Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart release date, trailers, gameplay, news and rumors

Ratchet and Clank are back, and this time they need to save reality itself from falling apart. Poised to be one of the biggest PlayStation 5 exclusive of the year, while boasting some flashy visuals, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart's main intrigue surrounds dimensional shifting, which utilizes the console's super-fast SSD to move the player seamlessly between worlds. 

The upcoming third-person shooter platform adventure will feature enhanced lighting, ray tracing and a targeted 60fps performance mode, as our galactic duo planet-hop to defeat the evil Dr. Nefarious. The new Insomniac-developed title will arrive on June 11, 2021, picking up the story from 2013's Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus. 

A new female Lombax called Riv will also be playable, alongside a huge arsenal of weapons, including the Burst Pistol, Topiary Sprinkler and the Shatterbomb. Most importantly, the Rift Tether can pull Ratchet and Clank through anomalies to move around the world. 

Want to know more? Read on for everything we know about Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.

[Update: Sony's latest State of Play gave us a fresh look at some Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart gameplay. Keep scrolling to see it for yourself and find out more.]

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart: what you need to know

• What is it? A new Ratchet and Clank game and sequel to Into the Nexus
• When can I play it? June 11, 2021
• What can I play it on? PlayStation 5 

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart release date

(Image credit: Insomniac Games)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart will release on June 11, 2021, as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.

The game was first revealed during the PlayStation 5 showcase on June 11, 2020 (an exact year before it's due to release). This is the twelfth game to date in the series, with the original debuting on the PS2 at the tail end of 2002. It's also the longest gap in the franchise's release history at five years.  

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Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart trailers

15 minutes of gameplay
During the most recent State of Play on April 29, Sony gave us our best look yet at Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. 

The gameplay footage showed off some of Ratchet's new moves, such as his dash and wall-running capabilities, as well as gameplay of the newly-introduced Rivet. The two of them share an incredible arsenal of weapons and gadgets, with both new gear and returning staples of the franchise.

All of these guns and tools are designed to feel unique due to the implementation of DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Insomniac Games is harnessing the PS5's SSD speed to load entire levels every time a dimensional rift is opened, it's not just a simple arena swap. 

You can check out the new gameplay footage in its entirety below:

Introducing Rivet
A Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart trailer was released on April 26 and officially introduced Rivet, the female Lombax we previously caught a glimpse of. Rivet will be a playable character in addition to both Ratchet and Clank, you can see her in action below:

Gameplay demo trailer
We saw a glimpse of gameplay footage following the announcement trailer, but this was then expanded on in a seven-minute extended gameplay demo at Gamescom's Opening Night Live on August 27, 2020, which we will focus on here.

The extended gameplay demo began with a cutscene as Ratchet and Clank return to Megalopolis, noting that they still have time to stop Dr. Nefarious. A squad of Goon-4-Less attack, leading into the actual gameplay. The fuzzy-eared Lombax and his robot sidekick make their way through the city, disposing of enemies via a selection of new weapons and the former's trusted OmniWrench. 

Eventually encountering Dr. Nefarious, Ratchet damages the former's "Dimensionator" causing numerous rifts to materialize, which consequently transports creatures from other worlds into theirs. Ratchet and Clank pursue Nefarious until a rift appears and pushes them through the same dimension-hopping sequence shown in the announcement trailer. Check it out below:

Announcement trailer
Premiered at the PlayStation 5 showcase in June 2020, the announcement trailer takes us to a prehistoric planet (possibly Sargasso), until Ratchet and Clank suddenly break through a dimensional rift. Clank notes that the "dimensions are collapsing on one another," before a horde of robots follows who start firing on the pair. 

Ratchet pilots an Anthropod to safety, only to be thrown through various different dimensions - resembling Megalopolis and Torren IV - ending at Ardolis where the Lombax takes on a group of pirates already fighting a Kraken. There's also another planet in the rift-jumping sequence where Ratchet rides a dragon at night through traffic – however, this does not seem to resemble any recognizable planets previously seen in the series.   

The trailer ends as Clank is separated from Ratchet during an explosion on the pirate ship, resulting in the little robot falling through a rift, only to be welcomed by a female Lombax on a planet ruled by Dr. Nefarious. Check it out below: 

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart news and rumors

We've gathered up the latest news and rumors surround Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, below.

State of Play reveals new gameplay and confirms photo mode

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart was the primary focus for a Sony State of Play in April 2021, giving us some brand new gameplay footage (you can check it out in the trailer section above).

The gameplay footage was a feast for the eyes; Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart looks set to be a pretty gorgeous PS5 game and technically impressive too—Insomniac Games is harnessing the PS5’s SSD speed to load entire levels every time a dimensional rift is opened, it’s not just a simple arena swap. 

In the footage we got to see some of Ratchet’s new moves, such as his dash and wall-running capabilities, as well as gameplay of the newly-introduced Rivet, a female Lombax who players will also get to control. The two of them share an incredible arsenal of weapons and gadgets, with both new gear and returning staples of the franchise.

You’ll be able to appreciate the range of the weapons with more than your eyes, too. All of the guns and tools in the game have been designed to feel unique using DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. 

And, of course, as you'd expect in a game this beautiful there is going to be a photo mode. It looks like it gives plenty of options to get the perfect shot, including the ability to pose your character, change their facial expressions, apply filters, edit lighting and more. 

Accessibility options

Insomniac Games also revealed a raft of accessibility options for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart during the April State of Play. Amongst the accessibility options are simplified traversal; camera features like sensitivity sliders and shake sliders that will assist with reducing screen-shake while playing; toggle-able Game Speed mode; the option to turn on ledge guards; toggles and assists for combat; control over DualSense features and more besides.  

The State of Play didn't dive into any of these in-depth but it was said that they will be explored more in the future, no doubt going beyond the brief glimpse shown on screen.

Meet Rivet
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart will feature a new playable character: female Lombax Rivet. Rivet is a resistance fighter from another dimension and has are own bone to pick with Dr Nefarious. This is only the second appearance of a female Lombax in the series - Angela Cross previously appeared in 2003's Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando on the PlayStation 2.

(Image credit: Insomniac Games)

Where in the timeline does Rift Apart take place?
Interestingly, Rift Apart is not a sequel to the 2016 reboot. Instead, the game was confirmed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2020 to follow on from Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, which launched on the PlayStation 3 back in 2013. 

"Canonically this is an extension of Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus - the 2013 game - but it's a standalone adventure," Insomniac’s creative director Marcus Smith explained. 

"So, it's one that even if you've never played a Ratchet and Clank game, you can get into it and you'll understand it and you'll enjoy it. For hardcore fans, we have a lot of nods... you are going to see a lot of returning characters and planets, and see them all through a whole new light of 'multiple-dimensionality'".

DualSense support
Rift Apart will utilize the DualSense Ps5 controller's innovative features. Speaking to GamesRadar, game director Mike Daly explained how the DualSense gives the team "powerful new tools to take each weapon’s unique personality even further."

"The adaptive triggers not only give us another channel for weapons to feel unique, in some cases they enable extra functionality," Daly told GR. "Partially pulling the trigger or feathering it gives us a way to add nuance to weapon functions that just weren’t possible before the trigger itself couldn’t give feedback. Our Burst Pistol, for example, can be fired accurately by pulling the trigger up to a middle threshold or you can pull through to go all out at the cost of accuracy.

