A couple of new videos from Epic's State of Unreal Technical Showcase show off new features in upcoming games powered by Unreal Engine 5. The trailer for Lords of the Fallen highlights advanced character customization, real time lighting of complex environments, and other advances. There's also a State of Unreal Trailer for Senua's Saga: Hellblade II looking at next-level real-time facial animation that jumps clean over the uncanny valley. Word is:

We're pushing the boundaries of realtime facial animation in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, as showcased at GDC 2023 with Unreal Engine.

Continue here to read the full story.

A blog post from Epic announces the first beta of the promised Unreal Editor For Fortnite is now available for free on the Epic Games Store (Fortnite, which is also free, is required). The post also explains this marks the launch of Creator Economy 2.0, a way for Fortnite content creators to share in the revenue generated by their creations. Here's a new trailer with a look at how this will allow you to exercise your creativity in the battle royale/survival shooter. Here's more:

Engagement payouts proportionally distribute 40% of the net revenue from Fortnite’s Item Shop and most real-money Fortnite purchases to all island publishers on a monthly basis. Payouts are based on what players enjoy in Fortnite and account for things like island popularity, engagement, and attracting new players.

Engagement payout funds are separate from Support-A-Creator, and are designed to reward island creators who publish content in Fortnite. We’ve removed the Support-A-Creator device from the game entirely, which means creators can focus on developing fun and engaging experiences without asking you to use their Creator Code. Every time you play your favorite island or game in Fortnite, you are supporting its creator monetarily, no code required!

To learn more about Creator Economy 2.0 and engagement payouts, or to join the Island Creator program, please visit the Creator Portal.

Continue here to read the full story.

Kabam Games announces King Arthur: Legends Rise, a squad-based RPG coming to PC via Steam and to mobiles with crossplay support. This doesn't yet have a release date, but one will be announced later this year. This will be set in a version of Camelot reimagined using the Unreal Engine 5, and as the title suggests, will feature the adventures of a younger Arthur. An Early Preview Trailer accompanies the announcement with a first look. Here's more:

Embark on an action-packed, turn-based RPG adventure that takes you on a dark and mysterious journey inspired by the perilous adventures of a young King Arthur. Gather a party of loyal knights and warriors to defeat the fearsome enemies that threaten the kingdom. Explore a vast, interactive world and collect powerful Arthurian heroes to build an unbeatable team. Equip your heroes with the best weapons and gear, and upgrade them to face even greater challenges. Prepare to engage in visually stunning squad battles against epic bosses and mythical monsters. Will you be able to vanquish your enemies and restore the kingdom to its former glory?

Continue here to read the full story.

X PLUS and Sonzai Games announce Bat Boy, a throwback platformer coming to Windows and consoles on May 25th. This trailer shows off the game's 8-bit style and reveals that the bat in question is Louisville Slugger, rather than a flying mammal. But you don't have to wait in the on-deck circle, as there's a playable demo right now on Steam. The description reminds us that it's all fun and games until your teammates are brainwashed into participating in the Trials of Darkness:

Ryosuke isn't just your regular high-school kid — Ryosuke is Bat Boy! He and his fellow sports-star friends secretly battle against the evil invading forces of interdimensional mage Lord Vicious, hellbent on hosting sinister athletic events for his own amusement. When Lord Vicious brainwashes Bat Boy’s fellow squad in order to participate in the Trials of Darkness, it’s up to Bat Boy to traverse a hostile world on his quest to free the minds of his sports-hero squad before they fall victim to the Trials. Along the way, Bat Boy will encounter all manner of allies and goons as he fights his way to the final confrontation with Lord Vicious.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Bloober says its Silent Hill 2 remake is ‘close’ to completion.

• League of Legends Good Smile Star Guardian Ahri 1:7 Scale Statue - Riot Games Store.

Official trailers.

• Dead Island 2 – Cinematic Title Sequence [4K Official].
• League of Legends - Milio Champion Spotlight - Gameplay.
• Lords of the Fallen - State of Unreal Technical Showcase Trailer GDC.
• Organs Please — Full Release Date Trailer.
• [Project M] Official GDC Trailer - NCSOFT.
• SMITE - Season of Hope - Cinematic Trailer.
• Teamfight Tactics - The Masters of Shadow - Chibi Champion Showcase.

• "Beta has become a twisted word": Blizzard responds to Diablo 4 early access feedback.

