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 #1065) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COLOR
• CREEP
• SHANDY
• KARMA
• KNIVES OUT
• SLIP
• PYRAMID
• RHYME
• STEAL
• CHINATOWN
• KEYED
• SNEAK
• SEVEN
• PONZI
• ELEGY
• VERTIGO

NYT Connections today (game #1065) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• BLUE: Crime films
• GREEN: Types of plan
• YELLOW: Move slowly without being seen
• PURPLE: Hidden anatomy

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 #1065) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• BLUE: DETECTIVE MOVIES
• GREEN: KINDS OF SCHEMES
• YELLOW: MOVE STEALTHILY, WITH "IN"
• PURPLE: BODY PARTS SURROUNDED BY TWO LETTERS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1065) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1065, are…

• YELLOW: MOVE STEALTHILY, WITH "IN" CREEP, SLIP, SNEAK, STEAL
• GREEN: KINDS OF SCHEMES COLOR, PONZI, PYRAMID, RHYME
• BLUE: DETECTIVE MOVIES CHINATOWN, KNIVES OUT, SEVEN, VERTIGO
• PURPLE: BODY PARTS SURROUNDED BY TWO LETTERS ELEGY, KARMA, KEYED, SHANDY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s purple group looks a lot more gettable than normal and I’m annoyed at myself for not taking more time over today’s game. Congratulations if you saw the four BODY PARTS SURROUNDED BY TWO LETTERS.

Instead, I rushed in spotting the four DETECTIVE MOVIES — not that I saw the link at first, just that they are all great films.

Next, PONZI could only be here for one thing, although I did hesitate over the fourth tile, getting caught up in thinking SLIP scheme could be something as well as SLIP stream.

With just eight tiles left CREEP, SLIP, SNEAK, and STEAL were impossible to resist. 

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 10, game #1064)

• YELLOW: MUSIC PLAYER BUTTONS PLAY, REPEAT, SHUFFLE, SKIP
• GREEN: DESTINED BOUND, CERTAIN, FATED, SURE
• BLUE: VERBS IN MAKING A MOJITO GARNISH, MUDDLE, POUR, STIR
• PURPLE: WHAT "SPRING" MIGHT REFER TO COIL, FOUNTAIN, LEAP, SEASON

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 #1064) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SKIP
• SEASON
• LEAP
• STIR
• BOUND
• PLAY
• MUDDLE
• COIL
• REPEAT
• SURE
• POUR
• FOUNTAIN
• CERTAIN
• SHUFFLE
• GARNISH
• FATED

NYT Connections today (game #1064) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Tune choices
• GREEN: It was meant to be
• BLUE: Cocktail vocab
• PURPLE: A word that rhymes with “thing” in common

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 #1064) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MUSIC PLAYER BUTTONS
• GREEN: DESTINED
• BLUE: VERBS IN MAKING A MOJITO
• PURPLE: WHAT "SPRING" MIGHT REFER TO

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

NYT Connections today (game #1064) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1064, are…

• YELLOW: MUSIC PLAYER BUTTONS PLAY, REPEAT, SHUFFLE, SKIP
• GREEN: DESTINED BOUND, CERTAIN, FATED, SURE
• BLUE: VERBS IN MAKING A MOJITO GARNISH, MUDDLE, POUR, STIR
• PURPLE: WHAT "SPRING" MIGHT REFER TO COIL, FOUNTAIN, LEAP, SEASON

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

As befits one of today’s tiles I got myself in something of a MUDDLE playing this game.

I was certain we were looking for words connected to food preparation — in particular a salad dressing, so I had GARNISH, SEASON, POUR and STIR. Next, I thought that BOUND and LEAP indicated a jumping group and wasted a turn adding SKIP and PLAY.

Finally I got going, after realizing the link between the MUSIC PLAYER BUTTONS and then DESTINED. My one saving grace is that I spotted the purple group, but with just eight tiles left it’s not much cause for celebration — or a mojito!

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 9, game #1063)

• YELLOW: UNITS OF TV PROGRAMS EPISODE, FRANCHISE, SEASON, SERIES
• GREEN: THINGS WORN AROUND THE NECK BOA, CHAIN, LANYARD, TIE
• BLUE: STRINGS TIED IN KNOTS FRIENDSHIP BRACELET, MACRAMÉ, QUIPU, SHOELACES
• PURPLE: ____PIECE CONVERSATION, PERIOD, PUFF, THINK

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 #1063) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PUFF
• EPISODE
• TIE
• SHOELACES
• PERIOD
• CHAIN
• SEASON
• THINK
• LANYARD
• FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
• CONVERSATION
• SERIES
• QUIPU
• BOA
• FRANCHISE
• MACRAMÉ

NYT Connections today (game #1063) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Television components
• GREEN: Neckwear
• BLUE: Material fastened and looped
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “neice”

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 #1063) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: UNITS OF TV PROGRAMS
• GREEN: THINGS WORN AROUND THE NECK
• BLUE: STRINGS TIED IN KNOTS
• PURPLE: ____PIECE

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

NYT Connections today (game #1063) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1063, are…

• YELLOW: UNITS OF TV PROGRAMS EPISODE, FRANCHISE, SEASON, SERIES
• GREEN: THINGS WORN AROUND THE NECK BOA, CHAIN, LANYARD, TIE
• BLUE: STRINGS TIED IN KNOTS FRIENDSHIP BRACELET, MACRAMÉ, QUIPU, SHOELACES
• PURPLE: ____PIECE CONVERSATION, PERIOD, PUFF, THINK

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

I got quite muddled with THINGS WORN AROUND THE NECK and STRINGS TIED IN KNOTS, starting off with a group that contained SHOELACES, FRIENDSHIP BRACELET, TIE and QUIPU. I incorrectly thought the latter was the name for a bootlace tie, but I now know it's the name of an ancient abacus.

