Technology

The first time I encountered mesh Wi-Fi was when I went to university. One Wi-Fi password, but no matter where you roamed on campus you'll stay connected. I've always thought of mesh networks as enterprise technology that you need an IT department to handle, but then router makers figured out how to make mesh easy enough for mere mortals.

Grand Theft Auto VI is one of the most anticipated video games ever, and is quickly becoming one of the most prematurely hacked games ever, too.

Originally reported by Hackread and The Cybersec Guru, the prominent hacker group ShinyHunters claimed it had hacked GTA developer Rockstar Games over the weekend. The group said it was in possession of valuable data, and set a deadline of Tuesday, April 14 for Rockstar to pay up, lest the data be released to the public.

“Rockstar Games, your Snowflake instances were compromised thanks to Anodot.com. Pay or leak," ShinyHunters said in a statement on Saturday. "This is a final warning to reach out by 14 Apr 2026 before we leak, along with several annoying (digital) problems that’ll come your way. Make the right decision, don’t be the next headline.”

SEE ALSO: 'Pragmata' proves a great game only needs one great idea

However, Rockstar is framing things a little differently. In a statement to Kotaku, the company downplayed concerns about the material in question.

“We can confirm that a limited amount of non-material company information was accessed in connection with a third-party data breach," Rockstar said. "This incident has no impact on our organization or our players.”

Reports indicate the hack was focused less on personal data and more on corporate assets. In other words, it doesn't seem like player information is at stake here (as Rockstar said), but things like marketing materials could see the light of day before Rockstar intended.

If ShinyHunters sounds familiar, that's because the group was also responsible for major hacks of Salesforce and Bumble in recent years.

As for GTA VI, Rockstar had to do damage control after a major hack revealed some game details ahead of time, all the way back in 2022. With the game set for release in November of this year, hopefully, the leaks will end one way or another soon.

Save 38%: The Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is on sale at Amazon for $111.52, bringing the gaming headphones down to their lowest price ever — if you pick up the Mercury White colorway. All said, you'll save $68.47 on the usually $179.99 headphones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro $111.52 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $68.47   Get Deal

Gaming peripherals don't have to be overtly ugly, and cute gaming peripherals don't have to be overly expensive.

If you've ever prioritized making your gaming setup cute, those are two statements that have probably felt dubiously true at times. This is not one of those times. As of April 13, the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro headphones are on sale for $111.52, knocking nearly $70 off their price point, putting them in line with other mid-range priced gaming headphones, and down to their lowest price ever, according to the price tracker camelcamelcamel. At the time of writing, the deal only applies to the Mercury White colorway of the headphones — the black and pink versions are both priced at $159.99.

SEE ALSO: We found the pink cat ear headphones Beyoncé wore in her viral Verizon commercial

The V3 Pro line looks adorable, yes, but it also offers a ton of functionality as a higher-end pair of gaming headphones. You'll get three modes of connectivity, between the wired USB-A connection, Bluetooth 5.3, or a 2.4 GHz connection. On the sound front, these headphones are equipped with 40mm drivers and spatial audio, offering a well-rounded (and adjustable) soundscape to tailor to your gaming experience. And for another point on the aesthetics front, they have RBG lighting.

If you're determined to spend below $100 on your gaming headphones (or you really want pink ones), Woot has the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro headphones on sale for $99.99.

SAVE 38%: As of April 13, you can get the Roborock Qrevo Series QV 35A robot vacuum and mop for $399.99 at Amazon, down from $649.99. That's a 38% discount or $250 savings.

Roborock Qrevo Series QV 35A $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon

Mashable's vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, has been reviewing Roborock's newest flagship robot vacuums, and they did not disappoint. But those premium models can run you anywhere from $850 to $1,000.

If you want a thorough clean without dropping nearly a grand, the Roborock QV 35A is a great alternative. Right now, Amazon has it marked down to $399.99. That's a 38% discount or a $250 price cut.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 30+ robot vacuum and mop combos, including CES 2026 models. Here are the top 5 to buy.

