'We found out at the same time as the public' — Capcom and Ubisoft devs were out of the loop on Nvidia DLSS 5 involvement, adding to the AI controversy

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• Capcom and Ubisoft game developers weren't informed about Nvidia DLSS 5 being used by their publisher
• One developer stated they found out 'at the same time' as the public
• Former Rockstar game dev condemns DLSS 5, claiming it's a 'complete AI re-render'

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Nvidia is under fire for its latest reveal of DLSS 5, and rightly so, particularly after CEO Jensen Huang's response to the ongoing backlash for its generative AI use — and the latest revelation could make the controversy much worse.

As reported by Insider Gaming, Capcom and Ubisoft game developers apparently weren't informed by their publishers regarding their involvement in Nvidia's DLSS 5. This comes after Jensen Huang stated gamers are "completely wrong" about Nvidia's "content-control generative AI".

One of the Ubisoft developers stated, "We found out at the same time as everyone else". Similarly, Capcom developers were reportedly shocked by the publisher's involvement, considering its "anti-AI" stance.

(Image credit: Nvidia / Capcom)

This is so disrespectful to the intentional art direction of devs. If devs wanted to lean in to hyper realism they would. This also drastically changes key aspects of visuals like character features, focal points, lighting and so on. What a terrible invention. Nvidia should shelve this one 😭

— @kortizart.bsky.social (@kortizart.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-03-19T12:33:20.060Z

bad ending: now every game is AI slop https://t.co/0PZofksAXIMarch 16, 2026

Game developers across multiple studios and publishers have shared the same sentiment (as evident above). Notably, a former Rockstar developer, Mike York (known as York Street Gaming on YouTube), implied that DLSS 5 poses a significant threat to game art, considering the changes it makes to character models.

"This isn't just some lighting, this is like a complete AI re-render," York said. "You're no longer looking at the game [Resident Evil Requiem] anymore. This is scary. This is like an AI filter over every frame."

While Nvidia and Bethesda's Todd Howard have consistently tried to reassure gamers that DLSS 5 use in games will be controlled and tuned by developers, it hasn't done much to allay concerns — and it's not a big surprise, as many are already opposed to generative AI in sectors outside of gaming.

As of its initial reveal, it takes two RTX 5090s to utilize DLSS 5, and that may scale down to one GPU by the time it launches this autumn. However, gamers, developers, and frankly, the majority of consumers online have made it clear that generative AI is not wanted in gaming, and certainly not when it's changing character model details, which is integral to developers' intended art.

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'We found out at the same time as the public' — Capcom and Ubisoft devs were out of the loop on Nvidia DLSS 5 involvement, adding to the AI controversy

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• Capcom and Ubisoft game developers weren't informed about Nvidia DLSS 5 being used by their publisher
• One developer stated they found out 'at the same time' as the public
• Former Rockstar game dev condemns DLSS 5, claiming it's a 'complete AI re-render'

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Nvidia is under fire for its latest reveal of DLSS 5, and rightly so, particularly after CEO Jensen Huang's response to the ongoing backlash for its generative AI use — and the latest revelation could make the controversy much worse.

As reported by Insider Gaming, Capcom and Ubisoft game developers apparently weren't informed by their publishers regarding their involvement in Nvidia's DLSS 5. This comes after Jensen Huang stated gamers are "completely wrong" about Nvidia's "content-control generative AI".

One of the Ubisoft developers stated, "We found out at the same time as everyone else". Similarly, Capcom developers were reportedly shocked by the publisher's involvement, considering its "anti-AI" stance.

(Image credit: Nvidia / Capcom)

This is so disrespectful to the intentional art direction of devs. If devs wanted to lean in to hyper realism they would. This also drastically changes key aspects of visuals like character features, focal points, lighting and so on. What a terrible invention. Nvidia should shelve this one 😭

— @kortizart.bsky.social (@kortizart.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-03-19T12:33:20.060Z

bad ending: now every game is AI slop https://t.co/0PZofksAXIMarch 16, 2026

Game developers across multiple studios and publishers have shared the same sentiment (as evident above). Notably, a former Rockstar developer, Mike York (known as York Street Gaming on YouTube), implied that DLSS 5 poses a significant threat to game art, considering the changes it makes to character models.

