Microsoft is bringing in more options for remapping the Copilot key
You'll be able to redefine it to invoke the context menu, or use it as Right Ctrl
This used to be the Right Ctrl key before Microsoft jettisoned it to make room for the dedicated AI key on Windows 11 laptops
Microsoft is going to provide more options for remapping the Copilot key, the dedicated key introduced to summon Windows 11's AI assistant on laptops (and some standalone keyboards, too).
Windows Central noticed that Microsoft has confirmed this move in a support document, which states: "Customers who rely on the Right Ctrl key or Context menu key for keyboard shortcuts or assistive technologies (such as screen readers) experienced some challenges to their workflows when using these devices.
"A Windows 11 update will ship later this year that will add a setting option to let you remap the Copilot key to act as the Context menu key or Right Ctrl key."
So, you'll be able to use the Copilot key as a Control key on the right side of the keyboard, which is what that key would have been before Copilot was around. Either that, or you can switch it to bring up the context menu (the right-click menu that facilitates context-sensitive actions).
Microsoft previously introduced the ability to redefine the Copilot key to invoke Windows search or open certain apps (although no third-party applications support this, making it of limited use thus far).
Analysis: a necessary fix
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It's good to get some better options, then, including that context menu key (which was actually rumored to be a change in the works over a year ago). Returning the key to the Right Ctrl is an important move because, as Microsoft observes, not having it can be an accessibility issue.
It's instrumental for certain workflows, such as being able to use shortcuts with one hand, pressing Ctrl plus the arrow keys, for example, or other combos using Ctrl with other keys on the right side of the keyboard. Without a Ctrl key on the right, those actions become a two-handed operation using the left and right sides of the keyboard.
It'd be nice if Microsoft gave us a wider range of options to remap the key to anything we wanted, though that can be achieved by installing PowerToys and using the Keyboard Manager. We've got the full details on how to do that here, though I'd still rather have some of the key parts of PowerToys – including this one – incorporated into Windows 11 as options, as I recently discussed.
Overall, this move is a welcome one, and another part of Microsoft's big plan to fix Windows 11 – although some folks are still pretty jaded about the company having implemented the Copilot key in the first place.
As this Redditor observed: "Oh, yes: steal the Right Ctrl and now return it as an improvement."
And someone else on Reddit noted: "Looks like their telemetry told them people avoided pressing that key like a plague."
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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 18 (game #806).
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 #807) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the rise
NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
MOCK
HULL
POKE
ROLL
GREEK
DIRGE
NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 12 letters
NYT Strands today (game #807) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: bottom, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 3rd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #807) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #807, are…
MOUND
HILL
KNOLL
SLOPE
RIDGE
BUTTE
HUMMOCK
SPANGRAM: HIGHERGROUND
My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect
I had never heard of the word HUMMOCK before, but then I don’t frequent that many peat bogs, so I think I can be forgiven. It’s a great word to say, though.
The rest of the words describing HIGHERGROUND I am more familiar with, especially as I am currently training for a very hilly long-distance cycle ride in September and trying to build up the ability to get up any HILL without moaning, groaning and stopping. As a consequence I am recalibrating some things I used to regard as hills as now a mere SLOPE.
Meanwhile, BUTTE took me a little while as I initially thought it only had one T – which would instead be the rather rugged Scottish island, which I have discovered via a Google search contains a large number of hummocks.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, May 18, game #806)
ORANGE
CLEMENTINE
LIME
KUMQUAT
POMELO
TANGERINE
SPANGRAM: CITRUS
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.
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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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, May 18 (game #1072).
