South Korean developer Smilegate has invested money into becoming a partner in Absurd Ventures, the transmedia studio from Rockstar alum Dan Houser.Under the agreement, the Crossfire studio has the option to team with Absurd on its upcoming new property. The two companies will also collaborate on various areas, such as the live-service genre. Smilegate's announcement noted how Houser oversaw the online modes for Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption II, and its own various online titles like Crossfire and Lost Ark.Additionally, Smilegate and Absurd Ventures will "leverage" each other's strengths, such as the former's knowledge of the larger Asian market and the latter's "narrative, triple-A, and business expertise" in the West."This collaboration with Smilegate was borne from a mutual respect and a philosophical alignment with [Smilegate] founder Kwon Hyuk-Bin, and the great passion he and his team bring to making AAA games," said Houser. "We both want to build interesting worlds and new player experiences."Smilegate CEO Joonho Sung added the partnership "marks a critical milestone in Smilegate's journey toward becoming a global IP powerhouse. Together with Absurd Ventures, Smilegate aims to deliver games that players across the globe will love."Absurd Ventures was officially announced in late 2023, and released an audio fiction series based on its original IP earlier this year. The company's ultimate aim is to be a transmedia studio from the start, wherein its properties can bounce from games to podcasts to graphic novels and TV/film.In September, the spinoff studio Absurd Marin was formed. That team consists of staff from the now "paused" Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios, and is working on an unannounced game. The future title makes for Absurd's second game project, and its third property overall.

I have 666 problems, but risk ain't oneGame development is inherently risky; horror games are doubly so. Of course, horror is cool and every studio should make a horror game (they even do well on Steam!), but there are also drawbacks. Our game, End of Ember, is only a year into production but has already encountered a number of these risks: lets dive in and explore what they are and how to address them.1.The genre is diverseThe RiskHorror is like metal: if youre not into it, it all sounds the same; but for fans there are so many sub-genres. Survival horror, psychological horror, mascot horror, slasher horror, comedy horror: without even going into gameplay categories or modes, the diversity is enormous. Without a clear sense of what kind of horror you are making, your game is likely to fall between the gaps or, worse, come across as sweaty.Horror is a thing.[Source: GameDiscoverCo Plus, accessed 29/11/24]Managing the RiskYour creative team needs to really understand horror its not something you can do from the outside. Our Creative Director Dan McGuiness has been a huge fan of horror since he was a kid, and he now hosts the Terrorvision Horror Podcast, so he definitely knows his stuff. In this way he can craft a true comedy horror that amps up the gore like nothing else and gets lots of laughs from players.2.Copyright/IP concernsThe RiskHorror is a self-referential genre, and while this might produce marketing opportunities, one immediate concern might be about copyright and infringing on IP. Some developers worry that by including references to other franchises or IP you might be setting yourself up for a takedown notice or legal action.Please dont sue us, Linda Blair!Managing the RiskThe key thing here is remembering that while actual intellectual property might be protected by law, parody and references are much more acceptable. (Note this is not legal advice.) Of course you should not use frames, models, or the actual product of anyone elses work, but drawing your own hockey mask reminiscent of Friday the 13th or a puzzle box like the Lament Configuration from Hellraiser will probably keep you above the line as long as you produce the assets yourself and do not attempt to represent it as original IP.3.Crafting 'agency mechanics'The RiskOne of the main challenges (and opportunities) of horror game development is closely managing the players power in all situations, or what we might call agency mechanics. The risk here is that you will either lock down player autonomy so much that they cant act meaningfully in the world and ragequit, or that they will be so free that the experience isnt engaging enough.Managing the RiskAs with most gameplay design, the solution here is to design, playtest, iterate. Design your mechanics with the idea of player agency in mind from the outset, then build a prototype early and playtest as much as possible for player autonomy in particular. Observe closely which particular mechanics constrain or enable agency, get player feedback of all kinds, and iterate until you get the balance right.4.Optimisation challenges of goreThe RiskEnd of Ember prides itself on its gore engine, and producing gore effects that other games just wont try. Of course, there is usually a reason that something hasnt been done before, and in our prototype we discovered that detailed gore can produce framerate issues as the engine tries to calculate for all the pieces of carrion and viscera that adorn the floor and walls.The gore in our boss level chugged our framerate or maybe it was the rooms, or persistence or the entire codebase?Managing the RiskOften, indie devs leave optimisation until late in production, but we have found it useful to plan optimisation throughout development. We have explored options such as persistence management, occlusion culling, draw call batching and object pooling - and we are implementing them earlier in development rather than waiting until later and debugging.5. Pearl-clutchingThe RiskHorror is certainly not for everyone, but its not the same as saying, say, JRPGs arent for everyone. Horror games sometimes induce a kind of moral panic, perhaps especially amongst those who still think that video games are mostly for children. Muted scowls of disapproval are well known to horror gamedevs.Is it the blood? Its the blood, isnt it?Managing the RiskThe way to manage this risk is to be clear about the fact that horror games are not meant for children, and they are not intended to somehow infiltrate young minds and terrify or otherwise corrupt them. Managing appropriate boundaries and classification systems will also help to change the culture and thinking around this issue, but admittedly its a long game.6.Steam page approvalThe RiskAs with any kind of mature content, going through Steam page review and approval can be challenging: End of Ember was reviewed six times before being approved for public release. This is not Steams fault, and was mostly about our own workflows and lack of knowledge of the process: for example, capsule art is available to a broad audience and cannot be managed by warnings in a content survey.This capsule art is substantially revised from the one we originally submitted, because it needed to be for broad public access.Managing the RiskAs with all production, give about four times the duration you think you need for your Steam page to be reviewed, and then double that. Make sure your Content Survey is as accurate as can be and dont expect the content warnings to cover your capsule art. Note that Steam reviews are done by different people on different occasions, so the feedback is not always consistent or progressive.7.Attending conventionsThe RiskWe getting a theme here? Many public events such as game conventions have only special circumstances for games with mature content. Since most indie projects in early production do not have authorised classifications, event organisers tend to be fairly conservative on games appropriateness for their audience. This is entirely understandable, given branding, PR and reputation and so on.Managing the RiskIts realistic to expect that your game is just not going to be suitable for many public events. Look at all the amazing online traction that a good horror game will get on social media (especially during October), and save the public showings for more private events. Or at least negotiate early with event organisers around the suitability of your game, and expect to be disappointed.8.Reduced visibilityThe RiskMany of the above risks have a potential knock-on effect to visibility: obviously, not attending conventions is a block, and a particularly spicy content survey on Steam may flag your app as potentially unlawful in some jurisdictions. Reduced visibility (especially to a mass market) is a general risk with horror game.Nein!Managing the RiskVisibility risks are a challenge with any game, just more so with horror. With 35 games released on Steam per day its always already hard for indie gamedevs, so this just amplifies the challenge. Focus extra on marketing: identify your target, go to where they are, and encourage them to engage with your awesome content rather than dreaming of selling a game to everyone.9.Saturated marketThe RiskSteam tag reports indicate that there are over 10,000 games tagged horror: more than anyone could play in a single deathtime. So while there is definitely a market for horror games, this market is already well-served, and there is the risk of your game being submerged under a mass of other FPS survival horror games set in a misty rural town.Through this fog I cant even see the other 34 games published on Steam today.Managing the RiskAll the usual design-meets-marketing advice applies here: know the competition, know your market, design something with a unique visual style and/or experience, be true to your artistic vision, and deliver a game that players wont want to share with their Grandma. Something like this:SummaryIf you want to make a horror game you will no doubt face risks in production, development, and marketing. Its worth it, but if you employ the usual lifelong learning, planning, and iteration processes you apply across your entire development, youll be best placed to avoid a horrific development experience of your own. If worst comes to worst, respawn.End of Ember is available to Wishlist on Steam: share it around, just not with your Grandma.AcknowledgmentThanks to Logan Baker of Royal Reign Studios for technical advice to make me sound less like a numpty to programmers.