Eventually I got there and after eliminating the blue group, UNITS OF TV PROGRAMS suddenly seemed blindingly obvious.

As someone who has written a fair amount of PUFF pieces (I had a short-lived job writing press releases about ovens) I really should have solved the purple group — alas, it passed me by.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 8, game #1062)

• YELLOW: CANOODLING FIRST BASE, MAKING OUT, NECKING, TONSIL HOCKEY
• GREEN: FIVE-SIDED THINGS HOME PLATE, JEANS BACK POCKET, SCHOOL CROSSING SIGN, THE PENTAGON
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED PLACES TO BE "OUT OF" LEFT FIELD, NOWHERE, THE BLUE, THIN AIR
• PURPLE: ENDING IN CANDY BRANDS MINUS "S" BURGER KING WHOPPER, FILM NERD, MEMENTO, PITCHER'S MOUND

• Audeze has announced ReSkin earcups, a suite of limited edition earcup designs for the Maxwell 2 headset
• The range launches with six designs, including a whole set from a Southern Californian artisan
• The earcups are available from Audeze for $29.99 or $49.99 and are compatible with both PlayStation and Xbox variants of the Maxwell 2

The Audeze Maxwell 2 is one of my absolute favorite gaming headsets of recent years. However, it is slightly guilty of a familiar sin shared by many more audiophile headsets in the market: its aesthetic is very plain.

That was, up until now, however. Audeze has announced a new set of replaceable earcups called the 'ReSkin' line, offering owners the opportunity to take advantage of the "Maxwell 2’s user-swappable magnetic earcup covers to give owners the chance to bring flair and personality to their headsets" — and the first images the brand has released look seriously cool.

This is awesome news on a couple of fronts. First and foremost, while the Maxwell 2 is truly excellent as a gaming headset, it's design is essentially a symphony of black or very dark materials, so ReSkin earcups could be a perfect way to break that up and make the headset much more unique and original.

Secondly, Audeze's CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram, has already stated that the brand “will be regularly launching new designs and collaborations" so we know that, on top of these six initial designs, more are on the way, so the options are going to be numerous and expansive — hopefully.

In these initial six designs, there's an X-ray style that 'shows' the massive planar magnetic drivers within the Maxwell 2, a slightly creepy but excellent-looking eye design, and, most importantly, a cat-based design too.

Here's what Audeze has revealed so far:

• Panopticon All-Seeing Eye
• Flux Warning Futuristic Biohazard Sign
• Kankan Koneko Angry Cat
• Planar Scan Audeze Driver Design
• White Audeze Deco Cup Contemporary Style
• Dia De Los Muertos No.001 - No.006 (Prestige Edition) — a set of six designs

And here are how some of those designs look on the Audeze Maxwell 2. Some of them are absolute beauties.

It's a similar system to that found on SteelSeries headsets, which allows users to swap out earcup plates and headbands for colors of their choice, and is a very welcome addition.

Audeze says that these will be simple to use, and "can be easily removed with a simple motion thanks to their lightweight magnetic design, making it simple for customers to swap between their favorite designs at any time."

Coming in at $29.99 or $49.99, the ReSkin earcups will be compatible with both PlayStation and Xbox variants of the headset, and are available from the brand now.

• Sony is hesitant to announce the PS6 price or release window, as it remains undecided on the release date and price point
• The CEO, Hiroki Totoki, says forecasts of FY 2027 suggest the price for memory will be 'very high'
• Sony is now in the same spot as Valve, which still hasn't announced a price or launch date for the Steam Machine

Price increases for both PC and console hardware are more frequent than ever due to the disruptive RAM crisis, and it has unsurprisingly left some companies fearful of making any sudden decisions.

As reported by VGC, Sony is currently undecided on the PS6 regarding its release date and price, as the memory crisis runs rampant, following in the same footsteps as Valve, as it is still deciding the release date and price for the Steam Machine.

This comes at the same time Nintendo announced the Switch 2's price hike, which will come into effect from September 1, 2026, and frankly, it highlights the current state of the PC and console markets as the worst in decades — especially since Sony recently raised prices for its PS5 hardware.

It's no surprise, then, to see Sony concerned about plans for the next game console, PS6, and its CEO, Hiroki Totoki, effectively made it clear that consumers probably shouldn't be anticipating any major updates on the PS6.

"We have not yet decided on at what timing we will launch the new console, or at what prices," Totoki said, emphasizing the uncertainty within the market. "So we would like to really observe and follow the situation.

"Looking at the current circumstances, the memory price is also expected to be very high [in] FY 2027, because there will still be a shortage of supply. So under that assumption, we must think carefully what we will do."

What makes matters worse is that current prices for the PS5 and PS5 Pro are already seen as overpriced by consumers, and that likely means the PS6 — which should be a significantly more powerful console compared to the PS5 — could be in the same ballpark, or worse, more expensive.

If the RAM crisis is still alive and well once 2027 arrives, Sony may be left with no choice but to go with an unpopular price point, which will rub consumers the wrong way regardless. It's exactly why the Steam Machine's inevitable launch is still in a limbo state, as Valve doesn't want to be rash in such uncertain times, and leave consumers frustrated.

It's only a matter of time before updates arrive from both Sony and Valve (with the latter likely being much sooner), but fans shouldn't be surprised if both gaming systems end up being unaffordable.

