green, hot pink, and silver. The pops of color are further emphasized by a silver metallic DPad and two-tone rubberized diamond grips. The core design inspiration emerged from the Touge roads of Japan."

It actually gets even better, though, as the controller is also accompanied by a matching headset, the Xbox Wireless Headset. Its design is described as an extension of "that overarching theme of the Horizon Festival, decorated with flashy transparent cyan, volt green and hot pink. The headset was created with the Forza super fan in mind, with special touches like the hot pink logo invoking pit crew aesthetics, and racetrack inspired graphics inside the ear cups."

Both the controller and the headset will be released alongside Forza Horizon 6 on May 19, and you'll be able to purchase them from both the Xbox Store and well-stocked retailers. Check out both images and a trailer for these beauties below.

Microsoft is hosting a new ID@Xbox showcase and promises a surprise

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:25:00 +0200

The pace of new streams and digital events have been incredibly intense in the months since the New Year, and this week will be no exception. Microsoft has announced that it's time for another round of the ID@Xbox Showcase, an event dedicated to indie developers.

These showcases often highlight very interesting games, with many titles going on to become best-selling hits (during the last one, six months ago, we saw {Mouse: P.I. For Hire}, {Invincible VS}, and {Vampire Survivors}, just to name a few). Even in advance, this event looks promising, and we're promised a closer look at:

{Aphelion}

{Mistfall Hunter}

{Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive}

{There Are No Ghosts at the Grand}

We've also read that there will be "a surprise," but we can only speculate as to what it might be. The ID@Xbox Showcase kicks off on April 23 at 5PM BST/6 PM CEST via platforms including Twitch and YouTube, and we'll of course be reporting on what's shown.

Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb openly implies that he wants to return to Xbox

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:20:00 +0200

Phil Spencer had barely retired as head of Xbox when long-time Xbox executive Larry Hryb (the public face of the Xbox team and head of community, best known by his Gamertag; Major Nelson), who worked on the consoles for around 20 years, publicly wrote on social media that he wanted a meeting with the new Xbox boss, Asha Sharma.

She apparently considered this a priority, because just a week later, the two appeared in a joint photo confirming that they had met. We don't know what was said there, but Hryb has made no secret of the fact that he's open to making an Xbox comeback. On Monday, someone on social media pointed out that the Xbox team is now looking for a Senior Manager, Xbox Brand and Reputation and tagged Hryb. The latter quickly responded, writing:

"I think I know someone who would be perfect for that role."

In other words, it sounds like he isn't back with the Xbox team yet, but he's still eager to return as the public face of the community. What do you think, should Sharma recruit the old Xbox veteran, or is it better to give a new talent a chance?

Don't expect Deadpool to get a solo adventure in the MCU ever again

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:15:00 +0200

Even though Deadpool & Wolverine received somewhat mixed reviews, it was a huge box office hit that grossed over $1.3 billion, and both of its predecessors were also very successful. But despite that, we probably shouldn't hold out hope for any more solo adventures for Deadpool, at least not according to his actor (and also screenwriter) Ryan Reynolds.

He apparently thinks the character works best alongside others, and therefore seems to have completely given up on the idea of solo adventures for the Merc with a Mouth. In an interview with Today (via Nerdist), he says:

"I have stuff written. I don't think I'm ever going to center him again. He's a supporting character. He's a guy that's great in a group."

Thus, it undeniably appears that we can simply forget about a future Deadpool 4. It seems likely that he'll make a cameo appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, and perhaps that's primarily how we'll see him moving forward.

What are your thoughts on this, are you saddened or relieved?

Laureus World Sports Awards: Full list of winners, including special awards

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:14:28 +0200

The Laureus World Sports Awards were handed out in Madrid on Monday, one of the most prestigious sports awards in the world, considered the 'Oscars' of sports, mixing together sportspeople from all disciplines. And this year, two tennis players won the bigger awards: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were chosen as the best Sportsman and Sportswoman, with Paris Saint-Germain receiving the award for best team.

Alcaraz competed with Ousmane Dembélé, Mondo Duplantis, Marc Márquez, Tadej Pogacar, and Jannik Sinner, while Sabalenka competed with Aitana Bonmatí, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Faith Kipyegon, Katie Ledecky, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

PSG was chosen ahead of European Ryder Cup Team, the England Women's Football Team, the McLaren Formula 1 Team, and the NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here is a list of nominations, and below the list of main winners:

Sportsman of the Year: Carlos Alcaraz (tennis, Spain)

Sportswoman of the Year: Aryna Sabalenka (tennis, Belarus)

Team of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain (football, France)

Breakthrough of the Year: Lando Norris (Formula 1, United Kingdom)

Comeback of the Year: Rory McIlroy (golf, UK)

Sportsperson of the Year with a disability: Gabriel Araújo (para swimming, Brazil)

Action Sportsperson of the Year: Chole Kim (snowboarding, USA)

Sport for Good Award: Fútbol Más

Beyond those main categories, there were other special awards announced during the event:

Lifetime achievement: Nadia Comaneci

Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos

Young Sportsperson of the Year: Lamine Yamal

What do you think of the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026?

Breaking: A man has opened fire on a group of tourists in Teotihuacán, Mexico, leaving two people dead

alberto@gamereactor.eu (Alberto Garrido) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:59:33 +0200

A man has opened fire on a group of tourists at the archaeological site of Teotihuacán, Mexico, killing a Canadian tourist and wounding four others with a firearm. Two further victims sustained injuries from falls whilst attempting to flee the attacker. The attacker was carrying a revolver and live ammunition, as well as a large tactical knife.

According to Reuters, the attacker subsequently took his own life, although there are eyewitness reports that he was shot dead by the Mexican National Guard, who had been deployed to the site. The injured are already receiving medical attention, and the Canadian government has not yet issued any official statement on the matter.

This attack takes on a more serious significance as it comes in the months leading up to the start of the FIFA World Cup, which is to be held across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. An attack on a major tourist destination has raised concerns about the safety of athletes and those attending the event.