"This isn't just some lighting, this is like a complete AI re-render," York said. "You're no longer looking at the game [Resident Evil Requiem] anymore. This is scary. This is like an AI filter over every frame."

While Nvidia and Bethesda's Todd Howard have consistently tried to reassure gamers that DLSS 5 use in games will be controlled and tuned by developers, it hasn't done much to allay concerns — and it's not a big surprise, as many are already opposed to generative AI in sectors outside of gaming.

As of its initial reveal, it takes two RTX 5090s to utilize DLSS 5, and that may scale down to one GPU by the time it launches this autumn. However, gamers, developers, and frankly, the majority of consumers online have made it clear that generative AI is not wanted in gaming, and certainly not when it's changing character model details, which is integral to developers' intended art.

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Saros has exclusive PS5 features like feeling 'eclipse-driven weaponry through adaptive triggers — but it's nothing we've not heard before

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• A new gameplay trailer for Saros has been released
• The footage showcases the PS5's exclusive features
• They include Immersive 3D audio, DualSense haptic feedback, and fast loading times

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PlayStation has released a new trailer highlighting the exclusive PS5 features of Housemarque's upcoming action game, Saros.

The one-minute trailer, which arrives ahead of the game's launch next month, is an extended gameplay reel showcasing the playable character Arjun Devraj blasting alien enemies across the mysterious world of Carcosa.

"Immersive" 3D audio is the first feature to be spotlighted, which PlayStation says will help players "track alien threats" in-game via TV speakers or their USB stereo headphones.

Like most PS5 games, Saros will also take full advantage of the DualSense Wireless Controller by offering haptic feedback that allows players to "feel eclipse-driven weaponry through adaptive triggers", as well as powers, environmental effects, and more.

Housemarque has previously confirmed that, unlike in its previous game, Returnal, Saros offers permanent resources and progression.

"After every death you will face a changed world, but in Saros you will be able to choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit upgrades to 'come back stronger' to overcome the challenges you face on Carcosa," the studio explained.

While Saros will stand apart from Returnal's roguelike mechanics, Housemarque appears to have made use of the PS5's ultra-fast hardware to make the death/respawn process faster by offering quicker loading times.

"Come back stronger with near-instant loading speeds," the trailer reads. The text is then accompanied by a cinematic clip showing Arjun dying in battle and then respawning seconds later.

It looks impressive, but these are features we now expect from PS5 exclusives, really. Also, the trailer doesn't mention whether the footage is running on a PS5 or PS5 Pro, and it's not a clear-cut clip showing how many real-world seconds have passed.

We won't have to wait much longer to play Saros because the game is scheduled to launch on April 30, which is a month's delay from its original March 20 release date.

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Black Cat is coming to Marvel Rivals and let's just say fans are looking forward to it a little too much — 'This update is HUGE'

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• Two new heroes are coming to Marvel Rivals: White Fox and Black Cat
• White Fox arrives as part of Season 7 on March 20, 2026
• Black Cat is expected to follow in Season 7.5

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Developer NetEase Games has unveiled some of the new content coming to its Marvel hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, in its next season, and it includes a new hero and map.

White Fox will be joining the game's already gigantic character roster as a strategist, armed with martial arts skills and a suite of supernatural abilities. She can deploy her Yeowoo Guseul (fox marbles) to heal teammates and inflict damage, while storing energy to infuse into teammates to grant them powerful effects.

In addition to a host of tweaks and balance changes, Season 7 will also introduce a new convergence map, Lower Manhattan, which is inspired by its overall story arc.

In addition to showing us White Fox in action, the flashy animated Season 7 trailer also reveals that iconic Spider-Man villain Black Cat is coming to the game, and is expected to arrive as part of the subsequent Season 7.5 update.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding her release date, Marvel Rivals fans have already taken to social media to praise the character's rather racy design. "This announcement trailer was magnificent and I cannot wait to play as Black Cat in this season," wrote one X user. "Us Rivals fans are continuing to EAT!"