• Xbox VP of next generation Jason Ronald has said that more news on the next Xbox will come in the coming months
• He wrote on X that there will be "more to share about Project Helix later this year"
• The post came ahead of an Xbox hosted Game Dev Update live stream that recapped announcements from GDC 2026

Xbox VP of next generation Jason Ronald has confirmed that we will learn more about the next Xbox, currently known as Project Helix, in the coming months.

Ronald made the comments in a recent X post, writing: "We will have more to share about Project Helix later this year."

The post came ahead of an Xbox-hosted Game Dev Update live stream, which went over the brand's announcements back at GDC 2026.

Big takeaways from that event included the fact that the next Xbox console is currently "deep in development" and that it will be powered by a custom AMD SoC that supports "the next generation of DirectX and FSR".

It was said that the next Xbox console was intended to deliver "meaningful gains in efficiency, scale, and visual ambition" in the service of "more realistic, immersive, and dynamic worlds for players."

Ronald also confirmed that early hardware is expected to ship out to developers at the beginning of 2027, suggesting that it could be released for consumers in the next couple of years.

Xbox's current offering, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, was launched more than five years ago, back in November 2020. With most consoles remaining on the market for six to seven years, it's about time that Microsoft started gearing up for its next big launch.

In other recent news, CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that development of Copilot for Xbox is being halted, and Xbox mobile app functionality is being abandoned, in an effort to "deepen" the brand's connection with players.

• Nintendo announced the Switch 2's price will increase in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan
• It will now cost $499.99, effective from September 1, 2026
• All Switch hardware prices will increase in Japan, including Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions

Nintendo has held strong amid the memory crisis, successfully avoiding price hikes for its Switch 2 hardware — but all good things come to an end.

Nintendo announced it will increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 handheld; in the US, the price will rise from $449.99 to $499.99, effective September 1, 2026, as a 'response to various market conditions'.

A $50 price increase will also be replicated in Canada, seeing it cost $679.99, while Europe will see a 30 euros increase, also effective on the same date. Unlike other regions, Japan's price increase will apply to all Switch hardware, taking effect on May 25, 2026, with the Switch 2 costing 59,980 yen instead of the previous 49,980 yen.

Japan is easily the most impacted, as the Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions will also face price hikes, notably for its 12-month family plan, rising from 4,500 yen to 5,800 yen.

There is no confirmation on price increases in other European regions, notably the UK, but according to Nintendo Life, Nintendo states they will be shared at a later date.

This shouldn't come as a surprise, as the RAM crisis is causing havoc across PC and console hardware, due to shortages and increased demand from AI data centers. Sony and Microsoft have recently increased prices for PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, respectively.

It was only a matter of time for Nintendo to follow suit, especially considering the general economic struggles. Fortunately, though, Nintendo has given most consumers (except for those in Japan) plenty of time to beat the price hike, which won't come into effect for another four months.

The warning signs have been around via several rumors and suggestions that Nintendo wouldn't be able to avoid adjusting the MSRP, and there's a decent chance that this won't be the last price hike we see for the Switch 2.

PlayStation is no stranger to limited-edition or fresh colorway accessories, and maybe no product gets that treatment more than the DualSense Wireless Controller. For many, the unique designs and fresh looks let you match the controller to whatever game you’re playing — or even your personality.

While I am still holding out hope for a 30th Anniversary DualSense restock, PlayStation’s recent drop, which debuted back in March 2025, is bursting with color and might even have gotten its inspiration from the Icon Blue edition that dropped in late 2025.

The Hyperpop Collection is a clan of three PS5 pads: Techno Red, Remix Green, and Rhythm Blue. So while the names might make you think of Rock Band or Guitar Hero, PlayStation’s team shared that these designs are all about bursts of color and are inspired by the impressive RGB-lit setups many players use.

Essentially, these pops of color extend from your setup — or even the screen of some of your favorite PS5 games — into your hands via the DualSense Controller. Neither the Techno Red, Remix Green, nor Rhythm Blue gets a full paint job, though. Rather, each is presented more like a gradient, with the bottom half of the controller getting the vibrant treatment while the top remains black.

Even though the paint job doesn’t cover the entirety of the controller, these really do stand out thanks to the glossy finish across all three. The result is a smooth-feeling controller, which may or may not be the best fit for you, as it lacks some of the texture found on other DualSense Controllers.

These do have a certain amount of sparkle and spectacle to them. I especially like the Rhythm Blue. As the vibrant blue starts to fade to black, I really liked the tapering effect PlayStation accomplished here as well.

Remix Green, as you can see from the photos above, has some more yellow undertones, making it effectively a lime-green. Remix Red is likely the runner-up in my books, offering a really nice shade of red that any fan of Spider-Man or Marvel would likely jive quite well with.

If you’re after an eye-catching DualSense Controller, though, and your favorite color is green, red, or blue, you really can’t go wrong with this set. And if you’re really after a full-circle look, PlayStation offers matching PS5 covers in the same shades.

PlayStation’s DualSense Controllers in Hyperpop Techno Red, Remix Green, and Rhythm Blue are available for $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$134.99 at major retailers. I’ll include a few links for them below, but it looks like all three are sticking around for a while.

