Wednesday, February 17, 2021

How to calculate your $1,400 stimulus check total, if the latest proposal holds - CNET

Congress is working on a third stimulus check for $1,400. But with this payment, things could be very different. We'll explain what it means for you and your family.

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All the trailers announced at Nintendo's latest Switch event video - CNET

A slew of new game trailers were announced for Nintendo's Switch game console at its most recent Nintendo Direct presentation. Watch them all right here.

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Nintendo reveals Splatoon 3 announcement trailer video - CNET

At its latest Nintendo Direct event, the company announced Splatoon 3 will arrive on Nintendo Switch in 2022.

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Mario Golf Super Rush trailer revealed video - CNET

Mario's latest sporting adventure was announced at Nintendo Direct, alongside Zelda and Splatoon news.

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Best 5G phones for 2021 - CNET

Here are the top 5G phones that connect to the next-gen network.

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Nintendo reveals The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD trailer video - CNET

At its latest Nintendo Direct event, the company announced a remaster of its popular Wii title for the Nintendo Switch in HD.

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Splatoon 3 is coming to the Nintendo Switch -- in 2022 - CNET

A brief peek at a vast city, and that's all we know for now.

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Latest Tech News

The best PC gaming headsets are a must if you really want to feel like you were dropped into the middle of a game. It’s not just their excellent sound quality that does it. They also offer an expansive soundstage with accurate imaging, so that you can hear where everything is, giving you that gaming edge, not to mention an incredibly immersive gaming experience.

Invest in one of the best PC gaming headsets to improve your aim, since you can hear your enemies creeping around, as well as your gaming immersion when you’re playing the best PC games. And, if you like to dive into a digital adventure at night, these cans will keep the sound in, so you don’t end up with angry, sleep-deprived neighbors or roommates. 

But before you drop a bunch of cash on the priciest pair of cans available, keep in mind that the best PC gaming headsets aren’t just about great audio and massive bass. You’ll probably be playing for hours at a time so make sure you find something comfortable. Also, consider which features are important to you, since you’ll find some great ones such as an included mic with noise rejection, virtual surround sound, and lag-free connectivity for the wireless headsets.

If you’ve already invested in one of the best gaming PCs and a gaming monitor, don’t just stop there. Make sure you have the best peripherals to go along with your gaming rig, and you can start with one of the best PC gaming headsets on this list.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

(Image credit: Razer)

1. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Premium wireless gaming headset

Interface: 2.4GHz USB wireless, 3.5mm audio jack | Features: THX Spatial Audio, noise cancellation, TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers, removable HyperClear Supercardioid mic

Great sound quality
Razer’s THX Spatial audio app for fine audio customization
Battery quality
Isn’t fully compatible with consoles
Could use a better battery level indicator

Focusing primarily on three attributes: positional audio, communication clarity and noise cancellation, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a premium wireless gaming headset in every sense of the word. It has a great feature set, serious battery life, excellent build quality and impressive sound quality, all of which work together to deliver an amazing audio experience whether you’re gaming or movie watching. Next to those, the fact that it’s incredibly comfortable seems like icing on the cake.

Read the full review: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Corsair HS60 Haptic

(Image credit: Corsair)

2. Corsair HS60 Haptic

One of our favorite headsets ever, hands-down

Interface: Wired (USB) | Features: haptic bass powered by Taction Technology, custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers, noise-cancelling unidirectional mic

Excellent sound
Haptic feedback is like wrapping your head with a subwoofer
Excellent noise-cancelling microphone
In theory, you can lose the detachable mic
Some might prefer a wireless headset

Easily one of the best headsets we've ever used, the Corsair HS60 Haptic boasts haptic feedback so that you can feel every single bass note, putting you right in the middle of all the action. It actually feels like you’ve just strapped a subwoofer comfortably to your head, and that’s without compromising the sound quality. With no Bluetooth or wireless radio connection to worry about, this isn’t a surprise. For those who enjoy multiplayer campaigns with friends, that mic not only provides incredibly clear voice input, but also comes with a few onboard controls for mic muting, volume and haptic intensity. Best of all, while this isn’t the cheapest headsets out there, it’s also not expensive, making it a great value for your money.

Read the full review: Corsair HS60 Haptic

HyperX Cloud Revolver S

(Image credit: HyperX)

3. HyperX Cloud Revolver S

Elite feel and sound at a premium price

Interface: Wired (USB) | Features: 7.1-channel surround sound, 50mm drivers, Dolby DSP, 3.5mm jack

Excellent all-around sound
All-day comfort
Finicky mic positioning
Cable may be too long

When we first sat down to review the HyperX Cloud Revolver S, we were a tad conflicted. On one hand, it boasts incredible 7.1-channel surround sound, delivered through Dolby's trademark digital signal processor. On the other, it's extremely expensive when compared to other similar headsets. Fortunately, as one of Kingston's most subdued pair of cans we've ever seen (or heard), the pure comfort and top-notch sound more than make up for its high price and weirdly placed detachable mic. And that’s why it tops our list of the best PC gaming headsets. 

Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Revolver S

Logitech G Pro X Wireless

(Image credit: Logitech)

4. Logitech G Pro X Wireless

Wireless freedom

Interface: Wireless | Features: up to 20h battery life, Detachable mic with foam windscreen, 1.8m USB A to USB C charging cable

Excellent sound quality
Superb build quality
Comfortable
Kind of expensive
Weak mic

Wireless headphones are no longer plagued with latency, with such releases as the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed setting a higher standard for wireless audio. One of the best gaming headsets out there, this pair of cans gives you wireless freedom alongside low latency, robust build quality and, most importantly, excellent sound. It also boasts up to 20 hours of battery life, and a wireless range of up to 13m. Its microphone could be better, and it could also be cheaper. However, if you have the cash (and you don’t use the mic that much anyway), this one’s a shoo-in.

Read the full review: Logitech G Pro X Wireless

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

5. SteelSeries Arctis Pro

PC gaming’s best kept secret

Interface:: Wired (USB) | Features:: 40mm drivers, Retractable boom microphone, DTS Headphone:X v2.0, RGB lighting, included DAC

Included DAC
Audiophile worthy sound
Surround sound not great

SteelSeries is known for offering impeccable audio, but the SteelSeries Arctis Pro takes things to the next level. This headset doesn’t just offer up immersive surround sound for all the explosive action of your favorite games, but thanks to its included DAC (digital to audio converter), the Arctis Pro also serves you well when listening to your favorite music. One of the best PC gaming headsets to date, this one’s a little on the pricey side, but when you consider just how comfortable and exceptional sounding this headset is, well, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best gaming headsets you can buy today.

Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro 

Astro A50

(Image credit: Astro)

6. Astro A50 Wireless (2019)

Like the Cadillac of PC gaming headsets

Interface: Wireless (5.8GHz) | Features:: Dolby Audio, Works with PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC and mobile; Astro Audio; 5.8GHz wireless tech with MixAmp; USB charging with base station

Dolby Audio sounds amazing
Supremely comfortable
Edgy aesthetics

The Astro A50 Wireless isn’t just an appealing choice for the best gaming headset because of its edgy aesthetic – that is, if you’re into that sort of look. This is a multi-use headset boasting excellent and immersive – if not audiophile-level – sound quality as well as fantastic wireless connectivity so latency is no issue. As far as its feature-set, it has effortless-to-swap ear cups and a charging station, because things should be easy where they can. Sadly, it is more for the luxurious-loving crowd with that premium price. 

Read the full review: Astro A50 Wireless (2019)

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

7. SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless

Excellent sound for both your PC and PS5

Interface: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth | Features: Discord-certified microphone, 20+ hour battery life, On-ear ChatMix control, DTS Headphone:X v2.0

Excellent sound quality
Lag-free
Expensive

When it comes to sound, the Arctis line of headsets from SteelSeries will never fail you. It delivers a sound quality that will please both gamers and music snobs alike. And, this being wireless, it eliminates those pesky cables without sacrificing performance. In fact, whether you’re connected via Bluetooth or via the 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, you’ll have a lag-fee experience, making this an excellent proposition for gaming. At this point, that 20+ hours battery life and Discord-certified mic are just icing on the cake.

Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless

Beyerdynamic Custom Game

(Image credit: Beyerdynamic)

8. Beyerdynamic Custom Game

Gaming never sounded so good

Interface:: Wired (3.5mm) | Features: Sound slider; Soft ear pads; Changeable design covers; Detachable cable

Extremely comfortable
Impressive audio quality
Kind of expensive

While it’s more expensive than we’d like, the Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best PC gaming headsets we’ve used in some time. It doesn’t feature flashy surround sound or wireless functionality, unfortunately. However, this headset does excel in two of the most important categories: sound and comfort. Seriously, once you put it on and experience your games in headphones this amazing, there’s no looking back.

Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Custom Game

Corsair HS50

(Image credit: Corsair)

9. Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset

The budget king

Interface: Wired (analog) | Features: 50mm drivers; Easy on-ear volume and mute controls; Multi-platform compatibility

Strong stereo sound
Excellent value
Mic easily misplaced

Usually when you're purchasing anything, including gaming peripherals, you get what you pay for. You don't go into Walmart, pick up a $50/£50 gaming headset and expect to be blown away, at least not usually. Well, Corsair takes this rule and turns it on its head. The Corsair HS50 is, for the budget gamer, the best PC gaming headset you can get today. Retailing at $50 in the US, the HS50 has sound and mic quality that rivals headsets that are double the price. Everything, down to the build materials, radiates quality. If you don't mind forgoing some extra bells and whistles – like 7.1 surround and Bluetooth connectivity, for example – then you need to take a look at the Corsair HS50.

