• Man City vs Ipswich: Today (Sat, Sep. 17) — 3pm BST / 10am ET
• Stream: USA Network via via YouTube TV (10-day free trial, US) / Stan Sport (AUS)
• Unlock your stream with Proton VPN (up to 70% off)

Watch Man City vs Ipswich live streams in the Premier League 2026/27 as Enzo Maresca's table toppers try to maintain their perfect domestic record with a seventh top-flight win of the season. Gary O'Neil's Tractor Boys, though, fancy an upset at the Etihad.

City didn't let all the legal noise and potential punishments distract them at Anfield last weekend, dominating large parts of the game when Liverpool went down to 10 men to win 3-0. Rayan Cherki's sublime third was proof of the pure talent Maresca's men possess, but the 4-2 Champions League defeat by PSG in midweek gives the Cityzens room for improvement. Phil Foden returns after suspension.

Ipswich come into the game after last weekend's impressive late turnaround at home to Fulham, winning 2-1 despite trailing with just three minutes to go thanks to goals from Abdoul Ouattara and Dara O'Shea. Sitting nicely in 10th position, level on nine points with Liverpool, the Tractor Boys have only started one Premier League campaign with a better haul after six games. That's no mean feat after the summer exit of promotion-winning boss Kieran McKenna, but O'Neil's pragmatic approach, center-forward Emersonn's attacking instincts and Leif Davis' left-back delivery have won many admirers.

The last time the two teams met, Man City ran out 6-0 winners but this is a different Ipswich.

Here's how to watch Man City vs Ipswich in the Premier League 2026/27 from anywhere in the world.

Can you watch Man City vs Ipswich for FREE?

Free Man City vs Ipswich streams are scarce but there are a couple of options involving free trials to OTT streaming services.

In the US, matches shown on USA Network can be accessed via YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream, which all have free trials of varying lengths.

Not in the US? You need a VPN to unlock your FREE stream — find out more below.

Use a VPN to watch Man City vs Ipswich from anywhere

A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual streaming services. One of our favorites is Proton VPN – it does everything and comes with up to 70% off.

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It's really straightforward to use a VPN to watch Man City vs Ipswich.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, Proton VPN is one of our favorites.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you want to watch the USA Network stream via YouTube TV, select 'United States' from the listed countries.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Sky Go and tune into Man City vs Ipswich.

How to watch Man City vs Ipswich live streams in the US

Man City vs Ipswich will be shown USA Network in the US.

USA Network is part of NBC Universal, which holds the Premier League broadcast rights in the US.

YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry USA Network. Other cord-cutters like Sling also carry the service.

Outside the US for this EPL clash? Use Proton VPN to unlock your stream of Man City vs Ipswich.

How to watch Man City vs Ipswich live streams in the UK

In the UK, Man City vs Ipswich isn't on TV due to the Saturday 3pm 'blackout', which means that games kicking off at that time can't be broadcast live.

UK viewers can catch the game's highlights on the Sky Sports app shortly after the final whistle. Match of the Day will also provide highlights and analysis of this game on BBC One.

Traveling to the UK? If you're an American, Canadian, or Aussie traveling to the UK during the game, you can use Proton VPN to access your local Premier League streams.

How to watch Man City vs Ipswich live streams in Canada

Fubo is broadcasting every EPL game this season in Canada, including Man City vs Ipswich.

Prices start from CA$31.49 per month for Fubo's flexible Sports Monthly package. Although the best option right now is the Quarterly Package, with it costing just CA$27.99 CA$14.99 for each of the first three months.

You can also watch Fubo's content if you have a selected DAZN subscription in Canada.

Not in Canada? Use Proton VPN to access your Premier League live streams from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Man City vs Ipswich live streams in Australia

Man City vs Ipswich will be broadcast on Stan Sport in Australia.

Stan Sport subscriptions start at AU$29.99 per month, which includes the base plan (from AU$9.99) with the sport add-on (AU$20).

Outside Australia? Use a VPN to login to your Stan Sport account.

What is the Man City vs Ipswich start time?

Man City vs Ipswich kicks off at 3pm BST / 10am ET / 7am PT on Saturday, 17 October.

If you are in Australia, the game will be broadcast at 1am AEDT on Sunday, October 18.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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• The UK government could extend the BBC's licensing fee to include streaming platforms, clamping down on fee dodgers
• This means if you want to watch Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube, you'll need to pay the £180 annual TV license fee
• The changes are set to be announced before Christmas

The UK government could make a major change to the BBC licensing fee in just a few months, extending it to include the best streaming services — what is being referred to as the ‘YouTube tax’.

The annual £180 licensing fee, which is free for over 75s and discounted for visually impaired viewers, is the BBC’s main funding model, which UK residents must pay if they watch live broadcasting and on-demand content on a television, even if they don’t watch titles from the BBC itself.

Paying the fee gives viewers access to all kinds of televised programming, but the proposed changes could soon bring services like Netflix, Disney+, and even YouTube into the agreement, which aren’t currently included.

The Independent says a BBC charter renewal will be released before Christmas, which will highlight the government's proposed changes to the current funding model in further detail.

Why is this happening?

(Image credit: BBC iPlayer)

While most residents contribute to the licensing fee, there are a handful of households that avoid paying the annual charge by logging onto the internet on mobile devices and computers to view content.

The UK government’s proposal would crack down on this loophole by throwing digital media platforms into the mix. Since most viewers rely on televisions and streaming devices to watch content on these services, it would mean that even if you don't watch BBC iPlayer, you'll still need to pay a license fee if you want to stream content from platforms such as Netflix on your TV.

A Whitehall source speaking with The Independent shared that the idea was put forward ‘because people are able to use them to avoid paying currently’. ‘It’s not fair that people are essentially able to watch television content but avoid the licence fee,’ they added. Essentially, the easier it is to dodge the fee, less people will pay, which sounds alarm bells for the BBC’s funding.

The BBC is currently going through a rough period after unveiling that a staggering ‘539,000 fewer TV licences were in force in the year to 31 March 2026’, as The Independent reports. The outlet also shared that the BBC saw a drop of two million licenses over the past five years.

Speaking with The Independent, a BBC spokesperson elaborated on the proposed changes: ‘We have consistently argued that the current funding model is outdated and needs reform. We will continue to engage with government to secure a new charter that provides sustainable, sufficient and universal funding so the BBC can deliver for audiences for generations to come’.