Hyperpop DualSense Collection in the US

Hyperpop DualSense Collection in the UK

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 #1062) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MEMENTO
• LEFT FIELD
• SCHOOL
• CROSSING SIGN
• PITCHER'S MOUND
• FIRST BASE
• NOWHERE
• HOME PLATE
• FILM NERD
• THE PENTAGON
• THE BLUE
• MAKING OUT
• JEANS BACK
• POCKET
• TONSIL HOCKEY
• BURGER KING WHOPPER
• THIN AIR
• NECKING

NYT Connections today (game #1062) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Getting it on
• GREEN: A shape in common
• BLUE: Strange happenings
• PURPLE: Sweet endings

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 #1062) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CANOODLING
• GREEN: FIVE-SIDED THINGS 
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED PLACES TO BE "OUT OF"
• PURPLE: ENDING IN CANDY BRANDS MINUS "S"

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

NYT Connections today (game #1062) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1062, are…

• YELLOW: CANOODLING FIRST BASE, MAKING OUT, NECKING, TONSIL HOCKEY
• GREEN: FIVE-SIDED THINGS HOME PLATE, JEANS BACK POCKET, SCHOOL CROSSING SIGN, THE PENTAGON
• BLUE: UNEXPECTED PLACES TO BE "OUT OF" LEFT FIELD, NOWHERE, THE BLUE, THIN AIR
• PURPLE: ENDING IN CANDY BRANDS MINUS "S" BURGER KING WHOPPER, FILM NERD, MEMENTO, PITCHER'S MOUND

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

After avoiding the obvious baseball trap I found myself in a hole after getting the blue and yellow groups.

I had absolutely no idea what I was looking for with my eight remaining tiles, but got there in the end with shuffling and guesswork rather than any sudden moment of realization.

US Candy brands come up a lot in Connections so I really should do my research, but I doubt I am the only player based outside of North America who was outwitted by the collection of ENDING IN CANDY BRANDS MINUS "S", or the shape of a SCHOOL CROSSING SIGN.

CANOODLING on the other hand, that’s international.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, May 7, game #1061)

• YELLOW: FISHING GEAR FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET
• GREEN: MULTITUDE DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK
• BLUE: COMMIT A BASKETBALL INFRACTION CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL
• PURPLE: CONTROLLED WITH UP/DOWN BUTTONS CAR WINDOW, CHANNEL, ELEVATOR, VOLUME

• Nintendo has revealed a new Star Fox game based on Star Fox 64
• It launches on June 25, 2026, and will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive
• It offers brand new visuals and a PvP multiplayer mode

Nintendo has revealed a new Star Fox game for Nintendo Switch 2 and, yes, it's yet another Star Fox 64 remake.

As confirmed in a surprise Nintendo Direct stream last night, the new game will simply be titled Star Fox and features enhanced visuals that have been rebuilt from the ground up, in addition to new character designs. Despite the fresh look, stage layouts will be the same as the original game.

In addition to the story campaign, Star Fox will offer a challenge mode that introduces new objectives and challenges for players to tackle. There's also going to be a brand new battle mode, with two teams of four players facing off online.

As a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, it should come as no surprise that it supports many of the console's exclusive features. This includes GameShare support and the ability to speak to other players in battle mode via GameChat. The latter even gives you the option to appear as protagonist Fox McCloud or his crew via a unique interactive avatar system that sees an in-game model match your expressions and movements.

In the campaign, you'll be able to take full advantage of Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for enhanced aiming, too.

Star Fox will launch on June 25, 2026. It marks the third time that Nintendo has gone back to Star Fox 64 (or Lylat Wars as it was known in the UK), which originally released for the Nintendo 64 back in 1997.

A Nintendo 3DS remake called Star Fox 64 3D came out in 2011, while the Wii U game Star Fox Zero was an expansive reimaging of the same story.

The original Nintendo 64 incarnation is also available via the Nintendo Classics service for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

• RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven was fully unveiled during a recent 'Xbox Presents' showcase
• The game's story will span 50 years, following the main protagonist's life in the underbelly of Japan
• Stranger Than Heaven is set before the Yakuza series, and features combat that is a huge departure from it

The action role-playing game (RPG) genre has seen a wide range of entries over the years, providing exceptional narrative-driven experiences with exciting combat and unique mechanics to keep players engaged — and RGG Studio, which is responsible for the Yakuza series, looks set to continue the trend with a new IP.

As highlighted by Xbox Wire, Stranger Than Heaven is a brand-new action RPG title, serving as a prequel to the Like A Dragon series (or better known as the Yakuza series), which is poised to deliver an immersive narrative, with explosive combat, and an adventure that is unlike most action RPGs available.

Fortunately, Xbox recently presented a deeper look into what to expect when Stranger Than Heaven launches this winter on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, including the unveiling of its star-studded cast, with familiar faces like Snoop Dogg (yes, I'm not kidding).

Most importantly, though, there are a few key takeaways from the showcase that are worth highlighting as unique departures from the original Yakuza series and other action RPGs — and as someone who could never get into the Yakuza series for numerous reasons, Stranger Than Heaven is on track to change that completely.

The story spans over 50 years

In Stranger Than Heaven, players will follow the story of its main protagonist, Makoto Daito, after leaving his home in the United States following the death of his American father and Japanese mother, and finding his way over to Japan in 1915.

Makoto will meet Yu Shinjo, another young boy with a similar background, both sharing the same main goal of starting a new life in Japan — and both characters' journeys will be explored throughout the game's narrative, which spans a whopping 50 years, showcasing the clash of the pair's ideals in a world sprawling with crime and chaos, and notably, business involving the yakuza organizations.

Sure, there are a decent number of action RPGs that have their narratives span over many years, but RGG Studio is committing to it in a way that will keep the experience feeling fresh and exciting.