"Yeah this update is HUGE," added another.

The 'sick design' of White Fox has also been getting plenty of praise, though some fans are expressing confusion at the character's inclusion, given her unusual origins. Like the (now quite popular) Marvel Rivals character Luna Snow, White Fox debuted in the 2015 mobile game Marvel: Future Fight rather than a traditional comic book, although she has appeared in a few comic series since.

Season 7 is set to begin on March 20, 2026, and if you want to get in on the action, you can download Marvel Rivals for free on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

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'This year is the most challenging year since the company was founded': MSI exec makes it clear how bad the RAM crisis has got, despite some prices plateauing

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• MSI's general manager has called 2026 the "most challenging year since the company was founded"
• The RAM crisis is hitting the laptop maker hard, and it's cutting back on production of low-end notebooks by 30% as a result
• There is brighter news elsewhere as DDR5 RAM prices are seemingly dropping in Europe – but not by that much

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The RAM crisis is again exerting unwanted pressures on the broader PC market, even while some slightly more optimistic news has reached us on memory pricing over in Europe.

The dose of pessimism comes from MSI, which is going to jack up the prices of its 'gaming products' in the order of 15% to 30% this year. This is according to general manager Huang Jinqing on a recent earnings call, as per a report from Taiwan's United Daily News (via Tom's Hardware).

The increases are driven by the RAM shortage, and also problems with GPU supply from Nvidia — we're told there's a 20% shortfall in securing stock of the latter.

The result is that MSI will cut back on its low-end gaming laptops to the tune of 30%, so it can focus more on mid-range and higher-end PCs. The simple equation to keep revenue flowing is selling fewer devices at higher prices.

Huang said the PC industry is facing severe challenges, and that: "This year is the most challenging year since the company was founded" (text translated from Chinese).

On top of the shifting priorities with laptops, MSI is switching its motherboards to favor models supporting DDR4 memory. Whereas previously four times as many DDR5 motherboards were shipped versus DDR4, that situation has reversed completely, so the older standard is now coming off production lines in fourfold compared to the quantities of DDR5 boards. That's quite a remarkable turnaround.

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Analysis: tough times despite some sparks of hope

(Image credit: Shutterstock / LightField Studios)

As noted at the outset, VideoCardz noticed another update from German tech site 3D Center, which keeps tabs on RAM pricing over in Germany, and observes that the price of DDR5 memory dropped by around 7% in March compared to February.

So that sounds quite positive, and it echoes other observations from the European market last month, too. However, lest we get carried away, remember that DDR5 RAM is still quadruple what it cost compared to the price in September 2025, according to 3D Center's price watching. It's just that it has dropped back a little, after plateauing from January to February this year.

Obviously, it's good to witness any kind of downward correction — or indeed just to see that RAM pricing isn't going up — but there is, of course, a limit to how much prices will rise before most consumers throw their hands up in the air and (rightly) just refuse to buy. Unless they have absolutely no choice, that is.

And elsewhere, we're hearing gloomier news on RAM hikes, and as MSI makes clear, all this — and related supply issues around video memory for GPUs — is making life very difficult for PC manufacturers (or indeed those building themselves a new computer). We've already heard as much from the likes of HP and other big laptop makers, of course.

However, to call 2026 the "most challenging year" is quite a statement, considering that the pandemic in 2020 was a very tough time for the market (and it isn't the first time we've heard this sentiment in the tech industry this year).

Huang is predicting a 10% to 20% decline in PC sales this year, whereas analyst firms are pitching their estimations at a 10% drop for 2026. That's the best-case scenario as far as MSI's general manager is concerned, which is troubling to say the least, as is the fact that the budget end of the PC market is going to be hit hardest.

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'Unreliable and untruthful': London judge says witness got real-time coaching from their smart glasses — and then blamed ChatGPT

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• A London judge says a claimant used smart glasses to cheat in court
• The claimant was being fed answers in real-time from the smart glasses
• The evidence was dismissed for being "unreliable and untruthful"

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It sounds like a deleted scene from Suits, but a judge in a London High Court case has revealed that a claimant recently used smart glasses to get real-time coaching on their answers — and then later blamed ChatGPT.