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 #1073) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
FOREVER
SALON
COOK
SURGEON
NURSE
DOCTOR
FUDGE
SUPERFUDGE
CRY
BLUBBER
TROT
ALTER
FOUNDER
BABBLE
DEENIE
TEETHE
NYT Connections today (game #1073) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Infant activities
GREEN: Sneaky changes
BLUE: Novels by a prolific author
PURPLE: All fsh
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 #1073) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: THINGS BABIES DO
GREEN: MODIFY DECEPTIVELY
BLUE: JUDY BLUME BOOKS
PURPLE: FISH MINUS A LETTER
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1073) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #1073, are…
YELLOW: THINGS BABIES DO BABBLE, CRY, NURSE, TEETHE
PURPLE: FISH MINUS A LETTER FOUNDER, SALON, SURGEON, TROT
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 mistakes
Frankly, I feel incredibly lucky to have got through this game after making just two mistakes, as I was completely stumped at the beginning and remained so throughout.
There were so many crossovers here and naturally I fell for the most obvious of them, linking DOCTOR, NURSE, SURGEON and COOK with the reasoning that they are all jobs in hospitals. On reflection, COOK didn’t really work.
Next, I thought that we were looking for four words about tears, so BABBLE, CRY, BLUBBER and TEETHE made sense. Fortunately, this gave me a “one away”.
How I managed to get the four FISH MINUS A LETTER is a mystery, as I was floundering in the dark. In fact you could say my entire game was a SUPERFUDGE.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, May 18, game #1072)
YELLOW: HOMOPHONES PAIR, PARE, PEAR, PÈRE
GREEN: RUPTURE BLOW, CRACK, POP, SPLIT
BLUE: MLB PLAYER PADRE, RED, ROYAL, TWIN
PURPLE: FRUIT ANAGRAMS CHEAP, EARP, LUMP, WIKI
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.
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Nex aims to become a leader in Trust and Safety as it launches its Playground gaming console in the UK
The launch comes as gaming companies grapple with the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes special measures for services likely to be used by children
President and head of international Tom Kang describesTrust and Safety as "foundational" for the company
Nex president and head of international Tom Kang has declared his company is prepared for the UK's Online Safety Act 2023 legislation and poised to become an industry leader in Trust and Safety.
"We're not a complaint organization, we're a leading organization," he told me ahead of the release of the Nex Playground gaming console in the UK.
"We're in the process of hiring a Trust and Safety industry leader, who we've been consulting with for months. We want her to do research, leading stuff that will create the model of what Trust and Safety could mean. The gold standard."
The Nex Playground is designed primarily for children between the ages of three and 12, hailing from a team led by ex-Apple designer turned Nex CEO David Lee. It features an AI-powered camera used to read the player's movement to control fun, interactive games — including a version of baseball and a port of popular fruit-swiping mobile game Fruit Ninja.
Lee describes privacy as a "number one" concern and tells me that all video is processed directly on the device using an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) rather than sent to the cloud. Although its custom operating system is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), it's completely locked-down and does not allow the installation of third-party apps.
Trust and Safety from day one
Social media platforms like Bluesky also require age verification to access certain features. (Image credit: Future // Dash Wood)
The UK launch comes as gaming companies in the region grapple with the complex legislation of the Online Safety Act 2023, which applies a duty of care to the operators of a wide range of "user-to-user" services with special measures for those that are more "likely to be accessed by children."
Microsoft recently introduced an age verification system for users of its Xbox consoles in the UK, with a one-time check required to access the platform's full social features such as voice and text communication.
Sony is also beginning to roll out its own age verification system for those on PlayStation, with a mandatory age check expected to access communication features later in 2026.
"It's difficult to retrofit your business backwards, if you open the Pandora's box and if you create all those loopholes," argues Kang, who appears confident in Nex's ability to meet these obligations. "We start, from day one, foundational in everything we do, as having no leaks in that bucket."
Nex plans to roll out some online play features this year, though Lee assures me that these have been built on a "symmetric, social consent" model that necessitates mutual intent. In essence, the two players will need to input unique codes from each other in order to connect.
"No stranger can actually do that," says Lee. "Even after that, there's no video or sound or text."