It uses 8000Pa of HyperForce suction to pull dirt and pet hair out of your rugs and corners. (If you're a pet owner, you'll be happy to hear that there's a full-rubber main brush and an SGS-certified side brush with a 0 percent hair-tangling rate.) It also tackles hard floors with dual spinning mops that rotate at 200RPM, and it auto-lifts 10mm when it detects carpet so you don't end up soaking your rugs.

The all-in-one docking station is automatic, too. It empties the vacuum's dustbin into a sealed bag that lasts up to nine weeks. It also refills the water tank, washes the dirty mopping pads, and air-dries them.

If an app icon appears on my desktop—ZAP! Gone. I now even hide my taskbar so that nothing greets me but a pristine wallpaper and my open apps. I don't plan to be less vigilant any time soon.

The sun is out, the birds are singing, and the wildlife is buzzing with plenty of activity, which puts me in the mood for some action-packed streaming entertainment to watch this week.

SAVE $370.01: The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $428.99, down from the list price of $799. That works out to a 46% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $428.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $370.01   Get Deal

I've tested dozens of portable power stations and while plenty of them get the job done, there are a handful that have stood out as exceptional models. These are the models I reach for in power outages, for using in the yard, and for heading out on camping adventures. One of my favorite models I've ever tested is currently at a nice sale price from Amazon.

As of April 13, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $428.99, marked down from the list price of $799. That's a 46% discount that takes $370.01 off the price.

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is like your favorite comfort meal. It satiates on every level on any day, and you don't get tired of it. It's more or less perfect. The C1000 Gen 2 simply does an excellent job at what it's designed to do, and it skips anything flashy or unnecessary. It offers a solid 1,024Wh of battery life, weighs under 25 pounds, and recharging in record-breaking time.

SEE ALSO: Get ready for camping season with the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 while it's over half off

Peak output on the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 reached 3,000W and it had no issue pouring shots from the beefy (and not very portable) De'Longhi La Specialista Touch Espresso Machine I used when testing it out. Anker put five AC ports on the Gen 2, three USB-C, and one USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports can output 140W.

One of the major reasons I reach for the Solix C1000 Gen 2 time and time again is its quick recharging ability. Anker won a Guinness World Record for the power station's ability to recharge fully in just 49 minutes. That means you can pretty much forget to recharge it, begin packing up the car for camping, plug it in, and have it near 100% by the time you drive off.

While you're busy making campsite reservations for the rest of spring and summer, upgrade your setup with the Solix C1000 Gen 2. Today's sale price of $428.99 is the lowest we've seen in 2026 so this is a great time to snatch up one of my favorite power stations for camping.

Tesla is bidding farewell to the Model S and X with ultra-limited editions for both. The car giant is making Signature Series versions of the Model S and X Plaid with unique trim that will help them stand out in an already rarified EV category.

Save $120: As of April 13, you can grab the Beelink SER5 MAX 7735HS mini PC with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for just $539, thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon. Usually, this mini PC costs $659, so this deal saves you 18%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beelink Beelink SER5 MAX 7735HS mini PC (AMD Ryzen 7, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $539 at Amazon
$659.01 Save $120.01   Get Deal

Despite its security flaws, OpenClaw's popularity as an open-source AI assistant has catapulted it to proper viral status (at least, within the AI community). While many users were running to pick up Mac Minis to run the assistant, the Apple computer isn't exactly at its cheapest right now.

Don't get us wrong — you can catch the Mac Mini on sale from time to time. But as of April 13, the $599 regular M4 version is unavailable at Amazon, and the more expensive M4 Pro model will run you $1,419.99 — not exactly the most cost effective solution.

SEE ALSO: Claude subscribers will now have to pay extra to use OpenClaw

Our advice? Check out other mini PCs on the market. At the time of writing, the Beelink SER5 MAX 7735HS mini PC with AMD Ryzen 7, 24GB RAM, and 1TB SSD is on sale for $539 with an on-page coupon, knocking $120 off its usual $659. Even when the M4 Mac mini is available, it can be harder to find it below $549, making this an especially competitive price for the Beelink PC.

