Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1044) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CYBER
• HOURGLASS
• BLUE
• CLOUD
• ROD
• WEB
• MANIC
• NET
• PUFF
• VENOM
• HOOK
• BILLOW
• BAIT
• PLUME
• MEATLESS
• CANNIBALISM

NYT Connections today (game #1044) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: A bunch of fumes
• GREEN: Used for angling
• BLUE: Linked to an infamous arachnid 
• PURPLE: Start the week

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1044) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: MASS OF SMOKE
• GREEN: FISHING GEAR
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS
• PURPLE: _____ MONDAY

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1044) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1044, are…

• YELLOW: MASS OF SMOKE BILLOW, CLOUD, PLUME, PUFF
• GREEN: FISHING GEAR BAIT, HOOK, NET, ROD
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS CANNIBALISM, HOURGLASS, VENOM, WEB
• PURPLE: _____ MONDAY BLUE, CYBER, MANIC, MEATLESS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A bit of music knowledge got me to my 33rd “Purple First” thanks to Blue Monday by New Order and Prince’s Manic Monday, made famous by The Bangles. CYBER I was confident about, but MEATLESS I went with purely because of the alliteration.

This actually seemed the easiest group, not that I’m complaining.

Elsewhere, nature knowledge may have helped me get ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS, but I spotted the more obvious yellow and green groups first.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, April 19, game #1043)

• YELLOW: CHEEKY ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE
• GREEN: DRESS MEASUREMENTS BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST
• BLUE: CARDS IN TEXAS HOLD 'EM FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
• PURPLE: LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR CAP, DUD, KID, MINT

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1043) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MINT
• ARCH
• DUD
• HOLE
• FRESH
• BUST
• KID
• FLOP
• WAIST
• WISE
• RIVER
• SASSY
• TURN
• LENGTH
• CAP
• HIPS

NYT Connections today (game #1043) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: A brazen personality
• GREEN: Garment construction
• BLUE: Poker terms
• PURPLE: Confectionery ends 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1043) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CHEEKY 
• GREEN: DRESS MEASUREMENTS 
• BLUE: CARDS IN TEXAS HOLD 'EM 
• PURPLE: LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1043) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1043, are…

• YELLOW: CHEEKY ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE
• GREEN: DRESS MEASUREMENTS BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST
• BLUE: CARDS IN TEXAS HOLD 'EM FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
• PURPLE: LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR CAP, DUD, KID, MINT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Being based in the UK and unfamiliar with some US products, LAST WORDS OF CANDY BRANDS IN THE SINGULAR went over my head.

I did, though, manage to avoid the trap of linking DUD, BUST and FLOP — but only because I couldn't find another synonym for failure.

Instead, I made a mistake assembling what became CHEEKY, picking KID for my first attempt instead of WISE. Beyond this a rather routine end to the week. 

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, April 18, game #1042)

• YELLOW: LOOK AT WITH AWE GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER
• GREEN: BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED WINNER DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1042) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MARVEL
• DC
• CRUSHWORTHY
• POWER
• FANTAGRAPHICS
• DARK HORSE
• VOLTAGE
• WONDER
• SLEEPER
• FRESCADE
• STARE
• LONG SHOT
• PEPSINOGEN
• UNDERDOG
• GOGGLE
• AC

NYT Connections today (game #1042) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Gaze at amazing sights
• GREEN: Switched on
• BLUE: Surprise victor
• PURPLE: Begin with a drink

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1042) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: LOOK AT WITH AWE
• GREEN: BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED WINNER 
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1042) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1042, are…

• YELLOW: LOOK AT WITH AWE GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER
• GREEN: BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED WINNER DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Even as I was pressing submit I just knew I was falling into a trap, but couldn’t help linking the comic publishers DC, MARVEL, FANTAGRAPHICS and DARK HORSE.

Down, down I fell, hook, line and sinker, punished for liking comics instead of more highbrow pursuits such as reading the New York Times.

Had I seen the inspired STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS group it would have made up for this crushing failure, but alas it slipped me by — kudos if you saw it.

Moving on, after being tricked I had a slight amount of trepidation about linking AC and DC but here, at least, the obvious assumption was also the correct one.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, April 17, game #1041)

• YELLOW: VEGETABLE PARTS BULB, LEAF, ROOT, STEM
• GREEN: PREVAILING COMMON, DOMINANT, GENERAL, POPULAR
• BLUE: PARTS OF A PIANO HAMMER, KEY, PEDAL, STRING
• PURPLE: SECOND HALVES OF DRINK NAMES SODA, STORMY, TAN, TONIC

• Marvel Rivals Season 7.5 finally adds Black Cat as a Duelist
• Her character select pose has caused a stir for its awkward position
• Some players have suggested that the pose is a way to hide Black Cat's unnatural proportions

The latest Marvel Rivals seasonal update has finally arrived alongside and added new playable hero Black Cat, but it's her character selection pose that has players talking.

