-HuNTeR-

Dead by Daylight is one of those perennially po[CENSORED]r games that rarely seems to make the news: probably because developer Behaviour Interactive got it more-or-less right and players love the game as it is. Nevertheless it remains constantly active with new DLC and promotions and now, roughly eight years after its initial release, has hit the considerable milestone of 50 million players. The developer announced the news with a short gif that bounces off the double Spider-Man meme. Dead by Daylight is great fun and surprisingly inventive, one of those games all-encompassing enough to become some folks' main poison. There's no shortage of paid DLC expanding its roster either, though the game sensibly allows all players to play alongside any DLC characters and maps, regardless of what they own. The news of 50 million players came alongside the launch of a Kickstarter for a boardgame version of DBD: after only a few days it has already, unsurprisingly, sailed past its initial target of £190,000 and currently sits on just over £263,000. The boardgame is being created by Level 99 Games, a company that's delivered dozens of past kickstarter projects, and is a 3-5 player asymmetrical experience patterned after DBD's core mechanics. So you have a bunch of survivors, who have challenges like turning generators back on, while a killer prowls around and tries to... well, kill them. The below video gives a primer on the boardgame. The boardgame also comes with a tie-in promotion for some currency in the videogame: enter the code DBDTHEBOARDGAME through the in-game store for 200,000 Bloodpoints. It's funny how, since Left4Dead, there have been so many high-profile attempts at making asymmetrical monster-vs-human games the next big hit: it seems like only yesterday Back4Blood was the latest contender. Dead by Daylight wasn't a smash hit out of the gate but has quietly grown and grown over the years, and now looms large over the competition. https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/dead-by-daylight-has-fifty-million-players-and-now-a-boardgame-adaptation/

As impressive as the new Samsung Galaxy S23 range of smartphones is, the improvements over the Galaxy 22 series are mostly incremental. As a result, you might be thinking of sticking with your current handset or hoping to pick up a previous-generation phone at a deal price. This can be a savvy approach, but you should also consider how long Samsung will support your next phone. To this end, we’ve looked at how many software updates the Galaxy S23 will get. Whichever phone in the Galaxy S23 range you go for, you’ll be treated to the Android 13-based One UI 5.1 software. Developed specifically for the latest Galaxy flagships, One UI 5.1 brings a host of new features, some of which are exclusive to the S23 series. It will get its first major update to Android 14 later this year, and that will be the first of four software updates to which Samsung has committed. That will take the Galaxy S23 software updates through until 2027. Android 17, if that is how Google is still referring to its OS updates by that time, will be the final update that the Galaxy S23 phones receive in 2026. If you choose to hold on to your handset for that long or you decide to pick one up at a discount in the coming months and years, then you can be reassured that it will also be protected. Samsung will provide five years of security patches to the S23 range. That means your smartphone will be secure until at least 2028, by which time you might well have your eye on the next cutting-edge flagship. Samsung may have felt compelled to make these commitments — more than the minimum proposed by the EU — to keep up with its iOS rival. Apple doesn’t tend to make firm statements on how many updates each iteration of iPhone will receive, but it has regularly led the way in this regard. Past generations have regularly received at least six years of updates and sometimes up to eight years. Samsung’s commitment should reassure buyers who may be deciding whether to splash out on the Galaxy S23 now or wait for the iPhone 15 to arrive

AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 7000 CPU codenamed "Storm Peak" has appeared within the Einstein @Home database and features up to 64 Zen 4 cores, as discovered by Benchleaks. AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 "Storm Peak" CPU Spotted, Features 64 Cores & 128 Threads Based on 5nm Zen 4 Architecture Within the database, there's a new entry submitted for a chip with the OPN Code "100-000000454-20_Y" and this chip falls in the "Family 25 Model 24 Stepping 1" which indicates that it is based on the Zen 4 core architecture. According to OPN code and the platform it was tested on, this appears to be the first entry of an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 CPU featuring the Zen 4 core architecture.and two monthly payment plans – "Create" for $9.99 and "Pro" for $23.99. There are no specifications mentioned but the CPU is listed to feature 128 "Number of Processors". Going by previous entries, these appear to be the number of threads so the CPU actually features a total of 64 Zen 4 cores. Now, this is lower than the 96 cores featured on the EPYC Genoa chips. This might just be one of several variants but we can't point out for sure if the next-gen Threadripper's will be launching on the SP5/TR5 socket that Genoa and Bergamo utilize or the SP6 socket which is designed around EPYC Siena CPUs. The AMD EPYC Siena CPUs are optimized around lower TCO & higher performance per watt and come in either 32 Core "Zen 4" or 64 Core "Zen 4C" flavors. But since this chip here features 64 cores and is also utilizing a 5nm node, it is unlikely to be an SP6 or Zen 4C design. Once again, AMD will be branding their next-gen "Storm Peak" Ryzen Threadripper 7000 CPUs under the "PRO" moniker which means that DIY availability will be limited unless Intel manages to offer a market shift with their Xeon Workstation chips that also seem to be heading for launch next year. Following is the list of desktop CPUs confirmed by AMD: Ryzen 7000 'Raphael' (Zen 4) - 2022 Ryzen 7000X 'Raphael-X' (Zen 4 V-Cache) - 2023 Ryzen Threadripper 7000 (Zen 4) - 2023 Ryzen 8000 'Granite Ridge' (Zen 5) - 2024 The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 Desktop CPUs are expected to launch next year and will utilize the 5nm process node Source:https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-threadripper-7000-storm-peak-cpu-with-64-zen-4-cores-spotted/

He did not change the organism, therefore, the estimated growth of last year, although it did reduce that of the fourth year by one tenth compared to the third, from the estimated 0.7 to the confirmed 0.6. The United States economy grew 2.1% in 2022, established by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), after the publication this Thursday of the final calculation on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He did not change the organism, therefore, the estimated growth of last year, although it did reduce that of the fourth year by one tenth compared to the third, from the estimated 0.7 to the confirmed 0.6. It also modified its estimate of the annual growth rate in the fourth quarter, which it placed at 2.6, one tenth less than what was calculated in the second estimate and three tenths less than the initial figure calculated, a revision that reflects "revisions to the drop in exports and consumer spending," says the BEA. He makes three estimates of GDP and the one published this Thursday is the definitive one. These data are given, recalls the BEA, in a context of "moderate inflation, low unemployment, continued uncertainties in the supply chain and rising interest rates." Although with growth much lower than that registered in 2021 (5.9%), the United States thus closes the year with 2.1% annual growth and leaves behind, for the moment, the fear of a recession. Link: https://www.eleconomista.net/economia/EUA-confirma-que-su-economia-crecio-un-2.1--en-2022-tras-calculo-final-20230330-0023.html

Chevrolet increased pricing on the Bolt EV and EUV by $900 and $600 respectively. The midyear price increases come mere months after Chevy dropped Bolt EV and EUV prices by $5900 and $6300 in June, making them the cheapest EVs in the United States for 2023. It's a shame Bolt prices are trending upward once more, but both vehicles remain enticing with the massive price cut in June, and with both vehicles qualifying for the full $7500 tax credit for EVs until at least March. Decision making can be tough, but it is still odd that after deciding in June it would dramatically reduce pricing for the Bolt EV and EUV—cutting them by roughly $6000 each—Chevrolet would decide barely six months later on a midyear price increase. Granted, the increases are small: the Bolt EV is going up by $900, to $27,495, and the EUV's price is increasing by $600, to $28,795. According to a statement by a Chevy representative, "Due to ongoing industry-related pricing pressures, the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV will see modest price increases starting in 2023, but we expect it to remain America's most affordable EV. Chevrolet remains committed in its long-standing role to provide true value. We expect to continue building the record sales momentum we saw in 2022." link:https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42388138/2023-chevrolet-bolt-ev-euv-prices-increased/

Easter is perhaps the only traditional meal for which I’m happy to let one dish dominate. Normally, I’m all about the spread: a table full of food where all sorts – meat and veg, salad and fish – sit side by side as equals. There is something about a shoulder of lamb, though, packed full of flavour and cooked slowly until it’s more or less falling apart, that’s so symbolically tied up with both the season and the occasion that it turns me into a meat-and-two-veg sort of cook. Well, maybe a few more than two, but still, there’s a lot of space on the table reserved for the centrepiece. Marmalade-glazed lamb shoulder with mixed spice and cumin (pictured top) There’s minimum effort and maximum flavour in this traybake main. If you have the time, leave the lamb to marinate overnight, because the flavours will only improve. Prep 15 min Cook 4 hr 45 min Serves 6 https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/mar/23/spiced-easter-lamb-marmalade-glaze-fennel-pepper-gratin-yotam-ottolenghi-recipes?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