On Wednesday morning, someone shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan before walking away and then getting on a Citi Bike that they rode to Central Park, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney during a press conference. Thompson was scheduled to appear at the companys investor meeting today, which was canceled after the shooting.Now Lyft, which owns the bikeshare service, says its prepared to help investigators if the shooter left a digital trail while renting or using one of its bikes. Lyft spokesperson Eric Smith said in an email toThe Verge that the company is ready to assist law enforcement. However, as of the time the company responded to our inquiry, investigators hadnt yet made contact.As far as where he got the Citi Bike, were still working that through, Kenney told reporters, adding that the department was gathering video from numerous sources but that it doesnt have video or witness confirmation on how he obtained that bike.Kenney said it looked like the killer specifically targeted Thompson and that at this point, we do not know why. The CEOs wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that there had been some threats. Earlier this year, UnitedHealthcare suffered a massive ransomware attack, which leaked info on over 100 million people and snarled healthcare for weeks despite a $22 million payment to the attackers.Police officials were spotted asking around for video footage of a Citi Bike kiosk on Madison Avenue and 82nd Street in Manhattan early Wednesday afternoon, reports The New York Times. NYPD shared images of the shooter, including one of them on the bike, and asked that anyone with information as to the identity or location of this individual contact police at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Bitcoin just hit $100,000Bitcoin just hit $100,000 / Bitcoin topped the $100k mark after Donald Trump announced a new leader for the SEC under his administration.By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Dec 5, 2024, 3:41 AM UTCShare this story Nick Barclay / The VergeBitcoin has passed $100,000, marking its highest price since the cryptocurrency launched more than a decade ago, and as of this writing, it has reached $103,359.00, according to Kraken. Despite its triumphs, Bitcoins value is still being measured in USD, emerging as an alternate payment option or investment rather than a replacement for fiat currency.The price of Bitcoin spiked following the news that Donald Trump won the 2024 US Presidential Election. Bitcoin sat around $69,000 on Election Day but later shot to $75,000 following the news that Trump won, according to data from CoinDesk. Its price has been rising since, as investors expect a more crypto-friendly environment under the Trump administration.Trump, who has launched his own cryptocurrency platform, has promised to hold onto the Bitcoin owned by the federal government while also vowing to fire Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler, who has fought to regulate crypto firms. Gensler later announced that he would step down from the position in January. Image: Dune AnalyticsRelatedThe final push past the $100k mark occurred a few hours after Trump announced several nominations for his administration, which included adding former Republican Securities and Exchange Commissioner Paul Atkinsas his pick to lead the agency. Atkins has served as co-chair of the Chamber of Digital CommercesToken Alliance, and Trump said he recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.Other factors contributed to the Bitcoin spike as well, including the start of options trading on Blackrocks Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, which saw $1.9 billion traded during its first day.Most PopularMost Popular

Large language models are good at many tasks but bad at complex reasoning, especially when it comes to math problems. Current In-Context Learning (ICL) methods depend heavily on carefully chosen examples and human help, which makes it hard to handle new problems. Traditional methods also use straightforward reasoning techniques that limit their ability to look for different solutions, making them slow and not great for various situations. It is again important to confront these challenges to enhance automated reasoning, adaptability, and proper use of LLMs.Traditional ICL techniques, such as Chain-of-Thought (CoT) reasoning and zero/few-shot prompting, have shown promise in enhancing reasoning performance. CoT enables models to think about problems step by step, which is great for solving structured issues. However, these methods have big problems. Their performance depends on how good the examples are and how they are structured, which requires a lot of skill to prepare. The models cannot adapt to problems that deviate from their training examples, reducing the utility in diverse tasks. Moreover, current approaches rely on sequential reasoning, which restricts the exploration of alternative problem-solving strategies. These limitations have indicated a need for innovative frameworks that reduce human dependency, enhance generalization, and optimize reasoning efficiency.HiAR-ICL (High-level Automated Reasoning in In-Context Learning) addresses these challenges by reimagining context as encompassing higher-order reasoning patterns instead of focusing on example-based learning. This paradigm fosters adaptability and robustness in problem-solving by cultivating transferable reasoning capabilities. It aggregates five salient thought processes: System Analysis (SA), One-Step Thought (OST), Chain-of-Thought (CoT), Divide-and-Conquer (DC), and Self-Reflection and Refinement (SRR), for it to function like human solving processes. These are the basis on which thought cards, reusable reasoning templates, come to be constructed using the Monte Carlo Tree Search(MCTS) mechanism. MCTS identifies optimally good reasoning paths from a seed dataset, which then are distilled into abstract templates. A cognitive complexity framework evaluates problems along dimensions that include subquestion count, condition complexity, and semantic similarity, which dynamically informs the selection of relevant and precise thought cards. This dynamic reasoning process is further enhanced by multi-layered validation techniques, including self-consistency and reward-based evaluations, ensuring accuracy and reliability.HiAR-ICL demonstrates significant advancements in reasoning accuracy and efficiency across various benchmarks. Its performance is best on datasets like MATH, GSM8K, and StrategyQA. Accuracy increases by as much as 27% compared to traditional ICL methods. Efficiency is also impressive with computing time cut down by as much as 27 times for easier tasks and up to 10 times for harder problems. It does well with varied applications and even small models; thus, accuracy improves in many tests by more than 10%. Its capability of surpassing traditional approaches while accommodating a range of difficult problems promises the revolution of this discipline.HiAR-ICL redefines reasoning capabilities in LLMs by transitioning from example-centric paradigms to high-level cognitive frameworks. Monte Carlo Tree Search and the use of thought cards for problem-solving make it a robust tool to work adaptively with very minimal need for human help. It was able to come up at the top when its performance was tested with hard tests, indicating its strength in shaping the future of automated reasoning, especially through efficient handling of complex tasks.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. If you like our work, you will love ournewsletter.. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. FREE AI WEBINAR: 'Fast-Track Your LLM Apps with deepset & Haystack'(Promoted)

