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- RTX 4080 release date: November 2022
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) price: $1,199
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB) price: $899
- Built on Nvidia's Ada Lovelace architecture and using TSMC's N4 process
- No Founders Edition of the GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB)
Now that the dust is starting to settle after Nvidia's GTC 2022 keynote, it's time to take a look at what Nvidia has got lined up for its slightly more affordable Ada Lovelace GPUs. Here I'm talking about the rather confusingly branded pair of GeForce RTX 4080 models that are going to be vying for your wallet.
We have the release dates, pricing, a hint at the performance, and the specifications for the pair of RTX 4080 GPUs. Like the GeForce RTX 4090, these are built on Nvidia's latest Ada Lovelace architecture. Thanks to the use of TSMC's N4 production process—the same one that powers the GPUs in HPC data centers—these cards are looking at a superb boost to efficiency and performance over the previous generation of cards.
Despite these cards sharing the RTX 4080 name, they are very different when it comes to their internals, and not just down to the amount of GDDR6X VRAM they sport.
The GeForce RTX 4090 will be the first out of the door on October 12, but this will be followed up by the pair of GeForce RTX 4080s in November. You'll find the full specs and details of all these GPUs below.
Release Date
The GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) and GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB) cards are "Coming November," with no exact date shown as yet. Once the RTX 4090 hits the shelves on October 12, we expect a firmer date for the two RTX 4080s.
You can sign up to be notified when the cards are available over on Nvidia's site. Resellers are expected to offer a similar service—not quite pre-orders, allowing buyers to sign up for notifications as to when the cards arrive. Given the lack of a hard release date, this does make sense here.
There's nothing official from Nvidia on when the review embargo lifts for these cards, which isn't too surprising given the lack of a release date.
Price
(Image credit: Nvidia)
When it comes to the thorny subject of price, the two RTX 4080s make for difficult reading. While the top-end, the GeForce RTX 4090, can naturally enjoy an elevated price point due to its flagship positioning, that's not usually true when it comes to the 80-level cards.
The GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) has a starting price of $1,199. For comparison, the GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) launched at $699, making this $500 more expensive offering. Like the RTX 4090, this will be available as a Founders Edition card.
The GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB) has a starting price of $899. There's no Founders Edition version of this card though, so it'll be down to the graphics card manufacturers to try and hit that price point. With elaborate cooling options and no doubt improved overclocking chops, we'd expect plenty of cards to cost more than this.
Performance
(Image credit: Nvidia)Nvidia has released some internal RTX 4080 benchmark figures to show off its latest architecture, and it certainly makes for some interesting reading. While all of the new Ada Lovelace GPUs enjoy significant increases in what Nvidia calls "Next Generation" games, things aren't looking so rosy when it comes to today's games.
The likes of Resident Evil Village, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and The Division 2 all appear to show performance drops for the RTX 4080 (12GB) edition and only small increases for the RTX 4080 (16GB) compared to the RTX 3090 Ti.
This isn't the absolute home run you might expect for the money, though things are a bit healthier when it comes to Microsoft Flight Simulator and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, which enjoy an almost doubling of the frame rate. It's going to be interesting to see how these cards perform in a range of titles when we do get them on the test benches—because while the RTX 4090 clearly has some serious performance chops, it isn't as clear cut lower down the stack.
Specs
The two RTX 4080s use Nvidia's Ada Lovelace architecture, boast support for the new 3rd generation Ray tracing cores, 4th generation Tensor cores, and DLSS 3. Nvidia has stuck with the PCIe 4.0 interface for this generation and the cards support Resizable BAR, Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate, and Vulkan RT API.
Nvidia will be producing Founder Editions of the GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) cards, but not of the GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB), which means the specs for the $899 cards will be entirely down to the manufacturers when it comes to fan configurations and the overall size of the cards.
As I said at the beginning, there are a lot of differences between the RTX 4080 (12GB) and the RTX 4080 (16GB), far more than just the amount of memory available. The most obvious of these is the number of CUDA Cores—9,728 vs. 7,680 is not a small difference.
This is a very different situation from the previous generation's RTX 3080 (10GB) model and the RTX 3080 (12GB) GPU that was released at the start of the year, which had 8,704 cores and 8,960 respectively.
You could absolutely make the case that the GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB) should have been called the RTX 4070.
Nvidia RTX 40-series specs RTX 3080 (10GB) RTX 3080 (12GB) RTX 4080 (12GB) RTX 4080 (16GB) GPU GA102-200-KD-A1 GA102-220-A1 AD104-400 AD103-300 CUDA Cores 8,704 8,960 7,680 9,728 Base Clock 1,440MHz 1,260MHz 2,310MHz 2,210MHz Boost Clock 1,710MHz 1,710MHz 2,610MHz 2,510MHz Memory Bus 320-bit 384-bit 192-bit 256-bit Memory Type 10GB GDDR6X 12GB GDDR6X 12GB GDDR6X 16GB GDDR6X Memory Speed 19Gbps 19Gbps 21Gbps 23Gbps Graphics Card Power (W) 320W 350W 285W 320W Required System power (W) 750W 750W 700W 750W Launch Price $699 $799 $899 $1,199 -
Despite almost a decade of development with no full release, Star Citizen continues to rake in money from people putting faith in the controversial space sim. As of September 20, the game has managed to accrue over half a billion dollars in crowdfunding, solidifying itself as the most expensive game to date.
It's gained an additional $100 million in funding across one million brand-new backers since November 2021, putting the grand total at $500,121,052 across 4,096,818 backers as of writing. It's surprising to see so much support for a game that's still somehow in alpha, despite its first kickstarter launching back in October 2012. It managed to raise $2 million back then, and though it's received small packets of private funding has continued to largely source its development costs through crowdfunding.
It begs the question of whether a game with so much money behind it ever actually intends on coming out. Back in 2020, Cloud Imperium Games founder Chris Roberts said that Star Citizen's gameplay "is not a pipe dream, nor will it take 10 to 20 years to deliver." It's easy for it to feel exactly like a pipe dream though, especially when fans are waiting for a full release while resources are being put into researching and developing "bedsheet deformation." Apparently, it's vital for both Star Citizen and its single-player spinoff Squadron 42, which is also currently tucked away in a development hidey-hole.
Regardless, the development of Star Citizen chugs along, albeit with a little less communication with the community. Earlier this year saw CIG rework how it presented roadmaps, ripping tentative dates away in order to reduce "distractions" caused by players who were expecting the features to arrive on said dates. It would be nice to see the game at least come out of alpha in the next few years, especially if it manages to bank another $100 million in the next year.
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The best CPU air cooler will let you push your processor to the max without opting for a pricey, awkward liquid cooling system. There's a lot to be said about the efficiency, affordability, and minimum fuss of a great CPU air cooler, so we've put together a list of the best air coolers to help keep your processor running smoothly.
In a world where CPU and graphics thermals are inextricably linked to their performance, insufficient cooling can not only tank performance but also affect the stability of your entire gaming rig. The most common and simplest solution is air cooling, but if you want to be fancy an all-in-one liquid cooler might be a good option, and will deliver super low temps at lower decibels.
There's plenty to consider when looking for the best CPU air cooler. Generally, the 'bigger is better' rule flies here, but double check it'll actually fit inside your PC case before you make a purchase. As an overclocker rigs with some flashy RGB. There is also a case to be made for using an air cooler in compact builds. Not only will it potentially save some space, but it could create more airflow over surrounding components on the motherboard, as well as providing cooling to the processor itself.
Below I have picked out six of the best CPU air coolers from the dozens I tested for the past year or so. I made sure to pick coolers for almost every budget that will fit different cases. This way, you're not from choosing a very expensive option to only a slightly less expensive option.
Best CPU air cooler
(Image credit: DEEPCOOL)1. Deepcool AS500 Plus
A fantastic all round cooler that won't empty your wallet
Socket support: Intel 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 2011, 2066, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, FM2 & FM1 compatible | Fans: 2x 140mm PWM | Fan speeds: 500-1200RPM | Dimensions (L x W x H): 140 x 102 x 164mm | Noise level: Max 31.5dB(A)
Great valueLow noise levelsEfficient coolingBuild QualityNot built for high-end overclocked CPUsThe Deepcool AS500 received worthy attention when it was released, but the AS500 Plus with its additional fan elevates it to the point where it can compete with any single tower cooler on the market.
At the same time, it undercuts competitors in price. There aren't many dual-fan ARGB supporting coolers at this price. Even if you spent double the money on a premium single tower cooler, your cooling performance won't be a lot better.
Its cooling ability belies its compact dimensions. Only more expensive dual-tower coolers beat it, and even then, not by a whole lot. Its dual-fan design no doubt helps. It’s also surprisingly quiet. Even when pushed hard the cooler doesn’t get excessively loud.
It even comes with its own ARGB controller.
Cooling and low noise levels are welcome, then add to that great build quality and subtle ARGB good looks and there’s nothing to complain about. It even comes with its own ARGB controller, and there’s a white version too if you like.
The Deepcool AS500 Plus punches above its weight and price. It cools very well, stays quiet, offers great build quality, and has a subtle ARGB splash with its own controller. Finally, it offers great value for money relative to many dual-fan single tower coolers. Short of stressing it with a heavily overclocked high-end processor, the AS500 Plus ticks all the boxes and comes highly recommended.
(Image credit: DEEPCOOL)2. Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2
An affordable and effective cooler that really can be quiet
Socket support: Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, AMD AM3 & AM4 compatible | Fans: 1x Pure Wings 2 120mm | Fan speeds: Up to 1500RPM | Dimensions (L x W x H): 87 x 121 x 155mm | Noise level: Max 26.8dB(A)
Very quiet operationGreat priceGood build qualitySuper basic looks150W TDP is a touch optimisticIf the brand name didn’t already give it away, the Be Quiet Pure Rock 2 really is quiet. It’s a single tower cooler equipped with the company's highly regarded Pure Wings 2 PWM fan which carries a low 26.8 dB(A) noise rating. That means it's very quiet indeed. It feels really solid too—an indicator of good build quality—and it comes in at a low price.
We wouldn’t describe the Pure Rock 2 as the most beautiful cooler on the market. But if you do have a windowed case, you could consider the black version which is certainly more attractive than the plain aluminum finish of the base version.
The Pure Rock 2 is primarily designed to cool; unseen and unheard. It's rated to cool CPUs with a 150W TDP, though perhaps this is a touch optimistic, but that’s down to the CPU manufacturers and their 'real' TDPs. An Intel Core i5 12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X shouldn't present a problem for the Pure Rock 2.
For anything other than high-end CPUs, the Pure Rock 2 will keep your chip cool and quiet. If you're not interested in bling and want something that's a step up from bundled coolers, the Pure Rock 2 is a fantastic choice. It will cool out of sight, mind, and earshot.
(Image credit: Noctua)3. Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
You'll be hard pressed to find a better performing air cooler than the Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
Socket support: Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, FM2 & FM1 compatible | Fans: 2x NF-A15 HS-PWM | Fan speeds: 300-1500RPM | Dimensions (L x W x H): 161 x 150 x 165mm | Noise level: Max 24.6dB(A)
Awesome cooling performanceQuiet under typical loadsSolid build qualityAll black good looksIt's really quite largeLouder than you might expect under loadThe Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black is considered by many to be the best air cooler on the market. We love it too, and it's an easy inclusion on our list of recommended coolers.
It performs brilliantly and has excellent fans that are a welcome black color instead of that rather unsightly beige and brown (sorry, Jacob). Its build quality is fantastic and Noctua's packaging, accessories, and documentation are second to none.
Really, only 360mm AIO coolers outperform it. If you want an air cooler that can handle any consumer CPU on the market, you might find one to match the Noctua flagship, but you won’t find anything that truly beats it.
Noctua has a long tradition of adding support for new sockets.
Under normal operation, the NH-D15 can be considered truly silent. When pushed hard it becomes louder than you might expect, such as you might get when hammering out an AVX load, but we don’t mind having some optional cooling headroom when you need it. Even a 5GHz+ Core i9 11900K will result in quiet running while gaming.
So why isn't it number one on our list? Its expense, and the perhaps sheer size, are the only things that count against it.
Notably, Noctua has a long tradition of adding support for new sockets. An investment in an NH-D15 Chromax Black means you'll have a top-shelf cooler that will last you for many years.
(Image credit: Cryorig)4. Cryorig C7
A great choice for a truly tiny system, just don't ask too much of it
Socket support: Intel 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, FM2 & FM1 compatible | Fans: 1x 92mm Quad Air Inlet | Fan speeds: 600–2500RPM | Dimensions (L x W x H): 97 x 97 x 47mm | Noise level: Max 30dB(A)
Truly tiny sizeCools better than you'd expect for its sizeQuiet low load operationNot one for overclocked, high core-count CPUsThe Cryorig C7 has been on the market for some time, but it's still been updated to handle newer sockets. It’s perfect for a truly compact small form factor system thanks to its 47mm height and adherence to 'keep-out' zones, where it will not interfere in any way with other system components.
Because sometimes you want to make a tiny PC, and not every system needs to have a monstrous GPU attached to it. And when that's the (mini-ITX) case you either have the option to stick with a low-end stock cooler, or a quality third party version, such as the Cryorig.
The C7 destroys the stock Intel cooler.
And the C7 destroys the stock Intel cooler. It's rated for up to 100W, but to be fair is better suited to 65W class CPUs up to about six or eight cores. This leaves it a bit of headroom for turbo bursts and means you won't see your chip throttling under sustained loads, either.
If you're overclocking, or using a high core-count processor, you can give it a pass, but that's to be expected. With the right CPU it will stay surprisingly quiet for its compact size. Its top flow design will help to cool the VRM and M.2 SSD, too, something that can be neglected in compact systems.
The Cryorig C7 is a niche cooler, no doubt about it, but for the tiniest builds, the cute little C7 does an admirable job. If you want a little bit of extra TDP headroom, there are copper and graphene-coated versions that feature TDP ratings of up to 125W, though they're more expensive. The C7 is a great choice for the smallest form factor systems.
(Image credit: Noctua)5. Noctua NH-P1
Quiet computing enthusiasts, look here
Socket support: Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, FM2 & FM1 compatible | Fans: N/A | Fan speeds: N/A | Dimensions (L x W x H): 152 x 154 x 158mm | Noise level: 0dB(A)
Silent!Every aspect of it is premiumYou can add fans if you really want toNeeds good case coolingPricier than your regular air coolerNoctua’s NH-P1 passive cooler is very much a niche product and one that fans of quiet computing have been looking forward to for some time. It's expensive, bulky, and generally limited to CPUs in the 65W range. Sounds like a dud? Hell no. its appeal may be limited, but if you're a user who values silence above anything else, then the NH-P1 will be exactly what you're looking for.
