I don’t envy the folks at Arrowhead charged with balancing Helldivers 2 guns fans have grown attached to. Arrowhead has rolled out a handful of sweeping balance patches in the game’s first few months, all of which I believe made the game better by both buffing guns with untapped potential and, less often, nerfing a weapon that’s dominant to the point of being boring.
But there’s an argument to be made that balancing shouldn’t be taken so seriously in a purely PvE shooter like Helldivers 2, and that it’s ok if one gun is dealing more damage than the rest. Replying to a player on Twitter who said recent patches have made the game “unplayable,” Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt conceded that he’s not satisfied with his studio’s current balancing approach.
“Hey, yeah I think we’ve g…
Read moreIf there’s one thing Baldur’s Gate 3 players know, it’s that Sacred Flame, Shadowheart’s starting offensive cantrip, almost never actually lands. Players have been trying to figure out the arcane maths behind this most accursed of spells which, by all accounts, should probably hit some of the time—but it remains a mystery.
This morning, however, I stumbled upon a thread on the game’s subreddit that appears to have found the culprit, decrying Sacred Flame’s lack of accuracy as a mirage. The conclusions drawn don’t appear to be exactly right, but in investigating this myself, I’ve confirmed that Baldur’s Gate 3’s spell tooltips are indeed bugged—and may have even been this way for months.
But first, if you’re unfamiliar with tabletop systems, you’…
Read moreAfter powering through Nightdive’s superb System Shock Remake, former Looking Glass developer Marc LeBlanc has returned to Twitch and YouTube to stream The Black Parade, a lauded mod that presents an interquel between the classic Looking Glass stealth games, Thief: The Dark Project and Thief 2: The Metal Age.
Thief modding is one of those little universes all its own, comparable to other retro treasure troves like the Doom and Quake scenes. Even still, the recent 10-level campaign The Black Parade is in a league of its own, boasting utterly huge levels, new voice acting and gadgets, as well as fresh systemic interactions like house servants who will clean up your sound-dampening moss arrow surfaces or relight torches you’ve extinguished. YouTube reviewer MandaloreGaming argues it …
Read moreAfter years of waiting, Rockstar says it’s finally going to bring the PC version of Grand Theft Auto Online to parity with the “enhanced” edition that’s been available for consoles for the past two years.
GTA Online came to Xbox Series X-S and PlayStation 5 in March 2022 with a variety of “technical and graphical improvements.” That version of the game has received several exclusive upgrades since, including ray tracing and the GTA+ subscription service, which offers players a range of monthly cash and content drops—all of it unavailable on PC. As we said last year, it felt like PC players were being left in the dust because… well, we were.
The first real sign that PC players might finally be brought up to speed came to light in September when Rocksta…
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Wired headsets can feel a little old-fashioned these days. After all, with so many great wireless headset options available, tying yourself to your machine with a cable seems like quite the restriction. Plus, it limits your options as to what role in your life it can provide—plenty of great wireless headsets support Bluetooth as well as RF 2.4 GHz connections, making them perfect for travel, whereas many modern phones don’t have 3.5 mm audio out ports anymore.
Still, when it comes to ultimate sound quality, many point to wired headsets as delivering the goods better than their wireless counterparts. That means any wired gaming headset is going to have one main purpose—delivering great audio while you’re sitting in front of your PC. And if you’re askin…
Read moreIf there’s one thing that might hold you back from your next headset purchase being cable-free, then it’s likely to be the battery life. While a good wireless gaming headset unchains you from your desk, it does mean keeping an eye on the battery indicator and rummaging around for charging cables on occasion.
Well, rejoice, because our best wireless gaming headset has a truly monstrous 300-hour battery life, meaning those visits to the wall plug will be much less frequent. I’ve found the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless for $139 at Amazon, and at that price, it’s an even more obvious pick for cable-free gaming audio.
It’s not just that battery life worth shouting about, either. With a set of 50mm dynamic drivers, the Cloud Alpha Wireless offers a powerful, rich, and well-balance…
Read moreBaldur’s Gate 3 has choices—oodles of ’em. Choices that Larian’s accounted for, for the most part. In my recent playthrough, instead of taking a certain character to a certain body for a story quest, I picked up the corpse and dumped it back in camp like a cat bringing their owner a dead bird. The dialogue still worked (though I had to have them in my party) besides one or two out-of-context lines.