Read the full review: Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset 

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

10. SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

A wireless headset with wired sound

Interface: Wireless (Bluetooth) | Features: Dual-battery charging system, Bluetooth connectivity, 40mm drivers

Lossless audio
Convenient dual-battery system
Expensive

Compromises are a part of everyday life, but nobody actually enjoys making them. Luckily, you won’t have to with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. With it, you can get high quality lossless audio playback with a wireless headset. And, when you add the unique and ultra-convenient dual-battery charging system that lets you wear this headset in perpetuity to the mix, you have a formula for one of the best PC gaming headsets we've ever had the chance to use. If you have the money, and you absolutely need the best wireless headphones money can buy, this is your best bet.

Read the full reviewSteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless 

Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition

(Image credit: Creative)

11. Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition

Improving a perfect formula

Interface: Wired (USB and Analog) | Features: 50mm drivers; Reinforced steel and aluminum build; Detachable and flexible mic

Very comfortable
Clear, accurate sound
Mids and highs unbalanced

Creative has made a name for itself over the years for crafting sublime audio products – and the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements that legacy. Instead of just sitting back and iterating on the same winning formula of its previous products, Creative gives the Sound BlasterX H7 a full overhaul, resulting in a PC gaming headset that looks just as great as it sounds. If you’re looking for a comfortable, solid and meaty-sounding headset, the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition is one of the best PC gaming headsets you can get.

Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition 

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

(Image credit: Turtle Beach)

12. Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

How elite is the Elite Atlas Aero?

Interface: Wireless | Features: Metal headband; Powerful desktop software; Enables Waves NX 3D Audio; ProSpecs Glasses Relief system

ProSpecs Glasses Relief system
Plenty of features
Questionable aesthetic

Yes, there might be a few things that hold the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero back from true greatness – namely, its tight fit and not-so-appealing aesthetic. However, when it comes to what really matters, this headset delivers. With great sound quality to start, coupled with its ProSpecs Glasses Relief system to make it more comfortable for wearers with glasses, plethora of features and incredibly powerful software, this is one of the best gaming headsets we’ve ever put over our ears. And, for it, you’ll be happy to pay what would have felt like an exuberant price. 

Read our full review: Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R

(Image credit: Beyerdynamic)

13. Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R

No gimmicks, just excellent sound

Interface: Wired (3.5mm with 6.35 adapter) | Features: Open-back design, extended frequency response

Amazing sound quality 
Comfortable
No built-in mic

The Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R is something of an anomaly when it comes to gaming headsets. There’s no USB for digital audio or attached mic to communicate with your pals in Esports. It’s an open-back headset, a design choice that is unheard of in the gaming audio sphere. But that’s what makes the Tygr 300 R special. That open-back design, coupled with an extended frequency response, gives you a wider soundstage and an incredibly atmospheric and pleasurable listening experience when tackling single player gaming experiences like Metro Exodus. It might not have virtual surround sound but its sound quality is on par with the best of them – it even sounds good listening to music, something most gaming headsets don’t manage to do well.

Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R 

Razer Nari Ultimate

(Image credit: Razer)

14. Razer Nari Ultimate

Feel the game

Interface: Wireless | Features: 8-hour battery life; HyperSense haptic feedback; Compatible with many devices; 50mm drivers

Great sound
Tons of connectivity
Haptic vibrations are divisive

Anyone can simply just listen to their games, but with the Razer Nari Ultimate, you can feel them as well. This gaming headset has haptic motors in the ear cups that make your ears vibrate. That’s more than enough to make this at least a curious headset, but when paired with the long battery life, amazing sound quality and comfortable build, it’s clearly one of the best gaming headsets out there. Do yourself a favor and turn off the haptic feedback, even when you’re listening to music.

Read the full review: Razer Nari Ultimate

Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700

(Image credit: Asus)

15. Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700

Shiny

Interface: Wireless (Bluetooth) | Features: 7.1-channel surround sound; 50mm Neodymium drivers; Bluetooth; Built-in DAC

Great sound quality
Aesthetic
Expensive

With its Republic of Gamers brand, Asus has built a reputation for being the name behind some of the best gaming peripherals to constantly meet consumer standards. The Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 joins their ranks. Packed with 50mm Neodymium drivers and Bluetooth compatibility, this gaming headset provides fantastic sound quality without being tethered with a wire. It’s even compatible with other gaming platforms, so you won’t have to switch between different headsets. It’s a little pricey, but considering how good this headset sounds and how flexible it is, we’d say it’s worth it.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700



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Latest Tech News

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 has been confirmed and, even though very little is known about it, it's undoubtedly one of the most highly-anticipated games coming to Nintendo Switch.

