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TL;DR: Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Six Nations is a special competition. Want to see incredible speed and skill from supremely talented athletes? Check out the Six Nations. Want to experience intense passion from heated rivalries? The Six Nations offers that in abundance. Enjoy the sight of absolutely huge men smashing into each other at speed? Yep, the Six Nations is for you.

It's a tournament like no other, and fans can follow all the action from the latest edition without spending anything. If you want to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Six Nations?

The Six Nations Championship is an annual international men's rugby union competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Each team plays every other team once, with home ground advantage alternating from one year to the next.

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The current champions are France. England and Wales have won the competition most often (39 titles).

When is the 2026 Six Nations?

The 2026 Six Nations Championship is the 132nd edition of the competition. This year's competition will take place from Feb. 5 to March 14. Here's the full schedule of games:

• France vs. Ireland — 8:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 5 (ITV)

• Italy vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (BBC)

• England vs. Wales — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 7 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Italy — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)

• Scotland vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14 (ITV)

• Wales vs. France — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 15 (BBC)

• England vs. Ireland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (ITV)

• Wales vs. Scotland — 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 21 (BBC)

• France vs. Italy — 3:10 p.m. GMT on Feb. 22 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Wales — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 6 (ITV)

• Scotland vs. France — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 7 (BBC)

• Italy vs. England — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 7 (ITV)

• Ireland vs. Scotland — 2:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)

• Wales vs. Italy — 4:40 p.m. GMT on March 14 (BBC)

• France vs. England — 8:10 p.m. GMT on March 14 (ITV)

Fans can watch every game from the 2026 Six Nations without spending anything.

How to watch the 2026 Six Nations for free

The 2026 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

BBC iPlayer and ITVX are both geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the UK. This quick and easy action makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer and ITVX by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX

5. Stream the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer or ITVX without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to all your favorite free streaming platforms, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Six Nations?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be an absolutely huge year for sport. Sure, the World Cup is probably the biggest event on the calendar. But there are so many other massive moments to get excited about. And there's really no need to wait, because the action starts early in 2026.

The 2026 Winter Olympics is kicking things off in February with a host of top events including alpine skiing, ice hockey, bobsleigh, snowboarding, and so much more. You can stay warm and dry whilst the best of the best compete for medals in the cold. And better yet, you can follow all the action from Lombardy without spending anything.

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If you want to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Winter Olympics?

The Winter Olympics is a major international event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice.

Eight sports and 16 disciplines will feature on the programme for the 2026 Winter Olympics: Biathlon, Bobsleigh (Skeleton, Bobsleigh), Curling, Ice Hockey, Luge, Skating (Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Short Track Speed Skating), Ski Mountaineering, and Skiing (Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard).

Norway leads the all-time medal record for the Winter Olympics.

Where is the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The 2026 Winter Olympics takes place at sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy. This is the first Olympic Games to be officially co-hosted by two cities. Milan will host the opening ceremony and the ice events. Cortina and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys will host everything else.

When is the 2026 Winter Olympics?

The 2026 Winter Olympics is the 25th edition of the famous event. This year's event will take place on Feb. 4-22.

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics for free

The 2026 Winter Olympics is available to live stream for free on a number of services:

• Australia — 9Now

• Austria — ORF

• Canada — CBC Gem

• France — France TV

• Germany — ARD

• Ireland — RTÉ Player

• Italy — RAI

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Winter Olympics by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free access

4. Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Unblock XVideos from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best VPN for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world is full of restrictions and blockades, but you can stay one step ahead with a simple hack. It's possible to secure access to restricted content from anywhere in the world with a VPN. And that includes popular sites like Pornhub, xHamster, and XVideos.

Want to unblock porn sites like XVideos for free from anywhere in the world? We have the information you need.

How to unblock XVideos for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses content restrictions so you can access porn sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world.

Unblock XVideos by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to XVideos

4. Unblock XVideos

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're temporarily away from home on an unsecured network.