Comicon Napoli 2026 announces the attendance of several stars, led by actor John C. McGinley

alberto@gamereactor.eu (Alberto Garrido) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:14:08 +0200

Comicon Napoli, one of Europe's largest comic and pop culture festivals, which this year celebrates its 26th edition from 30 April to 3 May, has announced a new line-up of star guests coming to the Italian city, including American actor John C. McGinley.

The legendary actor, best known for his eccentric portrayal of Dr Perry Cox in Scrubs (a role he reprises in the series' recent return to television), will take part in a panel on Sunday, 3 May. McGinley is also co-starring alongside Steve Carell in the HBO Max series Roosters, which has recently been renewed for a second season following its huge success.

John C. McGinley isn't the only face (and voice) to have been confirmed in recent days, as the organisers have also been delighted to confirm that Jane Perry, the British actress and BAFTA winner for voicing Selene in Returnal, will also be attending this year. Perry also voiced Mystra in Baldur's Gate III and will share her panel on Friday, 1 May with fellow actress Kirsty Rider, whom many of you will recognise as the voice of Lune in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as well as for her appearance in the Netflix live-action adaptation of Sandman.

Gamereactor will be attending Comicon Napoli 2026 again this year to bring you live coverage of the event and enjoy it alongside the fans, as well as exclusive, one-on-one interviews with many of its special guests.

What do you say? Are you up for the next edition of Comicon Napoli?

If you attended San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2025, you are eligible for priority access to tickets for the 2026 event

alberto@gamereactor.eu (Alberto Garrido) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0200

One of the most significant cultural events in Spain last year was becoming, for the first time in history and in Europe, the host city for an edition of San Diego Comic-Con, which took place in Málaga from 25 to 28 September 2025. A first edition which, as is often the case with events of this size, scale, and complexity, was full of unforgettable moments featuring stars from film, video games, animation, comics, and more, but which also had its dark moments that marred the experience for many of its attendees. We discussed these highs and lows at the time, and it seems the organisers have taken note of them to make changes from the very moment the race for San Diego Comic-Con 2026 begins.

And that first step has already been announced, just last weekend. SDCCM 2026 wishes to thank attendees of the first edition for their support and reward them with priority access to the ticket pre-sale for this year's edition, before it opens to the general public, which will take place from 1 to 4 October 2026.

How to get priority access to the SDCCM 2026 ticket presale

Let this serve as a guide to buying tickets for this year. Firstly, the date. This Thursday, 23 April, the pre-sale for SDCCM 2025 attendees will begin at 10:00 CEST. Secondly, anyone wishing to take advantage of this opportunity must have their Registration ID for the 2025 edition to hand (check last year's email; you'll find it there).

With those two things, all you need to do is go to the Ticketmaster website on that day at that time (important: to save time, make sure you already have an active account on the platform) and use the same email address you used last year to secure your 2026 ticket.

Price for the San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2026 presale

At the moment, we're not sure if this price will remain the same for the general sale open to the public, but for now, a general admission ticket will cost €84.80 (including a €4.80 booking fee). For children under 12, the ticket price is €37.10 (€2.10 booking fee).

From each ticket sales account, you can also purchase a ticket for a single companion during this exclusive pre-sale for 2025 attendees; however, each person for whom a ticket is purchased (except children aged 12 or under on the date of the event) must have their own Registration ID, which can be obtained here, regardless of who makes the purchase.

We hope this first buying guide for tickets to San Diego Comic-Con Málaga 2026 has cleared up any doubts you may have, but in any case, you can find an updated FAQ page on the event's official website.

As a sneak preview, we at Gamereactor can confirm that we'll be attending the event again in 2026 to bring you first-hand coverage not only of the live action, including talks, fan events and surprise appearances, but also to offer you dozens of exclusive interviews with the main guests. Stay tuned!

Ready to return to San Diego Comic-Con Málaga in 2026?

Final Fantasy VII is getting the board game treatment

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:50:00 +0200

Final Fantasy VII remains the most beloved game in Square Enix's long-running series, and it has spawned numerous spin-offs and follow-up projects. This includes things like an anime and a CGI film and now it's time for yet another project.

This time, it's a board game called Final Fantasy VII: Ascend the Shinra Building, which is a new version of Arclight's popular Cat and the Tower. The goal is to build the Shinra Tower together with up to four friends, a structure that becomes increasingly unstable the higher you climb. The goal is to reach the eighth level, but unfortunately, there are also enemies from the game that make climbing the tower even more difficult.

Final Fantasy VII: Ascend the Shinra Building is available for purchase on Square Enix's official website, where you can also find more images and additional information, and it will be released in early 2027.

Bubsy 4D and Demon Tides developer Fabraz is "quite opposed to GenAI"

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:23:00 +0200

One of the most talented platformer developers in the current era of gaming is Fabraz, an indie studio who has cooked up the Demon Turf and Demon Tides games, and who will soon expand further by bringing back Bubsy in the anticipated Bubsy 4D.

Launching on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch on May 22, with launch getting closer by the day, we recently had the chance to speak with Fabraz founder and Bubsy 4D lead developer, Fabian Rastorfer, to learn more about the incoming title and the studio's stance on incorporating artificial intelligence into its works.

"We don't use any LLMs or GenAI in development and generally are quite opposed to GenAI. We love the process of creation and we're pretty certain our players want to see what WE create, not what some diffusion model can spit out."

Bubsy 4D is the latest chapter in the wider story of the platforming icon who has slightly fallen from favour in the modern era, in a similar way to a plethora of other platforming legends. As for why now is the prime period for Bubsy to make a comeback, Rastorfer also told us the following.

"I'm not sure if it's the perfect time for it but I do think the stars aligned in a way where it feels right! Atari approached it the right way and the project fell into our laps at just the right time for us to be struck by inspiration.

"The old bobcat has been around for a while, and has even tried to come back twice before to varying degrees of success, so we're just happy to carry on the torch and continue the legacy of this incredibly fascinating series!"

You can see our full interview with Rastorfer here, for more on the game's philosophy to difficulty and speedrunning.

FBI director sues The Atlantic after reports that he has an alcohol problem that could "compromise national security"

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:45 +0200

The FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic after an article, penned by Sarah Fitzpatrick, also sued, reported that Patel had drinking problems. The article was published on Friday, titled "Kash Patel's Erratic Behavior Could Cost Him His Job", and later edited to "The FBI Director Is MIA" in the online version.

