Resident Evil Survival Unit devs wanted the mobile game to be 'objectively scary', so they monitored play testers' brainwaves

---

• Resident Evil Survival Unit studio JOYCITY monitored play testers' brainwaves to make the game "objectively scary"
• Business lead Jun Seung Park said the team "obtained meaningful results that helped us adjust the fear levels and immersion"
• The team also referenced the mainline series to "capture the same unique feel on mobile devices"

---

South Korean studio JOYCITY, the developers behind Resident Evil Survival Unit, apparently monitored play testers' brainwaves to ensure that the game was scary enough.

That's according to JOYCITY business lead Jun Seung Park, who told This Is Game(machine translated by Automaton), that the developers wanted to make sure the mobile game was "objectively scary" for players.

"We conducted a bio-signal-based focus group test, monitoring players' brainwaves, eye movements and pulse to objectively measure their levels of tension and immersion," said Seung Park. "Even if we received positive responses through surveys, looking at actual bio-signals could lead to a different conclusion. Through this data, we obtained meaningful results that helped us adjust the fear levels and immersion."

A documentary-style video on JOYCITY’s official YouTube channel shows a bunch of playtesters wearing said brainwave-measuring devices strapped to their heads, so it's clear that the studio went all in on trying to up the scare-factor.

Seung Park also discussed referencing the original Resident Evil games and said the team tried to "capture the same unique feel on mobile devices", even going so far as to mimic the series' sound design, in particular the sound of footsteps in a scene without background music.

"Capcom’s 30 years’ worth of accumulated know-how proved to be invaluable," they said.

Producer Dongkyun Kye added, "At first, I was worried whether this kind of approach would be effective, but seeing how surprised and tense players got in these moments made me feel relieved."

It's also worth mentioning that since this is machine-translated, some additional context and nuance may be missing from Jun Seung Park's and Dongkyun Kye's comments.

Resident Evil Survival Unit quietly launched on mobile last November and flew under the radar for even the biggest Resident Evil fans. The reception was lukewarm to say the least, with some players praising its exploration, but criticising the game's lack of horror, limited-time purchases, and overpriced microtransactions.

Resident Evil fans not into mobile games can look forward to the next mainline installment, Resident Evil Requiem, which launches on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/lqdBCam
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is reportedly 'three to five years' away and will likely be a PS6 launch title now that multiplayer action game Horizon Hunters Gathering is Guerrilla's primary focus

---

• Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly the main game being worked on at Guerrilla Games
• Sources close to the project told Kotaku that many Horizon Zero Dawn 3 developers were pulled over to work on the multiplayer co-op title
• It's also suggested that Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is more than a few years away and could launch on PS6

---

Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is reportedly still years away after Guerrilla Games moved many members of its development team over to Horizon Hunters Gathering.

Last week, the studio unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, a "new chapter in the Horizon universe", and a three-player cooperative action game developed for PlayStation 5 and PC.

The game doesn't have a release date yet. Still, game director Arjan Bak has said it will feature "reactive, and deeply skill-based" combat and combine "tactical precision" from the Horizon games and team play dynamics.

Before the game's announcement, it was believed that the Dutch developer was working on the next installment in its hit Horizon Zero Dawn series. However, it's now suggested that Horizon Hunters Gathering is no side project.

According to Kotaku, two sources familiar with the project claimed that it's now the main game many at the studio are working on, with one source saying that many staff working on Horizon 3 were pulled over to help on Hunters Gathering, "which Sony is committed to making a multiplayer success".

Unfortunately, this means fans won't get to see Aloy again for another few years. A separate source suggested that the next mainline Horizon game is "three to five years" away and would likely make it a PlayStation 6 launch title. Although there is a chance the game could also be a cross-gen PS5 release.

Kotaku's sources appear to align with what Bloomberg's Jason Schreier said last week following Horizon Hunters Gathering's announcement. When asked if he believes the project is being made by a separate team at Guerrilla, he responded, "I believe most of the studio is on this."

