Asus further outlines how it’s improving its RMA process in follow-up to initial tone-deaf response- ‘we are committed to doing better’-

Asus has outlined how it will update its repair service for faulty products, in another response to customer outcry about its poor service.

A new document from Asus includes more information on how it will go about changing a returns process. A process which has very recently been exposed as ineffective and ludicrous by customers struggling to use it for its intended purpose.

Asus begins the document with an admission it “recognizes that our warranty, RMA communications, and repair services have not consistently met these high standards, and we are committed to doing better.”

This follows a previous statement on the concerns of customers, which could barely be considered any admission of fault.

Asus outlines seven key improvement areas it will focus on over the c…

Read more

This retro-futuristic platformer about rescuing spacemen on an alien moon might be the perfect Steam Deck game-

The escort mission is one of the most reviled of videogame tropes, but solo-developed platformer Moons Of Darsalon boldly leans into it as its whole deal. Darsalon is a puzzle-platformer in the vein of Lemmings, tasking you with hunting down hapless “Darsonauts” in its sprawling levels, then shepherding them to safety.

It’s a concept that inherently stresses me out⁠—having to keep these little goobers alive⁠—but thankfully they have some pretty smart pathfinding, always being just hapless enough to be a worthy navigational challenge, but never quite feeling like a millstone. Darsalon also shines by letting you set your own pace with difficulty. “Normal” mode would be what I usually go for: one star out of four, minimum Darsonauts rescued, and no op…

Read more

The HyperX Cloud III would be a superb mid-range gaming headset pick if the best weren’t so cheap-

HyperX has just released the Cloud III, a new mid-range wired gaming headset to eventually replace the popular Cloud II. With a pretty great track record for gaming headsets—the Cloud Alpha Wireless is our pick for the best wireless gaming headset right now—I had high hopes going into my hands-on over at Computex.

The focus with the Cloud III, I’m told, is on comfort. The biggest design change has been to the headband, which is significantly plusher than the last. It’s also slimmer around the earcups than the Cloud II, and that all makes for a good first impression when you rest them atop of your head.

I had maybe 10 minutes with the headset. Hardly a good test of how comfy it is over long periods, but not bad so far. The Cloud III is the same weight as th…

Read more

‘I’m an actor, I’m not a doctor—I’m not a hero’- Astarion’s voice actor reflects on his Game Awards win for Baldur’s Gate 3, and the humility of helping others feel seen-

The Game Awards had some interesting problems this year. In particular, the words “Please Wrap it up” will be carved into the public’s brains for a while due to some major criticisms on how rushed the award speeches from the devs were.

In particular, I noticed that Neil Newbon (the voice of Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3) looked like he was feeling that pressure: “I’m sorry, I’ve got to wrap it up apparently” he mentions, speaking through the ‘your time’s up’ music to deliver a genuinely touching capstone to his role.

I decided to contact Newbon Friday last week, wondering if there was anything else he’d like to add to that speech. Yesterday, I received a phone call from the extremely jetlagged actor who very kindly spoke at length about the honour.

“The …

Read more

Today’s Wordle 578 answer and hint for Wednesday, January 18-

Whether you’re hoping to win today’s Wordle, win every day, or just want to know what the heck this game’s all about then you’re in the right place. Just below you’ll find links to helpful guides and archives, a fresh hint for the January 18 (578) Wordle, and even the answer in easily accessible plain text.

Nope, not there—not there either. Today’s yellows didn’t seem to fit in anywhere at all. After a few attempts those misses started to make themselves useful, as eventually there was nowhere left for the letters to go other than in the sole slot they hadn’t been in before.

Wordle hint

A Wordle hint for Wednesday, January 18

You’ll need to think about vegetables, as today’s answer is the name of a particular member of the beet family with …

Read more

Wordle hint and answer today- Let’s solve #590, January 30-

Solve today’s Wordle in a flash—just scroll or click down to the answer and keep your win streak safe. Prefer a hint first? Not a problem. You’ll find general tips as well as a fresh clue for the January 30 (590) Wordle just below.

One yellow. Then one green. Then… the full answer, as if my fingers somehow had a private line back to Wordle HQ and hadn’t bothered to tell me about it. I’m taking this easy start as a sign today—maybe even the whole week—is going to be filled with good luck.

Wordle hint

A Wordle hint for Monday, January 30

Today’s answer means to really want something specific to a passionate, and perhaps even irresponsible or unsafe degree. Pregnant women may _____ unusual food combinations. There are two vo…

Read more

While other companies do expensive crossovers with Fortnite, Renault’s been modding its little electric car into Garry’s Mod, Palworld and Stardew Valley—and the mods actually look good-

Product placement isn’t quite as rife in videogames as it is in movies and TV, but there’s still a long history of collaboration. Who can forget how Energizer used Alan Wake to let us know how quickly its batteries drained? Then there’s League of Legends’ long-running partnership with fashion company Louis Vuitton, which has spawned everything from ostentatious trophy carrying cases to in-game skins. Fortnite, meanwhile, has become a big playable billboard. 

Car manufacturers, though, are the most prolific, with racing games showing off everything from the latest supercars to the humble Mini. French manufacturer Renault, then, has its cars featured in plenty of videogames already, but for its latest marketing push, to promote its Renault 5 E-Tech electric car, it’s doing some…

Read more

Inkle reveals a surprise collaboration with Google in The Forever Labyrinth, ‘an art-filled quest through time and space’-

Inkle, the developer of highly-regarded narrative-focused games including 80 Days, Heaven’s Vault, and A Highland Song, has unveiled a new game developed in collaboration with Google Arts and Culture: A free, browser-based “art-filled quest through time and space” called The Forever Labyrinth.

“The Forever Labyrinth is a highly-replayable run-based narrative adventure, with lots of characters to meet, and multiple mysteries to resolve,” Inkle tweeted. “Every time you enter the Labyrinth will reform, with new paths and secrets. But beware – in every labyrinth, there is a monster.

“The game is built using the wonderful, eclectic collection hosted on googlearts, from museums all around the world. Paintings are portals. Some weird, some beautiful, some shocking and some hilariou…

Read more

While everyone else gets hyped about Fallout, Todd Howard is promising some ‘really good updates’ for Starfield-

Thanks to the excellent new Amazon show, the world is currently going wild for Fallout, to the extent that the old games are rocketing up the charts again. The series was instantly renewed for a second season, and modders have got to work cramming TV stuff into the games. It’s Fallout mania! Wait, didn’t Bethesda have another big game recently?

Oh yeah, Starfield. The game that everyone expected to dominate 2023, but ended up just being… well, alright. I don’t want to be too mean about Starfield but it suffered enormously from both its proximity to Baldur’s Gate 3, simply one of the best RPGs ever made, and the way it undeniably hews to the Bethesda formula. It just felt a bit like something you’d already played.

In a new interview with IGN talkin…

Read more

Worried about missing companion chats in Baldur’s Gate 3- This mod aims to fix that-

I really like the companion conversations in Baldur’s Gate 3—they range from adding new insight to characters to being absolutely hilarious, like this one with Astarion where he rips you a new one for your bad aim.

The downside is, they can be really easy to miss. There’s no UI notification that lets you know when they might have something to say, and with some companion flags being outright bugged on release (such as the whole cast being a bit too horny, or Minthara simply not speaking her mind to the tune of 1,000 missing lines), there’s been plenty of anxiety as to whether putting off Long Rests will have you missing out on all that juicy story content.

It’s still receiving tweaks and adjustments, but the Camp Event Notifications mod by Kvalyr aims …

Read more