There seems to be a shift within PlayStation (Sony)
GameCentral recaps the current state of PlayStation, following its last showcase, with every newly announced and rumoured PS5 game in the works.
Sony is in a weird place at the moment. Its big live service game ambitions have clearly fallen apart, with multiple cancelled projects resulting in too few exclusives for the PlayStation 5 over the last six years. And yet the console has been selling very well, thanks in part to Xbox no longer offering any real competition.
We also appear to be witnessing something of a resurgence for the PlayStation brand, since there are two traditional single-player exclusives launching this year and the latest State of Play announced a handful more exclsuvies. One of them even released right after the showcase.
That said, most of the showcase was dominated by third party releases, with even exclusives like Kena: Scars Of Kosmora and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls coming from other studios. A lot of Sony’s own developers, meanwhile, had nothing to show for themselves.
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If you’ve fallen behind on Sony’s future PlayStation 5 plans, we’ve run through all of the internal PlayStation studios to recap what exactly they’re making, what they’re rumoured to be making, and/or if there’s any info about their next games at all.
Bend Studio
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Days Gone developer Bend Studio was previously working on one of Sony’s live service game projects, but it was cancelled before anything was shown. As such, the studio has gone the entire PlayStation 5’s lifecycle so far without releasing anything new (not counting the Days Gone remaster).
The studio was also beset by layoffs last June, with an X post only saying it was moving on to its ‘next project.’ What that project is remains a mystery and is likely very, very early in development.
A now deleted job listing for a new creative director (via MP1st) mentioned that candidates would ideally have ‘experience with multiplayer game development and design,’ so Sony may have moved it onto a different live service project. At the very least, don’t expect a traditional Days Gone sequel.
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Bluepoint Games
Just like Bend, Bluepoint Games was working on a live service game (specifically a God Of War one), but it was canned last year. Unlike Bend, though, it at least got a Demon’s Souls remake out as a PlayStation 5 launch title, but that’s been it so far.
Bluepoint previously said its next game would be entirely original and not another remake or remaster (which is what it’s best known for), but that was in 2021 and those plans may very well have changed.
A job listing from last October did give away that Bluepoint is working on some kind of third person action game and given Sony seems to be walking back its live service ambitions, it’ll hopefully be a traditional single-player experience.
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Bungie
Bungie isn’t officially part of PlayStation Studios, with Sony assuring its staff that it would retain independence following the acquisition, but it may as well be considering all the layoffs and Sony’s tightening grip.
Just last November, Sony admitted it spent far too much on buying Bungie and has yet to reap any real benefits from it. This is one of the big reasons why the studio is hyping up its Marathon live service extraction shooter, which launches as a multiplatform title on March 5. Bungie needs something to justify its continued existence under Sony.
It is rumoured some early work is being done on Destiny 3, but if Marathon underperforms, we fear that could be the final nail in Bungie’s coffin. The game isn’t free-to-play, but Bungie is running a free preview session from February 26 and all through that following weekend, which aims to generate early interest in the game.
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Dark Outlaw Games
Hopefully, this one isn’t shut down before it gets to release anything (Sony)
In 2021, Call Of Duty veterans Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell founded Deviation Games and, though not part of PlayStation Studios, partnered with Sony on a new PlayStation exclusive triple-A game.
The studio shuttered in 2024 without even properly announcing its project, but Blundell has since officially joined Sony to lead the newly formed Dark Outlaw Games.
It too is working on a wholly original triple-A game, but hopefully history doesn’t keep repeating itself and Dark Outlaw actually manages to release a game.
Firesprite
Firesprite was seemingly bought by Sony for its VR experience, but given how rapidly Sony’s interest in VR gaming has dwindled since then, you have to assume the studio doesn’t have a new VR project in the works after Horizon Call Of The Mountain.
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The rumoured Twisted Metal reboot has long been cancelled (even with the TV show proving successful), but it sounds like Firesprite is still working on the new story driven horror game mentioned in job listings from 2022.
You have to assume this is the same project as the ‘dark, story-driven next generation narrative adventure’ mentioned in a now deleted job listing last year (via PlayStation Universe). ‘Next generation,’ though, implies this is aiming for a PlayStation 6 release and that console faces a potential delay to 2029.
Guerrilla Games
Guerrilla Games is one of the few PlayStation studios to have tangible plans, although it’s currently prioritising yet another live service multiplayer game, in Horizon Hunters Gathering.
