Tag Archives: FromSoftware

Game News

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Hits Switch 2 on 28 August

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FromSoftware’s landmark open-world RPG is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 28 August 2026 — and it is arriving with new company. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition bundles the complete base game and the acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion with a set of Switch 2-exclusive extras, putting the entire journey through the Lands Between into handheld form for the first time. Pre-orders are open now.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition gameplay showing the player in new armour facing a formidable enemy
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco / FromSoftware

Everything in the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition

The Tarnished Edition is the definitive Switch 2 package, combining the full Elden Ring experience with a new exclusive bundle called the Tarnished Pack:

  • Base game — the complete original Elden Ring
  • Shadow of the Erdtree — FromSoftware’s massive 2024 expansion
  • Two brand-new starting classes exclusive to the Tarnished Pack
  • Four new armour sets — callbacks to Dark Souls characters
  • Three Torrent cosmetic skins for your Spectral Steed
  • Pre-order bonus: two gestures, “The Ring” and “Ring of Miquella”

The Tarnished Pack will also be available as a separate DLC purchase on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam for US$4.99, so players who already own Elden Ring elsewhere can pick up the new additions without buying the Switch 2 edition.

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition — Official Nintendo Switch 2 Trailer (4K) — via IGN on YouTube

Two New Starting Classes for Switch 2 Players

The headline addition is a pair of brand-new starting classes designed around two distinct combat styles:

Heavy Knight — a Strength-focused build that opens with a curved greatsword and heavy armour. Built for players who like to absorb punishment and deal crushing damage in return. A strong pick if Elden Ring is your first Souls-style game.

Idus Knight — a Dexterity-focused build described by Bandai Namco as “a knight of the land of Idus, famed for their lightweight attire and weaponry.” Faster movement, more agile attacks, a playstyle that rewards reading enemy patterns carefully.

Both classes were designed with Switch 2 newcomers in mind. Neither is locked to the platform permanently — they arrive on PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC as the Tarnished Pack DLC at the same time.

Elden Ring player riding Torrent on a hilltop overlooking the glowing Erdtree
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco / FromSoftware

Dark Souls Callbacks and Torrent Gets a Wardrobe

Close-up of a boss character with ornate armour in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco / FromSoftware

The four new armour sets carry some FromSoftware history with them. They are inspired by beloved characters from the Dark Souls series — including Lucatiel of Mirrah, Henri of Astora, and Horace the Hushed — translated into Elden Ring’s visual style. For long-time fans of the studio’s catalogue, these are more than cosmetic curiosities.

Torrent receives three new cosmetic skins to change the Spectral Steed’s appearance without affecting stats. Full details on the skin designs have not been released ahead of launch.

Handheld Performance, Physical Format and Pricing

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition cutscene showing an NPC and the armoured player character
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco / FromSoftware

This port had a rocky road. Early demo builds at Gamescom ran at troubling frame rates, and Bandai Namco delayed the Tarnished Edition from its original 2025 window to give FromSoftware more time. The studio has since resolved the ARM CPU bottleneck responsible for those issues; the current build targets 30fps on Switch 2 in both handheld and docked modes.

One thing to note before you buy: the physical edition is a Game Key Card — a retail box containing a digital download code, not a full game cartridge. Expect to download around 64GB, so plan your storage accordingly before 28 August.

The US price is set at US$79.99. Singapore eShop and local retail pricing has not been officially announced at the time of writing — check the Nintendo Singapore eShop and major game retailers and electronics chains for SGD pricing ahead of launch.

Pre-Orders and What You Need to Know

Pre-orders for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 are live now. Pre-ordering locks in the two bonus gestures — “The Ring” and “Ring of Miquella” — at no extra charge.

For Singapore Switch 2 owners who sat out Elden Ring on PS5 or PC, this is a compelling entry point: 30 million copies sold worldwide, over 400 Game of the Year nominations, the full base game plus Shadow of the Erdtree, two approachable new starting classes, and the whole thing playable in handheld and tabletop mode. Check local game retailers and the Nintendo eShop Singapore for pre-order listings — the 28 August 2026 release date is less than five weeks away.

For more game news including other upcoming Switch 2 titles, keep an eye on GameTrader.SG.

Game News

The Duskbloods Network Test Sign-Up Opens Tonight — Switch 2 Guide for Singapore

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Registration for FromSoftware’s Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods closed network test opens tonight — 22 July at 10pm SGT — and you only have until 28 July at 9:59pm SGT to get your application in. If you own a Nintendo Switch 2 and want to go hands-on with one of this year’s most anticipated titles ahead of its 2026 launch, now is the time.