Where is the money going?

As the situation currently stands, the license fee remains at £180 per year, but neither the UK government nor the BBC has said whether this charge will increase if the proposed changes were to roll out. We’re assuming that more information will be announced when the charter renewal is published in a few months; however, what we do know is what the BBC intends to do with the money it generates from the streaming platform-inclusive licensing agreement.

While a portion of licensing fee revenue is invested in BBC programming, including drama shows as well as broadcasting, the Whitehall source says that funding local journalism is one of the company’s priorities when it comes to spending. Additionally, the money will also help to combat misinformation and fake news, which the source says has been the catalyst for the rise of political parties such as Reform across the country.

What does this mean for the BBC and its viewers?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If the government proposal comes to fruition, it will introduce a handful of changes to both viewers and the BBC alike. We reached out to Richard Broughton, Executive Director at Ampere Analysis, who put the deal into context.

'If the conclusion from policy-makers is that a strong BBC is needed in the current market — for protection of the UK content industry, for ensuring relevant content for each of the nations is created, for ensuring news output remains solid, etc — then the BBC's funding mechanism needs changing,' he shared.

He also says that replacing/ topping the licensing fee would be quite a challenge, telling us the following:

'Applying it as a tax on all households is feasible, but the design of the license fee as independent to tax and reviewed only at periodic intervals is specifically structured to ensure that the BBC's funding is ring-fenced and separated from wider budgetary discussions. A clearly independent public service broadcaster has strong democratic advantages, and maintaining this independence with a tax-based regime could be more challenging'.

Switching to an advertising model is also out of the question, Broughton believes, which would not only have to be 'supplementary to a license fee-based model' but 'would be detrimental to commercial players already under some stress'. Think ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, etc.

If you're a TV viewer who's stopped paying for the licensing fee, there's a slight financial risk with secondary paid services that Broughton highlights. 'In this instance, the additional £180/year will effectively be taken from their disposable income, and they will need to make decisions about what they spend less on — which could impact paid products that the household judges as non-essential (but equally could affect broader entertainment or leisure spending)'.

When it comes down to the possible rollout of the changes, Broughton believes there could be enforcement challenges. 'Identifying who should be paying the license fee would require streaming service providers to report names/addresses centrally to TV Licensing - else evasion may remain a significant issue for the BBC,' he concludes.

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After almost a decade of teasing, flip-flopping on design, and generally testing the patience of every single customer that originally placed a deposit, Tesla has taken the wraps off its completely radical and utterly bonkers Roadster.

What started as a reimagining of the car that arguably kicked it all off for Tesla — complete with curvaceous looks, epic real-world performance, and a 600-odd-mile range — has transformed into an angular, space-age speed machine that’s capable of around 300 miles on a single charge, can accelerate faster than most human bodies can withstand, and can “fly” for short periods.

I insist on placing the word “fly” in quote marks simply because the recent live demonstration at SpaceX’s Rocket Test and Development Center in McGregor, Texas, showed the car being flung into the air by cold-gas thrusters before employing yet more SpaceX-derived thrust technology to ensure it came down onto the stage below gently.

Roadster event livestream https://t.co/G0jU4mWfidOctober 15, 2026

In essence, enormous jets of compressed gas force the vehicle to become airborne, while separate thrusters mounted around the car can make it spin (performing a “kickflip,” as Tesla Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy called it) and then land safely on more jets of rapidly decompressed propellant.

It’s all deeply impressive, and the additional use of McMurtry Spéirling-esque fan technology to create insane levels of downforce will likely contribute to some pretty astonishing lap times if Tesla chooses to go down that route.

But take a deep breath, ignore the hype for a moment, and ask one simple question: why?

All but the “entry-level” Performance model can likely only be used on private roads or specific race circuits, while the completely nuts Rocket model, with its full cold-gas thruster setup, is available to purchase by invitation only, meaning Tesla will decide who's able to use it.

(Image credit: Tesla)

Viewed simply, this is Tesla pushing the boundaries as far as they can be pushed, proving that it is one of the most innovative automotive and technology companies on the planet.

Perhaps in Elon’s mind, it wasn’t good enough for the Roadster badge to be resurrected and placed on an entirely plausible and rather handsome EV. It had to be a halo car that showcased not just Tesla’s talents, but those of its sister company, SpaceX.

This fits with the views of certain corners of the internet, which believe the entire stunt was set up to promote a potential SpaceX and Tesla merger, further pumping up investor hype.

“It was an engineering flex with no commercial value beyond embarrassing traditional car makers,” Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management told Automotive World. “The Roadster event is the latest example of why Elon can’t wait to bring (Tesla) and (SpaceX) together.”

Tesla needs to get real

'We got flying cars before GTA 6', as many have noted on social media (Image credit: Tesla)

As impressive as this week’s Roadster demonstrations have been, the new halo car has no real bearing on the sort of products we can expect from Tesla in the future.

Heck, the Roadster isn’t even a proper 'roadster', seeing as it uses removable T-panels rather than a traditional convertible top.

There was absolutely no mention of innovative battery technology, not a peep about rapid charging, and no messaging around next-generation infotainment or software-defined breakthroughs.

Ignoring the Cybertruck, which now sells in tiny numbers, Tesla only offers two vehicles — the Model 3 and Model Y — with no plans to introduce anything else soon. Instead, it appears set on incrementally improving them over time.

Dig through the convoluted Roadster specifications list, and the only road-going variant, the Performance model, is simply a very fast electric performance car with a multi-mode suction system that has already been introduced by a rival.

It can only manage 300 miles on a single charge, it develops 1,350 hp (a Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric manages 1,140 hp), and, more importantly, it’s arriving almost 10 years after it was originally planned.

The more events Tesla holds like this, the more it feels like a distraction from the fact that the competition, predominantly coming from China, is actually moving the game forward.

BYD with its nine-minute Flash Charge, Nio with its battery-swap technology, and Geely with its Level 4 Afari Smart Driving autonomous systems all feel like innovations that could have genuine real-world impact.

Tesla wrote the blueprint for electric vehicle ownership when it established the groundbreaking Supercharger network and delivered cars that were effortless to live with.

Now, it’s peddling humanoid robots and other sci-fi stunts to deflect from the fact that its EV business is stagnating.

