Mini Thief is now completely free on Steam, and this crime game is yours to keep as long as you burgle your copy over the next week. The full version is listed for Windows only, while the playable demo also promises macOS support, which is unusual, and may be an error. For a look at the game's retro-arcade style we have this trailer from 2018 when this first launched. Here's more:

Can you escape with the loot? Play as the Master Thief and steal as much as you can. Burgle houses in order to obtain some sweet, sweet loot. But be careful not to get caught!

Your objective is simple, search the area for items which are exchangeable for money. Each level you pass will increase in difficulty. The more difficult the level is the more loot you will obtain.

Avoid the owner at all costs! If he catches you, well, you lose everything! including your money!

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11 bit studios announces Death Howl, a "haunting" soulslike deckbuilder in development at Danish developer The Outer Zone. The Danish studio channels its famed countryman Søren Kierkegaard in hyping "a realm where sorrow meets strategy." The Announcement Trailer takes a look at this existential dilemma where you play as a grieving mother on a quest to resurrect her dead son. If you can't wait to start mourning, a playable demo should arrive on Monday. Here's more:

In Death Howl, you play as Ro, a grieving mother navigating an ethereal, stone-age Nordic-inspired realm in a desperate quest to reunite with her departed son. As Ro, you’ll face relentless spirits in grid-based, turn-driven battles that demand not only tactical precision but also the ability to adapt. To forge a path through despair and stand against formidable enemies and fearsome bosses, players must craft and refine their decks. Each realm visited offers unique deck types and mechanics, enriching and deepening the strategic layer. Players can further enhance their decks with shamanic totems, ensuring they are best prepared for the deadly encounters ahead.
 

Continue here to read the full story.

Activision announces it is donating one million dollars to support fire relief efforts in Los Angeles. It also announces the launch of a Call of Duty pack, saying "100% of Activision’s proceeds from purchases of the LA Fire Relief pack will be donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and Direct Relief. Here are the details:

Activision is donating $1 million and is also launching an in-game pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone players to purchase to support fire relief efforts in Los Angeles. 100% of Santa Monica-based Activision’s proceeds from the LA Fire Relief pack sales will be donated to relief efforts in Los Angeles, and the donations will be split between two charities - the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation (LAFD) and Direct Relief.

These donation efforts from Activision are to help support fire relief efforts, also giving the Call of Duty community an opportunity to get involved with helping those affected by the Los Angeles fires. Players can purchase the LA Fire Relief pack across all platforms, which offers a robust amount of new game content for players to enjoy, while also directly supporting the cause.

• Save 50% on Sovereign Syndicate on Steam
• Save 30% on JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator on Steam.

• Nintendo fails to explain latest crediting omission, insists it ‘believes in giving proper credit’ - VGC.
• Twitch streamer Shroud honors his late father in a 24-7 charity event - Polygon.

• ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’- The (Game) Play’s the Thing - The New York Times (free account required). Movie shot almost entirely in-game. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Sons Of The Forest - Rafts, Defensive Wall Blueprints, Fixes, Improvements and more.

↑ Official patches. ↓ Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

• The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Just Got a Sekiro-Inspired Combat Mod - DSOGaming.

Content creator videos.

• If Video Games Were 8% More Realistic - Dorkly (NSFW).

• A Video Game Writer’s Lament: ‘We Can Do Quite a Lot Better’ - The New York Times (free account required).

• Delaware launches K-12 esports program for career growth - WHYY.

Thanks Console General.

• Xbox Update Preview Alpha Ring (2502.250115-2200) Release Notes - Xbox Support.
• Xbox Update Preview Alpha Skip-Ahead Ring (2502.250115-2200) Release Notes - Xbox Support.

• Amazon puts its drone deliveries on hold following two crash incidents - Engadget.

• TikTok says it will 'go dark' in ban if US government does not intervene - BBC.
• Trump says he will 'most likely' give TikTok 90-day extension to avoid ban - NBC News.
• How to Download Your TikTok Videos - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Digital driving licences to be introduced this year - BBC.
• Instagram Reels can be 3 minutes long now - The Verge.

Thanks Console General.

• Elon Musk Reportedly Emerges As a Potential Intel Buyer, Involving Qualcomm & Global Foundries In This Blockbuster Deal - Wccftech.
• Trump Coin: Donald Trump Launches New Meme Coin Days Before Inauguration - Forbes.
• Previewing Improved Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs with Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel - Windows Insider Blog.
• Releasing Windows 11 Build 22631.4825 to the Release Preview Channel - Windows Insider Blog.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800 (Beta Channel) - Windows Insider Blog.
• Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5435 to the Release Preview Channel - Windows Insider Blog.

• The FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel Isn’t Leaving Without a Fight - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Poppy Playtime's going after Google - Eurogamer.net.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Case: Montech Heritage Pro Review - The Leather Case - TechPowerUp.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: be quiet! Light Loop 360 mm AIO Review - TechPowerUp.
• Keyboard: Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid Review - PCMag.
• Misc: Anker 335 Charger (67W) review- a great-value tri-port wall charger with no frills - TechRadar.
• Sound Card/DAC: WiiM Amp Pro Review- Name a Better Network Amp, We'll Wait - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• SSD: Solidigm D7-PS1010 3.84TB Enterprise SSD Review - Best-In-Class - TweakTown.

A nasty winter storm is in our forecast for tomorrow. And while it's not that cold right now, it's quite damp and dreary. So I'm on the horns of a dilemma. If I had the ingredients on hand, I'd start up a batch of chili to battle the weather with some comfort food. But I don't have the fixings, and I don't know that I'll be able to motivate to go shopping. Especially since pre-storm preparations will cause the store to be even more packed than normal for a Saturday afternoon, which is saying something. The move would be to dip out to the store in a few hours, but I don't imagine my motivation will increase as the sun goes down and the football games begin, so despite my yen for some chili, I'm putting the chances of me pulling this off today at less than 50/50.

Chilly Chili Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Brunch Link

• Here’s the Best Stuff TSA Confiscated in 2024 - TheDrive. Thanks brother19.

Story

• Rangers, DEC officers rescue moose that fell through Adirondack ice - Times Union. Thanks brother19.

Science

• 'It was very fortunate timing'- Astronomers watch 1st black hole to 'shut off' blast back to life - Live Science.
• USC Study Exposes Hidden Culprit of Dementia in Brain’s Blood Vessels - SciTechDaily.
• US makes strongest-ever armor material with 100 trillion bonds-cm² - Interesting Engineering.

Media

• LYCAN: EPISODE ONE - Star Wars Teaser Trailer [4K].
• The £60 Aldi Espresso Machine - James Hoffmann.

Creature Features

• Blind rescue pup melts guy who didn't want him - GeoBeats Animals. Seeing-eye people. So wonderful. Thanks RedEye9.
• Silly cockatoo tries to make dog laugh — but pup ain't impressed - Boing Boing.