The article is based on more than two dozen anonymous sources, and describe that Patel's "conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences", with him rescheduling meetings "delaying time-sensitive decisions needed to advance investigations" due to "alcohol-fueled nights", have alarmed officials at the FBI and the Department of Justice. It also reports that Patel's "erratic behaviour" compromises national security, and has violated DOJ ethics rules, is unreachable in emergencies and allows alcohol to influence his public statements, as per CNN.

Patel told Reuters that the story is a lie, saying "they were given the truth before they published, and they chose to print falsehoods anyway", and asks $250 million in damages in a suit filed in the US District Court in the District of Columbia. "Defendants are of course free to criticize the leadership of the FBI, but they crossed the legal line by publishing an article replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations designed to destroy Director Patel's reputation and drive him from office", the complaint reads.

The outlet said that they "stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit". The article even has a quote by Patel, saying that "I'll see you in court — bring your checkbook".

Gheorghe Hagi chosen as new Romanian head coach, succeeding Lucescu

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:37:47 +0200

Gheorghe Hagi has become the new head coach for Romania national football team, replacing the great Mircea Lucescu, who passed away on April 7, days after resigning due to health issues. Impressively, Hagi returns to the role he held 25 years ago: leading the Romanian national team was Hagi's first managerial role in 2001, the same year he retired as a player, where came close to qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

After that, Hagi coached for Turkish teams like Bursaspor, Galatasaray (where he won a Turkish cup) and Romanian clubs like Viitorul Constanța (which Hagi himself founded) and Farul Constanta.

But Hagi was even more successful as a player, where he came to be known as the "Maradona of the Carpathians", finished fourth in the 1994 Ballon d'Or, and played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Brescia in Italy, Steaua București, and Galatasaray, where he won most of his titles, including the UEFA Cup (current Europa League) and the UEFA Super Cup in 2000. Internationally, he played in three World Cups and three Euros, and is tied with Adrian Mutu as the all-time leading scorer, 35 goals in 124 games.

Hagi and Romania won't be at World Cup this summer, because Romania lost to Turkey in the play-offs, but Hagi has signed for the next two qualifying cycles: Euro 2028 and World Cup 2030. Hagi will make his debut in this second, hopefully longer stint as coach for Romania with friendlies against Georgia and Wales in June, before playing in Nations League B in September.

The new Xbox boss would "love to chat" with the former PlayStation chief Shawn Layden

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:28:00 +0200

There has certainly been no shortage of initiatives from the new Xbox boss Asha Sharma, who seems to pop up every week with new ideas, most of which appear to be appreciated by the Xbox community. This includes, among other things, her stated intention to review Game Pass, which she believes has become too expensive relative to its content.

One person who has been critical of Microsoft's subscription service is former PlayStation head Shawn Layden, who wrote on his LinkedIn:

"They are trying so hard to will this into health, despite unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis. A clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good."

One might suspect this would enrage Sharma, but she seems instead to view it as constructive criticism from someone with vast industry experience, and has now responded to him on the matter, writing that she would "love to chat sometime."

Hopefully, they can arrange some kind of meeting so she can hear his perspective, to weigh his views as the future of Game Pass is shaped.

https://bsky.app/profile/plsburydoughboy.bsky.social/post/3mjvjlalm7k2t

Samson plans to launch on consoles this autumn

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:08:00 +0200

It has not been an easy launch for developer Liquid Swords' Samson, as the game debuted on PC and proved to be riddled with performance problems and bugs, something that the studio noted its intention to fix as soon as possible. Now that a few updates have arrived and tackled a bunch of these issues, the developer has released a new roadmap laying out its plans for not just the rest of April, but May, June, and beyond.

For one, we can expect Update #2 to debut on April 29 and bring more stability and polish improvements, as well as additional community-reported fixes. Following this will be Update #5 the week after on May 6. Update #6 will then come sometime afterwards, although no date has been provided for this patch.

As for when new content will be introduced to Samson, the roadmap also confirms Content Update #1 will drop in mid-May and bring a "combat focused content update" with more details to be shared later. It will be followed by a second update in mid-June that focuses more on vehicles.

Beyond these plans, Liquid Swords also notes that Samson will arrive on consoles in the autumn, but firm information on this front is also sparse, meaning we will simply have to assume this relates to at least a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S edition of the game.

What are your thoughts on Samson so far? You can read our review here.

El Presidente can literally move mountains in Tropico 7

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:36:00 +0200

While it doesn't yet have a firm release date attached to it, 2026 is the year in which the seventh mainline instalment in the Tropico series will make its arrival. Developer Gaming Minds Studio will be returning sometime in the near future to give players ultimate control over an island paradise, serving as the always beloved and faultless leader, El Presidente.

With the launch nearing and the game expected to debut on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5, even as a day one inclusion on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, now publisher Kalypso has shared the first batch of gameplay for Tropico 7.

In the clip, we get to see how actual mountains can now be moved under your presidential orders. But beyond this, we're promised that there will be five campaign maps to take on, the biggest archipelago islands in the series' history to explore, a reworked military system, new customisation options for El Presidente and his epic palace, and naturally a whole host of political turbulence to navigate, or as the announcement press release refers to it: "bollocks".

Catch the gameplay trailer below and stay tuned for more from Tropico 7.

Windrose is already a million-seller

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:12:00 +0200

Amid the flurry of major debuts that took place last week, it's easy to gloss over one of two of them. While you may have been distracted by Pragmata or Mouse: P. I. For Hire, Replaced and even Windrose also launched, and to great success when talking about the latter.

It has been confirmed by the game's social media that Windrose has now shipped as many as one million copies, all in less than a week. Adding to this is the achievement that the game has surpassed 200,000 players at once on Steam, showing that the future is bright for the pirating survival adventure game.

Speaking about these successes, developer Kraken Express adds: "Jokes aside, your support has been incredible, and your patience while we work on fixes means the world to us. Moreover, Windrose surpassed 200,000 concurrent players on Steam! Thank you kindly, on behalf of our entire studio."

https://x.com/playwindrose/status/2045896260670890462

Have you played Windrose yet?

