May 2022

With baseball in the air, MLB The Show 22 has finally released its second Diamond Dynasty program: Spring Cleanup. The follow-up to Faces Of The Franchise is set to expire in three weeks (May 20th) and features new missions and moments, and a brand new Spring Showers Conquest Map to earn XP towards one of the five program bosses: Milestone Zack Britton, 1971 All-Star Tom Seaver, 1959 All-Star Ernie Banks, 1953 Breakout Eddie Mathews, and 2000 2nd Half David Justice.

The featured program's XP path includes two Spring Cleanup boss choice packs and is loaded with legend icons, unlockables, theme choice packs, and three returning Diamond Classics packs, which include fan-favorite throwbacks like Prospect Alec Bohm and Postseason David Price. It also comes with the Bosses Band Event with Breakout Wade Boggs and Postseason Johnny Bench that rewards 2,000 XP per win, and the new Kansas City Nike City Connect program that features a Veteran Brett Saberhagen player item and collects the Royals' art deco-inspired alternate uniforms.

Each Spring Cleanup boss is a 93 overall with splits that can counter existing metas and turn team weaknesses into strengths. They're not perfect, but we love them anyway so we've put together a primer on which new program cards you should spring forward with (or sell via the marketplace).

In case you missed it, PlayStation announced that it's revamping PlayStation Plus. The new-and-improved version of PS Plus is expected to deliver much of what you already get from it while adding aspects from PlayStation's other subscription, PlayStation Now, which allows users to play games via cloud streaming. With this new evolution, PlayStation is canning PS Now, formally making both into one new super subscription. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the relaunch of PS Plus.

PS Plus Is Getting Tiers

The biggest change PS Plus users are going to have to get used to is the new tiers coming. Since its inception, PS Plus has always been one offering that gave the same benefits to everyone who bought in--online multiplayer, exclusive discounts, cloud storage, and most importantly, free monthly games. With the PS5, PlayStation even added the PS Plus Collection, which brought a number of PS4 titles to PS5 users for free as long as they maintained a subscription. Now, more benefits are being added to PS Plus as long as folks are willing to pay a higher premium for the two new tiers being added. Here's a breakdown of the new tiers and what they include:

PlayStation Plus Essential

This is the lowest tier of PS Plus subscriptions and is essentially a rebrand of the service as it is now. If you are interested in keeping the exact same service at the exact same price, this is the one for you. That means you'll get multiplayer access, PS Plus discounts, cloud storage, and a distribution of free games across PS4 and PS5 every month. You'll also maintain access to the PS Plus collection, which includes titles like Bloodborne and The Last of Us Remastered.

You've probably heard of some of the biggest third-party game publishers such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Capcom, but there is another company that has been expanding rapidly through a series of acquisitions: Embracer Group, which just bought a number of studios and IP from Square Enix (including Tomb Raider maker Crystal Dynamics and Deus Ex's Eidos Montreal). The video game company, by market value, is now the largest in all of Europe. But just what is Embracer Group, what studios and franchises does it own, and how did it get to be such a massive company with so little name recognition?

What is Embracer Group?

Let's get this out of the way first: The reason you may not recognize the Embracer Group name is that it operates several other publishers and developers with names you do recognize. At this time, Embracer Group is the parent company of major publishers like Deep Silver, THQ Nordic, and Gearbox, to name a few, as well over 100 game studios. The company was previously known as THQ Nordic but adopted its current name to avoid confusion following its many acquisitions.

Have you ever wanted to fire a giant comet at something? In Elden Ring, you can do exactly that by finding and using the aptly-named Comet sorcery. Not only will it look cool, but it's a decent option for damage, too. In this guide, we'll tell you where to pick it up so that you can give it a go for yourself.

Comet explained

Comet is a sorcery that requires 52 Intelligence to cast. As its name implies, it unleashes a powerful magic comet that can deal fairly solid damage to enemies.

Comet's item description reads:

One of the glintstone sorceries of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Fires a great magical comet. This sorcery can be cast repeatedly and while in motion. Charging enhances potency. The greatest of the Karolos Conspectus's sorceries, that only a very few sorcerers have ever mastered.

Where to find Comet

Comet can be obtained within the Raya Lucaria Academy legacy dungeon in Liurnia of the Lakes. While exploring this magical academy, you'll find plenty of well-hidden secrets by hitting and unveiling illusory walls, and the same goes for this sorcery.

After over a decade, the Nintendo Sports series has returned with Switch Sports. The follow-up to 2006's Wii Sports, the newest sports simulation game from Nintendo comes with plenty of fan-favorite minigames such as bowling, tennis, and more. However, it also comes with a major problem long since forgotten: busted television screens.

