You probably don't want to kick your January off by thinking about tax season, but it's coming anyway. For many of us, thinking about taxes is a constant stress, but it can be a little less stressful if you've got some of the best tax software to help the process along. Thankfully, TurboTax Deluxe 2024 is on sale today with 30% off, but the deal likely won't last long. See at AmazonTurboTax Deluxe is a useful bit of software because it'll not only make sure you can save as much money as possible when filing, but help make the whole process substantially simpler as well. Not only that, but this one works on both PC and Mac, so you don't have to worry about that, and it can be used for both federal and state taxes as well. It turns a truly unpleasant experience into one that's far more palatable. Just note that this version of the TurboTax Deluxe 2024 tax software includes five federal e-files and one state via download. State e-file is sold separately, so be aware that additional fees apply for e-filing state returns. However, e-file fees may not apply in certain states.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.If you are after tax software but you're someone who's self-employed, then you'll do alright with this, but it's also worth checking out our list of the best self-employment tax software too. Why this deal mattersTurboTax is one of our favorite pieces of tax software, or at least the standard version is. The deluxe version packs in a few extra features, and given that taxes are something we all need to deal with, saving money on tax software is always good. More shopping deals from CNET CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on theCNET Deals page, and sign up for theCNET Deals Textto get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the freeCNET Shopping extensionto your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse ourgift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. See at CNET

Wandering around without cell service? HMD's new OffGrid hotspot accessory, launching at CES 2025, is designed to let smartphones send texts using satellites.Technically, the palm-sized OffGrid is a rebadged version of the similar-lookingMotorola Defy Satellite Link, which was introduced at CES 2024 and limited to only sending emergency messages. That product was developed by rugged phone maker Bullitt, which was acquired by RCD 2023 last year (made up of Bullitt's founders), which HMD partnered with to release the OffGrid. Both devices are designed for travelers who leave coverage of conventional cell networks or as a backup during disasters when those networks go down.In contrast, the OffGrid is designed to enable regular text messaging, much like the current functionality in some premium phones like the Google Pixel 9 series and Apple's Messages via Satellite feature for iPhone 16, iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 owners. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra released last year can also send images to contacts in an emergency.Read more: I Visited Google for an Inside Look at the Pixel 9's Satellite SOS ToolThe advantage of the OffGrid is that it can be used with Android and iOS phones (HMD didn't specify device compatibility), though they'll connect using OffGrid's proprietary app to message others. It's able to contact emergency services and can share the user's live location with up to five people in intervals from every 4 hours to every 3 minutes, though greater frequency will drain the battery faster.Using the OffGrid requires a subscription to one of two subscription tiers. HMD Unlimited, priced at $15 per month (or $140 for a year) after a $10 activation fee, grants unlimited texts, check-in messages and SOS services. The cheaper HMD Freedom plan is $80 a year (broken down to $6.67 per month) after a $20 activation fee, which offers 350 text and check-in messages to use through the year, while live tracking pings cost 10 cents apiece. Both plans also have the option for unlimited live-tracking for $5 per month extra.The OffGrid packs a 600-mAh battery, which HMD says will last 10 days, though usage (including live location tracking) will drain it faster -- if you're pinging your location every half hour, for instance, it should last around three to four days. It weighs 60 grams, which is slightly lighter than the 70-gram Motorola Defy Satellite Link, but the OffGrid looks extremely similar in design with a big, brightly colored SOS button on the right side and other buttons on the left, one of which lets you send prewritten check-in messages to selected contacts to let them know you're OK. The OffGrid also has a small speaker to warn you when the battery is low.HMD plans to expand the OffGrid's functionality with more features, and though the company hasn't detailed which will be added, representatives described an upcoming enterprise SDK and potential features like voice clips and imaging that could come later. The accessory doesn't support satellite calls, though it uses a third-party service to coordinate contacting emergency services, much like Apple does with Emergency SOS.HMD's OffGrid services run on the satellite networks of providers Viasat and Skylo, and service areas are limited to the US (including Alaska and Hawaii) at launch. These will be expanded to Canada, Mexico and Brazil in the first quarter of 2025, with further expansion to the rest of the Americas, Europe, Australia and New Zealand coming later.While specific phones have started to launch with satellite connectivity features, it's still early days for the technology; services enabling a broad range of phones to link to satellites still haven't debuted. Late last year, Verizon switched away from its prior partnership with Amazon's slow-going Project Kuiper to sign up with both AST SpaceMobile and satellite network company Skylo, while T-Mobile announced that it was ready to beta test connecting phones to SpaceX's Starlink network of micro-satellites just before the end of 2024. AT&T announced in 2022 that it would be working with AST SpaceMobile to bring connectivity to its customers. Watch this: Messages via Satellite in iOS 18: First Look 06:05

T-Mobile rolled out faster speed tiers for its 5G home internet service. But there's a catch. Not everyone can sign up for it. Here are the details.