Smartphone users tend to be very brand loyal

markus@gamereactor.eu (Markus Hirsilä) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0200

People have a habit of being loyal to a brand, when it comes to smartphones. According to a new survey made by Sell Cell, and reported by Android Authority, iPhone loyalty is 96.4%, and Android loyalty is 86.4%. The survey was conducted with more than 5,000 US smartphone users.

But it still needs to be noted that more Android users (13.6%) are willing to change compared to Apple users (3.6%). This is probably because Android users can jump from Samsung to Pixel to Sony or another brand and still remain Android users, but the same is not true for an iPhone owner, who needs to leave Apple behind by switching.

So where would people switch, when considering their next purchase? 31.5% said Samsung, 26.8% said iPhone, and 21.2% said Google Pixel.

PSG publish statement regarding Vitinha's injury during loss with Lyon

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:53 +0200

Paris Saint-Germain has confirmed that Vitinha suffered an "inflammation" during the 2-1 loss to Lyon in Ligue 1 on Sunday, and will "remain under medical care for the next few days". A further assessment will be carried out at the end of the week". This confirms that the midfielder will miss this Wednesday's match against Nantes, and is doubtful for the following league match against Angers on Saturday, April 25, but doesn't close the door for the Portuguese star appearing in next week's game against Bayern Munich.

There are fears that, if Vitinha's injury doesn't improve, he would miss the upcoming match with PSG in the Champions League. The injury happened at a very crucial time for the club, and with Ligue 1 sill undecided, with Lens closing the distance.

PSG will aim for a second Champions League in a row and plays the first leg in Paris on Tuesday, April 28, with the second leg in Munich on May 6. PSG also plays against Lorient between the two legs of the knockout, and then they have three Ligue 1 games pending, including a potentially definitive match on May 13 against Lens.

Alex Garland's Elden Ring movie sets release date

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:34:42 +0200

Bandai Namco has announced the release date and officially confirmed production beginning on A24 and Alex Garland's Elden Ring movie. The film, which we've been aware of since May of last year, is one of the most talked-about video game adaptations of the day, and now we know when it's going to hit cinemas.

"The live-action adaptation of the fantasy game Elden Ring, written and directed by Alex Garland, will be filmed for IMAX and released on March 3, 2028," Bandai Namco confirms via its site. We also got a full list of the cast, adding some new names to the list we'd already been building:

Kit Connor

Ben Whishaw

Cailee Spaeny

Tom Burke

Havana Rose Liu

Sonoya Mizuno

Jonathan Pryce

Ruby Cruz

Nick Offerman

John Hodgkinson

Jefferson Hall

Emma Laird

Peter Serafinowicz

We're not sure who these people are playing in the film, but we're sure to find out in between now and 2028. Bandai also confirms the film begins production in Spring this year, something we could have guessed considering set photos have been discovered on the internet.

The Elden Ring movie premieres on the 3rd of March, 2028.

Shuhei Yoshida says he was demoted by the PlayStation boss because he didn't want to follow "ridiculous" orders

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:32:00 +0200

It came as a bombshell in November 2024 when PlayStation veteran Shuhei Yoshida suddenly announced that he would be leaving Sony after 31 years. At the time, he was Head of PlayStation Indies, but had previously served as President of SIE Worldwide Studios. It seemed, then, that he had taken a step down the career ladder rather than up, as many had previously believed he would become head of the entire PlayStation division instead of Jim Ryan in 2019.

That obviously didn't happen and Yoshida said in an interview with Game File last year that he believed it was because of his love for games and that he wasn't primarily a businessperson:

"Probably because they didn't trust me as [to] making the best business decisions... I always wanted to do something interesting, you know, something new or innovative and never done before, that may become the great thing in the future, [that] kind of thing.

"Instead, Sony preferred business-minded people, he said at the time, reasoning that "Kaz [Hirai], Andrew [House], Jim Ryan, all business people, right? So there must be a reason for that."

https://x.com/yosp/status/2045380382254834048

Last week, Shuhei Yoshida appeared at the Australian gaming event ALT: GAMES, where he shared (via TWIV) more about what happened behind the scenes when he was demoted at PlayStation, on Jim Ryan's orders:

"I helped Santa Monica to make God of War, Naughty Dog to make Uncharted and The Last of Us, and Sucker Punch to make the beautiful Ghost of Tsushima. Ghost of Tsushima was one of the last games that I worked on as the president of Worldwide Studios.

"But in 2019, after 11 years leading first-party development, I was fired from the role."

Yoshida has previously said that he was given an ultimatum to either be fired or become head of indie games, but he now elaborates on what he believes led to this and says that, among other things, he refused to follow Ryan's "ridiculous" orders:

"Jim Ryan wanted to remove me from first-party because I didn't listen to him. He asked me to do some ridiculous things, and I said 'No.'"

Jim Ryan was a controversial and, among gamers, often-questioned head of PlayStation (between 2019 and 2024) who, among other things, launched Sony's massive live service initiative, where virtually all games have either flopped or been shut down. This naturally led to absolutely massive costs, while Sony released fewer single-player games overall because resources were diverted to other areas, something we're still feeling today and will likely continue to feel for years to come.

We'll never know what the PlayStation division would have looked like under Yoshida's leadership, but we can still suspect it would have been radically different. Today, however, Yoshida seems content, and he concludes by saying:

"I was helping indie publishers and developers at Sony for the last five years, so I feel like I'm continuing to do the same kind of thing, but now I am freelance.

"I'm free to show up in any podcast. Now I can talk about Nintendo, Xbox, Steam. And I get to see how Nintendo and Xbox support indies. So it's very, very cool."

What do you think of Jim Ryan's leadership, and do you think Shuhei Yoshida would have been a better alternative?

LaLiga speeds up: Two matchdays in one week, schedule for Barcelona, Madrid, Atleti...

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:25:38 +0200

The Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid on Sunday meant that no LaLiga games took place last weekend, so now the domestic competition will catch up this week, with two matchdays, 33 and 32 (technically coming after the 33rd), in the span of seven days, from Tuesday, April 21 to Monday, April 27, when the European competition return for the semi-finals (with only two Spanish teams, Atlético de Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Champions League and Conference League, respectively).