As we covered when the test dates were announced last week, five play sessions are scheduled across 21–24 August 2026. Tonight the sign-up page goes live, so here is everything Singapore Switch 2 owners need to know.

The Duskbloods key art — multiple Bloodsworn under a blood-red moon
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

What Is The Duskbloods?

The Duskbloods is a brand-new multiplayer action game from FromSoftware — the studio behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring — built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Rather than a traditional single-player RPG, it puts up to eight players into a PvPvE arena as Bloodsworn: warriors who have undergone forbidden blood rites to gain superhuman powers and unique weapons. Every match tasks players with hunting down rivals and surviving AI threats simultaneously to claim the mysterious First Blood.

The game was first revealed at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in June 2026 and is one of the console’s headline exclusives for the year.

The Duskbloods – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

How to Sign Up for The Duskbloods Closed Network Test

A Bloodsworn warrior in white garb holds a rusted weapon in a dark castle hall
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

The process is straightforward and takes about two minutes:

  1. Visit the official registration page at campaign.theduskbloods.jp — the page goes live tonight at 10pm SGT.
  2. Sign in with your Nintendo Account — make sure it is the same account linked to your Switch 2 console.
  3. Submit your application before the deadline: 28 July 2026 at 9:59pm SGT.
  4. Wait for the selection email — FromSoftware will notify chosen participants on 7 August at 9pm SGT, with a download code for the test build included.

Requirements:

Spots are limited — FromSoftware has not disclosed the cap, but closed network tests for high-profile games fill up fast. Applying on day one gives you the best odds.

Network Test Schedule in Singapore Time (SGT)

A winged Bloodsworn faces a massive eldritch creature in The Duskbloods
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

There are five play windows across three days. Here they are in SGT so you can plan ahead:

Session Day (SGT) Time (SGT)
1 Friday, 21 August 6:00pm – 10:00pm
2 Saturday, 22 August 10:00am – 2:00pm
3 Sunday, 23 August 2:00am – 6:00am
4 Sunday, 23 August 6:00pm – 10:00pm
5 Monday, 24 August 10:00am – 2:00pm

Sessions 1, 2, 4, and 5 are at civilised hours. Session 3 (the Sunday overnight window) mirrors the original Pacific Time schedule and will be a late-night one for Singapore players — mark your calendar if you want to maximise your playtime.

What to Expect During the Test

This is a closed network test, not a demo — FromSoftware has flagged that bugs and rough edges may be present, and the studio is collecting data to improve the final release. Each match supports up to eight players in a PvPvE format: you are fighting AI enemies and rival Bloodsworn simultaneously, racing to claim the First Blood. The range of Bloodsworn types — each with distinct weapons and blood-based powers — means no two matches play out the same way.

The full game does not yet have a confirmed release date beyond 2026. This network test is the first time players outside Nintendo or FromSoftware will get their hands on it, making a spot all the more worth fighting for.

Head to the official registration page tonight from 10pm SGT, and good luck with the selection. For more Switch 2 news, see our Game News section.

Game News

The Duskbloods Closed Network Test Opens July 22 — Five Sessions Across 21–24 August

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When FromSoftware and Nintendo revealed The Duskbloods at the Nintendo Direct in June, we got the premise — a competitive, multi-player action RPG set under a blood moon, featuring warriors called Bloodsworn hunting each other across dark, gothic environments. What we didn’t have were actual dates. Now we do.

FromSoftware has confirmed that the Closed Network Test for The Duskbloods runs across four days in August, spanning five separate sessions. Sign-up registrations open on 22 July 2026.

Network Test Schedule (SGT)

Five sessions are confirmed across the test window. All times below are in Singapore Time (SGT, UTC+8):

  • Session 1: Friday 21 August, 11:00 PM – Saturday 22 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 2: Saturday 22 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Session 3: Saturday 22 August, 11:00 PM – Sunday 23 August, 3:00 AM
  • Session 4: Sunday 23 August, 11:00 PM – Monday 24 August, 5:00 AM
  • Session 5: Monday 24 August, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Duskbloods Closed Network Test schedule showing five sessions August 21-24 2026
The official network test schedule for The Duskbloods, August 21–24 2026.