January 6, 20252 min readHow to Catch Prime NumbersA prime number study charts the limits of detectionBy Max Springer edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Thomas FuchsPrime numbers have captivated mathematicians for centuries with their unpredictable and seemingly random distribution. In a groundbreaking preprint study, researchers devised a novel method that bolsters our hunt for the cagey valuesbut also reveals limits to our ability to detect them.Prime numbers are divisible only by 1 and themselves. They serve as the atoms of mathematics, capable of decomposing other numbers into factors (like 12 = 2 2 3). As numbers increase, identifying primes becomes more and more challenging. If you were asked, How many primes are there between 1 and 1,000? where would you begin?The classical Sieve of Eratosthenes offers a starting point. This ancient technique systematically eliminates multiples of each prime, allowing only the primes themselves to fall out. Mathematicians refer to the eliminated multiples as Type I information, which can help predict how many primes are in a given range. Yet this information is limited. Sometimes you have as good Type I information as you can possibly hope for, but you still cant find any primes, explains study co-author Kevin Ford, a mathematician at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Ford and University of Oxford mathematician James Maynard provide a powerful method for studying prime numbers in large ranges by precisely estimating the number of primes that must exist within them. The work combines two complementary perspectives: the Type I information of eliminated numbers (like crossing off all multiples of 2, then 3, and so on) as well as accounting for numbers that get crossed off multiple times (like how 6 appears on the lists of multiples both of 2 and of 3)called Type II information.Mathematicians can adjust how they weigh each type of information to get the most accurate possible count of primes in a given range. But in carefully tuning these two knobs, the papers authors discovered there are fundamental limits: precise mathematical boundaries where no further adjustment can improve our counts accuracy, revealing deep truths about how these numbers are distributed across the number line.The study likens the accuracy of these estimations for a set, or strength of information, to changing the size of the mesh in a sieve: too small, and youll catch every number; too big, and the primes will slip through. The work answers precisely and directly what is sufficiently good information to detect primes, says mathematician Kaisa Matomki, who studies the distribution of primes at the University of Turku in Finland. Understanding the limits when designing a sieve is crucial for developing a complete theory of prime numbers, adds Princeton University mathematician Peter Sarnak, an expert in prime sieve theory: Uncovering what one cannot achieve is fundamental.Ford hopes this method will help researchers attack long-standing open problems. Primes are distributed in a very, very, mysterious [way], so were trying to push our understanding just a little bit.

