Murderer’s Creed Shadows didn’t crack the highest 10 downloaded video games on PlayStation 5 final yr. AI age verification is erasing total histories in Roblox. And Masahiro Sakurai explains certainly one of Smash Bros.‘ oldest mysteries. It’s the most recent version of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s each day roundup of gaming information, rumors, and tradition.
I used to be in the present day years previous after I discovered that the German world for “ace” is “ass” which the German model of Wii Sports Resort proudly displays while you get a gap in a single whereas {golfing}. In different information, Kai Cenat goes viral for…studying books. However don’t take our phrase for it. See for yourself.
Smash Bros. meals heals you primarily based on actual life energy
スマブラにおける食べものの回復量も、おおむねカロリー順です https://t.co/TglnVdniHL
— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) January 13, 2026
That’s how obsessive about minute particulars the event staff was, director Masahiro Sakurai not too long ago revealed (by way of TheGamer). With Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo launched a bunch of smaller meals objects that may seem on phases and heal just a few harm factors when eaten. How a lot they healed you appeared minuscule and nearly random, however it’s really primarily based on science.
This little bit of lore was revealed due to the Kirby Twitter account. “Did you discover that the sound when accumulating drinks and meals is completely different?” it shared earlier this week. “Additionally, the quantity of restoration varies by sort, however it may be roughly so as of energy?” That was in reference to Kirby Air Riders, however the identical factor applies for Nintendo’s platform fighter.
“In Smash Bros., the restoration quantities for meals objects usually comply with the order of their calorie content material,” Sakurai wrote. So go for hamburgers and baked items over fruit, identical to you’re at a real-life Marriot Lodge breakfast buffet.
Ecco the Dolphin can’t cease, received’t cease
There hasn’t been a brand new Ecco sport in over 20 years. However the planet is at risk and channeling the pure, whimsical spirit of a loveable marine journey has by no means been extra pressing. “A number of new Ecco the Dolphin merchandise and video games” are on the best way in line with developer A&R Atelier. And sure, the unique creator is concerned.
“It has been years within the making and we’re honored to deliver Ecco again,” Ed Annunziata mentioned in a press launch (by way of Gematsu). “Ecco has all the time been greater than a sport a few dolphin—he’s a bridge between worlds.” A countdown clock final yr pointed to information in Could 2026.
Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation promise they’re nonetheless taking participant security critically
The businesses doubled down on their shared commitment from 2020 to take a position sources in conserving their on-line communities secure and giving dad and mom larger flexibility in how they management the methods their youngsters have interaction with video games. It was a really out-of-nowhere announcement with out a lot new data or agency commitments, and it comes proper as Roblox is racing to implement AI-controlled age verification and fight its picture as a playground for on-line degenerates.
Roblox’s age verification rollout sounds just like the rapture
Talking of Reddit’s new restrictions, some gamers have been fuming about them on Reddit (by way of GameRant). Gamers who don’t cross the brand new age checks or haven’t tried but have been erased from chats and different components of the group, leaving massive holes within the platform’s social historical past. “This makes me so unhappy bro,” wrote one participant. “All of my chats with a few of the random from the numerous years of enjoying this sport is [sic] utterly vanished like what have been have been pondering man.”
The PS5 Professional may be getting an enormous replace
Rumors are swirling about “PSSR2.0” coming to the console someday this winter. Lining up with previous reports, it means that Sony has a repair for the PS5 Professional’s AI upscaling tech that may let video games run at increased body charges with cleaner resolutions and fewer bugs. Now if solely the corporate would begin promoting swappable face plates.
Battlefield 6 was the second-most-downloaded PS5 sport final yr
That’s in line with Sony’s own numbers. It beat every little thing however NBA2K26. Ghost of Yotei got here in at quantity 9, edged out of eighth place by Arc Raiders. Nearly every little thing else have been the annual franchises you’d count on. Issues don’t get attention-grabbing till the underside 5 on the checklist of 20: Oblivion Remastered, Murderer’s Creed Shadows, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, EA Sports activities FC.