However, one player has found an edge-case scenario that the game doesn’t account for at all, and it’s honestly pretty reasonable when you break it down. Spoilers for Act 1 and Gale’s storyline to follow, as well as a minor Act 3 spoiler.
As outlined by ThePawn08 on the game’s subreddit, reverse-pickpock…
Read moreIf you’ve been settling into the first few hours of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you might’ve responded in the same way I did—with a reflexive grimace every other line. Now that I’ve sunk close to 50 hours into the game, I’m here to tell you to keep going. The story does get better. Kinda.
I still think Dragon Age: The Veilguard misses the mark in a lot of ways, and the problems of its opening hours are still present in the rest of the game. But there are things to like here. Its characters sometimes have charming moments, it does have some interesting lore drops, and I have, at times, found myself genuinely endeared to its cast. I still think we’re leagues below Dragon Age: Origins in character writing (and still measurably lower on the ladder than Inquisition), but there a…
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Black Friday is now only a month away and that means you’re likely to see gaming keyboard and mouse deals increase in number. After all, November now just seems to be a permanent sales month for all tech retailers. We didn’t say many real bargains in Amazon’s October Prime Day event, so hopefully that means retailers have been holding bac…
Read moreAMD’s Threadripper Pro 7000-series CPUs are launching very soon. While they might not seem all that relevant to gamers—at least the high core count options anyway—I am very much an advocate for proper high-end desktop (HEDT) platforms and would love to see consumer level Threadripper make a return.
According to Wccftech, AMD plans to unveil Threadripper Pro CPUs on October 19th. These chips will be based on the Zen 4 architecture led by the range-topping 7995WX with 96 cores and 192 threads. Add to that 384MB of L3 cache and you’re looking at an absolute monster of a chip. Of course such a chip isn’t particularly relevant for gamers when most game engines struggle to make use of today’s 16-core AMD CPUs.
Even the 64-core 7985WX and and 32-core 7975WX chips …
Read moreThe arc of Dwarf Fortress is long, but it bends towards, well, not having arcs. In a chat with PC Gamer at GDC, Dwarf Fortress creators Tarn and Zach Adams spoke a little about their approach to the game’s meatiest patches in a post-premium edition world. Long story short? More bite-sized updates at a faster tempo. The Big Wait is dead.
Tarn said Dwarf Fortress’ model for updates at this point won’t be about “[running] off for 26 months, [seeing] what I can get done.” With new artists helping out for the game’s sound and audio and partners at Kitfox to help with marketing the game, Tarn’s going for something a bit “more orderly.”
After all, Tarn’s previous approach of absconding for months to work on major updates—usually called arcs, even after the game’s develo…
Read moreIf you’ve been looking to upgrade to a 4K monitor and just need a nudge in the right direction, Gigabyte has a pretty great sale on at Best Buy, that nowhere else is doing.
Already “the affordable 4K gaming monitor to beat”, according to our Gigabyte M32UC review, this monitor is only made better by a limited-time sale. Regularly checking over all the best cheap gaming monitor deals every week, I’m used to seeing this screen at retailers but I noticed it was sold out pretty much everywhere, except Best Buy, that is, where you can pick it up for just $500 until November 1.
Admittedly, it won’t be top of the list for those of you looking for the best HDR experience—with just HDR 400, the Gigabyte isn’t fantastic. However, that 4K screen looks great, even if it doesn’t …
Read morePhoto Courtesy of Amazon
We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.
Keeping your kids refreshed and hydrated can be challenging, especially when they’d rather be running around or playing. But, with just the right container, it can get a little bit easier. To help your little ones consume more water, I’ve rounded up the best water bottles, tumblers, and drinkware that are perfect for home, school, the car, and more. Whether you’re looking for a mini-Stanley to match your own or a lightweight plastic cup for …
Read moreSofía Vergara Responds to Joe Manganiello’s Claims About Why Their Marriage Ended
Sofía Vergara is not going to judge Joe Manganiello’s perspective.