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• Tesla demonstrates much-rumored cold-gas thruster technology
• New Roadster can "jump" and flip in the air
• Fan system creates downforce that will "crush every track record"

Following a typically awkward and slightly slapdash presentation at SpaceX’s Rocket Test and Development Center in McGregor, Texas, Tesla finally unveiled its new Roadster after nearly a decade of delays.

The event, which felt a bit like the audience had stumbled upon a few friends messing around in physics class, was fronted by Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy, and CEO Elon Musk, who freestyled their way through 20-odd minutes of scrappy information and Hollywood-style live demonstrations.

Oh, and we actually saw what the claimed production version of the Roadster will look like when it goes on sale (seriously this time) in 2028.

Gone are the curves and clean lines of the previously promised Roadster, as Tesla ushers in a more angular, Cybertruck-style look that apparently takes inspiration from SR-71 aircraft and rocket ships.

You could argue it now looks like Tesla's take on an electric Lamborghini, but the Tesla trio were keen to point out on several occasions that the upcoming Roadster is very much a joint effort between the EV company and Elon Musk’s SpaceX — hence the myriad rocket references seen throughout the design.

Roadster event livestream https://t.co/G0jU4mWfidOctober 15, 2026

“The results are the collaboration of the world’s best car company and the world’s best rocket company,” Musk boasted before demonstrating what the vehicle is capable of.

In summary (fast forward to the demos in the clip above), it features numerous SpaceX-developed cold-gas thrusters that can not only deliver brutal acceleration (Tesla is claiming 0-60 mph in under 0.59 seconds and a top speed of over 230mph on top-tier versions), but can also make the car “fly” for short periods.

Thrusters at the rear of the Roadster provide up to 80 kN of thrust for straight-line speed, while individual units around and underneath the car deliver upward lift, as well as the ability to control the vehicle’s movements in the air.

Making these work on earth's atmosphere and not in the vacuum of space is the engineering headache teams at SpaceX and Tesla have been wrestling with for years.

During a live demonstration, which was “autonomous” and didn’t use a real driver for safety reasons, the new Tesla Roadster jumped over the company’s entire fleet of vehicles, performing a barrel roll midair before landing in a plume of thick gas and driving away.

Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy said that Tesla calls this move “the kick-flip” and that “Tony Hawk would be proud.”

Tesla's CEO revealed that the system uses an advanced ultra-high-pressure air tank. “So, the car can recharge its air tank — it’s not like you need special propellant or anything like that,” Musk added.

This Tesla really sucks

'We got flying cars before GTA 6', as many have noted on social media (Image credit: Tesla)

Another key technology employed by the upcoming Roadster is a suction system that uses fans mounted underneath the car to generate huge amounts of downforce.

Similar to the McMurtry Spéirling, which has broken numerous circuit records thanks to its seemingly unending levels of grip, Tesla’s system pulls enough air from under the car to hold it upside down.

The technology is banned by Formula 1, for obvious reasons, but Tesla demonstrated its capabilities by having the Roadster drive up a vertical piece of road, then allowing the fan system to hold it on an overhang.

(Image credit: McMurtry)

Only Tesla went one further and then had its Roadster leap off this perilous overhang, flip itself upright using the cold-gas thruster technology and carefully land on the stage beneath it like one of SpaceX's rockets touching down after a trip into outer orbit.

According to the company, the fan system also employs patented side skirts and actuators from its humanoid robot Optimus to autonomously adjust the set-up to suit a number of road surfaces, not simply super-smooth race tracks like those the McMurtry Spéirling is currently limited to.

“Better than any James Bond car,” Elon Musk said, explaining that the fan technology would allow customers to corner “like you’re breaking physics.”

“Acceleration, cornering, it’s going to crush every track record that has ever existed,” Musk revealed.

Specs and prices?

(Image credit: Tesla)

The event proved an impressive demonstration of the technology and, despite Elon’s warnings that success was “not guaranteed,” confirmed a number of rumors that have been circulating for months.

Yes, the upcoming Tesla Roadster will use cold-gas thrusters for straight-line performance and brief periods of flight. Yes, it will use a “multi-mode suction system” for insane levels of downforce. And yes, you will be able to buy one, albeit as a left-hand-drive vehicle only.

Musk promised that it will enter production in 2028 and that the company will continue to take reservations. Customers will have to hand over $5,000 today and another $45,000 within 10 days, or the reservation will be canceled.

There’s no concrete price for the final product, although the company did release more information on X following the event about the various versions that will go on sale.

These include Performance, which will use the “multi-mode suction system” and deliver a 0-60 mph time of under 1.6 seconds, but forgo the gas thrusters. This is likely to be the only road-legal variant.

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Next up, Thrust will be a limited release and add the rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters for a claimed 0-60 mph time of under 0.9 seconds. It’s highly likely to be for track use only.

Finally, a Rocket model, which is reportedly invite-only, will feature the full cold-gas thruster array and be capable of the sort of gymnastics Tesla demonstrated, although there are no details on where these systems could safely and legally be used.

All versions feature hidden headlights, “super light” wheels, an adjustable rear wing, aerospace-inspired paint, and tinted glass windows designed to mimic the copper coating that gives spacesuit visors their golden sheen.

However, the original estimate of a 600-mile all-electric range seems to have been adjusted considerably, with Tesla hinting that 300 miles will be a more realistic figure for the new Roadster.

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• An estimated 1 out of every 8 UK small and medium businesses are paying for AI tools
• Over 28% of SMEs are using two or more AI platforms
• Publishing is the main UK sector adopting AI

British SMEs are moving toward AI solutions, with adoption increasing from 1.1% in 2023 to 12.8% in 2026, new research has claimed.

The study, by small business credit card providers Capital on Tap, also shows that while smaller companies may have more modest budgets, they’re still happy to spread their bets when it comes to choosing an AI solution.

Over 28% of SMEs are using multiple AI platforms – with Anthropic’s Claude just edging out OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with the average quarterly spend growing to a quarterly average of £75.60 per SME.

SMEs explore AI

Anthropic is the most popular AI provider among British SMEs according to the research, with those businesses devoting 54.1% of all AI spending on Claude and its sister tools. Conversely, OpenAI/ChatGPT received 27.3% in second place.

The presence of tools like Perplexity, Replit, and Lovable in the list suggests that many of the SMEs analyzed are in the software development industry. However, it is the publishing industry that apparently leads in AI adoption, at 26%, followed by Radio & Television and “consulting” both at 21.6% and telecoms at 20.3%.