Five decades, five main cities

An action RPG set in one location over the span of 50 years is no fun, and that's exactly where RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven may thrive, as players will essentially watch Makoto's growth in Japan's underworld over 50 years spread out across five districts: Kokura, Kure, Minami, Atami, and Shinjuku, present in Fukouka, Hiroshima, Osaka, Shizuoka, and Tokyo, respectively.

It's a smart move from RGG Studio to avoid the game becoming repetitive, and frankly, it's an ambitious way to focus on a main protagonist's story in one game — and by the looks of it, each location should have an expansive map ready for exploration.

Combat is very distinct from the Yakuza series

In my eyes, the combat is easily the most unique aspect of Stranger Than Heaven showcased so far, serving as a significant departure from RGG Studio's combat system in the Yakuza series.

The arcadey, over-the-top, anime-style combat featured almost throughout the Yakuza series is my biggest pain point with the franchise, and the main reason why I could never get into it.

Fortunately, RGG Studio appears to be going down the more realistic, visceral, gritty, and grounded route with Stranger Than Heaven's combat. The control scheme is also vastly different from other action RPGs, as players will use the left and right bumpers to control Makoto's left and right attacks independently, creating a very different dynamic to each combat encounter.

Collecting world sounds as recordings

Since music is one of Makoto's strongest talents, developers have implemented a mechanic that quite literally allows players to listen to world sounds and save them as recordings for 'future compositions,' according to the game director, Mikonobu Abe.

It's evident from all of its trailers that Stranger Than Heaven has music as one of its standout themes, notably featuring musicians like Tori Kelly, Satoshi Fujihara, and Snoop Dogg (who plays a non-musical role in this game), and this sound recording mechanic ties directly into Makoto's role as a showman.

Players will be able to manage and produce gigs for popular artists, and this is just one of the many activities that will be available throughout the game. Stranger Than Heaven is shaping up to be a big hit, and it only helps that it will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass — and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

• Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is getting a massive update on May 19
• It overhauls core mechanics like victories and introduces Time-Tested civs that can be played as for an entire game
• Other additions include balance changes and a free new leader

If you weren't a fan of all the ways that Sid Meier's Civilization 7 departed from the long-running strategy franchise, then developer Firaxis Games is cooking up the update for you.

The Test of Time update drops on May 19, 2026, and is a massive overhaul that seems like it's designed to address the complaints that many players had with the game. The most significant addition is the ability to play as a single civilization for an entire game.

Known as Time-Tested civs, these civilizations can use a new Syncretism mechanic to adopt unique units or infrastructure from others, or choose to strengthen their existing traits with Affirmation. Rather than replacing the existing civ-changing mechanics, which let you switch things up between ages, this will seemingly exist as an option alongside them.

Victories are being entirely reworked, too, with a new system that is intended to offer more viable paths to success. Alongside this, the legacy path system, which gave you distinct objectives to pursue in each age, is being replaced with the more dynamic Triumphs.

These challenging tasks are entirely optional and tie into the game's six attributes: Militaristic, Cultural, Scientific, Economic, Diplomatic, and Expansionist.

These big mechanical changes are being joined by a slate of new content, including a new map, updates to map generation, a selection of new narrative events, biome updates, and a wealth of balance changes, plus interface updates. Players will even be getting a new leader for free!

More information about the update is set to be released in the coming weeks, with a developer stream set to take place on May 13.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

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 #1061) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• MASS
• TRAVEL
• CHANNEL
• LINE
• VOLUME
• DROVE
• CAR WINDOW
• FLY
• PACK
• CARRY
• NET
• GOALTEND
• ELEVATOR
• HOST
• DOUBLE-DRIBBLE
• HOOK

NYT Connections today (game #1061) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Go angling
• GREEN: Many things together
• BLUE: NBA foulplay
• PURPLE: Remote control

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 #1061) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FISHING GEAR
• GREEN: MULTITUDE
• BLUE: COMMIT A BASKETBALL INFRACTION
• PURPLE: CONTROLLED WITH UP/DOWN BUTTONS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1061) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1061, are…

• YELLOW: FISHING GEAR FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET
• GREEN: MULTITUDE DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK
• BLUE: COMMIT A BASKETBALL INFRACTION CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL
• PURPLE: CONTROLLED WITH UP/DOWN BUTTONS CAR WINDOW, CHANNEL, ELEVATOR, VOLUME

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

After yesterday’s strange game of pictograms I was delighted to see a return to words on today’s tiles, but I didn't find the gameplay any easier.

It took me three guesses before I got the green group of MULTITUDE as I was convinced that it should contain VOLUME. Adding DRIVE on my correct attempt was a shot in the dark.

The same could be said for the blue group, as basketball infractions is not an area I feel confident with, but the unusualness of DOUBLE-DRIBBLE indicated that there had to be a sporting category.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, May 6, game #1060)

• YELLOW: FOUND IN A CASINO CARDS, CHIPS, DICE, SLOT MACHINE
• GREEN: WAYS TO FASTEN THINGS BUCKLE, BUTTON, LACES, ZIPPER
• BLUE: SEEN IN A BOWLING ALLEY BOWLING BALL, BOWLING PINS, LANE, SCORECARD
• PURPLE: FLAG DESIGNS CIRCLE, HORIZONTAL BISECTION, HORIZONTAL TRISECTION, VERTICAL TRISECTION

• Microsoft is stopping the development of Copilot for Xbox consoles
• The functionality is also being wound down in the Xbox mobile app
• Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says it's to "deepen" the brand's connection with players and developers

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has confirmed that the gaming brand is abandoning its integration of Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant.