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Whether this one will have any staying power remains to be seen, but the studio has assured fans that it’ll still work on single-player games too. In fact, a third Horizon game was basically confirmed in 2023 and is likely already in active development.
Unfortunately, most of the team is reportedly working on Hunters Gathering, so progress must be going slow. So, even with a potential console delay, Horizon 3 will probably be pushed back to become a PlayStation 6 title.
Haven Studios
Even with Sony running back a lot of its live service plans, Haven Studios is still trucking along with its multiplayer shooter Fairgame$. It’s easy to be sceptical about it, though, when it’s seen no real updates since its 2023 teaser reveal, which didn’t even feature any gameplay.
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Early impressions were reportedly positive, but the same was said for Highguard and look how that ultimately turned out. Also, six months ago, Haven lost game director Daniel Drapeau to Warner Bros. Montréal, which hardly bodes well for Fairgame$.
Last we heard, the game was pushed into 2026 but if it was due this year, you’d think Sony would have mentioned it during the last State of Play. Instead, Sony’s main live service project for the year is the aforementioned Marathon reboot, so perhaps Fairgame$ has been hit with another delay or even cancellation.
Housemarque
It’s been nearly five years since Returnal and in that time, Housemarque has been working on a spiritual successor in Saros, easily our most anticipated PlayStation 5 game of the year.
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Thankfully, Housemarque hasn’t been waylaid by Sony’s live service plans and was able to focus all its energy on Saros, which remains a single-player roguelike blending third person shooting and bullet hell action.
It launches on April 30 and although there’s no sign of a PC release, we imagine one will follow eventually.
Insomniac Games
While Insomniac’s Wolverine game was announced all the way back in 2021, the studio has managed to maintain a consistent release schedule, since Wolverine will arrive only three years after Spider-Man 2. That makes it Insomniac’s fourth PlayStation 5 title after Spider-Man: Miles Morales (and the remaster of the original) and 2021’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
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You can expect more updates on Wolverine this year, although the real question is whether it will still meet its autumn release window when GTA 6 is coming out around the same time. Don’t be surprised if Sony winds up pushing it back.
A lot of Insomniac’s post-Wolverine plans leaked thanks to the 2023 hacking incident, which mentioned multiple Marvel games and another Ratchet & Clank. Plans have no doubt changed as a result, although the studio remains committed to further Marvel collaborations.
Spider-Man 3 is obviously one of them, but whether those leaked Venom and X-Men games are still planned is anyone’s guess.
Media Molecule
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Game creation tool Dreams remains active, but active support ended in 2023, with Media Molecule saying it had moved onto a new project, without ever porting Dreams to the PlayStation 5.
This means the studio hasn’t released anything for current hardware and unfortunately, there remains no updates or even rumours on what its next project could be.
It’s unlikely the studio will return to LittleBigPlanet, considering the series hasn’t had a proper sequel since 2014’s LittleBigPlanet 3 and has only continued through spin-offs like Sackboy: A Big Adventure. None of which Media Molecule was involved with.
The safest assumption, based on its previous work, is that anything Media Molecule releases next will involve player-generated content of some kind, but who knows what Sony’s intentions with the studio are nowadays.
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Naughty Dog
After what felt like endless Last Of Us re-releases, Naughty Dog has an entirely new game in the works, with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Only vaguely described as an action adventure game, rumours point to it having an Elden Ring inspired open world.
There seemed to be signs this would be one of Sony’s big 2026 releases, but reliable insiders have said this won’t be the case. Between Saros and Wolverine, Sony can arguably afford to hold Intergalactic back for a 2027 release.
Development doesn’t sound like it’s been running smoothly, though, since Bloomberg reported that the project has missed multiple deadlines, prompting a crunch period just to get an internal demo ready.
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Naughty Dog is supposed to have at least one other game in the pipeline, with a rumour alleging it’s from the director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, but the studio is unlikely to share any details on that until after Intergalactic comes out.
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony is no doubt working on a Gran Turismo 8, with studio CEO and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi teasing it in 2023, but there remains no sign of it.
Sony may not feel any pressure to push a sequel out until Gran Turismo 7’s microtransactions stop being profitable, but the company has given no indication of how much money it’s still making from those.
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If anything, Gran Turismo 7, which launched in 2022, is perhaps one of Sony’s few live service successes, since it’s clearly still popular enough to be getting new cars and events as recently as last month.