If you want to retain permanent access to the online world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like XVideos, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock XVideos for free with ExpressVPN.

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, frequented bars, and relied on word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2026, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

Mainstream dating apps attract the most users — including queer users. That means niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only options for finding love. These days, Hinge, Bumble, OkCupid, and even eharmony all have clear filters to help you match with people of the same gender (or any gender at all), as well as filters that acknowledge the existence of non-traditional relationships (like polyamory). Especially if you don't live in a densely populated area, going for the more popular dating apps over lesbian dating sites can often lead to more results.

With that said, there is one dating app lesbian women should try. HER is an app by and for queer women, and it's grown to have a strong user base. According to its website, the app has more than 15 million registered users worldwide. The app also emphasizes finding community and making friends, in addition to dating, providing you with numerous ways to connect with other queer women and non-binary users.

Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box is now down to $139 at Amazon, marking a $25 discount and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for the set.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box (30 Packs) $139 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $25.70 Get Deal

We’ve been seeing a lot more discounts on Magic: The Gathering boxes lately, and this latest deal is perfect for players wanting to catch up on the trading card game’s cosmic expansion. 

As of Feb. 5, Amazon has cut the price of the Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box, bringing it to $139 — a nice $25 off its $164.70 list price. This is only two cents shy of its lowest-ever price, as confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel. For a set that remained relatively steady since launch, this latest dip makes it one of the better opportunities to grab Magic’s first full-on space opera expansion without paying a market premium.

Edge of Eternities sends players to collapsing star systems and distant planets, introducing new mechanics like Station, Warp, Landers, and Void. The Play Booster Box includes 30 Play Boosters, each with 14 cards and a token. Every pack contains one Traditional Foil, along with 1-4 rares or better, and there’s even a slim chance of pulling a borderless foil mythic. That balance makes the box appealing whether you’re drafting with friends, cracking packs casually, or adding to a sealed collection.

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What really helps this deal stand out is how it compares to typical pricing across the wider market. Edge of Eternities Play Booster Boxes often sell closer to the $150–$160 range.

For more savings on Magic: The Gathering Booster Boxes, you can still get the Foundations Jumpstart Box on sale for only $99.95. Meanwhile, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is down to a new record-low price on Amazon. 

TL;DR: The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro wireless RGB gaming mouse is down to $89 at Amazon, saving you $70 off its regular price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Basilisk V3 Pro RGB Wireless Gaming Mouse $89 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal

If you’ve been eyeing a premium, big-brand, wireless gaming mouse for a decent price, this deal on an RGB model might be the one for you.

As of Feb. 5, the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro Wireless RGB gaming mouse has dropped to just $89 at Amazon, marking a massive $70 discount off its usual $159.99 list price. That’s 44% off one of Razer’s most feature-packed mice, and only one penny off the lowest price we’ve seen for this model — as confirmed on price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

Designed for gamers who want maximum control and customization, the Basilisk V3 Pro sports Razer’s Focus Pro 30K optical sensor for delivering fast and accurate tracking on a wide range of surfaces — including glass. It also features Razer’s Gen-3 optical switches, rated for up to 90 million clicks, which offer ultra-fast actuation with no debounce delay.

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One of the mouse’s standout features is its HyperScroll tilt wheel, which lets you switch between free-spin scrolling for speed and tactile mode for precision. Also consider its 13 programmable controls and a full 13-zone Chroma RGB underglow, and you’ve got a mouse that’s just as flexible as it is flashy when playing Fortnite, Cairn, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and much more.

Connectivity is equally versatile, with support for Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, Bluetooth, and wired USB. Battery life stretches up to 150 hours over Bluetooth, making it a strong pick for both competitive play and everyday use.

For more gaming mouse deals from Razer, you can still get the Orochi V2 range for at least 50% off.  If you’re open to a different brand, the Logitech G305 gaming mouse range is on sale for under $35 at Amazon. 