UK pre-orders for the Nex Playground start on May 18for £269and will be available at Amazon, Argos, and Smyths Toys.
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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, May 17 (game #1071).
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 #1072) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
WIKI
POP
SPLIT
PADRE
PÈRE
LUMP
BLOW
CHEAP
EARP
PEAR
CRACK
ROYAL
RED
PAIR
TWIN
PARE
NYT Connections today (game #1072) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Soundalikes
GREEN: Break apart
BLUE: Baseball stars
PURPLE: Edible mix
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 #1072) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: HOMOPHONES
GREEN: RUPTURE
BLUE: MLB PLAYER
PURPLE: FRUIT ANAGRAMS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1072) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #1072, are…
YELLOW: HOMOPHONES PAIR, PARE, PEAR, PÈRE
GREEN: RUPTURE BLOW, CRACK, POP, SPLIT
BLUE: MLB PLAYER PADRE, RED, ROYAL, TWIN
PURPLE: FRUIT ANAGRAMS CHEAP, EARP, LUMP, WIKI
My rating: Hard
My score: Perfect
PEAR, PARE, PÉRE, and PAIR immediately felt like a trap, especially as PARE and SPLIT are similar words. I was not 100% sure, though, so I decided to leave all four alone.
Spotting that EARP was an anagram of PEAR I set out to see what other FRUIT ANAGRAMS I could spot and was rewarded with a purple first.
After this triumph, I decided to go for it and risk pairing all those pairs. Not a trick after all. Oh what games Connections plays with us.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, May 17, game #1071)
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.
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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, May 17 (game #805).
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 #806) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… The daily rind
NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
SURE
MULE
CAMEL
POLE
GATE
GNAT
NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 6 letters
NYT Strands today (game #806) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 3rd row
Last side: right, 8th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #806) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #806, are…
ORANGE
CLEMENTINE
LIME
KUMQUAT
POMELO
TANGERINE
SPANGRAM: CITRUS
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
Another easy game, although it was made slightly harder with the elimination of the most common of CITRUS fruits, the lemon.
In lemon’s place we had two lesser-spotted fruits: the KUMQUAT, which is like a miniature orange and which is often used to make marmalade, and POMELO, a pomegranate-melon hybrid which took me a couple of goes to get because I kept trying to connect it as polemo.
After finishing the game I was excited to discover that the polemo does actually exist and is famous (although not that famous, obviously) for being the largest citrus fruit.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 17, game #805)
SCOREBOARD
LANES
PINS
BALLS
LOUNGE
ARCADE
SPANGRAM: BOWLINGALLEY
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.
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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, May 16 (game #1070).
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 #1071) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
STEEP
PRIMARY
STRAIN
STIFF
HIGH
MAIN
FLEECE
GRAMMAR
HOSE
PIPE
SQUEEZE
BOIL
LINE
GRADE
POUR
DUCT
NYT Connections today (game #1071) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Plumbing
GREEN: Trick someone
BLUE: Make a cuppa
PURPLE: Types of education establishments
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 #1071) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: CONDUIT
GREEN: SWINDLE
BLUE: TEA-MAKING VERBS
PURPLE: "SCHOOL" MODIFIERS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1071) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #1071, are…
I made a mistake today that could get me kicked out of the UK, where I am based.
The word STEEP immediately alerted me to the possibility of TEA-MAKING VERBS, but stupidly I selected SQUEEZE, which is something you do to a tea bag, rather than STRAIN, which is something you do with tea leaves. The shame will live with me for years.
Meanwhile, I had no such difficulties with words connected to the art of the SWINDLE and while I was thinking about plumbing diagrams rather than the word CONDUIT, I easily connected DUCT, LINE, MAIN and PIPE.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, May 16, game #1070)
YELLOW: GLASSWARE COUPE, FLUTE, STEIN, TUMBLER
GREEN: MESS AROUND (WITH) FIDDLE, MESS, PLAY, TINKER
BLUE: MUSIC PERFORMANCE DIRECTIONS ALLEGRO, FORTE, LARGO, PIANO
PURPLE: ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "ASAP" BASSOON, BELFAST, NESQUICK, THERMOSTAT
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.