Since the game's announcement during Nintendo's E3 2019 presentation, details have remained thin on the ground, and given the disruption caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it's hard to guess when Nintendo might be in a position to reveal more. 

With 2020 thankfully in the rear view mirror, the franchise's 35th anniversary, which takes place this year, is looking like the most timely opportunity for Nintendo make an announcement. We didn't hear anything about the game during the February Nintendo Direct, though we were assured more news would come later in the year – and to sate our Zelda appetites, Skyward Sword HD was announced as coming to the Switch on July 16.

Given Nintendo is a publisher known for keeping things firmly under wraps until they're absolutely ready, it's perhaps not all that surprising that it's keeping quiet around Breath of the Wild 2. It is, after all, the sequel to Breath of the Wild, which is still hailed as one of the best Switch games you can buy, meaning expectations are extremely high. 

Unfortunately, the number of questions we have is even higher. When will it release? What will its story involve? Is that rumored Nintendo Switch 2 going to play a part? Solid information on Breath of the Wild 2 is hard to come by at the moment but there are some insights to be gleaned from its announcement trailer and the internet is always providing rumors to mull over. As such, we've gathered up everything we know and suspect so far about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 for your perusal.  

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? Breath of the Wild 2 is the upcoming sequel to 2017's open-world Zelda game
  • What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch
  • When can I play it? TBA but we expect it to arrive towards the end of 2021

Breath of the Wild 2 release date

Nintendo hasn't shared much information on Breath of the Wild 2 other than an announcement trailer and a few sparse comments—which we'll run through below. One thing to hold on to is that the trailer closed off with a line stating the game is "in development". That doesn't guarantee the game is coming anytime soon but it is coming. 

Last year, leaker Sabi (via wccftech) suggested that Breath of the Wild 2 is due for release in 2020, but warned that, "Zelda release dates are historically delayed, internally or publicly".

And it seems they were right, as the leaker has since claimed that Breath of the Wild 2 has been delayed, likely into 2021. 

While it's always worth taking rumors with a big pinch of salt, Sabi is a pretty reliable leaker. The Twitter user leaked most of the big announcements from E3 2019 before they happened – reportedly even earning a cease and desist order from Nintendo.

There have also been rumors that Nintendo is working on a Nintendo Switch Pro, a more powerful console than the original Switch. It's been suggested that Breath of the Wild 2 would make an ideal launch title for a new console and if rumors prove to be true this could see Breath of the Wild 2 released in late 2021 or early 2022. However, this is all very much speculation at this point given the existence of such a console hasn't been confirmed or denied by Nintendo and no update has been given on Breath of the Wild 2's release date.

Breath of the Wild 2 trailers

We got our first glimpse of BOTW 2 at E3 2019, with this spooky trailer that shows Zelda and Link exploring an underground chamber – with some mysterious runes, glowing hands, and a brand-new haircut that has set the internet on fire. Suffice it to say we're excited.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 trailer is just 82 seconds long and there's no dialogue whatsoever but there are some clues to be gathered from it.

It features a torch-carrying Link and Zelda traversing a dark dungeon beneath Hyrule (no big surprise there). Spirit-like tendrils creep around the musty tomb they're exploring, with the pair riding a large elephant-like beast. Something shocks the pair, and then we cut to what appears to be the resurrection of some long-dead (and creepy looking) warrior. Could this be the return of Ganondorf?

The video then cuts to a long shot of Hyrule Field, with Hyrule Castle in the distance. There's a tremor, the castle is smothered with dust... and that's the end.

The clip finishes with a message that reads: "The sequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is in development."

We wouldn't usually expect so much animation to be done so early in development, but it probably helps that Nintendo already has the in-game engine from Breath of the Wild.

Breath of the Wild 2 news and rumors

Breath of the Wild 2

Could Zelda have a bigger role this time around? (Image Credit: Nintendo)

A potential release window?

Nintendo hasn’t given any release window for Breath of the Wild 2 but prominent leaker Emily Rogers has said on Twitter (via GamesRadar) that the sequel could arrive in the 2021 holiday season, saying there’s an “85-90% chance”.

Rogers has accurately predicted Nintendo release plans before and their estimation lines up with other rumors that the game will release in late 2021, which is, coincidentally, when it's rumored that Nintendo might also release a new and more powerful Switch console. 

However, at the moment this is all just speculation and we can’t be sure until Nintendo announces something official. Even if the plan is, at the moment, to release Breath of the Wild 2 in late 2021 games are frequently subject to delays, particularly during the ongoing pandemic, and Nintendo isn't likely to confirm anything until it's ready. 

