One issue that keeps coming up in discussion of the uproar over the news that Sony is adding/enforcing a PlayStation Network account requirement for Windows HELLDIVERS 2 players is that the PlayStation Network is not supported in all territories. This means players in these regions will lose access to the game they purchased once this requirement kicks in at the end of this month. If there's good news to be found in this situation, it's in a post on the Helldivers Reddit reproducing a Discord post by Arrowhead community manager Spitz saying the studio is not happy about where things stand right now. Word is a search for "better options" is underway:

Internal discussions are ongoing about the mandatory linking change and while I can't reveal details, the response from our dev teams has been pretty universally negative and we're looking for better options.

Seeing the writing on the wall, a xeet from Sucker Punch Productions addresses the upcoming PC launch of Ghost of Tsushima, as the Epic Listing and the Steam Listing for the DIRECTOR'S CUT of the PlayStation open-world action adventure each reference a PlayStation Network account requirement (thanks Wccftech). Aware that HELLDIVERS 2 is embroiled in controversy over the same requirement, the post notes that a PSN account will not be required for the single-player side of the game. But HELLDIVERS 2 has no single-player mode, so it's not clear how much pain this will save them. Here's word:

Just so you are aware, A PSN account is required for Legends online multiplayer mode and to use PlayStation overlay. It is not required to play the singleplayer game.

• May the 4th 2024 Sale on Steam.
• Star Wars Sale on GOG.COM.*
• Save 60% on The Last Stand: Aftermath on Steam.
• Save 30% on Dungeon Drafters on Steam.

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

• Unity's New CEO Nets Millions Months After Layoffs and Scandals. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Official patches.

• No Rest For The Wicked Patch Notes - Early Access Patch 1.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: May 3, 2024.

• Inside Star Citizen- Patch Dispatch 3.23.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• The Last Days of The Crew.
• Firearms Expert Reacts to Helldivers 2 PART 3.

• An Inside Look at Hogwarts Legacy Unreal Engine Extensions - GDC 2024 (video). Thanks Max.

• SAK'D by Alchemy Interactive — Kickstarter. "A pillow brought to life, given weapon wielding, spell-casting, and monster smashing abilities on a quest to save the Realm of Dreams!" Here's the Official Trailer and there's a playable demo on Steam.

• Lithium-free sodium batteries exit the lab and enter US production. Thanks Max.
• What Kind of Battery Would You Need to Power a Lightsaber (may require registration or subscription).

• Hands-on with the visual AI in Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Thanks Console General.

• No reprieve for PC builders as skyrocketing metal prices set to impact component costs. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• A Company Is Building a Giant Compressed-Air Battery in the Australian Outback (may require registration or subscription).
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.461 (Dev Channel).
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3570 (Beta Channel).

• Microsoft plans to lock down Windows DNS like never before. Here’s how.
• A New Surveillance Tool Invades Border Towns (may require registration or subscription).
• Google prohibits ads promoting websites and apps that generate deepfake porn.

• Nintendo issues DMCA takedown notice against over 8,500 Yuzu emulator repositories.
• Judge mulls sanctions over Google’s “shocking” destruction of internal chats.
• Brazil's president signs into law legal framework for digital games industry in Brazil.

• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: EK Water Blocks Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB Liquid Cooling System - Nikk Tech.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: Thermalright Frozen Notte and Aqua Elite 360 White V3 Review- Strong AIOs available for less than $65 - Tom's Hardware.
• Hard Drive: Western Digital WD Gold 24TB HDD Review - High-Capacity Masterpiece - TweakTown.
• Mouse: Finalmouse UltralightX Review - TechPowerUp.

Happy Star Wars Day. And if you are looking to celebrate this, there's more Star Wars out there than ever these days. I'm not going to force a pun about the situation, but it's arguably not for the best. There's a sweet spot before you are flooding the market, and it feels like this franchise is past its saturation point right now. Sort of like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Maybe it wouldn't seem this way if the quality of recent releases for each weren't so iffy. I wonder if there's a scientist smart enough to figure out the commonality between the two properties to figure out why this is. Oh well. May the Fourth be with you. Always.

Forceful Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Brunch Links

• New network for classic cartoons is coming- MeTV Toons. Hopefully without that horrible MeTV motion smoothing.
• The best deals for Star Wars Day 2024: Lego sets, games, and more.

Story

• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Set For Christmas 2024 Release.

Science

• Spayed and Neutered Dogs Show More Signs of Aging. Our un-neutered Gunnar-man was a puppy for 14 years. Thanks Max.
• Glow of an exoplanet may be from starlight reflecting off liquid iron.
• Eta Aquariid meteor shower- How and when to watch.

Media

• This is why I have a genuine fear of glass doors. Warning: Nightmare fuel. Thanks The Flying Penguin.

Follow-up

• Alarming superbug from deadly eyedrop outbreak has spread to dogs.