San Diego Studio
There’s not much to say about San Diego Studio, since all it really does nowadays is make annual MLB The Show games for baseball fans.
It wasn’t mentioned in the last State of Play, but this year’s entry – MLB The Show 26 – is launching on March 17 and is available for pre-order. It’s also a rare example of a PlayStation franchise going multiplatform, with it following last year’s example and launching for Xbox and Nintendo Switch… but not Switch 2.
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Santa Monica Studio
After years of silence, Santa Monica Studio dropped quite the bomb during the last State of Play. Not only did it shadow drop a God Of War prequel, in the form of Sons Of Sparta, but it’s remaking all three of the original Greek era games – or at least someone is, it’s not really clear.
While Sons Of Sparta was developed by Mega Cat Studios (Santa Monica just wrote the script), it’s not clear how involved they are with the remake trilogy. Whether they’re doing it all themselves, or co-operating with another studio, it seems to suggest that an entirely new God Of War sequel won’t now see the light of day until the 2030s.
However, rumours point to another Santa Monica game that’s being helmed by God Of War director Cory Barlog; one that could be announced later this year and launch in 2027. Apparently, it’s not a new IP but it ‘might feel like one,’ which doesn’t really narrow down what it could be… unless it’s resurrecting 2001 racing game Kinetica, the first thing Santa Monica ever released.
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Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch only launched Ghost Of Yōtei last year and development hasn’t actually ended yet, since it’s currently planning to add co-op multiplayer to the game on March 10.
Since the studio focuses on only one game at a time, its next project likely won’t launch for another five years and the PlayStation 6 should be out by then. Sucker Punch also doesn’t seem to have committed itself to a third samurai game yet, but Sony higher-ups may push for it since both Ghost Of Yōtei and Ghost Of Tsushima were financial hits.
If not, it’s more likely Sucker Punch will pursue an original IP rather than revisit either of its Sly Cooper or inFamous franchises, having shown no interest in reviving them since the PlayStation 3 era.
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Team Asobi
Considering Team Asobi is the only real remnant of Japan Studio left, it’d be nice to see it crank out a wholly original and inventive game akin to Japan Studio’s past work.
The success of Astro Bot, though, means it’s more likely Sony is pushing for more games starring the robotic mascot, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing as Sony is incentivised to pursue the family market again.
Astro Bot as a character lends himself well to myriad genres geared towards families, but hopefully Sony doesn’t overuse him and make a bunch of homogenous Astro Bot spin-offs. But at the moment, Team Asobi has given no real hints on what it’s working on.
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teamLFG
Between this, Bungie, and Haven, Sony has three dedicated live service game teams (Sony)
teamLFG was only formed last year, having been spun out of Bungie and consisting of developers who’ve worked on successful ongoing games like League Of Legends and Fortnite.
It’s apparent that Sony wants this studio to pump out a new live service hit, with its first project believed to have started under Bungie before being moved over to them. It’s explicitly described as a multiplayer game inspired by ‘fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog type games.’ And no, we still don’t know what frog type games are.
Perhaps Sony has recognised that it’s better to have dedicated studios for live service games, rather than forcing ones that mostly did single-player games to pivot, but it’s still far too early to tell if teamLFG will find any success with its work. Especially since there’s been no word from the studio since its formation.
Flavor Flav was among the celebrities in attendance at the women’s Final Four on Friday night, sitting courtside for the UConn-South Carolina game with former Gamecocks player Aliyah Boston.
Flav, a founding member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, is also friends with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.
The 67-year-old Flav is a longtime supporter of women’s sports and attended various Olympic competitions this winter. He invited the U.S. women’s ice hockey team to Las Vegas after their gold medal win in February, shortly after the women turned down a trip to Washington.
___
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
A slight figure in neat shirts and jackets, Magyar seemed too slick and urbane to reach the hearts of the rural electorate, but has proven himself a strong challenger. Orban, 62, is a village boy who speaks village Hungarian, Magyar is a Budapest lawyer by training. Conscious that his status as a member of the metropolitan elite may make him less likely to appeal to rural voters, Magyar has toured the countryside indefatigably for the past two years, drawing large crowds. Unlike Orban, who waxes lyrical on global politics, Magyar focusses on domestic issues such as healthcare, education, transport and rural depopulation in his speeches.
