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Rockstar is rewarding players who verify their social club accounts with in-game currency to spend in Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar's games typically require its players to go above and beyond when breaking rules and laws. The developers' most successful franchise, Grand Theft Auto, is named after a crime after all. However, when it comes to the use of titles such as GTA and Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar takes rule breaking extremely seriously. However, if you follow Rockstar's rules when you play its games, then you'll be absolutely fine. In fact, as Rockstar revealed on Twitter last week, you might well be rewarded for it. It announced that players of GTA V and RDR2 who verify their social club accounts will receive in-game currency for doing so. While this may not be a rule per se, it is something that helps Rockstar and aims to keep your account safer in the process. The two-step verification process is a relatively quick and easy one to undertake. In fact, it is likely something you have done for other accounts. All you need to do is sign in to one of the games as you normally would, go to your profile menu, and from there you can enable two-step verification. You'll need to know your username and password, and a verification code will be sent to the mobile device of your choosing. As Rockstar clearly already knows, the selling point that your account and details will be safer should you verify your social club account isn't enough. There needs to be a tangible reward. Well, if you do verify your account, GTA V players will receive $500,000 of in game-currency, while RDR2 players will get 10 gold bars. Play both games? No problem. You'll get both of those rewards. For those of you wondering what exactly these rewards equate to in real-world money, both together come to a total of $14. That might not sound like much, but considering that you're getting it for something you should really do anyway, and that takes a matter of minutes to complete, it's a pretty good deal. Plus, Rockstar also promises "additional future benefits" for those who do so.

Can you and your team find your way out of a vast cave on the Aegean coast, which just so happens to house the ship sailed by the legendary Argonauts, in under one hour? This is the challenge you'll face in Beyond Medusa's Gate, a new location-based VR escape room from Ubisoft Blue Byte launching on May 7. Taking players to the ancient Greece of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Beyond Medusa's Gate challenges them to work together in teams of two to four to solve riddles and time their moves just right in order to succeed. Check out Ubisoft's Escape Games website for updates on where you can play Beyond Medusa's Gate. "Beyond Medusa's Gate continues the legacy of our game design and storytelling expertise, pushing the Escape Room experience category with memorable state-of-the-art VR experiences that go beyond what is physically possible," said Cyril Voiron, Executive Producer for Ubisoft's Escape Games. Beyond Medusa's Gate is launching on May 7. This is the second escape room experience from Ubisoft Blue Byte; for more, check out the Ubisoft's Escape Games website and peruse our previous coverage for the latest on all Ubisoft games.

Metro Exodus received its first major content update today, bringing New Game+ to all platforms. It also adds keyboard and mouse support for Xbox One. The Ranger Update has released for Metro Exodus, and along with New Game+ for all platforms, Xbox One owners can now use keyboard and mouse as their preferred input device. 4A Games also added Steam Controller and DualShock 4 support to the PC version. As with New Game+ in all titles, once you have completed the game’s main campaign you’re able to re-play it in the new mode. In Metro Exodus, it grants access to all weapons and attachments unlocked through prior play-throughs. You can also adjust a range of variables from starting weapons to changing the weather, and disable saves between levels. New Game+ also includes new achievements and trophies. 4A Games said it will continue to work on future updates and will share its DLC plans for Expansion Pass holders soon. New features added with the Ranger update are below. You can find PC specific and console specific patch notes going over bug fixes, changes, and performance improvements at the links. Metro Exodus – Ranger Update Note: Level specific content fixes or changes can only be fully applied to a level when it is started from the beginning either through natural progression, or the chapters menu. If you try to load an existing save within a level, the updates for that level will not be applied to that existing save. Updates will apply to all subsequent levels progressed to with that save. Size PC Epic Build (verify in-game from Main Menu Options or Pause menu) – 1.0.1.3 Epic Store version – 0.1.0.17 Steam Build (verify in-game from Main Menu Options or Pause menu) – 1.0.0.3 Steam Store version – 3675192 Consoles Xbox One (World Wide) – 1.0.2.0 (verify in-game from Main Menu Options or Pause menu) Xbox One (Japan) – 2.0.2.0 (verify in-game from Main Menu Options or Pause menu) PlayStation 4 – 1.04 (verify in-game from Main Menu Options or Pause menu) Features New Game+ and Developer Commentary Modify the following suite of modes and settings for personalization. Note: Starting a new game in Regular Mode or in New Game + will clear your Quick/Auto/Chapter Select saves. You will need to progress again to access later levels. Inventory Modes My Weapons Allows you to start with all weapons and attachments found in the last