Season 7.5: The Hunt is On is now available, and in case you missed it, the long-awaited Duelist, Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, is finally playable alongside a host of new features.

The elusive master thief is probably the most anticipated hero yet, but the reveal of her character select pose, which depicts her bent over in an awkward position, has rubbed some players the wrong way.

"Contender for the worst idle pose in the entire game," one user wrote on X/Twitter.

"The problem is she isn't 'striking a pose', she's holding it and just standing there awkwardly. This is a fine pose to do for a photo, but when she's just standing there holding it she looks like she's suffering from crippling back problems," a Redditor said.

Black Cat is typically characterized as a sultry, feline anti-hero, and players have pointed out that this pose references a comic book cover. Fair enough, but why is she permanently stuck in that position?

Wouldn't it make more sense to have it be part of her idle animation and then let her stand straight like the rest of the roster? An emote in a similar pose would even be better than this!

Some players have also suggested that the pose is a way to hide Black Cat's unnatural proportions, with videos circulating showing her elongated limbs in gameplay.

"Her torso is way too short and her limbs way too long. Her thighs alone are longer than her whole upper body. That’s why her running animation is so off and reminds everyone of Groot," another user said

Even if we ignore the obvious way NetEase Games tends to portray some of its female characters, not only does the pose seem uncomfortable for Black Cat to permanently hold, it just looks weird.

Not to mention the fact that you can't look at her pretty costumes while she's bent over. Want to purchase the new Black Cat skin? Okay, but you won't be able to see it! Her collectible Spider-Man accessory, which hooks onto the back of her belt, also can't be viewed properly because of the position she's in.

Please, NetEase Games, let Felicia Hardy stand up straight. I just know her spine is killing her!

Alongside the addition of Black Cat, version 7.5 introduces plenty of quality-of-life updates, the return of the Hellfire Gala, new team-up abilities, and costumes.

A new PvE mode entitled Blood Hunt, featuring an all-new storyline, four Boss battles, a fresh hero progression and trait system, and a new loot system, will also arrive with the April 23 update.

Season 8.0 is also expected to launch on May 15.

• A new rating for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Starfield has been spotted online
• The port has been rated by the Taiwan Entertainment Software Rating Information board
• Bethesda has yet to formally announce the port

A Nintendo Switch 2 version of Starfield is seemingly real as Bethesda's space-faring role-playing game (RPG) gets a new rating.

As reported by Universo Nintendo, Starfield has officially been rated for the Switch 2 by the Taiwan Entertainment Software Rating Information board.

The screenshot shows that it was filed in its database on April 15, 2026, with an ESRB rating of "R", meaning "Restricted", as it features "violence, drugs, and inappropriate language."

Bethesda and Nintendo have yet to officially announce a Switch 2 port, but this rating more or less confirms that it is at least on its way. Microsoft will be holding an Xbox Games Showcase event on June 7, which seems like the perfect time to announce it.

Rumors about a potential Starfield Switch 2 port have been circulating for a while, with the first rumblings cropping up late last year. The same rumors also claimed that a PlayStation 5 port was on the way, which proved true when it was finally released earlier this month.

The PS5 version offered new features for the DualSense Wireless Controller and two exclusive graphics modes for PS5 Pro: Pro Performance Mode and Pro Visual Mode.

Starfield, which was originally launched as an Xbox and PC exclusive in September 2023, also just received two huge expansions, Terran Armada and Free Lanes.

Terran Armada added brand new premium content, while the free Free Lanes patch introduced a new cruise mode that finally lets players travel between planets within systems while spending time inside their ship.

• The long-running Heroes of Might and Magic series is coming back in the first new entry in over a decade
• Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a prequel helmed by a new developer
• "I feel like this is one of those generational games," said the studio's community manager

The Heroes of Might and Magic series has been dormant for more than a decade, with the last mainline entry, Heroes of Might and Magic 5, dropping back in 2015. Now, it's coming back — helmed by indie developer Unfrozen and published by both strategy titan Hooded Horse and franchise owner Ubisoft.

The revival has already made quite a splash, shooting up the charts to become the tenth most wishlisted title on PC gaming platform Steam following the launch of an incredibly popular free demo back in October 2025. Things are looking promising - but it's not easy taking the reins of such a long-running and storied franchise, particularly one with such an enduring fanbase.

"I feel like this is one of those generational games," said community manager Bart Podress-Leszek in a recent interview with TechRadar Gaming. "Three decades ago, it entered the market and created this entire genre around it, essentially."