Two men suffered head injuries at the Newsham Park Hospital venue with around 15 police cars and ambulances attending the scene
Emily Carubia Late reporter and Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor
00:13, 04 Apr 2026Updated 00:13, 04 Apr 2026
Two people have been taken to hospital following a “large disturbance” at an event on Friday evening.
Police were called to a premises at Newsham Park Hospital on Orphan Drive in Liverpool just after 9pm on Friday, April 3, Liverpool Echo reports.
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Officers confirmed two men sustained head injuries and were taken to hospital, while the venue was evacuated. Witnesses described a significant emergency response, with around 15 police cars and ambulances descending on the scene as an event was taking place inside the former asylum building.
The incident brought an abrupt end to a live set by DJ D.O.D, which had been due to continue until 10pm. Footage from inside the venue captures the moment the music was halted, as a man on stage told the crowd: “Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately due to an incident we have to stop,” prompting boos from those in attendance.
As attendees made their way out of the venue, many reported witnessing a substantial emergency presence, with police vehicles and ambulances lining the surrounding streets.
One event-goer described the moment the night was cut short. He said: “We were all stood there and it was coming up to 9pm. We were waiting for his bangers to be played and then he just cut it short and said ‘due to an incident we need you all to get out. We won’t be playing anymore.’
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“Then we all started booing and it just went from 0 to 100 after that.” Following the incident, DJ D.O.D apologised to fans on social media, saying: “Liverpool I’m so sorry the show was cut short, there were multiple incidents in the crowd which led to the police shutting down the show.”
“This is the last thing I wanted but your safety means more to me than carrying on the show. Music is about coming together. Hope to see you all again soon.”
Officers departed the scene at around 10.30pm. Enquiries are ongoing.
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Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre with log 930 of Friday 3 April.
How do you remake one of the best games ever? (Nintendo)
With Nintendo rumoured to be planning a remake of one of their most beloved video games, a reader suggests a number of changes for a modern version of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.
Nintendo don’t make a lot of remakes, but it’d be wrong to say they don’t ever do them. They are usually for more minor games though, like Super Mario RPG and a few Kirby games. It’d also be wrong to say there are never leaks about their upcoming games. It’s not common, unlike with other publishers, but it does happen – with Donkey Kong Bananza having been leaked years ahead of time, even if the information was a bit vague.
The latest leak didn’t really have any information though, beyond the fact that a remake of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time is coming. There’s no hint of who’s making it or how far it’ll go in changing things. Will it be a Resident Evil 2 style deal or something closer to the 3DS version of Ocarina Of Time, which was really just a remaster.
I have no idea, but naturally I’m hoping it’s as big budget an effort as possible, which seems likely if it’s supposed to be their key Christmas game. If it is that kind of effort though that implies changes – just like the Resident Evil remakes – and I have some ideas for what they could be.
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I will say from the start, that I’m hoping the changes will be relatively minimal. I don’t think there’s any need to change the combat or (with one exception) the dungeon designs, but there is a lot of fine tuning that would be useful. However, another thing I don’t want them to change is the creepiness and weirdness of the game, which is more extreme than most of the modern ones – so it’ll need actually scary ReDeads and keeping the Forest Temple as it is.
The first change I’d make is simple: voice-acting. The most recent games have been slowly adding more but while I absolutely agree that Link shouldn’t talk everyone else should. It just spoils the immersion when they don’t, and I don’t believe they have it that way for any reason other than Nintendo don’t like spending money on actors.
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Another big decision is the art style. It’s hard to tell whether the original was meant to be photorealistic or not, given the limited tech, but while it’s close I’d say it was stylised a bit and it should stay that way. Looking at character faces in particular, you can see a subtle cartoonish effect and I’d like them to keep that.
Some basic changes would be making Hyrule Field bigger and/or filled with more things and generally ensuring that the whole game is just one big open world, just with the same design as the original. That should be no problem given the last two games.
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One of the biggest problems I can foresee is that Ocarina Of Time is a lot more complicated than a modern game, especially in terms of dungeon puzzles. It wasn’t considered particularly hard at the time but nowadays people aren’t going to be used to the lack of hand-holding.
The infamous Water Temple is going to flummox any younger gamer, so I think that either has to be changed or, and this would be my preference, they have alternative versions of the dungeons and maybe the game as a whole, with a lite mode that’s easier and simpler and the full fat version.