The insolvency case, which centered around the liquidation of a Lithuanian company co-owned by Laimonas Jakstys, took place in January, but was recently reported by Legal Futures (via 404 Media) when the judgment was published. And it's full of fascinating, if slightly comical, clashes between a courtroom and new technology.

The judge first noticed something was awry when Jakstys started pausing before answers. "Right at the start of his cross examination, he seemed to pause quite a bit before replying to the questions being asked," Judge Agnello KC noted in the judgement.

After this happened a few times, the defense lawyer, Sarah Walker, said she could "hear interference coming from around Mr Jakstys," and this was backed up by the interpreter. The judge asked the claimant to remove the glasses before continuing with the cross-examination, but that was just the start of a comical turn of events.

While the interpreter was later translating a question, Mr. Jakstys' mobile phone apparently "started broadcasting out loud with the voice of someone talking", the judgment notes. "There was clearly someone on the mobile phone talking to Mr. Jakstys. He then removed his mobile phone from his inner jacket pocket. At my direction, the smart glasses and his mobile were placed into the hands of his solicitor," wrote Judge Agnello KC.

Amusingly, Jakstys turned up to court wearing the glasses the following day, but was then told to turn them off. "When asked, Mr. Jakstys denied that he was using the smart glasses to receive the answers that he was to give in court to the questions being asked. He also denied that his smart glasses were linked to his mobile phone at the time that he was giving evidence before me," the judge added.

Unfortunately, the evidence didn't back this up. According to Jakstys' call log, he'd called and received calls from someone marked on his phone as "abra kadabra", including one just before he went into the witness box. When pressed on the identity of "abra kadabra", Jakstys claimed it was a taxi driver. But the judge understandably wasn't convinced.

'A career first for me'

Smart glasses like the XGMI Memomind (above) show that models with built-in displays are becoming ever more discrete. (Image credit: MemoMind)

The smart glasses, the pausing before answers, and the mysterious "abra kadabra" contact — this case has all the ingredients of a CSI-style Netflix documentary. But there was one final twist.

When asked about the voice blaring out from his phone when his smart glasses had been removed, "his explanation was that he thought it was ChatGPT". Understandably, Judge Agnello KC concluded that this "lacks any credibility".

Jakstys also seemed to mysteriously struggle without his glasses. "Once Mr Jakstys was [sic] no longer had his smart glasses, he hesitated quite a bit before providing answers to questions. Frequently, he was asked a question and he would pause for some time before asking for the question to be repeated or he would say he did not understand the question. This occurred frequently when it was clear to me he simply did not know what his reply should be," concluded Judge Agnello KC.

The inevitable result was that Jakstys' evidence was rejected "in its entirety". Summing up the testimony, the judge concluded "he was untruthful in relation to his use about the smart glasses and in being coached through the smart glasses".

But the case naturally also raises broader questions about the clash between our longstanding institutions and technology that's quickly overtaking them. As the barrister Saara Idelbi noted about the case on LinkedIn, "This time it was a human coach. Next time, it will be AI. This case shows us how dangerous smart wearables can be.”

The defense lawyer Sarah Walker also told Legal Futures: “This was a career first for me but, with technological advances, may well be something that litigators have to deal with much more frequently in the coming years."

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Spotify could be coming to your smart glasses with a fun tool that’s perfect for solo karaoke

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• Spotify could be developing a smart glasses version of its app
• It interface could include a 'Now Playing' screen as well as synced lyrics
• As it's early days, you'll still need to have your smartphone nearby

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Out of all the best music streaming services, Spotify has launched pretty much every feature you can imagine, but now it could be taking its streaming experience even further — into the world of smart glasses.

You read that right. A smart glasses version of the audio streaming platform could be on the horizon, which is perfect timing as we know Google and Samsung are currently working on their own XR wearables.

There’s also evidence to support this. In a teardown conducted by Android Authority, new lines of code were spotted in the latest beta of the Spotify app for Android, heavily suggesting that Spotify has started working on developing the foundation for its own smart glasses app. As per the teardown, it appears that Spotify for smart glasses will have two of its most-used features from the standard mobile app.

