Blogroll

Difficulty settings in video games aren't always perfect, and many games still struggle to provide options that aren't too easy or too difficult. While some games like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter Rise forgo this choice altogether, there's a better approach to difficulty settings that too many developers are ignoring.

Updated at 10:32 a.m. CT: According to The Hollywood Reporter, it appears that YouTube and Meta will allow distributor Bleeker Street to run paid ads on Alex Gibney's Musk documentary.

The reversal follows a wave of social media backlash accusing YouTube, Meta, and TikTok of suppressing a film critical of Elon Musk to avoid drawing the ire of the SpaceX and X CEO.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In a comment left under THR's original report of the story, YouTube's X account replied that the ads were "temporarily restricted" and are now cleared to run. Meta will also run the ads as well, telling THR that the decision was "an error". However, TikTok and X have yet to make a decision.

You can read our original report of the story below.

Musk, Alex Gibney's four-hour documentary about Elon Musk, hits theaters in two weeks and received rave reviews out of its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. Yet distributor Bleecker Street can't buy ads on major social media platforms in order to promote it.

SEE ALSO: 'Musk' documentary trailer is finally here

According to The Hollywood Reporter, YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, have all refused to run the trailer for Musk. The same goes for X, which is owned by Musk and which reportedly won't accept advertising for Bleecker Street's other upcoming releases.

YouTube, TikTok, and Meta told Bleecker Street representatives that they rejected the trailer because of "political content." TikTok and Meta do not allow paid political and campaign ads, with Meta's rules stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. YouTube does, with ads requiring "paid for" disclosures. The Musk trailer contains references to the 2024 election, but it is not itself a political campaign.

Bleecker Street has appealed YouTube, TikTok, and Meta's decision. While YouTube and TikTok are still mulling over the request, Meta has rejected it outright.

This isn't the first bump in the road for Musk. Universal Pictures, which is distributing the film internationally, reportedly got cold feet on releasing Musk. Evan Langweiler, Universal's Executive Vice President of Global Communications and Media Relations, has since told The Hollywood Reporter that, "the studio remains committed to releasing [Musk] in theaters internationally."

The incident recalls Amazon MGM Studios' dropping of Luca Guadagnino's OpenAI and Sam Altman film Artificial, another fall release that looks to take a prominent tech figure to task. Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning, also out this fall, will follow a similar path with Mark Zuckerberg.

Musk hits theaters Oct. 9.

For most PC gamers, the first instinct when building or upgrading a gaming PC is to look at the latest and most popular GPUs. But with graphics card prices shooting up, you’re unlikely to get great value for your money when buying new, especially from NVIDIA.

Lucasfilm may have found a director for the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga.

Jon Watts, who directed Tom Holland's three Spider-Man films, is attached to direct the first movie in a new Star Wars trilogy written by Simon Kinberg. The Hollywood Reporter dropped the news on Friday, courtesy of KnightEdgeMedia, an entertainment industry leaker with a credible track record.

Nothing is locked in yet, and Lucasfilm declined THR's request for comment. The outlet writes that, according to sources, the project is still in development and hasn't been greenlit by Disney. Although it does appear to be the Star Wars film furthest along after Star Wars: Starfighter, the Shawn Levy-directed movie starring Ryan Gosling (Project Hail Mary, Fall Guy).

SEE ALSO: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' review: If this is the future of Star Wars, I don't want it

Starfighter is currently in post-production and is expected in theaters May 27, 2027, around the franchise's 50th anniversary.

THR reports that Kinberg has been writing the trilogy since late 2024. It would pick up the Skywalker Saga, the family story that has run through Episodes I to IX, making the first film Episode X. Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker, the lead of the 2015–2019 sequel trilogy, is expected to appear in some form.

Watts wouldn't be new to the galaxy, far, far away. He co-created and co-wrote the 2024 Disney+ series Skeleton Crew, starring Jude Law, and directed two episodes of the series. The show received positive reviews from Mashable's Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards; however, as THR notes, its viewership was below expectations.

As the reported writer, Kinberg is the more divise pick for fans. Kinberg co-created the animated series Star Wars Rebels and co-wrote the well-received X-Men: Days of Future Past. But he is also tied to some of the X-Men franchise's weakest entries. He co-wrote 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, a box-office hit that critics and fans panned for it's adaption of the Dark Phoenix saga. Kinberg tapped into that well again as writer and director of 2019's Dark Phoenix, which flopped with critics and at the box office. He also co-wrote 2015's Fantastic Four reboot, another critical and commercial failure.