Just a note: its important to be aware of the security risks that come with using this open source AI tool. And if you're already using OpenClaw, be sure to update to the latest version immediately.

Slate Auto, the EV startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has raised $650 million in a Series C funding round that will help launch its affordable, modular pickup truck in late 2026.

It's a quieter week for new movies on streaming compared to last week's lineup, which included Thrash and Outcome. However, there are still some noteworthy releases in the U.S., especially on Netflix and Prime Video. Our top pick of the week stars the daughter of Adam Sandler, who produces and appears in a smaller role.

The best Apple deals this week, at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 (save $150) Shop Now Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $646.50 (save $52.50) Shop Now Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal

With no major sale or holiday on our radar, it's surprising how many Apple deals we found this week. If you're looking to save some money on a new MacBook, iPad, or set of AirPods, don't head to the Apple Store. You'll never find markdowns on new Apple products directly from the brand; hate it or love it, Amazon is the best place to shop for Apple discounts.

We hunted for the best prices across MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPads, and more to find the best deals to shop this week. Surprisingly, nearly every iteration of the M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and M5 Max MacBook Pro is down to a new record-low, beating its Big Spring Sale price from last month. AirPods and iPad deals are a bit more tame, but there are still savings to be had. We've rounded up all the best Apple deals below for the week of April 13, 2026.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple just dropped its latest MacBook Air last month, featuring an upgraded processor and a new wireless chip. It's technically already $100 cheaper than its predecessor with the same storage capacity, but this discount saves you an extra $150 on top of that. Now $949 for the base model, it's down to its lowest price since launch, inching it into more budget-friendly territory.

Besides the speedier processor and the N1 wireless chip, which brings support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, it's kind of a boring upgrade. It still features the same 60Hz Liquid Retina display, 18-hour battery life, 12MP Center Stage webcam, and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports. Thus, it's not an essential upgrade unless you're rocking a MacBook that's a few generations outdated.

More MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,399 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,549 $1,699 (save $150)

MacBook Neo deals

• Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $689.99 $699 (save $9.01)

MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,580 $1,699 (save $119)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799 $1,899 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,049 $2,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,449 $2,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,549 $2,699 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,649 $2,799 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,049 $3,099 (save $50)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,449 $3,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,699 $3,899 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 48GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $4,199 $4,399 (save $200)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The third-generation AirPods Pro are the best AirPods yet. Mashable's reviewer called them "without a doubt, one of the best products of the year" in 2025. They feature even better noise cancellation, about eight hours of battery life with ANC turned on, and new foam-infused tips with five different sizes to choose from for the ultimate comfort. They also now offer heart rate monitoring tech (a la the Powerbeats Pro 2), Fitness app compatibility, and live translation. At $199.99, they're not quite the cheapest they've ever been, but still a much better value than buying at full price.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $10)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $154.99 $179 (save $24.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) — $429.99 $549 (save $119.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen) — $529.99 $549 (save $19.01)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $646.50 at Amazon
$699 Save $52.50   Get Deal Why we like it

The M4 iPad Air arrived last month alongside a slew of new Apple products and it's quite the powerhouse. Mashable's tech editor took it for a test drive and writes, "It delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet," adding that it's almost too impressive for the average user. Still, we think it's the best iPad for most people. Every iteration of the 11-inch and 13-inch model is on sale, but we highlighted the 256GB 11-inch model, as it saves you $12.50 more than the base storage option.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 256GB) — $569.84 $599 (save $29.16)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) — $749 $849 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $749 $799 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $839 $899 (save $60)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $839 $899 (save $60)

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $946 $999 (save $53)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,016.50 $1,099 (save $82.50)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) — $249 $279 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) — $269 $299 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) — $299 $329 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $429 $529 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) — $699.99 $799 (save $99.01)

Apple accessory deals

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $68.99 $79 (save $10.01)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

SAVE 30%: As of April 13, you can get the DJI Mini 4K for $209, down from $299, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount or $90 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K $209 at Amazon
$299 Save $90   Get Deal

My dad and my cousin are obsessed with drones, so I've spent enough time watching them fly to know two things: the really good ones are usually very expensive, and they're easy to crash if you don't know what you're doing (and sometimes, even if you do!).

