Flash News

Developer Gary Riches has released a brand-new, native C++ port of the 1991 Amiga platformer James Pond 2: Codename RoboCod. Utilizing static recompilation, the project translates the game's original Motorola 68000 assembly code into modern C++. This allows the classic game to run natively across a wide array of modern hardware without relying on traditional emulation overhead.
GitHub

The open-source project is available now on GitHub and supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, Android, and PlayStation 5.

Key Modern Upgrades:

Enhanced Visuals: Introduces true widescreen support and smooth motion rendering for modern displays.

Authentic Audio: Fully replicates the iconic Amiga 500 sound chip (Paula).
GitHub

Quality of Life: Adds an all-new pause menu and resolves original sound cut-off bugs.
GitHub

Native Performance: Powered by SDL3 for responsive, cross-platform playability.
GitHub

To play, users must provide their own legally acquired Amiga disk image (such as an .adf file) of the game. The recompilation tool unpacks the game's main program from the disk image, translates the code, and compiles it with a custom runtime to create a standalone executable.
GitHub

The latest builds (up to version 1.0.4) are currently available to download from the project's GitHub releases page.

BlizzCon 2026 has just concluded with a massive slate of unexpected reveals, shaking up Blizzard’s biggest franchises. Here are the top headlines:

StarCraft Returns as a Shooter: The franchise shifts genres with a brand-new, story-driven, open-world shooter set in the Koprulu sector. Slated for Spring 2030.

Diablo V Announced: Releasing in Spring 2029, the next chapter takes place in a post-apocalyptic Sanctuary where Diablo has already won. The game will introduce new classes, including the Plague Knight.

WoW Classic Plus is Here: Officially titled World of Warcraft: Forever, this hybrid classic experience launches today, November 4, 2026. It features the new Skyborn Elf race, over 1,000 new quests, fresh zones, and smaller raid sizes.

Hearthstone Expands: The Reign of the Black Empire expansion (released October 20) introduces the new "Assemble" keyword, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Monk class arriving in 2027.

Heroes of the Storm Revived: The Nexus lives on with the surprise addition of a brand-new hero: Xal'atath.

Grand Theft Auto VI is on track for Thursday, 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, after two delays that pushed it from fall 2025 to May 2026 and then to November. Pre-orders have been open since 25 June at $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition, and digital pre-loading starts on 12 November. Rockstar restated the date in its 15 October launch trailer, and Take-Two has reaffirmed it on earnings calls. The recent “slipped to 2027” rumours have been knocked down, and the official store listings still show 19 November. There is still no PC date, though a 2027 release is widely expected. Rockstar hasn’t confirmed an exact unlock time either.

Blizzard’s long-rumoured “Classic+” arrives at last. World of Warcraft: Forever goes live on November 4 (PT) — around 11pm UK time — reimagining the original 2004 game with new and expanded zones (Zephras Isle, the Riverglades, Mount Hyjal), over 1,000 new quests across the 1–60 journey, nine new dungeons, upgraded lighting and graphics, and a brand-new windswept-elf race, the Skyborne, fighting to defend their once-secluded floating home. It’s not a seasonal server but an ever-evolving world kept alive through regular content patches, with the level cap staying at 60. Access is included with any active WoW subscription or Game Time; optional Skyborne Heroic and Epic packs, plus a limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection (new mounts and a Warcraft III: Reforged campaign), are up for pre-purchase. Early name reservations — up to three characters — close today, 3 November.

The Browser Company has confirmed that Arc will stop working on Windows and macOS on 22 December 2026, as its engineering and security teams focus on successor Dia. New account registrations closed on 22 October, with existing users receiving basic updates until shutdown.

The mobile farewell starts earlier: on 23 November, Arc Search loses its AI features, account sign-in and tab synchronisation. The iOS app will remain usable as a stripped-down browser, while the Android version is scheduled for full retirement on 22 December.

For existing users, the practical message is clear: move your browsing data before the deadline. Dia supports importing passwords, bookmarks, history, extensions and other Arc data; users choosing another browser can export their tabs as links. Arc accounts will be deactivated on shutdown day, with associated personal data deleted within 30 days.

That lovingly organised sidebar now has a moving-out date.

Japanese technology group GMO Internet has refused a $50 million cryptocurrency extortion demand following an attack on its foreign-exchange trading service, Reuters reported on 26 October 2026.

The company says it will compensate customers for losses caused by unauthorised access and provide a 5,000-yen goodwill payment to each customer. Attackers threatened to disclose company and customer information. GMO is working with authorities; no connection to the recently disclosed PHP vulnerabilities has been established.

The lesson for businesses: restoring systems is only part of recovery. Restoring customer trust carries its own bill.