He pointed to the many spiritual successors, which include recent releases like Songs of Conquest and Heroes of Science and Fiction, but argued that while there have been "various successes," there is still "nothing" quite like what "the original series has done."

He added that the franchise is "its own thing" compared to other strategy titles and described it as a "mother game" that "everything else spins off." He pointed to the likes of Civilization and Call of Duty as similar examples, saying they really shaped their respective genres.

Podress-Leszek also discussed the weight of high fan expectations. "It's not just a game you're developing. It's a multi-generational title that has gone through millions upon millions of iterations and changes between all the games that were made," he said. "And even the ones that were not released."

"You're looking at [a series with] a lot of fans that have a lot of various expectations, depending on which game they played the most. And you have to meet all of that."

According to the developer, the team was also careful to respect previous titles. "There's 30 years of legacy, if you include the RPGs, then it's 40 years," he said. This led to the decision to create a prequel, with events taking place on the continent of Jadame previously featured in the role-playing game (RPG) Might and Magic 8: Day of the Destroyer.

"We have this whole new realm of possibilities because we're not infringing on what has already been made, but are creating something that is woven into that instead," he continued. "There's just a lot of creative freedom for us."

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is set to launch in early access on April 30, 2026.

• Game director Ryutaro Takahashi says there was a debate about adding a farting quirk to Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
• Sound director Toru Minegishi says the team was "really obsessed over getting the sound just right"
• The team also experimented with all sorts of visual effects for the quirk

The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream creators have revealed that there was a debate between the development team about whether they should allow Miis to fart.

That's according to game director Ryutaro Takahashi, in part three of a lengthy Nintendo Ask the Developer interview, where he and his fellow developers discussed the game's Little Quirks, additional personality traits players can give their Miis to make them more unique.

"Speaking of little quirks, there was a big debate among the team about whether Mii should be able to... break wind," Takahashi said.

"Some people found it hilarious, while others thought it was a bit vulgar. After talking it over, we ended up making it a little quirk. If it's your kind of thing, you can bestow the trait on your Mii. If not, you're under no obligation."

Sound director Toru Minegishi said the team was "really obsessed over getting the sound just right," with programming director Takaomi Ueno adding, "We did so many takes."

"Tell me about it. I got comments like, 'That’s a bit too realistic for my liking,'" Minegishi said.

Takahashi continued saying that the creators also tried out all sorts of visual effects for the farting quirk and for a while "the fart looked like an explosion going off," at which they all laughed.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is out now on Nintendo Switch, and it's also playable on Nintendo Switch 2.

In the same interview, Takahashi discussed the initial idea behind the game, confirming that development started in 2017.

After he spoke with franchise producer Yoshio Sakamoto, they agreed that they'd "squeezed" all they could out of Tomodachi Life on the Nintendo 3DS, and decided to make a new game.

• 007 First Light's theme song is performed by Lana Del Rey
• 'First Light' was written and composed by Lana Del Rey and David Arnold, the renowned movie composer
• The official title video will be released today

Lana Del Rey, the award-winning singer-songwriter, has been announced as the artist behind 007 First Light's official theme song.

Written and composed by Lana Del Rey and David Arnold, 'First Light' will set the stage for IO Interactive's original James Bond story, which launches next month.

The new song also marks the return of Arnold, the renowned Bond franchise composer with credits for multiple movie scores, including Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace.

"The music of James Bond has always been a huge part of its identity," Arnold said in a press release. "A title song has to tell us about the world we are about to enter into. It has to intrigue, excite, and beckon us in. This song joins a long line of genre defining songs, each one creating a benchmark of style that adds to the magnificent heritage that is 'The Bond Song'."

"That’s why I was so excited to work with Lana, an artist who brought elegance, atmosphere, and her totally unique character to this piece, which I hope will open the world of Bond to a whole new audience."

While the song and its lyric video are available now on streaming platforms, the official title sequence will be showcased for the first time on 007 First Light’s social media channels today at 8PM BST / 12PM PST.

"It’s a joy to watch two extraordinary talents like Lana Del Rey and David Arnold combine forces, the result feels instantly ‘Bond’ while still bringing a fresh identity for 007 First Light. Bond’s return to gaming is a landmark moment for us at IO Interactive, and having a title song of this quality makes it even more special," said Hakan Abrak, CEO at developer IO Interactive.

007 First Light is set to launch on May 27 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but the Nintendo Switch 2 version has been delayed.