If you've been wanting to get into the hobby without the steep learning curve (or the high price tag), this DJI model is a great place to start. Right now, the DJI Mini 4K is listed at $299, but if you clip the on-page coupon, it drops to $209.

SEE ALSO: DJI Mic 3 review: Ease and versatility for semi-pro producers

Despite its tiny size, this drone has the practical features you need to get in the air quickly. It has a 4K Ultra HD camera paired with a 3-axis gimbal to keep your footage smooth and cinematic. Because it weighs under 249 grams, you don't have to worry about FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. It also has a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, Level 5 wind resistance (stable in winds up to 38kph), and a 10km video transmission range.

If you're worried about flying it into a tree or the ocean, it features one-tap takeoff and landing, stable hovering, and a GPS Return to Home (RTH) function, so you don't have to panic if you lose it. It even comes with intelligent QuickShots modes that automatically fly the drone in cinematic patterns to get you professional-looking shots with just a few taps (which could be good if you're a real estate agent or photographer!).

The art of partitioning system drives seems to have all but died. Yes, your PC probably has a partitioned drive, but you're probably not the one who partitioned it. Your laptop's manufacturer and the operating system you've installed probably made a few for system and restoration purposes, but as far as I can tell most computer users these days don't make disk partitions.

SAVE $404.03: The Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is on sale at Amazon for $394.97, down from the list price of $799. That's a 51% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 100 V2 $394.97 at Amazon
$799 Save $404.03   Get Deal

Memorial Day weekend will be here in just over a month. After that, we'll officially be in summer camping season. If you've been hearing about portable power stations and how useful they can be at the campground but don't own one yet, consider this sale your sign.

As of April 13, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is on sale at Amazon for $394.97, marked down from the normal price of $799. That's a 51% discount that takes $404.03 off the price.

Packing in 1,024Wh, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is well worth bringing along on your next weekend away. It'll be able to recharge phones, laptops, drone batteries, camping lights, and keep the coffee pot running each morning.

SEE ALSO: The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is $600 off at Amazon — this deal includes solar panels for less

Bluetti equipped this model with four standard AC ports, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. Plus, it only weighs about 25 pounds so it'll be portable enough to carry around the campsite. It's also a relatively quiet model, operating at about 30 decibels, which will be nice if you're using it to power up a CPAP machine at night.

With 45 minutes of standard wall AC recharging, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 will go from 0 to 80% charge in about 45 minutes. A full charge should take around 70 minutes. You can also connect the Elite 100 V2 to up to 1,000W of solar power for recharging. With that input, expect to get a full recharge in about 70 minutes.

Before you head off on the next camping adventure, upgrade you setup with the Bluetti Elite 100 V2. It's down to an incredibly affordable price of under $395. That's nearly as good as it gets for a power station in the 1K Wh range.

Merging cells in Excel is a trap—it can disrupt your spreadsheet's structure and make simple tasks like sorting pretty much impossible. Center Across Selection is the superior choice, and a simple macro lets you pin it to your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).

If you're new to Android Auto, you might think that Google Maps and Spotify are all you really need. But there are a handful of other programs that can enhance your driving experience. Whether you're doing your daily commute or embarking on a long road trip, these Android Auto apps will make the journey a lot easier.

The best TV deals to shop this week at a glance: LG 55-inch Class OLED B5 4K TV $799.99 at Amazon (save $700) Get Deal Samsung 75-inch Class QLED Q7F 4K TV $567.99 at Amazon (save $432) Get Deal Hisense 85-inch Class U8 4K TV $1,499.99 at Amazon (save $2,000) Get Deal

You deserve some time to relax. Chill out on the couch with a great show, play a classic Mario game, or watch this weekend's best baseball games. But are you really gonna do this on your tiny phone or a handheld device? You deserve something bigger. Give those squinting eyes a break and spend some time with a great TV. If your current TV isn't doing its intended job anymore, it might be time for an upgrade.