In a recent X post, the CEO wrote that Xbox needs to "deepen" its connection with both players and developers and, as part of this, is sunsetting Copilot in the Xbox mobile app and halting development of Copilot for console.

These features were announced back in March 2025, with the promise that the AI assistant would be able to help gamers if they became stuck. In one early example shown off by Microsoft, a player is walked through the early stages of Minecraft by the chatbot.

Although the functionality was never widely released for Xbox consoles, Copilot is currently available as part of the Xbox mobile app. It was also released in beta for PC via the Xbox Game Bar.

Players have questioned the software's usefulness since its initial reveal, with many preferring to rely on dedicated gaming guide websites or community forums for help.

"They cannot resist forcing whatever their latest corporate initiative is into the console, and then when gamers reject it, they spend years trying to walk it back," wrote one Reddit commenter earlier this year in response to the news that Copilot was coming to Xbox.

"The feature nobody asked for. Out of touch," added another.

To me, the news that plans have been scrapped comes as a tacit admission of what most of us knew all along: no die-hard gamers actually wanted Copilot on Xbox in the first place.

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 #1060) - today's words

Today's NYT Connections words are…

[NB: you're going to need to look at the image above for this one]

• [two parallel horizontal lines]
• [nine small rectangles arranged in two rows]
• [two squares, each containing a circle in the centre]
• [a square with two smaller squares in the top right corner, each containing a rectangle]
• [a rectangle containing three smaller rectangles, the left and right of which contain a circle]
• [A circle containing four smaller circles]
• [A circle containing three smaller circles]
• [A circle]
• [10 small circles arranged in a triangle]
• [two parallel vertical lines]
• [five rectangles arranged in an overlapping fan]
• [two circles linked by a long oval, above another one]
• [Er… it looks like a sled?]
• [piles of circles]
• [A single horizontal line]
• [Two vertical lines close to each other on the left, and the same on the right]

NYT Connections today (game #1060) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Seen in a gambling setting
• GREEN: How to keep things together
• BLUE: Spotted where you get strikes and spares
• PURPLE: Stick them on a pole

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 #1060) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: FOUND IN A CASINO
• GREEN: WAYS TO FASTEN THINGS
• BLUE: SEEN IN A BOWLING ALLEY
• PURPLE: FLAG DESIGNS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1060) - the answers

The answers to today's Connections, game #1060, are…

• YELLOW: FOUND IN A CASINO CARDS, CHIPS, DICE, SLOT MACHINE
• GREEN: WAYS TO FASTEN THINGS BUCKLE, BUTTON, LACES, ZIPPER
• BLUE: SEEN IN A BOWLING ALLEY BOWLING BALL, BOWLING PINS, LANE, SCORECARD
• PURPLE: FLAG DESIGNS CIRCLE, HORIZONTAL BISECTION, HORIZONTAL TRISECTION, VERTICAL TRISECTION

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

As is the case whenever Connection does anything different, my first reaction is discombobulation. Experience, however, has taught me to pause and look carefully, because often games like this turn out to be the simplest of all. 

That was almost the case today. I saw the flags immediately, but missed the tile with a plain circle indicating Japan initially — picking what was supposed to be bowling lanes.

Just one mistake and a purple first from a baffling set of pictograms. I’m pretty satisfied with that to be honest. Hope you saw the threads too.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, May 5, game #1059)

• YELLOW: GLIMMER FLICKER, HINT, SUGGESTION, WHIFF
• GREEN: INVOLUNTARY ACTIONS BLINK, HICCUP, SHIVER, SNEEZE
• BLUE: KINDS OF KNOTS BEND, BOWLINE, HITCH, SHEEPSHANK
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH UNITS IN COMPETITIONS GAMELAN, MATCHSTICK, POINTER, SETBACK

• Fallout co-creator Timothy Cain says some players adopt their opinions from the influencers they watch
• Cain says players don't form their own opinion and "look to influencers to be told how to think about the games"
• The veteran developer adds that he's "concerned" about the future of video game discourse

Timothy Cain, the co-creator of Fallout and the co-developer of The Outer Worlds, has shared his opinion on online discourse and how some players can't form their own opinion about games anymore.

Speaking in a new video titled 'How The Internet Changed Game Design' on his own YouTube channel, Cain discussed how gaming critique has changed over the years in response to a subscriber asking how social media and live streaming have changed game design (via VGC).

The developer began by suggesting that some developers design their games with social media clips in mind, specifically how the big moments, like cinematics, would appear to the player who is streaming the game and the audience.

"Many designers like myself, we frequently thought: 'Well, how is a certain event in the game going to look like when someone’s playing it live or recording themselves playing it to put up as a stream?'" Cain said. "We thought about cinematics. We thought about end bosses. We thought about unusual weapons you could get.

"And because of that, we wanted it to look really good in video. And that was one reason particle effects became a big thing, because you didn’t just want to go 'boom'. You wanted a big explosion, and you wanted it to be pretty and colourful and all these things, especially in a clip because people will see that on some channel where someone’s talking about the game, and they see that clip, and now they really want to play the game."

Cain continued, saying developers are now thinking about their games like how they think about interviews with media, explaining that they would need to come up with sound bites for quotes that would generate interest in the game.

"When you went into an interview, you were like 'Okay, I got to have some sound bites ready, so when I get quoted, I want to make sure the sound bites are quoted'. Now it’s like ‘what part of our game would make good clips for influencers to show?’," he explained.

Cain went on to suggest that influencers, such as YouTubers, are no longer places people look for advice on games, and is concerned that some viewers are now looking to adopt opinions instead of forming their own.