While Horizon Hunters Gathering may be a cooperative multiplayer game, the director has confirmed that it will feature a narrative campaign that will be "fully canon" to the Horizon series and "doesn't stop at launch", suggesting post-launch updates.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/K9hDrOa
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

'What a great way to kill your community': Discord users are furious about its new age verification checks — and are now hunting for alternatives

---

• Discord says it's rolling out age verification checks globally from March
• The decision has sparked outrage from many disappointed Discord users
• A third-party vendor used by Discord was hacked in October 2025

---

Discord has announced that it's rolling out age verification checks globally from March, and the decision has sparked a wave of online anger not seen since Disney+ suspended Jimmy Kimmel.

The messaging app casually announced that "teen-by-default settings" will roll out "globally for all Discord users" in early March. That means both new and existing users will need to complete a facial age estimation check – using a video selfie – or submit an ID to Discord's partners in order to use many parts of the platform.

These include accessing age-restricted channels, servers, or commands, and unblurring sensitive content or turning off that setting. If you don't complete Discord's age verification, you also won't be able to access a separate message inbox for DMs from people you may not know, or speak on stage in servers.

The controversy centers on the security of those age checks, particularly given that Discord recently had to admit in October 2025 that "an unauthorized party compromised one of our third-party vendors".

Discord's assurances about its age checks haven't exactly instilled much confidence in many users. If you get your age estimated by video selfie, Discord promises it will never leave your device. However, it also adds that "some users may be asked to use multiple methods if more information is needed to assign an age group," and if your age group estimate is incorrect, you'll need to appeal it or verify it with an ID instead.

On that front, Discord says that "identity documents submitted to our vendor partners are deleted quickly – in most cases, immediately after age confirmation". And the company says that it is no longer working with the third-party vendor that was hit by that leak last year.

Yet none of this has particularly calmed the concerns of many Discord users, who say they're already hunting for alternatives...

Discord lives up to its name

(Image credit: Discord / Future)

There's been a growing suspicion that age verification might come to Discord, ever since the service rolled out age checks in the UK and Australia last year. Back then, some users found cunning ways to circumvent the barriers imposed by the UK's Online Safety Act, like using Death Stranding's photo mode.

Sadly, that loophole was closed within a week, but it's likely to be a taste of things to come from March, given the widespread rage that greeted the news. In countless threads on Reddit, the reaction has been near-universal condemnation, with some even predicting the death of the messaging app.

"I categorically cannot trust tech companies with that kind of personal data," wrote one frustrated user, with many hoping they might be able to convince Discord to do a U-turn with enough public pressure. Others went further. "What a great way to kill your community," added another longtime user, while some predicted "that’s game over for Discord" and remarked ruefully that "privacy on the internet is truly dead".

The latter gets to the heart of what many feel is wrong with these mandatory age verification checks. While governments say it's an essential tool to keep teens safe on the internet, many feel it oversteps the mark and does more harm than good, leading to compromised privacy and increased intrusion.

What's galling for many Discord users is that they've used the service for years, some since it launched over a decade ago in May 2015, and now feel their reward is being exposed to what feels like surveillance and privacy issues.

"My account has been around for 8 years, am I seriously gonna have to scan my face to prove I'm an adult?" said one popular Reddit response. Another added, "I am an adult and I am tired of being treated like a child on the internet", concluding that "I will not be uploading my face or ID to a database that I know is not secure enough to handle this".

What are the alternatives?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

So what next? It isn't yet clear how Discord's age verification checks affected its user numbers in the UK and Australia last year, and it's possible the impact won't be anywhere near as dramatic as the many "RIP Discord" posts are predicting.

However, some users are clearly serious about leaving the popular messaging service. For many, Discord has replaced forums and become the default home of hobbyist communities. Some alternatives mentioned by leavers include TeamSpeak, Stoat (formerly Revolt), and Matrix, but they don't have anywhere near the scale or popularity of Discord.