"It's much more intuitive to have this secondary function directly on the trigger than have players learn different buttons for it, it’s that much easier for you to get into the flow of combat and execute advanced strategies without having to think of the controls."

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Chromebooks could soon come with Google Chat and Google Meet preinstalled

It looks as though Google is about to extend the list of apps that come preinstalled on Chrome OS devices out of the box, and Google Chat and Google Meet appear to be at the front of the queue when it comes to new additions.

The folks at 9to5Google have spotted a new mention of both apps in the Chromium OS code that Chrome OS is based on – a bug filed under the title "Pre-install Meet and Chat PWAs on Chrome OS" hints that these PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) will soon be available right  away when you start up Chrome OS for the first time on a new device, or reset your Chromebook or Chromebox.

There are two new flags in the code as well: Default Chat web app, which "enables the Chat web app to be installed by default", and Default Meet web app, which does exactly the same for the Meet web app.

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It's little surprise that Google is moving to make these apps part of the default Chrome OS furniture – they're becoming increasingly important parts of the Google app ecosystem for both business users and consumers.

Coming soon

Google Chat is already the primary messaging tool on Google Workspace, while non-business users are currently being transitioned over to Google Chat from Google Hangouts – that transition is going to continue over the coming months.

As for Google Meet, that's Google's primary Zoom competitor: with more of us working from home in recent times for obvious reasons, Google has been keen to push Meet as a capable and versatile video calling platform that works for both one-to-one conversations and larger group meetings.

Both Google Chat and Google Meet are also available as Android apps as well, of course – but these preinstalled apps will be the web versions of the tools, even though Chrome OS has built-in support for running Android apps.

The additions of Chat and Meet are scheduled to be ready for Chrome OS version 92, which is due to reach users in late July. As with any preinstalled Chrome OS app, you'll be able to remove them from your device easily enough if you don't need them.

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The best Dyson Supersonic hair dryer deals, prices and sales for May 2021

Dyson Supersonic deals are hard to come by, but the high-tech hair dryer does occasionally see them. You're more likely to see a bundle deal - with free accessories, such as a travel bag - than a price drop, but we're constantly searching the sales and you'll find all the best Dyson Supersonic deals here as soon as they drop.

Dyson's premium hairdryer features innovative technology that makes it unlike any traditional hair dryer. The Supersonic has a digital motor that creates ultra-fast drying while also preventing heat damage. But all that tech comes at a cost, and the Dyson Supersonic is priced well above most hair dryers, currently retailing for $400 in the US and £300 in the UK.

The best Dyson hair dryer deals

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

The best hair dryer in the world

Dimensions: 3.8" x 3.1" x 9.6" | Weight: 4.41 lbs | Power: 1600 W

Ultra-fast drying

Prevents extreme heat damage

3 precise speed settings

It's easier to hold

Comes with great accessories

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is built with a powerful V9 digital motor that combined with air multiplier technology produces high-velocity controlled air for fast, controlled drying. The Supersonic hair dryer measures air temperature 20 times a second so you'll never have to worry about damaging your hair with extreme heat. 

The Dyson hair dryer also offers four different heat settings, as well as three different speed settings, so you can style your hair exactly how you want. The controlled heat and settings also help with reducing frizz so you can achieve sleek, smooth hair with every use. The Supersonic also comes with three different magnetic attachments so you can achieve different styles using just one tool.

• Read more: Dyson Supersonic review

Dyson Supersonic price: is the Dyson hair dryer worth the money?

The high price tag on the Dyson hair dryer can initially cause shock, but there are several reasons for the steep price. The Supersonic is engineered like other Dyson appliances and therefore priced similarly. 

It features a tiny digital motor that - combined with the heat sensor - produces fast drying results without damaging your hair. Dyson installed the tiny motor in the handle rather than the head, which balances the weight of the dryer so your hand won't get tired when drying your hair. Dyson also claims that the Supersonic will outlast other hairdryers, so you won't have to keep repurchasing the same $70 hair dryer every couple of years. 

How does the Dyson supersonic hair dryer work?

Extreme temperatures can damage hair, so Dyson engineered a hair dryer that protects hair while also achieving fast drying and controlled styling. The Supersonic features a powerful Dyson digital motor that's six times faster than other hair dryers. 

The motor combined with the Air Multiplier technology produces high-pressure controlled air, which results in a smooth and even hair drying experience. Thanks to the intelligent heat control, which measures air temperature 40 times a second, the extreme heat is regulated, so your hair is protected against damage.

Does the Dyson hair dryer dry faster?

The short answer is yes; the Dyson Supersonic dries hair faster and more efficiently than traditional hair dryers. The Dyson hair dryer combines controlled heat with a powerful motor that results in drying time that's twice as fast as most hair dryers. The Supersonic also features three different drying speeds so you can control how fast you want your hair dried. 

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The Surface Pro 7 drops to lowest sale price ever at Best Buy

If you're looking to snag a deal on Microsoft's versatile Surface Pro 7, then you're in luck. Right now, Best Buy has the Surface Pro 7 on sale for just $599 (was $959). That's a massive $360 discount and the lowest price we've found for the tablet-laptop hybrid.

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Today's best Surface Pro 7 deal

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 with black Type Cover: $959 $599 at Best Buy
Save $360 -  You can get the Surface Pro 7 on sale for a record-low price of $599 at Best Buy. This bundled deal includes a black Type Cover, and the tablet features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and provides up to 10 hours of battery life.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 features a stunning 12.3 -inch touch-screen display and packs 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and an Intel 10th Generation Core i3 processor. You're also getting a USB-C and USB-A port so you can connect displays, docking stations, and more, as well as accessory charging. This deal includes Microsoft's Type Cover, so you don't have to worry about an extra $100+ expense to complete the 2-in-1 laptop experience.

As we mentioned above, this is the lowest price we've found for the Surface Pro 7 and a fantastic bundled deal that includes a $159.99 Type Cover. This is a limited-time offer from Best Buy, so we recommend snagging this bargain now before it's too late.

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See more computing bargains with our guide to the best cheap laptop deals and the best cheap tablets.

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Hellblade 2: everything we know about the Xbox Series X game

Announced back in 2019, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is developer Ninja Theory’s highly-anticipated sequel to its 2017 title Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. 

Exclusive to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC, the game was revealed at the Game Awards in 2019 with a dark and mysterious trailer that didn’t really give much away. A couple of years later and we’re still eagerly waiting to hear more details about the game, include, crucially, its release date. 

It’s now been more than three years since we fought through the depths of Hel with Senua on her journey to rescue the soul of her dead lover from the goddess Hela so we’re more than ready to jump into a sequel. 

With the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console out in the wild, we’re hoping that 2021 will bring more news about what we can expect from Ninja Theory’s Xbox exclusive. At the moment, Microsoft's press conference at E3 2021 is looking like the most likely time we'll get our next update. In the meantime, we’ve gathered everything we know so far about Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 below for your perusal.