“A three-person firm can now do its own research, marketing, bookkeeping and customer service to a standard that used to need a department," noted Damian Brychcy, the Chief Executive Officer at Capital on Tap.

"More than one in eight of the small businesses in our data are already buying AI tools, and the pace is accelerating, not levelling off.”

Cut duplication

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising aspect of the analysis is the duplication. There is a suspicion that SMEs are trying one AI – perhaps on a trial that they forget to cancel – then moving onto another.

Brychcy states “More than a quarter of AI buyers now pay for two or more providers, and the balance between those providers can flip inside a single quarter.”

This introduces the challenge of duplication, and puts the onus on SMEs to “cut the duplication and be honest about whether each tool is earning its place.”

Whether SMEs are suitably equipped to appreciate the risks of AI tools isn’t clear from the analysis, but few will have dedicated IT personnel who are completely across the details.

So Brychcy offers some useful tips: “check its output, keep sensitive business and customer data out of tools you haven't vetted, and don't hand a model decisions that need a person's judgement.”

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Starting a newsletter can seem easy at the beginning. But as you build it, everything gets more complicated. You need to make a stellar copy, an intuitive layout, a precise contact list, and even pinpoint which offer goes to which set of contacts. With so much to handle, you need a tool that helps with everything while keeping ultimate control in your hands.

Hostinger Reach combines all these tasks into an email marketing service. Launched in June 2025, it manages your email marketing campaigns end-to-end. It’s separate from Hostinger’s web hosting and business email, though it connects with its website tools.

I wanted to see it stacks up against some of the best email hosting services I've tested. So, in this review, I’ll assess what Reach offers, where it falls short, and whether you should consider it before launching your campaign. Let’s begin.

Hostinger Reach: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Hostinger Reach)

You should first compare the frequency of your emails and the size of your audience contact list with the plans and their limits. Once you’re done with this, go through the add-ons like the editing and automation tools that the plan offers.

Currently, Hostinger Reach offers the following plans:

Plan	First-year cost	Recipients/ month	Emails/ month
Starter	Free	100	200
Grow	$29.88 ($2.49/month)	500	3,500
Pro, 1,000 recipients	$47.88 ($3.99/month)	1,000	7,000

The displayed monthly renewal rates currently are $1.49, $2.49, and $3.99, respectively.

Now, you need to understand what “recipients” mean here. It counts distinct addresses emailed during a calendar month, not new subscribers added each month. So, if you delete a contact from your list, it won’t be counted as an additional seat for a new contact. Instead, the counter resets on the first day of each month, not after a specific campaign.

For example, two newsletters to 100 people use all 200 free emails. Four newsletters to those same people need 400. That’s why I’d use Starter to learn the tool, and not assume that it covers a weekly newsletter.

The Starter plan includes 20 one-time AI credits. Grow provides 10 monthly credits and Pro provides 20. Keep in mind that these AI credits pay for generation tasks, and not email delivery.

You will have multiple useful features like scheduling, personalization, and automations under the Grow plan. Whereas the Pro plan adds code editing, send-time optimization, custom fields, and teammates.

Hostinger Reach: Setup and website connections

(Image credit: Hostinger Reach)

To start an email campaign with Reach, you will need to have a sending domain. Now, if you’re already using a Hostinger-managed domain, it will connect automatically. But if you’re not, you will have to change your DNS records on that external domain to kick-start your campaign.

Once set up, you can add contacts manually, import a CSV file, or connect website forms. Hostinger’s website builder syncs form submissions into Reach. There’s a WordPress plugin too that supports sites hosted elsewhere, with connections for tools including WPForms Lite, Contact Form 7, and Elementor.

That’s the connection I find most useful. A visitor signs up on the website, and their details reach the mailing list without another spreadsheet import. The plugin collects contacts, while campaigns and reports live in Reach.

You should also enable the double opt-in feature for supported signup sources. This asks people to confirm their subscription by email before receiving campaigns. It doesn’t apply automatically to CSV imports or manually added contacts, so an imported address still needs valid permission.

Finally, Reach’s default no-reply address can send without a paid mailbox. Receiving replies requires a working mailbox, which can come from Hostinger or another provider.

Hostinger Reach: Creating and editing emails

(Image credit: Hostinger Reach)

Reach’s AI accepts a goal, supporting links, images, and product details. Using all of this, it proposes a campaign plan and, after confirmation, creates a draft. I noticed this entire process counts as one AI credit, which feels pretty fair to me.

For a small coffee shop, I’d provide the actual offer, closing date, product link, and desired tone. That gives the tool something concrete to work with. “Write a great sales email” leaves too many decisions to software that doesn’t run the shop.

Talking about the editor, you’ll find a template library, visual controls, and HTML/code options on eligible plans. Text, images, links, and design settings can be changed without relying entirely on another prompt. And I definitely prefer that choice. That’s because even if one price is wrong, I would edit the price myself.

I wouldn’t ask AI to rebuild the paragraph and then check whether it changed anything else.

The preheader is worth setting, too. This is the short text shown beside the subject in an inbox. Reach lets you choose it, rather than leave that space to a stray line from the email. I do suggest that before sending, you should check the mobile preview and send yourself a test.

Hostinger Reach: Personalization and automations

You can easily insert the subscriber’s name along with the email address here. My favorite detail in Hostinger’s tutorial is the fallback text. Its coffee-shop example uses “coffee lover” when a first name is missing, so the greeting still makes sense.

That’s a small control with a clear purpose. I would rather send a natural greeting to everyone than a personal greeting that breaks for half the list.

Coming to Segments, they’re simply filtered groups of contacts. Reach can automatically organize people by signup source, and its AI can help define groups using contact activity. I’d use that as a starting rule to review, not a universal sign that someone has lost interest. The useful part is having a group I can address differently from regular readers.

For example, someone joining a coffee workshop list may want class dates, while a shop subscriber wants new beans. Keeping those signup sources separate makes the next message easier to choose. That is a stronger reason to segment than simply making the contact list look tidy.

Hostinger Reach: Reports and email delivery

Reach reports opens, clicks, bounces, and unsubscribes. A bounce means the message could not be delivered. Its click map highlights which links attracted attention, while recipient and device views provide more detail.

You can also use the click map to compare the main offer with other links in the email. That tells more about the next edit than admiring a large open-rate number. But it still doesn’t prove that those clicks became sales.

