Assassin’s Creed Shadows didn’t crack the highest 10 downloaded video games on PlayStation 5 final yr. AI age verification is erasing whole histories in Roblox. And Masahiro Sakurai explains considered one of Smash Bros.‘ oldest mysteries. It’s the most recent version of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily roundup of gaming news, rumors, and culture.
I was today years old when I learned that the German world for “ace” is “ass” which the German version of Wii Sports Resort proudly displays when you get a hole in one while golfing. In other news, Kai Cenat is going viral for…reading books. But don’t take our phrase for it. See for yourself.
Smash Bros. meals heals you based mostly 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 group was, director Masahiro Sakurai lately revealed (by way of TheGamer). With Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo launched a bunch of smaller meals objects that may seem on phases and heal a number of harm factors when eaten. How a lot they healed you appeared minuscule and virtually random, nevertheless it’s truly based mostly on science.
This little bit of lore was revealed because of the Kirby Twitter account. “Did you notice that the sound when collecting drinks and food is different?” it shared earlier this week. “Also, the amount of recovery varies by type, but it might be roughly in order of calories?” That was in reference to Kirby Air Riders, however the identical factor applies for Nintendo’s platform fighter.
“In Smash Bros., the recovery amounts for food items generally follow the order of their calorie content,” 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, gained’t cease
There hasn’t been a brand new Ecco sport in over 20 years. However the planet is in peril and channeling the pure, whimsical spirit of a loveable marine journey has by no means been extra pressing. “Several new Ecco the Dolphin products and games” are on the way in which in keeping with developer A&R Atelier. And sure, the unique creator is concerned.
“It has been years in the making and we’re honored to bring Ecco back,” Ed Annunziata mentioned in a press launch (by way of Gematsu). “Ecco has always been more than a game about a dolphin—he’s a bridge between worlds.” A countdown clock final yr pointed to news in May 2026.
Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation promise they’re nonetheless taking participant security critically
The businesses doubled down on their shared commitment from 2020 to speculate sources in holding their on-line communities secure and giving mother and father larger flexibility in how they management the methods their youngsters interact with video games. It was a really out-of-nowhere announcement with out a lot new info 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 go the brand new age checks or haven’t tried but have been erased from chats and different elements of the group, leaving large holes within the platform’s social historical past. “This makes me so sad bro,” wrote one participant. “All of my chats with some of the random from the many years of playing this game is [sic] completely vanished like what were were thinking man.”
The PS5 Professional is perhaps 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 can let video games run at greater 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 keeping with Sony’s own numbers. It beat every thing however NBA2K26. Ghost of Yotei got here in at quantity 9, edged out of eighth place by Arc Raiders. Virtually every thing else had been the annual franchises you’d count on. Issues don’t get fascinating till the underside 5 on the listing of 20: Oblivion Remastered, Murderer’s Creed Shadows, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, EA Sports activities FC.
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