Good news for Diablo 4 players who picked up Vessel of Hatred: future seasons will have content exclusive to players who own the expansion, Diablo franchise boss Rod Fergusson told Polygon in an interview earlier this month. The goal, Fergusson said, is for expansion owners to continue to feel theyre getting value from their purchase beyond the current season.Typically, each season of Diablo 4 has been self-contained, so players can enjoy starting new characters (the games Seasonal Realm requires a fresh start) and power through the new seasonal content. Sometimes, a seasons content and features are shared with the games Eternal Realm, where non-seasonal characters and characters from previous seasons live.Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise, explained that Blizzard launched season 6 alongside Vessel of Hatred so players could start fresh with the expansions new Spiritborn class but then worried the expansion could feel too much like a single moment in time that future seasons might move beyond.Because we know that the beginning of a season is sort of a fresh starting point, we wanted to launch the expansion at the same time as the beginning of a season, Fergusson said. Thats why we launched at the beginning of season 6, so you could roll a Spiritborn as your new thing. So it can feel like a little bit like this expansion is just a single moment in time, and I just wanted to highlight that thats not the case. Were going to continue to develop features that will be, essentially, exclusive to Vessel of Hatred owners.Fergusson mentioned that Blizzard thinks of Diablo 4 as being divided into chapters, which are chunks of seasons in between major expansion releases. Season 1 to Vessel of Hatred was chapter one of Diablo 4, he said, and season 7 to the future is chapter two the future presumably being the games second expansion.As we continue chapter two, as a Vessel of Hatred owner, youll get access to other stuff in chapter two as part of your ownership, Fergusson said. So were going to continue to have [Vessel of Hatred] be valuable beyond season 6 as well.Fergusson didnt mention what these exclusive seasonal features might look like. Vessel of Hatred has plenty of elements that are ripe for modification and expansion, including customizable companions in the form of Mercenaries, new build customization options via Runewords, and new dungeon playstyles in Kurast Undercity and Dark Citadel.Blizzard is on a promotional push for Diablo 4 through the rest of November. The base game and Vessel of Hatred are currently on sale on Battle.net and Xbox, and starting Tuesday, Nov. 19, a selection of free-trial and character-boost options go live to tempt new and returning players to dive in.From that date, players can select one character on the Eternal Realm to boost to level 50 with a Welcome Back Booster. A boosted character can pick from three preset builds for that class, each of which comes with a full set of Legendary gear. All Altars of Lilith (stat-boosting collectables) are unlocked, and some currency and other useful items are thrown in. Vessel of Hatred owners can select two characters to boost to level 50.From Nov. 19 to Dec. 2, players who havent bought Vessel of Hatred yet can try the Spiritborn class for free up to level 25. Therell be a free trial for the base game over the same period, also capped at level 25.Fergusson said that the booster and free trials were motivated by a desire to show off the many changes and improvements to Diablo 4 over its first 18 months, including the game-changing itemization update in season 4, Loot Reborn, and the overhaul of character progression released alongside Vessel of Hatred.We were looking at ways of creating a boost for players to be able to say, Hey, welcome back, Eternal player. Maybe you havent played in a while. Lets get you cleaned up. Lets give you a shave and haircut here. [] So you dont have to do all the, I got to spend two hours just cleaning up before I can go and play, he said. In the last 18 months, so much has changed. But if youre an Eternal player who played the campaign and then stopped, you dont know. You havent felt this 18 months of evolution.

