Retro gaming is experiencing a revival thanks in large part to people born after the Game Boy era.According to a new survey from Pringles, a popular gaming snack, 66% of Britons have bought retro tech of some kind in the past two years, with 24% of Gen Z now owning a retro games console. Popular retro consoles include Game Boy, first released in 1989 and discontinued in 2003; Super Nintendo Entertainment System, released in 1990 and also discontinued in 2003; and the Xbox original, first released in Europe in 2002 and discontinued in 2009.For 89% of gamers, retro games offer a welcome break from the internet, with 74% agreeing that nostalgic games are more relaxing. Of those surveyed, 77% had hung on to their retro tech for sentimental value. The rest, however, more recently purchased retro games that might have already been discontinued by the time they were born or certainly of gaming age. The youngest in Gen Z wouldve been born in 2012, the same year the Wii U was released; while the oldest of their generation were born in 1997, the same year the Nintendo 64 (N64) and Sony PlayStation were released.Earlier this month, Pringles was in the U.K. promoting a Retro Console Clinic in London, which offered free repairs for retro handheld and home consoles. The pop-up encouraged people to dig out all their retro consoles and bring them down, the Verge U.K. reported, plus gamers were invited to stop by to play classic games for free. I think younger generations have got a lot more stress now; growing up in the social media world is mentally very challenging, Luke Malpass, one of the events engineers, told the Guardian. [Retro video gaming] is their safe place. Its like their escape.Low-tech holds nostalgic appeal and may even offer a solid antidote to our increasingly fast-paced tech-driven society. For 78% of those polled, one reason they enjoy using retro gadgets is because it means theyre not using their smartphone. According to a September 2024 survey conducted by the Harris Poll, 21% of Gen Z adults say they wish smartphones had never been invented.The nostalgia trend shows no sign of slowing down with #nostalgia amassing more than 12.6 million posts on TikTok, many featuring gadgets and games from the 1990s and 2000s. Perhaps its time to dig around for my pink Nintendo DS and see how my Nintendogs are doing.

RepublicanSen. Mitch McConnellannounced on Thursday that he wont seek reelection next year, ending a decadeslong tenure as a power broker who championed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of President Donald Trump.McConnell, thelongest-serving Senate party leaderin U.S. history, chose his 83rd birthday to share his decision not to run for another term in Kentucky and to retire when his current term ends. He informed The Associated Press of his decision before he addressed colleagues in a speech on the Senate floor.Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate, McConnell said, as aides lined the back chamber and senators listened from seats. Every day in between Ive been humbled by the trust theyve placed in me to do their business right here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.His announcement begins the epilogue of a storied career as a master strategist, one in which he helped forgea conservative Supreme Courtand steered the Senate throughtax cuts,presidential impeachment trialsand fierce political fights. Yet with his powerful perch atop committees, and nearly two years remaining in his term, McConnell vowed to complete his work on several remaining fronts.I have some unfinished business to attend to, he said.McConnell walked gingerly to the podium, sporting a walking boot. Senators from both sides of the political aisle seemed to listen most intently as he told them that while there are any number of reasons for pessimism, the strength of the Senate is not one of them.The Senate is still equipped for work of great consequence, he told them.As he concluded, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., motioned for the audience of senators, staff and Capitol visitors be allowed to applaud, which is usually not allowed under Senate rules.Republican senators then lined up to greet McConnell, beginning with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who hugged him, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who patted him on the back. He took out a tissue and made a joke, prompting the group to laugh. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota gave him a warm handshake, and a dozen others senators soon did so as well.Sen. Lindsey Graham said McConnell reshaped the American judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court. He has a lot to be proud of, and I am sure he will work hard to the very end of his term, Graham said.McConnell, first elected in 1984, intends to serve until his term ends in January 2027. The Kentuckian has dealt witha series of medical episodesin recent years, including injuries sustained from falls and times whenhis face briefly frozewhile he was speaking.The famously taciturn McConnell revered the Senate as a young intern long before joining its back benches as a freshman lawmaker in the mid-1980s. His dramatic announcement comes almost a year after his decision to relinquishhis leadership postafter the November 2024 election.McConnells looming departure reflects the changing dynamics of the Trump-led GOP. Hes seen his power diminish on a parallel track with both his health and his relationship with Trump, who once praised him as an ally but has taken tocriticizing him in caustic terms.In Kentucky, McConnells departure will mark the loss of a powerful advocate and will set off a competitive GOP primary next year for what will now be an open Senate seat. Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, seen as a rising star in his party for winning statewide office in Republican territory, has said he has no interest in the Senate. Beshears chief political strategist, Eric Hyers, reiterated that stance Thursday, posting on X: He is not running for the Senate. Beshear is widely seen as a potential candidate for the White House in 2028.Kentucky Republicans considering the race for McConnells seat quickly weighed in with reaction. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said he would make a decision soon about his future. Former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron seemed to tip his hand, posting on X: Kentucky, its time for a new generation of leadership in the U.S. Senate. Lets do this. Another looming GOP candidate is businessman Nate Morris. One common denominator among them their professed loyalty to Trump and his agenda.McConnell, a diehard adherent to Ronald Reagans brand of traditional conservatism and muscular foreign policy, increasingly found himself out of step with a GOP shifting toward the fiery, often isolationist populism espoused by Trump.McConnell still champions providing Ukraine with weapons and other aid to fend off Russias invasion, even as Trump ratchets up criticism of the country and its leader,Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The senator made it clear Thursday that national defense remains at the forefront of his agenda.He and Trump were partners during Trumps first term, but the relationship was severed after McConnell blamed Trump for disgraceful acts inthe Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack by his supporters. A momentary thaw in 2024 whenMcConnell endorsed Trumpdidnt last.Last week,Trump referred to McConnellas a very bitter guy after McConnell, who battled polio as a child, opposed vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s confirmation as the nations top health official. McConnell referred to Trump as a despicable human being and a narcissist ina biography of the senatorby The Associated Press deputy Washington bureau chief, Michael Tackett.Before their falling out, Trump and McConnell pushed througha tax overhaullargely focused on reductions for businesses and higher-earning taxpayers. They joined forces to reshape the Supreme Court when Trump nominated three justices and McConnell guided them to Senate confirmation, tilting the high court to the right.McConnell set a precedent for hardball partisan tactics in 2016 by refusing to even give a hearing to Democratic PresidentBarack Obamas pick of Merrick Garlandto replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Putting the brakes on the Senates advise and consent role for judicial nominees, McConnell said the vacancy should be filled by the next president so voters could have their say.Trump filled the vacancyonce he took office, and McConnell later called the stonewalling of Garlands nomination his most consequential achievement.Later, when liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died weeks before the 2020 presidential election won by Democrat Joe Biden, McConnellrushed Amy Coney Barretts confirmationthrough the Senate, waving off allegations of hypocrisy.McConnell also guided the Senate and Trump through two impeachment trials that ended in acquittals.In the second impeachment, weeks after the deadly Capitol attack by a mob hoping to overturn Trumps 2020 reelection defeat, McConnell joined all but seven Republicans invoting to acquit. McConnell said he believed Trump couldnt be convicted because hed already left office, but the senator also condemned Trump as practically and morally responsible for the insurrection.McConnell over the years swung back and forth from majority to minority leader, depending on which party held power. He defended President George W. Bushs handling of the Iraq war and failed to block Obamas health care overhaul.McConnell, the longest-serving senator ever from Kentucky, ensured that the Bluegrass State received plenty of federal funding. Back home he was a key architect in his partys rise to power in a state long dominated by Democrats.He is married to Elaine Chao, and they have long been a power couple in Washington. The senator referred to her as his ultimate teammate and confidante. Chao was labor secretary for Bush and transportation secretary during Trumps first term, thoughshe resignedafter the Capitol insurrection, saying it had deeply troubled her.Bruce Schreiner and Kevin Freking, Associated Press

Apple iPhone 16e preorders begin on Feb. 21, with the new devices arriving on Feb. 28. Here's where to get the best iPhone 16e preorder deals with wireless carrier incentives and more.Get preorder deals on Apple's new iPhone 16e - Image credit: AppleApple's 2025 iPhone 16e goes up for preorder on Friday, Feb. 21, and if you want the new device right away we've rounded up the best preorder deals. Be sure to check back here and bookmark our iPhone deals roundup as new offers continue to launch once preorders goes live. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The new iPhone 16e moves Visual Intelligence to the Action Button, making that immediately more useful and also giving faint hope that the button will be improved further.The Action Button as introduced on the iPhone 15 ProApple's Action Button was first introduced on the original Apple Watch Ultra, where users could decide what it would actually do when pressed. It's a function button, really, and it worked the same when it then came to the iPhone 15 Pro.Now it's come to the iPhone 16e, and it's a little different. You still have to press and hold before it does anything, and the Action Button can still only do one of a series of actions that you choose. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Indiana Jones and the Great Circlesthird major post-launch update has now gone live, and as recently teased by publisher Bethesda, its a significant one for the games PC version. Support has been added in for DLSS 4, FSR 3.1 and Frame Generation, and Intel XESS 1.4. Meanwhile, players using AMD and Intel graphics cards can also finally now enable Path Tracing- which, incidentally, has also seen some improvements to interior shadows in particular.Across all platforms, the first-person action-adventure title has also introduced a new quality-of-life feature that allows you to use repair kits directly from the inventory. Meanwhile, a host of bug fixes have also been applied throughout the experience, including a couple of platform-exclusive ones (for both platforms).Meanwhile, MachineGames says it is also looking into adding support for other community requested features, such as HUD modification, and support for Nvidia RTX hair, so keep an eye out for future updates. In the meantime, check out the full patch notes for Update 3 below.Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis available on Xbox Series X/S and PC. It has surpassed 4 million players, and will release for PS5 sometime this Spring. A specific release date is currently unknown.PATCH NOTES:NEW FEATURESNVIDIA DLSS 4Update 3 brings support for NVIDIA DLSS 4: a suite of rendering technologies that boosts framerates, increases performance, and improves image quality! Players using supported NVIDIA hardware can enable Multi Frame Generation (3x, 4x) using the new transformer-based model Ray Reconstruction increases the clarity and stability of ray-traced images DLAA and DLSS Super Resolution have also been updated to the transformer-based model. These options when enabled enhance native and upscaled image quality, respectivelyRay-Traced Local LightsFor players who have Path Tracing enabled, this update includes a new option for ray-traced shadows to include all light sources, which significantly increases the quality of shadows in interior locations. (Players can also choose to keep the previous setting, which provides ray-traced shadows from the sun only.)Path Tracing (Full Ray Tracing) Suppot for AMD and Intel Graphics CardsThis update brings Path Tracing to supported Intel and AMD GPUs. To use Path Tracing, your Intel or AMD graphics card must support Hardware Ray Tracing and have at least 16GB of VRAM. Please make sure to download the latest drivers from your GPU manufacturer! Note that in foliage-dense locations, such as Sukhothai, reducing Vegetation Animation Quality below the Ultra settings can reduce the occasional shadow popping that may be seen on all graphics cards using Path Tracing.FSR 3.1, including Frame Generation Update 3 adds support for AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation technology. Intel XESS 1.4 Update 3 also adds support for Intel XESS 1.4 upscaling. Quality of Life Updates Repair kits can now also be used by selecting them directly from the inventory (Rather than only by selecting your broken weapon or tool!)BUG FIXES MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!GeneralFixed an issue where players would be unable to use ladders, squeeze through walls, or climb vines in Sukhothai; particularly during the Blessed Pearl missionFixed an issue that could prevent players from picking up certain medicine bottles in the VaticanFixed an issue that could temporarily stop you from being able to punch or block if you had picked up an item while the game was savingFixed an issue where the camera could be stuck in third person when backing out of certain third-person interactionsFixed an issue where the player and enemies might take damage while walking through an open doorway after restarting a checkpointFixed issue where notes might clip through the front of the screen when inspecting themFixed an issue where players could accidentally drop their Camera or Lighter while inspecting items for purchaseFixed an issue that could make items disappear if players tried to pick up objects while vaulting over objectsFixed an issue where inspectable items could be lost if picked up at the same moment an enemy punched youFixed an issue that could make the Restricted Area HUD marker to be offset after restarting a checkpointFixed an issue where camera shake would permanently occur when revisiting GizehFixed an issue where a bullet could be seen in the Luger chamber even when the gun is emptyFixed an issue where players could pour wine from their Camera in the Five Sacred Wounds puzzleFixed an issue where the players view could be tilted after being released from a whip pull by VossFixed an issue that caused enemy soldiers leaning on objects to spin unnaturally when alerted by the playerGraphicsFixed remaining issues where animation update rate was inconsistent in some cutscenes, causing visible shaking or stutteringFixed issue where the pouring water streams were not visible during the initial collapse of the Ziggurat in SukhothaiFixed an issue that let players see out of world in the Vatican Dig SiteMissions and QuestsFixed an issue where players could not take a photo of Uncle Sunan when revisiting Sukhothai, or after skipping a cutscene between Sunan and PailinFixed an issue that could prevent collecting the Fried Egg