The NH-P1 is capable of cooling even high-end CPUs using only natural convection. That's sort of what makes it a big deal in the cooling world. It does this through a vastly disparate design from your usual chip chiller.
The NH-P1 also features a grid of cut-outs horizontally through the cooler design, which helps air flow naturally across the cooler and, importantly, sap away the heat transferred into the fins from the heat pipes.The heat pipes are actually the longest along their horizontal axis.
The heat pipes are undoubtedly of major importance here. Sit the NH-P1 side-by-side with the NH-D15, and you'll notice they're oriented differently. The heat pipes are actually the longest along their horizontal axis, which impacts heat dispersion due to the reliance on gravity for a heat pipe to function.
The NH-P1 is a great match for something like an AMD 5700G. That way, you could omit a discrete GPU and play e-sport titles in silence. The NH-P1 will keep this class of CPU boosting to its max, but only if you have at least some airflow.
The chances are you have a rear case fan that's just a few cm away from it anyway. You can still opt to attach a fan if you want. True passive cooling, without any system fans, would require dropping to 35W class CPUs.The NH-P1 is built for a specific purpose. Fans of quiet computing will love it. If you sleep near your PC or run a lounge room media center, the NH-P1 will ensure that your PC is truly silent. Clearly, it's not meant for everyone, though.
Read our full Noctua NH-P1 review.
(Image credit: Be Quiet)6. Be Quiet! Dark Rock TF 2
Cooling for your whole system
Socket support: Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, AMD AM3 & AM4 compatible | Fans: 1x Silent Wings 3 135mm, 1x Silent Wings 135mm | Fan speeds: Up to 1400RPM | Dimensions (L x W x H): 163 x 140 x 134mm | Noise level: Max 27.1 dB(A)
Downward blowing for additional system coolingQuiet operationGood build qualityHeavy overclocking is beyond itKeeping your CPU cool is vital, but so is overall system cooling. A cooler like the Be Quiet Dark Rock TF 2 blows air downwards, which helps to keep toasty M.2 drives and your vital motherboard VRMs running cool. This is something that can often be overlooked in AIO-cooled systems that lack good airflow over the motherboard, particularly if you have a GPU heating up your speedy NVMe drives, too.
The Dark Rock TF2 performs much like other single tower air coolers and, although it is on the pricey side, it's not unreasonably so given the inclusion of two high-quality fans. Its ability to mount a fan above or below the heatsink (or both) adds a lot of installation flexibility. You can use it in all kinds of systems from powerful gaming PCs through to compact SFF systems.
In the Be Quiet tradition, the Dark Rock TF 2 is very quiet, particularly under low loads, and with a rating of up to 230W, it can handle all modern CPUs, though heavy overclocking will really be beyond it.
Downward blowing coolers have fallen out of favor compared to tower coolers, but with one or more hot PCIe 4.0 SSDs to cool, a motherboard needs decent airflow too. The Dark Rock TF 2 can be thought of as a system cooler, and not just a CPU cooler.
CPU air cooler FAQ
Which is better, AIO or air cooler?
Anyone looking at picking a cooler for their rig asks this question: Air or water cooling? Water cooling tends to be viewed as the premium solution, but air cooling remains perfectly viable unless you’re into heavy overclocking with higher core count CPUs. Air coolers are generally cheaper, more reliable and simpler. Yes, they can be bulky relative to an AIO but radiators are also bulky and require large cases too. With air coolers you don’t have to worry about the (admittedly very small) possibility of leaks or pump failure. Noise levels are highly dependent on the fans used but if you choose wisely, there’s no reason an air cooler won’t be as quiet or even quieter than an AIO due to the lack of pump whir.
Are CPU air coolers effective?
A high TDP processor or CPU overclocking will require something big to absorb and dissipate all that heat. But a dual tower or dual fan model will be just as capable of cooling as an all-in-one liquid cooler.
If you want something quiet, a big cooler with a high cooling capacity will also suit, but pay attention to the noise levels and RPM rating of its fans. Then you get into things like your case size. You’ll need to go with a more compact cooler if you're running a mini system, so look at the dimensions.
There's also an argument to be made for downward blowers. The components around your CPU, such as the power circuitry and NVMe SSDs, can get hot and throttle if they're not properly cooled. And with a liquid cooler they get no help, but a good downward blowing CPU air cooler will not just chill your processor, but other parts on the motherboard too.
How do I pick a CPU air cooler?
There’s so much to consider. It would be easy to simply go for the biggest one you can get, but that ignores case constraints, the TDP of your processor, your budget, and aesthetics. At least you can rest assured that our picks will serve you well with the appropriate accompanying hardware.
The best cooler is one that you can install in your particular rig, give it a stress test under a high heat load, tune the fan curves if necessary and then forget about it. RGB models excepted, a good quality air cooler is unseen and never draws attention. You know you’ve made a good choice when you’ve gone months happily gaming away or doing whatever it is you do on your system with barely a thought about your cooling.
What CPU sockets do air coolers work with?
Not all coolers support all CPU sockets. Cooling for AMD Threadripper CPUs can be tricky for example. Also, Intel 12th Gen LGA1700 compatibility is more and more important these days. So, if you’re planning on building an Alder Lake system, pay close attention to the list of supported sockets. Stock from earlier in 2021 will definitely lack support. You can expect manufacturers to offer compatible mounting kits and updated SKU’s but if you’re planning on upgrading to 12th Gen, make sure you check with the retailer or manufacturer to ensure your choice of cooler includes LGA 1700 support now, or if it will in the future.
Stay Cool Gamers!
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You'll find the answer to today's Wordle on this very page alongside a selection of freshly written hints, general tips, and even links to further guides, all designed to make the September 22 (460) go as smoothly as you want it to.
I had all the clues and no idea what to do with them today. The sole green anchor I stumbled upon didn't really narrow anything down, and all of the yellow consonants I found afterwards could've easily fit in any of the free slots left. I don't like losing, but some days the clues just don't line up in time.
Wordle hint
Today's Wordle: A hint for Thursday, September 22
Today's answer is a word used to describe particularly virtuous and devout people—often after they've died—but more widely this term can describe any person of any faith or none who displays extraordinary kindness or patience, even if only during one short instance. There are two vowels in today's Wordle.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
If there's one thing better than playing Wordle, it's playing Wordle well, which is why I'm going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
- A good opener contains a balanced mix of unique vowels and consonants.
- A tactical second guess helps to narrow down the pool of letters quickly.
- The solution may contain repeat letters.
There's no time pressure beyond making sure it's done by midnight. So there's no reason to not treat the game like a casual newspaper crossword and come back to it later if you're coming up blank.
Wordle answer
(Image credit: Josh Wardle)What is the Wordle 460 answer?
Let me help you win. The answer to the September 22 (460) Wordle is SAINT.
Previous answers
Wordle archive: Which words have been used
The more past Wordle answers you can cram into your memory banks, the better your chances of guessing today's Wordle answer without accidentally picking a solution that's already been used. Past Wordle answers can also give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle solving fresh.
Here are some recent Wordle solutions:
- September 21: RECAP
- September 20: ALIKE
- September 19: TRICE
- September 18: STICK
- September 17: CHUTE
- September 16: PARER
- September 15: DOUBT
- September 14: THYME
- September 13: ALPHA
- September 12: BOOZE
Learn more about Wordle
Every day Wordle presents you with six rows of five boxes, and it's up to you to work out which secret five-letter word is hiding inside them.
You'll want to start with a strong word like ALERT—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters. Hit Enter and the boxes will show you which letters you've got right or wrong. If a box turns
️, it means that letter isn't in the secret word at all. 
means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 
means you've got the right letter in the right spot.You'll want your second go to compliment the first, using another "good" word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn't present in today's answer.
After that it's just a case of using what you've learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there's an E). Don't forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips, and if you'd like to find out which words have already been used you'll find those below.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle, as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle, refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn't long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures. Surely it's only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
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Hello supehfly,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
supehfly joined on the 09/21/2022.
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Remember the crappy little starting town in Diablo 2? It's an encampment, technically: A few tents and wagons with a wall to keep out skeletons. Now imagine that instead of a hero passing through on their way to fight the devil, you're the mayor of that awful place. That's the scenario in Gord, more or less.
Managing a Slavic folklore-inspired dark fantasy town doesn't look simple or easy, mind you. From the look of the new Gord gameplay video embedded above, it's as thankless a job as running an ice age city in Frostpunk, and there's a lot to it: resource gathering, urban design, citizen management, and some RPG adventuring and combat.
We mostly see adventuring in the new 16-minute gameplay video, in which Stan Just, a former Witcher 3 producer who's now CEO of Gord developer Covenant, walks us through a basic quest. His town's subjects are mad about poisoned eggs in the swamp, which prompts him to take a party into the muck to kill "foulspawn."
The generic-feeling quest is a bit of a letdown, but perhaps the interesting part of Gord is not the monsters but the people. Your subjects have strengths ("fighting flair," "furiosity") and weaknesses ("exploring incapability," "boiling blood"), as well as varying experience in tasks such as mining, fighting, and food preparation. They can be gathered into parties, arranged in tactical formation, and clicked out into the wilds beyond the town to find treasure and fight monsters. Aside from bodily damage and death, your subjects can experience psychological damage as a result of all the dark fantasy violence they deal with, especially when someone they're related to is involved in whatever gooey beast encounter caused the trauma. Keeping your townsfolk both alive and at least somewhat rational could be tricky.
The pausable realtime combat, on the other hand, is "very straightforward," as Just puts it. Characters attack automatically, and always use the best of their two attacks for the situation. Your main job, it looks like, is to determine the best way to position your subjects, although you do have direct control over spellcasting.
There are 18 spells in Gord, and they come in utility, support, and offensive flavors. Support spells include "Focus," "Haste," "Rejuvenate," while Offensive spells include "Sap," "Entangle," "Infest," and other insect and disease-themed incantations—it's familiar-looking fantasy RPG stuff.
Gord will include a campaign with "hand-crafted" maps that tell a story, as well as a custom scenario mode, where the world's size and resource richness are customizable. The new video doesn't spend much time on the town building aspect of Gord, and I'm somewhat more interested in that than the adventuring—maybe it'll be the subject of the next commentary video.
Covenant plans to release Gord next year. Back when Gord was announced, the studio also said that it has another project in the works, but we haven't heard more about it. (It's called "Project Perun," according to the studio's website.)
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Streamer Dan Allen, who was revealed yesterday as the person behind "The Real Insider" Twitter account that leaked (among other things) Ubisoft's big Assassin's Creed presentation, has apologized for his actions in a new video posted to YouTube, saying he did it all for clout and "the buzz."
"I'm ashamed of it. It was pathetic, and just dishonest," Allen said in the video. "A lot of you are reaching [out] and saying, 'Why the 'frell' did you do it?' To be honest, it's clout, it's the buzz, it's being addicted to the thrill of thousands waiting on what you're going to say."
When he wasn't posting leaks, Allen was running theDan Allen Gaming channel on YouTube, which features a wide variety of gaming content including guides, walkthroughs, and interviews, and currently boasts nearly 200,000 subscribers. His regular streaming job may not have offered the momentary rush he felt while revealing major secrets ahead of everyone else in the world, but on the other hand, he's also far less likely to be sued as a result of it.
Speaking of which, Allen claimed in his apology that many of his leaks, such as ones involving Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid, did not violate NDAs because they were mostly made up.
"bullpucky. Secondhand comments. Half the posts were educated guesses," Allen said. "For example I put a photo up of Kratos just before the [Sony] State of Play. It was an educated guess due to the fact that [Kratos voice actor] Christopher Judge had retweeted the State of Play, so I figured it would be there. It was."
Allen may be looking to downplay the NDA violations involved with his leaks because of the potential consequences that could arise from them. Public shaming is no fun, but neither is being dragged to court for breaking legally-binding contracts. And Ubisoft NDAs are no joke. As an example, part of a May 2022 Rainbow Six Siege NDA received by PC Gamer states the following:
"The Parties acknowledge that any breach [of confidentiality] by a Party, its Affiliates and Representatives of the obligations hereunder could cause irreparable harm for which no award of money damages may be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that a Party might have, each Party may be entitled to seek the remedies of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the provisions of this Agreement."
Seeking "remedies of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief" essentially means that Ubisoft has the right to sue your 'donkey' off if you break the terms of the contract. That doesn't mean it will, and in the case of, say, a tech glitch or something else beyond the control of the people involved, I like to think that their lawyers would chalk it up to bad luck and let it slide. But things might go differently in a case where someone signed the paper and then immediately and purposefully spewed everything they promised to keep secret all over the internet.
Alongside his potential legal woes, Allen said that he's lost personal and business friendships in the game industry because of his secret leaker life, and had to delete his personal Twitter account due to the "barrage of hate" he's received since being revealed. Still, he said the blowback is justified and that he's not seeking sympathy or forgiveness.
After apologizing to content creators, journalists, PR reps, and his followers for his "incomprehensible stupidity," Allen said he's going to take some time off to get away and "try and learn from this mistake."
"At the end of the day I'm just sorry," Allen said. "I can't reverse time but what I can do is try to be a better man moving forward and promise you that this will never happen again."
No one has sued Allen at this time, at least that we know of. If he avoids any trouble beyond feelings of remorse, it may be the last time an exposed leaker is excused by the industry. Ubisoft doesn't usually have an obvious target after a big leak, at least not that we know of, and certainly not one who has publicly confessed. Meanwhile, some game publishers have recently become bolder about welding lawyers against individuals. Bungie has gone after Destiny 2 cheat makers and users with the courts, and last year a teenage Fortnite player reached a settlement with Epic over alleged cheating. Cheating and NDA breaking are different things, but along with the recent GTA 6 hack and what feels like an overall increase of leaks, big studios could feasibly be feeling more and more on edge about protecting information, and more likely to look to the courts as a deterrent.
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Slightly Mad Studios announced a month ago that Project Cars 2, one of the best racing sims ever, was being removed from Steam on September 21. I hope you were able to grab it if you wanted it, because today is the day and sure enough, it's gone.