[Ed. note: This story contains spoilers for Arcane season 2 Act 2.]For eagle-eyed League of Legends fans, the reveal of Warwick in Act 2 of Arcane season 2 was a heartbreak we saw coming; too many things lined up just right between the disappearance of Powder and Vis father figure and the creation of the horrifying werewolf creature to be a coincidence. What we might not have seen coming, however, is just how incredibly Warwicks perspective would come across on screen. Then again, excellent animation in Arcane probably shouldnt come as a surprise anymore. Fortiche has been delivering impressive visuals from the very beginning, and Warwick is a great example of how the studio gets inside its characters heads.Showing how terrifying Warwick is would be one thing, but what makes Fortiches presentation of the character so effective is the way it shows us the world through his eyes. Whenever we see him chasing down his prey, the show shifts into a highly stylized vision of the world. Its played at a lower frame rate than normal, giving the whole thing a stilted, hazy, slow-motion effect, and the entire screen is tinted with a red glow that makes everything read like bloodied prey.It beautifully transports us inside the head of Warwick, a drug-fueled, mutated hunter in constant search of blood, but its also a tremendous way to show the pieces of Vander that are still left over. When Warwick spots Jinx or Vi, Vanders softness comes back; the world loses its red hue and for a moment, and hes a loving father again. We understand it perfectly because were seeing it through his eyes, a passenger to the perspective of the character.This idea of letting the audience inside a characters head is something that Fortiche has proven itself to be particularly adept at. In Arcane, the studio is constantly swapping in new and unique animation styles to communicate that its taking us out of the world of the show and into the world of a character. In the first season, this mostly crops up when Jinx starts hearing voices, with the faces of the friends she killed popping up behind her with sketches over their faces. All of this lets Fortiche flex its animation muscles, all while giving the audience a more intimate look at the characters interior lives than we could ever get from simple dialogue. Its a beautiful testament to the power of animation, and an incredible storytelling technique. But leave it to Fortiche to have been working toward something even more clever on top of the clearly beautiful art.In the second season, the studio ramps these ideas up even more, with moments like the first episodes black charcoal segment to show Caits grief. By the time we reach the conclusion of season 2s second act, Fortiche starts using its motif of unique animation as a way inside characters heads to show us how the characters entire perception of the world might be changing. Take Mel, for example. When we see her locked inside the Black Roses thorny prison, its clearly an unreal space. Were seeing her mind wrapped up in the horrifying psychological prison the organization is enveloping her in.Even more important is how Fortiche uses unique animation for Viktor. Plenty of movies and TV shows, both in live action and animation, have depicted characters ascending past regular humanity and growing disconnected from it, but few have given us the kind of perspective Arcane does on Viktors glorious evolution. Its easy to see the ways that Viktor is starting to disassociate from humanity but once we see how he perceives things now, its easy to see why. The brilliant bright lights, the constant presence of Skye in his ear and at his side, the way he sees straight through the appearance of people and creatures and machines and directly into their heart and head are equally beautiful and disorienting. Suddenly it becomes easy to see why someone who experiences the world like this enveloping cosmos might subtly lose his grasp on moment-to-moment human concerns.Each of these examples (just to name a few from the show so far) feels like a perfect display of the incredible way that Fortiche approaches animation with Arcane. Sure, animation as a medium allows Arcane to have a neat visual style, and provides a vehicle for excellent fight scenes. But it also lets the series pull viewers deeper into the emotional lives of its characters, exploring complicated points of view in a way thats more elegant than dialogue. Whether its a person ascending to machine-infused godhood or a werewolf on the hunt, Fortiche has proven that it can find the perfect animation style to let us into the head of any of its characters, and even more impressively, the studio manages to make every single one of these unique art styles fit within Arcanes beautiful world.

Lens experts Leica and apparel brand AETHER are proud to present the Reporter Jacket, a smart, simple solution for all types of weather. The clever pockets allow for quite a good amount of storage, with special spots for notebooks, camera equipment, and electronics. Life is a journey, so take the Reporter Jacket along with you.This jacket is perfect for the casual or professional photographer, whether youre winding your way though frost-capped peaks or taking a stroll at your local reserve. It has an ample amount of pockets, enough for a notebook, several compact lenses, and extra SD cards, ensuring youll never run out of charge or card space while covering lifes most unforgettable moments.Boasting a windproof shell and water resistance, this jacket is meant to go places. It features a relaxed fit, perfect for adding slim layers on colder days. Equal parts rugged and refined, the jacket is perfect for the demands of fieldwork.Minimal branding graces the back pocket of the jacket, an unassuming touch that is quite novel in placement. Durable and functional, the pockets are meant to really hold a good amount of items, ready for whatever you might have to throw in there.A small label on the inside tells us a bit more about the specifications of the jacket, including a designated SD card pocket, underarm grommets for venting, and an attached microfiber cleaning cloth, ready for all lenses and glasses alike. Waterproof, one-way zippers help ensure all electronics are safe from a sudden storm while out and about, while the extra sturdy flaps on the pockets allow for optimal wind and rain resistance. The