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It’s been only a, *checks watch*, casual 15 years since the last Skate game came out. Now, we finally have an early access release date for skate. (styled lowercase, with a period): September 16, 2025. The early access version is free and heading to PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the EA app.

Today’s announcement gave us not only the date, but a first look at the cover art and a trailer. You can see it all for yourself on skate.‘s YouTube channel. 

While September 16 won’t see the full release of skate., it should give us a great taste of what awaits in San Vansterdam. The game is open-world and its setting comprises four distinct neighborhoods that have been taken over by the corporate anti-skateboarding overlord M-Corp. But, now, its empire is crumbling and skaters are coming out to play.

To say the fourth installment in the Skate franchise is a long time coming is a bit of an understatement. Electronic Arts published the first three games in the series between 2007 and 2010. But it wasn’t until 2021 that EA announced it had created a new studio, Full Circle, to develop the latest Skate game. The new skate. will also be a free-to-play live service title with microtransactions, though without any pay-to-win elements.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-new-skate-hits-consoles-and-pc-in-early-access-on-september-16-162034833.html?src=rss 

Fittingly enough, the team behind Baby Steps is treading cautiously. The walking simulator was previously scheduled to arrive on PS5 and Steam on September 8, but Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s imminent release date of September 4 prompted publisher Devolver Digital (and developers Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch) to delay their game until September 23.

They made the announcement with the help of a funny clip that sees Baby Steps protagonist Nate trying to scale a replica of Silksong‘s Hornet only to inevitably tumble into the dirt. “Nate, the wary, onesie-donned failson at the heart of the eccentric adventure in literal walking simulator Baby Steps, has stumbled after attempting to ascend his greatest challenge yet: launching the week after Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s surprise release date,” Devolver said in a press release.

Baby Steps is a sort-of spiritual successor to Foddy’s classic, rage-inducing QWOP, in that you take granular control over Nate’s legs to help him climb a mountain. I’ve been looking forward to the full game — especially after enjoying the silliness of the demo — but I don’t mind waiting a couple of extra weeks for it.

Several other indie developers and publishers have delayed their games to avoid getting swallowed up by the Silksong discourse. The horror-tinged, slot machine-based roguelite CloverPit and tactics RPG Demonshool have moved from September 3 to September 26 and November 19, respectively, while the 1.0 version of adventure RPG Faeland and a Metroidvania called Aeterna Lucis no longer have firm release dates. However, Bloober Team is staying the course with Cronos: The New Dawn, which is still set for September 5, and Rogue Factor is doing the same with Hell is Us (September 4).

These delays are reminiscent of reports that publishers and developers were putting off any fall release date announcements for their games for fear of getting crushed by Grand Theft Auto VI, which was supposed to be dropping by the end of the year. Rockstar has delayed its game until May but Devlover says it’s not running scared of that particular blockbuster — it has committed to releasing a game on the same day as GTA VI. However, Silksong perhaps seems like just too formidable an opponent for Baby Steps.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollow-knight-silksong-release-date-prompts-another-game-delay-as-baby-steps-inches-back-153301303.html?src=rss 

My first thought when I heard Spotify had launched a messaging service was, “Why?” But, after looking into it a bit more, I’m intrigued at the idea of sharing recommendations within the app.

So, what is Spotify’s new Messages feature? Basically, like Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, Spotify is creating a way for you to share content and thoughts from within its app. You can send playlists, songs and podcasts without having to use a link on another platform. 

You can see the Messages feature by clicking on your profile photo. Spotify should recommend accounts you’ve interacted with before, whether for creating a playlist, joining a jam or sharing a family plan. You can start a conversation there or by clicking the share button on any piece of content within Spotify. This tab is also where you can return to chats and approve message requests. 

Spotify claims that it wants Messages to “complement” other sharing options, like posting a song to social media, rather than serve as a replacement. But, if you find switching apps a bit clunky, then this is a good alternative for sending content. 

However, it’s not clear exactly who can use the new feature. According to Spotify, Messages will start rolling out this week to both free and premium users who are over the age of 16. But, the feature is limited to mobile devices in “select markets.” 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-introduces-an-in-app-messaging-feature-134401088.html?src=rss 

Google’s Gemini is getting new features for editing images with AI. The latest image editing model is the work of the DeepMind artificial intelligence team, and these updates will be available starting today in the Gemini app. Google noted that all images either generated or edited in Gemini will be visibly and digitally watermarked to designate them as created with artificial intelligence.

The first aspect of the new editing model offers consistency across different versions of an image. It’s particularly focused on keeping human characters looking the same as more changes are made the the surrounding visuals, with the idea that people could upload a picture of someone and still look true to reality as they put themselves in different settings or outfits with AI.

The second part of the model involves advanced image editing options. These features include the ability to combine two separate pre-existing images into a new scene, using a visual trait from an existing image as a new prompt or new design element, and multi-stage editing where individual components of an image can be changed in a sequence without losing the accumulated updates.