• Saros will feature PSSR 2 on PlayStation 5 Pro
• The PS5 Pro version will also offer an increased base render resolution at 60fps
• Cutscenes will seemingly run at 30fps on PS5 and PS5 Pro

Developer Housemarque has confirmed that Saros will offer Sony's updated PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling technology on PS5 Pro, but seemingly stated cutscenes will run at 30fps.

In a new PlayStation Blog post outlining the upcoming game's PS5 and PS5 Pro features, such as immersive 3D audio, DualSense haptic feedback, and fast loading times, creative director Gregory Louden said the team has upgraded to PSSR 2 following its release last month.

Louden said the update "provides an even sharper image; you can barely tell it apart from native 4K as you explore Carcosa."

"Since 1995, our goal at Housemarque has been to push the hardware, and with Saros we continue this drive thanks to this PSSR update," the director said.

Technical director Seppo Halonen also touched on the game's increased base rendering resolution on PS5 Pro, which means the Saros "will have an even clearer higher resolution image at 60fps."

"While we use dynamic resolution to ensure stable frame rate even in the middle of hectic combat, PS5 Pro always delivers a sharper image in a scene-to-scene comparison," he explained.

"Saros on PS5 already looks incredible and runs at rock solid 60fps, but for PS5 Pro we push our graphics even further. Furthermore, there are many small adjustments in reflections and overall quality, ensuring that the increase is not only more pixels, but also the content we render scales up to match."

However, despite using PSSR 2, Saros' story cinematics will apparently un at 30fps on PS5 and PS5 Pro, because Housemarque wanted to prioritize "quality over quantity".

"The only place where we switch to 30fps is in key story cinematics where we go quality over quantity and render the high quality characters, lighting and postprocessing at peak resolution – which again is higher on PS5 Pro," Halonen said.

Saros finally launches later this month on April 30, exclusively for PS5 and PS5 Pro.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1041) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DOMINANT
• KEY
• ROOT
• TAN
• TONIC
• STEM
• HAMMER
• GENERAL
• BULB
• SODA
• COMMON
• STRING
• STORMY
• LEAF
• PEDAL
• POPULAR

NYT Connections today (game #1041) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Plant life
• GREEN: Follow the leader
• BLUE: Tickle the ivories
• PURPLE: Partial beverages

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1041) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: VEGETABLE PARTS
• GREEN: PREVAILING
• BLUE: PARTS OF A PIANO
• PURPLE: SECOND HALVES OF DRINK NAMES

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1041) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1041, are…

• YELLOW: VEGETABLE PARTS BULB, LEAF, ROOT, STEM
• GREEN: PREVAILING COMMON, DOMINANT, GENERAL, POPULAR
• BLUE: PARTS OF A PIANO HAMMER, KEY, PEDAL, STRING
• PURPLE: SECOND HALVES OF DRINK NAMES SODA, STORMY, TAN, TONIC

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

Connections has the ability to make you feel very clever when you aren’t very clever at all, but similarly can make you feel clueless.

It was more of the latter for me today as I made two mistakes that make little sense in hindsight but seemed like good ideas at the time. Firstly, I connected LEAF, SODA, TONIC, and ROOT thinking they were all partially the names of drinks — although root beer makes sense, tea leaf was a bit of a stretch. 

Then, thinking that KEY indicated a group about importance, I added DOMINANT, ROOT and POPULAR convinced I was on to something. I was not.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, April 16, game #1040)

• YELLOW: TEASE NEEDLE, RIB, RIDE, ROAST
• GREEN: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS AUTO, COOL, FAN, HEAT
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME BODYSUIT, CLAWS, MASK, WHIP
• PURPLE: TRAINING _____ BRA, CAMP, DAY, WHEELS

• 4A Games has revealed the next game in the Metro series, Metro 2039
• Influenced by real-world events, the developers promise a "much darker tone this time around"
• The game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC "this winter"

As part of an Xbox First Look presentation, we've now seen the next game in the post-apocalyptic shooter series, Metro, in action. In short, it looks bleak as hell — which, personally, I am very here for.

In the showcase stream, we heard some commentary delivered by the developers of the game, and we now know more of what to expect when Metro 2039 releases "this winter" on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

As Jon Bloch, Executive Producer, says, “Metro 2039 takes you to the dark heart of the Moscow metro where the last survivors of the nuclear apocalypse struggle to exist in the tunnels and ruined subway of the city. Hope is lost, the future looks bleak, if there is one.”

In brief, the gameplay slice shown in the presentation looks wonderfully, bleakly, and distinctly Metro — monsters chasing you in small, claustrophobic tunnels, exceptionally moody lighting to create a tense mood, heavy doors closing to keep them out, and grizzled, miserable survivors pulling the character to safety. Even that small section of the game has me excited to go back into the dark, dangerous, and mysterious tunnels once again.