front snaps are covered by the body material, preventing any snags or rips from wandering tree branches.AETHER is born out of a self-described not a wrong turn, but a detour by founders Palmer West and Jonah Smith. Filmmakers turned apparel designers, they lead with a sense of adventure, offering uncompromising products meant to go above and beyond out of office. With a rugged line meant to withstand the worst nature has to offer, AETHER creates thoughtful clothing, accessories, and outerwear for any type of extreme environment. They pose the intriguing thought, You think adventure is dangerous? Try routine.Leica is one of the oldest and most venerated camera brands in the world. Founded in 1869 by Ernst Leitz, the company takes the first three letters of his name, Lei-, and the first two letters of camera, -ca, to create the name Leica. They specialize in cameras, lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. Developing some of the first lens exchange systems along with the incredible demand for lens-based products at the turn of the century helped them gain notoriety among the industry. A longstanding tradition of progressive labor policies sets them apart pensions, sick leave, and health insurance were all standard within the company, from the start. In response to the election of Hitler in 1933, Ernst Leitz II established a program in which Jewish employees (whether or not they worked at the company) were sent to work abroad, where they would be helped to find jobs and stable housing when they arrived. This and many other policies continue the proud tradition of deep respect for workers rights, a beacon of hope and progress.Sadly, the Reporter Jacket sold out quickly but theyll alert anyone interested when they restock via aetherapparel.com.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Weekly curated resources for designersthinkers andmakers.You are Jean-Claude Van Damme. Youre straddling two 18-wheelers careening through space while doing the splits. Its very difficult, your groin hurts, and you could really use a strawberry Pop-tartHeres the question that has brought on all the pain and Pop-tart cravings: Do I continue the path of individual contributor or turn towards management?As designers, this is a decision that we all need to face eventually. As soon as we become competent in our craft, we start to realize that we cant straddle the gap forever.The split decision: IC or manager? By TripCarrollStreamline feedback and slash revisions for faster, flawless website delivery [Sponsored] Say hello to the deadline-friendly web builder that keeps you focused on creativity, not legwork. The no-nonsense copilot handles the heavy lifting, making it smooth to go from idea to publish. Ideal for small teams and agencies building sites on tight timelines.Editor picksLaid off twice in a year Riding the tech rollercoaster as a product manager.By JeanHuangCustomer as competitive advantage Are we doing the same as our competitors expecting different results?By HelgeTennGreat products transcend the Usability vs. Utility debate Your users want results, not compromises.By AviSiegelThe UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about theirwork.New book celebrates UKs influential modernist graphic designers Make methinkWe did all this discovery now how do we decide? The more discovery they do, the more ideas they get. The ideas, the interviews, the stories, the pain pointsthey all start to pile up. Thats where the problem comes in. Now the PM has a giant portfolio of ideas. But the team can only build one thing at a time. How do they decide on the one thing to donext?Are AI assistants making us worse programmers? In programming, high-level languages many times abstract the complexity away from yousomething developers working with JavaScript, Python, Java, etc, know well. It seems clear that AI assistants introduce a new human-machine interfacenatural language. Is thatbad?Dont forget to localize your icons Localizing your app, web app, or website is more than just running all your text through Google Translate and hoping for the best. Creating effective, trustworthy communication with language communities means doing the work to make sure your content meets them where theyare.Little gems thisweekWhy is the Mac mini power button on the bottom? By ElvisHsiaoHow Insight Timer monetizes 25M users By MaryBorysovaHow I used AI to design brand-aligned illustrations By MotyWeissTools and resourcesText formatting experiences can be a trap Improve a keyboard users experience with indentation.By Nik JeleniauskasReimagining prototyping with AI Bringing creativity, speed, and efficiency to design validation.By VamsiBatchuTest smart Which automation strategy to choose for peace of mind?By JuliaKocbekSupport the newsletterIf you find our content helpful, heres how you can supportus:Check out this weeks sponsor to support their worktooForward this email to a friend and invite them to subscribeSponsor aneditionIC or Manager, laid off twice, prototyping with AI was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

How to handle being laid off as a designer.Continue reading on UX Collective

With the release of the Quest 3S, Meta aims to provide users with an affordable virtual and augmented reality experience. A stripped-down version of the Meta Quest 3, the 3S is an entry-level, standalone VR rig at a price that won't make you wince. But is the $200 price-chop worth the sinking FOMO feeling that can come from buying second-best gear? Like everything in life, it depends on your expectations and how picky you are. While the 3S is a huge improvement, in every way, over the Quest 2, things get more complex when compared to the Quest 3. The processing power is the same, so it's fully compatible with all that system's games and software, but the graphics are a downgrade. Different display types on the two models means experiences on the Quest 3S don't look quite as good as they do on the Quest 3. The 3S's graphics are very good, thoughso good that the downgrade probably won't be a deal killer for many. Meta Quest 3S (128GB) $299.99 at Best Buy Shop Now Shop Now $299.99 at Best Buy ProsLow pricePowerful processorConsGraphically weaker than the Meta Quest 3Quest 3S specsProcessor: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2DRAM: 8GBDisplay resolution: 1,832 by 1,920 (per eye)Refresh rate: 