More than 450 queer artists, individuals and organisations have called on the UK’s Eurovision contestant, Olly Alexander, to boycott this year’s competition in solidarity with Palestine. The actor Maxine Peake and the novelist and playwright Sarah Schulman are among the signatories of the open letter calling on the singer to withdraw from the contest in May due to the conflict in Gaza. The letter, posted on Instagram by Queers for Palestine, read: “We share the vision of queer joy and abundance you’ve offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all. In this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision … There can be no party with a state committing apartheid and genocide https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/28/queer-artists-call-on-olly-alexander-to-boycott-eurovision-over-israel-participation?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

A non-profit organization said Thursday that it sued the US National Park Service over a plan to remove Puerto Rico’s famous stray cats from a historic district in the US territory. The lawsuit filed by Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies comes four months after the federal agency announced it would contract an animal welfare organization to remove an estimated 200 cats that live in an area surrounding a historic seaside fortress in Old San Juan. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/28/us-national-park-service-sued-removing-puerto-rico-cats?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Othe

Leicester have sacked their women’s team manager, Willie Kirk, after an investigation into an alleged relationship with a player. The WSL club said he “was determined to have breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable”. The Guardian revealed on 8 March that Kirk had been suspended The manager was then absent from the team’s 2-0 defeat of Liverpool, which earned them a place in the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will play Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 14 April, with Jennifer Foster in charge, supported by first-team coach Stephen Kirby. They have since lost the two league games they have played, a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham and 3-2 loss against Brighton. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/28/leicester-sack-willie-kirk-manager-after-investigation-into-alleged-relationship-with-player?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Nick Movie: Chupa Time: 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: Netflix Duration of the movie: 1h:38 Trailer:

Music Title: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Song | "EDGERUNNERS!" - Breeton Boi & Ham Sandwich [LYRIC AMV] Signer: breeton boi Release Date: sep 24, 2022. Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: nerdcore rapper in youtube. Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): smooth and always banger when it comes to beats.

Any greater provision of humanitarian aid in al-Mawasi is relative too. In northern Gaza, 300,000 to 500,000 people are threatened with famine, with those most vulnerable, like Salman, facing desperate choices as they seek to survive. In nearby Rafah, there is more food, though prices are prohibitive for many, and some functioning healthcare. In al-Mawasi, UN agencies and others are able to get some food assistance to the inhabitants of the huge encampment that has sprung up across the dunes and scrubby plain inland but materials for shelter are in very short supply. Some areas of al-Mawasi are farmland, and still fenced off, increasing crowding further, while UN agencies and international NGOs are occupying most of the guesthouses by the beach. “There is no real organised assistance,” said one senior aid official. “Sanitary conditions are appalling. Some community organised waste collection [is in place] but very few toilets – people go in the sand or the sea. Water has to be trucked in, ie few wells nearby and no pipes. Water trucks come once a day in Rafah and streams of kids run after them with jerry cans.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/26/gaza-al-mawasi-palestinians-fleeing-to-humanitarian-zone-find-little-hope?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

On Sunday, Russia escalated its aerial bombardment of Kyiv, launching a major wave of missile and drone attacks. On Monday, 10 people were injured when an art academy and exhibition hall were demolished in an airstrike. On Tuesday, Mykhailo Mudryk’s late winner secured for Ukraine a place at Euro 2024, ­sealing a 2-1 victory against Iceland in the Uefa Path B playoff. One of these things, evidently, is not like the others. And yet nor does Ukraine’s qualification for their first major tournament since the ­beginning of their war with Russia feel like a mere triviality or footnote. On a night of high drama, high ­emotion and ultimately high celebration, these players – and the thousands of fans who had followed them here – recognised that something more was at stake. Qualifying for a football ­tournament will not bring back their dead or rebuild their cities or unmake the grim memories or shoot down the Russian missiles. Exiled here in their Polish home from home, 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, they know that these stands will never be their stands, these streets will never be their streets, this turf will never be their turf. Still they came, because in times like these even to shout the name of Ukraine is to partake in a kind of resistance. “Making the Euros will help the world to not forget about Ukraine,” the midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko had said in advance of this match. And of course there is a basic cruelty in the fact that something this important – the visibility, the identity, the very survival of a nation state – can be swung by something as capricious as a game of football. But perhaps the world has been forgetting about Ukraine a little, and if the coming months can provide this nation with a voice and a platform, then it is an opportunity they will seize with both hands. After all geopolitics, like football, is a game in which you take the result however you can get it. No country has taken in more Ukrainian refugees than the Euro 2024 hosts, and Germany this summer will now be a pageant of Ukrainian pride and Ukrainian defiance. And so while international football is not war, nor is it war’s opposite. This much has become ­apparent from the very start of the Russian invasion, since when we have long become accustomed to ­Ukrainian press ­conferences being dotted with casual ­references to bombs and slaughter, good and evil. As the teams stepped out into a nearly full stadium, as stands draped with anti-Russian ­banners reverberated to patriotic song, the outline of Ukraine printed on the giant flag laid across the ­centre circle included Crimea within its borders. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/26/ukraine-iceland-euro-2024-playoff?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Nick Movie: Trolls 2: Band Together Time: 2023-4/4 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: - Trailer:

Music Title: Mc Artisan - Mamacita Ft @SYC Signer: - Release Date: 01/08/22 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

Full-screen preview is an interactive live overview of all desktops. You can move windows to other desktops by simply dragging them with your mouse. Other, more advanced features like copying and closing of windows or tiling and zooming of desktops are available via easy-to-use mouse and keyboard controls as well. This was never so easy . So First of all , Install Dexpot. [Note: Run on Windows 7,8,10] Once you finish setup , Run Dexpot (from your desktop). You'll see the Dexpot icon in your systray. Right-click the systray icon and choose 'Desktop 2' from the main menu. http://dexpot.de/gfx/mainmenu_en.png To move the desktop , Click the title bar of a window with your right mouse button and choose 'Move > Desktop 2' from the folding menu. http://dexpot.de/gfx/systemmenus_en.png Choose 'Settings' from the main menu. Switch to 'Plugins and Extras'. In 'Behavior of windows on other desktops' you can decide how to handle windows activating on another desktop. If you get any trouble or you want any more explications feel free to PM me.

Google Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a smartphones are expected to make their debut soon. There have been multiple reports and leaks surrounding these handsets over the past few months. The Pixel Fold, expected to debut as the first ever foldable smartphone from Google, is a highly-anticipated handset. New reports have leaked the probable launch date of the Google Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold. The purported price of these phones and the colour options they are expected to arrive in have also been leaked online.According to a 9to5Google report citing retail sources, the Google Pixel 7a is expected to be priced at $499 (roughly Rs. 40,900) in the US. This price is $50 (roughly Rs. 4,100) more than its predecessor, the Google Pixel 6a, which was launched last year. The jump in price can reportedly be attributed to the upgrade in quality of raw materials used. The primary camera of the Pixel 7a is likely to feature a 64-megapixel sensor, accompanied by a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens. The phone is also expected to be powered by a Tensor G2 chipset which has also been used in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro series of smartphones. The upcoming Pixel handset is also expected to sport a new 90Hz display, and wireless charging support.Previous reports suggested that the Google Pixel Fold will cost around $1,300 and $1,500 (roughly Rs. 1,07,400 to Rs. 1,23,935 ). These prices are considerably more expensive than the other models in the Pixel lineup. The upcoming Pixel Fold is still expected to be cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 which is priced at $1,799.99 (roughly Rs. 1,42,700) in the US. A tweet by tipster Jon Prosser (Twitter: @jon_prosser) suggests that the Google Pixel 7a will likely launch in Charcoal, Snow, Sea (light blue), and Coral colour options — the last colourway will only be available at Google Store, according to Prosser. The phone will be launched on May 10 during the Google I/O event and will also reportedly be immediately available for purchase in the US. In another post on Twitter, Prosser shared design renders of the upcoming Pixel Fold handset and claims that Google's first foldable smartphone is also likely to be launched on May 10 alongside the Pixel 7a at the Google I/O event. The tipster claims that the phone will be available for purchase in the US staring June 27, with pre-orders from Google Store beginning on May 10, and pre-orders from other partners or carriers starting May 30. The phone is seen in two colour options — black and white — in the renders shared by the tipster. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/google-pixel-7a-fold-price-leak-launch-date-may-10-expected-3957918