OpinionJanuary 6, 20255 min readThe Real Reason People Dont Trust in Science Has Nothing to Do with ScientistsPropaganda works, is the real upshot of a survey showing lingering post-pandemic distrust of scienceBy Dan Vergano edited by Jeanna BrynerDr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on in 2020. Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesWere all trying to find the guy who did this, said the hot-dogcostumed protagonist of a 2019 comedyIn the sketch turned popular meme, bystanders didnt buy his story. Scientists, and the rest of us,Pew Research Center survey of public confidence in science.The Pew survey found 76 percent of respondents voicing a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interests. Thats up a bit from last year, but still down from prepandemic measures, to suggest that an additional one in 10 Americans has lost confidence in scientists since 2019.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Why? Pews statement and many news stories about the findings somehow missed the obvious culprit: the four years and counting of a propaganda campaignDonald Trumps alliesblame to scientistsfirst administrations disastrous,botched handling of the COVID pandemic1.2 million Americans. Even the hot dog guy would blanch atthe transparencythe scapegoating. It was obviously undertaken to inoculate Trumpkicked off four years agoUSA TODAY screedsent to federal prisonSimilar inanitiesleading to yearsright-wing nonsensesurreal hearingsFauci. BrowbeatingCOVID vaccinesmillions of livesa combative hearingas mendacious as it was shameful. The Pew surveys results, however, show this propaganda worked on some Republican voters. The drop in public confidence in science the survey reports is almost entirely contained to that circle, plunging from 85 percent approvalmasking, schoolbusiness restrictions, and vaccines, werent necessitiesexcess death rates were 1.5 timesAmanda Montaez; Source: Pew Research CenterInstead of noting the role of this propaganda in their numbers, Pews statement about the survey pointed only to perceptions that scientists arent good communicators, held by 52 percent of respondents, and the 47 percent who said, research scientists feel superior to others in the survey.That explanation echoes the kick me sign that scientific institutions have taped to their backsides over distrust at least since 1985, when the U.K.s Royal Society warned of [h]ostility, even indifference, to science and technology, in a report, The Public Understanding of Science. Scientists must learn to communicate better with all segments of the public, it concluded.That prescription matches scientific responses to the Pew Survey results, with National Academies of Sciences chief Marcia McNutt telling the Washington Post: [T]his gives us an opportunity to reexamine what we need to do to restore trust in science. And it matches the advice in a December NASEM report on scientific misinformation: Scientists, medical professionals, and health professionals who choose to take on high profile roles as public communicators of science should understand how their communications may be misinterpreted in the absence of context or in the wrong context. This completely ignores the deliberate misinterpretation of science to advance political aims, the chief kind of science misinformation dominating the modern public sphere.It isnt a secret what is going on: Oil industryfunded lawmakers and other mouthpieces have similarly vilified climate scientists for decades to stave off paying the price for global warming. A study published in 2016 in the American Sociological Review concluded that the U.S. publics slow erosion of trust in science from 1974 to 2010 was almost entirely among conservatives. Such conservatives had adopted limited government politics, which clashes with sciences fifth branch advisory role in setting regulationsseen most clearly in the FDA resisting Trumps calls for wholesale approval of dangerous drugs to treat COVID. That flavor of politics made distrust for scientists the collateral damage of the half-century-long attack on regulation. The utter inadequacy of an unscientific, limited-government response to the 2020 pandemic only primed this resentmentfanned by hate aimed at Faucito deliver the dent in trust for science we see today.Surveys are well-suited for measuring attitudes and describing changes in views over time. They are less well-suited for parsing potential causal factors, says survey lead author Alec Tyson, when asked why Pew refrained from making this obvious connection. While beyond the scope of this particular effort, we share an interest in scholarly efforts to understand the role of partisan rhetoric and the broader information environment in shaping views.Their aversion doesnt mean we all must play make-believe about where the distrust for science springsfrom politics. Perhaps