It looks as though Jon Stewart wasn't the only late night host mentioned in the Epstein files. The Late Show's Stephen Colbert has not also addressed being name-dropped in the most recently released batch of files, which contain information on the investigation into convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Fortunately, like Stewart, Colbert wasn't actually involved in Epstein's activities, and was only mentioned in emails. Specifically, one of Epstein's associates recommended he watch Colbert's explanation of Super PACs from his former show The Colbert Report.

"Well, there's no such thing as bad publicity," quipped Colbert. "Just look at our new Times Square billboard: 'The Late Show: It's really funny — think Jeffrey will enjoy watching!'"

Colbert also noted a few other names in the Epstein files which he considers particularly important as a giant Tolkien nerd.

"These files contain the names of folks even more important to me than me, because Epstein also name-dropped Bilbo Baggins, and at one point he compared himself to Gandalf," said Colbert. "All right, that is disgusting. In the immortal words of Gandalf the Grey, 'Eat shit you dead pervert.' It sounds prettier in Elvish."

Netflix has released a teaser trailer for upcoming K-drama Boyfriend on Demand, featuring BLACKPINK's Jisoo living BookTok's wildest dreams.

The series follows overworked webtoon producer Mi-rae (Jisoo), who is tired of her job and fed up with dating, but still dreams of romance and escape. Fortunately for her, Mi-rae soon finds some relief in a subscription-based virtual dating service that allows her to go on amazing fantasy dates with unrealistically perfect fictional men. Judging from the trailer, she even gets to try out different scenarios with her virtual dates, such as being doctors in a hospital or lovers in a historical setting.

Yet even with the world of possibilities this outlet provides, Mi-rae does still have to deal with real men — such as her coworker and rival Kyeong-nam (Doom at Your Service's Seo In-guk).  

Boyfriend on Demand arrives March 6 on Netflix.

The 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held in New York this week, celebrating its 150th anniversary the best way it knows how — with a plethora of perfect pups.

This year's Westminster Dog Show featured over 2,500 entrants from across the world, all of whom were already American Kennel Club champions in their own right. These dogs were categorised into seven groups: Sporting, Herding, Working, Toy, Hound, Non-Sporting, and Terrier. The winner of each group then went on to compete for the coveted title of Best in Show, with dogs individually judged according to the ideal standard for their breed.

This year, the Westminster Kennel Club's award for Best in Show went to four-year-old Doberman Pinscher Penny, the champion of the Working Group. Penny's handler Andy Linton described her as generally "chill," though she can get worked up by a "bad guy" or squirrel, while her co-owner Gregory Chan called her demanding, smart, and "a pleaser — she'll do anything for food."

Penny the Doberman Pinscher, winner of Best in Show and the Working Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club

Reserve Best in Show went to Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, winner of the Sporting Group. Presumably Cota will assume Penny's duties as Best in Show if for any reason she cannot fulfil them.

Cota the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, winner of Reserve Best in Show and the Sporting Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club Zaida the Afghan Hound, winner of the Hound Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club Cookie the Maltese, winner of the Toy Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club JJ the Lhasa Aspo, winner of the Non-Sporting Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club Graham the Old English Sheepdog, winner of the Hearding Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club Wager the Smooth Fox Terrier, winner of the Terrier Group. Credit: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Cheek make up.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BLUSH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To pass out.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWOON

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A DJ.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

EMCEE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Meaty.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BEEFY

Final Hurdle hint

An object.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

THING

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 5, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for February 5, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 5 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 5 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 5 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you're a fan of pro racing and tennis.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Position chart

• Green: Homerun kings

• Blue: QB GOATS

• Purple: Major sporting event

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Football Positions, Abbreviated

• Green: Members of the 500-HR Club

• Blue: First Names of QBs to Throw 500 Career TDs

• Purple: ___500

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #500 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Football Positions, Abbreviated - CB, OT, S, TE

• Members of the 500-HR Club - BANKS, BONDS, FOXX, KILLEBREW

• First Names of QBs to Throw 500 Career TDs - AARON, DREW, PEYTON, TOM

• ___500 - ATP, DAYTONA, INDY, WTA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Rumors are swirling that Anthropic is close to releasing Claude Sonnet 5, a new version of its mid-tier AI model that could significantly shift the competitive landscape for large language models.

