See how @blu1304_hs works with hair for this WIP version of Shadowheart from Baldur's Gate 3 created using Unreal Engine 5.Check it out: https://80.lv/articles/fan-3d-take-on-shadowheart-from-baldur-s-gate-3-rendered-in-unreal-engine-5/#Baldursgate3 #3D #3dart #digitalart #art #characterart #UnrealEngine5 #unrealengine

The First Berserker: Khazan is an upcoming Soulslike game based on the iconic Dungeon & Fighter universe. The game is set to release on all major platforms in the coming months. While console players wont need to worry about hardware, PC players must ensure their system meets the requirements.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Were a couple weeks into 2025, and all the excitement of 2024s Black Friday season is behind us. But that doesnt mean some of the best deals arent still surfacing. Walmart once again has the LG B3 OLED going for just $798 for a 55-inch modelthis is the lowest price yet, matching their Black Friday deal. And with an OLED panel, this model is ready to challenge the many QLED displays you might be seeing at a sub-$1000 price. LG B3 OLED 55-inch TV $798.00 at Walmart $1,199.00 Save $401.00 Get Deal Get Deal $798.00 at Walmart $1,199.00 Save $401.00 The LG B3 OLED sits as something of a budget version of the LG C3, which PC Mag gave an "outstanding" rating in their review for its color, contrast, and design. The LG B3 carries over a lot of those same qualities. The OLED panel naturally has exceptional contrast, as black pixels simply turn off to deliver contrast that LCD-based panels cant match. And the B3 gets a similarly wide color gamut for beautiful visuals. These visual talents are paired with the LG B3s support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content.The LG B3 also has much in store for gamers. The display can run at up to 120Hz with both ALLM (auto low latency mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), allowing for super-smooth, responsive, clear gaming. Thats on top of another advantage OLED panels bring: their super-fast pixel response time, which helps avoid motion blur in games.

Sometimes, the best gaming headset doesnt need to be a gaming headset at all. While many people view these devices as their own niche, theyre ultimately still headphones, just with a boom mic and some fancy branding attached. While the general quality of dedicated headsets has improved over time, they still tend to cost more compared to a good pair of wired headphones (which, yes, still exist). If you need to chat with friends, you can always buy a microphone separately and get superior sound quality there as well.That said, we understand that many people just want the convenience of a headset with a mic built right in. So after testing dozens of contenders over the past couple of years, weve rounded up a few commendable gaming headsets and headphones that work well for gaming. As youll see, the two arent quite the same thing. Whichever way you go, though, all of our picks should make your game time more enjoyable, no matter which platform you use, and whether you play competitively or just for fun. What to look for in good gaming headphones The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Evaluating headphones is a particularly subjective exercise, so calling one pair the absolute best is something of a fools errand. At a certain point, whether you're an audiophile or not, everything becomes a matter of taste. For most, a headphone with a wide soundscape and strong imaging performance i.e., the ability to position sounds correctly, so you can more precisely tell where footsteps and other game effects are coming from will provide the most immersive gaming experience, the kind that makes you feel like your head is within a given scene. For that, you want a high-quality pair of open-back headphones. That is to say, an over-ear pair whose ear cups do not completely seal off the ear from air and outside noise. These are inherently terrible at isolating you from external sound and preventing others from hearing what youre playing, so if you often play games in a noisy environment, their benefits will be blunted. But in a quiet room, the best open-back pairs sound significantly wider and more precise than more common closed-back models. More up for debate is how a good gaming headphone should sound. If you want something thatll help you in competitive multiplayer games, you may prefer a headphone with a flatter sound signature, which'll keep a games mix from being overly boosted in one direction and is less likely to mask the smaller details of whats happening around you. A slightly brighter sound, one that pushes the upper frequencies a tad, may also work. Open-back headphones almost never have huge sub-bass, so you rarely have to worry about low-end sounds muddying up the rest of the signature. In this light, the fact that an overwhelming amount of gaming headsets are closed-back and bass-heavy seems counterintuitive. Lots of people love bass, though. And if you don't really care about competitive play, some extra low-end can add a touch of excitement to action scenes or rousing soundtracks. You still dont want a pair that boosts the low-end too hard as many gaming headsets do but the point is that what makes a pair immersive to one person may sound dull to another. Other gaming headsets we tested The PlayStation Pulse Elite. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Note: This is a selection of noteworthy gaming headsets and headphones weve put through their paces, not a comprehensive list of everything weve ever tried. PlayStation Pulse Elite (and Pulse Explore) The PlayStation Pulse Elite is a reasonable alternative to the Turtle Beach Atlas Air for PS5 owners, as it allows you to change volume, swap between different EQ presets, adjust the game-to-chat mix and mute the mic right from the consoles native UI. Its similar to the way AirPods integrate with iPhones. This pair also lets you connect to a second device over Bluetooth at the same time, and the planar magnetic drivers a rarity for $150 headphones do a decent job of reproducing smaller details. The sound profile as a whole is narrower and more uneven in the bass and treble than the Atlas Air, however, while the all-plastic design is comfortable but flimsy-feeling. It also doesnt do much to block outside noise, despite being closed-back, and the control buttons are awkward to reach. We also tested the in-ear version of these headphones, the PlayStation Pulse Explore, but found it too uncomfortable to wear over extended sessions. That one is limited to roughly five hours of battery life, too. Astro A50 (Gen 5) The Astro A50 (Gen 5) is effectively the same headset as the A50X, just without any HDMI ports on its base station. It costs $80 less, so its a worthy alternative to the Audeze Maxwell if you mainly play on one platform and want a superior microphone. But the ability to automatically switch between consoles is the thing that makes the A50X worth buying in the first place, so that convenience is still worth paying for if you game on multiple devices. The Corsair Virtuoso Pro. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Corsair Virtuoso Pro The $200 Corsair Virtuoso Pro is another one of the few dedicated gaming headsets with an open-back design. It has a relatively dark sound with mostly underemphasized treble and elevated upper-bass, though the highs are clearer here than they are on the Astro A40, and it still delivers a wider soundstage than most gaming headsets. We preferred this signature over Astros pair with some games, though in others it felt less balanced. The Virtuoso Pros mic is decidedly less muffled than the A40s but still sounds fairly thin, so its merely decent compared to the wider headset market. Its headband adjustment mechanism feels cheap, too, and you cant detach the mic without swapping cables out entirely. Its round, breathable ear cups and manageable weight do make it easy to wear, though, and it comes with a sturdy travel case for protection. Ultimately, its a decent buy, but its hard to justify over the more featured and easier-sounding Atlas Air. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless can last well over 300 hours at moderate volumes, which is remarkable and by far the best of any wireless model weve tested. Its light and not too snug on the head, and its powerful bass lends a real sense of excitement to in-game action. But it blunts more detail than the Atlas Air, Maxwell and A50 X, and its mic isnt as good. Several users have also reported latency issues when using the headset with HyperXs Ngenuity software, and theres no Xbox, Bluetooth or wired audio support. Still, if battery life is paramount, you may be able to look past all of that. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed If the Audeze Maxwell is out of stock, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is another quality wireless headset worth considering. It sounds better than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, with satisfying but more controlled bass and more accurate mids, and its lighter on the head than the Maxwell. Logitech rates its battery life at 50 hours, but we found it to last much longer at moderate volumes. However, similar to the Astro A50 X, a dip in the treble makes it sound darker and more veiled than the Maxwell, and it doesnt have any HDMI-switching tricks to fall back on. Its mic also sounds less natural than those of the Maxwell, A50 X and Cloud Alpha Wireless. Plus, while it can connect over a USB dongle, Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable, it cant pair to two devices at once like Audezes and Astros pairs. Our biggest issue is the price: Value-wise, its in something of a no mans land at its MSRP of $250. Its a fine choice if it dips below $200, though. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro The wireless Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is tremendously comfortable and has a good mic, but its boomy sound is less refined and detailed than the Audeze Maxwell. As a closed-back headset, it also lacks the width of the Atlas Air. Theres no support for wired audio either. Logitech G535 Lightspeed The Logitech G535 is an impressively light (0.52 pounds) and comfy wireless headset thats often available for $100 or less. It has a relatively neutral sound signature: not flat, but not beholden to big, thumping bass. It can make details in the mids sound thin, and if anything it could use a little more sub-bass, but its an agreeable listen overall. However, its mic isn't especially full, and its 35-or-so-hour battery life is a significant drop from our top recommendations. It doesnt work with Xboxs wireless protocol or Bluetooth either, and it forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level. But if you dont want to spend a ton on a wireless headset, its a fine value. The Logitech G535 Lightspeed. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Xbox owners who want a more affordable wireless headset than the Audeze Maxwell could do worse than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X. Its another bass-forward pair, and its mic is comparable to that of the Cloud Alpha Wireless. It offers multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth and a 3.5mm cable. While it's marketed for Xbox, it can also connect to PCs and PS5s. Its 30-ish-hour battery life is well short of the Maxwell and Cloud Alpha Wireless, however, and its uneven treble can cause things like in-game dialogue to sound masked in certain titles. HyperX Cloud Alpha The wired HyperX Cloud Alpha often goes for $80 or less, and at that price its a decent middle ground between the Cloud Stinger 2 and Astro A40 if you really want a closed-back gaming headset. Its old, but its plush earpads and headband are comfy, and its detachable mic, while not superb, is still better than the one on the A40. Its treble is underemphasized, however, and again it sounds more in your head than Astro's pair. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is comfortable and has a noticeably clearer mic than the Astro A40. It also comes with a useful DAC that makes it easy to adjust the headsets EQ and game-to-chat mix on the fly. However, its closed-back design cant provide the same enveloping sense of width, and its default sound can sound piercing in the treble. Like the Virtuoso Pro, its also a bit too pricey, typically hovering in the $200 to $220 range. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is largely similar to its wired counterpart but adds a passable level of active noise cancellation. Being able to hot-swap battery packs and connect to multiple devices at once is also nice. Its not as convenient for multi-console play as the Astro A50 X, though, and it usually costs more than the Audeze Maxwell, which sounds better, has a superior mic and lasts longer on a charge. The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 (left) and HyperX Cloud III Wireless (right). Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Beyerdynamic MMX 200 The wireless Beyerdynamic MMX 200 locates in-game effects accurately, feels sturdy and has a great boom mic, but it sounds less articulate than the Audeze Maxwell, with heavily exaggerated bass and recessed lower-mids. There's no game-to-chat mix or custom EQ tools, which is tough for a $250 headset, and its 35-hour battery life is unremarkable. We also found its sweat-inducing ear cushions and headband to clamp down too tight for comfort. However, the built-in transparency mode is nice and the tight fit does a good job of isolating outside noise. Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Theres nothing particularly bad about the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: It uses the same drivers as the DT 900 Pro X, its velour earpads are comfy and its mic works well. Its just hard to recommend spending $300 on a wired-only headset when the Audeze Maxwell offers wireless functionality and similarly excellent sound with slightly less spiky treble and more even bass for the same price. The MMX 300 Pros mic isnt detachable either, and the closed-back design keeps it from sounding as wide as the DT 900 Pro X. HyperX Cloud III Wireless The HyperX Cloud III Wireless is comfy and can last up to 120 hours per charge but sounds less dynamic than the older Cloud Alpha Wireless, with weaker bass response. Like that pair, it also lacks a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth audio support and Xbox compatibility. The Cloud Alpha Wireless still gets nearly three times the battery life, too, so it remains a better buy if you want a wireless headset for PC or PS5 in the $150 range. Sennheiser HD 490 Pro The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro are studio-focused open-back headphones that also work well for gaming. They come with two sets of ear pads, one that slightly elevates the bass and another that bumps the midrange, though they deliver impressive width and detail either way without pushing too hard in one direction. Theyre a pleasure to wear over long stretches, both lighter than the DT 900 Pro X and less stiff than the HD 560S. That said, they cost $400 and their sound profile is more of a nice alternative to our top picks than something clearly more natural or resolving. Most people dont need to pay the premium. Recent updates January 2025: Weve looked over this guide to ensure our picks are still accurate and added notes on a few more headsets weve recently tested, including the PlayStation Pulse Elite, Astro A50 (Gen 5) and Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro. November 2024: We've updated this guide with a new recommendation for the best dedicated gaming headset, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, and reorganized our picks accordingly. We've also added notes on other gaming-friendly headphones we've tested, including the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, and removed a couple of write-ups on headsets that are no longer available.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-gaming-headset-130006477.html?src=rss

Marvel snap is still unavailable in the US following TikTok ban.