Hyrule Warriors and a longer wait for news

Nintendo and Koei Tecmo Games have released a prequel to the original Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild titled Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Set 100 years before the original game, it has Link, Zelda and friends (including the four Champions, who will be playable for the the first time) battle hordes of enemies in Hyrule before it was destroyed in the Great Calamity.

While it’s exciting to have the chance to return to Hyrule in 2020, the release of this prequel does suggest it could be another while before we hear anything more about a sequel.

In revealing Age of Calamity, series producer Eiji Aonuma acknowledged the relative lack of news for Breath of the Wild 2 and said:

“In order to make the vast world you enjoyed exploring in the original game even more impressive, the team is working hard on its development, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer before we can provide more updates.”

Could Switch Pro rumors offer Breath of the Wild 2 hints?

There have been numerous reports that there's a Nintendo Switch Pro in the works for a 2021 release date. Reports of the new console come from the Economic Daily News and Bloomberg both of which suggests a more powerful Nintendo Switch console with upgraded interactivity and improved display quality could be coming next year. Along with these hardware upgrades, Bloomberg also suggests that Nintendo has a bunch of new games up its sleeve to launch alongside the console.

Given the original Breath of the Wild launched with the original Nintendo Switch back in 2017, launching Breath of the Wild 2 alongside a more advanced iteration of the console would be some nice symmetry. A 2021 release date for Breath of the Wild 2 doesn't seem completely ridiculous either given it's been in development for some time.

That said, all of this is mere conjecture until Nintendo confirms the existence of a Nintendo Switch Pro or gives us an update on the progress of Breath of the Wild 2. 

Skyward Sword and 35-year anniversary

In August 2020, an Amazon listing went live for a Skyward Sword port on Nintendo Switch. While it's now been pulled from the site, a port of the Wii title would make a lot of sense ahead of the BOTW 2 release, given the hints about villain Demise (the big bad in Skyward Sword) in the upcoming sequel.

With the Zelda franchise's 35-year anniversary coming in 2021, it's a good time for both a Skyward Sword port and a Breath of the Wild 2 game, and we expect we'd get the former a few months ahead of the latter, at least partially to remind fans of the characters in the former game.

Voice acting misunderstanding

In a sign of just how much fans are looking for news on Breath of the Wild 2, a recent interview with the voice actors behind the Spanish dubs of Zelda and Revali in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Spanish podcast A Coffee with Nintendo was seized upon and caused some controversy (via IGN). 

In the interview it seemed to be suggested that the voice actors had finished their work on the sequel, leading fans to think that the game might be further along in its development than originally thought. However, this proved to be incorrect. It was later clarified that the voice actors were joking and that context was lost due to translation issues. In fact, it's not even confirmed that they're working on the sequel. So we're left with no further clues as to progress on Breath of the Wild 2. 

E3 uncertainty and a Mario-dominated 2020

E3 2020's cancellation (physically and digitally) has made it hard to predict how Nintendo will reveal more about its games through the rest of the year.

Uncertainty has been increased by a report from GamesBeat (corroborated by VGC) suggesting that the ongoing pandemic and switch to a work-from-home model has caused complications for Nintendo.

Though Nintendo has not commented on this recent report, following the cancellation of E3 Nintendo said it will “continue to be flexible and redirect our efforts to other ways of keeping our fans up to date about our activities and products" but no specifics have been confirmed. 

Though it was by no means certain that there would be any kind of Breath of the Wild 2 news during Nintendo's E3 Direct, fans were no doubt hoping for at least an indication of how the game is progressing given June marked a full year since the game's announcement with little news in between. 

Interestingly, a further report from Eurogamer and Video Games Chronicle said that for the rest of 2020, the Nintendo Switch's first-party lineup is going to be very Mario-heavy in celebration of the franchise's 35th anniversary. 

This report has ended up being fairly accurate with the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Paper Mario: Origami King, while Super Mario 3D World was announced for a 2021 release on Switch. 

With this in mind, it's worth pointing out that February 2021 is The Legend of Zelda's 35th anniversary so given Nintendo has celebrated Mario in 2020, there's a precedent for it doing the same for Zelda next year in some form or another. It would certainly be the perfect time to focus on Breath of the Wild 2. Of course, this is just conjecture and we won't know anything for sure until Nintendo makes some official announcements about the game. 

Rumors spreading

It's been a long time since anything solid on Breath of the Wild 2 has been announced and, as ever, in the absence of solid news rumors tend to creep in. 

The latest rumor has come from Tyler McVicker. Known primarily for his YouTube channel dedicated to Valve rumors, McVicker has recently announced he's setting up a Nintendo news channel and on a recent stream (around the 11 minute mark) teased some unconfirmed information (via NintendoLife) on the Zelda sequel. 