The devs promise that in Metro 2039, "we will go where the worst of humanity can be on full display". Bleak; I love it.

Going deeper underground

It's clear that this dark tone and bleak outlook have been inspired by real-world events at Ukrainian studio 4A Games, which not only have affected the very real logistics of developing a game in an invaded country, but also gone a long way to inform the content of Metro 2039, as well as its themes, focus, and story.

As Creative Director, Andriy "mLs" Shevchenko says in the showcase, "Now war is our reality, and our message has shifted to be about the circumstance, the cost of silence, the horrors of tyranny, and the price of freedom."

One quote that stayed with me from the stream was when Bloch said, “Everything we had planned for the next chapter of Metro changed in 2020. And more significantly in 2022.” As a result, the team "changed the story to be even more about choices, actions, consequences, and what you have to pay to have a future."

With a story inspired by the author of the original book series, Dmitry Glukhovsky, and the universe he created, the player will step into the shoes of The Stranger, "a recluse plagued by his violent nightmares, forced to take a harrowing journey back down to the metro, a place he swore to never return."

Expect a brutal mix of survival, combat, stealth, action, and exploration across one of Metro's beautiful but bleak and dangerous worlds.

The Stranger will be fully voiced, too, demonstrating the team's emphasis on immersion with Metro 2039, while we'll also get to experience what happens when a dictatorship unifies all the station communities and metro survivors under one banner, the Novoreich.

Bleak and miserable video games are my particular jam; there's something often so compelling and captivating about the atmospheres they have, the stories they tell, and the tone they take. With Metro 2039 offering "a much darker tone this time around.

A handcrafted, story-driven, single-player campaign where you’ll feel the weight of the rotting world pushing down on you, forcing you deeper into your claustrophobic nightmares”, according to Bloch.

As a result, I can't wait to likely add Metro 2039 to my list of such favorite dark, bleak games when it releases.

• The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream dev team spent "six or seven years" programming the Mii interaction system
• Lead programmer Takaomi Ueno says it was "pure chaos"
• The team kept coming up with additional ideas throughout the years before it was finally complete

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream lead programmer Takaomi Ueno has said one of the most challenging aspects of development was Mii interactions and that it took around "six or seven years" to get right.

In a new Nintendo Ask the Developer interview with the Living the Dream creators, Ueno explained that designing the way Mii characters interact with the game's features was "no easy feat for the programmers," and it took years to fine-tune.

This included features in the user-generated content (UGC) system, things players can create themselves, item interactions, dialogue, and more.

"Mii characters would sometimes pace up and down the same area, or several of them would try to use the same item at once... So, we set rules for each of those unintended behaviors, keeping the ones we thought were odd but amusing," Ueno said.

"After layering all those elements so they wouldn’t fall apart no matter how they were combined, everything finally clicked into place and made sense. Before we had those rules in place, it was pure chaos and really hard to manage."

The lead programmer even admitted that there was a point where the team "thought leaving it chaotic like that might actually be kind of fun (laughs)."

Art director Daisuke Kageyama added that the team kept experimenting "back when it was pure chaos" without actually finding the "right solution" because it kept asking what players would enjoy seeing.

"It feels like we spent the entire project fine-tuning that balance," said game director Ryutaro Takahashi. "(Laughs) It took a long time until the final vision was clear, and we could say, 'Now we just have to build the thing!' We originally planned to finish the UGC tools in about a year and a half. But because we wanted players to enjoy the game simply by observing the Mii characters, we came up with more and more ideas as development progressed."

Programming director Naonori Ohnishi added, "Takahashi-san and the UGC planner kept coming up with ideas like, 'We want this feature...oh, and this one too'," before Takahashi revealed that the team "ended up spending six or seven years on it (laughs)."

The director explained that the team conducted playtests after the system was finally at a point they were happy with, and the feedback was "overwhelmingly positive, which was a big relief."

"Since we'd struggled with it for so long, it was really reassuring to hear that people had found it fun," Kageyama added.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is now available to play on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Former PlayStation exec Shawn Layden has suggested Xbox can't save Game Pass
• Layden said Xbox is "trying so hard to will this into health" despite the current issues
• This comes after a leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed plans to "evolve" the "expensive" service

Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has suggested Microsoft can't save Xbox Game Pass, following comments made by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma about wanting to "evolve" the service.

Earlier this week, a leaked memo to employees obtained and reported on by The Verge showed Sharma admitting that the subscription service is now too expensive for members as she outlined a brief plan for how she aims to change things, writing, "Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one.

"Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, which will take time to test and learn around."

Now, in a new LinkedIn post, Layden responded to the report saying Microsoft is trying too hard to keep Xbox Game Pass alive, suggesting the company can't save it.