Meanwhile, the likes of Signal and Slack either lack its community features or are more work-oriented. Quite simply, there isn't really a direct Discord alternative right now, but it's possible some rivals will seize the opportunity in the same way that Bluesky and Threads capitalized on misgivings about Twitter when it morphed into Elon Musk's X.

What's far less likely is a U-turn from Discord on age verification, despite the hopes of many. The decision follows a trend that started last year after the UK's Online Safety Act, which saw any sites hosting potentially 'harmful' content being forced to verify that users are over the 18. Lawmakers in the US and Europe have now followed suit, which means today's Discord furore will likely be the first of many similar incidents in 2026.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

---

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/dh2ROFl
via

'We’ve never stopped developing Fallout' says Todd Howard on Fallout 5, but the game is still a long way off with the 'majority' of the team working on The Elder Scrolls 6

---

• Todd Howard has spoken about the Fallout franchise in a new interview
• He mentioned the "anxiety" surrounding the next instalment, and said "we do like to wait"
• Fallout 5 is expected to release after The Elder Scrolls 6

---

Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard has spoken about the "anxiety" surrounding the upcoming Fallout 5, and reassured fans that some Fallout projects are still in development.

Speaking to Game Informer as part of the outlet's 'oral history of Fallout', Howard began by reflecting on the ongoing development of Fallout 76. "The game obviously didn’t launch in a great state, but it had an audience, even then," he said. "We had moments where you saw the quality of the game and what it could do, these big jumps, but also a lot of small jumps every quarter for six or seven years now."

"We want each of them to feel different," he explained. "My favorite thing about the Fallout franchise now is the online debates about your favorite. It should be a debate! 'Well, I like Fallout 1.' 'Nope. Fallout 2!' Fallout 3, 4, New Vegas, 76… not a whole lot of people vote for Shelter!

But we want them all to be different. I think it’s great that you can, if you’re a fan, return to each one in some way, and they have something unique to say."

On the future of the franchise, he said that "looking at 76, we’ve never stopped developing Fallout. We’ve had a full team on it for a long time, so Fallout, as a franchise, is the one that we’re still doing the most work in, above anything. Now, the majority of our internal team is on The Elder Scrolls 6. We are doing other things with Fallout that we haven’t announced."

"I get the sort of anxiety from fans," he added. "We do like to wait."

On the subject of waiting, The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced all the way back in 2018 with a brief trailer. We also know that Fallout 5 is in the works, and that it will release after The Elder Scrolls 6 - so it's undoubtedly still a long way off.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/QdGisCc
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

No, the Nvidia RTX 5090 Ti GPU isn't coming out this year — here's why

---

• Rumor suggests Nvidia has a 'very high-end RTX 50' GPU in the works
• It could be an RTX 5090 Ti, or RTX Titan, arriving in Q3 of this year
• Nvidia producing a supercharged RTX 5090 seems very unlikely, though, for a number of reasons

---

A new rumor claims that Nvidia might have an RTX 5090 Ti in the pipeline, but I doubt that very much – if there is a new heavyweight GPU waiting in the wings, it's surely not one aimed at gamers.

VideoCardz noticed that French tech site Overclocking.com published this speculation, apparently after a lot of deliberation about whether to air it at all (understandably – and note that the site expresses its own disbelief about this purported plan of Nvidia's).

The rumor is that in Q3 of 2026 Nvidia is planning to launch a "very high-end RTX 50 series card", meaning either an RTX 5090 Ti, or maybe an RTX Titan to sit at the top of the GeForce range.

We're told that the design process and early work on manufacturing this graphics card is already underway.

According to Overclocking.com, five or six reliable sources – all from different companies (and indeed separate countries) – have insisted that this new RTX 5000 GPU is incoming. This follows similar chatter which the French site says it heard back at CES 2026, last month, but disregarded because it seemed too fanciful a notion given the RAM crisis.

---

Analysis: an RTX 5090 Ti seems very unlikely to say the least

(Image credit: Future)

Frankly, I find this rumor is still too much of a reach, certainly the contention that there's going to be an RTX 5090 Ti, which is one of the mentioned possibilities. This just doesn't make any sense.