the clearest sign of the propaganda campaign is that Republican politicians have gotten high on their own supply of antiscience hokum. With Trump headed back to the White House, his profoundly unqualified pick for Department of Health and Human Services chief isRobert F. Kennedy, Jr.,contributed to 83 measles deathsJay Bhattacharya, one of three authorspushed then on the Trump White Houseto spur coronavirusinfectionspreventable deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Neither of these hot-dog-guy picks should be allowed anywhere near our vital health agencies.Its obviously this guy, right, say the cops at the end of the hot-dog-guy sketch, before setting off in his pursuit. Making that same call on recognizing where the distrust for science comes from today is just as simple.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Pokmon Go Fest 2025 will be held in Paris in June, developer Niantic has announced. Read more

The first Tokyo Xtreme Racer in 18 years lands on Steam early access this monthTraffic Jan.Image credit: Genki News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 6, 2025 There is not long to go until you can rev your engines once more with an all new Tokyo Xtreme Racer game.The upcoming release - which will mark the first series title in 18 years - will make its Steam early access debut later this month, on 23rd January. Developer Genki said it will use this early access stint to "utilise player feedback to elevate the game even further".Early access is expected to last for around four months. Then, of course, the full release will launch. This version will include the remainder of the story, along with additional cars, additional rival characters, and "new features and improvements". Genki added those who plump for the early access version will have access to the full release version upon launch, at the discounted early access price (for now, that price is "TBA", so stay tuned). Tokyo Xtreme Racer. Watch on YouTubeIn addition, the team has shared the PC specs for Tokyo Xtreme Racer, which you can check out below.Minimum Specs*64 bit processor and OS are requiredOS: Windows 10/11 64-bitCPU: Intel CoreTM i7-7700Memory: 16GB RAMGPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti (VRAM 4GB)DirectX: Version 12Storage: 12GB available spaceNotes: SSD recommended, Graphics quality "Low".Screen resolution 19201080 recommendedRecommended Specs*64 bit processor and OS are requiredOS: Windows 10/11 64-bitCPU: Intel CoreTM i7-13700Memory: 16GB RAMGPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX3060 (VRAM 8GB) or Nvidia GeForce RTX4060 (VRAM 8GB)DirectX: Version 12Storage: 12GB available spaceNotes: SSD recommended, Graphics Quality "High". GPU RTX4060 recommended for Graphic Quality "Ultra"You can check out Tokyo Xtreme Racer's Steam page here. Image credit: GenkiThe upcoming Tokyo Xtreme Racer was announced in August last year, with a short trailer. "Your rivals await to drag you back into the ultimate challenge! Thrilling races that unfold on the Tokyo Expressway, a return to the Tokyo Xtreme Racer roots," read the accompanying blurb."We're back!"

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Call of Duty is no stranger to adding a wealth of unique game modes to inject a breath of fresh air into the existing selection. The likes of Team Deathmatch and Domination all have their place but after a while, some variations on the classics are always fun to get stuck into.As part of the divisive Squid Game collaboration, the Red Light, Green Light mode from Netflixs hit TV show has made its way into Call of Duty. As players attempt to avoid detection, one fan has managed to devise a cunning trick to eliminate the opposition before they get close to the finish line.Black Ops 6 Red Light Green Light trick plays havocThe objective of Red Light, Green Light is to stand still once the menacing doll has stopped singing. To outwit fellow players, streamer Timmy2Cans sampled the song and played the song resulting in others moving when theyre not meant to.As expected, Timmys soundboard trick caused plenty of rage among players who fell for the trick. On the other hand, many admired the trick as a method of outwitting unsuspecting players focused on standing still.Utilising a soundboard to gain the upper hand is a similar trick players used when the Xbox One was released with a Kinect camera. During a match, players with open microphones tricked them into speaking a command which turned their consoles off, much to their amusement.Some fun among controversyRed Light, Green Light has been one of the more popular additions to Call of Duty in recent weeks. Alongside the limited-time mode, the paid event pass has caused widespread frustration. Fans believe the latest crossover is a cash grab, especially when there are several flaws within Black Ops 6 and Warzone.With the Squid Game collab coming to an end soon, fans will have to use their soundboards in another way to trick opponents into thinking theyre in potential danger on the virtual battlefield.For more CoD intel, check out the best Saug loadout for close-quarters action along with the best keyboard and mouse settings to keep your accuracy in check. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):ShooterRelated TopicsSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Since its launch, Marvel Rivals has taken the gaming world by storm, drawing in both gamers and Marvel fans alike with its exhilarating 6v6 hero shooter action. With an impressive lineup of Marvel characters, the game delivers intense battles in destructible and dynamic environments, providing a refreshing twist on the genre.The ongoing Season 0, Dooms Rise has hit the ground running, garnering an enthusiastic response from players who are lauding its adrenaline-fueled action, detailed character designs, and the sharp competitive edge that defines its gameplay. Recent reports reveal that the game has consistently boasted over 300k concurrent players on Steam, showcasing impressive player retention and enthusiasm.Now, the countdown to the highly anticipated Season 1 launch has fans buzzing with excitement as leaks hint at the arrival of potential new characters, along with fresh maps and skins that could shake up the gameplay experience. Weve got you covered right here with all the info in early patch notes.Marvel Rivals Season 1 name and release date countdownAccording to leaks, Marvel Rivals Season 1 is called Eternal Night and will kick off on January 10, 2025. The ongoing season Dooms Rise is all set to end and after a brief downtime, the new content update will be available for players to play.Fantastic Four is coming to Marvel Rivals. Image by MARVEL.However, trusted leaker RivalsLeaks has shared the full schedule of content release, leading all the way up to the launch of Season 1. Heres what it looks like:Jan 6th at 7 pm PST: Season 1 Trailer Jan 7th at 3 am PST: Dev Blog with game adjustments and improvementsJan 7th at 6 am PST: Mr. Fantastic PreviewJan 7th at 7:30 am PST: Mr. Fantastic Skin revealJan 7th at 7 pm PST: Invisible Woman PreviewJan 7th at 10 pm PST: Invisible Woman Skin revealJan 8th from 1 pm 3 pm PST: New Hero Reveal StreamJan 8th at 3 am PST: Content Creator early access server launchJan 8th at 7 pm PST: Map Reveal 1Jan 10th: New Season launchMarvel Rivals Season 1 early patch notesNew HeroesAccording to leaks and the official key art of Season 1, Marvels first family, Fantastic Four will arrive in the game as new heroes. Included in the roster are Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Human Torch. You can check their full leaked abilities right here.Also arriving during the season due to heavy speculation is Ultron whose move-set was also leaked in an X post. For several months Ultron has been a key topic of conversation since the characters voice lines were leaked online.Furthermore, players are also speculating another hero, the Daywalker, Blade to debut as a playable hero in the game. Other leaked heroes include Emma Frost, Jean Grey/Phoenix, Deadpool, Angela, Hit-Monkey, and Modok.Vampire New York map and game modesA Vampire-themed New York will soon be a Marvel Rivals map. Image by NetEase.A new map is also leaked to arrive and its none other than the Vampire New York that was seen in the games launch cinematic trailer. The map can also be seen in the background of the Season 1 key art, and since the name is Eternal Night, it perfectly fits with the theme. The theory is that Marvels version of Dracula or possibly Morbius will play the primary antagonist this season.The New York map will have areas like Midtown, Central Park, and Sanctum Sanctorum where players can play. Other maps were also leaked online which are called Krakoa and Arakko, both of which are still yet to be revealed.Furthermore, two new game modes namely, Escort and Hybrid are also rumored to launch.Nerfs and BuffsHela is rumored to get a nerf in Season 1. Image by NetEase.As with every new seasonal update, Season 1 is also bringing several adjustments and changes to the heroes and their abilities. Starting off with nerfs, Hela and Hawkeye are strongly rumored to be nerfed as players have been overpowered by the two duelists.On the other hand, Storm, Wolverine, and Cloak & Dagger are about to receive massive buffs to their abilities, hence it will alter the ongoing meta in the game significantly. Furthermore, Captain America and Venom will get huge movement buffs which will drastically improve their ongoing abilities.Until Season 1 comes out, check out the full 2025 Marvel Rivals roadmap to make sure youre not missing out on anything.