"They are trying so hard to will this into health, despite unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis," Layden said. "A clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good."

Layden has been a staunch critic of subscription models for some time, calling them a "danger" to the industry that turns developers into "wage slaves" (via Games Industry).

In the same report from The Verge, it was said that Call of Duty and the release of Black Ops 7 was one of the main contributors to Microsoft increasing the price of Game Pass once again in October 2025.

Currently, the Ultimate tier costs members $29.99 / £22.99 per month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 per month. There are also reports that the company is considering combining Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscription tiers, which could mean some users would pay more each month.

• Developer Battlefield Studios has outlined some of the new content coming to Battlefield 6 in Season 3 and beyond
• Season 3 adds ""the biggest map in Battlefield 6 yet" with its reimagined Railway to Golmud
• Grand Bazaar from Battlefield 3 is also coming back as Cario Bazaar

If you've been lamenting the lack of any truly massive Battlefield 6 maps, then the next batch of content from developer Battlefield Studios is aimed squarely at you.

Today, the studio revealed some of its plans for the game's next seasons, including the return of a fan favorite Battlefield 4 map - Railway to Golmud. Launching as part of Season 3, the map now takes place in Tajikistan shortly after the events of the Battlefield 6 campaign.

"We've heard your feedback about the kind of map experience you want in Battlefield loud and clear," said executive producer Philippe Ducharme in the reveal video. He added that Railway to Golmud will be "the biggest map in Battlefield 6 yet, nearly four times the size of Mirak Valley."

Aside from the massively upgraded visuals, this remake also benefits from added cover in addition to larger Arial spacers for players piloting jets or helicopters to duke it out in. It sounds just like the kind of map that players have been crying out for over the last few months, given the many smaller environments that dominated the roster at launch.

Season 3 also brings another classic map: Grand Bazaar from Battlefield 3. Reimaged as Cario Bazaar, it's now set in Cario and has been tweaked for more intense encounters.

These maps arrive alongside the beginning of ranked play in the standalone free-to-play Redsec battle royale mode, plus the long-awaited addition of solo play to the game.

Prepare to get wet

On top of this, the team detailed some of what we can expect in Season 4 - which is set to arrive in July. It focuses on land, air, and sea combat. It will add aircraft carriers, new naval vehicles, and a dynamic wave system that opens up new strategies on the water.

There will be at least two maps too, and so far, we know about Wake Island and Tsuru Reef. Wake Island was originally from Battlefield 1942, but has appeared in multiple entries since, while Tsuru Reef seems all original and is said to be even bigger than Railway to Golmud.

If all this wasn't enough, we even got our first hints about Season 5, including the fact that it will include three new maps.

• Plaion Replai and SNK have announced a new retro console
• The Neo Geo AES+ brings back the seriously pricey '90s system
• This re-release costs $249.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99 and launches on November 12, 2026

Retro video game brand Plaion Replai has announced a new retro console in collaboration with publisher SNK, and it's a revival of the infamously expensive Neo Geo AES.

Originally released in the 1990s, the Neo Geo AES was basically the PlayStation 5 Pro of its age - a luxury enthusiast console aimed at the most hardcore gamers. One of the most powerful consoles on the market at the time, it retailed for $649.99 in the US, which is roughly just over $1,600 in today's money when adjusted for inflation.

Luckily, its modern incarnation, the Neo Geo AES+, which is set to hit shelves on November 12 this year, is considerably cheaper at $249.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99. It maintains the exact look of the original console and doesn't rely on emulation. Rather, it's powered by re-engineered ASIC chips that should deliver an experience as close to the original hardware as possible.

Despite this, the Neo Geo AES+ has been upgraded with a number of quality-of-life features, namely the addition of a modern HDMI display output, though CRT owners will undoubtedly be pleased to hear that the original AV output is still there too.

There's also an overclocking mode, language selection switches, and the ability to save high scores with a compatible memory card accessory.

Loads of classic Neo Geo games are being re-released too, including the original Metal Slug, King of Fighters 2002, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, and more. I'm particularly keen to try Twinkle Star Sprites, a top-down shooter with some adorably colorful graphics.

The titles I've named all retail for $89.99 / £69.99 / AU$139.99 a pop, which is pretty pricey for such old games, but still significantly cheaper than buying most of the original cartridges second-hand. They'll also work with the original Neo Geo AES.

• The Witcher 3 director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, has praised Crimson Desert for "delivering something quite fresh" from other AAA games
• Pearl Abyss recently announced that the game has sold five million copies
• There are still plenty of updates to come from Pearl Abyss with new game content

Pearl Abyss is receiving heaps of praise for its efforts on Crimson Desert, mainly thanks to its open-world design, which rewards players for their curiosity during exploration — and recent compliments and copies sold back that up.