There’s also a Smart Sending feature that uses past opening behavior to spread a campaign across a 24-hour window. I’d consider it for a general newsletter, but switch it off for an offer that ends that evening.

There’s even a Quality Checker option that looks for problems with content, links, layout, and spam-related signals. Keep in mind, it does not verify the sender’s reputation or guarantee inbox placement.

Hostinger Reach: Final verdict

I would consider Reach for a small business that needs a regular newsletter, website signup forms, and a few useful follow-ups. The appeal is having those jobs connected, with AI to draft and manual controls to finish.

However, you should be more cautious about moving an established mailing operation. Before switching, check the plan’s features, run through the actual store connection, and confirm that saved designs reopen correctly. Those checks matter more than an enthusiastic tutorial or a low monthly figure.

My first step would be a small, permission-based trial with a campaign I genuinely need to send, rather than a throwaway sample. If the editing suits the newsletter and the paid allowance fits its schedule, Reach earns a place on the shortlist.

FAQs

Is email marketing still worth it in 2026?

Yes, I think email marketing is still worth it when people have chosen to hear from the business. Useful newsletters, welcome messages, and relevant offers keep subscribers interested. I’d judge the return by inquiries, repeat purchases, and profit after campaign costs. A high open rate alone doesn’t tell me whether the effort paid off.

What is the 12-second rule for emails?

In email marketing, the “12-second rule” reminds you to make the message clear in a quick scan. Readers should quickly understand who’s writing, what’s being offered, and what to do next. I’d put the main point near the top and cut any opening that delays it. I treat 12 seconds as a writing guideline, not a fixed attention limit that applies to everyone.

What are the 5 C’s of email?

A common version of the five C’s is clear, concise, correct, courteous, and complete. I’d use them as a final check: explain the purpose, remove filler, verify the details, keep the tone respectful, and include everything the reader needs to act. Being concise shouldn’t mean leaving out an offer’s conditions or deadline.

What are the four types of emails?

Four common business email types are newsletters, promotional emails, transactional emails, and welcome emails. Newsletters share updates and useful content. Promotional emails highlight offers. Transactional emails confirm actions, such as purchases or password resets. Welcome emails introduce the business after someone signs up. I’d choose the type around the message’s purpose. These are useful starting categories, not the only kinds of email.

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• Rugby League World Cup: October 15 to November 15
• Stream every game free on 7plus (Australia)
• Unlock your free stream with NordVPN (save 75%)

Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup for free as Australia look to claim their fourth consecutive RLWC title. It all begins today as Australia take on New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Not excited yet? Here’s more: 7plus will be streaming every match of the Rugby League World Cup for free in Australia.

But how can you watch the Rugby League World Cup on 7plus from anywhere? Can you access the free RLWC streams in the UK, New Zealand, Canada and the US too?

Here’s our simple guide to how to watch the 2026 Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere in the world using NordVPN.

What Rugby League World Cup games are free this week?

• Australia vs New Zealand: Thursday 15 October — 10:05am BST / 7:05pm AEST
• Samoa vs France: Friday 16 October — 7:45am BST / 4:45pm AEST
• Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon: Saturday 17 October — 5:25am BST / 2:25pm BST
• England vs Tonga: Saturday 17 October — 10:05am BST / 7:05pm AEST
• Fiji vs Cook Islands: Sunday 18 October — 6:05am BST / 3:05pm AEST

How to watch Rugby League World Cup for FREE on 7Plus

7plus will stream all 18 matches of the Men's Rugby League World Cup for free in Australia.

New to 7Plus? Register for a free account to watch 7Plus online. Alternatively, you can watch via the 7plus app (iOS/Android).

OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA? ACCESS FREE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP STREAMS FROM ANYWHERE WITH NORDVPN

How to watch Rugby League World Cup for free from anywhere

Although 7plus is one of our favourite streaming platforms, it is only available in Australia.

Rugby League lovers travelling outside Oz can still access these free RLWC streams by using a VPN.

There are lots of VPN's but NordVPN is our pick to unblock 7plus to stream Rugby League World Cup like a pro.... and you can save 70% right now.

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It's really easy to use a VPN to watch 7plus.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is the best choice.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting Canada and want to watch your free 7plus stream - you'd select Australia from the options.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to the 7plus website, sign in, and watch the RLWC for free.

7plus Q+A

Why should I use 7plus to watch the Rugby League World Cup?

7plus show an abundance of sport to viewers in Australia and will continue that with the Rugby League World Cup.

Mel McLaughlin, Matt White, Matt Shirvington and 2013 RLWC winner Corey Parker will lead the coverage.

Joining them will be Trent Robinson, Luke Keary, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Aaron Woods, Brett Kimmorley, Brent Tate, Emma Verran, James Graham, Lote Tuqiri, Yasmin Meakes, Shontelle Stowers, Shane Flanagan and Stephan Rochecouste.

Andrew Voss will be lead commentator, while Anthony Maroon, Andrew Moore, Drury Forbes and Beaven Dewar will also commentate across the tournament

7plus recommend an internet speed of at least 3-10 mbps for streaming.

Which devices can I watch 7plus with?

• Amazon Fire (tablets, Cube, Stick and Fire TVs)
• Android TV (some models may not be supported)
• Android mobile phones and tablets (Android 7.0 and above)
• Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
• Google TV (including Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
• Freely
• Freesat (some models may not be supported)
• Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes; some models may not be supported)
• iPhone and iPad (iOS 14 and above)
• LG Smart TVs (2016–2024 models)
• NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (firmware version 11.5.0 or later)
• PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
• Roku (Stick and Roku OS-powered TVs; version 11.5.0 or later)
• Samsung Smart TVs (2017 models and newer)
• Sky (Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck)

More from TechRadar

• How to watch the Champions League 2026/27
• Sporting Calendar 2026: Your guide to sporting events
• How to watch Rugby League World Cup 2026 — full streaming guide

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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• SAP report says AI spend could rise 45% between 2026 and 2028, ROI up by an estimated 39%
• Half of businesses worry agentic AI is being deployed quicker than governance
• Poor data quality is holding them back, 67% believe in integrated data systems as a fix

The average UK business now spends £20.6 million on AI per year according to new SAP data, marking a substantial 27% year-over-year increase compared with 2025 (£16.2 million).