What the Network Test Covers

The Duskbloods puts up to eight Bloodsworn — warriors cursed with immortality — against each other and the environment in a world bathed in a perpetual blood moon. The tone is vintage FromSoftware: heavy armour, stamina management, deliberate combat, and a world soaked in death and mythology. The Switch 2 exclusivity makes this one of the flagship system sellers FromSoftware and Nintendo have been building toward since the hardware reveal.

The closed network test will let participants try an early build of the game across the five sessions above. Each session is time-limited, so you can’t simply log on whenever — you’ll need to plan around the schedule if you want to get hands-on time. Given the late-night timing of several sessions (Sessions 1, 3, and 4 all run after 11pm), FromSoftware appears to be covering different global time zones across the test window rather than running purely Japan-centric hours.

How to Register

Registrations open on 22 July — which is one week away. Spaces in closed network tests are typically limited, so applying early gives you better odds. Check the official Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware channels on July 22 for the sign-up link. We’ll share it here as soon as it goes live.

If you missed our original coverage when the game was revealed, catch up here for the full breakdown of what FromSoftware has shown so far.

Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Gets September 4 Japan Theatrical Date — Then Crunchyroll

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FromSoftware’s landmark Sengoku action game finally makes the leap to anime — and the people behind it clearly understood the assignment. Sekiro: No Defeat opens in Japanese cinemas on 4 September 2026 for a three-week limited run, before heading to Crunchyroll worldwide (Singapore included) later in 2026. The full theatrical trailer landed on 26 June and the production is making waves for being entirely hand-drawn 2D — in an era when shortcuts are common, that commitment matters.

Sekiro: No Defeat key visual showing Wolf with katana
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

The Story: Wolf, Kuro, and the Dragon’s Curse

The film follows the core arc of the game: Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect Kuro — the Divine Heir whose bloodline carries the Dragon’s Heritage of immortality. Every resurrection Wolf uses to survive spreads Dragonrot, a sickness that slowly claims innocent lives around him. Kuro, in desperation, chooses to sever the immortal curse even at the cost of his own life. Wolf fights fate itself to find another way.

It is a tight, concentrated story, and the production committee has deliberately leaned into the game’s psychological weight: the bond between Kuro and Wolf is front and centre, with boss battles against Genichiro Ashina, Gyoubu Oniwa, and the terrors of Senpou Temple woven through. The film holds a PG12 rating in Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat | Official Trailer 2 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

The Production: Qzil.la, Hand-Drawn, Zero Generative AI

The film is produced by studio Qzil.la, directed by Kenichi Kutsuna (who cut his teeth as a key animator on Bleach, One Punch Man, and Naruto: Shippuden), with Takuya Satou as screenwriter and Takahiro Kishida — the character designer behind Durarara!! and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind — handling character design. The composer is Shuta Hasunuma, while the theme song is “Blu” by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, lending the film an extraordinary level of emotional gravitas before a single frame plays.

Qzil.la is known for its work in AI-adjacent technologies, which raised questions the moment the project was announced. The official production committee got ahead of it: they confirmed there will be no generative AI used anywhere in the animation. Every frame is hand-drawn. The film also screened in the Midnight Specials section at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 and was selected for the Fantasia International Film Festival.

Genichiro Ashina in combat from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

Voice Cast and the Original Game Cast

The original Japanese voice actors from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reprise their roles:
— Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf
— Miyuki Satou as Kuro, the Divine Heir
— Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina
— Takaya Hashi as Owl

For fans who played the game with Japanese audio, hearing these actors inhabit those roles in full animated form is going to hit differently.

Action combat scene from Sekiro: No Defeat anime
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / KADOKAWA / Sekiro:No Defeat PARTNERS

When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The three-week Japanese theatrical window opens 4 September 2026 — that run is Japan only. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the path to the film is through Crunchyroll, which holds the exclusive worldwide streaming rights (excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus). A specific streaming premiere date has not been announced yet; the most likely window is late September to October 2026, after the theatrical run closes. Crunchyroll is available in Singapore with both the free (ad-supported) and Premium tiers.

There is no confirmed Singapore theatrical run at this stage — if one is announced, we will update this post. For more anime and game adaptation news, head to our Manga & Anime section.

Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Film Hits Japan on 4 September — Crunchyroll Worldwide Streaming Confirmed

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Seven years after Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice swept the Game of the Year awards and consumed an untold number of hours for players worldwide, FromSoftware’s samurai action classic is getting its anime adaptation. Sekiro: No Defeat has confirmed a Japan theatrical opening date of 4 September 2026, with advance tickets going on sale today — and Crunchyroll worldwide streaming rights already secured for audiences outside Japan.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film official key art
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Studio, Director, and a Fully Hand-Drawn Approach

Animation is handled by Qzil.la, with KADOKAWA and ARCH overseeing production. Director Kenichi Kutsuna makes his feature film directorial debut on the project, with Takuya Sato on screenplay and Takahiro Kishida as character designer. The production commits to full 2D hand-drawn animation throughout — no CGI substitutes.

The film already appeared on the international festival circuit before its wide theatrical rollout, with screenings at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Fantasia International Film Festival. The official PV released today alongside the advance ticket announcement gives the clearest look yet at how the title’s parry-heavy combat and Sengoku Japan atmosphere translate into animation.

「SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT」PV｜2026年劇場版全国公開 — via KADOKAWAanime on YouTube

Japan Theatrical Run — And When Singapore Fans Can Watch

The Japan theatrical run is a limited three-week engagement from 4 September 2026. For Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia, the good news is that Crunchyroll has confirmed worldwide streaming rights — though a specific streaming date has not been announced yet. A release following the theatrical window, likely in late 2026 or early 2027, is the most reasonable expectation based on how Crunchyroll has handled similar Japanese theatrical exclusives.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime scene promotional image
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

There is no Singapore theatrical release confirmed at this time. Advance tickets for the Japan run are priced at ¥1,600 (approximately SGD 14.50) and are available now via participating Japanese cinema chains. The advance tickets include a collectible bonus item.

FromSoftware’s Most Award-Laden Game Gets an Anime

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launched in 2019 and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, among other industry honours. Its uncompromising parry-centric combat and Sengoku Japan setting built one of FromSoftware’s most devoted fanbases — one that only expanded as Elden Ring brought millions of new players to the studio’s world.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime film scene
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

For Singapore fans who spent hours at the feet of Genichiro or the Demon of Hatred, seeing those encounters adapted into animation is the central draw. The PV leans heavily into action choreography, which should reassure anyone who worried this might become a slow character drama at the expense of its source material’s defining quality.

Sekiro: No Defeat anime promotional visual
Image courtesy of KADOKAWA

Follow developments at sekiro-anime.jp (Japanese) for the latest updates, and keep an eye on Crunchyroll for streaming details. For more anime news on GameTrader, check our dedicated section.

Game News, Manga Anime

Sekiro: No Defeat — FromSoftware’s Anime Hits Crunchyroll

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FromSoftware’s acclaimed 2019 action game finally gets the anime treatment it deserves — and Singapore fans can catch Sekiro: No Defeat on Crunchyroll after its Japan theatrical premiere this September.

Sekiro: No Defeat official key visual showing Wolf the one-armed shinobi
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

What Is Sekiro: No Defeat?

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — the FromSoftware action title that won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019 — is getting an official anime adaptation. The series follows Wolf, a disgraced shinobi sworn to protect a young lord named Kuro. When Kuro is captured by the Ashina clan, Wolf embarks on a perilous journey through Sengoku-era Japan, facing relentless enemies and death at every turn — staying true to the punishing spirit that made the game a modern classic.

Revealed at Gamescom 2025, Sekiro: No Defeat was confirmed as a Crunchyroll worldwide exclusive. The September 4 Japan theatrical premiere date was officially confirmed in May 2026 alongside a new main visual, with a second trailer following in March.

Who’s Making the Sekiro Anime?

Production is handled by Studio Qzil.la together with ARCH and KADOKAWA. The creative team has strong credentials: director Kenichi Kutsuna leads the project, with screenplay by Takuya Sato — whose credits include the Steins;Gate anime adaptation, a reassuring sign for fans who know how much careful pacing matters in a story like Sekiro. Takahiro Kishida takes on character design, with Shuta Hasunuma composing the score.

The production team confirmed via Crunchyroll: “This work is being produced entirely as hand-drawn 2D animation, without the use of any AI-generated animation” — a statement that will matter to many in an industry where that conversation is getting louder.

The Original Game’s Voice Cast Returns

Perhaps the most reassuring news for Sekiro devotees: the full Japanese voice cast from the game is returning for the anime adaptation.

  • Daisuke Namikawa — Wolf / Sekiro
  • Miyuki Sato — Kuro, the Divine Heir
  • Kenjiro Tsuda — Genichiro Ashina
  • Shizuka Ito — Emma
  • Jin Urayama — Busshi (The Sculptor)
  • Akimitsu Takase — Hanbei the Undying
  • Takaya Hashi — Owl (Fukuro)
  • Tetsuo Kaneo — Isshin Ashina

For players who spent dozens of hours grinding through those performances, having them carry over into animation is a welcome continuity that gives the production a head start on emotional grounding.

