Technologies

Get Ready for Fall Sports With Apple Arcade’s October Lineup

Subscribers can take their favorite NBA team to the championship game before the basketball season even starts with NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition.

We’re a few weeks into the NFL season and less than a month away from the start of the NBA season. Fittingly, Apple Arcade brought Retro Bowl ’26 to sports gamers in September ahead of the NFL season, and the service is bringing NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition to gamers on Oct. 16, a few days before the NBA season officially starts.

Apple Arcade is filled with familiar and classic games, alongside exclusive titles, that you can play for $7 per month (£7, AU$10). Many of these games can be found in the App Store, but they may have paywalls and ads that hinder your gaming experience.

An Apple Arcade subscription gives you access to games without paywalls and ads, a feature usually denoted by «Plus» in the name. Here are all the games Apple Arcade subscribers can play soon. You can also check out the games Apple added in September, like Retro Bowl ’26.

Note that subscribers can play NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition starting on Oct. 16, but subscribers can play other games listed here starting on Oct. 2.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition

Developer: 2K

You’re a league rookie in the latest installment of this gaming franchise, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off. Build your player from the ground up, enjoy the journey to become an NBA star and lead your team to the championship.

This entry in the series brings NBA Eras to Association Mode. That means you can manage legendary NBA dynasties throughout the ages, like the Magic Johnson era of the LA Lakers or the Larry Bird era of the Boston Celtics. And new decades of NBA Eras will be released each season, so maybe you’ll be able to play the Tim Duncan-era San Antonio Spurs or the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls.

Thomas & Friends™: Let’s Roll Plus

Developer: StoryToys Limited

Thomas the Tank Engine is back in this kid-friendly game. You can pick your favorite engine, drive around the Island of Sodor and go on journeys into places like the Old Mine or Whiff’s Recycling Plant. After driving around, you can also let your creativity fly and build your own train tracks with the Track Builder feature.

Piffle Plus

Developer: Hipster Whale

Zip up your cat onesie for this adorable arcade puzzle game. Your goal is to break all the blocks on each board by shooting Piffle Balls at them. You can collect and craft new Piffle Balls, and you can give them power-ups to help clear the boards faster. You’ll have a cat-tastic good time!

Dominoes: Classic Tile Game Plus

Developer: MobilityWare

Whether you’re new to the game or have been slapping bones for years, you can play the classic strategy game of dominoes right from your device. You can learn to play classic game modes, like Draw Dominoes or All Fives, face off against characters with unique playstyles or complete daily challenges and goals in this well-known board game.

You can access these games soon, and there are plenty of others you can play in Apple Arcade, too, for $7 a month or $50 annually. You can also try Apple Arcade free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy an Apple device.

To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iOS or iPadOS device and tap the joystick in the menu bar.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im