There's been no further word from Slightly Mad Studios about the removal, but a notice on the Project Cars 2 Steam page states that it is no longer available for purchase. SteamDB carries a similar message: "At the request of the publisher, this app has been retired. You may not be able to buy or get it."
It's fair to say that "may not" in this case means "cannot." You might be able to scrounge one up from a key reseller if you're especially eager and willing to roll the dice, but the Humble Store (which offered the game via Steam keys) has also removed its Project Cars 2 listing, and the Project Cars 2 website no longer offers purchase options either.
The reason for the removal of Project Cars 2 (and soon, the original as well) is simple, and one we've seen before: Expiring licenses for cars and tracks. Simply put, developers and publishers pay for the right to use real-world products in their games—in this case, cars and tracks—in order to enhance "authenticity." But those rights don't exist in perpetuity, and when the licensing deal expires, a choice must be made: Renew or let it go. And if sales aren't likely to justify the expense—which is all but certainly going to be the case for niche, years-old driving sims—then the deal will be left to lapse.
In some cases those lapsed licenses can be worked around, such as when Rockstar pulled licensed music from Grand Theft Auto 4 when it turned 10 years old. But cars and tracks are basically the whole of Project Cars, so removing or reworking licensed content would be a Herculean task, if it's even possible at all—not something that Slightly Mad was apparently interested in bothering with.
The removal from Steam is understandable, but it still sucks—Project Cars 2 is a really good racing sim—and it demonstrates the fragility of digital distribution: People who own the game will continue to have access, but the absence of physical media eliminates other avenues of purchase. It also showcases the pitfalls of licensed content. If Slightly Mad had taken a Rockstar approach to its cars, with goofy-named knockoffs like the Massacro, the Zentorno, the Felon GT, and the Vigero ZX, Project Cars 2 might still be on sale; instead, we got five years of real names (Project Cars 2 launched on September 22, 2017) and now it's gone for good.
If you have any thoughts about snagging the original Project Cars before it's delisted, you'll want to get a move on: It's slated for delisting on October 3.
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The best wireless gaming headset gives you the freedom to move around your room or office and not have to fuss with cables. A wireless gaming headset keeps everything hands-free and keeps your desk free of clutter. The best ones have good sound quality, great battery life, and are easy to pair with your PC so that once you have it on, you don't need to think about it again.
The two features that matter most in wireless gaming are battery life and wireless technology. Ideally, you want something that can go for a few days on a single charge. At a minimum, 30 hours of battery life is a decent enough starting point. But don't be surprised if you see some premium headsets offering literally hundreds of hours of battery life. I'm glad I'm seeing more headsets featuring Bluetooth connectivity since it frees up a USB slot that would be taken up by a wireless dongle, and you can connect your phone to them.
I know audio and what makes for the best wireless headphones. I've thrown high-res audio, outstanding gaming soundscapes, and hours of playtime at these headsets. That way, I get to intimately know their joys and failings.
If you're a serious audiophile whose primary focus is music instead of gaming, you should check out our picks for the best headphones for gaming (they're not just for gaming). The real bargains will be found in the best gaming headsets guide, but they won't provide the magical air of freedom the ones below will.Best wireless gaming headsets
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: HyperX)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)1. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
The best wireless gaming headset
Drivers: Dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets | Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless dongle | Frequency response: 15–21,000Hz | Features: Bi directional detachable mic | Weight : 322–335g with mic | Battery Life: 300 hours
Battery life that can only be described as witchcraftExcellent for listening to musicPrecise, powerful audio is great for gamingVery comfortableMicrophone isn't up to par with the rest of the headsetThey aren't the loudest headphonesThe HyperX Cloud Alpha is perhaps the most praised thing to exist on this site. We all love it on team and now HyperX has cut the cord on its best pair of cans. The biggest drawcard for this headset is the new huge battery. This is offering up to 300 hour battery life while in wireless mode while still keeping the headset relatively light and comfortable. It's a pretty massive feat and I feel HyperX has pulled it off.
Out of the box this unit was reporting having about 80% charge, so I decided to leave it there to see how well that held. I spent a work day listening to music and checked the battery again: I swear it still said 80%. I have been using this thing for gaming and music listening pretty consistently for the past week and we aren't even at 50% battery yet.
That impressive battery life is of course, a best case scenario. A lot of that has to do with the volume you're running the headset at, and volume is probably my only real complaint. It's absolutely loud enough but I can listen to it at full volume and still be fairly comfortable.
The sound quality truly is incredible.
But the sound quality truly is incredible. Music sounds amazing. It's always fun to listen to some of my favourite sound heavy songs on a good pair of cans and try to pick the different instruments or bites used. These do an excellent job, and are definitely one of the better gaming headsets I've used to listen to music on. When playing games the directional sound is also very nice. I was able to easily locate hidden batteries by directional beeps in Deep Rock Galactic, and had a wonderful time bouncing along to the tight beats of Shadow Warrior 3. I loaded up some Doom Eternal and promptly terrified myself. If you've ever wanted to know what it sounds like having a Cacodemon suddenly show up and whisper sweet blah-things into very specifically your left ear then these can absolutely deliver.
The Cloud line is always touted for comfort and despite the hefty battery this still definitely fits the bill. I'm someone who struggles with too much weight or tightness on my head, and I have a real sensitivity to uncomfortable headsets. The top band is thick and has soft padding underneath. This coupled with the equally soft ear cups makes for a very cozy experience, and does an excellent job of blocking out noise.
Sadly, the mic is your fairly standard affair and while it will work just fine for chat in games, it's very basic and uninspired when it comes to sound quality.
Though all things considered, I struggle to imagine a customer who wouldn't be happy with these as a wireless gaming headset. They're pricey, but within reason for their specs, and they certainly deliver on everything you could want for gaming, and listening to music, on your PC.
Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Razer)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Razer)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Razer)2. Razer Blackshark V2 Pro
The best wireless gaming headset for pure audio
Drivers: Razer TriForce Titanium | Connectivity: USB 2.4GHz wireless dongle | Frequency response: 12–28,000Hz | Features: Detachable mic | Weight : 320g | Battery Life: 24 hours
Fantastic wireless audioDecent battery lifeComfortableRelatively weak microphoneThe wired Razer BlackShark V2 is our favorite gaming headset and the wireless 'Pro' version takes all of the best bits from those excellent headphones and snips off the cable. It was previously sat in the number one spot but with the Cloud Alpha Wireless offering similarly excellent audio but with an absolute massive battery, we gave it to HyperX cans. That said, the BlackShark V2 Pro is regularly discounted as it's been around a little longer now, and with a big enough discount we'd definitely make the switch to Razer's pair.
The BlackShark V2 Pro is still the gaming headset I use on a daily basis, despite the fact I've got $400 and $1,300 planar magnetic headphones, both over and in-ear, in my kit cupboard. Largely that's because of the freedom of wireless connectivity, but also because the audio experience is as good as any dedicated gaming headset is able to offer.
The TriForce driver design apes the fantastic HyperX Cloud Alpha headset and matches its fantastic audio delivery, helping knock the previous top gaming headphones off their perch. They feel detailed, punchy, yet still rich enough to deliver an incredible experience in your chosen gameworld.
The BlackShark V2 Pro is still the gaming headset I use on a daily basis.
They're also super comfortable too and, call me a luddite, but having a physical volume dial is incredibly useful, and saves me otherwise fumbling around for buttons on an earcup. In fact, our only real issue is that I'm not a fan of their wee boom mic, but given there are some fantastic budget gaming mics out there right now, that's not a biggy.
When they were $180 the BlackShark V2 Pro was an excellent, though expensive wireless headset, but now it's regularly down to the $130 mark it's absolutely the one I'd recommend to my friends. And you, my new friends.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Corsair)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Corsair)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Corsair)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Corsair)3. Corsair HS80 RGB
The best gaming headset for spatial audio
Wireless: Yes | Drivers: 50mm, Neodymium drivers | Connectivity: Slipstream Wireless Dongle, USB Cable | Frequency response: 20Hz – 30,000Hz | Features: Omnidirectional Broadcast grade mic | Weight: 360g | Battery life: 20 hours
Floating headband designExcellent Hi-Res Audio + Dolby AtmosExcellent microphoneFeels bulkyMic isn't detachableNo Bluetooth or 3.5mmCorsair's new HS80 RGB Wireless Gaming Headset is easily one of the best headsets the company has ever made and also one of the best wireless headsets around. It takes some of the best headset features available and executes them really well. At $150, it boasts the latest and greatest lag-free Slipstream Wireless tech, high fidelity audio, and Dolby Atmos. The microphone is outstanding and the new design lets you wear them for ages without fatigue.
It's the spatial audio where the HS80 surprises, with impressive 3D audio and accurate positioning.
It's said that imitation is the highest form of flattery and the new HS80 imitates some of the best headsets from Steelseries. Corsair has finally adopted the same floating headband design that uses an adjustable strap to evenly distribute the weight across your noggin. Furthermore, the HS80 feels bulkier on my head than any Steelseries headset but at 370g, it's not much heavier. The ear cushions use plush, breathable fabric that wraps around your ears like a warm blanket, too, but can get humid in summers.
The HS80's ear cups can swivel 90-degrees and each one has a backlit Corsair logo. You can change the lighting in the Corsair iCUE, and it's actually quite understated.
The HS80 uses 50mm drivers that output 24-bit/48kHz audio over Slipstream wireless and a higher fidelity 24-bit/96kHz over a USB Type-C cable. The latter will require something better than your typical Spotify to notice the difference though.
But all this just means that the HS80's sound fantastic with rich, full-body sound with well-balanced bass. The sub-bass can be a little lacking at times and I noticed some distortion even at low volumes. This holds the HS80 back from true greatness but there's an EQ in iCUE that you can play with to fine-tune the audio to your liking.
However, it's the spatial audio where the HS80 surprises, with impressive 3D audio and accurate positioning. This, as you can imagine, is great for games like first-person shooters or large open-world environments. This is made even better with support for Dolby Atmos and Corsair provides an automatic license with the headset. I've been playing a lot of Halo Infinite which supports Dolby Atmos and it has sounded amazing on these cans.
Battery life on the HS80 was consistent with the marketing claims of 20 hours. For me, this meant charging the headset every two days—with 10 hours of work and play each day. I didn't test to see if turning off the RGB lighting made a significant difference but given how small the lights are, I doubt it. Charging the HS80 is easy thanks to a Type-C connection that also allows you to listen to them while it charges.
The Corsair HS80 is a great headset. It sounds great in both games and other media with a wonderful implementation of Dolby Atmos. If you do a lot of chat, the microphone is one of the best we've tested.
Read our full Corsair HS80 RGB review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: SteelSeries)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: SteelSeries)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: SteelSeries)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: SteelSeries)4. SteelSeries Arctis 9X
The best wireless gaming headset for cross platform players
Drivers: 40mm neodymium | Connectivity: Wireless via USB, 3.5mm wired, Bluetooth | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Retractable noise cancelling mic, DTS Headphone:X, 7.1 surround | Weight: 371g | Battery life: 30 hours
Solid gaming soundGreat MicBluetoothHeavy on the headHeadband slackens over timeWhatever you're listening to through the Arctis 9X wireless gaming headset, there's none of the muddiness or audio artifacts that have historically plagued other wireless cans. In essence, it sounds just as good as the best-wired models we've tested at this same price
The Arctis range's distinctive ski goggle headband is effective at keeping the weight of the headset away from your head. After a solid 12 months of daily usage, the headband has slacked off, making for a looser and slightly less comfortable fit, but the bands themselves are replaceable. We're big fans of the control placements at the rear of the headset, too: volume wheel and mic mute on the left, chat/game mix, and headset on/off on the right. The retractable mic is a little quiet, but it remains perfectly usable.
The extraordinary battery life clocks in at over 30 hours out of the box, and after almost a year of heavy use, that figure's hardly dropped off. This SteelSeries headset hits the sweet spot of providing the best sound without taking out a bank loan.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Epos)5. Epos H3Pro Hybrid
A high-end gaming headset with lots of options
Drivers: 40mm | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, USB, 3.5mm | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Removeable microphone, flip-to-mute, active noise cancelling | Weight: 308g | Battery life: 38 hours Bluetooth, 30 hours 2.4GHz
Works with everythingMusic sounds amazingComfortable for long wearActive noise cancellingDetachable boom mute micMic could be betterExpensiveEpos has launched out of the gate swinging with its own lineup of high-end headsets, and the H3Pro Hybrid is a testament to that. It's a premium headset with a whole lot of functionality, and that's going to interest anyone with multiple devices but only time for one headset in their life.
What you're getting is a gaming headset with an included microphone. Okay, good start. Though it's wireless, of course, and uses 2.4GHz via a dongle or Bluetooth to any device that supports it. Furthermore, it can be connected via USB for audio or a 3.5mm jack.
The key here is that flexibility in connectivity also transfers to the headset's design. It's lightweight, compact, and well-built for travel. The built-in microphone is also removable and can be replaced with a little magnetic cover. That means you can get up from your PC, disconnect the microphone, and have the headset connect to your phone for seamless and easy travel. No more looking a weirdo on the bus with your gaming headset mic at the ready.
Everything that’s removable, like the plush ear pads and mic are easy to do so without feeling like you might be breaking it. As a bonus, they go back just as simply so it never feels like you’re putting too much pressure forcing things in. That's especially true of the mic with its excellent magnetic hold, which you can replace with an equally easy to use cover when not in use.
As a one stop solution that does an excellent job and any task I give it that price becomes a bit easier to swallow.
That last point actually ended up being a bigger deal than I expected, because these headphones sound really good. Even for music. They’re a really nice set of wireless headphones I’m happy to wear for more than just gaming. They have a good range and quality of sound, and can get exceptionally loud without losing quality.
The control on the side is also really nice for granular changes so I found myself picking up even subtle little noises I might otherwise miss in music. I make and mix the music for my ambient sci-fi radio show podcast, Blockbuster Station, on an iPad, and even noticed a similar effect hearing my own music back through these via Bluetooth.
The real kicker with the headset is the price, and $279 for a gaming headset is no small amount of savings to offer up. Given the extreme versatility, an argument can be made that this is more than one headset for your money. I can use this headset with every single piece of kit I’ve tried and it’s worked well each time. As a one stop solution that does an excellent job and any task I give it that price becomes a bit easier to swallow.
Read our full Epos H3Pro Hybrid review.