playthrough Weapons are granted after freeing Anna in Moscow Starting weapons will be the last loadout that was set in the previous end game save All other weapons and attachments previously unlocked will be available in the Aurora Workbench Armory, first encountered in Volga Player Armor/Wrist upgrades do not carry over One Weapon Reduces weapon slots to one. Any weapon can be used in this slot, but you can only take one with you. Manage this by swapping Weapons in the field, or by using the Aurora Workbench Armory Crossbow Provides Player with the Crossbow at the beginning of the game in addition to normal Weapon Progression. Yermak gives the Player the Crossbow after Jammer scene in Moscow. Backpack limitations Crafting in the Backpack is disabled, you may only use a Workbench Only Weapon modifications allowed in Backpack AI Modes Armored Enemies Human NPC’s are upgraded by one level of Armor across the game if applicable Tougher Creatures Creatures have thicker hide across the game Grenadiers Human NPC’s use explosives more often Environment Modes Real Time Weather Change the game’s natural day/night cycle from 2 to 24 real hours for complete immersion Bad Weather Fog, Rain, Snow, and Sand storm conditions occur more frequently where applicable Radiation is Forever Additional radiation zones will appear across some levels, making the Gas Mask more important Game Modes Iron Mode Fully disables the Save System, progress is only saved between levels Developer Commentary Green Tape Players throughout the game will be available to play Developer Commentary about the area in which it is found Additional New Game+ Content Achievements / Trophies Unique collectibles Additional set of hidden objects in the world, only available in New Game + New Game + becomes available from the New Game menu after completing the game once. Improved Controller Responsiveness While the Hotfix changes were already well received, a 4th Controller Sensitivity Preset has been added with more tweaks to sensitivity, improved aim assist, and better ‘dead zone’ per platform. If you are mid-game you will need to manually select this from Options > Controller > Sensitivity to see if you prefer this adjustment. This 4th preset has a new algorithm which treats its sub-settings different from other presets, in order to further address certain responsiveness complaints. It also contains improved aim assist and controller dead zones per platform. Platform Specific Features and Improvements Added Mouse and Keyboard support for Xbox One, further improved RTX and DLSS support on PC, Dual Shock Controller Light support for PS4 and more. Added DualShock 4 and Steam Controller support for PC. General Performance, Balance, and Gameplay Optimizations A raft of improvements across the board that improve the overall gameplay experience based on bugs reported, desired polish, and direct feedback/feature requests from the community, including things like a Volume Slider specifically for VO, and more. Crash, Bug Fixes, and Improvements Fixed numerous crashes – some from player descriptions, and some from submitted crash dumps. A big improvement to stability was in this update.

Switching away from a front-engined layout for the first time in the car's 66-year history, new spy shots show prototypes testing with different camouflage, detailing additional parts of the body. They follow a video (below) that showed the Porsche 911 rival being driven hard at the Nürburgring, revealing the expected V8 soundtrack. Prototypes of the C8 Corvette, showing the distinctive long rear deck and cab-forward proportions indicative of a mid-engine model, have been circling for some time. The big mystery remains the car's reveal date. Reports from the US suggest there have been delays in development owing to significant issues with the chassis and electrical architecture. While it's not clear yet if those technical problems have been overcome, speculation is rife that the C8 Corvette's reveal is imminent. One option is next month's New York motor show, though it's just as likely that Chevrolet will host its own event a little later in the year. A Corvette dealer in New Jersey has been taking $1000 deposits for the new model, which could suggest we'll see the C8 sooner rather than later. In a further break with tradition, the C8 Corvette will be sold alongside a version of the current car. Sources inside General Motors, which owns the Chevrolet brand, indicate that we can expect a slightly revised version of the existing C7 as an entry-level alternative. Although the C8 will carry a price premium over its front-engined sibling, it will be sold at a price that significantly undercuts the junior supercars offered by other manufacturers. There will be no surprise in the choice of launch powerplant, with the C8 set to reach the market using a developed version of General Motor’s current LT-spec 6.2-litre V8. Although this engine still uses pushrods, and will be unable to match the low-down torque of turbocharged alternatives, the all-alloy unit has many virtues: it is light, responsive, relatively cheap to build and able to generate around 500bhp with minimal work. It also gives a clear connection between the radical new car and the front-engined Corvette that will continue in production. This could be advantageous given the existing car has an older and more conservative buying profile than other sports cars in the US. Punchier powerplants are a certainty, however – especially given GM’s history of offering faster variants soon after the launch of a base car. Media in the US have previously reported that these will include a newly developed overhead camshaft V8, set to be sold in both naturally aspirated