According to McVicker, Breath of the Wild 2 will take players back to the same Hyrule layout but introduce new things like "miasma"-like corruption and dungeons to add depth and detail to the map, taking inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2 and another unnamed game. 

Anything said about Breath of the Wild 2 that hasn't come from Nintendo itself should naturally be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

A 2020 release date? It may be delayed
Last year, leaker Sabi (via wccftech) suggested that Breath of the Wild 2 is due for release in 2020, but warned that, "Zelda release dates are historically delayed, internally or publicly".

And it seems they were right, as the leaker has since claimed that Breath of the Wild 2 has been delayed, likely into 2021.

Monolith recruitment
The development of Breath of the Wild 2 is rolling along and updates are very thin on the ground at the moment. But according to a report by Video Games Chronicle, the game's co-developer Monolith Soft is looking to expand its team with adverts for a character modeler, concept art designer, map modeler and scenario planner for a new Zelda game. 

Hiring extra hands for the development of such a highly-anticipated game can't be a bad thing and suggests that the teams are working hard on getting the game ready for whatever the as-yet-unrevealed release date is. 

More hiring calls
There hasn’t been much information around Breath of the Wild 2 since it was confirmed so naturally fans have been clamoring for a hint of where the game might be in its development. 

One hint comes from a Nintendo Japan tweet regarding some job listings for a “scenario planner” and a “level designer” for the game. The fact that such core roles are still being filled suggests that the game is still in the fairly early stages of development and isn’t likely to be a 2020 release. We can’t know for certain, of course, until Nintendo confirms an exact release date but we’re inclined to say later rather than sooner. 

All the DLC that never was
In an interview with Kotaku, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma said there were originally plans for more DLC content for BOTW, after The Champion's Ballad and Master Trials add-ons that came in 2017.

"Initially we were thinking of just DLC ideas," says Anouma. "But then we had a lot of ideas and we said, 'This is too many ideas, let’s just make one new game and start from scratch.'"

A darker turn for the series
All we really know at this point is how little we know. But boy are there rumors. The unexpected trailer has already sparked a huge amount of speculation, hopes and hot takes on what the next mainline Zelda title might include.

We've heard from Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma that the game is going to have a darker tone than Breath of the Wild, and will even be "a little bit darker" than Majora's Mask (via IGN).

The trailer certainly supports this, with what looks like Ganondorf's corpse being resurrected by a disembodied hand, and seemingly imagery from 2006's Twilight Princess, which saw Hyrule turned into a bleak shadow realm – largely in response to the far cheerier and cartoonish The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

Breath of the Wild 2

A Gerudo corpse, possibly Ganon, is grabbed by a mysterious force (Image Credit: Nintendo)

The Twilight realm
The glowing blue hand in the trailer is the biggest clue that we'll be seeing more of the Twili – shadow people descended from Hylians who tried to take the power of the Triforce for themselves. The hand is wrapped in twisting shapes reminiscent of Twilight architecture, while the swirling magic could remind some of the portals that let Twili invade Hyrule in the 2006 game.

We know that BOTW's dev team originally toyed with the idea of an alien invasion, and seeing shadow creatures teleport out of the sky could well have been what they have planned this time around.

A clue in the audio
Showing just how far some Zelda fans will go, reddit user u/ReroFunk (via Inverse)  pieced together a pretty convincing theory regarding Twilight Princess villain Zant, a Twili who served Ganondorf in the game. If you listen to the trailer's audio in reverse, there are certain notes that seem to echo the music played during your final encounter with Zant – who, while defeated, is adamant he'll return through the power of his "god".

u/ReroFunk also suggests we could see the demon king Demise return for the next Zelda game. Demise was the final boss in Skyward Sword, and revealed to be the original form of Ganondorf. The below still from the Zelda trailer also looks a lot like Demise when you think about it.

Breath of the Wild 2

Ganon, Demise, or something else entirely? (Image Credit: Nintendo)

Lots of dungeons (and an extended map)
Rumors about the Breath of the Wild sequel suggest that we could be in for a treat in the form of a new map that's not like anything we've seen from Zelda before. What's more, a couple of new job listings suggest that Nintendo is looking for people to work on designing some dungeons and hidden bosses for the game – so far, so exciting.

Zelda's turn in the spotlight?
One of the favorite fan theories doing the rounds regards the Hyrule princess herself. She's shown in the trailer with a practical short haircut, and is dressed in a manner pretty similar to Link's own adventurer's gear – leading some to think she may be a playable character.

Zelda's devs have seemed pretty dismissive of the idea of a female Link in the past – sadly – but we may in this game see sections playing as Zelda, or at least with her playing a more active role in the story.