For one thing, Nvidia has apparently canned any possible RTX 5000 Super refreshes for this year, and indeed any gaming graphics cards at all, if several reports elsewhere on the rumor mill are to be believed.

Why? Because video RAM is scarce – as is all memory these days – and therefore pricier, so consumer GPUs loaded up with VRAM like an RTX 5080 Super or 5070 Super would be a drain on Nvidia's RAM resources. That's memory which would be far better deployed with heavyweight AI GPUs, which are much more profitable – and an RTX 5090 Ti would surely be expected to load up with more VRAM than ever.

Also consider that the RTX 5090 itself is already stupidly pricey at retail, having suffered a painful bout of price inflation since 2026 began. So how much would an RTX 5090 Ti cost? And also bear in mind that the reason the 5090 is so pricey is because of supply limitations; so again, why would Nvidia bring out a Ti version in this climate?

On top of all these reasons is the simple truth that gamers don't really need an RTX 5090 Ti. Enabling the full loadout of cores on the GB202 chip (which powers the 5090) wouldn't be a huge jump in performance (around 10%), especially considering what cost that might come at (as already noted). Really, the RTX 5090 is plenty powerful for any PC gamer, anyway.

If this rumor is true, it will surely be an RTX Titan (which is floated as the other possibility here) or similar heavyweight model aimed at prosumers, not consumers or gamers. And given the VRAM situation, it seems unlikely that Nvidia would even bother taking this tack, as the French site admits – but seemingly, this is the current plan.

Even if we assume this is correct, and Nvidia is indeed exploring a design around such a top-end RTX 5000 board, there's no guarantee it will come to anything — these concepts can be toyed with and then abandoned relatively late in the day.

In summary, then, do not expect an RTX 5090 Ti for later this year – and I'm all too willing to believe the rumors that we won't get any new GeForce gaming GPUs from Nvidia at all in 2026.

---

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

---

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/W0AzE2e
via

Ever heard of 'quishing'? NordVPN warns the future of scams lies in QR codes – and shares some tips on how to stay safe

---

• QR codes are the new creative gateway for cybercriminals
• 26 million may have already been at risk of falling victim
• Tips for staying safe include keeping your phone up to date

---

Have you scanned a QR (Quick Response) code recently? Then maybe take a second look at that black-and-white pixel matrix, as there is a significant chance you may have already unwittingly been lured into a QR code or 'quishing' scam, NordVPN warns.

QR codes are everywhere. Since their debut over 20 years ago, a growing number of services – such as paying for parking, collecting parcels, booking concert tickets, or ordering a pizza – have increasingly relied on these versatile 2D barcodes.

Cybercriminals have also recognised their potential, increasingly employing so-called 'quishing' as a method for financial fraud and data theft. Alarming data from TechRadar's best-rated VPN suggests that many of us may already have fallen victim. In fact, as many as 26 million people could have been lured into a phishing scam by clicking a malicious QR code.

It’s a trap!

Over the years, retailers, financial institutions, and marketers have replaced traditional barcodes with QR codes, with the benefit that they can store large amounts of data and instantly link users to websites, apps, or digital content when scanned with a smartphone.

Fraudsters, however, have also integrated them into both physical and digital scams, boosted by AI to make these attacks faster and more effective.

Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, explains: "Unlike traditional phishing emails, where people have learned to spot the warning signs, a physical QR code seems inherently trustworthy."

As a result, scammers have been increasingly exploiting a malicious e-commerce technique called 'brushing.' This involves sending unexpected parcels with cryptic notes encouraging recipients to scan a QR code to learn more, only to be redirected to phishing websites.

Unlike traditional phishing emails, a physical QR code seems inherently trustworthy

Marijus Briedis, NordVPN's CTO

NordVPN warns that real-life examples include Amazon appearing to have sent packages that were never ordered, with a QR message encouraging recipients to claim nonexistent rewards as part of larger scam operations.

Earlier quishing scams also involved fake payment QR codes placed in car parks, where victims ended up inadvertently sending money to criminals.