When a red flag warning was issued in Los Angeles on January 7, a team at Amazon started reaching out to local nonprofits and fire agencies. In a warehouse outside the cityaround 60 miles east, in San Bernadino Countythe company had opened a wildfire disaster relief hub just months earlier, stocked with free firefighting equipment, from axes to boots to trauma kits.The hub, which sits inside part of a regular Amazon fulfillment center, is one of 14 disaster hubs that the company now runs around the world, donating all of the supplies and logistics support. The work started in 2017, after conversations with nonprofits about the challenges of logistics in a crisis. The more we spoke with first responders and nonprofits, we realized that its really, really hard to procure the right items at the speed that theyre needed, says Bettina Stix, director of disaster relief and food security for Amazon Community Impact. [Photo: Amazon]In some cases, roads are damaged or a disaster site is otherwise hard to reach. Its also typically difficult to find supplies in huge quantities. In L.A., for example, more than 7,500 firefighters and other first responders have been working on the ground.Amazon talks to nonprofits and government agencies well in advance of disasters to begin preparing pallets so theyre ready for delivery when theyre needed. Because each disaster is different, relief organizations argued at first that this type of pre-positioning wasnt possible. But as Amazon has worked with organizations over multiple disasters, it analyzes the data about what they use. Were able to say, in the last five disasters youve asked for these 10 items, she says.The supplies in each location vary based on which disasters are most likely. A disaster hub in Atlanta is stocked with supplies for hurricanes, for example, from temporary shelters to kits for cleaning up after flooding. The new hub in California opened last August as the first in the U.S. to focus on wildfires, built in recognition of the fact that climate change is making fires more likely and more extreme.[Photo: Amazon]For some organizations, the hubs help supplement existing warehouses. The Red Cross also has multiple warehouses across the U.S. stocked with supplies, but once there is a major disaster, these items really quickly get used, says Stix. And they dont have time to stock up for a second disaster. So what often happens with the Red Cross is theyre starting to come to us with requests for those second disasters.Other organizations dont have a stockpile of supplies themselves, and would have had to find the products and then separately deal with the challenge of finding a broker to supply trucks and make the delivery. Instead, we offer everything basically all in one, says Stix. We deliver a unique service for logistics.All of the items are requested by relief organizations, avoiding one common problem in disasters: donations often dont match what nonprofits actually need, leaving staff and volunteers to sort through disaster pollution. (In one memorable case after a hurricane in Honduras, there was so much unwanted clothing blocking a runway that a plane with necessary aid couldnt land.) Amazon aims to deliver the goods within 72 hours, though it can happen faster. In L.A., firefighters had some leftover supplies that Amazon had delivered for a previous fire in Malibu in December, so they didnt immediately need more. When they did put in a request, the pallets arrived around 24 hours later.[Photo: Amazon]At the hubs, Amazon warehouse staff handle the orders similar to how they handle regular Amazon ordersjust on pallets, instead of the usual consumer packagingand the deliveries go out on Amazons normal fleet of delivery vehicles. The company also separately makes donations from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods; in L.A., for example, it has delivered ready-to-eat meals, toiletries, pet food, charging stations, and other essentials to community centers, along with ingredients for a restaurant to cook 1,000 free meals. In total, so far, it has donated more than 300,000 items to at least two dozen local organizations. The company also donates technical support, such as extra cloud storage for Watch Duty, a free app that Los Angeles residents have been relying on for real-time updates on the fires.

A wall of timber louvres references traditional wooden beach shacks at this house in Byron Bay, Australia, completed by local architecture practice Son Studio.Named Bangalow Road House after the road that connects the town of Bangalow to Byron Bay and the coast, the three-bedroom family home occupies a compact corner plot.Son Studio's design aims to allude to the area's traditional beach houses while responding to the site's challenges, including its size constraints and the need to balance a desire for views with privacy.Son Studio has completed Bangalow Road House in Byron Bay"The client was aware of the significant challenges posed by the narrow 360-square-metre corner block, including its two street frontages, adjoining laneway and stringent height and side boundary constraints," Son Studio director Scott Jackson told Dezeen."They were interested in exploring how to challenge conventional building forms and notions of how a home should look and operate to achieve their programmatic goals on this compact site," Jackson added."By wrapping the house in a locally sourced timber and incorporating modern detailing, we created a structure that blends the raw tactile qualities of traditional beach houses with a modern interpretation."Bangalow Road House is formed of three volumesTo ensure a low profile, Bangalow Road House comprises three volumes, two of which sit at ground level. These contain a garage and the home's living areas, above which the first-floor bedroom block is perched on diagonal wooden