An update on the Blizzard website from Aaron Keller discusses issues Overwatch 2 players have raised over the course of Season 2 for the multiplayer shooter sequel. There's a balance competitive games strike in ranking and matchmaking between being transparent enough that players know where they stand and being opaque enough that miscreants can't exploit the system. Aaron explains the system has "suffered from poor comprehension," which will be addressed. He also says players should find Season 3 more rewarding, and that the new season will also bring more gameplay changes and balance tuning. Here's a bit:

The new Ranked mode suffered from poor comprehension. There was confusion around players’ real rank and how that translated to their skill level, difficulty forming groups with friends, and a negative impression of the matchmaker when players of different ranks were put in the same match (even if their skill levels were similar). We will be implementing some changes in S3 and quite a few more in S4 all aimed at creating more clarity in the system. More details on short-term changes and long-term vision will be coming soonTM.

We’ve gotten feedback from players that the game doesn’t feel rewarding enough to play and that players can’t earn the items they want in a short enough period of time. We’ll be making a change in S3 that should address some of these complaints. This is a first step. We will have more details to share about this next week.

There are a fair number of changes to ult cost in S3. We’ll be lowering the ult refund when swapping heroes to 25% as part of this tuning pass.

Blizzard announces the PTR for Diablo III will open Tuesday for a week of playtesting for Season 28 in the action/RPG sequel. As the release of Diablo IV draws nearer, Diablo III players are getting a new progression system called the Altar of Rites. Here are some details:

For Season 28, Rites of Sanctuary, we’re travelling deep into the mysterious ruins of the Festering Woods. Amid a hunting expedition, citizens hailing from New Tristram stumbled across an ominous Altar carved from an archaic material bearing cryptic markings. Shaken to their core by the eldritch aroma of the monolith, they’ve enlisted the assistance of brave Nephalem willing to investigate this sinister discovery that was once left to time—the Altar of Rites.

Home to power thought to be extinct from Sanctuary, the Altar of Rites will bestow these mystic forces upon worthy Nephalem. . .after a sacrifice is offered. You can begin interacting with the Altar of Rites at Level one.

Upon arrival at the Altar of Rites, players will see 26 icons called Seals and three Legendary Potion Powers.

• Survival Instinct Bundle (pay what you want and help charity).*
• The Complete Game Making Collection V2 Bundle (pay what you want and help charity).*

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item.

• Microsoft accuses Sony of misleading EU over Call of Duty parity.

Official patches.

• Steam Beta Client Update: January 27th.
• Steam Deck Beta Client Update- January 27th.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: January 27, 2023.

• Starfield and Redfall “really important” for Game Pass in 2023.

• Lost Ark reset bug compensation “a real slap in the face.”

Content creator video.

• 8 Video Game Spin-Offs That Broke EVERYTHING - WhatCulture Gaming.

• Phil Spencer Interview- Xbox Was 'Too Light on Games' in 2022, But a Big 2023 Could Await - IGN.
• A chat with the creator of Birth - Eurogamer.net.

• TSM signs all-women Apex Legends pro team.

• Amazon Fresh will soon require a minimum order of over $150 for free delivery.
• It's Time for a New Home Internet Provider: Here's How to Cancel Your Internet Service. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Twitter vows to take ‘less severe actions’ against rule-breaking accounts.

Thanks Ant.

• Intel's 'Historic Collapse' Erases $8 Billion From Market Value.
• Intel's horrible quarter- Inventory glut and underused factories. Thanks Slashdot.
• How to Improve PC Graphics and Add Filters With Nvidia Freestyle. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• ChatGPT Has Been Around for 2 Months and Is Causing Untold Chaos.
• Intel Chief Implicitly Admits Firm Has Lost Leadership To TSMC.
• Intel Sunsets Network Switch Biz, Kills RISC-V Pathfinder Program (Updated). Thanks Slashdot.
• AmazonSmile closes: Charities say they will suffer.

Thanks Ant.

• Apple Patches Exploited iOS Vulnerability in Old iPhones.
• Microsoft to enterprises- Patch your Exchange servers.
• Running Room Canada hit with data breach. Thanks DSLReports.

• US puts a $10m bounty on Hive while Russia shuts down access.
• Alleged ShinyHunters gang member in US court.

• CPU/AIO Cooler: MSI MAG CoreLiquid P360 AIO Review: Strong Performance, Value Pricing - Tom's Hardware.
• Headset/Earbuds: I test headphones for a living — these are the best for travel - Tom's Guide. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Laptop: XMG NEO 17 (M22) Laptop Review - with OASIS Liquid Cooling - TechPowerUp.
• Webcam: Center Cam Review- The Trick to Faking Eye Contact is Not Faking It - Tom's Hardware.

• North West Computer Museum aims to give new life to old consoles…

Japan firm opens whale meat vending machines to push sales. Cultivating demand sort of contradicts the narrative that the industry is driven by consumers, doesn't it?

Obituary: Novelist Paul La Farge Dies.

Whale of a Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Stories

• There's no whiskey in small bottles of Fireball. Now the company is being sued. The display at the gas station should have been a tipoff.
• High egg prices don't mean you should run out and buy chickens. Thanks RedEye9.
• New mosquito repellents keep bugs at bay for over 8 hours. Thanks Max.

Science
Thanks Max.

• Toroidal propellers: A noise-killing game changer in air and water.
• Ants can detect the scent of cancer in urine.
• Viagra and Cialis Linked to Heart Benefits and Longer Life. Maybe it's the sex?

Media

• The Flat Earther That Proved The Earth Curved. Thanks RedEye9.
• Thank you Sheetal for this hilarious gift. Thanks VideoSift.
• Let’s talk about the parachuting beavers #shorts. Thanks VideoSift.

Creature Features

• 🐱-👤🐶Crazy cats and dogs. Thanks VideoSift.

Follow-up

• Why The Nihilism of Rick and Morty Will Help The Show Survive The Departure of Justin Roiland.