A particularly emotionally manipulative scam tricks victims into scanning QR codes by persuading them that it will provide proof that their partner is cheating on them.

Because QR codes are so versatile for creative scam tactics, their use in fraud has skyrocketed. According to reports from cybersecurity experts at KepNet, 26% of all malicious links are now embedded in QR codes.

NordVPN has been at the forefront of the fight against scams, strengthening its Threat Protection Pro features – including email protection that scans links for phishing threats, as scam blocking remains its top priority for 2026. Last week, the VPN provider blocked 92% of malicious websites in testing conducted by AV-Comparatives.

How to stay safe?

While essential for protecting your data, a virtual private network (VPN) will not prevent you from scanning for malicious code yourself. Although studies show that Britons are actually quite good at spotting phishing scams, NordVPN urges us to remain vigilant by following some easy preventive steps.

Briedis’ advice is clear: "Treat every unexpected QR code with the same suspicion you would treat a link from an unknown sender in your inbox."

Before scanning a QR code, make sure you know who sent it and verify that the company requesting the scan is trustworthy.

Since most smartphones allow you to preview links, check whether the URL looks unusual or suspicious.

Keep your security measures active, including VPN protection, and be wary of QR codes found in unusual ways or locations.

And if this is old news to you, be sure to share it with someone who isn’t aware: after all, a user per day might just keep those scammers at bay.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

---

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/4nOwAW7
via

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, February 9 (game #708)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, February 8 (game #707).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #708) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Frequent flyer

NYT Strands today (game #708) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• TRAP
• SPORT
• PITY
• GROPE
• MURAL
• COIL

NYT Strands today (game #708) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #708) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #708) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #708, are…

• RUNWAY
• LUGGAGE
• SECURITY
• PASSPORT
• PILOT
• TARMAC
• SPANGRAM: AIRPORTS

---

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

---

After initially thinking we were looking for airlines and then, after getting the spangram first, the names of AIRPORTS I was relieved when it was simply a case of airport-related words.

Airport terminals are often described as being a living hell, but I’d reserve that description for any branch of Build A Bear Workshop on a Saturday afternoon. There are many things I don’t like about them, but I’ve found arriving for flights four hours earlier relieves my tension and allows me to enjoy the frisson of international jet set travel and the unique availability of gigantic Toblerones.

Anyway, this search presented minimal surprises, but I did find it slow going. I hope your passage was smoother.

---

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, February 8, game #707)

• OLIVE
• CHERRY
• SHRIMP
• TWIST
• CELERY
• SPRIG
• SPANGRAM: COCKTAILGARNISH

---

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/fkOJ9aC
via

NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, February 9 (game #974)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, February 8 (game #973).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #974) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• APPROACH
• BONUS
• POKER
• NEEDLE
• STRAWS
• LOOM
• STYLE
• ADVANCE
• NEAR
• WAY
• SCISSORS
• FEE
• ROYALTY
• YARN
• MANNER
• THE LINE

NYT Connections today (game #974) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Things needed for textile production
• GREEN: How it’s done
• BLUE: How writers are paid
• PURPLE: Begin with an artistic word

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #974) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: USED IN WEAVING
• GREEN: METHOD
• BLUE: KINDS OF PAYMENT FOR AN AUTHOR
• PURPLE: DRAW _____

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #974) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #974, are…

• YELLOW: USED IN WEAVING LOOM, NEEDLE, SCISSORS, YARN
• GREEN: METHOD APPROACH, MANNER, STYLE, WAY
• BLUE: KINDS OF PAYMENT FOR AN AUTHOR ADVANCE, BONUS, FEE, ROYALTY
• PURPLE: DRAW _____ NEAR, POKER, STRAWS, THE LINE

---

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

---

I whizzed through today’s game, without knowing what the groups were, just seeing the links between the words.