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Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 release date

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 was surprisingly announced at the Game Awards 2019 with a heart-pumping reveal trailer. The announcement told us that Hellblade 2 is coming to Xbox Series X, as well as PC, but it didn’t actually reveal a release date.

Though it was one of the first-revealed Xbox Series X games, Hellblade 2 wasn’t referred to as a launch title, so we weren’t entirely surprised that it wasn’t released with the Xbox Series X in late 2020. However, now that we’re into 2021 we’re hoping to hear about some kind of release date soon. 

We’re tempering our expectations that Hellblade 2 will be a 2021 title, though, after the game didn’t appear on a January 2021 post on Xbox Wire revealing the games coming exclusively to Xbox in 2021.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 trailers

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was officially announced for Xbox Series X at the Game Awards 2019, with a peculiar and gritty reveal trailer. While the trailer didn't give much away in terms of story and gameplay, it did confirm that this sequel looks  much darker than its predecessor - which was already pretty dark.

Check it out below:

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 news and rumors

Xbox at E3 2021

E3 2021 is going ahead and Xbox is one of the headline names in attendance. This year’s E3 is going to be a little different to the usual—with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the ESA is taking the whole thing online. As such, it’ll take place between June 12 and June 15, with publishers streaming their press conferences online alongside a four-day broadcast with commentary and interviews. 

Now, Xbox hasn’t confirmed the exact details of its press conference yet so we don’t know which day it’ll be taking place or which games will be on show but it feels like there’s a pretty good chance Hellblade 2 could make some kind of appearance. We haven’t seen much of the game since its announcement at the Game Awards in 2019 and as an Xbox exclusive, we would expect Microsoft to want to shout about it during its show. Some new footage and some kind of release window would be the ideal scenario but until we get some solid details from Xbox on its plans for the show this is nothing more than hope and speculation. 

Behind the scenes look

Updates on Hellblade 2 have been pretty thin on the ground recently so a behind-the-scenes update from the game’s star Melina Juergens was no doubt welcome for fans.

The video diary places a real focus on how Juergens prepared for the role of Senua this time around, with a glimpse at some pretty intense combat training. This does hint at a focus on realistic, authentic combat within the game itself. 

Juergens embarked on a regime of fitness training as well as taking weapons training with C.C. Smiff, the swordmaster and stunt choreographer for the recent Star Wars trilogy and Game of Thrones.  The game’s animators also took combat courses so that they could provide realistic movements for the game’s enemies during motion capture sessions.

Juergens also revealed that she suffers from the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia, explaining it “basically means my joints and bones and things like that are always in pain and I have a lot of fatigue. And also when I’m training I need quite a lot of time to recover after every session.”

You can watch the video diary for yourself below and Juergens has said that more will be coming in another episode in the future. 

No more content for Bleeding Edge

Ninja Theory has said that it'll be adding no more content to Bleeding Edge as it's putting its focus on developing Hellblade 2, Project Mara, and The Insight Project.

With the studio now focusing on our new projects (Senua’s Saga, Project Mara & The Insight Project) we have decided that there will be no further content updates for Bleeding Edge. The game is still playable on Xbox and PC. Thank you to the fans & keep teaming up & causing chaos!January 28, 2021

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Melina Juergens tweets

Melina Juergens, the lead actress who plays Senua in the Hellblade series, has posted a tweet making reference to Hellblade 2. 

For every battle won, a greater battle takes its place ⚔️ #senuassaga #hellbladesenuassacrifice Makeup: @puffjockey pic.twitter.com/ORAqwI71VMJanuary 15, 2021

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The tweet includes a picture of Juergens painted with Senua’s rune-like patterns and scars and is captioned with the phrase “For every battle won, a greater battle takes its place”, alongside Senua’s Saga-related tags. It’s unclear whether the tweet is an indication that Juergens is on set working on the game or whether she’s just showing fans some in-character makeup. 

Not on the list

Hellblade 2 still doesn’t have an official release date or release window but 2021 is looking less likely after a recent post on Xbox Wire. Published in January 2021, the post lists the games that are coming exclusively to Xbox in 2021. 

Given Hellblade 2 is an Xbox exclusive and it doesn’t appear on this list, it does make it seem unlikely that the game is coming anytime soon. That said, the list is fairly limited and we imagine Xbox still has some unannounced dates up its sleeve. We’ll just have to be patient until something official is announced. 

Running on Unreal Engine 5

Microsoft has confirmed that Hellblade 2 will use Unreal Engine 5 in an official Xbox Wire post. 

According to Xbox, "The team will be building the game on Unreal 5 and leveraging the power of Xbox Series X to bring the Hellblade franchise to levels never before seen." They added that the footage of the game shown during The Game Awards in 2019 "was captured in-engine and reflects the power of Xbox Series X available to developers to deliver new universes, experiences and games in ways you have never imagined."

Icelandic inspiration
Hellblade 2 made an unexpected appearance during the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23, where it was revealed that the game would be taking place in Iceland. In developer Ninja Theory's 'Dreadnought' developer diary series, the team spoke of how it has been location scouting across the country much as you would for a Hollywood film, including taking audio recordings for an special immersive, accurate representation of the landscape. Check out the video below for more.

What about the story?
We don't actually know anything about Hellblade 2's story yet but, from the trailer, it seems to be much darker than its predecessor. The trailer shows pagan rituals, breathtaking landscapes, limbs hanging from archways and a few battle sequences. There's also some hints towards Vikings - which would make sense given the time period. But this is speculation and we remain largely in the dark.

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Invincible season 1’s finale shows how Amazon should handle seasons 2 and 3

Spoilers follow for Invincible season 1.

Invincible season 1 has ended on Amazon Prime Video – and, oh boy, is its finale a visceral gut-punch.

The R-rated animated TV series has been largely enjoyable, but Invincible episode 8 took proceedings to a whole new level. It was a violent, tragic and, at times, pretty humorous end to the TV show’s first outing which, after a slow start, found its feet and proved to be a solid adaptation of Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley’s graphic novels.

More than that, though, Invincible season 1’s finale laid down a marker for how Amazon has to approach future seasons.

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Invincible has been renewed for two more seasons and, judging by the responses to the announcement, Invincible’s fanbase is delighted. The TV show’s popularity, too, has proved a boon for its source material, with 100,000 copies sold since the series’ debut in March. With plenty of story left for Amazon’s adaptation to explore, it’s unsurprising that seasons 2 and 3 have been greenlit. 

Twitter: Announce Season 2, you cowardsInvincibleHQ: How about Seasons 2 AND 3?!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/lWCSGbNTkaApril 29, 2021

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Still, Invincible hasn’t been without its problems. While I’ve been largely impressed, I’ve had issues with Amazon’s adaptation. Season 1’s finale, though, gives me hope that these issues can be rectified, and it offers a template for how seasons 2 and 3 should be approached. 

Pace yourself 

(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

Like Nolan Grayson, aka Omni-Man, teaching his son Mark how to use his Invincible superpowers, season 1 needed to walk before it could run. In less analogous terms, TV shows like Invincible need to introduce its characters and world slowly, so audiences don’t feel overwhelmed or confused about who’s who or what’s going on. 