After the America’s Got Talent star previously said the couple’s divorce after nine years of marriage stemmed from her not wanting to be an “old mom,” her ex Joe subsequently responded saying her reasoning was “not true.”
Despite their contradictions, Sofía maintains an indifferent opinion on the matter.
“At the end of the day, you never even know if that’s what he said for real,” she explained to Variety in a profile published Aug. 14. “I’ve read a lot of things that I’ve said that I’m like, ‘Huh?’ What am I gonna do, call …
Read more‘RHOC’ Tamra Judge Opens Up About Shannon Beador’s DUI Arrest (Exclusive)
John Janssen is done keeping quiet about his breakup with ex, The Real Housewives of Orange County star Shannon Beador.
“I wanna say that my relationship with Shannon was real,” the businessman told former Real Housewives producer Carlos King on the July 30 episode of the Reality With the King podcast. “She has a wonderful side to her. But I think people out there just assume John was the problem in the relationship, and I would just challenge people to think about what it might be like to be with Shannon.”
And John—who broke up with the reality star in November 2022—didn't hold back when addressing …
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With Amazon Prime Day coming to a close tonight, it’s time to look for the next best thing. Enter: Nordstrom’s Clear the Rack Sale. Even though this year Prime Day blew us away with all the major discounts on luxury bedding, premium beauty, and even quality fashion with extended sizes, you might still be itching for more items on mega sale. Specifically, those designer labels you’ve been eyeing for months. Lucky for us, Nordstrom’s Clear the Rack event is now available for all to shop from now until July 21st. But if you are a Nordy Club member, you can still get an extra 25% off clearance.
T…
Read moreJennifer Aniston Slams J.D. Vance’s Comments About Childless Women
Jennifer Aniston is speaking out on Senator J.D. Vance's comments.
After a clip of the Republican vice presidential nominee arguing "childless cat ladies" should have "no direct stake" in political decision-making went viral, the Friends alum clapped back at his comments with an emotional message referencing her own IVF journey and fertility struggles.
"All I can say is," Jennifer wrote in a July 24 Instagram Story, "Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day."
The 55-year-old went on to say she also hoped his daughter would not need to turn to fertility tr…
Read moreTikToker Bella Brave Dead at 10 After Heartbreaking Health Battle
Ryan Reynolds is remembering a beloved internet creator.
One day after 10-year-old Bella Brave—also known as Isabella Thomson—died, the Deadpool star grieved her loss on social media.
“Bella was so funny and so charming,” Ryan wrote in a July 15 Instagram Story. “I loved meeting her and I’m so deeply sad to hear this news. She had a razor sharp wit and took zero s–t from anyone. Particularly me. Deepest condolences to her family and the staff at @sickkidsvs who cared for her in every way possible.”
Bella’s mom Kyla Thomson opened up about her daughter’s passing on social media July 15, which came days…
Read morePhoto Courtesy of Kate Spade Outlet
We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.
The Best Deals from Kate Spade Outlet:
- Editor's Pick: Staci Dual Zip Around Crossbody,
$259$71.20 - Most Popular: Sadie North South Crossbody,
$299$79.20 - Best Deal: Leila Triple Gusset Crossbody,
$279$71.20
The summer heat can sometimes be a drag. When July hits, I’m usually a walking puddle o…
Read moreNatalie Portman Opens Up About Life After Benjamin Millipied Divorce
Natalie Portman found love in an unexpected place after her split.
In fact, the Black Swan star shared when she met Rihanna for the first time amid her divorce from Benjamin Millepied, the interaction was exactly what she needed.
“I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b—h,” Natalie told Jimmy Fallon during a July 15 appearance on The Tonight Show. “It was—it was exactly what I needed.”
And after Jimmy played the clip of the “Umbrella” singer and Natalie meeting for the first time—during which Rihanna told Natalie she’s “one of t…
Read moreThree Taylor Swift concerts in Austria were canceled by organizers on Wednesday, following the arrest of two people who allegedly plotted a terrorist attack in Vienna, authorities said. Swift was scheduled to perform at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in her next stops on the Eras Tour.
In a statement posted on Instagram, concert organizers Barracuda Music informed fans that the shows were being canceled, saying government officials had confirmed the threat of a planned attack.