I should have spotted KINDS OF PAYMENT FOR AN AUTHOR first, as this is something I have experienced. Getting an ADVANCE is quite the thrill and feels a bit like cheating as you haven’t actually supplied anything, but that feeling soon subsides as you begin to feel the pressure to hit the deadline and get the far bigger check that follows. It’s actually a pretty good system to motivate procrastinators.

Despite speeding through, I still enjoyed the tingle of getting the four groups in difficulty order, something I’ve now done 150 times according to the app. What are your Perfect Puzzle stats?

---

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, February 8, game #973)

• YELLOW: SUPPRESS GAG, INHIBIT, MUZZLE, SILENCE
• GREEN: SAME OLD STUFF DRILL, GRIND, HABIT, ROUTINE
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A STRONG PASSWORD LENGTH, NUMBER, SYMBOL, UPPERCASE
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "TWO" BIT, CENTS, FACED, TIMER

---

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/TjkWy5r
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, February 8 (game #1476)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, February 7 (game #1475).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1476) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1476) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1476) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1476) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1476) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• E

• M

• W

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1476) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1476, are…

• ENJOY
• MAMBO
• WRATH
• STRAP

A difficult game today, with three very tricky words and a rare letter.

With an E, N, O and Y I could have guessed envoy but gambled on ENJOY. But where I really stumbled was trying to guess WRATH and MAMBO – both of which took a while to get. For the latter, I had to stop myself from typing “banjo” just to get the game moving.

---

Daily Sequence today (game #1476) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1476, are…

• TRULY
• FLUFF
• OPIUM
• ADULT

---

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1475, Saturday, 7 February: APPLE, RAZOR, CAMEL, MOTIF
• Quordle #1474, Friday, 6 February: RESIN, CRUMP, RIGOR, ETHOS
• Quordle #1473, Thursday, 5 February: THROB, BUILT, NOBLE, THUMB
• Quordle #1472, Wednesday, 4 February: BLAND, HUNKY, PUNCH, TESTY
• Quordle #1471, Tuesday, 3 February: BOUND, ADORE, PINKY, FLYER
• Quordle #1470, Monday, 2 February: TIARA, THANK, SEVER, STINT
• Quordle #1469, Sunday, 1 February: SNARL, BEGIN, FLASK, AGONY
• Quordle #1468, Saturday, 31 January: GRAPE, GENRE, BEARD, RIVER
• Quordle #1467, Friday, 30 January: STOKE, BLOKE, RENEW, OVERT
• Quordle #1466, Thursday, 29 January: BLACK, VOCAL, GLADE, MAPLE
• Quordle #1465, Wednesday, 28 January: INGOT, IGLOO, GONER, FLAKE
• Quordle #1464, Tuesday, 27 January: QUALM, SHARD, MIGHT, DWELT
• Quordle #1463, Monday, 26 January: CRACK, DEVIL, MAKER, SAVOR
• Quordle #1462, Sunday, 25 January: CATCH, TABBY, HUMOR, DATUM
• Quordle #1461, Saturday, 24 January: HEIST, THEIR, DETOX, PRESS
• Quordle #1460, Friday, 23 January: WRECK, GUARD, BELIE, BRAVO
• Quordle #1459, Thursday, 22 January: FRONT, QUOTE, RAISE, POKER
• Quordle #1458, Wednesday, 21 January: PRIVY, SHADY, REMIT, AORTA
• Quordle #1457, Tuesday, 20 January: MONEY, TRASH, TROPE, SHADE
• Quordle #1456, Monday, 19 January: EBONY, ALTAR, SALTY, FALSE

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/S1N6tHx
via

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, February 8 (game #707)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, February 7 (game #706).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #707) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Make it fancy

NYT Strands today (game #707) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SHARP
• STICK
• CLAP
• GLOVE
• SLOG
• CRISP

NYT Strands today (game #707) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 15 letters

NYT Strands today (game #707) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 2nd column

Last side: bottom, 5th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #707) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #707, are…

• OLIVE
• CHERRY
• SHRIMP
• TWIST
• CELERY
• SPRIG
• SPANGRAM: COCKTAILGARNISH

---

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

---

I knew I was in trouble after getting six non-game words without a clue as to what today’s theme was about.