Windows 11 and Windows 10 users might be faced with a rather odd-seeming full-screen pop-up after they’ve upgraded, pertaining to Windows Hello logins using facial recognition or a fingerprint. Neowin spotted a Microsoft support document explaining that after June 13 – the day the most recent cumulative update was released for Windows 11 (and 10) – you might see the aforementioned pop-up panel if you’ve recently updated to a later version of Windows. And it can also appear if you haven’t signed into your Windows device using Windows Hello in over a year, and you’ve just installed an update. Sponsored Links The Rise of AI in Fashion: runway-rhythms The prompt reads, “Choose if you want to keep signing in with your face or fingerprint,” then poses the question: “Do you want to keep storing your face or fingerprint data on this PC?” If you choose ‘yes’ then nothing more needs to be done. If you decide you don’t want to use these biometric login methods any longer, when you click ‘no’ Windows will take you to the Settings app, where you can change your sign-in method. Analysis: Permission to be confused, Captain This is a strange one because we’re not told why Microsoft has decided this prompt is necessary. Has the software giant just spontaneously decided to check if users still want to continue with Windows Hello? Well, if they haven’t used their biometric login for over a year, that seems like a fair enough helpful check to implement. However, that’s clearly not the full story, as folks who’ve used Windows Hello recently and regularly are seeing this panel too, if they’ve recently upgraded to a newer version of Windows 11 or 10. So why quiz them on the matter? We’re not told, and that’s a bit confusing – it’d be nice to be given a reason. Could it be something to do with issues around login data permissions? Well, we’re just guessing here. Whatever the case, it would really make sense to clarify the reason on the actual pop-up screen in Windows, or at least provide a link to that clarification for the curious. Just so people aren’t potentially confused about why they’re seeing the prompt on their PC. Granted, plenty of folks may not care, and in the bigger picture, this is a very minor inconvenience, but still, the whole episode just seems a bit odd to us – the support document is all well and good, but doesn’t tell the full story. https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/new-windows-11-users-might-be-confused-by-this-full-screen-pop-up

U.S. Lawmakers Want to Block China from 'American' RISC-V Senators Marco Rubio and Mark Warner demand to limit China's access to American RISC-V innovations. Designed to be an open-source instruction set architecture (ISA) that can be used to build processors for every possible purpose, the RISC-V ISA has become quite a ubiquitous technology that can address both artificial intelligence and high-performance computing applications. This is perhaps why some U.S. lawmakers want this open-source technology to be essentially closed from Chinese entities, reports Reuters. "The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is abusing RISC-V to get around U.S. dominance of the intellectual property needed to design chips. U.S. persons should not be supporting a PRC tech transfer strategy that serves to degrade U.S. export control laws," said Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement to Reuters. Tom's Hardware has enquired RISC-V and the Linux Foundation for comment, yet has not received a response. Senators Marco Rubio and Mark Warner urge the U.S. government to limit American tech companies' engagement with RISC-V technology with Chinese entities. They fear China's potential misuse of this collaborative tech for military and strategic advantage, which poses national security. RISC-V is a competitor to Arm's proprietary ISA and is used in various tech devices, from smartphones to advanced AI processors. RISC-V was born out of the University of California, Berkeley's innovative labs, and its development has been under the guardianship of a Swiss nonprofit organization, ensuring its open-source nature remains intact. Yet, the prevalent belief among certain lawmakers is that China is maneuvering this open, collaborative spirit to fortify its semiconductor industry. Their concerns not only touch on economic factors but also the potential military advancements that the People's Republic could harness by mastering this technology. Representative Mike Gallagher has even proposed that any U.S. collaboration with Chinese entities on this front should first secure an export license. This technology's international embrace is evident, with companies from both the East and the West integrating it. China's tech titan, Huawei, views RISC-V as foundational to its chip endeavors. Meanwhile, in the U.S., tech powerhouses like Qualcomm and Google have shown enthusiasm for its potential, emphasizing its transformative capability for the industry. Magnitude However, the proposed constraints have sparked concerns within the tech community. They could jeopardize cooperative work on open tech standards between the U.S. and China if enforced. This could pose challenges to China's ambition to be chip-independent and stunt the global market momentum for better, cheaper chips. The magnitude of potential restrictions can be gauged by a statement from Jack Kang of SiFive, who equated such limitations to barring U.S. tech firms from the digital universe of the internet. The implications stretch beyond mere business metrics, pointing to a larger impact on global tech innovation and leadership. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/us-lawmakers-want-to-block-china-from-american-risc-v

