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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.


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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

We May Know What the Next Nintendo Switch 2 Pokemon Game Will Be Called

A massive leak reveals potential details about the 10th generation of Pokemon games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, including big changes.

A new Pokemon game, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, will be released for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on Thursday, but a recent leak might have revealed info about what’s coming next from the creators of the franchise. The names of the next games headed to the Switch 2, as well as some of the big changes to the Pokemon formula, may have been part of the leak. 

The leak showed up on X Monday from the account Centro Leaks, as first spotted by Insider Gaming. Data about the upcoming games reportedly stems from a hack of the servers of the franchise developer Game Freak that happened in August 2024, referred to online as the Teraleak, that included the source code for the upcoming Pokemon Legenda: Z-A

Among the information shared by the account was the possible name for what would be the 10th generation of Pokemon games that would come to the Switch 2 next year: Pokemon Wind and Pokemon Wave. 

The Pokemon Company didn’t immediately respond to a request for confirmation about this leak. 

According to the leak, Pokemon Wind/Wave is inspired by the Southeast Asia region and will feature a jungle-themed environment. It could also feature a new mechanic referred to as a Seed Pokemon, which is reportedly a special Pokemon that is heavily involved in the story and must be raised by the player. As it evolves, it will have a unique look that is procedurally generated, and once it’s fully evolved, it will allow the player to gain access to an island where they can find the main legendary Pokemon of the game. 

The main theme of Pokemon Wind/Wave is the concept of infinity, according to the leak. This would match with the reported focus of procedurally generated content, not only with the special Seed Pokemon, but also with the islands of the game being procedurally generated, so each game is unique and could continue to grow with no end. 

Also included in the leak were other details, including Pokemon on the overworld being interactable, weather affecting gameplay in some way, 18 new challenges for players instead of traditional gyms, and a few screenshots of the game in development that are still available to see at the PokeLeaks subreddit. There was also info that the 11th-generation Pokemon game could be released in 2030. 

It is unlikely that Nintendo, The Pokemon Company or Game Freak will confirm the details of the leak. Expect to see the official announcement early next year, with the fall being the most likely release window for Pokemon Wind/Wave. 

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Oct. 15

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 15.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It includes both the first and last name of one of my favorite chefs of all time — maybe yours, too. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Chromebooks, but not MacBooks
Answer: PCS

4A clue: «Yippee!»
Answer: WAHOO

6A clue: Reveal, as juicy gossip
Answer: SPILL

7A clue: With 2-Down, chef who helped popularize chicken cordon bleu in the U.S.
Answer: JULIA

8A clue: Toss in
Answer: ADD

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Toss in
Answer: PAPUA

2D clue: See 7-Across
Answer: CHILD

3D clue: State of matter for most elements at room temperature
Answer: SOLID

4D clue: Business-focused newspaper, for short
Answer: WSJ

5D clue: Hello, in Portuguese
Answer: OLA

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Technologies

Want to Watch a Podcast? Netflix and Spotify Partner to Bring Video Podcasts to Streaming

Starting in early 2026, Netflix subscribers in the US will be able to watch select Spotify Studios and Ringer podcasts directly on the streaming platform.

Netflix and Spotify are teaming up to blur the line between streaming and podcasting. The two companies announced a new partnership that will bring a curated slate of Spotify’s top video podcasts, including shows from Spotify Studios and The Ringer, to Netflix starting in early 2026. The goal is to make popular podcasts as watchable as TV, expanding both services’ reach into sports, culture, lifestyle and true crime.


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The deal marks Spotify’s most significant distribution push beyond its own platform, and for Netflix, it’s a new way to keep audiences engaged with talk-driven, low-cost programming. Early titles include The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Rewatchables, Dissect, Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers, among others. You can find the complete list here.

More shows and genres are expected to be added over time.

Netflix says the partnership complements its library of documentaries and talk shows, offering «fresh voices and new perspectives.» Spotify, meanwhile, described it as «a new chapter for podcasting,» giving creators access to Netflix’s global audience while expanding discovery for listeners who prefer watching podcasts.

The rollout will begin in the US early next year, with additional markets to follow in 2026.

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