Google has unveiled Private AI Compute, a cloud platform designed to deliver advanced AI capabilities while preserving user privacy. As The Verge notes, the feature is “virtually identical to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.” From the report: Many Google products run AI features like translation, audio summaries, and chatbot assistants, on-device, meaning data doesn’t leave your phone, Chromebook, or whatever it is you’re using. This isn’t sustainable, Google says, as advancing AI tools need more reasoning and computational power than devices can supply. The compromise is to ship more difficult AI requests to a cloud platform, called Private AI Compute, which it describes as a “secure, fortified space” offering the same degree of security you’d expect from on-device processing. Sensitive data is available “only to you and no one else, not even Google.”

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PokéPark Kanto, the first permanent Pokémon theme park, will open its doors on February 5, 2026. Previous Pokémon parks and attractions existed in the past, but they were only open for a limited time. PokéPark Kanto will be located inside the Yomiuriland amusement park in Tokyo, Japan and will require an add-on pass to enter. Visitors will have to go through a “Pokémon Research Lab” building, which serves as the gateway to the park’s two sections: Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town

The Pokémon Forest is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a stretch of land with hills, paths with tall grass, rocky trails and tunnels where visitors will see Pokémon in their natural habitats. The Pokémon statues are posed to show that they’re engaging in various activities, such as battling or playing with friends.

Meanwhile, Sedge Town is the town center where visitors will find the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart, which sounds like a place where they can buy some refreshments. In addition to the main attractions, PokéPark Kanto will feature Pika Pika Paradise, a ride featuring over 30 electric-type Pokémon. There’s also Vee Vee Voyage, a carousel featuring carriages pulled by Ponyta and Rapidash, as well as balloons where visitors can ride with Eevee.

We’ve yet to see actual photos of the park, but the trailer below will give you a glimpse of what you can expect.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-first-permanent-pokemon-theme-park-opens-in-february-2026-012228856.html?src=rss

Disney is losing an estimated $4.3 million per day (about $30 million per week) from the ongoing YouTube TV blackout of ESPN, ABC, and other networks amid a contract dispute over carriage fees. Of course, YouTube is also feeling financial pressure from users who have already canceled or intend to cancel their service. Variety reports: Disney is losing an estimated $30 million per week from its networks being pulled off YouTube TV, which works out to nearly $4.3 million per day, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. The figure came in a research note from Morgan Stanley equity analysts Benjamin Swinburne and Thomas Yeh, who said in their financial forecast for Disney’s year-end 2025 quarter, they are “layering in 14 days of impact from the ongoing YouTube TV blackout, which we estimate is a $60mm revenue headwind.”

Nov. 11 marks the 12th day of the Disney blackout on YouTube TV. The Morgan Stanley analysts wrote that they expect the Disney-YouTube TV dispute to be resolved later this week, but estimated that each week its networks are dark on YouTube TV will lower Disney’s adjusted earnings per share by 2 cents.

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Elden Ring Nightreign, the co-op survival take on FromSoftware’s massively successful open-world single-player game, is getting a DLC at the end of this year. The Forsaken Hollows launches on December 4, 2025. This DLC is the first big content update for the spinoff, although Nightreign did receive previous updates to add improved tuning for the two-player and solo-player experiences, as well introducing an even-more-punishing Deep of Night mode. 

The trailer shows exactly the grim, macabre setting and inventive-looking boss designs that we’ve come to expect from FromSoft. The Forsaken Hollows will add two more character classes for players to choose from. The book-wielding Scholar is an arcane magic user who “gains incredible advantages through battlefield observation.” This seems like a good choice for the tactically-minded players, while the new Undertaker class favors faith and strength builds. There will also be a new region to explore and two new bosses.

We learned yesterday that DLC was in the works for Nightreign thanks to a mention during the earnings report from parent company Kadokawa, but it seemed the new content might not be ready until early 2026. Hopefully today’s announcement will calm the players who have been review-bombing the game on Steam due to the lack of information about updates.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/elden-ring-nightreigns-dlc-is-the-forsaken-hollows-out-december-3-233113937.html?src=rss

Dave Knott writes: Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2026, the first major version of their flagship compiler in almost four years. Release notes are available here. The compiler has also been updated, including improved (but not yet 100%) C++23 core language and standard library implementations.