Multiple reports published in early February suggest Claude Sonnet 5 is imminent, with some industry watchers pointing to signs of internal testing and quiet rollout preparation. While Anthropic has not formally announced a release date, speculation intensified after developers and analysts began referencing "Sonnet 5" in public forums and social posts.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic Super Bowl LX ads mock ChatGPT

According to UCStrategies, Claude Sonnet 5 is expected to deliver major performance gains while maintaining the pricing structure that has made Sonnet attractive to developers. The outlet reports that the model may match or exceed the capabilities of Anthropic’s higher-end Opus 4.5 model while remaining significantly cheaper to run, a combination that could make it especially appealing for enterprise and coding workloads.

Cost efficiency appears to be a central theme. Coverage from Geeky Gadgets suggests Sonnet 5 could cost roughly half as much as Opus 4.5, while offering faster inference and stronger agent-style capabilities, including improved context retention and multitasking. That positions the model as a direct challenger not just to Anthropic’s own lineup, but also to OpenAI's and Google’s upcoming releases.

There are also rumors that Claude Sonnet 5 will deepen its integration with Claude Code, Anthropic’s developer-focused environment. Several analysts cited by UCStrategies speculate that the model could outperform Opus in coding tasks, particularly in long-running workflows that benefit from sustained context and structured reasoning.

Based on the weekend’s viral hype around AI agents, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re inching closer to a Cyberpunk future once reserved for sci-fi books and video games. And while that trajectory may be real, we’re also nowhere near full-blown cyber-dystopia just yet.

Still, the tech world has found something new to fixate on. As of now, it's a website called Rentahuman.ai, where humans can quite literally sell their labor to AI agents. The Rent-a-Human platform was created by crypto software engineer Alexander Liteplo after the sudden success of OpenClaw and Moltbook, and it proudly bills itself as "the meatspace layer for AI." (Mashable reached out to Liteplo for comment but did not receive a response.)

Think TaskRabbit, but for autonomous agents that need humans to do physical-world tasks they can’t.

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Rent-a-Human launched quietly over the weekend before exploding in visibility after Liteplo began aggressively promoting it on X. According to the site, more than 81,000 "rentable humans" have already signed up to offer paid services to bots, at the time of this writing. The actual tasks, at least for now, seem limited. The tasks themselves range from mundane errands like picking up packages to holding signs or delivering flowers to Anthropic.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is Rent-A-Human a joke? Rent-a-Human's meat marketplace reportedly has 80,000 signups. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Rent-a-Human

It’s also hard to tell whether Rent-a-Human is meant as satire or a sincere attempt at a new labor market, but the signs point to the latter. Crypto culture doesn't have the best reputation, and the site doesn’t do much to signal a wink. As Gizmodo pointed out in its coverage, phrases like "meatspace" and copy that reads "robots need your body" feel less like a joke and more like someone earnestly pitching Neuromancer as a startup deck.

Furthermore, it appears the site is part of a fast-growing ecosystem of AI agent tools that have exploded in popularity over the last few weeks, many of them orbiting around the open-source assistant formerly known as Clawdbot, then Moltbot, and now OpenClaw. As Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth reported, the open-source OpenClaw project has gone viral among AI power users, despite repeated name changes prompted by trademark pressure from Anthropic.

SEE ALSO: OpenClaw Moltbook: What it is and how it works

As Mashable has documented across coverage of OpenClaw and its offshoots, projects like Rent-a-Human and Moltbook are built quickly through vibe coding, with creators openly admitting they ship code they don’t fully review, relying on AI models to fix bugs later.

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Whether it actually works is another question. While the platform claims tens of thousands of humans have signed up, Gizmodo reports that only a small fraction have connected payment wallets, and there are far fewer active AI agents than available workers (82 agents to 81,000 humans).