Despite Nintendo Switch Sports releasing less than a week ago, players are already reporting television casualties resulting from accidentally flinging their Joy-Cons, according to Kotaku. While the lightweight controllers certainly pack less of a punch than the Wii's remote (which shattered more than a few screens with the help of Wii Sports back in the 2000s), the colorful contraptions have already proven they can be just as lethal--just watch Twitch streamer 63man play tennis.

Twitter user Rudeism has modded the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller to be a fully functional Xbox controller. Rudeism recently showed footage of the controller in action, using it to play Elden Ring on PC.

Originally inspired by a post from Twitter user Wario64, the controller is complete with a left joystick, D-pad, four face buttons (A through D), and a left and right trigger, each capable of receiving both bumper and trigger inputs.

Fans were quick to point out the lack of a right joystick. To address this, Rudeism programmed the controller's yellow slider--meant to change the mode from music to numbers--to switch the joystick between left and right. The switch also changes some of the face button inputs--changing the C button from "B" to "Start," for example.

Niantic has announced its plans for Pokemon Go for the month of May, and with the Season of Alola event coming into its final days, the game will focus on the newly updated Mega Pokemon mechanic.

Mega Raids will feature heavily throughout May, with multiple Mega Pokemon making their Pokemon Go debut. May 3-10 will see the first ever Mega Legendary Pokemon in Mega Latias and Mega Latios, while Mega Blastoise and Mega Altaria will feature later in the month. Five star raids will complete the set of four Alolan legendaries by adding Tapu Fini to the mix, and the month will end with a week where all four will be featured at the same time.

The full list of May events for Pokemon Go is below:

• Upcoming events

  • A Mega Moment (May 1)

  • Pokémon Air Adventures (May 3-8)

  • Water Festival (May 12-20)

  • May Community Day (May 21) - featuring Alolan Geodude, the Rock Pokémon

  • Alola to Alola (May 25-31)

• Five-Star and Mega Raids

  • Until May 3

If you're looking to round up every spell in Elden Ring, you'll want to stop by and say hello to Sorceress Sellen. Her stock can be improved quite a lot by handing in scrolls you find, but in the case of the sorcery Crystal Barrage, you can snag it as soon as you leave the tutorial and save up the runes for it. In this guide, we'll tell you where to find Sorceress Sellen and add that spell to your collection.

Crystal Barrage explained

Crystal Barrage is a sorcery that requires 23 Intelligence to cast. It fires a volley of glintstone shards in a visually cool spectacle. However, it's not one of the game's most efficient spells and likely won't serve as a high-end source of damage for most players.

Crystal Barrage's item description reads:

One of the glintstone sorceries of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Fires a volley of glintstone crystal shards. Charging increases potency. A sorcery of the Crystal Cadre, a group of sorcerers who pursue the wisdom of stone - the secrets locked in the faint cogitation of the Crystalians.

Where to find Crystal Barrage

Crystal Barrage can be purchased from Sorceress Sellen, who is located within Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave. She sells the spell for 1,500 runes, and she will sell it upon your first meeting--meaning you're not required to offer her any of the game's many scrolls to unlock it.

Few people are worthy enough to wield the shield of Captain America, but you can at least get your hands on a star-spangled Xbox controller from Razer. Inspired by Sam Wilson's adoption of the Captain America identity in Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV series, Razer's limited-edition controller comes with a matching charging stand and is available to order now for $180.

The Xbox "Core" controller has redesigned ergonomics that make it incredibly comfortable to use for a marathon gaming session, textured grips so that you won't have to worry about dropping it, and a quick charge system when it's not in use. One of the best features in the design are the Impulse Analog Triggers, pressure-sensitive sticks that provide a finer level of precision and nuanced haptic feedback.

It's also worth noting that you can use the controller on your PC as well, either with a direct USB-C connection with a wireless adapter that's sold separately. Otherwise, expect a controller with a reliable build quality and a battery life that can go the distance.

Steam's Going Rogue Sale is now live, offering huge discounts on roguelikes and other related games. Rogue Legacy 2 is one of the most popular games seeing a price cut, but you'll also find Nioh 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and more.

Rogue-type games are (obviously) the main appeal of the sale, and there's no shortage of price cuts on genre standouts. Rogue Legacy 2, which just launched in late April, is already down to $20. It follows a format similar to the original, although this time you'll benefit from improved graphics, new classes, and a reworked biome generation system. Our review said the game "improves on its predecessor in every way," making it a must-play for roguelite fans.

The sale isn't strictly limited to roguelikes, as you'll find a variety of titles tangentially related to the genre in the Going Rogue catalog. Monster Hunter Rise is seeing a massive discount ($30), and with its Sunbreak DLC right around the corner, now's a great time to start playing. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Nioh 2 are also seeing hefty price drops.

With the Mega Pokemon mechanic in Pokemon Go recently undergoing big changes, Niantic is upping the ante with the introduction of the game's first Mega Legendary Pokemon, Mega Latias and Mega Latios, on May 3.

The dynamic Mega duo will be coming to Pokemon Go during the new Pokemon Air Adventures event, which begins May 3 at 10 AM local time and runs until May 8 at 7 PM local time. The event will also feature special timed research tasks centering around catching Pikachu and an assortment of Flying-type Pokemon, and completing those tasks will earn Mega Energy for the two new Pokemon.

The full list of perks and bonuses for the Pokemon Go Air Adventures event is as follows:

• Pokémon Debuts

  • Mega Latias and Mega Latios debut in Mega Raids

    • Latias caught during the event will know the Charged Attack Mistball

    • Latios caught during the event will know the Charged Attack Luster Purge.

• Timed Research

  • Special Timed Research focused on catching Pikachu and Flying-type Pokémon will be available for the event. Players who complete the tasks will earn:

It may have taken a little time for Bugsnax to receive its Isle of Bigsnax DLC, but it has arrived completely free on every platform with a variety of new things to do. Not only does the update bring new mechanics to the game, such as a mail system and a house to build up and stock full of items, but it also provides an entirely new biome to explore.

The Isle of Bigsnax comes packed with another 3-5 hours worth of catching the eponymous food creatures on a large island off the coast of Shimmering Springs, but getting there to partake in it all requires a few steps. Not to worry, though, as we've got you covered on how to make that happen. Read on to ensure you know how to get started on your expedition to the island.

How to reach the Isle of Bigsnax

Reaching the Isle of Bigsnax will require you to have made some decent progress in the main game's story. Let's take a look at the two options you may encounter.

If you've already beaten the game, you'll simply need to open the game, continue your save file, and make a trip to Snaxburg via fast travel. Look around for Snorpy and talk to him, at which point he'll inform you that he needs your help with a task of great importance. Thus begins the new questline that sends you to the Isle of Bigsnax.

If you're just starting the game for the first time, you'll need to progress through the main story a bit and complete the side quests for lovable snack buddies Snorpy and Chandlo. Once you've knocked those out, you can seek out Snorpy and find that his new dialogue leads you to accept a quest to uncover the secrets of the Isle of Bigsnax--so on you go!

Welcome back to another wonderful week of Wordle! Today's May 2 and our answer is a simple, if mischievous, one. Wordle wasn't always so intent on tricking you with such flexible answers, but ever since the buyout, there has been an uptick in just that. Suspicious, isn't it?

Have you tried today's Wordle? Sometimes Wordle has some barn-burners like "knoll," but I appreciate today's answer for being a return to basics. It's a word anyone can get, mostly because we all use this word all the time, especially when we're talking about qualities of games that we like or dislike. However, this one took me to my very last guess because way too many letters fit in the final slot. It was a miracle I pulled it off, so remember to play smarter, not necessarily aggressively if you want to get it in fewer guesses.

If you'd like some concrete tips on how to solve Wordle on your own, we've got a great guide filled with tips and starting words that should start you on your journey.

Today's Wordle Answer - May 2, 2022

If you're looking for today's answer, you can scroll right to the bottom where it will always be. However, I'm gonna say that you can get this one without even my hints, which I've had to actually beef up to not give it away too easily. Yeah, it's another one of those gimmes, so without further ado, your hints.

Hint 1: Today's word is an element of The Last of Us Part II that is probably just as hotly contested today as it was at that game's release.

Hint 2: Today's answer is in the title of one of Hironobu Sakaguchi's more successful titles following his departure from Square Enix.

Sony has revealed its full slate of 2022 Bravia XR TVs, and as you might expect, the new line of large 8K TVs and 4K Mini LEDs will cost you a pretty penny. They are universally in the thousands of dollars, all the way up to $10,000 for the biggest and best.

The flagship of the new TV line is the Sony Master Series Z95K Mini LED, which costs $7,000 for the 75-inch and $10,000 for the 85-inch. Those preorders will be available starting this summer. The QD-OLED TVs are less expensive, but still pricey. Those are priced at $3,000 for the 55-inch model and $4,000 for the 65-inch.

All of these options are significantly more expensive than most Samsung TVs available now; they are even at least three times as pricey as the pair of Samsung TVs that we have on our roundup best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Sony also detailed lower-end TVs, like the A90K Master Series OLEDs targeted at gamers. Those only come in two sizes, 42-inch and 48-inch, which cost $1,400 and $1,500, respectively. If you're looking for something larger, the A80K OLED TV has a 55-inch model for $2,000.

Top Chef winner Kristin Kish will also host

Continue reading…

QA workers hired during pandemic face daunting new expenses on a minimum-wage paycheck

Continue reading…

The Secret Lair set will raise money for The Trevor Project

Continue reading…

He joins a host of other streamers who’ve made the move

Continue reading…

The fan project reimagines the Lands Between in 8-bit

Continue reading…

Welcome to the family, Louis Leterrier

Continue reading…

Having trouble finding good henchmen? Try ZipRecr—

Continue reading…