"Now we’re in the 2020s, and many gamers don’t even look to influencers for reviews. They look to influencers to be told how to think about the games. So, people don’t form opinions from the online video. They’re handed an opinion from the online channel they’re watching," Cain said.

"What this means is I’ve seen reviews go from 'this game has less combat and more puzzles and dialogues for you to interact with than this other game' to 'this game is stupid and slow paced and made for casuals, I think you should skip it'.

"That’s a huge difference in how games are presented. But more people are going for that latter. They’re like, ‘I don’t have time. There are too many games. Just tell me whether I should buy it. Tell me if it’s for me.' So they find someone they just like, and then that person’s opinion becomes their opinion."

Cain said there can be a benefit to influencers who offer players advice on a game, which he calls a "positive side" for someone with the same preferences and a guide to find new games, but there are more examples nowadays of viewers repeating what influencers have said without thinking for themselves.

"That’s how I look for game reviewers myself," he explained. "I look at their reviews for games I already know. If they like the ones I liked and didn’t like the ones I didn’t like, then I will trust them going forward on reviews of games that I haven’t played yet.

"But the negative to this is more and more people seem to be abdicating their own judgment to that of people they see online. It’s like 'I don’t want to think about it, you tell me what I should think about it.' And I see that sometimes on this channel, when I get multiple nearly identical comments from people, and I realize they’re just quoting an online influencer. Sometimes it’s a meme, but more often it’s 'oh, this influencer person said this thing about this, and now they're just quoting without any attribution in a comment.' Sometimes even when it doesn’t apply, which just makes me go 'are they understanding why the person said that?'"

The veteran developer added that he's "concerned" about the future of video game discourse and doesn't know what the 2030s are going to look like, but it will go "one of two ways because the pendulum always swings."

He concludes that either things will "become even more tightly controlled in bubbles," suggesting these players will stick to watching one or a small group of influencers, "and all of their thoughts will be guided by these people," or "maybe the next generation is going to get tired of that. Get tired of all the labeling and tired of all the placing things in a box."

"'I defined a box, and this game is in this box, and I’m not going to view it any other way,'" he said.

"I’m curious where that goes. The internet basically allows the pendulum like that to swing really far and really fast. So, I don’t know where the 2030s are going to go, but that’s what's happened with game design and online influencers and social media over about the last 4-5 years."

• Valve has been importing (literal) tons of "Game Consoles"
• Weights and details suggest they aren't Steam Decks
• HDMI 2.1 VRR and 4K 120Hz could be delivered via firmware update

With the new Steam Controller now shipping, attention is turning to Valve's hotly anticipated Steam Machine — and, fingers crossed, it appears to be nearing launch too. Valve has reportedly brought around 50 tons of "game consoles" into the US, at least according to import records seen by The Verge, .

Although it's possible that these imports are Steam Decks, which used the same label for their shipments, the shipping records detail different weights and patterns this time around. And that's led to speculation, or perhaps wishing, that the Steam Machine's US launch is imminent.

But if it is, you can expect them to sell out quickly unless Valve has a lot more containers coming or here already: as Notebookcheck.net calculates, 50 tons of shipments works out at about 20,000 Steam Machines.

That's not the only Steam Machine news circulating this week. It also appears that Valve's new console could come with HDMI 2.1, including full-quality 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rate support, which was feared to be impossible.

If so, that makes it an even more serious rival to the Xbox Series X and the PS5 for playing on the best gaming TVs, because it makes the Steam Machine an even more impressive gaming platform for big 4K screens.

Will the Steam Machine have HDMI 2.1?

The Steam Machine is currently listed with a spec of HDMI 2.0 and 4K at 120Hz with a reduced color spectrum. That's because true 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 with the AMD graphics and Linux OS wasn't possible: as Valve explained late last year, the HDMI Forum had blocked open-source Linux drivers for HDMI 2.1.

Valve said that the hardware was certainly HDMI 2.1 compatible, but the software wasn't, and it was helping AMD try to "unblock things there." And according to reports on Phoronix, AMD has done just that.

AMD has released a series of Linux kernel patches that add support for HDMI Fixed Rate Link, aka FRL, a feature that's exclusive to HDMI 2.1. That's currently working on AMD GPUs on Linux systems. The next step is to develop a full implementation of HDMI 2.1 to potentially deliver 4K at 120Hz (or higher) with HDR, variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode.

There's no timeline for that full implementation, so it's unlikely that we'll see HDMI 2.1 at launch, whenever that actually turns out to be. But HDMI 2.1 is clearly possible on the Steam Machine, and that suggests it's a question not of whether Valve will support the standard, but of when that support will be delivered, so it can truly match what the consoles can do.

We're still waiting for a launch date for the Steam Machine, but hopefully it'll be announced very soon: the launch has been delayed because of memory and storage shortages, so the early 2026 launch has been pushed back. However, Valve was still hoping to launch in the first half of 2026, so we may see what's in those shipping containers very soon.

• Activision has said that the next Call of Duty game will not come to PlayStation 4
• It will presumably also skip Xbox One
• It's widely expected to be a new Modern Warfare game

Activision has put out a statement to clarify that the next Call of Duty game will not come to PlayStation 4 and, presumably, skip the Xbox One as well.

The developer took to X in the wake of recent speculation that a cross-generation release is planned for later this year. "Not sure where this one started, but it's not true," the new post reads. "The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4."

This would make it the first Call of Duty game for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S that is not also available on PS4 and Xbox One. Even last year's Black Ops 7 came to those systems, despite them both being more than a decade old at this point.