Image 1 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)Image 2 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)Image 3 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)Image 4 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)Image 5 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)Image 6 of 6(Image credit: Corsair)6. Corsair HS70
The best budget wireless gaming headset
Drivers: 50mm neodymium dynamic | Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Available in black or white finishes, detachable mic | Weight: 314g | Battery life: 16 hours
Great constructionNo-nonsense packagePoor battery lifeThis is great work from Corsair. The company has channeled all its expertise from higher-end models and somehow kept costs right down without compromising... well, anything detectable. If you'd told us the HS70 was a more expensive headset when we first unboxed it, we'd believe you.
Aesthetically, they’re a breath of fresh air. There’s no RGB here, the minimal amount of plastic is soft to the touch, the leather memory foam headband is embroidered in an array of different colors, and the overall feel is sturdy. These can take a hit, that’s for sure. There’s the usual height adjustment on them, but that’s it.
And that build quality is what baffles us about the HS70's lower-end pricing, though—they feel sturdy enough to last years but are still light on the head and well-padded. The slightly under-padded headband is the only exception. We're not wholly on board with the perforated metallic finish on the earcups either, but that's a small price to pay for nailing everything that counts.
Stereo spread and overall sound articulation are the highlights here. 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers drive both earcups, and although they only come packing a 20Hz–20kHz frequency response, they’re some of the most well-balanced coils we’ve ever seen from the gaming market.
They feel sturdy enough to last years but are still light on the head and well-padded.
Equal even to HyperX’s now legendary Cloud series. Everything is crisp, everything is clear, they’re not too bass heavy, there’s very little distortion, and the mids don’t fall flat—it’s all very nice. They're tuned in line with the modern trend for flatter EQs and thus better versatility when you close down PUBG and bring up that doom metal playlist you've been working on in Spotify.
So, then, drawbacks? Well, apart from the lack of rotational movement, and no RGB for the, er, enthusiasts, you’re still limited to a 16-hour battery life before you need to recharge, and there’s no dock or the like. On top of that, the 7.1 virtual surround sound still kind of sucks, even in films and games. It’s just too synthetic, and you can tell—but, then, that is an optional extra; you don’t have to enable it.
Ultimately, for the price, these cans are classy as hell, sound incredible, and are comfortable to boot. It’s hard not to love them.
Read our full Corsair HS70 SE review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Xbox )Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Xbox )Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Xbox )Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Xbox )7. Xbox Wireless Headset
The best Bluetooth headset for Xbox and PC
Drivers: 40mm neodymium | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Xbox Wireless Protocol | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Bendable boom with dual mics | Weight: 311g | Battery Life: 15 Hours
Good ValueNice, minimalist designSolid Stereo SoundWeak battery lifeThe long-awaited Xbox Wireless Headset definitely does not disappoint. We knew that Microsoft's first wireless gaming headset was going to be ambitious; little did we know that it was also going to be one of the best budget wireless headsets for gaming at $100.
The audio is surprisingly good for the money, if not exactly spectacular. But the battery life is at the lower end of their peers, but being able to get four hours of juice from a 30-minute charge is pretty clutch and makes up for not having 3.5mm connections. One interesting feature for Xbox users is that you can connect the headset to your phone and your console simultaneously. This means you can hop onto Discord on your phone and hear your teammates WHILE still getting game audio from your Xbox.
If you're a PC and Xbox Series X/S owner, the Xbox Wireless Headset, much like the Xbox Wireless controller, is a well-made piece of kit worth investing in that won't let you down or hurt your wallet. It's an easy-to-use Bluetooth headset that works well on multiple devices (except PS5s), and that isn't an easy trick to pull off.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Future)8. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The best multi-device wireless headset
Drivers: 40mm | Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, | Frequency response: 10–40,000Hz | Features: Game DAC with 2 USB Type-C inputs, 2x 3.5mm audio in/out, Bluetooth and wireless simultaneous connection | Weight : 338g | Battery Life: 30 hours (swappable batteries)
Smashing bass and audio qualityIntuitive and informative new Sonar parametric EQComfortable, light, and highly adjustableDAC is an amp and fast-charging spare battery dockNoise cancellation for mic and ear cupsCan only skip or pause music with headset buttons over BluetoothFrightfully loud glitch noises when going out of rangeAI noise canceling is a bit weak at the momentSteelSeries' Arctis Nova Pro wireless gaming headset comes in with an entirely new design, a far cry from previous Arctis models. That's not just in terms of audio and quality of life features, but also style and overall craftsmanship. The Nova nomenclature comes from the Latin novus, meaning new. Appropriate for a gaming headset that manages to branch out into somewhat uncharted territory, though you'll be paying a premium for the privilege of gaming at the cutting edge. Think in the region of $350 (£330).
In order to make that price worth it, SteelSeries' plan is to make the Arctis Nova Pro your 'everything' headset—not just the one you use for gaming. The real champion feature here is the multi-system connect feature, which lets you connect to two different devices via 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth simultaneously. The freedom to listen to a podcast on your cell while playing games on your PC, then switch off the Wi-Fi and walk out the door, listening uninterrupted, is kind of revolutionary for SteelSeries, though there are many out there that offer it.
The Arctis Nova Pro's made even more portable with a pair of hot-swappable, lithium-ion batteries. These charge up in under an hour slotted into the side of the ESS Sabre Quad-DAC, or through USB Type-C charging cable connected to the headset. I've not had to plug in once in the month I've had it; I just swap the battery over when one's about to die, which takes a good two and a half days of full use.
Perfect peripherals(Image credit: Colorwave)Best gaming mouse: the top rodents for gaming
Best gaming keyboard: your PC's best friend...
Best gaming headset: don't ignore in-game audioThe Nova pro beats out every headset on our list when it comes to quality of life features, but it's also a heck of a lot more expensive than your average wireless gaming headset. Still, the absolute torrent of functionality really has me wanting to recommend the Nova Pro.
The DAC for both the PlayStation and Xbox versions is well designed (each one's slightly different looking) and keeps a lot of these settings close at hand so you can switch them around in the game, without alt-tabbing out. On both, there's a 3.5mm line in and out, as well as two USB Type-C connections for a 'first in gaming' multi-system connection, so you can keep your PlayStation 5 and your PC connected at all times.
The Nova pro beats out every headset on our list when it comes to quality of life features, but it's also a heck of a lot more expensive than your average wireless gaming headset. here
Also, the DAC serves as a 96kHz/24-bit amplifier, similar to that of the Arctis Pro + which also touts a wide 10-40kHz frequency response. Coupled with the Sonar equalizer, the quality of the newly designed drivers becomes immensely clear.
On the one hand, you could bag this super high-spec gaming headset that's been thoughtfully redesigned considering the successes and failures of previous generations; or you could essentially pay yourself $100 dollars to get a cheaper gaming headset, but forgo the utterly untethered, exemplary connectivity and sheer craftsmanship of the Nova Pro. Honestly, I'd rather blow the full $350, and screw the Nova Pro to my head for good.
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review.
Wireless gaming headset FAQ
How do you test wireless gaming headsets?
Many of the qualities you’re looking for from a wireless headset are the same you’d hope to find in any audio equipment—tone, build quality, and reliability leading the charge. As such, we listen to each review model while playing different genres of games, listening to music, and watching movies with bombastic sound effects and surround mixes—think less Werner Herzog, more Chris Nolan.
There are a few wireless-specific elements we need to test for, too: battery life, charge time, range, and latency. The former is pretty self-explanatory, though, in addition to an ‘everyday use’ battery life test, we also run the headset at full volume to discover how quickly the charge drains under those conditions. To ascertain charge time, we… well, we charge the headsets and note how long it takes.
Range and latency are trickier to test scientifically. However, having a pleasant walk around the house gives a good indication of range, and latency ultimately comes down to perception. After several days of use, we’re in an excellent place to make the call on a headset with all that taken into account.
Are wireless headphones okay for gaming?
There are some for whom nanoseconds do matter, or at least are perceived to, and they may wish to steer clear of wireless headphones, but for the majority of us, there is little problem with the best wireless gaming headsets today.
Unless you connect via Bluetooth, however. That is the laggiest of current wireless connections, with a 2.4GHz wireless interface able to deliver the audio performance that won't get in the way of your game.
Are wireless gaming headsets more expensive?
The sad fact is that you are likely to be paying a premium for a wireless version of any product. You have to factor in the extra design, the extra connectivity peripherals (the wireless dongle, etc.), and the fact you now have to have a battery.
Are wireless gaming headsets heavier than wired ones?
Generally, because of that added battery, you will find that a wireless version of a gaming headset will weigh slightly more than its wired equivalent. Taking the number two on the list, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro weighs 42g more than the wired, non-Pro version.
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Unfinity is the next un-set—a collection of unusual and unbalanced cards designed for non-competitive play—coming to Magic: The Gathering. It's themed around a retro sci-fi take on carnivals and circuses called Myra the Magnificent's Intergalactic Astrotorium of Fun, a traveling amusement park made of interconnected spaceships.
Traditionally un-sets contain cards that bend or outright break the normal rules of Magic and fair play, or break the fourth wall to interact with players. The first un-set, 1998's Unglued, included a card called Prismatic Wardrobe that could destroy any other card as long as it didn't share a color with the clothes being worn by its controller. Unglued also gave us I'm Rubber, You're Glue, which let you retarget a spell or ability at the cost of having to speak in rhyme from then on.
The card from Unfinity PC Gamer is revealing, Opening Ceremony, isn't quite so bizarre or likely to get you slapped in the face.
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)A six-mana red sorcery, Opening Ceremony gives you one mana of every color, including colorless, then lets you open a booster pack of new Magic cards, which you can cast any of until the end of the current turn. Unfinity is designed with drafts in mind (though it's the first un-set to also be available in Collector boosters, which will contain 100% foil cards), so it's fair to assume you'll have an unopened booster pack nearby when you play it. Hope you draw something good!
I love these kind of meta-level shenanigans. There are several existing cards that let you choose a card you already own from outside the game to play, like the various Wish spells, but I particularly like Last-Minute Chopping. This Christmas-themed holiday promo card lets you ask an opponent for a present, which they can either respond to by saying "yes" and putting a card they own but aren't using in this game into your hand, or saying "no" and letting you take control of one of their permanents. The king of this nonsense isn't a Magic card, but rather the Copyright Violation card for On the Edge. Already a deeply weird game about conspiracy theories battling for control of reality, Copyright Violation made On the Edge even weirder by letting you play a card from a completely different game, counting the first three numbers that appeared on it as the cost, attack, and defense.
One of Unfinity's other oddball cards revealed so far is Killer Cosplay, which lets you turn a creature into a copy of another creature that costs the same amount of mana—that's any creature with the same cost, so I hope you've got a good memory or your opponent is happy with you googling stats mid-game.
There are apparently plenty of cards in Unfinity that involve die-rolling (which Adventures in the Forgotten Realms made great use of), as another revealed card, a 1/1 creature card depicting goblins on holiday called The Space Family Goblinson, gets a +1/+1 whenever you roll a die and gains trample on any turn where you roll three dice or more.
The set also introduces a new creature type for robots, as the amusement park is staffed by robotic clowns. The Assembled Ensemble card combos with them to gain power equal to the number of robots you control, and lets you create a 1/1 white Clown Robot any time you cast a spell that has an artifact creature somewhere in its artwork.
So yes, it is a silly set. The creative team for Unfinity included comedy writers Sean 'Seanbaby' Reiley, and Kathleen De Vere, Cameron Lauder, and Graham Stark of LoadingReadyRun, who are responsible for the Magic-themed internet sitcom Friday Nights. Unfinity was originally scheduled for release on April Fool's Day, but had to be delayed thanks to Covid. It'll now be released on the less-humorous date of October 7.
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Left-handed mice are sometimes hard to track down. So many options out there are only made for right-handed users; you might not even realize there were left-handed mice out there. If you need a left-handed mouse, there are some impressive left-handed versions of popular mice as well as ambidextrous ones to support you.
When using a mouse with the 'wrong' hand, you absolutely feel it. The ergonomics are all wrong, the side button arrangements are a nightmare, and using your left hand on a right-handed (and vice-versa) feels really bad. You can get used to such arrangements, of course, but using a mouse that has been designed for your preference feels so much better. So much more natural.
Though options are limited, there are still a handful of excellent gaming mice for lefties. You might notice that left-hander versions of some mice have lower stock and, in some cases, might be a hair more expensive at retail (I call it a lefty tax). So make sure to also look into ambidextrous mice by popular manufacturers like Razer, Logitech, and Corsair. They have fewer features, but they are comfortable to use, and the buttons can be customized to your liking.
Best left-handed gaming mouse
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Logitech)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Logitech)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Logitech)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Logitech)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Logitech)1. Logitech G903
The best wireless left-handed mouse
DPI: 12,000 | Sensor: Optical PMW3366 | Battery: 32Hrs (w/o RGB) Li-ION | Interface: USB | Buttons: 11 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 107g (3.1oz)
Removable buttonsGreat ergonomics and battery lifeVery satisfying clickLacks storage space for the dongleFavors larger handsThe Logitech G903 is not strictly a left-handed mouse, but it has to be in contention with its ambidextrous design. That and the fact that it's still one of the best gaming mice ever made, even so long after its initial launch.
Starting with the design, it's a really comfortable shape that fits the hand well and houses removable thumb buttons that can be changed according to the user (should you ever have a right-handed person usurp your mouse from you).
Said thumb buttons, and the others on the pointer, have the best click I’ve ever tested: satisfying to push, feel, and hear. On top, its metal scroll wheel can click side-to-side and spin freely for 15 seconds—though you can use it as a notched button if you prefer. It uses Logitech’s tried and tested (and incredibly accurate) 12,000 DPI sensor, too.
Overall, the G903 is a quality wireless option for lefties that will serve you just as well, if not slightly better, than some wired alternatives. It's also compatible with Logitech's wireless charging kit, though that adds a significant premium onto the already pricey package. But, having said that, you could even plug it in and use it as a wired mouse if you prefer. You weirdo.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Razer)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Razer)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Razer)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Razer)2. Razer Naga Left-handed Edition
The best MMO mouse for lefties
DPI: 20,000 | Sensor: Razer Focus+ optical sensor | Interface: USB | Buttons: 19+1 programmable buttons | Ergonomic: Left-handed | Weight: 109g (3.8oz)
Dedicated left-hand designSooo many buttonsOnly one choice of button layoutChunky and heavyThe Razer Naga has long been the go-to MMO mouse of choice, but resolutely inaccessible for left-handed gamers. There's no way you could squeeze all those buttons onto an ambidextrous design. Thankfully Razer has created the online-exclusive Naga Left-Handed Edition which caters purely for the sinister southpaws.