Watch the Official Trailer

Sekiro: No Defeat | Official Trailer 2 — via Crunchyroll on YouTube

When Can Singapore Fans Watch Sekiro: No Defeat?

Sekiro: No Defeat opens in Japanese cinemas on 4 September 2026 for a limited three-week theatrical run. Following that, the series streams exclusively on Crunchyroll worldwide — Singapore included. The only excluded regions are Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, and Belarus.

No exact Crunchyroll streaming premiere date has been confirmed at time of writing, but expect it to follow shortly after the Japan theatrical window closes. Stay tuned to our anime coverage for updates as they come.

Sekiro: No Defeat Trailer 2 screenshot showing Wolf in Sengoku-era Japan
Image courtesy of Crunchyroll

Last Words

Singapore gamers who have lived and died — repeatedly — through Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice know exactly what this world is capable of. With a returning voice cast, a director and writer with track records in grounded anime storytelling, and a team committed to traditional hand-drawn craft, Sekiro: No Defeat has every ingredient to be a game-to-anime adaptation that actually honours its source material. September can’t come soon enough.

Game News

The Duskbloods: FromSoftware’s Switch 2 Exclusive Eyes Summer Network Test

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After more than a year of near-total silence, The Duskbloods — FromSoftware’s brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive — is finally back in the spotlight. A closed network test is confirmed for summer 2026, and signup details are expected soon through the game’s official channels.

The Duskbloods – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

What Is The Duskbloods?

The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer action game that supports up to eight players simultaneously. You play as a Bloodsworn — a supernatural being whose power is drawn from blood — and compete across gothic, Victorian-inspired maps for the coveted prize known as First Blood. Matches blend direct combat with strategic cooperation: you can form temporary alliances, pursue side objectives, or summon companions to shift the tide. Victory Points determine the winner, but every player walks away with rewards regardless of placement.

Director Hidetaka Miyazaki — the mind behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring — described the game’s core appeal as its flexibility. Players can “avoid direct combat, select cooperative play, or pursue personal objectives,” he said in an interview published on Famitsu (Japanese), noting that the studio will “continue actively creating single-player games like Elden Ring” alongside this new multiplayer direction.

The Duskbloods Bloodsworn characters
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

A New Trailer and a Long-Dormant Twitter Finally Stirs

The game resurfaced at the Nintendo Direct on 9 June 2026 with a short atmospheric teaser — the first new footage since its original April 2025 announcement. The clip leans into the game’s dark, Bloodborne-adjacent aesthetic, showcasing several of the playable Bloodsworn characters and a handful of environments. It doesn’t show gameplay, but it confirms FromSoftware’s gothic Victorian direction is firmly intact.

On 10 June, the game’s official X account posted for the first time in 14 months, breaking its silence to confirm that network test details would be announced through that channel — so if you’re keen, that’s the page to follow.

Network Test: What We Know

A closed network test is coming later this summer, though FromSoftware and Nintendo have not yet opened sign-ups or pinned down exact dates. What’s confirmed:

  • You will need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to participate.
  • The test will support the game’s full PvPvE format — up to 8 players — across multiple maps.
  • Signup details will be announced via the official X account and Nintendo’s channels.

Given FromSoftware’s track record with Elden Ring network tests, demand is likely to outstrip slots — worth watching for the registration window the moment it opens.

Why This Is a Big Deal for Switch 2 Owners

The Duskbloods is FromSoftware’s first Nintendo home console exclusive in 23 years, since Lost Kingdoms II in 2003. It’s a Switch 2 exclusive with no announced ports planned. For Singapore fans, that means the Switch 2’s local availability makes this one of the few ways anyone outside Japan can get early hands-on time — import or not, we’re in the same boat as the rest of the world.

The full game is still on track for a 2026 release, making the summer network test likely the last major preview before launch. Keep an eye on Nintendo Singapore’s official channels and the game’s X account for sign-up news.

Last Words

Singapore gamers who missed the Bloodborne window — or who have been waiting years for FromSoftware to do something genuinely new — should have The Duskbloods firmly on their radar. The gothic multiplayer concept is unlike anything the studio has shipped before, and the network test this summer will be the first real chance to feel whether it works. Watch the official X account for sign-up details, and check our Game News section for updates as they land.