Prior to this announcement, some rumors had indicated that the next game would skip the previous generation platforms in order to deliver some more significant technical upgrades than other recent entries.

This upcoming Call of Duty title is widely expected to be a new entry in the rebooted Modern Warfare sub-series. The latest leaks point to it being titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 with a storyline that takes the Task Force 141 team to Korea.

Call of Duty games usually release around October or November each year, so we will likely hear more about it in the weeks and months ahead.

• The Division Resurgence players can claim exclusive in-game rewards as part of a new collaboration with Backbone
• Backbone users can claim three Superior-tier perks
• Users will need to connect their Ubisoft Connect account and redeem the bundle in the Backbone app

Ubisoft is partnering with Backbone for an exclusive The Division Resurgence collaboration by offering in-game rewards for Backbone players.

The reward bundle for the free-to-play looter shooter features three Superior-tier perks, including the Ericht Chest System, the Small Laser Pointer, and the Maxillan Respirator. Players can claim the bundle through the Backbone app, then access their rewards on mobile with Backbone controller support.

"Enter a hostile, crisis-ravaged New York and experience The Division Resurgence on mobile with the precision and comfort of Backbone controls," the blog post reads.

"Whether you are taking on missions solo or jumping into the action with your squad, Backbone gives you a more connected way to play. Backbone users can claim an exclusive set of The Division Resurgence in-game rewards.

If you're a Backbone user, here's how you can redeem your rewards:

1. Install The Division Resurgence on mobile
2. Log in to your Ubisoft Connect account in-game
3. Redeem the perk in the Backbone app - Open the Backbone app and find The Division Resurgence perk and claim it
4. Copy the code from your email
5. Go to The Division Resurgence redemption page
6. Sign in to the same Ubisoft Connect account on the redemption page
7. Redeem the code
8. Relaunch the game
9. Claim your rewards in-game by going to your Events Center, clicking the Rewards Claim tab, and pressing Claim Now. Then you can check your Stash and claim your package.

Backbone allows users to connect their mobile device for handheld play, or switch to Bluetooth wireless mode for tablets, laptops, TVs, and more.

TechRadar Gaming's gaming editor Dashiell Wood reviewed the latest Backbone Pro, calling it an excellent mobile controller that offers "several significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, delivering a much more comfortable mobile gaming experience without sacrificing portability."

In other news, Ubisoft has shared the content roadmap for The Division Resurgence, along with an August release window for the PC version, and we'll be publishing our full review of the game in the coming weeks.

• The Arctis Nova Pro Omni is the latest wireless gaming headset from SteelSeries
• It offers excellent connectivity and flexibility while retaining the Nova line's core audio quality and features
• The headset launches in three colorways on May 5, 2026 for $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$399.99

One of my favorite gaming brands, SteelSeries, has announced another gaming headset that looks like it might just replace my top pick of the last five or so years.

The new SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni sits between the excellent Nova Pro Wireless and the also fantastic (but very expensive) Arctis Nova Elite. It's, on paper, a pretty challenging position, as I love both of those headsets dearly and am always recommending them where I can.

But after looking a bit closer at the Omni's specs, it's clear what the headset brings to the table — and that's been demonstrated in my early testing too. In short, from my first couple of weeks with it, the Omni very much feels like a 2026-ified and revamped Nova Pro Wireless.

The audio is of that same excellent SteelSeries level of quality, which means everything from games to music is a joy, while the design is robust, comfortable, and slick-looking. On top of that there's excellent battery life, app integration, and EQ customization options, which make for a heck of a headset when using it as a daily driver.

What are the actual improvements compared to the older model, though?

Well, to begin with, on the outside, it does very much look like almost any of its Arctis Nova brethren in its build, aesthetic, and finish. The new midnight blue colorway is a chic look that I very much like though.

Elsewhere on the headset, there have been improvements made to the microphones compared to the Nova Pro Wireless — the Omni has a new omnidirectional Clear Cast Pro mic — as well as smaller enhancements like new textures to the volume wheel, ear cushions, and fabric that — along with other physical design features like a new finish on the DAC unit wheel — feel a little more premium.

Under the hood, however, there's a series of changes that will blend the best of both Nova Pro Wireless and Nova Elite worlds to make something special. First off, the Nova Pro Omni is a Hi-Res Wireless Certified headset (from the Japanese Audio Society) that's capable of supporting full 96kHz/24bit over 2.4Ghz as well as Bluetooth (the former on PC only, as the PS5 and Xbox Series X can only output at 48kHz).

This is generally the mark of a great audiophile gaming headset, and something shared by other top-end sets, not least the brand's own Nova Elite.

It's also got incredible connectivity through a feature called OmniPlay, with the headset being able to connect to five different devices simultaneously, and play audio simultaneously from four.

You can also use what SteelSeries is calling Omni-Control to make audio adjustments from the mobile app, desktop program, or GameHub unit all at once. There's also Bluetooth 5.3 support, AI Noise rejection for the mic, improved ANC performance over the Nova Pro Wireless, and a few extra bits and bobs too, which I can't wait to test more thoroughly for my full review (stay tuned).

While the Nova Pro Wireless remains a quality headset and one that will stay in production, SteelSeries has confirmed, the Omni does have the makings of a headset that's about to commit fratricide. While each individual enhancement that the Omni offers over the Nova Pro Wireless might not be massive in and of itself, they do add up.

The SteelSeries Nova Pro Omni comes in three colorways of white, black, and midnight blue, is out today, May 5, and will cost $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$399.99.