“With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” Barracuda Music wrote in the statement.
2024 Olympics: Jimmy Fallon Reveals How He's Preparing to Host the Closing Ceremony
Sunny Choi is excited to give the Olympics a (head)spin.
Next month, the breakdancer will be one of the more than 500 athletes representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But competing at the Games isn’t just a first for her—it’s an inaugural moment for her sport as breaking is making its debut this year.
But for the former gymnast who discovered breaking in college before going on to pursue a corporate career, it’s also the culmination of a 15-year journey.
“I never thought that I was going to get an opportunity like this again,” Sunny told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I thought that having done gymnastics, seeing that career ended,…
Read moreCourtesy of Nordstrom
We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like them at these prices. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a commission if you purchase something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. Prices are accurate as of publish time.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2024 is still here, and it's the ultimate shopping event you don't want to miss! This eagerly awaited sale brings you exclusive discounts on top luxury brands you've been waiting for. Just make sure to hurry, because as much as we wish it lasted longer, regular prices bounce back on August 4th, 2024. So, it's your perfect chance to grab high-quality products at unbeatable prices. Specifically, all …
Read more2024 Olympics: Celine Dion Expected to Return to the Stage During Opening Ceremony
Céline Dion is ready to live la vie en rose.
The legendary singer stepped out in Paris ahead of her performance at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 26.
Dion—who shared her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome in 2022—was greeted by crowds of fans on the streets of the French capital on July 24, even receiving a red rose from one well-wisher.
And now that she's made her dream come true of returning to Paris, the 56-year-old wasted no time in visiting her favorite attractions: She posted photos of herself stopping by the Louvre Museum July 24, including a pic of her admiring the massive "Coronation of Napoleon" paintin…
Read morePost Malone Shares Rare Details About His Fiancée and Fatherhood
Post Malone knows he’s better now, and that’s because of the women in his life.
Though the “Rockstar” singer (real name Austin Post) has kept many details about his family under wraps—including the names of his fiancée and their 2-year-old daughter—he recently shared insight into his fatherhood journey.
“It changes your life in the best way ever,” Post gushed in an Aug. 11 segment for CBS Sunday Morning. “And the most beautiful thing is, she has a beautiful mom.”
And the 29-year-old explained how his partner and daughter had an extremely positive impact on him, and his struggle with loneliness.
“Four years ago, …
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As we embark on the beginning of Virgo season, fall is just a stone's throw away and you can practically smell the pumpkin spice in the air. And if you're ready to start building your fall fashion or just want to add some summery clothes for the end of the season, I have great news. From now until September 2, you can save up to 60% at Old Navy (no promo code needed). That means denim for $21, a dress that fits like a glove for $20, and even some Halloween styles for spooky season.
And, isn't just last season's clothing. There are so many wardrobe staples that are perfect for everyday wear in the…
Read moreE! Illustration/ Courtesy of Getty Images
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It's official, Virgo season is upon us.
So if you have friends or family with birthdays between Aug. 23 and Sept. 22, it's time to start thinking about presents.
Not sure what give your Virgo bestie (or besties) this year? Don't fret! We've compiled a list of the best gifts for Virgos that will make this zodiac sign so, so happy. Virgo placements are typically associated with attention to detail, problem-solving, nature, minimalism, honesty, and high standards, so we picked gifts that go well with those qualities.
There's something about…
Read moreSummer is right around the corner and so are some highly anticipated albums from superstars.
We’ll hear debuts from Normani, Tems, and Ice Spice, and new music from Charli XCX and Megan Thee Stallion, who is currently on her Hot Girl Summer tour. Omar Apollo is gearing up to release his sophomore album, God Said No, which features a spoken word interlude from the actor Pedro Pascal. Remi Wolf is also releasing her sophomore album, Big Ideas, on July 12 and it’s sure to deliver on her immediately catchy, funky, psychedelic pop bangers.
Here are the most anticipated albums of summer 2024.
brat, Charli XCX (June 7)
Charli XCX is the perennial It Girl and has cemented herself among the hyperpop greats…
Read moreTell Them You Love Me, a documentary now streaming on Netflix from director Nick August-Perna, does not include a single interview with its main subject. The film is about the white, abled former professor Anna Stubblefield, who was accused of sexually assaulting Derrick Johnson, a nonspeaking Black man with cerebral palsy whom she says she taught to communicate via a method called facilitated communication (FC).