• Pleased To Eat You! Discover All You Need To Know About Dead Island 2’s Zombies.
• Character-Full: Why Your Choice of Redfall Hero Will Make All the Difference.

• Find Your Elite: How There’s an Xbox Elite Controller for Everyone.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha (2304.230320-1030). Thanks Console General.

• The Party Never Ends in Call of Duty: Mobile Season 3 — RUSH.

• Mark Zuckerberg raged at employees over news report, ordered them to resign, leaked email shows.
• Opera version 97.0.4719.26. Thanks Neowin via Console General.

Thanks Console General.

• Google Bard Plagiarized Our Article, Then Apologized When Caught.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23419.
• Releasing Windows 11 Build 22621.1483 to the Release Preview Channel.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 2023.001.20093. Thanks Neowin.
• Microsoft Azure Data Studio v1.41.2.
• DVDFab v12.1.0.2.

• SEC sues Justin Sun for his crypto schemes, along with Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, and Soulja Boy.
• SEC Warns Coinbase It's Pursuing Enforcement Action Over Securities Violations.
• Rick and Morty Co-Creator's Lawsuit Is Dismissed, He Lashes Out.

Last Link of the Day: Renfield - Final Trailer.

Obituary: Beloved hacking veteran Kelly ‘Aloria’ Lum passes away at 41.

Valve announces Counter-Strike 2, officially taking the lid off of what has become a poorly-kept secret of late, though all the leaks may have just been viral marketing. This new era for the multiplayer first-person shooter will officially begin this summer, but limited playtesting is underway right now. Check out this FAQ for details on how to join the test. Key takeaways are that the game is being remade using the Source 2 engine, and players will retain all the items they've earned playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The new version will also include new features, which will be announced closer to the launch. But the Counter-Strike Website has first details and videos showing off some of what's new. Here's a summary:

CS2 is a free upgrade to CS:GO, marking the start a new era of Counter-Strike on Valve's Source 2 engine. The game's full range of new features will be announced at launch, but during the limited testing period we'll be evaluating a subset of those features to get it ready for the worldwide release.

Here's some of what CS2 will mean for players:

• Upgraded and overhauled maps
• Game-changing dynamic smoke grenades
• Tick-rate-independent gameplay
• Redesigned visual effects and audio
• All of a player's CS:GO items go with them to CS2

Developer Arkane says "we listen" in response to complaints following the recent reveleation that Redfall will require an online connection, even for the single-player campaign. Game director Harvey Smith discusses the controversy with Eurogamer, saying he's "not supposed to promise anything," but that the company is "looking into" the online requirement, and is "working actively toward fixing that in the future." The conversation addresses accusations that this was to sell more stuff, but Harvey says the game will have no store and no microtransactions. He explains the online requirement is intended to collect metrics on the player experience:

So why be online if you're not with other people? Smith said the game was designed that way to better help Arkane understand how people were playing it, and when they got into difficulty.

"It allows us to do some accessibility stuff," Smith said. "It allows us for telemetry, like - if everybody's falling off ladders and dying, holy shit that shows up. And so we can go and tweak the ladder code. There are reasons we set out to do that that are not insidious."

Amazon announces the chance for more gamers to become lunatics, saying Amazon Luna has expanded beyond the United States. The Luna Blog says the cloud gaming service is now also available in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany. Word is: "Amazon Prime members can play a rotating selection of games on Luna at no additional cost. Prime members can also link their Ubisoft Connect account to Luna, and play select Ubisoft PC games they already own on their Fire TV or other compatible devices." Here's more:

Starting today, we’re excited to bring Amazon Luna to everyone in Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, making it easy to instantly start gaming on select devices that you already own, including Fire TV. Gamers in the U.S. have been enjoying Luna for the past year and we’re thrilled to expand the service, giving more customers the opportunity to play high-quality, immersive games without expensive gaming hardware or lengthy downloads.

The Luna Controller is designed and optimized for Luna, connecting directly to the cloud via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to effortlessly control your game and reduce gameplay latency. Thanks to Luna Controller’s technology, gamers can seamlessly switch between compatible screens — such as Fire TV to mobile phone — without additional pairing or configuration changes. The Luna Controller is now available in Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

• Dune's Oscar-nominated screenwriter is penning Netflix’s Gears Of War film.

Official patches.

• Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem -- Patch 1.1.7.1.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: March 21, 2023.