LaLiga continues tomorrow with Real Madrid's first game after their Champions League elimination, at home against Alavés, knowing that their hopes for a Liga title are almost gone as Barcelona, who faces Celta Vigo on Wednesday, is nine points clear.

Madrid plays again on Friday against Betis, while Barça will visit Getafe on Saturday: Barcelona could be crowned champion by the following weekend on May 2 against Osasuna... or earlier if Madrid fails to win this week.

LaLiga Matchday 33/38

Tuesday, 21 April

Athletic Club vs Osasuna: 17:00 CEST / 16:00 BST

Mallorca vs Valencia: 17:00 CEST / 16:00 BST

Real Madrid vs Alavés: 19:30 CEST / 18:30 BST

Girona vs Real Betis: 19:30 CEST / 18:30 BST

Wednesday, 22 April

Elche vs Atlético Madrid: 17:00 CEST / 16:00 BST

Real Sociedad vs Getafe: 18:00 CEST / 17:00 BST

Barcelona vs Celta Vigo: 19:30 CEST / 18:30 BST

Thursday, 23 April

Levante vs Sevilla: 17:00 CEST / 16:00 BST

Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol: 18:00 CEST / 17:00 BST

Real Oviedo vs Villarreal: 19:30 CEST / 18:30 BST

LaLiga Matchday 32/38

Friday, 24 April

Real Betis vs. Real Madrid: 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST

Saturday, 25 April

Alavés vs. Mallorca: 14:00 CEST / 13.00 BST

Getafe vs. Barcelona: 16:15 CEST / 15:15 BST

Valencia vs. Girona: 18:30 CEST / 17:30 BST

Atlético de Madrid vs. Athletic Club: 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST

Sunday, 26 April

Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Sociedad: 14:00 CEST / 13.00 BST

Real Oviedo vs. Elche: 16:15 CEST / 15:15 BST

Osasuna vs. Sevilla: 18:30 CEST / 17:30 BST

Villarreal vs. Celta de Vigo: 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST

Monday, 27 April

Espanyol vs. Levante: 21:00 CEST / 20:00 BST

Bubsy 4D will take around six hours to complete, but speedrunners should roll credits sooner

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:18:00 +0200

We're around a month away from Bubsy 4D making its arrival on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch consoles, with Fabraz's next platformer set to debut on May 22. With the launch looming, we recently had the chance to sit down with the studio's founder and one of Bubsy 4D's lead developers, Fabian Rastorfer, to get a further idea as to what to expect from the game.

For one, you may be curious as to how much time you'll need to allot to reach the end of Bubsy 4D? If so, we inquired about this and discovered, as you'd expect for a game with an important focus on speedrunning, that it depends on skill level.

"Somewhere between three to six hours based on skill level, completion rate and how much you stop to "smell the flowers". This, of course, gets longer if you compete in the leaderboards or hunt down all achievements. One of them even challenges you to beat the game without getting hit more than nine times, good luck with that!"

When we had the chance to go hands-on with Bubsy 4D last, we got to test the new hairball form, which will be incredibly handy for those looking to roll credits sooner by speedrunning through the game. On the topic of that form and how it's used in-game, Rastorfer told us the following.

"The hairball's fun because that's the moment you're switching from more precision based platforming to a momentum-heavy and physics-driven one instead! It's Bubsy's take on going fast!

"There are segments in the levels that encourage you to roll around but the hairball really clicks once you realise you can weave in and out of it on a dime at any point."

You can read our full interview with Rastorfer here for more on why now is the perfect time for Bubsy to return and beyond.

Vampire Crawlers

marcus@gamereactor.eu (Marcus Persson) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0200

Just one more round then I really must turn in and get some sleep. Famous last words, to say the least, and suddenly you realise it's half past two in the morning, your eyes are stinging, the inside of your head has turned into some sort of digital pixel slush, and you know you have to be at work in just a few hours. Panic.

That's a feeling many of us gamers are all too familiar with, but one that has become increasingly rare in our later years. Sure, you love gaming with every rotten fibre of your being, but somewhere deep down you're constantly reminded to "be an adult and take responsibility". So, grudgingly, you drag yourself to bed, even though all you want to do is glue yourself to the sofa, weld the front door shut, and lose yourself in digital madness.

Vampire Survivors has long been one of "those" games for me. I was a complete disaster when the game first came out and it's a pure miracle that I never actually got sick despite many far too late nights. Yes, I'm an adult... I promise. Digital narcotics in their purest form, with an instantly hypnotic gameplay loop filled with escalating numbers, increasingly colourful effects, and those ridiculously satisfying sounds. Resisting the madness was almost hopeless.

So what's the result when someone decides to take the same concept, turn it on its head, pepper it with a bit of deckbuilding, and season it with a pinch of roguelite? A complete meltdown in the best possible way. That's what. So, what exactly is Vampire Crawlers? Stick with me and we'll dive deep into the pixels and the Windows 98 screensaver perspective.

Unlock characters and upgrade your cards.

First things first, let me make one thing clear; Vampire Crawlers never tries to outdo its predecessor on its own turf. This is something new, but also eerily familiar. They've been clever here as instead of dancing around random dots whilst your auto-attacks do the heavy lifting, you get more control. You navigate on your own, square-by-square, step-by-step, and decide for yourself which battles you want to take on. Every card you play, every combo you try to build, it's all a constant balancing act that can sometimes quickly lead to defeat due to an unexpected enemy popping up, or an unlucky run of hands that gives you completely the wrong cards, in completely the wrong order. You swear, accept the reaper, and jump straight back in. Just one more time... then it's straight to bed.