Johnson isn’t interviewed in the film, because his family has always understood that his diagnosed intellectual disability and lack of motor control meant he would never be able to communicate. At least, almost always—except for the period from 2009 to 2011, when they believed Johnson was communicating via FC, facilitated by Stubblefield.
The question o…
Read moreWarning: This post contains spoilers for eps. 1 and 2 of Apple’s Lady in the Lake
In Lady in the Lake, the new show releasing on Apple TV+ on July 19, two chilling murders change the course of a woman’s life in 1960s Baltimore. The seven-episode limited series, which was adapted from author Laura Lippman’s popular 2019 thriller novel of the same name, stars Natalie Portman in her first TV role. Portman plays Madeline “Maddie” Morgenstern, a bored Jewish housewife-turned-aspiring journalist, whose obsession with the fatal disappearance of a young Jewish girl (Bianca Belle) leads her to investigate another crime—the overlooked murder of a young Black mother named Eunetta “Cleo” Johnson (Moses Ingram), whose body was found in the fount…
Read moreDust off your tracksuits, Squid Game fans: 2024 is your year.
After more than three years, Netflix’s most watched non-English show of all time is scheduled to return with a new season—along with a bevy of other Korean dramas that are increasingly becoming global sensations.
Last year was already a strong one for Korean dramas, particularly after Netflix served up The Glory, a haunting limited series about revenge and justice that became one of the most popular non-English shows on the platform, with over 622 million hours viewed by the first half of 2023.
South Korean content continues to successfully hurdle the language barrier, with K-dramas consistently proving their stateside appeal. And in keeping with Netflix’s strategy of c…
Read moreE! Illustration/ Courtesy of Little Sky Stone
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Andy Warhol once said, "one’s company, two’s a crowd, and three’s a party," and we like to think that he was talking aboout necklaces.
That's because our shopping experts have noticed that your favorite influencers and celebrities are rocking layers upon layers of necklaces, which means we have a new jewelry trend on our hands (or rather our necks).
Basically, the days of subtle, dainty jewelry inspired by the Old Money aesthetic are over and edgy maximalism has taken it's place — it is a Brat Summer afte…
Read moreHappy Birthday Madonna: Look Back at Rare Interviews
Madonna has more than four minutes to celebrate her son Rocco Ritchie.
The singer, shared rare insight into her relationship with her and ex-husband Guy Ritchie’s son during her heartfelt tribute in honor of his 24th birthday.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCCO— the long and Winding Road through all your many moods and incarnations has been tumultuous and full of surprises,” Madonna wrote in her Aug. 11 post. “But through it all —your curiosity, and Artistic Soul has been the glue that has held us together. Thank God for Art. Thank God for you. We have been together for many lifetimes. Thank you for choosing me again. I Love you -for Eternity.”
Though…
Read moreMegan Rapinoe scored her way to soccer stardom in the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Now she’s writing a book about social justice.
The project, which does not yet have a title, was acquired by Penguin Press and is expected to be published in the fall of 2020.
It will include anecdotes about Rapinoe’s life and will go beyond sports. “I hope this book will inspire people to find what they can do, and in turn inspire other people around them to do the same,” Rapinoe, 34, told the New York Times in an email.
As well as being the star of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Rapinoe is a social activist, speaking often about the politics of division and equal pay and LGBTQ rights. She made headlines and attracted the ire of President Donald …
Read moreAn Alaska swimming official’s disqualification of a high school student athlete for wearing an allegedly revealing swimsuit has added fuel to the controversy over the policing of female athletes’ bodies. During a meet in Anchorage last Friday, the female official disqualified a 17-year-old Dimond High School student who had just won a 100-meter freestyle race on the grounds that the seat of her swimsuit was exposing too much of her behind.
A swimming coach who is a friend of the girl’s family tells TIME she believes that the girl stands out only because she is “fuller-figured.” Other people familiar with the girl tell TIME it is unlikely that she wore her suit in a manner that contravened attire rules intentionally; the swimmer’s mother told loc…
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