There’s a lot of other stuff that could be added, like new side quests (the original doesn’t actually have many), more monsters everywhere (again, there’s not many, which is probably because of the limitations of the N64), and maybe even a new dungeon (a lot of fans think there should’ve been a Light Temple).
On a story note, I’d also like some clarification on what happens to Navi at the end, hopefully leading into a tease about a Majora’s Mask remake. I never liked that her fate was never revealed.
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Considering how beloved the game is and how many later ones copied it, especially Twilight Princess, I don’t envy whoever gets the job of doing the remake but I can definitely say that I will be there day one.
By reader Onibee
Would a remake look more like the original’s artwork? (Nintendo)
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.
In 1990, Europe produced around a third of its electricity from nuclear power. That has now fallen to an average of 15%, leaving the continent “completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports” of fossil fuels, she said, putting Europe at a disadvantage compared with other regions of the world.
She now faces WBA mandatory challenger Pineiro, the undefeated Puerto Rican southpaw with a perfect 10-fight pro record who has been the WBA’s interim champion since stopping Marie Pier Houle last year and then defeating Anahi Ester Sanchez.
Price is confident of continuing that winning streak and retaining her titles on home soil as she looks to secure a blockbuster showdown at middleweight with American superstar Claressa Shields, having grown tired of chasing an undisputed fight with WBO welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer.
Price vs Pineiro fight date and venue
Price vs Pineiro takes place on Saturday April 4, 2026 at Utilita Arena Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales.
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Price vs Pineiro fight time and ring walks
Price and Pineiro are expected to be in the ring for Saturday’s main event at approximately 9pm BST, which is 4pm ET and 1pm PT in the United States.
The undercard is expected to get underway around 5pm BST (12pm ET and 10am PT).
Rhys Edwards and Gully Powar compete for the vacant British featherweight title in Cardiff
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Getty Images
How to watch Price vs Pineiro
TV channel: In the UK, Price vs Pineiro is being shown live and free to air on BBC Two as part of promotional company Boxxer’s landmark broadcasting deal with the BBC, with coverage beginning at 8pm BST.
Live stream: The event is also available to watch online via the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer, where coverage gets underway at 5pm BST.
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Price vs Pineiro undercard
Chief support on Saturday comes from Wales’ Rhys Edwards and Gully Powar of Wolverhampton, who battle for the vacant British featherweight title.
Lauren Price vs Stephanie Pineiro – for the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO and The Ring women’s welterweight titles
Rhys Edwards vs Gully Powar – for the vacant British featherweight title
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Kane Shepherd vs Teo Alin
Lewys Parfitt vs Morgan McIntosh
Kyran Jones vs Connor Goulding
Jacob Robinson vs Caine Singh
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Mikey O’Sullivan vs Jose Manuel Perez
Yuvraj Karia vs Jake Pollard
Price is expected to face American superstar Claressa Shields later in 2026
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Price vs Pineiro prediction
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Price is a big favourite here for a reason. She has hardly skipped a beat in her impressive pro career so far and was far too good for the legendary Jonas last summer.
It’s important that she doesn’t overlook a tough opponent in Pineiro, but we see this as another straightforward stepping stone en route to the very biggest fights for Price – including that enormous clash with undisputed heavyweight champion Shields.
Price to win, by unanimous decision.
Price vs Pineiro weigh-in results
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Price weighed in at 146.3 pounds on Friday, with Pineiro slightly heavier at 146.4 pounds. The welterweight limit is 147 pounds.
Price vs Pineiro latest odds
Price to win on points or by decision: 3/10
Price to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 7/2
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Pineiro to win on points or by decision: 12/1
Pineiro to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 25/1
The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place this weekend after all four quarter-final ties have been played.
At least one giant will fall as Manchester City host Liverpool in the standout tie, which kicks off the weekend.
Arsenal and Chelsea will hope for a smooth passage into the last four by beating Southampton and Port Vale, respectively.
West Ham are gunning for their first semi-final berth in 20 years, but face a tricky test against Leeds ahead of the draw.
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When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?
The FA Cup semi-final draw will take place on Sunday April 5, 2026, after West Ham vs Leeds at the London Stadium.
The game kicks off at 4.30pm BST, so the earliest the draw can be held is around 6.45pm. Extra time and penalties would see the draw begin at around 7.15pm or 7.30pm.
Becky Ives will present the draw, which will be made by Ally McCoist.