Form and function-wise it is identical to the right-handed Naga design, which means that MMO or MOBA gamers have an otherwise unprecedented volume of programmable buttons at their finger and thumbtips. The sad thing is that it lacks the swappable button panels of the Naga Pro, as 12 button panel can be unwieldy to use effecitvely in the heat of battle.
It's also a rather chunky and relatively heavy mouse too, which makes it more of a specialised weapon than a daily driver of a gaming rodent. But it is one of the very few gaming mice designed purely with left-handers in mind, and in a many-buttoned use case that previously passed them by. And that means it's a must for this list.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Razer)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Razer)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Razer)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Razer)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Razer)3. Razer Viper
Best lightweight left-handed mouse for esports
DPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical 5G | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 69g (2.4oz)
Super lightweight frameVery comfortable16K DPI and 5G sensorNot for palm grip gamersSide buttons can be tricky to pressYou can always argue for bigger and more so far as gaming mice are concerned, but Razer wisely takes the path less traveled here. The Razer Viper is a scalpel of a pointer with absolutely no excess to weigh it down. That extends to its spartan design and the impressive, cutting-edge tech inside.
The Viper offers an exceptionally smooth glide, coming in at just 69g and with a 16,000 DPI 5G sensor. Its optical switches are the real headline act, though. These are supposed to triple actuation speed and provide nearly instantaneous responses to every click. This results in blindingly fast action, making the Viper perfect for esports.
Its ambidextrous design is also comfortable for the claw grip gamer, but because of its diminutive scale, it can take a little getting used to for those who prefer an all-encompassing palm grip.
Image 1 of 3Logitech G Pro Wireless (Image credit: LOGITECH)Image 2 of 3Logitech G Pro Wireless bottom view (Image credit: LOGITECH)Image 3 of 3Logitech G Pro Wireless bottom view of dongle storage (Image credit: LOGITECH)4. Logitech G Pro Wireless
Logitech's simple, classic wireless ambidextrous rodent
DPI: 16,000 | Sensor: Optical HERO 16K | Battery: 40Hrs | Interface: Wireless and USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 81g (2.9oz)
Swappable componentsExcellent designExtremely lightProprietary USB charging cableThe G Pro Wireless is peerless for cord-free pointers, packing Logitech's excellent 16,000 DPI HERO sensor and the kind of latency-free experience you'd expect from a wired mouse. It's incredibly light, sitting just over the 80g weight mark, but it doesn't feel cheap or disposable, unlike some more lightweight mice. Instead, it's crafted of high-quality materials and exhibits performance to match.
Logitech designed every component in the G Pro Wireless to be as light and durable as possible, including shaving down the thickness of the chassis' side walls without sacrificing composition or density. Judging from the multiple hard tumbles, the G Pro has survived from my desk; it's a very sturdy kit.
It also boasts a healthy 40 hours of battery life and is customizable, with buttons on the side panels that can be removed and traded out for smooth inserts, if that's your preference. You could also pair the G Pro with Logitech's Powerplay charging mat and never worry about running out of juice again. The only real downside is the price tag: at around $120, the G Pro isn't cheap, but it can fully justify that cost with quality.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Corsair)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Corsair)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Corsair)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Corsair)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Corsair)5. Corsair M55 RGB Pro
This budget ambidextrous pointer delivers the goods
DPI: 12,400 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 89 g (3.1oz)
Comfortable, sleek designSmooth glideLightweightSlightly spongy clickSide grips feel cheapScroll wheel is hard to reach with fingertip gripThis isn’t Corsair’s first rodeo when it comes to ambidextrous mice. It had a go in 2015 with the Katar, a bulky vision in gray that’s long-since been pulled from shelves. The M55 stands head-and-shoulders above it in almost every way. To start with, it has a far superior CPI count of 12,400 compared to its predecessor’s 8,000. Secondly, it drops the Katar’s Darth Vader-esque grill for a black design that has more in common with the Corsair Harpoon. It’s understated. Chic.
The M55 RGB Pro is comfortable underhand, too. Although its tear-drop shape may feel strange to those who haven’t used an ambidextrous mouse before, you quickly become used to it. The matte shell is also pleasantly grippy, which means you’re never less than in complete control.
Flaws are lurking beneath the M55’s attractive shell, such as a slight stiffness to its click action: its Omron switches are very slightly resistant—a colleague described it as "spongey." But while there's not a great deal to rave or complain about, it’s available for such an affordable price that it's definitely worth a look.
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Read the full Corsair M55 RGB Pro review.
Best gaming keyboard | Best gaming PC | Best gaming chair
Best VR headset | Best wireless gaming mouse | Best wireless gaming keyboardImage 1 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)Image 2 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)Image 3 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)Image 4 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)Image 5 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)Image 6 of 6(Image credit: Steelseries)6. SteelSeries Sensei 310
A comfortable, underrated all-rounder
DPI: 12,000 | Sensor: Optical | Interface: USB | Buttons: 8 | Ergonomic: Ambidextrous | Weight: 92g (3.2oz)
Light at 92 gramsGreat design with good grips and materialsNon-braided cableSoftware isn't the easiest to useBest gaming mouse(Image credit: Razer, Corsair)For a deeper look at what the best mice are for gaming check out our best gaming mouse list.
This is an underrated mouse that has benefited from a complete overhaul of its predecessor. Almost all of the Sensei 310 is brand new, apart from the excellent ambidextrous shape, and that's exactly how it should be. The Sensei’s design is now easy to grip and won’t feel weird if you have hot or sweaty palms.
The shape is wonderfully comfortable and will be ideal for those looking for a mid-sized pointer for their machine. It has a pair of thumb buttons on both sides, identical in arrangement and placing. These may well get in the way for either a left- or right-handed user, but because of the redesign, they are both near enough to be used but just out of the way enough to avoid accidental clicking.
Anyone looking for a mid-sized and light-enough option should consider the Sensei 310.
Left-handed gaming mouse FAQ
Are there dedicated left-handed gaming mice?
Most gaming mice are either made specifically to fit in the dominant right hand of the majority of users, or are designed to be as comfortable in either hand as possible. But, because of the smaller target audience, there are few that are made to cater for a purely left-handed ergonomic.
Razer has created a left-handed version of the popular Naga, however, which is a smart choice given its many-button design cannot work in an ambidextrous layout.
Are ambidextrous mice good?
The general consensus is that an ambidextrous mouse—those designed to be used with either left or right hands—are best suited to gamers who favor a claw or fingertip grip style. Those who prefer a palm grip, where they lay their entire hand on the mouse, can find them less comfortable than a mouse designed specifically for their dominant hand.
Can you switch a mouse to be left-handed?
You can reconfigure the left and right mouse buttons from within Windows itself. From inside 'Settings,' click on 'Devices,' click on 'Mouse,' and use the 'Select your primary button' drop down to configure the main button.
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Many Overwatch players were frustrated that heroes in the sequel won't be free for everyone like they are in the first game, limiting your ability to swap heroes mid-match. Blizzard's reasoning for the change was that most people don't swap and that the game is designed so that you don't have to as often. Despite this, a new ability that encourages you to change heroes suggests that it will remain an important part of the game.
Blizzard detailed a list of balance changes coming to Overwatch 2 when it launches free-to-play in a few weeks. Many of the changes are responses to feedback and testing from the game's two closed betas and the ongoing professional play in the Overwatch League.
The biggest changes in the list are part of Overwatch 2's new role passives, or buffs given to all heroes across its three roles: tank, damage, and support. In the June beta, damage characters—the most popular role in the game—were given a passive that lets them keep up to 30% of their ultimate charge when the player swaps from one hero to another. This helps encourage players to swap to a better hero when the situation calls for it.
Now, every role will have this passive. If Reinhardt isn't cutting it but you've built up 80% of his ult, you can now swap over to Roadhog and start at 30% charge. Mercy players can put the staff down and pick up Lucio and not reset their progress, too. In the post, Blizzard said the change was requested by players. "After continued testing, we agree, and are making a change so the entire roster should have access to the hero swap passive as we launch," Blizzard wrote.
The ability encourages players to engage with Overwatch's hero swapping metagame, where heroes have rock-paper-scissors interactions that can be countered on-the-fly: if one hero gets countered by another, you can always switch on your next respawn.
Blizzard giving players more reasons to swap heroes is a bit surprising given that, just last week, while defending its decision to lock new heroes behind the freemium battle pass and potentially disrupt this strategy, it said most players simply don't swap. Game director Aaron Keller told PC Gamer in a group interview that "when you look at the data, of how often people switch heroes and how many heroes they typically play at one time, the majority of our players play a relatively small number of heroes."
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)Blizzard's argument is, essentially, that it's not a big deal if players don't have access to every hero, because most just stick to a few mains anyways.
"You look at how people are actually playing the game there, [and] they're using a couple of heroes for most of how they play," commercial lead and VP of Blizzard Jon Spector said in the same interview. "And then sometimes they'll swap and they'll add in a couple more heroes. And so when we go and we say, 'Is it actually going to impact the play experience if someone has 34 out of 35 heroes?' When we look at the data, we feel really confident that it's not going to."
Keller explained that the team is "trying to take some of those really hard rock-paper-scissors interactions out of the game," and consolidate those tactical options on individual heroes.
With the new passive ability, Blizzard seems to be trying to have it both ways: Hero swapping is evidently still important enough to encourage with a new hero passive, but it's also no big deal to the type of players who will grind for weeks (or pay $10 seasonally) to have a complete roster.
Despite losing its lead hero designer earlier this year, Overwatch 2 plans to release heroes at a fast rate: one every other nine-week season, with new support hero Kiriko at launch and a new tank in December. Overwatch 2 will release and replace the original game on October 4.
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Gaming leaks: They happen. Sometimes they're the result of hackers and dataminers, other times they're caused by rogue employees or contractors, and occasionally they're the result of a simple accident like someone pushing the wrong button or emailing the wrong person. However they happen, leaks in videogamedom are real and surprisingly frequent.
Videogame leaks have led to screenshots, videos, code, and even playable versions of entire games bolting from the barn ahead of schedule. Fan reaction can cover a broad spectrum: Excitement over a game that looks great, caution due to potential spoilers, or disappointment that a game—even though it's not out yet—doesn't live up to expectations.
And for developers and publishers, leaks aren't just an ongoing problem but a real source of concern, not just from a security standpoint but from the judgement that comes from people seeing their unfinished work. Do you have a first draft of a novel somewhere on your computer? Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and discovered the whole world was reading it and pointing out all its flaws.
Below we've collected some of the biggest and most notable leaks in PC gaming history, from upcoming games like GTA 6 to blockbusters like Mass Effect 3 to older gems like 2003's original Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl.
Grand Theft Auto 6
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)In September, Rockstar Games suffered a "network intrusion" that lead to around 90 videos of in-development GTA 6 footage being leaked to the internet. The footage, which was verified as genuine by Rockstar, confirmed a few rumors about the game, like that it will feature the series' first female protagonist and take place in Vice City.
The footage mostly consisted of short clips in debug mode, though a few longer sequences, like a diner robbery and a chat with a conspiracy theorist, were also revealed. While the overall story, most character details, and major missions were not spoiled, this hack still represents a major breach of one of biggest gaming companies making one of the most highly anticipated games ever, and it's pretty shocking a hacker was able to access so much information and material.
The same hacker may be responsible for a major hack of Uber around the same time. The FBI is already investigating.
Pretty much every Assassin's Creed game ever
(Image credit: Ubisoft)Ubisoft has a long, long history of leaks of its games, especially when it comes to the Assassin's Creed series. Most recently, details about multiple upcoming AC games were leaked ahead of 2022's Ubisoft Forward presentation, including Mirage, Infinity, and a game code-named Assassin's Creed Red set in Japan.
These particular leaks were the result of a YouTuber who'd signed an NDA with Ubisoft but released the details of the games on a secondary twitter account, for... reasons? Anyway, he got busted.
But this certainly wasn't the first time an Assassin's Creed game was revealed before it was intended to. Originally code-named Assassin's Creed: Victory, details about the game that would become Assassin's Creed: Syndicate leaked well in advance of the launch. Assets included gameplay videos and the revelation that the game would take place in Victorian London.
Leaks are nothing new for Ubisoft, whose sprawling operation on several continents and scores of employees (ever watched the credits for a Ubi game?) apparently make it nigh-impossible to keep a lid on their business. Games like Watch Dogs 2, The Division, Far Cry Primal, and other AC games have all had information leaked ahead of schedule.
Crysis 2
(Image credit: Crytek)A full month before its release date in 2011, a nearly complete build of Crysis 2, including multiplayer mode and online authentication keys, leaked onto a number of torrent sites. While it was buggy and contained a number of placeholder assets, it was still reportedly playable start-to-finish.
Lamentably, Crysis 2 went on to become the most pirated game of the year, and while it's suspected that the leak came from an employee of either Crytek or EA, the culprit has never been publicly identified.
The Witcher 3
(Image credit: CD Project)The highly anticipated third entry into CD Projekt Red's The Witcher series was preceded by a massive info leak after the Google Drive contents of an employee was made public. Among the leaked files lay secrets about the RPG's story, enemies, quests, notes on "boob physics," and even the game's multiple endings.
The temptation to dive into the details of such an eagerly awaited game must have been enormous for fans, but we hope you managed to enjoy the surprises anyway. This wasn't The Witcher's first brush with leaks: several gameplay videos of The Witcher 2 were also spilled ahead of schedule.
Mass Effect 3
(Image credit: BioWare)After an early build of Mass Effect 3 somehow leaked onto Xbox Live, dataminers dove into the code and resurfaced with a copy of the unfinished script. Lots of people had a look, a naturally lots of them then immediately began complaining about the contents.
Still, feedback is feedback. BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka said they take fan feedback seriously, even if their fans are offering notes on a script they weren't supposed to see. Among the changes made to the final script may have been a few rewrites based on the notes they received on their leaked version.
Doom 3
(Image credit: id)In late 2002, over a year before its actual release, a demo of Doom 3 shown at that year's E3 was leaked onto the internet, allowing those who downloaded it to play the intro sequence and several early levels of the game.