Early reaction online has been lukewarm at best. Many fans questioned the pairing despite Watts' success with Spider-Man, and much of the skepticism centered on Kinberg's track record.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It’s been a couple of years since I turned my back on the organic light-emitting diodes and quantum dots of modern TVs in favor of my beloved ultra-short-throw projector. Its bright and clear image beamed onto a big 100-inch ALR screen has turned my living room into a movie theater that rivals some of my city’s repertory cinemas, and it’s the best home theater experience I’ve ever had.

TL;DR: Watch Norway vs. Portugal in the Nations League for free on RTP. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Norway host Portugal in the next round of UEFA Nations League fixtures. Both sides secured wins in their opening games of this campaign, and now they meet for an interesting clash at the Ullevaal Stadion. All eyes will be on Haaland as he goes up against Ronaldo's side.

If you're interested in watching Norway vs. Portugal in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Norway vs. Portugal?

Norway vs. Portugal in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 27. This fixture takes place at Ullevaal Stadion.

How to watch Norway vs. Portugal for free

Norway vs. Portugal in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RTP.

RTP is geo-restricted to Portugal, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Portugal, meaning you can live stream Norway vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Norway vs. Portugal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Norway vs. Portugal 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Norway vs. Portugal without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTP?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Portugal

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Norway vs. Portugal for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A new season means Colin Jost and Michael Che are back behind the SNL's Weekend Update desk, and it's like they never left.

The pair didn't hold back on the week's headlines, from China's Xi Jinping visiting President Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial, protested appearance at the UN General Assembly.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed an almost empty chamber at the UN after delegates walked out in protest over Israel's war in Gaza," Che says. "I guess wherever Netanyahu shows up, there's gonna be some relocating."

When the audience groans, Che shrugs it off: "Now why did I think that'd end in a laugh."

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' kicks off Season 52 with Trump crushing hard on Mamdani

They also took shots at Trump's new helipad, Meta's new AI agent Muse, and a report that "20% of Gen Z have never had sex."

Update had more than just jokes, too, and SNL split those segments into their own clips. Tucker Carlson (Jeremy Culhane) stopped by to review movies, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (Jane Wickline) struggled to reassure everyone that AI isn't a threat to humanity... yet.

In the movies, robots are often human-shaped, mainly because to have a robot in the movie at all, you had to use the "dude in a suit" method. However, since we're also watching a story to entertain people, it's easier to make them care about a robot that looks like a person. The big exception might be R2-D2 and C-3PO. No one likes the latter and people adore the former.

The new season of Saturday Night Live brought us new cast members Grace Reiter and Saidah Belo-Osagie, and there's no better introduction than a dedicated sketch poking fun at Dream Academy.

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' kicks off Season 52 with Trump crushing hard on Mamdani

For those who don't know, Dream Academy is a K-pop talent competition that airs on YouTube and aims to create an international girl group. The show led to the formation of Katseye, who served as musical guests for the season premiere. This time, though, SNL spoofed a new season of the talent show starring two contestants that really shouldn't have been there.

Reiter and sophomore cast member Jane Wickline star as two unlikely contestants for an international girl group. Turns out they're just there cause they have dirt on the producer.

"Duff and Margo saw a hit-and-run caused by a music executive," the producer tells the camera, hinting that it was her. "And now they're on the show."

Ryobi is one of the most popular brands for cordless power tools, and a big part of that is its hundreds of budget-friendly products. Better yet, it's not just the tools, but everything else that you can do or power with your Ryobi batteries.

Saturday Night Live is back for season 52, and some traditions are sacred, ie, James Austin Johnson opening the show once again as President Donald Trump. This time, though, Trump had to share the spotlight.

SEE ALSO: Trump tries to rebrand AI. Is it really that 'super'?

Enter Ramy Youssef as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, doing his best to brace New Yorkers for a Nor'easter barreling up the East Coast. As he's spreading the news, Trump barges in.

"You're in most of my dreams," Trump confesses. "I call you Ma-Dreamy."

From there, the Cold Open is what you'd expect with Trump meandering through the week's headlines. There's his sit-down with China's Xi Jinping, plus the dinner that followed, which doubled as a who's who of Silicon Valley's biggest tech titans.

Then, Ashley Padilla arrives as Trump aide Natalie Harp, and things go off the rails fast.

Have you ever found yourself on a system that's lacking the necessary tools? Maybe it was a rescue or installation environment, an unfamiliar system you were repairing, or a Docker container you were debugging. If you've used Linux for a while, you've likely encountered these scenarios, and installing the required tools can be a hassle when all you want is to finish the job. That's where a convenient toolkit becomes a lifesaver, and I have one that fits the bill perfectly.