Even though Vampire Crawlers is, on paper, a different game from its predecessor, it manages to capture exactly the same pulse, tension, and addictive gameplay. You choose a path from an overworld map, complete with names and areas you're guaranteed to recognise from Vampire Survivors, and build your deck in real-time. The most obvious and tangible shift is the game's pace, as here, it's constant action or nail-biting tension that's rewarded. You're staring at your hand, planning for combos, mana cost, and maximum effect. The former is, moreover, what one might call the backbone of Vampire Crawlers, where you play cards with increasing mana costs to build multipliers that can quite quickly degenerate into mind-boggling maths that would have made Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz break out in a sweat. When that near-perfect sequence finally lands, crafted from equal parts long-term planning and a pinch of luck, well... Mamma Mia, the screen explodes with colours, effects, and the satisfying sounds of monsters succumbing to your overwhelming force. It's so blissfully satisfying it makes you giddy.

The enemies are pouring in, but you'll also be handsomely rewarded for your efforts!

The card system itself is also surprisingly easy to read, despite quickly becoming overloaded. Red cards represent attacks, blue ones are defence, yellow ones are buffs, purple ones give you mana, and so on. This keeps your hand manageable, even when it's expanded and grown into an unholy, overflowing toolbox designed for monster slaughter.

More often than not, Crawlers will also throw a curveball or two your way, as the game genuinely loves to sprinkle in oddities, often far more than you can reasonably handle. The best bit of all? You can always do something with them, however absurd and silly it may seem. If there's one thing you should never be afraid of, it's experimenting. Synergies can arise from the most unexpected things and Crawlers rewards creativity and curiosity rather than passive caution, which is a design philosophy I dearly, dearly wish more roguelites would dare to embrace.

Vampire Crawlers dares to let go of the reins and let you gallop off towards the horizon, fully aware that sooner or later you'll become overpowered. It's a game that lets you become a god, albeit only in pixelated form, which is also exactly what makes the game so damn charming. Every run becomes a mad experiment, every failure a lesson, and by extension, an excuse to skip yet another hour of sleep.

The meta-progression also helps keep the fire burning. Between each "run", you have the chance to fine-tune and tinker with the city. You can manipulate everything from which gems appear in the game - which in turn provide passive effects on your cards - to how powerful your bonus abilities should be, or which character you want to play. Just like in the original, there's a whole host of faces to unlock, each with their own unique quirks and abilities that encourage even more experimentation.

The Grim Reaper will haunt you...

The system ensures that Crawlers always feels like it's moving forward; there's always a little progress to be made, even when you've been beaten and the Grim Reaper comes for the umpteenth time to taunt you and rub your defeat in your face. Just one more round...

Visually, Vampire Crawlers is pretty much what you'd expect, and doesn't stray far from its roots with overly pixelated representations of everything from monsters to characters. But it also features a clearer structure that suits the new gameplay and crisp effects that enhance the experience. In a way, it feels as though someone took the 3D Maze Screensaver from Windows 95 and threw it into the blender along with Castlevania, and the result is also very colourful and charming, as you're guaranteed to crack a smile more than once during your many adventures.

Sure, there are a few minor flaws as the first hour is rather slow, and it definitely takes a while for the machinery to really get going. I'll be honest and say that I scratched my head in puzzlement a bit at the start. Think of it as a locomotive slowly building up steam in its boiler or a snowball rolled from the top of a mountain but slowly growing into an avalanche. Once it's up and running, boy, does it take off.

Furthermore, the game can also get a bit chaotic, with an interface that's occasionally a bit tricky. Minor niggles, of course, and probably something you'll grumble about for a few seconds before just as quickly forgetting it and instead losing yourself once again in Vampire Crawler's absurd brilliance and clicking "continue" once more. Just one more round...

Cards galore and loads of unlocks!

That's the thing, Vampire Crawlers refuses to let you go. It sinks its teeth into your neck and feasts away. For even though much is familiar and the similarity to Survivors is striking, Crawlers operates with entirely new tools. Forget reflexes and pixel-perfect navigation between charging hordes of monsters, here, it's all about brains, timing, and a slightly sadistic love of pushing systems to their breaking point.

The hours slip away, the day turns to mist and the numbers grow with your combo chains, all to the tune of that insidiously swaying music and a fireworks display of crackling pixels and effects. Goodness me, Poncle, what have you done... Vampire Crawlers is nothing short of outstanding and its possibilities are dizzying. Play at your own risk, for this is, if possible, even better and more polished than its predecessor.

A new Nintendo pop-up store has appeared in Central London

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:15:00 +0200

In a rather surprising turn of events, a new Nintendo pop-up store has appeared in London, with the iconic Japanese game titan taking over the Tottenham Court Road Argos location to offer up a ton of typically challenging to acquire merchandise and gear.

According to My Nintendo News, the pop-up will remain accessible for the next few months, with it regarded as the Nintendo Experience Zone and offering plushies, action figures, even tough-to-find amiibo.

This isn't the first time a pop-up store has opened in London, as one arrived in late 2025 and remains open for around three weeks. This latest development suggests that Nintendo regarded the pop-up as a success and intends to offer such stores more frequently for those living in or travelling to the British capital.

How to watch the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 today and nominations

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:12:09 +0200

The Laureus World Sports Awards, considered the 'Sports Oscars', will be handed out this evening, April 20, in Madrid. These are one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the world of sports, with seven categories celebrating the best individual athletes, teams, breakthroughs and community programmes with positive social impact.

In the sportsman of the year, Carlos Alcaraz from Spain, Ousmane Dembélé from France, Mondo Duplantis from Sweden, Marc Márquez from Spain, Tadej Pogaca from Slovenia, and Jannik Sinner from Italy are nominated.

In Sportswoman of the year, the candidates are Aitana Bonmatí from Spain, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from USA, Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, Katie Ledecky from USA, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from USA, and Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus.

How to watch the Laureus Awards 2026

The Award Ceremony, held in the Cibeles Palace in Madrid (the City Hall), will start at 20:00 CEST, 19:00 BST. In most countries in Europe, it will be broadcast through HBO Max, Eurosport or Discovery+.