According to a memo supposedly written by John Carmack (which, if real, was also leaked), the source of the leak was an employee at ATI, who was later fired as a result. None of that is confirmed, though, and whether the leak was accidental or deliberate isn't known.
Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source
(Image credit: Valve)Originally planned for September of 2003, we wouldn't see the release of the Half-Life sequel until a full 13 months later after Valve's network was cracked and the source code, maps, models, and playable builds of HL2 and Counter-Strike: Source were stolen and leaked.
The culprits were eventually arrested by German authorities after Gabe Newell pretended he was interested in hiring one of the hackers to work at Valve and obtained his contact information. The trial resulted in a two year probationary sentence for one of the hackers, and Half-Life 2 wasn't officially released until November of 2004.
StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm
(Image credit: Blizzard)The expansion for Blizzard's StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty was released in March of 2013, but part of it arrived ahead of schedule. A video of the ending of the single-player campaign was leaked before the expansion itself landed. While it was a rough animatic without lip-syncing and containing some placeholder storyboards, it was still a massive spoiler for the story.
While Blizzard wouldn't confirm it was genuine, lawyers quickly issued cease and desist letters to sites hosting the video, which is was a pretty strong indication the leak was the real deal.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
(Image credit: Activision)Back in May of 2011, Kotaku received a ton of information on the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, roughly six months before it was scheduled for release and before it had even been officially announced. This info included details of the story, screenshots, and details about the game's weapons, levels, and modes, apparently from multiple sources within the developer and publisher.
In response, the developers had to accelerate their own marketing plan, and immediately released a number of trailers for the game.
Dishonored 2
(Image credit: Arkane Studios)We learned of the existence of Dishonored 2 in a rather embarrassing way: while rehearsing its first ever E3 press conference, Bethesda broadcast—live on Twitch, no less—a conversation between members of Arkane Studios (developer of Dishonored) that mentioned Harvey Smith (director of Dishonored).
After a few minutes of chatter someone finally realized it was going live over the internet and shut it down, but it was too late: a couple thousand fans had been listening the whole time.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
(Image credit: Blizzard)Before taking part in a closed alpha, participants are often required to agree not to share details of their experiences. What's harder is actually making sure they abide by that agreement, as with World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Prior to the expansion's appearance at BlizzCon, one alpha tester posted huge amounts information about Cataclysm online, including screenshots and videos, details on character classes and races, dungeons, and other features.
The information was removed after Blizzard issued a takedown, reminding the player that 'NDA' stands for non-disclosure agreement and is, y'know, legally binding.
Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)In 2003, a pre-alpha for Stalker (which wouldn't even come out for another four years) was leaked onto P2P networks, and while it took some configuration to get working and was missing things like enemies and animals, it was still playable.
Ironically, the mod called Lost Alpha, which attempted to restore the game to its pre-release promise, was also leaked ahead of time by beta testers, forcing the modders to release their work early and ruining their plans for it to become an official paid expansion.
This article was originally published in 2015 and has since been updated.
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Like a great mystery novel, my favorite moments in Beacon Pines are when I know what's about to happen.
Early on, main character Luka VanHorn attempts to thwart his best friend's older sister from dragging him home for chores instead of exploring a creepy warehouse together by being "a little chill." That strategy fails spectacularly, but it was my only option at the time. In a later scene, I collect a new Mad-Libs-like word choice "'frack'" and I instantly realize that being "a little 'frack'" to Roxy is going to work way better. And so it does.
This is the first major decision that splits the choose-your-own style adventure Beacon Pines down the center. It's just a bit more interactive than a full-on visual novel—mostly walking, talking, and inspecting objects—but with a cozy horror level of intensity. The stakes of the plot perhaps wind up a bit over the cozy line by the time it's said and done, but come on. Look at it.
(Image credit: Hiding Spot, Fellow Traveller)Beacon Pines looks cute off the cuff, populated with animal characters and its paintbrush storybook aesthetic, but like the town itself has darker layers underneath. Not too dark and not too scary, but it's definitely a story about swearing pre-teens, grief, bullying, and the sticky insecurities of friendship. Luka's mom is missing, Rolo's family farm is struggling, and their fresh third accomplice Beck resents always being the new kid because of her mom's job.
Beacon Pines is a farming and former factory town in the middle of vaguely North American nowhere. And as happens with old factory towns, a shiny new corporation Perennial Harvest has swooped in to rebuild, re-employ, and slap its name on the local festival. But people are going missing. And the old Valentine Fertilizer warehouse is glowing with a spooky green light at night, which is definitely not the only secret it's hiding.
The story's the main attraction here since there's no combat and little true sleuthing. As you progress through dialogue you'll unlock new "charms," words to use at those critical turning points that split the story off into actual branches along the visual story tree in the Chronicle book. It's not particularly puzzling though. Oftentimes I've got one choice available to me, which will lead to a path down the story where I pick up another charm in a main conversation, which allows me to unlock a new path from another juncture. It isn't a traditional adventure game about pixel-hunting or solving riddles, more a guided tour through a non-linear spooky story.
(Image credit: Hiding Spot, Fellow Traveller)As a result of that tight control, Beacon Pines has structured its story in a way that's near guaranteed to play out in a satisfying order. It didn't allow me to bull through to an end point and spoil the twists for myself before I came back to find a new path. It slowly spiraled me outward, uncovering dead ends almost in layers as I crept towards its conclusion. It does a swell job of teasing its twists: one I proudly guessed and another I absolutely didn't.
All throughout, the non-omniscient narrator, voiced by Kirsten Mize, absolutely sells the storybook experience. Her voice pairs so well with the visual aesthetic, soothing through most points of the story and getting excited or frustrated at its many false endings.
Beacon Pines has a fondness for putting dialogue in all-caps and a style of quippy teen banter that will hit or miss based on personal taste. Behind that sly, self-aware veneer, it's genuinely a more empathetic story about 12-year-olds navigating friendship and loss than I had anticipated.
I spent about six hours with Beacon Pines, front to back, and likely left a secret or two on the table but did get through its major endings to finally arrive at the one true twist. Your best bet is giving the demo a try over on the Beacon Pines Steam page, which will take you through the first half hour or so of the story to make sure its blend of wry teen dramady works for you. Beacon Pines properly launches tomorrow, September 22.
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The head of Deep Silver parent company Embracer Group admitted today that the recent Saints Row reboot didn't meet his expectations, but said that his long-term view of the series remains unchanged.
Saints Row landed with a bit of a plop when it arrived in August. Bugs were a big problem, and even before release the game was beset with predictable complaints that the new crew was too young, hip, and/or diverse. Being an Epic Games Store exclusive probably didn't help it gain word-of-mouth exposure on PC at launch. The Epic Games Store page for the game registers a 3.8/5 "Epic Player Rating," that praises it as "Extremely Fun" and "Highly Recommended," but also highlights a "Weak" OpenCritic rating aggregated from publications including IGN, Game Informer, and PC Gamer.
The real issue, though, is simply an overabundance of restraint in comparison to previous Saints Row games. An unavoidable turn of events for a series built on successive excesses, perhaps (the final boss of Saints Row 4: Gat Out of Hell was literally Satan), but still an issue for a franchise that introduced "dildo bat" to the gamer lexicon.
"Compared to spraying sewage on mansions to lower property values or driving a car while being mauled by a tiger who sits in the passenger seat, the reboot's activities seem down to earth," Jody wrote in our 60% review. (As a reminder, a 60% score isn't bad under PC Gamer's review scale: "There’s something here to like, but it can only be recommended with major caveats.")
"Saints Row is always at its best when it cuts loose, when it goes full dubstep-gun stupid, and the reboot forgets that for long stretches. When it remembers, you get things like a storyline in which you take part in a citywide LARP, fighting Mad Max roleplayers with foam weapons while dressed in cardboard armour, and that's the kind of daftness it could do with more of," Jody wrote.
During today's annual general meeting of Embracer Group, the quiet gaming behemoth that owns (among a great many other studios) Saints Row developer Volition and publisher Plaion (formerly Koch Media), CEO Lars Wingefors acknowledged that he'd hoped for something better.
"Obviously, personally I had hoped for a greater reception of the game," Wingefors said. "It's been a very polarized view, and there is a lot of things that could be said and details around it, but I am happy to see a lot of gamers and fans happy. At the same time I'm a bit sad to see also fans not happy. It's difficult."
Wingefors said Saints Row is still "fairly early in [its] release window," and that further bug fixes and new content are coming. The game's overall sales performance will become clearer following the company's quarterly financial report in November, but he expressed confidence that it will ultimately make money.
"Would it have as great a return of investment as we've seen in many other games? Not very likely," Wingefors said. "But we will make money, and that's a very good starting point."
Despite the problems with the reboot, Wingefors said "no" when asked if the relatively poor reception had changed his opinion on the long-term future of the Saints Row series. "You always want every installment of any IP to be greater than the last one," he explained. "[There] is quite a process to evaluate your position, the outcomes, and there's hundreds of people engaged in this game within the group. So I still have great trust in those people, and I'm sure they will recommend things for the future."
And, interestingly, during the Q&A portion of the presentation he implied that the Saints Row series is not a great moneymaker even at the best of times, presumably a reflection of its relatively high development costs: "We all know that Saints Row, for example, is one of the harder ones in terms of return on investment. Now that's a way behind us—and we will make money."
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High-end Swedish watchmaker Anicorn has announced a collaboration with Kojima Productions and NASA, resulting in a beautiful watch called Homo Ludens. It's silver with golden details, with NASA stamped prominently below-centre on the dial, and the Kojima Productions tagline of 'From Sapiens to Ludens' engraved on the outer casing.
Anicorn says that the project's been two years in the making, and it designed the watch under the supervision of Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa. The watch apparently represents "the correlation of Time, Space and Homo Ludens" and Anicorn was "inspired by Ludens to proclaim creativity, imagination and the play element in culture."
Ludens is the name of the Kojima Productions mascot (designed by Shinkawa and representing an astronaut exploring digital space), and no doubt Kojima's delighted that they were able to get the NASA logo on there (the space agency has previously collaborated with Anicorn). The timepiece's design is meant to echo that of the EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity and a nice Evangelion reference) suit, to the extent that the sales material calls it an "EVA Creative Suit on the wrist."
The watch isn't the only thing that's come out of this, oh no. There's a t-shirt with the NASA logo on the front and the Kojima Productions motto on the back with EVA suit details, and also a Ludens sacoche, which is French for bag. They couldn't call it a Ludens bag?
Then the pièce de résistance: "Exclusively included in the Rare Edition, Ludens Mask is a 1:1 life size collectible that is actually wearable—Everyone of us is Ludens."
Yeah you read that right. This thing is called, and it deserves the all-caps, SPACE LUDENS and comes in the Ludens Mask Rare Edition. One hundred of these will be available, and they are produced to a movie props standard (whatever that means, I've seen some pretty bad movie props) through the "Multi Jet Fusion process". Which does sound like rather an exciting way to make a mask.
(Image credit: Anicorn)SPACE LUDENS will be "presented in a special box which contains a metal numbered plate with individual number and a tailored booklet of the collaboration story. Additional special art handling gloves are included in the Rare Edition." Including art handling gloves for a skull mask? This collaboration has some chutzpah alright.
Should you have what I imagine will be several thousand dollars spare, the watch etcetera goes on-sale on 27 September. Anicorn's various collaborations all seem to sell out pretty quickly, and this will be no exception. The rest of us can, I suppose, stare into space.
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As part of the new weekly challenges in Fortnite, you'll need to seek out and use a Mending Machine. Vending machines are nothing new in Fortnite, with Mending Machines dispensing healing items and the Weapon-O-Matic dishing out, well, weapons. You'll need to save up some gold bars and purchase items from a Mending Machine this week, so let's take a look at where to find them.
Where to find Mending Machines in Fortnite
Weapon-O-Matic vending machines can be found in almost every named location and POI across the battle royale map and there's often more than one in each area. There are fewer Mending Machines, though, and they are almost always found near gas stations. There are ten Mending Machines on the map, so here's where you can find them:
- At the centre of Greasy Grove
- South of Tilted Towers
- East of Cloudy Condos
- Northeast of Fort Jonesy
- Northwest of Shimmering Shrine
- In Coney Crossroads
- East of Lustrous Lagoon
- Northwest of Sleepy Sound
- Southeast of the Rave Cave
- West of Logjam Junction
(Image credit: Epic Games)Once you find a Mending Machine, you can choose which type of healing item you need. You choices are:
- Bandage: 10 gold bars
- Small shield potion: 30 gold bars
- Medkit: 50 gold bars
- Patch up: 100 gold bars
- Shield potion: 120 gold bars
You'll also need up to 120 gold bars for top-tier items, which you can get from downed players, completing quests and chests.
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You know the bit before a big battle in Total War? Where you prep for the fight ahead by repositioning your units; setting formations, positioning your lines and just generally making everything nice and organised. The Great War: Western Front has this too. Only, here, the pre-battle phase represents the entire month leading up to the battle. And it's not neat, but rather the brutal reflection of years of ongoing conflict.
You're not just shifting units around. You're preparing the battlefield for the conflict ahead. You'll dig out trenches and protect them with barbed wire. You'll fill those trenches with infantry, and further protect your territory with machine gun nests—creating a killzone to punish any push over no man's land. You're changing the landscape for years to come, in pursuit of a marginal victory that could slowly push the war in your favour.
(Image credit: Frontier)This is a World War 1 RTS, which means victory won't be quick and easy. The mantra for The Great War: Western Front is that this will be a 'battle of inches'—marginal gains that slowly tip the war in your favour. Whether you choose to play as the Allies or the Central Powers, you won't be painting the strategic map in your colour. Instead, you win by grinding down your opponent—taking actions that will deplete their 'National Will'. This is the main resource of the campaign, and if either side lets it drop to zero, they lose the war.
In a hands-off demo, Petroglyph gives me an overview of Theatre Command mode—the grand strategy layer of the campaign. Here, each turn represents a month of the war, and players are presented with events to respond to and missions to undertake. The events are a classic grand strategy affair—a problem with multiple options that have an effect on your various resources. In the demo, we see one about troops suffering from shellshock, and have the option to ignore it—losing National Will but saving money—or to address the issue by spending some cash.