Wireless tech has come a long way over the years and headsets have improved drastically in that time not just in sound quality and latency, but also in robust feature sets and battery life. While there are still a few unique advantages to going with wired audio gear (especially when you approach audiophile range), it's almost a given that my recommendations for the best gaming headsets will be wireless as well, since theyre so much more common now. So, here we are!TL;DR These are the Best Wireless Gaming HeadsetsOur Top PickSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessAudeze MaxwellHyperX Cloud IIISee it at AmazonTurtle Beach Stealth 500See it at AmazonAlienware Pro HeadsetSee it at AmazonPlayStation Pulse EliteSee it at AmazonXbox Wireless HeadsetSee it at AmazonSteelSeries Arctis GameBudsSee it at AmazonAll the listed headsets were chosen based on several factors sound quality and comfort being the most important. But other things like positional audio, microphone clarity, user experience, and battery life were accounted for as well as overall value. So, no matter which one fits your needs and/or budget, youre getting a great overall headset.1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Best Overall Wireless Gaming HeadsetOur Top PickSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessMultiple connectivity options, including simultaneous listening on different devices, a hot-swappable battery, excellent sound, and hybrid active noise canceling make this a hard-to-top headset.Product SpecificationsConnectivity2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, wiredDrivers40mm NeodymiumBattery life18-22 hours (per battery)Weight338gPROSFully featured with ANC, base station, etcSwappable battery system is innovativeFantastic sound qualityCONSANC could be betterIf youve checked out our other best gaming headset roundups, then it should be no surprise that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is one of our top picks here. It earned a coveted 10/10 in our Arctis Nova Pro headset review for several reasons, namely its top-notch sound quality and long-term comfort. But its the smaller things that make it stand above the rest.It comes with a convenient base station to control various features on the headset including profiles you can program in the SteelSeries software, EQ presets, and active noise cancelling. Other headsets may do ANC a bit better than the Arctis Nova Pro, but its sufficient in helping isolate the audio experience if you need it. For built-in microphones, it has one of the best in terms of clarity, but its also great about blocking out ambient noises. Its unique battery system is a major perk as well; you get an extra battery unit and can swap out the battery pack easily, allowing you to let one charge as you continue to use the headset wirelessly.Its bold and balanced audio out of the box is one of the big reasons to look into the Arctis Nova Pro, but its also built for competitive play with great spatial and positional audio. Its cool to get an immersive sound experience, but its even cooler when you can anticipate enemy movement because you can pick up on their footsteps or gunfire and make smarter judgments in critical situations. Its the finer details like these that push this headset above most. It may be pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Photos2. Audeze MaxwellBest High-End Wireless Gaming HeadsetAudeze Maxwell90mm planar magnetic drivers deliver crisp, clear sound on a comfortable headset with an 80-hour battery life.Product SpecificationsConnectivityUSB-A / USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm wiredDrivers90mm planar magneticBattery life80+ hoursWeight490PROSTop-notch audio experienceSleek, low-key designCONSLeans on the heavier sideWhere something like the Arctis Nova Pro stands out as an all-around fully featured product, the Audeze Maxwell has a particular focus on sound quality. Its a chunky headset, and it is a beast when it comes to the audio experience, rivaling some of the studio-grade headphones Ive used. It rocks a sleek, nondescript design so it certainly looks the part and it definitely delivers as if youre attaching a home theater setup to your head.The Maxwell sports 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which are the biggest of any headset Im recommending. Now, bigger drivers doesnt always mean better sound quality, but in the case of the Maxwell, its drivers are tuned nicely to create a rich natural audio profile out of the box with strong and balanced frequencies that remain clear at high volumes. This aspect alone would shoot it to the top of any list of high-end headset recommendations, but it has the important features that justify such a price tag.For a headset as robust as this one, you should expect comfort for long sessions. Even though the Maxwell lands on the heavier side of headsets, it doesnt necessarily feel that way because of its comfortable earpads and headband. You also get toggleable ANC to block outside noise, great microphone clarity for in-game communication, and one of the longest lasting batteries, which can go for about 80 hours under ideal conditions.3. HyperX Cloud IIIBest Mid-Range Wireless Gaming HeadsetHyperX Cloud IIIWith great comfort, sound quality, microphone clarity, and durability, the Cloud III is one of HyperX's best headsets.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityWired (3.5mm), USB-A / USB-CDrivers53mm Angles DriversBattery lifeN/AWeight318gPROSExtremely durable and flexibleDense earpads for premium-grade comfortGreat sound and mic quality, especially in its price rangeCONSMay clamp a little too tightOne of the most impressive aspects of the HyperX Cloud headsets is its build quality it uses a sturdy aluminum frame that can twist and contort any which way without ever feeling like its breaking. That flexibility and durability speaks to the quality of the latest iteration in the Cloud III. Because of the way its built, it doesnt clamp too tightly, letting its dense and plushy earbuds rest easy over your ears. This makes it super comfortable.This also creates a natural noise isolation that lets its big 53mm audio drivers deliver great sound quality that punches above its weight. You get strong audio across the frequency spectrum and minimal distortion even at louder volumes, while positional audio will take care of you in competitive shooters. In my Cloud III headset review, I felt comfortable tracking enemy footsteps while playing a ton of Valorant and enjoyed the balanced audio in Final Fantasy XIV both of which this more affordable headset handled gracefully.And if that wasnt enough to impress at the mid-range, the Cloud IIIs microphone is among the best regardless of price range. No built-in mic is going to match that of a standalone mic, but the Cloud III approaches a level I would be comfortable streaming with. So, if you just need to communicate clearly in-game, youll probably sound much better than most people youre playing with. Im always recommending the Cloud III for those who still want a high-end experience, but dont want to ball out for the top-tier options.4. Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Best Budget Wireless Gaming HeadsetTurtle Beach Stealth 500Affordable, balanced wireless audio with up to 40 hours battery lifeSee it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivity2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.2Drivers40mm driversBattery life40 hoursWeight335gPROSDurable and flexible buildGreat sound quality for its priceCONSBulky design with messy button layoutTurtle Beach has a long history of making gaming headsets, and its latest lineup proves that it knows what its doing. Perhaps surprisingly, the one that stands out the most is its entry-level option in the new Stealth 500. Dont get me wrong, the likes of the Stealth 600 and Stealth 700 are fantastic in their own right, but when I reviewed the Stealth 500, I loved that it doesnt necessarily feel like youre downgrading by going with the more affordable model.Its a hefty headset with chunky earcups that make you look like youre doing air traffic control, but the super-flexible synthetic frame strikes a good balance of durability and weight. It may feel a bit cheap but that also makes it easy to handle and without worry of it breaking. That flexibility does keep the clamp force down so its comfortable to wear for long sessions, especially with the dense earpads and cloth upholstery that makes it nice to wear.For a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset, it still brings booming sound quality that doesnt sacrifice much. It has impressive bass and clarity across other frequencies and can still bring out the finer audio details in terms of positional audio for competitive gaming. Its rounded out with Bluetooth thats easy to swap between devices and easy customization through the Turtle Beach Swarm II software. Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a fantastic value and delivers the kind of experience you rarely get in its price range.Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Headset - Photos5. Alienware Pro HeadsetBest Multi-Purpose Wireless HeadsetAlienware Pro HeadsetDefying its own brand tradition, Alienware went with a super-sleek design for the Pro headset and brings great sound quality as well as great ANC and comfort.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityBluetooth, USB-C dongle, USB wiredDrivers50mm Graphene-CoatedMax battery life70 hours (35 hours with ANC)Weight315gPROSStrong bass responseSleek, non-descript designANC and mic ANC both work excellentlyCONSSoftware support isn't greatThe latest Alienware Pro headset goes against typical design conventions of an Alienware product you would think this was a pair of Bose or Apple headphones at first glance. Its a slim and sleek headset with a no-nonsense aesthetic yet still performs fantastically as a proper gaming headset, which also makes it easily double-up as a casual everyday pair of headphones, and that really makes its active noise-canceling features sing. As a gaming headset, it brings strong bass to support all the other frequencies so games are going to have a powerful low-end to give a proper cinematic experience, but it's also tuned to be fit for competitive games as well.If you're looking for good ANC above all else, I can easily recommend the Alienware Pro headset since it's very good at drowning out ambient noise and retains solid battery life even though ANC tends to drain battery rapidly. That good ANC extends to the microphone as well, so while the overall microphone quality isn't that impressive, it's fantastic at isolating your voice.When it comes to comfort, its memory foam earbuds get the job done even though they don't look impressive at first glance. The flexible headband lets the Alienware Pro headset clamp easily on my head to help it stay comfortable for several hours of play. Ive gone entire days with this headset on, conveniently swapping between 2.4GHz for gaming and Bluetooth for music on my phone and with great battery life, I could do this often without charging. If youre looking for something versatile as an everyday headset that can do it all, Alienware delivers.Alienware Pro Headset - Photos6. PlayStation Pulse EliteBest Wireless PS5 HeadsetPlayStation Pulse EliteGreat sound, a unique look, and multipoint connectivity all come with this headset made with the PS5 in mind.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityWired, Bluetooth, PlayStation LinkDriversPlanar magneticMax battery life30 hours Weight347gPROSClear, detailed audioWireless multipoint connectivityGreat implementation of 3D audioCONSUnique design feels a bit flimsyWhen we reviewed the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, it turned out to be an absolute beast. It didnt come as much of a surprise considering its more affordable counterpart, the Pulse 3D, was already a fantastic headset. It has some versatility with Bluetooth connectivity, but when connected to the PS5 with the USB dongle, you can access EQ settings and 3D audio natively. Additionally, youre able to get audio feeds from both the PS5 and a Bluetooth device simultaneously. With a sleek unibody design, its on-device controls are easy to use since its easy to distinguish each button.But at the end of the day, its all about audio quality, and the Pulse Elite delivers on that front. The planar magnetic audio drivers help minimize distortion and provide tremendous sound quality thatll get the most out of your games. Theres strong bass that doesnt overpower other frequencies, and playing games at loud volumes doesnt sound harsh when it comes to the mids and highs. Especially when you use the right EQ settings, the Pulse Elite sounds tuned just right for each game. Sony's own Tempest 3D audio is the cherry on top, and a single-player game that takes advantage of this feature gives the experience of an immersive soundstage few headsets can pull off right.For $150, youre getting a lot for your money. Its priced well below other high-end headsets, yet performs on par with many of them. Its also packed with several extra features that make the most of the PS5 as a platform. For all that and more, the Pulse Elite is one of the best PS5 headsets you can get today.PlayStation Pulse Elite Photos7. Xbox Wireless HeadsetBest Wireless Xbox HeadsetXbox Wireless HeadsetThe new official Xbox wireless headset makes some notable improvements while still delivering great comfort and sound quality from its predecessor.