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via TECHNICAL SAFEER
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, May 16 (game #804).
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 #805) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Strike one!
NYT Strands today (game #805) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
RACE
BLADE
SPIN
LAND
BREAD
LACED
NYT Strands today (game #805) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 12 letters
NYT Strands today (game #805) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 2nd column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #805) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #805, are…
SCOREBOARD
LANES
PINS
BALLS
LOUNGE
ARCADE
SPANGRAM: BOWLINGALLEY
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
I scored my 88th Spangram First today, although BOWLINGALLEY was not exactly hard to spot — they may as well have put flashing neon bulbs around it.
To say that I found this search easier than a game of Ten Pin Bowling would be an understatement. Although I love playing the game — I even like the shoes — I am shockingly bad at it and in the unlikely event that I ever get a strike I will follow it up with 1s and 2s that defy science.
I was, then, familiar with all the many aspects and attractions of a BOWLINGALLEY although I spent longest over the final word ARCADE.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, May 16, game #804)
MOUSSE
CROISSANT
ECLAIR
MACARON
MERINGUE
SPANGRAM: FRENCHBAKERY
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.
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We're just a few weeks away from the Toy Story franchise returning to the big screen with Toy Story 5, but in the lead-up, Disney has been quietly upgrading one of its most iconic attractions themed after one of the main characters at Walt Disney World.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is a Magic Kingdom staple in Orlando, Florida — a classic interactive dark ride where guests board a rotating vehicle, pick up a blaster, and try to rack up points by hitting targets while helping Buzz Lightyear and Star Command defeat Zurg.
"We tried to keep the soul and old charm of the original attraction, but level it up and plus it up where we could."
That's how Evan Klein, a Software Developer Lead at Walt Disney Imagineering, describes the approach behind the major refurbishment that has now fully reopened. It's a useful lens for what has changed here: not a reinvention of the ride, but a deep modernization of how it works under the hood in pursuit of a more fun, compelling ride.
(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
Spoiler: there's a lot of tech being used here. New haptics inside entirely redesigned blasters, upgraded tracking systems, and onboard computers.
At its core, the biggest shift in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin isn't visual — it's interactive. The attraction has always been a competitive shooter-style ride, but the new version is built to be far more responsive and dynamic in how it reacts to guests in real time.
That starts with the new blasters, which are no longer fixed to the ride vehicle but can be lifted and aimed freely. They vibrate with haptics and play audio feedback to confirm when you've made contact with a target — changes that make the moment-to-moment gameplay feel far more immediate.
The more significant shift is in what you're actually shooting at. Targets are no longer static props. They light up, change color, and carry dynamic point values that shift throughout the ride — effectively turning the attraction into something closer to a real-time game than a traditional dark ride.
(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
Klein says that was the fundamental design goal. "The dynamic nature of the targets is the biggest leap," he explains. "Before, this was a very static attraction. None of the targets necessarily reacted. It was difficult to see where you're aiming and what you were actually hitting."
Now, targets encourage guests to scan the full environment rather than fixate on a single high-value spot. "With these targets that light up with different colors and have different dynamic scoring, it really encourages the guest to look around," noted Klein.
He's quick to note that the underlying technology philosophy was "innovation versus invention" — taking tried-and-true technology and deploying it thoughtfully. "A lot of what was done here is taking the best of all the different Buzz Lightyear attractions around the world, and some other attractions too, and trying to blend them into something that kept the soul of the original, but leveled it up where we could."
The most technically surprising aspect of the refurbishment isn't something guests will see — it's what's running beneath the surface, powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine.