Germany: Sky

France: Bein France

Italy: Sky Italia

Spain: RTVE / Teledeporte

United Kingdom and Ireland: Premier Sports

Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 nominations

Last year, Mondo Duplantis, Simone Biles and men's Real Madrid were chosen as winners in the athletes and team categories. Here's a reminder of the Laureus World Sports Awards nominees in 2026:

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

Carlos Alcaraz (tennis)

Ousmane Dembélé (football)

Mondo Duplantis (pole vault)

Marc Márquez (MotoGP)

Tadej Pogacar (cycling)

Jannik Sinner (tennis)

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year

Aitana Bonmatí (football)

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (athletics)

Faith Kipyegon (athletics)

Katie Ledecky (swimming)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (athletics)

Aryna Sabalenka (tennis)

Laureus World Team of the Year

England Women's Football Team

European Ryder Cup Team

India Women's Cricket Team

McLaren Formula 1 Team

Oklahoma City Thunder

Paris Saint-Germain

Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year

Désiré Doué (football)

João Fonseca (tennis)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (basketball)

Luke Littler (darts)

Lando Norris (motor racing)

Zidi Yu (swimming)

Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year

Yago Dora (surfing)

Kilian Jornet (mountain sports)

Chloe Kim (snowboarding)

Rayssa Leal (skateboarding)

Molly Picklum (surfing)

Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability

Gabriel Araújo (swimming)

Simone Barlaam (swimming)

David Kratochvíl (swimming)

Catherine Debrunner (athletics)

Kiara Rodríguez (athletics)

Kelsey DiClaudio (para ice hockey)

Laureus Sport for Good Award

Fútbol Mas (youth sport charity)

MindLeaps (education through dance)

Transformación Social TRASO (martial arts + therapy)

A.S.D. Gruppo Sportivo Valanga (inclusive sport)

Rugby for Good (ADHD youth rugby)

Kings County Tennis League (tennis outreach)

The Laureus World Sports Awards will be handed out in Madrid. Who do you think will win this year?

No Rest for the Wicked nears 2 million copies sold as it celebrates 2 years on the market

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:04:00 +0200

Moon Studios' No Rest for the Wicked is celebrating two years in Early Access, as it nears its console launch and 1.0 release. The top-down action-RPG might be quite unlike what Moon Studios has worked on before, considering it's best known for the Ori games, however No Rest for the Wicked has managed to find itself a significant audience.

Recently, the game celebrated 1.5 million copies sold, and it now has another update on that figure, telling us in a new Steam post the number has jumped to 1.7 million.

"It's been TWO YEARS since No Rest for the Wicked entered Early Access. Since then, this game has grown and evolved in ways we could only pull off because of you. 1.7 million copies sold, and counting. You've supported us, challenged us, and pushed us to do better. That's exactly how we like it. We're hard at work toward 1.0. And console players, we haven't forgotten you," reads the post. We still don't have that all-important 1.0 launch date, but with two years spent in Early Access, we imagine it's not far off from now.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero reveals new Super Limit Breaking Neo DLC coming this summer

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:25:00 +0200

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero already has a lot of characters, but at the beginning of the year Spike Chunsoft and Bandai Namco let us know that the roster would be growing even further with new DLC coming to the game. Now, we have a more in-depth trailer showcasing more of the new features, including glimpses at stages, Super Moves, game modes, and more.

In the trailer, we see characters from Dragon Ball's past, present, and future are all being added to the game, as Spike Chunsoft is bringing 30 more fighters as part of the new Super Limit Breaking Neo DLC. It also adds a new battle system, which will be free for all players when the paid DLC releases.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero certainly has its problems, especially as a competitive fighter, but it is a lot of fun for players wanting to feel like they're in a proper Dragon Ball-style fight. Luckily, it's not going to be the only experience offering that soon, as we've also got the new Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 coming next year.

Carlos Alcaraz's injury may be more serious than expected: Roland Garros is at risk

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:14:31 +0200

Carlos Alcaraz withdrew after one match from the Barcelona Open last week due to a wrist injury that was "more serious than expected", will not play the Madrid Open in the next two weeks, and the pressure mounts on him as he is the defending champion in the Italian Open and Roland Garros... but may not be physically ready for either tournament.

Feliciano López, the director of the Mutua Madrid Open, spoke with Onda Cero radio station in Spain and warned that the Spaniard's injury may be worse than expected, and he may even miss Roland Garros. "The emotional blow of not having Carlos is tough, but the one who's really screwed is him. A tennis player's wrist is complicated, I hope the tendon isn't ruptured", he explained.

"He won't be in Madrid, Rome seems almost impossible to me, and I hope he'll be ready for Roland Garros" he explained.

Alcaraz's absence from Madrid and possibly for Rome too will help Jannik Sinner to further extend his leadership in the ATP ranking, as he is the top seed of the ATP Masters 1,000.

Authentically James Bond: Check out the title sequence for 007 First Light featuring Lana Del Ray's song

ben@gamereactor.eu (Ben Lyons) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:07:00 +0200

When it comes to making any James Bond experience, there are certain elements that must be preserved and reflected. Martinis can only be shaken and not stirred, a Walther PPK must be the weapon of choice, and ideally an Aston Martin is the chosen car. But there are also a few creative elements that lesser reflect the persona and character of 007 himself, namely that the project must kick off with a stylish opening sequence accompanied by an original song.

During the BAFTA Games Awards, we got our first taste of this very title sequence for IO Interactive's highly anticipated 007 First Light, with this opening video being where we can find Lana Del Ray's original song, known as "First Light" and co-written by Bond veteran David Arnold, being performed too.

If you've ever seen a Bond film, you'll feel right at home watching this opening sequence that feels as glitzy and glamorous as the theatrical offerings. You can see it below, and as for when 007 First Light will actually debut, the launch is planned for May 27 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with Switch 2 to follow at a later date due to a recent delay.

Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior - Does it hold up?

alex@gamereactor.eu (Alex Hopley) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0200

There's not really another Warhammer 40,000 game like Fire Warrior. Releasing back in September 2003, it didn't star Space Marines, at least not as the protagonists, and is one of the few 40k games not to feature the Imperium as the "good guys." In fact, it starts by positioning them as the villains, as they wreak havoc on a peaceful Tau world, forcing our protagonist, the eponymous Fire Warrior, into action.