• Warzone 2 players demand buff to classic Assault Rifle that's "useless."

Official trailer.

• Lies of P - 11 Minutes of New 4K Gameplay. The pee is a lie.

• Harvey Smith on the politics of Redfall, and how its undead were born from real-life bloodsuckers.
• Redfall Hands-on & Q&A - Harvey Smith Talks Length, Open World Challenges, and Differences with Previous Games - Wccftech.
• Spring Sale Special: Safe In Our World speaks on mental health awareness! - GOG.com.

• A Red Dead Redemption Fan Event Featuring The Actors Is Coming This July.

• Resident Evil 4 Remake (PC) Preview - Heavy Metal Gamer Show (video). Thanks Ant.
• Redfall Isn't What We Expected - Hands-On Preview - GameSpot.
• Redfall gameplay preview - Polygon.

• Horizon Forbidden West- Burning Shores is available to pre-order today, pre-order bonuses detailed.

• Hyundai Promises To Keep Buttons in Cars Because Touchscreen Controls Are Dangerous. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.

Thanks Ant.

• Financial Analysts- Cable is a Bigger Threat to Wireless Than Wireless is to Cable. Thanks DSLReports.
• "Riddick" Trilogy Takes Over Netflix Top 10.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Growth in Gaming PCs and Gaming Monitors to Lag in 2023, According to IDC.
• New method gets better performance out of atomically thin transistors.
• Google's AI Explains Google's Monopolistic Practices in Great Detail.
• How to Love Technology Again (may require registration or subscription).
• Marvell to Cut 4% of Workforce in Response to Chip Slowdown (may require registration or subscription).
• Indian-American Rahul Roy-Chowdhury named CEO of Grammarly.

Thanks Ant.

• The Amateurs Jailbreaking GPT Say They're Preventing a Closed-Source AI Dystopia.
• Vulnerability Summary for the Week of March 13, 2023 - CISA.
• Sam Altman's Worldcoin just launched its highly anticipated iris-scanning ID program. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• PayPal Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of 35,000 Users. Thanks DSLReports.
• Windows 11 Snipping Tool vulnerability can reveal sensitive information in screenshots. Croppy news. Thanks DSLReports.
• Microsoft confirms recent Defender LSA issue on Windows 11, issues workaround.
• Clop ransomware claims Saks Fifth Avenue, retailer says mock data stolen. Thanks DSLReports.
• Ecuadorian TV presenter wounded by bomb disguised as USB stick.

• FCC Fines 15 Year-Old Pirate Radio Station in NYC $2 Million. Litigating the hell out of the 20th century.

• Have a Nice Death Review - IGN.
• Tchia PC Performance Analysis - DSOGaming.
• Tchia Review – A Tropical Paradise with Soul - MP1ST.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Case: ASUS TUF Gaming GT502 Review - TechPowerUp.
• Case: Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 Mesh V2 - OCinside (German).
• Case: Enermax StarryKnight SK30 Mid-Tower Chassis - TweakTown.
• Graphics Card: Gigabyte G5 2023 (RTX 4060) Review - IGN.
• Laptop: Asus ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop Review- Beauty and Brawn - Tom's Hardware.
• Monitor: Alienware AW2524H 500Hz - TechRadar.
• Monitor: Alienware AW2524H 500 Hz Gaming Monitor Review - Tom's Hardware.
• Mouse: Lenovo Legion M7 Review- Did Lenovo make a mouse that is not E-Waste? - Gen3D Tech (video).
• SSD: Netac NV7000 2 TB NVMe SSD Review - Guru3D.

• Counter Strike 2 fans are using trigonometry to work out a release date…
• Tax Heaven 3000 is a free dating sim that claims to do your taxes…

I have to hand it to Acleacius, who immediately came up with the theory that the brain fog I mentioned yesterday could be allergy-related. I don't have severe allergies, but I do have problems every spring, so I believe he's correct. I'm not completely clogged, but now that I'm thinking about it, I'm aware of my scratchy eyes/throat and slightly stuffy ears/eyes. I'm pretty sensitive to OTC antihistamines, so it will have to get pretty bad to get me to the point where I pop one of those, but it is still helpful to understand why I've been feeling a bit impaired.

Scratchy Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Stories

• 90-year-old tortoise named Mr. Pickles is now a father of three. It's a big dill. Thanks RedEye9.
• Burrowing badgers halt some train service in the Netherlands.