Firstly, this includes the ‘Now Playing’ screen that displays the current song and its details, a tool that’s crucial to the Spotify experience. Lyrics are also integral to how music listeners engage with Spotify, and the teardown suggests that this will also make its way to the Spotify smart glasses interface — which is by far the more exciting of the two. It’s one way to take your solo karaoke sessions to the next level.

As it stands, it looks as though Spotify is starting small with its venture into smart glasses. Right now there’s no indication that you’ll be able to manage Your Library, create playlists, or browse for music, podcasts, and audiobooks using the headset itself. As for tap functions for volume control, and skipping and pausing songs, this isn’t set in stone so it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt — which brings me to the main caveat.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the best AI smart glasses out there (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If Spotify does go ahead with its smart glasses launch, it’s likely that you’ll still need to have your smartphone on hand to use Spotify. On Google’s Android XR developer page, the company explains this further in the following statement:

“The AI glasses experience is built on the existing Android Activity framework API and includes additional concepts to support the unique aspects of AI glasses. Unlike XR headsets that run a full APK on the device, AI glasses use a dedicated activity that runs within your phone's existing app. This activity is projected from the host device to the AI glasses.”

We don’t know how long it will be before you’ll be able to use Spotify in its full capacity on smart glasses, but with that in mind, it makes sense that the audio streaming giant is starting small. By focusing on two of its most-used features first, it gives the company a chance to gauge consumer takeaways following the launch, and build up accordingly.

We all know that Spotify prides itself on new product features (it’s just rolled out a new Taste Profile tool and has plenty more in the pipeline), so if I were to put money on it, I’d guess that Spotify would want to mirror the very best parts of its mobile experience in its smart glasses app sooner rather than later, in order to be ready to fully embrace a new era of wearable tech.

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The latest Nintendo Switch 2 update takes handheld mode to the next level — I've tested it and the results are 'incredible'

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• The latest Nintendo Switch 2 system update has added a new graphics mode
• It improves the visuals of Nintendo Switch games on the system
• You need to turn it on via the system settings menu

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text-to-speechThe latest Nintendo Switch 2 system update has arrived, and it's quietly introduced a new feature that takes handheld mode performance to another level in certain games.

Ver. 22.0.0 is out now and boasts a handful of new features. Nintendo's official patch notes draw attention to the new ability to save notes in your friends list, invite friends to GameChat rooms, and additional text-to-speech options.

Nestled further down the page is the news that the company has added a "handheld mode boost" feature for those playing original Nintendo Switch software. This effectively runs the game with its docked graphics preset rather than the handheld one, which means a massive bump in resolution and detail in most games.

To enable the mode, simply open your Nintendo Switch 2's system settings menu and scroll all the way down to the system tab. Click it and then press the Nintendo Switch software handling button before turning the handheld mode boost slider on.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

A warning on the menu explains that results "will vary based on the software being played" and clarifies that it does not impact Nintendo Switch 2 games in any way. It also states that some functionality within software may be affected, and that your battery life may decrease.

Interestingly, it also explains that the Joy-Con 2 controllers will be registered as a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller when attached to the console.

I've been trying the mode out throughout the morning, and the results are pretty incredible. Once blurry games like Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope are substantially improved, with a noticeably boosted resolution that leads to a much clearer picture even on the small screen.

It's not quite as transformative as a full-on Nintendo Switch 2 patch, and the most intensive Switch games like Life is Strange Double Exposure still feel very sluggish, but I'm nevertheless going to have this feature on at all times going forward.

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Sony's updated PSSR upscaling tech is finally available for even more PS5 Pro games, including Crimson Desert, Silent Hill f, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and more

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• Sony's updated PSSR tech is now available for a collection of PS5 Pro-supported games
• Some of those titles include Silent Hill f, Alan Wake 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and more
• More games, including Crimson Desert, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077, will also receive the update soon

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Sony has released a new PlayStation 5 software patch that introduces support for its upgraded version of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling technology across a wide range of games.