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Rent-a-Human requires users to connect crypto wallets in order to get paid, and payments are handled entirely in cryptocurrency, including stablecoins and Ethereum. That alone raises obvious red flags, especially for a platform asking people to perform real-world tasks for anonymous AI agents with no meaningful verification process.

The site’s design places a lot of trust on both sides of the transaction, with very little protection in place for the human doing the work. Tasks are posted by bots or bot operators who may not be identifiable, payments are non-reversible once sent, and users are expected to operate through crypto wallets that could be compromised if mishandled.

Unsurprisingly, many crypto enthusiasts are fully on board. Rentahuman has been heavily promoted by crypto and AI agent accounts on X, many of whom frame it as an inevitable step toward autonomous economies in which bots transact directly with humans. That enthusiasm doesn’t do much to calm concerns, especially given the crypto industry’s long history of rug pulls.

It's too soon to tell for sure whether Rent-a-Human is the start of a new AI gig worker economy or a very elaborate satire, but as with the overnight success of Moltbook, proceed with caution.

SAVE $60: The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is on sale for $109.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $169.99. That's a 35% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro $109.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

We're coming up on one of the most important snack days of the year in the U.S. This Sunday marks the Big Game, which is awesome if you love football. If you don't care about the sport, there's still a case for attending parties because they almost always come with excellent snacks. If you're looking for an easy way to prep foods, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of Feb. 4, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is on sale at Amazon for $109.99, marked down from the list price of $169.99. That's a 35% discount that shaves $60 off the standard price.

With an 8.5-quart capacity and eight cooking functions, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is a kitchen hack for making easy game-day snacks or dinners on busy nights. It functions as a super fancy Crock Pot with functions like slow cook, steam, braise, bake, proof, keep warm, and more. Plus, Ninja makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances so you know you're in for something that's well worth the space on the countertop.

SEE ALSO: Super Bowl 2026 deals: Score free food from Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny’s, Popeyes, and more

The removable cooking pot in the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro is easy to lift out for serving directly from the pot. But it's also oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can get perfectly crispy dips from the Ninja Foodi. Plus, the pot has a non-stick surface for easy cleaning.

Before kickoff on Sunday, get equipped in the kitchen thanks to the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro. It's on sale for under $110 at Amazon and it'll come in handy night after night for quick one-pot dinners.

TL;DR: Enjoy a PC refresh for only $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

Not all major upgrades have to be expensive. In fact, a Microsoft Office license can give your PC an impressive refresh with seven helpful apps for less than $3 each. While it sounds too good to be true, you can now secure this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows lifetime license for just $19.97.

If you’ve been in the market for a new PC, it may be time to just give your old one some new tools. This Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license equips your device with seven apps, including some of the brand’s classic staples, that are geared to help you with work, play, and everything in between.

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Curious what’s included? You’ll get access to the classics like Word to help you draft documents, and Excel for all your spreadsheet needs. If you need to create a presentation, you’ll have PowerPoint at your disposal, and Outlook helps you manage your email communications.

This license also includes newer favorites like Publisher, which can help you design professional documents. Access can help you manage large databases, and OneNote can improve how you take notes. This Microsoft Office license gives you permanent access to each app, with no subscription fees required, and you can work offline as needed.

If the year of this edition gives you pause, don’t worry — the apps have been redesigned and will include enhanced features like enhanced inking in all Office programs, new PowerPoint presentation tools, new Excel analysis capabilities, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

Give your PC an upgrade with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license, now just $19.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Sterling Stock Picker uses OpenAI-powered insights to help investors evaluate stocks based on risk, growth, and personal goals. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is $55.19 instead of $486, through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81   Get Deal

Markets can react poorly to uncertainty, and there has been no shortage of it lately. For investors who want clearer signals without spending too much time analyzing charts and financial statements, Sterling Stock Picker offers a more structured approach to decision-making. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is available for $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Sterling Stock Picker is anchored by its patent-pending North Star system, which evaluates stocks and categorizes them as buy, sell, hold, or avoid based on key financial metrics and risk factors. The platform also spotlights Stock Rockets — companies posting more than 50% quarterly revenue growth — helping users identify high-momentum opportunities at a glance.