and twin-turbo forms, the latter sure to produce at least as much as the 745bhp of the current supercharged Corvette ZR1. Beyond that, a hybrid version will add an electrically powered front axle to the mix, potentially giving a total system output approaching 1000bhp. Gallery: Corvette Sting Ray - America's greatest sports car? Another big change will be a new twin-clutch transaxle gearbox (likely featuring eight speeds) developed by transmission supplier Tremec and effectively removing the option of a conventional manual version – a significant shift given the relatively high percentage of current Corvettes that are still sold with a clutch pedal. Like its rivals from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, the new Corvette will display its mid-mounted engine through a glass cover. Other parts of the design remain a closely guarded secret for now; the test mule gives little away beyond the need for significant cooling at the front of the car. Despite GM’s sale of its European operations to the PSA Group last year, the new car is being developed with significant use of the Nürburgring Nordschleife and we can expect the sort of aggressive aerodynamics necessary for good high-speed performance there, possibly including active elements. But while the C8 will no doubt be extremely fast, the need to keep costs down means that the use of expensive materials will be limited. The chassis is believed to be an aluminium spaceframe, and it will have the glassfibre bodywork that has been used by every previous generation. Carbon brakes are certain to be available, but the new Corvette is likely to stick to a base specification of cast-iron discs for the same reason. While the C7 Corvette has a ‘targa’ roof with removable panels, it seems likely that the C8 will shift to a more conventional split between coupé and a convertible, the latter to follow at a later date. There is no confirmation of right-hand-drive production, which would seem like a long shot despite the success that the Ford Mustang has enjoyed in the UK and Australia.

In between launching a range of outlandish pink products and affordable accessories so far this year, Razer made the surprising move of abandoning its online game store and mobile team. The latter, in particular, is an awkward move after two generations of Razer Phones, while the likes of ASUS, Xiaomi, Nubia and Vivo are capitalizing on the rapidly growing mobile gaming market. Never one to admit defeat, CEO Min-Liang Tan said this was just part of his company's evolving mobile gaming strategy, with its focus shifted to software as the industry transitions to 5G. During its earnings call last week, Razer announced that it's collaborating with Tencent, the Chinese publisher involved in PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor and Fortnite, on optimizing the mobile gaming experience across hardware, software and services. In an interview with Engadget, Tan elaborated on this by pointing out how today's mobile gaming experience is hampered by I/O "hacks" -- namely support for keyboard and mouse, as well as button-mapping features that let users tap parts of the screen, mid-frame or even backside as extra buttons. Despite the competitors packaging these features as selling points, Tan said these "hacks" give a bad experience in pro-level games that were never built for those input methods. This would turn enthusiastic gamers away. "I mean, try playing a keyboard-and-mouse game with a controller, you're gonna really hate it." As an example, the exec said some controller-based games do "crosshair snapping" -- a feature that snaps your aim at target subjects -- to make up for "the lack of resolution on the controllers," whereas keyboard-and-mouse games don't have that and may therefore frustrate those who plug in a controller. On the other hand, Tan admitted that a lot of players in China do use keyboard and mouse to boost their performance in PUBG Mobile, so there's certainly a demand for these "hacks," but it's just that the quality of experience varies. And let's not forget that Razer also has its own Android phone gaming controller, the Raiju Mobile. To solve this inconsistency, Razer is working with game developers -- now including Tencent's portfolio -- to standardize an I/O platform with a benchmark, and then help them rebuild games "from ground up" with native integration of said platform. Tan didn't comment on what type of products may come out of this, but this will likely see more content optimized for the Raiju Mobile plus future Razer mobile accessories. Tan likened this initiative to how Razer opened Chroma up to third parties, thus getting the likes of MSI, Lian Li, Thermaltake, Philips and more to adopt this feature for some matching RGB action -- with Apex Legends being the latest major game to support this. The standardization won't be limited to just I/O, as Tan also wants more mobile games offer uncapped frame rates to take advantage of faster displays -- namely the 120Hz LCD on both Razer Phones. For this year, the exec predicts a wider adoption of 120Hz display refresh rate -- and possibly even on OLED panels -- amongst gaming smartphones. "Once you go 120Hz, it's hard to go back," Tan said. Razer's ambition to revolutionize mobile gaming standards doesn't change the fact that it's scaled back on its own smartphone development. With last month's job cuts, the future is uncertain for the Razer Phone line, and Tan donned his usual PR hat to dodge questions about his company's next smartphone, if any. But as far as the CEO was concerned, the Razer Phones "have done phenomenally well," and that the product line "has delivered whatever we wanted it to deliver."