Late last month, we learned that Sony had finally released its brand new AI upscaling tech for the PS5 Pro version of Resident Evil Requiem, the first game to receive the update, and that more games were expected to receive the same treatment soon.

Now, in a new PlayStation Blog post, Sony announced it has rolled out the new version of PSSR to several PS5 Pro games to deliver "enhanced image stability, improved clarity in fine details, and more consistent performance across supported titles."

"The upgraded PSSR represents another step in our commitment to evolving the PS5 Pro experience," Sony said. "Moving forward, most new PS5 Pro titles will launch with support for this enhanced PSSR, ensuring players continue to see improvements in image quality and performance."

The titles named include Silent Hill f, Monster Hunter Wilds, Dragon's Dogma 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Control, Alan Wake 2, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Nioh 3, and Rise of the Ronin.

"With the latest PSSR update, Silent Hill f now delivers an even smoother gameplay experience than before," said Konami about Silent Hill f's update. "Fine details – from swaying blades of grass to shadows cast across the ground – are rendered with greater clarity, deepening immersion in the fog-shrouded Japan of the 1960s."

BioWare, the developer behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, also commented on The Veilguard update, saying, "With the new PSSR, we’re delivering a meaningful improvement in image quality while still maintaining stable framerates in Fidelity and Performance modes. Your adventures in Thedas will now feel smoother and more visually refined."

Remedy Entertainment also commented on the improvements to image stability and motion clarity in both its titles, Control and Alan Wake 2, with graphics technical director, Tatu Aalto, praising the upgrade.

"The upgraded PSSR improves image upscaling quality and stability," Aalto said. "The improvements allow efficient stochastic sampling without sacrificing image stability. The new PSSR responds quickly to visibility changes in games, keeping motion clear while improving temporal stability."

For Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, director Naoki Hamaguchi praised the upgraded visuals, saying, "Compared to the original PSSR, fine details such as characters’ hair are naturally restored, and the image processing is more stable due to less flickering and afterimage feeling. Overall, we feel it allows us to create a more immersive gameplay experience with improved graphical quality and stability."

Sony has confirmed that PSSR 2 will also be available in more titles soon, including Crimson Desert, which launches this week, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077.

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Microsoft dropping Copilot notification plans is a victory for users – but the fight over Windows 11’s soul continues

It seems there’s some good news for anyone who has despaired at Microsoft shoehorning AI features into every aspect of Windows 11, as new reports suggest the company has dropped plans to add its Copilot AI assistant to core parts of its operating system.

Back in 2024, Microsoft EVP Yusuf Mehdi promised Copilot would come to Windows 11’s Settings and File Explorer apps, and even be included in notifications.

However, while the company has been adding AI features to Windows 11, despite many users showing a disinterest – or downright hostility – to those additions, the features Mehdi showed off a few years ago have yet to appear.

As our sister site Windows Central reports, it seems the delay of the highly controversial Recall feature could be behind the decision to drop further Copilot AI features in certain parts of Windows 11.

Recall continuously took screenshots while you used your PC so that the AI could search them in a bid to make finding things on your machine easier, but instead ended up being a privacy nightmare.

If in doubt, blame Recall

(Image credit: Microsoft)

You might… recall… that Recall was initially a big part of Microsoft’s advertising push for Copilot+ PCs – essentially any Windows 11 laptop or desktop that has an NPU (Neural Processing Unit).

However, once critics and users alike started pointing out that having everything on your screen being constantly recorded and stored could be a rather major privacy violation, Microsoft later delayed adding Recall, and belatedly released it as a ‘beta’ test that’s turned off by default. It is still in beta, seemingly waiting for Microsoft to address the numerous concerns people raised about it.

That backlash has apparently made Microsoft cautious about adding AI features to Windows 11 with the Copilot branding, and while that doesn’t mean the company will completely stop adding AI features, Windows Central suggests that this is why we’ve not seen Copilot in Settings and File Explorer.