(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
"Each ride vehicle actually hosts Unreal Engine for the score content that you see," Klein explains. The dynamic score screens showing your rank and progression to the next tier aren't pulling from a static asset library. Each vehicle runs two independent Unreal deployments — one per player, as each car seats two — generating that content locally in real time.
It's a notably different application of game engine technology than what Disney typically uses in major attractions. "This is a really interesting way to use the technology in an embedded context," Klein says, separating it from larger projection-based systems like what's used on Millennium Falcon, which itself will be upgraded on May 22 with new elements themed to The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Beyond the vehicles, every target and all the scoring systems across the attraction are networked together. Klein notes that over 200 machines are managed daily to keep everything synchronized and consistent. The result is a ride that behaves less like a single attraction and more like a distributed computing system.
The same engine also played a central role in the creative process — particularly in collaborating with Pixar on the ride's projected media, most notably in a hyperspace tunnel scene, which is likely my favorite addition.
"We were able to work with Pixar to develop the full attraction in a pre-visualization virtual environment," Klein explains. For the Hyperspace scene in particular, Pixar's media drafts were loaded directly into the simulation, allowing Imagineering’s Creative Director to walk through the space in virtual reality and evaluate how the media read from different angles inside the physical room.
(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
That mattered because the projection space is unusually shaped. "The room is oddly shaped, and so there was a unique challenge in making sure the media actually read well from all different angles and perspectives from the ride vehicle," Klein says.
The same environment was used to test motion profiles for new figures, including a new animatronic named Buddy, and to evaluate how scenes would read from a moving vehicle at real ride speed.
It's a genuinely impressive use of the technology — not just as a tool for remote collaboration across coasts, but as a shared reference point that lets different teams weigh in at every stage of the process. Especially useful for a ride like this that had teams from Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios working together.
What emerges is a version of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin that still feels familiar on the surface but operates fundamentally differently. The layout, the story, the vehicles — all preserved.
Klein's own personal best on the attraction sits at 20.1 million points — a score he'll tell you required more than 100 rides and a few fortunate slowdowns to achieve.
For Disney Imagineering, the refurbishment is another step toward treating physical attractions less like static environments and more like evolving, software-driven systems that push immersion for guests to infinity and beyond.
Or as Klein puts it: taking something beloved and "leveling it up and just plussing it up where we could."
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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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 15 (game #1069).
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 #1070) - today's words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today's NYT Connections words are…
THERMOSTAT
PIANO
PLAY
FIDDLE
FLUTE
FORTE
MESS
BASSOON
BELFAST
STEIN
LARGO
TUMBLER
TINKER
NESQUICK
COUPE
ALLEGRO
NYT Connections today (game #1070) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: Something you drink from
GREEN: Muck about with no direction
BLUE: Notes on notes
PURPLE: Finally about to be ready
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 #1070) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: GLASSWARE
GREEN: MESS AROUND (WITH)
BLUE: MUSIC PERFORMANCE DIRECTIONS
PURPLE: ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "ASAP"
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1070) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Connections, game #1070, are…
YELLOW: GLASSWARE COUPE, FLUTE, STEIN, TUMBLER
GREEN: MESS AROUND (WITH) FIDDLE, MESS, PLAY, TINKER
BLUE: MUSIC PERFORMANCE DIRECTIONS ALLEGRO, FORTE, LARGO, PIANO
PURPLE: ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "ASAP" BASSOON, BELFAST, NESQUICK, THERMOSTAT
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 mistakes
I resisted linking the four musical instruments, but still made a couple of mistakes — although they are ones that are easier to take, as I was on the right track and got a “one away” pop-up for both.
The first was not knowing what the fourth piece of GLASSWARE could be after TUMBLER, FLUTE, and STEIN. The next was thinking BASSOON rather than PIANO was one of the MUSIC PERFORMANCE DIRECTIONS.