Car makers, especially start-ups spurred on by special circumstances like the rapid rise of the Chinese market and the onrush of electrification and autonomy, enlist the aid of discreet specialists who conceive, style, engineer and ready new cars for production, then fade away as if nothing ever happened. The UK has a good selection of such expert consultancies, and business is brisk. When we decided to repeat last year’s successful Christmas wheeze of reimagining a quartet of well-loved classics (via our resident designer Ben Summerell-Youde), it seemed sensible to get them assessed by proven car creators. We have again approached Envisage Group, the Coventry-based consultancy with whom, a couple of years ago, we created and part-engineered an all-new five-door electric saloon for 10-15 years hence. This time, four of us proposed new iterations of old cars – an alternative Mercedes A-Class, a new-era Audi A2, an Alfa Romeo Duetto and a Ford Capri crossover – and each wrote a short justification of the concept. These were assessed for practicality, market appeal and innovative content by a three-man Envisage team led by engineering director Paul Arkesden, with project manager Craig Bonham and engineering manager Stuart Smith, all greatly experienced in other projects and at other companies – but unable to talk very much about any of it, such is the secrecy in car creation. Talking about our projects, though, was something the team was happy to do. Not that their reactions were all sweet music to our ears, as the comments make clear… Steve Cropley: Ford Capri What makes me want to recreate this highly successful last-century Ford coupé is the catchy advertising label that always went with it: “The car you always promised yourself.” For car nuts, such cars are always lurking in the back of the mind. Get serious about making a new Capri and you soon strike trouble. Any mission to recreate a long-nosed European 2+2 runs into two major problems: firstly, the fact that there isn’t a suitable Ford front-engine/rear-drive powertrain available on this side of the Atlantic; and secondly, the fact that Europe’s best-selling sports coupé is already a Ford – the Mustang. No sense in launching against that. What would the people who built Ford’s performance image so high in the 1960s have done? Well, in Detroit a bit over a year ago, their descendants explained that Ford’s grand plan is to use iconic names to sell first-gen electric cars. To me, ‘Capri’ stands in the front rank of Ford’s great names, but what kind of electric car makes sense? What kind of electric car am I promising myself? Electric saloons are everywhere and the Capri was never a family car. SUVs sell strongly, but there’s no argument for a boxy Capri. The challenge is to propose something whose styling says compact, stylish, agile, at least semi-sporting and, above all, relevant to modern life. After all, that original Capri worked so well because it fitted people’s lives at the time. That’s why I’m proposing the new Capri as a kind of diminutive, high-rolling electric fastback coupé, reminiscent of a stubby, downsized Aston Martin DBX concept but with the footprint of a Ford Ecosport, maybe plus an inch or two. That way, the car can be proud and practical, with sportiness chucked in, and its height can provide battery space more easily than a saloon. There can be a bit of off-road toughness, with the wheel design and tyre tread adding character, along with a non-corporate grille (nothing says ‘mainstream’ more than a corporate grille). A radical roofline is essential, too. I’m seeing a fastback rear meeting a rising belt, with more extravagant surfacing than you normally see on a small car, although never overdone. It’d be a question of balance. Great designers might also find a detail or two, maybe even a rear window outline, to echo the original Capri. I’d certainly like to see them try. There’s a need, or soon will be, I believe, for affordable electric cars that are compact, sporty and, above all, a little bit special. There’s absolutely nothing in this space at present and the customers are getting impatient. Expert view: there’s nothing like it “This one really got us thinking, mostly because there’s nothing like it on the market. That’s where we struggled: it helps to have a buyer in mind even though both electrification is coming very rapidly and crossover architecture is fashionable. “You can take comfort from the fact that there are no cars like this in the chosen size and price range — maybe you’ve discovered a car as special and trend-setting as the new Mini — or you can be alarmed by it. Or maybe it’s a car no one will want. “It’s not obvious what existing platform you’d build this off, given the dimensions and that it’s electric. But we note the suggestion that Ford’s strategy for future EVs will be to attach iconic names and shapes to them to earn credibility and justify higher pricing. From that viewpoint, it works.” Matt Prior: Audi A2 How to revive the Audi A2? Just restart the original production line. The A2 was a car so far ahead of its time that maybe we’re almost ready for it now. I’m joking, of course. Some of the original A2 bits would have to go, I suppose. We’d have to can the diesels, for a start, even though the original 1.4 TDI was good for 119g/km and 65.7mpg – 18 years ago. Later, there was