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TNT Sports presenter Ally McCoist will conduct the quarter-final draw
The FA via Getty Images
Where to watch FA Cup semi-final draw
TV channel: In the UK, coverage of the draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: You can also follow along online via the HBO Max app and website with a subscription, as well as on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
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Live blog: Follow the FA Cup quarter-final draw as it happens tonight with Standard Sport’s dedicated live blog.
FA Cup semi-final draw ball numbers
1. Southampton or Arsenal
When will FA Cup semi-final ties take place?
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FA Cup semi-final matches are scheduled to be held across the weekend of April 25/26, 2026.
The war in the Middle East has disrupted the world’s supply of helium. Qatar produces about a third of global helium, but attacks on its gas infrastructure have forced production to stop.
At the same time, Iran is blocking the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, through which Qatar exports both natural gas and helium. Losing 30% of global helium could have major consequences for science, medicine and industry.
Helium is used to cool the superconducting magnets used in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners, which help diagnose conditions through high-resolution, 3D imaging of human tissues.
Superconducting magnets enable the sustained, intense currents needed for high resolution imaging. A superconductor is a material that conducts electricity with zero resistance (defined as the opposition to current flow in a material).
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In order to do this, however, the magnets need to operate at extremely low temperatures.
Helium is the ideal coolant for these magnets because it has the lowest boiling point of any element: -268.9°C. At this temperature or below, helium is liquid and can be used to bathe the magnetic coils used by MRI scanners.
Some particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider at Cern in Geneva, also use liquid helium to cool their superconducting magnets. These magnets are used to bend and control proton beams.
The processors in quantum computers need to be cooled to similarly low temperatures in order to operate and, here too, helium is the coolant of choice.
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A versatile element
Helium is used in computer chip production to displace oxygen and moisture within fabrication facilities, where conditions are tightly controlled to avoid contaminating delicate microprocessors.
The element is also used as a coolant during high-temperature stages of chip production. These include the etching process, where unwanted material is removed from semiconductor wafers – the substrates on which circuits are assembled.
Helium is used in the production of silicon wafers, a vital component of computer chip manufacturing. Metamorworks / Shutterstock
In space rockets, the non-flammable gas is used to flush out fuel lines and to pressurise fuel tanks.
Welding and fibre optic production requires helium to create inert, controlled environments.
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Helium’s value comes from physical properties that are very difficult to substitute. In addition to its low boiling point, which makes it an excellent coolant, helium is inert and extremely light.
Its tiny molecules make it ideal for detecting the smallest leaks in pipelines and equipment.
Despite being the second most abundant element in the universe, helium is extremely rare on Earth. It forms underground over billions of years from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium.
Because it is lighter than air, it escapes easily into the atmosphere and eventually into space, making it effectively non-renewable.
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Manufacturing helium
Unlike most resources, helium is rarely produced on its own. In Qatar and other countries, helium is produced as a by-product of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production.
That means the supply of helium depends entirely on the production of natural gas: when gas production drops, so does helium output.
This is exactly what has happened in Qatar, where attacks on gas facilities have suspended both gas and helium production.
Qatar’s helium is produced by its Ras Laffan facility –the largest liquefied natural gas plant in the world. Hannibal Hanschke / EPA Images
Exporting helium is not simple. It requires highly specialised cryogenic containers to keep it extremely cold during transport. These shipments must pass through narrow trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, making the supply chain vulnerable to political conflict.
The specialised containers are insulated, but not refrigerated. This means that, due to the physical properties of helium, the element will escape from the containers over time.
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Other countries have tried to develop helium production to reduce reliance on Qatar. Iran has worked to extract helium from its South Pars Gas Field, but sanctions have made this difficult. China, meanwhile, has been building the infrastructure to make its own helium and is prospecting for new reserves to diversify supply.
The US has the world’s largest helium reserves, stored in Amarillo, Texas. Originally established in 1925 to supply the airship industry, the reserve became a global strategic buffer that helped stabilise prices.
In recent decades, however, the US sold off much of the stockpile under the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, reducing this safety net.
With semiconductor supply chains threatened, there is a risk that helium shortages could act as a constraint on the AI revolution. Taiwan, the global leader in chipmaking, has said that its stocks of helium are stable due to a diverse supply. South Korean officials, however, have said that the country’s supplies will run out until June.
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Adapting to pressure
However, there are ways that countries could adapt to a squeeze in global helium stocks.
Stockpiling: keeping reserves of helium for critical applications.