Science

• 'Vibrant' Roman mosaic discovered under supermarket construction site.
• The Promise of Studying Human Aggression in the Wild. Thanks Max.

Media

• Honest Trailers - Everything Everywhere All At Once.
• Driving A Tesla Upside-Down (10ft Tall Wheels). We live in interesting times. Thanks VideoSift.

Creature Features

• Animals Being Derps.

Follow-up

• Long COVID: The truth about it is emerging, and it’s not what we thought. Thanks Max.
• Egerton On Why He Wouldn't Play 007.

Electronic Arts announces the sun is setting on three Battlefield games on December 8th, so they will be removed from sale on April 28th. One of these, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is available for PC, while the others, Battlefield: Bad Company and Battlefield 1943, were only released on consoles. An early version of the announcement also said Mirror's Edge would be delisted next month, but a subsequent tweet clarifies this was an error: "An earlier version of this announcement included Mirror's Edge. That was an error. We currently have no plans to remove Mirror’s Edge from digital storefronts." Here's word:

As we close in on 15 years since the release of Battlefield 1943, and Bad Company™ 1 & 2, we are announcing that their journey is coming to an end.

Starting April 28 2023, Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company 1 & 2 will be removed from digital storefronts and you will no longer be able to purchase them. This is in preparation for the retirement of the online services for these titles which will happen on December 8 2023. For Bad Company 1 & 2, you can still continue playing them and use their respective offline features, such as the single player campaign. You can also read our FAQ and Service Updates for further information on the retirement of online services.

While these titles hold a special place in our heart, we’re now looking forward to creating new memories alongside you as we shift our focus towards our current and future Battlefield experiences.

The Hunger is now available on Steam, offering new DLC for Marvel's Midnight Suns, the superhero strategy game. This brings Morbius to the game, where hopefully the living vampire (vampyre?) will be more welcome than he was in movie theaters. This new DLC Trailer shows Morbius in action, though this is mostly angry cat poses and zero neck-biting. Here's word:

Morbius slinks into the Abbey as a brand new playable character in Marvel’s Midnight Suns! Available as the third of four releases in the Season Pass, Morbius comes with 11 new Hero Abilities, the Laboratory upgrade, new Hero Skins and Abbey Outfits, and plenty of exciting new team synergies to discover.

Slaking Morbius’ bloodlust in his new story missions won’t come easy—the vampyre outbreak that began with Deadpool and Venom was just the beginning. Now Hydra is infusing undead DNA into its toughest troops to create a squadron of transformed supersoldiers. Morbius hoped to reverse-engineer their traits to create a serum that would let him withstand sunlight—but in the wrong hands, his research could make all of vampyre-kind unstoppable.

Continue here to read the full story.

Publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developer Vixa Games announce Edge of Sanity, a survival/horror adventure coming to Steam later this year. The setting in Alaska during the cold war sounds a bit like The Thing, though H.P. Lovecraft is cited as the project's main influence. The Announcement Trailer is here to axe if you're losing your mind. Here's more:

Edge of Sanity is a survival horror adventure that takes players on numerous story-filled expeditions in the nightmarish wilderness of Alaska during the Cold War. Explore the unexplainable but don´t lose your sanity, while trying to scrounge up food and supplies to survive another day in a remote mountain valley. Protect yourself from vicious Lovecraftian beasts with anything you can find. Try to uncover the secrets of the mysterious local cult, find out what happened to a missing crew of scientists and hang on to your humanity.

Continue here to read the full story.

Developer Dracma Studios announces May 31st is the new release date for Candle Knight, a metroidvania set in a derelict castle. The game was supposed to arrive in January, but the delay is not acknowledged or explained. Word is: "Having started development back in 2019, the launch is the culmination of Dracma’s hard work refining and polishing their labor of love over the past three years." This is no John Wick, but the most recent trailer shows off some fast-paced combat. Here's word:

Set against the backdrop of a dark, foreboding castle, players control Candle Knight, a unique hero driven by the power of a powerful flame. With a candle atop their helmet, Candle Knight will illuminate even the darkest corners of the castle, as they fight the dangerous monsters lurking within. Wielding the unique power of the flame, players must discover secrets scattered throughout the castle and overcome the darkness lying at its heart.