PHP has had a rough week. Two critical vulnerabilities, collectively dubbed PHP2Shell, prompted emergency security releases on 21 October 2026. Tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, both carry a severity score of 9.2/10 and can allow attackers to execute code on vulnerable servers without logging in.

The disclosure process made matters worse. According to the PHP Foundation, leaked vulnerability identifiers and an accidentally published demonstration video disrupted the coordinated release, bringing patches forward by a day. The Foundation also acknowledged that the underlying problem behind one flaw had first surfaced in 2024, describing delays in resolving it as a “structural failure” involving difficult technical decisions and insufficient resources.

Meanwhile, Amazon reported an exploitation attempt against its monitoring infrastructure dating back to 17 October, before public disclosure. It cautioned that whether those early attempts would have succeeded against real systems remained unclear.

Fixes are available in PHP 8.2.35, 8.3.36, 8.4.27 and 8.5.12, with distribution-specific updates also available through vendors. Administrators should patch urgently: configuration changes alone do not fully address both flaws.

For WordPress owners, updating plugins or WordPress itself will not fix the underlying PHP vulnerability. Check with your hosting provider that the server’s PHP installation has received the security update.

Atari has confirmed the next step in winding down the modern VCS. Direct console sales ended in 2025, and an announcement dated 21 October 2026 says the company has stopped accepting new games for the platform. Its software store will close in early 2027, with Atari stating that owners can purchase games through 1 February 2027.

Games already purchased and downloaded to the VCS will remain playable after the closure. Owners should download anything they want to keep before the store shuts down. The machine also offers PC Mode, allowing users to run optional Windows or Linux operating systems.

It is a quiet farewell to Atari’s unusual console-and-PC experiment, with its future increasingly resting in the hands of the people who own it.

EA is closing BioWare and cancelling the next Mass Effect, ending more than three decades of RPG history. The studio confirmed the news on 21 October, bringing the developer behind Dragon Age, Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to a devastating crossroads.

The commercial disappointment was already clear. EA reported that Dragon Age: The Veilguard reached around 1.5 million players during its launch quarter—nearly 50% below expectations. Those figures describe player engagement, rather than confirmed copies sold.

The game also faced criticism over its handling of contemporary identity politics. Forbes contributor Erik Kain argued that heavy-handed messaging and awkward dialogue undermined immersion in its fantasy world.

Did BioWare lose touch with its audience while trying to deliver a message? That is a legitimate editorial question. However, the evidence does not establish “going woke” as the cause of its closure. EA’s stated rationale is to concentrate investment on fewer large-scale projects.

For a studio whose reputation rested on unforgettable storytelling, the uncomfortable question is how it became better known for arguments about its games than excitement to play them.

Cybercriminals using AI to break into websites have exposed their own operations through unsecured dashboards. In research published today, NorForge identified more than 20 publicly accessible Cairn control panels apparently linked to malicious activity, revealing how attackers direct AI agents to investigate targets and exploit weaknesses.

One activity cluster contained over 1,100 attack projects across 14 dashboards. The exposed information included target details, discovered vulnerabilities and credentials. NorForge also found apparently legitimate security-testing operations leaving their work accessible, potentially exposing their clients’ sensitive information.

The findings highlight a practical risk as autonomous security tools become more common: the platforms investigating weaknesses can introduce fresh exposure themselves. For businesses commissioning penetration tests, asking how the provider protects testing dashboards and collected credentials is a sensible starting point.

The customer relationship continues long after checkout. Attentive’s 2026 loyalty research, updated in October, found that 69% of shoppers say post-purchase content helps them feel more confident about their purchase. That includes practical care tips, customer reviews and videos showing products in use.

The survey of 600 US consumers also found that 34% identified poor customer service as a reason they would be less likely to buy again from a brand they had tried for the first time.

For Customer Success teams, the findings suggest a useful question: does your follow-up help customers get more from what they already bought? A timely guide or practical tip could be a worthwhile addition to the post-purchase experience.

Nintendo’s 16-bit cartridges have another comeback invitation. Analogue has unveiled Super Nt+, a refreshed version of its FPGA-based console for original Super Nintendo and Super Famicom games, with output up to 1080p over HDMI. The main additions are built-in Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless controller support, USB-C power and a revised design.

Original wired controllers remain supported, while new conveniences include powering the console on or off from a controller and swapping cartridges after quitting through the system menu. Three finishes are available: Classic, SF and Black.

Preorders open on Monday 19 October 2026 at 4pm UK time (8am PDT), priced at US$219.99, with shipping scheduled for December 2026. Controllers are sold separately. There are also no bundled games, including the Super Turrican Director’s Cut supplied with the original Super Nt.

A fresh excuse to revisit the SNES shelf, and discover whether those Super Mario Kart reflexes survived.