This element of Invincible, though, remains for the series’ first few episodes, which makes its pacing feel sluggish. Admittedly, it’s admirable that Invincible’s creators wanted to maintain a 45-minute runtime for each episode. It’s annoying when TV shows, such as Amazon Prime Video horror series Them, arrive in episodes with dramatically different lengths which, in that show’s case, didn’t allow its plot to flow particularly well.

Invincible season 1, though, might have profited from some episodes being shorter than others. The pilot introduced us to Invincible’s universe, while the finale wrapped up season 1’s main story arc. These entries should have longer runtimes, then, in order to book-end the first season’s overarching plot.

Episode 8, in particular, benefits from its 45-minute length. In it, Omni-Man finally tells Mark/Invincible the truth about the Viltrumites. Basically, they’re a race of arrogant superpowered beings who want other civilizations to live under their rule – or face annihilation. This revelation, coupled with Nolan’s cruel assertion that he considered Mark’s mother Debbie to be nothing more than a pet, causes Mark to become enraged.

He refuses to join his dad’s cause to enslave humanity, and the pair fight. What ensues is the destruction of the city of Chicago, countless innocent lives lost (in gratuitous detail, too) and Omni-Man almost pummeling Invincible to death. To Mark’s credit, he tries to save as many people as possible but, ultimately, he’s outmatched by his father’s strength, will and brutality.

Episode 8’s devastating events, then, require a lengthier episode to do them justice. We need to hear the real reason behind Omni-Man’s arrival on Earth, to witness his barbaric assault on Mark and Chicago in detail, and – as viewers – have the time to wrestle with the ramifications of the pair’s actions. Mark’s efforts are noble – sacrificial, even – but his decision to turn on his father only leads to more death and ruin. As Kirkman pointed out to us ahead of the series’ debut, Invincible reckons with the consequences of superpowered individuals and their actions. To do so, the TV show requires episodes with more minutes to convey this.

Other episodes, however, feel stretched out by their 45-minute runtimes. It isn’t necessary to see Mark and Amber squabble numerous times in the same episode, nor to witness the Flaxan aliens’ invasion of Earth four times in episode 2. Sure, such moments offer drama and action aplenty but, ultimately, they slow the flow of episodes down.

Heading into seasons 2 and 3, I’d like to see Amazon’s adaptation take a different approach. Let the first and final episodes breathe with longer runtimes, but restrict other entries to a maximum of 30 to 35 minutes. It would mean cutting five to 10 minutes' worth of content out of each episode, but it would help to make episodic tales tighter, and flow better.

Animation alterations 

(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

By and large, Invincible’s animation is terrific. The blend between 2D and 3D is superb, fights are viscerally savage, and there’s even a nostalgic hint of old 1990s animated superhero TV shows, such as Batman: The Animated Series, within.

There are, though, moments where I’ve been pulled out of episodes by certain scenes. One such instance takes place in the pilot, when Mark tells his parents that his powers have finally begun to emerge. As Nolan responds to Mark, his movements lack polish and seem unfinished, which felt less immersive to me. In episode 2, again, the Flaxans’ attacks are something of a letdown. It doesn’t feel like there are enough alien soldiers present on screen to properly convey the increasing scale of each invasion, especially in wide shots, and doesn’t present a true reflection of how overwhelmed Mark and the Teen Titans become during the Flaxans’ final assault.

Thankfully, later episodes mostly iron out these problems, which brings me back to season 1’s finale. The magnitude of destruction is better realized due to the field of view in certain scenes (the Chicago skyscraper sequence, for instance), as is the ferocity of Omni-Man’s attacks, such as that harrowing subway scene. Add in the various locations where Mark and Nolan’s battle occurs, and you really get a feeling of scope and reach in episode 8.

Close-up shots are also improved. Characters’ movements are more flexible and, even though it’s an animated series, appear authentic.

With a season under their belts, the various production departments will have a clearer idea of what works from art and animation standpoints. In my view, seasons 2 and 3 can only benefit from the finale’s blend of aesthetics and styles – and if this blueprint is retained, Invincible’s next two instalments will only look better with time.

Finding its feet 

(Image credit: Amazon Studios)

Invincible season 1 is only the beginning for Amazon’s animated adaptation. It got off to a rough start but, like its comic-book cousin, it’s improved with each instalment. 

The first season only seems to have covered the first 23 issues of Invincible as well. With 144 comics in total, there are a lot more stories to be told, characters to introduce, and sadistic battles to endure between now and the TV series’ last-ever episode.

Judging by the season 1 finale thread on the Invincible sub-Reddit, and the high social media engagement for episode 8, fans won’t get tired of the TV adaptation anytime soon. 

I include myself in that group. Invincible episode 8 did enough to show me that the series’ producers have learned from its teething problems and, like The Boys, Invincible has the capacity to become a major superhero hit for Amazon. The superhero movie and TV landscape is becoming increasingly congested, however, so Invincible seasons 2 and 3 have to build on the foundations laid by the season 1 finale.

If it does, my interest won’t waver. Right now, I’m excited to see how Amazon adapts the rest of Mark’s story, and the wider Invincible universe, in future seasons. As long as Amazon, Skybound, and everyone else involved maintains the stellar work showcased in Invincible season 1’s finale, the only way for the show, as for Mark, is up.

Invincible season 1 is available to stream in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video now.

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GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X: release date, enhancements and what we know

GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X is happening. The iconic GTA 5 will have released on three generations of consoles after it arrives, "expanded and enhanced", on the new consoles later this year. More than seven years after its first release, and 130 million copies shipped later, GTA 5 (and its multiplayer component, GTA Online) is still enormously successful for Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive. Even if it means you're not getting GTA 6 in the immediate future, the key intent here is keeping GTA Online's player base engaged across generations.

If you already have a PS5 or Xbox Series X, thanks to backwards compatibility you can of course play GTA 5 right now. But you won't get to enjoy any serious next-gen improvements until the new version is released in the second half of 2021. We still don't have an exact release date for when that will happen, nor do we know exactly what its expansions and enhancements will involve, but we're hoping it's only a matter of time before we find out more given we're already a few months into 2021. It's possible Take-Two's attendance at E3 2021 could bring us the news we're waiting for. 

It seems likely, though, that if you want to keep playing GTA Online in the future, you'll probably want to pick up this new version eventually, as Rockstar has suggested that some future GTA updates won't be supported on Xbox One and PS4, with the publisher promising "more new updates including additional GTA Online content exclusive to the new consoles and PC". 

Here's what we know about GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X so far. 

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GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X: what you need to know

• What is it? A remastered version of GTA 5 for PS5 and Xbox Series X
• When can I play it? Second-half of 2021 (exact date TBC)
• What can I play it on? PS5 and Xbox Series X
• If I own GTA 5 on PS4 or Xbox One, will I have to pay for the remaster? TBC

GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X release date

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

GTA 5 is coming to "new generation consoles" in the second half of 2021, Rockstar has confirmed. There was no specific mention of the Xbox Series X in Rockstar's press release, only PS5 (our guess is that this is a condition of a marketing agreement with Sony), but clearly the phrase 'new generation consoles' refers to the new Xbox as well. 

It remains unclear if GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X will have to be bought separately, will be a paid upgrade for current PS4 and PS5 players, or whether current owners will get the upgrade for free. 