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The February Nintendo Direct didn’t have any news about Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 – but we did find out that a Wii-era game from the series is coming: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is headed to the Nintendo Switch on July 16, and you can preorder it now.

While Twilight Princess was technically the first game in the series to launch on the Wii in 2006 and have motion controls, Skyward Sword followed in 2011 with even more refined and precise gesture inputs using the Wiimote and Nunchuck controllers. 

These have been recreated using the Joy-Cons on the Switch (for sword-slashing, shield-blocking, and bow-shooting); in the Switch version’s trailer (below), Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma assured that the controls have been tightened up. 

Players can also opt for button-only controls (tilting the right thumbstick will approximate gesture controls), making the game playable for Switch Lite owners...or those who don’t want to deal with motion controls. 

As Aonuma pointed out, Skyward Sword was the last mainstream Zelda game to debut on consoles before Breath of the Wild launched with the Switch in early 2017, and several of the game’s signature elements – like sail gliding, item upgrading, and the stamina gauge – actually debuted in Skyward Sword.

Legend of Zelda

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Still itching for Zelda? How about Zelda Joy-Cons? 

Alongside the Skyward Sword HD news, Nintendo announced that Zelda would be gracing the Switch in other ways – physical ways, really, with a new Joy-Con design. 

The right Joy-Con has a purple-ish hue modeled after the Master Sword, while the left is a true blue with red accents following the classic Hylian Shield color scheme – which is fitting, given those map to sword-slashing and shield-blocking gesture controls you'll be making in Skyward Sword HD.

The Zelda Joy-Cons come out July 21 just after Skyward Sword HD and, for now, we'll just keep waiting for Breath of the Wild 2 news.



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Nintendo is set to release a delightfully ornate pair of Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Joy-Con – and they look fit for royalty.

The company announced that a HD port of the 2011 Wii game was coming to its hybrid console on July 21, and while no special edition console was revealed, it is at least celebrating the milestone with a pair of custom Joy-Con controllers. 

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD can be played using motion controls, much like how players experienced it on the Wii, or buttons if you’d prefer. Nintendo Switch Lite owners will have to make do without motion controls, unless they sync up a pair of detached Joy-Con.

The Joy-Con are modeled on Link’s famous Hylian Shield, and mark the second time Nintendo has made a custom controller for Skyward Sword. Alongside its original 2011 release, the game launched with a gold Wii Remote as part of a special edition bundle.

Zelda Skyward Sword Joy-Con

Behold! (Image credit: Nintendo)

Collector’s will undoubtedly be eyeing this pair of Skyward Sword Joy-Con, not only because of the lavish and attractive design, but because Zelda’s 35th anniversary is fast approaching. It’s also rare that Nintendo releases custom Joy-Con controllers, as it has often kept special designs for bundles or the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller only.

Legendary wait

While fans of the long-running series may have been disappointed that Nintendo didn’t share any updates on Breath of the Wild 2, at least there will be a new Zelda game to play on Nintendo Switch this year if the heavily anticipated sequel slips to 2022. 

There was hope that Nintendo would announce a Legend of Zelda compilation for Nintendo Switch which would include Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, however, this turned out not to be the case. 



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After a fairly slow build-up in one of its weirdest trailers yet, Nintendo announced that Splatoon 3 will be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022. 

The trailer, which shows off some of the game’s new customization features, starts with an inkling as it makes its way from the dusty wastelands to a wider city that looks, according to folks on Twitter, like Hong Kong. 

Chances are good the area will serve as the new hub world for the game – but it’s not something we’d bet our ink-rollers on at this point.

Speaking of rollers, what we can glean from the trailer, though, is that there will be a few new weapons including a neat bow and arrow that we see in the hands of the inkling. There’s also a new map – a desert with fish bones – that sort of alludes to an ocean-less future dystopia, but again, it’s all anyone’s guess based off this trailer.

Nintendo's long and desolate road to 2022 

Considering we’re just two months into 2021, next year is a long ways away – especially if you're Nintendo. The Big N has a few first-party titles between now and then like New Pokémon Snap, Mario Golf: Super Rush and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD but the schedule looks a bit empty after that.

That changed slightly thanks to today’s Nintendo Direct, but it also delivered the bad news that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 still isn’t ready to be shown off yet.

There are some good third-party games coming in the next few months for Nintendo Switch owners like Monster Hunter: Rise and Apex Legends, but it's still looking pretty desolate all things considered. 

Hopefully we'll hear some Metroid Prime 4 or Breath of the Wild 2 news at E3 2021 but, if we don't, it could be a long 12 months for Nintendo Switch owners.



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Update: The PS5 restock at Sony Direct is ongoing, so there's a chance you could be able to buy the Sony console today. In fact, we know of people getting it right now.

