Gaming
Pokémon releases ASMR videos with Pikachu
With Charmander and Squirtle
For a Pokémon fan, a completely impossible but totally adorable dream is to hang out with their favorite Pokémon for an afternoon. As of late, however, The Pokémon Company has amped up their lifestyle-oriented products, connecting our favorite creatures with our daily lives. Now, there’s another way to introduce more Pokémon into our lives. The Pokémon Company released official Pikachu-themed ASMR videos.
On the company’s official YouTube channel, a new ASMR video has the beloved Electric-type Pokémon playing around in a patio for 15 minutes. In the video, Pikachu plays catch with the viewer and says “pika” or “Pikachu.” As expected, the video was recorded with ASMR mics.
However, if a high-pitched cry doesn’t rock your giblets, The Pokémon Company also has other, quieter ASMR alternatives. The most relaxed one has a tiny Charmander sleeping in front of a crackling, ASMR-friendly campfire. Sometimes, the campfire goes out and the Fire-type Pokémon relights the fire with its fiery tale.
A third one has Squirtle running around on the beach with others. Naturally, the video’s ASMR comes from the splashing of the waves.
Right now, there are only three available videos. Still, it’s a pretty cute background for when you’re doing something.
SEE ALSO: #pokemonmastersex trends on Twitter
Gaming
NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer showcases new dunk mechanics, Rucker Park, and more
First gameplay details revealed
NBA 2K27 is giving fans their first look at this year’s gameplay.
2K has released the official gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27, showcasing enhanced visuals and several gameplay updates ahead of the game’s September 4 launch. The trailer also features cover athletes Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose while teasing changes across Gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and the MyPLAYER Builder.
The publisher also confirmed the Preseason Breakdown: NBA 2K27 Game Reveal, which streams on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT. During the presentation, 2K will reveal this year’s biggest gameplay innovations and mode updates before Early Access begins on August 28 for Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition owners.
Smarter AI and a new Dunk Meter headline gameplay changes
NBA 2K27 introduces several gameplay refinements based on community feedback.
AI defenders now contest shots more effectively and hold their defensive positioning better, especially in online modes like The REC. The changes aim to create a more balanced experience on both ends of the floor.
The game also introduces a fully dynamic Dunk Meter. Instead of locking in the timing at takeoff, the meter continuously evaluates defensive positioning throughout the dunk attempt. Open driving lanes create a larger green window, while late defensive rotations shrink it, making each dunk attempt feel more responsive to the action on the court.
MyPLAYER Builder expands with more Badges
The MyPLAYER Builder now features 53 total Badges, up from 40 in last year’s game. Players can also experiment with 19 brand-new Badges designed to support more specialized builds.
Cap Breakers are also making a return. This time, players can preview attribute boosts directly inside the Builder before finalizing their character.
MyTEAM and MyNBA receive community-requested updates
MyTEAM introduces the franchise’s first unified Auction House across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The shared marketplace creates the largest pool of community-listed cards in the mode’s history. It should also make card prices more consistent across supported platforms.
Winning an auction is now faster, too. Purchased cards go straight into your collection without a verification delay.
MyNBA also receives several franchise management updates that reflect today’s NBA. These include second apron salary cap rules from the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement and the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents.
Rucker Park comes to MyCAREER
The City returns with the same centralized layout introduced last year. This time, however, it gets a new nighttime look filled with neon lights.
NBA 2K27 also recreates the legendary Rucker Park. The iconic streetball court serves as the setting for this year’s MyCAREER prelude story, Fire & Concrete, and also appears in the Street Kings mode.
NBA 2K27 launches on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition can jump in early starting August 28 through Early Access.
Gaming
God of War Laufey finally confirms its highly anticipated launch date
Set your calendars next year.
It’s about time we get excited for God of War Laufey. The upcoming entry into the acclaimed franchise takes off on a tangent as it follows Faye, Kratos’s late wife, as she traverses an afterlife filled with similarly deceased gods. It’s a different perspective but with still the same action we’ve come to expect from the series. Now, we know when to expect it: February 16.
In the ongoing Norse saga, Faye’s death is everything. Her passing pushes Kratos and Atreus towards a path that eventually led to Ragnarok. In Laufey, a deceased Faye wakes up in Everywhen, an afterlife where gods from different mythologies converge. She then discovers that the carefully laid plans she made to help her husband and her son are unravelling, so she has to find a way to save the living world from past the veil.
Laufey will still have the iconic battles that the God of War series is known for. However, because Faye is nimbler than the burly Kratos, fighting is more fast-paced with a mix of grounded and air-based fighting. All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about for Laufey, despite its different take on the series.
Over the weekend, during San Diego Comic Con, PlayStation confirmed when the title is launching. Thankfully, it’s not a long wait. God of War Laufey is launching for the PlayStation 5 on February 16 next year.
Additionally, Santa Monica Studio has also confirmed that Kratos will lead another entry after Laufey.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have announced that FINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster is now available on Nintendo Switch 2. Physical copies are also on sale across Southeast Asia.
The collection brings together FINAL FANTASY X and FINAL FANTASY X-2, two of the most celebrated entries in the long-running RPG franchise. Both games feature enhanced HD visuals while preserving their original stories and gameplay.
Two classic adventures in one package
In FINAL FANTASY X, players follow Tidus, a star blitzball athlete whose journey becomes intertwined with the summoner Yuna as they travel across the world of Spira to confront a devastating threat.
Its direct sequel, FINAL FANTASY X-2, takes place two years later. Players take control of Yuna alongside Rikku and Paine as they uncover ancient mysteries and face new enemies.
The release also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original launch of the game in Japan, giving longtime fans and newcomers another opportunity to experience the pair of RPG classics at home or on the go.
Bandai Namco notes that physical edition availability may vary by country across Southeast Asia.
Watch the launch trailer below:
About the FINAL FANTASY series
The FINAL FANTASY franchise has entertained players for more than 35 years. Known for its cinematic storytelling, memorable characters, imaginative worlds, and technical innovation, the series has sold more than 212 million copies worldwide.
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