Latest news with #FlexStrike
Engadget
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
The Morning After: You need to take an age verification selfie to watch adult content online in the UK
Anyone trying to watch porn online in the UK will need to take a selfie first – or share a photo ID. (Yes, both of those might ruin the 'mood.') The UK government began checking compliance with its Online Safety Act last Friday, which requires any website that publishes or displays pornographic content to implement a system for "highly effective age checks." Popular porn sites, including the country's most-visited site, PornHub, have agreed to the new regulations. The rules also apply to platforms like X and dating apps, where adult images may be shared. Social media sites like Reddit and Bluesky have already implemented an age verification system. Some of these age checks can be sidestepped by assigning a new location to profiles or, your friend and mine, using a VPN. In response, downloads of VPN apps have exploded. — Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Rounding out our barrage of Samsung reviews, I tested out the Galaxy Z Flip 7. It has a slimmer design and significantly improved battery life. With a larger, brighter front display, it's easier to use and the hinge mechanism has also been strengthened for a more solid feel. Despite it being the smaller model of Samsung's foldable family, the company made the primary display even bigger. It's also closer to the traditional aspect ratios of most smartphones. It's another smart improvement that makes the Flip 7 easier to use than its predecessors. A larger battery has substantially extended the runtime of Samsung's latest Flip, but the cameras remain largely unchanged from the previous model, featuring a 50MP primary and 12MP ultrawide lens. Sadly, there's still no dedicated telephoto lens, making it less useful in some shooting situations. I also wish Samsung pushed the Flex Window software a little further. Continue reading. Sony is suing Tencent for copying pretty much every part of its Horizon games in the upcoming Light of Motiram , an open-world hunting game that, well, copies pretty much every design touch and world of the post-apocalyptic robot-hunting series. The lawsuit points to the basic setup of the game, the visual appearance of Light of Motiram 's characters and more. The funniest part, however, is that Sony's suit claims that Tencent tried to license the Horizon IP from the PlayStation maker before it even announced Light of Motiram. Continue reading. Sony has added more details to its incoming fight stick controller, including a cute lil' backpack for it. This is the first fight stick controller designed by Sony Interactive and is compatible with both PS5 and PC, supporting either wired or wireless connections. If you're concerned about latency, FlexStrike utilizes PlayStation Link technology to provide "ultra-low latency wireless" connections. This requires the included PS Link USB adapter. The FlexStrike controller is expected to launch sometime in 2026. Continue reading.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29-07-2025
- Business Standard
Sony 'FlexStrike' fight stick for PS5, PC to be unveiled this week: Details
Sony has revealed key details about its new wireless fight stick designed for PlayStation 5 and PC – FlexStrike. The said device was originally codenamed Project Defiant and was announced during the June 2025 State of Play event. It is Sony's first arcade-style controller. It will be unveiled in less than a week and is set to launch in 2026, as per a press release. No pricing or region-specific availability has been announced yet. The fight stick will support both wired and wireless connectivity, using Sony's PlayStation Link technology for low-latency performance. It will include mechanical switch buttons, toolless swappable restrictor gates (square, circle, and octagon), and onboard storage for both gates and the included PS Link USB adapter. A carry case will also be included for portability. Sony FlexStrike: Showcase at Evo 2025 Sony has shared plans to display the FlexStrike fight stick at Evo 2025 in Las Vegas from August 1 to 3. The controller will be featured at the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth. However, Sony notes that the unit on display will not reflect the final production model, which may undergo design changes before release. Sony FlexStrike: Details The FlexStrike fight stick can be used wirelessly via PlayStation Link or connected directly with a USB-C cable. It will be compatible with PS5 and PC and will include a built-in rechargeable battery. Sony said that users will be able to simultaneously connect the FlexStrike and a Pulse Elite headset or Pulse Explore earbuds via a single PS Link USB adapter on PS5, allowing for wireless audio and voice chat during gameplay. On PS5, the updated PS Link adapter now supports USB-C ports. Two FlexStrike fight sticks could be paired with one adapter for local multiplayer sessions. Users will also be able to keep a DualSense controller connected alongside the fight stick to navigate system menus. The FlexStrike will include all the input controls of a DualSense controller, including a touchpad. A lever toggle will let users switch directional input modes — between D-pad, left stick, or right stick — and a dedicated lock button can be used to prevent accidental input changes during matches.