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityXbox wireless, 2.4GHz dongle (sold separately), BluetoothDrivers40mm neodymiumMax battery life20 hours Weight320gPROSPlatform-specific features and easy connectivity with XboxSuper-fast chargingRobust sound qualityCONSTakes some EQ tuning to sound its bestLike the Pulse Elite for PS5, the official Xbox wireless headset is finely tuned for its specific platform. In the case of Xbox, this headset connects wirelessly without a dongle via Microsofts proprietary wireless tech and pairs just like a controller to make things easy. Its convenient, but doesnt come at the expense of all the important features that make it the best option for dedicated Xbox players.It brings a theater-like sound experience to a headset so single-player games like STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl or Elden Ring have the details of their respective eerie atmospheres shine through. I also played a ton of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to give this headset a whirl in competitive games, and whether I was caught in the chaos of lightning-fast rounds in the Moshpit playlist or carefully working with teammates in Search and Destroy matches, I had both a great audio experience and a tactical advantage with sound quality and positional audio. The main thing I should note is that it takes some tweaking in the EQ settings to find the right balance since this headset can be a bit bass-heavy out of the box.It may clamp a bit tight (although it will loosen over time), but the dense earpads alleviate that pressure. Its a lightweight headset thats well-built and rocks a sleek look just like its predecessor. The right earcup acting as an entire volume dial is still one of my favorite touches on the Xbox wireless headset, too. The microphone is nicely designed on a retractable snake-like arm, but clarity was one of the originals shortcomings the new model sounds much better this time around. The thing I find most attractive about this headset is its price tag. Its an incredible value for whats one of the best designed gaming headsets available for Xbox.8. SteelSeries Arctis GameBudsBest Wireless Gaming EarbudsSteelSeries Arctis GameBudsSteelSeries built the Arctis GameBuds for gaming and deliver booming audio with solid battery life low-latency thanks to its 2.4GHz dongle.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityBluetooth, 2.4GHz USB-C dongleDrivers10mm Neodymium MagneticMax battery life10 hoursWeight5g per earbudPROSImpressive sound qualityBetter battery life than most earbudsControls, software, and ANC add valueCONSA few features are hard to get workingGaming earbuds are a fairly recent trend with the notable peripheral companies like Razer, Asus, and PlayStation making their own that are suited for games. It's tough because of the limited driver size and battery life, earbuds tend to make sacrifices in one way or another. But the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are so impressive because of how uncompromising these little rounded buds are.On top of having solid foundations of sound quality, battery life, and long-term comfort, SteelSeries has one of the most robust software suites, which is easily controllable through a mobile app. This takes out the inconvenience of having to flip through PS5 menus to customize the earbuds, while also letting you access its 100+ custom-tuned EQ profiles easily. Although there are a few minor inconveniences with how some of its quality-of-life features work (autoplay when taking it on and off, connecting through Bluetooth reliably), the GameBuds do all the important things extremely well. While you should definitely use these as your primary earbuds to listen to music on your phone, they really shine in games with the kind of bold audio experience you expect from a headset. For all that and more, I gave a 9 to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in my review, and they'll pair nicely with your PS5.At $160, these have cheaper base price than the Razer Hammerheads I previously recommended. While I still think the Hammerheads have a very slight edge in sound quality, it's the battery life, software support, and overall comfort that make the GameBuds the best all around.SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds - PhotosWireless Gaming Headset FAQHow do you determine sound quality on a gaming headset?There are ways to extract audio data from a headset to get a look at how they handle various frequencies, like artificial ear and audio analyzing software, but that alone wont be able to tell you what the actual audio experience is like. Admittedly, it can be quite abstract to have someone describe what games, music, or movies sound like. Paying attention to descriptors like distortion, drowning, cleanliness, or balance when talking about frequencies are common ways to explain the sound quality of a device, and at some point you need to trust the reviewers trained ear.Theres also the factor of driver size, the actual hardware that delivers the audio. Generally, bigger drivers means better potential for cleaner and bolder sound, but again, that alone isnt going to determine whether or not a headset sounds good. Quality can also come down to spatial or positional audio which gives the impression of sound effects having distance and direction. This is especially important for competitive settings but can make for more immersive experiences outside of trying to get an advantage over your opponents.What makes gaming headsets different from headphones?Gaming headsets tend to pack additional features that support the actual gaming experience, some of which may be gimmicky, but many that I would call essential. The key feature that separates a headset from headphones is a built-in microphone. While most headset mics are passable in terms of clarity that can suffice for in-game communication, some go the extra mile to provide better clarity or mitigate ambient noise spilling through.Good gaming headsets are generally tuned to pick up on certain sound effects and have a more intimate sound profile since youre an active participant in the experience rather than a passive observer (especially in competitive games). When it comes to wireless capabilities, most gaming headsets come with 2.4GHz USB dongles for the lowest latency possible something that wireless headphones rarely include. As youll see in the next section, software suites for USB-based headsets (wireless or otherwise) have gotten sophisticated as well, and sometimes offer a level of customization for specific gaming scenarios.Are there any disadvantages to going with wireless instead of wired?Of course, it depends on your needs. I still gravitate towards wired headsets and headphones since I tend to prefer the sound profiles of a properly-tuned analog audio device (I also tend to forget about charging devices until its too late, but thats a me-problem). However, battery life and latency of modern gaming headsets have come so far that you rarely, if ever, see them being issues on the latest releases. Good software suites and apps can also help you get more out of your headset by letting you customize EQ settings or swap sound profiles for certain games.Wireless headsets are also sometimes capable of multi-device connectivity and simultaneous Bluetooth, which makes them versatile and opens them up to more use-cases (especially swapping to a mobile connection within seconds). Even though they tend to be more expensive, theres a lot of upside to going with a wireless gaming headset, just be sure you know what youll be getting out of it.Michael Higham is the tech reviews editor at IGN and has reviewed enough headsets to fill up all of his desk space.