In an interview with The Game Business, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Witcher 3 : Wild Hunt, praised Crimson Desert — alongside the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — for standing out from other AAA games and pushing the boundary beyond what players are accustomed to.

Further justifying Tomaszkiewicz's compliments is the fact that Pearl Abyss recently announced that it has sold five million copies of Crimson Desert, marking the game as a huge success for the developer (based on the reported $133 million development cost). And frankly, after 175 hours of playtime, the game gets my praise as well.

Speaking about attempting "risky stuff" in AAA RPGs for more immersion, Tomaszkiewicz said: "I think that this [idea] is growing these days, because when you look at Clair Obscur, or Crimson Desert right now, those games are different.

"They are not a copy of other AAA games, but delivering something quite fresh. And I'm really glad of it because I'm starting to feel like I did in the 1990s when I played games on my 286 PC, or even on the Atari where every game was different."

Praise from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt director is worth noting given how well-crafted and successful the CD Projekt Red title was. While Crimson Desert isn't a narrative-driven experience, it thrives at delivering an open-world experience that few games have replicated.

Crimson Desert is quite clearly a rare gem in the eyes of many gamers, including myself, and that's become more evident with compliments from Tomaszkiewicz, the game's high and consistent player count on Steam for nearly an entire month after its launch date, and (most notably) after I passed the 100-hour mark without feeling bored.

Usually, the latter serves as a significant downside to an open-world game, with them often overstaying their welcome, but Crimson Desert has kept both me and literally thousands (via SteamDB) of other players hooked for multiple hours.

With more updates adding new content on the way, and the mod community for the game already adding new mods, such as new hairstyles and beards for playable characters, it looks like Crimson Desert will be the talk of the town for a very long time.

• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream director Ryutaro Takahashi says development began in 2017
• Takahashi says he and producer Yoshio Sakamoto have a "special attachment" to the series
• They agreed they'd "squeezed all we could" out of the 3DS title and agreed to make a new game

The creators of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream have revealed that development began for the Nintendo Switch back in 2017, expressing an attachment to the series.

Speaking in a new Nintendo Ask the Developer interview, game director Ryutaro Takahashi discussed the initial idea behind the game, confirming that development started almost 10 years ago.

Takahashi said he spoke to franchise producer Yoshio Sakamoto, and, after agreeing they'd "squeezed" all they could out of Tomodachi Life on the Nintendo 3DS, they decided to make a new game.

"I believe development started around 2017, after things had settled down on Miitomo," Takahashi said. "The producer, Sakamoto-san, and I both have a special attachment to Tomodachi Life and have been playing the previous game on Nintendo 3DS for many years. But we'd already squeezed all we could out of that game, and Sakamoto-san said to me sadly, 'There's so much that I want my Mii characters to experience, but there’s nothing more that I can do for them.'

"(Laughs) So, we talked about our desire to create a new Tomodachi Life game."

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches today on Nintendo Switch, and it's also playable on Nintendo Switch 2.

TechRadar Gaming's gaming editor Dashiell Wood rated the game four stars in his review, calling it "a delight, with superb character customization and plenty of charming humor."

"Its hands-off nature won’t be for everyone, and the lack of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version is a missed opportunity, but there’s still no other game that offers its special brand of unapologetic weirdness," he wrote.

• Turtle Beach's Stealth Pro II wireless multiplatform gaming headset launches on May 17
• Two versions will be available for Xbox, and PlayStation and PC
• Both headsets offer CrossPlay 2.0 for multiplatform switching

Turtle Beach has announced the Stealth Pro II wireless multiplatform gaming headset, the successor to the acclaimed Stealth Pro.

The Stealth Pro II will launch with two versions on May 17 and is designed for both PC and consoles, including Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PS5, as well as Bluetooth-equipped mobile devices.

Both models, whether it be the Xbox or PlayStation and PC version, feature Japan Audio Society certified 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res Wireless Audio, 60mm Eclipse dual drivers, Active Noise Cancellation, and Dolby Atmos for the clearest surround sound.

The headset, which aims to deliver "meaningful upgrades over its predecessor in terms of sound fidelity," also offers dual 40-hour swappable batteries "for an uncompromising audio experience".

CrossPlay 2.0 is also a key feature, allowing for multiplatform switching and simultaneous 2.4GHz ultra-low latency wireless and Bluetooth, for when players wish to quickly switch between gaming platforms

The featured anodized aluminum and soft materials are refined for a premium design, fit for long gaming sessions with memory-foam ear cushions with ProSpecs glasses relief, and a mesh fabric suspension headband.