A hint gave me OLIVE, but it took me a little while to twist it into a word despite it being just five letters long. At this point I thought the search must be for hors d'oeuvres and fancy party snacks.

After getting CHERRY I finally got it and worked my way around the board gathering other cocktail fancies, including the spectacular spangram in the shape of a cocktail glass – chin, chin.

---

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, February 7, game #706)

• DULL
• MUNDANE
• DREARY
• TIRESOME
• HUMDRUM
• SPANGRAM: WATCHINGPAINTDRY

---

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/31XExVF
via

NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, February 8 (game #973)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, February 7 (game #972).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #973) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TIMER
• GAG
• DRILL
• BIT
• ROUTINE
• SYMBOL
• CENTS
• LENGTH
• NUMBER
• SILENCE
• GRIND
• MUZZLE
• HABIT
• FACED
• INHIBIT
• UPPERCASE

NYT Connections today (game #973) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Keep someone quiet
• GREEN: Familiar story
• BLUE: Code to gain entry
• PURPLE: Begin with a low number 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #973) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: SUPPRESS
• GREEN: SAME OLD STUFF
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A STRONG PASSWORD
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "TWO" 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #973) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #973, are…

• YELLOW: SUPPRESS GAG, INHIBIT, MUZZLE, SILENCE
• GREEN: SAME OLD STUFF DRILL, GRIND, HABIT, ROUTINE
• BLUE: FEATURES OF A STRONG PASSWORD LENGTH, NUMBER, SYMBOL, UPPERCASE
• PURPLE: WORDS AFTER "TWO" BIT, CENTS, FACED, TIMER

---

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

---

I often get a sense of deja vu when playing Connections, seeing words and sometimes categories that have appeared in the game before.

Today, though, what I thought was a repeated group about stand-up comedy (GAG, BIT, ROUTINE, NUMBER) led to a mistake.

Glory followed, however, as I gained my '25 Purple First' badge after spotting theWORDS AFTER “TWO” link between BIT and FACED and spread it out to include CENTS and TIMER. Victory grabbed from the jaws of defeat.

---

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, February 7, game #972)

• YELLOW: PIPS ON A DIE FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO
• GREEN: SYMBOLS USED IN ARITHMETIC DIVIDED BY, EQUALS, MINUS, PLUS
• BLUE: PUNCTUATION MARKS COLON, ELLIPSIS, PERIOD, QUOTATION MARK
• PURPLE: LOWERCASE LETTERS I, L, T, X

---

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/n21hu4o
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

We asked you what you thought of the latest Nintendo Direct, and it turns out everyone hated it

---

• We polled readers of our Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase live coverage to find out what they thought of the stream
• The result? A resounding disappointment that's shared by users on gaming forums
• Common complaints include an abundance of ports and a lack of truly "new" reveals

---

If you were disappointed by the announcements in this week's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, then it turns out that you're not alone.

The stream, which lasted roughly 30 minutes, showcased a bunch of upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. We polled the thousands of readers who tuned in to our live coverage of the event, receiving hundreds of responses.

The question was simple: 'How would you rate the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase out of 10?' with options for each numeric score. The answer? A resounding 1/10.

Of the 275 votes received, the majority (28%) picked the 1/10 score. Similarly low numbers dominated the other most common responses, with 3/10 and 2/10 taking second and third place.

If you add it all together, an overwhelming 58% rated the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase below a 5/10.

Although it didn't make the top three, 7/10 (which I would consider as representing a 'good' score) was still decently popular with 10% of the votes - suggesting there are some viewers who were satisfied.

Tellingly, however, very few voters opted to rate the Direct a 10/10 (just 4%), with even fewer (3%) picking 9/10.

To find out why, I turned to Reddit and the dedicated gaming forum Resetera to see what users are saying. The common theme seems to be a lack of new reveals, with the majority of trailers focusing on ports or products that have already been announced.