I got there in the end, although on reflection today’s purple group seemed a lot more straightforward than usual. Congratulations if you got it first.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 15, game #1069)
YELLOW: NAVIGATE THROUGH, AS A RIVER CROSS, FORD, TRAVERSE, WADE
GREEN: MULTI-TIME NBA MVPS BIRD, CURRY, JAMES, JORDAN
BLUE: NON-PALINDROMIC WORDS IN A FAMOUS PALINDROME ABLE, ELBA, SAW, WAS
PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF KINDS OF DOGS, FAMILIARLY CIAO, PALM, PEEK, PITT
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.
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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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, May 15 (game #1572).
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 #1573) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 2*.
* 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 #1573) - 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 2.
Quordle today (game #1573) - hint #3 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
The Xbox Elite Series 3 and a new cloud gaming controller have seemingly leaked online
The cloud model appears to be much smaller and compact than other controllers
The Elite Series 3 sports a smaller, rechargeable battery and two new scroll buttons
The designs for two Xbox controllers have apparently leaked online, offering a first look at Microsoft's new Xbox Elite Series 3 and a cloud gaming controller.
The unannounced cloud gaming controller was the first to leak and discovered by Tecnoblog (via The Verge), which published a series of images showcasing a smaller, rather odd-looking gamepad.
Both white and black models are flat and rectangular in shape, with two thumb grips, a pairing button, and the standard Xbox buttons; however, the triggers and shoulder buttons appear to be built into the base, unlike a regular Xbox controller.
It also features 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB-C port, and both models will include their own rechargeable 500mAh battery.
LEAKED | Microsoft's new Xbox Cloud Gaming controller just leaked from a Brazilian regulator.Features:• 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi• Rechargeable 500mAh battery• Bluetooth 5.3• USB-C• Bumpers• Triggers• D-Pad• Pairing buttonvia: Techobloghttps://t.co/Jh7HMhXP08 pic.twitter.com/8196Dwu7nGMay 14, 2026
The design for the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller came a while later, again courtesy of Tecnoblog. The black model looks a bit different from its predecessor, the Elite Series 2, and features an interchangeable D-Pad, paddles, and two new scroll wheels at the bottom with an unknown purpose.
The Elite Series 3 also appears to sport a new pair button that switches between local and cloud modes, as well as a removable, rechargeable battery (1,528mAh) that is reportedly much smaller than the Elite Series 2's (2,050mAh).
The leaks come just a month before the Xbox Gaming Showcase, where Xbox peripherals are typically announced alongside new software.
The report claimed that they will both support direct-to-WiFi connectivity and eliminate Bluetooth latency from cloud gaming scenarios, which seems to align with the Elite 3's new pair button.
The Elite Series 2 was released in 2023 as the successor to the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and was a lot pricier than its predecessor at £159.99 / $179.99.
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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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 14 (game #802).
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 #803) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Weasally wascals
NYT Strands today (game #803) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
MUSE
RATED
WILDER
FIELD
MATE
PLOT
NYT Strands today (game #803) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 9 letters
NYT Strands today (game #803) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: top, 3rd column
Last side: bottom, 4th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #803) - the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #803, are…
OTTER
BADGER
FERRET
MARTEN
POLECAT
WOLVERINE
SPANGRAM: MUSTELIDS
My rating: Hard
My score: 1 hint
This theme was confusing — was it some kind of reference to Elmer Fudd? Or were we looking for animals similar to weasels.
Unable to find anything related to either I took a hint and OTTER set me in the right direction.
I got BADGER next and realized the type of animals we were looking for, although it wasn’t until I finally got the spangram that I learned that all of today’s words belong to a family of animals called MUSTELIDS, grouped together due to their carnivorous diets and long bodies with short legs. I don’t think Elmer qualifies in either category.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, May 14, game #802)
ARCHERY
DISGUISE
FOREST
FRIAR
OUTLAW
SHERIFF
SPANGRAM: ROBINHOOD
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.
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