I would set off from a stable to meet up with a village chief, spot a couple of people arguing outside a cave, jump off my horse to investigate and go spelunking. Then I’d come out the other side to see an as-yet-undiscovered sky tower in the distance, batter some monsters on my way towards it (with the help of a flame-throwing shield I spontaneously invented earlier), build a makeshift go-kart out of some parts I found near their camp, ride it halfway up a mountain towards the tower, start a fire to burn up the thorny bushes blocking the entrance, climb the tower, catapult myself into the sky, spot a glowing shrine on a floating islet, glide towards it and get caught up solving the puzzle within … Three hours later I’d somehow be halfway up Death Mountain on the other side of the map, the village chief would still be waiting, and my abandoned horse would still be pawing the ground outside that cave. The sense of freedom here is intoxicating. The kingdom of Hyrule is vast and full of diversions, and being able to move freely between the skies and the ground down below is a thrill that never wears off. This is the realisation of a promise hinted at by Zelda: Skyward Sword many years ago. But Tears of the Kingdom also offers a hitherto unimagined level of freedom when it comes to how you approach its many challenges. Hero Link’s magic arm lets you pick up, move around and stick together almost anything in the game’s world. Plonk a dazzling seed on your shield and it’ll blind enemies who strike you; fuse a monster eye with your arrow and it’ll seek its target. You can construct rafts or wagons or hot-air-balloons or wonky ladders from things you find lying around. Plentiful mechanical devices – from steering wheels to rockets to springs and fans – power your creations, letting you build planes, go-karts, catapults, almost anything you can think of. Messing around with self-made contraptions led me to so many unexpected moments of glory, and also hilarity. Almost every time, Tears of the Kingdom answers the question “what happens if I do this?” with “something fun”. Once, trapped in a blizzard in the snowy highlands, I improvised a rocket-powered sled and clung on for dear life as it careened down the hillside, totally out of control. Attaching a fan to my shield out of curiosity resulted in a hilarious run-in with some Bokoblins, in which I simply blew them backwards off the roof of their fort. I misaligned a rocket on a floating platform and accidentally sent myself flying sideways off it, rather than rising majestically into the air as planned. In combination with Link’s weapons and abilities, this gives you probably four or five ways to approach almost any situation. Trying to get to a shrine on top of a mountain? You could climb it, cooking up a few elixirs beforehand to keep your speed and stamina up. You could stick some balloons to a platform, climb on, light some fires, and rise upwards. You could fuse a rocket to your shield and zoom skywards, then glide towards your destination. You could enter a cave at the base and use Link’s Ascend ability to swim through the ceiling and pop up somewhere else. You could find a chunk of rock that fell from the sky, cling to it, and rewind time so that it zooms back up towards the heavens. It is so creatively empowering, and supremely intellectually satisfying. It doesn’t just guide you towards predetermined solutions; it lets you come up with your own. With all this flexibility comes a lot of complexity. There is fiddliness here that I would be disinclined to put up with if everything else weren’t so peerlessly entertaining. Rotating and positioning objects is annoying, requiring you to hold several buttons at once, and because you can combine anything in your inventory with any other thing, you’re often scrolling through useless monster bits in the middle of a fight, seeking the bomb-flower that you want to fuse to your arrow. I have often thrown a valuable weapon at a cave wall instead of the sticky glowing plant I intended. Perhaps for those raised on Fortnite and Minecraft, all of this will quickly become second nature, but the price you pay for Tears of the Kingdom’s wonderfully open-ended approach is controls that never feel wholly intuitive. It’s also surprisingly difficult – but then, a lot of the time I was making things difficult for myself because I couldn’t resist the urge to experiment. When I had to fight rather than think my way out of a situation, I was regularly killed in a couple of hits because I’d been too busy messing around to do all that normal video game stuff, such as strengthening my armour or expanding Link’s life-reserve of hearts, or following the story to unlock useful new abilities. After about 20 hours I had to course-correct and spend some time following the road set out before me, rather than repeatedly perishing in dangerous corners of Hyrule. It was not long, though, before I was sufficiently strengthened and back to my distractions, letting the game take me wherever it wanted. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/may/11/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-review-pure-magic?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other