Field Note in Sukhothai, and the Ostracan Shard in Gizeh after restarting checkpointsFixed an issue that could prevent players from being able to turn in Radio Frequencies at the radio stations when revisiting Sukhothai (since Gina would not be present)Fixed an issue where players could not unlock the Shadows out of Time achievement if they had any Ancient Relics placed in the Puzzle Boards in Iraq. (I.e. if you did not have all 50 Relics in your inventory.) For players who have already completed the puzzle, simply revisiting Iraq will now unlock the achievementFixed an issue where collecting the last ancient relic for Riddles of the Ancients did not update the counter in the UI, giving the impression there was still another to collect. Also fixed issues where this mission had no description on your map information, and certain Ancient Relic markers did not appear on the Sukhothai and Vatican mapsFixed an issue that could prevent the players from re-collecting Khmer Cogs if they changed the puzzle difficulty after solving the Khmer Gate puzzleFixed an issue where the player could obtain the rebreather in Sukhothai before ever getting the objective to talk to Tongdang, preventing the player from getting the next mission objectiveFixed an issue where Field Notes could still be tracked even when all notes had been collectedFixed several issues where an unneeded note marker would appear under the worldFixed an issue where Adventure Books were not shown on the map after acquiring the Ziggurat Guide in IraqFixed an issue where Ability Book and guide markers appeared on the Sukhothai map before players acquired the guides from TongdangFixed an issue where certain map markers near the end of the Vatican level did not appear on the main map, but only on your local mapFixed an issue where taking photos of the monkey posters in Sukhothai did not remove their in-world markersFixed an issue where the cogwheel markers might not appear if players purchased the map information pamphlet after a certain point in SukhothaiFixed an issue where the main Sukhothai main map could be lost if you put it down after inspecting it (instead of collecting it)Fixed an issue where Gina would not leave Wat Si Sawai if you left the temple while she was talking with AranFixed an issue that could prevent the desk drawer being opened in the poker tent in GizehFixed an issue where Gina could open the cavern door in Iraq by herself, leading to the cavern being empty of all enemiesAdded additional voice lines to help the player understand that they should run away from the Nephilim in the dream sequence in Sukhothai, rather than fightFixed an issue where players could not pick up the Priest outfit from Antonio if they tried to do it too quicklyFixed an issue that prevented players from getting into the boat in the escape from the Hotel sequence in Sukhothai if they pushed the interact button too many timesFixed an issue where players could spawn inside the ground when revisiting SukhothaiFixed an issue where the last objective of a mission was still displayed on the HUD after all Adventures and Field Work were completed in a levelFixed an issue where the World of Knowledge quest could complete when arriving outside the Vatican for the first timeIn Marshall College, we increased the visibility the outlines of the cat mummy photo and gramophone record (in Indys office) from further awayAudioFixed an issue where Indy would repeat his line about, The Yeak in the water, whenever surfacing from a dive in SukhothaiFixed an issue where Indy would repeat dialogue about Vosss gold stash in Sukhothai (Well youre not bribing anyone with this, Voss), long after having completed that missionFixed an issue where Gina would repeat her lines from the ambush (That was too close) while you are in the boat. Please note this will, unfortunately, not correct the issue for players who are currently experiencing the bug, but it will prevent it from happening againImprovements to combat and stealth music transitions, to make them more seamlessAdded sound for heavyweight enemies breaking out of a clinchRaised the volume of the enemy mounted machineguns in Sukhothai hotel shootoutCorrected the sound type when walking on the boat near Forrestals camp in PeruFixed Annika Lunds effort voices in Sukhothai when she is traversing objectsUpdated Indys effort voices when slidingAdded sounds for when Indy pushes the dragon statue at the Fountain of SacramentFixed Indy repeating the same VO line when picking up recipe note in Borgia TowerFixed issues where environmental sounds disappeared or were incorrect in several locations in the Vatican and SukhothaiFixed an issue where voice reactions to getting hit from a dart in Peru would get cut off prematurelyAdded voice lines when photographing the sewer bridge and Great Tower Hall in the VaticanStopped Indy from repeating his voice lines when returning to speak to Aran, or when cancelling your interaction with the Prayer Wheel in SukhothaiThe music during the game loading sequence is now affected by the overall volume settingStabilityFixed a freeze that could occur when skipping the credits at the end of the game shortly after loading a saveFixed several crashes that could occur in very specific circumstances in the following states:While writing out a save gameWhen picking up and interacting with objectsWhen updating hints while using Indys cameraAfter updating gamepad bindings and then moving to a new locationWhen inspecting Lauras journal in Voss office in GizehIn certain UI statesPC Specific fixesFixed an issue that could cause the game to crash at startup with some graphics