A poignant line from the early hours ofMafia: The Old Countrystates that we can choose who we are, not what we do. I kept that line in my head as I experienced this historical take on the crime franchise. The further I dove into the world Hanger 13 has crafted, the less apt that quote felt. It isn’t just the fact thatMafia: The Old Countryopted to take a more linear route than the last entry, but how the game itself never seems to settle on what it wants to be....

Mecha Break Twitch drops: How to get PC beta access The Mecha Break beta test is currently live on PC, so here’s how you may get early access via the current Twitch drops event. Mecha Breakis an upcoming multiplayer game that sees players take control of their very own mech in intense PvP battles. To celebrate the upcoming release, Amazing Seasun Games have teamed up with Twitch to give Steam players early access....

The SSD inside Microsoft’s newSurface Laptop 3is replaceable but not upgradable.That’s the current storygiven by Microsoft Store service agents, though they indicate in-store upgrades may be possible in the future. TheSurface Laptop 3isnow available in multiple markets. Panos Panay, chief product officer of Microsoft devices, initiallyrevealed the deviceduring the company’s Surface event in early October. He spent a portion of the presentation talking about serviceability — the ability to repair and upgrade components – without affecting the overall streamlined design....

Modern Warfare 2 confirms Spawn, Lilith & more licensed Operators in Season 6 Activision announced Skeletor, Spawn, Ash Williams, and Allucard as new operators coming to Modern Warfare 2 and Warzoneduring Season 6. After a slow start, Activision has ramped up its efforts to add licensed operators. Season 4 Reloaded saw theBoys’ Homelander, Black Noir, and Starlightjoin the cast. Not long after, Season 5 addedNicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and 21 Savage, while the mid-season update kept the ball rolling by introducingLara Craft....

Nikon’s mirrorless cameras now have access to a lens that doesn’t have an equal for DSLR shooters. On September 16, Nikon unveiled the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S and the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S. As part of the company’s previously shared lens road map, neither lens is a complete surprise, but both offer a set of hard-to-find features from the f/1.2 aperture to a filter-friendly hood on the ultra-wide zoom....

Halo: Reachwas created as Bungie’s last entry in the series before it left forDestiny, and despite not featuring the Master Chief, it’s one of thebest Halo gamesever made. It was only available on Xbox platforms up until today, but Microsoft and 343 Industries have finallybrought the acclaimed prequelto PC. Released as part ofHalo: The Master Chief Collectionfor both Xbox One and PC players,Halo: Reachis available to those who already own the Xbox version for an additional $10, though you will get the multiplayer component as a free update....

If you’re in your mid-20s or older, chances are that you remember the Y2K scare, the year 2000-era menace which promised to make even nu metal seem benign by comparison. In the end, the so-called “Millennium bug” did very little damage, thanks to programmer-led interventions. Jump forward 18 years, however, and Japan has its ownimpending millennium bug-style problem— and it’s threatening to hit systems in April next year when the current emperor departs....

TheRing Battery Doorbell Proand Ring Battery Doorbell Plus are two of the best video doorbells on the market. Offering rechargeable batteries and the ability to be hardwired for continuous power, a premium HD+ resolution, and an impressive 150-degree field of view, they’re a great companion for any front door. But is the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro worth the extra cash? Or should you stick with the more affordable Battery Doorbell Plus?...

TheSamsung Galaxy S24is the newest flagship phone on the market, joining its stablemates, the Galaxy S24 Plus andGalaxy S24 Ultrain Samsung’s latest range. While not obvious from the outside, the Galaxy S24 has had some hefty upgrades — including a new, more powerful processor, an improved and larger display, and Samsung’s all-new Galaxy AI. With prices starting at $800, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a strong choice if you’re looking for a great flagship smartphone that doesn’t cost four figures....

Samsung to overhaul Bixby with Gen AI upgrade — But will it be enough? Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby, is receiving a renewed focus thanks to an infusion of AI. But will this second attempt be enough to make Bixby relevant again? Samsung, buoyed by itsrecent product announcements, has revealed the AI-powered Bixby will arrive later this year. In an interview withCNBC, Samsung’s Mobile chief TM Roh, announced, “We are reinforcing and bringing more AI capabilities to our products… We’re going to advance Bixby with the application of Gen AI technology....

Space Perspective is preparing for the first crewed flight of its stratospheric balloon, and Virgin Galactic founder and adventurer Richard Branson will be going along for the ride. Branson, who together with pilot and engineer Per Lindstrand made record-setting hot-air balloon flights across the Atlantic and the Pacific three decades ago, will serve as a co-pilot on the flight, which Space Perspective is aiming to conduct next year. Space Perspective founders Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter will join Branson as co-pilots aboard the Spaceship Neptune balloon....

Looking to invest in Bitcoin? It’s the most well-established cryptocurrency after over 15 years of operation, and despite big swings in value, it’s more popular today than ever before. But if you’re going to buy, trade, or “hodl,” Bitcoin, you need to use a Bitcoin wallet to store it, and there are alotof different options out there. From those on exchanges, to hardware wallets, and even steel wallets that store everything offline....

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4, episode 5! Summary The Boysseason 4 has introduced the supe virus to the main story of the series, and here’s what it is, where it comes from, and how it connects toGen V. AlthoughGen Vmay have initially seemed like an unimportant spinoff ofThe Boys, it turned out to be massively important to the story ofThe Boysseason 4, with it directly setting up the following season of the main series....