GTA Online will also release as a separate standalone edition in the second half of 2021. Could this be a deliberate move to reduce GTA's storage demands, and allow the multiplayer component to do more ambitious things? Or is it simply to position GTA Online as a continuous entity, even if another numbered GTA gets announced in the next couple of years? We'll have to wait and see.

PlayStation owners have a significant advantage in all of this. If you play GTA Online on PS4, you'll get GTA$1 million to spend in-game every month until the PS5 version of GTA launches. And when GTA Online's standalone edition arrives on PS5, owners of the console will have three months to claim the game for free after release.

GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X trailers

GTA 5 on PS5 was the first trailer revealed for the console during Sony's Future of Gaming Event in June 2020. The intro, featuring Michael saying 'Why did I move here? I guess it was the weather" parallels GTA 5's famous first trailer in 2011. We haven't had a similar trailer for Xbox Series X yet. Check it out below:

GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X enhancements: what are they?

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

"The new generation versions of GTA 5 will feature a range of technical improvements, visual upgrades and performance enhancements to take full advantage of the latest hardware, making the game more beautiful and more responsive than ever," is how Rockstar describes the upgrades for GTA 5 on next-gen hardware.  

Rockstar hasn't been overly specific with what the enhancements will be but, hopefully, we'll finally have the option to run GTA 5 on consoles at 60fps, which is pretty easy to achieve on PC. We'd speculate that the game is likely to resemble the PC version as it runs on high-end hardware – though it's possible Rockstar is planning other tweaks we don't know about yet.

We expect Rockstar will confirm these enhancements in the near future, given that GTA 5 is set to land on PS5 and Xbox Series X later this year.

Where is GTA 6?

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

GTA 6 simply isn't ready yet. While we know almost nothing about the next entry in the series, these games are grand undertakings for massive worldwide development teams. Red Dead Redemption 2, of course, was Rockstar's last major project, and expecting GTA 6 so soon after that is unrealistic. 

In the meantime, GTA Online has an enormous audience, and the game is sustained by continuing sales of GTA 5 and in-game currency. Rockstar likely wants to maintain that interest between generations until GTA 6 is finally ready. 

GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X: news and rumors

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Take-Two at E3 2021

E3 2021 is going ahead and Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive is on the list of attendees. This year’s E3 is going to be an entirely online affair, taking place between June 12 and June 15, with publishers giving dedicated press conferences alongside a four-day broadcast with interviews and commentary. 

With Take-Two attending, it’s possible E3 2021 could be the place we finally hear a little bit more about GTA 5’s Expanded and Enhanced edition. Rockstar hasn’t traditionally been very big on E3 for its announcements but as anything to do with game is more of an update than a full-blown announcement it feels like there’s a chance we could see something. Given GTA 5 Expanded and Enhanced is expected sometime this year and E3 will be pretty much right in the middle of the year, it could be the perfect place for a release date announcement.

As yet, Take-Two is yet to confirm any detailed plans for the show so we can’t be certain that GTA 5 Expanded and Enhanced will appear but we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed. 

Not a 'simple port'
Speaking during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, earlier this week (via VGC), Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, explained that the company doesn't necessarily see remasters becoming a bigger part of the company's strategy going forward, it plans to approach any potential remasters differently from its competitors.

"Remastering has always been a part of the strategy," Zelnik said. "We’ve done differently than the competition – we don’t just port titles over, we actually take the time to do the very best job we can making the title different for the new release, for the new technology that we’re launching it on."

"So, we improve the technology, we upgrade the visuals, and we make performance enhancements," Zelnik continued. "And that’s why I think our remastered titles typically do so well.”

“We’ve done great with the Mafia series, for example, and Grand Theft Auto [V] is now heading into its third generation which is incredible", Zelnik said of the upcoming GTA 5 remaster. “It was a standard-bearer when it was launched, it continued to be the standard-bearer in the second generation, we’ll see how Grand Theft Auto does in the next generation. Obviously, I’m confident that Rockstar is going to deliver just a great experience, but you can’t do that if you’re just doing a simple port.”

Using Rockstar's RAGE engine?
There have been rumors that the game could use Rockstar’s RAGE engine, used in the development of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The rumors come from Rockstar insider ‘Tez2’ (Via Wccftech) who posted on  GTAForums that new GTA 5 game data makes reference to the RAGE engine rather than GTA 5’s original engine. Tez2 does also note, however, that this could mean that the game’s UI will run on the new engine while the rest of the game will still use its original engine. 

Writing on the forum, Tez2 says “Found out new structs that were added with the recent update relating to the standalone version and one of them is “rage::fwuiMessageBase”, which is from RDR2’s RAGE version, so that seems to go along what @Spider-Vice & @uNi stated, that the enhanced edition is likely to utilize RDR2’s RAGE version. However, it could just be that the UI would utilize RDR2’s base code, while the rest remains the same.”

As these are just rumors at the moment, however, we should be wary until Rockstar itself makes any kind of announcement. 

We're also still waiting for further information on how this edition is 'expanded' for new consoles, as the trailer mentions, but Rockstar will discuss the new version of the game more down the line.

• Check out our PS5 review
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• PS5 vs Xbox Series X: which console should you buy?

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Aquaman 2: release date, cast and what else we know about DC's return to Atlantis

The first film made such a splash that Aquaman 2 soon became inevitable. 

That’s because the highest-grossing movie ever based on a DC Comics character doesn’t belong to any of the famous trinity of Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman. Instead, the Jason Momoa-starring, James Wan-directed Aquaman beat them all – the new king of Atlantis was also crowned DC’s king of the box office.

It’s something of a sea-change for a character who’d traditionally been the butt of the joke in comic-book circles – in everything from Family Guy to the fake James Cameron movie in Entourage. But thanks to Momoa’s wise-cracking performance, a makeover inspired by DC’s New 52 reboot, and The Conjuring/Fast & Furious 7 director James Wan’s instinct for underwater spectacle, he’s now one of the  DC Extended Universe’s MVPs – this is one franchise that isn’t going to be sleeping with the fishes any time soon.

So as the hotly anticipated sequel gears up for production in summer 2021, we dive into the intel that’s already washed ashore – everything from the Aquaman 2's release date and cast, to what it all means for the story. However it all turns out, Aquaman 2 is sure to make waves…

Aquaman 2 release date: December 2022

The first Aquaman hit cinemas in December 2018, and came out on top in a month that also included the releases of Mary Poppins Returns, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Bumblebee. It’s not much of a surprise, then, that Warner Bros has targeted another December debut for its sequel, with the Aquaman 2 release date currently set for December 16, 2022 – almost exactly four years after the first movie’s release.

It looks like production on Aquaman 2 will get underway in the UK later this year – that’s what Dolph Lundgren (who plays King Nereus) told the Wizard World Virtual Experience (via ScreenRant), anyway. “I may be doing Aquaman 2 this summer, shooting in London,” the Rocky IV, He-Man and Punisher star told his assembled fans.

The first movie shot on Australia’s Gold Coast, so the UK will be a major relocation – though seeing as all the underwater scenes were filmed ‘dry-for-wet‘ in a studio, with actors supported by sophisticated harnesses, it shouldn’t make much difference to the look of the film.