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Your personal AI coach is Finley, backed by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Finley can answer questions about individual stocks, portfolio performance, or broader market trends using real-time data. A short questionnaire personalizes recommendations based on goals, values, and risk tolerance, while a Done-For-You Portfolio option offers a more hands-off way to get started.

This setup caters to a broad spectrum of investors. Novices can tap into educational explanations to understand why certain stocks are flagged, while experienced users will appreciate consolidated portfolio insights and risk assessments. The community forum adds another dimension, offering a place to discuss strategy and learn from fellow investors, so there’s no need to hunt down advice on outside message boards.

Sterling Stock Picker focuses on stock selection and portfolio strategy rather than broader financial planning, and users looking for advanced derivatives or day-trading tools may find it limited. Still, for those interested in more deliberate, data-informed investing, the current discount lowers the barrier to entry.

The Sterling Stock Picker lifetime subscription is available for $55.19 (reg. $486) through Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, offering an affordable way to test an OpenAI-powered approach to stock research and portfolio building.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Valentine’s Day is only a week away (and hallelujah, it’s on a weekend this year). As one of Mashable’s sex and dating experts, my apartment is basically a revolving door of delivery boxes filled with the latest pleasure tech. I see most of these products months before they even launch, so I have a pretty good idea of what's worth your money and what's not.

Because I track pricing year-round, I can tell you which Valentine's "sales" are legit and which ones are just standard prices with a red bow on top. Now that we’re approaching the biggest vibrator sales day of the year, I’m sharing the best discounts you can grab right now.

SEE ALSO: Lovehoney has tons of V-Day goodies on sale: Get 50% off vibrators, lingerie, and more

You’ll notice most of these links go directly to the brands rather than Amazon. While I love Prime for convenience, buying direct is the best way to guarantee you’re getting a safe, authentic product — plus, the direct-to-consumer sales are usually stronger for V-Day anyway.

With that said, here are the best sex toy sales to shop right now. I’ll keep adding to this list as we get closer to the big day.

Lovehoney: Get up to 70% off everything

Lovehoney has a little bit of everything for everyone. Its toys are affordable (there’s almost always a sale going on), reputable (it’s one of the largest online retailers out there), and diverse — you can find everything from strap-ons to clit vibrators to bondage gear. Right now, the brand is throwing a huge Valentine's sale with up to 70% off sitewide. That means almost every item on the site is marked down, so there’s no excuse not to get a little something for your partner (or yourself).

What to buy: Looking to get the best bang for your buck? I recommend splurging on the Lovehoney Romance Gift Set. It includes 12 items, like the We-Vibe Jive 2 (which is worth $139 alone) and fun accessories, for just $99. That’s a 69% discount (a pretty good number, right?).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Romance Gift Set (12 Piece) $99 at Lovehoney
$321.88 Save $222.88   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Lovehoney Rose Glow Pleasure Air Toy $62.99 at Lovehoney
$69.99 Save $7.00   Get Deal Good Vibes: Get up to 15% off sitewide (ends Feb. 4!) + 70% off clearance

Good Vibes usually has some pretty solid deals, but this year, the brand is being strict about the Valentine’s Day cutoff. Right now, you can take 15% off sitewide, but that deal technically ends Feb. 4. As long as you order by this evening, your stash will arrive by V-Day (shipping is free on orders of $85+). If you miss the deadline, you can still get it in time with second-day shipping if you order by Feb. 10. And of course, the clearance section is still stacked with items up to 70% off.