supports.On the ground floor, privacy is achieved with a series of trees planted around the site's perimeter and a variety of timber screens, while the elevated bedroom volume is shielded to the north by a projecting screen of timber louvres.The timber louvres reference traditional wooden beach shacksThis separation of volumes and the screening between them creates what Son Studio calls a "fluid spatial experience" through Bangalow Road House."The project not only provides privacy by shielding residents from street view but also creates a fluid spatial experience that emphasises the progression of time through the ever-shifting light that filters throughout the home," Jackson said.Read: Anthony Gill Architects screens Australian house with fibreglass and plants"Moreover, the careful curation of vistas via these screens transforms the act of observation into a poetic encounter with the surrounding environment," he added.In the living spaces, the language of beach cabins is referenced through exposed wooden beam ceilings and a central fireplace, while the bedroom spaces above adopt a more minimal feel with plastered walls and ceilings.The interior is intended to evoke beach shacksFull-height windows and doors on the ground floor overlook a concrete patio and swimming pool that surrounds Bangalow Road House, sheltered beneath the wooden volume of the bedrooms above."Timber was selected as the primary material as it references the weathered, sun-bleached boards of traditional coastal beach shacks, a direct nod to the architectural vernacular of coastal living," explained Jackson."Beyond its aesthetic resonance, timber's adaptability enabled the design of screening elements that form a threshold between the street and the home, allowing the building to optimise its extended northern aspect while simultaneously crafting intimate and protected internal spaces."A concrete patio and swimming pool are sheltered by the upper volumeElsewhere in Byron Bay, interiors studio YSG recently updated a seaside home with "eccentric" and retro finishes and fittings that are intended to evoke the 1970s.Other Australian homes recently featured on Dezeen include Clifton House by Anthony Gill Architects, which is screened with fibreglass and plants, and an all-grey dwelling by Adam Kane Architects.The photography is by Rory Gardiner.The post Son Studio draws on "sun-bleached" shacks for Bangalow Road House appeared first on Dezeen.

Inspiration often emerges from unexpected sources. A walk in a forest can have you stumbling on fungi that become the inspiration for a new kind of sustainable material. Watching a crowded concert could give you an idea for the next big social media app. Those aha! moments often lead to interesting designs, even for the most mundane household items.One such innovative fusion is the Grip Hanger, a clothes rack that draws its design from the unique forms found on sport climbing walls. These walls mimic the natural rock formations climbers encounter, yet they are crafted with intentional shapes to enhance grip practice and skill development. Its almost a very loose and random association between two uses of the word hang, and yet it yields quite a stunning implementation that can add a bit of joy to your everyday life.Designer: Junho KangUnlike the randomness of natural rocks, the holds on climbing walls are meticulously designed to challenge and train climbers. The Grip Hanger cleverly incorporates this concept, with its Hold component mirroring the playful shapes of climbing holds. Their seemingly deformed shapes hide a deeper meaning to them, something you might not realize unless you take a closer look.This whimsical design gives the hanger itself a distinctive personality, Its hook mimics the way climbers hands grasp these holds, with thin metal fingers trying to grip those stone-like holds. This subtle design adds a touch of sport climbing flair to any room, or at least makes you pause and wonder why a hanger would look that way.Constructed from bent sheet metal, the clothes rack itself mirrors the angular, rugged aesthetic of artificial climbing walls. Its raw, brutalist design speaks to the architectural style often seen in urban landscapes, making it a bold statement piece. This edgy design goes beyond mere looks and provides sturdy support and a unique visual appeal that catches the eye.The Grip Hanger stands out with its modular functionality, featuring perforations that allow for the attachment of detachable shelves. This adaptability makes it not only a stylish addition but also a practical solution for organizing clothes and accessories. The design invites users to think creatively, transforming a simple clothes rack into an engaging, interactive piece of home decor.This innovative design challenges the conventional view of everyday objects, infusing them with creativity and fun. The Grip Hanger encourages us to look beyond traditional designs and embrace the unexpected, turning a mundane item into something extraordinary. Its playful yet functional approach serves as a reminder that inspiration can be found anywhere, even in the most unexpected places.It also demonstrates how anything can be a source of inspiration and ideas, even the ones you least expect. Its blend of sport climbing elements and practical functionality makes it a standout piece, adding character and charm to any space. The Grip Hanger is a testament to the endless possibilities that arise when creativity meets everyday utility.The post Sport Climbing Meets Design: The Playful Hanger for Active Homes first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Hellboy creator's new comic book, Bowling With Corpses, is steeped in myth and folklore.

The Chinese social media app, popular in the United States a week after being flooded by TikTok users, has added language translation features.