A mission from command requests an assault on Drocourt. If it's completed within three turns, it will mean a big boost to the Allies' National Will. But 'assault' does not mean 'capture'. Rather, the objective is to take hold of a specific control point on the battlefield. If successful, it will reduce the Central Powers' grip on the region—represented by stars on the tile.
(Image credit: Frontier)"We don't want to overwhelm the player with 30 battles per turn," says lead designer Chris Becker. "So what the player can focus on is setting the key battles they want—this might be representative of key battles from history, but the player is defining what those are. We figure the player will have four or five battles every three or four turns, but they're all going to come at once." The idea here is that, if multiple battles happen on the same territory in the same turn, its defenders will suffer a morale penalty—they'll break easier and surrender faster. By attacking from multiple fronts within the same turn, you can reduce its hold and potentially take the area.
Each map is persistent throughout the war. Drocurt's battlefield is already battered and scarred—a sign of previous battles that have been fought here.
"Every turn you don't attack a territory, they'll regain one of their stars back," says Becker. "So if you're going to go for that line, you have to make sure you have a very coordinated assault." This is made easier by the fact that your units aren't limited by movement, and can be placed anywhere on the map once per turn. The era means troops can just get on a train to go where they need to be. And while this might sound strange to grand strategy fans used to worrying about supply lines and logistics, it allows the game to focus on being first-and-foremost an RTS.
Loading into the Drocourt assault, we enter Field Commander mode—where the RTS battles take place. Each map is persistent throughout the war. Drocurt's battlefield is already battered and scarred—a sign of previous battles that have been fought here. Old trenches remain, and are a potential point of vulnerability, meaning the pre-planning phase also needs to take into account what already exists. A sprawling network of trenches only works if you have the manpower to defend it, and so what was strategically valuable in one battle could become a point of weakness in the next.
(Image credit: Frontier)"Each battlefield is represented from one territory to the next," says Becker. "So the territory itself doesn't have a battlefield, but rather has a battlefield it shares with a neighbour. The more you fight on those lines, the more scarring you're going to see. The other one that happens a lot is the trench layouts get more complicated through each battle. That's not just your own, but also the enemy's. You can see the enemy is getting more detailed as you're fighting these battles. But you do have to be careful. If you have too many trenches and you can't fill them all, then your enemy is going to jump in and take advantage of that. So trench layout is very important."
Eye in the sky
In addition to building new trenches and shoring up defences, you can use the planning phase to attack the enemy too—setting up days of advanced artillery shelling in an attempt to create a path for your eventual assault. When the battle begins, an observation balloon reveals what's become of the battlefield. An enemy trench is destroyed, and they're reinforcing their troops—clear sign that the bombardment has had an effect. We also see that the enemy has an observation balloon of their own, and so launch an aerial balloon busting mission to disrupt their intel gathering.
Aircraft are autonomous in The Great War, but will follow the orders that you assign. Here they set about finding and destroying balloons, but there are other missions too. In fact, in response to the balloon busters, the Central Powers launch an air superiority mission to bring them down. The Allies respond in kind, triggering a dogfight for control of the skies.
(Image credit: Frontier)With the air war at a stalemate, the Central Powers launch an assault on our trenches, sending their troops through forests to mask their approach. We launch an artillery strike on the area, but without an exact position to target, some of their men get through. The Central Powers are also shelling our location in an attempt to suppress our forces and neuter our defence. But ultimately the barbed wire and machine guns do their job. The few troops that do survive the rush over no man's land are defeated in melee combat in the trenches.
You can use the planning phase to attack the enemy too—setting up days of advanced artillery shelling in an attempt to create a path for your eventual assault.
Time for a counter-attack. By using control groups, you can set up waves of attacks that will help your push into no man's land. The Allies first send through some tanks to draw fire, before following with the main infantry push. But even if we do make it to the trenches, the enemy will reinforce. This is where the mines come in.
The Great War's tech tree exists on the command level, meaning your options will expand slowly as the years roll on. It's an extensive list that covers everything from infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft, but also espionage, economic upgrades and defensive options. Earlier in the demo, Becker selected the Death From Below option, which unlocks 'undermining'—a rather literal interpretation of the concept.
(Image credit: Frontier)Placed during the pre-battle phase, these mines—literally just a bunch of explosives packed into a tunnel dug under enemy lines—will now make their presence felt. The explosion cuts off the enemy's attempt to reinforce, and also takes out some artillery, reducing the pressure on our push into no man's land. This is further helped by our own artillery, which is now firing a rolling barrage that kicks up a smoke screen to obscure our troops.
As our troops start filtering into their trench line, the battle shifts. With reinforcements cut off, we're able to start clearing out trenches segment by segment—using our specialists, who followed in behind the main push, to make the most of our advantage. The skirmish is all but over, and we capture the control point with little resistance.
At this point the fight could continue, but with the objective complete the Allies call for a ceasefire—ending the battle and, thus, the mission. The result is a great victory—a control point was captured and the Central Powers suffered heavy losses. But even a marginal victory will have an effect on the National Will. At this point in the game, it's 1916. As the years roll on, though, that effect on National Will will become more and more pronounced until eventually you're suffering huge penalties. "Because the game is based on National Will, there's a fixed end," says Becker.
(Image credit: Frontier)With careful, tactical play, you can extend the war, but only up to 1919. "Events towards the end will start being more and more punitive on the National Will—eventually you're just going to run out. Whereas the actual war ended earlier, if a player is playing in a certain way he could theoretically extend it."
There's an inherent danger in basing your game on World War 1. Even here, it's depicted as a war of marginal gains and losses that add up over the years until one side's literal will to fight drains away. But Petroglyph is focusing on the right things—leaning into the brutal battle of attrition, the technological arms race, the years of destruction being written into the battlefields themselves. It's harrowing, but tactically fascinating: an RTS where there's no real winner, just a side that loses the most.
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After seven months of silence, Darks Souls 3 PvP servers on PC finally roared back to life at the end of August. It was fun while it lasted, but it didn't last long, because a month later they're offline again.
Complaints about the gone-again servers began to appear on Steam yesterday, as players complained that they couldn't connect to servers, or in some cases launch the game at all. The problem appeared suddenly and was clearly widespread, but there was no indication about what had happened. The most recent announcement about Dark Souls 3 on Steam was posted in August, announcing the reactivation of servers.
(Image credit: Valve (Steam))A purported FromSoft player support message posted to Reddit yesterday acknowledged that Dark Souls 3 players on Steam were having problems logging into game servers, and promised that the matter was being investigated. For now though, the servers remain offline, and the problem was made public a few hours ago via the official Dark Souls 3 Twitter account, suggesting that another extended wait could be coming.
"At this time, there is a confirmed issue with Dark Souls 3 online play via the Steam platform," the message states. "We are investigating the source of the problem and will inform you as soon as more details become available. Thank you for your patience."
(Image credit: FromSoft (via Twitter))The PC servers for all Dark Souls games went offline in January because of a security vulnerability that enabled malicious code to be run through their online functionality. The problem went unaddressed for months because FromSoft was dealing with the obvious priority of Elden Ring. But now we're pushing the end of September, Dark Souls 1 and 2 remain offline, and Dark Souls 3 couldn't even make it a month before running into more problems—and fans are understandably frustrated.
- "Here we go again. See you in eight months guys."
- "It's a real shame. The games are so lonely without player messages and bloodstains. I've been doing my yearly series replay and it's just so much quieter and sadder than usual."
- "You've got to be kidding me; the PC side of Fromsoft is an absolute clown show. It's been like that ever since they put that awful DS1 PC port out. They really don't give a rat's 'donkey' about their PC crowd do they?"
- "Aaahhhh 'frack' here we go again"
There's been no further word about the problem from either FromSoft or Bandai Namco at this point, but I've reached out for more information and will update if I receive a reply. In the meantime, if you're feeling lost and lonely in the world of Dark Souls 3, there's an Official-Unofficial Server for Dark Souls 3 mod that might help ease the pain.
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The United States' Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is devoting almost $700,000 of funding to a research project aimed at countering terrorist recruitment via games like Roblox, Ars Technica reports.
The grant totals an incredibly specific $699,763, and will go to research aimed at the "development of a set of best practices and centralized resources for monitoring and evaluation of extremist activities".
The project is being undertaken jointly by three organisations: the Middlebury Institute’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism; Take This, which focuses on mental health in gaming; and Logically, which looks at ways to deal with bad online behaviour.
The research aims to find ways to counter radicalisation and terrorist recruitment via games like Roblox, alongside games from the like of Blizzard and Bungie. In other words, it's focusing on games that function as social hubs as well as playable experiences. The DHS grant announcement says that game devs both big and small "have lagged in awareness of how extremists may attempt to exploit their games".
The Ars report points to a 2021 ADL survey as an example of the unchecked growth of extremist subcommunities in the underbelly of online gaming. The survey found that:
- 10% of surveyed people aged 13-17 had been exposed to white supremacist discussions and ideology in games.
- 7% of adult online players were exposed to Holocaust denial while playing.
- Nearly half of the women and 41% of black people surveyed had experienced identity-based harassment while playing online.
The grant also comes in the context of a recent shift in focus by the DHS that identifies "ethnically motivated violent extremists—specifically white supremacist extremists" as the "most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland".
Dr. Rachel Kowert, of Take This, told Vice's Motherboard that the project's research would likely lean towards "white nationalism and white supremacy" in games. It makes sense, at least from my limited perspective. I may be an asocial hobgoblin who rarely plays big multiplayer stuff, but even I can rattle off various examples of times I've come across far-right loudmouths in my brief and infrequent multiplayer adventures. It was only last year, after all, that Discord had to purge over a thousand servers from its service for playing host to violent extremism. This is an ongoing problem across the whole internet, including gaming.
Kowert told Vice that research of this kind was literally non-existent before the project began. It'll take more than a $700,000 grant to halt the spread of poisonous ideologies, of course, but with any luck the project will bring the problem some much-needed attention.
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Steam Sale dates aren't the privileged info they used to be at Valve HQ: the sale calendar is revealed well in advance—usually, anyway—and the seasonal sales serve as predictable landmarks for expected savings. Still, with Steam now rolling out frequent genre-specific sales, there's still some soothsaying involved. Luckily, you've got someone handling the calendar-keeping for you. We're tracking all the confirmed Steam Sale dates as they're announced, so you can focus on curating your latest wishlist.
Best of the best(Image credit: Paradox)2022 games: This year's launches
Best PC games: All-time favorites
Best free PC games: Freebie fest
Best laptop games: Low-specsSteam sales happen on a pretty regular rhythm throughout the year, making them fairly easy to predict even if we don't know the dates just yet. Even with continued pandemic delays in development, Steam sales have been chugging along since 2020. Nothing stops this train.
The seasonal sales during Summer, Autumn, and Winter generally offer the widest and deepest selection of discounts. Here's your handbook for the best times to expand your Steam library without emptying your wallet.
When is the next Steam sale?
Steam's next major sales event will be the Halloween Sale running from October 21 to November 1, 2022. Steam is calling it the "Steam Scream Fest" this year, but we can expect the usual emphasis on horror games and suitably spooky savings.
Here are all the sale dates we know so far for this year:February 28 - March 7, 2022:Remote Play TogetherMarch 14 - March 21, 2022:JRPGsMarch 28 - April 4, 2022:SimFest - Hobby Edition (for job simulators)May 2 - May 9, 2022:Going Rogue: A Festival of Persistance (Roguelikes, Roguelites, Soulslikes, and Metroidvania)May 23 - May 30, 2022:Racing FestJune 13 - June 30, 2022:Steam Next FestJune 23 - July 7, 2022:Steam Summer SaleJuly 18 - July 25, 2022:Steam VR FestAugust 1 - August 8, 2022:Steam Survival Fest- September 19 - September 26, 2022: Steam Bash Bash
- October 3 - October 10, 2022: Steam Next Fest
- October 25 - November 1, 2022: Halloween Sale (Steam Scream Fest)
(Image credit: Valve)When is the next Steam Next Fest?
The next Steam Next Fest will run from October 3 - October 10, 2022. These fests usually pop up multiple times a year, and the last one ran from June 13, 2022 to June 30, 2022.
Steam Festivals (now called Next Fest) aren't sales, exactly, but they're another way to play games for cheap. Since 2020, Steam has been running regular festival weeks where hundreds of upcoming games offer free demos for you to play. It can be a daunting list to sort through, like sales are, but it's a great way to try something you've had your eye on.
When do Steam sales usually happen?
Steam's biggest sales (usually) occur at regular times of the year. Steam sales tend to start at at 6pm BST/1pm EDT/10am PDT on the third or fourth Thursday of their respective month, with the exception of Autumn/Black Friday sales, which have landed on Wednesdays in the last few years.
Here's a list of last year's sales dates to give you an idea of when this year's Steam sales will happen:
Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2021: February 11th - February 15th, 2021
Steam Golden Week Sale 2021: April 29th - May 6th, 2021
Steam Spring Sale 2021: May 27th - 31st, 2021
Steam Summer Sale 2021: June 24th - July 8th, 2021
Steam Halloween Sale 2021: October 28th - November 1st, 2021
Steam Black Friday/Autumn Sale 2021: November 24th - December 1st, 2021
Steam Winter Sale 2021: December 22nd - January 5th, 2021
How long do Steam sales last?
The Summer and Winter sales are the big ones. They tend to last two weeks (ish). Other sales like the Lunar New Year sale and Black Friday sale last about one week.
Which is the best Steam Sale?
We tend to see the biggest discounts in the Summer and Winter sales, and the Summer sales tend to be the best. With Autumn and Winter sales following so close on the heels of Fall release season, there tend to be fewer big, recent titles with hefty discounts. By the following summer you can get great discounts on relatively new games. (Here's how long it usually takes for games to get cheap on Steam.)
In the past, when we've rounded up the best Steam deals ever, we've seen some remarkable discounts. Valve's Portal 2 went from $50 to $5 in the Summer Sale a year after release.
Steam sale tips
Use your wishlist
Whenever you see a game you might want, add it to your wishlist. You will receive notifications when wishlisted games are on sale and having a list makes it easier to resist buying unlisted games for the sake of it on impulse. If a game is not on your list, do you really want it?
Looking for a way to quickly fill up your wishlist? Check out our round up of the top 100 games you can play on PC today. Here are 100 other smaller games judged by algorithm to be the best hidden gems on Steam. And these are the best PC games we recommend right now.