Welcome back, dear friend and fellow discount fiend, to my regularly scheduled programming. I've helped a bunch of you navigate the bargains of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now it's all about picking through the wreckage and finding the gold that everybody else somehow missed (and you'd be surprised). Or, alternatively, let's all just score a bunch of free games*.In retro news, I'm hosting a 21st...er, party for Mario Party 5. This GameCube entry tried to bring change to the static formula of the series, most notably with its new capsule system. Mixed results there, because while there was a decent amount of creative minigames, the aging board gameplay remained creaky. Regardlessand this is true of most Mario PartiesI had the right crew whose competitive antics elevated this immeasurably. Possibly due to a drinking game we added. Not sure; scenes missing. This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games.- Mario Party 5 (GC) 2003. Sequels- Beyond Good & Evil (PC) 2003. Redux- Counter-Strike (XB) 2003. GetTable of ContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchSwitch Pro Cont.Even if, like me, the Pro Controllers price gives you pause, I cant deny that you absolutely get a high-quality gamepad that rivals the default input devices on the other two consoles.Nintendo World Champs NES (-32%) - A$34Oddworld Strangers Wrath HD (-16%) - A$37.65Prince Of Persia: TLC (-53%) - A$28Hogwarts Legacy (-46%) - A$49Metal Gear Col. (-28%) - A$64.95Expiring Recent DealsLEGO Skywalker Saga (-54%) - A$41.48 Crash Bandicoot N'Sane Trilogy (-35%) - A$45.18Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (-38%) - A$62.28Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-40%) - A$50.76Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch Zelda: $629 $539 | Switch Original: $499 $449 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $479 | Switch OLED White: $539 $479 | Switch Lite: $329 $299 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $309See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCW40K: DarktideDarktide is, without question, the most entertaining co-op FPS I've played since Left 4 Dead 2. That careful balancing act between multiple methods of murder is ceaselessly entertaining.Dredge (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeStar Wars: Bounty Hunter (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeOvercooked! 2 (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeTomb Raider: Underworld (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeCall of Juarez: Gunslinger (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeExpiring Recent DealsOr just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxSega Mega Drive ClassicsWarning: this delists in 2 days! Youd be kinda nuts not to pay under ten bucks for 50 (mostly) all-time Mega Drive classics that have modern creature comforts like rewinding, online play, and cheevos.Metaphor: ReFantazio (-39%) - A$69.95FC 25 (-55%) - A$49GTA Trilogy (-81%) - A$19Star Wars Outlaws (-36%) - A$69.95Wild Hearts (-83%) - A$19Controller Deep Pink (-19%) - A$77Expiring Recent DealsTop Spin (-43%) - A$34Starfield (-70%) - A$35.73Persona 3 Reload (-42%) - A$64Jedi: Survivor (-65%) - A$36GTA Trilogy (-75%) - A$24.95 Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $671 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $471 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationFC 25The leading football simulator, EA Sports FC 25 introduces some interesting new features, particularly the fast-paced and compelling Rush mode, but much of the package beyond that feels overly familiar.Gran Turismo 7 [PS4](-64%) - A$39DualSense Cosmic Red (-30%) - A$84CoD: BLOPS 6 (-20%) - A$88Star Wars Outlaws (-46%) - A$59Balatro: Special Ed. (-28%) - A$36NBA 2K25 (-60%) - A$44Expiring Recent DealsFC 25 (-55%) - A$49The Quarry (-74%) - A$28.24Sand Land (-61%) - A$39Jedi Survivor (-63%) - A$40.95Space Marine 2 (-42%) - A$64Persona 3 Reload (-42%) - A$64LEGO Horizon Adventures (-19%) - A$89Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $798 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $529 | PS VR2: $899 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $899 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topLegit LEGO DealsMinecraft: Cherry Blossom GardenGreat bargain price. Mind the bees, though.Dune: Ornithopter (-40%) - A$149.95City: Transporter Truck (-37%) - A$95.20Star Wars: Mos Espa Podrace (-34%) - A$79MIghty Bowser (-31%) - A$276Expiring Recent DealsSonic: Shadow The Hedgehog (-30%) - A$20Mario: Peachs Castle (-21%) - A$79Mario: Bowser (-28%) - A$289LEGO Advent Calendar Face Off 2024This holiday season, I'm doing something different with the LEGO section. In Mathew Manor, my sons and I are racing LEGO Advent Calendarswe open our respective ones daily and compare the mini-prizes for "Coolness" and "Actual Xmas-ness". Winner gets extra eggnog.If you're also feeling festive, here are the cheapest prices for the three calendars we're using. Or just live vicariously through us.LEGO Star Wars Advent 2024 - A$59.95 $45LEGO Spider-Man Advent 2024 - A$59.95 $45LEGO CIty Advent 2024 - A$59.95 $45Back to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

As youll know if youve ever pushed a beaming toddler on a swing, its lovely to watch other people have fun. InBlack Doves, a new spy action thriller from the creator ofGiri/HajiandThe Lazarus Project, Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw look like theyre having the time of their lives.Granted, thats a better time than the audience will have with this workaday and ultimately shrug off-able story, but the joy of those two running around a very Christmassy London shooting guns and having fist fights instead of delivering awards-worthy soliloquies and sighing in corsets is probably worth the six-episode time investment by itself.Knightley plays Helen (not her real name), a government minsters posh wife whos really an undercover kickass spy with gadgets, guns, and the physics-defying power to neutralise assassins with moves they dont teach at finishing school. Whishaw plays trigger man Sam, a handsome, gay, wryly funny killer-for-hire who drinks exclusively champagne, louchely calls everybody love, and sexual identity aside is a throwback to the spy-charmer likes of Harry Palmer and John Steed. Theres a bit of Emma Peel and Steed about this double-act, in fact, which is based on blood-splattered affection.Helen and Sam are colleagues in the employ of Sarah Lancashires M-like spy boss Mrs Reed. She runs the Black Doves, a mercenary agency that infiltrates the corridors of power and sells their secrets to the highest bidder. Its clearly a good earner, to judge by Mrs Reeds chauffeured cars and panoramic views of the London skyline, but doesnt pair well with a home life.Thats Sams issue more than Helens. Until her lover drags her into some shady underworld business with extraordinarily high global stakes, Helens making a good go of it as the beautiful wife of Tory defence minister Wallace Webb (Andrew Buchan) and the mother of two cherubic kids. When Helens not eavesdropping on state secrets, its all drinks receptions and school nativities and wearing Whistles dresses to fundraisers think Emma Thompsons character inLove Actuallybut with a secret gun compartment under her knicker drawer.Read more Sams life is outwardly messier. For the last few years hes been on the run from a mob boss (a ludicrously entertaining turn from gravelly voiced Kathryn Hunter) and now hes in the sights of Irish assassin Williams (Ella Lily Hyland, just as much a standout here as she was in Prime VideosFifteen Love. By rights, Hyland will one day be a bigger name than any in this cast). Theres unfinished business with an ex, Michael (Omari Douglas) and an origin story to do with his dad so patchily drawn that it could well have been introduced in the edit instead of the script.The same goes for Helens rather disinterested backstory, and for much of this plot, which revolves around the death of the Chinese ambassador and Guy Ritchie-like codes of honour among killers.If youve seen a spy thriller before, you know what youre facing: rival parties with various levels of firepower ranging from guns to nukes are all looking for the same missing thingummy. Our girl needs to get to it first to solve the mystery and take her revenge. All of that though, is just generic potato and parsnip trimmings aroundBlack Doves main roast of Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley leaping into the Thames to avoid explosions and raiding gangster strongholds with machine guns. Along the way are rocket launchers, knife fights and enough dead bodies to fill Wembley Stadium.There are sparks of potential greatness here. Its glamorous in a London-drizzle way. The action scenes are solid and frequent. Mob boss Lenny and her pair of sardonic Irish-Welsh assassins intermittently cheer things up, while the odd witticism from the always-charming Whishaw raises a smile. Admirably, the two leads commit totally to their characters, despite them being so thinly sketched that they feel as if they didnt get beyond being brainstormed in the lift up to the pitch meeting. The bloodstained Shane Black Christmasness of it all is pretty cool too, and the soundtrack has all the festive hits.The story though, with its craftless plotting, meaningless big bad reveal, and interminable-feeling finale that spends half the runtime setting up a second season commission from a streamer increasingly unwilling to commit beyond a first, is all much more tedious. Watch it for Knightley and Whishaws star power on which basis it was almost certainly ordered by Netflix and bask in all the fun they look like theyre having. After all, its Christmas!All episodes of Black Doves are streaming now on Netflix.