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterRelated TopicsMarvel Rivals Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide After a bit of a torrid 2024, Destiny 2 is ready to kickstart a brand new year with new content for players to enjoy. The release date and time countdown for when Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 will start is nearly over, and there are plenty of leaks online, along with confirmed incoming buffs and nerfs for the following patch. There is a lot happening for D2 in the start to the new year as per the 2025 roadmap. Not only do we have Revenant Act 3 on the horizon, we also have Bungies annual Game2Give charity fundraiser, for which a stunning new cel-shader has leaked. Throughout the next 12-months, we should also learn more about and get to play the highly-anticipated spin-off, Destiny Rising. Hopefully it will be a much better year for Bungie and fans, and it all starts with Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3. The release date and start time countdown is nearly over, and it will last for just under a month. Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 release date The release date for Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 is January 7th. This was confirmed by Bungie in their final TWID blog post for 2024. Bungie stated that it will bring forth the conclusion of the Revenant storyline as well as a new Exotic mission, new weapons, and one last row of Artifact perks. The developer also promised more details to be shared on the DestinyTheGame X account, but nothing substantially more has been shared as of writing. Image credit: @DestinyTheGame on XWhen does Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 start? The release time for when Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 will start is 9AM PT/12PM ET/5PM GMT on January 7th. Once the finale begins, you will only have four-weeks to complete as it will end at the same hours on February 4th. While the story conclusion is the biggest thing happening in January, there is also the following to anticipate shortly after Revenant Act 3 starts and ends: Iron Banner return Jan 14th Game2Give Jan 23rd Trials of Osiris Jan 31st New dungeon Feb 7th Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 release time US 9AM PT on Tuesday, January 7th 12PM ET on Tuesday, January 7th Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 start time UK 5PM GMT on Tuesday, January 7thCountdown Below is a visual countdown to when the new act will start: Leaks While official details about Revenant Act 3 are minor right now, leaks online have shared more information. The Exotic Mission is Kells Fall, and, according to BungieLeaks, it has three different versions, each accompanied by Expert mode:DistortionDiffractionReflectionBecause of three different versions, its claimed that each one will have a unique boss:Scorned Organist (Distortion)Fikrul, the Fanatic (Diffraction)Reksis Vahn, the Hangman (Reflection)Lastly, there will be the following rewards:Red Tape Scout RifleEnriching Powder (Tonic Ingredient)Vintage Kells Fall WeaponrySlayers FangCheck out BungieLeaks post on X if you wish to see story spoilers for the Exotic Mission. As for Slayers Fang, previous leaks have showngameplay footageof the Exotic Shotgun in-action. The leaked gameplay comes courtesy of YouTuber, Kanye 4 King.D2 buffs and nerfs On January 14th, Bungie will release some balance changes for Act 3. Below are the following buffs and nerfs promised by Bungie in their final TWID of 2024: Weapon ArchetypesSidearmsHeavy Burst We preemptively nerfed Heavy Burst Sidearms before we made the Destiny 2: Into the Light sandbox changes because they had one of the most forgiving body shot Times to Kill in the game. We have not walked back those changes entirely, as that goes against the spirit of the current PvP sandbox, but we do feel that increasing the strength of some close-range Primary weapons is a worthwhile endeavor given the relative power of other close-range engagement options.Increased body shot damage from 30 to 33.Increased critical hit damage from 48 to 52.8.Submachine GunsGeneral SMGs are currently struggling in both high-end PvE and PvP, where combating more resilient enemies is making their small magazines feel overly punishing. We are bringing their magazine sizes up a small amount globally and will also be slightly increasing their damage versus Minor combatants in Heresy.Increased magazine size by approximately 10%.Auto RiflesRapid Fires Increased damage slightly to remove a resilience gate from their optimal Time to Kill.Increased body shot damage from 13.5 to 13.6.Increased critical hit damage from 23 to 23.1.Pulse RiflesHigh-Impacts We have heard your feedback that, in the hands of highly skilled players, High-Impact Pulses can feel oppressive. We are removing their last bit of baked-in forgiveness, requiring them to hit six crits to achieve their optimal Time to Kill against all resilience levels over one. At the same time, to