In fact, I wouldn’t get your hopes up that Microsoft has had some sort of road-to-Damascus realization over how unpopular its decision to add AI features rather than fix some rather fundamental flaws in Windows 11 has been. As Windows Central suggests, the continued work on fixing Recall appears to have put some of Microsoft’s more ambitious AI features on hold.

If Microsoft somehow finds a way to adjust Recall to address people’s privacy concerns, while retaining the original goal of the feature and proving that it’s a feature people should use, then the influx of AI features into Windows 11 could resume.

Also, the report suggests to me that rather than putting Microsoft off from adding AI features, it’s just stopping Microsoft from labelling them as ‘Copilot’ – perhaps in a bid to stop the Copilot brand getting further damaged by unpopular features.

In fact, Microsoft has added AI features to both the Settings app and File Explorer, but they are not as integrated as the features Mehdi presented in 2024, nor do they reference Copilot.

As much as I’d love for Microsoft to drop its AI obsession and get to work making Windows 11 a decent operating system, I just can’t see it happening. The company has invested far too much in AI for it to give up now. It’s also stuck with the Copilot brand, despite it being (in typical Microsoft fashion) a terrible name, and that brand is going to get damaged every time a bad product, feature or service is thrust onto users under the Copilot label.

Microsoft, then, needs to try to keep Copilot separate from the ‘Microslop’ accusations. While you might hope the company would do this by cutting down on poorly thought out AI features, it seems we might still get them, but with fewer Copilot mentions.

Until then, I’m afraid I’m going to continue to use my macOS-powered devices until Windows 11 becomes a more appealing operating system that actually works well, rather than a Trojan horse used to justify the company’s AI obsession.

Still, there are reasons to be positive. When Windows Central reached out to Microsoft, a spokesperson responded saying: “Our approach to product development is to preview with customers and evolve with feedback. Some experiences we may preview privately and update before rolling out more broadly, while others we may preview and iterate publicly with feedback from Windows Insiders,” which suggests Microsoft is taking user feedback on board.

Coupled with reports that Microsoft is cutting down on adding AI features to Windows 11, and instead actually fixing the operating system, I’m hopeful that the company is finally paying attention to its customers who have so far not been too impressed with the AI push, especially as it seems to have come at the expense of quality control. I just hope it’s not too little, too late.

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Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 17 (game #1513)

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 16 (game #1512).

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 #1513) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #1513) - 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 #1513) - 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 #1513) - 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 2.

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 #1513) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• B

• G

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1513) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1513, are…

• GREET
• BROOD
• GRIME
• SQUAT

On reflection I should have guessed GREET first.

Instead, I went the long route, which included gambling with the rare letter Q — although knowing the word ended UAT didn’t leave any other options that I could think of.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1513) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1513, are…

• PHONY
• TENSE
• PETTY
• CLOWN

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1512, Monday, 16 March: MURKY, AGENT, SONIC, ALARM
• Quordle #1511, Sunday, 15 March: GRILL, WALTZ, TROVE, TOTAL
• Quordle #1510, Saturday, 14 March: CONDO, MUSKY, EATER, SNORT
• Quordle #1509, Friday, 13 March: SCARY, MOURN, WHARF, SHARP
• Quordle #1508, Thursday, 12 March: ARTSY, GEESE, BUGGY, FOCUS
• Quordle #1507, Wednesday, 11 March: BOUGH, TOTEM, NEIGH, PENAL
• Quordle #1506, Tuesday, 10 March: AWARE, WORDY, PETTY, POWER
• Quordle #1505, Monday, 9 March: WORDY, PLUCK, MOTTO, DUMPY
• Quordle #1504, Sunday, 8 March: RETCH, SLANG, AGONY, MURKY
• Quordle #1503, Saturday, 7 March: AMBLE, HOUSE, PAINT, AORTA
• Quordle #1502, Friday, 6 March: CHILD, VIRAL, GNASH, STONY
• Quordle #1501, Thursday, 5 March: AGATE, GAUNT, BRAIN, LANCE
• Quordle #1500, Wednesday, 4 March: ENVOY, UPPER, DERBY, LLAMA
• Quordle #1499, Tuesday, 3 March: GNOME, HARDY, ISLET, ALLOY
• Quordle #1498, Monday, 2 March: SAUNA, CLASP, RIVAL, EARLY
• Quordle #1497, Sunday, 1 March: NERDY, ADEPT, PRIMO, HUMID
• Quordle #1496, Saturday, 28 February: BERTH, SNARE, QUILT, CRONE
• Quordle #1495, Friday, 27 February: STIFF, SINCE, PATSY, METAL
• Quordle #1494, Thursday, 26 February: ACTOR, ENEMY, GONER, SCENE
• Quordle #1493, Wednesday, 25 February: SPOOL, INDEX, BLUER, FELON