Image generation of humans was unavailable for a few months last year after Gemini created inaccurately diverse results for prompts based on particular places and times in history. Users regained the ability to AI-generate images of people with the Imagen 3 model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-image-generation-is-adding-more-editing-tools-140034014.html?src=rss 

You might be feeling like it’s time to upgrade your ereader or even buy your first one, particularly if you’re hoping to do some reading this Labor Day weekend. Alternatively, it may be that you’re looking for a way to read digital comics without all of the distractions of an iOS or Android tablet. In such cases, it may be worth considering Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft, which is currently $30 off at $220.

That’s a record low price for this particular model, which has 16GB of storage — half as much as the Signature Edition. This version also lacks the auto-adjusting front light and wireless charging found in the Signature Edition, which costs $280.

In our review of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (which is otherwise the same as the version that’s currently on sale), we described it as a “good Kindle” with which “Amazon has finally filled a glaring hole in its ereader lineup.” The quick load times and page turns, and pinch-to-zoom feature are definite highlights, while we were glad to see that Amazon isn’t charging a premium to turn off lock screen ads.

The Kindle Colorsoft has a seven-inch color E Ink display with a pixel density of 300 ppi for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color content. Amazon claims the ereader can run for up to eight weeks on a single charge and that it has a waterproof rating of IPX8 (the company says it’s able to endure immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes). There’s also Audiobook support.

One of our main drawbacks was that the device was expensive, but this discount mitigates that concern somewhat. We also felt that there was a small dip in sharpness and contrast while reading black-and-white text. In any case, if a color ereader is of interest to you, the Kindle Colorsoft is a good option, especially at this price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-16gb-kindle-colorsoft-is-30-off-ahead-of-labor-day-weekend-141656390.html?src=rss 

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users to be able to sideload their apps. The company said that it made the decision after recent analysis found “over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play.” By verifying a developer’s identify first, it hopes to better protect users from “bad actors spreading malware and scams.”

In its announcement, Google said that apps need to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices. Pretty much all Android phones in the US and Europe are certified if they come with Google Play. The company is now building a new Android Developer Console, specifically for developers that distribute outside its app store, so they can quickly authenticate their identities. Developers will be able to go through the verification process in the console, as well as register their package names. 

Google likened the process to “an ID check at the airport” in that it will only confirm the identity of an app’s developer but will not be reviewing the content of the app. The company also clarified that the verification process will not prevent developers from distributing their apps wherever they want, including app stores other than Google Play. 

The developer verification requirement will start rolling out in late 2026 in Brazil, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. A global rollout will follow at a later date. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-124521174.html?src=rss 

Fans of music-driven puzzlers loved 2018’s block-dropping puzzle game Tetris Effect. The same publisher behind it, Enhance, revived another Tetris-inspired game called Lumines and created indie darling Lumines Remastered. Now Lumines is getting the full Enhance treatment a la Tetris Effect, in the form of Lumines Arise, a new title set to be released on November 11.

We got a chance to go hands-on with the music-driven, block-dropping puzzle game earlier this summer. The game’s sensory-rich effects and striking graphics are enhanced further by new mechanics. And the soundtrack is sure to satisfy, with new music from Hydelic, the same band behind the award-winning soundtrack for Tetris Effect: Connected.

Before November, fans of Lumines will get their chance to test run this new title. Enhance has released a playable demo and it’s available right now on PC via Steam and PS5 for one week only, until September 3. It features a never-before-seen multiplayer “Burst Battle” mode as well as three single-player Journey Mode stages. The full game will feature 35 of these stages as well as many additional modes and challenges that will not be included in the demo.

Lumines Arise comes to PS5 and Steam on November 11.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/beat-driven-puzzler-lumines-arise-will-overload-your-senses-on-november-11-130008360.html?src=rss 

YouTube TV could soon lose access to Fox channels, it announced on its official blog, mere days before the 2025 NFL season begins. It warned users that it’s actively negotiating with Fox now that the renewal date for their partnership is approaching, but Fox is allegedly asking for an amount “far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive.” YouTube TV says it’s aiming to reach an agreement that “reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides” without the service having to raise its prices to be able to offer Fox channels. 

If both sides aren’t able to come to an agreement by 5PM Eastern time on August 27, subscribers will no longer be able to access all Fox news and business programs, as well as all sporting events (like NFL games) broadcast on Fox channels. The content from the channels saved in their library will also disappear. In case YouTube TV fails to reach a deal with Fox and the network’s channels become unavailable for “an extended period of time,” it will give subscribers a $10 credit.

It’s worth noting that Fox’s own streaming service, Fox One, went online on August 21. The service gives subscribers access to all Fox-branded news, sports and entertainment content, including all NFL and MLB games aired on Fox networks, for $20 a month. It’s not clear how the issue will affect NFL Sunday Ticket, though, which YouTube TV exclusively offers as an add-on for $34.50 a month for the first eight months. The sports package gives subscribers access to regular season NFL games not broadcast on local channels in the user’s area. 

YouTube TV had issued similar warnings in the past when it couldn’t quickly reach a deal with Disney for its channels and with Paramount for CBS, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon, among its other properties. In both cases, YouTube was able to reach an agreement with the companies to continue offering their content. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-tv-warns-subscribers-they-may-lose-fox-channels-131504760.html?src=rss