a 1.2 diesel that averaged 94mpg. Key to the A2’s so-2018 frugality was that it weighed only 895kg, owing to its diminutive size and aluminium structure. It also had extremely slippery aerodynamics. The A2 couldn’t be so light today, because a new version, if it matched the forward-looking ethos of its predecessor, would have to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electrified platform, have a floor full of batteries and an electric motor at one end or the other. Which means that, just like 18 years ago, hardly anyone will buy one, because unless you can plug it in at home and have a predictable commute, you’re exposing yourself to the wild west of the public charging network. And no one will do that unless they’re forced to, which is why soon we all will be. Powertrain aside, for the new A2 little changes. The A2 didn’t rely on retro styling, which is why it still looks fresh. Its thick door pillars were for crash protection and its bluff, high rear and accompanying tiny window made for good aero but hurt visibility. Today, blindspot sensors and rearview cameras can fix that. There’s no obvious fix to the original A2’s hard ride, save for the fact that we’ve become quite accustomed to EVs and Audis riding harshly and no one seems to mind. The original A2’s only other issue is how few of them Audi managed to sell, which, given that it was priced from around £16,000, left profit margins far too slim. Today, we’re used to paying a lot for small Audis, so restart the cogs and price the new A2 from £30,000. Expert view: who would buy it? “You’ve got to ask yourself why Audi never built another A2. A few people loved them and still do, but the questions linger: how do you make sure this car has appeal? What’s the USP? “We think selling it would be the problem. Sure, the original A2 was light, but it wouldn’t be as light in production nowadays, and the original also had serious cost issues, like special plastic wings and a bespoke HVAC system. “The Autocar proposal could have been a lot more radical, more edgy, we think. The proposed design looks like not much more than a mid-cycle action on the original model. The roof is a bit different, but we’d predict difficulties with getting in and out of the back seat as a result of that. Having said all this, it wouldn’t be too difficult to do, depending on the aggressiveness of the cost targets.” Hilton Holloway: Mercedes A-Class (Mk1) It’s 21 years since the original Mercedes A-Class became infamous. For some reason, video of the tiny futuristic vehicle rolling over during testing by a Swedish motoring magazine hit the TV headlines around the world, and the phrase ‘elk test’ entered our vocabulary. The main reason the new A-Class – just 2000 or so had been built at the time – rolled over when steered violently around an obstacle was because it was so tall and so short, and one of the reasons it was so tall was its ‘sandwich’ platform. The double-decker floorpan, which allowed for an empty space under the A-Class’s flat floor, had a number of functions. In the event of a frontal collision, it allowed the slant-mounted engine to be pushed under the floor rather than into the cabin. Sitting passengers high also greatly improved the side-impact safety. At the time – and this was 21 years ago, remember – Mercedes engineers also suggested that the space could also be used to store batteries for an electric A-Class or gas tanks for a fuel-cell version. Indeed, experimental hydrogen fuel-cell versions of the original A-Class and its B-Class successor were made. (I drove the latter a few years ago in the RAC’s Future Car run from Brighton to London.) Mercedes phased out the sandwich floor concept, saying lowish sales made the bespoke engine and gearbox very expensive to do. But I’m still a devotee of the idea. The flat floor and tilted drivetrain make for a fantastically spacious package. (The original A-Class gave 70% of its overall length to occupant and luggage space.) Fitting removable seats to this concept turns it into a van, or build it without seats for a bespoke delivery vehicle. This concept is inspired by both the experimental B-Class range-extender and Toyota’s new Japan Taxi, which has a petrol-hybrid engine albeit fuelled by LPG. The range-extending concept has much going for it, especially when it uses low-CO2, low-pollution natural gas. Using natural gas also allows us to exploit the extensive fuelling network already under our feet. And unlike pure battery power, gas tanks are much lighter and much cheaper and vehicle range is unaffected by weather conditions. Two decades after it was launched, the original A-Class engineering concept is more relevant than ever. Using this architecture and a natural gas (or biogas) range-extender drivetrain could underpin a new generation of diesel-free premium crossovers, as well providing the basis for low-pollution haulage. Expert view: fashionable but flawed “Leaving aside that Mercedes has moved on from the original, twin-floor A-Class (and is much more successful with today’s version), this revival of the concept does everything right for the modern era. It is smartly packaged, with the cab forward and a ‘flip diff’ to shorten the nose. These things are very fashionable. But you have to decide whether the market cares as much about the extremes of interior space as the designers.