And this is showing no signs of slowing down - as SAP even anticipates a further 45% increase in the two years between 2026 and 2028, bringing average UK business AI spend to very nearly £30 million annually.

Importantly, SAP also envisions ROI increasing in line with spend, rising from 17% in 2025 to 22% this year, and as much as 39% by 2028.

UK AI spend is rising, but at a cost

Despite anticipated rises in ROI, SAP criticized Britain's businesses for lacking AI strategies. Only 11% are said to have a strategic and holistic approach to AI investments, with around two in five businesses prioritizing AI investments on a department level instead of org-wide.

"Organisations are increasing their investments and expecting more in return, but now the focus needs to be on turning that ambition into scalable business value," SAP UK&I MD Leila Romane explained.

While AI spend is largely on the rise, agentic AI deployments are still in progress, with around 70% of UK businesses piloting agentic AI use cases. Still, there's widespread optimism among users, who believe they could unlock a 4.7x rise in financial returns over the next two years.

Among AI agent users, around half (49%) worry they're being introduced faster than they can be governed, and only a minority (9%) consider their governance skills and expertise to be fully ready. A staggering three in five (61%) are either developing governance processes now, or reported limited or no readiness at all.

But despite a clear lack in governance, most are opting to blame their poor data foundations. Poor data quality (71%), incomplete information (70%), siloed systems (65%) and limited access to real-time data (62%) are all considered to be barriers in this area.

Looking ahead, two-thirds (67%) believe integrated data systems are likely to become the most important enabler for AI readiness.

"Good governance is not a brake on AI adoption – it’s actually the opposite," CBI Technology and Innovation Director Naomi Weird added.

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The hardest part of retail AI may soon be the part nobody puts in the demo.

A model can recommend a markdown, predict a stockout, adjust a picking route or identify a pattern in store traffic in milliseconds. But a retailer only gets value when that decision becomes an accurate action in the physical store. Whether it’s a price change or a sensor reading, it has to arrive promptly for it to be useful.

There is already a striking gap between AI ambition and execution. Deloitte's 2026 survey of 200 retail and consumer products executives found that 75% consider AI a top strategic priority, yet only 16.5% can quantify the return they are getting from it. Clearly, retailers believe in AI. The harder problem is turning isolated capabilities into something that works consistently across the business.

For physical retailers, the challenge does not end with models, data or software. AI-driven decisions have to pass through stores containing thousands of devices, existing networks and years of installed technology. In complex environments, the building itself can affect connectivity. As the number of connected endpoints grows, so does the importance of the wireless foundation carrying information across the store.

For CIOs and CTOs, that means the next constraint on AI may be something that has been underappreciated: whether the store estate underneath it can execute reliably at scale.

A store is not a cloud workload

Physical retail introduces conditions that software teams cannot abstract away. Stores have walls, metal shelving, refrigeration, back rooms, loading areas and legacy systems installed. They also have trading hours. Infrastructure changes that look simple on an architecture diagram can become expensive or disruptive when repeated across hundreds of sites.

Take inventory, for example. A forecasting model can improve a replenishment decision, but store-level execution may depend on shelf sensors, handheld devices, picking tools and accurate product information all exchanging data.

Computer vision, digital displays and environmental monitoring add further endpoints and a wider mix of data, from routine device updates and sensor readings to visual content and real-time operational data. These workloads place very different demands on the network.

Some require high bandwidth or low latency. Others involve large populations of battery-powered devices sending regular updates across difficult environments. Individually, none is necessarily a network problem. Collectively, they can become one.

If a pricing decision cannot reach every store quickly, a replenishment signal arrives too late or each new application requires another costly infrastructure layer, the retailer loses part of the value the technology was supposed to create.

One response is to add another gateway, controller or application layer for the next project. That can work for a pilot. Repeated often enough, though, every new device gains a separate integration path, security owner, management console and failure mode.

In difficult store environments, adding project-specific infrastructure to overcome coverage gaps can also change deployment economics. The technology works, but operating it becomes progressively harder.

The scaling problem appears after the pilot works

Retail technology teams are used to asking whether a new application meets its business case. AI adds another question: what happens to the infrastructure if the application succeeds?

A pilot may involve one store and a limited number of endpoints. Scale changes the economics. Coverage has to work throughout the building, updates must remain reliable during normal trading and security teams need a consistent way to onboard and manage devices. Operations teams also need clear ownership when something fails.

Connectivity should therefore be treated as an architectural choice, not a specification buried inside each procurement. The objective is not to replace every existing network or create one for every application, but to match workloads to the wireless layer best suited to their requirements while keeping the estate manageable.

Current designs may be adequate in some stores. In large or difficult formats, or where suitable retail IoT endpoints are growing quickly, an additional purpose-built wireless layer may be justified. The decision should be deliberate rather than inherited one project at a time.

Different workloads need different wireless foundations

The future-ready store is unlikely to depend on one network doing everything. It will more likely use a combination of connectivity layers, each supporting the workloads it suits best. Now, retailers should consider whether enterprise Wi-Fi should remain the de facto transport layer for every new category of connected device.

As electronic shelf label estates expand and retailers introduce more sensors and retail IoT applications, suitable workloads may be better served by a purpose-built wireless layer alongside the enterprise network.

This should not mean an isolated network for each use case, but a scalable, reusable connectivity layer able to support large device populations over time. Security belongs in the same conversation. Every endpoint needs consistent management, from trusted onboarding and credentials through to decommissioning.

Open standards remain important because they provide a more consistent foundation for future devices, applications and platforms. But openness alone is not the architecture. The decision is which workloads belong on which connectivity layer; standards help those layers remain manageable and adaptable.

The most successful retail AI programs will be judged by more than the quality of their predictions. As connected estates grow the test will be whether organizations can turn those predictions into dependable action across real stores.

Before approving the next AI pilot, retailers should ask what will their estate need if it succeeds, which workloads will grow, and should they all continue to be carried in the same way?

If success means more devices, richer data, more frequent updates or deployment across a much larger estate, the wireless architecture supporting those workloads has to be a central part of the AI strategy.

Retailers are not investing in AI tools or connectivity for their own sake. They want to protect margin, improve availability and make stores easier to operate. AI capability and AI scalability are different problems.

The objective should be an architecture in which new workloads can use the wireless layer best suited to them without forcing the estate to be rebuilt each time. The retailers that design for both will be in a much stronger position to turn ambition into reliable, repeatable execution.