Unlike Warner Bros’ 2021 releases, it looks like Aquaman 2 won’t be released on streaming service HBO Max at the same time it hits theaters. According to Deadline, Warner has struck a deal with cinema distributors to launch its 2022 release slate exclusively on the big screen – though the window of theatrical exclusivity will be cut back to a mere 45 days, so you won’t have to wait that much longer to watch the movie at home on your TV.

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Cut to the chase

• What is it? A sequel to Warner/DC's 2018 smash hit Aquaman. It's the continuation of the story of Arthur Curry, the surface-dweller recently crowned king of the underwater world of Atlantis. 
• Where can I see it? Aquaman 2 will debut in theaters, navigating its way to home entertainment soon after.
• When can I watch it? Aquaman 2 is set for theatrical release on December 16, 2022. It's likely to be available for home viewing around 45 days later.

Aquaman 2 trailer: when will we see it?

With production yet to get under way, it’s a little early for DC and Warner to be unveiling any footage from the movie. The first Aquaman teaser debuted at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and – assuming the smaller Comic-Con Special Edition goes ahead as planned over Thanksgiving weekend – it’s possible that we’ll see some kind of Aquaman 2 trailer there, especially as Warner/DC have a history of big Hall H reveals. 

That said, DC has just announced that its digital FanDome event will return in 2021 on October 16. Last year, that's where The Batman's trailer was first revealed – so it's more likely we'll see Aquaman there this year, since the event is specifically geared for a global audience.

Jason Momoa returns as Arthur Curry, aka the king of Atlantis, in Aquaman 2. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Aquaman 2 cast: who’s in the movie

Here are the confirmed cast members for Aquaman 2 based on what we know so far, though you can expect this list to grow as we learn more about the movie:

• Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
• Amber Heard as Mera
• Patrick Wilson as Orm
• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta
• Pilou Asbæk as an unannounced character

It’s no surprise that Jason Momoa is returning to play Arthur Curry/Aquaman for the fourth time (after Aquaman, Justice League and a very brief cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice). And despite (seemingly unfounded) rumors that Amber Heard wasn’t going to be back as Xebelian princess (and daughter of Nereus) Mera, the actor posted an image of herself reading a book on her Instagram feed – along with a #gettingakindleforaquaman2 hashtag.

With Arthur Curry having shown mercy to his scheming half-brother Orm (aka the self-styled Ocean Master) at the end of the first movie, James Wan regular Patrick Wilson has seemingly confirmed he’s part of the Aquaman 2 cast in an Instagram post about his training routine. 

And it looks like there’ll be someone on hand to keep the squabbling siblings in check, with Nicole Kidman rumored (via We Got This Covered) to be back as their mother, Atlantis’s Queen Atlanna. While it’s yet to be confirmed officially, we suspect this also means a return for Temuera Morrison (soon to be seen as the title character in The Book of Boba Fett) as Arthur’s dad, Thomas Curry – after all, with Atlanna and Thomas reunited after decades apart, it would be cruel not to let them rekindle a romance that brought two worlds together. 

There’s no word yet on whether Willem Dafoe will return as Arthur’s Atlantean mentor, Vulko, but it seems a safe bet, if only to help keep the new king of Atlantis on the straight and narrow.

Meanwhile, Watchmen star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II confirmed to Uproxx that he’ll be back to represent the surface dwellers as the owner of one of the most iconic helmets in comic books, the revenge-obsessed Black Manta. Chances are we’ll also be seeing more from Randall Park (recently seen starring as Jimmy Woo in Marvel’s WandaVision) as marine biologist-turned-Atlantis expert Dr Stephen Shin, seeing as the two joined forces during Aquaman’s end credits sting.

And given Pilou Asbæk’s history as a bad guy in Game of Thrones, we think it’s likely his role in the Aquaman 2 cast (reported by Deadline) will skew more to the dark side than the light.

Aquaman 2 plot: what’s in store for Atlantis?

Now that DC is less hung up than it used to be about creating an interweaving, MCU-style shared universe for its superheroes, the most we know for certain about the Aquaman 2 plot is that the movie’s being scripted by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. The writer previously worked with director James Wan on two The Conjuring movies and the first Aquaman.

“I think the second one is a little bit more serious, a little bit more relevant in the world we are living in today,” Wan teased at DC’s virtual FanDome event in August 2020 (via Deadline). “I think that’s where it wants to go.”

He expanded slightly when Patrick Wilson suggested he’d prefer to see Aquaman 2 exploring uncharted waters. “I can definitely guarantee you new worlds in this next one,” replied Wan, “and I think you’re going to be very excited as an actor.”

What does all this mean for Arthur Curry now that he’s donned Aquaman’s classic gold and green armor, got his hands on the Trident of Atlan, and taken his place on the throne of Atlantis? While he and the water-manipulating Mera were seemingly an item by the end of the first movie, Hollywood convention and the needs of storytelling dictate it probably won’t be plain sailing this time out. 

Indeed, past form suggests Orm won’t make life easy for his half-brother – though Wilson’s aforementioned Instagram post may have muddied the waters slightly with a cryptic #brothersdontshakehandsbrothersgottahug. Could a familial reconciliation be on the cards?

David Hyde, aka Black Manta, seems primed for a promotion to lead villain in Aquaman 2. Blaming Arthur Curry for the death of his father during a skirmish on a submarine in the first movie, Black Manta has become obsessed with having his revenge on the Aquaman. And having survived their previous encounter by the skin of his teeth – even when armed with superpowered Atlantean weapons – he’s unlikely to give up until Arthur Curry is dead. 

Chances are that Black Manta will be assisted in his mission by Dr Shin, a character who’s made the journey to the screen from DC Comics’ New 52 Aquaman reboot. The Aquaman end credits sequence showed the duo making a deal – if Shin helps Black Manta find Aquaman, Black Manta will give him concrete evidence on the existence of Atlantis.

Unfortunately, Black Manta’s mission to dish out revenge may be bad news for Thomas Curry – if he decides that justices is best served by murdering the father of the man he believes killed his own dad.  

And don’t be surprised if Aquaman 2 also makes a return trip to the Trench, the dark, scary region of the ocean whose monstrous inhabitants kept Atlanna prisoner in Aquaman – especially now that the proposed The Trench movie spin-off has been dropped by Warner Bros (as reported by Variety).

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Spotify has announced a controversial price hike. Will musicians see any of it?

Many users were left aghast when, for the first time ever, Spotify announced that they are raising their subscription prices for many users. Users across the UK, US and in parts of Europe can expect to see a considerable increase to their Spotify bill. 

In the UK, a Premium Student account will increase from £4.99 a month to £5.99, while the two-person Duo offering will increase from £12.99 a month to £13.99. While the price of an individual account remains steady at £9.99, it is families who will experience the biggest blow, as Spotify’s Premium Family plan is set to sky-rocket from £14.99 a month to £16.99. 

In the US and Europe, only the price of the Premium Family plan will be affected, increasing from $14.99 to $15.99, and from €14.99 to €17.99 respectively. This is thought to be Spotify’s latest attempt to crack down on family plans being shared between groups of friends or individuals. In September 2019, Spotify began to ask for proof that all members on a family plan are resident at the same address - unsurprisingly, this resulted in a string of privacy complaints. 