Keep an eye on publisher bundles
Publisher bundles can knock lots of money off entire series or catalogues. If you want to buy an individual Hitman game then you might want to check for a series bundle—chances are you could get all of the games for not much more.
Snap up expansions and DLC
Expansions can often feel a little overpriced, especially if they're only adding a few hours of new stuff to your game. In Steam sales you can pick up a lot of DLC for just a few bucks and reinvigorate games in your back catalogue.
Stock up on indie treats
You can get big percentage discounts on big budget games in the major Steam Sales, but even with a hefty trim those games can still cost 20 or 30 bucks. If you want to maximise the amount of play time you get out of a Steam sale, quality indie games go down to dollars, and even cents. If you need more storage to hold them all, these are the best SSDs for gaming right now.
You can always wait for another sale
If you're not going to play a game before the next big Steam sale rolls around, you might as well wait. Chances are the discounts will increase as the annual sales roll by, all while you're clearing your backlog.
It's also much easier to wait on a purchase these days because there are no daily or flash deals. If you see a discount, you know that's going to be stable until the end of the sale so you can wait a few days to make a decision. Maybe that'll give you time to upgrade to one of the best gaming PCs, or pick out a new graphics card if you need to upgrade.
Check on weekends for publisher or themed sales
It's not uncommon for a publisher to showcase all of its products on sale during a weekend, an event which is usually marked by a homepage takeover of sorts. Look out for these if you're after a blockbuster game at a better price.
Consider Steam resellers if you don't want to wait for a sale
Check out our guide on where to buy PC games, if you want more places to shop around.
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RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a game about playing a game, and that game is a ruled blue notebook pretending to be an RPG. Specifically it's the notebook of a boy named Kenta, every page bursting with giant monsters, bat-filled caves, and fantasy villages he's drawn all by himself.
The presentation of this paper game-within-a-game is flawless. Flipped pages offer brief glimpses of adventures still to come; Kenta's music player always sits just off to one side, the displayed track title and album cover always changing to suit the story's mood. My play area is a simple wooden school desk for me to look over at my leisure, covered in coloured cardboard and a thousand bits of repurposed stationary.
But every developer has a fancy pencil-effect shader and realistic looking materials at their fingertips these days, don't they? "Childhood drawings come to life" is not an original idea. What sets RPG Time apart is the way the game uses its handmade style to create objects that not only look real but act real too. Kenta's narration (complete with paper hats for each character he voices) really makes playing RPG Time feel like an excited friend is showing me the comic they made over a summer holiday.
He enthusiastically scribbles fluffy white clouds an ominous black with his pencil when the monsters arrive in his story, invites us to peel off the brightly coloured sticky notes covering his comic panels, and introduces giant dragons as paper cut-outs stapled onto stripy straws. Our hero's sword is a pencil with a card hilt slid over the end, sharpened using a pencil sha—sorry, I mean "a blacksmith's forge"—and secret messages from the captured princess are delivered via paper planes that float onto the notebook and then unfold before my eyes, their slightly wonky creases still visible.
The story Kenta shares is unapologetically a kids' idea of a grand RPG tale, where cliches are embraced without a hint of irony. Defeated enemies may become helpful friends, funny events can happen just because they raise a smile. It freely messes with its own continuity in a way that would inspire angry Reddit threads if it were a "real" story.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Playing RPG Time as Kenta unfolds his fantasy feels like I have a friend working hard to make sure I enjoy myself above anything else. It's littered with optional items to leave behind, alternative choices to pick another day, and sidequests to ignore—the aim is always to play, and not necessarily in the complete-every-task way games have trained us to over the years.
On the surface RPG Time is a celebration of the Dragon Quest-like RPGs that have brought joy to millions of people over the decades. But what this game really wants to champion with its deliberately amateurish framing is what we did as children with those stories after we'd been forced to turn the game off and sit at the dinner table.
RPG Time hopes to be a loving reminder of how we used to play, how we used to draw legally-distinct Slimes in faltering felt tip pens for our He-Man toys to fight, how we used to decide who had won or lost a monster battle with friends based on the number of scribbles drawn on top of the other person's imaginary beast.
When you've spent years learning what good games "should" look like, with their sensible rules, intelligent concepts, and careful balance, being invited to play feels almost revolutionary. RPG Time's tape measure life bars and cut-out achievements are a reminder of all I'd forgotten about playing games: I never hoped the sword-wielding heroes on my TV would take part in a cohesive storyline, have a backstory filled with political intrigue, or even a consistent moveset—I wanted them to have an adventure. I wanted spells that went FZZZ and evil magicians to go MWAHAHAHA. That's how you know they're evil!
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: 株式会社デスクワークス)Tapping into this childlike freedom allows RPG Time's world to be a charming stream of imaginative ideas born from paper cups and perler beads—and it's also why there's more creativity and variety in any 10 minutes of Kenta's homemade quest than I could ever hope to find in 10 hours of many triple-A RPGs. I've fished up a tank, enjoyed a hot bath with a turtle, and patiently queued with ants to grab a dessert. I've solved maths problems on a monster's shell and carefully popped a balloon with a compass' needle.
Of all the RPGs I've ever played, this is the one where I honestly don't know what's coming next, but I know for sure I'm going to enjoy finding out. I might even dare to draw the next chapter myself, if I can find my old notebook.
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Greetings Inheritors!
We will be conducting scheduled maintenance at the following times:
Maintenance Start Time:
UTC: Sep 22 at 08:00 am
CEST: Sep 22 at 10:00 am
EDT: Sep 22 at 04:00 am
PDT: Sep 22 at 01:00 am
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* Please note that the game will shut down before maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.
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The ArcheAge Team -
A lil somethin somethin: You can find the details for this event on the announcement page here.
Best office chair for gaming
in Gaming News
Posted
The best office chair is designed to handle a full working day. I should be comfortable, supportive, and solid. For eight hours a day, and for a cheeky late-night gaming session. These thrones combine the ergonomics of a great gaming chair, with the style of a corpo professional. If the best office chairs are good enough for hedge fund managers, you can bet they'll deliver for the average gamer who spends hours designing their perfect apartment in The Sims.
Sometimes, a gamer chair covered in demonic runes isn't appropriate for work. If you want to match the ergonomics of a gaming chair without giving off a super edgy flair, the office chairs below provide comfort and have a style that's more in line with the straight-edge of a workplace.
A good office chair for gaming could cost you hundreds of dollars with one or two exceptions. Simply put, good furniture is expensive; leather upholstery and lumbar support are going to cost you. These chairs are all sturdy, well-built products that should last you years. So, think about what's most important to you and set a budget. You deserve more than that chair you stole from the family room twenty years ago. Your body will thank you.
One other thing: it's always good to think about desk-based ergonomics and how to best support your spine and the rest of your body. You may want to invest in a standing desk to get off your butt and stretch your legs every couple of hours, or just get up and take a break more often. A quality chair is important, but it isn't the be-all and end-all to a healthy office life.
Best office chairs for gaming
NeueChair
NeueChair
1. NeueChair
Simply the best office chair
Seat type: Task chair | Recline: 85–130 degrees | Weight capacity: 240lbs | Weight: 64lbs | Available colors: Silver, Obsidian
If you're the sort of person to prioritize functionality over flash, the NeueChair is an excellent option. This isn't to say it's not stylish—quite the opposite; the NeueChair comes in a sleek, muted obsidian or flashy chrome/silver, both with bold, sweet curved supports on the back and an attractive black mesh.
More importantly, the NeueChair is built to last, with a heavy, sturdy industrial construction. Even the chair's weight in the packaging indicates a solid piece of carefully constructed industrial art: severe and substantial.
Assembling it is a breeze, as it comes in two discrete pieces and is simply a matter of inserting the casters and pushing them together.
Almost every aspect of the seat is adjustable, from the armrests to the lumbar support system that lets you change the height depth of the backrest. It's one of the best office chairs I've ever had the pleasure to sit in, and if you can afford the admittedly steep price tag, one that's well worth the investment.
Best gaming keyboard | Best VR headset | Best mechanical keyboard| Best wireless gaming mouse | Best wireless gaming keyboard
Steelcase Gesture
Steelcase Gesture
2. Steelcase Gesture
The best office chair for ultimate comfort
Seat type: Task chair | Material: Breathable fabric | Recline: 116 degrees | Seat height: 16–21 inch | Weight capacity: 400lbs | Weight: 78lbs
The Steelcase Leap is one of the most iconic modern chairs, with a price to match its performance, but we prefer the newer Steelcase Gesture for several reasons. Foremost of which is, holy smokes, it feels good to sit in.
If your eyes are still watering at the cost, know this: much as we enjoyed the other chairs singled out here, none of them came close to the pure comfort of the Gesture.
Imagine your butt and back being perfectly cupped by the giant ever-loving hand of the deity of your choice. That's what the Gesture is like. Or, as it became known amongst us testing it: 'the dream chair.'
Anyone that spends a significant amount of time in a chair should seriously consider splurging on this one. The steep price buys you a lifetime warranty and your butt the most comfortable embrace it'll ever experience.
Office Star ProGrid
Office Star ProGrid
Office Star ProGrid
3. Office Star ProGrid
The best affordable office chair
Seat type: Task chair | Material: Mesh back, fabric seat | Seat height: 17–20.5 inch | Weight capacity: 250lbs | Weight: 41lbs | Available colors: Black
Office Star's line of chairs doesn't look noteworthy initially, but the customer reviews are consistently good. We like the ProGrid Back Managers Chair a lot because it offers the kind of tweakability usually only found on much more expensive models.
Using its daunting array of levers, you can adjust the chair's height and tilt, plus slide the seat pan forwards or backward. The backrest can also be shifted up or down, and the armrests raised or lowered and slid back and forth until you find the perfect position.
It may take a while, but once you tune it to your liking, the chair becomes incredibly comfortable. With so much customization, the ProGrid is a strong choice and very hard to beat at this price.
Office Master OM5
Office Master OM5
Office Master OM5
4. Office Master OM5
The best office chair with a self-adjusting mechanism
Seat type: Task chair | Material: Polyflex back, fabric seat | Seat height: 14.7–25 inch | Weight capacity: 300lbs | Weight: 64lbs
On the face of it, the Office Master OM5 sounds like the snake oil of seating. The marketing materials describe it as "a self-weighing chair that intuitively responds to a wide range of body weights and sizes without the need for manual tension."
Essentially: don't worry about all those levers and knobs on the other chairs; this one will magically work out what your butt and back need, no problem. Our skepticism didn't last long, though, because sitting is believing when it comes to the OM5.
There are plenty of manual adjustments possible, but all of the magic happens around your back and hip. As you lean back and apply pressure, the seat pan shifts forwards while the backrest reclines in response, articulating smoothly thanks to wheels on runners that function much like the ones in desk draw sliders.
It takes a little getting used to but transitioning from upright work mode to relaxing while playing or watching swiftly becomes a cinch. If you want comfort and can't be bothered with levers and adjustments, the OM5 is one of our favorites. It gives you high-end quality and comfort at a mid-range price.
5. Logitech G x Herman Miller Embody
The best work and game hybrid chair
Seat type: Task chair | Material: Multi-layer fabric | Seat height: 17–22 inch | Weight capacity: 300 lbs | Weight: 51 lbs
Perhaps you've heard of the Herman Miller Embody. It has been a stalwart of best office chair lists for years. Now it occupies a place in the hearts of both gamers and office workers because the famed chair manufacturer has partnered up with Logitech to create something tailor-made to our gaming rumps.
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs around
Best gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiums
Best PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
It's not so much the changes that make the Embody stand out as one of the best gaming chairs going. It's what's been kept the same. The tried and tested Embody design is simply one of the best chairs for office work or gaming. It's incredibly comfortable over prolonged use, supports an active and healthy posture, and easily fits your frame.
The warranty is also a standout feature. At 12 years, including labor, and rated to 24-hour use over that time, it's a chair that is guaranteed to last you over a decade, if not longer. So while the initial price tag may seem steep, and that it is, the reality is you're sure to get your money's worth in the long run. And your back will be thankful for it, too.
Read our full Logitech G x Herman Miller Embody gaming chair review.
The best office chairs FAQ
How do we test chairs?
Between articles about the effects of sitting down on your body and our experimentation with standing desks, you might think PC Gamer has fallen out of love with the humble chair. Dear reader, that could not be further from the truth. As gamers and office workers, we spend a significant chunk of each day sitting on our money makers in front of screens. Given that most of us don't plan to change that anytime soon, it only makes sense to do so in a great chair. So that's what I set out to find.
We wanted to find chairs that maximized comfort, support, and value. We spoke with Melissa Afterman, MS CPE, a Senior Principal Ergonomist with VSI Risk Management & Ergonomics, Inc., specializing in workstation setups.
"Chairs are still okay," she told me. "Yes, we know that sitting too long is bad for you. The reality is that standing too long is just as bad for you, so the answer is movement. Taking breaks, getting up at least every hour and moving, or changing your position from standing to sitting every hour so that you're not standing too long either."
"If you're typing and working at the computer, you want more upright support so that you can maintain neutral spine posture and let the chair hold you up," she said. "But when you switch to a gaming mode, you may want to recline a little bit to relax your lower back while still having good support in that position. So a locking backrest and/or some tension control is important."
Another feature to look for, though it tends to be found on more expensive models, is a seat pan slider. This enables you to slide the positioning of your butt forwards or backward relative to the backrest.
How much should I spend on an office chair?
The answer can really depend on a few key factors, namely your budget, but generally we're in the camp of spending bigger on a better chair that'll more than likely end up keeping you comfortable for much, much longer than a cheap one. Cheap chairs really feel cheap, and they're very rarely as well considered in their ergonomics or design as those more expensive models.
That said, there's no reason why you can't find a good mid-range chair that doesn't break the bank. It's a reason why you won't find any super cheap chairs on this list, however. We're yet to find any that we feel suitable for long-term or regular use.
Can a good chair help with posture?
The best office chairs look out for you and your back. When it comes to chair design, lumbar support is vital. The first thing you should look for in a new gaming chair is whether it has any built-in support to help your body maintain an ideal posture. Some even come with lumbar support pillows that work just as well. Multi-adjustable arm-rests, upholstery, and general style are also important; note these features aren't cheap.
Does every chair fit every body type?
Different chair models accommodate different heights and weights, so make sure to check your fit before adding to cart. Look at the width and depth of the seat, too. Some chairs claim that you should sit cross-legged, but that depends on your size and your legs' length.
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