120Hz Headset weight: 514gField of view: 96 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees verticalChipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2Audio: Stereo speakers compatible with 3D spatial audio, 3.5mm audio jackRam: 8GB Storage: 128GB or 256GBBattery life: Up to 2.5 hoursCharge time: 2.3 hours via 18W power adapterHow the Meta Quest 3S feels on your face"Will I actually want to strap this thing to my head?" is the first question I ask about any VR gear. No matter how technically impressive it may be, if I don't feel comfortable wearing a headset, if it causes neck strain, or feels awkward/unwieldy, I'm not likely to use it much. I'm happy to report that the Quest 3S is tolerable to strap to your face. The headset's front-heavy style looks more like last-generation's Quest 2 than the Quest 3, but the new head strap, the device's fairly even weight distribution, and its lightness (at 514 grams, it actually weighs a gram less than the Quest 3) result in a comfortable enough headset for long periods of escape from reality. It's slightly less comfortable than the Quest 3, though. The bulk of the 3S's mass is farther from your face, making it feel a touch heavier. The Meta Quest 3S is smooth like butterFrom initial setup to navigation, the Meta Quest 3S is smooth and intuitive. Someone who is brand new to VR should be able to pick it up and get started with minimal hassle, and even fairly complex tasks like defining an area for using the device in your house can be accomplished with minimal headache. Meta's UI designers deserve recognition for creating an environment that's so intuitive you barely even notice it. The same vibe applies to the controllers. They fit right in your hand, and "doing things" in experiences, like pushing buttons, grabbing objects, or pulling triggers, is instantly understandable. I coached a tech-phobic friend though a first-VR experience mostly by saying, "don't think about it. Just do what you would do"a real testament to the intuitive control scheme. Pancake vs. Fresnel: under the hood of a Meta Quest 3S Credit: Stephen Johnson Both the Meta Quest 3 and the Quest 3S are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor with 8GB of RAM, so in terms of processing, they're equals. That power means even the larger, more complex games that are coming out for the system, like Batman: Arkham Shadow, run smoothly. Augmented reality experiences like the "Home Invasion" mode in Drop Dead: The Cabin hum along nicely. The front-facing cameras mean you can snap yourself back into reality with a knock on the side of the headset or by pressing a new-for-the-3S controller button. Everything seems to work just as well on the 3S and the 3. But there is one difference: the display. Taken on their own, the Quest 3S's graphics are amazing for a standalone VR headset. If it's your first time using VR, or you're upgrading from a Quest 2, you're going to be blown away by the crispness and clarity of the Quest 3S's visuals. You're not likely to think, "I wish these could be better." If you've used a Quest 3, however, it might be a different story.The 3S's fresnel lenses and display offer a narrower field-of-view and lower resolution than the pancake lenses of the Quest 3. The 3S's display is 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye compared to the 3's 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye. One number is definitely bigger than the other, but how much does it matter in practice? To me, not much. I took a screenshot from each device in the same position in Assassin's Creed: Nexus for comparison, and I can barely tell them apart. The one on the left was taken with the 3S. The one on the right with the 3: Credit: Stephen Johnson/Ubisoft Maybe you can't readily tell from screenshots, but if I switch between a 3 and my 3S, I can see some differenceson the 3S, characters on menu screens look a little jaggy, the field of view is smaller, things look less clearbut overall, it's one of those "Yeah, I guess that looks a little better, maybe" things to me, not an "Oh my God! This looks like garbage!" thing. I realize some people won't be able to tolerate not having the best possible experience, but I don't get hung up on perfect visual clarity. I'm more about the overall effect than the fine details. Which brings me to the big question: Is the Meta Quest 3S fun? The Meta Quest 3S is crazy fun. I played the same mission in Assassin's Creed Nexus VR on the Quest 3 and the Quest 3S, and found that I had the same amount of fun sneaking around in historical Italy in each. I then spent 15 minutes working out in Supernatural using each headset and burned the same number of calories swatting at targets, even though the scenery was a touch more blurry on the 3S. I watched a YouTube video while on my back in each, checked out some immersive, 360 videos, and poked around in Meta Horizon Worlds. Each experience was equally fun, and I didn't find the visual differences distracting and wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't looking for them. Fun is subjective, though. Maybe you can only enjoy things if you know it's the best possible experience. Fun levels may be equal, but if given a choice, I'm going to pick the Meta Quest 3 every time for its comfort and clarity (and because it's the better one). The wider field of view feels slightly less claustrophobic. The better weight distribution makes it slightly more comfortable. Everything looks slightly crisper. But if I was going to buy a Quest 3 or 3S, I'd pick the 3S without hesitating. The visual differences are slight, but the price difference is substantial. At $299, a base level 3S is nearly half the cost of the $499 Quest 3, and that price makes it a bargain, and, overall, a better product.Bottom line: the Quest 3 is a killer toy In my review of the Meta Quest 3, I noted how technically impressive it is, but wondered if it had any use beyond a flashy toy. I still rarely use a VR headset for anything but watching movies or playing games, but 3S's lower price means I don't feel like I should be. It's a toy, but an insanely greatand now reasonably pricedtoy. The Quest 3S offers near-identical performance to the Quest 3, and its $299 price and pick-up-and-play vibe make it a great product if you want to dip your feet into the world of VR/AR but you don't want to make it your lifestyle.

