Gaming

PS5 now supports storage expansion in first major update

Also comes with new social features

Published

April 13, 2021

Rodneil Quiteles

It’s the update PlayStation 5 (PS5) users have all been waiting for. Coming in the first major update for the PS5 which will rollout April 14, 2021 is storage expansion and management along with new social features.

Storage expansion

Players can now store PS5 games on compatible USB drives. This lets you transfer installed games from your PS5 to an external storage device. Do note that you can’t boot the game up from the external drive as PS5 games are designed to take advantage of the speed and features of the Internal SSD.

The main advantage is that it’s easier and faster to re-install games to your PS5 from an external drive versus having to redownload these games. You can check PS5 storage device requirements and tips here.

Disappointed? PlayStation is still working on storage expansion via M.2 drives and this will come in a future update.

New social features

If you’re the type who likes playing with friends online, you can now play with friends even if they have yet to secure a PS5 for themselves thanks to the new update. These are:

Cross-Gen Share Play

Cross-generation Share Play gives PS5 users the option to let their friends on PS4 consoles view their screen or try out the PS5 game through Share Play. The feature works both ways.

Options include the ability to share your screen with a friend, pass your controller virtually to a friend, or pass a second controller virtually to play co-op games together.

Request to join game session

A selection of your friends’ joinable game sessions will now appear on both PS5 and PS4 consoles for more gameplay opportunities together.

The “Request to Join” option also serves as a shortcut to sending a game invite, reducing the time it takes for you to get into games with friends. Through the Privacy Settings menu, you can modify who can interact with you through parties, games and messages.

Better Personalization controls

Improved Game Base

The Game Base menu now has quicker access to important content and features. You can now easily switch between Parties and Friends to start chatting with your existing parties or see what each of your online friends is up to. You can also turn notifications on or off for each of the parties you’re in.

Disable game chat or adjust players’ volume

Is someone being unnecessarily annoying? You can now quickly disable in-game chat, which turns off your mic audio and the voice audio of other players. You can also easily adjust the individual voice chat volume of other players in the same chat so you don’t have to ask your friends to lower or increase their mic volume each time.

Game update pre-download

Once it’s enabled by developers, title updates for games will pre-download to your console if the “automatic updates” setting is enabled and your console is on or in rest mode.

Customize game library

It’s now easier to find content and personalize your view of your game library with the new search and hide functions.

Screen Zoom

Players can now adjust the magnification of the screen to suit their preference.

New Trophy settings and stats screen.

The level of trophies that results in automatic capture of a screenshot or video clip can now be customized. Players can now choose to only capture and save images/videos of moments when they earn higher-grade trophies, like Gold or Platinum. There’s also a new player Trophy Stats screen where players can check out the summary of their trophy level and status at a glance.

PlayStation App updates

Coming to the PlayStation app in the next few weeks are the following:

- Ability to join a multiplayer session on PS5 from the app
- Manage PS5 console storage
- Compare trophy collections with friends
- Sort and filter products shown in the PlayStation Store

Watch our PlayStation 5 Review

Gaming

God of War Laufey finally confirms its highly anticipated launch date

Set your calendars next year.

Published

July 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

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.

Gaming

FINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster launches on Nintendo Switch 2

Classic RPGs returng

Published

July 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

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.

Gaming

NBA 2K27 cover athletes unveiled: Wemby, Clark, DRose

Pre-orders now open for the 3 editions

Published

July 23, 2026

GadgetMatch

The NBA 2K27 cover athletes have been revealed as pre-orders have become available.

San Antonio Spurs all-star Victor Wembanyama has been unveiled as the cover athlete for the NBA 2K27 Standard Edition.

Meanwhile, WNBA star Caitlin Clark is gracing the Deluxe Edition cover.

Rounding out the trio is 2011 NBA MVP and Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose for the Ultra Edition.

The game will launch worldwide on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Steam. Early access is available by August 28.

First-look images of the game showcases some of NBA’s younger stars, like Cooper Flagg and Cade Cunningham.

Also shown for the first time is Jaylen Brown in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey, ahead of his debut with his new team after being traded from the Boston Celtics for Paul George.

Pre-orders are now open, and availing of any edition early entitles customers to a 10,000 VC bonus.

The Standard Edition is priced at US$ 69.99.

Pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition (US$ 99.99) enables players to unlock these perks:

100,000 VC
Up to 7 days early access
MyTeam content: Full ’27: Series Team 1 Selection, Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, 5x ’27: Series 1 Packs, 2-Hour 2XP Coin
MyCareer content: 25x 6 Types of Skill Boosts, 25x 3 Types of Gatorade Boosts, 2-ahour 2XP Coin, Victor Wembanyama Jersey, Caitlin Clark Jersey

Meanwhile, in addition to the perks under the Deluxe Edition, those who pre-order the Ultra Edition (US$ 149.99) shall also get:

135,000 VC (instead of 100,000)
Season 1 Pro Pass + Summer Pass
NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition MyTEAM Player Cards (via The Exchange): Guaranteed 98 OVR by Dec 2026, guaranteed Invincible by May 2027
Roses Oversize Hoodie