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The 2021 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Touch isn’t new, but it still has a few good years of life in it, especially if you need a solid secondary laptop for home, travel, or light work—and it’s on sale for $599.99 on StackSocial right now. It’s powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 chip that can reach up to 4.7GHz, paired with 12GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That combination is fast enough for multitasking, web browsing, and even moderate creative work. The touchscreen is a bonus, making it easy to scroll, tap, and zoom without relying on a trackpad. This model also runs Windows 11 Home, so despite being from 2021, it feels current in terms of interface and usability. It’s a brand-new unit, although it doesn’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty. However, third-party coverage is optional for $59.99.

Design-wise, the soft-touch finish of this device feels premium and resists fingerprints better than glossy surfaces. The 15.6-inch full HD display offers good brightness and color clarity for streaming, editing, or everyday tasks, while the slim bezels make the screen feel larger than it is. It weighs just under four pounds, which is manageable for commuting or moving between rooms. Lenovo also added a fingerprint reader built into the power button for quick sign-ins, as well as a physical webcam shutter for privacy, a feature not often seen in older laptops at this price point. The Dolby Audio-tuned speakers aren’t groundbreaking but do a decent job for music and calls.

The IdeaPad 5 isn’t a powerhouse by today’s standards, but it holds its own as a practical all-rounder. If you’re editing videos or gaming, newer models will make more sense. But if you’re looking for something fast, comfortable, and modern enough for writing, streaming, or working from a café, this still fits the bill. The battery lasts up to 11 hours, and the USB-C port supports fast charging and external displays, keeping it versatile even a few years later.

Sony had some new hardware to reveal during its State of Play Japan showcase on Tuesday. Along with a refreshed Japanese-only PS5 Digital Edition, the company unveiled an official PlayStation monitor that you can also hook your PC up to. It’s a 27-inch QHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate and support for HDR and variable refresh rate. However, the refresh rate is limited to 120Hz when you’re playing PS5 games.

What’s more, the monitor has a charging hook. It folds down from the rear of the display and you can place your DualSense controller on it, so you’re ready to play whenever the mood strikes. The monitor will be available in the US and Japan sometime next year. Sony hasn’t revealed how much it will cost.

The monitor follows the Pulse Elevate portable desktop speakers that Sony announced back in September. These will work with PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation Portal and are set to arrive in 2026 as well.

The new hardware seems to be part of the company’s push to become more of a player in PC gaming. For instance, the company recently made it possible to pair a DualSense controller with more than one device at a time, making it easier to switch the connection from a PS5 to a PC and vice-versa.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-made-an-official-240hz-playstation-monitor-with-a-built-in-dualsense-charging-hook-230659339.html?src=rss

Sony reported that PlayStation 5 sales have reached 84.2 million units, officially surpassing every Xbox console ever released. IGN reports: The PlayStation 5 is now up to 84.2 million copies sold after shifting an additional 3.9 million units during the three-month period ending September 30, Sony has announced. That’s a slight increase on the 3.8 million PS5 units Sony sold during the same quarter last year, but it’s an impressive result given the price of the console has actually gone up over the course of this generation, rather than come down. […]

As an aside, unlike Sony, Microsoft does not make Xbox Series X and S sales figures public, but analysts have suggested the combined Xbox Series effort is being outsold by the PS5 by at least a factor of 2:1. The more appropriate comparison for the PS5 then, is with its predecessor, the PlayStation 4. Five years into the current console generation, the PS5 is slightly behind the PS4 (the PS4 sold-in to retailers more than 86.1 million units after five years on sale). But Sony has said this console generation is its most financially successful ever, with sales surpassing those made during the reign of all previous Sony consoles.

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Inspired by a Kickstarter for a laser razor that never materialized, Youtuber Allen Pan decided to attempt making one himself. The results? Less than impressive. The 5W laser manages to burn through a single hair in several seconds, making it incredibly impractical for anybody with more than 2-4 hairs to shave. Homer Simpson it could work for. I think the problem here is not using nearly a powerful enough laser. 5W? How about 500W? Shave once and you’d never have to shave again! Or be able to.