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Phone manufacturers are certainly feeling the pinch of the RAM and storage shortages. Apple recently increased prices across most of its products, the new Google Pixels received their own price hikes and now Samsung has joined in with price bumps across its Galaxy S26 lineup that launched earlier this year.

Thankfully, most Australian retailers have so far held off introducing most of the latter, and there are even some respectable deals on offer — Amazon has the 256GB base S26 discounted to just AU$1,127, for example, representing a 32% reduction from Samsung’s new pricing. If you’ve been considering upgrading your phone to a new flagship model, this is a prime opportunity to bag one for less.

Galaxy S26 (256GB): was $1649 now $1127
Costing less than Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 FE mid-ranger and Apple’s budget iPhone 17e, this deal gives you a true flagship Android handset, with triple-camera setup, 12GB of RAM and the full Galaxy AI suite. I did see this model dip below AU$1,000 in August, but given the price-increase we've seen since then, we think this discount is worth jumping on. Amazon has the Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue and White colours available for this price, and you can also trade in your old phone for more savings.View Deal

Our Samsung Galaxy S26 review praised the bright AMOLED display, reliable cameras and long battery life. Storage options now also start at 256GB — up from the predecessor’s 128GB — and the screen size also increased from 6.2 inches to 6.3 inches, while retaining the same dimensions.

Those changes, plus the other improvements over the S25, meant the S26 came with a price increase from AU$1,399 to AU$1,549 at launch, and that has since gone up by another AU$100 to AU$1,649 earlier this month. That makes the 32% saving at Amazon all the more tempting.

One caveat that we should note about the base Galaxy S26 is that Aussies miss out on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset found in the US model — locally, this model uses Samsung's own Exynos 2600 processor. Our colleagues over at Tom’s Guide, however, argue that the difference is marginal in their tests, so you likely won’t be able to tell the difference in most scenarios.

Our reviewer also noted the relatively slow 25W charging speed and the lack of full Qi2 wireless charging support, commenting that this phone is only worth buying when it’s on sale.

With this deal dropping the price by 32% vs the revised RRP, that latter sentiment has come true — and overall, the Galaxy S26 is still an easy recommendation despite those caveats, and is a solid entry-level flagship with the specs to back it up.

Samsung Galaxy price hikes

Having launched in March this year, Samsung’s 2026 S-series flagships have been out for a bit over 6 months and have even seen some generous discounts in major Australian sale events like EOFY and Prime Day. The brand has since increased the prices across the three Galaxy S26 handsets, ranging from AU$100 to AU$250, depending on the configuration as follows:

• Galaxy S26 256GB: was AU$1,549, now AU$1,649
• Galaxy S26 512GB: was AU$1,849, now AU$1,949
• Galaxy S26 Plus 256GB: was AU$1,849, now AU$1,949
• Galaxy S26 Plus 512GB: was AU$2,149, now AU$2,249
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB: was AU$2,199, now AU$2,299
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB: was AU$2,499, now AU$2,599
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB: was AU$2,949, now $3,199

Samsung's recently released 2026 foldables and the Galaxy S26 FE so far haven’t seen price hikes (as of October 14), though most of them came with increases over their respective predecessors.

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• CMF by Nothing has the compact Speaker S and larger Speaker M
• Both tote Bluetooth 6.0, dual device connection, and multiple audio modes
• You can detach the speakers' panels and 3D print your own replacements

There are two new audio devices in town, and they come from Nothing’s sub-brand CMF — but they’ve attracted substantial attention in such little time for one particular reason.

Hot on the heels of the recent Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, the new Speaker S and Speaker M mark CMF’s portable speaker debut, mainly because of their quirky milk carton-inspired design which, as you can see, gives it quite an edge over the best Bluetooth speakers on the visual front. The smaller Speaker S is going for $59 / £49 and the larger Speaker M is $109 / $99, with both being available in white, dark grey, orange, and turquoise.

(Image credit: Nothing / CMF)

While both are affordable entry-level options, they’re built for different purposes. The Speaker S is more compact, designed for easy transportability and listening on the go, packing a ‘custom-tuned’ 45mm driver and two passive radiators. If filling a room with your favorite tunes for a party or gathering is the bigger priority, that’s where the Speaker M comes in handy, which packs a 60Hz–20kHz frequency range.

As far as their respective features go, that’s pretty much it, and despite the size difference there’s a lot of common ground between the two models sitting beneath its carton-like surface. For starters, both speakers give you 18 hours of playback at 50% volume with Ultra Bass on, an audio feature that adds a little impact to music that needs ‘extra weight’. Fast-charging for 10 minutes will also give you an hour’s worth of playback.

Both support Bluetooth 6.0, allowing a connection range of over 100 metres between the speaker and your connected device. If you find yourself flicking between two different devices to control your audio playback, both models support dual-connection, meaning you can move between devices without having to keep pairing them to your speaker each time. I can see this coming in handy if there are two passionate maestros at the same gathering who will stop at nothing to assume total control over the party’s soundtrack — sharing is caring.

(Image credit: Nothing / CMF)

Speaking of sharing, CMF’s new speakers offer an extensive range of playback options. Firstly, Stereo Mode turns two Speaker S or Speaker M devices into individual left and right output channels for a stereo pair. Party Mode is even more flexible however, giving you the freedom to pair both models together to beef up the sound, including, apparently, compatible models from other brands.

CMF is also taking its first speakers to another level by adding a unique customization element to the aesthetic. The front panels of both the Speaker S and Speaker M are removable, and can be swapped with another one of a different shade. CMF is also encouraging 3D printer owners to go ham on the creativity front, providing a guide for you to print your own custom panels and volume knobs so you can build your speaker around your home’s interior. It’s so extra, but I love the creative freedom.

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Slaying vampires always feels good, and 2D action-adventure and exploration game Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is no exception. The first entry in the iconic horror platformer in more than a decade, Evil Empire and Konami have crafted a love letter to past titles that, while not changing much of the formula, delivers an experience worthy of the Belmont name.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: October 15, 2026

Despite a fantastic animated adaptation (and great spinoff series with Nocturne), Castlevania has been six feet under as Konami barely revisited the series. Seldom for tie-ins with Dead Cells and re-releases, so fans were ready to sink their fangs into a new title.

Fortunately, it would come from the Dead Cells team, Evil Empire. Its mastery of the craft with the Metroidvania genre made it a safe but effective pick to hand the Vampire Killer whip to. And, lo and behold, they ran with it and made something fans will love.