Thankfully, the world of TVs hasn't seen a wild price increase like some other categories have in recent years. You can still snag great deals on a new, high-end TV that'll work well for years. And if we break down the time spent watching TV, it might be well worth the investment.

I've scanned the best TV deals at Amazon this week to find the sales worth shopping. Some models come from our favorite TV brands and shave big money off the normal price. It's worth mentioning Amazon has inaccurately noted several list prices on these TVs compared to their accurate MSRP as listed by the brand. We've noted the correct savings on each model based on the brand's own list price.

Here are some deals worth shopping this week if you're looking to upgrade your TV this spring.

Best LG deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch Class OLED B5 4K TV $799.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $700   Get Deal Why we like it

Not every room needs a massive TV. A great 55-inch model could be perfect in your bedroom, living room, or the kids' room. Today's deal on the LG 55-inch Class OLED B5 4K TV takes $700 off compared to the list price at LG. This model uses LG's Alpha 8 AI processor that automatically adjust the picture and sound quality to give you the best experience possible. The OLED display focuses on giving off perfect blacks and bright contrast colors, using over 8.3 billion self-lit smart pixels. Plus, it comes with the LG Ultimate Game Play functions with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Best Samsung deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-inch Class QLED Q7F 4K TV $567.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $432   Get Deal Why we like it

Down to a record-low price at Amazon, the Samsung 75-inch Class QLED Q7F 4K TV uses 4K upscaling to give a great image. A 75-inch TV from front-runner Samsung that's on sale for under $568 is something worth paying attention to. This 2025 model uses Samsung's supersize picture enhancer that ensures the larger pixels on such a large display stay clear and crips with excellent contrast.

You also get access to Samsung TV Plus which contains over 2,700 channels of premium TV. Amazon is also tossing in one month of free access to Xbox GamePass for new users and free delivery into the room of your choice and unpacking.

Best Hisense deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch Class U8 4K TV $1,499.99 at Amazon
$3,499.99 Save $2,000.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Ready to go big? TVs in the 85-inch and up range tend to come with eye-watering prices. That's why we're thrilled to see the Hisense 85-inch Class U8 4K TV down to a record-low price at Amazon of $1,499.99.

Perfect for larger living rooms or rec rooms, the Hisense shines with up to 5,000 Nits of brightness and an impressive 165Hz refresh rate. That means it'll be a great gaming TV for your favorite titles. If you tend to watch TV during bright hours, the addition of the Anti-Reflection Pro coating will help with distracting reflections. This model is also certified by the IMAX corporation should you want to watch some of Hollywood's greatest films at home.

It's been a long time coming for Pragmata. Capcom's new sci-fi third-person shooter first debuted with a memorably vague trailer during a showcase of PS5 games — before the PS5 even came out — then entered a prolonged period of radio silence. Three or four years ago, you could've convinced me the project was canceled, as so many new-console-showcase games often are.

However, almost six years later, Pragmata is here, it's real, and it kicks ass.

The action game gurus at Capcom have crafted another inventive, tightly designed, and (in this instance) surprisingly heartfelt adventure that stands out in a world where so many big-budget games seemingly want you to never play anything else. Pragmata doesn't have a long bullet-point list of features; instead, it stretches one unique gameplay hook to the extreme for no more than 10 to 12 hours.

Between its excellent hacking-based combat and touchingly sincere interactions between its two protagonists, Pragmata has a real argument as being one of the best recent games in Capcom's portfolio, and that's no small thing if you've been keeping up with Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and the like over the last seven or eight years.