"Most of these aren't even announcements. [Indie game] Orbitals looks amazing and it's one of my most anticipated games, but we saw it in the last Nintendo Direct," reads one of the top-rated comments on a thread about the Direct. "What here is actually new?"

"There was only one game that was a world-premiere and exclusive to Switch 2," replied a user. "That game was Tokyo Scramble. Fun concept (dinosaur stealth game) but it needs a lot of polish and refinement. Looked like indie jank."

"There was nothing really aside from [Kyoto] Xanadu that was remotely interesting or hasn't already been out for ages elsewhere," said another.

One commenter on Resetera simply wrote "I'm going back to bed", which aptly sums up the overall sentiment there.

In spite of all this, there were definitely still some worthwhile highlights. Orbitals does indeed look superb with its It Takes Two style co-op action and adorable art style, while a fresh look at Resident Evil Requiem and the reveal of a The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered port go to show the technical capabilities of Switch 2 hardware.

Even so, I have my fingers crossed that the next Nintendo Direct is a little more exciting.

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

from Latest from TechRadar US in Gaming News https://ift.tt/DpCgmYX
via TECHNICAL SAFEER

Windows 11 is getting a new security feature that might cause confusion — here's what it does and why

---

• Windows 11's latest preview patch has a security addition
• It stops users who aren't admins from accessing the Storage panel in Settings
• This was done to prevent unauthorized people from messing with the contents of your drive(s), but it wasn't announced, and might confuse some folks

---

Windows 11's latest patch – which it should be noted is a preview release – has made a change to the operating system's settings that could confuse some people.

Windows Latest discovered that the KB5074105 patch applies a tweak under the radar whereby Windows 11 now requests admin permission when you go into Storage settings.

In other words, when you open the Storage panel in the Settings app, Windows 11 will pop up a 'user account control' dialog box before giving you access, one that contains different options depending on the type of local account you have.

If you have an admin account – which will be the case if yours is the only local account ever set up, and it's your PC – then you just need to click 'Yes' to the question about whether you want the app (Settings) to be able to make changes to your device. Then you'll be able to see all the Storage options as normal.

However, if you aren't an admin – which would be the case for other family members, for example, with a family PC that lots of people use – you will be blocked from going into this Storage panel (unless you enter the admin password, that is, which will be requested for access).

---

Analysis: a sensible move, but one that could confuse some folks

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In short, this is stopping anyone who isn't an admin from messing with anything to do with storage.

As such, it's giving Windows 11 users a bolstered level of security in a case where a family member might go 'rogue' – or an unauthorized person with local access gets on the PC somehow – meaning they can't mess with your drive and, say, delete content. (It could also prove to be a hurdle for a hacker, even, who is potentially leveraging remote access to get onto your PC, although it wouldn't be much of a meaningful roadblock in that scenario – but still, it's something).

So, keeping the workings of the storage panel as accessible only by the primary user of the PC (the owner or admin) does make some sense.

The problem is that with this change sneaking in unannounced, when the box pops up out of the blue the first time the storage panel is accessed, there could be some bewilderment about why this question is appearing (when it never did before). It also disrupts the flow of the interface to have these warning prompts summoned, adding another click to any given storage-related operation.

Overall, though, it seems sensible to keep certain more sensitive parts of the Windows 11 interface behind what's effectively a locked door – but we should have had some kind of notification from Microsoft about this move.

Note that this is an optional change for now – in the preview update which arrived late in January – but it will become part of the full Windows 11 update for February, which lands next week, assuming Microsoft is happy with how this functionality is working.

On that latter note, it seems there may be a minor bug with this introduction, because as Windows Latest points out, a couple of drive clean-up options appear to have vanished from the Storage panel. This pertains to temporary files which are from old Windows updates and device drivers, we're told, so hopefully Microsoft will be aware of this, and fixing it so these can be cleaned out again. They are still removable via Disk Cleanup, Windows Latest informs us, as an alternative.

---

---

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

---

from Latest from TechRadar US in Computing News https://ift.tt/Z10bK3d
via