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 17 (game #744)

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 16 (game #743).

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 #744) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Happy St Patrick’s Day!

NYT Strands today (game #744) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• ROPY
• TRAP
• TYPO
• POPPY
• GORE
• TEEN

NYT Strands today (game #744) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #744) - hint #4 - spangram position

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

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #744) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #744, are…

• FLAG
• PARTY
• GODDESS
• LIGHT
• BERET
• THUMB
• PEPPER
• ROOM
• SPANGRAM: GOGREEN

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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It’s been a while since the NYT experimented with its yellow and blue color scheme for Strands, so seeing the many shades of green today added a unique element to the search.

After getting FLAG and PARTY first I still thought that the eight words would all be connected to St Patrick’s Day, but I soon put that aside after finding GODDESS and realizing what the real theme was.

I whizzed through the game until the final two words, where I somehow guessed “moor” before ROOM and found myself suffering letter blindness due to the three Ps in PEPPER.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, March 16, game #743)

• CHALK
• BUBBLE
• BRACKET
• OVERTIME
• CINDERELLA
• SPANGRAM: MARCHMADNESS

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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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NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 17 (game #1010)

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 Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 16 (game #1009).

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 #1010) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• KITE
• WIND
• HOT WATER
• KEY
• TEA BAG
• LIGHTNING
• BALLOON
• JAM
• PITCH
• ARROW
• BIND
• SCALE
• YO-YO
• TONE
• ROCKET
• PICKLE

NYT Connections today (game #1010) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: In a tricky situation
• GREEN: Vocalist terms
• BLUE: With an attached cord
• PURPLE: Really speedy

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 #1010) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: METAPHORS FOR TROUBLE
• GREEN: MUSIC THEORY CONCEPTS
• BLUE: THINGS WITH STRINGS
• PURPLE: METAPHORS FOR QUICKNESS

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

NYT Connections today (game #1010) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1010, are…

• YELLOW: METAPHORS FOR TROUBLE BIND, HOT WATER, JAM, PICKLE
• GREEN: MUSIC THEORY CONCEPTS KEY, PITCH, SCALE, TONE
• BLUE: THINGS WITH STRINGS BALLOON, KITE, TEA BAG, YO-YO
• PURPLE: METAPHORS FOR QUICKNESS ARROW, LIGHTNING, ROCKET, WIND

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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A fairly easy game, but one I could have done better in. I did flirt with the idea of connecting ARROW, LIGHTNING, ROCKET, and WIND in the mistaken belief that they all described members of professional sports teams, but I lacked the confidence to press “submit”. 

Instead, I found the more obvious of today’s groups including METAPHORS FOR TROUBLE, which included one of my favorite words — PICKLE. I love pickles, playing pickleball and I often find myself in a bit of a pickle, but most of all I love the story of Pickles the dog.

In 1966, when England was hosting the football/soccer World Cup, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen before the tournament and then discovered by a curious black and white collie in a hedge a few days later. Pickles became a national icon but many mysteries surround the event — not least how the priceless trophy ended up in a hedge.

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Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, March 16, game #1009)

• YELLOW: ANIMAL GROUP NAMES GAGGLE, PACK, POD, PRIDE
• GREEN: THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING SLOW GLACIER, MOLASSES, SLOTH, TRAFFIC
• BLUE: SILENT "W" CARTWRIGHT, TWO, WRATH, WRESTLE
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE STATE ABBREVIATIONS ANY, EMMY, ENVY, OKAY

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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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