SEE ALSO: 4 things I really want from the rumored 'Zelda: Ocarina of Time' remake (and a couple I don't) Meet Hugh and Diana. You'll love them. Pragmata is a great game to look at. Credit: Capcom

For almost all of Pragmata's story, there are two characters with speaking roles. It's a good thing they're both easy to love.

Players step into the spacesuit boots of Hugh Williams, an exceedingly normal man sent to a futuristic moon base called the Cradle on a repair mission, only to find that the Cradle's entire human staff has been exterminated by angry 3D-printed robots who nominally exist for maintenance and assistance purposes. After the rest of Hugh's repair crew unceremoniously eats it within the first 20 minutes of the game's story, Hugh meets up with a mysterious little robot girl named Diana, who spends the rest of Pragmata riding around on his shoulders as the two try to escape the Cradle and get back to Earth.

Pragmata's story has some twists and turns, many of them predictable if you pay any attention to the various text and audio logs left behind by the former human crew of the Cradle. It's a perfectly fine excuse to romp through a cool moon base full of 3D-printed architecture and freaky robots, but it's unlikely to win any narrative awards at the end of the year. That's fine, though, because the story's main purpose is linking Hugh and Diana together, giving Pragmata some real emotional juice it wouldn't have otherwise.

This is a standout environment in a game with plenty of those. Credit: Capcom

Over the past 10-ish years, video games have been plagued by stories about sad dads learning to become regular people by virtue of having to escort and protect kids through some perilous journey. The Last of Us and Sony's recent God of War reboot games come to mind. Pragmata could have easily fallen down this same hole, but instead, its writers made the gloriously correct decision to give Hugh and Diana more of an uncle/niece relationship instead. Their conversations can be playful and goofy as often as they are sincere and emotional, and Hugh seems to delight in being able to teach Diana (who has never been to Earth) what it's like to live on the human homeworld as they traipse through artificial facsimiles of Earth-like environments.

I'm especially fond of the 3D-printed Times Square environment that's been shown off in various trailers, but rest assured that Pragmata has plenty of environmental variety despite its setting, and it all looks gorgeous and runs flawlessly on a PS5 Pro.

Anyway, most importantly, Hugh is not some traumatized, damaged, sad bastard who needs a child to fill an emotional void in his heart like Joel or Kratos. His backstory isn't entirely pleasant, but for the most part, he's a nice guy who's had a pretty good life full of people who love him, and he's fully aware of that. Hugh spends much of Pragmata extolling the virtues of human love and companionship to Diana, which I found refreshingly positive compared to the overwhelming misanthropy of something like The Last of Us.

All of that characterization manages to transcend what is otherwise a fairly standard sci-fi story, coming to a head in an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Hack, shoot, and dash your way to freedom The hacking minigame in its most basic form. Credit: Capcom

Pragmata's narrative elements elevate the experience, to be sure, but they are not the reason why I think you should play it. Rather, I think you should play Pragmata because the part where you fight robots is as fun and clever as any third-person shooter has been in the past few years.

If you haven't been following along (there's a free demo on every platform that you should check out), Pragmata is a shooter where your guns don't really hurt enemies by default. Their robotic exoskeletons are nearly impervious to conventional weaponry, which is where Diana comes in. She uses her android powers to hack enemies, causing them to expose weak points that Hugh can then shoot.

This is done through a simple hacking minigame that accompanies the shooting. When you aim at an enemy, a grid will appear on screen that you navigate through using the four face buttons. The idea is to navigate through beneficial hacking nodes while avoiding harmful ones on the way to a final "complete hack" node, all in real-time as enemies are coming towards Hugh with ill intent. Put more simply, you're completing a little maze on-screen while also trying to avoid and shoot bad guys.

You might think that adding one additional layer to what is otherwise a pretty normal-feeling shooter wouldn't be that big of a deal, but you'd be wrong. The developers at Capcom manage to wring everything they can out of this hacking minigame, as the player gradually unlocks new nodes with different effects, a gauge that builds up with each successful hack that you can expend on more powerful hacks, and some other fun abilities I won't spoil.