reduce their top-end effectiveness, we are decreasing their range via the aim down sights damage (ADS) falloff scalar, which will bring them more in line with Adaptive Hand Cannons and reduce their range below all other Pulse Rifles.Reduced body shot damage from 22 to 21.5.Reduced critical hit damage from 39.6 to 38.7.Reduced ADS damage falloff scalar from 1.7 to 1.6.Lightweights Lightweight Pulses can feel too difficult to use for their Time to Kill and Time on Target requirements, so we are bringing their optimal TtK forgiveness up through all resilience levels.Increased body shot damage from 17 to 20.4.Increased critical hit damage from 31.45 to 31.6.Hand CannonsPrecisions Precision Hand Cannons have seen a small bump in usage and effectiveness with the recent buff to body shot damage, but we wanted to lean harder into the fantasy of the intrinsic perk. This change will affect Lunas Howl, Not Forgotten, and Malfeasance.The intrinsic Hand Cannon Precision Frame now reduces your ADS movement speed penalty by 10%.Scout RiflesLightweights For a brief period we buffed Lightweight Scouts to bring down their body shot Time to Kill (which is among the slowest in the game) and to make them more forgiving in terms of their optimal Time to Kill, but these changes were quickly undone when we moved to the Into the Light Crucible sandbox. We have re-implemented these changes, tuned for the new health values in PvP.Increased body shot damage from 32 to 38.Increased critical hit damage from 64 to 64.6.Sniper RiflesGeneral We are continuing with our work to reduce the visual flinch experienced by Sniper Rifles in Crucible to a more reasonable level. The intent is to maintain the difficulty of shooting through flinch to allow for counterplay, without it feeling too jarring to be damaged while scoped in.Reduced the camera roll component of flinch against players by 20%.Whisper of the Worm We have further reduced the flinch experienced by Whisper of the Worm to compensate for it being a Heavy weapon.Reduced the camera roll component of flinch against players by 50%.Weapon PerksSkulking Wolf(Iron Banner Origin) We felt like the Iron Banner origin perk could use an effect to make it worthwhile in PvE, and we think this addition is in line with the fantasy of the perk itself. The perk description string will be updated in a future release to reflect the new functionality.Now activates in PvE, and makes enemies slightly less accurate in targeting you when active (this is like the effect Manticore has when airborne).Target Lock With the increased magazine sizes on SMGs, keeping this perk in its nerfed state rendered it effectively useless. We will keep an eye on how this perk changes the strength of SMGs in Crucible, and we are interested to see how it performs alongside the multitude of other very strong CQB options that currently exist.Removed the custom tuning to make the perk less effective on SMGs.Exotic WeaponsGraviton Lance Graviton Lance is arguably the strongest Primary weapon in the game when viewed across both the PvE and PvP sandboxes. While it is not proving to be too problematic in high-skill Crucible lobbies, it is dominating lower- and middle-skill lobbies to an unhealthy degree, as well as seeing extremely high uptime and potency in all levels of PvE content. As such, it needs to be brought more in line for both sandboxes. One option we considered was bringing down the stats to be closer to other Heavy Burst Pulse Rifles, but that felt like too much of departure from the spirit of the weapon. Instead, we settled on reverting the RPM back to its previous value of 300. In PvE, the RPM reduction will effectively be a small DPS nerf, while in Crucible it will move the weapon back to how it was performing pre-Episode 2.Reverted its RPM to 300.Malfeasance This gun feels noticeably different to shoot compared to other 180 Hand Cannons because it was missing some of the intrinsic benefits provided by the Precision perk.Added the remaining intrinsic effects from the Precision Hand Cannon perk, including accuracy bonuses and the new ADS movement speed penalty reduction (the airborne effectiveness was already baked into the stats).Exotic ArmorStoicismSpirit of Alpha Lupi The healing impulse was tuned around barricade, which has significantly less uptime than Thruster. Now that Alpha Lupi can work on Thruster, we needed to branch the effects strength accordingly.Reduced heal impulse when using Thruster to 30 HP that can roll over into shields.For more Destiny 2, check out our guide to thebest Legendary weaponsalong with thebest weapons for PvP.Destiny 2Platform(s):Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Web, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, First Person, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter8VideoGamerRelated TopicsDestiny 2 Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share