Gizmodo
28-07-2025
- Gizmodo
The New PlayStation 5 Fight Stick Is Way Weirder Than It Looks
Sony's new controller for PS5 is unlike any of its other twin-stick, two-handed controllers, and not for all the obvious reasons. Sony's 'Project Defiant' fight stick now has a new name, FlexStrike, and a vague release date—2026. But the more intriguing, and more annoying, aspect of the fight stick is how it will connect to your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Pro. The FlexStrike features all the face buttons and triggers of a regular DualSense controller along with a single Japanese-type fight stick with a ball top. All the buttons are based on mechanical switches, which should offer a more tactile, clicky experience than anything you get with a controller. What's special about the FlexStrike is it includes a bottom panel that's stacked with several different types of restrictor gates. There's a square, octagon, and circle gate that plug in underneath the stick to offer a feel that's specific to your favorite arcade cabinets. All that would be good enough for today's demanding fighting game aficionados. However, FlexStrike isn't just any other Bluetooth controller; it's also using a proprietary connectivity standard called PlayStation Link. It's a 2.4GHz connectivity that's specific to PlayStation through a special connectivity codec and offers faster response times than Bluetooth. Microsoft uses a similar proprietary standard for devices to connect to the Xbox Series X (you can't connect Bluetooth headsets to Xbox consoles without an adapter). Sony hasn't talked about this standard since early 2024, when it debuted the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. Both those devices use a USB-A adapter you need to plug into your PS5 or PC first. The new version coming with FlexStrike uses USB-C. That's a pretty important change, since the slim version of the PS5 and the PS5 Pro no longer have USB-A on the front panel. You can connect up to two FlexStrike controllers to a single PlayStation Link and use them alongside your Pulse audio products. Your regular DualSense controllers work over Bluetooth, and Sony said you can have both going at the same time should you want to swap back and forth for navigating menus. If you don't want to plug the PlayStation Link into your PC or console, you can use a simple wired connection instead. In the time since PlayStation Link hit the scene, Sony has made numerous updates to its consoles and pushed out its $700 PlayStation Pro console. Why Sony didn't simply build PlayStation Link into its premium gaming hardware is a mystery I couldn't begin to solve. If companies continue to use proprietary 2.4GHz codecs, then they should be more like HP with its HP Omen Max gaming laptop, which makes the connection to the company's own products seamless. Sony should start thinking about a universal 2.4GHz connection for all its products. The company also sells Inzone buds and headsets for gaming with a separate 2.4GHz dongle, which isn't the same codec as PlayStation Link. Then there are products like the Bravia Theater U neck speaker, which plugs into a PS5 controller to access the console's touted 3D audio features. Why, oh why, can't we have a single dongle for everything? Or, you know what's even better? No dongle at all for low-latency connections.
Engadget
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Sony's wireless fight stick is now called FlexStrike and it features mechanical switch buttons
Sony just dropped some more details about its upcoming wireless fight stick, including the real name. During development, it was known as Project Defiant but it's officially called the FlexStrike. This is the very first fight stick controller designed by Sony Interactive and it's compatible with both PS5 and PC via either a wired or wireless connection. It's also extremely easy on the eyes, as you can see below. Fighting games require precise inputs with no lag, and wireless controllers aren't typically the preferred option. However, FlexStrike capitalizes on the PlayStation Link technology to deliver "ultra-low latency wireless" gameplay. This requires the included PS Link USB adapter, which is compatible with USB-C ports. The controller features angled surfaces and a non-slip base so it shouldn't move around during frantic play sessions. It also includes a custom-designed digital stick and mechanical switch buttons. It even features a touchpad, so it boasts just about every input found on a traditional DualSense. The aforementioned adapter can be used to connect two FlexStrike controllers at once, or to pair a single controller with Sony's Pulse Elite headset or Pulse Explore earbuds. A standard DualSense can also remain connected to a PS5 at the same time, for menu-diving and the like. The FlexStrike controller will be available sometime in 2026. We don't have a price yet, but we do know that it ships with a nifty carrying case.
Tom's Guide
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
PlayStation's first fight stick gets an official name — meet the FlexStrike
PlayStation's wireless fight stick gets an official name! Previously revealed as Project Defiant during the June 2025 PlayStation State of Play presentation, the company's upcoming peripheral now has the official moniker of the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick. Given how Sony owns Evolution Championship Series (EVO), it's no surprise that the company has just given its first fight stick an official name just days before the fighting game tournament kicks off. As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, the FlexStrike is compatible with PS5 and PC via either a wired connection or wirelessly with a PlayStation Link adapter. The latter is Sony's low-latency wireless technology, which devices like the Pulse Elite Wireless Headset utilize. This should help to minimize input lag when playing wirelessly. The FlextStrike has mechanical switch buttons and toolless swappable restrictor gates—including square, circle and octagonal gates that fit into the peripheral's built-in storage compartments along with the included PS Link USB adapter. It's very rare for the best fight sticks to have more than one restrictor gate included, so this is a nice bonus. It also makes sense since it's possible that standard Sanwa parts aren't compatible with the FlexStrike. Speaking of bonuses, the FlexStrike comes with a sling carry case that has a built-in rechargeable battery. It also comes with a USB-C cable for wired play, though it's good knowing that the carrying case can keep the fight stick charged if you prefer playing wirelessly. Other features include the ability to use a single PS Link USB adapter to connect the FlexStrike and a Pulse Elite headset or Pulse Explore earbuds, or to connect two FlexStrike controllers simultaneously. You can also keep your regular PS5 DualSense controller connected at the same time as the FlexStrike if you need that controller to navigate menus between fights. You can also turn on your PS5 by pressing the FlexStrike's PS button, which is a feature third-party fight sticks lack. If you're attending EVO 2025 this weekend from August 1 to 3, you can see the FlexStrike yourself at the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth. Unfortunately, this peripheral will be displayed only, meaning you can look but not touch! As for the rest of us, we'll have to wait until sometime in 2026 to check out the FlexStrike for ourselves. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