Pragmata also has a ton of enemy variety, so while you're just trying to shoot humanoids in the head at the start of the game, combat strategy becomes significantly more interesting and dynamic by the end.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention there's a cool robot who wears a hat. Credit: Capcom

In practice, Pragmata takes what works about recent Resident Evil combat (namely, the tension of carefully aiming at weak points as enemies slowly, ominously trudge towards you), adds all of this fun hacking nonsense, and even adds an acrobatic dash function to the mix. It culminates in something that is extremely fun to do from the very first fight until the final confrontation.

It's also got multiple satisfying upgrade systems that benefit from careful exploration, as secret areas throughout the world are usually filled with exceptionally useful rewards. Pragmata is generally pretty linear, but paying attention to hidden nooks and crannies is every bit as important here as it is in any recent RE game.

I could keep going on about how cool it feels to do a slow-motion perfect dash out of the way of a big boss attack, complete a hack in mid-air, and bombard its weak point with ultra-crunchy space shotgun blasts, but really, you should see it for yourself. Pragmata makes quality use of all its systems, rewards experimentation with different kinds of builds and weapons, and its best challenges ask you to incorporate everything you've learned along the way. I can't really ask for much more out of a great action game.

Well, there is one small thing: It can be kind of hard to wrap your head around hacking when there are lots of enemies on screen. Sometimes, simply locking onto the right one can be a bit of a chore in those circumstances. It's not a big deal, but if the game has one flaw in its combat, it's that.

Pragmata isn't super long, but it makes an impact

I was able to finish Pragmata in about eight hours, but a completionist mindset might stretch that out to 12 to 15 at most. If I have one real complaint about Pragmata beyond its occasionally muddled group combat scenarios and somewhat utilitarian story, it's that I do wish there was just a little more of it. It's less that the game is too short and more that it's so good that I was sad when it was over.

But maybe that's alright. In a world of Crimson Desert-like games that try to do everything at once, maybe we need more experiences like Pragmata. The world of big-budget games would definitely benefit from smaller-scale games with extremely tight, focused design like this. Pragmata was clearly the product of one great idea, and everything that's great about it can be traced back to it.

That's all a game needs.

Roblox has been popular with kids for a very long time, but some of those kids might soon get locked out of their favorite content.

That's because the popular online game creation and sharing tool is rolling out specific, age-gated accounts for younger users in early June, per an official press release. The move is part of a larger push to improve safety on Roblox, after the company faced backlash and legal action for allegedly failing to protect young users from child predators lurking on the platform.

The new accounts are called Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, with the former existing for users between the ages of 5 and 8, and the latter for users between 9 and 16. Roblox Kids accounts can only play games with "Minimal" or "Mild" content ratings, while Select accounts can access "Moderate" games. Chat is also off by default for Kids accounts and "gradually introduced with safeguards" for Select accounts.

SEE ALSO: A parent's guide to keeping kids safe on Roblox

Roblox will enforce all of this in one of two ways: Either users will submit to an age verification system, or linked parental accounts will set an age for the child's account. Anyone who refuses to submit to an age check will automatically be placed into a Kids account.

According to a Roblox spokesperson, age verification will be done through a company called Persona. All images and videos used for age verification are deleted, and as a European company, Persona is GDPR compliant. Roblox said that it will track an account's age over time, so anyone who ages out of a Kids or Select account in real life will also age out of it in the game.

It should also be noted that Roblox will only let Kids and Select accounts play games that have been vetted through a three-step program that includes ID verification for the developers and a pass through Roblox's moderation system.

Even with the potential for privacy problems related to age verification, all of this is arguably overdue for Roblox. As Mashable has covered in the past, Roblox started adopting more safety measures a couple of years ago. However, these tools often required active parental involvement, rather than restricting access for young users across the board.

Age verification critics warn that the practice can be a threat to both privacy and freedom of speech.

UPDATE: Apr. 13, 2026, 12:51 p.m. EDT Updated with additional information about age verification.

SEE ALSO: What would ethical age verification look like online?