Early Access beta weekend for Diablo IV has not gotten off to the kind of start Blizzard was hoping for when it gave the first customers first crack at the action/RPG sequel. A post from Blizzard updates players on what's gone wrong and what's being done about it:

While the team tackles these specific items and more, we are also managing the flow of players in-game via our queue. Many players have successfully logged in to the game, but we are aware that some have experienced longer than expected wait times. As we continue to rollout improvements to our server stability, we expect our players to see continued improvements to the queue time.

While the teams continue to work this evening and overnight, we will be providing additional updates throughout the evening when needed and no later than tomorrow morning (PDT) here on our forums.

Continue here to read the full story.

Rumors have been flying for a while, suggesting Valve is working on a follow-up to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive using the newest version of the Source engine. Now PCGamesN adds more fuel to the fire, noting that Valve has filed a Trademark application for CS2. This is a recent development, the application is dated March 14th. This is for a "standard character mark" to cover:

Computer game software, electronic game software, video game software, computer game programs downloadable via the internet.

Thunderful, Coatsink, and Noname Studios announce Worldless, a "beguiling" 2D adventure/platformer coming to PC and Xbox this year. A new Polar Opposites Trailer highlights the fact that this will blend both turn-based and action combat. Here's a wordful look at Worldless:

Worldless is set in a world where polar opposite realities are aligned with a common spark. Players will venture into an abstract setting full of entities with opposing goals. One half is fixated on the virtue of their nature, the other is seeking to exchange it for their demise. Polarities attract, resulting in neverending conflict, and the result is the traumatic process of Absorption which sees their very natures exchange.

In Worldless, you’ll learn the nuances of an optimised combat system by mastering your timing and refining your strategies. Absorb enemies to learn new abilities in an ever-expanding skill tree to unlock new ways to explore and add depth to combat encounters. You’ll explore intricate areas filled with secrets, using finesse and fluid action to uncover them, and engage ferocious beings in fast-paced, turn-based action combat.

Thunderful, Headup, and Team Meat announce Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine, a new installment in the Super Meat Boy series featuring Meat Boy's arch-enemy. Despite the seemingly casual match 4 gameplay, this is described as a hardcore game that promises punishment, which presumably begins with the mental images the title invokes. Here's the brief Announcement Trailer showing this isn't your grandma's puzzle game, and here is a description to get to the meat of the matter:

Puzzle your way through familiar Super Meat Boy and Super Meat Boy Forever locations like the picturesque forest, the hospital, and salt factory with dazzling backgrounds and animations created by the original Super Meat Boy and Super Meat Boy Forever artists, as well as a wonderful soundtrack by RIDICULON. There are over 100 hand-crafted levels filled with creative traps and hazards for you to beat and, if you can survive this hardcore take on a classic formula, you’ll be confronted by a gruesome boss fight at the end of each world to offer the ultimate challenge.

Continue here to read the full story.

Steam now offers the debut release of the Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode One, a new VR mod for the first Half-Life 2 Episode. This is free, but word is: "You must own the original Half-Life 2: Episode One (family sharing is not sufficient). You do not need to have the non-VR version installed." This is from the Source VR Mod Team that created the Half-Life 2: VR Mod, and looking ahead, the release date on the Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode Two is just two weeks off. Sadly, Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode Three will have to wait for Half-Life 2: Episode Three, just like the rest of us. Here's word:

Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode One is a community-made adaptation of Valve's episodic continuation of Half-Life 2, transformed into a fully roomscale Virtual Reality experience.

Return as Gordon Freeman to City 17 and deal with the consequences of your actions. Operate the gravity gun to deadly effect, battle gunships and striders and survive the darkness. Can you manage to escape City 17 with Alyx?

• Hollywood and the Games Industry Pay Tribute to Lance Reddick- 'We Just Lost a Beautiful Human' - IGN.

Official patch.

• The Outer Worlds- Spacer's Choice Edition - The Outer Worlds- Spacer's Choice Edition Patch Notes - v1.1.

Content creator videos.

• Spirit Caller Cave - Elden Ring 43 - Carbot. Thanks Ant.
• Firearms Expert Reacts To Titanfall 2’s Guns.

• Godot Engine arrives on Epic Games Store making it easier to download.

• 9 New PS5 System Perks Making It Way More Convenient.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha Skip-Ahead (2308.230315-2000). Thanks Console General.

Thanks Console General.

• Intel Rumored to Pull-in 2nm Arrow Lake-S Launch to H1 2024.
• Report Claims Seagate, Hitachi HDDs Most Likely to Fail.
• What happens when the chatbot stops loving you back (video)?
• Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.2787 to Release Preview Channel.
• Releasing Windows 11 Build 22000.1757 to the Release Preview Channel.

• How to use Tor browser (and why you should).
• Thousands may have lost out to crypto trading app.

• John Deere, surrender your source code, demands SFC.

• CPU/AIO Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black Review - TechPowerUp.
• Monitor: Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 QD-OLED gaming monitor review - PC Gamer. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Mouse: Cooler Master MM712 Review - TechPowerUp.
• RAM: Patriot Viper Venom DDR5-7200 32GB Dual-Channel Memory Kit - TweakTown.

Welp, it's not like we hadn't already passed the point of no return, but our old server was shut down this week, and is now offline for good. As I say, we'd already made the permanent move to this server, so this is really just academic. But here's a salute to our now sunsetted old box. It served us loyally long past its prime.

Sunset Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Brunch Link

• What makes 'true fun' and how to spot 'fake fun.' Taking the fun out of fun.

Story

• Sam Neill assures fans he's 'fine' as blood cancer is in remission.

Science
Thanks Max.

• Water in space – a 'Goldilocks' star reveals previously hidden step in how water gets to planets like Earth. Thanks Acleacius.
• At Long Last, a Donkey Family Tree.
• Nickelback could have kickstarted life on Earth, says new study.
• Matcha Tea Powder Has Antidepressant-Like Effects.

Media

• A380 Takes Off Too Steeply. Sphincter check.

Creature Features

• True Facts Animal Awards: Best Worst Jumping and More. Thanks RedEye9.
• When your dog brings home a unexpected friend 🙈🤣.

Follow-up

• "Willow" Creator Still Hopeful About S2.
• ‘Fall’ On Netflix: News On Sequel. Who would climb back up there?