What to buy: There are honestly so, so many delicious options at Good Vibes, and what you buy really depends on the kind of night you’re trying to have, but here are some of the best deals that caught my eye:

• Good Vibes Valentine’s Pleasure Bundle — $95 $170 (save $75)

• Good Vibes Radiant Rose — $48.99 $69.99 (save $21)

• Candy Heart Dildo — $59.49 $69.99 (save $10.50)

Hello Nancy: Get up to 50% off select items

If you’re looking for something a little more discreet than a Candy Heart Dildo (it’s cute, but I get it), I highly recommend shopping Hello Nancy’s Valentine’s Day Sale before it’s over. The brand is offering up to 50% off select toys, and you don't even need a coupon code.

What to buy: The cutest toy I own is the Lem (it looks like a lemon, hence the name), and right now you can snag it for $89 ($70 off). This adorable device is all over social media for a reason: It’s super powerful, whisper-quiet, and uses air-pulse technology to make you come over and over again. It also makes for a great Galentine's Day gift — your bestie will love it (I gave one to my sister).

Opens in a new window Credit: Hello Nancy Lem Clitoral Massager $89 at Hello Nancy
$159 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hello Nancy Berri Edging Clitoral Massager $95 at Hello Nancy
$189 Save $94 Get 25% off with code BERRI25 Get Deal Le Wand: Get up to 30% off with code LWVDAY30 + 85% off clearance

Le Wand is known for its luxe wand vibrators, but the brand sells so much more than that, and right now you can take 30% off best-sellers with code LWVDAY30, which brings plenty of saucy gifts down to under $25. And if you’re really pinching pennies, the clearance section is currently seeing price cuts as deep as 85% off.

What to buy: Almost everything in Le Wand’s sale is add-to-cart-worthy. To help you choose, I’ve handpicked some of the best deals:

• The Rose Suction Vibrator — $14.99 $99.99 (save $85)

• Heart Suction Vibe — $28 $69.99 (save $41.99)

• Le Wand Point — $36.99 $129.99 (save $93)

More Valentine's Day sex toy deals

Here's a shortlist of other sidewide sales to have on your radar.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam & Eve Adam & Eve Valentine's Day Sale Get 50% off two items with code REWARD50, plus half-off shipping. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Babeland Babeland Valentine's Day Sale Get 15% off sitewide, plus up to 70% off clearance. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: b-Vibe b-Vibe Valentine's Day Sale Get 30% off with code BLOVE30, plus up to 85% off clearance. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Boutique Voila Boutique Voila Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 60% off select sex toys. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: bellesa boutique bellesa boutique Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 60% off + FREE AirVibe & Rose! (on orders $89+). Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: biird biird's Clearance Sale Get up to 40% off best sellers. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: The Handy The Handy Get $30 off The Handy masturbator. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: KIIROO KIIROO Valentine's Day Sale Get up to 25% off select toys. Shop Now

Google looks to be adding AI to yet another popular Google product. In a new test, Gemini appears in a popular crowdsourced Google Maps feature.

As first discovered by Android Authority, Google is working on a chatbot conversation-style overhaul of the community edits feature.

Currently, users can click on "Suggest an edit" within Google Maps to submit relevant information about a location. For example, users can suggest an edit for a business and add updated store hours or correct a website URL related to the business. To do this, users navigate dropdown menus and input information into text boxes. Google then reviews the edits before pushing them live. With the crowdsourced feature, Google Maps is able to provide the most up-to-date information about locations to its users.

However, with the new Gemini-powered feature that's currently undergoing testing, "Suggest an edit" will receive a revamp that brings Gemini to the feature and provides a chatbot-type workflow. Users will be able to use natural language to share new information about locations and businesses, meaning they can provide the information as if they were having a conversation with another person. 

Gemini will even ask follow-up questions related to the crowdsourced information shared by Google Maps users. In the example provided by Android Authority, a user informs Gemini through the "Suggest an edit" feature that the opening hours for the Eiffel Tower are incorrectly listed. Gemini asks the user for the correct hours and then submits the info to Google once the user provides the chatbot with their answer.