Candle Knight mixes action, platforming and puzzle-solving in an riveting adventure inspired by classic metroidvania titles. The game’s unique Ignis dynamic difficulty system provides a distinctive take on the genre by shifting the experience around the player, adapting the challenge level as they progress through the castle.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Diablo IV Classes Won't Always Feel Balanced, Blizzard Says. As opposed to Diablo III classes.

• Humble Heroines:Warriors, Dreamers, and God Slayers (pay what you want and help charity).*

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

• CCP Games raises $40M for new triple-A Web3 game in the Eve universe.
• GameStop Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Results.
• Raja Koduri Leaves Intel to Found AI Gaming Software Start-Up.

Official patches.

• Microsoft Flight Simulator Release Notes for Sim Update 12 [1.31.22.0].
• League of Legends Patch 13.6 Notes.
• Teamfight Tactics patch 13.6 notes.
• World of Warcraft Dragonflight- 10.0.7 Content Update Notes—Now Live.

• Start Your Kingdom Today in Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - The Prince's Edition on Xbox Game Pass.

Official trailers.

• The Shredder - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II & Warzone 2.0.
• Rainbow Six Siege: Elite Finka Trailer.
• Far Cry 5: Five Years Later - 10 Secrets & Stories From Behind the Scenes.
• Ubisoft is Developing an AI Ghostwriter to Save Scriptwriters Time.

• Xbox upgrades its developer program designed to support underrepresented creators.

• FYI: Get Away From The Overwatch 2 Push Bot If You’re Winning.

Thanks Console General.

• PlayStation’s Spider-Man 2 will release in September, actor claims.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Delta (2304.230315-2200).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Beta (2304.230315-2200).

• iOS 16.4 Beta 4 is Out! — Here’s Why It’s A Very Important Update. Thanks Console General.
• Google says late Pixel Watch alarms will be fixed “in the coming weeks.”

• Mozilla Firefox 111.0.1, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes. Thanks Frans.
• Amazon layoffs will shut down camera review site DPReview.com after 25 years.

• Bill Gates: AI is most important tech advance in decades.
• Nvidia Tackles Chipmaking Process, Claims 40X Speed Up with cuLitho.
• Yup, PC monitor sales have cratered too and are getting worse.
• Visual Studio 2022 v17.5.3. Thanks Console General.

• Hackers drain bitcoin ATMs of $1.5 million by exploiting 0-day bug.

Last Link of the Day: Astronomers sound alarm about light pollution from satellites. Thanks Acleacius.

Obituary: New York Knicks great Willis Reed dies at 80.

We haven't heard much about Aliens: Dark Descent since the squad-based action game was announced last June. But now a new Official Gameplay Release Date Trailer offers a look at it in action. It also unveils a release date, saying the game will launch on PC and consoles on June 20th. Here's the description of the clip:

Here's your first look at Aliens: Dark Descent! Check out the first Aliens: Dark Descent gameplay trailer, announcing that the real-time tactical action game will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 20, 2023. Get a look at the upcoming strategy game, which will feature an original story set in the Alien universe. In this gameplay trailer we learn that our ship has crashed onto Planet Lethe, and you'll be investigating a Xenomorph outbreak.

Aliens: Dark Descent challenges us to recruit and level up a squad of Colonial Marines as we explore the dangerous planet. Deploy your team strategically to safely make your way through the zone, but tread carefully as death is permanent.

Continue here to read the full story.

We're not going to lie. Deceive Inc. is now available for PC and consoles, offering a multiplayer game of subterfuge set in the deceptively misleading world of espionage. The Windows edition can be found skulking around on the Epic Games Store and Steam, and there are also versions for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 with full crossplay support. Spy the Launch Trailer for an introduction to the game's cast of characters and their frantic pursuit of the game's MacGuffin. Here's an honest assessment of what to expect:

DECEIVE INC. deploys players into the world of high-stakes subterfuge, working for a private corporation with a complete monopoly over the international espionage market. Disguise yourself as anyone you meet in an instant, access state-of-the-art gadgets the rest of the world can only dream of, and possess skills that would make Hollywood super spies jealous. But you are not alone. Rival spies are after the same objective and every single one of them is as skilled, cunning, and well-equipped as you are. Blend in, alone or with your team, grab the objective, and break out. In the end, only the right actions and skills will get you that paycheck.

Continue here to read the full story.