You must whip it, whip it good

(Image credit: Konami)

Surprisingly, the game is a sequel of sorts to both Netflix’s Castlevania and Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse. As Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, she is tasked with stopping the newfound dangers flooding Paris.

With her father’s guidance and all the Belmont tactics, she’ll discover the root of it all, as well as how she and her mysteriously cursed arm fit into things.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse does go a good distance with its narrative, but it doesn’t reach too high. It’s got some twists, turns, and great moments, though it can feel sparse. Of course, most of the fun will come from your experience dashing and slashing, but it can feel uneven with its cinematic counterparts. Still, it’s serviceable enough for you to want to keep playing and see more.

Rose Belmont, as the daughter of Trevor and Sypha, is a pretty likeable protagonist. She’s not one-note by any means and struggles with her emotions, especially with the spotlight now on her. However, it’s the supporting cast that provide her with what she needs to be a worthy Belmont.

Without spoilers, her Confidantes will be her moral compass, and it’s up to her to choose which direction she wants to go in. Props go to many of the fantastic performers in the game, as everyone works perfectly with their respective characters.

A missable little pile of secrets

(Image credit: Konami)

Once you set foot off the docks of the Seine, you’re instantly thrust into classic Castlevania gameplay: slay monsters and maneuver through obstacles. There are small tutorials, but for the most part, Paris is an open book, and you’re free to flip through the pages almost immediately.

Action-wise, it also harkens to classic Castlevania, with Rose using a variety of weapons to kill the many creatures of the night. There are many types of weapons, from the iconic whip to flashy gauntlets. Finding new versions of them throughout the world is always a treat, as it never disappoints when you equip them and test them out. Personally, the whip was a go-to, as it rewarded distance with better damage output, though the spear was a close second.

Also, with Rose’s abilities, which she’d earn after certain bosses, it unlocks various attacks, like throwable crosses or pillars of fire. It leaves customization very open, letting you play how you’d like in terms of combat.

Best bit

(Image credit: Konami)

The level design in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is simply phenomenal. From trap-filled chasms to eerily beautiful vistas, the team has done a wonderful job making levels look seemingly impossible but enticing enough to make you want to persevere and keep going.

Without going into spoilers, Rose’s journey goes beyond the confines of Paris into various regions. Each of them has some theme and gimmick that makes them memorable in both a playing sense and a backtracking sense. As this is a Castlevania game, you will find yourself going back to certain locations to find secrets and clues for other locations. Luckily, with new abilities like an air dash and, of course, a grappling hook whip, you’ll be able to do so easily and rapidly.

That said, the level design in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is phenomenal. Traps and platforming take advantage of Rose’s abilities, including ones she earns throughout her adventure. It takes precision and good reflexes to maneuver through them, and it never gets old. It can get frustrating, though, especially if you’re going back and forth a ton. Still, finding what you need after a seemingly impossible challenge feels so good.

Slaves to our family’s wishes

(Image credit: Konami)

As the first new 2D Castlevania in decades, there have been noticeable increases in graphical fidelity since then.

Belmont’s Curse blends 2D with 3D to bring a Dead Cells-like style to the gameplay and look. It does keep the drawn silhouettes of characters for dialogue, but in-game cutscenes are all flat 3D. While the pixelated depth in past titles like Symphony of the Night and Order of Ecclesia is sorely missed, Evil Empire’s redesign works well with the series and fits right in.

Frame-rate-wise, there were rarely any hiccups during the playthrough. There was a stutter or two during certain moments with tons of monsters, but it was pretty seldom. However, there were a handful of glitches with the audio, as it would cut in and out and, often, restart with each level transition. While rare, some glitches with the gameplay, like phased-out enemies or awkward platforming, would happen.

It’s also important to mention that it can be quite a difficult game. The series is known for being brutal, and Belmont’s Curse is no exception. A death can bring you way back and reset tons of progress. It’s a worthwhile challenge, but it is one that takes time and patience. Bosses will be the bane of many people’s existence, as some of them, especially late-game ones, are super difficult. It can feel a bit overkill, but it’s nonetheless satisfying to whittle them down and then finally get the last laugh.

In short, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is classic Castlevania brought to the modern age. Evil Empire and Konami have crafted a title that, while it’s not the huge blockbuster many would hope for, is a well-done action platformer. It doesn’t go too far outside the box, but it makes the most of what it does have.

With fantastic level design and combat, the franchise is in a position to return to its glory days and its bloody reign over the action platformer genre.

Should you play Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?

Play it if...

You love a great balance of platforming and combat
You get the best of both worlds with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, with the platforming and combat. Each aspect works extremely well and, most of the time, it’s a delicate dance between the two, even intersecting each other at times. It’s frenetic but exhilarating at the same time.

You enjoy a challenge in all areas
You will die a ton of times in Belmont’s Curse, and it’ll be in many different ways. However, if that is a big motivator for you, then you’ll have a wonderful time here. Precise platforming, expert hand-eye coordination, and a tinge of hesitation are required to make it, so if that’s up your alley, it’s the perfect challenge.

You love having the world be a puzzle in itself
Exploration in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse isn’t just required, but rewarded. There are dozens of secrets hidden throughout the many stages, and backtracking only leads to better opportunities for you. Plus, hints for many connecting points, especially bosses, can be found.

Don't play it if...

You’re looking for something easygoing
As mentioned before, Belmont’s Curse is a difficult title. It doesn’t hold your hand much, and you will die a ton. While it may be possible to play this without throwing your controller in frustration, it’s not the most positive or happy-go-lucky title, given its dark world and countless pools of blood.

Accessibility features

While the game touts its difficulty, there are available accessibility features to lessen it. There are also various visual adaptations for thicker outlines or colorblind mode. In addition, subtitles are available in different languages, as well as voice-overs. However, despite some accessibility, some things, like one-hit-kill traps, exist and can be frustrating.

How I reviewed Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

I played Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse for around 16 hours, seeing much of the game’s map, bosses, and secrets. I also got many of the available weapons and spells, as well as heart and mana containers. In addition, I did play the demo, which was released prior to the game’s release, and transferred the save file from that to the full title.

I played the game on a base PS5 with the DualSense Wireless Controller and HyperX Cloud 3 wired gaming headset, all on a Roku 4K TV.

First reviewed October 2026

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