Warning: contains spoilers for Shetland series nine episode five.Heres a question: If you wanted to watch a London-set spy thriller, would you tune in toShetland? Unlikely. Youd watchSlow Horsesand congratulate yourself on a choice well made.Shetlandisnt for grimy city shootings, washed-up MI5 agents, and bungled field ops; its for felted moors, dramatic clifftops, rolled Rs, and rolling waves the dark matt hue of blueberry skin. Its for knitwear, and cagoules, and for shortbread at the station where Sandys just made a breakthrough on the CCTV.None of that though, stopped episode five from devoting lengthy scenes to flashbacks set in the unpicturesque English capital.Series nine swerved out of its lane and its postcode to tell the sad story of Euan Rossi, former spy and addict. We were shown Annie Bett being recruited to the service, then plotting and attending an op at a coked-up Rossis insistence, getting shot when Rossi screwed up the plan, and finally, calmly taking her leave after Rossi framed her for the cock-up. Annie needed to get out of London because she missed the Shetland sky, she said. Im right there with her.Ian Harts Rossi cut a sorry figure both in the flashbacks and now, needled by his guilt at putting Annie in danger and having unfairly put the blame on her. Now we know whats behind his unusual interest in little Noah Bett. Hes so ashamed of how he treated Annie that he sees solving her murder as a kind of reparation. Noahs still the only witness to the shootings, and is the key to unlocking what happened that night.Hes an unreliable witness, that poor wee bed-wetting mite. First, Noah says he slept through the whole thing, and now hes plagued by nightmares about being eaten by a lizard up at the scene of the murder. And what should we make of his explosive outburst at Ian? The out-of-control emotions of a grieving child, or a more sinister indication that all is not well in the mind of Noah Bett?Read more If Noah did pull the trigger, then were a little closer to seeing where may have got his little hands on the gun. Lisa Friel and Kyle Frost arrived on Shetland nine months ago, on the run after committing a (thankfully victimless) drive-by shooting in Manchester. They brought the weapon with them, and perhaps that was what Annie and Lisa argued about at the homeless shelter on the afternoon of the murders. If Annie took the gun from Lisa and was planning to hand it in to Tosh the next day, it would have been in her car when she and Noah drove away from that ceilidh on Friday night.Just three days have passed since then in the world of the investigation, but doesnt it feel like three months? So much has happened: Ians arrest and attack. The lab. Angus. The whole sad business with the Harris family. Astrid running away. Toshs estrangement from and reunion with Donnie, finding out that Rossi is a wrongun (Speaking of that, do you think Thames Houses Rob Harding got his flights from London to Shetland on expenses? Because they may need to restate their That could definitely have been a Zoom call policy.)And now, the latest twist involving Karin Jakobson, another spy, it turns out. Annie and Rossis flashbacks were key to grasping the enormous coincidence on which this episode pivoted: the rogue Swedish intelligence agent whod shot Annie in London years before was now living in Annies remote Shetland home town. What are the chances? Because Karin had an IP address-based alibi for the night of the murders though, unmasking Karin Jakobson as Brutus didnt lead to finding Annie and Antons killer.Realising that all this action has been squeezed into such a short space of time makes it easier to forgive Ruth her bad cop attitude in the interrogation room. I get punchy after having a dentist and a hair appointment in the same week, so she and Tosh must be running on fumes by now. Still, itll soon be wrapped up and then with any luck, the show will leave the genre-hopping behind and get back to normal for the already-commissioned series 10.Shetland series nine concludes next Wednesday December 11 on BBC One and iPlayer.

Four weeks of winter to celebrate the season with your favorite holiday features. Then, four weeks of stunts follow with Horizon Extreme.Greet the season with a double whammy! Thats right, we have two content updates coming up: one before and one after the holiday season. Starting December 5 and sledding until January 2, your favorite Horizon Festival holiday specials return, but this time dj scratch its remix of two in Horizon Holiday Mix-up. Gear up and start earning points to unlock four new cars available as your Festival Playlist rewards including the luxury cars, wagons, and more! Two different winter-themed Stadiums will take over during every other week of the Holiday Mix-up. Tis the season of racing! From January 2 until January 30, flips, turns, and twists take over the Horizon Festival in Extreme Horizon, with the return of a special Stadium from Horizon PR Stunt Party and a new reward car to unlock. For our communitys creators, Extreme Horizon will also bring 4 new EventLab Stubs to build on! Get cozy (and greasy) with the new content updates coming to Forza Horizon 5 for this holiday season! Release Notes & Game FixesThe following list details some of the fixes and changes we are implementing with this new update: Fixed the issue causing backfire to appear on the side of the 1970 GMC Jimmy instead of its back Fixed the 2022 Cadillac CT5V Blackwings roll cage obstructing driver and rear window view The logo on the 2021 Lamborghini Sian Roadsters rear wing will no longer appear to be floating The 2022 Gordon Murray T.50 will now appear under the European Hypercar category Fixed an issue with the Unbeatable Street Racing Accolade which didnt match its menu description Fixed an issue with the On The Naughty List Accolade which sometimes wasnt unlocking after photographing the 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS now shows the accurate badge on the wheels, and the silhouette displayed on the infotainment screen has been fixedYou can find a list of issues we are currently investigating here. The Troubleshooting Hub is always open for you to leave any reports you have. Horizon Holidays Mix-up (December 5 January 2)Festival PlaylistA nice quilt and hot cocoa inside a new reward car... is there any better plan for the holidays? A nice quilt and hot cocoa inside a new reward car...is there any better plan for the holidays? To get you started on your winter adventures, we present four reward cars (three new to Horizon) during the four entirely wintry weeks of Horizon Holidays Mix-up, all with four doors and room for a ton of presents. 2024 Nissan Z NISMOComplete the Nissan Eazy Seasonal Championship during Week 1 Winter of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 5 until December 12.For this season of giving, Nissan gave the Z a racing makeover and a nice little badge that reads NISMO. This not only means the car looks slicker, but it also performs better on the track. To start, the Z NISMO found a new twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 420 reindeerpower, wrapped under the tree with its name on it. Next to it was a handling package that includes Akebono performance brakes and a track-focused suspension. Instead of an itchy festive sweater, Nissans racing division gave the car a new aerodynamic look that evokes the brands past and improves downforce with side spoilers, air splitters, and a rear wing. Unlock and customize this car with the included Liberty Walk Rear Wing and Widebody Kit! 2021 Bentley Flying SpurEarn 20 PTS during Week 1 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 5 until December 12.Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, and leather is covering your new favorite four-door AWD supercar, the 2021 Bentley Flying Spur. This distinguished gentleman comes with a mighty W-12, twin-turbocharged engine that provides it with 616 reindeerpower. That alone allows the car to reach 100 kph in just over 4.5 seconds. As luxurious as it is powerful, the Flying Spurs interior is covered in high-quality leather and natural wood and metal finishes. If this cars raw power isnt amusing enough, you can also get it with a wi-fi package and, if the track did a number on your back, massaging seats are also available. 2006 Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG WagonEarn 20 PTS during Week 2 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 12 until December 19. With room in the back for an entire team of toy-building elves and an engine you wouldnt expect in a family wagon, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG Wagon might be the car that can do almost anything. Thinking of taking it to the track? Not a problem, the E 55 is equipped with a 5.4-liter, supercharged V8 engine built by hand that produces an astonishing 469 reindeerpower. That translates into a 0-100 kph time of just above 4 seconds and a quarter mile in just 12 seconds. Not only is this certified mom vehicle fast, but its weight distribution and rear-wheel drive allow it to handle amazingly around corners. The holiday season is better enjoyed with family and friends, so give them a surprisingly thrilling ride with the E 55 AMG Wagon. 2022 BMW M5 CSEarn 20 PTS during Week 3 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 19 until December 26.BMWs M division does it again, this time upgrading the M5 and creating the thrilling 2022 BMW M5 CS, the most powerful M production model ever created. For those wondering, CS stands for Competition Sport. This means the lightweight construction with carbon panels, strong V8 engine, and new sports suspension arent just a coincidence. In fact, the car was built with performance in mind, so much so that it can reach 100 kph in just 3 seconds. An all-wheel drive system completes the performance package, putting all the 627 reindeerpower to good use, and the gold accents and wheels make the outside of this car an unmissable sight. Customize even further with AC Schnitzer body parts (a rear bumper, a side skirt, and one of two rear wings!). Drive the fastest and latest in BMWs luxury-performance division with the M5 CS. 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sport WagonEarn 20 PTS during Week 4 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 26 until January 2.Superpowered, super luxurious, and super spacious. The 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is everything you want in a luxury muscle car with enough room in the back for decorations and presents. The Horizon Festival cant have enough built-for-the-city cars to turn into track or off-road monsters, especially when they are packed with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. The biggest highlights of this car are found inside, with bucket seats covered in leather and a huge trunk to pack everything you might need for the holiday season. Transform this family vehicle into a track shredder unlocking it on the Festival Playlist! Lights, Cameras, Outfit!The best films of history come together to celebrate one of the most wonderful times of the year. Usher in the holidays by wearing the Classic Cinema Outfit, which you can earn by completing the Snow Business Seasonal Championship during Week 4 of the Festival Playlist. The 911 Rallye Takes Over a Showcase RemixThe holiday season wouldnt be complete without a ghost or two: the Horizon Holiday Mix-up welcomes a remixed version of the On a Wing and a Prayer Showcase event: The Flying Deutsch-man. Your goal is to drive a Porsche 911 Rallye across multiple environments during different times of day. Revisit one of your first adventures at the Horizon Festival on the third week of the Festival Playlist. The Stadium Gets Festive in Two Different StylesThe Stadium wraps itself in holiday cheer with two different winter-themed transformations taking place during the four winter weeks of the Holiday Remix. On the first and third weeks of Horizon Holiday Remix, enjoy the snow and decorations of the Winter Wonderland Stadium. Enjoy the view and coziness of candy canes, Christmas trees, and snowmen in this returning Evolving World feature. You better have your ice skates ready as the Stadium freezes over to welcome the return of the Ice Rink, complete with hockey pucks, lines, and goals during the second and fourth weeks of the update. Horizon Extreme (January 2 30)After the Horizon Holiday Mix-up ends, the Stadium cleans out the ice and snow and replaces them with the returning Stunt Park. Visit Stunt Park to find ramps, half-pipes, smashable items, and more extreme additions to perform jumps and flips in the air. During the first week of the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist, explore the Stunt Park to find and smash the returning Dinosaur Pinata Collectible! A Belated Gift for EventLab CreatorsThe new year brings new ways to create events for the community to share and enjoy. Take your creativity to the limit with four new EventLab Build Stubs scattered throughout the Mexico map, available permanently starting January 2: Volcan Build Stub Montaa Build Stub Dunas Blancas Build Stub Sierra Verde Build StubGet a breath of inspiration from these new Stubs and start creating new events! Festival PlaylistFour weeks of extreme flips and stunts deserve a daredevil that can match their freak, and the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist has exactly that coming up. 1965 DeBerti Chevrolet C10 SlayerEarn 20 PTS during Week 1 Summer Season on the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist. Available from January 2 until January 9. This DeBerti build is all about extreme numbers: 900 horsepower, 6 wheels, 3 axles, 5 inches of adjustable height, and so much more packed in a car thats as badass as they come. In an effort to get as close as possible to 1,000 bhp while running on regular 93-octane gasoline, a 2020 GM LSX-B15 V8 engine provided by Chevrolet Performance was added as this monsters beating heart. A hydraulic suspension from Mittler Bros allows the driver to lift the car an additional 5 inches, or keep it as close to the ground as possible. Like a warning sign, this car sports red details all over the place to let you know the Slayer name is not a game; it is what this car came to do. Whats Next?Time to flex under the moonlight with Midnight Muscle. This new update brings new events and reward cars, along with the return of the extended night cycle. A new highly requested feature will also let you set your favorite start screen!