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How does this compare to other streaming services?

These prices make Spotify seem distinctly less competitive compared to other streaming services. Taking family plans as an example, Amazon Music, Apple Music and YouTube Music are now all cheaper alternatives, with their plans all priced at the old Spotify rates of $14.99 / £14.99. 

You can check out TechRadar’s guide to the best music streaming services, for a more in-depth comparison. 

How has the price increase been received?

While some may argue that a price increase is long overdue, it’s a strange time for Spotify to announce the hike. 

In the UK, Spotify (and other streaming services) have come under intense scrutiny, resulting in a high-profile inquiry into the economics of streaming in the House of Commons. Representatives from across the UK music industry – from label managers to working musicians – submitted impassioned evidence that they feel that Spotify’s current rates of payment (between $0.03 - $0.05 per stream) is not fair recompense for their work, and that Spotify’s current operating model creates a toxic ‘winner takes all’ market, where superstars are rewarded with vastly inflated profits while smaller artists struggle to make a living. 

In the US, The Union of Musicians and Allied Workers orchestrated a “Justice at Spotify” campaign, which mobilized protests at Spotify offices in 31 cities across the world. Their open letter – which demands a penny per stream rate, and would put Spotify payments on par with Apple Music – has gained over 28,000 signatures thus far. 

In response, Spotify launched Loud and Clear: a communications initiative which was supposed to “increase transparency by sharing new data on the global streaming economy.” However, many campaigners were left with unresolved questions around the details of the deals Spotify has struck up with major labels, and whether (as many users suspect) Spotify takes payment for playlisting or preferential algorithmic treatment. 

Many members of the music industry will be left wondering whether there is any chance that Spotify’s price increases will trickle down to musicians – or whether it will merely line Spotify’s own pockets. 

Just received email notifying me of 20% price raise for my monthly @spotify subscription. I do hope this will be reflected in a 20% price raise for artists.April 26, 2021

See more

In an even more bizarre twist, Spotify’s price increase was announced as Daniel Ek, Spotify co-founder and CEO, readies a bid of £1.8 million to take control of Arsenal Football Club. 

Unsurprisingly, news of this exorbitant bid occurring at the same time as increasing prices for users and spiraling tension over the fairness of Spotify’s pay-outs for artists has been met with widespread frustration. As Tim Burgess, lead singer of indie-rock outfit The Charlatans, summed it up in a tweet: “So many artists are forced to take second jobs, give up flats because they can’t pay their rent all while getting decent numbers of plays on @spotify – yet the owner has enough to bid for a premier league team. It just doesn’t seem ethical to me.”

Some commentators have debated the ethics of raising prices at all during a pandemic – especially considering that Spotify has tripled in value during the pandemic, as streaming numbers surged over lockdown.

Spotify’s decision has been soundly criticized by Deezer COO Laurence Miall d’Aout, who made the following statement to journalists: “We just wanted to let you know that Deezer isn’t going to raise prices in the middle of the pandemic. Music, podcasts and radio help people cope and we don’t feel this is the time to make things harder for them. If we ever were to increase prices, we would give our users a 3 month heads up to make sure that it doesn’t come as a surprise."

However, it’s worth noting that Spotify’s prices have remained static for over a decade, and that other streaming services – including Netflix  – have managed to raise prices during the pandemic with a fraction of the outcry Spotify’s hike has prompted. The issue is timing – and announcing a significant price hike while Spotify is weathering various other controversies over its working practices and financial decisions maybe wasn’t the savviest move. 

What has Spotify said? 

Not a great deal: “We offer a variety of subscription plans tailored to our users’ needs, and we occasionally update our prices to reflect local macroeconomic factors and meet market demands while offering an unparalleled service."

Only time will tell whether this price hike is part of a wider strategy by Spotify to make payments fairer for musicians. But considering that Spotify has recently been heavily investing in its podcasting capabilities, including launching a podcast subscription service to rival Apple’s, it seems like music streaming is at the bottom of Spotify’s priority list, for now.  

• How to get the most out of your music streaming services

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La Rochelle vs Leinster live stream: how to watch Champions Cup semi-final from anywhere

Pro14 champions Leinster have it all to do in their 2021 European Champions Cup semi-final clash with Top 14 heavyweights La Rochelle. Leo Cullen will be without captain Johnny Sexton, after he picked up yet another head injury last month, and Les Maritimes also have home advantage. It's a blockbuster match-up, so read on as we explain how to watch a La Rochelle vs Leinster live stream today and catch all the rugby union action online from wherever you are.

La Rochelle vs Leinster live stream

Date: Sunday, May 2

Time: 3pm BST-IST / 10am ET / 7am PT / 12am AEST / 2am NZST

Venue: Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle, France

UK/Irish channel: BT Sport (UK and Ireland)

FREE live stream: Kayo Sports FREE trial (AUS) | Peacock FREE trial (US) | France TV Sport

Watch anywhere: try a world-class VPN 100% risk-free

Leinster's overcame defending champions Exeter in the last round. It was a brilliant tie, which saw the province recover from a nightmare 14-point deficit in the first 10 minutes, to win 34-22. Ross Byrne replaced Sexton midway through the first half and, along with Jordan Lamour and James Lowe, was one of the stars of the show, kicking 17 points for his team. Can he rise to the occasion again today?

It was much smoother sailing for La Rochelle, who gave Sale a 45-21 trouncing. This is the furthest they've ever made it through the European Champions Cup, and another famous win would be the perfect way to celebrate Ronan O'Gara's recent promotion.

This should be a belter, so read on as we explain how to watch a La Rochelle vs Leinster live stream and watch the Champions Cup rugby - no matter where you are, and for free in some regions around the world.

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How to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster live stream from outside your country

We've recommended some of the best places to live stream La Rochelle vs Leinster below. But you might run into a problem trying to access them if you're outside of your country - even if you're fully registered and in all likelihood paying a subscription fee. This is because of something called geo-blocking - best thought of as a kind of digital border. But it's not nearly as scary as it sounds and we can help you get back to your preferred rugby live stream in no time at all.

Simply follow our VPN advice below and you'll soon be up and running with a great bit of software that allows you to relocate your device back to your country of residence - thereby regaining access to all the streaming services you normally enjoy at home.

ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN right now
We've taken the time to try out all the biggest VPN providers and we found ExpressVPN to be the pick of the bunch. It works with lots of devices and offers super fast connections across its many servers. 

Throw in its robust set of security features and ExpressVPN is the best all-round VPN for streaming - and perhaps best of all, it has a 30-day money back guarantee plus 3 months FREE when you subscribe for a year.

Access ExpressVPN via your laptop, iPhone, tablet, Android phone, PlayStation, Xbox and plenty more. Express is a do-it-all service that also benefits from 24/7 customer support.

- Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days

How to live stream La Rochelle vs Leinster in the UK 

You'll need a BT Sport subscription in order to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm BST, and coverage begins at 2.30pm on BT Sport 2. The BT Sport app also lets subscribers watch the rugby on any number of devices, including mobiles, tablets, consoles and smart TVs.