cardsMany fixes and improvements have been made to environment lights, to present a more natural appearance when Path Tracing is enabledFixed an issue where Nvidia Low Latency mode would cause inconsistent frame ratesFixed issue where Nvidia Frame Generation became disabled when HDR was toggled onFixed an issue that could prevent Xbox Cloud saves from being loaded on the Steam release of the gameFixed an issue where game did not render correctly if using DLSS at 34401440 resolution in Widescreen picture framingFixed an issue where players could be partially control locked when opening and closing the Game Bar overlayFixed an issue where Indys hair was missing in reflections when using Path TracingFixed some issues with light leaks in underground locations in Gizeh when Path Tracing is enabledXbox Specific fixesFixed an issue where some lamps / light sources would flicker or turn off, depending on viewing angle.LocalizationMany text corrections and updates to menu text and subtitles across all languagesVarious fixes to voiceover localization in many languagesFixed some errors on stone tablet inscriptions in Gizeh and in Marshall CollegeFixed some errors in the street and shop signage in Shanghai

After getting delayed from 2024 to early this year, Weta Workshops Tales of the Shires: A The Lord of the Rings Game has seen another delay. Originally set for March 25th, its now launching on July 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.In a statement on Twitter, the developer revealed that its taking a little longer to ensure that every Hobbit, on every platform, can enjoy the same cozy experience. It wants the title to feel like a warm hug from Middle-earth, and we are making sure that no matter where you play, youll feel right at home in The Shire. From foot-hair styles to the fluffiest cakes, every detail will be just right.Announced in September 2023, Tales of the Shire is a life sim title set in Bywater, part of Middle-earths Shire. Players can customize their own Hobbit and engage in numerous activities, from decorating their home and cooking to fishing, gardening and farming.You can also trade with several villagers and invite them to dinner parties to foster friendships. Given The Lord of the Rings license, there are also some lost treasures to discover and hidden glades to investigate. Check out more extensive gameplay here, and stay tuned for further updates in the coming months. Tales of the Shire needs a bit more simmering Now coming July 29th, 2025. Thank you for your support and patience.#TalesOfTheShire #LOTR #cozygaming pic.twitter.com/8afaLnGfFL Tales of the Shire (@talesoftheshire) February 20, 2025

The architecture practices new office will serve as a hub for its ongoing work in the country, including regeneration projects in Al Balad and AlUlaSource: Allies and MorrisonNouha Hansen, Zainab Alireza and Jo BaconAllies and Morrison has opened a new studio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, establishing a permanent presence in the citys historic Al Balad district.The studio, located within the citys UNESCO World Heritage Site,is led by Zainab Alireza, an urban designer.She previously co-directed the Sustainable Cities Lab, a forum for Saudi female architects and planners that examined the role of women in achieving resilience, wellbeing, and community development within the framework of KSA Vision 2030.Jo Bacon, Managing Partner, said: This will be a base for the region in the most historic of places which has such a commitment forrenewal and regeneration. It is exciting to behold and an honour to be working clients who are both protecting and developing AlBalad.The new Jeddah office space is intended to help the practice build closer engagement with its local clients and stakeholders.The firm states that, similar to its Bankside studio in London, the Jeddah location will feature a shopfront, which it describes as an important element in fostering connections with the surrounding area.Allies and Morrison has been active in the Middle East for 16 years. The practice was a joint recipient of the RIBA International Prize in 2021 for its role in the Msheireb Downtown Doha Masterplan, a large-scale urban regeneration project that aimed to create a new compact and walkable neighbourhood.The practice has also been working on masterplanning and regeneration schemes for another of the countrys UNESCO World Heritage Sites, at AlUla.>> Also read:Saudi architecture chief: Distilling country down to only NEOM doesnt do it justice

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Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.Today'sNYT Mini Crosswordhas a couple of TV-related clues. If you watch Severance and a certain NBC sketch comedy show, you'll get at least two answers right. Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Feb. 21, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. 1A clue: Elevator alternativeAnswer: STEPS6A clue: Evil corporation on Apple TV+'s "Severance" Answer: LUMON7A clue: Ring-shaped coral reefAnswer: ATOLL8A clue: Aura of confidenceAnswer: MOJO9A clue: ___ LankaAnswer: SRIMini down clues and answers1D clue: Severely criticizesAnswer: SLAMS2D clue: One-on-one academic coachAnswer: TUTOR3D clue: A head of our time?Answer: EMOJI4D clue: Preppy shirtAnswer: POLO5D clue: Show with a recently aired 50th anniversary specialAnswer: SNLHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

All eyes are on the Birdman.Earlier this week, professional skater Tyshawn Jones mentioned how he was in a new Tony Hawk remaster "coming out" soon.Read the full article on nintendolife.com