This may not seem like a big change, but it is a significant update to a crucial feature in Google Maps. 

In recent weeks, Google has been updating various products across the company — from Google Search and now to Google Maps — in order to directly add Gemini-powered AI features. Google clearly wants to make Gemini a standard part of all of the company's services instead of a standalone product that consumers can choose to avoid.

Nintendo Direct is happening this week, so it's time to round up all our speculation about what the games giant will unveil.

The livestream will air on Nintendo's YouTube Channel at 6am PT/9am ET on Thursday, Feb. 5. It's listed as a Nintendo Direct partner showcase for third-party games, which means the likelihood of seeing any first-party Nintendo games is pretty low, if not zero.

That doesn't mean we can't expect excitement, however. The show is 30 minutes long and features games for both Switch and Switch 2.

Here's what we expect to see, and would like to see, from the showcase.

SEE ALSO: It's official: The Switch is Nintendo's highest-selling console ever More fantasy ports This would be a great Switch 2 game. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

Since this Direct will be largely focused on third-party games, it's reasonable to expect a decent chunk of it to be dedicated to ports of existing games. From Software (we'll come back to them later) has already announced a Switch 2 port of Elden Ring with a 2026 release, so I wouldn't be shocked if we got a precise launch date during this Direct.

There may be at least one more critically acclaimed RPGs getting Switch 2 ports. Nintendo YouTuber NateTheHate has predicted that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will show up during the Direct with a 2026 release date. Publisher Square Enix just released the Switch 2 version of that game's prequel, Final Fantasy VII Remake, in January, and it's apparently selling quite well.

Given that Square has already confirmed Rebirth would come to Switch 2 at some point, it would make sense for the next installment in the series to show up now.

The 2024 smash hit Metaphor: ReFantazio would also be a reasonable candidate for a Switch 2 release.

A second look at The Duskbloods? You should probably get that checked out. Credit: From Software/Nintendo

Near the end of the first big Switch 2 showcase last year, Nintendo announced The Duskbloods, a brand new Switch 2-exclusive game from the creators of Elden Ring, From Software.

Since then, we have not seen or heard anything about The Duskbloods, despite its announced 2026 release date. Given that this is technically not a first-party Nintendo game, it could, and arguably should, get prominent placement in this Direct.

007: First Light Finally, Gen Z James Bond. Credit: IO Interactive/Steam

I got a quick peek at 007: First Light, an upcoming James Bond game from the makers of Hitman. It seems an interesting mix of set-piece action sequences and creative stealth levels. And it is confirmed for a Switch 2 release when it launches on May 27.

It would be a pretty big deal for Nintendo if First Light showed up in any capacity during this Direct, but there's also an argument that we've already seen all we need to see of this game prior to release.

Resident Evil: Requiem and other Capcom games 'Monster Hunter Stories' rules. Credit: Capcom/Steam

Speaking of upcoming multiplatform releases with Switch 2 versions, Resident Evil: Requiem launches at the end of February. Capcom probably doesn't need to do much more marketing for this game, which seemed fantastic when I played it a few weeks ago, but it couldn't hurt to at least remind people that it exists and that it's coming to Switch 2.

The same goes for Pragmata, an exciting-looking science fiction shooter with a unique hacking mechanic. It's launching on Switch 2 (and everything else) in April.

I also wouldn't mind seeing more of Monster Hunters Stories 3, a new entry in what is lowkey one of the better spin-off series in gaming right now.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 turns the action game series on its head. It offers really fun turn-based combat and a distinct take on Pokémon-style monster collecting mechanics. This is one of my most anticipated games of 2026, and I'd love to see more of it during this Direct.

At least one thing we won't see coming

As with every Nintendo Direct, leave room for the unexpected. There will probably be a "one more thing..." announcement at the end that could be anything listed here, or something absolutely nobody has predicted.

Nobody in this business is better than Nintendo at preventing leaks and hiding secrets, which is part of what makes Nintendo Direct so compelling. We'll find out together on Thursday morning.