The stock market rallied to all-time highs on Wednesday following Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite indexes each reached new record levels.Here's what you need to know about why the market responded in this way, and what it means for your investment strategy.Why the markets surged post electionAnalysts attribute the market surge to two key factors:Reduced uncertainty. As I've covered previously, the prospect of a new government and potential policy shifts can create a whirlwind of speculation, leading to market volatility that can unsettle even seasoned investors. An election outcomeregardless of the winnereliminated the uncertainty that had weighed on the markets prior to the vote. In fact, the U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House.Prospects of a business-friendly government. Investors are anticipating pro-business policies from a second Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Senate.The Dow closed up over 800 points, or 2.9%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 2.2% and 3.9% respectively. As we've already seen, Trump has a penchant for rolling back or undoing regulations, which benefits sectors that might have experienced greater scrutiny under a Harris administration. Banking, energy, and technology stocks were among the biggest winners in the days following the election.What this means for youWhile this news might make it tempting to buy shares of Tesla or Bitcoin, you might want to take a beat, first. As a rule of thumb, financial advisors caution investors against making sudden, drastic changes to their portfolios based on this one-time event. The so-called "Trump trade" could easily turn into a bumpy roadinvestors should be wary that parts of Trumps economic platform, such as tax cuts and tariffs, could stoke inflation. Plus, all the details of the timing and implementation of the Republican policy agenda are hardly clear at this time. It's never a good idea to dramatically alter your investment strategy in response to a specific election outcome. Instead, this could be a good time to rebalance and make sure you're not overly exposed to any one sector or company. So while the rally may be tempting, always evaluate your overall asset allocation first before jumping in. Allowing current events to constantly sway your financial decisions can lead to emotional stress and decision-making influenced by fear or overconfidence. After all, you're not as objective as you thinkhere some tips so that you don't lose money over it. In the end, experts recommend staying disciplined and sticking to your long-term investment plan, regardless of who occupies the White House.And if you experienced some gains and anticipate a big expense in the short term, converting some of your earnings into cash or certificates of deposit could be a good move.

Black Friday deals are in full swing in the tech space, and one of the best deals at the moment is on our top pick for the best wireless headphones you can get. Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones have dropped to $298, which represents a $100 discount. Thats one of the lowest prices weve seen; they briefly dropped to $280 earlier this year, but we havent seen that price since. If youre on a tight budget, consider the WH-1000XM4 headphones, which are one generation older but offer a lot of the same features and are currently on sale for $200. We've long been recommending Sony's 1000X line and this is the best iteration to date. They earned a score of 95 in our review. The redesigned headphones are much more comfortable to wear for extended periods than previous models. Sony has improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature as well, thanks to the addition of a new chip and four more microphones. We feel that the company's current flagship headphones do a better job of blocking out high frequencies and background noise (and even human voices) than the XM4s. The XM5s can switch between noise modes depending on your location or activity, and they can pause audio automatically when you start speaking. They deliver better call quality than rival models and, in general, you'll get clear, crisp sound, including punchy bass. You won't need to charge the XM5s too often either, as they have a 30-hour battery life. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sony-black-friday-deals-include-the-wh-1000xm5-headphones-for-100-off-192016735.html?src=rss

Though I do love walking through a supermarket and picking out my own foods, I will admit that, come winter, I often turn to delivery apps to get my products. DoorDash, one of the many delivery apps on the market, has launched a new feature that could make this process even more seamless, allowing iOS users import their grocery list from Reminders into the app.To take advantage of this, you can go to Reminders and copy your list or import it directly in the DoorDash app. An option should appear while you're shopping inside a store that says "Got a grocery list?" in a box on the page. From there you can click import and choose which list you want to sync based on the titles and a preview of the items. DoorDash will then show you options based on your list. So, for example, if you wrote onions, then it will let you scroll through different onions for sale and below it will have your next item with other options.DoorDash is also unveiling other changes, such as letting you add items from multiple stores to an order before placing it. The company has offered DoubleDash since 2021 but that only allowed you to include items from close stores after placing the original order.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-can-import-grocery-lists-from-ios-reminders-app-140020164.html?src=rss

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