Substitution: limiting helium use to applications where its unique properties are essential.
Recycling: recovering helium from industrial or scientific processes, though this is difficult because helium easily escapes containment.
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Diversification: Expanding production in multiple countries and exploring new reserves, as China is currently doing.
These measures could help alleviate future fluctuations in helium supply. But none are quick fixes. That’s why the disruption to supplies caused by the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is being felt around the world.
What’s in store for you today? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Scorpio Moon links aligns with Mercury in Pisces, adding a certain depth to emotions. Allow yourself to feel it all today, even if that’s uncomfortable.
Aries, Gemini and Leo, it’s all about decision-making. Tap into what the cosmos is telling you, and take a leap of faith.
The day ahead will be full of nuance, so read between the lines and question rationality and logic. Your heart has the answers.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Saturday April 4, 2026
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Today you’ll be doing detective work for the soul. With the Moon in Scorpio aligning with Mercury in Pisces, emotions run deep while the details swim in less turbulent waters. Not all you hear is based on solid statistics, yet not everything is illusion either. Read between the lines. Truth may arrive gently, but once it does it empowers you to act wisely and decisively.
What begins as casual small talk could be deeply moving, even revealing. Listen carefully, as someone may share a truth that you could easily miss. Your steady presence encourages openness. Yet this is not about gossip, it’s about connection and discovery. A partnership may change gently as understanding deepens. Trust your intuition yet be open and caring too.
As the Moon deep in Scorpio connects with Mercury in Pisces, your creative vision gains emotional depth and savvy nuance. You are not just dreaming, you are designing. Inspiration feels intense, almost urgent, yet the way forward arrives through quiet planning. Talks behind the scenes could sharpen your approach. Sketch the outline before unveiling the masterpiece.
Something you see or experience on a trip resonates far deeper than expected. A landscape, a conversation or even a piece of art may stir an old memory or awaken a new longing. Pay attention to what moves you quietly. This is not random, as you may discover a truth about your path or purpose. Allow instinct to guide perception and the journey can be so enjoyable.
You may have hesitated concerning a decision long enough, so choose. Even if you refine or revise it later, forward motion matters more than perfect certainty. Trust your instincts, then act with conviction. This is about momentum, not analysis paralysis. A firm step today clears emotional fog and restores confidence. You can always adjust the script as the story unfolds.
You may need to point out a truth someone would rather leave in shadow. Choose timing and tone carefully, as this is not about being right, it’s about being helpful. You are offering insight, not criticism. If resistance appears, stay steady. When you balance honesty with kindness, even uncomfortable revelations can strengthen trust and deepen understanding.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Today you’ll see clearly where financial arrangements feel fuzzy or imbalanced. Do not let polite silence cost you. If you are undercharging or being underpaid, it is time for a calm, firm conversation. Trust your instincts about what your work is worth. Spell it out kindly but very confidently. Vague agreements tend to slide downhill. Solid ones stand tall and boost morale.
With the Moon in your sign aligning with conversational Mercury, emotions run deep and words carry healing potential. You’ll sense that avoiding the truth now would only hurt someone later. Choose courage, as being kind does not mean being vague. Your insight is sharp, but your delivery must be very gentle. Know that sincerity builds trust, even if it stings at first.
Something at home or within your private world may need a clear decision. You could let it slide, and hope it sorts itself out and keep smiling. Yet you know that choosing the right course now prevents deeper complications later. It’s about maturity, so speak gently but act firmly. Doing the right thing may feel uncomfortable at first, but it restores peace in the long run.
A discerning friend can offer insight that cuts through confusion with surprising ease. You value practicality, but today your sixth sense is important too. Do not dismiss advice because it seems irrational. Someone sees what you may be too immersed in to notice. You don’t have to surrender control. A key conversation could shift your strategy and boost your mood.
Financial insight deepens and long-term ambitions sharpen. You’re not thinking small, you’re strategic. A big goal requires hope and a plan that lets your resources work quietly in the background. Review investments, refine budgets and trust your instincts. Advice may come from an unexpected source. This is not about restriction, it’s about empowerment.
The Scorpio Moon links arms with Mercury in your sign, so emotions run deep and insight is sharp. You sense it is time to choose rather than drift. A decision may feel daunting if it urges you beyond familiar waters. Yet growth rarely happens in the shallows, so trust your inner nudge, then commit. You can adjust course later. What matters now is movement.
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