Ubisoft is apologizing for including a symbol showing as raised black fist in the Cinematic Intro for Tom Clancy's Elite Squad, a new mobile game. The intro depicts worldwide protests that are actually being manipulated by a secret evil organization called Umbra, and the raised fist symbol is being widely interpreted as an implication that the Black Lives Matter movement is part of some cynical conspiracy. The backlash to this includes a tweet from one of the game's developers: "Angry about the use of the black power fist here. I worked on the character bios and was informed that UMBRA is supposed to be a James Bond villain organisation, not something that looks like what the q conspiracy people think is happening. Irresponsibly bad optics." Ubisoft's response to the outcry is to say "any resemblance to images associated with the Black Lives Matter movement is coincidental," but in this tweet they promise to quickly update the game to remove the symbol:

Imagery that appeared in the opening video sequence of Tom Clancy's Elite Squad featuring a 'raised fist' was insensitive and harmful in both its inclusion and how it was portrayed. We have listened to and appreciate the players and the broader community who pointed it out and we apologize. This raised fist imagery will be removed in the next title update this Tuesday, September 1 on Android and as soon as possible on iOS.

Though it's become a console mainstay, there is a Windows version of Madden NFL 21, and you can pick up this latest installment in the American tackle football simulation on Origin and Steam. Here's a recent Official Gameplay Deep Dive trailer and here's word on the game:

A new generation is leaving its mark on the NFL. Will you rise to the occasion? Change the game, and take control of your own legacy. Madden NFL 21 delivers new features and modes including:

• Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame
  Rise to fame and become immortalized in Madden NFL 21 as you transcend NFL history and shape your own path to greatness.
• Take Control
  Master innovative running enhancements and live playbooks to run up the score.
• X-Factor 2.0
  New X-Factor abilities, fresh out of the lab, are designed to elevate the stars of a new generation in Madden NFL 21.
• Ultimate Team
  Pull up for a brand-new season of Ultimate Team content as you earn rewards to finesse your depth chart and flex your fantasy roster on the competition.
• The Yard
  Go all out in The Yard, a brand-new backyard football-inspired mode in Madden NFL 21 where wild gameplay moments, house rules, and a fearless attitude are the name of the game.

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The Steam Listing for Chained Echoes now offers a playable demo for this SNES-style 16-bit RPG that developer Matthias Linda and publisher Deck13 plan to release by the end of next year (thanks DSOGaming). As noted in this post, this is a pre-alpha demo that they plan to take down around September 7th, so you don't want to sleep on this if you want to check it out. Here's the game's Kickstarter Trailer with a look, and here's a description:

Chained Echoes is a story-driven game where a group of heroes travel around the vast continent of Valandis to bring an end to the war between its three kingdoms. In the course of their journey, they will travel through a wide array of diverse landscapes spanning from wind-tanned plateaus and exotic archipelagos to sunken cities and forgotten dungeons.

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ScourgeBringer entered Early Access on Steam in February. Now IGN reports this roguelite platformer for Windows, macOS, and Linux will be fully released in October and offer a new trailer from gamescom to show off some gameplay. Here's a refresher on the game:

From the developers of NeuroVoider, ScourgeBringer is a fast-paced free-moving roguelite platformer.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious entity wreaked havoc on all humanity, ScourgeBringer puts you in the shoes of the deadliest warrior of her clan: Kyhra. Help her to explore the unknown and slash her way through ancient machines guarding the seal of her past, and maybe the redemption of humanity.

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Here's the official accounting of the (eight) 10 bestselling titles on Steam for last week:

1. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
2. Control Ultimate Edition
3. Microsoft Flight Simulator
4. New World
5. Among Us
6. Wasteland 3
7. Microsoft Flight Simulator
8. New World
9. Crusader Kings III
10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Game of the Year Edition

• Blood Bowl 3 - Reveal Trailer (Gamescom 2020).

• Best gaming laptops of 2020, and how to choose - Engadget (video). Thanks Ant.

• There's a Good Reason Why HBO Max and Peacock Aren't on Roku.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• AMD Intros Radeon RX 5300 3 GB Graphics Cards For Budget 1080p Gamers.
• Here's how Huawei and other Chinese firms could access crucial CPU technology without restrictions.
• Five things you should know about Tesla ahead of its 5-for-1 stock split.
• How 3D printing could change the way our homes are built.
• 14 ways to speed up Windows 10. Heading off "overwrite it with Linux" comments.

• Othercide PC Review - DSOGaming.
• Project CARS 3 PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• HyperX Cloud Core 7.1 review - Tom's Guide.
• Razer Blade Pro 17 review- big, bold, and powerful - The Verge.

• Ubisoft China apologizes for releasing coffee cup with handle on the inside. Thanks Neutronbeam…

Pretty excited that MrsBlue is on board for more hiking. There was some tough going the first couple of times we hiked, but she was a trooper, and is willing to push on with more. We've gone so far as to pick up some hiking boots, which should make things a little easier, and we're heading out today for a little fresh air in the great outdoors. I am greatly looking forward to a little adventure and some much-needed exercise.

Re-hiked Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Play

• Sorry, Millennials, only Boomers will know how to operate this television. Thanks DSLReports.

Story

• Soviet-Era 'Sea Monster' Stranded in Caspian Sea During Tow Effort.

Science

• Microbes Living Deep Below Earth's Surface Could Be Remnants of Ancient Life Forms. Thanks Max.

Media

• Waiting For A Star To Fall: A Tribute to 80's Entertainment.
• José Álvarez takes a 105 mph line drive to the nuts. Ow My Balls.
• Russia Declassifies Video From 1961 of Largest Hydrogen Bomb Ever Detonated. Thanks Slashdot.

Follow-up

• Drug used to treat coronavirus in cats may be effective for humans too: study. Thanks Max.
• Anti-maskers might want to check out what just happened when a woman with coronavirus visited a Starbucks. Thanks Slashdot.