Quentin Tarantino's love letter to Hollywood's Golden Age is back on streaming. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is now available to watch on Prime Video.

You finally bit the bullet and bought a fast charger for your Samsung, but for some reason, you're not getting anywhere near the advertised charging speeds. As it turns out, there's a surprisingly well-hidden option in the settings that needs to be switched on before your phone can take advantage of its fastest charging speeds.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 26, the Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $89.99 at Amazon. That's under market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Pokémon fans are all desperate to get their hands on products from the new Pokémon 30th Celebration collection. We can't believe we're saying this, but Amazon is actually the best place to find the Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box. And better yet, it's way below market price.

As of Sept. 26, the Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for just $89.99 on Amazon. That's much cheaper than the market price, according to TCG Player.

So where's the catch? Unfortunately, you can't simply buy the Elite Trainer Box on Amazon. Instead, potential buyers must click the "request invite" button. If you're randomly selected, you’ll get an email to let you know that you’re eligible to buy Pokémon’s 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box. The email will contain a purchase link that's valid for 72 hours.

We can see that these ETBs are selling fast, so the "invitation to buy" system is clearly working for many shoppers. And even if your invitation request isn't selected, Amazon will keep it on file, and you might get another shot when it's restocked. 

The Elite Trainer Box includes nine Pokémon 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. 

Score the Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $89.99 this weekend — way below market price.

TL;DR: Target is hosting a nationwide Pokémon 30th Anniversary event on Sept. 27 from 12-4 p.m. local time. Attend to claim custom card crafts, free goodie bags, and limited-edition 30th Celebration TCG drops.

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to Pokémon. It doesn't matter how many collections and expansions hit the market. I know the world will collectively lose its mind whenever anything new drops. Nothing is changing anytime soon.

So when I heard that Target is planning a huge nationwide Pokémon 30th Anniversary event with merch, games, and giveaways, the hairs stood up on my neck. This is going to be big, so I want you to be prepared.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon 30th Celebration box is way below market price — act fast to buy for $89.99 on Amazon

Here is everything you need to know if you plan to attend, what you can actually get, and how to prepare for the inevitable crowds.

When is the Target Pokémon event?

Target's Pokémon 30th Anniversary event takes place on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 12-4 p.m. local time at participating brick-and-mortar locations.

Store participation and stock allocations will vary by location, so I recommend checking the full list of participating stores or calling your local store beforehand to confirm they are hosting. It's also worth asking about their line policies, so you don't go home disappointed.

The top deals of the day

• Shop early October Prime Day deals at Amazon 

• Shop the Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale

• See the latest Amazon deals on headphones and earbuds

• See the latest Amazon deals on laptops and computers

What freebies, activities, and demos are offered?

Target is setting up dedicated Pokémon areas in participating stores featuring a mix of interactive activities and freebies. You can expect a "draw-your-own Pokémon card" craft station that includes a plastic slab cover resembling a PSA-graded collectible. Select Target locations will also feature playable demos for Pokémon Pokopia on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Credit: Target

Everyone loves a freebie, and the good news is that you can expect promotional giveaways while supplies last. Target hasn't confirmed exactly what will be on offer just yet, but we're seeing rumors around goodie bags for attendees. According to reports, the first ~98 attendees in line will receive a bag of freebies, which includes a Mewtwo promo card and a special event ticket. That ticket can be redeemed to purchase two 30th Celebration Tins, if the rumors are true.

Demand during the Sept. 16 launch was massive, so what are your chances of actually getting your hands on anything during this event? You're going to be going up against scalpers, but what's new?

The term "smart home" can often be something of a misnomer. I have plenty of automations in Home Assistant that work when I'm outside of my home. There are several open-source smart home devices that you can use to extend your smart home to your car.

Almost every Linux distro makes certain decisions for you in the interest of "completeness." That usually means that you'll wind up with a bunch of apps that you'll never use, taking up space on your PC. Worse yet, some of them are basically redundant.

We tend to spend a lot of time chasing the latest and greatest in PC hardware. Each new generation of CPUs promises a new architecture, more cores, and higher clock speeds, which ultimately result in better performance.

There's no denying that VLC is one of the most powerful video players on Windows. On the surface, it's simple enough, but once you dig in, you'll find a deluge of hidden features, such as viewing and recording your webcam feed or converting media files. Most of these features, though, are superfluous for regular users who just want to watch videos.