Tchia is now available for PC and consoles, and you can find the Windows version of this open-world adventure game on the Epic Games Store. There's also a customization pack and an Oléti Edition bundle that includes the DLC. Here's the recent Release Date Trailer with a look, and here's word on this chance to explore the tropics:

Join Tchia on her tropical open-world adventure as she sets off to rescue her father from the cruel tyrant, Meavora, ruler of the archipelago. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around beautiful islands as you explore a physics-driven sandbox. Face the fabric soldiers created by Meavora in open encounters where your creativity gives you the edge. Take control of any animal or object you can find, make new friends and jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A poetic coming-of-age story inspired by New Caledonia.

Continue here to read the full story.

Here's a roundup of Tchia reviews in case making informed decisions is your thing:

• Tchia Review - Destructoid.
• Tchia review: a new gaming coming-of-age classic - Digital Trends.
• Tchia review - an archipelago of delights and horrors - Eurogamer.net.
• Tchia Review - Simply Transformative Fun - Game Informer.
• Tchia review: "Awaceb delivers a delightful, inventive adventure" - GamesRadar+.
• Tchia review - PC Gamer.
• Tchia review -- Breath of the mild - PC Invasion.
• Tchia review: Zelda-inspired world with experimental transformation - Polygon.
• Tchia review: a gorgeous open-world adventure bursting with heart - Rock Paper Shotgun.
• Tchia review: A soulful journey - Shacknews.
• Tchia - Worthplaying.

Lululu Entertainment announces Henry Halfhead, an offbeat sandbox adventure that's coming to Steam, though it does not yet have a release date. This puts the player in the role of the game's half-headed hero who has the ability to possess and control any object within reach. It may sound like David Cronenberg level of body-horror, but the Reveal Trailer is less nightmarish than that. At least a bit. Here's more:

Become a knife to slice your morning toast, water your beloved plants as a watering can, and experience how much fun making your bed as bouncy wobbly pillows can be. Unlock new rooms and objects as you progress and grow your surroundings into a joyful playground. Explore each level and try alternative solutions to challenges to discover additional objects and story bits.

Play through a wholesome story, fully voiced by a humorous narrator. Confronted with rules and obligations, Henry loses their playfulness and curiosity for the world while growing up. Overworked and unhappy with their life, Henry decides that it’s time for change. Help Henry to rediscover their playfulness: Experiment, explore and make everyday life fun again!

Continue here to read the full story.

• XCOM Director Jake Solomon Wants To Open A New Studio, But Likely Won't Make Turn-Based Strategy Games.

• -66% Weird Worlds- Return to Infinite Space on GOG.com.*

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

Thanks Ant.

• Chris Pratt Explains His "Super Mario" Voice.
• Druckmann Teases "The Last of Us" Season 2.

Official patches.

• Free LEGO Bricktales Easter Update is live - March 21st 2023.
• Steam Beta Client Update- March 20th.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: March 20, 2023.

• Coming to Xbox Game Pass: MLB The Show 23 and Infinite Guitars.

• Halo Infinite's latest patch prevents owners of GPUs with less than 4GB of VRAM to play the game.
• Shadow and Bone season 2 messes up all of its iconic ships.

• Growing Up and Gaming with a Disability.

Content creator video.

• The evolution of video game controllers- From Coleco Telstar to PS5's DualSense controllers. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Solary wins the Trackmania Grand League 2023 Stage 1. Thanks Frans.
• Blizzard will do your laundry so you can focus on what matters most: Diablo 4.

• Plarium Celebrates "RAID: Shadow Legends" 4th Anniversary by Releasing Legendary Versions of Its Four Original Champions.

• Dungeon Alchemist - Christ Centered Gamer.

Thanks Console General.

• Dozen game demos land on Xbox consoles for ID@Xbox GDC Online Demo Event.
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha Skip-Ahead (2308.230316-2000).
• Xbox Insider Release Notes - Alpha (2304.230315-2200).
• This Week's Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale - Xbox Wire.

• Xbox head Phil Spencer says it will be "pretty trivial" to add Xbox gaming to smartphones. Is he throwing shade at Xbox hardware?
• FCC taking a stand against spam texting.
• Future Samsung Galaxy Phones Could Come with Solid State Batteries as Company Secures Patents and Starts Working on a Prototype.