Don't forget that BT now has a new £25 monthly sports pass, so you can get all that BT Sport goodness without a long-term commitment.

If you find yourself outside the UK and want to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster like you would at home, don't worry about geo-blocks on your account – simply grab a VPN and follow the instructions above to live stream the action. 

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How to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster: live stream rugby in Ireland

BT Sport is also the place to tune into for rugby fans based in Ireland, with kick-off for the La Rochelle vs Leinster game scheduled for 3pm IST on Sunday afternoon.

Outside of Ireland? Watch European Champions Cup rugby online just like you would at home with the help of a quality VPN.

How to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster FREE: live stream European Champions Cup rugby in Australia

You'll need to be up late to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster in Australia, with kick-off set for midnight on Sunday night. 

The good news, however, is that you can live stream the game without paying a thing, via Kayo Sports. That's because the sports streaming service offers a FREE 14-day Kayo Sports trial. 

After that, the Basic plan costs just $25 a month and lets you stream on two screens, while Premium is a mere $35 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices. 

beIN Sports is also showing the European Champions Cup rugby match Down Under, and if you're a Foxtel customer, you can add beIN to your package for an extra fee. No worries if you aren't though as you can also subscribe to beIN as a standalone subscription that can be watched on your laptop, desktop computer or mobile device. That costs $19.99 per month after you've taken advantage of a FREE two-week trial.

And remember, if you're out of Australia right now you can use a VPN to watch your preferred rugby live stream from anywhere.

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How to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster: live stream rugby European Champions Cup in New Zealand

New Zealanders can watch La Rochelle vs Leinster on Sky Sport, which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages. 

Prepare for a late night though, as the game kicks off at 2am NZST on Sunday night/Monday morning. Sky Sport's coverage gets underway at 1.55am.

Subscribers are able to watch online using the country's Sky Go service, while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform - where a weekly pass costs just $19.99.

If you're away from New Zealand right now, use a VPN and you'll be streaming the rugger in no time at all.

• Related: how to watch a Champions League live stream

How to watch La Rochelle vs Leinster FREE: live stream rugby in the US

Rugby fans based in the US can watch the La Rochelle vs Leinster game on NBC's excellent new streaming platform, Peacock TV, which offers a FREE 7-day trial so you can tune in without paying a cent. 

The game kicks off at 10am ET / 7am PT on Sunday morning.

After the free trial, Peacock costs just $4.99 a month for an ad-supported service that also features Premiership Rugby, plus loads more premium sports coverage, TV shows, and movies. Alternatively, you can pay a $10 a month for commercial-free coverage.

Outside of the US? Don't forget that US residents abroad can still tune in just like they would at home with the help of a good VPN.

• Related: how to watch Peacock from outside the US with a VPN

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Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) release date, price, and how the three tablets compare

Amazon's Fire range of tablets gets new entries fairly frequently, and of its three lines: Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10, the latest model to get an upgrade is the latter. 

The new Amazon Fire HD 10 for 2021 is a refresh on the company's biggest tablet, and it comes alongside two siblings: a Fire HD 10 Plus and Fire HD 10 Kids Edition - the former of those two is a brand new device.

In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019) we praised its long-lasting battery, practical design and clear screen - while we haven't got our hands on the new model yet, or its siblings, we can bring you everything we know about the slates so far.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Amazon's newest budget tablets
• When is it out? We don't know yet
• How much will it cost? Between $150 and $220

Amazon Fire HD 10 release date and price

While we know the Amazon Fire HD 10 price, the big question mark right now is a release date and regional availability.

The new line of tablets was launched on April 27th, with listings on Amazon US, but the tablets are listed as 'Out of Stock'. There's also no entry for the tablets on Amazon in other countries, so we don't know when they'll go on sale, or where.

In terms of price, we've got the cost of each of the tablets in US dollars, and can use conversions to guess at the exact release prices, though these are rough guesses until the actual costs are announced. You can see the prices below for the three tablets, as well as different size options they come in:

Amazon Fire HD 10 prices:

Device	US price	UK conversion	AU conversion
Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB)	$149.99	£110	$190
Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB)	$189.99	£135	$245
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (32GB)	$179.99	£130	$230
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (64GB)	$219.99	£160	$280
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition	$199.99	£145	$255

Those prices are mostly the same as the previous-gen Fire HD 10 models launched for, though they've got a little cheaper over time. You can see current prices in your region below:

Design and display

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Amazon Fire HD 10 range is named after the screen, which is 10.1-inches across diagonally with a HD resolution - exactly as the name suggests.

In terms of design, you're getting the same utilitarian looks as previous entries in the line, though with slightly slimmer bezels.

There's a front-facing camera embedded in one of the long bezels, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a hardy plastic body that comes in black, blue, pink or green. 

The Kids Edition tablet is also covered in a big, colorful 'kid-proof' case, which should protect it from the worst a child can throw at it (or throw it at).

Cameras and battery life

(Image credit: Amazon)

The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets have a 2MP front-facing camera, useful for video calls, as well as a 5MP rear-facing one, for taking pictures of other people and things.

In terms of battery life, the slates supposedly last 12 hours of screen-on time - but that can change depending on what you do. If you're playing loads of games, you might not get through 12 hours before needing a charge, but if you're just reading books, you'll likely be able to do so for longer.

Amazon predicts the tablet will take four hours to charge up, and this uses its USB-C port. Well, that's the case for the HD 10 and Kids Edition, but the HD 10 Plus actually has wireless charging too.

This uses the Qi wireless powering standard, so it'll work with plenty of docks, but it's designed to work alongside one made by Anker specifically for the device. When powering up the HD 10 Plus this way, the tablet turns into an Alexa-enabled smart assistant.

Performance and software

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon doesn't detail the chipsets used in its tablets, but we do know the RAM, which can give us a basic illustration of the power of the slates.

While the 2019 model had 2GB RAM, the Amazon Fire HD 10 in 2021 has 3GB, a minor, but hopefully noticeable, increase. That's the case with the Kids Edition too, but the Plus model goes all the way up to 4GB, which will be even more useful for games.

All Amazon tablets run the company's fork of Android, which is built around the company's ecosystem of apps including Kindle, Prime Music and Prime Video. There's an app store with a limited number of games and apps, but this kind of tablet is best used if you use the company's services.

Some rival apps, like Netflix and Spotify, are available on the tablet though, in fairness to the company.

For the Kids Edition tablet, a select range of apps is available, that are chosen by Amazon to be appropriate for kids between the ages of three and seven - this stops them viewing anything or playing games that aren't appropriate for them.

With the Fire HD 10 Plus, you can use Show Mode, which basically turns the tablet into an Amazon Echo Show. This lets you access virtual assistant Alexa, for lots of hands-free functions. You can also buy a keyboard case for the tablet which is good for word processing and answering emails.

Takeaway

So the new Amazon Fire HD 10 is largely the same as its predecessor from 2019 but with more RAM, a bigger battery, a USB-C port and smaller bezels. 

The Kids Edition is the same, but with child-friendly locks and a big protective case.

The HD 10 Plus comes with even more RAM, wireless charging, and the ability to use Show Mode and connect to the keyboard case.

• These are the best Amazon Fire deals and prices

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