The Stealth Pro II's built-in beamforming microphone also focuses on the user's voice while reducing background noise, and also offers four built-in Turtle Beach audio presets, including Bass Boost, Signature Sound, Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost.

"The Stealth Pro II represents the pinnacle of Turtle Beach gaming audio. The convergence of innovation, form, sonic clarity and comfort makes this, our flagship headset, the absolute new standard by which all other gaming headsets will be judged," said Cris Keirn, CEO, Turtle Beach.

"With Certified Hi-Res Wireless Audio and powerful 60mm Eclipse dual drivers, Stealth Pro II delivers extraordinary sound fidelity that lets gamers hear every detail of the action. And with our CrossPlay 2.0 system, players can seamlessly switch between up to four platforms and devices at the touch of a button. What our teams have achieved here is remarkable — this is the headset that truly bridges the gap between high-performance gaming audio and premium listening.”

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II is available in black and white variations and can be pre-ordered today at Turtle Beach and other participating retailers globally for $349.99 / £299.99 / €349.99.

The Turtle Beach Pro is one of TechRadar Gaming's best PC gaming headsets on the market, a "premium headset that sounds and feels every bit as good as you would hope given the price tag."

"Armed with excellent active noise canceling, stunning hand-tuned custom 50mm drivers, and multiplatform versatility through 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, this is everything a high-end model should be," wrote contributor Aleksha McLoughlin.

• Future's summer gaming event returns this summer with three broadcasts
• The Future Games Show Summer Showcase and FGS Live from Los Angeles will air on June 6
• The PC Gaming Show is scheduled to air on June 7

Future has announced the return of the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, FGS Live from Los Angeles, and the PC Gaming Show for June.

First to return will be the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12PM PDT / 3PM EDT / 8PM BST, and offer viewers "world premieres, exclusive trailers and stealth demo drops from some of the world's most exciting and creative studios."

FGS Live from Los Angeles, which will be hosted by the FGS editorial team, will air immediately after the Summer Showcase and feature even more trailers, as well as deep dives into the games featured in the main showcase and news from summer events.

Finally, the PC Gaming Show will air on June 7 at 12PM PDT / 3PM EDT / 8PM BST and "aims to celebrate the strength and depth of the world's most exciting and innovative gaming platform."

Those who tune in can expect "over 50 PC games" to be featured, including world premiere trailers, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and updates on new and upcoming games.

All shows can be watched on Future Games' official YouTube, Twitch, and X/Twitter accounts, as well as on Steam.

The June event is the first of three shows in 2026, with the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct and PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted also scheduled to return later in the year.

Last year's three summer showcases achieved a combined viewership of 41.9 million live and opening weekend views.

Some of this year's most anticipated games, from big AAA studios to indie developers, could make an appearance, such as Fable, which is due to release in Fall 2026, Phantom Blade 0, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Grave Seasons, and more.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1040) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COOL
• WHIP
• MASK
• RIDE
• NEEDLE
• CAMP
• FAN
• WHEELS
• AUTO
• BODYSUIT
• HEAT
• ROAST
• DAY
• CLAWS
• BRA
• RIB

NYT Connections today (game #1040) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Make fun of
• GREEN: Control the temp
• BLUE: Batman’s feline pal 
• PURPLE: Start with a word that rhymes with “raining”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1040) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: TEASE
• GREEN: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME 
• PURPLE: TRAINING _____ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1040) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1040, are…

• YELLOW: TEASE NEEDLE, RIB, RIDE, ROAST
• GREEN: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS AUTO, COOL, FAN, HEAT
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME BODYSUIT, CLAWS, MASK, WHIP
• PURPLE: TRAINING _____ BRA, CAMP, DAY, WHEELS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I experienced the rare thrill of a purple first today, but it didn’t come before I’d made a mistake in thinking that WHIP, RIDE, WHEELS and AUTO were a group as they are all alternative ways of describing a car.

Fortunately, after rushing in I took more time and took a chance on two groups that I was uncertain of as I tapped submit — in particular WHEELS, as I thought we might be looking for RIDE here too.

Next, I thought that BODYSUIT and MASK sounded like a cartoon character and took a chance with WHIP and CLAWS, all of which made up FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, April 15, game #1039)

• YELLOW: GRADUATION GEAR CAP, DIPLOMA, GOWN, TASSEL
• GREEN: TEDIOUS UNDERTAKING CHORE, GRIND, HASSLE, TRIAL
• BLUE: OVERSIMPLISTIC FACILE, FLIP, SHALLOW, TRITE
• PURPLE: SHAPES OF CHESS PIECES CASTLE, CROWN, HORSE, MITER