Fire Warrior released when the Tau were new, when Warhammer 40,000 was still finding its feet in terms of lore, and when Games Workshop was pushing into new and exciting genres outside of top-down strategy games. It's a game so dated in its lore that it even gives you a warning before you play about inaccuracies, like the first D&D episode of Community or the episode of Mad Men where John Slattery shows an offensive fondness for shoe polish. Except, instead of untimely racism, Fire Warrior has such wild lore that it's almost the opposite of a great introduction to the setting. Despite that, I loved hopping back into this old-school shooter, warts and all.

Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior came at quite a strange time in my life. I wasn't old enough to be playing games when it first released, and so I picked it up some time later, about 2008, if memory serves, for my PS2 when I was first getting into Warhammer. I didn't know much about anything, but I found the action to be reminiscent of my first real video game, which was Halo 3. I don't think it's fair to say that Kuju Entertainment's shooter was on a par with Bungie, but the simplicity of going to one place, shooting all the baddies, then heading to another was just as satisfying playing as a blue alien as it was for little Alex running around as a Spartan.

Fire Warrior is like a very primitive Boltgun, really. We play as a massively overpowered hero. Seriously, in Fire Warrior it feels even more ridiculous how capable your character is compared to how strong they should be given lore constraints. We take down Chaos Space Marines, Dreadnoughts, and even fight a Titan in the game. It's not got the pace of Boltgun's shooting, nor the variety in its arsenal of available weaponry, but there's a boomer shooter charm with Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior that's hard to shake, especially if you've played it before.

If you haven't played Fire Warrior before, then that's where it might be harder to recommend compared to other boomer shooters out there these days. It's well-known for many reasons, some of which are still causing gripes with players to this day. The level design is quite hit or miss, and once you reach the Chaos sections of the game, it can become a real slog. The damage of your guns feels like it stagnates later into the game, and you'll go from mowing down unarmoured humans to fighting for your life against later enemies. It's representative of the lore, I guess, but it makes the gameplay experience one that goes from effortless, nostalgic fun to a reminder why new games have evolved from this traditional shooter formula. The keyboard and mouse bindings are also a bit strange, and the game doesn't actually tell you what key does which action, even in the tutorial. It's easy enough to use WSAD to walk and the mouse to shoot, but I did spend a minute or two in the video above finding the grenade key.

As for modern optimisation, Fire Warrior ran fine on my Windows 11 PC. No major crashes or bugs, but you don't really get to configure much with the game. It's incredibly loud when you start it, so much so that explosions were vibrating through my headphones. If you like the game as it is, then that's great, but if you did want to tweak the overall experience, especially given this is part of the newly branded, refreshed Warhammer Classics label, then you might want to look at some other games.

With all that said, does Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior hold up? Well, yes and no. It's a game that doesn't really have an equal in the Warhammer 40,000 video game roster. Games Workshop doesn't really make games with alien protagonists anymore, especially not Tau. We also don't tend to see a lot of first-person shooters in the Warhammer world. So, Fire Warrior definitely feels like a one-of-a-kind experience. It's got that old shooter charm, too. Characters dash about, die without being hit by a bullet, and roar the same two lines at you before falling in one of three death animations. It can at times turn Fire Warrior into more of a slapstick comedy than a serious shooter, but it sure as hell can provide a good laugh, and kept a smile on my face throughout my short time with the game.

Where it doesn't succeed is clear. The game isn't a masterpiece that's been lying in wait for 20 years to show everyone how a shooter really does it. The level design is a bit off, the scaling of the difficulty gets ridiculous, and as I said it's not really a great introduction to the lore or setting because so much has changed since. Perhaps this is one more for existing fans, who either didn't get the chance to play Fire Warrior when it came out, or want to revisit it for nostalgia's sake. Someone entirely new to the setting will probably find a few flaws with this boomer shooter, but if you can put them out of your mind for an 8-hour campaign, you'll be sure to have a good time with Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior.

Record harvest in Brazil causes coffee prices to plummet worldwide

jonas@gamereactor.eu (Jonas Mäki) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0200

Many of us have watched in despair as prices have risen at an unreasonable pace for many years. Even though the worst increases seem to have slowed down somewhat in most parts of the world, prices aren't falling; instead, they're stabilizing at new, higher levels. But now there's at least some news offering a small (and tasty) ray of hope.

SVT reports that coffee prices are expected to drop quite significantly this year. The reason is lower raw material prices for coffee beans following a record-breaking coffee harvest in Brazil, with Vietnam also reporting the same. Rebecca Widegren, pricing manager at the Swedish retail chain Coop, says that "no upcoming storms or drastically changed weather conditions" are expected that could worsen the situation, and we can therefore look forward to a price drop of between 8-10% on the global market this year and further declines in early 2027.

It will take time for the full price reduction to take effect, as all coffee currently in stores was produced at the old prices. Only once the entire inventory has been replaced with newly produced coffee can we expect to save a significant amount on this elixir of life.

PSG's loss to Lyon means that Ligue 1 title race with Lens is still wide open

javier@gamereactor.eu (Javier Escribano) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:41:00 +0200

Paris Saint-Germain remain favourites for the Ligue 1 title, a title they have won 11 times in the last 13 editions, but it has not been smooth sailing for the team led by Luis Enrique, and trouble continues after being defeated at home by Lyon last Sunday, 2-1, with goals by Endrick and Moreira in the first 18 minutes. The defeat means the PSG leads the league with 63 points, only one more than Lens (62 points), with four matchdays remaining.

A similar case to the Premier League with Arsenal and Manchester City? Well, in this case PSG has a bigger edge, as they have a game in hand, a delayed match at home against Nantes (second from the bottom) that will be played on Wednesday, April 22.

If PSG wins that match, the lead will become four points, although they cannot afford any other slip like yesterday's, especially because there is still a direct match between Lens and PSG (played at Lens' stadium), delayed very controversially from Matchday 29, to be played on May 13, only four days before the unified final matchday on May 17.

If PSG fails to win on Wednesday, Lens would have the chance to win the league and accomplish a huge upset if they win all of their remaining games. PSG (who may miss Vitinha due to injury for the next days) has the added pressure of playing the Champions League semi-finals with Bayern Munich in the next two weeks, while RC Lens will play the French Cup semi-finals with Toulouse on Tuesday, April 21 (a competition where PSG was eliminated already).