There's a PS5 restock at Sony Direct right now for Wednesday, and our PS5 tracking system is one of the first with the breaking news. You may have a chance to buy it in a virtual queue, though a lot of it comes down to luck.

This is the first PS5 restock at Sony Direct this week. The site usually offers the Sony console Tuesdays through Fridays, but here we are on Wednesday with a chance to buy it.

Remember, while the PS5 restock in the US is now in progress on the Sony Direct store, and the queue is choosing people at random to buy the much-sought-after video game console. You're not guaranteed to get one.

Both the Disc and Digital PS5 versions are for sale at the MSRP of $499 and $399 respectively at the above links. 

As we always warn, getting into the Sony Direct queue doesn't mean you'll find the console in stock. Most people will see "more than an hour wait" from the estimated wait time. That's what the message reads for us. For others, they'll see a queue of just a few minutes.

Here are more rules, according to Sony:

  • First, you will need an active PSN account in order to complete the purchase. 
  • Second, you will have 10 minutes to buy the PS5. 
  • Third, "PS5 Consoles are now available but are not guaranteed even if you are in the queue," according to Sony.a

Trust us, it's serious about buying the PS5 within ten minutes. Make sure you have all of your information ready to go to buy PS5.



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Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Dr. Fauci wins $1 million Dan David prize for 'defending science' - CNET

The president's chief medical advisor was praised for his work "in the face of uninformed opposition during the challenging COVID crisis."

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Anything that Tesla and its enigmatic founder Elon Musk does makes news. To the extent that just registering an entity in India creates a buzz, though the company was silent. While an Indian journey may take some time setting off, a recent report about Tesla's $25k hatchback should definitely add to this buzz. 

The world's largest electric car company, which started operations in China recently, is reportedly developing and manufacturing its highly anticipated hatchback version that could be the first affordable Tesla model. And the vehicle is being designed and manufactured in China for the world markets. 

A Chinese auto website quoted a senior Tesla official at the Shanghai plant to state that the upcoming $25K hatchback would be built in China using indigenous parts and exported to other global markets. What would be the ramification of this report and how Tesla plans to go about bringing such cars to an extremely price-sensitive Indian market is worth considering. 

A Tesla for price-sensitive markets

The Gigafactory Shanghai was commissioned in early 2019 with an installed capacity of 250,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. By end-2021, this number could rise to 450,000 as well as becoming Tesla's first major R&D centre outside the United States. 

Given Elon Musk's assertions of bringing a cheaper electric car in the $25K range (approx. Rs.18 lacs) for the price sensitive markets, it was no surprise that Shanghai was chosen to develop and build the model. 

The vehicle, often called the Tesla Model 2 to describe it as a cheaper variant of its popular Model 3, is expected to be a stripped-down hatchback build on the same platform. In other words, it may arrive with lower specifications. The one that Tesla hopes to launch in India soon as a knocked-down kit may cost over Rs. 50 Lacs. 

According to the report in the Chinese auto publication, Tesla's China President Tom Zhu is indicating that the new cheaper hatchback could be ready for launch within the year. Maybe, that explains the capacity expansion numbers that Tesla hopes to achieve during 2021. 

The anti-China and Make-in-India challenge

And this is where things would get interesting from here on. Make no mistake that for Tesla to gain ground in the price-sensitive Indian auto sector, it would require not one but a few more options. Maybe even a stripped down version of the upcoming hatchback, given that the most popular segment of India's passenger car segment sits around the Rs.6 Lacs to Rs.10 Lac price range. 

Of course, while such a unit may take a while, though India does have its own cohort of battery operated vehicles.  The Tata Nexon EV is priced between Rs.14 Lacs to Rs. 16.5 Lacs, while the Tata Tigor EV costs between Rs.9.5 Lacs and Rs.10 Lacs. The others such as the Hyundai Kona Electric is priced above the Rs. 23 Lacs mark as is the latest MG ZS EV that launched earlier this month. 

There is little doubt that a company of Tesla's stature has a play in India, but what would be critical is how the company plans its entry and when they would be a part of the affordable vehicle bracket. And the upcoming $25K hatchback seems just the right fit for the Indian consumer. 

However, what remains to be seen is whether Tesla can convince New Delhi to allow CKD imports of the new hatchback, given the Chinese connection. The growing anti-China mood was visible around the ban of TikTok and several other apps that had a connection with India's neighbors to the east. 

We know Tesla is a global leader in EVs and the only way to sustain its position will be to expand into price-sensitive markets such as China and India. And that's where the non-premium vehicles would make an impact. For now, the Tesla Model 2 could be the answer, which according to the reports from China is set for environmental impact assessment. 

Via



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Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for May 10, #1786

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for May 10, No. 1,786. from CNET https://ift.tt/FztnkY5