FlashFeed

Full text

FromSoftware just remembered it's got a new game scheduled for release this year, as it's now confirmed that The Duskbloods ' closed network test will take place next month.

During last month's Nintendo Direct, FromSoftware mercifully acknowledged the existence of its elusive Switch 2-exclusive multiplayer game. Things have been very quiet about The Duskbloods since its announcement last year, but we were assured we'd be able to try it out at some point "soon," and now we know exactly how soon that is.

FromSoftware confirms the network test will kick off on August 21 and run until August 24. Each day boasts at least one four-hour time slot, with some clearly more in mind for specific time zones than others. For example, the first slot on August 21 starts at 03:00am PDT (equivalent to 12:00pm CEST), but a second test later in the day begins at 19:00pm PDT (04:00am CEST the following morning). With that in mind, hopefully everyone will be able to join in at a time that isn't meant to be spent asleep at some point during the test days.

The Duskbloods Closed Network Test will take place at the dates and times shown in the image below. Starting on July 22 (Wed.), please register using the official network test website: https://t.co/unWxOdkAzX pic.twitter.com/cOczTqlCq2 July 15, 2026

If you're interested in taking part, you'll have to register on the official site – you can do so from next Wednesday, July 22, with those selected set to be notified on August 7.

"We plan to conduct large-scale network load tests to check different technical aspects of the game's online systems," FromSoftware writes. "We look forward to you taking part and helping us make The Duskbloods as good as it can be!"

The devs note that the test is planned to trial the game's servers, multiplayer experience, as well as game balance, so if you encounter a particularly broken weapon, there's no promise that the devs won't go in to tweak it. "The Duskbloods Network Test allows for up to eight players to participate together in each of the multiplayer matches while the game is still in development," FromSoft adds. "We ask for your understanding that bugs may occur during gameplay."

We still don't know exactly when The Duskbloods is meant to release beyond the vague promise of sometime this year – hopefully, the imminent network test is a good sign of an announcement to come. At the very least, fans being able to get their hands on it is going to provide plenty of news about what we can expect from the full launch whenever that does arrive.

The Duskbloods' winged rat "elderly gentleman" was actually FromSoftware's rare attempt at something "Nintendo-esque" and "cute."

Full text

Obesity reflects prices, advertising and access, not simply weak willpower. Ministers must now act

Britain has spent the last three decades asking individuals to make healthier choices inside a market that makes those choices more expensive and less visible. It is no surprise then that the proportion of adults in England living with obesity nearly doubled in that time, to 30%. MPs on the health select committee have decided enough is enough. Preventing obesity in future generations, they say , must take precedence over the interests of the food and drink industry.

In a report to parliament, the cross-party committee argues that preventing obesity demands radical action to regulate food markets. To those who say “just wait for cheap Ozempic”, MPs offer a clear answer: off-patent GLP-1 drugs may transform treatment, but treatment is what becomes necessary when prevention has failed.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here .

Continue reading...

Full text

In 2020, Austin Doctor wrote, “The Looming Influx of Foreign Fighters in Sub-Saharan Africa,” in which he predicted the region would see an influx of foreign fighters to aid Islamist extremist groups. Six years later, we asked Austin to revisit his arguments.Image: African Union Mission in Somalia (Photo by Abukar Albadri)In your 2020 article, you forecasted an influx of foreign fighters into sub-Saharan Africa within a year. Six years later, how has that forecast held up? Did the anticipated surge materialize on the scale you expected? Why or why not?There are far more foreign terrorist fighters, who hail from a

The post One Size Doesn’t Fit All: The Many Faces of Africa’s Foreign Fighters appeared first on War on the Rocks .

Full text

TL;DR

Magic Pointer is set to debut as a contextual AI-powered cursor for Googlebook laptops.

An early look at the Magic Pointer app reveals how Google is building this tool through Gemini prompts.

Google outlines exactly what form Magic Pointer output should take, and how it should be presented to the user.

Everybody’s excited about Googlebooks debuting later this year, and one of the big features that Google has already teased is the AI-powered Magic Pointer cursor . By just pointing at the screen and telling Gemini what we want to do, the system’s supposed to quickly understand our intent and offer helpful suggestions on actions we might want to take next. Last week, we got an early preview of what that might look like thanks to Google’s Magic Pointer app listing , but we’ve been digging deeper ever since, and now we’re starting to get some real insight into exactly how Magic Pointer operates.

You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.