• Bard: Google's rival to ChatGPT launches for over-18s.
• Microsoft Teams is finally fixing one of its most jarring issues.
• TikTok bans deepfakes of nonpublic figures and fake endorsements in rule refresh.
• He wanted to cancel Xfinity. Xfinity begged for one more chance. Then, a big oopsie. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.
• Comedians are trying to make the metaverse cool, but it won’t let them.
• Did Pornhub’s Owner MindGeek Just Pull off a Brazen Scheme To Avoid Getting Blacklisted by Visa and Mastercard. Jedi MindGeek.

• The Quest for Injectable Brain Implants Has Begun (may require registration or subscription).
• I Saw the Face of God in a TSMC Semiconductor Factory (may require registration or subscription).
• Roku Avoids Disaster in Silicon Valley Bank Collapse.
• YouTuber Shows Ryzen 7000 Delid Using Dental Floss.
• HDD average life span misses 3-year mark in study of 2,007 defective drives.
• Some RTX 4070 GPUs Will Use 16-Pin Power Connector.
• AI-powered editing tool replaces actors with CG by simply dragging and dropping. Thanks Max.
• Talking to Steve Jobs from beyond the grave with an AI chatbot trained on his voice. The results are uncanny.
• Microsoft’s Bing chatbot now lets you create images via OpenAI’s DALL-E. The dawn of the tech ouroboros.

• The Scorched-Earth Tactics of Iran’s Cyber Army (may require registration or subscription).
• Ferrari confirms customer data breached following ransomware attack.

• Canada Judge rejects unlawful gambling accusation in EA loot box lawsuit.
• Judge Agrees Microsoft Might Not Keep Its Promises But Dismisses Gamers' Lawsuit Trying To Block Activision Sale.
• Meta Is Being Sued in Kenya, Again (may require registration or subscription).
• Book publishers with surging profits struggle to prove Internet Archive hurt sales.

• CPU/AIO Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT CPU Liquid Cooler - TweakTown.
• CPU/AIO Cooler: Enermax ETS-F40-BK-ARGB CPU Air Cooler - TweakTown.
• Graphics Card: ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Noctua OC Review - Next-Level Quiet - TechPowerUp.
• Keyboard: Keychron Q10 Mechanical Keyboard Review- Premium Feel in an Alice Layout – Review Geek. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Monitor: Alienware AW2524H 500 Hz Gaming Monitor Review - Tom's Hardware.
• Mouse: HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless Review- A Massive Improvement! - Gen3D Tech (video).
• PSU: NZXT C1200 Gold 1200 W Review - TechPowerUp.

• Diablo 4 players react to the beta test- 'Seems to be Blizzard back in their old form'…

Ugh with the clock changes! These are always hard on me, but this one has felt particularly rough. I'm only now starting to feel like I'm coming out of a brain fog. Apologies for the couple of careless errors I've made lately that are evidence of my struggles. But spring has sprung, and I feel like I'm snapping out of it. I had a second spring experience yesterday to celebrate, too. I mentioned a mourning dove investigating me as I made coffee in the morning. Later on, in the afternoon, I noticed the heron in the shallows of the pond right near my office patio doors. I went over to check him out, and he ducked below the shoreline. Then took a peek, then ducked, then repeated. Apparently we were playing peek-a-boo! Then he cautiously walked up on shore and walked over to within a couple of feet of the glass to check me out. He hung out there for about 30 seconds as we looked each other over. I didn't want to spoil the moment by scaring him off, so I didn't attempt to capture a photo or video, but it was a pretty magical experience while it lasted.

Foggy Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Link

• Banshees: The Game. Thanks Literary Hub.

Stories

• Candida auris, an emerging fungal threat, spread at an alarming rate in US health care facilities, CDC says. Thanks Acleacius.
• South Korea planned a 69-hour workweek. Millennials and Generation Z had other ideas.
• World’s biggest single eradication operation aims to remove mice from island. Of mice and men.

Science
Thanks Acleacius.

• Why does music bring back memories? What the science says.
• Great Mysteries of Physics 2? is the universe fine-tuned for life?
• No, you don’t have to poo every day- eight things nutrition experts want you to know. I certainly don't recall asking. Thanks Max.

Media

• A Coffee Kickstarter Cautionary Tale.

Creature Features

• This Cat fight is so hilarious 😻.
• Neglected Prairie Dogs Get Full Freedom In New Home.
• Getting hyped in a mosh pit-gorilla splashing in pool. Thanks VideoSift.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens.